【英语趣味课堂】领养一条狗-Raising a Dog

Lindsay: So Jake, we are thinking¹ of getting a dog. What do you think about that?

Jake: Well, that could be a good idea. Dogs can make good companions².

 

Lyndsay: Yeah, I think so. That's why we want to get one, but the problem is our apartment is really small. Do you think my apartment is too small for the dog?

 

Jake: It could be. Dogs can get very lonely too is don't take care of them.

 

Lindsay: Yeah, everyone keeps warning³ me about the fact that not only is my apartment small but I'm not home a lot and either is my fiance so the dog will be home a lot of the time by itself.

 

Jake: Well, then maybe you'd better reconsider getting one.

 

Lyndsay: But they're so cute and I'll walk it in the morning and when I come home from work. I mean, do you think that that will be OK for the dog?

 

Jake: Well, I'm not so sure. Personally⁴, I don't really see what's so great about having a dog anyway.

 

Lindsay: Oh, what! You don't like dogs?

 

Jake: Not really. I mean, well, first of all, I'm a little bit afraid of them. I think maybe I was attacked⁵ when I was very young, but I don't like them very much.

 

Lyndsay: So you're afraid of them or you don't like them, or both?

 

Jake: Both. I think also, sometimes they're kind of dirty inside of the house. They leave lots of pet hair and sometimes they're not properly⁶ toilet trained.

 

Lindsay: Well, of course. They're like babies. You have to train them to go outside, but once they're trained they can be wonderful companions, and I don't know they're pretty soft and cute and lovable.

 

Jake: But I don't think it's worth the extra⁷ work. You have to clean up after them and of course, like you said, you have to train them.

 

Lyndsay: But a dog will always love you. There's not another animal that's like that? That will always love you no matter what. Don't you think so? Can you think of another animal that will always love you?

 

Jake: Cats maybe.

 

Lindsay: No way. Cats are so finicky. Cats don't really like you, I feel like. I feel like the dog is there right when you walk in the door waiting for you to come home. A cat is out next door walking on the fence⁸. They don't care about you.

 

Jake: Yeah, you're right. I think dogs are more friendly than cats overall⁹.

 

Lyndsay: I think you're just afraid of dogs because you haven't had a good experience with a dog, but if I get a dog than you can come to my house and play with my dog.

 

Jake: I am sure I would like your dog.

 

Lindsay: Oh, good. OK. So please come to my house and play with my new dog, if I get one. I'm not sure yet.

1 thinking   

n.思考，思想；adj.思考的，有理性的；vbl.想，思考

参考例句：

• All thinking men will protest against it.凡是有思想的人都会抗议这件事。
• Thinking is mainly performed with words and other symbols.思想主要是用言语和其他符号来表达的。

2 companions   

n.同伴( companion的名词复数 )；[天]伴星(=~star)；（用于书名）指南；同甘共苦的伙伴

参考例句：

• Jack was pushed out of the room by his companions. 杰克被伙伴们推出房间。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mother warned the boys not to associate with bad companions. 母亲告诫孩子们别和坏人交往。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 warning   

n.警告，告诫，训诫，警戒，警报

参考例句：

• The other side paid no attention to our warning.对方不重视我方的警告。
• He realized that his doctor was warning him off drink.他意识到医生在告诫他戒酒。

4 personally   

adv.亲自，直接，个人，就我个人来说

参考例句：

• I handed the book to him personally.书是我亲自交给他的。
• Personally,I prefer fall weather.我个人比较喜欢秋天的天气。

5 attacked   

v.攻击，进攻，抨击( attack的过去式和过去分词 )；非难；损害

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• When the enemy attacked, we were completely powerless against them. 敌人进攻的时候，我们毫无抵御能力。

6 properly   

adv.适当地；正当地；严格地

参考例句：

• He has disposed of the rubbish properly.他已经适当地处理了垃圾。
• Do your shoes fit properly?你的鞋适合吗？

7 extra   

adj.额外的，外加的；特大的

参考例句：

• We do not ask for extra pay.我们不要求额外报酬。
• You have to pay extra for breakfast.早餐你要另外付费。

8 fence   

n.围墙，剑术；v.用篱笆围住，练习剑术，防护；[计算机]栅栏

参考例句：

• They put a fence around the garden.他们在园子的周围建起了篱笆。
• The thief jumped himself over a fence and escaped.贼纵身跃过篱笆逃走了。

9 overall   

n.工作服，工装裤；全面的，全体的

参考例句：

• The shop assistant was wearing a white overall.那店员穿着白色的工作服。
• How much will it cost overall?一共多少钱？