Topic: Domestic Animals
Тема: Домашние животные
Only about three dozen out of over two thousand animal spices inhabiting our planet are domesticated animals. Domestic animals are not only pets that live in our flats or houses, and are human friends. This group also includes livestock that lives on farms and brings certain profit to people. And sometimes poultry such as hens, turkeys or ducks is referred to domestic animals as well.
Всего около трех десятков из более двух тысяч видов животных, населяющих нашу планету, являются одомашненными. Домашние животные – это не только любимцы, которые живут в наших квартирах и домах и являются друзьями человека. Эта группа также включает скот, живущий на фермах и приносящий определенную пользу людям. А иногда и птицу – кур, индеек, уток также относят к домашним животным.
Probably, most people speaking about domestic animals, first of all, mean their pets – cats, lap dogs, hamsters, turtles, parrots and so on. These animals are usually useless, and people keep them just for their own pleasure. Sometimes people have in their homes more exotic animals – rats, ferrets, and even reptiles and small crocodiles. But, to my mind, it’s not a good idea to keep snakes at home. They will hardly ever see you as friends, and meanwhile they are dangerous. As for me, the only pet I have is a white angora cat Angela. It is very fluffy. I brought it home when it was just two months old. Then it was a small and playful kitten. Now it has turned into a serious five year-old cat, which spends most of the day sleeping on the sofa.
Пожалуй, большинство людей, говоря о домашних животных, прежде всего, имеют в виду своих домашних любимцев – кошек, комнатных собачек, хомячков, черепашек, попугайчиков и так далее. Эти животные обычно бесполезны, и люди держат их просто для собственного удовольствия. Иногда люди заводят дома более экзотических животных – крыс, хорьков, и даже рептилий и маленьких крокодилов. Но, на мой взгляд, это не очень хорошая идея – держать дома змей. Они вряд ли когда-нибудь будут относиться к вам как к друзьям, и в то же время они опасны. Что касается меня, то единственное домашнее животное, которое у меня есть – это белая ангорская кошка Анжела. Она очень пушистая. Я принесла ее домой, когда ей было всего два месяца. Тогда это был маленький и игривый котенок. Сейчас она превратилась в серьезную пятилетнюю кошку, которая проводит большую часть дня лежа на диване.
Apart from pets, there is another category of domestic animals. It involves animals that are kept on farms or in paddocks and bring profit to people. This profit can be expressed in the form of food and non-food products (milk, meat, eggs, wool, feather and so on), or in the form of work force (transportation of goods, plowing or hunting, if we speak about hunting dogs). Of course, these animals are more typical for rural districts, not for cities. In our country farmers usually breed such animals as cows, sheep, pigs, goats and horses. But in foreign countries people use camels, elephants, yaks, donkeys as domestic animals.
Помимо домашних любимцев, есть и другая категория домашних животных. Она включает в себя животных, которые содержатся на фермах или в загонах и приносят пользу людям. Эта польза может быть выражена в форме пищевых и непищевых продуктов (молоко, мясо, яйца, шерсть, перо и т.д.) или в форме рабочей силы (транспортировка грузов, пахота или охота, если речь идет об охотничьих собаках). Конечно, эти животные более типичны для сельской местности, а не для города. В нашей стране фермеры обычно разводят таких животных как коровы, овцы, свиньи, козы и лошади. Но в других странах люди используют в качестве домашних животных верблюдов, слонов, яков, ослов.
Unfortunately, I live in the city, not in the countryside, so, I cannot keep any big animals. Sometimes I think that if I lived in a big private house instead of a flat, I would have a horse. In my opinion, the horse is one of the cleverest and the most beautiful animals in the world. Horses can understand people as well as dogs; they love their masters, and they are faithful friends for
Animals
In Western
countries, people spend a lot of money on their pets. They buy
special food and toys for their cats and dogs and often pay high
fees for medical treatment. Some people think this is a waste of
money, and argue that pets are dirty and dangerous.
In many Western countries people are fond of keeping pets.
However, others say that pets are often dangerous and
aggressive.
Personally, I think that people can benefit from pets in many
ways. First of all, animals are usually devoted to their owners
and love them. You will hardly feel lonely and depressed if you
have a pet. Secondly, pets help people stay healthy. For
example, doctors have found out that people who have high blood
pressure feel much better when they stroke pets and talk to
them. What is more, pets encourage their owners to get out and
exercise. Dog owners usually spend much time walking which helps
them improve their overall health. It is a well-known fact that
people who have pets are happier and live longer than those who
don"t.
But many people say that they are too busy to take care of
animals. Others think that it is too difficult and
time-consuming to keep pets. Cats, dogs, birds, fish, hamsters
and other creatures require not only human love and kindness but
also food, medical care, training and shelter. You must feed
them regularly, keep them clean, go to the veterinarian for
their yearly checkup and so on. It takes much effort and causes
extra expenses. It is also obvious that animals make a lot of
noise, may look untidy and disturb the members of your family.
