高级英语试题(五) . Explaining the italicized words in the following sentences. (20%) 1. Bargaining is the order of the day, and veiled women move at a leisurely pace from shor to shop, selecting, pricing and doing a little preliminary bargaining 2. The din of the stall-holders crying their wares, . is continuous and makes you di=y 3. The Middle Eastern bazaar takes you back hundreds even thousands-of years shopkeepers dealing in the same kind of goods.. collect in the same area 5. Little donkeys with harmoniously tinkling bells thread their way among the throngs of people entering and leaving the bazaar. 6. Serious looking men spoke to one another as if they were oblivious of the crowds about them, and bobbed up and down repeatedly in little bows, as they exchanged the ritual formula of gratitude and respect 7. The very act of stepping on this soil, in breathing this air of Hiroshima, was for me a far greater adventure than any trip or any reportorial assignment I'd previously taken 8. Where there should have been gentle blue-green waves lapping against the side of the ship, there was nothing but hot dry sand--- as far as I could see in all directions 9. The other ships of the fleet were also at rest in the sand, scattered in the dunes that stretched all the way to the horizon 10. Have you ever seen a lame animal, perhaps a dog run over by some careless person rich enough to own a car, sidle up to someone who is ignorant enough to be kind of him? 11. Presently General Dill, who had hastened down from London, came into my bedroom with detailed news 12. The Germans had invaded Russia on an enormous front, had surprised a large portion of he Soviet air Force grounded on the airfields, and seemed to be driving forward with great rapidity and violence 13. His gaze moved on to sweep the spacious, well-appointed mom, encompassing the Duke who faced them uncertainly, his back to a window 14. The house detective's piggy eyes surveyed her sardonically from his gross jowled face
1 高级英语试题（五） I. Explaining the italicized words in the following sentences. (20%) 1. Bargaining is the order of the day, and veiled women move at a leisurely pace from shop to shop, selecting, pricing and doing a little preliminary bargaining… 2. The din of the stall-holders crying their wares, … is continuous and makes you dizzy. 3. The Middle Eastern bazaar takes you back hundreds—even thousands—of years. 4. … shopkeepers dealing in the same kind of goods… collect in the same area. 5. Little donkeys with harmoniously tinkling bells thread their way among the throngs of people entering and leaving the bazaar. 6. Serious looking men spoke to one another as if they were oblivious of the crowds about them, and bobbed up and down repeatedly in little bows, as they exchanged the ritual formula of gratitude and respect. 7. The very act of stepping on this soil, in breathing this air of Hiroshima, was for me a far greater adventure than any trip or any reportorial assignment I’d previously taken. 8. Where there should have been gentle blue-green waves lapping against the side of the ship, there was nothing but hot dry sand--- as far as I could see in all directions. 9. The other ships of the fleet were also at rest in the sand, scattered in the dunes that stretched all the way to the horizon. 10. Have you ever seen a lame animal, perhaps a dog run over by some careless person rich enough to own a car, sidle up to someone who is ignorant enough to be kind of him? 11. Presently General Dill, who had hastened down from London, came into my bedroom with detailed news. 12. The Germans had invaded Russia on an enormous front, had surprised a large portion of the Soviet Air Force grounded on the airfields, and seemed to be driving forward with great rapidity and violence. 13. His gaze moved on to sweep the spacious, well-appointed room, encompassing the Duke who faced them uncertainly, his back to a window. 14. The house detective’s piggy eyes surveyed her sardonically from his gross jowled face
15. The TV set blinks on with the days first newscast: a selective rundown(ordered up the night before) of all the latest worldwide events affecting the economy--legislative 16. The latter-day Aladdin, still snugly abed, then presses a button on a bedside box and issues a string of business and personal memos, which appear instantly on the genie screen 17. Someday, there may well be a similar memorial to the unfulfilled prophecies of the creators of the latest breakthrough---interactivity 18. Someday, there may well be a similar memorial to the unfulfilled prophecies of the creators of the latest breakthrough---interactivity 19. a buzz ran through the crowd as I took my place in the packed court on that sweltering July day in 1925 20. After the preliminary sparring over legalities, Darrow got up to make his opening I. Selecting the best answer based on language points from the textbook(20% 1. She was almost blinded by the glare of the headlights from the approaching car b. darkness bright d. hot 2. The Japanese crowd did not appear to have the same preoccupations that I had a. bewilderment confusion d. seizure 3. Just because she doesnt like cooking, her husband thinks she is good for nothing a. nice b. wonderful c. worthy of d. sufficient 4. It is our firm conviction that every effort should be made to preserve world peace supposition b. belief vulsion ssumption 5. A group of Chinese victims of wWll armed with lawyers went to Japan to attest to the court 2
