Reading I @ Pets to the Rescue Track 6 When you walk into a hospital room, you expect to see a nurse or a doctor. But in some hospitals you might also see a dog or a cat, or even a rabbit or a turtle. These pets aren't there to be treated, however. They're part of the medical team! The animals don't have medical degrees, of course. They help patients get better simply by being there. After 30 years of study, researchers are convinced that animals provide many health benefits. These range from lowering blood pressure to faster healing after surgery. One study shows that even 10 minutes with an animal can significantly lower blood pressure. There are many examples of how pets improve people's health. For instance, studies show that pet owners have lower cholesterol' levels than non-owners do. Pet owners are also in better physical health overall and have fewer doctor visits. Also, people who have suffered heart attacks live longer if they have a pet. And pet owners have better mental health because pets make them happier, more relaxed, and less < stressed. Did you have a pet as a child? 00 your grandparents own a pet? The health benefits of pets are quite strong for both children and the elderly. For example, a pet can help children cope with family problems, such as illness or the death of a relative. Studies also show that children who own pets are more likely to be involved in sports and hobbies. Emotionally disturbed and mentally ill children are also helped greatly by pets. Animals calm children and improve their behavior and even their mental abilities. Animals do wonders for the elderly too, such as helping them live longer, healthier lives. How do they do this? For one thing, pets make older people feel less lonely and depressed. And some pets, such as dogs, encourage elders to exercise by getting out for walks. Some aid groups take pets into nursing homes to cheer up the residents. Pets bring out smiles of happiness from elders and help improve their quality of life. 1 cholesterol: a substance that helps to carry fats and is found in all cells of the body 70 Unit 3 Some groups also bring pets into hospitals. Most often, the animals are .\\0 dogs, but they can also be cats, rabbits, birds, and others. They are called therapy animals. These animals are trained to give comfort and affection to patients. Good therapy animals are friendly, gentle, and patient. They allow people to pet and talk to them. They bring laughter and enjoyment to sick people and help them feel better. .15 There are quite a few animal healing programs today. One interesting example is the Dolphin Program. Researchers at universities and dolphin centers worldwide study the healing effects of swimming with dolphins. Some researchers believe that the sounds dolphins make underwater can heal people. Others say dolphins heal because they make people feel ·10 peaceful and happy. Dolphin programs for children with special needs have been very successful. Even patients with serious illnesses improve by swimming with dolphins. Another interesting example of animals helping sick people is a program that uses dogs to detect cancer. Researchers have found that dogs can ·IS smell cancer in patients' breath because it contains certain chemicals. A dog's sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times better than that of humans. In studies, trained dogs have identified cancer in early stages between 88 and 97 percent of the time. Since detecting cancer early is important to a patient's survival, these trained dogs could save many lives. so Researchers know that animals make people feel better and extend their lives. But they can't fully explain why. They suspect it's because people can count on pets to be there, always loving and never judging. This gives people a good feeling and relaxes them. Patients feel calm and happy around pets. This mental and emotional state helps them feel better 55 physically. Whatever the reasons, there is no doubt that animals are good medicine for people of all ages. Pets have a valuable place in homes, hospitals, and all places of care. Chapter 6 71 ••Vocabulary A. Vocabulary in Context What are the meanings of the bold words? Circle the letter of the best answer. 1. Even 10 minutes with an animal can significantly lower blood pressure. a. in an unexpected way c. of lesser importance b. to an important degree d. not in a noticeable way 2. They are also in better physical health overall. a. in a small manner c. above all others b. in only one way d. in general 3. People who have suffered heart attacks live longer if they have a pet. a. periods of suffering from a long c. episodes when the heart stops illness working b. physical blows to the chest d. times of extreme fright 4. A pet can help children cope with family problems. a. forget c. get upset about b. manage d. ignore 5. Emotionally disturbed children are also helped greatly by pets. a. having an illness of the mind or c. having an inability to feelings communicate b. having unique mental powers d. having a serious physical illness 6. Animals do wonders for the elderly too. a. bring unexpectedly good results c. pass on a certain behavior to b. make unusual changes in d. cause something that is not surprising Word Partnership I Use (ope with: n. ability to cope, cope with loss adv. how to cope v. learn to cope, manage to cope adj. unable to cope 72 Unit 3 7. Some aid groups take pets into nursing homes to cheer up the residents. a. places where people learn about c. special facilities for medical medicine emergencies b. places where the sick and elderly d. private homes for sick animals receive care 8. They allow people to pet and talk to the animals. a. give food to c. touch in a loving way b. treat for an illness d. train to do something 9. There are programs for children with special needs. a. children who are unusually c. children who require extra help or independent attention b. children who are gifted in d. children who come from poor some way families 10. There is a program that uses dogs to detect cancer. a. find c. investigate b. cover up d. catch B. Vocabulary Building Complete the sentences with the correct form of the bold words. You may use your dictionary. 