01 Read the following passage and complete the following exercises.

Pet allergy

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Allergies to pets with fur are common， especially among people who have other allergies or asthma. In the United States， as many as three in 10 people with allergies have allergic reactions to cats and dogs. Cat allergies are about twice as common as dog allergies. Is there such a thing as a hypoallergenic Pet? People with dog allergies may be more sensitive to some breeds of dogs than others. Some people may be allergic to all dogs. People may think certain breeds of dogs are “hypoallergenic，” but a truly non-allergic dog or cat does not exist.

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The job of the immune system is to find foreign substances， such as viruses and bacteria， and get rid of them. Normally， this response protects us from dangerous diseases. People with pet allergies have over-sensitive immune systems. They can react to harmless proteins in the pet's urine， saliva or dander （dead skin cells）. The symptoms that result are an allergic reaction. The substances that cause allergic reactions are allergens.

Pet allergens can collect on furniture and other surfaces. The allergens will not lose their strength for a long time. Sometimes the allergens may remain at high levels for several months and cling to walls， furniture， clothing and other surfaces.

Pet hair is not an allergen. It can collect dander， urine and saliva. It also can carry other allergens like dust and pollen.

Cat and dog allergens are everywhere. Pet allergens are even in homes and other places that have never housed pets. This is because people can carry pet allergens on their clothing. Also， allergens can get into the air when an animal is petted or groomed. Pet allergens can also be stirred into the air where the allergens have settled. This can happen during dusting， vacuuming or other household activities. Once airborne， the particles can stay suspended in the air for long periods.

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Cat and dog allergens can land on the membranes that line the eyes and nose. Reactions include swelling and itching of the membranes， stuffy nose and inflamed eyes. A pet scratch or lick can cause the skin area to become red. It is common to get itchy eyes after petting an animal then touching your eyes.

If allergen levels are low or sensitivity is minor， symptoms may not appear until after several days of contact with the pet.

Many airborne particles are small enough to get into the lungs. For some， this exposure can cause severe breathing problems. Highly sensitive people can begin coughing， wheezing and have shortness of breath within 15 to 30 minutes of inhaling allergens. Sometimes highly sensitive people also get an intense rash on the face， neck and upper chest.

Contact with a cat can trigger a severe asthma episode （asthma attack） in up to three in ten people with asthma. Cat allergies also can lead to chronic asthma.

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Your doctor will diagnose a pet allergy based on your symptoms， physical examination， medical history and test results. Your doctor can use either a blood test or skin test to aid in the diagnosis. Allergy testing will show if there is allergic sensitization to the animal.

Some people find it hard to believe that they could be allergic to their pets. The doctor may tell you to stay out of the home where the pet lives to see if your symptoms go away. It does not help to remove the dog or cat， because the allergen will remain. Pet allergens still in the home can cause symptoms months after the animal is gone.

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The best treatment is to avoid contact with cats or dogs or the areas where they live. Keep pets out of your home. If possible， try to avoid visiting homes with pets that you are allergic to. Avoiding cats and dogs may give you enough relief that you will not need medicine.

Keeping the pet outdoors will help， but will not rid the house of pet allergens. Another option is to choose pets that do not have fur or feathers. Fish， snakes or turtles are some choices.

Pet allergy can be a social problem making it difficult to visit friends and relatives who have cats and dogs （and sometimes horses and other animals）. This may be especially troublesome for children who cannot participate in activities at the home of friends. Talk to your doctor about possible use of medication before these social exposures and specific measures to take after the exposure.

