Scientists have been interested for years in the observation that ratios(比率）of finger lengths differ in men and women. In men, the ring (fourth) finger is usually longer than the index (second); their so-called 2D :4D ratio is lower than 1. In females, the two fingers are more likely to be the same length. Because of this sex differences, some scientists believe that a low ratio could be a marker for higher prenatal hormone(产前激素）levels, although it's not clear how the hormone might influence finger development. The 2D : 4D ratio has also been fingered in connection with brain-related characteristics—most often in males--such as depression, left-handedness, musical ability, and homosexuality.

    In the latest such study, psychologist Mark Brosnan and colleagues at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom photocopied the hands of 74 boys and girls aged 6 and 7.They compared the measurements of the second and fourth fingers with the children's scores on a standard UK test of math and literacy. In boys, the lower the ratio, the better their math score, the team reports in the May issue of the British Journal of Psychology, The boys with the lowest ratios also were the ones whose abilities were most skewed in the direction of math rather than literacy. These differences are small but significant, says Brosnan. With the girls, there was no correlation between finger ration and numeracy, but those with higher ratios—probably indicating low hormone levels—had better scores on verbal abilities.

    These sex-specific correlations show how tricky it is to define the roles of sex hormones, says psychologist S .Marc Breedlove of Michigan State University in East Lansing. The range of normal levels of the hormone is different in males and females, so comparable levels would have very different meanings depending on the sex of the individual. And the timing of hormone surges is as important as levels.

    Nevertheless, Brosnan believes finger measurements might be useful for predicting cognitive abilities—although he acknowledges that “we are not suggesting that finger length measurements could replace SAT tests”. Others are more cautious, pointing out that scientists still have not confirmed that finger ratio is a reliable marker for prenatal hormone levels.

    Sometimes I have to admire people's imagination but what I admire most is the businessmen's sense of smell. China's Singles Day, which falls on Nov. 11 every year, has far surpassed its U.S. counterparts of Black Friday and Cyber Monday—combined. Last year, Americans spent a record $12.8 billion online between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday. It's impressive until you compare it to the $17.6 billion in sales made by Chinese consumers in a single 24-hour period during 2016's Singles Day.

    Singles Day is known as “Bare Sticks Day” or “Bare Branches Day” in Chinese—because the date “11/11” looks like bare branches and “one” is the loneliest number. Singles Day began in the early 1990s in the dorm rooms of Nanjing University when a group of single friends were sorry about the lack of significant others and decided to mark the day by organizing activities as a group of singles and reducing their loneliness by buying themselves a gift.

    Then in 2009, sensing s break between the sales period of China's National Day on Oct. 1 and Chinese New Year in late January or early February, Alibaba's Jack Ma saw an opening: sell to comfort lonely hearts.

    The first year did only $7.5 million in sales, but just 8 years later, shoppers spent $25.3 billion, or 168.2 billion yuan, this year—a 40 percent jump from last year's $17.6 billion. Foe comparison, Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the U.S. only netted $6.79 billion in 2016. Amazon doesn't release sales figures for July's Prime Day, but it's pretty safe to believe the not-quite-national-holiday doesn't come close to $25 billion.

    “More than $25 billion in one day is not just a sales figure,” Alibaba Group CEO Daniel Zhang said in a statement. “It represents the desire for quality consumption of the Chinese consumer, and it reflects how merchants and consumers alike have now fully accepted the combination of online and offline sales.”

    An idea that started in Seattle's public library has spread throughout America. The concept is simple: help to build a sense of community (社区) in a city by getting everyone to read the same book at the same time.

    In addition to encouraging reading as a pursuit (追求) to be enjoyed by all, the program allows strangers to communicate by discussing the book on the bus, as well as encouraging reading as an experience to be shared in families and schools. The idea came from Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl who launched the “If All of Seattle Read the Same Book” project in 1998. Her original program used author visits, study guides and book discussion groups to bring people together with a book, but the idea has since expanded to many other American cities, and even to Hong Kong.

    In Chicago, the mayor (市长) appeared on television to announce the choice of To Kill a Mockingbird as the first book in the “One Book, One Chicago” program. As a result, reading clubs and neighborhood groups sprang up around the city. Across the US, stories emerged of parents and children reading to each other at night and strangers chatting away on the bus about plot and character.

    The only problem arose in New York, where local readers could not decide on one book to represent the huge and diverse population. This may show that the idea works best in medium-sized cities or large towns, where a greater sense of unity (一致) can be achieved. Or it may show that New Yorkers rather missed the point, putting all their energy and passion into the choice of the book rather than discussion about a book itself.

    Ultimately, as Nancy points out, the level of success is not measured by how many people read a book, but by how many people are enriched by the process, or have enjoyed speaking to someone with whom they would not otherwise have shared a word.

