A Canine Reading Buddy

Dogs and people have developed a special bond over time. Recently, however, some dogs have taken a different role in people’s lives—therapy dogs.

1. Some therapy dogs visit patients in hospitals or nursing homes, while others visit children in schools and libraries. They are there to help children become better readers.

Reading programs that use therapy dogs have been in existence for more than ten years. All therapy dogs of this program are registered with an organization that tests the dogs to make sure they have the right personality for the job.

2. Both the dogs and the handlers are volunteers with the reading program.

At the start of a reading therapy session, a child and a dog are introduced. The pair is allowed to settle down in a quiet corner together. 3. An adult handler stays nearby but generally lets the dog perform its job without interfering(干涉). Sometimes, a handler may ask a question that encourages the child to work with the dog to help the child feel more comfortable.

Not every child will be able to be part of a reading therapy program that uses dogs. A few children might be allergic to dogs or afraid of them; some children might have cultural traditions that prevent them from touching a dog. 4.

Reading therapy programs inspire learning and change. 5. They spend time with human friends. For dogs that love human companionshiop and a quiet place to rest, being part of a reading therapy program can be a great way to spend a few hours each day. The readers benefit too, gaining confidence and learning that reading aloud can be a relaxing experience.

A. How do the therapy dogs benefit from it?

B. But therapy animals also serve in many other areas.

C. As the child reads, the dog usually lies quietly and listens.

D. When reading to an animal, some children may become relaxed.

E. In these circumstances, other animals are available, such as cats and parrots.

F. A therapy dog is more of a companion and is trained to help people in different ways.

G. A dog’s handler also takes a class and must pass a test to work in the therapy program.

When I walked into the house after school, I found my dad at home.

"What are you doing home already?" I asked casually.

"Andrew, I was laid off today," he answered quietly.

I was sure he was joking. "No, you weren't. Why are you really home?"

Then I noticed his expression and realized he was telling the truth. My father has always been a hard worker and prided himself on his career. My father's unemployment created many changes in our lives. He was home all day, which meant my bed had to be made, my room cleaned up, and my homework done right after school. I would come home every day to find him at the computer searching for jobs. I began to notice how down he seemed, and how losing his job had affected his self-esteem, though he tried to be optimistic. He asked my brother and me to spend less money. I gave up my allowance, which even though it wasn't much, felt like the right thing to do. I also found a part-time job.

After several difficult months of searching, my dad decided to go in a totally different direction. He explained that he never wanted to be laid off again, so he was going to start his own business. Day by day, I watched him build it, and I admired how much time and energy he devoted to it.

One evening I asked if he needed help. "Only if it doesn't interfere(打扰,妨碍) with school," he said, which sounded like a yes.

I showed up at his office the next afternoon, and most afternoons after that for two months. I always knew he was a hard worker, but watching him in action really influenced me. Although this was one of the worst experiences for our family, it taught me a lot about dealing with adversity. Now I know that through creative problem-solving, I can always find Plans, ask for help, and take risks.

1.When the father was laid off, he ________.

A. was angry with his boss

B. didn't care about it at all

C. couldn't accept the fact easily

D. was as happy as usual

2.We can know from the passage that ________.

A. it was not easy for the father to find a new job

B. the father asked his sons to give up their allowance

C. the father found a good job when he changed his direction

D. Andrew and his brother helped his father set up his business

3.The underlined word "adversity" in the last paragraph probably means .

A. poor feelings

B. bad situations

C. low spirits

D. old ideas

4.What has Andrew learned from his father?

A. The spirit of creative problem-solving.

B. The skills of surfing the Internet.

C. The experience of saving money.

D. The rich business skills.

Some people learn a second language easily. Others have trouble learning a new language. How can you help yourself learn a new language, such as English? There are several ways to make learning English a little easier and more interesting.

The first step is to feel positive about learning English. If you believe that you can learn, you will learn. Be patient. You do not have to understand everything all at once. It is natural to make mistakes when you learn something new. We can learn from our mistakes. In other words, do not worry about taking risks.

The second step is to practice your English. For example, write a diary every day. You will get used to writing it in English, and you will feel comfortable expressing your ideas in English. Several weeks later, you will see that your writing is improving. In addition, you must speak English every day. You can practice with your classmates outside class. You will make mistakes, but gradually you will become comfortable communicating in English.

The third step is to keep a record of your language learning. You can write this in your journal. After each class, think about what you did. Did you answer a question correctly? Did you understand something the teacher explained? Perhaps the lesson was difficult, but you tried to understand it.

You must be positive about learning English and believe that you can do it. It is important to practice every day and make a record of your achievements. You will enjoy learning English, and you will feel more confident in yourself.

1.To feel positive about learning English means _________.

A. if you are patient, you will learn

B. if you keep a record, you can improve

C. if you believe you can learn, you will learn

D. if you make mistakes, you can learn from your mistakes

2.When you learn English, you do not need to _________.

