Istillrememberitwasinthewinterof1990thattogetherwiththehelpofmyoldersisterIdownmywishesforChristmasontoapieceofpaper.HowIwishedonChristmasEvemygrandestwishwouldbeandplacedundertheChristmastree—apuppy.Whenweweredoneourwish-listswerecollectedbyourparentswiththepromisetobetoSanta'shard-workinghelpers.

Thenextdayourparentssatusdownintheliving-roomwithexpressionsontheirfaces.Asittheyhadseenourwishesnowwantingtotalktousaboutonewish—thepuppy.ForamomentIheldmybreathbutwaswhentheytoldusthattheyweren'tagainstapuppy.WhattheyagainstwasputtingitundertheChristmastree.Thatwasnotagoodidea.

Theytaughtusthatananimalwasnotagiftthatbelongedtothesameasourtoys.Animalswerecreatureswiththatweshoulddecidetohaveoneanditwouldbea(n)toourfamily.Ananimalalotofresponsibilities.Itwasn’tanythingoneboughtoutofamood.Ananimalcouldnotbeexchangedorwhenwedidn'tfeellikeit.Ananimalwasn’tatoy.Ananimalwasafamilymemberthatneededlotsofloveandattention.Ananimalwasnotabutafamilydecision.Aseriousdecision.Andabigdecision.

myparentssharemyloveforanimalssothedecisioncamereasonably.Afterourgrandparentshadgiventheirupfortakingcareofthedogwhilewewereonfuturevacationstheanswerwasyes.Yeswewouldgetapuppy.

Thefollowingdaysandweekstherewasonlyone:ournewfamilymember!Yesafamilymemberbecauseanimalshavetheirrights.Theyarenotsimplyfoodorgifts.Wehumansmustattendloveandprotectthem.

1.A.leftB.gotC.setD.pulled

2.A.rejectedB.declinedC.challengedD.fulfilled

3.A.givenawayB.passedonC.takenonD.putup

4.A.dangerousB.curiousC.seriousD.mysterious

5.A.turnedoutB.takenoutC.runoutD.heldout

6.A.inpeaceB.inorderC.inparticularD.inreturn

7.A.pardonedB.frightenedC.inspiredD.relieved

8.A.protestedB.objectedC.opposedD.resisted

9.A.patientlyB.hurriedlyC.anxiouslyD.roughly

10.A.arrangementB.routineC.scheduleD.category

11.A.feelingsB.secretsC.stainsD.sufferings

12.A.convenienceB.facilityC.extensionD.heritage