The Science of Risk-Seeking

      Sometimes we decide that a little unnecessary danger is worth it because when we weigh the risk and the reward, the risk seems worth taking. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Some of us enjoy activities that would surprise and scare the rest of us. Why? Experts say it may have to do with how our brains work.

      The reason why any of us take any risks at all might have to do with early humans. Risk-takers were better at hunting, fighting, orexploring. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}As the quality of Risk-taking was passed from on ration to the next, humans ended up with a sense of adventure and a tolerance for risk.

So why aren't we all jumping out of airplanes then? Well, even 200,000 years ago, too much risk-taking could get one Killed. A few daring survived, though,along with a few stay-in-the-cave types. As a result, humans developed a range of character types that still exists today. So maybe youlove car racing, or maybe you hate it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

      No matter where you are on the risk-seeking range,scientists say that your willingness to take risks increases during your teenage years. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Tohelp you do that, your brain increases your hunger for new experiences.

      New experiences often mean taking some risks, so your brain raises your tolerance for risk as well.

      Mean taking some risks, so your brain raisers your tolerance for risk as well.

      {#blank#}5{#/blank#}   For the risk-seekers a partof the brain related to pleasure becomes active, while for the rest of us, a part of the brain related to fear becomes active.

As experts continueto study the science of risk-seeking, we'll continue to hit the mountains, the waves or the shallow end of the pool.

A. It all depends on your character.

B. Those are the risks you shouldjump to take.

C. Being better at those thingsmeant a greater chance of survival.

D. Thus, these well-equipped people survived becausethey were the fittest.

E. This is when you start to move away from your family and into thebigger world.

F. However, we are not all using the same reference standard to weighrisks and rewards.

G. New brain research suggests our brains work differently when weface a nervous situation.

    Being a fit and healthy person is very important for lots of people today.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

Thanks to fitness apps and gadgets (小玩意) , people can measure every step they take, what they eat and every calorie they burn. They might wear a watch that tells them their heartbeat, own smart shoes that track their steps, or use different apps on their phone to record what they eat.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}All of their friends can see where they've run, what workout (健身) they've done or what they had for lunch. Sounds familiar?

    Doctor Daniel Kraft from the US makes gadgets for people like this. He told the Digital Health Summit that these people, known as “trackaholics”, might become the norm (常态) in the future.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}I can see the world of health and fitness changing around me every day.

    One of my friends is always using the latest fitness gadgets. Her favorite is an app called Argus. She uses it on her phone to measure her steps, heart rate and amount of calories she has burned. She always posts this information, and pictures of herself exercising, on social media. “{#blank#}4{#/blank#}” she said. “That way, I can keep pushing myself to improve.”

    My friends in China use WeChat to track how many steps they've taken each day.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. And I think he's right

B. They are very competitive about this, comparing their steps with each other all the time

C. Fitness apps also make exercise more fun and targeted

D. And most importantly, they share all this information on social media

E. There are many apps that can aid you in achieving your fitness goals

F. In fact, some people like running and exercising so much that they become obsessed (着迷) with keeping track of it

G. It's nice to know exactly how much exercise I have done, rather than guess

    Why is setting goals important?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Instead of just letting life happen to you, goals allow you to make your life happen.

    Successful people imagine how their life should be and set lots of goals.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}It's like having a map to show you where you want to go. Think of in this way. There are two drivers. One has a destination in mind which can be found in a map. She can drive straight there without any wasted time or wrong turns. The other driver has no goal, or destination or map. She starts off at the same time from the same place as the first driver, but she drivers aimlessly around. Never getting anywhere, just using up gas. Which driver do you want to be?

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}They decide what they want in life and then get there by making plans and setting goals. Unsuccessful people just let life happen by accident. Goals aren't difficult to set, and they aren't difficult to reach.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}You are the one who must decide what to achieve and in what direction to aim your life.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Written goals can be reviewed regularly, and have more power. Like a contract with yourself, they are harder to neglect or forget. Also when you write your goals in a particular way you are able to make yourself continuously aware of situations that will bring you nearer to your goal.

