《英语流行话题阅读:语境识词3500》Unit47:大雁的启迪

　　Unit 47
Lessons from Geese
Lesson 1
As each goose flaps¹ its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird following it. By flying in V-formation, the whole flock² adds 70% greater flying range than if it flew alone.
People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and more easily because they are traveling on the trust and support of one another.
Lesson 2
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird ahead, but not try to fly alone.
If we have as much sense as geese, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go and be willing to accept their help, as well as give ours to others.
Lesson 3
When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates³ back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position.
It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. With people as with geese, we are interdependent on each other's skills and capabilities⁴ and special talents and resources of the individuals.
Lesson 4
The geese in a formation honk⁵ from behind to encourage those in front to keep up their speed.
We need to make sure our honking⁶ from behind is encouraging and not something else. In groups where there is great encouragement against great obstacles, the production is much greater. This is the power of encouragement. At the center of encouragement is "courage", and the root of courage is a Latin word that means "heart". Maybe honking strengthens the heart.
Lesson 5
When a goose gets sick, or wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is either able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out on their own with another formation or catch up with the flock.
If we have as much sense as geese, we too will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

1 flaps   

（兽医）马唇肿胀

参考例句：

• The flag flaps in the wind. 旗在风中飘动。
• He was supposed to furl the side flaps in the morning. 他的任务就是每天早上把两侧的遮帘卷起。

2 flock   

n.羊群，一群，大量；vi.群集，聚集，成群

参考例句：

• A flock of customers were waiting for the store to open.一群顾客在等候着商店开门。
• A few sheep have been lost from the flock.羊群里少了几只羊。

3 rotates   

（使某物）旋转[转动]( rotate的第三人称单数 )； （使某人或某物）轮流[按顺序循环]

参考例句：

• The post of chairman rotates among members of the committee. 主席一职由委员会的成员轮流担任。
• The earth rotates on its axis once every 24 hours. 地球每24小时依其轴心自转一次。

4 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

5 honk   

n.雁叫声，汽车喇叭声

参考例句：

• Don't honk the horn indiscriminately.不要乱鸣喇叭！
• While passing another vehicle,you must honk your horn.通过另一部车时必须鸣按喇叭。

6 honking   

v.（使）发出雁叫似的声音，鸣（喇叭），按（喇叭）( honk的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Cars zoomed helter-skelter, honking belligerently. 大街上来往车辆穿梭不停，喇叭声刺耳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Flocks of honking geese flew past. 雁群嗷嗷地飞过。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》