Cowboys have lived and worked in the west and south—west of the United States for over three centuries and they are a famous symbol of the USA. When you watch those old Hollywood cowboy films from the fifties and sixties, you see a job. You see a 1 of freedom and adventure (冒险). However, the real job of an American cowboy has always been 2 and sometimes dangerous. It is physical with long hours and low pay.
Life hasn't 3 much for cowboys since the early days. Cows walk across huge plains (草原) to 4 the grass and the cowboy rides on his horse to bring 5 home. Like the cowboys of the past, a 21st century cowboy 6 gets up early on freezing cold mornings and makes breakfast over a fire.
So why does a man—because it is usually a man—become a cowboy? For some, it isn't a 7, because they are born into the life. They have worked with 8 since they were children. They 9 the traditional cowboy culture: "It's a real life about you, your horse and the open 10."
Some people choose the job 11 in life. Pat had an office job with the US government with high pay, 12 he didn't like city life and spending all day inside. So one day, he 13 his job and moved to a ranch (牧场) in Texas, making much less money 14 a cowboy. He wanted job satisfaction. And for a cowboy, job satisfaction doesn't come from the money or a comfortable office. It comes from being 15 to wake up under the sky and being your own boss.
