Lesson 9 The Chamois [1]

The graceful chamois is found in all the mountains of Europe which bound the valley of the Danube, both on the north and on the south. As, however, it prefers the cold air of the highest mountains, it makes Switzerland its chief home.

In general appearance, its head and body are not unlike those of the goat; but it has a more slender neck, and no beard; and its horns are black and stand erect, being curved into hocks[2] only at the tips.

The chamois is not only very swift of foot, but very sure-footed. Its cup-shaped and sharp-edged hoofs[3] have been specially made for the mountains on which it loves to dwell. It makes its way up and down the face of very steep rocks. It bounds swiftly from crag[4] to crag, springing fearlessly on to the top of the sharpest rocks, if only it can find room to place its four feet close together.

The flesh of the chamois is considered a great dainty[5] by the Swiss; and its skin,when tanned, is the fine soft leather which is called after it, chamois-leather.

Chamois-hunting is a favourite pursuit in Switzerland. The sport is attended with very great peril. The hunter has often to spend days and nights alone upon the mountains. He has to pass over the most dangerous rocks and crags, and often his rashness costs him his life.

The chamois has the greatest affection for her young; and when they are in danger,she shows wonderful sagacity[6] in planning means for their escape.

A Swiss hunter, while pursuing his dangerous sport observed a mother chamois and her two kids on a rock above him. They were sporting by her side, leaping here and there around her.

The hunter, climbing the rock, drew near, intending, if possible, to capture one of the kids alive. No sooner did the mother chamois observe him, than, dashing[7] at him furiously with her horns, she endeavoured to hurl him down the cliff. The hunter drove her off, fearing to fire, lest the young ones should take to flight.

He was aware that there was a deep chasm[8] beyond, by which he believed the escape of the animals to be cut off. What was his surprise, therefore, when he saw the old chamois form with her body a bridge across the chasm, which she could just span by stretching out her fore and hind legs! As soon as she had done this, she called on her young ones; and they sprang one at a time on her back, and reached the other side in safety! She sprang across after them, and was soon beyond reach of the hunter’s bullets.

(458 words)

Exercises

Ⅰ. How well did you read?

1. Where can we find the most chamois in the world?

A. In the valley of the Danube.

B. In the mountains of Asia.

C. In Switzerland.

2. The appearance of Chamois differs from that of the goat in the following except___________ .

A. neck and beard B. head and body C. horn

3. What is the most remarkable thing about the chamois’ running?

A. They can run both fast and steadily in dangerous places.

B. They are the fastest animals in the world.

C. They love to dwell on the mountains.

4. Why is chamois-hunting a dangerous sport?

A. Because the chamois will attack the hunter in order to survive.

B. Because whoever hunts the chamois will be arrested by the police.

C. Because the hunter have to spend a long time on the mountains.

5. What is the author’s purpose of telling us the story at the end of the article?

A. To prove that chamois-hunting is dangerous.

B. To persuade people not to hunt chamois.

C. To show how smart chamois are when they are in danger.

Ⅱ. Read for words.

1. Its cup-shaped and sharp-edged hoofs have been specially made for the mountains on which it loves to dwell. (Para. 3, Line 3)

A. 停留 B. 居住 C. 跳跃

2. What was his surprise, therefore, when he saw the old chamois form with her body a bridge across the chasm, which she could just span by stretching out her fore and hind legs! (Para. 9, Line 4)

A. left and right B. up and down C. front and back

3. ...and its skin, when tanned, is the fine soft leather which is called after it,chamois-leather. (Para. 4, Line 2)

A. given the name of

B. given the name by

C. given the name to

4. The hunter drove her off, fearing to fire, lest the young ones should take to flight.(Para. 8, Line 3)

A. drove her and left

B. forced her to go away

C. ran away from her

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