One giant short-faced bear is more than a match for two lions. But in this bitter climate, lions can’t afford to go without a meal for long. A mammoth calf in its first winter is a tempting sight. But mammoths are attentive mothers and they have the back-up of their herd. The calf is ringed by vigilant relatives. The lions try to find a loophole. The mammoth’s matriarch, the oldest female, takes control. And she has 60 years’ experience of putting lions in their place. In the bosom of their close-knit family, the calf is safe, from predators at least.

1 mammoth

n.长毛象;adj.长毛象似的，巨大的

参考例句：

You can only undertake mammoth changes if the finances are there.资金到位的情况下方可进行重大变革。

Building the new railroad will be a mammoth job.修建那条新铁路将是一项巨大工程。

2 calf

n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮

参考例句：

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。

3 tempting

a.诱人的, 吸引人的

参考例句：

It is tempting to idealize the past. 人都爱把过去的日子说得那么美好。

It was a tempting offer. 这是个诱人的提议。

4 attentive

adj.注意的，专心的;关心(别人)的，殷勤的

参考例句：

She was very attentive to her guests.她对客人招待得十分周到。

The speaker likes to have an attentive audience.演讲者喜欢注意力集中的听众。

5 herd

n.兽群，牧群;vt.使集中，把…赶在一起

参考例句：

She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。

He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

6 vigilant

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。

The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

7 bosom

n.胸，胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的

参考例句：

She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。

A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

8 predators

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 );奴役他人者(尤指在财务或性关系方面)

参考例句：

birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物

The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》