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Working with five partners from Europe, Singapore and China, Emma was both producer and leading2. On top of rehearsing (排练) her lines, she had to3 budgets and promotion, which was incredibly4.

The performance aims to explore cross-cultural works5 East and West influences, bringing6 stories to the international stage. Beyond Crossroads draws on Emma's personal experiences, reflecting on the growth and7 of cross-cultural youth. It tells the story of how a Chinese student Annie, whose family runs a large supermarket named Crossroads in London,8 between pursuing a law career and the expectation to take over the family business. The supermarket, Crossroads, is central to the play: a business9 from Annie's grandfather and a point of10 between personal ambition and family legacy (传承). The show captures the11 of young people facing family expectations and future decisions.

In the final12 of the play, when Annie confidently appeared in a(n)13 wearing a lawyer's gown (袍), thunderous applause erupted throughout the theater. "This is my life! I think I should get to think what I really want," the audience kept saying, which inspired Emma a lot and she decided to continue bringing more14 cross-cultural stories to the stage.

For Emma Li, the message of the play remains clear: it is about the15 to listen to your own heart, whether it leads you down a familiar path or an entirely new one.

At 5 am, 59-year-old Wang Liyun has already begun her morning reading. At 6 am, she is at work, cleaning office buildings. Within the daily routine of wiping windows and polishing stairs, she has created works such as "Broom and Starry Sky" and written poems like "The Weight of Dust."

Even as she bends low to sweep away dust, she tries to show-through her words and paintings-what it means to live with courage, optimism, and burning passion. "Every corner I clean holds my dignity," she said, "while creating brings me great joy."

Born into a Hunan farming family, Wang left high school early and hold various jobs. In 2017, after her daughter graduated, Wang followed her inner calling. Then in early 2020, carrying all her savings, she arrived in Beijing and became a cleaner in an office building. She carefully cleaned her assigned areas on weekdays, and then withdrew to a tiny tool room during breaks to read and paint. "Reading makes me energetic," she noted.

Two years later, a video of her painting in that tool room went viral, bringing her into the public eye. Despite the attention, Wang still remains calm and clear-headed, committing herself to a simple life and continuing her creation. Since 2023, Wang has published three nonfiction collections and her first full-length novel.

"I never separate dreams from day or night. I walk and dream, head held high. Painting to me is colored poetry; writing is even freer, full of imagination," Wang shared. Apart from her essential cleaning work, reading, writing and painting are the focal points of her schedule. For her, cleaning sustains her body but art lifts her soul.

A. She traveled to Fujian alone to learn painting.

B. This philosophy is reflected in her daily routine.

C. However, her true passion always lay in creative expression.

D. As a result, she became known online as the"cleaner-artist".

E. She believes that hard work is the key to achieving one's goals.

F. During her lunch break, she uses every spare moment to draw or write.

G. Wang proves how one can live a fulfilling life within an ordinary routine.

Now, scientists have come up with a clever plan to help the birds. They are using drones to drop thousands of lab-grown, non-biting male mosquitoes engineered to carry a type of bacteria called Wolbachia that acts as mosquito birth control. When these special males mate with wild females, the resulting eggs will not hatch, which should reduce the overall mosquito population and give the birds a much-needed break.

Since the "Birds, Not Mosquitoes" (BNM) project was started in 2023, over 40 million such mosquitoes have been released. Most of the mosquito drops have been made from helicopters. But recently, scientists began experimenting with eight-foot-long drones. A drone can't carry as many mosquitoes as a helicopter can — just 23,000 compared to 250,000 — but it's safer, because it doesn't require any humans to be on board. Drones are also easier to arrange at a moment's notice, which is a major benefit in an area with often unpredictable weather.

The mosquitoes are being dropped inside small capsules. Each capsule contains roughly 1,000 males, which are kept alive inside a temperature-controlled transport box attached to the drone. Once released, they "fall to the forest floor where they provide protection to the mosquitoes until they're ready to fly away," says Adam Knox, a drone pilot involved in the project. "The capsules then begin to break down once exposed to wind and rain," he adds.

This technique, previously used against human diseases, marks its first wildlife-saving application. With climate change pushing mosquitoes to higher altitudes — the last shelter for honeycreepers, time is running out. Several of the remaining honeycreeper species are highly endangered. Some die after a single bite from an infected mosquito. Thus, curbing the mosquito population with methods like the BNM project may be the birds' only chance to survive.

