张恒选译

Elizabeth had two cats.

Their names were Micki and Minnie.

They looked the same.

Micki was a grey cat.

Minnie was a grey cat.

Micki had a white spot2 on her chest3.

Minnie had a white spot on her chest.

Elizabeth never knew which one was in her lap4.

She looked for her brother. He was on his way outside to his car.

“How do you tell one cat from another？” Elizabeth asked him.

“I think Mickis tail5 is a little longer，” her brother said.

He went out the door.

Elizabeth took a ruler from her desk. She measured6 the cats tails.

Mickis tail was 11 inches7 long.

Minnies tail was 11 inches long.

There must be some ways to know which is which， Elizabeth thought.

She meowed8 at the cats.

They meowed back at her.

Micki had a high， soft9 meow.

Minnie had a high， soft meow.

She looked into their eyes.

Mickis eyes were green， with a little yellow.

Minnies eyes were green， with a little yellow.

Elizabeths mother was on her way into the bathroom to take a shower.

“How do you tell one cat from another？” Elizabeth asked.

“I dont，” her mother answered.

She closed10 the door.

Elizabeth sat down on the sofa with a big sigh11.

She didnt know what to do.

“I will never tell these cats apart！” she thought.

She looked down at the cat who sat nearest her feet12.

“Which one are you？” she asked.

“Im Minnie，” the cat answered. “All you had to do was ask.”

“Oh，” Elizabeth blinked13.

The cat jumped into her lap.

Elizabeth smiled and began to pet14 her.

“Hi， Minnie，” she said.

伊麗莎白有两只猫。

它们的名字叫米奇和米妮。

它们看起来完全一样。

米奇是只灰猫。

米妮是只灰猫。

米奇的胸口上有一个白色斑点。

米妮的胸口上也有一个白色斑点。

伊丽莎白不知道是哪一只在她的腿上。

她去找她哥哥。他在外面，正在去往停车处的路上。

“你怎么区分这两只猫？”伊丽莎白问他。

她哥哥说：“我认为米奇的尾巴更长一些。”

他出门去了。

伊丽莎白从她的书桌上拿起一把尺子，测量了猫的尾巴。

米奇的尾巴长11英寸。

米妮的尾巴长11英寸。

伊丽莎白想，必须用某种方式知道哪只是哪只。

她对着猫喵喵叫。

它们回应她喵喵叫。

米奇的喵喵声音高而柔软，

米妮的喵喵声音也是高而柔软。

她看着它们的眼睛。

米奇的眼睛是绿色的，略带黄色。

米妮的眼睛也是绿色，略带黄色。

伊丽莎白的妈妈正要去浴室洗澡。

“你怎么区分这两只猫？”伊丽莎白问。

她妈妈回答：“我不知道。”

她关上了门。

伊丽莎白叹了口气，坐在沙发上。

她不知道该怎么办。

她想：“我将永远无法分辨这两只猫！”

她低头看着那只离脚最近的猫。

“你是谁？”她问。

“我是米妮。”猫回答，“你只用问一声就行了。”

“哦。”伊丽莎白眨眨眼。

猫跳到她的腿上。

伊丽莎白微笑着开始抚摸它。

“嗨，米妮。”她说。

【Notes】

1. grey adj. 灰色的;灰白的

2. spot n. 地点;斑点

3. chest n. 胸，胸部

4. lap n. 一圈;膝盖

5. tail n. 尾巴

6. measure vt. 测量;估量

7. inch n. 英寸

8. meow v. 猫叫

9. soft adj. 软的，柔软的

10. close v. 关闭;合上;（使）关门

11. sigh v. 叹气;叹着气说

12. feet n. 脚

13. blink vt. 眨眼

14. pet vt. 爱抚，抚摸