There’s a reason why dogs are called man’s best friend. Dogs and cats make wonderful companions and provide many emotional and physical benefits.

The most obvious benefits of pet ownership are love and companionship. We feel especially secure with dogs and cats because of the unconditional love they provide. 【小题1】 Taking care of a dog or a cat can provide a sense of purpose and a feeling of being accepted.

【小题2】 When you feel securely attached to this living being, there are biological brain effects that reduce stress response, so it may affect your breathing rate or blood pressure or anxiety level.

It’s not always easy caring for pets, however. Sometimes having them in the home poses safety threats for older adults. If you have problems with walking and stability and your pet can get under your feet or jump up and knock you over, then falls and broken bones are a real danger. 【小题3】 Animals carry all kinds of bacteria that can be transferred to humans. Dogs and cats can also cause allergic (过敏的) reactions in some pet owners.

Before getting a pet, consider if you’re physically and mentally able to care for it. 【小题4】 Do you have the energy and strength to feed it, play with it, and in the case of dogs, take it for daily walks? Do you have the financial means to pay for pet food and visits to the veterinarian (兽医)?

If you feel you have the mental, physical, and financial means to care for a pet, take the pet’s size into consideration — not too big and not too small. And consider the animal’s personality. 【小题5】

I was in the middle of a sweet dream when a noise startled me. Bam! Bam! It sounded like a hammer pounding on a tough nail. Bam! Bam! BAM! Who could be hammering at three in the morning? It must be Charlie again, making another invention.

Just as I was putting on my slippers and clothes, the noise changed. I sat at the edge of my bed and listened. Tick! Tick! Tick! It reminded me of my first wristwatch. Its regular pace had always helped mc fall asleep.

I started dozing off, dangerously leaning to the left, when the ticking stopped. It was now replaced by a buzz, similar to the noise coming from a beehive in midsummer, only louder. I shivered I’m allergic to bees ! Even just thinking about it or hearing a bee like sound makes me swell.

“That’s it!” I shouted, now wide awake, “I can’t take it anymore!” I marched to the next apartment and knocked. My neighbor immediately opened the door. His curly brown hair was sticking up every which way. He wore baggy striped pants and a loose shirt.

“Hi, there, Lucy! What’s up?” he asked.

I pointed at my noiseless watch. “Do you know what time it is?”

He grabbed my arm and glanced at my timepiece. “Oh, my! I didn’t realize it was that late. I’m busy working on a machine that can cure insomnia(失眠). It’s almost finished. You want to see it?” I should have known. His last invention was supposed to get rid of bad smells, but it was powered by rotten eggs.

Everyday Habits That Could and Should Change Forever After Coronavirus

Handshakes will be out. In this new era of the coronavirus and the practice of social distancing, there will undoubtedly be a cultural shift in the way we all greet one another. 【小题1】 Instead, social greetings may be a head nod, or any action that enables one to avoid direct touch or contact.

【小题2】 We are already seeing a dramatic shift in how consumers are eating at restaurants. The restaurants that require their guests to dine in are seeing the largest decline in sales. Delivery and takeout options might be expanded. More clear information might be posted in the restaurant showing they are clean.

More companies will permit employees to work remotely. More companies will permit employees to work at home. Businesses and their employees see that working from home is not only doable but that it might even be more productive. 【小题3】

We'll find another way to press buttons. Directly touching the keypads with your fingers will be an action of the past. Most of us are aware that everyday locations are full of germs. 【小题4】 People might start pushing those elevator buttons with their elbow or even an object like a pen instead of their fingers.

People will take their personal space more seriously. One of the most visible policies in the age of the coronavirus is the idea of "social distancing”. 【小题5】 People will start paying more attention to whom they let approach them in their personal space and the socially acceptable personal distance will change in most cultures.