Growing up in affordable housing with his family, Mike felt the benefits of a stable living environment. But he saw other people — relatives and friends — who were constantly moving, living in overcrowded apartments, and even being priced out and having to move elsewhere. That made him realize housing is an important issue and drove him to be a part of addressing those challenges that cities face.

Since he started the job in February, Mike has cooperated with local governments to develop plans to construct and fund new affordable housing. His work involves understanding complex policies, researching partnerships and analyzing land suitability. "It is really interdisciplinary, as it connects policy, urban design, and social needs. I'm learning new things every day. Affordable housing is a way to make cities more sustainable, not just economically but also environmentally, by shortening journeys to work or building energy-efficient houses. It motivates me to know that this hard work will eventually result in people being housed, which has widespread effects in communities and families," he notes.

Fortunately, the great courses taken in university have prepared him for his role, everything from real estate law to real estate development and finance through the civil engineering department. "The courses are probably the most relevant to what I am doing now, helping me understand my own experience and think about how I want to channel that into a career," he mentions.

For students interested in pursuing a similar path, Mike stresses taking project-based courses is helpful. He also urges students to apply to career-building programs due to more opportunities for guidance, work experience and networking with other people who may be their future colleagues.

Most car buyers in March also changed their preferences for vehicle types, with a particular focus on how the vehicles are powered. Electric vehicles, including fully electric cars and hybrids, are gaining significant popularity. Sales of petrol cars now account for less than half of the market. While the government policymakers have pushed people to buy fully electric zero-emission (排放) cars, many consumers appear to choose hybrids instead, which are partly battery-powered but also carry petrol engines. With the growing popularity, the sales of hybrids now are on the rise. Here is the pie chart illustrating the sales proportion of vehicle types in March 2025.

Sales of fully electric cars hit a new monthly record, up to about 69,000 in March 2025, yet their market share dropped to just over 20% for the first quarter, as the popularity of hybrids grew even faster. That is a crucial number, because car makers have to sell 28 percent of their cars as zero-emission models in 2025 or face fines of up to £15,000 for every car they fail to sell to meet the government's requirement.

Nick, an analyst in the local auto industry, believes electric car sales are being artificially increased, mainly because car makers are cutting prices just to hit their sales targets. Meanwhile, many people rushed to buy cars before a new tax on expensive cars started this week.

"Car makers remain committed to the market decarbonisation (碳减排) that the country and the environment demand but we need sustained growth, not a short-term bubble (泡沫) driven by unsustainable discounting and drivers rushing to avoid higher taxes," said Nick. He also believed that the government policymakers should consider the "natural demand" for electric cars.

Born and raised in the US, I often heard my father talk about the history, ancient traditions and warm-hearted people of his homeland — China. When he shared those, his eyes always lit up, which planted a seed of curiosity in my heart. At 18, I went to China as an exchange student, eager to explore the country he loved. I had thought the journey would be easy, yet cultural gaps soon made me feel lost and out of place.

Those subtle differences between my life in the US and here soon made daily life feel like a series of small challenges. Every morning when I walked into the classroom, classmates would lean over and ask, "Did you sleep well last night?" or "What did you have for breakfast?" I'd freeze for a second, not knowing how to respond. In the US, we'd just nod and say "Hi" without digging into such personal details. I'd mumble a quick "Fine" and hurry to my seat, not knowing the "right" ways to reply.

I also struggled with the use of chopsticks and misread a classmate's kind reminder as a criticism. All these small discomforts piled up, leaving me confused and lonely. One night, I couldn't hold back anymore and called my father, pouring out all my frustration and confusion. He gently said, "It's not about fitting in, but understanding."

Hearing his words, I realized what matters. I decided to embrace Chinese culture with an open heart. I turned to my father for more stories about his hometown, spending 30 minutes every morning learning Chinese characters. My Chinese friends taught me how to use chopsticks properly, took me to try local snacks, and explained the meaning behind some idioms.

注意：

（1）续写词数应为150左右；

（2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Gradually, I came to understand Chinese culture.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Back in the US, I couldn't wait to share this experience with my classmates.

