In our daily life, we have developed a lot of habits, such as, eating habit, study habit, reading habit, etc. However, taking the time to develop a sleep habit is probably the last thing on your mind and some sleep advice simply can't be forgotten. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

Watching TV until you fall asleep

    It has nothing to do with what you watch —TV news isn't a better pre-sleep choice than TV series. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. The bright light keeps you awake all the night. So even if you nod off (in front of the TV, for example), you probably won't stay asleep for long.

Sleeping with pets

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. They get comfortable, and then they move. This goes on all night, and whether you admit it or not, it interrupts your ability to get the level of sleep needed to feel rested.

Eating fatty, heavy foods too close to bedtime

    Heartburn (烧心，胃痛) strikes anyone of any age, but it's the most common GI disorder (胃肠失调) in older adults. If you've ever tried to go to sleep after eating a fatty meal, you've probably found the discomfort of stomach preventing you from falling asleep or staying asleep.

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    Remember how poorly you sleep when you have a fever—turning over and over again, never really feeling rested? Well, heavy exercise too close to bedtime has the same effect — it raises your body temperature so that your sleep is disturbed until your body temperature drops to normal, which may take several hours.

Accepting snoring (打呼噜) as normal sleep behavior

    Snoring may seem as common as breathing, but it's considered the biggest sleep killer, and it's linked to several causes: sleeping on your back, being overweight, having a cold, drinking, or taking drugs. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. For the snorer, it disturbs sleep by awakening him/her every so often in order to breathe normally. For the partner, the noise can be unbearable.

    One hot night last July, when our new baby wouldn't or couldn't sleep,I tried everything I could think of: a warm bottle,songs,gentle rocking.Nothing would settle him.Guessing that I had a long night ahead of me,I brought a portable TV into his room,figuring that watching the late movie was as good a way as any to kill the hours till dawn. To my surprise,as soon as the TV lit up,the baby quieted right down,his little eyes focused brightly on the tube.Not to waste an opportunity for sleep,I then tiptoes（踮着脚走）out of the room,leaving him to watch the actors celebrate John Bellushi's forty-fifth birthday.

    My wife and I heard none of the baby that night,and the next morning when I went into his room,I found that he was still watching TV himself.

    I found in my baby's behavior a symbol of the new generation.My wife and I had given him some books to examine,but he merely spit upon them.When we read to him,he did not feel comfortable.And so it is in the schools. We find that our students don't read and that they look down upon reading and scold those of us who teach it.All that they want to do is to watch TV.After this experience with the baby,however,I have come to a conclusion:"Let them watch it!"If television is that much more attractive to children than books,why should we fight about it?Let them watch it all that they want!

    The wedding tradition of “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” has been around for hundreds of years. The tradition of carrying or wearing one of each item is said to bring luck and fortune to the newly married couple. Have you ever stopped to think what the saying really means? What is its origin and what does each item represent?

    The original saying dates back to the Victoria times and states, “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in your shoe.”

    Something old   A bride may wear or carry something old to represent her continued ties to her family and her old life. Many brides wear a piece of family jewelry as their old item. Some brides wear the wedding dress worn by their mother or grandmother. In many cases, something old may also be something borrowed.

    Something new   Wearing something new is supposed to represent success and hope in the bride's new life and in her marriage. If the bride purchased her wedding dress new, it may represent her new item, but any item that is new may be used. Something “new” is usually the easiest kind to fill.

    Something borrowed   The borrowed item should be something borrowed from a friend that is happily married. It is said that their happiness will rub off on you and bring lasting happiness to your marriage. Some brides borrow an item of clothing, a piece of jewelry, a handkerchief or perhaps a beaded(带珠子的) purse.

    Something blue Wearing something blue dates back to ancient times when a blue wedding dress was worn to represent purity, fidelity and love.

    Silver sixpence   Placing a silver sixpence in the bride's left shoe is said to be a symbol of wealth. This not only refers to financial wealth, but also a wealth of happiness and joy throughout her married life. Since most brides probably don't even know what a sixpence is, this part of the tradition is not used very often in modern times. However, if a bride would like to include it in her wedding, she can purchase a silver sixpence from many companies that sell bridal supplies such as garters(袜带) and invitations.

    As my fortieth birthday approaches, inevitable as a new hair-do, I realize how many women friends I've had over the years: Most have come and gone with the changes of life, just like the latest shoe fashions waltz in and out of my closet.

    Some of my friends, like some of my shoes, were silly mistakes. They never did fit properly, and they always felt slightly “off”, no matter how hard I tried to fit my feet into them. Others were my absolute favorite for a while, but they wore out or wore off. All style and no substance; the quality just wasn't there.

