What makes one person more intelligent than another? What makes one person a genius, like the brilliant Albert Einstein, and another person a fool? Are people born intelligent or stupid, or is intelligence the result of where and how you live?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    We know, however, that just being born with a good mind is not enough. In some ways, the mind is like a leg or an arm muscle.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Mental exercise is particularly important for young children. Many child psychologists think that parents should play with their children more often and give them problems to think about. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}38．__ If, on the other hand, children are left alone a great deal with nothing to do, they are more likely to become dull and unintelligent.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} According to some psychologists, if parents are always telling a child that he or she is a fool or an idiot, then the child is more likely to keep doing silly and foolish things. So it is probably better for parents to say very positive things to their children, such as “That was a very clever thing you did.” or “{#blank#}5{#/blank#}”.

A. A healthy body contributes to one's intelligence.

B. Parents should also be careful about what they say to young children.

C. What people want to express is like this.

D. The children are then more likely to grow up bright and intelligent.

E. It needs exercise.

F. You are such a smart child.

G. These are very old questions and the answers to them are still not clear.

    The road to happiness

    We all know that money can't buy happiness, but many times we act as if we'd be happier with a bit more money. We are trained to want the latest style that television tells us.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}But none of that win bring us happiness. No matter how much we earn, no matter how nice our clothing or cars or toys, none of it will make us happier. And the sad thing is that it could take us decades to pursuing wealth and luxury items before we realize this. So what will bring us happiness?{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Positive thinking. I'm obviously a big proponent of positive thinking as the best way to achieve your goals, but it turns out that it can lead to happiness too.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Happy people feel energetic, in control of their lives, and have a positive attitude to life.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}We have a human need to be close. Having good, supportive friendships, a strong, marriage or close and loving links with our family members will make us much more likely to be happy.

    Flow. This is a popular concept on the Internet these days-the state we enter when we are completely focused on the work before us. Having work and leisure that gets you in this state of flow will almost undoubtedly lead to happiness. People find greatest enjoyment not when they're passively mindless, but when they're absorbed in a mindful challenge.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Don't waste them!

A. Good relationships

B. You've been given the three secrets to happiness

C. In fact, this should be one of first habits you develop

D. In may sound ridiculous, but it has worked for me every time

E. Luckily, here're three secrets to happiness that don't cost a thing

F. We want to earn more money because then we'll have the good life

G. Optimism and self-esteem are some of the best indicators of people who lead happy lives

    The Wife-carrying World Championship has been celebrated in a small town in central Finland since 1992. In 1992, people of the town decided to restart some long-forgotten traditions. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} He was said to only accept men as members of his gang (团伙) who proved their worth in challenges. At that time, it was also a common practice to steal women from neighboring villages.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} A large number of competitors, people, and journalist from Finland to Canada attend the Wife-carrying World Championship every year.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The Wife-carrying world Championship is held on a 253.3 meters long official track. The track has two dry obstacles and a water obstacle, about a meter deep. The wife to be carried may be your own, or your neighbor's. The minimum weight of the wife to be carried is 49kg. If she is less than 49kg, the wife will be given a heavy bag to carry. Each time a competitor drops his wife, that couple will be fined 15 seconds. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Alongside with the Wife-carrying World Championship, there is also a team competition. The distance is the same but three men in the team carry the wife in turns. At the exchange point the carrier has to drink official “wife-carrying drink.” Then he may continue the race. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} While the Wife-carrying World Championship is being held, there are bands playing music, a wife-carrying dance and other forms of entertainment.

A. There are a few basic rules.

B. People everywhere hold the event.

C. A special prize is awarded to the winner team.

D. Do you know how these traditions restarted?

E. This event is becoming increasingly popular.

F. The winner is the couple who complete the course in the shortest time.

G. Back in the late 1800s, there was a robber called Rosvo-ronkainen in that area.

    It's good to have friends that we can talk to and share our thoughts and opinions with.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}But recently, it seems that many of us have been developing a new relationship with a mystery person that we'll never meet.

