外国人最想和你聊的文化话题：宠物文化

     For Americans, pets are as basic American culture as hotdogs or apple pies.
     对美国人来说，如同热狗、苹果派一样，宠物也是美国文化的基础。
     Raising pets makes a person's life more satisfying and less lonely. Senior citizens especially can benefit from having a pet to keep them company.
     养宠物会给人们的生活增加一些乐趣，让人们感觉不那么孤单。尤其是对老年人来说，有一只宠物相伴对他们有好处。
     To Americans, pets are not just property, but a part of the family.
     宠物不仅是一个家庭的私有财产，而且是家庭的成员。
     Americans love pets. And it's not just puppy love, either. Many pet owners treat their furry friends as part of the family.
     美国人很爱宠物，而且这不只是一种不成熟、短暂的爱，很多宠物的主人把这些毛茸茸的朋友当作家庭的一部分。
     Sometimes they spice up their pets' lives with entertaining videos and amusing toys.
     有时候还为宠物准备娱乐用的录像带和玩具来增添它们生活的乐趣。
     If they have an eye for fashion, pet owners can dress their pets in stylish clothes.
     如果宠物的主人具有流行的眼光，还会让他们的宠物穿上时髦的衣服。
     For special occasions, they can use canine perfume to make their dogs smell, well, less beastly.
     在特殊的场合里，甚至为宠物喷上专用的香水，让它们的味道好闻一点，减少一些动物身上的味道。
     You might say Americans treat their pets like they treat their children-sometimes even better.
     你也可以说，美国人待他们的宠物如同待他们的孩子一样--有时甚至更好。
     In America, there are more households with pets than those with children.
     在美国，有宠物的家庭比有孩子的家庭还多。
     A series of related industry are produced around pets' economy, and some new professions are gestated, such as pet doctor, pet beautician, pet trainer, nursing worker of pets and so on.
     围绕宠物经济产生了一系列的相关产业，并孕育了不少的新兴职业，如宠物医师、宠物美容师、牵犬师、宠物训导师、宠物健康护理员等。
     At least 43 percent of U.S. homes have pets of some sort. Exotic creatures, such as monkeys, snakes and even wolves, find a home with some Americans.
     至少有43%的美国家庭养一些外国品种的动物，例如猴子、蛇、甚至狼。
     More common pets include tropical fish, mice and birds.
     比较常见的宠物有热带鱼、老鼠和鸟。
     But the all-time favorites are cats and dogs, even at the White House.
     不过，一直广受欢迎的是猫和狗，连白宫也不例外。
     The Clintons' cat, Socks, once replaced the Bushes' dog, Millie, as reigning First Pet.
     克林顿总统的猫--袜子，曾经取代了布什的狗--米利，成为神气的"第一宠物"。
     Americans sometimes have strong feelings about whether dogs or cats make better pets. "Dog people" and "cat people" often enjoy friendly rivalries.
     美国人有时候很在乎到底最好的宠物是猫还是狗，"爱狗的人"和"爱猫的人"喜欢开玩笑地彼此争辩。
     Leading a dog's life in America isn't such a bad thing. Many grocery stores sell gourmet pet foods to owners eager to please their pets.
     在美国，狗所过的生活并不坏，很多杂货店都卖有宠物美食，让主人可以讨好他们的宠物。
     In Houston, Texas, dogs can have their dinner delivered to their homes, just like pizza.
     在德州的休斯敦市，狗儿还能享用专程送到家的晚餐，就跟比萨一样。
     Well-to-do canines can attend doggy daycare centers while their owners work.
     家境富裕的狗儿在主人上班的时候可以去狗儿托育中心。
     Pets can even accompany their owners on vacation.
     宠物甚至可以和他们的主人一同去度假。
     Fancy hotels are beginning to accommodate both man and beast. Furry guests at Four Seasons Hotels can enjoy gourmet meals served on fine china and sleep in soft beds.
     高级饭店已经开始可以同时留宿人和宠物，这些毛茸茸的客人在四季饭店可以享用以精致瓷器盛装的美食，并在柔软的床上睡觉。
     Beneath the fluffy luxuries, there lies a basic American belief：Pets have a right to be treated well.
     在舒适奢华的享受之下，其实存在着美国人的一种基本信念：宠物有受到妥善对待的权利。
     At least 75 animal welfare organizations exist in America. These provide care and adoption services for homeless and abused animals.
     美国至少有75个动物福利组织，它们为流浪动物及被虐待动物提供照顾与领养的服务。
     Veterinarians can give animals an incredible level of medical care for an incredible price.
     兽医能提供给动物极好的医疗照顾--价格也极昂贵。
     To pay for the high-tech health care, people can buy health insurance for their pets.
     若为了负担更先进的健康医疗照顾，人们可以为他们的宠物购买健康保险。

     Mary：Alison, What kind of pet do you want to get?
     玛丽：艾莉森，你想要怎样的宠物？
     Alison：How about goldfish?
     艾莉森：金鱼怎么样？
     Mary：They're too boring! How about a snake? Snakes are interesting.
     玛丽：它们太无聊！蛇怎么样？蛇很有趣。
     Alison：No! Snakes are too scary! Let's get a nice pet like a cat.
     艾莉森：不！蛇太令人害怕。咱们找个好的宠物像猫一样。
     Mary：A cat? I don't like cats. Cats aren't friendly enough.
     玛丽：猫？我不喜欢猫。猫不是足够友好。
     Alison：How about dogs? They are nice, but they are really energetic, and you need to make sure they get enough exercise every day.
     艾莉森：小狗怎么样？小狗很可爱呀，不过它们太好动了，最好每天都能带它们去散步。
     Mary：Have a dog would probably be too much work for me, then.
     玛丽：那我恐怕没那么多时间养狗了。
     Alison：What about cats? They are more independent.
     艾莉森：那养猫吧，猫没那么黏人。
     Mary：Actually, I was thinking of something a little more exotic. I don't want a common pet like a dog or cat.
     玛丽：实际上我想要一只特别点儿的宠物，不想要猫、狗这些常见的。
     Alison：How about a lizard? Are lizards more along the lines of what you were thinking of getting?
     艾莉森：养只蜥蜴？蜥蜴够特别吧？
     Mary：Yeah, are they easy to look after?
     玛丽：不错，蜥蜴好养吗？
     Alison：Yeah, they are pretty low-maintenance; they eat almost anything.
     艾莉森：嗯，挺好养的，基本上什么都吃。