2007年VOA标准英语-Can Pets Speak to Us?

By Vidushi Sinha
Washington
25 May 2007
 

Pet owners are often curious to know what their pets think: whether they like their food or if they are happy. It is not unusual for some owners to even talk to their pets. And for those who want answers back -- they can hire a pet psychic¹, a person who claims to talk and listen to animals.  What the pet psychic tells the owner often comes as a surprise, even to a skeptic².  VOA's Mil Arcega reports for Vidushi Sinha.

Pet psychics³ claim they can break the language barrier between animals and humans.  They say pets not only know what their owners say, they also understand them.  In fact, pets are notorious for giving away family secrets just like children sometimes do.

Jessi the cocker spaniel told one of owner Linda Whitmeyer's little secrets to pet psychic Dianne Roadcap, who revealed the secret to Whitmeyer. "He also told her that I snore," said Whitmeyer. "He told her that we have three alarm clocks to wake us up - that's very true - to wake me up in the morning."

 

Dianne Roadcap said she reads pets' thoughts and emotions through images that animals send her. She says she developed this gift at the age of five and turned it into a profession 10 years ago. 

She said she has met them all, the chatty and the quiet ones, the introverted and the bold. Take PD the cat. PD was upset that her owner, Ona Noble, has hidden one of her favorite toys.

Ona Noble was amazed. "There is a toy that goes around and around," she explained. "Dianne didn't know if the cat had a toy that went around and around."

Dianne Roadcap said she manages to meet 10,000-15,000 animals every year. She said even some vets⁴ ask for her help to get to know their patients better. But one has to pay a price for this information - $175 per hour.

"And I have spoken to snakes and alligators⁵ and zebras.  You name it, I have spoken to them," she said.

Even as Roadcap's client list grows, there are some who find it hard to believe her. Pamela Hamlet is one of them. "I would be a little skeptical⁶, but you know this is a big world and there are lots of things that we don't understand, so maybe..."

1 psychic   

n.对超自然力敏感的人；adj.有超自然力的

参考例句：

• Some people are said to have psychic powers.据说有些人有通灵的能力。
• She claims to be psychic and to be able to foretell the future.她自称有特异功能，能预知未来。

2 skeptic   

n.怀疑者，怀疑论者，无神论者

参考例句：

• She is a skeptic about the dangers of global warming.她是全球变暖危险的怀疑论者。
• How am I going to convince this skeptic that she should attention to my research?我将如何使怀疑论者确信她应该关注我的研究呢？

3 psychics   

心理学，心灵学； （自称）通灵的或有特异功能的人，巫师( psychic的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One week later, I got cops and psychics on my front door. 一礼拜后，警察跟通灵人站到了我家大门口。
• Even now Directorate Psychics and powerful drugs are keeping the creature pacified. 即使是现在，联邦部队的精神力和威力强大的药剂还在让这个生物活在沉睡之中。

4 vets   

abbr.veterans （复数）老手，退伍军人；veterinaries （复数）兽医n.兽医( vet的名词复数 )；老兵；退伍军人；兽医诊所v.审查（某人过去的记录、资格等）( vet的第三人称单数 )；调查；检查；诊疗

参考例句：

• I helped train many young vets and veterinary nurses too. 我还帮助培训了许多年青的兽医和护士。 来自互联网
• In fact, we've expanded mental health counseling and services for our vets. 实际上，我们已经扩大了退伍军人的心理健康咨询和服务。 来自互联网

5 alligators   

n.短吻鳄( alligator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Two alligators rest their snouts on the water's surface. 两只鳄鱼的大嘴栖息在水面上。 来自辞典例句
• In the movement of logs by water the lumber industry was greatly helped by alligators. 木材工业过去在水上运输木料时所十分倚重的就是鳄鱼。 来自辞典例句

6 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。