Psychology tells us that many people hate to take risks. But it is good for us to take risks, especially when the risk is to achieve a desired result. In that way, we become stronger and braver.

    Our human nature should be to take risks, but some people just sit and wish they didn't have the fear to move on. This is because they failed a few times in their lives. Please step out and don't let the past hold you back from living life to the fullest. Move forward and move on! In studying the psychology of taking risks, we find that human provides us with the desire to experiment and take chances.

    Risk taking is a great advantage that allowed our ancestors to become stronger and stronger day by day. By taking risks they fought off enemies and discovered new territories. This attitude has become a part of our modern culture. Riding a roller coaster is a common risk taking activity. Even each person seems to enjoy the risk although they have the understanding that it is dangerous. This psychological and biological connection creates an interesting connection between what is unsafe and what humans enjoy.

    Getting in a car each day is a risk. Getting out of bed is a risk, too. We need to take risks so that we can complete many things. Astronauts take risks when they get inside a rocket; however, the things they achieve are great. Businessmen take a risk when they buy parts of a company, however, without doing that, they could not make more money.

    We need to take risks so that we can gain something. It is impossible to move forward in life, earn money, enjoy a relationship, play a sport, or doing anything else without taking a risk. It is all part of the game. It's one of the most important parts of life.

    In the US, many people prefer sports and sports are not just for fun. They're almost a “religion”. Thousands of sports fans buy expensive tickets to watch their favorite teams and athletes play in person. Other fans watch the games at home, sticking to their TV sets, never missing a game. Many a wife becomes a “sports widow”during her husband's favorite season. Americans devotion to sports has created a new class of wealthy people: professional athletes. Sports stars often receive million dollar salaries. Some even make big money by appearing in advertisements for soft drinks, shoes and almost everything.

    Sports are an important part of American culture. Throughout their school life, Americans learn to play many sports. Many students try out for the school teams. Athletic events at universities attract scores of fans and benefit the whole community. Many people also enjoy noncompetitive activities, like hiking, cycling, horseback riding, camping or hunting.

    Many sports were imported from other countries. Europeans brought tennis, golf, bowling and boxing to America. Football and baseball came from other Old World games. Only basketball has a truly American origin. Americans export sports fever as well. Satellites broadcast games to sports fans around the globe. NBA is a good example. The names of American superstars like basketball great Michael Jordan have become household words all over the world.

    There is no doubt that to study abroad gives you an excellent opportunity to learn things which are very helpful in your career building. Today Canada has earned a good name in providing quality education and safe healthy environment for its students. That is why more than 130,000 international students enroll(登记入学) every year in famous Canadian universities. It is an ideal education destination and gives students a unique experience of education and its versatile(多样的) arts and culture. Canada spends a lot on education and is ranked the highest in G-8 countries.

    To study in Canada is very cost effective. These universities are affordable compared to other universities in the world such as in the US, New Zealand and UK where cost of education and living is very high. According to a survey in 2006, "Canada offered the lowest tuition fees(学费) for foreign students compared to UK and Australia."

    The low rate of crimes and the peaceful safe environment of the country also attracts a lot of international students to Canadian universities. Canada has 92 universities and 175 community colleges and university degrees have three levels—Bachelor's (学士), Master's (硕士) and Doctoral(博士).

    A Bachelor's degree in Canada is for three or four years' full-time study depending on the nature of the program you are doing. On the other hand, a Master's degree consists of two years of study. For a Doctoral program in Canadian universities, you require a minimum (最低/小的) of three to four or sometimes five years of research and study.

    You can also find many diploma and certification (认证) program in Canadian universities where the time is generally one year. Some of the Canadian universities are well-regarded worldwide and the degree and diploma obtained from these Canadian universities are recognized globally and promise bright future. After the completion of studies, a person could also find great job offers in Canada itself. International students require a work permit to work on campus.

    Maybe ten-year-old Elizabeth put it best when she said to her father, "But, Dad, you can't be healthy if you're dead."

    Dad, in a hurry to get home before dark so he could go for a run, had forgotten to wear his safety belt－a mistake 75% of US population makes every day. The big question is why.

