A new program is helping dogs get adopted by letting children read to them. 一項新的計劃讓孩子們朗讀給狗狗聽，以幫助牠們順利被領養。
Every year in the United States, nearly four million dogs are sent to animal shelters. Many of these dogs have had difficult lives and don't know how to interact with people properly. Troubled▼ dogs may be scared, aggressive, or too energetic▼. All these problems make it much harder for the dogs to get adopted by any loving families. The Humane Society of Missouri has come up with a brilliant idea to help dogs get used to people. Since it didn't have enough staff to give all their dogs one-on-one time, it brought in children with books to help dogs come out of their shells. Thus, the shelter created the Shelter Buddies Reading Program. The Shelter Buddies Reading Program is simple: children sit in front of the dogs' cages and read a book out loud. They don't talk to the dogs, or even look at them, but just read and allow the dogs to approach them. Whenever a dog shows interest in the child by coming closer, the child rewards the dog with a treat▼ and then keeps reading. This gives shelter dogs a chance to be around people in a calm setting▼ and teaches the dog that humans are safe. The program also gives children reading practice. Additionally, it teaches young people how to be caring toward animals and respect their feelings. To join the Shelter Buddies Reading Program, kids need to go through a 10-hour training program. They are taught how to tell if a dog is afraid or stressed. While in training, the children interact with the dogs while being watched by shelter staff. After they finish training, however, the kids are allowed to come to visit the shelter to read to the dogs whenever they want.
1. Why can't some of the dogs interact with humans well? (A) They have never seen people before. (B) They are too young to know how. (C) They are troubled because of their previously difficult lives. (D) They have not seen a veterinarian▼ yet. .................................................................................................................................. 2. Why didn't the dogs in the shelter get one-on-one time? (A) The dogs were too dangerous. (B) All the children liked just a few dogs. (C) There weren't enough people working there. (D) Not enough children were available to read to the dogs. .................................................................................................................................. 3. Which is NOT a benefit of the Shelter Buddies Reading Program? (A) The dogs' cages will be cleaned more often. (B) Children can practice reading skills. (C) Dogs get to have positive experiences with people. (D) Young people can learn about caring for others. .................................................................................................................................. 4. What do the children learn during their training sessions? (A) What to do if one of the dogs attacks. (B) How to tell if a dog is upset. (C) Which kinds of books dogs like best. (D) How to properly care for a new pet.
▼ buddy n. 好朋友，夥伴 ▼ troubled a. 感到煩惱的；動盪的 ▼ energetic a. 充滿活力／幹勁的 ▼ cage n. 獸籠，鳥籠 ▼ treat n. 點心；款待 ▼ setting n. 環境；背景 ▼ veterinarian n. 獸醫（常縮寫成 vet）
interact with... 與……互動 interact vi. 互動 My son's teacher says that he interacts well with his classmates. 我兒子的老師說他在校和班上同學互動良好。
come up with... 想出／提出……（點子等） The company is trying to encourage its employees to come up with innovative ideas. 那家公司正設法鼓勵其員工提出創新的點子。 ＊innovative a. 創新的
come out of one's shell 克服害羞／開始與人來往 Derek has really come out of his shell since he started working here. 自從德瑞克開始在這裡工作，他真的克服了羞怯心理。
show (an) interest in... 對……展現興趣 More and more Westerners show interest in Confucianism. 越來越多西方人對儒家思想展現興趣。 ＊Confucianism n. 儒家思想
go through... 經歷……，遭受…… Jim went through a series of interviews before being offered the job. 吉姆經過一連串的面試才得到那份工作。
care for... 照顧／照料…… Our neighbor cared for our house when we went to Japan last summer. 去年夏天我們去日本時，鄰居幫我們看家。
Since it didn't have enough staff to give all their dogs one-on-one time, it brought in children with books to help dogs come out of their shells. 注意 one-on-one 意指『一對一』，屬於美式用法，而其英式用法則是 one-to-one，另外還有 one by one 是指『一個接著一個』，例句如下： Lily wants to find a French teacher that can teach her one-on-one. 莉莉想找一個可以一對一教她的法文老師。 The students walked into the classroom one by one. 學生們一個接著一個走進教室。
shelter n. 庇護所；避難所
adopt vt. 領養，認養 衍: adoption n. 收養，領養 Susan is in the process of adopting two children from India. 蘇珊正在辦理領養兩名印度孩童的手續。 The couple couldn't have children of their own, so they went to an adoption agency for help. 那對夫婦因為不能生育，所以他們去一間領養中心求助。
properly adv. 正確地；適當地 This keyboard has not functioned properly since I spilled iced tea on it. 自從我把冰茶灑到鍵盤上後，它就一直無法正常運作。
aggressive a. 具攻擊性的；挑釁的 Some dogs are friendly, others are shy, and still others are aggressive. 有些狗狗很友善，有些很害羞，還有一些則具攻擊性。
brilliant a. 傑出的，優秀的 Alice is the one who brought up this brilliant idea. 艾莉絲就是提出這個絕妙點子的人。
approach vt. 接近，靠近 & n. 方法（其後通常與介詞 to 並用） The traveler approached the old man to ask him for directions. 該旅客走向那位老先生向他問路。 We'll have to try a new approach to solving our personnel shortage. 我們得想一個新方法來解決人力不足的問題。 ＊personnel n. 全體人員
reward vt. & n. 獎賞；報酬 衍: be rewarded with... 得到……作為犒賞 Billy did his chores efficiently and was rewarded with an ice cream cone. 比利很有效率地做完他應做的家事，因而得到一支冰淇淋甜筒作為獎賞。 Anyone who finds my lost dog will be eligible for a reward. 凡是找到我走失的狗的人就能獲得一筆報酬。 ＊eligible a. 有資格的
additionally adv. 此外 同: in addition The rent for my new apartment is cheap. Additionally, the location is perfect. 我的新公寓租金便宜。此外，地點更是棒透了。
caring a. 有愛心的；關懷的 The teacher is caring by nature, making her popular among her students. 那位老師天生很有愛心，這讓她很受學生歡迎。 ＊by nature 天生地
previously adv. 先前，以前 衍: previous a. 先前的 The results proved what we had previously believed was totally wrong. 結果證明我們之前所相信的完全錯誤。 The critic contrasted the director's latest film with his previous works. 這位影評把該導演的最新作品和其舊作做了一番對照。 ＊contrast vt. 使成對比／對照
available a. 可得到的；可利用的 反: unavailable a. 得不到的；不能利用的 This brand of perfume is available in stores around the world. 這個牌子的香水在世界各地的商店都可買到。 The website was unavailable after the actor mentioned it on the talk show. 該男演員在脫口秀中提到那個網站後，該網站就進不去了。
