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Stingrays(黄貂鱼)

　　Stingrays are pancake-shaped fish, and you’d never guess it：they’re close cousins of sharks．The smallest kinds are about the size of a dinner plate．But some 4-metre stingrays live in

　　the waters near Australia．About 170 different kinds of stingrays live in the oceans around the world．And some live in freshwater too．In South America, a few kinds swim in the Amazon and other rivers that flow into the Atlantic．One ocean kind, the Atlantic stingray, also lives in the St．Johns River in Florida．

　　A stingray has a mouth and nostrils(鼻孔)on the bottom of its body．These nostrils are for smelling, not for breathing．When water flows into a stingray’s nostrils, the fish may pick up the smells of creatures it wants to eat．It can also find prey(牺牲者)by sensing the tiny amount of electricity that animals give off．Slowly, slowly the fish hunts by moving along the ocean or river bottom．When it senses a worm, clam, shrimp, or other creature, it flaps(拍打)its fins until the prey is uncovered．Then the fish lies down over the prey, sucks it in, and crunches it with its small teeth．A stingray’s flat shape helps it hide．It stirs up a cloud of sand by flapping its big, flat fins．When the sand settles down over the fish, everything is covered but its eyes, breathing holes, and sometimes its tail．Its tail gave the “sting” to a stingray’s name．When a stingray is attacked by an enemy, it whips its tail around．Then a sharp stinger releases a powerful poison into the enemy．When stingrays are on the ocean bottom, it’s easy for a diver to step on one by mistake．Then the fish usually stings the person in the ankle．The poison is very painful, and the wound may hurt for a day or two．Worse yet, pieces of the stinger can break off and infect the ankle．But stingrays don’t chase after prey or people to sting them．In fact, divers can swim among friendly stingrays without getting hurt．

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　　We’ve all seen them：perfectly toned famous people on late-night television telling us that we too can develop rock-hard abdominal muscles(腹肌)．It’s easy! Just pay ＄149.99 for the Torso Track or ＄149.75 for the Ad-Doer and watch those unwanted inches leave your waist．Americans spend tens of millions of dollars on various products to firm up their fat around the waist．And did they work? Not necessarily．Independent studies have concluded that most of these products－no matter who approved them or how expensive they are－shape your midsection no better than old-fashioned stomach crunches(仰卧起坐)．Some can even cause injury－like the ＄518.99 Body Shaper-Q8SP, which left electrical burns on some researchers at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse．Others, like the popular Ab-Doer, typically burn less energy than a gentle walk, according to a study to be published in September by the American Council on Exercise．

　　The fact is that many Americans don’t have the biological makeup to develop an obvious abdominal muscles．They are either unable to get the necessary muscle mass or they can’t lose enough fat to make a difference．Even if the underlying muscles are well developed, all it takes to hide it is one-sixteenth of an inch of fat．That’s enough to exclude most healthy women as well as plenty of guys who do crunches every day．

　　So what works best? In its new study, the exercise experts researched on the results of the popular Ab-Doer．A lengthy TV advertisement promises that just 10 minutes a day performing such movements as “Body Boogies” and “Good Mornings” will “help form those muscles the fun and easy way without diets．” Steven Loy, professor at California State University, Northridge, tested the promise by measuring the electrical activity produced by the abdominal muscles during three Ab-Doer movements．He and his colleagues then compared the results with those produced during traditional exercises．They determined that the muscles were no more active, and in some cases less so, when exercisers were using the Ab-Doer．

　　Taking a broader approach, researchers at San Diego State University compared 13 abdominal exercises for their ability to develop the central abdominal muscles．They concluded, in a report published in May, that the most effective exercises kept turning the body and worked the muscles the entire time．Among the winners：the bicycle movements－so called because it looks as if you are riding a bike while lying flat on the floor－and exercises performed on the “Captain’s Chair”, a product typically found in gyms that helps hold the body in the air while you raise your legs up toward your chest．Researchers suggested that a varied routine of the different exercises could deliver the best results．

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　　No one wants to be tested．We would all like to get a driver' s license without answering questions about rights of way or showing that we can parallel park a car．Many future lawyers and doctors probably wish they could join their profession without taking an exam．

　　But tests and standards are a necessary fact of life．They protect us from unskilled drivers, harmful products and dishonest professionals．In schools too exams play a constructive role．They tell public officials whether new school programs are making a difference and where new investments are likely to pay off．They tell teachers what their students have learned ——and have not．They tell parents how their children are doing compared with others their age．They encourage students to make more effort．

　　It is important to recall that for most of century, educators used intelligence tests to decide which children should get a high - quality education．The point of IQ testing was to find out how much children were capable of learning rather than to test what they had actually learned．Based on IQ scores, millions of children were assigned to dumbed-down programs instead of solid courses in science, math, history, literature and foreign language．

　　This history reminds us that tests should be used to improve education．Every child should have access to a high-quality education．Students should have full opportunity to learn what will be tested; otherwise their scores will merely reflect whether they come from an educated family．

