SLO Reading Assessment level 5

Read the article. Then choose the correct answer. You have 15 minutes.

For questions 6-10, look at the words in bold.

Health Benefits of Dogs

Big Health Benefits for Dog Owners

Having a dog in the home reduces the risk of heart attacks and other serious health problems. Scientists in Sweden studied more than 3.4 million dog owners and non-dog owners. The people in the study were 40 to 80 years old, and researchers studied them for up to 12 years. They found that having a dog cut the risk of death from heart disease by 36 percent for people who lived alone. Dog owners who didn't live alone also had better health. The study showed that their deaths from heart disease were 15% lower.

Reasons Dogs Make People Healthier

The study cannot explain exactly how dogs improve the health of their owners. However, the company of a dog may reduce stress and help people live healthier lives. Owners of hunting dogs had the lowest risk of heart disease. Dr. Tove Fall, who worked on the study, suggested that hunting dogs that need a lot of exercise might help their owners have a more active lifestyle.

Dr. Fall believes there are other health benefits of owning a dog. For example, dogs bring dirt and microbes into the house. Microbes live on and in human bodies, and may help us fight disease. Dr. Fall found that having a pet dog lowered a child’s risk of asthma by 15 percent. She believes that living in a very clean home may actually raise the risk of allergies in children. She hopes to do more studies to get more information.

Adapted from https://newsela.com.