2.23
Should we have zoos?
For many of us, our closest encounter with wild animals is at a zoo. These places allow us to observe the behaviours and characteristics of amazing creatures from big cats to tiny amphibians. It’s an enjoyable and educational experience for us, but is it the best environment for the animals?
A long time ago, people could only see wild animals as stuffed dead exhibits in a museum. Later, live animals are captured by explorers, brought home and put on show to the public in menageries – animals welfare was not a priority. But modern zoos and wildlife parks have transformed the conditions and environments for animals, making bigger enclosures, removing bars, and, to some extent, mimicking their natural habitats. Some people have questioned the cruelty of keeping animals captive and using them just for entertainment, but zoos are keen to show they are here to help wildlife by educating us about conservation.
11.3
Even today, optometrists are reporting a rise in short - sightedness - also called myopia - in children. The conditions can be genetic, but it also partly blamed on a number of modern - day factors - particularly children staring at phone screens, computers and game consoles for long periods of time. It’s believed myopia also makes the susceptible to be secondary eye conditions such as glaucoma, retinal detachment and other visual impairments later in life.
11.1
Rise inshort-sightedness in children
How’s your eyesight? From the moment we’re born, our eyes grow, our vision becomes clear and some of us will have normal or even 20:20 vision. However, others will have short-sighted and end up wearing glasses or contact lenses to help them see everything clearly. And some experts claim that more of us will be wearing them in the future because of our lifestyle when we are younger.
10.26
Antti Revonsuo, a Finnish scientist, has suggested that dreaming help us to prepare for and deal with stressful situations. He studied children’s nightmares, giving an example of being continuously chased by wolves. He believes dreams like that stem from our ancestors and could be rehearsal for daily struggle and survival. In modern times, dreams and nightmares may be preparing us for social situations such as having a fight with a friend, going on a date or having a job interview.
With such a variety of theories on why we dream, it seems that more research is needed before we can completely understand their purpose.
10.24
Memory storage could be one reason for why we dream. When you are asleep, the brain decides what information you should be move to your long-term memory and what should be unlearnt. In a TED Talk, psychologist Amy Adkins described a 2010 experiment involving participants studying how to get out of a complex 3D maze. It was found that they were much better at attempting it if they had had a map and dream of the maze. Another purpose of dreams could be the processing of our daily emotions, which may add to emotional memory consolidation. In 2003, the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience published research that experimented with the idea of dreams being a replication of our daily lives. Diary entries and dream journals of 29 healthy young adults over a two-week period were compared, and it was discovered that emotional theme from the day were replicated in dreams 35-55% of the time.
8.29
Why do we dream?
There are no clear answers to the questions of why do we dream, but there are different theories. Dreaming is extraordinary and strange: you hallucinate, believe impossible things, and people you know may merge into one another. And then, to top it off, you will likely forget all about it.
8.22
So, good news for early birds, but what if you are not a morning person? Working out in the afternoon or evening also has benefits, just different ones. For example, your body’s ability to perform peaks in the afternoon, according to 2010 study by the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports. Also, in the afternoon and evening, your reactions is the quickest, and your heart rate and blood pressure are lowest, which reduce your chance of injury while improving performance.
But does any of this change depending on whether you are a man or a woman? Our bodies are different, after all, so the best time to exercise may be different too. A 2022 study from Skidmore College, New York, looked at exactly this question and the results showed that there are some differences. Want to reduce your blood pressureand you are a woman? Exercise in the morning. Want to improve your heart health and you are a man? Evening is better for you. But, ultimately, the study found that there are clear benefits for both sexes to exercise at either time of day.
So what time is best? It sees the answer is: whatever time is best for you!
8.11
Is There a Best Time to Exercise?
With our already busy lives, finding time to exercise can feel like one more thing on our “to do”list. So maybe it would help if there was “a best time ” to exercise? Could exercising at certain times maximise our fitness goals? The answer is yes, but it is easier than you think – no matter who you are, or when do you like to work out.
There are clear benefits to exercising in the morning. Many of us have more free time compared to later in the day, and it may therefore be easier for us to stick to amorning workout routine. A study published in Medicine and Science in Sportsand Exercise found that participants who exercised in the morning, increased their physical activity throughout the day, were less distracted by food, and slept better. Exercising on an empty stomach before breakfast could also burn more fat and increase metabolism, which means you will continue to burn calories throughout the day.
6.8
Dr Barbara JKing, Emerita Professor of Anthropology at the College of William and Mary,told the BBC:” If we understand the profound depths of emotions animals can feel, this should make us question the experience of zoos and slaughters around the world, and rethink those systems.” It does seem all creatures feel emotion,but what is not clear is do they feel the same way as us?