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1.简述一项春日主题活动及其具体细节；

2.活动的意义和启发。

注意：

（1）写作词数应为80个左右；

（2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Dear Chris,

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Best wishes,

Li Hua

Peking opera (be) one of China's most treasured cultural heritages over the past 200 years. In an era dominated by digital entertainment, the ancient art is experiencing a remarkable return, thanks to the (devote) of young performers like Zhang Wanting. This actress shows the combination of centuries-old tradition with modern appeal, (demonstrate) how classical art forms can remain relevant today.

Zhang's command of the "chair trick", a (represent) move of the Song School, stands for the strict training required in this art form. This trick, involves complex balancing and posing on a narrow chair handle, demands years of hard practice and represents the highest level of physical control and art expression in Peking opera.

Despite facing fierce competition from modern forms of entertainment, Peking opera continues to attract audiences through (it) unique mix of music, body movement, dance, and acrobatics (杂技). Young (art) like Zhang are at the forefront (前沿) of this cultural preservation, adding fresh understanding to traditional techniques (ensure) the continued value and appeal.

The lasting charm of Peking opera lies not just in its great displays of skill, in its ability to convey deep emotions through special performance. As Zhang and her peers show, the art form's capacity to evolve while keeping its core traditions is the key its survival and growth in the digital age.

3 to the hospital, I found the emergency room4 with an unknown number of survivors, some crying, some5 and others staring blankly in sorrow. In the ICU, an injured girl6, "Am I going to die?" "No," I replied. With a look of7 that I'll never forget, she asked, "May I go to sleep?" I nodded.

During her hospital stay, I brought her picture books and sat with her through nightmares. She often held my hand8, afraid I'd leave. One night, she drew me a small flower on a napkin and smiled, "This is for you, so you never forget me." Gradually, we formed a deep9.

I visited her three times daily. She would call out my name — "Fornari!" at the10 of me. After11, she returned to her homeland. Nine years later, at 17, she visited me and12 her dream — to help children as I had helped her —13 by the care she'd received.

Years later, she emailed me: "I thought of how I fell out of the sky, and how you14 me." We spoke on video for 30 minutes. I was left feeling humbled and grateful for having connection with this child. As a doctor, I often wonder whether I've made a15 in patients' lives. With Andrea, I know.

Are you looking for a simple habit that can transform your health? You may know the joy of reading, but there are even more unexpected ways reading will positively affect your body and mind.

●

Studies prove regular book readers live nearly two years longer than non-readers. Reading lowers stress and provides a sense of social connection, both vital for healthy aging. Reading books for more than 3.5 hours per week is linked to a 20% lower risk of death. Even 15 minutes of reading before bed can calm your nervous system, helping you sleep better and live longer.

● You can boost brain power with daily reading.

Reading builds mental strength, which helps protect your brain to resist age-related decline. It also sharpens working memory, attention, and empathy by placing you in different characters' lives. Treat reading like everyday exercise — just 10 to 30 minutes a day strengthens mental skills over time.

● You can start reading from birth for lifelong health.

Reading aloud with babies and young children helps their brains grow and reduces harmful stress. Doctors and nurses should encourage shared reading beginning from birth as a cost-effective, evidence-based strategy to lay the foundation for lifelong health. Children who see books as comfort and connection often carry the habit into adulthood.

● You can make reading a simple habit.

The secret to getting the most from reading is doing it often, not reading a lot at once. Choose books you truly love, schedule short reading time, and remember — it is never too late to start. Each page is an investment in a longer, healthier life — start today.

A. The benefits of reading begin early.

B. Reading may be just the thing you need.

C. You can live longer by reading regularly.

D. You can read as much as possible every day.

E. Experts agree that small, enjoyable daily routines matter most.

F. The more you challenge yourself with books, the healthier you become.

G. This daily mental workout protects your brain and boosts focus and strength.

The speed of visual perception (感知) is measured using a universal standard called "critical flicker fusion (CFF)", which refers to the fastest rate at which a flickering light can be seen as separate flashes, not a continuous light. For instance, humans can perceive flicker (闪烁) up to about 60 flashes per second, while some birds and insects can detect over 200 flashes. That means they see the world in much finer detail in terms of time, almost like watching slow motion.

The study uncovered several key findings. Flying species tend to have the fastest visual processing — about twice as fast as non-flying animals. Predators (捕食者) that chase fast-moving prey also have quicker vision compared to animals feeding on slow or stationary food. In addition, animals active in bright daylight generally have faster vision than those living in dark or deep-water environments. These differences are not random. Scientists believe they are shaped by evolution to match each animal's ecological needs. Undoubtedly, faster visual processing brings great survival benefits: it allows animals to react instantly when flying, hunting or escaping. However, it comes with a high cost, as rapid neural processing consumes huge amounts of energy.

