VOA常速英语2019--山羊：冉冉升起的派对明星

These mild dwarfs² are ready to partying. True Los Angeles party animals, they’re set to entertain. Posing for selfies, offering free hugs and even back massages³, these cute animals seem at home, mixing with people and relaxing in the California sun. So cute and little! Oh my god! I love them! So they’re always fun, always entertaining. First I was like, what are you gonna do with goats for two hours, but they are so entertaining. That’s like oh I wish we have them for longer. Scout⁴ Raskin started her goat business called Party Goats LA in 2017. For 99 dollars an hour, she brings him miniature pets to any party or event.

这些温和的小个子们已经做好准备参加聚会了。在洛杉矶，它们喜欢凑热闹的性格是出了名的，它们天生就爱娱乐。做自拍，互相拥抱或者享受背部按摩，这些可爱的小动物似乎毫不见外，与人们打成一团，在加州的日光下放松享受。太可爱了，好小一只！我的天呐，我太喜欢它们了！它们好好玩儿，总是带给人快乐。一开始，我还觉得，山羊有什么好玩儿的，还要跟它们待2小时，但我现在发现它们太有趣了。我现在的感受是：好希望能跟它们多呆一会。斯镐特2017年创办了与山羊有关的生意——洛杉矶派对山羊。每小时支付99美元，她就能带着小山羊们去往聚会等活动。

The goats really exceeded my expectations. I thought they will be fun, but I didn’t realize how fun they would be. They brought me so much joy that I thought maybe other people in Los Angeles would want to hang out with baby goats, too. Raskin was right, and very soon what started as a hobby turned into a profitable business. Raskin left her job and dedicated⁵ herself to the bleating⁶ partygoers. They visit up to eight parties a day. These goats are really social animals. They love to be around people. They also can recognize human emotions, so they actually respond really positively⁷ to happy human emotions and positive human emotions. Raskin says the dwarf¹ goats are not difficult to take care of. They’re easily tamed and are generally happy along with animals, and people love having kids not only at parties but also at yoga classes.

这些山羊的表现超过了我的期望。它们来之前，我就知道会很有趣，但我没想到会这么有趣。它们为我带来了许多快乐，我甚至觉得或许洛杉矶还会有其他人想要跟这些可爱的小山羊出去溜达。斯镐特的想法很正确，因为不久后，一开始只是作为爱好的她将其发展成了可营利的事业。这些山羊每天可能去往多达8个聚会。它们社交性很强，喜欢跟人待在一起。它们还能识别人的情绪，这样就能积极回应人类开心或者不开心的情绪。斯镐特表示，这些矮小的山羊很容易照顾。它们很容易驯服，而且跟什么动物待在一起都很开心。人们不仅喜欢带着它们出席聚会，还喜欢带它们去上瑜伽课。

They’re trained to jump on your back for added core strength. They also will use their front hocks to test your balance if you’re doing like a standing⁸ post. Baby goats are fittingly gifts of the homes of people with cancer. Raskin explains, their positivity helps sick patients cheer up and for many it’s easy to see why.

这些山羊经过培训后可以跳在人类的背上，加强人的核心力量。它们还可以用前肘来测试人类的平衡能力，比如人在站着的时候。小羊羔是送给癌症患者家庭的绝佳礼物。斯镐特表示，小羊羔的积极情绪可以帮助病人开心起来，很多人很容易就能理解。

1 dwarf   

n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小

参考例句：

• The dwarf's long arms were not proportional to his height.那侏儒的长臂与他的身高不成比例。
• The dwarf shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. 矮子耸耸肩膀，摇摇头。

2 dwarfs   

n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Shakespeare dwarfs other dramatists. 莎士比亚使其他剧作家相形见绌。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The new building dwarfs all the other buildings in the town. 新大楼使城里所有其他建筑物都显得矮小了。 来自辞典例句

3 massages   

按摩，推拿( massage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• At present the doctor is giving him daily massages to help restore the function of his limbs. 目前医生每天在给他按摩，帮助他恢复腿臂的功能。
• His father massages his nose and chin. 他爸爸揉了揉鼻子和下巴。

4 scout   

n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索

参考例句：

• He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵，受了重伤。
• The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。

5 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

6 bleating   

v.（羊，小牛）叫( bleat的现在分词 )；哭诉；发出羊叫似的声音；轻声诉说

参考例句：

• I don't like people who go around bleating out things like that. 我不喜欢跑来跑去讲那种蠢话的人。 来自辞典例句
• He heard the tinny phonograph bleating as he walked in. 他步入室内时听到那架蹩脚的留声机在呜咽。 来自辞典例句

7 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

8 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。