The great French naturalist Jean-Henri Fabre once conducted a fascinating experiment with processionary caterpillars, so called because they tend to march in unison. He lined them around the inner edge of a flowerpot and then monitored them carefully as they marched in a circle. At the end of the third day, he placed some pine needles, which is the favorite food of caterpillars, in the center of the pot. They continued walking for four more days without breaking rank. Finally, one at a time, they rolled over and died of starvation , just inches from their ideal food source.
These furry little creatures remind me in some ways of today's moms. Most of them are trudging around in circles from morning to night, exhausted and harried, wondering how in the world they can get everything done. Many are employed full-time while also taking care of families, chauffeuring kids, fixing meals, cleaning the house and trying desperately to maintain their marriages, friendships, family relationships and other commitments. It is a backbreaking load. Sadly, this overcommitted and breathless way of life, characterizes the vast majority of people in our society. If you are one of them, what is your favorite food, and how long have you been working without eating? | .. | 字彙 processionary 列隊行進的
starvation 飢餓
trudge 用沉重步伐行走
chauffeur 司機(動詞作開車接送)
法國大博物學家法皮耶有次用列隊行進的毛蟲，做一項引人注意的實驗。之所以這樣稱這些毛蟲，是因為牠們有步伐一致的習性。他把毛蟲排在花盆裡面的邊緣，然後仔細觀察牠們繞著圈子遊行。在第三天末了，他放了些毛蟲最愛吃的松針在花盆中心。毛蟲繼續走了四天，排列依舊。最後，一隻一隻相繼翻身死於飢餓，離食物來源只有一吋之遙。
這些毛茸茸的小生物讓我想起今天作媽媽的人，大多用沉重的步伐不停地從早忙到晚，精疲力竭，苦惱著怎麼把該做的事情都辦妥。許多人全職上班還同時照顧家庭，當司機接送小孩，做飯，打掃，努力維持婚姻、友誼、家人關係和其他的委身之事。這真是辛苦的負擔啊。可悲的是，這種過度委身、令人喘不過氣來的生活，卻是今天社會中多數人的寫照。如果你是其中之一，什麼是你最喜愛的食物，你又有多久一直工作而沒有進食了呢？
思考與應用
1.毛蟲怎麼會餓死呢？
2.除了媽媽，還有什麼人是這樣埋頭苦幹的？送份飲料和點心到他面前吧! |
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