1.Whatistheauthor'sattitudetowardtheclaimedhealthbenefitsofpetownership
a)Highlyskeptical
b)Generallysupportive
c)Completelydismissive
d)Indifferent
a)Petshaveapositiveimpactoncardiovascularhealth.
b)Petownerstendtobemoresocial.
c)Petownersusuallyhaveattributeslinkedtogoodhealth.
d)Petshelpinstressreduction.
无注释原文：
TheRealBenefitsofPetOwnership
From:TheWallStreetJournal
Oct.27,2017
It'sreferredtoas“thepeteffect.”Someresearchershaveproposedthathavingapetbestowsadazzlingarrayofhealthbenefits,suchaslowercholesterol,reducedbloodpressureandareducedriskofcardiovasculardisease.Othershaveclaimedthatpetscancombatstress,relievedepressionandenhanceself-esteem,andthattheircompanymakeschildrenmoreempathetic.“Pettherapy”iswidelypracticedinhospitalsandfacilitiesfortheelderly.
Untilfairlyrecently,manyanimalswereseenasharmful—carriersofparasitesanddisease.Butnowthey'reconsideredpartofahealthylifestyle.Whilemostpeopleprobablydon'tacquireapetbecausetheythinkitwillmakethemlivelonger,theymightbelieveitwillbeakindofpanaceaformodernliving.
Theproblemisthattheseclaimsaboutthebenefitsofpetownershipdon'talwaysholduptoscientificscrutiny.Someearlystudiesdidshowthatdogownersweregenerallyinbettershapethanthosewithoutdogs,butarecentanalysisofthehealthrecordsofmorethan40,000CaliforniaresidentsbytheRandCorp.,workinginconjunctionwiththeUniversityofCalifornia,LosAngeles,showsthatthesedifferencescanbeattributedtoothercharacteristicsofpetowners.Ownersaremorelikelytobewhite,marriedandhomeowners—attributesthatarealllinkedtogoodhealth.
Ratherthanpetsmakingpeoplehealthy,it'smorelikelythathealthypeoplechoosetoownpets.Anyonewithahintofdeclininghealthwillthinktwicebeforegoingouttogetadog.(Theymaychooseacatinstead.Severalstudiesindicatethatcatownershavepoorer-than-averagehealth.Thereisnoreasontobelievethatcatsmakepeoplesick;it'smorelikelythatlesshealthypeoplechoosecatsforcompanions,giventhattheyrequirefarlessworkthanadog.)
TheRandstudyalsocastdoubtonthefactthatchildrenraisedalongsidepetsbecomemoreempathic,acquirebettersocialskillsorhavehigherself-esteem.Oncethemanyotheradvantagesenjoyedbypet-owningfamilieswerefactoredin,thesedifferencesdisappeared.
Childrenwhoseparentshavesparecashtospendoneducation,havestablejobsandliveinahousewithayardtoplaysafelyalloutperformtheirlessfortunatepeersonmeasuresofhealthandbehavior.Thesesamefactorsmakeitmorelikelythatparentswilladdapettothefamily.Caringforapetmayteachchildrenresponsibility,butitdoesn'tnecessarilymakethembetterpeople.
Evenifpetsdon'tmakeushealthier,orbetter,theydoearntheirkeepinotherways.Forone,theycanhaveastrongcalmingeffect.Studieshaveshownthatinteractingwithadogcanimproveaperson'smood.Strokingadogresultsinasurgeofoxytocinandendorphins—hormonesthatpromotebondingandfeelingsofwell-being.
Thesehormonaleffectsaregenerallyshort-lived,butinthesamewaythatpeopleinlong-termrelationshipstendtobehealthierthanthosewholivealone,theeffectsmayaccumulateovertime.Still,aseverypetownerknows,arelationshipwithananimalisn'tjustaboutsnuggling.Foreveryrelaxingmomentonthecouch,thereisafrustratingone:thedogthatwon'tcomebackwhencalled,thecatthatscratchesthedrapes.Thisongoingstressmayexplainwhypetownersaren'tultimatelyhealthierthanthosewholivewithoutthem.
