Researchers at UCLA Medical Center found that a 12-minute bed-side visit with a dog can help reduce anxiety levels by 24 percent in heart failure patients, compared to a 10 percent drop when patients had a visit from a human volunteer, and no drop in patients who had no visit.
Results of the 76-patient study were presented last week. The study was supported by a non-profit (非盈利)organization which promotes human-animal interaction and connection. In the study, effects of dog and volunteer visits were compared with those of volunteers only, and with patients who had no visits and stayed at rest. Patients were asked to answer a list of questions before and after the visits. The results suggested improved heart function, and the most obvious reaction was seen in anxiety levels.
“The first thing you notice is that the patient’s facial expression, changes to a smile and the pressure of the world seems to be lifted off their shoulders,” study author Kathy Cole said. Feelings of disappointment and helplessness are common among heart patients, Cole said, and just three nights in a hospital is enough to make some patients feel anxious and uncomfortable. During the visit, the furry friend is allowed to lie on the bed next to the patient with its head within two feet of the patient’s. Most patients petted the dog, while others talked about the dog with human volunteers in conversation.
Dogs used in the study are specially trained dogs that go through a series of trainings. There are different kinds of dogs. Researchers used everything from Bernese mountain dogs to small schnauzers. However, a dog doesn’t have to be specially trained to have a calming effect on a person. In fact, the animal doesn’t even have to be a dog in order to help. “As long as the animal has meaning to the patient, or a relationship with the patient, it can help calm the patient,” Cole said.
1.We learn from the text that heart patients benefit most from visits by___________.
A.a volunteer on his own B.a well-trained dog alone
C.a non-profit organization D.a volunteer with a dog
2.The study shows that, for heart patients, __________.
A.their recovery depends on contact with animals
B.their heart pressure reduces if they stay at rest
C.their contact with animals improves their condition
D.their anxiety is reduced if they stay longer in hospital
3.According to Cole, the change of patients’ expression on the face indicates that_________.
A.they are mentally comforted B.they are happy with the experiment
C.their treatment time may be shortened D.their heart function is returning to normal
4.This report concentrates on__________.
A.the treatment of heart disease B.the cure power of animals
C.the relationship between dogs and humans D.the promotion of human-animal interaction
Fifteen years ago, I took a summer vacation in Lecce in southern Italy. After climbing up a hill for a panoramic(全景的) view of the blue sea, white buildings and green olive trees, I paused to catch my breath and then positioned myself to take the best photo of this panorama.
Unfortunately, just as I took out my camera, a woman approached from behind, and planted herself right in front of my view. Like me, this woman was here to stop, sigh and appreciate the view.
Patient as I was, after about 15 minutes, my camera scanning the sun and reviewing the shot I would eventually take, I grew frustrated. Was it too much to ask her to move so I could take just one picture of the landscape? Sure, I could have asked her, but something prevented me from doing so. She seemed so pleased in her observation. I didn’t want to mess with that.
Another 15 minutes passed and I grew bored. The woman was still there. I decided to take the photo anyway. And now when I look at it, I think her presence in the photo is what makes the image interesting. The landscape, beautiful on its own, somehow comes to life and breathes because this woman is engaging with it.
This photo, with the unique beauty that unfolded before me and that woman who “ruined” it, now hangs on a wall in my bedroom. What would she think if she knew that her figure is captured(捕捉) and frozen on some stranger’s bedroom wall? A bedroom, after all, is a very private space, in which some woman I don’t even know has been immortalized(使……永存). In some ways, she lives in my house.
Perhaps we all live in each others’ spaces. Perhaps this is what photos are for: to remind us that we all appreciate beauty, that we all share a common desire for pleasure, for connection, for something that is greater than us.
That photo is a reminder, a captured moment, an unspoken conversation between two women, separated only by a thin square of glass.
1.What happened when the author was about to take a photo?
A.A woman blocked her view. B.Her camera stopped working.
