“There's a mother in PICU(儿童重症监护病房)who wants to talk about a kit she received,” the nurse told me. “Something about it made her cry.”

    I've been a child-1ife specialist at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital since 2000. I help families understand diagnoses and treatment plans and manage the ups and downs that come with caring for a sick child. Tough talks with parents are part of the job, which still makes me feel nervous.

    The kits the nurse was talking about were something I had recently introduced to the hospital: Comfort Kits from Guideposts. They were supposed to make a child's experience here easier, not upsetting.

    When I came across the kits at a conference. I fell in love with them. A treasure box of items designed not only to entertain kids, but to comfort and inspire them. There's a coloring book, a stress ball, a CD of relaxing music, a hairy star named Sparkle, a journal and much more. I really believed these kits would help kids. I wished I hadn't been mistaken.

    At the patient's room in PICU I saw a little girl, sleeping soundly, surrounded by tubes and machines. My eyes met her mother's. The kit was open on her lap and tears were running down her cheeks.

    “I'm Shannon. I manage the Child Life Department.” I said. “I'm sorry if the kit upset you .It's a new item…”

    The mother shook her head. “This has been one of the worst days of my life .I felt so scared and alone. Then I was handed this box. I know it's for my daughter, but it's just the comfort I needed. I wanted to say thank you.”

    With that I knew Comfort Kits belonged here. We've been using them for almost three years now. Each child who's admitted to the hospital receives one. Every day I see kids coloring, journaling, playing with Sparkle.

    But as this mom showed me Comfort Kits aren't just for kids. The hope they bring, which can be in short supply in hospitals sometimes, is felt by the whole family.

    Hey, ladies! It's summer again and it's time for a new you! No more make-up, no more pretending! Yes, that's right! It's time to stop making ourselves beautiful for the camera, and start posting confident pictures without all the make-up and extra tricks we add onto ourselves in the hope of appearing more attractive and beautiful. Because believe it or not, we already are!

    After we wash our face and go to bed, it is not so perfect. You know it the face we should confidently be showing to the world! Who cares if you have pimples（面痕）or your eyes look small, or if you have crow's feet? Guess what? Those are actually what make you such a beautifully grown woman. And any person who doesn't think so is just not as strong as you.

    Nowadays we are so prone to do anything and everything to make us look as young and perfect as possible. Yet the truth is, by doing this, we are actually making our tree skin get worse and badly affected by all the junk we put on. We are making ourselves believe that by changing our appearance we will be more accepted and seem more attractive to other people. And yet, our final goal is to find that without all of the make-up. What kind of twisted（扭曲的）game are we really playing with ourselves?

    So I would like to make a suggestion for all women out there to give yourself a break at least this summer. Take a couple of pictures without all of that make-up on. You don't need it every single day, especially not this hot summer! You'll be surprised that the more confident you are about showing the real side of you, the more attractive you will be to everyone else.

    Yes, the saying, “Beauty comes from within” is an old one, definitely still holds some troth today. So be brave, carefree, and make-up free! Let the world see you for who you really are!

    A famous doctor once received a little child who was badly ill. Thanks to his skill and care, his young patient got well and was soon able to get up and run about again.

The child's mother was very much obliged to the doctor, and she called on him to thank him for what he had done for her child. "Doctor," she said, "you have saved my little son. I don't know how to thank you enough. I feel that money alone cannot repay you, so I have made this little purse with my own hands, as a sign of my gratitude. I hope you will accept it." The doctor stood up and said coldly, "Madam, a little present like that is very nice between friends, but a doctor needs to be paid properly for what he has done." The lady was so surprised and hurt so much that she could not reply for a moment. Then she said quietly, "Perhaps you will tell me how much your fee is?"

    "Fifty pounds", he answered.

    The lady opened the little purse and took out four fifty-pound bank notes. She handed one of them to the doctor, and put the other three back into the purse. She put the purse into her handbag and, saying good bye to the doctor, went out of the room.

