读故事

　　Molly works as a librarian, and devotes all her leisure to her pets.Last month, when she took her dogs out for a walk in the park, she noticed a strange man.He was wearing an expensive suit and lemon tie, and the leather lead of his dog was a good brand.Most other people, however, wore casual clothes, lest they might get dirty, as dogs licked and jumped on them a lot.He wouldn't let his dog move at liberty, but held it tightly.Being a woman full of liberal ideas, Molly went up to him and suggested he liberate his dog, so it could enjoy liberty and play as other dogs did.When he said his dog was too old for exercises, Molly objected by saying she let her old dog run around up to the day before it died.She patted his dog, which returned her pat with a lick, and walked away at leisure.She turned back a couple of times and looked at the man through her contact lenses"Strange man”,she thought.After a week or so the man appeared again and said that he worked for the government and that his duty was to make sure people acted according to the legislation concerning animals, to make sure animals received legal treatment.He asked Molly to show him her license,and pointed out that in the future only suitable people would be liable to be licensed.Then he said Molly was liable for her improper treatment of her old dog, which might have led to its death.

　　记单词

　　leather 皮革，皮革制品

　　legal 1.法律(上)的2.合法的，法定的

　　legislation 1.法律，法规2.立法，法制的制定(或通过)

　　leisure 1.空闲时间，闲暇2.悠闲，安逸

　　at leisure 1.有空，闲暇时2.从容不迫地，不慌不忙地

　　lemon 1.柠檬(树)2.柠檬黄，淡黄色

　　lens 透镜，镜头，镜片

　　lest 惟恐，免得

　　liable 1.(to)可能的，大概的

　　2.(for)有法律责任的，有义务的3.(to)易于…的，有…倾向的，易患…病的

　　liberal 1.心胸宽阔的，开明的2.自由的，不受约束的3.(指政治观点上的)自由主义的4.慷慨的，大方的

　　liberate 1.解放，使获自由2.释出，放出

　　liberty 1.自由，自由权2.许可，准许3.[常pl]过于随便，放肆

　　at liberty自由的，不受囚禁的

　　librarian 图书馆馆长或馆员

　　莫莉是个图书馆馆员，她把空闲时间都用在了宠物身上。上个月，她去公园遛狗的时候，注意到了一个陌生男人。他穿着昂贵的西服，打着一条淡黄色的领带，连牵狗用的皮带也是。而其他人大都穿着随随便便的衣服以免弄脏，因为狗总是又往他们身上舔又往他们身上跳。他不让他的狗自由活动，而是紧紧地拉着它。莫莉是个思想开明的人，便走过去建议他让狗获得自由，这样它就可以和其他狗一样自由自在，尽情玩耍。他说他的狗太老了，不适合运动，她反驳说她让她那条老狗直到死的前还跑来跳去。她拍了拍他的狗，狗舔了她一下作为回报，然后莫莉不慌不忙地走开了。她几次回头并透过她的隐形眼镜看着那个人。“这人真奇怪。”她想。大约过了一个星期之后，那人又出现了，他说他在政府供职，他的责任就是确保人们按照关于动物的法规办事，并确保动物享受合法的待遇。他要莫莉出示许可证，还说以后只有合适的人才有可能发给许可证。接下来他对莫莉说，她对虐待她的那条老狗负有法律责任，她的行为有可能导致了它的死亡。