Once upon a time, in a faraway land, there was a little dog named Max. Max was a happy and lively dog, but one day he became very sick. His hind legs were weak and he could no longer run and play with his friends. The vet examined Max and told his owners that he was suffering from a disease that had no cure.

The owners of Max were very sad, but they heard about a field trial for a new medicine that might help dogs like Max. The field trial was being held at a nearby park, and Max's owners took him there to see if he could participate.

At the field trial, Max was given either the new medicine or a placebo. A placebo is a fake medicine that doesn't have any active ingredients, but it helps the scientists understand if the new medicine is actually working.

Max was given the new medicine, and after just a few days, he started to show improvements. His hind legs became stronger, and he was able to run and play with his friends again. He was no longer crippled, and his owners could hear him barking and being vocal, just like he used to be.

Max's owners were overjoyed, and they thanked the scientists who conducted the field trial. They realized that field trials are an important part of discovering new medicines and helping animals like Max get better.

The end.

Reflections

1. What was Max's problem at the beginning of the story?
2. What did Max's owners do to help him get better?
3. What was the new medicine given to Max during the field trial?
4. How did Max feel after taking the new medicine?
5. Why are field trials important for discovering new medicines?