2 15. The TV set blinks on with the day’s first newscast: a selective rundown (ordered up the night before) of all the latest worldwide events affecting the economy---legislative, political, monetary. 16. The latter-day Aladdin, still snugly abed, then presses a button on a bedside box and issues a string of business and personal memos, which appear instantly on the genie screen. 17. Someday, there may well be a similar memorial to the unfulfilled prophecies of the creators of the latest breakthrough---interactivity. 18. Someday, there may well be a similar memorial to the unfulfilled prophecies of the creators of the latest breakthrough---interactivity. 19. A buzz ran through the crowd as I took my place in the packed court on that sweltering July day in 1925. 20. After the preliminary sparring over legalities, Darrow got up to make his opening statement. II. Selecting the best answer based on language points from the textbook (20%) 1．She was almost blinded by the glare of the headlights from the approaching car. a. coldness b. darkness c. brightness d. hotness 2. The Japanese crowd did not appear to have the same preoccupations that I had. a. bewilderment b. confusion c. obsession d. seizure 3. Just because she doesn’t like cooking, her husband thinks she is good for nothing. a. nice b. wonderful c. worthy of d. sufficient 4. It is our firm conviction that every effort should be made to preserve world peace. a. supposition b. belief c. convulsion d. assumption 5. A group of Chinese victims of WWII armed with lawyers went to Japan to attest to the court
war crimes by the then Japanese government 6. The two families have been holding great hatred for a score of years and there seems to be no a. reconciliation 7. The minister made a vigorous defense of the governments policies a. pow 8. It has been established that she was not at the scene at the time of the crime 9. This river teems with all kinds of fish in summer extinguishes with 10. The committee adjourned their discussion until the following week l1. He cloaked his evil intentions with friendly appearance lighted 12. The woman managed to escape from her would-be attacker enre 13. The Three Gorges hydraulic scheme has been and will be one of the greatest in Chinese
3 war crimes by the then Japanese government. a. appeal b. sue c. confirm d. protest 6. The two families have been holding great hatred for a score of years and there seems to be no hope of ____________ between them. a. reconciliation b. exasperation c. desperation d. retaliation 7. The minister made a vigorous defense of the government’s policies. a. powerful b. lengthy c. prolonged d. pretentious 8. It has been established that she was not at the scene at the time of the crime. a. set up b. settled c. converted d. ascertained 9. This river teems with all kinds of fish in summer. a. abounds in b. perishes in c. extinguishes with d. disposes of 10. The committee adjourned their discussion until the following week. a. continued b. suspended c. accomplished d. commenced 11. He cloaked his evil intentions with friendly appearance. a. revealed b. disclosed c. spotlighted d. concealed 12. The woman managed to escape from her would-be attacker. a. likely b. enraged c. attempted d. timid 13. The Three Gorges hydraulic scheme has been and will be one of the greatest in Chinese history
em 14. The destruction of humankinds is such that it threatens other living species with extinction C. annoyance d. assimilation 15. We had to sit and swelter in the room while our friends were at the beach a. doze off b. suffer from heat c. take shelter d. toil 16. The United States is making every endeavor to enlist the support of its allies for preparation of the overthrow of the existing Iraqi government a. guarantee b c. confirm 17. He was overwhelmed by grief after the sad news a. outnumbered outwe C. overcome 18. The opposition parties are sure to exploit the governments difficulties over this issue b. develo 19. Military strategists have outlined several convincing for the outbreak of a nuclear war a. scenarIos b. scenarios C. scinareos 20. I suppose laziness is one of the frailties of human nature a. peculiarities 21. Some Chinese companies are striving to penetrate the world markets b. occupy