The findings also raise concerns about the impacts of artificial lights, which flicker at rates invisible to humans but may disturb animals with fast visual system by affecting their hunting success, navigation, and predator-prey interactions.

"Understanding how animals perceive time helps us understand how they behave, evolve, and respond to environmental change," said lead author Dr Haarlem. "It also reminds us that the world we experience is just one version of many."

Bioplastics, often seen as a green alternative, present their own challenges. They typically require industrial treatment to break down, and their production process often results in more carbon emissions than traditional plastics. Growing crops for bioplastics also consumes resources like water and fertilizers, which can lead to water pollution. Furthermore, mixing bioplastics with regular recycling can ruin streams, rivers and oceans.

A more promising solution is emerging: making plastic from carbon dioxide (CO₂). "Instead of using fossil fuel, you can turn the industry on its head by using waste carbon dioxide," says Professor Peter Styring, who researches this technology. This approach not only reduces fossil fuel use but also helps lower greenhouse gas emissions by using captured CO₂.

Scientists are developing special helpers to transform CO₂ into various plastics. For example, companies are already producing polyurethane foam (聚氨酯泡沫)using CO₂ as a raw material. These new materials are just as good as or even better than the quality of conventional plastics in some aspects, such as flame resistance. Economically, using cheaper CO₂ instead of traditional raw materials could save millions.

Research continues to expand the possibilities. Some teams are aiming at producing ethylene — a key ingredient for half the world's plastics — from CO₂, water, and electricity. Others are developing safer, sugar-based plastics for medical use. While large-scale commercial production may take years, this innovative path offers a potential route to more sustainable plastics, addressing both waste and climate concerns.

Mrs. Bacon distinguished herself on the first day by giving each student a journal. "This is for your honest thoughts," she explained. "Write freely. If there's anything you don't want to share with me, just mark it and I'll skip it." This offer meant a lot. I loved writing, yet I hid my home life. My home was filled with tense arguments. Mrs. Bacon's class became my safe place.

Once, I came down with the flu and had to stay at home. I found my journal with a note: "Describe a day from an observer's perspective." I wrote pages, finally telling the painful reality I protected myself from. That night, I slept peacefully for the first time in months.

Back at school, a note on my journal read, "Please see me." Anxiety struck — I'd forgotten to mark the entry private. After class, Mrs. Bacon said gently, "I read your pages. My heart aches for you." Over lunch, she volunteered to tell stories of her own struggle with loss. Her openness dissolved my shame. I felt safe being just as open and honest with her. She listened, offering a safe place without judgment. This sincere connection became my inner strength, paving the way for the lifelong guidance she would offer me.

At the end of school year, she told me, "You have a gift for writing. I expect to witness your journey." She kept her word, remaining a guiding force which inspired my careers in education and writing — my first novel was dedicated to her.

Mrs. Bacon's deepest impact was transformative. As the first person I could wholeheartedly rely on, she led me toward greater strength and faith.

Flowers have always captivated people with their beauty, symbolizing love and hope. Across the globe, there are massive flower markets that not only supply florists and decorators but also attract enthusiasts who appreciate the art and commerce of flowers.

Aalsmeer Flower Auction, Netherlands

Aalsmeer Flower Auction in the Netherlands has a reputation as the largest flower auction in the world. Every day, over 20 million flowers are traded here. It operates on a unique Dutch auction system, where prices start high and gradually decrease until a buyer places a bid. Roses, tulips, and chrysanthemums are the most abundant. The market is at its busiest and most impressive in the morning.

Dounan Flower Market, China

As Asia's largest flower-trading center, Dounan Flower Market lies in Kunming, known as the "Spring City." The market handles up to 5 billion stems annually, with products exported worldwide. It offers a wide variety of flowers, including lilies, orchids, and roses. The lively night market and flower-arranging workshops are particularly popular with visitors.

Mercado de Jamaica, Mexico

Situated in Mexico City, Mercado de Jamaica boasts over 1,000 stalls and is rich in local culture. It opens during the daytime and is best known for marigolds during the Day of the Dead celebrations. Tropical flowers and succulents are available year-round, making it a colorful and vibrant destination for tourists. When shopping, you'd better negotiate for better prices.

