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Crazy About Animals
The British are crazy about animals.
They race them, catch them, train them and breed them. They like
to hear stories about them on television news programs, and they
like reading books about them.
Many families have a pet animal. It
could be a dog, a cat, a goldfish, or even a pig or snake. Some
lonely old people love their cats or dogs as much as a human friend.
When animal lovers die, they may leave their money to a "cats'
home" or "dogs' home" or a "retired horses'
home".
Racing animals is another very popular
activity. Some people, called "pigeon fanciers", race
pigeons. They keep the birds in their own gardens or on their
own balconies and train them to fly home. You don't have to be
rich to race your own pigeons, but it is different with horses.
Only the very rich can afford to keep and race their own. Racehorse
owners can be seen in their best clothes at important races with
the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. Few people actually
go to the races. But nearly everyone can afford to bet some money
on the winners, and many people do. Wherever you are in Britain,
you'll find a "betting shop" not very far away.
Looking after and being kind to animals
is only one part of the story. Catching and hunting them is another
great British hobby.
Why are the British so interested in
animals? Perhaps it's because they are rather shy and reserved
with people. "It's like this," said one old lady. "I
can say anything I like to my cat, but she never thinks I'm silly.
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《钟爱动物》
英国人十分钟爱动物。他们参加动物比赛，捕捉动物，训练动物并喂养动物。他们喜欢从电视新闻节目中收听有关动物的故事，他们还喜欢读有关动物的书籍。
很多家庭都养宠物，宠物可以是狗、猫、金鱼，甚至是猪、蛇。一些孤独的老人们喜欢他们的猫或狗就如同喜欢他们的人类朋友一样。当动物爱好者们去世时，他们把钱留给"猫收养所"、"狗收养所"、或是"已经退役的马收养所"。
动物比赛是另一项非常受欢迎的活动。有些被称为"鸽子玩赏家"的进行放鸽比赛。他们在自家的花园或阳台上饲养鸽子并训练它们飞回家。要想赛鸽你不必很有钱，但要想赛马情形就不同了。只有那些有钱人才养得起马并参加赛马。在重大的赛马会上，人们可以看到身着漂亮服装的马的主人们和女王及皇室的其他成员。实际上，真正去看赛马的人不多。但是几乎所有的人在赛马时都下得起赌注，事实上很多人也这样做。无论你在英国的什么地方，你都能在就近找到一个赛马赌注登记处。
照顾和善待动物只是对动物狂热的表现的一个方面。捕获和猎杀动物是英国人的另一大嗜好。
英国人为什么如此热中于动物呢？也许是因为他们与人打交道时过于腼腆和含蓄。"是这样，"一位老妇人说，"我对我的猫说什么都可以，但它从不会把我看成是傻瓜。"
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