英语美文：待售的小狗

 　　健康的小狗和有残疾的小狗，你会选择哪个作为自己的宠物呢?在很多人追求完美的时候，一个小男孩却给我们上了生动的一课。

　　A store owner was tacking¹ a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale." Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner's sign. "How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked.

　　The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50."The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "Can I please look at them?"The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel² came Lady, who ran down the aisle³ of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably⁴ behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?"The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have a hip⁵ socket⁶. It would always limp. It would always be lame⁷. The little boy became excited. "That is the little puppy that I want to buy."The store owner said. "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll just give him to you."The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner's eyes, pointing his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for."The store owner countered, "You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies."To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace⁸. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"Note tacking a sign：钉了一个牌子　　teeny：极小的　　lagging：跛行地veterinarian：兽医Writer: Dan Clark1. What kind of dog does the boy want to buy?

　　2. How much will he pay for the dog?

　　3. Why does the boy want to buy such a dog?

1 tacking   

（帆船）抢风行驶，定位焊[铆]紧钉

参考例句：

• He was tacking about on this daily though perilous voyage. 他在进行这种日常的、惊险的航行。
• He spent the afternoon tacking the pictures. 他花了一个下午的时间用图钉固定那些图片。

2 kennel   

n.狗舍，狗窝

参考例句：

• Sporting dogs should be kept out of doors in a kennel.猎狗应该养在户外的狗窝中。
• Rescued dogs are housed in a standard kennel block.获救的狗被装在一个标准的犬舍里。

3 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

4 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

5 hip   

n.臀部，髋；屋脊

参考例句：

• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
• The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line.新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。

6 socket   

n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口

参考例句：

• He put the electric plug into the socket.他把电插头插入插座。
• The battery charger plugs into any mains socket.这个电池充电器可以插入任何类型的电源插座。

7 lame   

adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的

参考例句：

• The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。
• I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。

8 brace   

n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备

参考例句：

• My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth. 我的女儿得戴牙套以矫正牙齿。
• You had better brace yourself for some bad news. 有些坏消息,你最好做好准备。