Ofcourse,petownershipcanchangehumanbehaviorinwaysthatcouldimproveourhealth.Logically,adogthatneedstobeexerciseddailyoughttoimprovetheowner'shealth.However,studiessuggestthatmostownersdon'twalktheirdogswithsufficientvigortoimprovetheircardiovascularfitness.(Thisisgoodnewsfordogs,forwhomthedailywalkisnotsomuchaworkoutasachancetocatchuponsniffingforsignsofotherdogsintheneighborhood,whichrequiresaleisurelypace.)Otheraspectsofthewalkmayprovidemorebenefits.Recentstudieshaveshownthatregularexposuretogreenspaceslowersstressinitself.
Peoplewhowalktheirdogsinpublicplacesmayhavenoticedanothermanifestationofthe“peteffect”—thathavingtheirdognearbybringsthemintoconversationwithpassersby.Researchhasconfirmedthatthisisarealeffect,applyingtomenandwomenalike.Ina2015studypublishedinthejournalAnthrozos,ayoungmanwalkingaroundashoppingprecinctwithafriendlyLabradorretrieverbyhissidewasabletopersuadeonewomaninthreetopartwiththeirphonenumbers,comparedwithlessthanonein10whenhewasonhisown.
Thisauraoftrustworthinessmaybethetruepowerbehindthe“peteffect.”A2015studypublishedinPLOSOnesurveyedalmost2,000residentsinNashville,SanDiegoandPortland,Ore.,andfoundthatpetownersweremorelikelytogettoknowpeopleintheirneighborhoodthanthosewithoutpets.Dogownersmetotherownersonwalks,ofcourse,butcatownersalsobondedwithoneanotherthroughmutualofferstowatcheachothers'petswhiletheywereonvacation.Petshelpbuildcommunities,breakingdownbarriersbetweenpeopleandpavingthewayforustobuildnetworksoffriendships.
Thesameeffectmayaccountformuchoftheeffectivenessofanimal-assistedtherapies,withtheanimaldrawingthepatientintorelaxedconversationwiththehumantherapist.
Petsmakepeoplehappy,andbringpeopletogether.Doesitreallymatteriftheydon'thavethepowertoprolongourlifespans
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注：完整题目见本文开头；中文文本为华尔街日报官方译文，仅供参考
含注释全文：
有一种效应叫“宠物效应”。一些研究人员指出，养宠物能给健康带来很多明显好处，比如降低胆固醇、降低血压以及减少罹患心血管疾病的风险等等。其他一些人还声称，养宠物的人能更好应对压力、缓解抑郁并增强自信，而且在宠物的陪伴下，儿童会更有同情心。“宠物疗法”在老年医院和养老中心也得到广泛应用。
bestow
bestow/bst/表示“授予；给予；赠给”，英文解释为“Tobestowsomethingonsomeonemeanstogiveorpresentittothem.”举个：TheUnitedStatesbestowedhonorarycitizenshipuponEngland'sWorldWarIIprimeminister,SirWinstonChurchill.美国授予了二战期间的英国首相温斯顿·丘吉尔爵士荣誉公民的称号。
dazzling
dazzling/dz.l./1）表示“光彩夺目的，靓丽的；令人眼花缭乱的”，英文解释为“extremelyattractiveorexciting”如：dazzlinggoodlooks靓丽的容貌，adazzlingsmile灿烂的微笑，adazzlingperformance/display精彩的表演/展示。
