原文： A Puma at large
Pumas are large, cat-like animals which are found in America.When reports came into London Zoo that a wild puma had been spotted forty-five miles south of London, they were not taken seriously.However, as the evidence began to accumulate, experts from the Zoo felt obliged to investigate, for the descriptions given by people who claimed to have seen the puma were extraordinarily similar.
The hunt for the puma began in a small village where a woman picking blackberries saw 'a large cat' only five yards away from her. It immediately ran away when she saw it, and experts confirmed that a puma will not attack a human being unless it is cornered.The search proveddifficult, for the puma was often observed at one place in the morning and atanother place twenty miles away in the evening.Wherever it went, it left behind it a trail of dead deer and small animals like rabbits.Paw prints were seen in a number ofplaces and puma fur was found clinging to bushes. Several people complained of"cat-like noises' at night and a businessman on a fishing trip saw thepuma up a tree.The experts were now fully convinced that the animal wasa puma, but where had it come from? As no pumas had been reported missing from any zoo in the country, this one must have been in the possession of a private collector and somehow managed to escape. The hunt went on for several weeks, but the puma was not caught.It is disturbing to think that a dangerous wild animal is still at large in the quiet countryside.
Part 1: Lead-in question:
Q: Where must the puma have come from?
A: The puma must have been in the possession of a private collector.
Part 2: Words and Expressions
1. be at large: v.潜逃。The escaped prisoner was still at large.
2. spot: v.看出，发现：My father spotted several spelling mistakes in my composition.我父亲在我的作文里发现了好几个拼字错误。
3. accumulate:逐渐增加，积累（无形的东西）：accumulate experience / power.
collect:收集（有形的东西）collect stamps.集邮。
4. feel obliged to do sth: v.必须，有必要 I feltobliged to invite him.
He feels obliged to learn English well.
5.hunt: 1. v. 捕猎 go on a deer /fox hunt 猎鹿/狐
2. v. 搜寻 hunt for second-hand books 找二手书。Job-hunting 找工作
6. pick: 1.v. 采摘 : pick cotton 摘棉花
2. v.挑选we need to pick someone reliable.我们必须挑选可靠之人。
pick and choose.挑挑拣拣。
7. prove: turn out to be. v. 证明是，原来是 The rumor proved false.
8. cling to: 1. v. 紧贴 his shirt clung to his body.
2. v. 坚信 She clings to the belief that her husband will come back.
9. disturb: 1.v. 打扰 sorry to disturb you.Do not disturb (请勿打扰)
2. v.令人不安的，令人担忧的（worrying）Hisbehavior disturbed me.
Part3: Sentence Structure:
原文：Pumas are large, cat-like animals which arefound in America.
句型：Sth + be +adj+n-like+n+which/who ….
例1：大熊猫是一种体形似熊的大动物，产于四川。
Pandas are large, bear-like animals which arefound in Sichuan Province.
例2：你是一位貌若天仙的美女，现于我心。
You are a beautiful, angel-like girl who isfound in my heart.
Part 4: Culture
宠物文化
在美国，有宠物的家庭比有小孩的家庭还多。据调查，至少43%美国家庭有宠物。有些美国家庭会养一些外国品种，如猴子，蛇，蜥蜴甚至狼等，课文中的美洲狮也会有美国人偷偷地养起来。不过，最受欢迎的还是猫和狗。
美国人经常把宠物当做家人一样看待，如，他们会为宠物穿上时髦的衣服，给宠物喷上香水，每天洗澡，给宠物买保险，甚至还会为死亡的宠物购买墓地。
如果你问美国人，how many people are there in your family? They would probably answer: “I have a daughter,a son and two dogs.”由此可见宠物在美国家庭的重要性。
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