Pak Khlong Talad, Thailand

Pak Khlong Talad in Bangkok is a 24-hour market that showcases Thailand's rich floral heritage. It offers a variety of flowers, including orchids, lotuses, and garlands used in religious ceremonies. The best time to visit is at night when fresh shipments arrive. Exotic tropical flowers make it a paradise for enthusiasts.

I met Gunter on a cold, wet and unforgettable evening in September. I had planned to fly to Vienna and take a bus to Prague for a conference. Due to a big storm, my flight had been delayed by an hour and a half. I touched down in Vienna just 30 minutes before the departure of the last bus to Prague. The moment I got off the plane, I ran like crazy through the airport building and jumped into the first taxi on the rank without a second thought.

That was when I met Gunter. I told him where I was going, but he said he hadn't heard of the bus station. I thought my pronunciation was the problem, so I explained again more slowly, but he still looked confused. When I was about to give up, Gunter fished out his little phone and rang up a friend. After a heated discussion that lasted for what seemed like a century, Gunter put his phone down and started the car.

Finally with just two minutes to spare we rolled into the bus station. Thankfully, there was a long queue (队列) still waiting to board the bus. Gunter parked the taxi behind the bus, turned around, and looked at me with a big smile on his face. "We made it," he said.

Just then I realised that I had zero cash in my wallet. I flashed him an apologetic smile as I pulled out my Portuguese bankcard. He tried it several times, but the card machine just did not play along. A feeling of helplessness washed over me as I saw the bus queue thinning out.

At this moment, Gunter pointed towards the waiting hall of the bus station. There, at the entrance, was a cash machine. I jumped out of the car, made a mad run for the machine, and popped my card in, only to read the message: "Out of order. Sorry."

注意：（1）续写词数应为150个左右；（2）请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

I ran back to Gunter and told him the bad news.

……

Four days later, when I was back in Vienna, I called Gunter as promised.

Heatherwick Studio recently built a greenhouse at the edge of the National Trust's Woolbeding Gardens. This beautiful structure, named Glasshouse, is at the centre of a new garden that shows how the Silk Road influences English gardens even in modern times.

The latest  (engineer) techniques are applied to create this protective  (function) structure that is also beautiful. The design features ten steel "sepals (萼片)" made of glass and aluminium (铝). These sepals open on warm days  (give) the inside plants sunshine and fresh air. In cold weather, the structure stays (close) to protect the plants.

Further, the Silk Route Garden around the greenhouse  (walk) visitors through a journey influenced by the ancient Silk Road, by which silk as well as many plant species came to Britain for  first time. These plants included modern Western  (favourite) such as rosemary, lavender and fennel. The garden also contains a winding path that guides visitors through the twelve regions of the Silk Road. The path offers over 300 plant species for visitors to see, too.

The Glasshouse stands  a great achievement in contemporary design, to house the plants of the southwestern part of China at the end of a path retracing (追溯) the steps along the Silk Route  brought the plants from their native habitat in Asia to come to define much of the  (rich) of gardening in England.

I've been motivated — and demotivated — by other folks' achievement s all my life.

When I was a teenager, a neighborhood friend 1 a marathon race. Feeling motivated, I started running 2 , but then two things happened. First, a girl I met one day told me she was 3 for a "super," referring to a 52.4-mile double marathon. Then, the next day I went on my longest run — 15 miles. To be honest, I 4 it! Between the girl making my 5 seem small and the pure boredom of jogging, I decided that the only 6 I'd ever run again is if a big dog was running after me!

So I 7 cycling. I got a good bike and rode a lot. I 8 of entering cycle races until I flew to San Diego to visit my sister. While she was at work one day, I 9 her bike and went for a ride. The 10 : The roads there went through large valleys where I'd be riding uphill for miles at a time. I'd never faced such 11 . That day, I got 12 by about 100 "local" bikers who were used to such roads. When I got back home, suddenly riding my bike didn't seem quite as 13 .

I've 14 a lot since then. I've come to accept that whatever 15 I set for myself, they just have to be my own.

In the race to document the species on Earth before they go extinct, researchers and citizen scientists have collected billions of records. Today, most records of biodiversity are often in the form of photos, videos, and other digital records. Though they are useful for detecting shifts in the number and variety of species in an area, a new Stanford study has found that this type of record is not perfect.

