阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项 （A 、B 、C  和 D ）中，选出最佳选项。

    In an ideal world, people would not test medicines on animals. Such experiments are stressful and sometimes painful for animals, and expensive and time-consuming for people. Yet animal experimentation is still needed to help bridge vast gaps in medical knowledge. That is why there are some 50 to 100 million animals used in research around the world each year.

    Europe, on the whole, has the world's most restrictive (严格的) laws on animal experiments. Even so，its scientists use some 12 million animals a year, most of them mice and rats, for medical research. Official statistics show that just 1.1 million animals are used in research in America each year. But that is misleading. The American authorities do not think mice and rats are worth counting and, as these are the most common laboratory animals, the true figure is much higher. Japan and China have even less comprehensive (全面的) data than America.

    Now Europe is reforming the rules governing animal experiments by restricting the number of animals used in labs. Alternatives to animal testing，such as using human tissue or computer models, are now strongly recommended. In addition, sharing all research results freely should help to reduce the number of animals for scientific use. At present, scientists often share only the results of successful experiments. If their findings do not fit the hypothesis (假设) being tested, the work never sees the light of day. This practice means wasting time, money, and animals' lives in endlessly repeating the failed experiments.

    Animal experimentation has taught humanity a great deal and saved countless lives. It needs to continue，even if that means animals sometimes suffer. Europe's new measures should eventually both reduce the number of animals used in experiments and improve the way in which scientific research is conducted.

    One Moore Elementary school teacher is showing students the importance of communication through “shout-outs”. Third Grade Moore Elementary teacher Lindsey Winders said a shout-out is a compliment（称赞）that students can say or write down. “Like, 'hey I noticed you doing a really great job solving your math facts yesterday. I wanted to make sure you know that I saw you do that,” Winders said.

    Winders said she makes sure she is giving shout-outs to her students every day. “I might write them a sticky note, or write them a quick little note in their plans. I might just say it to them on their way into the classroom or on their way out of the classroom, but most importantly I try to do it every day,” Winders said.

    In addition to the compliments, Winders has the students greet each other every morning during morning meeting. She will have students give examples to the class of how to communicate in different settings. Third grade student Nayelli Moranchel said she has given at least six shout outs this year. “It makes me happy, because they always write something back,” Moranchel said.

    Recently, Winders took it one step further and wrote a personalized note on each of her students' desk. “In our classroom, sometimes it can be challenging for me to give a compliment or a shout out to each and every one of them in a way that feels equal and valuable at the same time. So I thought what's a better way to be able to do that than leaving a note on their desk that can stay for as long as they want it.” Winders said.

    Winders said it is encouraging when she sees her students copy the act, and give each other compliments without her guidance.

    Emotional eating is when people use food as a way to deal with feelings instead of to satisfy hunger. We've all been there, finishing a whole bag of chips out of boredom or downing cookie after cookie while preparing for a big test. But when done a lot — especially without realizing it — emotional eating can affect weight, health, and overall well-being.

    Not many of us make the connection between eating and our feelings. But understanding what causes emotional eating can help people take action to change it.

    One of the biggest myths (谬误) about emotional eating is that it's caused by negative feelings. Yes, people often turn to food when they're stressed out, lonely, sad, anxious, or bored. But emotional eating can be linked to positive feelings too, like the romance of sharing dessert on Valentine's Day or the celebration of a holiday feast（大餐）.

    Sometimes emotional eating is tied to major life events, like a death or a divorce. More often, though, it's the numerous little daily stresses that cause someone to seek comfort or distraction in food.

    Emotional eating patterns can be learned: A child who is given candy after a big achievement may grow up using candy as a reward for a job well done. A kid who is given cookies as a way to stop crying may learn to link cookies with comfort. It's not easy to “unlearn” patterns of emotional eating. But it is possible. And it starts with an awareness of what's going on.

    We're all emotional eaters in some way (who hasn't suddenly found room for dessert after a filling dinner?). But for some people, emotional eating can be a real problem, causing serious weight gain.

