常春藤生活英語：終結(jié)寵物的孤單

There is a humorous> comic strip1 about a dog that is lying on a psychiatrist's2 couch. "Sometimes I feel like I'm barking up the wrong tree, doctor!" says the worried dog. Pets don't seem to have the same problems and fears that people do. But pets can get in bad moods when they are stuck inside all day while their owners are at work.

Dogs are very social, and they often misbehave when they spend too much time alone. To prevent your dog from chewing the furniture3, try taking it for a long walk before work. That way, your dog will be less active during the day. Leaving the TV on or playing relaxing music might also decrease your pet's stress. Although cats seem more independent than dogs, they can get bored during the day, too. For cats, a fun environment makes all the difference. Leave some toys around for the cat to play with. A simple paper bag actually makes a great cat toy! Even with all this, the best thing to do is to spend as much time as possible with your pet.

在一幅詼諧的連環(huán)漫畫中，有只小狗躺在精神科醫(yī)生的沙發(fā)上。小狗擔(dān)心地說：『醫(yī)生，有時候我總覺得我好像吠錯對象了。』(編按："bark up the wrong tree"為一諺語，原指獵犬以為獵物跑上了某棵樹，就跑到樹前吠叫，但其實獵物爬上的是另一棵樹，故引申為『認錯對象』之意。此處不管是以字面意思或引申意思解，都是開玩笑來顯示這只狗有點不對勁。)寵物似乎沒有和人類一樣的問題和恐懼。但當(dāng)主人出去工作而把寵物關(guān)在家里一整天時，牠們也會心情郁悶。

小狗非常喜歡交際，當(dāng)牠們獨處太久時常會不守規(guī)矩。為了防止您的狗啃咬家具，您可以試著在上班前帶牠去好好散個步。那樣一來，您的愛犬在白天時就不會那么好動。把電視開著或是播放輕松的音樂，或許也能減輕您寵物的壓力。雖然貓咪好像要比小狗來得獨立些，不過牠們在白天也會感到無聊。對于貓咪而言，一個有趣的環(huán)境就能使情形大為改觀。留些玩具在貓咪身邊給牠玩。一個平凡無奇的紙袋其實就能成為極佳的貓咪玩具!即便如此，最好還是盡可能多花些時間陪陪您的寵物。

1. When will a dog most likely misbehave?

(A) When its owner takes it for a long walk.

(B) When it spends too much time alone.

(C) When there is new furniture in the house.

(D) When it is worn out during the day.

1. 小狗很可能在何時不守規(guī)矩?

(A) 當(dāng)主人帶牠去好好散個步時。

(B) 當(dāng)牠獨處太久時。

(C) 當(dāng)屋里有新家具時。

(D) 當(dāng)牠在白天就已經(jīng)累壞時。

2. Which is NOT a way to prevent your pet from getting in bad moods?

(A) Leave some toys around for your pet when you are not home.

(B) Spend more time with your pet.

(C) Leave the TV on for your pet while you are away.

(D) Take your pet to work with you.

2. 何者不是預(yù)防您的寵物心情郁悶的方法?

(A) 當(dāng)您不在家時，留些玩具在您的寵物身邊。

(B) 花更多時間和您的寵物在一起。

(C) 當(dāng)您外出時，為您的寵物把電視開著。

(D) 帶您的寵物一起去工作。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. humorous　a. 幽默的，詼諧的

Hank's humorous joke made me burst into laughter.

漢克幽默的笑話讓我笑了出來。

2. misbehave vi. 行為不端;舉止不檢點

Dan was fired because he misbehaved.

阿丹因為行為不端被開除。

3. chew　vt. 咬，嚼

This steak is too tough to chew.

這塊牛排太老了，根本咬不動。

4. decrease vt. 減少

I walked to work to decrease my spending.

我走路上班以減少花費。

Phrases for Learning

1. make all the difference　　使大不相同

Having a second income made all the difference for that poor family.

有了第二份的收入使那個貧窮家庭的處境大為改善。

2. wear out.../wear...out　　使……疲憊不堪

Working over the weekend wore Phil out.

周末工作把菲爾給累壞了。

參考字詞

1. comic strip　n. 連環(huán)漫畫

2. psychiatrist　n. 精神科醫(yī)生

3. furniture　n. 家具

Tips In Use

...lying on a psychiatrist's couch.

(……躺在精神科醫(yī)生的沙發(fā)上。)

以下為您介紹動詞 lie 與 lay 的相異之處：

1. lie　vi. 躺;位于(三態(tài)為：lie, lay, lain。)

Emma likes to lie on her bed and read.

(?，斚矚g躺在她床上看書。)

That small village lies in a valley.

(那座小村莊位于一個山谷中。)

2. lie vi. 說謊(三態(tài)為：lie, lied, lied。)

Judy blinks a lot whenever she is lying.

(茱蒂說謊時老是會眨眼睛。)

3. lay　vt. 放置;生產(chǎn)(三態(tài)為：lay, laid, laid。)

Kim laid her jacket on the sofa.

(阿金把她的外套放在沙發(fā)上。)

The hen laid some eggs this morning.

(母雞今天早上下了幾顆蛋。)