英国学生科学读本 第62期:吃苦耐劳的驴子(2)

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　　在驴子前后牙齿之间的腭部有一片空白区域，我们将铁制马嚼子放进这里，在马嚼子上拴上缰绳，这样就可以骑驴或赶驴了。

　　Each of the donkey's four feet consists of a single large, strong toe, which is protected by a horny covering or nail called the hoof³. The hoof alone would wear away too quickly on the stony⁴ roads over which the donkey has to walk in our country; so the blacksmith fastens plates of iron, which we may call "donkey-shoes, " to its hoofs⁵. They are of the same shape as horses-hoes, but are a good deal smaller.

　　驴子的四个足上分别长有一个强壮的大脚趾，外面则包裹着一层名叫蹄子的角质结构或指甲，能够对脚趾起到保护作用。我们国家的道路是石头铺的，而驴子们则需要不停跋涉，如果只是依靠这些蹄子，那么它们将很快磨平；于是，铁匠们把铁板（我们可以称之为“驴蹄铁”）固定在它们的蹄子上。这些铁板与马蹄铁形状一样，只是小得多。

　　The donkey is an extremely useful animal. It costs much less than a horse, and it is very hardy⁶, strong, and sure-footed. Many people think that a donkey is a very stupid creature, but this is a great mistake. When it is worked too hard, badly treated, and badly fed, the donkey becomes both stubborn and stupid; but if any other animal were treated in that way, it would do just the same.

　　驴子是一种非常有用的动物。它们比马要便宜很多，而且它们吃苦耐劳、强壮有力并且脚踏实地。很多人觉得驴子很笨，实际上，这是一种错误观点。它们辛勤劳作，但却总是遭到粗鲁的对待，伙食情况也非常恶劣。在这种情况下，驴子就会变得顽固且迟钝；然而，如果总是承受这样的悲惨生活，那么任何动物都会变得像驴子一样。

　　Any boy or girl who has a pet donkey to ride will find that the donkey can be both clever and patient, as well as loving and good. But to get the donkey to do its best for us, we must be very kind to it.

　　如果哪位小朋友能够拥有一头宠物驴，就会发现，驴子聪明异常、吃苦耐劳、讨人喜欢并且善良可靠。不过，为了充分发挥驴子的作用，我们必须善待它们。

　　Any one who ill-uses a dumb animal must be either ignorant or wicked, or perhaps both. People who beat and ill-treat the donkey or any other animal can now be punished either by having to pay a fine or by being put into prison.

　　虐待这样一种老实的动物不是愚蠢就是邪恶，或许既愚蠢又邪恶吧。如今，殴打与虐待驴子或其他动物的人都会受到罚款或入狱的惩罚。

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