英语听力精选进阶版 6453

Can you resist the pleading eyes of a cat keen on the piece of ham you're just about to eat? I can't, and this is bad news for my cat Freddy. He is getting very fat.

More than 18 million of the UK's pets could have a premature¹ death because of their diet, the vet² charity PDSA warns. Owners like me, wanting to please their animals by giving them fast food, crisps and cakes end up doing them more harm than good.

Like people, animals can suffer from obesity-related conditions such as arthritis³, diabetes⁴ and heart disease. Breathing difficulties made Phillip Howse take his mother's fat cat Jesse to the PDSA clinic in South London. He said the animal sounded "as if snoring when awake".

According to Howse, his elderly mother is too soft with her pet, which keeps meowing in the kitchen till it gets its treats. He tells his mother she "has to be cruel to be kind" if she wants to keep the cat for a long time.

But there's hope for poor Jesse. Last year, the charity chose 16 obese⁵ pets to try its six-month diet and fitness regime. In total, the pets lost a combined weight of 57kg. The slimming champion was a dog, Ruby⁶. It went from 9.1kg to a healthier 6.2kg.

The way we treat our animals may be a reflection of the way we treat ourselves. According to the PDSA's Elaine Pendlebury, studies have suggested that overweight owners are twice as likely to feed their pets table scraps⁷. And they end up with overweight animals.

Regular exercise is good for humans and pets. The charity's website suggests that dog owners run and play games like 'fetch' with their pets, but advises against throwing sticks as these might end up hurting the dog's mouth.

Cat owners should set time aside to play with their pets regularly and encourage them to 'work' for their meals, by using toys that release food when pushed around.

My own cat Freddy's diet and exercise plan starts on Monday and so does mine. Because it's not really the pet who opens the tin of biscuits. Both of us have to learn how to feel like "the cat that got the cream" - without really getting any cream.

Quiz 测验

1. How many pets in the UK might not live long due to their bad diets?

More than 18 million.

2. What sounded like "snoring when awake"?

Jesse the cat's breathing.

3. True or false? Sixteen obese pets lost a total of 9.1kg.

False. They lost a combined weight of 57kg.

4. What game could harm dogs?

Throwing sticks for them to fetch because these can hurt the dog's mouth.

5. What sound do cats make?

Meow.

Glossary 词汇表

pleading 恳求的

premature death 早逝，过早死亡

vet (veterinary) 兽医

charity 慈善（机构）

fast food 快餐

crisps 炸薯片

obesity-related condition 同肥胖症有关的疾病

arthritis 关节炎

diabetes 糖尿病

heart disease 心脏疾病

to snore 打呼噜

a treat 零食

to be cruel to be kind 良药苦口

obese 肥胖的

fitness regime 健身计划

slimming 瘦身，减肥

overweight （身体）超重

table scraps （餐桌上的）残羹剩饭

the cat that got the cream （看上去）心满意足的样子

1 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

2 vet   

n.兽医，退役军人；vt.检查

参考例句：

• I took my dog to the vet.我把狗带到兽医诊所看病。
• Someone should vet this report before it goes out.这篇报道发表之前应该有人对它进行详查。

3 arthritis   

n.关节炎

参考例句：

• Rheumatoid arthritis has also been linked with the virus.风湿性关节炎也与这种病毒有关。
• He spent three months in the hospital with acute rheumatic arthritis.他患急性风湿性关节炎，在医院住了三个月。

4 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

5 obese   

adj.过度肥胖的，肥大的

参考例句：

• The old man is really obese,it can't be healthy.那位老人确实过于肥胖了，不能算是健康。
• Being obese and lazy is dangerous to health.又胖又懒危害健康。

6 ruby   

n.红宝石，红宝石色

参考例句：

• She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
• On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

7 scraps   

油渣

参考例句：

• Don't litter up the floor with scraps of paper. 不要在地板上乱扔纸屑。
• A patchwork quilt is a good way of using up scraps of material. 做杂拼花布棉被是利用零碎布料的好办法。