    These people are virtual (虚拟的) assistants. They are pieces of software that we can talk to and they can talk back to us. An example is Apple's Siri. They might be on your phone or computer or even a smart speaker in your home. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Instead of typing on a computer keyboard, we can now speak and a voice will answer. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Tom Hewitson is one of them. He told the BBC, “Now, computers are an active participant in the conversation and in guiding you to make the right decision.” So he's saying this cutting-edge(尖端的) technology has the ability to think for itself and make its own decisions. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Will it stop us using our own brains and will we lose the ability to write things down or type? They are certainly clever, helping you to book train tickets, give you the latest weather news or even tell you a joke.

    One thing we can't do yet is to make chit-chat (闲聊) or small talk with it. We have to change the way we speak. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This year Google produced a new product, described by the company as artificial intelligence “for accomplishing real-world tasks over the phone”. It's a type of chatbot(聊天机器人) that will allow you to, for example, chat to your hairdresser about when they can fit you in for a cut. Other companies are working on similar things. But before they perfect this new technology, don't forget who your real friends are.

A. The people behind these voices are called conversation designers.

B. They are different from how we speak to other people.

C. But there's no doubt that this technology will soon become common in our lives.

D. More importantly, they're people we can ask for help or advice.

E. They are changing the way we interact with technology.

F. It is a scary thought that this virtual voice can think for you.

G. They are cleverer than our real friends.

When you think about art, you might consider it to be permanent. After all, that picture you drew in kindergarten might still hang on your refrigerator years later. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Think about a Broadway performance. When it's over, it's over. Sure, it might live in your memory. But the live show is a special event. It is limited to a certain time and place. 

Can you think of other forms of art that are temporary? If you're a fan of the beach, sandcastles might come to your mind. Have you ever spent hours building a beautiful sandcastle? {#blank#}2{#/blank#} You knew your work of art would be gone as soon as the tide came in. The sandy beach is a canvas where nature erases "paintings" daily. 

Most of the time, art made from sand can't last long. Still, many people love using sand to create their own unique vision of beauty. One of the most attractive types of sand art is sand animation. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Artists who work in sand animation use sand to make a set of images that usually tell a story. They often start with a large amount of sand on a flat surface, such as a table. They then use their hands and fingers to draw in the sand. 

{#blank#}4{#/blank#} However, the wide variety of beautiful and highly-detailed sand artworks might surprise you. Many of these works or art are temporary. That's where the animation part comes in. 

Sand animation artists create a series of images that move to tell a story. They might also use music and special lighting to complete the effect. Sometimes they photograph or video their creation throughout the process. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. It is a type of live performance art. 

B. Not all works of art are permanent, though. 

C. Sand animation is beautiful but lasts only for the moment. 

D. Then, they turn it into a sand animation movie when it's finished. 

E. It might seem like using sand would limit the art you could make. 

F. If you have, you would probably be sad when it was time to leave the beach. 

G. Building a sand castle is a family-friendly activity perfect for large groups. 

Need a good adventure?

You don't have to climb a mountain or go on safari. Any adventure where you stretch yourself and learn something new counts. For some, it may be jumping out of a plane. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Ready for your adventure? Here's some advice.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Pick a manageable activity you can do soon－this weekend!－close to home. This will break your inertia (惰性), build your confidence and help you ramp up to bigger adventures.

Shift how you view anxiety.

Research shows that people who interpreted their nervousness about activities such as karaoke singing and public speaking as excitement enjoyed the experiences more and performed better than those who tried to press down their anxiety.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} says Samantha Boardman, a New York psychiatrist: Turning Stress into Strength. Try talking to yourself out loud, saying "I am excited" or "Let's get excited."

Use your imagination.

Envision the worst-case scenario. Say you want to go on a hike but are worried you'll become lost, hurt or too exhausted to get home. Try to picture this. Next, visualize the best-case scenario: the beautiful view, the fun you'll have, your sense of accomplishment afterward.

Ask yourself what will probably happen. Are you more likely to feel happy after your hike, or to be carried off the mountain in a sedan chair (轿子) ? {#blank#}4{#/blank#} says Boardman.

Make full use ofregret.

It can be very motivating. Think about whether you'll feel disappointed if you miss out on this interesting, expansive experience or glad you stayed home. 

We tend to regret actions we don't take rather than ones we do. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Start small.

B. Be confident.

C. For some, it may be climbing Mount Qomolangma.

D. So the fear of missing out can help you. 

E. This exercise helps put fear in perspective.

F. For others, trying a different workout may do the trick.

G. This changed their threat mindset into an opportunity mindset.