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Removing the pet from the home is often the best treatment. However， if you still want to keep your pet， there may be some strategies to reduce exposure. Remove your pet from the bedroom. You spend from one-third to one-half of your time there. Keep the bedroom door closed and clean the bedroom aggressively. You might consider using a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) air cleaner in your bedroom. Animal allergens are sticky. So you must remove the animal's favorite furniture， remove wall-to-wall carpet and scrub the walls and woodwork. Keep surfaces throughout the home clean and uncluttered. Bare floors and walls are best. If you must have carpet， select one with a low pile and steam clean it frequently. Better yet， use throw rugs and wash them in hot water. Wear a dust mask to vacuum. Vacuum cleaners stir up allergens that have settled on carpet and make allergies worse. Use a vacuum with a HEPA （high efficiency particulate air） filter if possible. Change your clothes after prolonged exposure with an animal. Forced-air heating and air-conditioning can spread allergens through the house. Cover bedroom vents with dense filtering material like cheesecloth. Adding an air cleaner combined with a HEPA filter to central heating and air conditioning can help remove pet allergens from the air. Use an air cleaner at least four hours per day. Another type of air cleaner that has an electrostatic filter will remove particles the size of animal allergens from the air. No air cleaner or filter will remove allergens stuck to surfaces， though. Washing the pet every week may reduce airborne allergens， but is of questionable value in reducing a person's symptoms. Have someone without a pet allergy brush the pet outside to remove dander as well as clean the litter box or cage. Talk to your allergist about options for medicine or immunotherapy.

    （Source: http://www.aafa.org/page/pet-dog-cat-allergies.aspx）

02  Read the following passage to complete the note-taking table and then check your understanding.

8 Natural Allergy Relief Remedies

Seasonal allergies are annoying, and so are the drugs you pop to relieve sneezing, sniffling, and itchy, red eyes. While you can't reduce the pollen in the air, you might be able to limit the number of drugs you take through some natural remedies for allergies. “The biggest trend we see in allergies isn’t technology and it isn't medicine—it's the tendency to go for a more natural treatment,” says Brunilda Nazario, MD, medical editor at WebMD. Here are some natural remedies for allergies to keep your symptoms at bay.

1. Eat an Anti-Inflammatory, Alkaline Diet

First and foremost, start eating an anti-inflammatory diet to reduce your risk for allergies and many other health problems. Caring for your body with nutrient-dense foods gives your immune system the ability to repair itself, bringing it back into balance so it can fight off common allergies in your environment. Here are some of the best foods and ingredients to incorporate into your diet to help you beat allergies:

● Garlic—What's so fantastic about garlic? Garlic is a natural antibiotic that helps ward off infections, viruses and even allergies. Eating or juicing two raw cloves of this powerful antioxidant may literally keep the doctor away! Some people choose to take garlic supplements because they don't want to smell like garlic, but the supplements do not work as well as the real herb does, so don't be deceived by this. Raw garlic eaten every day will fight off all types of allergies because it boosts your immune system immensely.

● Lemons—As most of us know an alkaline body means better balance and immune function. Lemons and limes are excellent immune boosting little fruits and are used for various afflictions, including allergies. Both of these little fruits are loaded with vitamin C and immune-boosting antioxidants. Drinking lemon water throughout the day detoxifies the body and rids it of impurities. Mix the juice of one or two lemons or limes with olive oil to make a wonderful tasting dressing for salads and veggie sandwiches.

● Green leafy vegetables—Leafy greens (including spinach, kale, collard greens, romaine, arugula and watercress) are a great source of essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and enzymes that aid detoxification and help reduce inflammation.

● Probiotic-rich foods—Probiotic foods support immune health and can help to repair a damaged intestinal lining. Examples include kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, natto, yogurt, raw cheese, miso and kombucha.

● Bone broth—Bone broth, made from beef and chicken stock, is rich in many minerals and amino acids that support the healing of leaky, thereby helping to strengthen the immune system.

● Coconut milk—The best alternative for cow's milk is coconut milk, which is free of dairy, lactose, soy, nuts and grains.

● Almond butter & seeds—For people allergic to peanuts and peanut butter, almond butter is a safe and healthy alternative that provides healthy unsaturated fatty acids, fiber, minerals like riboflavin and magnesium, and even some antioxidants. Flaxseeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are also great sources of healthy fats and fiber.

● Gluten-free flours/grains—Instead of using wheat flour when you cook or bake, try coconut flour, almond flour, spelt flour, oat flour and rice flour, which are all gluten-free.

● Breast milk—Studies shows that exclusive breastfeeding seems to have a preventive effect on the early development of asthma and atopic dermatitis.

2. Local Raw Honey (Bee Pollen)

Considering how good it tastes, having some raw honey every day to help control seasonal allergies may sound too easy to actually work well, but don't discount this ancient remedy. Taking a tablespoon of local, raw honey every day will help your body build a tolerance to the local pollen that is running amuck on your sinuses.

