动物之爱

By Algernon/王桂馨（译）

◆语篇导读

人有爱，动物又何尝不是如此呢？只不过它们之间的爱无需用语言表达。一次触碰，一个抚摸，一次深情对望，也许就是动物之间表达爱的方式吧。你想更多地了解动物之爱吗？那就让我们一起走进下文来感受一下吧！

We all know，our parents love us very much.How about animals?Do they love their children like us human?The following stories will tell you the animal's love.

A mother elephant always takes good care of her baby.One day a baby elephant is walking along the bank of a river，and he is very near the edge.The other elephants are not far away.

The baby's mother sees and says，“Get away from the edge! ”

But the baby elephant keeps on trying to see how close he can get.All at once，the earth gives away under him!He falls into the water.It is too deep for him.

The mother elephant gets down into the water quickly.She lifts the baby elephant up with care.Then they walk back to the bank slowly.When they get back to the bank，the mother elephant pulls the little elephant to her at once.She feels all over him with her long nose.At last，she is sure her baby is all right.Then she makes loving noises.

This story is about the elephant's love.The next one tells you of the bird's love.

Every day early in the morning，the mother bird flies off to seek for food for her children，and she has to work hard all day long.

After a few weeks，the young birds are big and strong.Then they want to get out of their nest and fly away.

“Let me fly！”says a little bird，and another says again，“Mum，let me fly away!”

“Children，rest a little longer till your little wings are stronger.”

The mother bird and her children speak to each other.

So the children rest a little longer.After some days，their mother lets them fly out of the nest.The little birds fly up and down in the blue sky.Their mother always flies with them.She thinks：I will protect them，because I'm their mother.

◆词语积淀

human/'hjuːmən/n.人；人类

bank/bæŋk/n.岸；河畔

lift/lɪft/v.举起；抬起

loving/'lʌvɪŋ/adj.爱的；充满爱的

seek/siːk/v.寻找；寻求

nest/nest/n.窝；巢

◆典句赏析

1.But the baby elephant keeps on trying to see how close he can get.但是这头小象继续尝试着，想看自己能走多近。

keep on doing sth.是固定搭配，意为“继续做某事”，相当于go on doing sth.。

【即时尝试】晚饭后，他继续做他的家庭作业。

2.At last，she is sure her baby is all right.最后她确定小象安然无恙。

这是常用的句型“be sure+that引导的宾语从句”结构，在口语中that可以被省略。

【即时尝试】我确定他能通过这次英语考试。

3.Every day early in the morning，the mother bird flies off to seek for food for her children，and she has to work hard all day long.每天清晨，鸟妈妈都飞出去为孩子们寻找食物，并且整天都在辛苦奔波着。

to seek for food for her children是动词不定式短语表示目的，在句中作状语；fly off是固定词组，意为“飞出”。

【即时尝试】昨天我去北京参观长城。

（答案见第63页）

译文助读

我们都知道，我们父母是非常爱我们的。那么，动物是怎样的呢？它们也像我们人类一样爱护子女吗？下面的故事就讲述了动物的爱。

大象妈妈总会无微不至地照顾自己的宝宝。一天，一头小象走到河岸边，他离河的边缘很近，其余的大象都在不远处。

大象妈妈看见了就说：“快从边上走开！”

但是这头小象继续尝试着，想看自己能走多近。突然，他脚下的土塌了！小象落进了水中，水对它来说太深了。

大象妈妈快速地走下水，她小心翼翼地把小象举了起来。然后他们慢慢走回岸边。他们一回到岸上，大象妈妈就立刻把小象拉到身边。她用长鼻子把小象摸了又摸，最后确定了小象安然无恙，大象妈妈发出了欢乐的叫声。

上面这个故事讲述了大象的爱，接下来这个故事将告诉你鸟类的爱。

每天清晨，鸟妈妈都飞出去为孩子们寻找食物，并且整天都在辛苦奔波着。

过了几个星期，小鸟长大了，变强壮了，它们想飞出鸟窝飞向外面的世界。

“让我飞吧！”一只小鸟说。另一只小鸟也接着央求道，“妈妈，让我飞出去吧！”

“孩子们，再等等，等你们的小翅膀再强壮有力些。”

鸟妈妈和小鸟们叽叽喳喳地说着话。

所以小鸟们又等了几天。几天后，鸟妈妈们终于让他们飞出了家。小鸟们在蓝天中自由翱翔，鸟妈妈始终跟随着他们。她想，我会保护他们的，因为我是他们的妈妈。