4 a. program b. conspiracy c. system d. collaboration 14. The destruction of humankinds is such that it threatens other living species with extinction. a. annihilation b. annexation c. annoyance d. assimilation 15. We had to sit and swelter in the room while our friends were at the beach. a. doze off b. suffer from heat c. take shelter d. toil 16. The United States is making every endeavor to enlist the support of its allies for preparation of the overthrow of the existing Iraqi government. a. guarantee b. acquire c. confirm d. strengthen 17. He was overwhelmed by grief after the sad news. a. outnumbered b. outweighed c. overcome d. overawed 18. The opposition parties are sure to exploit the government’s difficulties over this issue. a. employ b. develop c. resolve d. expend 19. Military strategists have outlined several convincing ___________ for the outbreak of a nuclear war. a. scenarios b. scinarios c. scinareos d. scenerios 20. I suppose laziness is one of the frailties of human nature. a. peculiarities b. characteristics c. weaknesses d. identities 21. Some Chinese companies are striving to penetrate the world markets. a. scramble b. occupy
c. secede 22. It is a point of for me to repay c. honor d. grace 23. The collision of the planet into ours would be comparable to the power of five atomic bombs that hit hiroshima during world War ii should it occur in the future b. be equivalent to c. not match d. be comparative 24. Scientists used to believe that all the stars developed from primordial mass of gases d. primavera 25. Your thoughtless behavior has caused us a great deal of distress d.m 26. The Supreme Court demanded his interpretation of his involvement in the frauds b expla 27. On many of the previous occasions the US trade negotiators would revert to the issue of Chinas human rights problem b. reiterate restated 28. The police are speculating that the suicide bombers may be linked to a terrorist organization b c. contemplating d. subsiding 29. Albert einstein is regarded as the father of modern scientific thought a. formulator c. creator aglarlzer
5 c. secede d. enter 22. It is a point of __________ for me to repay all my debt. a. face b. order c. honor d. grace 23. The collision of the planet into ours would be comparable to the power of five atomic bombs that hit Hiroshima during World War II should it occur in the future. a. exceed b. be equivalent to c. not match d. be comparative 24. Scientists used to believe that all the stars developed from primordial mass of gases. a. derivative b. primeval c. prestigious d. primavera 25. Your thoughtless behavior has caused us a great deal of distress. a. suffering b. difficulty c. inconvenience d. trouble 26. The Supreme Court demanded his interpretation of his involvement in the frauds. a. submission b. presentation c. explanation d. acknowledgement 27. On many of the previous occasions the US trade negotiators would revert to the issue of China’s human rights problems. a. reconsider b. reiterate c. restated d. reverse 28. The police are speculating that the suicide bombers may be linked to a terrorist organization. a. confirming b. guessing c. contemplating d. subsiding 29. Albert Einstein is regarded as the father of modern scientific thought. a. formulator b. advocate c. creator d. plagiarizer
30. Mr. Johnson is to preside over the seminar for genetic engineering prepare 31. The a point of prolonging the debat b. advanced made d. insisted 32. He was extremely nervous at the of his turn to make the presentation prospective d. prospect 33. I was so annoyed that I felt impelled to write a letter to the local newspaper b. discouraged 34. The chairman gave his assent of the proposal to the committee appro d. opposition 35. The increased demand for their skills has given them greater bargaining power b. negotiating c. quarrelling d. performing 36. A lot of government offices and museums in Washington are made to the public without admissions fees b. acceptable ble 37. They perceived that they were unwelcome there and left a. were conscIous b. were peremptory c. were complacent d. were compatible 38. Large areas of land have been contaminated by the leakage from the nuclear reactor a. corrupted b. discolored
6 30. Mr. Johnson is to preside over the seminar for genetic engineering. a. Address b. prepare c. host d. publicize 31. The congressman _________ a point of prolonging the debate. a. set b. advanced c. made d. insisted 32. He was extremely nervous at the _________ of his turn to make the presentation. a. potential b. prospective c. probability d. prospect 33. I was so annoyed that I felt impelled to write a letter to the local newspaper. a. compelled b. discouraged c. exhausted d. exhilarated 34. The chairman gave his assent of the proposal to the committee. a. refusal b. denial c. approval d. opposition 35. The increased demand for their skills has given them greater bargaining power. a. purchasing b. negotiating c. quarrelling d. performing 36. A lot of government offices and museums in Washington are made _________ to the public without admissions fees. a. accessory b. acceptable c. accepted d. accessible 37. They perceived that they were unwelcome there and left. a. were conscious b. were peremptory c. were complacent d. were compatible 38. Large areas of land have been contaminated by the leakage from the nuclear reactor. a. corrupted b. discolored
