Dogs need to go on walks, and walking is good exercise for older adults. Seniors who combine the two — by walking a dog — are    1     (healthy) than people who don’t, according to some research.

But a new study by University of Pennsylvania researchers offers    2     cautionary note. “Walking with a leashed (拴住的) dog,” it says, “puts older adults    3     the risk of a significant and rising injury.”

Between 2004 and 2017, it found that bone fractures (骨折) associated with walking leashed dogs more than    4     (double) among US residents (居民) and older. Nearly 8 in 10 who suffered fractures were women, and the most commonly broken bones were hips, wrists and upper arms.

This is    5     (part) because health-care providers suggest older people getting a pet dog to improve their health. But, they fail    6     (warn) them of the potential risks of dog ownership.

The researchers stressed that the study was not meant to discourage dog ownership — or dog-walking — among seniors. But health-care providers should discuss the risks with    7     (patient), and older people    8     (think) about dog ownership should talk about the idea with friends, family and others    9     know them and their lifestyles well. Dog training    10     (be) also important.

Feeding birds in winter is one of the nation's most popular wildlife-watching activities, yet many experts say it's often more rewarding for people     1     for birds. And it might even put wild birds     2     risk. "Feeding birds     3     (be) not necessary for their survival except in extreme weather conditions," said Stephen Kress, vice president for bird conservation at the National Audubon Society. "Feeders can     4     (definite) help them get through that kind of weather.”

The most common error people make when     5     (manage) bird feeders is putting them in places where birds can easily     6     (frighten) by foot traffic, cats or other pets. "Most birds are insect eaters and aren't attracted to backyard feeders. For those birds, I recommend planting     7     (nature) habitat and native plants," Kress said. Besides, birds that do gat eat seed will be more likely to come to feeders if there is some cover nearby. They'll be able to feed and move back into the     8     (safe) of bushes.

Do not feed wild birds anything salty or food     9     could choke them. You can feed more effectively and sunflower seeds, as it is a kind of food     10     (prefer) by most birds.

Scientists have exposed that around two-fifths of the world’s plants are at risk of extinction. A top botanist, Professor Alexandre Antonelli, said, “We are living in    1    age of extinction.”

It's a very    2     (worry) picture of risk and urgent need for action. We’re losing the race against time as species are disappearing faster    3    we can find and name them. Many of them could hold important clues for solving some of the most pressing    4     (challenge) of medicine and even perhaps of the emerging and current pandemics we are seeing today.”

There    5     (be) positive signs in the past few years. More than 4, 000 species of plants and fungi (菌类)     6     (discover) in 2019, among which are potential future foods that could be a lifeline to millions of people on Earth suffering from    7     (poor) and food insecurity. Professor Antonelli stressed    8     (firm) the importance of protecting these and all plant life on Earth. He said, “We would not be able    9     (survive) without plants and fungi — all life depends on them. Every time we lose a species, we lose an opportunity     10    humankind.” Leading scientists will demand that the world leaders act against biodiversity loss.

Sixteen-year-old Jena Yue has been busy this summer organizing and holding painting workshops for seniors, with the help     1     some of her high school friends.

The West Vancouver teen came up with the workshops to help seniors and youth connect through art.

“I     2     (begin) painting a lot more when COVID-19 hit, because when you can’t go outside, what else can you do? So I thought we could bring that to other people,” said Yue.

For residents (居民) Lise and Ellis Brayham, it’s a way     3     (develop) a hobby they both enjoy. “We’ve been painting for 20 years less and less as the years go by,” explained Ellis, “It’s fun but the hands aren’t as steady (稳的)     4     they used to be.”

In total, three workshops have been held at Amica, West Vancouver, a seniors’ living residence, with     5     (plan) to add more dates and locations in the months to come. The art supplies (用品) are     6     (main) provided by the residence while the teens volunteer their time and plan the lesson.

“Residents were really     7     (excite) and they were looking forward to new skills to learn,” said Ava Butalid the residences life enrichment assistant.

Yue thinks the learning is mutual (相互的).

“While     8     (teach) seniors how to paint, we’re also learning so much. Last workshop, we learned about a resident from Germany,     9     was a nurse and told me her life story. So it is also great for     10     (we) to talk with some seniors and hear stories from a time before we were even born.”