There are even stories of half-trained elephant calves who have refused to feed and pined to death when by some unavoidable circumstance they have been deprived of their own trainer.
训练了一半的小象，由于不可避免的情况与他们的主人分离后，竟拒绝吃食，消瘦至死。
新概念英语第四册
Lesson 41 Training elephants
📚 句中词汇解析
从本句中提取的重要词汇
n. 死亡;（某种）死法，死亡方式;病危;死神;
💡 dead(死)+th(表示抽象名词的后缀)→死的
"a verdict of accidental death"
意外死亡的裁决
近义：passing, quietus, decease, demise, disappearance, end
反义：inception, nascence, nascency, onset, origin, rising
n. 环境，境遇;事实，细节;典礼，仪式;
vt. 使处于某种特定的情况之下;
💡 circum环绕，周围+stance站→站在周围→环境
"You should soon accommodate yourself to the new circumstance."
你应尽快适应新环境.
近义：particular, cause, detail, fact, factor, incident
反义：implication, importance, incidence, outcome, outgrowth, produce
adj. 一半的，半个的;
n. 半;一半;（啤酒等饮料的）半品脱;（比赛、音乐会等的）半场;
adv. 一半;部份地;
"He has sunk half his fortune into a new business undertaking."
他已把一半财产投资于一个新企业.
近义：mid, midway, partially, semi
反义：absolutely, off, outright, perfectly, plumb, positively
n. 象，大象;
💡 大象尾巴上有蚂蚁(ant)
"The new office block has become an expensive white elephant."
这座新办公大楼成了昂贵的摆设。
近义：jumbo
vt. 喂养;满足（欲望等）;向…提供;供…作食物;
vi. 吃，以…为食;流入，注入，进入（如油流入机器）;[电子学]馈入;
n. 饲料（尤指粗饲料），施肥;喂送;草料;（尤指向地方性电视台）馈送电视节目;
💡 粗劣的食物(food)可以 喂牲口
"Birds feed on nuts and berries in the winter."
鸟类靠坚果和浆果过冬。
近义：maintain, nourish, nurture, support, sustain, uphold
反义：underfeed