Everybody is happy as his pay rises．Yet pleasure at your own can disappear if you learn that a fellow worker has been given a bigger one．Indeed, if he is known as being lazy, you might even be quite cross．Such behavior is regarded as "all too human", with the underlying belief that other animals would not be able to have this finely developed sense of sadness．But a study by Sarah Brosnan of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, which has just been published in Nature, suggests that it is all too monkey, as well．

    The researchers studied the behaviors of some kind of female brown monkeys．They look smart． They are good-natured, co-operative creatures, and they share their food happily．Above all, like female human beings, they tend to pay much closer attention to the value of "goods and services" than males．

    Such characteristics make them perfect subjects for Doctor Brosnan's study．The researchers spent two years teaching their monkeys to exchange tokens （奖券） for food．Normally, the monkeys were happy enough to exchange pieces of rock for pieces of cucumber．However, when two monkeys were placed in separate and connected rooms, so that each other could observe what the other is getting in return for its rock, they became quite different．

    In the world of monkeys, grapes are excellent goods （and much preferable to cucumbers）．So when one monkey was handed a grape in exchange for her token, the second was not willing to hand hers over for a mere piece of cucumber．And if one received a grape without having to provide her token in exchange at all, the other either shook her own token at the researcher, or refused to accept the cucumber．Indeed, the mere presence of a grape in the other room （without an actual monkey to eat it） was enough to bring about dissatisfaction in a female monkey．

    The researches suggest that these monkeys, like humans, are guided by social senses．In the wild, they are co-operative and group-living．Such co-operation is likely to be firm only when each animal feels it is not being cheated．Feelings of anger when unfairly treated, it seems, are not the nature of human beings alone．Refusing a smaller reward completely makes these feelings clear to other animals of the group．However, whether such a sense of fairness developed independently in monkeys and humans, or whether it comes from the common roots that they had 35 million years ago, is, as yet, an unanswered question．

    Kung fu is one of a number of Chinese martial arts designed to improve the body and the mind. It is perhaps one of the most widely known martial arts, because many films include its techniques. There are hundreds of styles taught all over the world, although they can be loosely divided into two camps: Shaolin style kung fu, and other techniques, some of which have a history that outdates the Shaolin order.

    Shaolin kung fix has its origins in the fifth century. Like some other martial arts, it began in religious temples, where the monks sought a mind and body discipline (训练方法). In addition to the fighting style, it also includes mental exercises and religious practices designed to balance the whole body.

    Shaolin temples resembled universities, integrating a wide range of subjects of study. Therefore, traditional Shaolin styles such as Wing Chun, Crane, Praying Mantis, and Hung Gar took knowledge from fields outside martial arts, such as the healing arts and meditation. Supporters for Shaolin styles believe that they are more rounded martial arts styles, and that learners will benefit from them on a whole body level.

    Other fighting styles, some of which predate the Shaolin style, are also lumped under the kung fu umbrella. They include Pa-Kua, Eagle Claw, and Eight Drunken Immortals styles. These disciplines are not considered to be Shaolin style because they did not originate in temples and are focused primarily on fighting techniques.

    Whether Shaolin or otherwise, kung fu is characterized by self defense strategies that turn the energy of an attacker against him or her. Although the techniques may vary, most styles teach throws, kicks, punches, and the use of weapons. In addition to the physical discipline, most place a great importance on respect, honor, and living a balanced life.

    Norman Garmezy, a development psychologist at the University of Minnesota, met thousands of children in his four decades of research. A nine-year-old boy in particular stuck with him. He has an alcoholic mother and an absent father. But each day he would walk in to school with a smile on his face. He wanted to make sure that "no one would feel pity for him and no one would know his mother's incompetence." The boy exhibited a quality Garmezy identified as "resilience".

    Resilience presents a challenge for psychologists. People who are lucky enough to never experience any sort of adversity (逆境) won't know how resilient they are. It's only when they're faced with obstacles, stress, and other environmental threats that resilience, or the lack of it, comes out. Some give in and some conquer.

    Garmezy's work opened the door to the study of the elements that could enable an individual's success despite the challenges they faced. His research indicated that some elements had to do with luck, but quite large set of elements was psychological, and had to do with how the children responded to the environment. The resilient children had what psychologists call an "internal lens of control(内控点)". They believed that they, and not their circumstances, affected their achievements. The resilient children saw themselves as the arrangers of their own fates.

    Ceorge Bonanno has been studying resilience for years at Columbia University's Teachers College. He found that some people are far better than others at dealing with adversity. This difference might come from perception(认知) whether they think of an event as traumatic(创伤), or as an opportunity to learn and grow. "Stressful" or "traumatic" events themselves don't have much predictive power when it comes to life outcomes. "Exposure to potentially traumatic events does not predict later functioning," Bonanno said. "It's only predictive if there's a negative response." In other words, living through adversity doesn't guarantee that you'll suffer going forward.