2）表示“（光线）刺眼的，耀眼的，眩目的”，英文解释为“Adazzlinglightissobrightthatyoucannotseeforashorttimeafterlookingatit.”如：adazzlingwhitelight一道刺眼的白光。
array
array/re/表示“（尤指非常有吸引力、令人赞赏并常以特定的方式排列的）一系列，一批，大量，大群”，英文解释为“alargegroupofthingsorpeople,especiallyonethatisattractiveorcausesadmirationorhasbeenpositionedinaparticularway”举个：Therewasasplendidarrayoffoodonthetable.满桌子都是美味佳肴。
cholesterol
cholesterol/k'lstrl/表示“胆固醇”，英文解释为“Cholesterolisasubstancethatexistsinthefat,tissues,andbloodofallanimals.Toomuchcholesterolinaperson'sbloodcancauseheartdisease.”如：adangerouslyhighcholesterollevel.危险的高胆固醇水平。
cardiovascular
cardiovascular/kɑdvskjl/表示“心血管的”，英文解释为“Cardiovascularmeansrelatingtotheheartandbloodvessels.”举个：Smokingplacesyouatseriousriskofcardiovascularandrespiratorydisease.吸烟会严重增加罹患心血管和呼吸道疾病的风险。
self-esteem
self-esteem/self.stim/表示“自尊”，英文解释为“beliefandconfidenceinyourownabilityandvalue”举个：Thecomplimentsshereceivedafterthepresentationboostedherself-esteem.发言后得到的赞誉增强了她的自尊感。
empathetic
empathetic/em.pθet.k/表示“表示同情的；有同感的，产生共鸣的”，英文解释为“havingtheabilitytoimaginehowsomeoneelsefeels”如：akindandempatheticfriend一个善解人意的朋友。
直到不久前，许多动物还因为携带寄生虫和各种疾病被视为对人有害。而现在，人们认为饲养动物是健康生活方式的一部分。虽然大部分人不会为了追求长寿而养宠物，但他们可能相信这将是现代生活的一剂灵丹妙药。
parasite
parasite/prsat/表示“寄生植物；寄生动物；寄生虫”，英文解释为“aplantoranimalthatlivesonorinanotherplantoranimalandgetsfoodfromit”。
panacea
panacea/pn.si./表示“（能解决一切问题的）万能之计，灵丹妙药”，英文解释为“somethingthatwillsolveallproblems;somethingthatwillcureallillnesses”举个：Technologyisnotapanaceaforallourproblems.技术并非灵丹妙药，不能解决我们的一切问题。
scrutiny
conjunction
表示“结合；联合；同时发生”，英文解释为“thesituationinwhicheventsorconditionscombineorhappentogether”，inconjunctionwith连同，共同；与…协力，举个：Thereisateamofwritersworkinginconjunction(witheachother)onthebook.有一个作家小组在合作撰写这部书。
attribute
表示“特性，特质，属性”，英文解释为“aqualityorfeature,especiallyonethatisconsideredtobegoodoruseful”举个：Whatattributesshouldagoodmanagerpossess一名优秀的经理应该具备哪些素质？
作动词，attributesthtosb/sth表示“把…归因于…；认为…由…生产；认为…是…所为”，英文解释为“tosayorthinkthatsomethingistheresultorworkofsomethingorsomeoneelse”举个：Thedoctorshaveattributedthecauseoftheillnesstoanunknownvirus.医生们认为这种疾病是由一种未知的病毒引起的。
要说宠物让人们变得健康，不如说健康人群更可能选择养宠物。但凡觉得身体有点走下坡路的人在养狗前都会三思。（他们最终可能选择养猫。若干研究表明，养猫的人健康状况低于平均水平。倒不是说养猫会让人生病，更可能的情况是身体较差的人通常会选择猫作为陪伴，因为与养狗所需的精力相比养猫要省心得多。）
hint
hint/hnt/作名词，1）表示“暗示，提示，示意”，英文解释为“somethingthatyousayordothatshowswhatyouthinkorwant,usuallyinawaythatisnotdirect”举个：He'sdropped(=given)severalhintstothebossthathe'llquitifhedoesn'tgetapromotion.他已经向老板暗示了好几次，如果不获得升职他就会辞职。