A. Winners in life set goals and follow through

B. It's up to you to find out what your goals really are

C. By setting goals you are taking control of your life

D. Because everybody should have a goal in his mind

E. It's difficult for a driver to reach his destination without a map

F. Because goals can help you do, be and experience everything you want in life

G. Research tells us that when we write a goal down, we are more likely to achieve it

    It can be difficult to meet new people and make friends, especially when you move to a new city or find yourself out of your comfort zone. How will you deal with the situation?{#blank#}1{#/blank#} There are several ways that you can meet people that you might not have considered in the past.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}You probably have several acquaintances that you see on a daily basis or a weekly basis. If you get along well with certain people, you can see if this acquaintance would like to go out and do something socially with you. If you have common interests, you might suggest that the two of you do something together that involves your interest.

    Make an effort to accept invitations. Sometimes people that you know may be having a barbecue or other types of social gathering. Try to ensure that you are able to attend and then show up at the appointed time.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}If you meet people that you click with, you can make a plan to see them again in the future or you can invite your friends to your own event and ask them to extend the invitation to the friends that were at their gathering too.

    Go out, even when you don't feel like it. It turns out that when people invite someone to join them for dinner or a movie or something else, they really want to hang out with you.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} But once you have used the same methods a few times you will know exactly what works and what does not. Don't give up, everyone is different and it just takes time to get to know people.

A. Expand on current relationships.

B. Trying to make new friends can be annoying at first.

C. Do you work with people that you get along well with?

D. But don't call them several times a day or even several times per week.

E. Be more social and you'll make your life more exciting and fulfilled.

F. If you tend to say “no” often, people will eventually stop asking you to go with them.

G. These types of gatherings often lead to meeting different people who are friends of friends.

    Nowadays people tend to digitalise everything from watches to fridges. It seems you can choose any item labeled as “smart”.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}However, there are plenty that can be used to reduce emissions and save money.

    If you're a part of the digitalisation movement, you might be interested in the concept of smart homes. It means that every element of your house can be controlled from a panel on the wall or your phone.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Use your mobile to power them on or off, and you may feel truly modern or truly lazy. Asides from the benefits of living a more comfortable life, this presents an opportunity to cut down on your electrical bills.

    Electricity generation today represents 31% of total global fossil fuel use and around 40% of all energy-related CO₂ emissions.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}It is considered as the first step to prevent global climate change. Connect a smart thermometer to the heating and cooling system and set a specific temperature at which the heating begins to work. Doing so, the room will be at a desired temperature when necessary and switches on a power-saving mode when not occupied. Similarly, by installing a CO₂ sensor, you can have an automated ventilation (通风) system.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    In a 150,000m₂ office complex near Munich, called Campeon, energy costs of up to 117,067 Euro were saved after the use of environmental control devices this year. In this way, they are contributing to a large decrease in CO₂ emissions. Clearly, smart homes are about much more than just living a comfortable life.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. It is actually about living a green life.

B. Smart devices have been installed worldwide nowadays.

C. It starts working only when CO₂ concentrations reach a certain limit.

D. There seem to be an ocean of such so-called “smart” inventions.

E. Bearing this in mind, measures should be taken to make buildings more energy-efficient.

F. Alternative energy must be discovered before the fossil fuel runs out in the future.

G. This includes basics such as heating and lighting and many other appliances.

The winner's guide to success

    Do you know what makes people successful? To find out the answers, an American scholar recently visited some of the most successful people in America.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Be responsible for yourself.

    Sometimes you may want to blame others for your failure to get ahead. In fact, when you say someone or something outside of yourself is stopping you from making success, you are giving away your own power.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Write a plan

    It is very difficult to try to get what you want without a good plan. It is just like trying to drive through strange roads to a city far away.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Without this "map", you may waste your time, money and also your energy; while with the "map" you'll enjoy the "trip" and get what you want in the shortest possible time.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Nothing great is easy to get. So you must be ready to work hard even harder than you have ever done. If you are not willing to pay the price, you won't get anything valuable.

    Never give up

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}When you are doing something, you must tell yourself again and again: giving up is worse than failure because failure can be the mother of success, but giving up means the death of hope.

A. A good plan is like a map to you.

B. It seems to us that everyone knows this. But it is easier said than done.

C. Some people achieve success much later in life because they didn't work harder earlier.

D. You are saying they have more control over your life than you do.

E. Someone else's opinion of you doesn't have to become your reality.

F. Be willing to pay the price.

G. Here are some keys to success that they give.