polluted 39. His tension was veiled by casual remarks concealed b. inspired d. weakened 40. The runaway vehicle bore down inexorably on the trapped rabbit. b. mercilessly c. inextricably d. inexplicably IlL. Cloze(10%) Passage I have to declare the decision of His Majesty's Government---and I feel sure it is a decision in I the great Dominions will in due course concur---for we must speak out now at once without a day's delay I have to make the 2, but can you doubt what our policy will be? We have 3 one aim and one single, irrevocable purpose. We are resolved to destroy Hitler and every of the Nazi regime. From this nothing will turn us---nothing. We will never we will never negotiate with Hitler or any of his gang We shall fight him by land, we shall fight him by sea, we shall fight him in the air, until, with God's help, we have rid the earth 6 his shadow and liberated its peoples from his 7 Any man or state who fights on gainst Nazidom will have our aid. Any man or state who marches 8 Hitler is our foe. That is our policy and that is our declaration It9 therefore that we shall give whatever help we can to Russia and the Russian people. We shall 10 all our friends and allies in every part of the world to take the same course and pursue it, as we shall faithfully and steadfastly to the end l.A. that B. it C. which D. how 2.A. decision B construction C. instruction D. declaration 3.A. C. but D. that 4.A. vestige B. remains C. relics D. flotsam 5. A participate B pa C depart D parley 6.A. off B. from awa D. of 7. A. shadow B yoke C oppression D pressure 8.A. with B towards C. after D. befo 9.A B. result C. indicates D. follows 10.A. resort to B appeal to C require D. attract assa After the evidence was completed, Bryan rose to address the jury. The issue was simple, he declared. "The Christian believes that man came from above the evolutionist believes that he must have come from 11. The spectators chuckled and Bryan warmed 12 his work In one hand he brandished a biology text as he 13 the scientists who had come to Dayton to testify for the defence. "The Bible, "he thundered 14 his sonorous organ tones, "is no going to be driven out of this court by experts who come hundreds of miles to 15 that they
7 c. polluted d. decayed 39. His tension was veiled by casual remarks. a. concealed b. inspired c. sharpened d. weakened 40. The runaway vehicle bore down inexorably on the trapped rabbit. a. stubbornly b. mercilessly c. inextricably d. inexplicably III. Cloze (10%) Passage 1 I have to declare the decision of His Majesty’s Government---and I feel sure it is a decision in ___1___ the great Dominions will in due course concur---for we must speak out now at once, without a day’s delay. I have to make the ___2___, but can you doubt what our policy will be? We have ___3___ one aim and one single, irrevocable purpose. We are resolved to destroy Hitler and every ___4___ of the Nazi regime. From this nothing will turn us---nothing. We will never ___5___, we will never negotiate with Hitler or any of his gang. We shall fight him by land, we shall fight him by sea, we shall fight him in the air, until, with God’s help, we have rid the earth ___6___ his shadow and liberated its peoples from his ___7___. Any man or state who fights on against Nazidom will have our aid. Any man or state who marches ___8___ Hitler is our foe. That is our policy and that is our declaration. It ___9___ therefore that we shall give whatever help we can to Russia and the Russian people. We shall ___10___ all our friends and allies in every part of the world to take the same course and pursue it, as we shall faithfully and steadfastly to the end. 1. A. that B. it C. which D. how 2. A. decision B. construction C. instruction D. declaration 3. A. or B. single C. but D. that 4. A. vestige B. remains C. relics D. flotsam 5. A. participate B. part C. depart D. parley 6. A. off B. from C. away D. of 7. A. shadow B. yoke C. oppression D. pressure 8. A. with B. towards C. after D. before 9. A. means B. results C. indicates D. follows 10.A. resort to B. appeal to C. require D. attract Passage 2 After the evidence was completed, Bryan rose to address the jury. “The issue was simple,” he declared, “The Christian believes that man came from above. The evolutionist believes that he must have come from ___11___.” The spectators chuckled and Bryan warmed ___12___ his work. In one hand he brandished a biology text as he ___13___ the scientists who had come to Dayton to testify for the defence. “The Bible,” he thundered ___14___ his sonorous organ tones, “is not going to be driven out of this court by experts who come hundreds of miles to ___15___ that they
