中英對照讀新聞》Flamingo No. 492 Is Still on the Run 17 Years Later 編號492火鶴17年後依然在逃
17年前從美國堪薩斯州1家動物園脫逃的1隻火鶴,據信迄今仍存活於德州野外。圖為2002年12月拍攝的華府國家動物園的火鶴。(法新社)
◎張沛元
A fisherman’s sighting in March confirmed that a flamingo that fled a Kansas zoo in 2005 has defied the odds to live a Pixar-worthy life in the wilds of Texas.
今年3月1名漁夫的目擊證實,1隻在2005年逃離(美國)堪薩斯州的1家動物園的火鶴已化不可能為可能,在德州的野外過著值得拍成皮克斯動畫片的生活。
It served as confirmation that No. 492, estimated to be about 20 years old, is still persevering despite striking out on its own.
該目擊證實,儘管得自力求生,這隻編號492、估計約20歲的火鶴仍堅持不懈。
Its journey would fit snugly into a Pixar movie script.
牠的旅程非常適合改編成皮克斯動畫的劇本。
On a windy day in Wichita, Kan., in 2005, No. 492 made its escape.
2005年,堪薩斯州威奇塔的某個起風的日子,編號492成功脫逃。
The workers at Sedgwick County Zoo had forgotten to clip the African flamingo’s wings, a maintenance that keeps the beloved birds from flying away into the dangerous world outside.
塞奇威克郡動物園的工作人員忘了幫這隻非洲火鶴剪羽,這是一種避免心愛的鳥飛到外頭危險的世界的養護之道。
新聞辭典
defy the odds:慣用語,指想辦法做到了原本被認為不可能做到的事,排除萬難,挑戰不可能。defy,動詞,違抗...挑戰;odds,名詞,可能性,機會。例句: The toddler defied the odds and recovered from coronavirus, much to his doctor’s and parents’ astonishment.(令醫生與父母驚訝的是,這名武漢肺炎確診的學步期小男童化不可能為可能地康復了。)
striking out on one’s own:慣用語,自立、獨立去追尋某事。例句:He was forced to leave the family business and decided to strike out on his own.(他被逼離開家族事業並決定自行打拼。)
make one’s escape:片語,成功脫逃。