　　In the past few years, we have seen the enormous benefits that flow to disadvantaged students because of the information provided by state tests．Those who fall behind are now getting extra instruction in after-school classes and summer programs．In their efforts to improve student performance, states are increasing teachers’salaries, testing new teachers and insisting on better teacher education．

　　Performance in education means the mastery of both knowledge and skills．This is why it is reasonable to test teachers to make sure they know their subject matter, as well as how to teach it to young children．And this is why it is reasonable to assess whether students are ready to advance to the next grade or graduate from high school．

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　　The drug store was closing for the night．Young Alfred Higgins, the shop-assistant, was ready to go home．Mr．Carr, the boss, stared at him and said：“Hold on, Alfred．Maybe you’d be good enough to take the things out of your pockets and leave them here before you go．” Alfred’s face got red．After a little hesitation, he took out what he had stolen．Mr．Carr said, “Maybe I should call your mother and let her know I’m going to have to put you in prison．”

　　Alfred thought his mother would come rushing in, eyes burning with anger．But, to his surprise, she arrived wearing a smile．“Hello, I’m Alfred’s mother．Is he in trouble?” she said．Mr．Carr was surprised, too．He had expected Alfred’s mother to come in nervously, shaking with fear, asking with wet eyes for a mercy for her son．But no, she was most calm, quiet and pleasant and was making Mr．Carr feel guilty…．Soon Mr．Carr was shaking his head in agreement with what she was saying．“Of course”, he said, “I don’t want to be cruel．You are right．Sometimes, a little good advice is the best thing for a boy at certain times in his life and it often takes the youths long time to get sense into their heads．” And he warmly shook Mrs．Higgins’s hand．

　　Back home, without even looking at Alfred, she said, “You are a bad luck．It is one thing after another, always has been．Why do you stand there so stupidly? Go to bed．” In his bedroom, Alfred heard his mother in the kitchen．There was no shame in him, just pride in his mother’s strength．He felt he must tell her how great she was．As he got to the kitchen, he saw his mother drinking a cup of tea．He was shocked by what he saw．His mother’s face was a frightened, broken one．It was not the same cool, bright face he saw earlier in the drug store．As she lifted the tea cup, her hand shook．And some of the tea splashed on the table．Her lips moved nervously．She looked very old．He watched his mother without making a sound．The picture of his mother made him want to cry．He felt his youth coming to an end．He saw all the troubles he brought his mother in her shaking hand and the deep lines of worry in her grey face．It seemed to him that this was the first time he had ever really seen his mother．

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　　Today, there’s hardly an aspect of our life that isn’t being affected by the tons of information available on the hundreds of millions of sites crowding the Internet, not to mention its ability to keep us in constant touch with each other via electronic mail．“If the automobile and aerospace technology had exploded at the same pace as computer and information technology,” says Microsoft, “a new car would cost about ＄ 2 and go 600 miles on a small quantity of gas．And you could buy a Boeing 747 for the cost of a pizza．”

　　Probably the biggest payoff, however, is the billions of dollars the Internet is saving companies in producing goods and serving for the needs of their customers．Nothing like it has been seen since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, when power-driven machines began producing more in a day than men could turn out in nearly a year．“We view the growth of the Internet and e-commerce as a global trend,” says Merrill Lynch, “along the lines of printing press, the telephone, the computer, and electricity．”

　　You would be hard pressed to name something that isn’t available on the Internet．Consider：books, health care, movie tickets, construction materials, baby clothes, stocks, cattle feed, music, electronics, antiques, tools, real estate, toys, autographs of famous people, wine and airline tickets．And even after you’ve moved on to your final resting place, there’s no reason those you love can’t keep in touch．A company called Final Thoughts．com offers a place for you to store “afterlife e-mails” you can send to Heaven with the help of a “guardian angel”．

　　Kids today are so computer literate that it in fact ensures the United States will remain the unchallenged leader in cyberspace for the foreseeable(能预测的)future．Nearly all children in families with incomes of more than ＄75,000 a year have home computers, according to a study by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation．Youngsters from ages 2 to 17 at all income levels have computers, with 52％ of those connected to the Internet．Most kids use computers to play games(some for 30 hours or more a week), and many teenage girls think nothing of rushing home from school to have e-mail chats with friends they have just left．

　　What’s clear is that, whether we like it or not, the Internet is an ever growing part of our lives and there is no turning back．“The Internet is just 20％ invented,” says cyber pioneer Jake Winebaum．“The last 80％ is happening now．”

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　　The gray-haired lady can't wait to leave the building to search for her dad．Unless watched, she will walk in the streets in an effort to find her father, who died 30 years ago．

　　Not all cases of Alzheimer's disease look like this, but Alzheimer’s is a serious disease that is said to be the fourth or fifth leading cause of death for people over age 75．

　　It is said that about three percent of the U．S．population over age 65 have Alzheimer's．In the early stages, people may exhibit short term memory loss．Some may experience changes in personality, easy to be angry．As the disease progresses, patients might lose the ability to move and may be unable to speak or move at all．This progressive disease generally lasts 8 to 10 years before death occurs．

　　While no one is certain what causes these changes in the brain's nerve fibers(神经纤维), their effect is certain．Alzheimer's destroys not only the patients, but also spouses(配偶), friends and families．

　　What should you do if you notice progressive memory loss in yourself or a loved one? Have the person examined by a doctor who is a specialist in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease?

