A few people have lucid (清醒的) dreams, in {#blank#}1{#/blank#} the dreamer is aware they're dreaming and can control the experience. Some others can learn {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (have) lucid dreams. The practice can be used to deal with frightening dreams. However, its potential has been limited by it often {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (be) so hard to achieve. Now, researchers have developed the most effective method yet for promoting lucid dreams.

    The researchers let 121 adults aged 19 to 75 pick something {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (see)in a previous dream. It was called a "dreamsign" that can serve {#blank#}5{#/blank#} a reminder to become lucid when met again. The {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (volunteer) were then handed capsules. Each person got a high-dose (大剂量的) capsule, a low-dose capsule and a placebo (无效对照剂) capsule, but they couldn't tell which was which. On three occasions, they woke in {#blank#}7{#/blank#} middle of the night, took a capsule, imagined their dreamsign and went back to sleep. The high dose was most effective, causing lucid dreams in 42 per cent of participants. About 27 per cent {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (report) lucid dreams with the low dose and 14 per cent after taking the placebo capsule.

    The potential applications are {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (excite). "This new method has the success rate we need to be able to {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (proper) do research on lucid dreaming," says Denholm Aspy at the University of Adelaide in Australia.

    For Nigel Portman, a love of travelling began with what's called a "gap year". In common with many other British teenagers, he chose {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (take) a year out before settling down to study for his degree. After doing various {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (job) to raise some money, he left home to gain some experience of life in different cultures, visiting America and Asia. The more adventurous a young person, the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (great) challenge they are likely to set {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (them) for the gap year, and for some, like Nigel, it can result in a thirst for adventure.

    Now that his university course {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (come) to an end, Nigel is just about to leave on a three—year trip that will take him right around the world. What's more, he plans to make the whole journey {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (use) only means of transport which are powered by natural energy. In other words, he'll be relying {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (main) on bicycles and his own legs; and when there's an ocean to cross, he won't be taking a shortcut (捷径) {#blank#}8{#/blank#} flying aboard—he'll be joining the crew of a sailing ship, instead.

    As well as doing some mountain climbing along {#blank#}9{#/blank#} way, Nigel hopes to pass on to the people he meets the environmental message {#blank#}10{#/blank#} lies behind the whole idea.

    On September 11, 2001, Omar Eduardo Rivera, a blind computer technician (技术员), was working on the 71st floor of the World Trade Center with his guide dog {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (name) Dorado. When the hijacked (被劫持的) plane hit the tower, Rivera knew {#blank#}2{#/blank#} would take him a long time to escape from the building, but he wanted his lovely dog to have a chance {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (get) out so he set him free in the crowded stairwell. "I thought I was lost forever—the noise and the heat were {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (terrify) —but I had to give him the chance of escape. So I touched his head, gave him a push and ordered him to go," Rivera said.

    The dog {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (immediate) disappeared into the crowd, but a few {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (minute) later Rivera felt the dog feeling his legs. Dorado came right back to his side and a co-worker {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (bring) by him as well. Then Dorado and the selfless co-worker {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (help) Rivera climb down 70 flights of stairs, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} took nearly an hour. No sooner had they escaped from the building {#blank#}10{#/blank#} it fell down completely, and Rivera says he owes his life to his faithful dog.