第11章 THE WOLF 大灰狼

The wolf is one of the fiercest of all the beasts of prey. It is an animal of the dog kind, and is a little like a dog, and a little like a fox.

It has its den in the forest, far away from the homes of men. Here in summer it lives on birds, hares, and other small animals.

But in winter, wolves often leave the forests in search of food. They then hunt in large packs or bands; and when pressed by hunger they become very fierce and bold. They will even enter villages, and attack lambs, sheep, cows, and horses.

In the depth of winter, when the snow is on the ground, a wild howl is often heard in the stillness of the night. And in the morning, the loss of a cow or a horse tells the people of the village that they have had a visit from the wild wolf of the forest.

Once a Russian noble and his wife were chased by a pack of wolves, when driving in a sledge drawn by four horses.

They were in great fear of being torn to pieces. And they had to leave first one, and then another of their horses, to occupy the wolves till they got out of their reach!

Questions

What other animals is the wolf like? Where has it its den? What does it live upon in summer? How do wolves hunt in winter? Where do they sometimes go in search of food? What is often heard in the quiet night? What tells of their visit in the morning? How did a Russian noble and his wife once escape from a pack?

Pronunciation

fierc'-est sum'-mer be-come' at'-tack Rus'-sian

an'-i-mal win'-ter en'-ter still'-ness driv'-ing

a-way' hun'-ger vil'-la-ges morn'-ing oc'-cu-py

Write

preys wolves packs howl

beasts search depths lambs

大灰狼是所有肉食动物中最凶残的一种。它是一种犬类动物，有点像狗，有点像狐狸。

大灰狼在远离人类的森林里有自己的窝。夏天它靠捕食鸟类、野兔以及其他小动物为生。

冬天，大灰狼经常离开森林去寻找食物。它们会成群捕猎食物；饥饿会使他们更为残暴血腥。它们甚至会进入村庄，袭击羊羔、绵羊、牛、马。

深冬时节，大雪覆盖大地，经常会在宁静的夜晚听到疯狂的嚎叫。清早，牛或者马的丢失告诉村子里的人森林里的野狼光顾过村子。

曾经一位俄国贵族和他的妻子驾着四马拉的雪橇被一群狼追赶。他们很害怕被撕成碎片。他们不得不先放开一匹马，接着另外一匹，可以拖住狼群，来脱离魔掌。