A new therapy dog is helping young people who are being treated for eating disorders (饮食失调) to be put at ease and laugh. 

Sipho, the 10-month-old labradoodle puppy, goes with his owner, Bronwyne Stott, to The Brambles, in Duston, Northampton. Ms Stott, who works for the service run by Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT), said: “He instinctively seems to know who is feeling anxious or vulnerable and will sit with his chin on their foot.” She said when he greets patients at the entrance “they immediately feel more relaxed”.

The children and young people enjoy taking Sipho for a walk around the garden, which makes them more open about how they are feeling. “He makes them laugh and gets them chatting. They can sit and stroke (抚摸) him, which puts the children, and their parents, at ease,” Ms Stott said. Staff also take him for a walk in their breaks to help with their own well-being.

A parent, whose daughter has an eating disorder, said: “It was an opportunity for her to have her views and opinions heard. Although she is often anxious in these kind of situations, she was put at ease and had a positive experience within the group.”

It was hoped Sipho, the first dog to be used at the service, would be fully trained in another eight months. “Dogs are therapeutic anyway, and the benefit of having Sipho here has been amazing,” Ms Stott added. “If you have an eating disorder, or complex feeding issue, he proves a great distraction from the challenging circumstances these children are in, and he helps give them the confidence to take the next steps towards recovery.”

1.Which words can best describe Sipho according to Paragraph Two?

A Vulnerable but relaxing.

B Sensitive and healing.

C Adorable but anxious.

D Loyal and friendly.

解析：选B。B推理判断题。根据第二段的“He instinctively seems to know who is feeling anxious or vulnerable and will sit with his chin on their foot.”和“they immediately feel more relaxed”可知，西波是一条敏感的狗狗，能本能地感知到人们的情绪，他也是一条治愈的狗狗，在感受到人们的焦虑和脆弱的时候，会把下巴放在对方脚上表示安慰。当他向人们打招呼时，人们立刻感到放松。故选B。

2.Why do workers of The Brambles take Sipho for a walk?

A To make people laugh.

B To take some exercise.

C To make Sipho feel at ease.

D To keep Sipho healthy.

解析：选B。B细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句“Staff also take him for a walk in their breaks to help with their own well-being.”可知，工作人员带西波去散步是为了保持他们自己的身体健康，即进行一些锻炼。故选B。

3.What did the parent in the text think of the therapy dog?

A He can help exercise kids’ brains.

B He makes his/her daughter anxious.

C He makes it harder for her to take food.

D He brings his/her daughter a positive influence.

解析：选D。D观点态度题。根据倒数第二段中的“It was an opportunity”以及“she was put at ease and had a positive experience”可知，文中的家长认为这只治疗犬对自己的女儿起到了积极的作用，让她说出自己的观点和意见，可以得到放松和积极的体验。故选D。

4.What might happen to Sipho in the future?

A He would start to work after eight months.

B He would have more human companions.

C He would have an eating disorder.

D He would gain more confidence.

解析：选A。A推理判断题。根据最后一段第一句“It was hoped Sipho, the first dog to be used at the service, would be fully trained in another eight months.”可知，人们希望这第一只在该机构用于治疗的狗能在接下来八个月内完成训练，即顺利的话，西波可能会在8个月后开始正式的工作。故选A。