A WOLF PACK
“For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the
pack.”
– Rudyard Kipling, The Law for the Wolves
A wolf pack is an extremely well-organised family group with a well-defined
social structure and a clear-cut code of conduct. Every wolf has a certain place and
function within the pack and every member has to do its fair share of the work. The
supreme leader is a very experienced wolf – the alpha – who has dominance over
the whole pack. It is the protector and decision-maker and directs the others as to
where, when and what to hunt. However, it does not lead the pack into the hunt, for
it is far too valuable to risk being injured or killed. That is the responsibility of the
beta wolf, who assumes second place in the hierarchy of the pack. The beta takes
on the role of enforcer – fighter or ‘tough guy’– big, strong and very aggressive. It
is both the disciplinarian of the pack and the alpha’s bodyguard. ĐOẠN 1
The tester, a watchful and distrustful character, will alert the alpha if it encounters
anything suspicious while it is scouting around looking for signs of trouble. It is
also the quality controller, ensuring that the others are deserving of their place in
the pack. It does this by creating a situation that tests their bravery and courage, by
starting a fight, for instance. At the bottom of the social ladder is the omega wolf,
subordinate and submissive to all the others, but often playing the role of
peacemaker by intervening in an intra-pack squabble and defusing the situation by
clowning around. Whereas the tester may create conflict, the omega is more likely
to resolve it
The rest of the pack is made up of mid- to low-ranking non-breeding adults and the
immature offspring of the alpha and its mate. The size of the group varies from
around six to ten members or more, depending on the abundance of food and
numbers of the wolf population in general. ĐOẠN 3
Phần còn lại của đàn bao gồm những con trưởng thành không sinh sản có thứ
hạng từ trung bình đến thấp và những đứa con chưa trưởng thành của con đầu đàn
và bạn đời của nó. Quy mô của nhóm thay đổi từ khoảng sáu đến mười thành viên
trở lên, tùy thuộc vào lượng thức ăn dồi dào và số lượng quần thể sói nói chung.
1
Wolves have earned themselves an undeserved reputation for being ruthless
predators and a danger to humans and livestock. The wolf has been portrayed in
fairy tales and folklore as a very bad creature, killing any people and other animals
it encounters. However, the truth is that wolves only kill to eat, never kill more
than they need, and rarely attack humans unless their safety is threatened in some
way. It has been suggested that hybrid wolf-dogs or wolves suffering from rabies
are actually responsible for many of the historical offences as well as more recent
incidents.
Wolves hunt mainly at night. They usually seek out large herbivores, such as deer,
although they also eat smaller animals, such as beavers, hares and rodents, if these
are obtainable. Some wolves in western Canada are known to fish for salmon. The
alpha wolf picks out a specific animal in a large herd by the scent it leaves behind.
The prey is often a very young, old or injured animal in poor condition. The alpha
signals to its hunters which animal to take down and when to strike by using tail
movements and the scent from a gland at the tip of its spine above the tail.
Wolves kill to survive. Obviously, they need to eat to maintain strength and health
but the way they feast on the prey also reinforces social order. Every member of
the family has a designated spot at the carcass and the alpha directs them to their
places through various ear postures: moving an ear forward, flattening it back
against the head or swiveling it around. The alpha wolf eats the prized internal
organs while the beta is entitled to the muscle-meat of the rump and thigh, and the
omega and other low ranks are assigned the intestinal contents and less desirable
parts such as the backbone and ribs. ĐOẠN 6
Sói giết để tồn tại. Rõ ràng, chúng cần ăn để duy trì sức mạnh và sức khỏe, nhưng
cách chúng ăn thịt con mồi cũng củng cố trật tự xã hội. Mỗi thành viên trong gia
đình có một vị trí được chỉ định trên thân thịt và đầu đàn chỉ đạo chúng đến vị trí
của chúng thông qua các tư thế tai khác nhau: di chuyển một tai về phía trước, áp
sát tai vào đầu hoặc xoay tai xung quanh. Sói đầu đàn ăn các cơ quan nội tạng quý
giá trong khi sói beta được hưởng thịt cơ ở mông và đùi, còn omega và các cấp
bậc thấp khác được chỉ định phần đường ruột và các bộ phận ít được ưa chuộng
hơn như xương sống và xương sườn.
2
The rigid class structure in a wolf pack entails frequent displays of
supremacy and respect. When a higher-ranking wolf approaches, a lesser-
ranking wolf must slow down, lower itself, and pass to the side with head
averted to show deference; or, in an extreme act of passive submission, it
may roll onto its back, exposing its throat and belly. The dominant wolf
stands over it, stiff-legged and tall, asserting its superiority and its authority
in the pack
Questions 1-6
Classify the following statements as referring to
A the alpha wolf
B the beta wolf
C the tester wolf
D the omega wolf
Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D in boxes 1–6 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
1 It is at the forefront of the pack when it makes a kill.
2 It tries to calm tensions and settle disputes between pack members.
3 It is the wolf in charge and maintains control over the pack.
4 It warns the leader of potential danger.
5 It protects the leader of the pack.
6 It sets up a trial to determine whether a wolf is worthy of its status in the pack.
Questions 7–13
3
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage
1?
In boxes 7–13 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
7 Wolves are a constant danger to humans.
8 Crossbred wolves or sick wolves are most likely to blame for attacks on people.
9 Canadian wolves prefer to eat fish, namely salmon.
10 The wolf pack leader identifies a particular target for attack by its smell.
11 When wolves attack a herd, they go after the healthiest animal.
12 The piece of a dead animal that a wolf may eat depends on its status in the
pack.
13 A low-ranking wolf must show submission or the dominant wolf will attack it.
ANSWER
1. B
2. D
3. A
4. C
5. B
6. C
4
7. FALSE
8. TRUE
9. NOT GIVEN
10. TRUE
11. FALSE
12. TRUE
13. NOT GIVEN
