Baby

Mama [Mother] （1） caught a dog. How little it was！ It hid behind Mama [Mother] （2） and looked at me shyly. I came up and stroked （抚摸） its head. It lapped [licked] （3） my hand friendly [in a friendly way] （4）。 I called it“Baby”。

　　Baby was black and it was a“girl”， but it wasn't tender （幼弱的）。 It was fond of playing with people. For example， sometimes it took one of my shoes away， sometimes it waved its tail running in front of me.

　　Baby liked to eat meat and bone very much. Mother said that it was too picky （过分挑剔的）， like a young lady.

　　Soon， Baby grew up. It often played with other dogs. A month later， I found its belly （肚子） became big， and I knew that Baby would become a mother. So I took better care of it than before.

　　In two months， on the new year's eve， Baby gave birth to four little dogs. Two were grey and the other two were black， like their mother. Dad， Mama [Mum] （5） and I were all pleased. Mama [Mum] （6） collected some hay for them.

　　But unfortunately， Baby died several days later. That day I heard Baby cried [cry] （7） sorrowfully. I was afraid. My cousin said it must have eaten the poison for mice. I called for a vet （兽医） in a hurry. But before the vet came Baby had stopped its breathe [breathing] （8）。 We were all sad. We buried Baby. Then three of her babies were sent [given away] （9） to others. I have kept a black one， like its mother. I call it“Little Baby”。

　　Now I take good care of“Little Baby”and I love it as much as I loved its mother. I hope it will be as lovely as its mother and become my friend too.

　　江苏省南通师范学校五普四（2）班 卢霞

　　评 语

　　全文虽大多为简单句，但读来生动有趣，现就文章某些语言上的不足讨论如下：

　　（1）、（2）据Longman词典，mama（或mamma）现在已很少使用，现在一般用mum（或美国英语mom）。其实在文章开头，还是用mother较为正式一些。

　　（3）lap意为“舐食”。其实这里根据上下文，应该用lick（舔）。

　　（4）friendly是形容词，不能当副词作状语用。请特别注意-ly结尾的形容词，常见的还有lovely，lively等。

　　（5）、（6）与Dad并列，用mum，见注（1）、（2）。

　　（7）hear/see等感官动词表示“听到/看到某人（某物）干什么”时，要用“hear/see +宾语+宾语补足语”的句型，而不能用“hear/see +宾语从句”，因为hear/see后接从句时已不是“看到/听到”的意思，而是“听说/明白”的意思，请比较：

　　I heard him come in. 我听见他进来。

　　I heard （that） he would come. 我听说他会来。

　　（8）breathe是动词，breath是名词，请不要混淆。但这里直接用breathing（动名词）即可。

　　（9）send有“派去”的意思。其实根据上下文，这里是“把……送人”的意思，可用give away.