To conclude, it"s important to realize that owning a pet is a
great responsibility and additional work. However, for most
people, the advantages of having a pet outweigh the
disadvantages. Anyway, everybody must remember that all pets
need love and care just as people do.
Some people
believe that animals without owners should have the right to
live on the streets in cities. Others say that they could be
dangerous and should be collected and found new homes, or even
put down.
Unfortunately, many cats and dogs suffer abandonment,
cruelty and neglect nowadays. Some of us think that it is quite
normal and there is no need to change the situation. But others
are convinced that some urgent measures must be taken in order
to improve the lives of homeless animals.
To my mind, the lives of homeless cats and dogs are full of
hardships: they starve, catch different diseases and suffer from
cold and people"s cruelty. Furthermore, they may be rather
dangerous because people may get infection from them. Besides,
stray dogs may attack people and even kill them. In my opinion,
living on the street is not a right, but a necessity for poor
creatures that have no choice. I think that volunteers should
catch homeless animals, provide them with food and medical care
and try to find home for them. But I am against killing homeless
cats and dogs because I find it inhumane.
On the other hand, some people believe that many owners cannot
provide good homes for their pets and the full lives that they
deserve. Living in our homes animals must obey commands and can
only behave how people allow them to. Dogs, cats, or birds want
to be free, but they are confined to a house, yard or cage. But
I think that domesticated animals are not able to survive on
their own in the wild and it is cruel to throw them out on the
streets.
To sum up, people must be responsible for both domesticated and
wild animals. I believe that homeless animals are a serious
social problem that must be solved as soon as possible.
Some people
keep exotic animals as pets nowadays. Others say that it is
difficult and dangerous to take care of unusual pets.
Today some people keep rare and unusual animals in their
houses. But do alligators, tigers, crocodiles, snakes or
raccoons feel comfortable living with people? And is it safe to
keep such animals as pets?
Personally, I think that owners of exotic animals are going to
have many problems with them. Firstly, many professionals,
including veterinarians and zoologists strongly discourage the
keeping of exotic animals as pets, as their needs may be
difficult to meet by the average owner. Providing appropriate
environmental conditions, housing and diet for an exotic animal
may be rather difficult. Secondly, unlike cats and dogs, exotic
animals have not been domesticated and remain wild. Even if they
are raised by humans, they may be unpredictable, aggressive and
dangerous, especially as full-grown adults. Finally, some
animals are known to carry diseases that can affect humans.
However, some people say that having an exotic pet is funny and
"cool". They are fond of showing their pets to their friends and
relatives who cannot stop admiring these rare animals. Besides,
the information about many commonly kept reptiles, birds and
small exotic mammals is widely available through literature,
Internet websites and discussion forms. Although having an
exotic pet is sometimes challenging, it is generally very
interesting and rewarding. But I believe that most animals feel
much better in their natural homes where they have the right
climate, food and exercises that meet their needs.
To conclude, most countries have the laws that forbid people to
keep exotic animal as pets. To my mind, the government must
strictly control the trade of some exotic animals around the
world in order to prevent any threats to their survival and
ecological damage.
Many people
enjoy visiting zoos. Others believe that animals should not be
taken from their natural surroundings and put into zoos.
A lot of people, especially children, are fond of going to
the zoo. There they have an opportunity to look at wild animals,
exotic birds, insects, reptiles and fish. When we come to the
zoo, we can see animals that we would never have a chance to see
in our country. But is it right to keep animals in the zoo?
Personally, I think that animals should live in their natural
habitats. Animals that live in zoos are confined within
enclosures and displayed to the public. It is difficult to
create ideal captive environments for some species and sometimes
animals have to live in bad conditions and look miserable and
untidy. They may suffer from lack of space, comfort and good
food. Some wild animals feel stressed in captivity. Sometimes
they are kept in such small cages that they are unable to turn
around. Besides, in spite of prohibition many visitors give
animals food that may do harm to their health and cause
different diseases.
However, some zoos keep fewer animals in larger, outdoor
enclosures, rather than in cages. For instance, safari parks
allow visitors to drive through them and come in close contact
with the animals. What is more, most modern zoos display wild
animals primarily for the conservation of endangered species, as
well as for research purposes and education, and secondarily for
the entertainment of visitors. But I still believe that animals
feel much better without people"s control.
To sum up, I think that the conservation and educational role of
zoos should be strengthened. All zoos must be inspected and
licensed, and all animals must be provided with a suitable
environment.
Most people
are convinced that a digital pet cannot substitute a real one.
Others suggest that digital pets are preferable for a number of
reasons.
