The Island Rule is one of the best explanations scientists could give to the observable phenomenon that animals and humans have evolved (演变) depending on the resources available in their habitat (栖息地). Through time, scientists have noticed through fossil (化石) records that some large animals from mainland habitats have dwarf (矮小的) versions in bland habitats.

    A report from BBC described the existence of what scientists call “hobbit island” off a small island somewhere in Indonesia. It was given such a name because fossil records of tiny, humanlike creatures have been found in the region. What they called as “hobbits” or “Homo Floresiensis”, are only as tall as one meter and arc small versions of early human species with tinier brains.

    Though scientists cannot perfectly trace the origin of the “Homo Floriensis”, they believe that they arc human relatives, but it is the “island life” that has caused them to evolve as they have. Scientists have noticed through fossil records and existing organisms (有机体) today that it seems if large animals grow small in islands while small animals grow large in larger islands.

In theory, animal and human bodies have adjusted to the available food and fresh water in their habitats. Since there is no opportunity for them to leave their island, they might as well adapt.

    New York Magazine explained that islands usually have fewer predators (捕食者) than mainland ecosystems. However, it is the lack of resources that cause the death of many animals. As a means of natural adaptation, the bodies of these animals have evolved smaller than their ancestors, making their bodies require fewer resources.

    A report from Web Ecoist listed down a few examples of animals that have shrunk significantly compared with their ancestors. Some of these include the Bali tiger as small as leopards (豹).

    If English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong. Haven't you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?

    According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power. Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter. This is the area of the brain which processes(处理) information. It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles(肌肉).

    The study also found the effect is greater when the younger people learn a second language. A team led by Dr. Andrea Mechelli, from University College London, took a group of Britons who only spoke English. They were compared with a group of “early bilinguals(双语使用者) ” who had learnt a second language before the age of five, as well as a number of later learners. Scans(扫描) showed that grey matter density(密度) in the brain was greater in bilinguals who learnt a second language at an early age. But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference. “Our findings suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language,” said the scientists.

    It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn. Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales, has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills. “Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible(灵活的),” he said. “You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas.”

    The findings had the same result in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of two and thirty-four. Reading, wiring, and comprehension were all tested. The results showed that the younger they stared to learn, the better. “Studying a language means you get entrance to another world,” explained the scientists.

    Google's new camera, called Clips, is a small, smart device. It comes with a case that has a clip (夹子), but it's not designed to be worn on your clothing. Most interestingly, it uses artificial intelligence to take photography out of your hands so it can capture moments on its own.

    This roughly 2-inch by 2-inch camera, with a three-hour battery life and Gorilla Glass for toughness, is intended for candid moments, like when a child does something cute that may happen too quickly for you to pull out your smartphone.

    Onboard the Clips device, it uses machine learning algorithms ( 计 算 程 序 ) to help capture scenes. Those algorithms include face recognition. "Once it learns that there's a face you see frequently, it'll try to get nice photos of those faces," said Juston Payne, the device's product manager. And they also want it to recognize facial expressions, which involved "training it to know what happiness looks like". The Google team also trained it to recognize what not to shoot—like when a child's hand is over the lens, or if it is tossed in a dark purse.

    The only way to see the images is by connecting the camera with your phone, as it has no screen for viewing or editing.

    Were people concerned it could seem strange? Yes, Payne admitted. But they said they addressed that by making it obvious what it is. A green light on the front signals that it is on. Besides, unlike a camera meant to monitor your home, it is not connected to the Internet.

    "This product is only possible because of the way that silicon has advanced," Payne said, noting that it was only in the past year or so that they could squeeze the technology down into a device this size. Going forward, we're likely to get more assistance from the artificial intelligence packed into our apps and gadgets.

    How do young children learn to have good values? How can parents teach their children about the importance of kindness and patience? At a time when more and more parents worry about the violent images(暴力形象) their children see on TV, some are turning to fairy tales(童话).

    It is believed that fairy tales have a great influence on children because they describe the two sides of good and evil(邪恶) very clearly. When children hear the stories, they learn to care about others' feelings. In each tale, they can see that there are many different kinds of people in the world and that we all have a choice about what kind of person we want to be. We can choose to do good actions, rather than bad ones, in our lives.

    What kind of values can children learn from fairy tales? In The Princess and the Pea(《豌豆公主》), a poorly dressed girl, who insists she is a princess, is given a difficult test by the Queen. When she passes the test, we learn that her dream comes true because she stays true to herself. In The Little Mermaid(《小美人鱼》), the mermaid, who lives under the sea, wishes to be with the humans on land. Through her experiences, we learn about the importance of living with and accepting other cultures. In Pinocchio, a wooden puppet(木偶) turns into a boy when he finally learns how to tell the truth.

    Teaching values is the reason most often given for encouraging children to read stories. These fairy tales can teach children lessons about human relationships that are accepted around the world for many countries. This might be the reason why they have been around for so long and will not disappear any more soon.

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        Hotpot has a long history of over 1,000 years in China. It used to {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (favor) only in winter, but recently hotpot has been appearing on tables all year round.

        {#blank#}2{#/blank#} the delicious flavor, there are two other important reasons for the Chinese to like hotpot. First, it is a great way {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (socialize) – people gather around the pot, chatting, eating, drinking {#blank#}4{#/blank#} having fun. Second, hotpot is a healthy meal. Boiling is better than frying, with bone nutrients {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (release) into the soup. In addition, eating hot pot can warm the body in winter, and increase perspiration (排汗) to help cool the body in summer. Some seasonings (作料) used in hotpots can help relieve some minor {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(illness) like colds, blocked sinuses and headaches.

        Chongqing Hotpot is the staple dish of the city. Hotpot restaurants in Chongqing are everywhere – if you look up on the street you are in, chances are that you {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (stand) exactly near a hotpot restaurant.

        {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (usual), the taste of food can reflect the attitude and status of life there. As a {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (symbol) food in Chongqing, it reflects that people there have the sense of integrity and embrace the diversified culture. Almost everything {#blank#}10{#/blank#} is eatable can be cooked in hotpot, so eating hotpot is a must when you come to Chongqing!