单项选择题

Can the Cat be Burnt
The men of a German (德国人，德语) town bought a cat from a passing traveller. As the traveller was walking away, they called out to him, "What does it eat"
"Whatever you please," shouted the traveller.
Now the people thought (认为，考虑) he said, "Men and beasts", and were much afraid.
"When it has eaten all the mice and rats," they said, "it will eat our cattle (牲口) and ourselves (我们自己). What a pity we bought it! We must kill it."
Now as no one was brave (勇敢的) enough to kill the cat, the people set fire to the house where it was resting. The cat escaped through a window and ran into another house.
"Better burn that," said the people. So they set fire to that one, too. Again the cat escaped and climbed up on a roof.
Then someone struck at it with a long pole (柱). But the cat took hold of the pole and started to climb (攀登，上升) down.
The people were terrified, and ran to hide (躲藏，兽皮) in the woods. Meanwhile the fire spread (展开，传播) from house to house until the whole (全部，完整的) village was burnt to the ground. But the cat, of course (过程，教程), escaped.
The passing traveller said, "Whatever you please." it meant (意指，意味着)