　　Though many reasons other than Alzheimer's disease may cause memory loss, its early diagnosis(诊断)and treatment may delay some of the most serious effects．

　　What feeling will you likely experience should a loved one suffer from Alzheimer's disease? A person will often go through the various stages of sadness, shock, anger, and so on．If the spouse develops the disease, you may experience hurt and disappointment when he or she doesn't remember you are married．

　　Life for the Alzheimer's patients and their loved ones will never be the same as the disease progresses, bringing a deep sorrow, loss and even anger towards God．No matter what feelings are present, facing them honestly will serve one better than burying them．

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　　In department stores and closets all over the world, they are waiting．Their outward appearance seems rather attractive because they have a variety of styles, patterns, materials, and colors．But they are eventually the biggest deception(欺骗)that exists in the fashion industry today．What are they? They are high heels(高跟鞋)－a woman’s worst enemy(whether she knows it or not)．Fashion has led women to believe that they are more beautiful or fashionable for wearing heels, but in reality, heels cause troubles．Women should fight the high heel industry by refusing to use or buy them in order to save the world from unnecessary physical and psychological suffering．

　　To be fair, it must be noted that there is a positive side to high heels．First, heels are excellent for aerating(给……通气)lawns(草坪)．Anyone who has ever worn heels on grass knows what I am talking about．A simple trip around the yard in a pair of those babies gets rid of all the need to call for a lawn care expert, and provides the perfect-sized holes to give any lawn oxygen without all the dirt lying around．Second, heels are quite useful for defending against oncoming enemies by threatening them with a pair of these sharp, deadly fashion items．

　　Regardless of such practical uses for heels, the fact remains that wearing high heels is harmful to one’s physical health．Talk to any podiatrist(足病医生), and you will hear that most of their business comes from high-heel-wearing women．High heels are known to cause problems such as misshapen feet and torn toenails．The risk of serious back problems and twisted or broken ankles is three times higher for a high heel wearer than for a flat shoe wearer．Women wearing heels may get a heel caught in a narrow sidewalk gap and be thrown to the ground and possibly break a nose, back, or neck．And of course, after wearing heels for a day, any woman knows she can look forward to a night of pain as she tries to comfort her aching feet．

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　　Between 2 and 3 pounds of wonder，it controls everything we say，do or think，who we are and what we care about．The way we walk or laugh or figure out things．What we like and the talents we possess．How we see and talk and run and jump and process our food．

　　The brain uses 20 percent of our body's oxygen and 20 percent of its blood．Somewhere within its protein，fat, 100,000 miles of blood vessels and 100 billion nerve cells，it helps us remember where we put our gym shoes．Change our temperature so we don't die because of the heat or cold．Speed us up or slow us down．Help us choose between orange juice or orange-flavored drinks．

　　Its intricacies(复杂性)are stunning, far beyond anything most of us can imagine．To keep this work of art as polished(有光泽的)as possible we need to eat right, exercise and keep mentally stimulated(刺激)．

　　Good nutrition helps brain cells communicate with each other．Exercise stimulates a hormone(荷尔蒙)in our brain that improves memory．Mental stimulation keeps you sharp even as you age．

　　“It's very important that we tell people to be physically active and mentally active，” said neurologist Malcolm Stewart．

　　“People cannot stop aging，but you're able to reduce the damage；you're able to keep the function up．”

　　Following are Dr．Stewart's advice for improving brain health：

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　　News that Microsoft was making a ＄44.6 billion bid to buy Yahoo was greeted with heated discussion by many Internet users on Friday．Here are some responses：

　　This is the best move for both parties．Yahoo has the ideas and Microsoft has the money to finally market these ideas correctly．Microsoft and Yahoo are a perfect fit and the deal will be good for consumers．

　　I was a Yahoo user for years along with Hotmail from Microsoft．Then Google came along：Google Earth, Google Toolbar and Gmail．Google is so innovative(创新的)with everything they do．Yahoo and Microsoft…same old story…I don’t think the merger(合并)will do anything for either company except improve the Yahoo shareholders’ bank accounts．

　　Right now, Yahoo offers a lot of features and tools at no cost for all different levels of Internet users．Microsoft seeks nothing but profit．Undoubtedly, they’ll do nothing other than find ways to start removing Yahoo’s formerly non-priced features．Microsoft’s greed will ruin the great thing that Yahoo currently is．

　　Perhaps it would bring better high technology innovations to e-mail and help in researching and developing a better Internet!

　　Microsoft purchasing Yahoo would be nothing more than an attempt from Microsoft to further impose upon the users their poor-quality software and obtain more wealth for the company．In my opinion, they will never be able to compete with Google because Yahoo and Microsoft’s current search engines are too inferior(差的)to compete．Even if combined, they still lack．

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