The Horse and the Dog

    A dog and a horse，which served the same peasant，began to discuss each other's merits，one day．“How grand we are，to be sure！”says Barbos．“I shouldn't besorry if they were to turn you out of the farmyard．A noble service，indeed，to plough or to draw a cart！And I've never heard of any other proof of your merit¹．How can you possible compare yourself with me？I rest neither by day nor by night．In the daytime I watch the cattle in the meadows；by night I guard the house．”
    “Quite true，”replied the horse．“What you say is perfectly² correct．Only remember that，if it weren't for my ploughing，you wouldn't have anything at all to guard here．”
    Exercises：
    回答下列问题：
    ① What did the dog and the horse begin to discuss？

1 merit   

n.优点，价值，功绩，成绩；vt.值得

参考例句：

• There is great merit in dealing fairly with your employees.公正地对待你的雇员有极大好处。
• History affords us lessons that merit attention.历史给我们提供了值得注意的借鉴。

2 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。