Science has a lot of uses. It can reveal (揭示) laws of nature, cure diseases, make bombs, and help bridges to stand up. Indeed science is so good at what it does that there's always a temptation (诱惑) to drag it into problems where it may not be helpful. David Brooks, author of The Social Animal, The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement, appears to be the latest in a long line of writers who have failed to resist the temptation.

    Brooks gained fame for several books. His latest book The Social Animal, however, is more ambitious and serious than his earlier books. It is an attempt to deal with a set of weighty topics. The book focuses on big questions: What has science revealed about human nature? What are the sources of character? And why are some people happy and successful while others aren't?

    To answer these questions, Brooks surveys a wide range of subjects. Because of this, you might expect the book to cover a variety of facts. But Brooks has structured his book in an unusual, and perhaps unfortunate way. Instead of introducing scientific theories, he tells a story, within which he tries to make his points, perhaps in order to keep the reader's attention. So as Harold and Erica, the hero and heroine in his story, live through childhood, we hear about the science of child development and as they begin to date we hear about the theory of sexual attraction. Brooks carries this through to the death of one of his characters.

    On the whole, Brooks's story is acceptable if uninspired. As one would expect, his writing is mostly clear and, to be fair, some chapters stand out above the rest. I enjoyed, for instance, the chapter in which Harold discovers how to think on his own. While Harold and Erica are certainly not strong characters, the more serious problems with The Social Animal lie elsewhere. These problems partly involve Brooks's attempt to translate his tale into science.

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    Finding time to read is an important part of developing reading and writing skills for all kids. And there are many easy and convenient ways to make reading a part of each day — even when it's tough to find time to sit down with a book.

    Car trips, waits in checkout lines and the doctor's office are all opportunities for reading. Keep books or magazines in your car, or backpack to pull out whenever you're going to be in one place for a while. Even if you can't finish a book, read a few pages or discuss some of the pictures.

    Encourage kids to bring favorite books and magazines along wherever you go. While it's attractive to provide electronic games and readers, be sure to alternate electronic media with plenty of opportunities to read traditional print books.

    Reading opportunities are everywhere you go. While riding in the car, for example, encourage kids to spot words and letters (on billboards, store signs, etc.), turning it into a game (“Who'll be the first to find a letter B?”).

    Even daily tasks like cooking can provide reading moments. Kids can assist you as you cook by telling you how much flour to measure. Give your child a catalogue to read while you sort through the mail. Ask relatives to send your child letters, e-mail, or text messages, and read them together. Help your child create letters or messages to send back to the relatives. These types of activities help kids see the purpose of reading and of print.

    Even when you're trying to get things done, you can encourage reading. While cleaning, for instance, you might ask your child to read a favorite book to you while you work.

    Make sure kids get some time to spend quietly with books, even if it means cutting back on other activities, like watching TV or playing video games.

    Most important, be a reader yourself. Kids who see their parents reading are likely to imitate them and become readers, too!

    Polar bears are one of the most popular animals for people. Polar bears are different from every other bear in the world. This is because polar bears have white fur. However, there are many facts about polar bears that people might not be aware of .

    The skin of polar bears is black, which according to thinkquest.org allows them to absorb more heat from the sun. Polar bear fur is transparent , because it is made up of hollow guard hairs. Loc.gov explains that the reason polar bears display white fur is that when the sun hits the fur ,the hollow spaces in the hair scatter the light. Since none of the light is absorbed, the light reflected back appears white to human eyes.

    Polar bears' conservation status is considered close to extinction. Global warming is considered the main cause of the decline in polar population. Polar bears use ice floats to hunt for their food. However, these ice floats are melting so polar bears are starting to drown in the search for food, and the food is becoming more difficult to get. Contrary to popular belief, polar bears do not eat penguins, because polar bears are not found in the Antarctic region of the world. Polar bears are only found around the Arctic Circle. Polar bears do not drink water. They get all the water they need from the prey they eat.

    FES. Gov specifies that polar bears are considered the largest land carnivores(食肉动物) in the world. The polar bear weight ranges between 700--1,500 pounds. Since the polar bear habitat is melting away, their main evolutionary advantages are fading. Polar bears are not able to use their camouflage(伪装) to find prey in habitats not covered with snow. Polar bears do not hibernate(冬眠). However, when the weather gets uncomfortable, or mothers give birth, polar bears will dig themselves a hidden home.

    What can we do to help save the polar bears? We can donate to organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, reduce our carbon footprint, and send letters to politicians explaining to them that we need to set up more preserves to help save the polar bear habitat.

    Sumeja Tulic had moved from London to New York nine months ago to attend journalism school. Yet her time in New York met with a season of never-ending ugliness in politics and acts of terrorism(恐怖主义) around the world. “One day you laugh, and then you're angry,” said Tulic. As she walked toward the subway station, she thought, “I want to see something nice. Enough of this craziness.”

