【填空题】
阅读下面短文,按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求,在空格处填入一个适当的
词或使用括号中的词语的正确形式填空,并将答案填写在答题卡标号为16-25的相应位置上。
Americans love pets.In America, there are more families with pets ______ those with children.It is common ______ U.S.homes have some sort of pets, such as monkeys, snakes and even wolves.But Americans’ all-time favorites are cats and dogs, because dogs can offer protection from thieves and unwelcome visitors and cats can help get rid ______ the home unwanted pests.Beneath keeping pets, there lies a basic American belief: Pets have a right to be treated well.In Houston, Texas, dogs can have their dinner ______ (deliver) to their homes, just like pizza.Pets can even go with ______ owners on vacation.Besides, at least 75 animal welfare organizations exist in America which provide care and adoption services for ______ (home) and ill-treated animals.To pay for the high-tech health care, people can buy health insurance ______ their pets.Pets are ______ basic to American culture as hot dogs or apple pie.By now researchers ______ (discover) that interacting with animals lowers a person's blood pressure.
Pets even encourage social relationships: They give their owners an appearance of friendliness, and they provide ______ good topic of conversation.