When I was about 12, I had an enemy, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings(缺点). Week by week her list grew: I was very thin, I wasn't a good student,I talked too much, I was too proud, and so on. I tried to hear all this as long as  could. At last, I became very angry. I ran to my father with tears in my eyes.

    He listened to me quietly, then he asked. “Are the things she says true or not? Janet, didn't you ever wonder what you're really like? Well, you now have that girl's opinion. Go and make a list of everything she said and mark the points that are true. Pay no attention to the other things she said.”I did as he told me. To my great surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true. Some of them I couldn't change (like being very thin), but a good number I could—and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I go to fairly clear picture of myself.

    I brought the list back to Daddy. He refused to take it. “That's just for you,” he said. “You know better than anyone else the truth about yourself. But you have to learn to listen, not just close your ears in anger and feeling hurt. When some thing said about you is true, you'll find it will be of help to you. Our world is full of people who think they know your duty. Don't shut your ears. Listen to them all, but hear the truth and do what you know is the right thing to do.” Daddy's advice has returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I've never had a better piece of advice.

    Some people have the feeling that nothing can be done about their poor reading ability(能力）. They feel hopeless about it. Can you learn to read better or must you agree that nothing can be done about it?

    To be sure, people are different. You cannot to do everything as well as certain other people do. All the students in a class tried out for basketball, some would be very good players; others would be very poor; and many would be in between. But even the very poor players can become much better players if they are guided in the right way, and with plenty of practice. It is the same with reading. Some seem to enjoy reading and to read well without any special help. Others find reading a slow and tiring job. In between, there are all degrees of reading ability.

    Many experiments have shown that just about every poor reader can improve his reading ability. In these experiments, the poor readers were given tests of reading ability. After some of the causes of their poor reading were discovered, they were given special instruction and practice in reading. After a few months, another test of the same kind was given. In nearly all cases, these people had raised their reading scores.

    Thirteen can be a challenging age. Not only did I have to adapt to my changing body, I also had to deal with my parents' bitter divorce, a new family and the upsetting move from my country home to a crowded town.

    When we moved, my beloved companion, a small brown pony had to be sold. I was heartbroken and terribly lonely. I couldn't eat or sleep and cried all the time. Finally, realizing how much I missed my pony, my father bought me another horse, Cowboy.

    Cowboy was without doubt the ugliest horse in the world. But I didn't care. I loved him beyond all reasons.

    I joined a riding club. When Cowboy and I entered the events where the horse was judged by appearance, we were quickly "shown the gate". I knew nothing could turn Cowboy into a beauty. My only chance to compete would be in the timed speed events. I chose the jumping race.

    For the whole next month we practiced running and jumping for hours in the hot sun and then I would walk Cowboy home, totally exhausted.

    All of our hard work didn't make me feel confident by the time the show came. One girl named Becky rode a big brown horse in the race events. She always won the blue ribbons. I sat at the gate and sweated all out while I watched Becky and her horse charge through the court and finish in first place.

    My turn finally came. At the signal, we dashed toward the first fence, jumped over it without trouble and raced on to the next one. Cowboy then flew over the second, third and fourth fences like a bird and I turned him toward the finish line.

    No cheers filled the air. The end of our run was met with surprised silence. Cowboy and I had beaten Becky and her fancy horse by two seconds.

    I gained much more than a blue ribbon that day. At thirteen, I realized that no matter what the odds, I'd always come out a winner if I wanted something badly enough to work for it. I can be the owner of my fate.

    BOXTEL, Netherlands — chickens roam the orchards, cows chew the cud and pigs roll in the mud on a warm day on a Dutch farm ——but the pastoral (乡村)scene is not as traditional as it seems.

    The farm is owned and run by a cooperative of hundreds of local consumers and aims to change habits in a low-lying country engaged in an existential fight against climate change. Nearly 200 families decide what the farm will produce — and they will eventually eat — and employ a farmer to tend to the animals for meat and eggs and grow the dozen kinds of fruits and vegetables.

    "The main aim of the members is to eat natural products, produced near to where they live, in a more sustainable (可持续的)way," said Douwe Korting, co-leader of the Boxtel Cooperative, in the southern Netherlands. People are really starting to see that a change toward a different way of eating is essential," he added.

    It costs 2,000 euros ($2,200) to join the collective (集体的)farm, which is 10 minutes by bicycle from the town, and then a weekly fee of around 10 euros per person.