The good news is that positive perception can be taught. "We can make ourselves more or less easily hurt by how we think about things," Bonanno said. In research at Columbia, the neuroscientist Kevin Ochsner has shown that teaching people to think of adversity in different ways--to reframe it in positive terms when the initial response is negative, or in a less emotional way when the initial response is emotionally "hot"—changes how they experience and react to the adversity.

    Mr. Bean is an internationally recognized comedy character on TV and in films. He constantly gets into awkward and absurd situations, which greatly amuses audiences regardless of their nationalities or culture. The humour is always made clear through a series of simple and funny acts that rely purely on body language, which is universal.

    One of my favourite shows is that Mr. Bean has a meal in a fancy restaurant. After being seated at his table, Mr. Bean takes out a card, writes a few words on it, seals (密封) it in an envelope and places it on the table. After a moment, he looks back at the envelope but this time he looks surprised, as if he did not know it was there. He opens it to find a birthday card and delightedly puts it on the table for everyone to see.

    When he looks at the menu, an astonished look swiftly appears on his face. He takes all the money out of his wallet, counts it and puts it in a saucer (茶托). He then looks from the menu to the money with concern until he finds one thing that makes him smile. Then he orders a dish called "steak tartare". When the dish arrives, he is shocked to discover that "steak tartare" is actually raw hamburger. He makes an attempt to eat it, but it is clear from the look on his face that he finds the taste truly disgusting. He cannot hide his feelings, except when the waiter asks if everything is all right. When this happens, he smiles and nods, indicating that everything is fine. When the waiter is not looking, however, he busies himself hiding the raw meat anywhere he can reach-the sugar bowl, the tiny flower vase, inside a bun (小圆面包) and under a plate. He becomes so desperate in the end that he even hides some inside the purse of a woman sitting near him and throws some down the trousers of the restaurant's violinist!

    I like to watch Mr. Bean on TV, but I wouldn't like to meet someone like him in real life and I certainly wouldn't like to have dinner with him!

Daily Habits to Help You Get Healthier in 2024

Many of us hope to make changes for the better for the new year, and health goals tend to be at the top of that list. Sometimes New Year's wishes require some sacrifices. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Below are some achievable daily habits that keep your overall health.

Prioritize sleep.

Your body needs time not only to rest and recharge, but also to do important work like learning new things. Experts suggest teenagers should get. at least eight hours sleep each day. If this is a challenge for you, turn to your circadian rhythm, which tells you the right time to sleep and wake up. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Just go to bed and get up at the same time every day.

Take a break from electronics.

In fact, studies have found that screen addiction has a negative influence on our health. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Keeping away from screen can improve your sleep, and reduce depression and anxiety. Thus, remember to spare time each day when you're screen-free.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Your health y habits can also be fun and rewarding. What have you always wanted to do? Your answer to that question might point you toward a new hobby to explore in 2024. And getting into it can help you reduce stress and boost mental well-being. Plus, some hobbies can get you moving, boosting your physical and mental health. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

Ultimately, you can pick one or two healthy daily habits. And I am sure you'll be moving toward a healthier, happier 2024.

A. Fight against stress.

B. Take on a new hobby.

C. Fortunately, doing the opposite is beneficial.

D. Then how do you use your body clock for better sleep?

E. For better sleep, perhaps make that the last thing before bed.

F. However, we don't have to give up too much to realize them

G. Maybe playing basketball or doing yoga will be a good choice

Europe is famous for big cities and world-class art museums. It's easy not to notice the small, beautiful villages in Europe. However, if you're after relaxation, peaceful country walks, beautiful buildings, and chances for different cultures on your next trip, consider cutting down some of your city time and head out to a village instead. Here are three of the most beautiful villages in Europe, along with our top picks for places to stay in each.

Bibury in Gloucestershire, England

Often praised as the most beautiful village of the Cotsworlds, Bibury is also one of the most popular places for visitors to stay in the area, and attracts a lot of tourists from around the world. It's set among the green hills that the area is known for and is composed of light-beige(浅米色) stone houses, including the famous Arlington Row, a line of houses dating back to 1380.

Cong in County Mayo, Ireland

Set on a small sea-facing island on the western coast of Ireland, Cong is a quiet village that's famous for its grey stone ruins and many outdoor activities. One of the biggest reasons for its fame is that the 1952 film The Quiet Man was made there, but the biggest draw for most visitors is the chance to visit (or stay in) Ashford Castle, which is now run as a great expensive hotel.

Montepulciano in Tuscany, Italy

Spread over a hilltop nearly 2, 000 meters above sea level, the Tuscan village of Montepulciano offers beautiful buildings from the Middle Ages, as well as many chances to visit wineries(酿酒厂) and taste the locally produced Vino Nobel di Montepulciano. With fortifications(防御工事) dating back to the 14th century, the village has churches and public squares, which are truly fascinating.