Module 5 - Section 3 段落填空 - Part 1 - Exercise 19

原文

Since 1983, the event has started from downtown Anchorage with a ceremony on the first Saturday in March. Teams leave in two-minute intervals and ride for a short distance, after which the dogs are taken home for the remainder of the day to prepare for the actual race. After a night's rest, the teams then leave for their official start from the city of Wasilla, about 40 miles (65 km) north of Anchorage.

The modern race has two routes. In odd years the southern one is used, and in even years teams run on the northern one. Both however, have the same starting point and split approximately 444 miles (715 km) from there. They join each other again about 441 miles (710 km) from Nome, giving them the same ending point as well. The development of to routes was done in order to reduce the impact that the race and its fans has on the towns along its length.

The mushers (dogsled drivers) have 26 checkpoints on the northern route and 27 on the southern. These are areas where they can stop to rest both themselves and their dogs. There they eat, communicate with family, and get the health of their dogs monitored, which is a main priority. There are only three mandatory rest times, which usually consist of one 24-hour stop and two eight-hour stops during the nine- to twelve-day race. When the race is over, the different teams split a monetary prize. Whoever finishes first is awarded the most, and each successive team to come in after that receives a little less. All those finishing after 31st place, however, get about $1,049 each.

While a skilled musher is essential, much of the success of a race team depends on a good team of dogs. Originally, sled dogs were Alaskan Malamutes, but over the years the dogs have been crossbred for speed and endurance in the harsh Alaskan climate. Efforts to breed dogs well suited for racing have produced the Alaskan Husky, a strong and energetic animal that can average race speeds of more than 19 miles per hour (31 km/h).

Mushers select a team of dogs based on the characteristics and strengths of the animals. Each dog team is made up of twelve to sixteen dogs and the smartest and quickest dogs are picked to be what they call lead dogs, running at the head of the pack. Those that are capable of moving the team around curves are the swing dogs, and they run behind the lead dogs. The strongest dogs, called wheel dogs, run at the back, closest to the sled.

Once they are on the trail, mushers put the dogs on a strict diet and monitor them carefully. If needed, there are also veterinarians at the checkpoints. Most of the teams spend anywhere from $10,000-$80,000 per year on equipment (boots to protect the dogs' feet, dog harnesses, rods, etc.) to keep their dogs fit. Despite these high costs and the dangers of the race, mushers and their dogs still enjoy participating in the Iditarod, and fans from around the world continue to follow ‘The Last Great Race.'