Every time we get behind the wheel of a car, we put our lives and the lives of others at risk. Self-driving cars are designed to reduce those risks by letting technology control our vehicles.

    Accident rates for self-driving cars have been much lower than the rate, for human-driven cars. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    As humans, we can make moral choices in avoiding accidents. To avoid hitting a child, for example, human drivers might sharply turn a car away from the child even if others may be injured. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Researchers studied this issue. They have developed the Moral Machine website to help explore the choices self-driving cars should make.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} You are shown two possible traffic situations and you choose between them. An accident will take place. You choose how many living beings would be hurt or killed.

    In one situation there may be a female doctor, a child, two dogs and a homeless person who would be killed. In the other situation, you might have two babies and a cat who would be killed. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    The Moral Machine website has many situations and many possible outcomes. When you click on the situation of your choice, it will be highlighted. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} At the end of the situation, you are shown the results, based on the choices you made. The results show which character you were most likely to save and which character you were most likely to have die.

    Every animal sleeps, but the reason for this has remained foggy. When lab rats are not allowed to sleep, they die within a month.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    One idea is that sleep helps us strengthen new memories. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} We know that, while awake, fresh memories are recorded by reinforcing (加强) connections between brain cells, but the memory processes that take place while we sleep have been unclear.

    Support is growing for a theory that sleep evolved so that connections between neurons (神经元) in the brain can be weakened overnight, making room for fresh memories to form the next day.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Now we have the most direct evidence yet that he is right.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} The synapses in the mice taken at the end of a period of sleep were 18 per cent smaller than those taken before sleep, showing that the connections between neurons weaken while sleeping.

    If Tononi's theory is right, it would explain why, when we miss a night's, we find it harder the next day to concentrate and learn new information — our brains may have smaller room for new experiences.

    Their research also suggests how we may build lasting memories over time even though the synapses become thinner. The team discovered that some synapses seem to be protected and stayed the same size. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} “You keep what matters,” Tononi says.

A. We should also try to sleep well the night before.

B. It's as if the brain is preserving its most important memories.

C. That's why students do better in tests if they get a chance to sleep after learning.

D. Similarly, when people go for a few days without sleeping, they get sick.

E. The processes take place to stop our brains becoming loaded with memories.

F. Tononi's team measured the size of these connections, or synapses, in the brains of 12 mice.

G. “Sleep is the price we pay for learning,” says Giulio Tononi, who developed the idea.

    In the middle of my home country there are very large places. They are hot and dry land called deserts.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Families live a long way from other people. Sometimes they are the only people for thousands of kilometres. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    About 65years ago these people found that using strong radios was a possible way for families living far away to communicate with each other. They decided they could use the radios for school. In this way, children could talk to each other like at school. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    The children each spent about 30minutes a day on the radio. They talked to their teacher about their work and difficulties. The teacher designed some exercises and tasks based on what they learned and posted them to the children. After finishing their work, the children sent it back to their teacher to mark. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} He tried to visit each child twice each year. This was sometimes difficult. The journey was very long and could be dangerous. In addition, the school held camps once a year. The children could all meet each other and shared their learning experience.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} The government provides families with computers so that the children can use the Internet to talk to their teachers and classmates by e-mail now. The teachers enjoy their work very much because they get to know the children and their families very well. It is an interesting way to learn, don't you think?

    Going back to school can be a stressful time for children and families. Everyone must make the transition (转变) from easy holiday life to routines, schedules and homework. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    * Arrange school events and programs.

    Many schools have events and programs to help cut down on students' stress. At these events, parents can meet teachers and see what their children are learning. Families can attend activities held on different sites in the school. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    * Make connections in the classroom

    Communicating with students is good advice for teachers. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Teachers can share details about themselves or invite children to talk about what they did over the holiday.

    * Don't schedule too many activities for your children

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Instead, help them set clear goals and keep schedules organized. If someone in the family has a learning style close to that of the student, that person could help because they have something in common.

    * {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Everyone needs a break from work. Family meals and outings can help everyone relax. A family game night or walk in a park together can give parents and children a chance to have fun as a family. If a student has hours of homework to complete, taking several 10-minute breaks can reduce stress.

A. Take a break.

B. Have fun with family.

C. In this way, students can become more familiar with the environment.

D. Conversations can reduce nervousness and stress among the students.

E. Older students help younger ones understand the rules and culture of the school.

F. Fortunately, schools, teachers, parents and children can all help to relieve the stress.

G. Parents are advised not to overload their children with extra-curricular activities.

    You may have grown up living with lots of siblings, or this may be your first time sharing your living space with someone else. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Follow these tips to make sure you and your roommate keep things pleasant and supportive throughout the year (or even years)!

    Be clear about your expectations from the beginning. Do you know in advance that you hate it when someone hits the snooze button (贪睡闹铃) fifteen times every morning? That you're a neat freak (怪人)? That you need ten minutes to yourself before talking to anyone after you wake up? {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's not fair to expect him or her to pick up on them right away, and communicating what you need is one of the best ways to avoid problems before they become problems.

    Address problems when they're little. Is your roommate always forgetting her things for the shower, and taking yours? {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Addressing things that annoy you while they're still little can help your roommate be aware of something she may not otherwise know. And addressing little things is much easier than addressing them after they've become big.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} This may seem simple, but it's probably one of the biggest reasons why roommates experience conflict. Don't think he'll mind if you borrow his shoes for a quick soccer game? For all you know, you just stepped over an uncrossable line. Don't borrow, use, or take anything without getting permission first.

    Be mindful of who you bring into your room-and how often. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But your roommate may not. Be mindful of how often you bring people over. If your roommate studies best in the quiet, and you study best in a group, can you alternate who hits the library and who gets the room?

A. Be open to new ideas and experiences.

B. Respect all the things that belong to your roommate.

C. You may love having your study group into your room.

D. Expect to learn, grow and change during the time in the college.

E. Are your clothes being borrowed faster than you can wash them?

F. Let your roommate know as soon as you can about your little preferences.

G. Having a roommate can be both a challenge and a great part of your college experience.

The Adoption Option

There are many wonderful pets looking for new homes. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. The following is some advice about introducing a rescue dog into your life.

●Choose wisely

No matter how cute a dog is, it's important not to let the heart rule the head when choosing a rescue dog. People naturally love puppies, but mature dogs are a great choice for many people. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. The dog's personality and size are usually apparent, so there should be no surprises.

●{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

That a dog is available for adoption doesn't mean they are automatically a problem dog. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. However, some may exhibit unruly（难以驾驭的）behavior due to a lack of training. It's important not to confuse a lack of training with more serious behavioral issues. Good shelters and rescue groups will have every dog assessed by a qualified behavioral trainer to identify potential problem behaviors.

●Coming home

Arriving in a new home can be stressful for an adult dog. For many dogs you will have to take a trial-and-error approach to understanding what they like, what makes them feel secure and what they fear. You had better gradually expose your rescue dog to a range of different experiences and other dogs to judge and manage their behavior appropriately. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. In this way, they will have company and can be supervised in the early stages.

A. What to expect

B. What you see is what you get

C. Common problems and special behaviors

D. Adoption provides a pet that second chance

E. Many rescue dogs are well trained and well behaved

F. Most of these issues can be overcome with good training

G. Therefore, it's wise to get time off work when the dog arrives