Family structure is the core of any culture. A major function of the family is to socialize new members of a culture. As children are raised in a family setting, they learn to become members of the family as well as members of the larger culture. The family provides the model for all other relationships in society. Through theobservations and modeling of the behavior of other family members, children learnabout the family and society including the values of the culture. Familystructure and their inherent relationships and obligations are a major sourceof cultural difference.

        The family is the center of most traditional Asians' lives. Many people worry about their families' welfare,reputation, and honor. Asian families are often extended, including severalgenerations related by blood or marriage living in the same home. An Asianperson's misdeeds are not blamed just on the individual but also on the family—includingthe dead ancestors.

        Traditional Chinese, among many otherAsians, respect their elders and feel a deep sense of duty toward them.Children repay their parents' sacrifices by being successful and supportingthem in old age. This is accepted as a natural part of life in China. Incontrast, taking care of aged parents is often viewed as tremendous burden inthe United States, where aging and family support are not honored highly.

        The Vietnamese family consists of peoplecurrently alive as well as the spirits of the dead and of the as-yet unborn.Any decisions or actions are done from family considerations, not individualdesires. People's behavior is judged on whether it brings shame or pride to thefamily. Vietnamese children are trained to rely on their families, to honorelderly people, and to fear foreigners. Many Vietnamese think that theiractions in this life will influence their status in the next life.

        Fathers in traditional Japanese familiesare typically strict and distant. Japanese college students in one study saidthey would tell their fathers just about as much as they would tell a totalstranger. The emotional and communication barrier between children and fathersin Japan appears very strong after children have reached a certain age.

        Although there has been much talk about"family values" in the United States, the family is not a usual frameof reference for decisions in U.S. mainstream culture. Family connections arenot so important to most people. Dropping the names of wealthy or famous peoplethe family knows is done in the United States, but it is not viewed positively.More important is a person's own individual "track record" ofpersonal achievement.

       Thus, many cultural differences exist infamily structures and values. In some cultures, the family is the center oflife and the main frame of reference for decisions. In other cultures, theindividuals, not the family, is primary. In some cultures, the family'sreputation and honor depend on each person's actions; in other cultures,individuals can act without permanently affecting the family life. Somecultures value old people, while other cultures look down on them.

(Adapted from R. L. Oxford & R. C.Scarcella, "A Few Family Structures and Values Around the Globe")

    It's no surprise that sports can greatly benefit a child physically, psychologically, and socially. A 2008 Women's Sports Foundation Research Report concluded that children's athletic participation is also associated with increased levels of family satisfaction, great achievement in study, and an overall better quality of life for children. And a study published in last month's American Journal of Preventive Medicine showed that kids who are active at age 5 wind up with less body fat at ages 8 and 11.

    But one hotly debated discussion focuses on the kinds of sports kids should play, with parents mistakenly thinking, "Lizzie is so quiet, we should let her join in basketball and soccer to try to get her to open up." But increasingly, experts are suggesting the healthier instinct (直觉) might be, "Lizzie is so quiet. Maybe we should see if she likes playing with a big team like softball or if she likes ballet or swimming, where she can work more on her own terms."

    “Participation in any sport is going to provide kids with life skills—the ability to focus and to concentrate, the ability to handle pressure in tough situations, the ability to stay calm when things aren't going just right,'' explains Orlando-based youth sports psychology expert Patrick Cohn. Those lessons will carry over into future, non-sports attempts.

    Team sports certainly offer benefits not as easily obtained via individual activities, as players leant how to communicate and work with others, and there's the potential to develop leadership abilities. Team sports also help kids develop their social identity. Our sense of worth is developed through what we achieve and a sense of belonging.

    Individual sports offer unique advantages, too, like developing a child's sense of independence. “Hero, you don't depend upon teammates," says Cohn. "You take full responsibility, whether you do well or perform poorly." Many of Cohn's young clients complain about pressure from team mates or coaches to make zero mistakes or carry more of the team than they may want to; these kids may enjoy a solo sport like tennis or gymnastics.

    Individual activities keep kids away from comparing themselves to the best players on the team, a habit that does little to help confidence levels. Instead, it encourages them to compare their skills to their own past performances. With individual sports like swimming or track, it's easier for the child to participate on his own, at his leisure(闲暇), without having to round up a bunch of like-minded peers.

    Above all, while some children enjoy the excitement of competition, others are more likely to benefit from the freedom of individual sports, and finding the right balance can be necessary for children's enjoyment. What parents think is encouragement, children often consider as pressure. So try to understand what they want from sports.

    We eat in our cars, at our desks, on the go, and in front of die TV. We eat take-out, packaged and prepared meals. Why? Because it fits our not-enough-time-in-the-day lifestyles.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Well, I'm certainly not the first one to think it-or say it-but we all need to slow down.

    Consumer trends around the globe show that over the past three decades people are purchasing more prepared foods at grocery and eating out more than ever before. It's predicted that we'll spend more at restaurants in the coming years.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} However, we're getting less healthy.

    While debates can be seen in different media over diet food industry's contribution to our growing waistlines and our health problems, the bottom line is this:{#blank#}3{#/blank#} We can choose to eat a fast—food lunch on the go. We can throw a frozen meal in the microwave and call it dinner. We can eat without thinking, in front of the tube, at our computers, and while driving a car.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Studies have shown meaningful links between family meals and kids' mental and physica I well— being. Eating sensibly doesn't take much time or money, but it does require you to make a conscious decision to do so. Wrapped in endless work, appointments and social activities, we often fail to enjoy a relaxing meal with our families.

