"I am not crazy, " says Dr. William Farber, 1.(short) after performing acupuncture(针灸)on a rabbit. "I am ahead 2.my time. " If he seems a little 3.(defend), 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 4.(grow) 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 5.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 6(relieve). Then he tried acupuncture, 7.ancient Chinese practice, and was amazed that he improved after two or three treatments. 8.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 9.(prepare) 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 10.(addition) 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 11.(indicate), 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.”
1.shortly考固定搭配shortly after…在…之后不久
2.of考固定搭配be ahead of 领先，在前面‘
3.defensive考词汇变形defensive 防御性的；有戒备的，有戒心的
4.growing考非谓语number和grow是主动关系，所以用现在分词growing作定语，相当于increasing a small but growing number of...”：“数量少但在增加的......”
5.as考介词作为一个更加传统的兽医
6.relief考词汇变形此处缺名词，relieve v.relief n. grieve v. grief n 悲伤believe v. belief n.
7.an考冠词针灸，一种古代中国做法
8.What考主语从句，能在一个兽医身上起作用的（疗法）似乎也可能在他的病人身上起作用。
9.was prepared考谓语动词“be prepared to do sth.” 表示准备好做某事
10.additional考词汇变形另外5个月
11.indication考词汇变形此处填名词
