‘Positive effects on human health and behavior … relatively long term.’
Read the article and decide if the sentences below are true or false:
1. Pet ownership has been linked to a slower rate of cognitive decline in older adults.
2. Petting a stuffed animal activates the brain more than petting a real dog.
3. Dogs can detect human stress through changes in body temperature.
4. The presence of dogs in the workplace has been shown to decrease cooperation among employees.
5. People who stop having pets or never owned them tend to be less healthy than pet owners.
6. The author was enthusiastic about getting a dog from the very beginning.
7. New pet owners are likely to experience an increase in exercise and a reduction in minor health issues.
8. The frontal cortex was chosen for study because it controls digestion and heart rate.
9. Pet ownership may reduce the number of annual visits to the doctor.
10. The author suggests that business leaders consider dog-ownership benefits for their teams.
Key: 1T; 2F; 3F; 4F; 5T; 6F; 7T; 8F; 9T; 10T
Glossary
- sage – regarded as being very wise
- quotable – suitable for being quoted
- to wind up – to bring an activity to an end
- to cease – to stop something
- to get on board – to agree
- zeal – enthusiasm
- convert to something – i.e. they have recently become very enthusiastic about it
Practice makes perfect
Watch the video and choose the best answer A-D to the questions below:
1. How does a dog’s method of exhaling contribute to their enhanced sense of smell?
A) By releasing pheromones that attract odor molecules.
B) By creating air currents that help trap and concentrate new odor molecules.
C) By cooling the nasal passages, which increases sensitivity to smells.
D) By expelling old air quickly to make room for new scents.
2. Based on the information presented in the video, what is the significance of the vomeronasal organ in a dog’s olfactory system?
A) It allows dogs to detect a wider range of audible frequencies.
B) It enhances a dog’s ability to see in low-light conditions.
C) It helps dogs regulate their body temperature through scent marking.
D) It enables dogs to identify potential mates and discern emotional states through hormone detection.
3. According to the video, how does a dog’s perception of time differ from a human’s, as it relates to their sense of smell?
A) Dogs can only perceive smells related to immediate threats, limiting their sense of time.
B) Dogs experience smells in a linear sequence, similar to how humans perceive time through sight and sound.
C) Dogs smell an ongoing narrative that includes past events and future possibilities, unlike humans who perceive a single moment.
D) Dogs’ sense of smell is limited to the present, making it difficult for them to remember past scents.
4. Based on the video, what conclusion can be drawn about the evolutionary advantage of a dog’s sense of smell compared to a human’s?
A) A dog’s enhanced sense of smell provides a more detailed and informative perception of their environment, influencing their interactions and understanding in ways humans cannot fully comprehend.
B) A dog’s sense of smell is less developed, making them more reliant on other senses such as sight and hearing.
C) A dog’s sense of smell is primarily used for hunting and tracking, offering no significant advantage in domestic settings.
D) A dog’s sense of smell is equally developed as a human’s, but they are less capable of interpreting complex scents.
5. What is implied about the relationship between a dog’s sense of smell and its ability to collaborate with humans?
A) Dogs’ sense of smell is too different from human perception to allow for effective collaboration.
B) Dogs’ sense of smell allows them to detect and react to information that humans cannot, enabling them to assist humans in various tasks.
C) Dogs’ sense of smell is primarily useful for tracking and hunting, limiting their ability to collaborate in other areas.
D) Dogs’ sense of smell is only useful for detecting danger, making them unreliable for collaborative tasks.
Key: 1B; 2D; 3C; 4A; 5B
Discuss:
- How do your personal experiences or observations align with the documented benefits of pet ownership, particularly in relation to stress alleviation and overall well-being?
- The text suggests that pet ownership can foster enhanced team dynamics and a more cooperative environment. In what ways could incorporating animals into your own educational or professional settings potentially influence interpersonal relationships and productivity?
- Considering the study’s findings on cognitive decline and brain activity, how might the insights from this text influence your perspective on the role of companionship, whether from pets or other sources, in maintaining cognitive health throughout life?
- The video discusses how a dog’s sense of smell can detect emotional states and even predict future events. Describe a time when you felt intuitively aware of someone’s emotions or a situation’s outcome. How did you interpret these subtle cues, and what was the result?
- The video emphasizes that dogs experience a world beyond our eyes through their sense of smell. Describe a place or situation that you find particularly rich in sensory experiences (other than visual). How does engaging with these non-visual elements enhance your appreciation or understanding of that environment?
Watch and revise!
Unlocking the Canine Brain
5 Big Benefits
https://www.cloud.worldwideschool.pl/index.php/s/Qqf53CQwknazFT4
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