A. understand everything all at once

B. practice with your classmates outside class

C. write a diary regularly

D. feel more confident in yourself

3.What does the underlined word “journal” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A. Diary. B. Composition.

C. Magazine. D. Newspaper.

4.What is the main idea of this passage?

A. It is very important to learn a second language.

B. Some people learn a second language easily while others do not.

C. Don’t worry about making mistakes when learning a second language.

D. There are some ways to help you learn a second language more easily.

The documentary “Under the Dome” went viral (走红)online just before Chinese lawmakers opened their yearly meeting. The film examines the health effects of China’s massive air pollution, or smog problem. It also presents the difficulties environmental officials face in enforcing laws.

A former reporter for China’s state-run television, Chai Jing, produced the documentary. It argues that state-run businesses, especially energy companies, are part of China’s pollution problem.

At the end of National People’s Congress meeting, a reporter asked Prime Minister Li Keqiang whether he thought the film was correct. Are big oil companies barriers to environmental law enforcement? Mr. Li said under this year's Environmental Protection Law officials are committed to taking legal action against those who add to the pollution problem. He said anyone involved in acts of illegal production and emissions will be brought to justice. He said the government must make businesses that illegally emit(排放) and dump(丢弃) pay a price too heavy to accept.

Others also commented on the film before it was banned, including former basketball star Yao Ming. Mr. Yao served as a representative at the legislative meetings. He said he had watched the film and was thankful for the information film producer Chai Jing made public. He said the film expressed the feelings in many people’s hearts.

A respiratory(呼吸的) expert and representative at the legislative(立法的) meetings also spoke to VOA about “Under the Dome.” Zhong Nanshan said Chai Jing’s film takes a good look at where smog comes from, how harmful it is and the efforts being taken to deal with it. Previously, Mr. Zhong said that China’s smog is an even scarier problem than the serious illness SARS.

1.The documentary “Under the Dome” suggests that ______.

A. water pollution in China has very bad effect on people’s health.

B. energy companies take all the blame for China’s pollution.

C. all the state-run companies know nothing about environment protection.

D. China’s environmental departments face troubles when dealing with pollution.

2.From Para.3, we can infer that ______

A. The Chinese government will take more measures to deal with air pollution.

B. Companies must pay a lot of money before they cause some pollution.

C. Prime Minister Li praised environmental officials.

D. Prime Minister Li doesn’t think highly of the film.

3.What does the underlined phrases “be brought to justice” probably mean?

A. Be questioned B. Be removed

C. Be grounded D. Be punished

4.What is Yao Ming’s attitude to the film “Under the Dome”?

A. Indifferent B. Supportive

C. Doubtful D. Negative

One day, when I was working as a psychologist(心理学家) in England,a boy showed up in my office. It was David. He kept walking up and down restlessly, his face pale, and his hands shaking slightly. His head teacher had referred him to me. “This boy has lost his family,” he wrote. “He is understandably very sad and refuses to talk to others, and I'm

very worried about him. Can you help?”

I looked at David and showed him to a chair. How could I help him? There are problems psychology doesn’t have the answer to, and which no words can describe. Sometimes the best thing one can do is to listen openly and sympathetically.

The first two times we met, David didn't say a word. He sat there, only looking up to look at the children's drawings on the wall behind me. I suggested we play a game of chess. He nodded. After that he played chess with me every Wednesday afternoon -- in complete silence and without looking at me. It's not easy to cheat in chess, but I admit I made sure David won once or twice.

Usually, he arrived earlier than agreed, took the chess board and pieces from the shelf and began setting them up before I even got a chance to sit down. It seemed as if he enjoyed my company. But why did he never look at me?

"Perhaps he simply needs someone to share his pain with," I thought. "Perhaps he senses that I respect his suffering.” Some months later, when we were playing chess, he looked up at me suddenly.

"It’s your turn," he said.

After that day, David started talking. He got friends in school and joined a bicycle club. He wrote to me a few times about his biking with some friends, and about his plan to get into university. Now he had really started to live his own life.

Maybe I gave David something. But I also learned that one -- without any words -- can reach out to another person. All it takes is a hug, a shoulder to cry on, a friendly touch, and an ear that listens.Ziyuanku.com

1.When he first met the author, David _________ .

A. felt a little excited B. walked energetically

C. looked a little nervous D. showed up with his teacher

2.Which statement about the passage is NOT TRUE?.

A. David enjoyed being with the author.

B. What David really needs is to play chess with someone.

C. David didn't say a word the first two times they met.

D. The author knows how to treat David's problem.

3.What can be inferred about David?

A. He recovered after months of treatment.

B. He liked biking before he lost his family.

C. He went into university soon after starting to talk.

D. He got friends in school before he met the author.

4.What made David change?

A. His teacher’s help.

B. The author’s friendship.

C. His exchange of letters with the author.

D. The author’s silent communication and company with him.

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