【推荐3】Having too much confidence is not good. And now, a new study has proved this by finding that overconfident teenage students can stunt crucial（决定性的）reading skills.

The study shows a clear connection between overconfident students and low reading comprehension.

“While some self-confidence is helpful, overconfident 15-year-olds are often below-average (平均水平) readers in all 34 countries we studied, ” says Ming Ming Chiu, the lead author of the study.

“In contrast, under-confident 15-year-olds are more likely to be above-average readers in all 34 countries, ”the expert added.

The difference lies in a student’s ability to exactly assess (估计) and evaluate his or her own reading level, according to Chiu. Those who can accurately assess their strengths and weaknesses are usually in a better position to identify realistic goals and achieve them.

“If an overconfident student chooses a book that is too hard—such as The Lord of the Rings rather than Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone—he or she might stop reading after a few pages and let it sit on a bookshelf,”says Chiu.

“In contrast, a more self-aware student is more likely to finish an easier book and continue reading more books, ”the expert added.

【推荐2】As the saying goes, “Without music, life would be a mistake.” Music is very important in our lives and here are four of the greatest musicians in history.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Born in Bonn, Germany, Beethoven never held an official position in Vienna. He supported himself by giving concerts, teaching piano, and the sale of his compositions. The last 30 years of Beethoven’s life were filled with a lot of hard times, the first of which was his deafness. Beethoven’s music greatly influenced the next generation of musicians.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Bach, “the father of modern music”, was born in Eisenach, Germany. His parents died when he was nine years old, and in 1695 he went to live with his brother Johann Christoph, who was an organist (风琴手) in Ohrdruf. He stayed there until 1700. Seven years later, he moved back to Weimar, where he served as court (宫廷) organist for nine years. His music greatly influenced classical music.

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Chopin was born in Zelazowa Wola, Poland. He showed a talent for the piano at a very young age. Chopin began composing when he was still a child, but some of his early works have been lost. He gave his first public concert in 1818. Chopin was considered as the leading musician of his time.

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)

Schubert was born and died in Vienna. Unlike most of his predecessors (前辈), Schubert was not a great performer. He never had much money but he was very productive. He wrote his first masterpiece when he was only sixteen. However, he died young, before his talents had even been known.

【推荐3】Now I’d like to talk to you about your final exam. The exam will be held next Thursday, the last day of the exam week. Remember to bring two of three pens in case you run out of ink. And unlike the midterm exam, this test will not include multiple — choice questions; it will consist entirely of essays(文章). You’ll have to answer three of the five essay questions. The exam will be comprehensive (全面的), which means you’ll be responsible for all of the subject matters we covered in class this term, I would suggest you review your midterm exam as well as textbooks and your class notes. The final exam will count as 50 percent of your grade of the course. The research project (项目) will count as 20 percent and the midterm exam 30 percent. I’ll be in my office almost all day next Tuesday. If you run into any problems, please drop in. Good luck to you and I’ll see you on Tuesday.

【推荐1】What limits you from hiking more often? If not having a suitable hiking partner is keeping you out of the woods，why not take a look at the great hiking clubs across Canada?

•Yukon Outdoors Club

Membership cost：$ 10 for a single membership；$ 15 for a family membership.

Description: The club coordinates day hikes，backpacking trips，canoe trips，mountain biking，cross-country skiing trips，snowshoeing trips and various workshops for members to gain new skills and valuable information. The trips are open to everyone and range from easy to moderate to difficult.

• Vernon Outdoors Club

Membership cost: A single membership is $ 25，and students pay $ 10. Children are free when they come with a registered family member.

Description: Boasting a membership of close to 200 people，the Vernon Outdoors Club is an active group that enjoys hiking and cycling. Since the membership is comprised of outdoor lovers in general，they are encouraged to share their activity ideas and interests.

• Pender Harbor Hiking Group

Membership cost: Free

Description: Now in its fourth year and boasting about 100 members，the Pender Harbor Hiking Group offers a way for members to get fit. Hikes are scheduled two months in advance，so get on the mailing list or check the website regularly to find a hike that's right for you！

• UBC Varsity Outdoor Club

Membership cost: Students $ 40；non-UBC students $60.

Description: The UBC Varsity outdoor Club is a social group that hikes，mountaineers，kayaks，rock climbs and ice climbs. Travel and outdoor-minded UBC students and non-students are welcome to join. Members lead trips，run skills workshops, host presentations and tune gear. For a refundable deposit，members can borrow equipment from the clubroom's gear cache.

【推荐2】The Four Famous Embroideries (刺绣) of China refer to the Xiang embroidery in Hunan Province, Shu embroidery in Sichuan Province, Yue embroidery in Guangdong Province and Su embroidery in Jiangsu Province.

Xiang embroidery

The earliest piece of Xiang embroidery was unearthed at the No. 1 Tomb of Mawangdui, Changsha City of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. —A.D. 220). The weaving technique was almost the same as the one used in modern times, which shows that embroidery had already existed in the Han Dynasty. In its later development, it absorbs the characteristics of traditional Chinese paintings and reaches a high artistic level. Xiang embroidery crafts include valuable works of art, as well as products for daily use.

Shu embroidery

Shu embroidery has formed its own unique characteristics: smooth, bright, neat, etc. The works choose flowers, animals, mountains, rivers and human figures as their themes. The craftsmanship of Shu embroidery involves a combination of fine art and practical uses, such as the facings of quilts, pillowcases, coats and screen covers.

Yue embroidery

Influenced by national folk art, Yue embroidered pictures are mainly of dragons and phoenixes (凤凰), and flowers and birds, with neat designs and strong, contrasting colors.

Gold-and-silk thread embroidery is widely used, even for crafts of daily use.