    The impression you make at the beginning of an interview is very important. Employers often decide to hire someone in the first three minutes of the interview. They judge you by your appearance, attitude and manners.

    A friendly smile when you walk into the room is important. A smile shows a confident and positive attitude. When you introduce yourself, make eye contact with the interviewer. Some interviewers offer a handshake. Others don't.

    Try to be as natural as possible. But pay attention to your body language. The way you sit, walk, gesture, use your voice and show feelings on your face is all part of your body language. It makes the interviewer know how you feel about yourself and the situation you are in. Are you feeling positively about yourself？Your abilities? Your interest in the job？

    Speak clearly and loudly enough. Show interest and enthusiasm in your voice. When you speak, look at the interviewer. Also, don't say negative things about yourself, or former employer.

    Listen to questions carefully. If you don't understand a question, ask the interviewer to repeat or explain:

    "I'm sorry, but I didn't catch that."

    "Almost everyone is nervous in a job interview. Interviewers know that. They don't expect you to be totally calm and relaxed. But they expect you to try to control your nervousness. They expect you to show confidence in your ability to do the job.

    At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for her or his time. It's a good idea to send a short thank-you letter right after the interview, or deliver it by hand.

    Phone the company if you have not heard anything after one week. Ask if they have made a decision about the job.

Good luck!

We know that choosing a college major can be stressful.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}! Here's what you need to know about college majors before you commit.

Career prep

Choose a major because it will prepare you for a specific career path or advanced study. Maybe you already know that you want to be a nurse, a physical therapist, or a web developer.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Make sure you're ready for the coursework required for the career of your dreams.

Earning potential

Future earning potential is worth considering. After all, college is such a big investment. The majors that lead to the highest salaries include just about any type of engineering, mathematics, computer science, and economics. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. That six figure salary may not be worth it if you're not happy at the office.

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Some students choose a major simply because they love the subject matter. If your love is philosophy, don't write it off just because you're not sure about what the job market holds for philosophers. Many liberal arts majors provide students with critical thinking skills and writing abilities that are highly valued by employers.

Explore your interests

If you truly have no idea what you want to study, that's okay.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. That gives you four semesters to play the field. Make the most of any required general education courses—choose ones that interest you. Exploring your interests will help you find your best fit major—and maybe even your ideal career.

A. Many schools don't require students to declare a major until the second year

B. The most exciting aspects of college life is that it fosters new passions

C. A double major provides you with an understanding of two academic fields

D. However, keep your quality of life in mind, too

E. But have no fear

F. Before you decide, check out the curricula

G. Subjects you love

The demographic landscape of the globe is witnessing a notable transformation characterized by an increase in the proportion of individuals who are in their senior years: it is anticipated that by the year 2025, individuals who have reached or surpassed the age of 60 will constitute a significant 20 percent of the total global populace. The advancements in socioeconomic progress have resulted in a scenario where a considerable number of individuals are attaining their later years in a state of better health, financial stability, and educational attainment compared to the generations that preceded them.

This burgeoning cohort of older individuals, endowed with considerable economic clout and unique requirements, is increasingly being recognized as the most rapidly expanding consumer segment across the globe. This presents lucrative opportunities for growth in numerous major industries. The market, which caters to the needs of individuals who are over the age of 50 and is colloquially referred to as the "silver economy," is currently valued at an impressive $15 trillion on a global scale. It is anticipated that this valuation will experience a dramatic surge as the demographic of older individuals continues to expand.

Crucially, the "silver economy" holds the potential to contribute not only to the economic prosperity of a nation but also to its social advancement. This is because when enterprises endeavor to augment their financial gains by devising solutions that address the challenges encountered by the elderly, they can concurrently generate social value by enhancing the living standards of individuals as they progress through their later years.

In the context of China, which boasts the largest elderly population globally with 216.8 million individuals who are 65 years or older, the number is projected to soar to 400 million by the year 2050. Consequently, the "silver economy" in China is expected to experience a threefold increase in value, escalating from $750 billion in 2020 to a staggering $2.1 trillion by the year 2030. It is further projected that this figure could soar to $4.2 trillion, representing a significant 10 percent of China's Gross Domestic Product by 2035.

The recently disseminated document titled "Opinions on Developing the Silver Economy and Improving the Well-being of Older Persons" marks the first instance of a specific policy guideline in China that is dedicated to the advancement of the "silver economy." The trajectory of China's progress over the forthcoming decade is poised to provide invaluable insights for emerging economies, shedding light on the optimal strategies for catering to the needs of an aging demographic while simultaneously capitalizing on the economic development opportunities presented by such a significant demographic shift.