---
url: https://gaojian.site/new-concept/book-4/41-training-elephants.md
description: 新概念英语第四册：Training Elephants。精读、词块回忆、双向译练、句法、逻辑与FSRS复习。
---

# 41 · 训练大象

### 第1段

Two main techniques have been used for training elephants, which we may call respectively the tough and the gentle. The former method simply consists of setting an elephant to work and beating him until he does what is expected of him. Apart from any moral considerations this is a stupid method of training, for it produces a resentful animal who at a later stage may well turn man-killer. The gentle method requires more patience in the early stages, but produces a cheerful, good-tempered elephant who will give many years of loyal service.
The first essential in elephant training is to assign to the animal a single mahout who will be entirely responsible for the job. Elephants like to have one master just as dogs do, and are capable of a considerable degree of personal affection. There are even stories of half-trained elephant calves who have refused to feed and pined to death when by some unavoidable circumstance they have been deprived of their own trainer. Such extreme cases must probably be taken with a grain of salt, but they do underline the general principle that the relationship between elephant and mahout is the key to successful training.
The most economical age to capture an elephant for training is between fifteen and twenty years, for it is then almost ready to undertake heavy work and can begin to earn its keep straight away. But animals of this age do not easily become subservient to man, and a very firm hand must be employed in the early stages. The captive elephant, still roped to a tree, plunges and screams every time a man approaches, and for several days will probably refuse all food through anger and fear. Sometimes a tame elephant is tethered nearby to give the wild one confidence, and in most cases the captive gradually quietens down and begins to accept its food. The next stage is to get the elephant to the training establishment, a ticklish business which is achieved with the aid of two tame elephants roped to the captive on either side.
When several elephants are being trained at one time, it is customary for the new arrival to be placed between the stalls of two captives whose training is already well advanced. It is then left completely undisturbed with plenty of food and water so that it can absorb the atmosphere of its new home and see that nothing particularly alarming is happening to its companions. When it is eating normally, its own training begins. The trainer stands in front of the elephant holding a long stick with a sharp metal point. Two assistants, mounted on tame elephants, control the captive from either side, while others rub their hands over his
skin to the accompaniment of a monotonous and soothing chant. This is supposed to induce pleasurable sensations in the elephant, and its effects are reinforced by the use of endearing epithets, such as "ho! My son", or "ho! my father", or "my mother", according to the age and sex of the captive. The elephant is not immediately susceptible to such blandishments, however, and usually lashes fiercely with its trunk in all directions. These movements are controlled by the trainer with the metal-pointed stick, and the trunk eventually becomes so sore that the elephant curls it up and seldom afterwards uses it for offensive purposes.

中文理解：训练大象主要采用过两种方法，我们姑且称之为强硬法和温和法。前一种方法很简单：让大象干活，打到它照人的要求去做为止。即使不考虑道德问题，这也是一种愚蠢的训练方法，因为这样训出来的大象满怀怨恨，日后很可能伤人致死。温和的方法在初期需要更多耐心，却能训出性情愉快、脾气温顺的大象，忠实地为人服务多年。
训象的首要条件，是给每头象固定安排一名驯象员，由他全权负责。大象和狗一样，喜欢认定一个主人，也能与人建立很深的感情。甚至有这样的传闻：有些小象尚未完全驯服，就因不可避免的原因与自己的驯象员分开，结果拒绝进食，日渐消瘦，最终死去。这些极端故事恐怕不能尽信，但它们确实说明了一个基本原则：大象与驯象员的关系，是训练能否成功的关键。
从经济上看，捕来训练的大象以十五至二十岁最合适，因为这时它们已差不多能干重活，可以马上开始挣回饲养费用。不过，这个年龄的大象不容易服从人，训练初期必须采用十分强硬的手段。刚捕来的大象拴在树上，一有人靠近，就向前猛冲、大声嘶叫，还可能因为愤怒和恐惧，一连几天拒绝进食。有时，人们会把一头驯服的象拴在旁边，让野象安心一些。多数情况下，被捕的象会渐渐安静下来，开始进食。下一步是把它带到训练场。这是件棘手的事，需要把两头驯象分别拴在它的两侧，协助押送。
同时训练几头象时，通常会把新来的象安置在两头训练已颇有进展的象之间。随后，人们给它充足的食物和水，完全不去打扰，让它慢慢熟悉新家的环境，也看看同伴身上并没有发生什么特别可怕的事。等它进食正常后，训练才正式开始。驯象员手持一根带尖锐金属头的长棍，站到象的面前。
两名助手骑在驯象背上，从两侧控制新捕来的象；其他人则一边哼着单调、舒缓的曲调，一边用手抚摸它的皮肤。人们认为，这样能让大象感到舒服。为了加强效果，他们还会根据象的年龄和性别，亲昵地叫它“嗬，我的孩子”“嗬，我的父亲”或“我的母亲”。然而，大象不会马上被这些哄劝打动，通常仍会猛烈地朝四面八方甩动鼻子。驯象员用带金属尖头的棍子制止这些动作。最后，象鼻疼得卷了起来，此后它也很少再用鼻子攻击人。