Some children keep digital pets instead of real ones for
companionship or enjoyment. But a lot of people doubt that the
relationship with robotic animals can have a good effect on a
child.
I strongly feel that digital pets can never be compared with
real cats, dogs and other animals. They do not even have
concrete physical form. Instead of a cute little kitten or a
funny puppy, you have a palm-sized computer with a small screen.
I doubt that feeding, washing or playing with the digital pet
may be interesting and rewarding. Nevertheless, some children
believe that their digital pets are really alive and they feel
extremely unhappy if their virtual cats and dogs fall ill or
die. In addition, it is quite possible to become addicted to the
digital pet. Some children play with them when they should be
doing something else, for example, their homework.
But some people believe that digital pets have a number of
benefits. Firstly, a relationship with the digital pet teaches
children that their desires cannot always come first. It can
also teach boys and girls to be responsible because the digital
pet requires constant attention, otherwise it will "die".
Secondly, having a digital pet is a good training before
adopting a real animal. Finally, digital pets can successfully
substitute real ones for children who cannot care for a real
pet, such as those who suffer from allergies.
To sum up, digital pets are usually predictable and they cannot
give us as much joy and satisfaction as real ones. Anyway,
parents should take into consideration all advantages and
disadvantages before buying a digital pet to their children.
Из учебного пособия
Тема по английскому языку домашнее животное
научит вас свободно общаться на эту популярную тему. Почти у каждого из нас есть домашний любимец и тема по английскому домашнее животное с переводом
поможет вам рассказать о нем.
-----текст-----
Having a pet at home makes people very happy. The most popular pets are cats and dogs. If you allergic to fur, you can keep parrots or canaries. Some people prefer hamsters or guinea pigs and others a turtle or fish.
A pet is a family member; they make us more responsible because we should take good care of them. It means we have to feed them in time, play with them, go for walks, wash them and sometimes take our pet to the vet.
My pet is a dog named Jimmy, he is a black Labrador. He is always full of joy and energy. His favorite toy is Frisbee; he can play it all day long. Sometimes we also take part in different dog shows and even win prizes. I often teach my dog new tricks. He can sit down, give his paw, dance, fetch toys, bark and find hidden things. In summer when it is hot, we go to the lake near my house and Jimmy swims in it.
Every day I cook food for my dog, he eats porridge with meat and vegetables in it. I also give him vitamins for his bones and fur.
Jimmy is very clever; he can understand many words. He cheers me up when I am in a bad mood. I love my dog very much and he loves me back.
-----перевод-----
Мое домашнее животное
Домашние животные делают людей счастливее. Самые популярные домашние любимцы - кошки и собаки. Если у вас аллергия на шерсть, можете завести попугайчиков или канареек. Некоторые предпочитают хомяков или морских свинок, другие черепах или рыбок.
Домашнее животное - это член семьи, они делают нас ответственными потому что нам нужно хорошо о них заботиться. Это значит, что нужно кормить их вовремя, играть с ними, гулять, мыть и иногда ходить с ними к ветеринару.
Моего любимца зовут Джимми, он черный лабрадор. Он всегда полон энергии и радости. Его любимая игрушка - летающая тарелка, он может играть с ней весь день. Иногда мы принимаем участие в разных собачьих шоу и даже завоевываем призы. Я часто учу свою собаку новым трюкам. Он умеет сидеть, давать лапу, танцевать, приносить игрушки, лаять и находить спрятанные вещи. Летом в жару мы ходим на озеро возле моего дома и Джимми в нем плавает.
Я каждый день готовлю еду для своей собаки, он ест кашу с мясом и овощами. Я также даю ему витамины для костей и шерсти.
Джимми очень умный, он понимает многие слова. Он ободряет меня, когда я в плохом настроении. Я очень люблю свою собаку, и он тоже любит меня.
I think it is very important to have a pet at home. And it absolutely does not matter, what kind of animal it is. It can be: a cat, a dog, a hamster, a parrot or even a gold fish.
Cats and dogs are the most popular pets in many countries. People who live in flats prefer to keep cats, because there is no need to walk them every day. Cats are very compact animals, they like to lie on people’s laps and even in beds. I love cats because they are warm and fluffy. Cats let us stroke them and often purr with pleasure. For me cats are the most incredible and mystic animals.
Dogs are a man"s best friends and that is the fact. Dogs are extremely clever and understand everything you tell them. Though keeping a dog in a flat is a bit of a problem, because you need to walk it two or three times a day. And this takes some time.
Another problem is that our flats are relatively small even for not big dogs. And do not forget that dogs have a specific smell. But these are no real problems when you really love dogs. Dogs are wonderful animals. I am absolutely sure that cats and dogs have human souls.
