182. Should pets be treated as family members?

Many people have a close relationship with their pets. These people treat their birds, cats, or other

animals as members of their family. In your opinion, are such relationships good? Why or why not? Use

specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

『分析』

与宠物非常亲密，有好处，也有不好的地方。

• 好处：不寂寞；每个人都有爱心；闲暇时间有心理寄托(spiritual/psychological sustenance)；

• 缺点：人会变得孤僻；脏；宠物可能传染病毒

『范文』

Throughout history, animals have always been great companions to man. In today's society, we frequently treat

our pets as members of family, nursing them when they are sick, and playing with them when they are well. I

believe that the relationships that people have with their pets are healthy for many reasons.

Firstly, animals provide companionship for people who are too old to maintain regular friendships. It is most

common for one spouse to outlive the other. Frequently, the surviving spouse does not remarry, and eventually, all

his or her friends die. When one is elderly, it is difficult to make new friends. In this type of situation, having a pet

as a companion is greatly preferable to spending all of one's time alone. While a pet cannot speak, it can

understand its master's emotions, and usually responds accordingly.

Secondly, animals have been proven to reduce their master's stress. This is probably because an animal is

always happy to see its master, and gives the master unconditional love. As long as the master is kind to his/her pet,

the pet will be devoted and faithful. A pet also provides a friendly face after a stressful day. For example, I have a

pet dog. After taking an exam, the only thing I want to do is go home and play with my dog. He always brings me

much needed cheer and happiness.

Lastly, having an animal can prepare a young couple for having children. A young animal is very difficult to

take care of. Let us take the example of a puppy. One can never leave a puppy by itself. A puppy must be

constantly taken care of; he must be toilet-trained and disciplined. Raising an animal to be happy and sociable is

very much like raising a child to possess the same attributes. While a puppy is obviously easier to take care of than

a child, it can show the prospective parents where some of the difficulties will lie when raising a baby.

In conclusion, I think having a very close relationship with a pet is healthy. Having a pet can reduce

loneliness, stress, and prepare one for the huge experience of having a child. Pets are often referred to as man's best

friend, and for good reason.