    The trouble with emotional eating (besides the health issues) is that once the pleasure of eating is gone, the feelings that cause it remain. And you often may feel worse about eating the amount or type of food you did. That's why it helps to know the differences between physical hunger and emotional hunger.

    Next time you reach for a snack, check in and see which type of hunger is driving it.

    The following children's books are our top picks to read together every year on Christmas Eve.

    Snowden written by Nancy Carlson

    This book is aimed at pre-school to the third-grade children, but can be enjoyed by many older children as well. Snowden is the story of a little girl and the snowman she makes that magically comes to life. Together, the two learn to ice-skate and discover that “a little magic and a lot of practice” can make all the difference in the world. The story is heart-touching and sweet.

    The Polar Express written by Chris Van Allsburg

    A young boy cannot sleep on Christmas Eve and is swept away by a steam engine on a trip to the North Pole. During the adventure, the message is that believing will keep you young at heart. The bell that the boy receives and his belief are both touching. The illustrations leave enough to the imagination to make it easy to fall into the story yourself.

    A Snowman Named Just Bob Written by Mark Kimball Moulton

    This book shares a tale of lasting friendship and teaches the lesson that friendship is always in your heart. The illustrations are beautiful and the text is eye-catching. The lessons are taught in such a way that they do not overshadow (使失色) the actual story. I tear up every time I read this book to my children.

    It's a white Christmas in the United States today, with snow falling from Seattle to Maine.

    •Northeast

    Biting winds with snow swept the Northeast.

    Earlier, up to 15 inches of snow fell during a snow storm in Maine, while up to one foot fell in New Hampshire. Winds reached 76 mph on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, while up to 61 mph winds tore through Long Island, New York. Falling snow collected on the runways at Boston's Logan International Airport, causing temporary flight delays.

    The wind was so severe in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that the annual (重演) of George Washington and his soldiers' crossing the Delaware River was canceled, the Washington Crossing Historic Park told ABC News.

    •Midwest

    Heavy lake effect snow fell in western Michigan.

    The National Weather Service has issued a wind-chill warning and advisory (公告) from Montana to Michigan. Bitter cold air in the Midwest produced wind chills Monday morning as low as minus 48 degrees in North Dakota and minus 47 in northern Minnesota.

    As this bitter cold made its way east overnight, it was expected to move over relatively mild Great Lakes, producing intense lake-effect snow bands capabie of producing 2 to 4 inches of snow in an hour.

    •West Coast

    That storm system moved overnight through the Rockies, bringing more snow and the threat of avalanches (雪崩). The National Weather Service has issued an avalanche warning for the Wasatch Range Mountains outside Salt Lake City.

    Have you ever been into a cave? If not, please follow us and explore some of the most beautiful caves from around the world!

    Marble Caves

    Located in the center of Lake General Carrera, the Marble Caves in Chico, Chile, are only accessible by boat. The surrounding crystal clear waters allow visitors to see the rock formations beneath them while the rock ceilings above change color (depending on the writer levels and the season). The best time to visit: during sunrise and sunset, when the sun's rays light up the cave walls, making it an experience to remember.

    Reed Flute Cave

    Reed F1ute Cave known as "the Palace of Natural Arts" is located in the northwest of Guilin in southern China. The limestone cave offers a grand fairyland of stalactites (钟乳石), stone pillars, stone curtains, birds, plants and animals in fantastic shapes and colors.

    Fingal's Cave

    This incredible sea cave is located on the uninhabited island of Staffa in Scotland. The cave's size, shape, and naturally—arched (拱形的) roof combine with the waves to create strange sounds that enhance its cathedral—like atmosphere.

    The Blue Grotto

    The Blue Grotto is the symbol of Capri. It is a sea cave found on the coast of the island and is a well-known spot to all who visit the area. This cave is unique for its brilliant blue light which comes from two sources: the entrance to the cave and a bigger hole beneath the entrance. When viewed from inside the cave, the entrance appears as a brilliant white light just above the waterline, while the underwater hole, which is the larger source of light, provides a blue light.