In eastern countries cats and dogs are exotic pets. People there mostly keep birds. These birds are usually smaller than parrots. People live in tiny flats and houses and there is simply not enough room to place a big cage. As for me, I love big birds and parrots.
Another reason for keeping birds is that cities in eastern countries are overpopulated, so there are not enough parks and squares. And do not forget, that Asian people can use cats and dogs as food!
Personally I do not understand when people keep small fishes. What is the point in all this? Fish do not speak. You cannot touch it. Well there are big beautiful fishes that are at least pleasant to look at. Keeping fish is a very difficult and money demanding process. Without paying all the necessary attention to your fish they can soon die.
People usually keep hamsters, rabbits, rats and mice to teach their children to communicate with animals. Besides, these animals are rather easy to look after. These animals are funny, but all they do is eating and multiplying.
It is very interesting when somebody has exotic pets, such as spiders, cockroaches, snakes and frogs. But one has got to be a real professional. Otherwise the animals will die or do harm to somebody. I would choose to keep frogs. I think them really nice. And some frogs have beautiful voices.
So, you can choose any pet. But you just must love it! I cannot understand how people can live without pets.
I like animals very much, that’s why I’d like tell about my home pet. This is a small cat, her name is Penny and she has no breed. She was presented to me by my friends and it was the most adorable gift I’ve ever had.
She is not fat and grand, she`s just 4 months old. She is grey and white with a black spot on the chin, which looks like a small beard. Her eyes are green, her ears, paws and nose are rose. My cat is cute and fluffy, so it`s very pleasant to touch her. When Penny is in a good mood she always purrs.
Penny doesn`t like to stay alone. She misses me and when I come she runs up, wags with the tail and asks me to take her in my arms. She always follows me from one room to another: we cook, clean, wash the dishes, play computer games and sleep together. She likes sleeping. Usually she finds soft, warm and clean place and lies down there. She is very sociable and likes guests. When I invite somebody to my flat, Penny usually greets and welcomes them.
My cat has some favorite toys: a rubber ball, a scratching post and a mouse-toy. Penny likes running, jumping on sofas, tables, chairs and window sills and sometimes she can be very noisy. She is mad about fish and meat, that’s why when she sees the food she cries loudly and asks to treat her aggressively. She likes sitting in my bag and gnawing my headphones when I do my work. Now I buy the cheapest analogues to avoid any wastes.
Some cats walk outdoors, but I don’t let my cat to walk down the streets, because it is very dangerous. Penny could be attacked by dogs, other cats, cars or people. There are many people who don’t like animals (they kick, poison or even kill animals) and I want my cat to be safe and alive.
I love my cat and I hope she loves me too. In my opinion, she is my best friend and she can keep secrets.
Я очень люблю животных, и поэтому хотела бы рассказать о своем домашнем питомце. Это маленькая кошка, ее зовут Пенни, она не имеет породы. Мне ее подарили мои друзья, и это был самый прелестный подарок из тех, что я когда-либо получала.
Она не большая и не толстая, ей всего 4 месяца. Она серо-белая с черным пятном на подбородке, которое похоже на маленькую бороду. У нее зеленые глаза, розовые уши, нос и лапки. Она милая и пушистая, поэтому ее очень приятно трогать. Когда Пенни в хорошем настроении, она постоянно мурлычет.
Пенни не любит оставаться в одиночестве. Она скучает по мне, и когда я прихожу, она выбегает ко мне, виляет хвостом и просится на руки. Она всегда ходит вслед за мной из одной комнаты в другую: мы вместе готовим, убираемся, моем посуду, играем в компьютерные игры и спим. Она любит поспать. Обычно она находит мягкое, теплое, чистое место и ложится там. Она очень общительная и любит гостей. Когда я приглашаю кого-нибудь к себе, Пенни обычно встречает и приветствует гостя или гостью.
У моей кошки есть любимые игрушки: резиновый мячик, чесалка для когтей и игрушечная мышка. Пенни нравится бегать, прыгать по диванам, столам, креслам и подоконникам и порой она может быть очень шумной. Она без ума от рыбы и мяса, и поэтому, когда видит еду, она издает громкие звуки и очень агрессивно требует себя угостить. Ей нравится сидеть в моей сумке, когда я занята своей работой, и грызть мои наушники. Теперь я покупаю самые дешевые модели, чтобы не тратить деньги впустую.
Некоторые кошки любят гулять на природе, но я не пускаю свою кошку гулять по улицам, потому что это очень опасно. На Пенни могут напасть собаки, другие коты, люди или она может попасть под машину. Существует много людей, которые не любят животных (они пинают их, травят и даже убивают) и я хочу, чтобы моя кошка была в безопасности.
Я люблю свою кошку, и я надеюсь, что она меня тоже любит. Я думаю, что она - мой лучший друг и умеет хранить секреты.
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