    In return, members receive the food they want and stress the importance of knowing what they eat is local and seasonal.

    Known as Herenboderderij, or People's Farming, the guiding principle is that everything centers on the needs and riches of nature, even while using new technologies, " said its founder Geert van der Veer. Soon the poultry (家禽) will be joined by a robot that can sense when the fruit is ripe, as well as a drone that will survey the fields to support and reduce the needs for manpower.

    Curiosity is what drives us to keep learning, keep trying, keep pushing forward. But how does one generate (产生) curiosity, in oneself or others? George Loewenstein, a professor of psychology at Carnegie Mellon University, offered an answer in the classic1994 paper, "The Psychology of Curiosity."

    Curiosity arises, Loewenstein wrote, "when attention becomes focused on a gap in one's knowledge. Such information gaps produce the feeling of deprivation (匮乏) labeled curiosity. The curious individual is motivated to obtain the missing information to reduce the feeling of deprivation." Loewenstein's theory helps explain why curiosity is such a force: it's not only a mental state but also an emotion, a powerful feeling that drives us forward.

    Scientist Daniel Willingham notes that teachers are often "so eager to get to the answer that we do not devote enough time to developing the question." Yet it's the question that stimulates (刺激) curiosity; being told an answer stops curiosity before it can even get going.

    In his 1994 paper, George Loewenstein noted that curiosity requires some basic knowledge. We're not curious about something we know absolutely nothing about. But as soon as we know even a little bit, our curiosity is aroused and we want to learn more. In fact, research shows that curiosity increases with knowledge: the more we know, the more we want to know. To get this process started, Loewenstein suggests, take steps with some interesting but incomplete information.

    Language teachers have long used communication in exercises that open an information gap and then require learners to communicate with each other in order to fill it. For example, one student might be given a series of pictures for the beginning of the story, while the student's partner is given a series of pictures showing how that same story ends. Only by speaking with each other (in the foreign language they are learning, of course) can the students fill in each others' information gaps.

Embark on an exhilarating expedition across the ancient trade routes, commencing your 5-day odyssey from the heart of China to the vibrant lands of Central Asia.

Day 1 inTurpan, China: Commence your journey in the oasis city of Turpan, where you will delve into the intricate Karez Well System—a testament to the ingenuity of ancient irrigation techniques that persist in their operational capacity to this day. As the sun sets on your inaugural day, retreat to the tranquility of a family-owned vineyard, where you can meander through the verdant vineyards, engaging in conversations with the hospitable locals to gain insights into their customary way of life.

Day 2 in Urumqi, China: With the first light of dawn, set forth from Turpan to the bustling metropolis of Urumqi, the political epicenter of Xinjiang. Post a nourishing breakfast, immerse yourself in the cultural tapestry of the Xinjiang Museum, a treasure trove of diverse artworks, meticulously crafted handiworks, and historical artifacts. As you prepare to wing your way to Kashgar, seize the opportunity to amble through the vibrant Erdaoqiao Market, the most expansive marketplace in Xinjiang, teeming with a medley of goods.

Day 3 inKashgar, China: Devote this day to the leisurely exploration of Kashgar, commencing with a visit to the bustling Handicrafts Street, a cornucopia of artisanal treasures ranging from copper wares to metal and porcelain masterpieces. Pause for refreshment in a time-honored teahouse, where you can mingle with the convivial community, partaking in their animated dialogues and spirited dances. As the day draws to a close, retire to your lodgings for a rejuvenating night's rest in anticipation of the forthcoming voyage to Osh.

Day 4 in Osh, Kyrgyzstan: Upon reaching the second city of Kyrgyzstan, Osh, immerse yourself in the National Historical and Archaeological Museum Complex, a repository of cultural artifacts, handiworks, and sculptures that narrate the region's storied past. Subsequently, venture to the Jayma Bazaar, the most expansive marketplace in Central Asia, whose origins are rooted in the bygone era of the Silk Road. Should your interest lie in the silken threads of history, inquire of your guide to lead you to the Yodgorlik Silk Factory, a sanctuary where the age-old manual silk-making process is preserved.

Day 5 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan: Conclude your journey with a serene morning train excursion, culminating in your arrival at Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan. Dedicate the day to the exploration of the Parthian Fortresses of Nisa, a pivotal city from the Parthian Empire's early annals. As evening descends, return to the city to savor a meal and embark on an evening sojourn to the Ashgabat National Museum of History, where the chronicles of the nation are enshrined.