If you want to convince the boss you deserve a pay rise or promotion, the solution could be simple—eat the same food as they do. Psychologists have discovered managers are much more likely to instantly trust us if we choose the same dishes as them.

    During experiments, discussions over wages and work conditions were much more successful if both sides chose to snack on the same treats. And shoppers were much more likely to buy a product advertised on TV by someone eating a similar food to them at the time.

    The reason is thought to be so-called similarity attraction theory — where people tend to like others who have similar tastes or habits to themselves. But this is believed to be one of the first studies highlighting the role of food in this relationship. Researchers at Chicago University in the US conducted a series of experiments to examine food's role in earning trust.

    In a test, participants were told to watch TV — where someone pretending to be a member of the public praised a certain product. The volunteers were given Kit Kat(巧克力) bars to nibble（轻咬）, while the TV people ate either a Kit Kat or grapes as they talked.

    The results showed viewers were much more likely to express an interest in buying the product if the TV showed the other person eating a Kit Kat too.

    The researchers added, ―Although similarity in food consumption is not a sign of whether two people will get along, we find consumers treat this as such. They feel more trusting of those who consume as they do. It means people can immediately begin to feel friendship and develop a bond, leading to smoother transactions from the start.

    Harley Street psychologist Dr Lucy Atcheson said it was already known that wearing similar clothes could instantly create trust. But this was the first report that food had the same effect. She said, This is really interesting. It makes sense as people feel they have common ground and can trust the other person. That means negotiations are more likely to be successful.

    When he was driving home one evening on a country road, Joe saw an old lady, stranded（抛锚）on the side of the road. He stopped in front of her car and got out. Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. He looked poor and hungry. He knew how she felt. He said, “I am here to help you, madam. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Joe.”

    She had a flat tire（轮胎）.Joe crawled under the car, changed the tire. But he got dirty and his hands hurt. She could not thank him enough and asked him how much she owed him. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance he needed, and Joe added, “And think of me.”

    She drove off. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small restaurant. She went in. The waitress had a sweet smile, and was nearly eight months pregnant（怀孕）. The old lady wondered how someone like her who seemed poor could be so kind to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe. After the lady finished her meal, the waitress went to get her change from a hundred-dollar bill. But she stepped right out of the door.

    When the waitress came back, she noticed something written on a napkin, “I am helping you because someone once helped me. If you really want to pay me back, here's what you do—Do not let the chain of love end with you.”

    That night when she got home, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. She and her husband needed money with the baby due next month. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she whispered, “Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Joe.”

    The Healthy Habits Survey(调查)shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits. Here are some findings and expert advice.

    ⒈How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday?

    Finding: A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day.

    Step: Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a battery­operated toothbrush. Brush gently for 2 minutes, at least twice a day.

    ⒉How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday?

    Finding: Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week. And nearly 30% wash their hands only 4 times a day—half of the number doctors recommend.

    Step: We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day—often inviting germs(病菌)to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes. Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle. And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds.

    ⒊How often do you think about fighting germs?

    Finding: Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should.

    Step: Be aware of germs. Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge (海绵) that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds.

    Dublin City Guide

    Delightful and full of surprises, Dublin packs a blow that, delivered correctly, will leave you a shock. Dublin, locals will tell you, has personality, which is much more important than good looks and will last far longer. That's big talk for a small capital in true Irish style.

    About Dublin City Guide

    One Dublin author, over 500 hours of research, and over 300 shopping, eating and drinking recommendations.

    Insights into city life, from a local fashion designer's shopping tips to a food expert's top restaurant picks.

    Explore the living places that inspired Dublin's literary greats—Swift, Yeats, Beckett and Joyce.

    Book (USD $21.99)

    What you get:

    1 printed book

    Pages: 276 pages, 12 color pages, 29 maps

    Size: 128mm×197mm

    Weight: 0.31kg/0.68lb

    About books only purchase: We'll send you the physical printed book but you won't be given access to our e-book downloads. Select “Book + E-Book” and you would also like to download a digital version of this book.

    E-Book (USD $ 15.39)

    “Contents”, “Getting Started” and “Index” are all free.

    “Background”, “Neighborhoods”, “Eating &Drinking” and “Sleeping” are $4.95 each.

Book and E-Book (USD $28.59)

    Including: 1 printed book and all PDF chapters—8 PDF files.

    About book + E-book: We'll send you the physical printed book and while that's on the way you can download our e-books.

China is known as the home of tea.It is said that Shennong discovered tea around 2700 BCE.At first,tea leaves {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(chew).During the Tang Dynasty,{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(advance) were made in the processing of tea.The leaves were steamed,oxidized(氧化) and pounded into the cake form.This made tea easier {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(transport) and more pleasing to the tongue. 

The earliest batch(批次) of tea is often ready to be picked before Qingming.This precious small output of tea,widely {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(seek) after for its outstanding quality,is called Mingqian tea.The seasonal tea is known {#blank#}5{#/blank#} its tender leaves and fresh flavor.They have {#blank#}6{#/blank#} better favor than theater batches which can be grown overnight. 

East China's Zhejiang Province is acknowledged as a major producer of tea.In spring,local hillsides {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(fill) with tea workers sowing seeds on their land.In the peak seasons,many tourists flood to witness the beautiful scenery of tea farms for {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(they),while enjoying a cup of tea. 

There are many ways you can experience tea culture in China.You can visit a tea plantation in Hangzhou or elsewhere to learn {#blank#}9{#/blank#} tea is grown and harvested.You can sit inside a {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(tradition) teahouse and take in the classical atmosphere as you drink tea. 

The best way to deal with sports injuries {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (be) to stop them happening in the first place. Knowing the rules of the game you're playing and using the right {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (equip) can go a long way towards preventing injuries. If you think you've been injured, pull {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (you) out of the game or stop {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (do) your activity or workout. Let a coach or parent know what happened in case you need to see a doctor. Athletes, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Play contact sports like football, often suffer severe head and neck injuries. Keep the injured person still with his or her head {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (hold) straight while someone calls for emergency {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (medicine) help. If the person{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (lie) on the ground, do not try to move him or her.

Your first question after a sports injury will {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (probable) be, "When can I play again?" This depends on the injury and what your doctor tells you. Even if you can't return to your sports right away, a doctor might have advice {#blank#}10{#/blank#} what you can do to stay fit. Always check with your doctor before trying any activity following an injury.