    There have been many myths about safety belt ever since their first appearance in cars some forty years ago. The following are three of the most common.

    Myth the Number One: It's best to be "thrown clear" of a serious accident.

    Truth: Sorry, but any accident serious enough to "throw you clear" is able to be serious enough to give you a very bad landing. And chances are you'll have traveled through a windshield(挡风玻璃) or door to do it. Studies show that chances of dying after a car accident are twenty－five times in cases where people are "thrown clear".

    Myth Number Two: Safety-belts "trap" people in cars that are burning or sinking in water.

    Truth: Sorry again, but studies show that people knocked unconscious(昏迷) due to not wearing safety belts have a greater chance of dying in these accidents. People wearing safety belts are usually protected to the point of having in these accidents. People wearing safety belts are usually protected to the point of having a clear head to free themselves from such dangerous situation, not to be trapped in them.

    Myth Number Three: Safety belts aren't needed at speeds of less than 30 miles per hour(mph).

    Truth: When two cars traveling at 30 mph hit each other, an unbelted driver would meet the windshield with a force equal to diving headfirst into the ground from a height of 10 metres.

    TALENT ON PARADE

    It is time for the Smithdale Student Activity Club's yearly talent show. In the past, the club has had performers sing, dance, and play the violin, guitar, or piano. This year the show will be called "Talent on Parade", and we are looking for performers with great new ideas. In addition, we have planned two important changes for this year's show.

    Two Shows Instead Of One

    First, "Talent on Parade" will be held on two nights. Performers in the Wednesday night show will include students in Grades K-5. Performers in the Friday night show will include students in Grades 6-12.

    Smithdale High School Hall Wednesday, May 11, 6:30 P.M. Friday, May 13, 7:30 P.M.

    No Tryouts (预选)

    The second change is that this year's performers will be chosen in a new way. No tryouts will be held. The first twenty acts to sign up for each show will be accepted. Others will be put on a waiting list in case someone has an act that is not allowed. You'll be told by telephone or e-mail if your act is included.

    If you do not wish to perform but would enjoy helping backstage with lights or sound, print "stagehand" in large letters at the top of the permission slip (同意书).

    Rules For Acts

    ⒈Each student chosen to perform must turn in a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian(监护人).

    ⒉All performers must be at the school one hour before the show time.

    ⒊Performers must provide their own transportation to and from the school.

    ⒋Each act is limited to three minutes.

    ⒌No act may have more than five people in it.

    ⒍Performers must provide their own music (tapes, CDs, or instruments) and costumes.

    ⒎Singers may sing with or without musical accompaniment, but they may not sing along with a recorded voice on a CD or tape.

"What beautiful music!" I shout loudly as my 9-year-old son practices playing the violin. He's used to this praise; I give rewards like that most days. But every once in a while, I skip it, and when I do, I can see the disappointment on his face when he's finished.

Am I a bad mom? Conventional wisdom says that consistency is key to parenting since it enables your child to predict how you'll react, leading to good behavior. And it's true that children need some level of predictability in their lives, particularly when it comes to discipline.

But research suggests that inconsistent gifts and praise can have a greater effect on motivation. While we all like to live in a predictable world, we often respond more strongly to unpredictable rewards.

In one experiment, my colleagues and I told participants they'd be paid if they could drink about one-and-a-half quarts of water in two minutes or less. In one condition, we offered people a $2 fixed reward. In another, there was an uncertain reward of either $2 or $1. The certain reward was a better deal, yet many more people successfully met the challenge when assigned an uncertain reward. Resolving the uncertainty—whether they would win $1 or $2—was significantly more motivating than winning $2 for sure.

Here is one of the reasons why uncertainty is motivating. What scientists call "intermittent (间歇性) reinforcement" —rewarding behavior on some but not all occasions—makes it morearduous to know when rewards will show up. If you very often, but don't always, praise your child for completing their chores, they'll keep up the good behavior in the hope of receiving praise the next time.

So don't assume that if kids are always praised for finishing their homework, they'll be more likely to do it. Do praise young people for a job well done, just not every time. And pick rewards out of a hat when they complete chores—the surprise prize might keep everyone motivated to get things done.