    At the City Hall station, she saw a man resting against a pillar(柱子), the way anyone might, waiting for the train. The stillness was interrupted(打断) by an announcement that the next train was two stations away. Then Tulic saw the man at the pillar falling forward onto the tracks.

    The man who had fallen was not moving. In what seemed like an instant, three men jumped down to help.

    I don't know where these men got the intelligence and the quickness," Tulic said. "The man who fell was about six feet tall and quite heavy. He was kind of stuck in the tracks. It was terrifying to know that the train was coming. Will it stop? Will they succeed in pulling him out?"

    On the tracks, the unconscious(失去知觉的) man was put into a sitting position by the three men, who then lifted him from below to others who lifted from above and rolled him onto the platform. Then the rescuers were themselves rescued, pulled back to safety by helping hands. As soon as they were all clear, the train pulled in. People getting off the train walked around this unconscious man.

    Two of the men who had jumped onto the platform were holding his hands. “They were saying, ‘You're going to be fine,'” Tulic said. “This was an additional layer of goodness.”

    Doctors arrived, and the man was taken to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

    “That is the greatest thing,” Tulic said. “The infrastructure(基础) in this city of millions is the people themselves providing, being there for others, without even knowing the person, who he is. It was beautiful to see.”

Bayfield Shopping Coupons(赠券)

    ⒈Six Hours Free Parking

    If you spend $100 or more in our stores you will receive six hours of free parking. When you have spent $100 or more, just take this coupon and your receipts to the customer service desk on level 4. They will stamp your parking ticket to allow 6 hours of free parking.

    Offer here until November 14.

    ⒉Win a $1000 CD Collection

    Win your choice of $1000 worth of CDs from JB Music Store. Just buy any two CDs and your name will go into the competition. Select your own prize from our wide variety of rock, pop, jazz, and classical music. Competition ends November 14. Prize drawn on November 21.

    Check store for more information.

    ⒊Buy One, Get One Free

    Buy one shirt or tie at Daniel's .Menswear, and get another shirt or tie of the same value free. Choose from any of our dress shirts and we will give you another one at no cost.

    Hurry! Offer ends November 14. Offer limited to one per customer.

    ⒋10% off

    Present this coupon at The Book Store to get a 10% discount on any books you buy. We have lots of books to choose from. Including children's books, novels, travel guides, and science works. You're sure to find something that you will enjoy. Shop now for Christmas. We have plenty of toys as gifts for you and avoid the rush!

    Offer here until November 14.

    ⒌Half-price Movie Tickets

    Buy any full-price movie ticket on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, and you can buy a second ticket for a friend for only half-price. The latest movies are here, showing in one of our five theaters at Bayfield Shopping Centre.

    Offer here through December 1. Limit one per customer.

    ⒍Free Soft Drink

    Buy any meal for at least $6 at Mike's Cafe, and receive a free soft drink. We serve the best fast food in the Shopping Centre. Come in and try our delicious meals and our excellent service. You won't be disappointed!

    Free soft drink offer ends November 14.

    Samuel Osmond is a 19-year-old law student from Cornwall, England. He never studied the piano. However, he can play very difficult musical pieces by musicians such as Chopin and Beethoven just a few minutes after he hears them. He learns a piece of music by listening to it in parts. Then he thinks about the notes(音符) in his head. Two years ago, he played his first piece Moonlight Sonata（奏鸣曲）by Beethoven. He surprised everyone around him.

    Amazed that he remembered this long and difficult piece of music and played it perfectly, his teachers say Samuel is unbelievable. They say his ability is very rare, but Samuel doesn't even realize that what he can do is special. Samuel wanted to become a lawyer as it was the wish of his parents, but music teachers told him he should study music instead. Now, he studies law and music.

Samuel can't understand why everyone is so surprised. "I grew up with music. My mother played the piano and my father played the guitar. About two years ago, I suddenly decided to start playing the piano, without being able to read music and without having any lessons. It comes easily to me —I hear the notes and can bear them in mind—each and every note," says Samuel.

Recently, Samuel performed a piece during a special event at his college. The piece had more than a thousand notes. The audience was impressed by his amazing performance. He is now learning a piece that is so difficult that many professional(专业的) pianists can't play it. Samuel says confidently, "It's all about super memory—I guess I have that gift."

    However, Samuel's ability to remember things doesn't stop with music. His family says that even when he was a young boy, Samuel heard someone read a story, and then he could retell the story word for word.

    Samuel is still only a teenager. He doesn't know what he wants to do in the future. For now, he is just happy to play beautiful music and continue his studies.