What makes one person more intelligent than another? What makes one person a genius, like the brilliant Albert Einstein, and another person a fool? Are people born intelligent or stupid, or is intelligence the result of where and how you live?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    We know, however, that just being born with a good mind is not enough. In some ways, the mind is like a leg or an arm muscle.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Mental exercise is particularly important for young children. Many child psychologists think that parents should play with their children more often and give them problems to think about. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}38．__ If, on the other hand, children are left alone a great deal with nothing to do, they are more likely to become dull and unintelligent.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} According to some psychologists, if parents are always telling a child that he or she is a fool or an idiot, then the child is more likely to keep doing silly and foolish things. So it is probably better for parents to say very positive things to their children, such as “That was a very clever thing you did.” or “{#blank#}5{#/blank#}”.

A. A healthy body contributes to one's intelligence.

B. Parents should also be careful about what they say to young children.

C. What people want to express is like this.

D. The children are then more likely to grow up bright and intelligent.

E. It needs exercise.

F. You are such a smart child.

G. These are very old questions and the answers to them are still not clear.

    How many men do housework? Recently a European commission (委员会) tried to find out people's ideas and reactions to the women's movement. As part of their survey (调查), they asked many men and women the question: “Who does the housework?” The men answered very differently from the women!

    The housework they asked people about were: preparing meals, washing dishes, cleaning the house and babysitting. 48% of British husbands said they did these things. 37% of Danish men helped in the house. But only 15% of Italian men said they did the housework; many of them said they never helped at all.

    But there was an interesting point of view from the wives. According to British wives, only 35% of their husbands helped in the house. And Italian wives said that their husbands hardly ever helped. The Italian and British men did not tell the truth! The Commission found that Danish men were the most trustful husbands; their answers were the same as their wives' answers.

    Do the men you know help in the house? Do you think the survey gives a true picture in your experience?

    Movies are a great means of entertainment for many. There are some advantages of watching movies. Comedies, for example, help reduce your blood pressure. Laughter for 15 minutes during a film makes your blood vessels (血管) wider. Besides, when you watch a sad movie, you're more likely to come away from it thinking about loved ones and feeling happy about what you have.

    Watching movies can make you creative. A study shows that young children, who watched the use of magic in Harry Potter, score significantly higher in a creative thinking test than children who watched something else. Moreover, movies are very useful for strengthening people's mental health. They enable people to take time to really relax and temporarily forget about their daily concerns and problems.

    However, watching movies aren't always beneficial. Studies have shown that some people get real pleasure out of being scared by horror movies, but in various ways they may be risking their physical and mental health without even knowing it. When you watch a tense scene in a movie, your heart rate and blood pressure increase. Meanwhile this change in your brain chemistry reminds you of times when you were in a similar state, even if you have no idea you even had those memories. So if something horrible happens to you, being scared again by a movie can unintentionally make you experience it once more.

    Scientists, politicians and parents have debated for decades if being exposed to movie violence leads to actual real-life violence. Overall the answer to that is probably still up in the air, but a new study seems to prove that watching aggression on screen can contribute to being a bully (土霸) in real life, even if it is just in the short term.

    In conclusion, certain movies play a positive role, but not all movies do. It depends completely on the subject of the movie. So it's always advisable to choose the movies concerning something positive.

    Doing voluntary work abroad is a great way for you to learn about service learning and know better about the world and different cultures. Visit our websites for further details.

Global Vision International

    Experience everything in our adventure when you join us in a team of international volunteers under 18. Assist with the projects that will benefit poor children's development and education. Discover the area's splendid beaches, explore beautiful jungles and immerse(沉浸)yourself in the friendly local culture.

    Cost: $2,990             Tel: 1-888-653-6028       Email: info@guiworld.com

    Website: www. Volunteer and Adventure Experience in Costa Rica. Com

Broadreach Summer Adventures

    Since 2993, Broadreach has taken over 12,000 students on their worldwide summer adventure volunteer programs for middle school, high school students. Their 75+ program offerings include marine biology, sailing, medicine, culture, arts, community service and leadership adventures. Programs are located in 40 +countries.

    Cost: Staring at $3,880          Tel: 919-256-8200

   Email: info@ gobroadreahc. Com   Website: www. gobroadreach. com

Cross-Cultural Solutions

    CCS teen summer service trips are for high school students aged 15-17. The High School Volunteer Abroad program offers you an awesome opportunity to volunteer side-by-side with local people. You can also meet new friends on a teens-only group volunteering project in Costa Rica, India, Peru, Ghana, and so on. You'll participate in many cultural activities during the week and on weekends.

    Cost: Contact us for pricing and availability

    Tel: 1-800-380-4777

    Email: info@crossculturalsolutions.org

    Website: www. crossculturalsolutions. Org
United Planet

    United Planet offers volunteer abroad programs in four destinations for those under 18. Volunteers may work in nursing home, Community Service Stations or in environmental conservation projects. Destinations include Romania, Peru, Ecuador and Chile. Candidates 16 years and older can apply.

     Cost: According to the length of your stay   Tel: 617-267-7763

    Email: quest@unitedplanet. org            Website: www. unitedplanet.org

    The state of Texas has not fully recovered from last year's hurricane, Harvey, as it prepares for a new season of storms. After a teleconference with President Trump and Federal Emergency Officials, Texas governor Greg Abbott said that they were taking steps on a daily basis to make sure they would be able to address any coming challenges.

    Hurricane Harvey brought record rainfall to a wide range of Texas and more rain fell over a five day period than at any time, since records have been kept in the United States beginning in the 1850s. Last year's deadly hurricanes including Harvey, Irma and Maria caused mass destruction in large parts of Texas, Louisiana, the South Atlantic states, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico. Trump praised what he called best recovery and response efforts to the disasters. They were gathering every accessible resource to ensure maximum preparation for rapid response. That's what they had last year. Disaster reaction and recovery is best achieved when it's nationally supported, state managed and locally performed.

    Abbott also mentioned that two new satellites and modem technology will help decide the path and strength of the storms. State and local governments are also planning routes, shelters, communication lines and supply chains to ensure efficient reaction to the storms. Scientists warn that, as the earth warms, storms are taking more moisture and are able to produce more rainfall. This year storms are also expected to be driven by extremely powerful winds.

    Emergency Officials say the nation has to be prepared for ever more active storms in the future. They've got to keep building the culture of preparedness in this state and in this nation. Meteorologists（气象学家）predict up to 16 storms this summer including 5 to 9 hurricanes, the most active storms will occur in the approaching Mid-August.

    When I was six, Dad brought home a dog one day, who was called “Brownie". My brothers and I all loved Brownie and did different things with her. One of us would walk her, another would feed her, then there were baths, playing catch and many other games, Brownie, in return, loved each and every one of us. One thing that most touched my heart was that she would go to whoever was sick and just be with them, we always felt better when she was around.

    One day, as I was getting her food, she chewed up(咬破)one of Dad's shoes, which had to be thrown away in the end. I knew Dad would be mad and I had to let her know what she did was wrong. When I looked at her and said, "Bad girl," she looked down at the ground and then went and hid. I saw a tear in her eyes.

    Brownie turned out to be more than just our family pet, she went everywhere with us. People would stop and ask if they could pet her. Of course she'd let anyone pet her. She was just the most lovable dog. There were many times when we'd be out walking and a small child would come over and pull her hair. she never barked(吠) or tried to get away. Funny thing is she would smile. This frightened people because they thought she was showing her teeth. Far from the truth, she loves everyone.

(Now many years have passed since Brownie died of old age. I still miss days when she was with us.)