Children with autism have difficulty with social skills and communication. They often behave in restricted and repetitive ways and have what seem like abnormally intense interests. Autism is more common in boys than girls. What causes it is not clear. Scientists are studying genes and possible environmental influences. Doctors usually cannot confirm a diagnosis of autism until a child is about three years old. Rebecca Landa is a researcher at the Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Maryland. Professor Landa wanted to find out what differences in development might be seen earlier. She led a new study that observed 235 babies between six and 36 months of age. "At six months of age, the signs of some risk for developing communication and social delays, including autism, include motor delays. Like when you lay your baby on their back and you pull them by the arms gently into a seated position, the baby's head may nod back behind the shoulders, like poor head control. So that does not mean that the baby is going to have autism, but it does mean the baby needs to have some exercises to strengthen their body. And when they strengthen their body, they are better able to play with toys and engage with people, which then goes on to help them have better outcomes." By the time a baby is one year old, signs of possible autism include difficulty in using words and not looking eye-to-eye or reaching out to other people. By 14 months, the baby might smile less and use language less. However, Professor Landa says these signs can be so small that they might be missed during a short health exam. "It's important for parents to stay tuned into their children's development, and if a parent is concerned about a child's development, for professionals to listen to them." The earlier parents notice delays, she says, the sooner they can begin doing simple things that may help improve their child's development. For example: talking to the child about what they are doing, commenting when the... In which column could we find this passage?. A) Education B) Health C) Economics D) Entertainment
B
(Question)
Dogs already guide blind and disabled people and now they are to be trained to help people with dementia. The idea developed by some university students will now be put into practice by Scotland Medical Centre. The research is meaningful, for there are 670, 000 people in Britain who have dementia and by 2021 this is expected to rise to one million. Dementia can make people confuse day and night or forget basic things such as washing or drinking enough water. The dogs would be trained to help to guide them through the day. Joyce Gray from Scotland Medical Centre said, "People in the early stages of dementia are still able to live a ly normal life, and dogs help them to maintain routine. For example, people with memory loss will tend to forget to take medicine,but if a dog presents them with a bag with pills in it, there's a greater chance of them taking it." Ms. Gray also said dogs were perfectly suited to remind their owners to eat. "Dogs have an ability to say 'it's my feeding time', so there would be a note in the cupboard next to the dog's food reminding the dog's owner to eat too." Dogs would also encourage their owners to take them out for walks. "It gives a reason for the owner to go out into the community," Ms. Gray said. "We did a test with an elderly person walking down the high street on his own. Then we gave him a dog on a lead and he did the exact same walk. That time people would come up to him, chatting, smiling or making eye contact. We hope we'd see this with people with dementia too." There is one more advantage of using the pets as companions. Since conversations can be increasingly confusing for people with dementia, dogs can give them a sense of silent support and companionship. Ms. Gray said, "We have found that people may forget familiar faces but not pets. People light up when they see animals. There is a speechless bond between the dog and its owner." According to Ms. Gray, after feeding the pet, the owner may _ . A) do some washing B) take his medicine C) have something to eat D) go out to walk the dog
(Answer)
C
One evening last summer, when I asked my 14-year-old son, Ray, for help with dinner, his response shocked me. "What's a colander ? " he asked. I could only blame myself. In the family, nobody else's hands went in the sauce except my own. But that night, as I explained with a touch of panic that a colander is the thing with holes in it, I wondered what else I hadn't prepared Ray for. As parents, while we focus on our sons' confidence and character, we perhaps don't always consider that we are also raising someone's future roommates, boyfriends, husbands, or fathers. I wanted to know that I'd raised a boy who would never ask the woman in his life, "What's for dinner?" So I came up with a plan: I would offer Ray a private home economics course. I was delighted to find that he didn't say no. For two hours, three days a week, Ray was all mine. One day, as his tomato sauce reduced on the stove, he washed and seasoned a chicken for roasting. Then he rolled out the piecrust and filled it with apples, all while listening to my explanation on the importance of preheating an oven. I knew that he would rather have been shooting hoops in the driveway than learning to mend socks with his mother--he tried to beg off sewing lessons, even though I insisted that one day, someone would find the sight of him fixing his own shirt very attractive-- but it couldn't be denied that he was learning, and more than just housekeeping. "I appreciate what you do as a mom," he told me one day. Ray now understands the finer points of cooking, and more importantly, he realizes there's nothing masculine about being helpless. Now, not only can he make his own dinner, but also he can make a big meal for his family. That's what I call a man. I'm glad that I prepared so great a present for my future daughter-in-law. In the author's opinion, some parents pay little attention to _ . A) building up children's confidence B) telling kids what is right and wrong C) preparing children for their future life D) making children live a hard life
C