The passage describes the health benefits of having a pet.

In your own words answer each question below and support your answer by citing evidence from the text. Write 1 paragraph to address each question in the text box below.

Describe a situation where a doctor would write a patient a prescription to get a pet.
How can having a dog or cat be good for your health?
What kind of pet would you get, if your doctor wrote you a prescription to get a pet?

Here are some points to keep in mind while answering this question:

Explain your answers in a clear and concise way.
Be sure to support your answers by citing specific details from the text.
Remember to be brief and stay on topic.
After writing your 3 paragraphs, re-read them and then click on the radio button to submit.

Reading Task 4

Pets Are Good for Your Health

Would you be surprised if your doctor writes you a prescription that tells you to get a pet? Well, don’t be surprised. Today, a growing number of medical experts are doing just that because they are starting to realize that pills and other medications aren’t always the best cure for an illness.

Many medical experts have reported that pets are good for your heart. Several studies have found that people who have had a heart attack survive longer with a pet than without. For example, in a study of 6,000 people conducted by the Baker Medical Research Institute in Australia, researchers found that those who kept pets had lower blood pressures and lower cholesterol levels which also meant a lower risk of heart attack.

Other medical studies have found that people who owned a cat or dog were able to handle stressful situations better than those without these pets.

Also, many medical studies have shown that having a pet can keep you from feeling lonely and depressed because pets can help you relax and focus your attention away from your problems and worries. Some people enjoy watching fish swim in an aquarium because it can be very soothing while other people find a visit to the zoo helps them relieve stress.

Have you ever come home from a tough day at school and just hearing the bark of your dog or purr of your cat made you feel better? Well one five-year study of 600 children aged 3-18 found that children with pets who may be struggling in school, or whose parents had divorced, had higher levels of self-esteem than those without a pet.

So which kind of pet provides the most health benefits? Usually, dogs and cats are mentioned in medical studies. However, any animal has the potential to improve your health and brighten your day.