美国国家公共电台 NPR--Camels are popular with many of the tourists visiting Qatar for the World Cup

Camels are popular with many of the tourists visiting Qatar for the World Cup

Transcript¹

Because of the camels popularity, tour guides are making a lot of money — but the animals are working overtime².

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

Camels are an important part of the history and culture of the Middle East. They're also very popular with many of the 1 million tourists visiting Qatar for the World Cup.

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

Which is great for camel tour guides, who are making some money, but the animals are working overtime.

(SOUNDBITE OF CAMEL VOCALIZING)

MART?NEZ: One camel tour guide told the Associated Press he normally gives about 20 rides a day, 50 on the weekends. With the World Cup, he's now giving 500 each morning, 500 more in the afternoons. They've had to get a lot more camels to meet demand.

RICHARD BULLIET: I don't think that that is a terribly heavy burden for a camel.

INSKEEP: Richard Bulliet is a professor emeritus³ specializing in Middle Eastern history at Columbia University. He literally⁴ wrote the book on the history of camels. Bulliet says that based on what he knows, he's not that concerned about the camels working extra shifts.

BULLIET: Camels are enormously durable⁵ animals. There was a famous horse race, camel race where a horse raced a camel for 150 miles, something like that. And the horse won the race. Then the horse was utterly⁶ exhausted⁷. And the next day, the camel walked back the 150 miles to the place where it started.

MART?NEZ: In the sixth century, camels were the world's primary form of land transportation. Thanks to the hump on their back packed with fat, they can go a week without water and months without food.

BULLIET: It makes an almost energy-free form of transport.

INSKEEP: In modern-day Qatar, camels are valued for racing⁸. They can run as quickly as 40 miles per hour for short stretches and 30 miles per hour on long distances. They probably get good mileage⁹, too.

(SOUNDBITE OF CAMELS GALLOPING)

MART?NEZ: But tourists hoping to cross a camel ride off their bucket list should try their best to stay on the animal's good side.

BULLIET: Camels do spit. If they're annoyed, they can also kick out to the side. They don't really care much about people.

MART?NEZ: So on this hump day, hopefully the burden on your back is a little lighter¹⁰ than theirs.

(SOUNDBITE OF DUKE ELLINGTON'S "CARAVAN")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 overtime   

adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地

参考例句：

• They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
• He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。

3 emeritus   

adj.名誉退休的

参考例句：

• "Perhaps I can introduce Mr.Lake Kirby,an emeritus professor from Washington University?"请允许我介绍华盛顿大学名誉教授莱克柯尔比先生。
• He will continue as chairman emeritus.他将会继续担任荣誉主席。

4 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

5 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

6 utterly   

adv.完全地，绝对地

参考例句：

• Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
• I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。

7 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

8 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

9 mileage   

n.里程，英里数；好处，利润

参考例句：

• He doesn't think there's any mileage in that type of advertising.他认为做那种广告毫无效益。
• What mileage has your car done?你的汽车跑了多少英里？

10 lighter   

n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级

参考例句：

• The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。
• The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。