離開
進入《中英對照讀新聞》Cat saves house from fire by opening a window 貓開窗救了房子免於回祿之災
◎ 魏國金
A clever cat has been hailed a hero after he prevented his owners’ home from burning down.
一隻聰明的貓在阻止飼主的房子付之一炬後，被視為英雄。
Five-year-old Pepper has learned to open windows and lets himself out every night by hopping on to a kitchen worktop and using his paws to turn the latch. So when a fire broke while his owners were shopping, the quick-thinking puss leapt into action and opened the window to allow the acrid smoke to escape.
5歲的「胡椒」學會開窗，牠每晚跳上廚房流理台，用爪子打動窗閂後跑出家門。所以當飼主去購物時家中突然失火，這隻頭腦靈活的貓立即採取行動，打開窗戶讓嗆鼻濃煙外洩。
The billowing cloud of ash alerted neighbours and firefighters rushed to the scene and extinguished the blaze before it spread to the rest of the house.
滾滾煙灰讓鄰居警覺，而消防隊疾馳現場，在火勢延燒到房子其他部分前滅了火。
Sharon White and husband Phil were handed Pepper over four years ago after a neighbour could no longer look after it. Pepper developed a ’fierce independent streak’ and would often leave the house for days on end. But over the last few months, he has become increasingly nomadic and has learnt to let himself out through the window by turning the metal lever 90 degrees with his paws.
雪倫．懷特與丈夫菲爾4年前因鄰居不能再照顧「胡椒」而收養牠。「胡椒」養成「極度獨立的特質」，並常離家一連好幾天。然而在近幾月，牠益發流浪成性，並學到用貓爪將金屬窗軸開到90度，讓自己能從窗子跑到戶外。
The dramatic fire started at 4pm on Saturday after the couple nipped to the shops and left their microwave on a ten minute timer, which then caught fire.
這場戲劇性火災起於週六下午4點，這對夫妻在將微波爐設定運作10分鐘後匆匆趕到商店，接著就失火。
新聞辭典
leap into action︰斷然行動。leap有迅速、突然的進行之意，例句︰The thought leapt into my mind.（我突然有了這個想法。）
on end︰連續地。例句︰They sang for hours on end.（他們連續高歌了好幾個小時。）
nip︰動詞，一溜煙的跑掉、敏捷的走。例句︰Now I’d better nip back.（我最好這就趕回去。）
