The ownership of pets brings a variety of benefits that the uninitiated would never believe.For every tale of shredded cushion，flattened plants，and chew slippers，there is another testimony of intelligence，sympathy and undying devotion.Now the gowing body of research into the medical and social advantages of pet ownership has confirmed what pet owners have always intuitively known that pets are not just loving companions but actually do us good.Researchers have established the value of pets in soothing and reassuring humans，particularly when ill，lonely or in distress.Perhaps the unquestioning love and approval pets give us is something we don’t always get from out human nearest and dearest.

　　Our makeshift understanding psychology leads many of us to view very close relationships with pets with suspicion.Childless couples in particular give rise to speculation，but a consultant in animal behavior says，“There is no evidence that a pet is a direct substitute for child.”And while many adults feel foolish if caught talking to their pets，they have no need to.The experts say you cannot have a close relationship with a pet without treating it as a person and that talking to a pet is notun healthy.—simply a way of establishing camaraderie.

　　The shaking helplessness of a young puppy or fluffy kitten stirs protective instincts deep within us and prompts many parents to buy pets for their children in the hope of instilling a sense of responsibility and caring and acceptance of the facts of life and death.Hut animals don’t have to besoft and fond to bring out the best in us.A social worker encouraged aggressive boys to handle ferrets—“if handled correctly they respond with friendship;if incorrectly they bite.”

　　There seems to be no doubt that，emotionally and physically,our pets do us good—there is a Drice to be paid.When loved animal dies，it is often a traumatic event—and then where do we tum for comfort?

　　56.Pets are sometimes criticized because they_______.

　　A.lack intelligence

　　B.are destructive

　　C.need considerable care

　　D.demand affection

　　57.The idea that animals are a substitute for children is_______.

　　A.supported by research

　　B.encouraged by psychologists

　　C.an argument for keeping a pet

　　D.a common prejudice

　　58.Talking to animals is_______.

　　A.silly

　　B.suspicious

　　C.beneficial

　　D.stimulating

　　59.A ferret is probably a kind of_______.

　　A.tame animal

　　B.fierce anitaal

　　C.lovely animal

　　D.tamable animal

　　60.The writer believes that pets are valuable to children because they_______.

　　A.return affection

　　B.are comforting

　　C.need looking after

　　D.are protective

　　Questions 61 to 65 are based on thefollowingpassage.

　　Politics is an emotional business.Still，many people found themselves unusually moved by the historic presidential inauguration.Watching the huge crowds，we saw laughter,cheers，hugs—but also many tears.

　　It made us wonder ,why do people cry ?It is believed that tears must be good for us—a way to calm the mind and cleanse the soul.Yet studies show that crying sometimes makes people feel worse.

　　Three researchers in Florida and the Netherlands recently looked more deeply into the subject.

　　They examined detailed descriptions of crying experiences.Psychologist Jonathan Rottenberg at the University of South Florida says they wanted to study crying as it happens in everyday life，not in a laboratory.The team analyzed information from the International Study on Adult Crying.As Dart of that study,3，000 people in different countries，mostly college students，wrote about recent crying experiences.They noted causes，surroundings and any people involved in the event.They also reported how they felt after they cried.

　　Professor Rottenberg says the research showed that all crying experiences are not created equally.

　　Crying does not always make a person feel better,he says.About lo percent of people reported feeling worse after they cried.But a third felt better after crying.And a majority reported the experience was helpful.The research showed that people who cry alone may not do as well as those with others around.

　　People who reached out for emotional support at the time——and received it——reported better resuIts from the crying experience.But those who felt shame or embarrassment while crying were less likely to report that crying had been helpful.

　　Research has shown that women cry more often and more intensely than men，but it mav not be to better effect.The new findings did not show that a person’s sex was a predictor of beneficial crying.

　　In other words，just because women cry more does not mean they are more likely to have a"good"cry.

　　The paper entitled/s Crying Beneficial?appeared in December in Current Directions in Psychologica，Science.Scientists say the science of crying is still in its infancy.

　　61.According to the passage，which of the following statements about crying is TRUE?

　　A.Crying is absolutely good for people’s health.

　　B.Those crying with others around will feel better than those crying alone.

　　C.Crying will help a lot for those who felt shame or embarrassment while crying.

　　D.The benefits of crying are related to a person’s sex.

　　62.Shedding tears is believed to do good to us because______.

　　A.it enables us to recover an easy mind

　　B. it helps us solve the problem

　　C.it arouses others’sympathy

　　D.it can wash our body

　　63.Studies show that one will not feel better after crying when______.

　　A.shedding tears with others around

　　B.receiving emotional support from others

　　C.feeling embarrassed or ashamed during crying

　　D.the person who cries is female

　　64.That women cry more does not mean they are more likely to have a“good”cry implies that_______.

　　A.women like crying more than men

　　B.a person’S sex is a predictor of beneficial crying

　　C.crying does not necessarily make women feel better

　　D.women look pitiful while crying

　　65.What do scientists mean by saying that the science of crying is still in its infancy?

　　A.There is still more to learn about crying.

　　B.People have known a lot about crying.

　　C.The science of crying is a subject needed to be learned.

　　D.The study of crying meets difficulties.

答案：BDCBC BACCA