Lesson 1 A puma at large

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Where must the puma have come from?

Pumas are large, cat-like animalswhich are found in America.

When reports came into London Zoothat a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, they werenot taken seriously.

However, as the evidence began toaccumulate, experts from the Zoo felt obliged toinvestigate, for the descriptionsgiven by people who claimed to have seen the puma wereextraordinarily similar.

The hunt for the puma began in asmall village where a woman picking blackberries saw 'a large cat' only fiveyards away from her.

It immediately ran away when shesaw it, and experts confirmed that a puma will not attack a human being unlessit is cornered.

The search proved difficult, forthe puma was often observed at one place in the morning and at another placetwenty miles away in the evening.

Wherever it went, it left behind ita trail of dead deer and small animals like rabbits.

Paw prints were seen in a number ofplaces and puma fur was found clinging to bushes.

Several people complained of'cat-like noises' at night and a businessman on a fishing trip saw the puma upa tree.

The experts were now fully convinced that the animal was a puma,but where had it come from?

As no pumas had been reportedmissing from any zoo in the country, this one must have been in thepossession of a private collector and somehow managedto escape.

The hunt went on for several weeks,but the puma was not caught.

It is disturbing to think that adangerous wild animal is still at large in the quiet countryside.

 

 

1        atlarge

2        accumulate

accumulatedepreciation/amortization累计折旧

3        pick

pick and choose挑挑拣拣

4        1) prove-> turn out to be不及物动词

2) prove 及物动词证实

5        hunt

The hunt for theremains of the Titanic

6        cling– clung – clung   clinging

His wet shirtclung to his body.

She clings to thebelief that her husband will come back.

7        Complain

Complain about theweather

Complain of

8        corner=> put into a difficult position

she corned me.

The questioncorned me.

The bus is aroundthe corner.

The winter isaround the corner.

9        n. +adj.

cat-like   lady-like man-like baby-like dog-like  dream-like

10     spot vi. pick out, recognize one personor thing out of many

此处用spot 强调在荒野中发现puma不易。

I finally spotted just the book I wanted inthe bookstore.

11    disturb

1)     sorry to disturb you

2)     Do not disturb.

12    convince-> make sb. feel certain; cause sb. to realize

1)     How can I convince you to visit Mr. Bingley?  -- “Pride and Prejudice’

2)     We are able to convince the students of the needof wider reading.

wider reading 广泛阅读

13    as引导的时间状语从句, for 引导的原因状语从句

However, as the evidence began to accumulate,experts from the zoo felt obliged to investigate,for the description given by people who claimed to have seen thepuma were extraordinarily similar.

14    as引导的原因状语从句

As no pumas hadbeen reported missing from any zoo in the country, this one must have been inthe possession of a private collector and somehow managed to escape.

此处不用for引导是为了避免重复