2）表示“建议”，英文解释为“apieceofadvicethathelpsyoutodosomething”举个：Couldyougiveusahintabouthowtodothisexercise,please你能不能给我们一些关于如何做这个练习的建议？
3）表示“很少量”，英文解释为“averysmallamountofsomething”举个：There'sjustahintofbrandyinthesauce.调味汁中只有很少的白兰地。
作动词，表示“暗示，示意”，英文解释为“tosuggestsomethinginanindirectway,butsothatsomeonecanguessyourmeaning”举个：Whatareyouhintingat你在暗示什么？
至于有宠物陪伴成长的儿童更具同情心、能获得更好的社交技能且自信心更强的说法，兰德公司的研究也提出了质疑。一旦把拥有宠物的家庭所具备的其他优势考虑进来，宠物导致了上述差异之说也就站不住脚了。
castdoubton
表示“对…怀有疑虑，对…表示怀疑”，英文解释为“tomakesomethingseemuncertain”举个：Witnesseshavecastdoubtontheaccused'sinnocence.证人们对嫌疑人是否清白表示怀疑。
从健康和行为等标准来看，相比条件差的孩子，那些父母有额外教育开支、有稳定工作、住房有可供安全玩耍的庭院的孩子全都表现更好。这些因素也是父母更可能在家里养宠物的原因。照顾宠物或许能让儿童学会承担责任，但并不意味着孩子会因此成为更好的人。
outperform
outperform/at.pfm/表示“超过，胜过；比…做得好”，英文解释为“todowellinaparticularjoboractivitycomparedtoothersofasimilartype”举个：Thecompanyhasconsistentlyoutperformeditsrivalsthisseason.这一季，这家公司的表现一直优于竞争对手。
peer
作动词，表示“仔细看，端详；费力地看”，英文解释为“tolookcarefullyorwithdifficulty”举个：Whennooneansweredthedoor,shepeeredthroughthewindowtoseeifanyonewasthere.没有人开门，她就费力地透过窗户朝里望去，看是否有人在。
作名词，表示“同龄人；同辈；同等社会地位（或能力）的人”，英文解释为“apersonwhoisthesameageorhasthesamesocialpositionorthesameabilitiesasotherpeopleinagroup”
即使宠物不会让我们变得更健康或更好，但在其他方面还是有很多好处的。比如，宠物能带来强大的安抚作用。研究发现，和狗互动能够改善人的心情。抚摸狗能促进催产素和内啡肽——提高亲密感和幸福感的荷尔蒙——的分泌。
interact
表示“交互，交流，交往；互相作用，互相影响”，英文解释为“tocommunicatewithorreactto”举个：Herteachersaysthatsheinteractswellwiththeotherchildren.她的老师说她与别的孩子相处得很好。
stroke
stroke/strk/作名词，表示“中风”，英文解释为“asuddenchangeinthebloodsupplytoapartofthebrain,sometimescausingalossoftheabilitytomoveparticularpartsofthebody”
作动词，表示“轻抚，抚摸”，英文解释为“tomoveahand,anotherpartofthebody,oranobjectgentlyoversomethingorsomeone,usuallyrepeatedlyandforpleasure”举个：Strokethedogifyouwant,hewon'tbite.想摸这条狗就摸，它不会咬人的。
surge
1）作动词，表示“急剧上升；飞涨；剧增”，英文解释为“Ifsomethingsurges,itincreasessuddenlyandgreatly,afterbeingsteadyordevelopingonlyslowly.”举个：Thecompany'sprofitshavesurged.公司的利润激增。
2）作名词，表示“剧增”，英文解释为“Asurgeisasuddenlargeincreaseinsomethingthathaspreviouslybeensteady,orhasonlyincreasedordevelopedslowly.”举个：Anunexpectedsurgeinelectricalpowercausedthecomputertocrash.突然出现的电压剧增导致电脑死机。
电影《雷神2：黑暗世界》（Thor:TheDarkWorld）中的台词提到：Butshewillnotsurvivetheamountofenergysurgingwithinher.但她体内涌动的能量太大她撑不住的。
oxytocin
oxytocin/ɑk.sto-/表示“催产素”，英文解释为“ahormonethathelpswithlabour(=theprocessofpushingoutababy)andhelpswomenandfemalemammalstoproducemilk.”