C.Someone asked her to leave. D.A friend approached from behind.
2.According to the author, the woman was probably_______.
A.losing her patience B.enjoying herself
C.waiting for the sunset D.thinking about her past
3.In the author’s opinion, what makes the photo so alive?
A.The rich color of the landscape. B.The perfect positioning of the camera.
C.The soft sunlight that summer day. D.The woman’s existence in the photo.
Teen Art Show
Do you want to see your artwork displayed alongside other teens’ artwork? Don’t miss your opportunity! Showcase(在玻璃橱窗陈列) your paintings, sculptures, photographs and other artworks at the Environmental Educational Center. The show will provide an opportunity for artists to network, provide feedback and become a resource for others.
Location: Environmental Educational Center
Activity fee: $25
Night Fishing
Escape the night and join us as we fish at Desert Breeze Park. No experience needed. We will provide the fishing poles, transportation, the bait(鱼饵), to help you catch a fish and best of all, teens of 14 years and under do not require a license to fish.
Location: Desert Breeze Park
Activity fee: $ 22
Overnight Snow Trip
Join the City of Chandler in an exciting new trip! We will travel up to Camp Tontozona and enjoy great food and a campfire in the early evening. Snow play will be the highlight as we explore the snow-filled meadows(草地)of Woods Canyon Lake and sled down small hills in the area. You will be responsible for your own ski/ snowboard equipment.
Location: Camp Tontozona
Activity fee: $ 30
Paintballing
Come out and play paintball with all your friends! Join the City of Chandler as we go to Temp Indoor Paintball. This is a great way to join in the fun of paintballing for a low cost. All equipment is included. Please wear old clothes because clothes can get dirty easily!
Location: Tempe Paintball
Activity fee: $ 28
1.What can people do in Desert Breeze Park?
A.Go fishing. B.Play with snow.
C.Play paintball. D.Meet with famous artists.
2.What is special about Paintballing?
A.It costs the least.
B.It might make your clothes dirty.
C.People can play with friends.
D.People will enjoy a campfire.
3.In which activity should people take their own ski equipment?
A.Night Fishing. B.Teen Art Show.
C.Paintballing. D.Overnight Snow Trip.
假定你叫李华。一直喜欢唱歌，最近组建了自己的音乐俱乐部。你的笔友David很想了解一下有关情况，请给他回一邮件。
内容包括:
1. 俱乐部情况(名称、组建时间、活动频率等)；
2. 俱乐部带来的好处(交友、放松、积极面对人生等)；
注意:
1. 词数80左右；
2. 开头和结尾均已给出(不计入总词数)；
3. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear David,
I am pleased to share with you some information about my music club.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Looking forward to your reply.
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误,每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意:1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Three years before, I visited the Great Wall with my parents. In the way to the Great Wall, we met a foreign lady. She was happily handing out pencils to friendly students which were talking with her. My mother was asked me to chat her.
Without the second thought, I begin to talk about the warm weather with her. We quickly became friend. I learned that she came to China by herself, so she didn’t feel lonely with so many kind people around. Thought highly of my spoken English, she gave me a pencil made in Canada.
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或看括号内单词的正确形式。
Do you know the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela? He 1.(flight) for black people and was 2.prison for almost thirty years. He helped black people to get same rights as white people.
Elias was a students in a school. Because his family couldn’t afford 3.(pay) the school fees, he had to drop out of school. Then he found a job in a gold mine and he worried about 4.he would be out of work. It was during this difficult period of time 5.he met Nelson Mandela for the first time, 6.had opened a law firm to advise poor black people on their legal problems.
At that time, black people had no rights 7.(vote) and their living places were decided by white people. Nelson Mandela said to Elias that they were put into a position 8.they had either to accept they were less important, or flight the government. So they decided to use 9.(violent). Though Elias didn’t like it, he helped Nelson Mandela blow up some government buildings. He knew 10.was dangerous to do so, but he also knew it would help them realize their dream of making black and white people equal.
