[Reading level: C2 – Mastery]
In Dumbarton, Scotland, there’s an ornate 19th-century bridge called the Overtoun Bridge. But its claim to fame is somewhat sinister. It’s nicknamed the “dog suicide bridge.”
For decades, dating at least back to the 1950s, dogs have been jumping from the Gothic-style bridge that crosses a 50-foot (15-meter) ravine. Many news outlets have reported on the bridge, and it’s inspired at least one full-length book. Some reports set the number of flying furballs in the hundreds, while others cite fewer. Numbers aside, there’s no disputing that a lot of dogs have died at this bridge, and no one knows exactly why.
Sometimes dogs survive the fall but suffer terrible injuries. Others perish soon after their plunges. In at least one instance, a dog allegedly jumped from the bridge, survived, ran up the slope and then jumped off once again. But what’s inspiring this rash of jumps?
The Sweet Smell of Wild Animals – Mùi hương ngọt ngào từ động vật hoang dã
In 2010, animal behaviorist David Sands visited the bridge and concluded that dogs certainly weren’t killing themselves on purpose. He figured that since most of the dogs that jump are long-nosed types with especially keen odor tracking skills, wild animal scent may be a trigger.
Perhaps the dogs can smell or see wild creatures scurrying below the bridge, noted Sands. And maybe the bridge’s construction, which has tapered edges, might make it look like a safe, flat plane from a dog’s point of view, also contributes to their confusion.
In his documentary about the bridge mystery, Sands says, “I think it’s highly likely in all the cases here at Overtoun Bridge that it was curiosity that killed the dog.”
Still, this part of the country is full of superstitious folks. Some of them believe that there are paranormal factors at work, driving the dogs to jump to their deaths.
One theory is that a grieving widow, the “White Lady of Overtoun” maintains a ghostly presence at the bridge, stirring the dogs into a death frenzy.
Another, even darker take, harkens to a terrible event that occurred in 1994. It was that year that a 32-year-old father threw his own baby – whom he was certain was the anti-Christ – into the gorge below. The baby died the following day, and the father was declared insane and committed to an institution.
Locals say that dogs, in almost every case, tend to jump from the same spot that the baby was thrown from. Perhaps, they say, the terrible ordeal left a supernatural rift of sorts that affects dog behavior.
Whatever the case, scientists don’t seem to believe that dogs are intentionally offing themselves because their Prozac prescriptions ran out. Suicide is more of a creation of the human condition.
Until the mystery is solved, perhaps local dog walkers should consider mandatory leash laws for anyone who approaches the bridge.
NOW THAT’S INTERESTING
Dr. David Sands is convinced that the scent of minks is likely the cause of dogs jumping from the bridge. He set up an experiment in which most dogs shot straight towards the scent of mink. But if minks are the cause, why aren’t other bridges in Scotland also luring dogs to their deaths?
Source: https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/unexplained-phenomena/dog-suicide-bridge.htm
WORD BANK:
ornate /ɔːrˈneɪt/ (adj): được trang trí đẹp mắt, công phu
claim to fame (idiom): lý do nổi tiếng
sinister /ˈsɪn.ə.stɚ/ (adj): ma mị, ghê rợn
ravine /rəˈviːn/ (n): khe núi
date back (phrasal verb) [B2]: từ khi, từ hồi (thời gian)
outlet /ˈaʊt.let/ [C2] (n): cửa hàng
dispute /dɪˈspjuːt/ (v) [C2]: bàn cãi
perish /ˈper.ɪʃ/ (v): bỏ mạng
plunge /plʌndʒ/ (n): cú lao xuống
allegedly /əˈledʒ·ɪd·li/ (adv): được cho là
a rash of something /ræʃ/ (n): hàng loạt, số lượng lớn
on purpose [B1] (idiom): một cách có chủ đích
scurry /ˈskʌr.i/ (v): di chuyển nhanh với bước ngắn
keen /kiːn/ [C1] (adj): nhạy bén
odor /ˈoʊ.dɚ/ [C2] (n): mùi hương
trigger /ˈtrɪɡ.ɚ/ (n): thứ kích thích
tapered /ˈteɪ.pəd/ (adj): hẹp dần
edge /edʒ/ (n): thành cầu, lan can
plane /pleɪn/ (n): mặt phẳng
confusion /kənˈfjuːʒn/ [B2] (n): sự nhầm lẫn
curiosity that killed the dog: Đây là cách bài viết chơi chữ thành ngữ “curiosity killled the cat”- nghĩa là, sự tò mò giết chết con mèo.
superstitious /ˌsuː.pəˈstɪʃ.əs/ (adj): mê tín, dị đoan
folk /fəʊk/ (n): câu chuyện dân gian
paranormal /ˌper.əˈnɔːr.məl/ (adj): siêu nhiên
grieving /ˈɡriː.vɪŋ/ (adj): đau khổ
widow /ˈwɪd.oʊ/ [B2] (n): góa phụ
frenzy /ˈfren.zi/ [C2] (n): hành vi không kiểm soát
harken (v): gợi nhớ về, liên quan tới
gorge /ɡɔːrdʒ/ (n): hẻm núi
insane /ɪnˈseɪn/ [C2] (adj): tâm thần
commit /kəˈmɪt/ (v): đưa vào bệnh viện
ordeal /ɔːˈdɪəl/ [C2] (n): trải nghiệm kinh khủng
rift /rɪft/ (n): vết rạn nứt
intentionally /ɪnˈtenʃənəli/ (adv): cố tình
off /ɔːf/ (v): kết liễu, giết
Prozac (n): tên của một loại thuốc trầm cảm
run out (phrasal verb): hết, cạn kiệt
mandatory /ˈmændətɔːri/ (adj): bắt buộc
leash /liːʃ/ (n): dây dắt chó
mink /mɪŋk/ (n): chồn nâu
lure /lʊr/ [C2] (v): hấp dẫn, dẫn dụ
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