1. significant a. His disability had little with his performance on the test. b. After playing with her dog, there was a drop in her blood pressure. 2. detect a. The police dog ______ the direction in which the prisoner escaped. b. The ______ of cancer at an early stage is really important. 3. treat a. I received excellent ______ at the hospital. b. The hotel staff us so well. C. Vocabulary in New Context Write your own sentences using the bold words from Part A and Part B. Chapter 6 73 3. How do dogs help elders exercise more? 4. What are therapy animals trained to do? 5. What qualities do good therapy animals have7 6. According to researchers, how do dolphins help to heal people7 7. Why can dogs smell cancer in patients' breath7 8. How much better is a dog's sense of smell than a human's7 -Chapter 6 75 C. Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions The answers to these questions are not directly stated in the reading. Write complete sentences. 1. What does the passage imply about people with high blood pressure? 2. From the passage, what can we conclude is the main reason that therapy animals are good for sick people? 3. From paragraph 6, what can we conclude about the use of dogs in cancer programs in the future? 4. From the passage, what can we infer about the importance of animals in our lives) 76 Unit 3 Discussion Questions Discuss the answers to these questions with your classmates. 1. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be? Why? 2. What is an interesting or remarkable story that you have read, heard, or experienced about how an animal helped a human? 3. Dolphins are one of the most researched animals on earth. Why do you think dolphins attract so much attention? How have they been used other than in healing programs) Critical Thinking Questions Discuss the answers to these questions with your classmates. 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a pet? 2. Do you think that pets can actually heal people? Why or why not? 3. Do you agree or disagree with the statement that \"a dog is man's best friend)\" Why? -Chapter 6 77 Writing Writing Skills A. Organizing: Using such as I One way to introduce an example is by the use of such as. We use such as + example when we want to be brief. Examples: • Owning a pet can help children cope with family problems, such as illness or the death of a relative. • Some pets, such as dogs, encourage elders to exercise by getting out for walks. • Studies such as these make us appreciate pets. Nofe: No commas are needed when the such as phrase gives essential information. Use commas when the such as phrase can be taken out without changing the meaning of the sentence. B. Exercises 1. Combine the two sentences into one using such as. Use correct punctuation. The first one is done for you. 1. Studies show that pets provide a range of health benefits. For instance, pets help in lowering blood pressure and faster healing after surgery. Studies show that pets provide a range of health benefits. such as lowering blood pressure and faster healing after surgery. 78 Unit 3 2. Children get many benefits from pet ownership. For example. owning a pet helps them cope with family illness and death. 3. Owning pets improves people's health in several ways. For instance, pet owners have lower cholesterol levels and lower blood pressure, which can help extend their lives. 4. Studies show that pets do wonders for the elderly. For example, pets help the elderly feel less lonely and encourage them to exercise. 5. Healing programs use many different animals. For instance, these programs use dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds to help the sick feel better. 6. Today there are quite a few animal healing programs. For example, there is the Dolphin Program and a program that uses dogs to detect cancer. 2. Punctuate these sentences containing examples, where necessary. 1. Pet-owning children for instance tend to be calmer. 2. Birds for example are easy for elders to love and care for. 3. Not all animal healing programs use dogs for example the Dolphin Program. 4. Some pets are brought into medical facilities such as nursing homes. 5. For instance some nursing homes let their residents have cats. 6. A remedy such as pet ownership is very easy to like. Chapter 6 79 Writing Practice A. Write an Example Essay Write an example essay on one of the following topics. You must have \" paragraphs that start with example transitions, such as \"One example of ...,and\" Another example of ... \" In your essay, try to include 3 or more vocabulary words from the reading in this chapter. 1. Animals help people in many different ways. 2. Practicing yoga is good for you in different ways. 3. Exercise is good for the body and mind in different ways. 4. A healthy diet and exercise are good for the body. B. Pre-Write Work with a partner, a group, or alone. 1. Brainstorm the topic. List the positive ways in which it helps. 2. Brainstorm for ideas for each one. Choose a pre-writing brainstorming technique that you prefer. (See page 227.) 3. Work on a thesis statement. C. Outline 1. Organize your ideas. Step 1: Write your thesis statement. Step 2: Pick the two best examples from your brainstorming activity. Step 3: Remember to begin each paragraph with a transition showing example. 80 Unit 3