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CATS 101: Fabulous Felines 《猫咪101》

 

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For roughly 9,500 years, cats have served as human companions, and they are currently the world’s most popular pet. But if you’re interested in adopting a cat, finding the pick of the litter can be a daunting task, as there are over 70 different cat breeds to choose from. Thankfully, a new TV show on Animal Planet entitled Cats 101 is there to help you find the purr-fect cat for you.

将近有9,500年，猫咪一直是人类的良伴，而牠们也是现今世界上最受欢迎的宠物。但如果你对领养猫咪有趣兴，想要精挑细选出喜欢的品种可能是一项令人气馁的任务，因为有超过70种不同的品种可供挑选。幸亏，动物星球频道的新节目《猫咪101》将有助于你找到适合你的完美猫咪。

 

Scottish Fold  苏格兰折耳猫

 

One of the most adorable types of cat is the Scottish Fold. With their large oval-shaped eyes and small droopy ears, many feel they resemble owls. These cats trace their lineage back to a white barn cat from Scotland named Susie. Their unique ears are the result of a cartilage defect. Folds are known to sit upright, and rest their paws atop their chubby belly. It’s called the Buddha position, because it makes them look exactly like the laughing Buddha.

其中最讨人喜爱的品种之一就是苏格兰折耳猫，牠们有着椭圆形的大眼跟小巧的垂耳，因此很多人都认为牠们很像猫头鹰。这些猫咪的血统可以追溯至一只来自苏格兰，名叫苏西的白色长毛猫。牠们独特的耳朵是软骨缺陷所造成的结果。众所皆知地是，折耳猫总会坐得笔直，并将猫掌安放在牠们胖嘟嘟的肚子上。这称作佛陀姿，因为这个姿势让牠们看起来就像是一尊笑瞇瞇的弥勒佛。

 

Savannah  热带草原猫

 

If you’re interested in a more ferocious feline, Savannahs are a mix between a housecat and an African wild cat. They look like miniature leopards and can weigh up to 15 kilograms. In addition to being the largest domestic cats, Savannahs are also the best leapers, and can jump seven feet in the air from a standstill. Savannahs are also the newest cat breed, created in 1986 when a domestic cat was bred with an African wild cat. But if you opt for a Savannah, be sure you have plenty of space because they love to play and explore.

如果你对更凶猛的猫咪感兴趣，热带草原猫是家猫与非洲野猫的混种猫咪。牠们看起来如同迷你豹一般，可重达15公斤。除了是最大型的家猫类，热带草原猫也是跳得最高的猫，可以从停滞不动的状态一跃而上七呎之高。热带草原猫也是最新的品种，牠是1986年家猫与非洲野猫配种而成。但你如果选择饲养热带草原猫，可要确定你有足够的空间，因为牠们热爱玩耍并到处探险。

 

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

companion [kəmˋpænjən] n. 伴侣

daunting [ˋdɔntɪŋ] adj. 令人怯步的

breed [brid] n. 品种

purr [pɝ] n.（猫等满足时）呜呜的叫声

Scottish Fold 苏格兰折耳猫

adorable [əˋdorəb!] adj.【口】可爱的

droopy [ˋdrupɪ] adj. 下垂的

lineage [ˋlɪniɪdʒ] n. 血统；家族

cartilage [ˋkɑrt!ɪdʒ] n. 软骨

chubby [ˋtʃʌbɪ] adj. 圆胖的；丰满的

Buddha [ˋbʊdə] n. 佛陀

Savannah [səˋvænə] n. 热带草原猫

ferocious [fəˋroʃəs] adj. 凶猛的

miniature [ˋmɪnɪətʃɚ] adj. 小型的

leopard [ˋlɛpɚd] n. 豹；美洲豹

standstill [ˋstænd͵stɪl] n. 静止（状态）

 

 

Idiom

片语发音

 

pick of the litter  仔细挑选 the best of a group

opt for  选择, 选中

 

 

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American Shorthair  美国短毛猫

 

Another standout species in the world of cats is the American Shorthair. These little guys come in 80 different varieties and color patterns. They are actually descended from the first cats that came over to America on the Mayflower. Shorthairs are known to be easygoing and they are low-maintenance pets. Their busy owners never need worry about them because Shorthairs have no problems keeping themselves amused. In addition, they are one of the healthiest breeds around, so owners don’t have to fork out lots of cash for frequent trips to the veterinarian.

