Connie says everyone in her home is happier and healthier since getting their dog, Sophie. “We all started to just eat really healthily and get exercise,” she said. “We walk(遛) her 4 to 6 times a day.”

Connie and her husband welcomed Sophie into their home five years ago at a difficult time in their lives—Connie’s parents had died just a few months ago. She says Sophie helped her heal.

“She just brought me out of that sadness,” she said. “She’s added a lot of happiness to our home and we couldn’t imagine life without her here.”

A new report from Harvard Medical School found that having a dog can reduce(降低) a person’s blood pressure and help people lose weight. Research shows dog owners are more likely to get the two and a half hours of exercise each week. Having a dog can also have many psychological benefits, such as reducing loneliness, stress and anxiety(焦虑).

The new report supports past research that having a pet, especially having a dog, can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Dr. Frates said if you are not very active and are thinking about getting a dog, it’s best to work up to it slowly. She suggests walking for 10 minutes a day a few times a week to start and then build up to more walking time.

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1.Which is NOT true about Sophie?

A She is a pet dog.

B She brings happiness to Connie.

C She is walked by Connie and her family.

D She hardly walks out during the day.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据第1段内容可知，Sophie是一条狗，她给Connie一家带来了快乐，D项(她白天几乎不出门)未提及，只说到Connie一家每天会带她出去4到6次，故选D。

2.When did Connie’s parents die?

A A few months ago.

B After Sophie’s coming.

C Five years ago.

D Not mentioned.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第二段可知，五年前Sophie来到Connie家，那是在她的父母去世后几个月的时候，由此可知，她的父母是五年前去世的，故选C。

3.Which is NOT an advantage of having a pet dog?

A Reducing blood pressure.

B Losing weight.

C Reducing the risk of heart disease.

D Increasing anxiety.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据第四、五段内容可知，养狗的好处包括reduce a person’s blood pressure、lose weight、reducing loneliness、decrease the risk of heart disease, stress, anxiety等，只有D项不符合，故选D。

4.What’s the Chinese meaning of the underlined word “psychological”？

A 疾病的.

B 地理的.

C 身体的.

D 心理的.

解析：选D。D 词义猜测题。该词所在句后面的such as reducing loneliness, stress, anxiety这些都是属于心理上的感觉，即养狗带来的心理上的益处，由此推断psychological意为“心理上的”，故选D。

5.What’s the best title for the passage?

A The advantages of having a pet dog.

B How to lose weight.

C The best way to avoid sadness.

D How to walk your pet dog.

解析：选A。A 文章标题题。本文主要介绍养狗给人带来的好处，因此A项“养狗的好处”符合文章大意；B、C、D三项只体现了文章的部分内容。故选A。