Reading Comprehension

　　How to protect children Web fans from unsuitable material on-line while encouraging them to use the Internet has long been discussed in the U．S．

　　For some parents, the Internet can seem like a jungle, filled with danger for their children．But jungles contain wonders as well as dangers and with good guides, some education, and a few precautions(预防措施), the wilds of the Internet can be safely navigated(航行)．Kids have to be on-line．If we tell our kids they cant have access to the Internet, were cutting them off from their future, said an expert．

　　Most kids have started to use search engines．Many of them are great for finding tons of interesting Internet sites, and they can also locate places where you might not want your kids to go．There are search engines designed just for kids．A certain software contains only sites that have been selected as safe．The most popular way to limit access would be to use what is known as a content screener(过滤器)．But this can't be wholly reliable, and the best thing parents can do is to talk to their kids and let them know what is OK or not OK to see or do on the Internet．Another way is that mum or dad is nearby when the child is surfing(浏览)the Internet．

　　●Don't put the PC in a child's room but keep it in an area where mum or dad can keep an eye on things．That also makes the Internet more of a family activity．

　　●Ask your child what he or she has been doing and about any friends they make on-line．

　　●Tell your child not to give on-line strangers personal information, especially like address and phone number．

　　●And tell your children never to talk to anyone they meet on-line over the phone, send them anything, accept anything from them or agree to meet with them unless you go along．

Reading Comprehension

　　Five years ago, David Smith wore an expensive suit to work every day．“I was a clothes addict,”jokes．“I used to carry a fresh suit to work with me so I could change if my clothes got wrinkled．”Today David wears casual clothes－khaki pants and sports shirt－to the office．He hardly ever wears necktie．“I'm working harder than ever,”David says,“and I need to feel comfortable．”

　　More and more companies are allowing their office workers to wear casual clothes to work in the United States．The change from formal to casual office wear has been gradual．In the early 1990s, many companies allowed their employees to wear casual clothes on Friday(but only on Friday)．This became known as“dress-down Friday”or“casual Friday．”“What started out as an extra one-day-a-week benefit for employees has really become an everyday thing,”said business consultant Maisly Jones．

　　Why have so many companies started allowing their employees to wear casual clothes?One reason is that it's easier for a company to attract new employees if it has a casual dress code．“A lot of young people don't want to dress up for work,”says the owner of a software company,“so it's hard to hire people if you have a conservative dress code．”Another reason is that people seem happier and more productive when they are wearing comfortable clothes．In a study conducted by Levi Strauss and Company, 85 percent of employers said that they believe that casual dress improves employee morale．Only 4 percent of employers said that casual dress has a negative impact on productive．Supporters of casual office wear also argue that a casual dress code helps them save money．“Suits are expensive, if you have to wear one every day,”one person said．“For the same amount of money, you can buy a lot more casual clothes．”

Reading Comprehension

　　Kids will often ignore your requests for them to shut off the TV, start their chores(杂事),or do their homework as a way to avoid following your directions．Before you know it, you've started to sound like a broken record as you repeatedly ask them to do their assignments, clean their room, or take out the trash．Rather than saying“Do your chores now．”you'll be more effective if you set a target time for when the chores have to be completed．So instead of arguing about starting chores, just say,“If chores aren't done by 4 pm, here are the consequences．”Then it's up to your child to complete the chores．Put the ball back in their court．Don't argue or fight with them, just say,“That's the way it's going to be．”It shouldn't be punitive(惩罚性的)as much as it should be persuasive．“If your chores aren't done by 4 pm, then no video game time until chores are done．And if finishing those chores runs into homework time, that's going to be your loss．”On the other hand, when dealing with homework, keep it very simple．Have a time when homework starts, and at that time, all electronics go off and do not go back on until you see that their homework is done．If your kids say they have no homework, then they should use that time to study or read．Either way, there should be a time set aside when the electronics are off．

　　When a kid wears his iPod or headphones when you're trying to talk to him, make no bones about it; he is not ignoring you, he is disrespecting you．At that point, everything else should stop until he takes the earplugs out of his ears．Don't try to communicate with him when he's wearing headphones－even if he tells you he can hear you．Wearing them while you're talking to him is a sign of disrespect．Parents should be very tough about this kind of thing．Remember, mutual respect becomes more important as children mature．

Reading Comprehension

　　When we think about giving help to developing countries, we often think about giving money so that these countries can build schools and hospitals, buy food and medicine, or find clean water supplies．These seem to be the most important basic needs of the people we are trying to help．However, it's far from enough．Ladies and gentlemen, we've got to come up with some better ideas to help them．

　　I was very surprised, then, when I read about a plan to make cheap laptop computers for children in developing countries．A man called Nicholas Negroponte invented a cheap laptop computer, which can run without electricity．He decided to invent this computer after he visited a school in Cambodia．

　　The laptop which Mr．Negroponte has designed is a little different from the normal laptop computers you can buy in the shops．One difference is that it is covered in rubber so that it is very strong and won't be damaged easily．As an electricity supply can be a problem in developing countries, the computer also has a special handle so that children can wind the computer up to give it extra power when needed．