世界上另一种出色的猫咪是美国短毛猫。此种小猫咪有80种不同种类跟花色。第一只美国短毛猫其实是跟着五月花号来到美国。短毛猫以他们随和的个性与不需费心照顾而闻名。忙碌的饲主从不需要担心牠们，因为牠们总是懂得自娱。除此之外，牠们也是最健康的品种之一，所以饲主不需为经常带牠们看兽医而投入大量的金钱。

 

Persian  波斯猫

 

Persians have a long and illustrious history. They were first smuggled into Europe during the 17th century and quickly became the choice pet of the elite. England’s Queen Elizabeth is particularly fond of these funny-looking furballs. Persians are known for their long, fluffy coats of hair and their pushed-in noses. They are also notoriously lazy creatures, which is why they’ve been nicknamed “lounge lizards.” As their appearance suggests, Persians like to be pampered and to receive lots of attention. Their luxurious coats need frequent grooming to ensure they look their best. Persians are also prone to kidney disease, so it’s important to monitor their health closely. But if you provide them with tender loving care, they’ll return the favor by giving you plenty of adoration and affection.

波斯猫的历史悠久且著名。他们在17世纪间首次被私运至欧洲，并且很快地就变成上流社会人们喜爱饲养的宠物。英国的伊丽莎白二世特别喜欢这些有着滑稽长相的小毛球。波斯猫的特色就是牠们又长又蓬松的皮毛以及扁平的鼻子。牠们是出了名地懒惰，这也是为什么牠们被昵称为「休息室的蜥蜴」。如同牠们的外表，波斯猫喜欢被细心照料并希望受到关注。牠们奢华的毛皮需要经常地修剪以确保牠们看起来是最佳的状态。波斯猫易罹患肾脏病，所以密集地掌控牠们的健康状况是十分重要的。但如果你给予他们温柔的呵护，牠们也将回以深深的爱意。

 

If, for some reason, these breeds don’t float your boat, tune in to Cats 101 on a weekly basis and you’re bound to spot a feline that you think is the cat’s meow.

如果因为某些原因觉得这些品种的猫咪都不合你意，记得每周锁定《猫咪101》，你一定会发现绝妙（喵）的猫咪。

 

－by Jamie Blackler

 

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

American Shorthair 美国短毛猫

descend [dɪˋsɛnd] v. 传下来，来自于[（+from）]

around [əˋraʊnd] adv. 在某处; 在附近 being in existence

veterinarian [͵vɛtərəˋnɛrɪən] n. 兽医

Persian [ˋpɝʒən] n. 波斯猫

illustrious [ɪˋlʌstrɪəs] adj. 著名的，杰出的，卓越的

smuggle [ˋsmʌg!] v. 走私; 偷运

elite [eˋlit ɪˋlit] n.（社会）精英; 上层人士

fluffy [ˋflʌfɪ] adj. 松软的

pushed-in 如被推进的; 向内凹的 concave

notoriously [noˋtɔrɪəslɪ] adv. 恶名昭彰地，声名狼藉地

lounge [laʊndʒ] n. 休息室

pamper [ˋpæmpɚ] v. 宠﹐娇惯﹐过分呵护

grooming [ˋgrumɪŋ] n. 整洁；梳理

kidney [ˋkɪdnɪ] n. 肾脏

tender [ˋtɛndɚ] adj. 温柔的，体贴的

favor [ˋfevɚ] n. 善意的行为；恩惠

adoration [͵ædəˋreʃən] n. 敬爱；倾慕

 

 

Idiom

片语发音

 

fork out 【非正式】〔不情愿地〕付钱; 付出 Slang to pay (money, goods, etc.), esp with reluctance

fond of 喜欢 in love with

prone to 易于; 有...倾向的  likely to [do] something

float one’s boat  顺心顺意 make one happy

bound to  一定会（做）certain to

cat’s meow 满意; 妙极了 an expression referring to something that is considered outstanding; a highly admired person or thing

 

 

Reading Questions

 

1.    Why do many people compare Scottish Folds to owls?

(A)  Their tails are roughly the same length.

(B)  Both creatures are active during the night.

(C)  They both have extremely large ears.

(D)  They are somewhat similar in appearance.

 

2.    Which of the following statements about Savannahs is NOT true?

(A)  Savannahs have only existed for a short period of time.

(B)  They are the largest wild cat in the entire world.

(C)  No other house cats are able to jump as high as them.

(D)  Savannahs are heavy compared to other domestic cats.

 

3.    What type of person might want to own a Shorthair?

(A)  Someone who works a lot of hours but wants to keep a pet.

(B)  Someone who needs a pet to protect their home from robbers.

(C)  Someone who is interested in paying a lot of money for a unique cat.

(D)  Someone who wants to own a cat with beautiful fluffy hair.

 

4.    How can we best describe the show Cats 101?

(A)  It gives viewers special advice about how to breed their own cats.

(B)  It offers suggestions to people about how they can adopt stray animals.

(C)  It provides tips and fun facts about cats and how they behave.

(D)  It explains laws regarding animal ownership in many different countries.

 

 

My Scottish Fold on Fat Cats 101, Animal Planet, Discovery Channel TV

 

 

cats 101 Savannah

 

 

cats-101-American-shorthair

 

 

Animal Planet Cats 101 Persian Doll Face Chinchilla Silver and Golden

 

 

 

 

 

Answer

1. ( D )

2. ( B )

3. ( A )

4. ( C )