So you want to have a tarantula(狼蛛)as a pet? You want to join the fastest growing hobby in the US? Read this beginner’s guide to learn the most important facts.

What is a tarantula? Tarantulas are primitive spiders(远古的蜘蛛). They are usually hairier and larger than normal spiders.

Why keep tarantulas? Tarantulas are really interesting pets. They don’t need much space, they aren’t expensive to feed, they live a long time, they don’t make much mess, and they aren’t dangerous.

When did people start keeping tarantulas as a hobby? They started in the 1970s when the ‘Mexican Redknee’ was brought to the US. By the 1990s there were about 200 different kinds of tarantulas in the US, but some are better for beginners than others. Good beginner tarantulas include the ‘Pink Zebra Beauty’ and the ‘Brazilian Black and White’ because they are not as dangerous as some of the other ones.

How do I look after a tarantula? You can keep tarantulas in 10 gallon, glass boxes. They need a water bowl in the box and you should feed them once a week. Tarantulas eat insects, small mice and lizards. You can buy these(already dead)from a pet shop. You only need to clean the glass box about once every six months.

Can I get my tarantula out of its box and hold it? No! A tarantula is not a pet like a dog, a cat or a rabbit and they do not like being held in your hands. Keep it in the glass box and watch it.

Are tarantulas dangerous? Nobody has ever died from a tarantula bite, but some kinds of tarantula could give you a bad bite. Usually they prefer to run away from you than to bite you.

How can I find out more? Look for a club near you for people who keep tarantulas as a hobby. You can also find some information about it on the Internet or find some books.

44. Some tarantulas are better for beginners than others because __________.

A. they don’t need much space                            B. they don’t make much mess

C. they are not as dangerous as other ones            D. they aren’t expensive to feed

45. What do tarantulas NOT eat?

A. Insects                      B. Lizards                     C. Big mice                   D. small mice

46. Which pet don’t like being held in our hands?

A. A cat           B. A rabbit                           C. A dog                       D. A tarantula

47. How often should you clean the glass box for a tarantula?

A. Once a week       B. Once every six months    C. Once a day               D. Once a year

Making friend is a skill. Like most skills, it improves with practice. If you want to meet people and make friends, you must be willing（乐意） to take some action. You must first go where there are people. You won’t make friends staying home alone.
Join a club or group, talking with those who like the same things you do is much easier. Or join someone in some activity.
Many people are nervous when talking to new people. After all, meeting strangers means facing the unknown. And it’s human nature to feel a bit uncomfortable about the unknown.
Most of our fears about dealing with new people come from doubts about ourselves. We imagine other people are giving an opinion about us-finding us too tall or too short, too this or too that. But don’t forget that they must be feeling the same away. Try to accept(接受)yourself as you are, and try to put the other person at ease(不拘束). You’ll both feel more comfortable.
Try to keep self-confident(自信)even when you don’t feel that way when you enter a room full of strangers, such as a new classroom, walk tall(趾高气扬)and straight, look directly at other people and smile.
If you see someone you’d like to speak to, say something. Don’t wait for the other person to start a conversation.
Just meeting someone new does not mean that you will make friends with that person-friendship is based on each other’s liking and “give and take”. They take time and efforts to develop. And there are things that keep a new friendship from growing.
【小题1】If you want to meet people and make friends, what should you do?