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A cat has nine lives.
英語國家的人相信，貓這種動物命大，福大，造化大。2001年，美洲動物醫療協會雜志刊登過一份研究報告，研究人員調查了132起貓從高空墜地的事件，墜地的平均高度是六層樓，結果百分之九十的貓墜地后都存活下來了。它們在空中靈活地翻轉身體，四肢著地，爪子上的肉墊大大緩解了墜地時的沖力。古人對此肯定也有所了解，認為“貓有九條命”（A cat has nine lives.）。下面這段故事講一條名叫“船長”的小獵狗如何命大，就以“貓有九條命”做對照：
Mischief was Captain's middle name. One time, I remember he decided to take a look at the roof of the conservatory. Portly little Captain found his way out on to the roof much to Mr Woolley's dismay. He then followed in the Captain's foot-step, or should I say paw prints, in order to rescue his poor hound. Unfortunately Mr Woolley slipped and spent the next a few days unconscious in hospital. But Captain was fine. Talk about a cat's nine lives!
