* 用英語自身來理解和學習英語是最好的方式，這一系列的文章力求幫助大家在英語閱讀能力上有所提升，並樹立英語思維；* 推薦的閱讀的方法是：先原文，適當看解析閱讀，實在不行再看雙語對照。* 解析中英語單詞的音標使用Dictcom和IPA雙音標標註，如果需要了解Dictcom音標，請參看我們的《dictionary.com所用的音標體系》一文。* 本篇文章難度係數4.8，由《小仙英語伴讀》人工智慧難度分析系統提供評分。
A Step Pet【譯】過繼的寵物【單詞】Step 原型：step 名詞 [step][step] n. 步驟；臺階；舞步；步伐 v. 踏；以步測量【專有名詞】Pet [pet][pet] n. 寵物；受寵的人 adj. 寵愛的 v. 愛撫；親撫
When James divorced his wife Patricia, he moved out of the house they bought together.【譯】當詹姆斯和妻子帕特裡夏離婚後，他搬出了他們一起買的房子。【單詞】divorced 原型：divorce 動詞過去式 [dih-'vawrs, -'vohrs][d'vs] n. 分離；離婚 vt. 使分離；與 ... 離婚 vi. 離婚【專有名詞】James n. 詹姆斯(姓氏；男子名)【專有名詞】Patricia Patricia n. 帕特麗夏(女子名)
James and Patricia shared custody of their teenager son Robert.【譯】詹姆斯和帕特裡夏共同監護他們十幾歲的兒子羅伯特。【單詞】custody 名詞 ['kuhs-tuh-dee]['kstdi] n. 拘留；監禁；監護；羈押【單詞】teenager 名詞 ['teen-ey-jer]['tined] n. 青少年；13歲到19歲的年輕人【專有名詞】Robert ['rob-ert]['rbt] n. 羅伯特(男名)
Robert would stay with his father four days a week, from Thursday through Sunday.【譯】從星期四到星期天，羅伯特每周和他父親呆四天。【專有名詞】Thursday 日期 ['thurz-dey, -dee]['θzde] n. 星期四【專有名詞】Sunday 日期 ['suhn-dey, -dee]['snde] n. 星期日 adj. 星期日的
At first James didn't mind leaving behind the family dog Spot.【譯】起初詹姆斯不介意把家裡的狗斯珀特留下。【短語】at first 首先、最初【單詞】dog 名詞 [dawg, dog][dɡ] n. 狗【專有名詞】Spot [spot][spt] 這裡是指狗的名字：斯波特
James and Patricia bought the dog when Robert was just a three-year-old toddler.【譯】詹姆斯和帕特裡夏在羅伯特三歲的時候買了這條狗。【單詞】three-year-old 形容詞 [θ'rij'r'ld] adj. 三歲的【單詞】toddler 名詞 ['tod-ler]['tdl] n. 初學走路的孩子
Not having to take care of Spot meant James didn't have to worry about cleaning up after the dog, and budgeting for dog food and treats.【譯】不需要照顧Spot意味著詹姆斯不必擔心狗後的清理工作，也不必為狗的食物和款待做預算。【用法】have to do sth. 表示「必須」、「不得不」、「只好」、「（被迫）很勉強」去做某事，後面跟動詞原形，與情態動詞 must 近義但區別在於：have to 表示客觀的需要，must 表示說話人主觀上的看法，既主觀上的必要。例句：My brother was very ill, so I had to call the doctor in the middle of the night. 我弟弟病得很厲害，我只得半夜裡把醫生請來。(客觀上需要做這件事) He said that they must work hard. 他說他們必須努力工作。（主觀上要做這件事）【短語】take care of 照顧；注意；撫養；例句：If you take care of something, you begin to love it — which makes us very vulnerable. 如果你照顧某些事情，你已經開始愛上它了--這讓我們非常的投入.【固定用法】take care of 照顧；注意；撫養；例句：I'll take care of your children while you are away. 你不在時我會照顧你的孩子的。【單詞】worry 動詞原形 ['wur-ee, 'wuhr-ee]['wri] vt. 撕咬；使煩惱；使焦慮 vi. 擔心；發愁 n. 擔心；煩惱；憂慮【單詞】budgeting 原型：budget 動名詞 ['buhj-it]['bdt] n. 預算 vt. 編預算；為 ... 做預算 vi. 節省開支 adj. 廉價的；不貴的【單詞】treats 原型：treat 名詞複數形式 [treet][trit] v. 對待；視為；探討；治療；處理；請客 n. 款待；宴饗
James also didn't have to worry about taking the dog to the vet and the expensive vet bills.【譯】詹姆斯也不用擔心帶狗去看獸醫和昂貴的獸醫帳單。【單詞】vet 名詞 [vet][vet] n. 獸醫；老兵 vt. 診療；審查 vi. 作獸醫【單詞】expensive 形容詞 [ik-'spen-siv][k'spensv] adj. 昂貴的；高價的