What makes raw honey so powerful at reducing allergies? One reason is because it contains bee pollen, which is known to ward off infections, allergies, and boost immunity. The bees living in your area go from flower to flower collecting pollen that you are suffering from. It would make sense then that eating local raw honey will help build up your immunity to local pollen. Honey also contains many enzymes that support overall immune function.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

Drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of ACV and some fresh lemon juice is one of the best ways to wake up every morning. At the first sign of an allergy attack, put one teaspoon of ACV in your neti pot solution for a natural “sinus flush.”

4. Quercetin

Quercetin is naturally found in plant foods such as cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli or cauliflower), onions/shallots, green tea and citrus fruits. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid that stabilizes the release of histamines and helps to naturally control allergy symptoms.

A recent study found evidence that quercetin is effective at reducing allergies because it helps calm down hyperactivity of the airways. It is so powerful that Iranian researchers have proven that quercetin can help control peanut allergies, the leading cause of life-threatening/fatal allergy attacks. Various sources suggest that it is best to use quercetin as a long-term remedy, since it can take several months of use to start working. People prone to seasonal allergies should start to take them a few weeks before spring arrives when trees and plants start to bloom.

5. Neti Pot

Neti pots are a natural remedy for allergies and many respiratory conditions because they help to clear the sinuses and remove congestion. Use of neti pots has been shown to help improve quality of life in sufferers of respiratory illnesses and cause little to no side effects. Clearing the nasal passages of allergens and irritants, this form of “sinus irrigation” originated in the Ayurvedic medical tradition hundreds of years ago. People living in India have been receiving astounding results from using neti pots for centuries.

Thankfully, this “alternative” approach to preventing congestion and allergies has now become more mainstream. Many experts have proven clinically that using a neti pot is beneficial for preventing and treating several upper respiratory conditions, including chronic and acute sinusitis, the common cold and seasonal allergies.

When you use a neti pot, make sure that the water is distilled and as sterile as possible. Tap water is full of chlorine and fluoride and can actually aggravate your sinuses, so it shouldn‘t be used. If you don't want to use a neti pot, you can also try a salt water sinus rinse by mixing sea salt with warm water and sucking it up one nostril.

6. Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle has a rich history of medicinal use dating back to medieval Europe, where it was used as a diuretic to relieve people of joint pain and fluid retention (edema). According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, studies suggest that stinging nettle can effectively treat a wide range of health concerns including:

● Urinary problems like urinary tract infections

● Benign prostatic hyperplasia

● Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)

● Joint pain, sprain and strains

● Insect bites

Many researches have specifically shown that stinging nettle leaf naturally controls histamines, which is why a growing number of doctors recommend taking a freeze-dried preparation before hay fever season begins. It can also be used as a tea or in tincture form.

7. Eucalyptus Oil

One interesting study evaluated the effect that various essential oils had in killing the highly allergic house mites and found that eucalyptus oil ranked amongst some of the most potent. Essential oils for allergies work by reducing inflammation and improving detoxification of harmful bacteria, parasites, microorganisms and toxins that can trigger an attack. You can use eucalyptus oil for seasonal allergy relief in a variety of ways:

● You can put several drops of eucalyptus oil into your neti pot, inhale it via a diffuser, or use it in your laundry detergent as an antimicrobial agent.

● For an eco-friendly, biodegradable addition to your natural detergents, add 25 drops of eucalyptus oil to each load of wash during allergy season, especially if you or the kids are running around outside.

● If your allergy symptoms are going strong, mix eucalyptus oil with coconut oil and rub it on your chest and behind your ears and diffuse it in the air during the day and while sleeping.

8. Probiotics

It's now becoming common knowledge that a strong immune system starts with a healthy gut. More than 80 percent of your immune function is stored in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract! It should be no wonder that research keeps surfacing that links probiotic supplement use to reduced risk of allergies.

Probiotics are beneficial “good bacteria” that live inside your GI tract and help defend you against infections, viruses, allergies and more. They are so effective that a study published in the journal Pediatrics discovered that women who regularly take probiotics during pregnancy significantly reduce their child's risk of developing allergies.

（Source:https://draxe.com/8-natural-allergy-relief-remedies/）

04 Put the following into Chinese or vice versa.