    Then there are my true friends—the ones who, like a pair of fine shoes, never go out of style or out of favor, whose appeal and value just increase with wear and time. These are friends who stay in touch and stand by me—as if they and I have never gone off to a new state, or a new job. Physical distance does not separate us; time does not change the fundamental fact of our friendship; the wear and tear of life does not stop us. The sole still support us; the colors and lines still please us; the uppers, still strong but gown son, gently bent around feet. Our connection is securely fastened, unaffected by the whirlwind of changes we've each been through, even when life carries us in different directions.

    If the comparison fits...

    Deborah is the evening shoe, elegant and lovely. She appreciates the finer things, choose only the best, and still looks polished long after the rest of us have drooped. She is a study in elegance and knows the difference between bone, and winter white. From this splendid treasure, I've come recognize my own appreciation for the finer things in life—and to the realization that I deserved them.

    Jane is pair essential, timeless pumps that I wear often and would be lost without. With this classic, my basic needs and comfort level are assured—leaving me time and energy for fun. I can move gracefully from day to night, from work to play, from jokes to discussion. My step is light; laughter comes easily and I am ready for adventure.

    Georgiana is my pair of standard white Keds—familiar, comfortable and good for all seasons. I've had them since long before. They are part of my childhood. They take me home, and I am a kid again diving into the ocean on a hot summer day. They have been up the hill and through the mud with me. They keep me moving forward, even when putting one foot in front of the other feels like the hardest thing I've ever done. I know I can slip them tomorrow and after. I am indebted to these lovely worn sneakers.

    In the shoe rack of life, these are the friends I cherish. They are the base upon which I stand. They accompany me on my chosen path, regardless of where it leads or how bumpy or how humpy or winding it gets.

    As a result of pollution, Lake Erie, on the borders of the USA and Canada, is now without any living things.

    Pollution in water is not simply a matter of “poisons” killing large numbers of fish overnight, Very often the effects of pollution are not noticed for many months or years because the first organisms（生物体）to be affected are either plants or plankton. But these organisms are the food of fish and birds and other creatures. When this food disappears, the fish and birds die too. In this way a whole food chain can be wiped out, and it's not until dead fish and water birds are seen at the river's edge or on the seashore that people realize what is happening.

    Where do the substances which pollute the water come from? There are two main sources of sewage（污水）and industrial waste . As more detergent（洗涤剂）is used in the home, so more of it is finally put into our rivers, lakes and seas . Detergents harm water birds, dissolving the natural substances which keep their feathers water - proof. Sewage itself, if not properly treated, makes the water dirty and prevents all forms of life in rivers and the sea from receiving the oxygen they need. Industrial waste is even more harmful as there are many highly poisonous things in it, such as copper and lead（铅）.

    So, if we want to stop this pollution, the answer is simple: sewage and industrial waste must be made clear before flowing into the water. It may already be too late to save some rivers and lakes, but others can still be saved if the correct action is taken at once.

On a recent Wednesday, archaeologists announced a groundbreaking discovery that challenges our understanding of early human capabilities. They have unearthed what is believed to be the oldest wooden structure ever found, dating back nearly half a million years. This discovery at Kalambo Falls in northern Zambia, near the border with Tanzania, suggests that our ancestors were more technologically advanced than previously thought.

The wooden structure, which is exceptionally well-preserved, dates back at least 476,000 years. This timeline predates the emergence of Homo sapiens, as detailed in a study published in the journal Nature. The wood shows evidence of having been cut and shaped using stone tools, indicating a level of craftsmanship that was not previously attributed to these early humans.

The structure, which is thought to have functioned as a walkway or platform elevated above the seasonally wet ground, demonstrates a purposeful construction technique. A collection of wooden tools, including a wedge and a digging stick, were also found at the site, further supporting the idea of a developed woodworking tradition.

Larry Barham, an archaeologist at the University of Liverpool and the lead author of the study, described the structure as involving "the intentional shaping of two trees to create a framework of two interlocking supports." A notch was cut into one log, and another tree was shaped to fit through this notch, providing stability to the structure.

The use of wood by early humans was already known, but it was typically associated with basic tasks such as starting fires or hunting. However, the discovery at Kalambo Falls indicates a more sophisticated application of woodworking skills. Barham explained, "The structure involves the intentional shaping of two trees to create a framework of two interlocking supports," which required a level of planning and execution that suggests a higher cognitive ability.

The preservation of the wooden structure is remarkable, given that wood typically decays over time, leaving little trace for archaeologists to study. The high water levels at Kalambo Falls are believed to have played a crucial role in preserving the structure for centuries.

These findings from Kalambo Falls not only provide evidence of an early human ability to manipulate their environment but also suggest a more complex cognitive capacity among these early humans than what has been inferred from stone tools alone. Barham concluded, "The finds from Kalambo Falls indicate that these earlier humans, like Homo sapiens, had the capacity to alter their surroundings, creating a built environment." This discovery underscores the need to reassess our understanding of early human technological and cognitive development.