110.32.b.9.A

While visiting Dr. V at his hospital in India, the author discovered something surprising about the patients who are successfully treated for blindness there. It turns out that patients who undergo surgery at the eye hospital are far more likely to regain their sight if they believe in the possibility of a cure.

Traditional treatments for blindness have not worked in India, a country where millions of people have lost their sight. Dr. V established the Aravind Eye Hospital, which has successfully treated many thousands of patients. After hearing about Dr. V's success, the author decided to visit the hospital and observe Dr. V's work in person.

The author spent one week volunteering at an eye hospital in India where thousands of patients regain their sight each year. He was deeply touched by the commitment of Dr. V and his staff to helping their patients. The experience seems to have influenced the author's own outlook on life.

India was in the midst of an epidemic of preventable blindness. Fortunately, Dr. V has helped reverse this trend. By treating hundreds of thousands of patients every year, Dr. V and his staff at Aravind Eye Hospital have greatly reduced the incidence of blindness in India.

Zoos allow people the opportunity to observe wild animals at close range. Although these opportunities are beneficial to people, the animals in zoos live in unnatural habitats that restrict their movement and cause them permanent harm.

Zoos exhibit the world's animals to millions of visitors every year. But since the animals' habitats do not provide the freedom and stimulation found in the wild, the animals often act in unnatural ways that are disturbing to the people observing them.

Zoos provide meaningful opportunities for people to observe animals they might not otherwise see. However, seeing animals in captivity can be disheartening and can make people wonder whether the benefits of zoos outweigh the disadvantages.

Zoos give visitors a view of the world's animals in settings similar to their natural habitat. By providing care and food to these animals, zoos improve the survival chances for many species facing extinction in the wild.

While social scientists have long recognized that the number of people living alone has exploded, they have erred in interpreting the trend as a social problem. In fact, the growing number of households without children has improved the social fabric of the United States.

Single-person households in the United States have become much more prevalent than many realize. Contrary to the views of some experts, however, this development does not signal growing isolation and social disintegration. Many find that living alone allows them to pursue happier and more socially active lives.

The author's research into modern American domestic habits suggests that the rise in solo living has been misunderstood. In the past the nuclear family was the most common form of household, but this type of living arrangement did not necessarily lead to the greatest happiness. People today are decreasingly concerned with raising a family, and it is time policy makers begin to understand this trend.

Many more people live alone today than in the past. Some researchers think this is a worrisome development, but their concern is misplaced. Because of modern technology, people often feel overwhelmed by their social networks and constant connectedness to others.