逃遁的美洲狮 · 学习笔记
Pumas are large, cat-like animals which are found in America. When reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, they were not taken seriously. However, as the evidence began to accumulate, experts from the Zoo felt obliged to investigate, for the descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma were extraordinarily similar.
The hunt for the puma began in a small village where a woman picking blackberries saw 'a large cat' only five yards away from her. It immediately ran away when she saw it, and experts confirmed that a puma will not attack a human being unless it is cornered. The search proved difficult, for the puma was often observed at one place in the morning and at another place twenty miles away in the evening. Wherever it went, it left behind it a trail of dead deer and small animals like rabbits. Paw prints were seen in a number of places and puma fur was found clinging to bushes. Several people complained of 'cat-like noises' at night and a businessman on a fishing trip saw the puma up a tree. The experts were now fully convinced that the animal was a puma, but where had it come from? As no pumas had been reported missing from any zoo in the country, this one must have been in the possession of a private collector and somehow managed to escape. The hunt went on for several weeks, but the puma was not caught. It is disturbing to think that a dangerous wild animal is still at large in the quiet countryside.
美洲狮是一种体型似猫的大型动物，产于美洲。当伦敦动物园接到报告说，在伦敦以南45英里处发现一只美洲狮时，这些报告并未受到重视。可是，随着证据越来越多，动物园的专家们感到有必要进行一番调查，因为所有声称见过美洲狮的人所描述的情况竟出奇地相似。
搜寻美洲狮的工作是从一个小村庄开始的。那里有一位妇女在采摘黑莓时看见"一只大猫"，离她仅5码远，她刚看见它，它就立刻逃走了。专家证实，美洲狮除非被逼得走投无路，是绝不会伤人的。事实上，搜寻工作很困难，因为常常在早晨甲地发现了那只美洲狮，晚上却在20英里以外的乙地发现它的踪迹。无论它走到哪儿，一路上总会留下一串死鹿及死兔子之类的小动物。在许多地方看见了爪印，灌木丛中也发现了粘在上面的美洲狮毛。有人抱怨说夜里听见了"像猫一样的叫声"；一位商人去钓鱼，看见那只美洲狮在树上。专家们如今已经完全肯定那只动物就是美洲狮，但它是从哪儿来的呢？由于全国没有一家动物园报告丢了美洲狮，因此那只美洲狮一定是某位私人收藏家豢养的，不知怎么设法逃了出来。搜寻工作进行了好几个星期，但始终未能逮住那只美洲狮。想到在宁静的乡村里有一只危险的野兽继续逍遥流窜，真令人担心。
must + have + 过去分词，表示对过去某事非常有把握的推测（"一定……"）。
课文：…this one must have been in the possession of a private collector…
例句：He must have left early. → 他一定早走了。
否定推测：She can't have seen the puma. → 她不可能见过美洲狮。
名词（如 reports、news、fact）+ that 从句，说明名词的具体内容。
课文：…reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted…
此处 that a wild puma… 是同位语从句，修饰 reports，说明报告的具体内容（不是定语从句）。
for 是并列连词，连接两个并列分句表示原因，语气比 because 弱，常用于书面语，不用于句首。
课文：…felt obliged to investigate, for the descriptions were extraordinarily similar.
例句：He must be ill, for he is absent today.
as 表示"随着……"，两个动作同时发生或伴随变化。
课文：As the evidence began to accumulate, experts felt obliged to investigate.
例句：As the sun set, the temperature dropped rapidly.
过去分词短语（given by people）放在名词后作定语，相当于定语从句的省略形式。
课文：…the descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma
等同于 the descriptions which were given by people…
unless 引导条件状语从句，相当于 if … not（"除非……否则……"）。主句用将来时/一般现在时，从句用一般现在时表将来。
课文：…will not attack a human being unless it is cornered.
例句：I won't go unless you come with me.
点击题目显示答案，再次点击收起。
答案： When reports came into London Zoo, they were not taken seriously.
答案： As the evidence began to accumulate, experts felt obliged to investigate.
答案： The descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma were extraordinarily similar.
答案： A woman saw 'a large cat' only five yards away from her.
答案： It immediately ran away when she saw it.
答案： A puma will not attack a human being unless it is cornered.
答案： The search proved difficult, for the puma was often observed at one place in the morning and at another place twenty miles away in the evening.
答案： Wherever it went, it left behind a trail of dead deer.
答案： Paw prints were seen in a number of places.
答案： Puma fur was found clinging to bushes.
答案： Several people complained of 'cat-like noises' at night.
答案： A businessman on a fishing trip saw the puma up a tree.
答案： The experts were now fully convinced that the animal was a puma.
答案： No pumas had been reported missing from any zoo in the country.
答案： This one must have been in the possession of a private collector.
答案： It somehow managed to escape.
答案： The hunt went on for several weeks.
答案： But the puma was not caught.
答案： It is disturbing to think that a dangerous wild animal is still at large in the quiet countryside.
答案： This article tells a fascinating story about a puma at large.
运用本课学到的词汇和表达完成下列句子。点击题目查看参考译文。
参考： The escaped prisoner is still at large and the police are searching for him.
参考： I spotted my old friend in the crowd at the airport.
参考： Over the years, he accumulated a large collection of rare books.
参考： After hearing his story, I felt obliged to help him in any way I could.
参考： Several witnesses claimed to have seen the accident happen.
参考： The police finally cornered the suspect in an abandoned warehouse.
参考： The storm left behind a trail of destruction across the coastal town.
参考： The painting is currently in the possession of a private collector in Switzerland.
参考： Despite the heavy traffic, she managed to arrive at the airport on time.
参考： The ground is wet — it must have rained heavily last night.
参考： You will never master a language unless you practice it every day.
参考： Wherever you go in this city, you can see ancient buildings and modern skyscrapers standing side by side.
参考： It is disturbing to think that many species may become extinct within the next few decades.
参考： Many residents complained of the constant noise from the construction site.
参考： The scientist was convinced that his theory would eventually be proven correct.
参考： The wet leaves clung to the bottom of my shoes as I walked through the garden.
参考： You should take your health more seriously and exercise regularly.
参考： The new software proved extremely useful for managing the company's finances.
参考： The view from the mountaintop was extraordinarily beautiful at sunrise.
参考： There is no evidence that he was involved in the crime.