首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
How Sled Dogs Work They’re physical wonders-able to endure extreme conditions for extensive periods of time while running f
How Sled Dogs Work They’re physical wonders-able to endure extreme conditions for extensive periods of time while running f
admin
2010-09-25
74
问题
How Sled Dogs Work
They’re physical wonders-able to endure extreme conditions for extensive periods of time while running fast and pulling more than their own weight. Sled (雪橇) dogs have been around for generations, and today they remain a large part of a dog driver’s life.
In Arctic (北极的) regions, some 35 000 years ago, Eskimos’ dogs bred with wolves and other dogs. Their offspring were well-adapted to the cold and snow. There’s no saying exactly when someone thought to have dogs pull sleds, but it was well before 1000 B. C. that dog sleds provided a means of transportation and a way to haul goods. In recent years, people looking for unique outings have gone on recreational trips with sled dogs. A number of companies market tourist treks via dog sled for adventure travelers.
Dogsled racing in Alaska formally began in 1908, when sled dog owners in Nome, Alaska, held the first All-Alaska Sweepstakes, a 408-mile race from Nome to Candle and back. And in 1973, the inaugural Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race took place on a route covering more than 1 000 miles in Alaska. There are more competitions in many of the continental United States, and some take place on dry land. In addition to endurance races, sled-dog events include sprint races, weight pulls (in which dogs try to pull the most weight) and freight races (in which dogs try to pull a weighted sled the fastest).
Stamina (耐力) and Strength
Many breeds of dogs are used to pull sleds, including official American Kennel Club breeds such as the Siberian husky, Malamute and Samoyed. However, many sled dogs are of mixed breed and are called Alaska husky or Eskimo dogs. While some Sled dogs may have wolf bloodlines, it’s generally not desirable to have a mixture of blood between the two.
Sled clogs are bred for their speed and endurance as well as leadership qualities. They are big dogs with thick coats and wide, flat feet. They sleep with their tails covering their noses to keep warm. Dogs that weigh around 40 to 45 pounds are the ideal size to pull sleds, but some may weigh as much as 85 pounds.
Young dogs that are enthusiastic runners, easy-going and mentally tough are good choices for sled dogs. A dog’s gender matters little and both male and female dogs are considered equally.
For racing, the most intelligent and fastest dogs are picked to be lead dogs and run in the front of the pack. Behind them run swing dogs, whose job is to direct the team around turns and curves. At the back of the dog team are the wheel dogs or wheelers, who are right in front of the sled and are usually the largest and strongest of the team. The rest of the dogs are known simply as team dogs.
Dogs are typically from 2 to 10 years old when they pull sleds. After they retire, they might remain with their owner at a kennel or be adopted as pets by others. Rescue groups for sled dogs take in unwanted dogs and care for them, trying to place them in loving homes.
While snowmobiles (also called snow machines),helicopters and airplanes are now often used !n Place of sled dogs, there are still times when dog transportation is preferred. Harsh weather conditions can make flying hazardous, and certain terrain can be more difficult for snow machines to cross than for dogs. Dogs can be more reliable than man-made machines, they’re good companions to have on long treks and they can be cheaper to own than other forms of transportation.
Becoming a Sled Dog
The number of sled dogs at a typical kennel(养狗场)is around 75, though some might house as few as 20 Or as many as 150. Many kennel owners are greedy mushers (赶狗拉雪橇的人) and compete in dog sled races. They also train other mushers and sell and lease dogs. The training for each team of racing dogs varies by musher (or whomever is preparing the dogs to race). Conditioning the dogs to run long distances is vital, and teams may cover 2 000 to 3 000 miles in the course of training leading up to an endurance race. Since training may take place year-round, the dogs sometimes run on dry land, and sometimes pull all-terrain vehicles.
Dog owners start training their dogs to pull sleds at a very young age. When they are a couple of months old, they may be fitted with a harness and collar, just so they get used to wearing them. As they get older, a small object may be attached to the harness to practice pulling weight. Mushers also start teaching the dogs verbal commands. When dogs are ready to train alongside a team, at around 6 to 8 months old, they start by pulling light loads for short distances. Over time, they build up their strength and stamina and are able to go farther and pull more.
Sled dogs that are well cared for and loved by their owners are quite friendly and gentle. While they may fight with other dogs, it is rare that a sled dog would be aggressive toward people. Mushers have been quoted as saying that they take better care of their dogs than themselves, and that the dogs eat better than they do. Relationships between dog and musher vary, but most mushers consider their dogs family. Mushers generally follow the reasoning that a dog that’s not properly cared for will not perform, so it wouldn’t make sense to mistreat dogs.
For races such as the Iditarod, veterinarians are on hand to examine dogs, and race rules require proof of certain vaccines and check-ups. Dogs are implanted with microchips to help keep track of them. The International Sled Dog Veterinary Medical Association is a group of veterinarians who are dedicated to the welfare of sled dogs.
