Lesson 9 The Trunk of the Elephant

1、THE long trunk of the elephant is a wonderful example of design and skill. The neck of four-footed animals is usually long, to enable them to reach their food without difficulty; but the elephant has a short neck, to enable him more easily to support the weight of his huge head and heavy tusks. The difficulty of getting food is admirably overcome by his long trunk.

2、The trunk of the elephant is to him what the neck is to other animals. It is also a nose to him, for at the end of it there is a hollow place like a cup, and in the bottom of the cup are two holes or nostrils, through which the animal smells and breathes. It is an arm and a hand too; so that it has been said that the elephant carries his nose in his hand; and it might also have been said that he breathes by his hand. How strange it would seem to us if we were to breathe through our hand!

3、At the end of the trunk, there is a curious part, about five inches long, which forms a finger. With this finger the animal can pick up a pin or the smallest piece of money from the ground; he can select herbs and flowers, and take them one by one; he can untie knots; he can open and shut gates, by turning the keys or pushing back the bolts: and with this finger an elephant has been taught to make regular marks like letters, with an instrument as small as a pen!

4、The trunk of a full-grown elephant is about eight feet long. It can be made shorter or longer as the animal chooses, and can be moved with great ease in every possible direction. It has such prodigious strength that he can knock down a man with it, and pull up trees of moderate size by the roots.

(321 words)

Exercises

Ⅰ. How well did you read?

1. [give the reason] Why does the elephant have a short neck?

A. To support the strong legs.

B. To strengthen the body.

C. To support the weight of his huge head and heavy tusks.

2. [note the fact] What enables the elephant to get his food?

A. The long trunk. B. The short neck. C. The strong legs.

3.[note the fact] How does the elephant breathe?

A. It breathes through hands.

B. It breathes through nostrils.

C. It breathes through mouth.

4. [check the details] How can it be said that the elephant carries his nose in his hand?

A. His trunk is his nose and hand.

B. His hand is on his nose.

C. His nose is in his hand.

5. [evaluate the information] What can the elephant do with the end of his trunk?

A. Attacking humans.

B. Picking up things, writing, turning keys, untie knots and so on.

C. Only breathing.

6.[note the fact]How long is the trunk of a full-grown elephant?

A. Shorter than eight feet long.

B. About fi ve inches long.

C. About eight feet long.

Ⅱ. Read for words.

1. Choose one best paraphrase for the underlined words.

There is a curious part, about five inches long, which forms a finger. (Para. 3, Line 1)

A. strange B. simple C. huge

2. Choose one best paraphrase or Chinese meaning for the underlined expressions.

(1) It can be made shorter or longer as the animal chooses, and can be moved with great ease in every possible direction. (Para. 4, Line 2)

A. with great difficulty B. with no difficulty C. with much energy (2) It has such prodigious strength that he can knock down a man with it. (Para. 4,Line 3)

A. 撞倒 B. 敲击 C. 拆毁

Ⅲ. Summary writing.

In no more than 80 words, summarize the whole text according to the following questions. Do not include anything that is not in the passage.

1. Why does the elephant have a short neck?

2. What enables him to get his food?

3. What does the trunk thus supply the place of?

4. How does the elephant breathe?

5. How can it be said that he carries his nose in his hand?

6. What is there at the end of the trunk?

7. What can he do with this?

8. How long is the trunk of a full-grown elephant? Give an example of its great strength.