can reconcile evolution, with its ancestors in the jungle,16 man made by God in His image and put here for His purpose as part of a divine plan As he finished, jaw out-thrust, eyes flashing, the of"Amen". Yet something was lacking. 18 was the fierce fervour of the days when cal 19 like a prairie fire. The crowd seemed to feel that their champion had not scorched the infidels with the hot breath of his 20 as he should have 11. A. the sky B below C low D. earth 12. A from B. int C to D. at 13.A. announced B denied C denounced D. declared 14.A. with B C. without D. within 15. A. test B justify C B from C 17.A. burned 8.A. Gone C. Lost D. At a loss 19.Aarea B. field arena 20.A. orator B. oratorical C. oration IV. Error Correction(10%) In the following passage there are 10 mistakes, one in each numbered line. Read the passag and correct the mistakes. If you change a word, cmss it out and write the substitute in the corresponding blank. If you add a word, put the insertion mark (" in the right place and write the word you want to add in the corresponding blank. Ifyou delete a word, cross it out and put a slash a in the blank. Make your answers clear on the Answer Sheet Most americans remember mark Twain as the father of Huck Finns idyllic cruiser through eternal boyhood and Tom Sawyer's endless summer of freedom and adventure. Indeed this nation's best loved author was a bit as adventurous, patriotic, romantic, and humorous 2 as anyone has ever imagined. I found another Twain as well---one who growth cynical, bitter, saddened by the profound personal tragedies dealt him. a man who became obsessed in the frailties of the human 4 race, who saw clearly in ahead a black wall of night. Tramp printer, river pilot, Confederate guerrilla, prospector, starry eyed cynic: The man who became Mark Twain born Sammuel Langhorne 6 Clemens and he arranged across the nation for more than a third of his life. 7 digesting the new American experience before sharing it with the world as writer and lecturer. He adopted his pen name from the cry heard in his steamboat days, signaling two fathoms of water---a navigable deep His popularity is tested by the fact that more than a score of his books 9 remain out of print, and translations are still read around the world v Paraphrase(20%) You pass from the heat and glare of a big, open square into a cool, dark cavern which extends as far as the eye can see, losing itself in the shadowy distance 2. Little donkeys with harmoniously tinkling bells thread their way among the throngs
8 can reconcile evolution, with its ancestors in the jungle, ___16___ man made by God in His image and put here for His purpose as part of a divine plan.” As he finished, jaw out-thrust, eyes flashing, the audience ___17___ into applause and shouts of “Amen”. Yet something was lacking. ___18___ was the fierce fervour of the days when Bryan had swept the political ___19___ like a prairie fire. The crowd seemed to feel that their champion had not scorched the infidels with the hot breath of his ___20___ as he should have. 11. A. the sky B. below C. low D. earth 12. A. from B. into C. to D. at 13. A. announced B. denied C. denounced D. declared 14. A. with B. in C. without D. within 15. A. test B. justify C. sponsor D. testify 16. A. on B. from C. into D. with 17. A. burned B. burst C. ran D. clasped 18. A. Gone B. Left C. Lost D. At a loss 19. A. area B. field C. arena D. land 20. A. orator B. oratorical C. oration D. oratory IV. Error Correction (10%) In the following passage there are 10 mistakes, one in each numbered line. Read the passage and correct the mistakes. If you change a word, cross it out and write the substitute in the corresponding blank. If you add a word, put the insertion mark (^) in the right place and write the word you want to add in the corresponding blank. If you delete a word, cross it out and put a slash (/) in the blank. Make your answers clear on the Answer Sheet. Most Americans remember Mark Twain as the father of Huck Finn’s idyllic cruiser through eternal boyhood and Tom Sawyer’s 1.________________ endless summer of freedom and adventure. Indeed, this nation’s bestloved author was a bit as adventurous , patriotic, romantic, and humorous 2. ______________ _ as anyone has ever imagined. I found another Twain as well---one who growth cynical, bitter, saddened by the profound personal tragedies life 3. ______________ _ dealt him., a man who became obsessed in the frailties of the human 4. _______________ race, who saw clearly in ahead a black wall of night. 5. _______________ Tramp printer, river pilot, Confederate guerrilla, prospector, starryeyed cynic: The man who became Mark Twain born Sammuel Langhorne 6.________________ Clemens and he arranged across the nation for more than a third of his life, 7. _______________ digesting the new American experience before sharing it with the world as writer and lecturer. He adopted his pen name from the cry heard in his steamboat days, signaling two fathoms of water --- a navigable deep. 8. _______________ His popularity is tested by the fact that more than a score of his books 9. ______________ _ remain out of print, and translations are still read around the world. 10. ______________ V Paraphrase (20%) 1. You pass from the heat and glare of a big, open square into a cool, dark cavern which extends as far as the eye can see, losing itself in the shadowy distance. 2. Little donkeys with harmoniously tinkling bells thread their way among the throngs
