1 . Dogs are known as human’s friends. But in the British woman Caroline’s eyes, her dog Sam means more. This special dog has completely changed her life.
Caroline had some hearing problems when she was a child, but she lived a normal life. However, when she was in her twenties, her hearing got worse and even simple conversations could be very tiring. Since 2007, she has lived in a quiet world with no sound.
One day when Caroline was shopping in a big shop, suddenly she found she was the only person here. All the other people left as soon as the fire alarm went off. But she couldn’t hear it at all. She knew that it was the time for her to ask for help.
Caroline wrote to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, a famous charity in the UK, to apply for a hearing dog. Later the hearing dog Sam came into her life. Since then, her life has been different. Sam alerts(向...报警) Caroline to the alarm clock in the morning. This helps her get to work on time. He also alerts her to the doorbells, fire alarms and smoke alarms. With Sam’s help, Caroline can go out whenever and wherever she wants to go.
“With Sam by my side, I now have got my confidence back. He looks at me as if to say ‘It’s fine. I can hear. I will let you know what you need to know.’” said Caroline excitedly. “I feel safe. I cannot imagine the life without him.”
1. How long has Caroline lived in the quiet world?___________________________________________________________________
2. What was Caroline doing when the fire alarm went off?
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3. Where did Caroline get a hearing dog?
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4. How can Sam help Caroline? (at least two examples)
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5. How can we help disabled people, like the blind or the deaf?
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2 . Many kinds of birds live in the United States, but the number of the birds is becoming smaller every year. One of the leading reasons is the growing number of pet cats. By keeping your pet cats in your home, you can help give birds a better possible chance to live.
Of the 90 million pet cats in this country, about two-thirds are allowed to go outside. It is said that these cats kill hundreds of millions of birds each year, as well as billions of small animals such as rabbits and field mice.
They can also bring illness to the animals that live in people’s yard(院子), further weakening the health of the natural populations.
Allowing pet cats to go outside is not just bad for birds and wildlife, it’s also bad for the cats themselves. Outdoor cats can get sick very easily. They are in danger from traffic and attacks(攻击) from other animals. In fact, outdoor cats usually don’t live past the age of five, while indoor cats often live to be 17 or older.
Keep your pet cat inside! If you raise a young cat, it’s your duty to let it play inside.
| Problem | The number of birds is becoming |
| Reason for the problem | Pet cats are |
| What to do | People who |
