Answer:
"Trying to understand these characters exercises the same mental muscle that helps us understand people in the real world."
"People who read stories are better at sharing and understanding other people's feelings."
"Tiny differences in meaning in poetry and writing can communicate emotion far better than any scientific explanation, he says."
"We learn through the experiences of the characters we read about, Coke says."
"Because we empathize, or feel what others are feeling, we expand our understanding of other people in other situations. We are also bothered by our own misfortunes."
"Allison Adelle Hedge Coke grew up in several foster homes, fought cancer and struggled with drug abuse...'I really didn't believe I would make it through childhood, but the act of writing brought me through,' she says."
Explanation:
The Newsela article hinges on the central idea that reading and writing greatly improves empathy and mental health. While empathy increases ones understanding about how people feel, it also increases health as it creates positivity and improves one's feelings about his own life. Writing boosts health by helping one pour out his emotions. According to the article reading and writing improve the communication between doctors and patients in solving the patients health problems while also helping the patient play a role in helping himself as it concerns his health(narrative medicine). The article points out the need for everyone to read and write as it improves health for everyone and not just for patients who need treatment.
