氣質姐與可愛可

 An Australian marathoner▼ found friendship in the heart of the desert.
澳洲馬拉松選手在沙漠中心發現了友誼。


　　Dogs are man's best friend, but would your dog follow you on a 250-kilometer run across the open desert? For one very special dog, this was no problem.
　　In June of last year, Australian marathoner Dion Leonard took part in the Gobi March, an ultra▼-marathon held once a year in China. When the starting gun fired, he noticed a dog running along with the racers. As the race continued, the small, light-haired, stray dog took a liking to Leonard and chose to run with him. Even when temperatures reached over 50 degrees Celsius▼, she was by his side. During the different stages of the race, the dog, now named Gobi, became his constant companion▼. When the race was over, though, Leonard was forced to say goodbye.
　　Leonard had formed a close friendship with Gobi, and he wanted to adopt the stray▼ and bring her to his home in Scotland. Therefore, he set up a crowdfunding campaign▼ to raise the £5,000 it would take to bring Gobi home. In the end, the campaign raised nearly eight times that amount. Gobi now lives in the UK, and the extra funds will go towards finding homes for other stray dogs around the world.

Words & Phrases

1. desert n. 沙漠；荒漠；荒涼的地方
   The desert stretches as far as the eye can see.
   這個沙漠一望無際地延伸出去。
2. stage n. 階段，時期
   Our dance performance is still at an early stage in development, but it looks great.
   我們的舞蹈表演才剛起步，但看起來已經有模有樣了。
3. constant a. 忠實的；持續不斷∕經常發生的
   Amber and Zoe remained constant friends throughout their lives.
   安柏與柔伊是一輩子的忠實好友。
   Al disconnected the phone because he couldn't stand its constant ringing.
   艾爾把電話線拔掉，因為他受不了電話一直響。
   * disconnect vt. 切斷（機器或設備的電力供應）
4. be forced to V　　被迫……
   Jenny hates to be forced to do anything against her will.
   珍妮討厭被迫去做任何違反她意願的事。
5. form vt. 建立，形成
   Study habits are usually formed at an early age.
   讀書習慣通常在年幼時養成。
6. adopt vt. 領養，收養；採用（方案、策略等）
   The Jacksons have been considering adopting a child for years.
   傑克森家想認養小孩想了好幾年了。
   The school adopted new rules after two students were hurt during the fight.
   兩位學生打架受傷後，學校改採新規定。
7. therefore adv. 因此，所以（正式用法）
   My legs are short. Therefore, I wear high heels to look taller.
   我的腿很短。因此，我穿高跟鞋讓自己看起來高一點。
8. fund n. 基金，專款
   Andrew set up a trust fund for his children in case anything happens to him.
   安德魯為小孩設立一筆信託基金，以防他出了什麼意外。

名詞 liking 的用法
本文 "... the small, light-haired, stray dog took a liking to Leonard and chose to run with him." 中的片語 take a liking to... 相當於 take to...，表『喜歡（上）……』，其中的名詞 liking 表『對某人 / 物的喜歡』。另外，還有一個用法 to sb's liking 表『對某人的胃口，合某人的心意』，常用於正式場合。例：

Carla has never taken a liking to bungee jumping, but her sister is crazy about it.
= Carla has never taken to bungee jumping, but her sister is crazy about it.
（卡拉從來就不喜歡高空彈跳，不過她姊姊卻為之瘋狂。）

If the tea is to your liking, please feel free to have more.
（要是這茶合您的胃口，歡迎您再續杯。）

▼ marathon n. 馬拉松賽跑
▼ marathoner n. 馬拉松運動員
▼ ultra- prefix（術語）超；外；極（度）
▼ Celsius n. 攝氏溫度
▼ companion n. 同伴，伴侶
▼ stray n. 流浪∕走失的動物 & a. 流浪∕走失的
▼ campaign n.（為取得某種結果而進行的政治、商業或社會性的）運動；（宣傳）活動

狗是人類最好的朋友，但是你的狗會跟著你跑兩百五十公里橫越廣大的沙漠嗎？對一隻很特別的狗來說，這根本不成問題。
　　去年六月，澳洲馬拉松選手迪翁‧雷納德參加了戈壁長征賽 —— 一項一年一度在中國舉辦的超級馬拉松賽跑。起跑槍響時，他注意到有一隻狗跟著選手們跑了起來。在賽程中，這隻小型淺毛色流浪狗喜歡上了雷納德，並選擇跟他一起跑。即使氣溫上升到攝氏五十度以上，牠還是陪在他身邊。在比賽的不同階段中，這隻現在名為戈壁的狗成為了他的忠實夥伴。但是比賽結束後，雷納德卻被迫與小狗道別。
　　雷納德和戈壁已經建立起深厚的友情，而他想將這隻流浪狗認養並帶回他在蘇格蘭的家。因此他成立了一個群眾募資活動，以募集將戈壁帶回家所需的五千英鎊。最後，活動募得將近原定目標八倍的金額。戈壁現在住在英國，而多出來的募捐資金將會用來為世界各地的其他流浪狗尋找一個家。

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