It’s a Boy! April the Giraffe’s Baby Is Born
时间：2019-01-02 作者：英语课 分类：2017年VOA慢速英语(四)月
This is What’s Trending Today.
Millions of people have been eagerly waiting for April, a giraffe living at a zoo in New York State, to have her baby. Viewers were rewarded on Saturday: at about 10 a.m. April gave birth to a male calf 1.
The birth was filmed and shown live on YouTube. About 1 million people watched it. (Note: advance video to 3:18:46 to see birth.)
The zoo first posted live video of pregnant 2 April in her pen on YouTube in late February. People who object to zoos complained to YouTube, which took down the video. But stopping the video attracted even more interest.
After investigating, YouTube returned the video and allowed it to remain online.
The New York Times called April “an internet star.” Millions of people have checked on April at some point in the last two months. At its peak, April’s live camera on YouTube had almost 5 million viewers per day.
But after a while, many people wondered if the baby giraffe would ever be born. Some even proposed 3 April was not really pregnant.
One fan said he followed April’s story for 10 weeks.
David Chase 4 used Facebook to write: “I’ve been watching 10 weeks, who says guys can’t commit?”
After the birth, many people just simply wrote: “Finally!”
The zoo said the baby and April are doing fine. The calf weighs 58.5 kilograms and is just under 1.8 meters tall.
The calf stood up about 45 minutes after he was born.
The zoo, called Animal Adventure Park, is located about 200 kilometers northwest of New York City. It is currently 5 closed but fans of April and her new baby will be able to visit when the park re-opens in mid-May.
The zoo has not yet announced the calf’s name.
And that’s What’s Trending Today.
Words in This Story
eager – adj. very excited and interested
calf – n. the young of various other large animals (such as the elephant or whale)
complain – v. to say or write that you are unhappy, sick, uncomfortable, etc., or that you do not like something
commit – v. to decide to give your love, support, or effort to someone or something in a serious or permanent way
peak – adj. at the highest point or level
- The cow slinked its calf.那头母牛早产了一头小牛犊。
- The calf blared for its mother.牛犊哞哞地高声叫喊找妈妈。
- There is widespread discontent among the staff at the proposed changes to pay and conditions. 员工对改变工资和工作环境的建议普遍不满。
- an outcry over the proposed change 对拟议的改革所发出的强烈抗议
- The police grabbed the robbers after a long chase.警察经过长距离追赶后逮住了抢劫犯。
- Would you chase me if I did?如果我逃开了，你会来追吗？