閱讀難度：

Elephants played soccer in an elephant-themed festival in Nepal, the Daily Mail reported.

Teams of four elephants played soccer matches using a standard-size ball.

The elephants blocked passes, kicked the ball and batted it with their trunks, pushing each other for control of the play.

"The elephants are between four and five years old. Young ones are easier to train and run faster," said Basudev Mahato, 37, an elephant mahout.

The three-day event was held to promote conservation awareness and lure foreign visitors to Nepal.

Among the events was an elephant beauty pageant, where contestants sported nail polish on their not-so-dainty toes.（點擊英國《每日郵報》查看原文）

尼泊爾大象踢足球

?????? 數頭大象在尼泊爾大象節上踢起了足球。

?????? 據英國《每日郵報》報道，每支足球隊由四頭大象組成。它們使用標準大小的足球，攔球、踢球、用鼻子擊球，互相推搡以控制局面。

?????? 37歲的看象人巴蘇德福?馬哈圖說：“這些大象都是4到5歲。年齡小的象容易訓練，跑得也快。”

?????? 據悉，為期三天的大象節旨在宣傳環保，吸引外國游客來尼泊爾旅游。

?????? 眾多賽事中還有一項是選美比賽，參賽大象那并不精致的腳趾被涂了指甲油。

(China.org.cn December 31, 2011)