    While it can be a challenge to always put healthy eating first, just do your best. Remember that diet food you eat has a more significant intact on your health, weight and well-being than almost any other activity you do.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Every meal made at home—even just once or twice a week—is a step closer to a healthier body and a slower food lifestyle.

A. Lunch is the biggest calorie intake when it comes to eating out.

B. Treat it with the importance that it deserve, but start small.

C. Our food matches our lives.

D. Purchase food locally and skip as many packaged items as you can.

E. What we eat, where we eat and how we eat are all under our control.

F. We're consuming an increasing number of calories.

G. We can devote an hour of the day to enjoying a meal with our families.

Habits to Be a Highly Effective Student

    Some students are able to get straight A's and at the same time serve as the president of three clubs. However, some students struggle to keep their GPA (Grade-Point Average) above a 3.0{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Although it's true that everyone's IQ is different, good study habits are very important. Here5re several habits you should adopt to get good grades.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If you haven't had a planner (规划薄), get one. Many people use their computers and smartphones to make a schedule. The problem with that approach is that they are major distractions (分心的事物). Instead, get an old-fashioned paper and pen planner.

    Create a weekly schedule{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Include time that will be spent eating, sleeping and doing anything not related to school work. That way you know exactly how much you can accomplish each day.

    Take frequent, short breaks. Taking a break from studying for 15 minutes every hour will help keep you refreshed{#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you don't take a break, you may find yourself daydreaming or even falling asleep. Take some time for some water, a snack or a quick chat with a friend.

    Take care of yourself. During final exam week, it is common for students to fall behind on sleep and meals. Make sure you get a good night's sleep and have regular meals. Studying while hungry or sleepy is ineffective and will slow you down in the long run. Also try to make time for friends and family{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Keep things organized.

B. Keep away from your computers.

C. Of course, not everyone needs breaks.

D. Our brains are not meant to work for hours nonstop.

E. Having a good support system will help with all the stress.

F. And they seem to spend all of their time in studying.

G. Then under each day, make a list of things to do each hour.

    Asthma(哮喘) is a long-lasting breathing disease that affects millions of Americans, many of whom are children. People who get asthma will suffer from lack of breath, difficulty in breathing or coughing--which are caused by the tightening of the muscles in airways. Untreated asthma can lead to poor lung function and death, but asthma can also be effectively controlled with proper treatments.

    Research is discovering genes that contribute to the development of asthma. This development has pointed researchers to the role of indoor and outdoor pollution as environmental factors that contribute to the increased occurrence of asthma.

    The Indoor Pollution

    Indoor pollution has increased with the developments in building materials and in heating and air conditioning systems. In addition to poisonous gases that come from paint, other materials like dust and perfumes used in household products such as washing powder are recycled continuously through the house, winter and summer.

Unlike the days before central heating or before whole-house air conditioning, these materials and chemicals cannot get out of modern homes. Most  often, they cause breathing  problems in the members of the family with the least-developed autoimmune(自身免疫的) systems. Proper venting (通风) and use of environmentally-friendly building materials and carpeting can help reduce the presence of these chemicals.

    The Outdoor pollution

    Researchers have also established outdoor pollution's role as a probable cause of asthma. Asthma has been proven to result from some fuel products. Smog and the small matters carried by it have been recognized as a factor which leads to asthma since the 19th century when London saw more and more diseases in the industrial population. Industrial pollutants and other chemicals which are produced in water treatment and open treated water like that found in the swimming pools also contribute to increased cases of asthma as well as other illnesses.

    Those most affected by the increase of industrial and environmental pollution are children. Although much has been done to control the levels of pollution in the US, there still remains much to do as it is a worldwide phenomenon. Until an international effort can be made to limit carbon emissions, the occurrence of environmental asthma will probably continue to increase.

Today, technological advances are rapidly making it possible to automate much of the work currently carried out by humans. This applies to both blue-collar jobs through robotics and the Internet of things, and white-collar work through artificial intelligence, the wide applicability of these technologies has led to broad concern about the destruction of jobs. Indeed, according to a 2014 Oxford study, 47% of jobs in the US could be replaced. By automated processes in the next two decades.  

Of course. As many have noted, while technology has always removed the need for some types of jobs, it also creates new ones. Technology is a set of tools that we use in different ways to increase efficiency. The Industrial Revolution destroyed some jobs but created many more. It also increased the total wealth of society and began to create a middle class who could enjoy health, education and other benefits that previously had been available only to the wealthiest. It can be challenging to predict the kinds of jobs that this new revolution will create and in what quantities, which makes the situation seem worse than it actually is. But nine of the top ten most in-demand jobs of 2012 didn't exist in 2003, suggesting that this latest revolution is creating new employment opportunities.

For many, this picture is overly optimistic. The new jobs require a completely different skills set —you can't turn an assembly plant worker into a data scientist overnight. Others are concerned that we are facing a permanent reduction in the need for human labor. Science fiction has long imagined a future where we no longer have to work and can spend our time on more noble pursuits. Could it be that we are reaching that inflection point in human history, if we are? Neither our social norms nor our economic systems are ready for it. Today, self-worth is inherently tied up with jobs，professions，careers and trades.