国家地理 残疾乌龟重获自由

Arava, the disabled tortoise is using her new set of wheels to get around in more ways than one.

这只名叫Arava的残疾乌龟现在使用新装的轮子可以向不同的方向移动。

Keepers at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo say the 10-year-old Spurred Tortoise was fitted with custom wheels to overcome paralysis¹ of her hind² legs.

耶路撒冷圣经动物园的管理员说，这只乌龟已经10岁了，由于后腿瘫痪，现在新安装了轮子以方便行动。

The 55-pound tortoise is unable to move herself forward with just her front legs,

这只重达55磅的乌龟只用前腿无法前行，

so the zoo staff built her a metal frame with two wheels that can be strapped³ around her shell.

所以动物园的职工为她建造了一个带两个轮子的金属架，可以用绳子绑在龟壳上。

"We don't really know the reason why it's paralyzed, why this tortoise is paralyzed.

“我们不知道她为什么瘫痪了。

We tried to find out to determine what is the cause. We didn't find it.

我们试图找出原因，但是始终不明白。

So instead of just leaving it to move only with her front legs,

所以，我们就让她只用前腿移动了，

we invented if we may say so, ur, wheels, that were attached to her rear legs and it's allowed,

我们发明了，或许可以这样说，我们发明了轮子，可以取代她的后腿，

and supposed to move almost freely in the enclosure."

带着这个附件她仍然可以自由移动。”

Yedvad says it's not that Arava has come out of her shell with her unique new wheelchair,

Yedvad说，Arava肯出壳并不是因为她有新的轮椅，

but that a particularly amorous⁴ 10-year-old male has been after her since her arrival.

而是自从她来了之后，一只10岁的雄龟开始爱慕她，追求她。

But despite some improvement, Arava still finds it difficult at times to use the new device.

但是，虽然行动方面有些改善，但是，有时候Arava使用这个新的装备仍然有点困难。

The handicapped tortoise is not able to writhe⁵ herself without assistance and the employees at the zoo have to do it.

没有动物园员工的帮助，这只残废的乌龟没办法自己来回折腾。

"The wheelchair is a little bit heavy so I hope in the future it will have a lighter⁶ one."

“这个轮椅太重了，所以我希望今后能有一个轻一点的。”

1 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。

2 hind   

adj.后面的，后部的

参考例句：

• The animal is able to stand up on its hind limbs.这种动物能够用后肢站立。
• Don't hind her in her studies.不要在学业上扯她后腿。

3 strapped   

adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带

参考例句：

• Make sure that the child is strapped tightly into the buggy. 一定要把孩子牢牢地拴在婴儿车上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soldiers' great coats were strapped on their packs. 战士们的厚大衣扎捆在背包上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 amorous   

adj.多情的；有关爱情的

参考例句：

• They exchanged amorous glances and clearly made known their passions.二人眉来眼去，以目传情。
• She gave him an amorous look.她脉脉含情的看他一眼。

5 writhe   

vt.挣扎，痛苦地扭曲；vi.扭曲，翻腾，受苦；n.翻腾，苦恼

参考例句：

• They surely writhe under this pressure.他们肯定对这种压力感到苦恼。
• Her words made him writhe with shame.她的话使他惭愧地感到浑身不自在。

6 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。