3分鐘時事英語廣播 貓奴日：向挑戰重重的工作者致敬
- 內容 貓奴日：向挑戰重重的工作者致敬
- 上版日期 2024-12-11
- CEFR次類別 CEFR B1-B2
- 類別 每周廣播
國發會與ICRT共同製播的時事英語廣播“The World in Brief”固定於每周三在雙語資源網更新，與大家一起聽時事學英文。
本周主題：貓奴日 Cat Herders Day
每年的12月15日是貓奴日(Cat Herders Day)，但其實此節日代表的意義與貓完全無關！「牧貓」相較於牧羊可說是難上加難，專家也表示貓有五種主要性格特徵，包括神經質型(neurotic)、外向型(extraverted)、霸道型(dominant)、衝動型(impulsive)及好相處型(agreeable)。因此「牧貓人」最初的概念是形容那些工作特別具有挑戰性或困難的人們，像是工廠工人、辦公室職員、電話服務中心工作人員等等。想知道更多嗎？讓我們用3分鐘一起跟著主持人了解更多吧！
您喜歡這則時事英語廣播嗎?進入表單與我們分享您對The World in Brief的喜好與看法吧！
Transcript
Voice: You’re listening to the World in Brief …
Crowd: … On tour!
Sonny: ‘Dear ICRT, I’ve just got a new cat. Why is she so difficult to please?’
Host: Sonny in Songshan wants to befriend her new feline fellow … Let’s go!
Host: We’ve arrived! Ahhh! The smell of coffee is so delicious! We’ve come to a cute café with warm pink walls, comfortable felt chairs, and high wooden beams. Cats are everywhere here! I see toy cats, paintings of cats, and cat statues too! I’ve got a good feeling about this place.
Expert: Hi, how are you?
Host: I’m very well, thank you. You have a lovely café. It’s a cat lover’s dream!
Expert: It’s adorable, isn’t it? It’s my favorite café in all of Taiwan. That’s why I work here! Welcome to Kitten Coffee Garden, the world’s first cat café.
Host: Hold the phone. You mean, you have real cats here too?
Expert: We sure do! Would you like to say hello?
Host: Yes please!
Expert: Take a seat. I’m sure they’ll come to you when they’re ready. They’re a little shy right now. You know how cats can be!
Host: Of course. They’re independent creatures. Hey, can I ask if you will be doing anything here on December 15th? For Cat Herders Day.
Expert: No. Actually, that day really has nothing to do with cats.
Host: Oh right. Why is it called that then?
Expert: Well, it’s sort of a joke. Herding sheep and cattle is difficult enough. Can you imagine herding cats? It would be a total nightmare! That’s why, in English, a “cat herder” is someone with a particularly challenging job.
Host: Oh, I see! So, busy factory workers, overworked office staff, or project managers could be described as cat herders?
Expert: Yes, they could. And not just them. Lots of people have difficult jobs. Caregivers, kindergarten teachers, and call center staff could all be called cat herders, too. Basically, if your job is a struggle, you’re a cat herder.
Host: I get it now! Of course, herding cats would be absolutely impossible. They’re famously difficult to please.
Expert: That’s because every cat is different, just like humans. The best way to please your cat is to understand its personality.
Host: How do you mean?
Expert: Experts say there are five primary personality traits in cats. Some are neurotic. That means they’re shy, or nervous. Others are extraverted. They love to be the center of attention. Extraverted cats can get bored very quickly!
Host: I know lots of cats like that! What are the other three personality traits?
Expert: There are dominant cats. They like to be the boss of the house! There are impulsive cats too. Those feisty felines are totally unpredictable! And, finally, there are agreeable cats. They’re the most relaxed around people. They love company. Like Max here, look! He’s coming to say hello.
Host: Oh my gosh! He’s so cute! Hi Max!
Expert: You’re cat crazy, I can tell! Do you have any cats of your own?
Host: No. I’d love to get a little kitten, though. I’d spoil it rotten! I’m a total cat person. Here in Taiwan, I’d be called a cat servant, I guess!
Expert: Well, you’re welcome to come here and spoil our cats any time you like.
Host: Thank you! I will, for sure. See you soon, bye!
Vocabulary
adorable (adj.) 可愛的、討人喜歡的
Kittens, cuddly little bundles of fur and purrs, are so adorable that some people suddenly find they want to adopt one, even if they are allergic to cats!
overworked (adj.) 工作過度的、過分勞累的
Her family tried to convince her that she was overworked and needed to work less when her job took over her evenings and weekends and made her constantly short of sleep.
trait (n.) （個人的）特徵、特性、品質
Do cat lovers prefer cats whose primary personality trait is similar or opposite to theirs, such as an extraverted cat for a gregarious person or a dominant cat for a cat servant?
neurotic (adj.) 神經質的
For 23 hours a day, his cat was the haughty queen of all she surveyed, but at 6:00 p.m. every day, she turned into a neurotic banshee, yowling and sprinting back and forth.
impulsive (adj.) 衝動的
People who are organized and like to follow plans may find it difficult to deal with impulsive colleagues who easily get sidetracked and go on wild goose chases.
