现在有很多人独自居住，比如空巢老人，甚至还有“空巢青年”。对于他们来说，养猫养狗来陪伴自己是很自然的事。其实宠物不仅能陪伴我们，还能帮我们缓解压力。
Lonely Chinese turn to pets for support
by Ben Westcott, Nanlin Fang and Maisy Mok
According to the Pet Industry White Paper, the number of cats and dogs in China jumped by more than 8% in 2019 to just under 100 million. There are over 73 million pet owners across the country, and the industry that services their cats and dogs alone is worth a staggering 202 billion yuan.
jump /dʒʌmp/ v. 激增、大增
service /ˈsɜːvɪs/ v. 为…提供服务
staggering /ˈstæɡ(ə)rɪŋ/ adj. 令人大吃一惊的
billion /ˈbɪljən/ n. 十亿
"In the past three years, the number of new pet stores in Beijing has grown by 60%. Now there are many types of pet services, such as pet grooming, pet care, pet hotels, pet parks, pet photography, pet funerals, and so on," said Lily Tian, the editor of the Pet Industry report.
service /ˈsɜːvɪs/ n. 服务
groom /ɡruːm/ v. （给动物）梳洗、理毛
funeral /ˈfjuːn(ə)r(ə)l/ n. 葬礼
editor /ˈedɪtə(r)/ n. 编辑
Zhao Siyu, manager of the Catsvilla cat hotel in Beijing, said it is "unbelievable" how much money people spend on their pets. "As long as the cost is within your means, everyone would love to spend more money on their cats," she said.
unbelievable /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəb(ə)l/ adj. 难以置信的（由believe加后缀-able变成形容词believable，再加上表示否定的前缀un-）
as long as 只要
means /miːnz/ n. 钱财、财力
Catsvilla was first established when Zhao's boss, owner Gina Guo, couldn't find a pet hotel to cater to her cats. She started her own personal hotel which slowly became a business. Professional designers created each of the rooms, installing areas to play, a fish tank, easily accessible shelves and a private toilet.
establish /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/ v. 建立、成立
cater /ˈkeɪtə(r)/ to someone 满足某人的需要
professional /prəˈfeʃ(ə)n(ə)l/ adj. 专业的（由profession加后缀-al变成形容词）
tank /tæŋk/ n. （装水的）容器
accessible /əkˈsesəb(ə)l/ adj. 可到达的（由access加后缀-ible变成形容词）
When their pets eventually die, some devastated owners pay more than $1,000 to properly give a send-off to their companions, according to Chinese media. Li Chao, who founded the Joypets Funeral Home when he couldn't find a funeral home good enough for his beloved husky, said he is holding around three funerals a week for pet owners.
eventually /ɪˈventʃuəli/ adv. 最终
devastated /ˈdevəsteɪtɪd/ adj. 悲痛的
properly /ˈprɒp(ə)li/ adv. 合适地、恰当地（由proper加后缀-ly变成副词）
send-off 送别
companion /kəmˈpænjən/ n. 同伴、伙伴
media /ˈmiːdiə/ n. 媒体、新闻媒体
found /faʊnd/ v. 创办
beloved /bɪˈlʌvd/ adj. 钟爱的
husky /ˈhʌski/ n. 哈士奇狗
At his funeral home, Li has a wall covered in photos of pets whose owners have come to him for help. In a room at the back, he has a special place to store some of their ashes in alcoves（壁龛）, along with perhaps a favorite toy, blanket or some snacks.
ashes /ˈæʃɪz/ n. 骨灰
along with 伴随、跟…一起
Catsvilla owner Guo and funeral director Li were two of the thousands of Chinese people who have turned to animals for support, as mental health problems are on the rise in China. In an official report released in July, Beijing's Commission on Health said that tens of millions of people across the country were suffering from depression and anxiety. Studies have shown that animals are an effective way to lower stress and anxiety.
mental /ˈment(ə)l/ adj. 精神的、心理的
on the rise 在增加、在上升
official /əˈfɪʃ(ə)l/ adj. 官方的、正式的
release /rɪˈliːs/ v. 发布
commission /kəˈmɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 委员会
depression /dɪˈpreʃ(ə)n/ n. 抑郁、抑郁症
anxiety /æŋˈzaɪəti/ n. 焦虑
effective /ɪˈfektɪv/ adj. 有效的（由effect加后缀-ive变成形容词）
lower /ˈləʊə(r)/ v. 降低、减少
Government intervention may be partly responsible for the rise in pet ownership. Decades of suppressing the country's birth rate through the one-child policy has created lonely elderly parents and a generation without siblings. "As only children and seniors are living alone, they have a need for companionship and emotional support," said Zhao.
intervention /ˌɪntəˈvenʃ(ə)n/ n. 干预、介入
responsible /rɪˈspɒnsəb(ə)l/ adj. 负有责任的
ownership /ˈəʊnəʃɪp/ n. 拥有
decade /ˈdekeɪd/ n. 十年
suppress /səˈpres/ v. 压制、抑制
rate /reɪt/ n. 率、比率
policy /ˈpɒləsi/ n. 政策
generation /ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃ(ə)n/ n. 一代人
sibling /ˈsɪblɪŋ/ n. 兄弟姐妹
only child 独生子女
senior /ˈsiːniə(r)/ n. 年长者、老人
companionship /kəmˈpænjənʃɪp/ n. 陪伴
emotional /ɪˈməʊʃ(ə)n(ə)l/ adj. 情感的（由emotion加后缀-al变成形容词）
"People's attitude towards pets has changed hugely," Li said. "In the past, they may be seen as a kind of tool that helps you to do something. But now, people are more willing to treat them as friends. They play roles in people's life. They give us unconditional love."
attitude /ˈætɪtjuːd/ n. 态度
hugely /ˈhjuːdʒli/ adv. 巨大地、非常地（由huge加后缀-ly变成副词）
willing /ˈwɪlɪŋ/ adj. 愿意的、乐意的
treat /triːt/ v. 对待
unconditional /ˌʌnkənˈdɪʃ(ə)n(ə)l/ adj. 无条件的、无保留的（由condition加后缀-al变成形容词conditional，再加上表示否定的前缀un-）
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