英语名篇诵读 向动物学习

Learn from Animals

向动物学习

Molly, a vet¹ , advises we should learn from animals. She takes the following creatures for examples.

Dogs: Whatever pain they have gone through, they are able to shake it off soon. They are able to enjoy to the full whatever joy they have, either munching² a bone available or running gaily³ in a park.

Cats: Nothing ever worries them. Should any anxiety come to their mind, they would sleep it off.

Birds: They know how to enjoy life. Even the busiest bird finds time to perch⁴ on a branch, singing. You might believe that it is singing a love song, but I believe most times it is singing for the sheer joy of living.

Molly says, all creatures, be they domesticated⁵ cats and dogs or lions on the prairie, share the following characteristics — plenty of sleep, moderate eating, daily movement and no regretting of yesterday and no worry about tomorrow.

Animals' lifestyle, simple and natural, is in fact the code to good health and longevity⁶, which we human have long been craving⁷ for. Some guys still do not realize this even at the end of their lives. Smartest among all creatures under the sun as we are, we should turn to animals for the art of living.

莫莉是一位兽医，她建议我们应该向动物学习，并举以下几种动物为例:

狗。无论遭受过什么样的痛苦，狗都能很快抛诸脑后。它们尽情享受能得到的任何快乐，不管是啃一块到嘴的骨头还是欢快地在公园里跑来跑去。

猫。从没有什么东西使猫担忧。即使有什么烦心的事，它们就一睡了之。

鸟。鸟知道怎样享受生活，甚至最忙的鸟也会找时间栖在枝头，唱唱歌。你也许认为它是在唱一首情歌，但我认为它大多数时间就是在为生活的快乐而歌唱。

莫莉说，所有的动物，不论是家养的猫狗或是草原上的狮子，都有下面的共同特点——充足的睡眠，适度的饮食，每天运动，不为昨天懊悔，不为明日担忧。

动物的生活方式简单而自然，事实上正是健康和长寿的秘诀。这也正是我们人类千百年来一直渴望的。有些人甚至死到临头也仍然认识不到这一点。作为天底下最聪明的动物，我们应该向动物求教生活的艺术。

1 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。

2 munching   

v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was munching an apple. 他在津津有味地嚼着苹果。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Munching the apple as he was, he had an eye for all her movements. 他虽然啃着苹果，但却很留神地监视着她的每一个动作。 来自辞典例句

3 gaily   

adv.欢乐地，高兴地

参考例句：

• The children sing gaily.孩子们欢唱着。
• She waved goodbye very gaily.她欢快地挥手告别。

4 perch   

n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于

参考例句：

• The bird took its perch.鸟停歇在栖木上。
• Little birds perch themselves on the branches.小鸟儿栖歇在树枝上。

5 domesticated   

adj.喜欢家庭生活的；（指动物）被驯养了的v.驯化( domesticate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He is thoroughly domesticated and cooks a delicious chicken casserole. 他精于家务，烹制的砂锅炖小鸡非常可口。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The donkey is a domesticated form of the African wild ass. 驴是非洲野驴的一种已驯化的品种。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 longevity   

n.长命；长寿

参考例句：

• Good habits promote longevity.良好的习惯能增长寿命。
• Human longevity runs in families.人类的长寿具有家族遗传性。

7 craving   

n.渴望,热望

参考例句：

• a craving for chocolate 非常想吃巧克力
• She skipped normal meals to satisfy her craving for chocolate and crisps. 她不吃正餐，以便满足自己吃巧克力和炸薯片的渴望。