Is it possible to be born shy? Many scientists say yes. They say 15 to 20 percent of babies behave shyly. These babies are a little quieter and more watchful than other babies. Interestingly, these shy babies usually have shy parents. As a result, scientists think that some shyness is genetic.
    Family size might causepeople to be shy as well. Scientists at Harvard University studied shy children. They found that 66 percent of them had older brothers and sisters. As a result, they became shy. At the same time, children with no brothers and sisters may be shy as well. Growing up alone, they often play by themselves. They are not able to learn the same social skills as children from big families.

    You may also be shy because of where you were born. When scientists studied shyness in different countries. They found surprising differences. In Japan, most people said they were shy. But in Israel, only one of three people said so. What explains the difference? One scientist says the Japanese and Israelis have different opinions of failure. In Japan, when people do not succeed, they feel bad about themselves. They blame（责备）themselves for their failure. In Israel, the opposite is true. Israelis often blame failure on outside reasons, such as family, teachers, friends, or bad luck. In Israel, freedom of opinion and risk taking are strongly supported. This may be why Israelis worry less about failure and are less shy.

    For shy people, it can be difficult to make friends, speak in class, and even get a good job. But scientists say you can get over your shyness. They suggest trying new things and practicing conversation. And don't forget—if you are shy, you are not the only one.

    What will the world be like if cars can drive themselves? Imagine seeing an empty car passing by on its way to pick up its owner or a car full of passengers who are reading, listening to music or even sleeping. The passengers in the car needn't worry about the road ahead.

    Well, all of this could be the future of driving. There are several companies, including Google, Tesla, Mercedes-Bens, Audi, BMW, Volvo and Toyota, working on driverless cars. They are now in the testing stages (阶段). If the tests are successful, these self-driving cars could be available very soon. But how is it possible for a car to drive itself?

    Modern cars are able to take the place of drivers during certain situations. For example, they can park themselves or slow down when they detect (发现) objects nearby. They can also control the speed if there are dangerous condi-tions, such as snowy roads. Scientists and engineers believe that, with the help of wireless signals (无线),cameras and GPS, creating a safe self-driving car might be possible in ten to twenty years.

    Self-driving cars may help cut down the number of serious accidents caused by careless drivers or dangerous condi-tions. However, there are still some people who do not like the idea. American lawyer, White Drake, for example, doesn't believe these cars are safe. He thinks the possibility of the technology making a mistake will be too high.

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