英语小达人 307 Tiny Men and Tiny Women

 　　Tiny Men and Tiny Women

　　小男人和小女人

　　What is a CAT?

　　猫是什么？

　　1. Cats do what they want.

　　1. 猫们随心所欲。

　　2. They rarely listen to you.

　　2. 猫们极少听你的话。

　　3. They're totally umpredictable.

　　3. 它们完全不可捉摸。

　　4. When you want to play, they want to be alone.

　　4. 你想玩耍的时候，它们想独个待着。

　　5. When you want to be alone, they want to play.

　　5. 你想一个人待着时，它们想要玩耍。

　　6. They expect you to cater¹ to their every whim².

　　6. 它们希望你能迎合它们心血来潮的念头。

　　7. They're moody³.

　　7. 它们喜怒无常。

　　8. They leave hair everywhere.

　　8. 它们到处掉毛。

　　CONCLUSION: They're tiny women in little fur coats.

　　结论：它们是披着小号毛皮外套的小号的女人。

　　What is a DOG?

　　狗是什么？

　　1. Dogs spend all day sprawled⁴ on the most comfortable piece of furniture in the house.

　　1. 狗们整天整天地躺在家里最舒服的家具上。

　　2. They can hear a package of food opening half a block away, but don't hear you when you're in the same room.

　　2. 它们能听到半个街区外开食品袋的声音，可是你和它在同一间屋里它倒听不见。

　　3. They can look dumb and lovable all at the same time.

　　3. 同一时间，它们能显得又笨又可爱。

　　4. They growl⁵ when they are not happy.

　　4. 它们不高兴时就会乱吼。

　　5. When you want to play, they want to play.

　　5. 你想玩耍时，它们也想玩耍。

　　6. When you want to be alone, they want to play.

　　6. 你想一个待着时，它们想要玩耍。

　　7. They leave their toys everywhere.

　　7. 它们把玩具到处乱扔。

　　CONCLUSION: They're tiny men in little fur coats.

　　结论：他们是披着小号毛皮外套的小号的男人。

　　重点讲解：

　　1. listen to

　　（注意地）听；

　　eg. It is a waste of time to listen to his insignificant⁶ talk.

　　听他那些废话纯属浪费时间。

　　eg. He should listen to his intimate feelings.

　　人应当倾听自己的内心感觉。

　　2. cater to

　　为…提供服务；满足…的需要；接待；

　　eg. We cater to an exclusive clientele.

　　我们只接待特定的高端客户。

　　eg. All courses are geared to cater to the business needs.

　　课程的设置都一昧迎合市场的需要。

　　3. a package of

　　一包；一套；

　　eg. She sent him a large package of books.

　　她寄给他一大包书。

　　eg. But efforts to get agreement on a package of reforms proved difficult.

　　但是要想制定出一整套大家都同意的改革方案也很不容易。

1 cater   

vi.(for/to)满足，迎合；(for)提供饮食及服务

参考例句：

• I expect he will be able to cater for your particular needs.我预计他能满足你的特殊需要。
• Most schools cater for children of different abilities.大多数学校能够满足具有不同天资的儿童的需要。

2 whim   

n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想

参考例句：

• I bought the encyclopedia on a whim.我凭一时的兴致买了这本百科全书。
• He had a sudden whim to go sailing today.今天他突然想要去航海。

3 moody   

adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的

参考例句：

• He relapsed into a moody silence.他又重新陷于忧郁的沉默中。
• I'd never marry that girl.She's so moody.我决不会和那女孩结婚的。她太易怒了。

4 sprawled   

v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着）

参考例句：

• He was sprawled full-length across the bed. 他手脚摊开横躺在床上。
• He was lying sprawled in an armchair, watching TV. 他四肢伸开正懒散地靠在扶手椅上看电视。

5 growl   

v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣

参考例句：

• The dog was biting,growling and wagging its tail.那条狗在一边撕咬一边低声吼叫，尾巴也跟着摇摆。
• The car growls along rutted streets.汽车在车辙纵横的街上一路轰鸣。

6 insignificant   

adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的

参考例句：

• In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
• This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。