Unusual jobs – the Ravenmaster

BBC Learning EnglishPeople and PlacesUnusual jobs – the RavenmasterAndrea: Welcome to "People and Places" – where we meetinteresting people and find outabout more about them – right here onbbclearningenglish.com. Hello, I'm AndreaRose.
　　Derrick Coyle & raven¹(Sound of bird and Derrick saying good morning)Andrea: That’s Derrick Coyle and he has a rather unusualjob. Derrick is a Yeoman Warder or‘Beefeater’ at the Tower of London. He’s also a ravenmaster which means he’s dedicated² to looking after the Tower’s unique feature – ravens³. His job is to feed them andclip their wings so that they don’t fly away. Because ifthey did, it would be a terrible omen⁴ or sign. Derrickexplains.
　　Derrick CoyleIt all begins with Charles the Second. At the time of hiscoronation, when he arrived at the Tower he was visiting tosee how his newly appointed Astronomer⁵ Royal was getting onwith his duties. The Astronomer Royal complained bitterlyabout the mess they were making and ruining his equipment. Sohe asked the king’s permission to get rid of the birds andshoot them. And that’s when the king replied ‘oh no – youcan’t do that’ because he’d heard this legend that shouldthey leave, the White Tower would crumble⁶ and the monarchywould fall. So ever since that day, by royal command, we haveto keep six birds on compliment. But we don’t take anychances here. We keep two more in reserve.
　　Andrea: So Derrick’s job is very important. If the ravensleave it means that the monarchy⁷, the queen and princes, willfall or collapse⁸. Let me explain the legend. When Charles theSecond was made king – at his coronation – his astronomercomplained that therewere birds or ravens at the Tower of London that weredestroying his astronomyequipment. The astronomer complained bitterly – hecomplained a lot because his telescopes and instruments tolook at the stars were being messed up or ruined by thesebirds. So he asked permission from the king to remove thebirds. But the King had heard that it was bad luck to chaseravens away. Ever since, by royal command – that’s on theorders of the Queen of England, there must always be sixravens at the Tower. And it’s Derrick’s job to look afterthem! In this next clip, he talks us through where the ravensare kept inside the Tower.
　　Derrick CoyleWell this is the upper portion of the Brick Tower and as youcan see we’ve got four spacious⁹ cages. They’ve got theirown nesting boxes or night boxes, bathing bowls, food bowls.
　　Each cage is the same so no raven can get jealous of anotherone – saying they’ve got more space than us. They’ve gotlots of light. And I think they’d be just as happy in hereas they would be outside.
　　Andrea: Derrick takes us into the Tower of London to show uswhere the ravens stay when they need to be kept inside. Theyhave very spacious or roomy cages. They have lots of space.
　　They also have nesting boxes or places where they can sleep,as well as bathing bowls – where they can wash themselves –and food bowls. Apparently¹⁰ the ravens eat a lot of raw meatand biscuits soaked in blood. Derrick makes sure they eatwell. But he insists that they are all treated fairly so thatno raven can get jealous or envious¹¹ of another. He thinksthat their home inside the Tower is as nice as where theyperch outside during the day.
　　But what is it like to look after the ravens? Does Derrickhave any funny stories aboutHardey, Thor, Odin, Gwyllum, Credic, Hugine and Munin?
　　Derrick CoyleWhen President Putin came, he came with a huge entourage, andThor normally when he’s not in this cage, sits on thosesteps. And as the party went up the wooden staircase, Thorquite politely said‘good morning’ to every one of the party going up thesteps. And I believe President Putin was very very amazed atthat.
　　Andrea: Derrick tells a funny story about one of the ravenscalled Thor. It was a time when Russia’s President, VladimirPutin, came on an official visit to the Tower of London.
　　Putin arrived with his entourage – that’s all his officialsand security. And as they all went into the Tower, Thor said‘good morning’ to every one of them. Derrick believes thatPutin was very impressed by it all. So Derrick has managedto train some of the birds to speak. Of course, it could gethim into a lot of trouble if he’s not careful!
　　Derrick CoyleThe only thing is he sounds like me so if he starts swearing,someone knows whose taught him. So that’s one thing. I don’
　　t swear around the bird.
　　Andrea: Derrick has to be careful when he’s looking afterthe birds. They are very clever and they’ve learnt to speakand sound just like him. So if he’s not careful, they maypick up bad habits, like swearing and then everyone wouldknow it was Derrick who taught them! So he makes sure hedoesn’t ever use swear words around the birds.
　　Ok, a quick recap of some of the words Derrick used today:
　　coronationto complain bitterly permissionlegend monarchy spacious jealous entourageUntil the next time, it’s goodbye frombbclearningenglish.com

1 raven   

n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的

参考例句：

• We know the raven will never leave the man's room.我们知道了乌鸦再也不会离开那个男人的房间。
• Her charming face was framed with raven hair.她迷人的脸上垂落着乌亮的黑发。

2 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

3 ravens   

n.低质煤；渡鸦( raven的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Wheresoever the carcase is,there will the ravens be gathered together. 哪里有死尸，哪里就有乌鸦麇集。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A couple of ravens croaked above our boat. 两只乌鸦在我们小船的上空嘎嘎叫着。 来自辞典例句

4 omen   

n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示

参考例句：

• The superstitious regard it as a bad omen.迷信的人认为那是一种恶兆。
• Could this at last be a good omen for peace?这是否终于可以视作和平的吉兆了？

5 astronomer   

n.天文学家

参考例句：

• A new star attracted the notice of the astronomer.新发现的一颗星引起了那位天文学家的注意。
• He is reputed to have been a good astronomer.他以一个优秀的天文学者闻名于世。

6 crumble   

vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁

参考例句：

• Opposition more or less crumbled away.反对势力差不多都瓦解了。
• Even if the seas go dry and rocks crumble,my will will remain firm.纵然海枯石烂，意志永不动摇。

7 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

8 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

9 spacious   

adj.广阔的，宽敞的

参考例句：

• Our yard is spacious enough for a swimming pool.我们的院子很宽敞，足够建一座游泳池。
• The room is bright and spacious.这房间很豁亮。

10 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

11 envious   

adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的

参考例句：

• I don't think I'm envious of your success.我想我并不嫉妒你的成功。
• She is envious of Jane's good looks and covetous of her car.她既忌妒简的美貌又垂涎她的汽车。