Be careful what you say around your dog. It might understand more than you think.

    A border collie named Rico recognizes the names of about 200 objects, say researchers in Germany. The dog also appears to be able to learn new words as easily as a 3-year-old child. Its word-learning skills are as good as those of a parrot or chimpanzee(黑猩猩).

    In one experiment, the researchers took all 200 items that Rico is supposed to know and divided them into 20 groups of 10 objects. Then the owner told the dog to go and fetch one of the items and bring it back. In four tests, Rico got 37 out of 40 commands right. As the dog couldn't see anyone to get clues, the scientists believe Rico must understand the meanings of certain words.

    In another experiment, the scientists took one toy that Rico had never seen before and put it in a room with seven toys whose names the dog already knew. The owner then told Rico to fetch the object, using a word the dog had never heard before.

    The correct object was chosen in seven out of l0 tests, suggesting that the dog had worked out the answer by process of elimination(排除法). A month later, Rico remembered half of the new names, which is even more impressive.

    Rico is thought to be smarter than the average dog. For one thing, Rico is a border collie, a breed (品种) known for its mental abilities. In addition, the 9-year-old dog has been trained to fetch toys by their names since the age of nine months.

    It's hard to know if all dogs understand at least some of the words we say. Even if they do, they can't talk back. Still, it wouldn't hurt to sweet-talk your dog every now and then. You might just get a big, wet kiss in return!

    Most of us lead a busy life.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}We think, “If I reached my goal, then I would be happy”, or “If I could get a better job, then I would enjoy life.” But why not enjoy life right now?

    Firstly, take time to notice and appreciate the beauty in your own surroundings.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} “There is a great big world of wonder and beauty around us!” And as Brodersen explains, “Look for the beauty of the sunrise and of a friend's smile that brightens your day. Open your eyes to see the beauty you might not normally see. Doing so helps to cheer you up.”

    Secondly, taking time to experience some simple pleasures also can bring joy to your heart and ease your stress. Take me for example.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}One universal simple pleasure is finding things that make you laugh. Make time to laugh every day.

    Thirdly, don't take your family and friends for granted. Rich, rewarding relationships add greatly to the enjoyment of life. When you think of someone, why not call, e-mail or write them?{#blank#}4{#/blank#}As Wayne Lawton explains, “Invest time in relationships. Remove the attitude, what's in it for me? Happiness is found in putting other's interests, desires and concerns ahead of our own whenever possible. Selfishness is a dead-end street.”{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Be aware of beauty in nature.

B. So please treasure relationship.

C. You don't need to travel far to find beauty.

D. Driven by the “urgent”, we forget to enjoy life.

E. In my spare time, I enjoy collecting stamps and reading novels.

F. A short e-mail or phone call can make a world of difference to someone.

G. I delight in simple things like my favorite tea drink, a bubble bath or family photos.

Study in Canada

    Why Canada?

    Canadians place a premium(保险) on education and demand first-rate schools. Canada is among the top three countries in the Organization for Economic. International students who graduate from Canadian universities land successful and promising careers.

    Ranked as #1 in the World

    For the past several years, a United Nations survey has found Canada to be the best place in the world to live in. Conducted every year, the survey evaluates quality of life in 174 countries, using over 200 performance indicators. Canada earned particularly high marks for its access to education, high life expectancy(长寿), and low crime and violence rates.

    Canadian Education is Competitively Priced

    Tuition fees for international students in Canada are comparatively much lower than in any other English speaking country

    More than 800000 Canadians trace their roots back to India!

    High Standard of Living

    Canadians enjoy a standard of living among the highest in the world. More than 65 per cent of Canadians own their own homes, with a higher percentage owning durable goods. Canadians are proud of their world-famous and highly advanced broadcasting system which includes more than 1,000 AM and FM radio stations and some 719 television stations to serve, entertain and educate the listening and viewing audience.

    The vast majority of Canada's population of more than 30 million people lives in urban areas.

    Welcoming & Beautiful Environment

    All major urban centers have a variety of shopping malls, restaurants, theaters, art galleries and museums. Canadian cities provide numerous parks, gardens and beaches for public use, as well as excellent sports and recreation facilities. Canadians place a high value on their natural environment.

    Canada is well-known as a safe, just and peaceful society. Canadian crime rates have been falling steadily since the 1990s. In 1997, Canada's police-reported crime rate decreased for the sixth year in a row, falling by five per cent. Violent crimes declined for the fifth year in a row in 1997 and Canada's homicide (杀人) rate now accounts for less than one percent of all reported violent incidents. Unlike its US neighbors to the south, firearms are strictly controlled and generally are not permitted in Canada.

    Canada is a country with two official languages, English and French. The vast majority (75 per cent) of Canada's French-speaking inhabitants(居民) live in Québec(魁北克), which is located in the eastern part of the country but there are French-speaking communities throughout  the country.

    Internationally, it is estimated that more than 800 million people speak English and 250 million speak French. Canada offers superior English as a Second Language (ESL) and French as Second Language (FSL) training for students wishing to learn either or both languages.