of people entering and leaving the bazaar 3. The roadway is about twelve feet wide, but it is narrowed every few yards by little stalls where goods of every conceivable kind are sold 4. The few Americans and Germans seemed just as inhibited as I was 5. Considering such scenarios is not a purely speculative exercise 6. He moved his fingers back in time to the ice of two decades 7. We shall be strengthened not weakened in determination and in resources 8. Pretty neat set-up you folks got 9. We'll show them a few tricks 10. Let's take this thing to court and test the legality of it VI Reading Comprehension(20%) When I first saw Pippa the cheetah, she was sitting pertly on a chair in the tearoom of the New Stanley Hotel in Nairobi. I had gone to meet her owners, an English couple who were leaving Kenya and wanted to ensure that their pet would find a good home. Pippa was wearing a harness and was able to sit at a table looking as if she might have a soft drink through a straw. she was a thoroughly spoiled cub Eighteen months later she had returned to the wild. She was living in the northern Frontier District where she had been born. She had learned to hunt for herself. had mated with a wild cheetah, and was raising a litter of cubs ippa's rehabilitation to the wild required patience, perseverance, love, and the same kind of respect for her as a being that I would have offered a fellow human. I had previously shared this love and respect with Elsa the lioness, whom my husband George and I had raised as a cub. But it was not simply a matter of affection--although there was plenty of that. The rehabilitation process was important as an experiment in developing a means of trying to guarantee the survival of endangered species. The cheetah is one of these; the lion may become one soon I learned many things from Elsa and Pippa. They proved always to be interesting and affectionate companions. And I enjoyed the closeness to nature that the rehabilitation process required. But there were many times when I was working with Elsa and Pippa, and there have en many times since, when I have wondered about another endangered species, a species generally as ignorant of the threat to its survival as these two cats had been. That species is man Some recent scientific, economic, and political research suggests that the curves for food demand and food supply will cross in a maximum of 60 years. By then, mans overpopulation increasing pollution, and the diminishing food supply could threaten to end human life on our planet. Being aware of this research, I could not help wondering what steps man could take to ensure his survival. Could he. for instance. learn from animals something about birth control inter-creature relationships, or thought communication that would help him avoid extinction? Generally, the first reaction to such musings is one of astonishment. The question phrases itself. What can man, the most highly evolved species of animal life, learn from less developed creatures? stonishment at this question itself suggests a starting place. Perhaps man needs to regain his lumility--and his sense of perspective. Perhaps he should look at himself as just another experiment of nature, no more important intrinsically than the thousands of other species evolved on our planet. Man is, after all, a fairly recent development. He has lived on earth only 1. 7 million years-not a very long time compared with the 400 million years of some creatures
9 of people entering and leaving the bazaar. 3. The roadway is about twelve feet wide, but it is narrowed every few yards by little stalls where goods of every conceivable kind are sold. 4. The few Americans and Germans seemed just as inhibited as I was. 5. Considering such scenarios is not a purely speculative exercise. 6. He moved his fingers back in time to the ice of two decades. 7. We shall be strengthened not weakened in determination and in resources. 8. Pretty neat set-up you folks got. 9. We’ll show them a few tricks. 