A special dog helps a community heal

主題語境：治療犬篇幅：347詞建議用時：7分鐘

1“We knew she was special the moment we got her,” Diana Haneski said about River,her family's therapy dog.

2A therapy dog is a service animal specifically focused on providing comfort and affection for others.These dogs are trained to serve in hospitals,schools,airports,and even at crisis sites.

3Therapy dogs are required to pass a series of tests before joining a service organization.Skills include accepting strangers,sitting politely,being summoned (召喚) to appear when called,and reacting appropriately to other dogs.A therapy dog usually has a wagging tail,warm eyes,and a loving heart.

4Therapy dogs can be beneficial to humans.Several studies around the world have shown that interacting with dogs lowers cortisol (皮質醇),a type of stress hormone.These interactions also release hormones that cause happiness.

5The Haneski family is well-known in the town of Parkland,Florida.Ray is the technology specialist at Westglades Middle School.Westglades is next to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School(MSD),where Diana is the media center specialist.

6The most famous Haneski,however,is River,MSD's official therapy dog.The Haneskis adopted River in August 2018.Earlier that year,an accident killed 17 people,including students,and injured 17 others.The Haneski family has played a key role inalleviatingthe sadness,trauma,and anxiety felt within the community.Students and teachers at MSD are allowed to visit River at any time throughout the day.“River brings comfort,joy,and love to each interaction,” the Haneskis said.“She was a gift to the community.”

7What is a typical day like for River? She's up about a quarter to six,has her breakfast,and takes a walk.Then she hops in the car and heads off to school.She sees a lot of people.She has her kennel(狗窩)at school,where she'll take some quiet time if she needs it.She does take a rest.School starts very early,so there's a lot of activity.At around eight o'clock or so,she's looking for her downtime and takes a nap.

Reading

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Gist 1.What's paragraph 2 mainly about?

A.Diana's views about a therapy dog.

B.An introduction to a therapy dog.

C.A therapy dog's training tests.

D.A therapy dog's special characteristics.

Detail 2.What can be learned about therapy dogs from paragraph 4?

A.They do good to humans.

B.They have excellent appearance.

C.They have low stress hormones.

D.They show a great talent for technology.

Vocabulary 3.What does the underlined word “alleviating” in paragraph 6 mean?

A.Worsening.

B.Easing.

C.Involving.

D.Spreading.

Inference 4.Where is the text probably from?

A.A fashion magazine.

B.A short novel.

C.An animal website.

D.A book review.

Language

Study

Ⅰ.日積月累

therapyn.治療

providev.提供

servev.服務

reactv.作出反應

interactv.交流；互動

releasev.釋放

happinessn.快樂；幸福

specialistn.專家

typicaladj.典型的

next to 靠近

play a key role in 在……中起關鍵作用

be allowed to do 被允許做……

head off to 前往

take a rest 休息

take a nap 打盹兒

Ⅱ.單句填空

1.We are here to provide a service________the public.

2.Local residents have reacted angrily________the news.

3.Teachers have a limited amount of time to interact________each child.

4.The media play________major role in influencing people's opinions.

5.He is not allowed________(stay)out late.