Try to help your dog relax

    It's a Saturday morning. You rush through breakfast, walk the dog, and then get to soccer practice on time. A few hours later, you return home, only to find that the dog has made your bedroom untidy.  {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Your favorite sports shoes are in poor condition.

    Before you get angry, stop and think. Your dog wasn't misbehaving (行为不端) just for the fun of it. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Some dogs just feel nervous when left alone. It's called separation anxiety (分离焦虑).

    Think of it this way: Dogs can't ask where you're going or when you'll be back. They can't call you on the phone. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Since you're not there, they need to find you. Dogs may suddenly develop separation anxiety. But with practice and patience (耐心), you can teach your dog to be comfortable being left alone.

    Put on your jacket, and then sit back down. Open and close the door, and then sit down. After a while, walk out the door for 10 seconds, then 20, then a minute and so on. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Besides, you can also try the following ways:

    Teach your dog a word or action that you use every time you leave, which tells your dog you'll be back.

    Help comfort (安慰) your dog by leaving a piece of clothing that smells like you.

    Before you leave, give your dog a toy. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} 

    Is there a connection between music and language? According to recent studies, the answer is yes: {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here, we look at two examples

    A recent study by researcher Kraus shows that playing a musical instrument can improve a person's hearing ability.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}The people in the first group were musicians, while those in the second group had no musical training. The musicians were able to hear the talking person more clearly.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Think about violinists in an orchestra (管弦乐团). When the violinists play with the group, they hear their own instrument and many others, too. But the violinists must listen closely to what they are playing, and pay no attention to the other sounds. In this way, musicians are able to focus on certain sounds, even in a room with lots of noise.

    Schlaug, a doctor at Harvard Medical School, works with stroke (中风) patients. Because of their illness, these people cannot say their names, addresses, or other information normally. However, they can still sing.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Why does this work? Schlaug isn't sure. Music seems to make different parts of the brain work, including the damaged (损坏的) parts. This might help patients to use that part of the brain again.

    Music improves concentration (注意力), memory, listening skills, and our overall language abilities.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}Playing an instrument or singing can help us do better in school and keep our brain sharp (敏锐的) as we get older. Music is not only enjoyable, it's also good for us in many other ways.

    Travel Tips for Holidays Abroad Everyone loves holidays abroad. They give us the chance to see some sights, have some fun and relax. However, holidays aren't always a great experience. Follow these tips to make sure you enjoy your holiday.

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    Please get everything ready. Every year, thousands of people miss flights because they are not ready, they arrive at the airport too late, or even go to the wrong airport!

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    How much do you know about the place you are going to visit? Learning a little about the culture of a country will help you a lot. Learning a few words of another language can also help you make new friends.

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    Try to keep the place that you visit clean. Don't throw rubbish here and there. You'd better use buses or trains instead of taxis when you arrive.

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    You can help a local community a lot by staying in local hotels and eating in local restaurants. This means that your money will go to local people.

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    You don't want to forget your holiday. Write a book about your holiday. You can show it to friends, or just use it to remember all the good times you had! And don't forget the new friends you made during your holiday. Then next time you go on holiday, you can visit them again.