10. Let’s take this thing to court and test the legality of it. VI. Reading Comprehension (20%) When I first saw Pippa the cheetah, she was sitting pertly on a chair in the tearoom of the New Stanley Hotel in Nairobi. I had gone to meet her owners, an English couple who were leaving Kenya and wanted to ensure that their pet would find a good home. Pippa was wearing a harness and was able to sit at a table, looking as if she might have a soft drink through a straw. She was a thoroughly spoiled cub. Eighteen months later she had returned to the wild. She was living in the Northern Frontier District where she had been born. She had learned to hunt for herself, had mated with a wild cheetah, and was raising a litter of cubs. Pippa’s rehabilitation to the wild required patience, perseverance, love, and the same kind of respect for her as a being that I would have offered a fellow human. I had previously shared this love and respect with Elsa the lioness, whom my husband George and I had raised as a cub. But it was not simply a matter of affection——although there was plenty of that. The rehabilitation process was important as an experiment in developing a means of trying to guarantee the survival of endangered species. The cheetah is one of these; the lion may become one soon. I learned many things from Elsa and Pippa. They proved always to be interesting and affectionate companions. And I enjoyed the closeness to nature that the rehabilitation process required. But there were many times when I was working with Elsa and Pippa, and there have been many times since, when I have wondered about another endangered species, a species generally as ignorant of the threat to its survival as these two cats had been. That species is man. Some recent scientific, economic, and political research suggests that the curves for food demand and food supply will cross in a maximum of 60 years. By then, man’s overpopulation, increasing pollution, and the diminishing food supply could threaten to end human life on our planet. Being aware of this research, I could not help wondering what steps man could take to ensure his survival. Could he, for instance, learn from animals something about birth control, inter-creature relationships, or thought communication that would help him avoid extinction? Generally, the first reaction to such musings is one of astonishment. The question phrases itself. What can man, the most highly evolved species of animal life, learn from less developed creatures? Astonishment at this question itself suggests a starting place. Perhaps man needs to regain his humility——and his sense of perspective. Perhaps he should look at himself as just another experiment of nature, no more important intrinsically than the thousands of other species evolved on our planet. Man is, after all, a fairly recent development. He has lived on earth only 1.7 million years——not a very long time compared with the 400 million years of some creatures
Man's achievements during this stay are astounding. Yet they endanger his own survival. As a result, he may disappear as have other species who became too overs environment. Perhaps more than any other creature man is notable for his constant violations of the eternal law of living in harmony with nature. Man kills everything that competes with him for living space or food. He has irreparably damaged his environment. He has forsaken nature's basic laws, substituting for them his own man-made laws and values. He has, for example, invented d now he gauges success, power, and achievement almost exclusively in terms of it He overestimates his ego and his capacities. He worships status and sacrifices fantastically for it A more rational perspective would see that all organic life is of equal importance. That every species has its role to play. That nothing survives unless it fits into the balance of nature and lives within its environment. That all life must work together to preserve life and maintain ecology But man can also learn more specifically from animals. With his research capacity he can as imself: How were animals able to maintain the balance of nature for more than 400 million years? Once he has unlocked these secrets, he can try to apply them to his own situation What are some of these secrets? Birth control is one. Animals have very efficient means of controlling their reproduction We who study animals have learned about it only in the last few years. We don' t yet know how it works, but we do know some facts. Most antelopes, for example, can withhold their young for weeks, even months. They do this in order that births occur with the arrival of the rains, the availability of grazing, and the mothers' adequate supply of milk for the young Elephants seem able to adjust their reproduction in somewhat the same way. On the victoria Nile, for instance, one bank is extremely eroded; it provides barely enough food for the elephants living there. The opposite bank, on the other hand, is quite well covered with vegetation Observations indicate that elephants on the grassy bank calve every four years, while those on the eroded bank do so only every nine My own observations of Elsa and Pippa have revealed some most interesting facts. These cats come into season every five to seven weeks. Once the first litter has been born, they have the capacity to produce a new litter every