Two years after James divorced Patricia, he remarried.【譯】詹姆斯和帕特裡夏離婚兩年後，他再婚了。【單詞】remarried 原型：remarry 動詞過去式 [ri'mri] v. (使)再婚
His new wife Linda had two daughters.【譯】他的新妻子琳達有兩個女兒。【單詞】daughters 原型：daughter 名詞複數形式 ['daw-ter]['dt] n. 女兒；子代 adj. 女兒的；女兒似的【專有名詞】Linda n. 琳達(女子名)
The two daughters got along well with James's son Robert.【譯】這兩個女兒和詹姆斯的兒子羅伯特相處得很好。
The two daughters had never had a pet though.【譯】不過，這兩個女兒從來沒有養過寵物。【單詞】pet 名詞 [pet][pet] n. 寵物；受寵的人 adj. 寵愛的 v. 愛撫；親撫
One of them was very allergic to cats and Linda was not an animal person.【譯】其中一個對貓過敏，並且琳達不是喜歡動物的人。【單詞】allergic 形容詞 [uh-'lur-jik]['ldk] adj. 過敏的；反感的【單詞】cats 原型：cat 名詞複數形式 [kat][kt] n. 貓；貓科動物【單詞】animal 形容詞 ['an-uh-muhl]['nml] n. 動物；牲畜 adj. 動物的；野獸的
She thought they were too much work and required too much attention.【譯】她認為他們工作太多，需要太多的關注。【短語】too much 太多，如果後接名詞只能接不可數名詞（可數名詞用too many）；例如：Maybe they feel too much pressure to do well on their tests. 可能他們感到要想在考試中表現好會有太多的壓力。【單詞】required 原型：require 動詞過去分詞 [ri-'kwahyuhr][r'kwa] v. 要求；需要；命令；規定
Her daughters really wanted a pet though.【譯】不過，她的女兒們真的很想要一隻寵物。
James had an idea.【譯】詹姆斯有個主意。
Just like he shared custody of Robert with his ex-wife, what if he shared custody of the dog Spot.【譯】就像他把羅伯特的監護權和前妻分享一樣，如果他把狗斯波特的監護權分享了呢。【單詞】ex-wife 名詞 ['ekswaf] n. 前妻
James could bring the dog to the house when he picked up James every Thursday and bring the dog back to his ex-wife's house on Sunday.【譯】詹姆斯每周四接詹姆斯時可以把狗帶到家裡，周日把狗帶回前妻家。【單詞】picked 原型：pick 動詞過去式 [pik][pk] v. 拾；撿；挑選；採摘；找茬；偶然學到 n. 拾；撿；選擇；採摘；精華 n. 鶴嘴鋤；鎬；琴撥
Linda thought it was an interesting idea and agreed to try it.【譯】琳達覺得這是個有趣的主意，同意試試。【語法】此句式為 it + be + 名詞 + that從句。其中that從句為句子真正的主語，it為形式主語。如：It's a shame (that) you're sick. 真遺憾你病了。【單詞】agreed 原型：agree 過去分詞做形容詞 [uh-'gree]['ɡri] v. 同意；贊成；承認；符合；一致
James's ex-wife Patricia really liked the idea.【譯】詹姆斯的前妻帕特裡夏非常喜歡這個主意。
It gave her a break from having to take care of Spot.【譯】這使她從不得不照顧斯波特中解脫出來。【單詞】break 名詞 [breyk][brek] v. 打碎；折斷；違背；解決；中斷；透露；變弱；銳減；結束 n. 破裂；休息；中斷；急衝；好運
Robert was really happy because he didn't have to leave his dog behind, and his best animal friend could be with him all the time.【譯】羅伯特真的很高興，因為他不必丟下他的狗，他最好的動物朋友可以一直和他在一起。
Linda's daughters were especially happy to have a part-time pet.【譯】琳達的女兒們特別高興有了一個兼職寵物。【單詞】part-time 形容詞 [adjective 'pahrt-tahym; adverb 'pahrt-'tahym][pɑt tam] adj. 兼職的；部分時間的 adv. 兼職地；部分時間地 part-
"Now we have a step brother and a step pet!" they said.【譯】「現在我們有了一個繼兄弟和一個繼寵物！」他們說。【單詞】step 名詞 [step][step] n. 步驟；臺階；舞步；步伐 v. 踏；以步測量【單詞】brother 名詞 ['bruhth-er or for 9, 'bruhth-'ur]['br] n. 兄弟；教友；同胞