endorphin
endorphin/end.fn/表示“内啡呔”，英文解释为“achemicalnaturally,releasedinthebraintoreducepain,thatinlargeamountscanmakeyoufeelrelaxedorfullofenergy”
hormone
hormone/hmn/表示“激素；荷尔蒙”，英文解释为“achemicalsubstanceproducedinthebodyorinaplantthatencouragesgrowthorinfluenceshowthecellsandtissuesfunction;anartificialsubstancethathassimilareffects”，如：growthhormones生长激素。
accumulate
表示“积累；积聚；积攒”，英文解释为“tocollectalargenumberofthingsoveralongperiodoftime”举个：Aspeopleaccumulatemorewealth,theytendtospendagreaterproportionoftheirincomes.人们积累了更多财富后，他们的花费占收入的比重也往往会增加。
对比：
amass表示“（尤指大量）积累，积聚”，英文解释为“tocollectsth,especiallyinlargequantities”举个：Heamassedafortunefromdeliveringnewspapers.他靠送报纸积累了一笔财富。
rackup表示“大量获得（利润）；严重遭受（损失）；（体育中）多次赢得（比赛）”，英文解释为“Ifabusinessracksupprofits,losses,orsales,itmakesalotofthem.Ifasportsman,sportswoman,orteamracksupwins,theywinalotofgamesorraces.”
snuggle
snuggle/snɡ.l/表示“（使）依偎，紧贴，蜷伏；舒适地偎依，躺下”，英文解释为“tomoveyourselfintoawarmandcomfortableposition,especiallyoneinwhichyourbodyisagainstanotherpersonorcoveredbysomething”举个：Thechildrensnuggleduptotheirmothertogetwarm.孩子们紧紧地偎依在母亲身边取暖。
scratch
scratch/skrt/表示“抓；搔；擦；划”，英文解释为“tocutordamageasurfaceoryourskinslightlywithoronsomethingsharporrough”举个：Becarefulnottoscratchyourselfontheroses.当心不要被玫瑰刺扎伤。
drape
drape/drep/作动词，表示“将（衣服、织物等）悬挂，披”；bedrapedin/withsth表示“被…蒙住，被…盖住”，英文解释为“tobelooselycoveredwithacloth”举个：Thecoffinswerealldrapedwiththenationalflag.所有灵柩上都覆盖着国旗。作名词，drapes通常复数，表示“（厚布制成的）帷，幕，窗帘”，英文解释为“heavycurtainsmadewiththickcloth”
当然，养宠物能改变人类的行为，进而改善我们的健康状况。就逻辑而言，每天遛狗应该能改善主人的健康。而研究显示，大多数宠物主人遛狗时的锻炼强度并不足以改善他们的心血管健康。（这对狗来说是个好消息，因为每天遛狗对它们来说不是锻炼，而是趁机嗅嗅看附近有没有其他狗的气味，狗需要悠闲地溜达才能进行这种“嗅察”。）遛狗在其他方面可能有更多好处。近期研究发现，定期接触绿地能够降低狗的压力水平。
vigor
vigour/vɡ.r/1）表示“体力；精力；活力”，英文解释为“strength,energy,orenthusiasm”举个：Theysetabouttheirworkwithyouthfulvigourandenthusiasm.他们带着年轻人的活力与热情开始了工作。
2）表示“（思想、观点等的）气势，力量”，英文解释为“strengthofthought,opinion,expression,etc.”举个：Hegavehissideofthestorywithvigour.他充满激情地从自己的角度讲述了这件事。
workout
表示“（身体）锻炼，训练”，英文解释为“aperiodofphysicalexercise”如：alightworkout运动量小的锻炼。
sniff
sniff/snf/1）表示“（吸着气）嗅，闻”，英文解释为“breatheairinthroughthenoseinordertodiscoverorenjoythesmellofsth”如：sniffingthefreshmorningair吸着早晨的新鲜空气。
2）表示“抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）”，英文解释为“tobreatheairinthroughyournoseinawaythatmakesasound,especiallywhenyouarecrying,haveacold,etc.”举个：Weallhadcoldsandcouldn'tstopsniffingandsneezing.我们都感冒了，一个劲地抽鼻子，打喷嚏。
manifestation
manifestation/mn..feste.n/表示“表现；显现”，英文解释为“appearance”也可以指“显示；表明”，英文解释为“asignofsomethingexistingorhappening”举个：Unlikeacidrainordeforestation,globalwarminghasnovisiblemanifestation.不同于酸雨和森林砍伐，全球变暖并没有明显可见的表像。
passerby
passerby/passer-by/pɑ.sba/表示“（尤指在不寻常之事发生时经过某处的）过路人，行人”，英文解释为“someonewhoisgoingpastaparticularplace,especiallywhensomethingunusualhappens”，注意复数形式passersby.
