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
64
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.
When sled dogs get sufficient care from the owner, they usually ______.
选项
A、fight with other dogs
B、are too heavy to run
C、are friendly and gentle
D、develop reliability on the owner
答案
C
解析
根据原句意思,受到良好照料的雪橇狗会很友好和温顺(friendly and gentle)。可知C正确。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/pjz7777K
0
大学英语六级
相关试题推荐
A、$400.B、Alittlelessthan$400.C、Nomoneyatall.D、Agreatdeallessthan$400.D语义推断题从男士的话中可以得知正常维修费用大约需要400美元,但是由于车还在保修期
EffortstoProtecttheEnvironmentMostscientistsagreethatifpollutionandotherenvironmentaldeterrents(威慑)continue
ThepeopleoftheUSAhavebeenopposedtoacentralizedgovernmentsincelongbeforetheRevolutionof1776.Whenthe13coloni
A、Ithelpspeopleworkefficiently.B、It’smorerefreshingthansoda.C、Itshouldbedrunkinmoderation.D、Ithaslessflavort
A、Arthistory.B、Elementaryeducation.C、Americanliterature.D、Psychology.B细节辨别题对话中双方的专业都提到了,海伦问男士的专业是否也是基础教育,由此可以判断她是学基础教育的。
Poetsdieyoung—youngerthannovelists,playwrightsandotherwriters,aU.S.researchersays.Itcouldbebecausepoetsaretor
A、Professorandstudent.B、Doctorandpatient.C、Waiterandcustomer.D、Clerkandcustomer.A人物关系判断题根据关键词professor、essay、handi
A、TheTreadHallisontheleftofa20-storeybuilding.B、TheTreadHallisontherightofa20-storeybuilding.C、TheTreadH
Aftermorethan40yearsofparalleldevelopment,theinformationandlifesciences--computingandbiology--arefusingintoa
A、Six.B、Seven.C、Five.D、Sixorseven.D信息明示题。男士说自己记得妈妈让他买的六七件物品中的大多数,即他本应该买六七件物品,故选D。
随机试题
艺术批评依附于艺术创作。
患者,男,52岁,长期在大棚中种植蘑菇,近一年来咳嗽,咳唾涎沫,其质黏稠,咳声不扬,气急喘促,形体消瘦,口燥咽干,舌红而干,脉细数。其治法是
下列选项中,不属于慢性阻塞性肺疾病特点的是
任女士,78岁,高热卧床,浅昏迷,戴有活动假牙。为该病人进行口腔护理活动时,下列选项错误的是
一个国家的宪政制度如果多为其他国家所效仿,这个国家的宪法往往被称之为“宪法之母”。被称为“宪法之母”的是下列哪国的宪法?()
某煤矿领导班子正在对该煤矿的技术改造问题进行经济可行性分析。经过分析得知,该煤矿目前年产煤200万吨,成本居高不下,对环境的污染日益严重,煤质有所下降,还存在着一定的安全隐患。为了解决存在的问题,需耗资6000万元进行技术改造。技术改造时,拆除旧设备将会
下列关于资本项目外汇收支管理的表述中,符合外汇管理法律制度规定的有()。(2014年)
文言文复习课上,教师讲到学习过的古代文学作品中不乏忠臣劝谏的文章,并引导学生对其进行总结。下列学生列出的作品中不合适的一项是()。
各级人民法院的院长要求最小年龄要达到()
A、Itshouldbeconsideredabigsuccess.B、Itisnotverysuccessful.C、Itisfarfrombeingsuccessful.D、Itisanot-too-bigs
最新回复
(
0
)