题目内容：

    Last month, I said a final farewell to my lovely old dog, Oscar. I have been missing him terribly. Oscar went everywhere with me. He was my mascot of unconditional love, my loneliness relief and one of the big loves of my life.

Many scientific studies have shown that petting a dog and even having one nearby can reduce stress. Peter Wedderburn, a writer and veterinary surgeon, once said “Dogs become a central part of our lives, offering unconditional love, continual company and an alternative to loneliness. A dog is the ultimate loving companion.”

It’s no wonder I miss him. Oscar also gave structure to my day. His soft furry rub was my early morning wake-up call, plus his walks punctuated my day with a stress-relieving wander by the canal bank. Since his death, I have found myself lying in bed feeling a little low and unmotivated. I’m also spending hours at my desk and not getting out into the light all day.

I didn’t want my mood to spiral downwards, so I have started a new, gentle morning practice. I have decided to put my focus on lighting my fire----both literally and metaphorically. Mornings are cold on my canal boat, so what better way to heat things up than by creating a warming ritual(仪式).

As I piled up old newspapers, placed four logs on the pile and loaded up smokeless coal, I thought about the “fuel” I wanted to use today----the opportunities and tools available to me. Finally, I struck the match, which symbolized the “spark of inspiration”. As the fire started to burn, I wrote about someone or something that had inspired me as the flames slowly heated up the boat.

Oscar naturally lit up my days and life. Without him, I’m having to be more conscious about how I look after my mental health and mood, but I’m now starting to enjoy my new start to the mornings. I still miss my lovely dog, but I always end my morning practice by raising my mug of coffee in gratitude for the privilege of 13 years of love and light that he brought into my life. Love never dies.

1.Why does the author mention scientific studies and quotes from Peter Wedderburn?

A.To introduce the funny stories about Oscar.

B.To illustrate how attachment to dogs forms.

C.To emphasize her sorrow at Oscar’s death.

D.To contrast her love for a dog with others’

2.The underlined phrase “spiral downwards” in Paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to “_____”.

A.darken B.lift

C.improve D.swing

3.What did the warming ritual mean to the author?

A.It was a new routine which kept her warm in the morning.

B.She viewed it as a ceremony to mourn her beloved Oscar.

C.She intended the ritual to honor those that had inspired her.

D.It symbolized a departure from her downward feelings