 "With the rise of technology it is easy for people to make observations of different species with the aid of a mobile application," said Barnabas Daru, who is lead author of the study and assistant professor of biology in the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences. "These observations now outnumber the primary data that comes from physical specimens (标本), and since we are increasingly using observational data to investigate how species are responding to global change, I wanted to know: Are they usable?"

Using a global dataset of 1.9 billion records of plants, insects, birds, and animals, Daru and his team tested how well these data represent actual global biodiversity patterns.

"We were particularly interested in exploring the aspects of sampling that tend to bias (使有偏差) data, like the greater likelihood of a citizen scientist to take a picture of a flowering plant instead of the grass right next to it," said Daru.

Their study revealed that the large number of observation-only records did not lead to better global coverage. Moreover, these data are biased and favor certain regions, time periods, and species. This makes sense because the people who get observational biodiversity data on mobile devices are often citizen scientists recording their encounters with species in areas nearby. These data are also biased toward certain species with attractive or eye-catching features.

What can we do with the imperfect datasets of biodiversity?

"Quite a lot," Daru explained. "Biodiversity apps can use our study results to inform users of oversampled areas and lead them to places — and even species — that are not well-sampled. To improve the quality of observational data, biodiversity apps can also encourage users to have an expert confirm the identification of their uploaded image."

Is comprehension the same whether a person reads a text onscreen or on paper? And are listening to and viewing content as effective as reading the written word when covering the same material? The answers to both questions are often "no". The reasons relate to a variety of factors, including reduced concentration, an entertainment mindset (心态) and a tendency to multitask while consuming digital content.

When reading texts of several hundred words or more, learning is generally more successful when it's on paper than onscreen. A large amount of research confirms this finding. The benefits of print reading particularly shine through when experimenters move from posing simple tasks — like identifying the main idea in a reading passage — to ones that require mental abstraction — such as drawing inferences from a text.

The differences between print and digital reading results are partly related to paper's physical properties. With paper, there is a literal laying on of hands, along with the visual geography of distinct pages. People often link their memory of what they've read to how far into the book it was or where it was on the page.

But equally important is the mental aspect. Reading researchers have proposed a theory called "shallowing hypothesis (假说)". According to this theory, people approach digital texts with a mindset suited to social media, which are often not so serious, and devote less mental effort than when they are reading print.

Audio (音频) and video can feel more engaging than text, and so university teachers increasingly turn to these technologies — say, assigning an online talk instead of an article by the same person. However, psychologists have demonstrated that when adults read news stories, they remember more of the content than if they listen to or view identical pieces.

Digital texts, audio and video all have educational roles, especially when providing resources not available in print. However, for maximizing learning where mental focus and reflection are called for, educators shouldn't assume all media are the same, even when they contain identical words.

 "I am not crazy," says Dr. William Farber, shortly after performing acupuncture (针灸) on a rabbit. "I am ahead of my time." If he seems a little defensive, it might be because even some of his coworkers occasionally laugh at his unusual methods. But Farber is certain he'll have the last laugh. He's one of a small but growing number of American veterinarians (兽医) now practicing "holistic" medicine-combining traditional Western treatments with acupuncture, chiropractic (按摩疗法) and herbal medicine.

Farber, a graduate of Colorado State University, started out as a more conventional veterinarian. He became interested in alternative treatments 20 years ago when he suffered from terrible back pain. He tried muscle-relaxing drugs but found little relief. Then he tried acupuncture, an ancient Chinese practice, and was amazed that he improved after two or three treatments. What worked on a veterinarian seemed likely to work on his patients. So, after studying the techniques for a couple of years, he began offering them to pets.

Leigh Tindale's dog Charlie had a serious heart condition. After Charlie had a heart attack, Tindale says, she was prepared to put him to sleep, but Farber's treatments eased her dog's suffering so much that she was able to keep him alive for an additional five months. And Priscilla Dewing reports that her horse, Nappy, "moves more easily and rides more comfortably" after a chiropractic adjustment.

Farber is certain that the holistic approach will grow more popular with time, and if the past is any indication, he may be right: Since 1982, membership in the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association has grown from 30 to over 700. "Sometimes it surprises me that it works so well," he says. "I will do anything to help an animal. That's my job."