* **consists of**：由……构成；通常不用被动语态，不说is consisted of。

* **a resentful animal**：心怀怨恨的动物；undefined

* **in the early stages**：在初期；stage是阶段，时间关系不只靠过去式。

* **good-tempered**：脾气温和的；undefined

* **loyal service**：忠实的服务；undefined

* **assign to**：分配给；任务和负责者不能倒置，也可assign someone a role。

* **responsible for**：负责……；for说明职责，也可引出造成结果的原因。

* **capable of**：有能力；能够；of 后接 doing，不用 to do。

* **personal affection**：对特定个体的感情；undefined

* **a grain of salt**：保留一点怀疑；不是全盘否定，而是不完全照信。

* **underline the general principle**：凸显基本原则；这里是强调，不是必须实际画线。

* **the key to**：……的关键；to是介词，不接动词原形。

* **undertake heavy work**：承担重活；undertake不等于把工作做完，强调承担。

* **earn its keep**：挣回饲养费用；也可泛指凭劳动维持生活，本文用于大象。

* **a very firm hand**：十分强硬的手段；undefined

* **through anger and fear**：出于愤怒和恐惧；undefined

* **give the wild one confidence**：使野象安心；undefined

* **quietens down**：安静下来；英式常见，也可用quiet down，强调状态变化。

* **with the aid of**：在……帮助下；说明协助资源，不是唯一原因。

* **on either side**：在两侧；在这类分布语境 either side 指两边各一侧，不是只在某一边。

* **left completely undisturbed**：完全不受打扰；undefined

* **absorb the atmosphere**：适应并感受环境；比喻感受氛围，不是吸入空气成分。

* **to the accompaniment of**：伴随着；强调动作伴某种声音，常见于叙述或音乐。

* **endearing epithets**：亲昵称呼；undefined

* **for offensive purposes**：用于攻击；undefined

#### Two main techniques have been used for training elephants, which we may call respectively the tough and the gentle.

复合句，主句为主谓结构，which 引导定语从句，为主谓宾补形式.

翻译时采用拟人修辞手法，吃硬的还是吃软的.

#### The former method simply consists of setting an elephant to work and beating him until he does what is expected of him.

复合句，主句为主谓宾结构，of 后面跟动名词，until 跟时间状语从句，也为主谓宾结构，宾语由 what 引导的宾语从句充当，该宾语从句为主谓宾结构.

#### Apart from any moral considerations this is a stupid method of training, for it produces a resentful animal who at a later stage may well turn man-killer.

复合句，主句为主系表结构，for 引导原因状语从句.

该原因状语从句中又有一个 who 引导的定语从句，修饰 animal.

#### The gentle method requires more patience in the early stages, but produces a cheerful, good-tempered elephant who will give many years of loyal service.

复合句，主句为主谓宾结构，but 连接了两个谓语 requires 和 produces，其中谓语 produces 所对应的宾语 elephant 后面还带有一个 who 引导的定语从句，修饰 elephant.

many years of loyal service 从语法上看，是 of loyal service 作后置定语修饰 many years，但从意思上看，应为 many years of 来修饰 loyal service，英语中这样的情况较为 常见，可以将其合为一体理解，句子成分的分析是为了更好地理解作者的意思，而不是成为理解原文的累赘.

#### The first essential in elephant training is to assign to the animal a single mahout who will be entirely responsible for the job.

复合句，主句为主系表结构，不定式短语 to assign…mahout 作表语，who 引导的定语从句可以理解成主系表结构，也可以理解成主谓宾结构，即把 will be responsible for 理解成谓语也行，修饰 mahout.

#### Elephants like to have one master just as dogs do, and are capable of a considerable degree of personal affection.

并列句，前后句均为主谓宾结构，and 连接两个谓语.

#### There are even stories of half-trained elephant calves who have refused to feed and pined to death when by some unavoidable circumstance they have been deprived of their own trainer.

复合句，主句为 there be 句型.

who 引导定语从句修饰 calves，该从句有两个谓语，由 and 连接，在该定语从句之中，包含一个 when 引导的时间状语从句.

#### Such extreme cases must probably be taken with a grain of salt, but they do underline the general principle that the relationship between elephant and mahout is the key to successful training.

复合句，由 but 连接两个主谓宾结构的句子组成.

后句含有 that 引导的同位语从句补充解释准则 principle 为何，同位语从句是主系 表结构.

#### The most economical age to capture an elephant for training is between fifteen and twenty years, for it is then almost ready to undertake heavy work and can begin to earn its keep straight away.