6.7
Other non-domesticated animals might have feelings too. Giraffes and whales, for example, are know to experience grief when someone in their group dies. Farm animals we often eat, such as cows and chickens, are also believed to experience pain, joy and other emotions. Their wellbeing is taken into consideration more. And in the UK, new legislation means all vegetable animals and crustaceans will be recognized in law as sentient beings.It is believed even tiny creatures like insects might have emotions as well. Research is beginning to show they experience a range of feelings. Writing for BBC Future website, Zaria Gorvett says “they can be optimistic, cynical, or frightened, and respond to pain just like any mammal would”.
6.6
Do animals have emotions?
When you encounter animals, do you wonder what they are thinking? Seeing a newborn lamp or a cute puppy might stir up happy emotions in us, but what are they thinking? Does the look on their face and how they behave indicate how they are feeling – or are they feel noting at all?
Humans have a complex range of emotions, but it is hard to tell what is going on inside the heads of animals, mainly because they can’t verbalise their feelings. Perhaps it is pets we think we understand most – as they are the animals we spend a lot of time with and therefore get to know best. Some of us own dogs because they are good companions, are loyal and seem to connect with us. We might think they love us, although love could just be a human emotion. Professor Kim Bard, an expert in comparative development psychology from the University of Portsmouth, told the BBC: “We have a few studies now that actually show, scientifically… that (some) dogs will respond with empathetic concern when their owner – but not stranger –pretends to cry. ” The empathetic ability of cats, however, is harder to work out.
3.28 THE BENEFIT OF CRAFT MAKING
Are you good with your hands? Many of us like to make things which we can use or give as a gift. Crafting is certainly a hobby that’s seen a resurgence, and those who pursue it claim getting improves their mood.
The recent lockdowns caused by the Covid pandemic gave people time at home to try out their new activities, which they’ve continued to enjoy. Many turned to hobbies such ascraft making as a way to soothe their work-from-home burnout. Knitting, crocheting,pottery and panting are all crafts that have seen a revival, and many of them are being done by younger people.
3.18
More recently, sales of camping gears jumped as more people opted for staycation
within the UK due to travel restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
One camping retailer, Halfords, reported a such surge in demand for products such
as stove, cool box, and camping chairs. With the additional of inflatable
mattresses and pillows, powerful torches and lamps to light up your tent and a
better selection of easy-to-cook food, you can guarantee a comfortable and
enjoyable camping expedition. The only thing you can’t guarantee, in the UK at
least, is good weather! So maybe it’s good time to slum it and give camping a
try.
3.1 Why camping can be so much fun
When you go on holiday, where do you like to stay? Do you like aluxury of a five-star hotel, the convenience of a self-catering apartment or doyou prefer the freedom of sleeping under canvas? If you haven’t tried thelater, maybe you should join the increasing number people of who are enjoyingthe simple pleasure of camping.
By garbing your tent, and some additionalaccessories, it’s easy to head off the countryside and enjoy a night or twounder the stars. Many campers are ditching the trappings of the modern, hecticlife, encouraged by experts who say few peaceful night in the middle of nowheremight be a good way to unwind and improve our sleep patterns and well-being. Itis also, of course, a good low-budget holiday option.
2.25
Nation sends record delegation to Paralympics
China is sending 96 athletes to next month’s Paralympics Winter Games, its largest ever participation in the event. This marks China’s sixth appearance at the Winter Paralympics.
The Chinese delegation includes 68 male and 28 female athletes with an average age of 25.
The Chinese athletes will be competing in 73 events across all six sports, compared with two sports and six events at the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympics.
The Beijing Winter Paralympics will be held from March 4 to 13.
（阅读的流畅性差老远了）
2.23
A touching ceremony
The Beijing Winter Olympics came to close on Sunday in a touching ceremony.
Almost 3000 athletes completed in 109 events across 15 disciplines during the past two weeks.
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach called for political leaders “around the world” to be inspired by the athlete’s “example of solidarity and peace”.
“This unifying power of the Olympics Games is stronger than the forces that want to divide us,” he said.
Bach said the athletes had “given peace a chance”.
“Each and every one of you strived to achieve your personal best. We were deeply touched how you were wishing and cheering for your competitors to achieve their best as well,” he said.
“You not only respected each other: you embraced each other, even if your countries are divided by conflict.”
Bach also encouraged countries to continue vaccinating against Covid-19, saying: “If we want to finally overcome this pandemic, we must be faster.”
“We must aim higher, we must be stronger, we must stand together. Vaccination means caring for each other.”
“In this Olympics spirit of solidarity, we call on the international community: give equal access to
vaccines for everybody around the world. ”
The Olympic flame was extinguished, with the next Games taking place in Milan-Cortina in Italy in 2026. The Winter Paralympics begins in Beijing on 4 March.