The Science of Risk-Seeking

    Sometimes We decide that a little unnecessary danger is worth it because when we weigh the risk and the reward, the risk seems worth tasking. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Some of us enjoy activities that would surprise and scare the rest of us. Why? Experts say it may have to do with how our brains work.

    The reason why any of us take any risks at all might have to do with early humans. Risk-takers were better at hunting, fighting, or exploring. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}As the quality of Risk-taking was passed from on ration to the next, humans ended up with a sense of adventure and a tolerance for risk.

    So why aren't we all jumping out of airplanes then? Well, even 200,000 years ago, too much risk-taking could get one killed. A few daring survived, though, along with a few stay-in-the-cave types. As a result, humans developed a range of character types that still exists today. So maybe you love car racing, or maybe you hate it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    No matter where you are on the risk-seeking range, scientists say that your willingness to take risks increases during your teenage years. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}To help you do that, your brain increases your hunger for new experiences. New experiences often mean taking some risks, so your brain raises your tolerance for risk as well.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#},for the risk-seekers a part of the brain related to pleasure becomes active, while for the rest of us, a part of the brain related to fear becomes active.

    As experts continue to study the science of risk-seeking, we'll continue to hit the mountains, the waves or the shallow end of the pool.

    There is an old Spanish saying which states, “Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.” How many times have we put off our dreams tomorrow? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} We have to go for them now!

Tomorrow is not promised.

    Nobody likes to talk about death, but everybody is going to die at one point. None of us know the day or the hour. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Don't go to your tomb(坟墓) with unrealized dreams. Make the decision to go after every dream, big or small right now.

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    One of the biggest dream killers is fear. Many people could have achieved amazing things if only they weren't afraid. Just think about all the things you've wanted to go, but allowed fear to convince you that you weren't talented, or good enough. Fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create.

Take action to realize your dream.

    You can dream about writing a great play, but it's never going to happen unless you actually put pen to paper. You can dream about finding a cure for cancer, but it will never happen unless you actually become equipped with the necessary tools to find that cure. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Possibilities are waiting on you.

    There are so many amazing opportunities and people waiting on you. How do you get to them? Simple! Follow your dream. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} You'll never see those doors if you sit around waiting on a dream to happen, instead of actually working to make it happen.

    If you want to keep fit, please refer to the following:

    Move More

    Make it a daily habit to find ways to move your body.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Climb stairs instead of taking the lift. Walk your dog; play with your kids. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute dance class. But that's great when you're up to it. At the same time, move more.

    Give up Smoking

    Ever since 1960 when it was announced that smoking was harmful to health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products. Just recently, we've seen more and more teens smoking. Could it be the Hollywood influence?{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Take care! Warn your children against smoking.

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    While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems such as liver and kidney disease and cancer.

    Reduce Stress

    Easier said than done. Stress comes in many ways.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like such as walking on the beach or in a park, reading a good book, visiting a friend, listening to relaxing music, and watching a funny movie.

    Protect Yourself from Pollution

    If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is good.

A. Avoid Overdrinking

B. There are many things you can do to move your arms and legs.

C. Think carefully before doing something.

D. Exercise outside when the smog(雾霾)rating is low.

E. It seems that the stars in every movie smoke cigarettes.

G. It's important to reduce it.

    In spite of so many years of education behind us, can we confidently say we understand what it feels like to be a teacher?

    The biggest misunderstanding about teaching jobs is that anyone can be a teacher. In fact, the truth is far from it. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} They also know the teaching theory well. They should know how things should be taught and how one can be inspired to learn. Also, they need to have an idea about classroom management and students' psychology（心理学）.

    Now it can be really annoying for a teacher if someone says teaching is one of the easiest jobs around, because everyone just needs to be taught for a few hours a day. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} However, teachers work longer to come up with ways to make the knowledge appear more interesting to students and help them learn better.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} And this is a big reason why more people decide to choose teaching as a career. However, good teachers choose to make good use of the break, by enrolling (注册) themselves for workshops on teaching, classroom management, and related things.

    All teachers are not the same, as against what is widely believed. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Every teacher is different and has a different approach（方法）to teaching.

 {#blank#}5{#/blank#} A teacher has meetings to attend, and is responsible for (对……负责) organizing school events. An important duty of a teacher is to prepare the progress report of each student and discuss it with his or her parents.

    In a word, teachers ought to be respected for what they do, and we should never forget their great contribution（贡献）to our success in life.

A. A teacher has many things to do rather than just teach.

B. It is true that teachers get a lot more holidays than others.

C. A good teacher is one who motivates students to overcome challenges.

D. To begin with, teachers are people who perform well in their fields of study.

E. A statement that is true for one teacher is not necessarily true for the others.

F. And common people even believe teachers are probably overpaid when their days end at 3 pm.

G. These teachers give all they can to create an ideal learning environment for their students.

    A new study suggests that the timing of a wound affects the speed at which it heals(愈合). Wounds suffered during the day heal around 60 percent faster than those at night.

    The study showed how the body's circadian rhythm(昼夜节律) controlled the healing of wounds{#blank#}1{#/blank#} It tells our bodies when to wake up, eat and sleep in a cycle—a series of activities that repeat themselves day after day{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    In the study, researchers found that skin cells moved faster to repair wounds suffered during the day. Their findings were published in the journal Science Transnational Medicine.

    The researchers examined cells, mice, and burn injury databases{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Night-time burns—burns suffered between 8 o'clock at night and 8 o' clock the next morning—were 95percent healed after an average of 28 days.

    But after an average of 17 days, daytime burns-burns suffered between 8 o'clock in the morning and 8 o'clock at night—were 95 percent healed{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Wounds are very costly to treat{#blank#}5{#/blank#}In Britain's National Health Services, for example, such services cost around $6.56 billion per year. Experts say the high costs result, in part, from a lack of drugs that speed up the closure of wounds.

A. Each cycle lasts about 24 hours.

B. The circadian rhythm is like a clock or timer.

C. Specifically their investigation found the following information:

D. The new study's findings could help scientists develop better drugs.

E. In other words, nigh-time injuries took an average of 11days longer to heal

F. Worldwide, billions of dollars are spent every year on wound-treatment services.

G. That's what a group of researchers from a university in Canada recently published.

Life getting you down? Learn to bounce back

    "That which does not kill us makes us stronger.＂ Nietzsche said. There are a number of ways that can get us through tough times, help us to bounce back and make us happier. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Find something you can control.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} But taking small, positive steps in any area of our life can have a ripple effect, enabling us to move forward in the problem area.

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    As a species, we tend to focus on what's wrong rather than what's right. But we can benefit a lot from paying attention to what's going right. Psychologists have shown consciously focusing on these good things helps to increase our experience of positive emotions.

    Check your thinking.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Leading psychologist Martin Seligman found that the way we interpret the causes of everyday setbacks can have a significant impact on our ability to cope and our physical health. He also showed we can learn more resilient(有弹性的) thinking styles.

    Distract yourself.

    When we are immersed in a problem, it is hard to think creatively about ways to deal with it. It often helps to take time out from the things you are worrying about.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Not only does this give us a break from what we're doing and our worries, it's also great for our minds.

A. Always do something that is right.

B. It's true that there are lots of things we can't control.

C. An effective way of taking time out is exercise.

D. Next time you are feeling stressed or stuck, give them a try.

E. Focus on what's right.

F. Next time something goes wrong for you, pause for a moment.

G. The way we think can destroy our own resilience.