three and a half months, and actually do produce litters this often But in their natural state, females of these species will not let a male near them--let alone mate with him--while they are engaged in rearing their young to complete independence. Among lions this period lasts two years; among cheetahs it is about seventeen and a half months When Pippa lost two litters to predators a few days after their birth, she instantly looked for a mate and conceived despite the fact she had hardly recovered from giving birth Knowing that her Infortunate cubs did not need her anymore, she lost no time in starting a new litter. This also appened with a lioness I knew Judging from this behavior, I can only assume that some kind of psychological block stops mother lions and cheetahs from wanting to mate while they are preoccupied with training their Another secret of animals' survival is telepathy. This sense has become atrophied in man, but a definite thought-communication functions in animals. Elsa the lioness frequently sensed when George and I intended to visit her camp, even though it lay 180 miles from our home in Isiolo.On most occasions when we made our irregular visits she was waiting for us. By following her spoor
10 Man’s achievements during this stay are astounding. Yet they endanger his own survival. As a result, he may disappear as have other species who became too overspecialized, or outlived their environment. Perhaps more than any other creature man is notable for his constant violations of the eternal law of living in harmony with nature. Man kills everything that competes with him for living space or food. He has irreparably damaged his environment. He has forsaken nature’s basic laws, substituting for them his own man-made laws and values. He has, for example, invented money——and now he gauges success, power, and achievement almost exclusively in terms of it. He overestimates his ego and his capacities. He worships status and sacrifices fantastically for it. A more rational perspective would see that all organic life is of equal importance. That every species has its role to play. That nothing survives unless it fits into the balance of nature and lives within its environment. That all life must work together to preserve life and maintain ecology. But man can also learn more specifically from animals. With his research capacity he can ask himself: How were animals able to maintain the balance of nature for more than 400 million years? Once he has unlocked these secrets, he can try to apply them to his own situation. What are some of these secrets? Birth control is one. Animals have very efficient means of controlling their reproduction. We who study animals have learned about it only in the last few years. We don’t yet know how it works, but we do know some facts. Most antelopes, for example, can withhold their young for weeks, even months. They do this in order that births occur with the arrival of the rains, the availability of grazing, and the mothers’ adequate supply of milk for the young. Elephants seem able to adjust their reproduction in somewhat the same way. On the Victoria Nile, for instance, one bank is extremely eroded; it provides barely enough food for the elephants living there. The opposite bank, on the other hand, is quite well covered with vegetation. Observations indicate that elephants on the grassy bank calve every four years, while those on the eroded bank do so only every nine. My own observations of Elsa and Pippa have revealed some most interesting facts. These cats come into season every five to seven weeks. Once the first litter has been born, they have the capacity to produce a new litter every three and a half months, and some zoo-confined lionesses actually do produce litters this often. But in their natural state, females of these species will not let a male near them——let alone mate with him——while they are engaged in rearing their young to complete independence. Among lions this period lasts two years; among cheetahs it is about seventeen and a half months. When Pippa lost two litters to predators a few days after their birth, she instantly looked for a mate and conceived despite the fact she had hardly recovered from giving birth. Knowing that her unfortunate cubs did not need her anymore, she lost no time in starting a new litter. This also happened with a lioness I knew. Judging from this behavior, I can only assume that some kind of psychological block stops mother lions and cheetahs from wanting to mate while they are preoccupied with training their young. Another secret of animals’ survival is telepathy. This sense has become atrophied in man, but a definite thought-communication functions in animals. Elsa the lioness frequently sensed when George and I intended to visit her camp, even though it lay 180 miles from our home in Isiolo. On most occasions when we made our irregular visits she was waiting for us. By following her spoor
