《2026年江苏13大市中考名卷优选38套英语》

C
When her father died, Karen Wright was very worried. Her mother, Violet, was 72 years old. “Mom had always been full of energy and enthusiasm,” says Wright. “But after Dad died, she didn't take care of herself and got sick a lot.” Wright's mother didn't feel that she had much to live for—except a dog named Buddy. “I never paid much attention to Buddy when my husband was alive,” says Violet. “But suddenly he depended on me for his survival.”
Most people agree that a pet adds joy to a person's life. This can be especially true after a loved one dies. Scientists are now finding that having a pet may keep its owner healthy. And good health may add years to a person's life.
Scientists have been looking at the tie between pets and health for years. In 1990, a study was done with people aged 65 and older. It showed that pet owners went to the doctor less than people without pets. Do pets make people happier? Do they help people live on their own longer? Are people able to handle their everyday lives better? Alan Beck is the head of the Center for the Human - Animal Bond. Beck says that if the answer to these questions is yes, then having pets may be a good idea.
Can pets also help people live longer? Rebecca Johnson did a study to find out. She shared the findings of her study at a meeting about Pets and Aging. Her study shows that having pets may cause people to age more slowly.
The human body makes many chemicals. Some of the chemicals make people feel good. Others make people feel bad. In Johnson's study, levels of the “good” chemicals rose when people were around pets. Levels of the “bad” chemicals went down. The good chemicals seemed to slow the aging of cells. If this is true, maybe people should spend more time with their pets. Then the levels of good chemicals will go up. People might feel better and age more slowly. They might even live longer.
Having pets may also be good for people in nursing homes. In a study of five nursing homes with pets, 25% fewer people stayed in bed all day. And sores caused by being in bed were down 57%. Having pets around was good for the workers too. They missed work 48% less than before the pets came.
Of course, you could be allergic（过敏的）to pets. Or you may not want to take care of a pet. Never fear. A robotic, or computer pet may be just the thing for you. Scientists are testing computer pets, like the robotic dog AIBO. They want to see if computer pets can help people the way real dogs do.
Will a robotic pet take the place of the pet pal snuggling with you on the sofa? Something tells us that the furry couch potato lying next to you has little to worry about.
32. What does the writer want to say through Violet's experiences?
A. Buddy added some joy to Violet's life.
B. Violet was too old to take care of herself.
C. Violet depended on Karen for everything.
D. Buddy mattered much to Violet's husband.
33. What can we learn about people aged 65 or more from the study in 1990?
A. Keeping pets helped them live longer.
B. Pet owners could deal with problems better.
C. Keeping pets had nothing to do with their health.
D. Pet owners needed less medical care than non - pet owners.
34. Which opinion is Johnson's finding on having pets?
A. It may reduce the chance of going to bed.
B. It may teach nurses to care for older people.
C. It may increase the level of “good” chemicals.
D. It may stop the producing of “bad” chemicals.
35. How does the writer make Paragraph 6 powerful?
A. By telling stories.
B. By asking questions.
C. By giving reasons.
D. By making comparison.

答案： 32.A 推理判断。根据第一段最后三句可知，Violet 的丈夫死后，小狗 Buddy 获得了她更多的关注，即 Buddy 给 Violet 的生活增添了乐趣。
33.D 细节理解。根据第三段第二、三句可知，养宠物的人比不养宠物的人需要的医疗护理更少。
34.C 细节理解。根据第五段第四句可知，养宠物会提高人体内的“好”的化学物质的水平。
35.D 推理判断。作者通过对比养宠物前后的情况，来说明养宠物的好处，使第六段内容更有说服力。