    A traditional Chinese cough syrup (糖浆), called Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa (念慈庵川贝枇杷膏), is flying off the shelves in New York stores this flu season, following a US news report.

    According to a report in The Wall Street Journal last week, Mr. Alex Schweder, a professor of design at Pratt Institute suffering a cough for about 10 days, felt better 15 minutes after he drank a bottle of Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa. It had been recommended by his girlfriend, who first learnt about the cough syrup 30 years ago when she was living in Hong Kong.

    Mr. Schweder was shocked by the magical effects of the cough syrup, and recommended it to many people. This, together with other factors, soon made the Chinese medicine popular in New York City.

    A 300ml bottle is now sold at US$13.29 on Walmart's website. This is more than double the former price in some pharmacies (药店) in Manhattan's Chinatown, selling at about US$6 per bottle. "The number of Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa we sold over the past few days was much more than usual," said Winnie, a sales staff member of Buy-rite pharmacy in Chinatown. "More and more Westerners are accepting this medicine because it is effective," she said.

    According to the Kingworld Medicines Group's official website, Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa is made of "valuable Chinese herbs and honey, and has surprising effects in treating coughs." However, experts warn that taking the cough syrup can carry health risks, including when it is used with other medicines, used too much or taken instead of prescription medication (处方药).

    Dr. Keith Brenner, a specialist in pulmonary medicine at Columbia University Medical Centre New York Presbyterian Hospital, said, "I think people who use these things may not even tell the doctor about them, and it's a problem."

If you are looking to improve your relationship with your parents,you are not alone.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} There are a number of steps that can be taken to form a better relationship with your parents.

Be grateful.Consider all that your parents have done for you.You may find yourself feeling thankful to your parents.You will be more willing to improve the relationship.Let your parents know that you are appreciative for all they have done for you.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} For example,get them a nice gift.If you live with your parents,do some extra housework without being asked.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Often,people do not get along because they fail to take others' perspective.Accept that your parents are different.Think about how their lives may be different from your life,and how these different histories may be contributing to issues in the relationship.

Avoid unnecessary arguments.Sometimes arguments are unavoidable,but do your best to avoid unnecessary quarrels.This may mean that you have to bite your tongue when one of your parents says something controversial.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} If it is,make the point clearly and modestly in order to avoid an overly emotional argument.

Don't ask for their advice unless you really want it.Sometimes problems arise in relationships between parents and children,particularly at the teenage years and beyond,because parents can try to give advice that might hurt your sense of independence.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} Otherwise,you may be opening the door to frustration on your part.

A.Put yourself in their shoes.

B.Be happy with them for this.

C.Show your appreciation with your actions.

D.It can hurt to feel taken for granted,even for parents.

E.Problems between parents and children are common.

F.So try only asking for their advice when you really want it.

G.Determine whether the need to respond is really necessary.

Why should mankind explore space? Why should money, time and efforts be spent exploring and 1 for something with so few apparent benefits? Why should many resources be spent on space 2 than on conditions and people on Earth?

These are questions that, understandably, are very often asked. Perhaps the best answer 3 in our genetic makeup（基因构成）as human beings. What4 our ancestors to move from the trees into the plains. and on into all 5 areas and environments? The wider the 6 spread of a species, the better its chance of 7 . Perhaps the best reason for exploring space is this genetic tendency to expand 8 possible.

Nearly every successful civilization has 9 , because by doing so, any dangers in surrounding areas can be identified and prepared for. Without knowledge, we may be 10 destroyed by the danger. With knowledge, we can 11 its effects.

Exploration also allows minerals and other potential（潜在的）resources 12 . Even if we have no 13 need of them, they will perhaps be useful later. Resources may be more than physical possessions. Knowledge or techniques 14 through exploration. The techniques may have medical applications which can 15 the length or quality of our lives.