Kamo Shushoku  +  15365 Tue, 09 Dec 03 08:21 AM Please read the following passage first, though it is a bit long. Pets are good for our mental health as well as our physical health. One dog trainer says: "Having to keep one jump ahead of a dog will keep the owner alert and exercise his or her mind." Talking to your pet can help to calm you down and relieve any anxiety you may have. They can also make soothing companions and are more steadfast than people. We don't argue with our pets, for instance, and they won't criticize us. In short, a pet is a constant companion who, if you treat it well, will give back the affection that you give to it in an uncomplicated way, something that cannot always be relied upon in human relationships. In the sentece beginning with "They can also make soothing..." there is a word "also." What is the first thing that should justify the use of this word? Why "also"? Thank you very much. Kamo Kamo Shushoku Joined on Wed, Nov 19 2003 New Member 29

	John C.  +  15395 Tue, 09 Dec 03 10:35 AM The writer mentions two benefits of dog ownership: Keeping the owner alert, and relieving anxiety. So, companionship is the third benefit mentioned. It's not mandatory to have "also" there, but it's not wrong. Cheers John. John C. Joined on Thu, Jun 5 2003 The Peoples Democratic Republic of Spam Full Member 178

	Kamo Shushoku  +  15490 Wed, 10 Dec 03 01:45 AM Dear John, Thank you very much for your help. At first, I thought the sentence in question "They can also make soothing companions...." is parallel to the first sentence of this paragraph, "Pets are good for our mental health as well as our physical health." So, I thought, this paragraph has two points: dog ownership is good for mental health, and that dogs make excellent company. So, I thought "also" is there because the sentence in question has introduced this second benefit of dog ownership. Could this interpretation possible? I know usually English paragraphs have only one point to make in each, so this reading of mine is rather difficult, isn't it? Should the point of great companionship of dogs be thought to be included in the topic sentence? Kamo Kamo Shushoku Paragraphs

	John C.  +  15495 Wed, 10 Dec 03 02:20 AM Well, I don't want to be DOGmatic about it, but I think that the first sentence is really a very general introduction. The following sentences detail the exact nature of the benefits. John. John C.