Getting Ready for the Race
Racing sled dogs need to eat around 10 000 calories per day. During the Iditarod race, that translates to about 2 000 pounds of food for one team for the entire race. Meat is the main ingredient, but they also consume other fats, oils, dry dog foods and vitamin supplements. Dogs eat at each of the more than two dozen checkpoints on the Iditarod route, but they also get snacks every few hours. Gear for dogs includes fabric booties to protect their feet from the elements, and a sled team may go through 2 000 booties during a race.
The number of dogs pulling the sled varies by race and by musher. In the Iditarod, there are a maximum of 16 dogs on a team. At the race’s start, there must be between 12 and 16 doge per entrant. At the race’s end, at least six dogs must be part of the team that crosses the finish line.
The dogs are attached to the sled with a series of lines called rigging. This includes the tow line (or gang line), tug lines and neck lines. Each dog wears a collar and a harness. The tow line connects the dogs to the sled, and a tug line rigs the dogs’ harnesses to the tow line. The dogs’ collars are attached to the tow line by the neck line. There are no reins, and dogs respond to the musher’s vocal commands.
A musher says "hike," "let’s go," or "all right," to get his or her team going; "easy" to slow down; "gee" to turn right; "haw" to turn left; "come gee" or "come haw" to turn 180 degrees right or left; "straight on" to go straight ahead; and "whoa" to stop.
During the Iditarod, teams typically travel in the 5 to 12 miles per hour range and might run for six or eight hours straight. When dogs fail to work together as a team, or a musher can’t properly direct his or her team, the lines can become tangled and cause problems.
Nowadays sled dogs are still necessary when ______.
选项
A、there are severe weather conditions
B、flying machines are full with passengers
C、snow machines use up power in the Arctic region
D、people need partners during the travel
答案
A
解析
题干问如今在何种情况下,仍需要sled dogs。根据原文上下文童思,第三句作厂具体说明,该句中harsh weather conditions与A中severe weather conditions意思一致,故选A。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/Ojz7777K
0
大学英语六级
相关试题推荐
TwinsThesamefactorsthatgiverisetouncannyphysicalsimilaritiesbetweentwins--similaritiesaremirroredingenetics
Fearsofdeatharenotsoextensiveasmightbesupposed.Inapublicopinionpollof1500adults,onlyabout4percentshowede
Ofalltheplanets,Marsalways__________________(引起人们最大的好奇心).
A、Shesawanailintheman’stire.B、Themanshouldn’tdriveonthetire.C、Themanmaynotneedanewtire.D、Shealsoneedsa
Truancy(逃学)sweepsaroundBritainrecentlyrevealedthousandsofchildrenmissedschool—andturnedupsomeridiculousexcuses,
A、Paintalandscape.B、Giveanoralreport.C、Takeafinalexam.D、Buyseveralbooks.B事实细节题Martin博士谈到她的这门课没有期末考试,但是到学期末每个同学需要做
Themostimportanttechnologicaleventofourtimeistheriseofthecomputer.Computersalreadypermeatemanyaspectsofourl
Themostimportanttechnologicaleventofourtimeistheriseofthecomputer.Computersalreadypermeatemanyaspectsofourl
Tobetterunderstandthenegotiationpracticesofothercultures,itisimportantforustobeawareofthestandardnegotiation
A、TryingtoletMarkknowabouthisproblem.B、HelpingMarkrelaxandbemorecomfortableinagroup.C、Waitingfifteenminutes
随机试题
语法现象可以分成“核心语法现象”和“外围语法现象”,其中“核心语法现象”主要是指()
患者,女,20岁。全身水肿1个月,查血压120/70mmHg,尿蛋白3.8g/L,尿红细胞0~2个/HP,临床诊断为肾病综合征,下列支持其诊断所必需的是
足阳明胃经的循行是
A、丙酮B、正丁醇C、氯仿D、甲醛碘量法测定地西泮注射液的含量时,选用( )为掩蔽剂。
关于反担保的说法,正确的是()。(2011年单项选择第8题)
混凝土拌合物的坍落度评定应以()的测值为准。
附注是对在资产负债表、利润表、现金流量表和所有者权益变动表等报表中列示项目的文字描述或明细资料,以及对未能在这些报表中列示项目的说明等。()
随着中国特色社会主义建设事业的不断发展,中国梦已经成为当下中国人对自己未来的期许和追求。但是,在当今世界,涵盖经济、政治、社会生活、价值文化等领域在内的“软实力”竞争越来越激烈,某发达国家对中国快速发展的疑虑和猜忌明显加重,“中国威胁论”在一些周边国家也有
1,8,9,4,(),1/6
需求分析阶段的任务是()。
最新回复
(
0
)