美国故事:猪就是猪 (4/7)

英语自学网

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美国故事是一档VOA慢速英语听力节目，故事情节幽默风趣、语言生动，适合想要提高英语听力和口语的童鞋~~速来围观吧~~^_^

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Hints:
Flannery
hippopotamuses
Tariff Department
Guinea
George
Gorden

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Before answering, agent Flannery wanted to make sure his report was up-to-date, so he went to the back of the office and looked into the cage. Good lord, they were now eight of them. All well, and eating like hippopotamuses. He went back to the office and explained to the head of the Tariff Department what the rules said about pigs. And as for the condition of the Guinea pigs, said Flannery, they were all well, but there were eight of them now, all good eaters.
The head of the Tarfif Department laughed when he read Flannery's letter. He read it again and became serious. "By George, "he said, "Flannery is right, pigs is pigs. I'll have to get something official on this." He spoke to the president of the company. The president treated the matter lightly. "What is the rate on pigs and on pets?" he asked. "Pigs 30 cents, pets 25." the head of the Tariff Department answered. "Then of course, Guinea pigs are pigs." the president said. "Yes," the head of the Tariff Department agreed, "I look at it that way too. A thing that can come under two rates is naturally to be charged at the higher one. But are Guinea pigs pigs, aren't they rabbits?" "Come to think of it." the president said," I believe they are more like rabbits, sort of half way between pig and rabbit. I think the question is this: are Guinea pigs of the domestic pig family? I'll ask professor Gorden, he is an expert about such things."