　　These special laptop computers will cost less than 100 US dollars and Mr．Negroponte wants to build as many as 15 million machines in the first year of production．The idea is that these computers will help the children's education as they will be able to access the Internet．These computers might not help the people in developing countries immediately, but by improving children's education they should help people to find their own solutions to their problems in the long term．

　　Another idea to help children in developing countries is to recycle old mobile phones so that they can be used again．In the UK, and, probably in many other countries too, millions of mobile phones are thrown away every year．The waste created by throwing away these old phones is very bad for the environment, so it seems to be an excellent idea to recycle them．In this way we will be able to achieve two important goals at the same time．We will reduce the waste we produce and help others．In other words, we will be able to“kill two birds with one stone”, and that is always a good thing．

Reading Comprehension

　　Beginning college is exciting：new ideas to explore, new challenges to meet and many decisions to make．Your future begins here．

　　However, you will find college life is different from your previous school environment．Many of us can be easily overwhelmed(压垮)by the details of running a well-balanced life．While some of us may have the know-how, I guess there are more of us who can benefit from learning about the experiences of others who have walked the college halls before you．

　　The following you may find of use about life on campus．

　　*Plan well．There are so many new things to do at a new college or university．Give yourself time to make new friends and become familiar with the campus, but don't forget why you are there．Give some time for social activities and manage your time wisely．

　　*If you don't have a“system”for planning your time now(like a day timer, a computer data book), get one．Most of all, don't depend on your memory．

　　*Don't miss the guidelines．The restrictions, rules and regulations of all kinds can usually be found in your student handbook．Consider them well-balanced food for thought．What dates are important?What pieces of paper need to be handed in?What can/can't you do in class?What can/can't you do in your student residence?Who has right for what?What do you need to complete to graduate?

　　*Write the word“STUDY”on the walls of our bedroom and bathroom, and maybe it will help to write it on a piece of paper and stick it on the telephone, TV and the kitchen table．Consider this－you are paying thousands of dollars for your courses．You pay every time you have to repeat or replace a course．

　　*Build your identity．This is the time for you to decide what to do and what not to do．Take as much time as you need to explore new ideas．Do not be afraid of the beyond．This is learning to make good choices．

阅读理解

　　The Japanese coined the word tsunami to mean“harbor wave．”(“tsu”means harbor, and the character“nami”means wave)．Japan's most powerful earthquake since records began has struck the north-east coast, leading to a massive tsunami．Cars, ships and buildings were swept away by a wall of water after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake, which struck about 400km(250 miles)north-east of Tokyo and caused massive destruction, flattening whole cities, starting powerful fires, and killing hundreds．

　　In the wake of the Japanese tragedy, remember these tsunami survival tips：

　　1．A good warning sign of an approaching tsunami is“drawback,”when the ocean recedes(减弱)drastically or the water level falls unusually along the shoreline．

　　During the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, a 10-year-old girl on vacation with her family in Thailand, Tilly Smith, saved the lives of dozens of tourists when she recognized the receding water and frothing bubbles on the surface of the water as a sign that a tsunami was on its way．Experts believe that a receding ocean may give people as much as five minutes' warning to evacuate the area．

　　2．You're not out of danger after the first wave of a tsunami．

　　A tsunami occurs as a series of waves known as a“wave train,”and the series of surges(奔涌向前)can be five minutes or up to an hour apart．The tsunami does not usually appear on the shoreline as a gigantic breaking wave, but rather as a rapid tide or a wall of water．The worst mistake you can make is staying near the beach out of curiosity．Find higher ground and go as far inland as you can．If you can see the waves, you're still too close．

　　3．A tsunami surge may be small at one point of the shore and large at another point．

　　Move to higher ground as soon as you can and don't assume that because there's minimal activity in the coastal area where you are, it will be like that everywhere else．

　　4．Keep your ears peeled．

　　Many witnesses have said that a tsunami sounds thunderous, like a freight train．

阅读理解

　　Researchers in London and Bristol have found that men are particularly likely to yield to depression if their partners are also depressed．

　　The findings highlights the importance of paying attention to the partners of depressed mothers as young children themselves are vulnerable to social problems if both parents are depressed．

　　Researchers in London and at the university of Bristol launched their study to investigate whether family structure affects the likelihood of depression in men around the time their child is born．They looked at men from traditional families, men with children from a previous relationship, men whose parents had children by a former partner, and men who were not living with their partners．

　　All 7,018 participants filled out a questionnaire on depression, and answered the questions about their age, education level and employment status．Details about the quality of their relationship with their partners, networks of friends and previous life events were also recorded．

　　About 3.5 percent of the men and 13 percent of their partners suffered depression around the time their child was born．In comparison, men in step－families or who were not living with their partners were twice as likely to get depressed as those in traditional families．This could be explained by other factors that are more common in non－traditional families, such as poor education and relationship conflicts．

