SECTION Ⅲ Reading Comprehension

　　(40 minutes)

　　Part A

　　Directions:

　　Read the following three texts. Answer thequestions on each text by choosing A, B, C or D. Mark your answers on ANSWERSHEET 1.

　　Text 1

　　Researchers at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California found that a 12-minutebedside visit with a dog can help ease anxiety levels by 24 percent in heartfailure patients, compared to a 10 percent drop when patients had a visit froma human volunteer, and no drop in patients who had no visit.

　　Resultsof the 76-patient study were presented last week at the American HeartAssociation’s annual Scientific Sessions in Dallas, Texas. The study was fundedby the Pet Care Trust Foundation, a non-profit organization which promoteshuman-animal interaction and bonding. In the stud-y, effects of dog andvolunteer visits were compared with those of volunteers only, and with patientswho had no visits and remained at rest. Heart pressures were monitored andpatients were asked to answer a list of anxiety assessment questions before andafter the visits. Although critical pressure measures also decreased,suggesting improved cardiac function, the most marked response was seen inanxiety levels.

　　“The first thing you noticeis that the patient’s facial expression changes to a smile and the stress ofthe world seems to be lifted off their shoulders,” study author Kathy Colesaid. Feelings of depression and helplessness are common among heart patients,Cole said, and just three nights in a hospital is enough to make some patientsfeel anxious and unsettled. During the visit, the furry friend is allowed tolie on the bed next to the patient with its head within two feet of thepatient’s. Most patients petted the dog, while others engaged human volunteersin conversation about the dog.

　　Dogsused in the study are specially trained animal-assisted therapy dogs thatundergo a series of trainings, evaluations and certifications to qualify astherapy dogs. Dog breeds varied. Researchers used everything from Bernesemountain dogs to small schnauzers. However, a dog doesn’t have to be speciallytrained to have a calming effect on its human counterparts. In fact, the animaldoesn’t even have to be a dog in order to help. “As long as the animal hasmeaning to the patient, or a relationship with the patient, it can help calmthe patient,” Cole said.

　　46. We learn from the text that heart patients benefit most fromvisits ____.

　　[A] by a volunteer with a dog [B]by a volunteer on his own

　　[C] by a well-trained dog alone [D]by a non-profit organization

　　47. The study shows that, for heart patients ____.

　　[A] their anxiety is reduced if they stay longer in hospital

　　[B] their contact with animals improves their condition

　　[C] their heart pressure decreases if they remain at rest

　　[D] their recovery relies on contact with animals

　　48. According to Cole, the change of patients’ facial expressionindicates that ____

　　[A] they are happy with the experiment

　　[B] they are psychologically comforted

　　[C] their hospitalization may be shortened

　　[D] their heart function is returning to normal

　　49. Cole believes that dogs are helpful to the patients if ____.

　　[A] they are limited to certain breeds [B] they are specially trained ones

　　[C] they have meaning to them [D]they stay with them all day

　　50. This report focuses on ____.

　　[A] the healing power of animals

　　[B] the treatment of heart disease

　　[C] the relationship between dogs and humans

　　[D] the promotion of human-animal interaction