In much of Asia, especially the so-called＂rice bowl＂ cultures of China, Japan, Korea, {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Vietnam,food is usually eaten with chopsticks.

        Chopsticks are usually two long, thin pieces of wood or bamboo.They can also be made of plastic, animal bone or metal. Sometimes chopsticks are quite artistic. Truly elegant chopsticks might {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) of gold and silver with Chinese characters. Skilled workers also combine various hard woods and metal {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (create)special designs.

        The Chinese have used chopsticks for five thousand years. People probably cooked their food in large pots, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (use) twigs(树枝)to removeit. Over time, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the population grew, people began cutting food into small pieces so it would cook more quickly.

Food in small pieces could be eaten easily with twigs which {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (gradual) turned into chopsticks.

        Some people think that the great Chinese scholar Confucius, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} livedfrom roughly 551 to 479 B.C., influenced the {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (develop) of chopsticks. Confucius believed knives would remind people of killings and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) too violent for use at the table.

Chopsticks are notused everywhere in Asia. In India, for example, most people traditionally eat {#blank#}10{#/blank#} their hands.

    Last year, my brother and I went to Miami for a vacation. Some of my friends who had been there before said {#blank#}1{#/blank#} was a Wonderful holiday destination. Before we went, we had planned for months. When the day came, we were ready.

    After our plane landed, we went to the hotel. We had made our reservation six months{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(early), but the man at the front desk said there had been a mistake. We{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(tell) that our rooms hadn't been reserved for that week,{#blank#}4{#/blank#} for the week after. I didn't understand {#blank#}5{#/blank#}this would happen and my credit card had already been charged {#blank#}6{#/blank#} the reservation. What's worse, the hotel had been fully hooked. When we were wondering what to do, the manager came out. She was {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(surprise) helpful. She apologized for the mistake and gave us a spare VIP room on {#blank#}8{#/blank#} top floor. We had never stayed in such an amazing room, and we weren't charged extra.

    The next day, my brother and I went to the beach {#blank#}9{#/blank#} we watched some people play volleyball. We got a little {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(sunburn), but the day had been so relaxing that we didn't mind.

    However depressed you may be feeling now, if you look back, there certainly will have been events that made you happy—maybe the time {#blank#}1{#/blank#} you bought your first bicycle or you were awarded a scholarship. When good things happen, we feel excited, proud and happy.

    But the problem is, happiness doesn't usually last. The excitement of that first bicycle purchase wears off, and the pride in the scholarship gives way to the stress of performing {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (well) on the next exam.

    Psychologists call this phenomenon hedonic adaptation (享乐适应症)—that is, {#blank#}3{#/blank#} good something makes us feel, most of the time we drift back to {#blank#}4{#/blank#} we started. An often {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (quote) example is that lottery winners are no happier than non-winners eighteen months after their win.

    But don't despair. It is possible to make happiness last. Psychologists have found two anti-adaptation tools that are effective in sustaining happiness: variety and appreciation.

    Variety is, as we all know, the spice of life. But it's also a useful weapon {#blank#}6{#/blank#} adaptation. Positive changes that {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (experience) in a variety of ways are more likely to lead to lasting happiness. For example, you will feel happier about your volunteer work{#blank#}8{#/blank#} you are able to cope with new tasks every week. The second tool, appreciation, is in many ways the opposite of adaptation. It's about focusing on something, instead of letting it fade into the background. It is only when you appreciate something {#blank#}9{#/blank#} an enduring feeling of happiness will follow.

    Human beings spend a lot of time figuring out what makes them happy, but not enough time {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (try) to hang on to the happiness they already have. This is like focusing all your energy on making more money, without giving any thought to what you will do with the money. The key to happiness is to not only look for new opportunities but also to make the most of the ones you've been given.

Meet Alexa, Your Digital Roommate

    Who is Alexa? She is a digital assistant that is part of the voice-activated Echo Dot "smart speaker" produced by Amazon. This year Saint Louis University in Missouri has placed one of the speakers in every dorm room {#blank#}1{#/blank#} its campus. Students can ask the virtual assistant anything from "When are the football teams playing?" to "What's the square root of 1440?"

    SLU student Brendan McGuire said: "Instead of searching on the Internet while I {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (tap) away at my computer, I can just ask Alexa: Hey Alexa, ask SLU what's the molecular(分子的)weight of water? And I can have the answer without {#blank#}3{#/blank#}(interrupt) my process." That's exactly {#blank#}4{#/blank#} school officials had in mind when they decided to provide the smart speakers free of charge for students.

    "The students we attract {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (drive) to achieve success in and out of the classroom," David Hakanson, SLU's vice president, said. "Every minute we can save our students from having to search for the information online is another minute {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (commit) to their education."

    Saint Louis University is the first in the U.S. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (include) an Echo Dot smart speaker in every campus living space. Other colleges have also found ways to offer the technology to students. This year Northeastern University in Boston installed 60 speakers in public places {#blank#}8{#/blank#} students could get answers to common questions.

    At Arizona State University, engineering students living in the brand-new residence hall have the option of adding an Amazon Echo Dot to their rooms. "Our focus is putting this technology into the hands of our students in a way{#blank#}9{#/blank#} will build an ecosystem. {#blank#}10{#/blank#} supports voice technologies throughout the ASU campus," said Heredia, a director at ASU.