Passage 10 美国宠物 Pets in America
Step 1 阅读行不行
Americans love pets. And it's not just puppy love, either. Many pet owners treat their furry friends as part of the family. Sometimes they spice up their pets' lives with entertaining videos and amusing toys. If they have an eye for fashion, pet owners can dress their pets in stylish1 clothes. For special occasions, they can use canine perfume to make their dogs smell well, less beastly. You might say Americans treat their pets like they treat their children—sometimes even better.
In America, there are more households with pets than those with children. At least 43 percent of U.S. homes have pets of some sort. Exotic2 creatures, such as monkeys, snakes and even wolves, find a home with some Americans. More common pets include tropical3 fish, mice and birds. But the all-time favorites are cats and dogs. Americans sometimes have strong feelings about whether dogs or cats make better pets.“Dog people”and“cat people”often enjoy friendly rivalries4 .
Leading a dog's life in America isn't such a bad thing. Many grocery stores sell gourmet pet foods to owners eager to please their pets. In Houston, Texas, dogs can have their dinner delivered to their homes, just like pizza. Well-to-do canines can attend doggy daycare centers while their owners work. Pets can even accompany their owners on vacation. Fancy hotels are beginning to accommodate both man and beast. Furry guests at Four Seasons Hotels can enjoy gourmet meals served on fine china and sleep in soft beds.
Beneath the fluffy5 luxuries, there lies a basic American belief: Pets have a right to be treated well. At least 75 animal welfare organizations exist in America. These provide care and adoption services for homeless and abused animals. Veterinarians can give animals an incredible level of medical care—for an incredible price. To pay for the high-tech health care, people can buy health insurance for their pets. And when it's time to say good-bye, owners can bury their pets in a respectable pet cemetery6 .
The average American enjoys having pets around, and for good reason. Researchers have discovered that interacting with animals lowers a person's blood pressure. Dogs can offer protection from burglars and unwelcome visitors. Cats can help rid the home of unwanted pests. Little creatures of all shapes and sizes can provide companionship and love. In many cases, having a pet prepares a young couple for the responsibilities of parenthood. Pets even encourage social relationships: They give their owners an appearance of friendliness, and they provide a good topic of conversation.
Pets are as basic to American culture as hot dogs or apple pie. To Americans, pets are not just property, but a part of the family. After all, pets are people, too.
keywords and phrases
1 stylish /ˈstaɪlɪʃ/ adj. 时髦的，流行的，入时的
2 exotic /ɪg'zɒtɪk/ adj. 异国的；外来的；奇异的
3 tropical /ˈtrɒpɪkl/ adj. 热带的；炎热的
4 rivalry /'raɪvlrɪ/ n. 竞争，对抗，对立
5 fluffy /'flʌfɪ/ adj. 松软的，毛茸茸的；轻柔的
6 cemetery /'semətrɪ/ n. 墓地，公墓
phrase to know
puppy Iove puppy是“小狗”的意思，而puppy love字面上看是指“对小狗的爱”，实际上，它指的是早恋或一见倾心，主要是少男少女之间短暂、不成熟的爱情。在青春期，少男少女对爱情的崇敬就像一只小狗（puppy）一样，所以称早恋为puppy love。在本文中作者用这个词表示美国人对宠物的爱并不是“不成熟的、短暂的爱”。
spice up spice做动词用可以表示“在……中添加香料”，还可以表示“给……增添趣味”。因此spice up在这里表示“增添情趣，增添趣味”，如：He exaggerated the details to spice up the story. 表示“他添油加醋，让故事听起来更有意思”。
have an eye for 这个短语的意思是“对……有判断力或鉴赏力”，如果我们说一个人有审美眼光，就可以说：He has an eye for beauty.
lead a dog's life 字面意思是“过狗一样的生活”，其引申含义是“过着猪狗不如的生活，过着悲催的生活”。在本文中作者用这个短语的原意，很有一些戏谑的味道。英语中与dog相关的习语非常多，举几个例子：dog-eat-dog world（一个“狗吃狗”的世界），用来形容冷酷无情的竞争，dog-tired这个词相当形象地把筋疲力尽、累到快要趴下的神态勾勒了出来，let sleeping dogs lie顾名思义，就是不要去吵醒睡着的狗。把睡着的狗吵醒，后果会很严重，因此这个短语可以引申为“不要自找麻烦、自讨苦吃”。
Step 2 手写行不行
★ 琳达是个穿着时髦的人。(stylish)
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★ 汉语中有一些外来词。(exotic)
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★ 在家里养这些热带花卉十分困难。(tropical)
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★ 他经常和同事较劲。(have rivalry with)
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★ 这种毯子质地非常柔软。(fluffy)
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★ 五年前他的遗体被埋葬在这块墓地里。(be buried in)
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Step 3 口语行不行
Q1 Do you have a pet? What is it？你养宠物吗？是哪种宠物？
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Q2 What can pets do for us？宠物能为我们做什么？
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Q3 Should we treat pet animals as our family？我们应该把宠物当作家人看待吗？
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试题解答篇
Step 2 手写行不行答案
1．Linda is a stylish dresser.
2．There are some exotic words in Chinese language.
3．It can be extremely difficult to grow these tropical flowers at home.
4．He had a lot of rivalry with his colleagues.
5．It's a very fluffy kind of blanket.
6．His remains was buried in this cemetery five years ago.
Step 3 口语行不行答案
1．Yes. I have a dog. He is a golden retriever with yellowish golden fur. I got him from a lady who found his mom on the side of the road. When we got him, he was only five months old and four inches tall. I am fascinated by his attractive appearances, his loyalty and playful personality.
2．It seems that nowadays, pets are almost a requirement for family life. Children and adults love their pets, and find pleasure in spending time with them. People who are lonely rely on their pets for companionship. Disabled individuals and people with special needs may have hearing or sight dogs, and millions of people rely on the family pooch as an alarm system. Therapy dogs bring smiles to the faces of traumatized and emotionally challenged children and lonely senior citizens. Bomb detection, rescue and police dogs help us live better lives by contributing to our society in meaningful ways.
3．Many people feel that when they have pet, they're receiving more than just a pet animal but more importantly, a friend, a companion. Taking care of a pet is often referred to by many as the same process as raising a child. Pets, especially dogs will greet us with waging tails and dancing in place when we arrive home after hours of absence. Our furry friends often provide a sense of comfort and unconditional love. So, why don't we treat pet animals as our family?