precinct
precinct/priskt/1）表示“管辖区；（尤指）警区，选区”，英文解释为“adivisionofacityoratown,especiallyanareaprotectedbyaparticularunitofthepoliceoradivisionusedforvotingpurposes”举个：Thevoterturnoutinmostprecinctsisexpectedtobehigh.大多数选区的选民参选率预计都会很高。
2）表示“（建筑物等的）周围区域；（尤指由围墙围成的）院落，场地”，英文解释为“theareathatsurroundsabuildingorplace,especiallyonewithawallaroundit”举个：Atunnelentrancewasfoundwithintheprecinctsoftheprisoncamp.监狱院落里发现了一个地道入口。
retriever
表示“寻回犬”，英文解释为“Aretrieverisakindofdog.Retrieversaretraditionallyusedtobringbackbirdsandanimalsthattheirownershaveshot.”
TheLabradorRetriever,oftenabbreviatedtoLabrador,isabreedofretriever-gundogfromtheUnitedKingdomthatwasdevelopedfromimportedCanadianfishingdogs.拉布拉多犬或称拉布拉多拾猎犬是一种中大型犬类，天生个性温和、活泼、没有攻击性和智商高，是适合被选作导盲犬或其他工作犬的狗品种，跟黄金猎犬、哈士奇并列三大低攻击性犬类之一。
partwith
part/pɑt/表示“（尤指不情愿地）放弃，舍弃”，英文解释为“togivesomethingtosomeoneelse,especiallywhenyoudonotwantto”举个：Iwasgoingtogiveawayheroldbabyclothes,butIcouldn'tbringmyselftopartwiththem.我原打算把她旧的婴儿服送人，但就是舍不得。
这种可信赖感可能是“宠物效应”背后真正的力量。PLOSOne2015年刊登的一项研究对纳什维尔、圣地亚哥和俄勒冈州波特兰近2,000名居民做了调查，调查发现，养宠物的人比不养宠物的人更容易结识邻居。狗主人在遛狗时能认识其他狗主人，而养猫的人通过互相帮忙照看猫（比如猫主人休假的情况）也能认识其他人。宠物有助于建立邻里连接，打破人与人之间的隔阂，提供了建立友谊的途径。
aura
aura/r/表示“气氛；氛围；气质”，英文解释为“afeelingorparticularqualitythatisverynoticeableandseemstosurroundapersonorplace”。
这类效应可能也是动物协助疗法卓有成效的主要原因。有动物作陪，病人和治疗师能更轻松地展开交谈。
宠物让我们感到开心，拉近人与人的距离。所以就算它们无法让我们更长寿，那又有什么大不了？
prolong
prolong/prl/表示“延长，拖延”，英文解释为“tomakesomethinglastalongertime”举个：Wewerehavingsuchagoodtimethatwedecidedtoprolongourstaybyanotherweek.我们过得非常愉快，决定再多呆一个星期。