复合句，主句为主系表结构，后跟 for 引导的原因状语从句.

#### But animals of this age do not easily become subservient to man, and a very firm hand must be employed in the early stages.

并列句，由 and 连接，前句为主系表结构，后句为主谓结构.

a very firm hand 在这里不是课文所谓的“强有力的老手”，属于误译. a firm hand 指强硬手腕，通常用在政治上，表达领导力度. 这里的 employed 亦非聘请，而是采用（use）. 后文所讲述的驯象方法非常强硬，没有任何关于所谓强有力的驯象员的描述.

例：The government has (a firm) hand \[on the key property market] \[since it controls the land supply.] 政府在重点房地产市场上手腕强硬，因其牢牢控制土地供应.

#### The captive elephant, still roped to a tree, plunges and screams every time a man approaches, and for several days will probably refuse all food through anger and fear.

主句以 and 连接：大象每逢人靠近就挣扎尖叫，之后还可能拒食。plunges 与 screams 并列，will probably refuse 给出接下来的可能反应。

every time a man approaches 引出时间状语从句，表达每当有人靠近；不能因为纸面标记的位置就把完整从句说成不是从句。

still roped to a tree 补充大象当时被拴住的状态；读主干后再接回这一限制。

#### Sometimes a tame elephant is tethered nearby to give the wild one confidence, and in most cases the captive gradually quietens down and begins to accept its food.

并列句，由 and 连接两个主谓宾结构的句子组成.

#### The next stage is to get the elephant to the training establishment, a ticklish business which is achieved with the aid of two tame elephants roped to the captive on either side.

复合句，主句为主系表结构，动词不定式作表语.

a ticklish business 为该不定式所述将大象带往驯服场所这件事情的同位语，由 which 引导的定语从句修饰.

#### When several elephants are being trained at one time, it is customary for the new arrival to be placed between the stalls of two captives whose training is already well advanced.

复合句，it 为形式主语，to be…captives 为实际主语，该实际主语中的 captives 由 whose 引导的定语从句修饰.

when 在句首引导时间状语从句，该从句为主谓结构.

#### It is then left completely undisturbed with plenty of food and water so that it can absorb the atmosphere of its new home and see that nothing particularly alarming is happening to its companions.

复合句，so that 引导目的状语从句，该状语从句为复合句，由 and 连接，主语为 it，and 后面的 see 句相当于省略了 it.

(it) see that…companions 包含一个 that 引导的宾语从句.

#### When it is eating normally, its own training begins.

复合句，when 引导的时间状语从句，以及主谓结构的主句.

#### The trainer stands in front of the elephant holding a long stick with a sharp metal point.

简单句，主谓结构，in front…elephant 为介词短语作位置状语，holding…point 为介词短语作伴随状语，这里可以再细分一点，把 with a sharp metal point 视为介词短语作后置定语修饰 stick，实际划分中不需要涉及.

#### Two assistants, mounted on tame elephants, control the captive from either side, while others rub their hands over his

skin to the accompaniment of a monotonous and soothing chant.

复合句，主句主谓宾结构，后句为 while 引导的时间状语从句，主谓宾结构.

mounted on tame elephants 为定语，在阅读时，应把握主干结构，先将其忽视，归为插入语，再转过头理解其意思.

#### This is supposed to induce pleasurable sensations in the elephant, and its effects are reinforced by the use of endearing epithets, such as "ho! My son", or "ho! my father", or "my mother", according to the age and sex of the captive.

并列句，由 and 连接两个主谓宾结构的句子组成.

第二句含同位语，其中第二个 or 在结构上是连接 my father 和 my mother 的，第一个 or 则是连接 my son 和 my father/mother，以配合年龄和性别两个类别，而不是三个类别.

#### The elephant is not immediately susceptible to such blandishments, however, and usually lashes fiercely with its trunk in all directions.

并列句，由 and 连接，第一句为主系表，第二句为主谓宾结构，其中第二句省略了主语 elephant.

#### These movements are controlled by the trainer with the metal-pointed stick, and the trunk eventually becomes so sore that the elephant curls it up and seldom afterwards uses it for offensive purposes.

该句为复合句，主句为并列句，由 and 连接两个句子组成，主语不一致.

第二句包含 so…that 结构引导的结果状语从句，该从句为主谓宾结构，含 curls 和 uses 两个并列谓语.

#### 原稿资料出处

\[1] http://edition.cnn.com/ASIANOW/asiaweek/98/1023/cs5-2.html

## 学完这一课

列两项对象时用respectively保持名称对应。

[Nce · 本册复习台](/new-concept/book-4/review) · [三册选择地图](/new-concept/)

*译文依据整理稿，由本站按中文表达重新校订；解析据吴应时整理资料及首轮审校稿；词伙与练习提示为本站学习设计。原PDF第178—183页，2022年2月第2版。*