婴儿期接触毛类宠物或降低患哮喘风险
Children who are raised in households with dogs or farm animals during their first year of life may have a lower risk of asthma(哮喘) a few years later, a new study suggests.
In the study, the researchers looked at early exposure to dogs and farm animals and the rate of asthma among about 377,000 preschool-age and 276,000 school-age children in Sweden. Among the school-age kids in the study, those who had been exposed to dogs during their first year of life were 13 percent less likely to have asthma at age 6.
The researchers said they don’t know for sure what exactly may explain the link between early exposure to animals and a reduced risk of asthma. “It might be due to a single factor, or more likely, a combination of several factors related to a dog ownership lifestyle or dog-owners’ attitudes, such as kids’ exposure to household dirt and pet dust, time spent outdoors or being physically active,” Fall told Live Science. “As a parent in a dog-and-baby-household, it is nearly impossible to keep everything clean, and maybe this is a good thing for your baby’s future health.”
“My take-home message from this study is that parents at this point do not need to worry about keeping their dog when expecting a baby for fear of asthmatic disease,” Fall said. “I do want to be clear that this recommendation is valid only for families without a child already having allergies(过敏). If they already have a furred-animal-allergic child, we do not recommend them to get a furred pet.”
Being exposed to bacteria early in life is crucial for shaping a healthy immune system, and may play a role in modifying a person’s risk of developing asthma and allergies. “With allergies and asthma, it is partially genetic, but studies like this do show us that your environment does play a key role in the development of your immune system, and the development of allergies and asthma,” Parikh told Live Science.
1. According to the passage, the school-age kids exposed to farm animals _______.
A will not have asthma
B will grow up more happily
C are less likely to have asthma
D are more likely to have asthma
解析：选C。C 细节理解题。文章第一二段提到经常和动物接 触的小孩患哮喘的可能性要小得多，故选 C。
2.Which of the following will Fall probably agree with?
A The reasons to explain a reduced risk of asthma aren’t exact.
B Dirt and dust in the family are bad for children’s health.
C Asthma is still a serious disease for most children.
D Most parents can’t always keep their house very clean.
解析：选A。A 推 理 判 断 题 。 文 章 第 三 段 第 一 句 “The researchers said they don’t know for sure what exactly may explain the link between early exposure to animals and a reduced risk of asthma.” 可知，他们还不清楚婴幼儿时期接触动物与患哮 喘风险降低之间的确切联系，即幼儿时期接触动 物如何降低患哮喘的风险尚不清楚。故选 A。
3. Which of the following kids shouldn’t have a dog?
A Nicholas, suffered from headaches.
B Joanna, allergic to cats and dogs.
C Elizabeth, accompanied by a dog.
D Charles, raised in an animal farm.
解析：选B。B 细节理解题。文章第四段的“If they already have a furred-animal-allergic child, we do not recommend them to get a furred pet”说明对皮毛动 物过敏的小孩不适合养皮毛宠物，故选 B。
4.It can be inferred from the last paragraph that _________.
A both allergies and asthma are totally genetic
B most bacteria are good for the immune system
C it’s easy for people to develop asthma and allergies
D environment can change your immune system greatly
解析：选D。D 推理判断题。文章最后一段最后一句提到研究 发现环境对于免疫系统的发展起了很重要的作 用，故选 D。