passage 4

cats are clean animals and easy to housebreak. To train a cat to use a litter box, one must watch the animal carefully.When it begins to wander searchingly from one place to another, it must be put into the litter box.The litter must be changed often, and the pan should be washed with soap and water every few days.

A cat likes to exercise its claws by digging them into or scratching furniture.A scratching post helps to reduce damage to furniture. A piece of wood covered with carpeting makes a god scratching post.Every time the cat claws at the furniture, it should be taken to the post, until it learns to use it on its own.

Most cats refuse to be disciplined, although they may understand "no." They learn their names quickly, however, and many will come when called, If a cat is shown a trick that it likes, it will learn to do it .

Cats should be confined to the house, especially at night.Cats that are allowed to roam disturb the neightors with their crying and fighting.A female cat should never be allowed to roam during her mating season.

Proper care usually will eliminate the threat of disease.Unusual symptoms or behavior should be eatched for, and the animal should be taken to the veterinarian on a regular basis.A cat should be vaccinated early against rabies and other serious diseases.

A cat will clean itself by licking its fur.As it licks itself, it will swallow hairs that eventually form feltlike balls in its stomach and intestines.Although daily brushing cuts down on hair balls, some will form anyway.A veterinarian can prescribe a remedy to help a cat eliminate the hair.

Lastly, a cat should never be dropped or thrown, as it can be seriously injured.Contrary to popular belief, cats do not always land on their feet.

1. From the sentence in which remedy appears in the story, you can tell that a remedy prescribed by a veterinarian is a .

   1. friend. B) medication.

C) hairbrush. D) special exercise.

1. To "eliminate the threat" of disease or injury means to

.

1. get rid of the possibility. B) lessen the seriousness. C)change the

   course. D) increase the chances.

1. cat who is " confined to the house" is one that .

   1. doesn't have a home. B) doesn't like to go outside.

C) is sick. D) is not allowed to go outside.

1. The second part of the sentence in which disciplined appears helps you to understand that in this context the word means .

   1. trained to obey. B) put out of the house.

C) punished. D) yelled at.

1. The sentence in which the word reduce appears tells you that if you provide a scratching post for your cat, damage to your furniture will be .

   1. repaired. B) lessened.

C) increased. D) delayed.