Su embroidery

The weaving techniques of Su embroidery are characterized by the flat surface, dense lines, even pictures and harmonious colors. Su embroidery products fall into 3 major categories: costumes, decorations for halls and crafts for daily use. Double-sided embroidery is an excellent representative of Su embroidery.

【推荐3】The fitness center offers a variety of activities for members of all ages throughout the week.

Activities for Monday 12 July, 2017:

Learn to swim. Classes for preschool children aged five and under start at 10 am. Classes last 30 minutes and parents must attend with their children. Don't forget to book in advance, as places are limited, and to pack some warm clothes for after the lesson.

Woman's aerobics（有氧运动）. Sessions are for one hour and begin at 10:45 am, led by Melissa. Come along and join us every Monday for an exhilarating hour of exercise and fun. Leave your kids at the nursery and take time out for yourself. Wear a tracksuit or something similar.

Lunch time yoga. Take a break at lunchtime （1:00-2:00 pm） for an hour of meditation and yoga. Enjoy the peace and quiet of our meditation room, and relaxing sessions designed for active people with busy lives. Use your own mat（垫子）for floor work or huy one from us with some money.

Family Shootaround. 10:00-5:30 pm. Family Shootaround is open for members and guests to bring the family out for basketball. Half court games are only during this time. There are no full court games during Family Shootaround hours. All participants must sign in at the front desk and wear a wistband during the play.

【推荐1】Earth's forests are emptying.

Half of their inhabitants(栖息动物) have disappeared in the last 40 years, according to a latest report from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The report tracked populations of 268 species of forest-dwelling birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles worldwide between 1970 and 2014(the most recent year for which data is available). The results show that forest animal populations have declined by 53% worldwide, and humans are to blame.

More than 80%of all land animal, plant, and insect species call forests home. However, a combination of habitat destruction, hunting, the spread of invasive species, climate change, and diseases are killing off forest animals, the researchers said.

Without those animals, forests can't perform the functions we rely on, since animals pollinate(授粉) forest plants, spread seeds, and nourish the soil with their waste.

“Forests depend on a complete animal world to perform. functions essential to life,” Susanne Winter, a program director at the WWF, told Eco Watch.

One of the most critical roles forests play is in easing climate change. Trees suck enormous amounts of carbon dioxide out of the air and embed (吸纳) the carbon in their wood and the soil. A recent study found that planting new trees over an area the size of the US could suck away two-thirds of all the carbon dioxide emissions that humans have pumped into the atmosphere.

“Without animals, it is harder for forests to absorb carbon, as tree species important for protecting the climate could be lost without animals,” Winter said. Without them, those trees would have difficulty reproducing and forests would lose their best carbon-storing trees.

“Forests are our greatest natural ally in the fight against global warming,” Winter said. “If we want to reverse the worldwide decline in biodiversity and prevent the climate crisis, we need to protect the forests and the species living there.”

【推荐2】Best Toys for Kids

From wooden blocks to electronic games, the best toys for kids make their young users think and dream while building useful skills. Of course，they’re also tons of fun!

1. Educational Toys

Many of the best toys for kids combine learning and fun. The GeoSafari Talking Globe provides interactive geography games in a fun electronic format(格式). It was named to Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Toys List in 2006. Professor Noggin’s History of the United States is a fun and informative card game that made FamilyFun. com’s Toy of the Year list.

2. Pretend Play

Kids love to pretend, and the best toys for kids can spark their imaginations and lead to hours of fun. The Real Projects Workshop was a grand prize winner in the 2006 FamilyFun. com Toy of the Year Awards. With this pretend workshop kids can play with realistic tools while building projects out of foam “wood”. Dora’s Talking Kitchen won “Girl Toy of the Year” in the 2006 Toy Industry Association Toy of the Year Awards.

3. Stuffed Animals

Every kid needs a cuddly (可抱的) friend. Kids may ask for stuffed animals based on popular television and movie characters, but teddy bears, stuffed dogs, and other plush figures that haven’t appeared on-screen will have long-lasting appeal. For a unique twist on stuffed animals, the Lil’ Luvables Fluffy Factory lets kids stuff their own teddy bears. It was a Toy of the Year grand prize winner at FamilyFun. com.

4. Games

Games promote cooperation while encouraging everything from memory skills to exercise. Hullabaloo, from the makers of Cranium, won “Best Game” honors in the 2006 Toy Industry Association Toy of the Year Awards. The game gets kids moving and laughing as they follow instructions from the game’s audio console.

【推荐3】Have you always wanted to make your lifestyle more sustainable? Here are a few tips that community activists, zero-waste experts and eco-friendly shop owners recommend specifically for the pandemic (疫情) .

Start with your own mask

Still using disposable (一次性的) masks or N95s? Hoiyin Ip, an environmental activist in Orange County, suggests you transition to a cloth mask that you can wash along with the rest of your laundry. They are reusable, sustainable and generally more comfortable too.

Eat smart

You may be tired of your own cooking and eating at home. When ordering takeout, Ip suggests asking the restaurant to keep its plastic cutlery (餐具).“Before you walk away with your to-go bag, check, look into your bag to see if you have this stuff, and give it back to the restaurant,”Ip said.

Electronic waste

Once your electronic device has worn out, recycle it. Battery collections in California are down a third compared to last year, he said, because many collection spots have   closed   or reduced hours. He advises collecting old batteries in a bag and recycling them at a drop-off location near you.

Buy in bulk

Environmental advocate Monica Campagna is creatively adapting by purchasing large quantities of her essentials — like rice, pasta and cereal — and refilling a reusable container at home. While she doesn’t get rid of disposables altogether, buying in bulk avoids lots of small plastic bags, and the bigger bags can be reused.