The Old Hound

老猎狗

Elvis was a dog that loved to run. He possessed all the criteria to be a great racing dog. He had long legs, lean muscles, and a strong heart. He was so good that he never lost a race in the northern hemisphere. Spectators who bet on dog races always picked Elvis to win. 埃尔维斯是一只爱跑的狗。他具备成为一只优秀的赛狗的所有条件。他有修长的腿，瘦削的肌肉和强壮的心脏。他是如此的优秀，以至于他从未在北半球输过一场比赛。赌狗比赛的观众总是选他赢。

After ten years of racing, however, Elvis was getting old. His faculties were not as strong as they used to be. His owner got upset when Elvis started losing. Elvis's owner wasn't a considerate person. He degraded the dog all the time. Finally, his owner decided to get rid of him. He threw Elvis in his car and took him to the middle of the forest. He tossed him out and drove away. Elvis was cold and scared. He decided to follow a brook into the city.

然而，经过十年的比赛，埃尔维斯渐渐变老了，他的体能不再如前。埃尔维斯开始输掉比赛，他的主人很生气。主人不是个善解人意的人，他总是贬低埃尔维斯。最后，它的主人决定把它赶走。他把埃尔维斯扔进车里，把他带到森林的中央。他把他扔出车外，开车走了。埃尔维斯又冷又害怕。他决定沿着一条小溪进城。

Elvis soon found out that the city was a big and impersonal place. Everywhere he went, he saw signs that said, "No Dogs Allowed." Pedestrians yelled at him. He was sad, hungry, and alone. He thought that all people were as cruel and uncaring as his owner had been. He was ready to give up when he heard a soft voice say, "What a beautiful hound!" Elvis looked up and saw an old woman. She said, "You're entitled to a better life than this. I can take you to a sanctuary for old dogs like you. I'll cater to all your needs. Would you like to come with me?"

埃尔维斯很快就发现这个城市是一个很大的、没有人情味的地方。无论他走到哪里，他都能看到写着“禁止狗入内”的标语。行人对他大喊大叫。他很伤心，又饿又孤单。他认为所有的人都和他的主人一样残忍无情。直到他听到一个温柔的声音说:“多漂亮的猎犬啊!”埃尔维斯抬头一看，看到一位老妇人。她说:“你有权过上比现在更好的生活。我可以带你去一个像你这样的老狗的庇护所。我会满足你所有的需要。你愿意和我一起去吗?”

The woman escorted Elvis to a beautiful facility. There was a sign on the external door that said, "Dogs Welcome!" The interior of the building was painted blue, and shiny ornaments hung from the ceiling. There was a heap of tasty bones and bread crusts for consumption. Elvis learned there were kind people in the world after all. He was so thankful that he jumped up and licked the woman's face.

这名老妇人护送埃尔维斯来到一个美丽的建筑前，门外有个牌子写着:“欢迎狗狗!”大楼的内部漆成蓝色，天花板上挂着闪闪发光的装饰品。里面有一堆美味的骨头和面包皮可供食用。埃尔维斯知道世界上毕竟还有善良的人。他非常感激，跳起来舔了舔那名老妇人的脸。

核心单词表

brook n. 小溪

cater v. 迎合

considerate adj. 体贴的

consumption n. 消费

criteria n. 标准

crust n. 外壳

degrade v. 贬低

entitle v. 给(某人)权利(或资格)

escort v. 护送

external adj. 外部的

facility n. 设施

faculty n. 能力

heap n. 堆

hemisphere n. 半球

hound n. 猎犬

impersonal adj. 客观的

ornament n. 装饰

pedestrian n. 行人

sanctuary n. 避难所

spectator n. 观众

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