　　Even allowing for all these factors, however, the partners of women who were suffering from perinata(围产期的)depression were significantly more likely to become depressed themselves, the researchers report in an American Journal．Ten percent of women who were depressed had depressed partners．For the healthy women, the figure was only 2.6 percent．Previous research suggests that families with two depressed partners may need special attention．A researcher in Atlanta has found that primary school children with two troubled parents have difficulty relating to their peers．“It's extremely important to look at the whole family,”she says．

阅读理解

　　In the hit film The bucket List, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman meet in hospital in California after they have been diagnosed with cancer．Between them they cook up a“bucket list”-a to-do list of all they want to do before they kick the bucket．The movie makes you wonder what would be on your bucket list．So let's pack up some and see what it would cost to go out and have a little fun．

　　THE PYRAMIDS, GIZA, EGYPT

　　Onto the pyramids, surely on anyone's bucket list．Exotik Tours can take you there on a variety of trips, including their popular Egypt Express which includes three nights in Cairo and a three-night Nile Cruise(乘船游览)．From ＄1,384 include four-and five-star accommodation, 12 meals and a ton of sightseeing．

　　www.exotiktours.com

　　416-646-3347

　　TAJ MAHAL, AGRA, INDIA

　　One of the world's most fascinating images, India's Taj Mahal makes even Nicholson and Freeman look calm．Toronto's Goway Travel has many suggestions for India, including a three-day independent visit to Agra．Stay at the attractive Oberoi AmarVilas overlooking the Taj．Include two breakfasts, touring and airport transfer from ＄1,420．

　　www.gowaytravel.com

　　416-322-1034

　　THE GREAT WALL, CHINA

　　If the Great Wall of China is on your bucket list, check into Tour East Holiday's four-day Amazing Beijing Tour for ＄580 per person, four-star accommodation, sightseeing including the Forbidden City and the Great Wall, breakfasts and two lunches, transportation and guide．

　　www.toureastholidays.com

　　416-929-0888

　　THE HIMALAYAS, NEPAL

　　And on to the Himalayas．Talk about something truly majestic(壮丽的)．See the top of the world on GAP Adventures' Everest Adventure tour, a 15-day exploration including Everest Base Camp, teahouse lodge stays, and walking through Sherpa villages．Incredibly affordable at just ＄665 plus local payment of ＄250．GAP Adventures warns that this is a physically demanding trip．

　　www.gapadventures.com

　　416-260-0999

阅读理解

　　A lot of us lose life's tough battles by starting a frontal(正面的)attack－when a touch of humor might well enable us to win．Consider the case of a young friend of mine, who hit a traffic jam on his way to work shortly after receiving an ultimatum(最后通牒)about being late on the job．Although there was a good reason for Sam's being late－serious illness at home－he decided that this by-now-familiar excuse wouldn't work any longer．His supervisor was probably already pacing up and down preparing a dismissal speech．

　　Yet, Sam entered the office at 9∶35．The place was as quiet as a locker room(更衣室); everyone was hard at work．Sam's supervisor came up to him．Suddenly, Sam forced a grin and stretched out his hand．“How do you do!”he said．“I'm Sam Maynard．I'm applying for a job, which, I understand, became available just 35 minutes ago．Does the early bird get the worm?”

　　The room exploded in laughter．The supervisor clamped off a smile and walked back to his office．Sam Maynard had saved his job－with the only tool that could win, a laugh．

　　Humor is a most effective, yet frequently neglected, means of handling the difficult situations in our lives．It can be used for patching up differences, apologizing, saying“no”, criticizing, getting the other fellow to do what you want without his losing face．For some jobs, it's the only tool that can succeed．It is a way to discuss subjects so sensitive that serious dialog may start a quarrel．For example, many believe that comedians on television are doing more today for racial and religious tolerance than people in any other forum．

阅读理解

　　In a six-week study, experts found people who played online games designed to improve their cognitive(认知的)skills didn't get any smarter．

　　More than 8,600 people aged 18 to 60 were asked to play online brain games designed by the researchers to improve their memory, reasoning and other skills for at least 10 minutes a day, three times a week．They were compared to more than 2,700 people who didn't play any brain games, but spent a similar amount of time surfing the Internet and answering general knowledge questions．All participants were given a sort of I．Q test before and after the experiment．

　　Researchers said the people who did the brain training didn't do any better on the test after six weeks than people who had simply been on the Internet．On some sections of the test, the people who surfed the Net scored higher than those playing the games．

　　“If you're(playing these games)because they're fun, that's absolutely fine,”said Adrian Owen, the study's lead author．“But if you're expecting(these games)to improve your I．Q．, our data suggests this isn't the case,”he said during a press briefing on Tuesday．

　　One maker of brain games said the company's games have been proven to boost brain power．

　　“Their conclusion would be like saying, 'I cannot run a mile in under 4 minutes and therefore it is impossible to do so,”Aldrich said in a statement．

　　“There is precious little evidence to suggest the skills used in these games transfer to the real world,”said Art Kramer, who was not linked to the study and has no ties to any companies that make brain training games．

　　Instead of playing brain games, Kramer said people would be better off getting some exercise．He said physical activity can spark(激发)new connections between nerves and produce new brain cells．“Fitness changes the building blocks of the brain's structure,”he said．