Two biologists studying caribou in Alaska's back country got a pilot to fly them into the far north to collect some specimens. They were quite successful in their venture and had six big carcasses to take back to their lab. The pilot came back, as arranged, to pick them up. They started loading their gear into the plane, including the six caribou. But the pilot objected and told them,"Those caribou carcasses are too heavy, the plane can only take four of them ; you will have to leave two behind."

They argued with the pilot, letting him know that the year before, they had also collected six caribou and that pilot had allowed them to put all six animals aboard. This plane was the exact same model and capacity. Reluctantly, the pilot finally permitted them to put all six aboard. But when they attempted to take off and leave the valley, the little plane could not carry the load and they crashed into the wilderness.

Climbing out of the wreckage, one biologist said to the other, "Do you know where we are?"

"I think so," replied the other biologist. I think this is about the same place where we crashed last year!"

Caribou :a North American Reindeer (Deer: a large wild animal that can run very fast, eats grass, and has horns)

Back country :(American English) an area, especially in the mountains, away from roads and towns

Specimen :a single example of something, often an animal or plant

Carcass : the body of a dead animal

Aboard: get on ship, Plane, bus…

Wilderness; a large area of land that has never been developed or farmed

Wreckage : the parts of something such as a plane, ship, or building that are left after it has been destroyed in an accident

Crash : to have an accident

With special thanks to Mr. Hejazy