【推荐2】A new World Bank report warns that children who do not get enough good food in the first two years of life suffer lasting damage.They may be underdeveloped or underweight.They may suffer from poor health or limited intelligence.Besides,these children are more likely to drop out of school and earn less money as adults.

The report notes that too little food is not the only cause of poor nutrition.Many children who live in homes with plenty of food suffer for other reasons.

The study also connects malnutrition(营养不良)to economic growth in poor countries.A lack of nutrition in early childhood can cost developing nations up to three percent of their yearly earnings.Many of these countries have same economic problems that are growing at a rate of two to three percent yearly.The study suggests that poor countries could possibly double their economic growth if they improved nutrition.

Africa and South Asia are affected the most by poor nutrition.The study says about half of all children in India do not get enough good food.The World Bank study also notes that rates of malnutrition in South Asia are almost double those in central and southern Africa.Other parts of the world are also seriously affected,including Indonesia,Uzbekistan,Yemen,Guatemala and Peru.

The study recommends that developing countries change their ways to deal with malnutrition.Instead of directly providing food,the study suggests educational programs in health and nutrition for mothers with young babies.It also recommends cleaner living conditions and improvements in health care.

The World Bank nutrition specialist Meera Shekar said the period of life between pregnancy(怀孕)and two years is very important.Governments should take direct action to improve nutrition for children during this period.

【推荐3】If you have never heard of pawpaw, you are not alone. Most Americans do not know of the fruit, although it is native to the United States. Once, however, it was one of the most popular fruits in North America. Happily, those who love the pawpaw are trying to return it to its former position in American foods.

The pawpaw is a kind of fruit that grows on trees found all over the eastern United States. It is similar in size to a typical mango. It has a dull green-colored skin, and a soft, almost creamy orange inside. Most people agree that the pawpaw tastes like a combination of bananas, apricots (杏）and mangos. Most people are very surprised by its sweet taste. The fruit has a very short harvest season to three weeks in September and October.

The pawpaw has sold commercially (商品化地).The fruit requires a very special environment—low, wet areas that sometimes flood. In addition, the fruit is good to eat for only two to three days after harvesting. This makes it hard to sell anywhere distant from the pawpaw trees.

Planters are again growing pawpaw trees and harvesting the fruit In several states farmers have organized pawpaw festivals to reintroduce the food to people.

Farmers are trying to grow different kinds of pawpaws that will be easier to ship and sell commercially.   Donna and Jim Davis are pawpaw fanners in Westminster, Maryland. They told National Public that they purchased their pawpaw trees in the 1990s and now sell the fruit at farmer markets and online.

So, who knows? Maybe the pawpaw will up soon at a market near you.

【推荐1】Beijing Opera is a kind of Chinese opera which is widely regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China. With its fascinating and artistic accompanying music, singing and costumes, Beijing Opera is China’s national opera. Full of Chinese cultural facts, the opera presents the audience with an encyclopedia (百科全书) of Chinese culture, as well as unfolding stories, beautiful paintings, nice costumes, graceful gestures and martial arts. Since Beijing Opera enjoys a higher reputation and is so popular among Chinese people, especially seniors.

The Beijing Opera band mainly consists of an orchestra and percussion (打击乐) band. The former frequently accompanies peaceful scenes while the latter provides the right atmosphere for battle scenes. The commonly used percussion instruments include castanets (响板), drums and bells.

Beijing Opera has a 200-year-long history. Its main melodies originated from Xipi and Erhuang in Anhui and Hubei respectively and, over time, absorbed music and arias from other operas and musical arts such as the historic Qinqiang as well as being very strongly influenced by Kunqu, the form that preceded it as court art. Techniques from many other local operas were incorporated into Beijing Opera.

It is believed that Beijing Opera gradually came into being after 1790 when the famous four Anhui opera troupes came to Beijing. Beijing Opera underwent fast development during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi under the imperial patron, eventually becoming more accessible to the common people.

In ancient times, Beijing Opera was performed mostly on stage in the open air, tea houses or temple courtyards. Since the orchestra played loudly, the performers developed a piercing style of song that could be heard by everyone. Beijing Opera is a harmonious combination of the Grand Opera, ballet and acrobatics (杂技), consisting of dance, dialogue, monologues (独白), martial arts and mime (哑剧).

In 1828, some famous Hubei troupes came to Beijing. They often jointly performed in the stage with Anhui troupes. The combination gradually formed Beijing Opera’s main melodies.

【推荐2】The remains of an ancient ape(猿) found in a Bavarian clay site recently caught people’s eyes. According to scientists, they may renew people’s opinion on when humans’ ancestors began standing upright.

An international team of researchers said the fossilized skeleton of a male ape that lived in the humid forests of what is now southern Germany bore a striking resemblance (相似之处) to modern human bones. In a paper published by the journal Nature, they concluded that the previously unknown species—named Danuvius guggenmosi—could walk on two legs but also climb like an ape.

“The findings raise fundamental questions about our previous understanding of the evolution of the great apes and humans,” said Madelaine Boehme, who led the research.

The question of when apes could walk on two legs has fascinated scientists since Charles Darwin first argued that they were the ancestors of humans. Previous fossil records of apes with an upright move—found in Crete and Keny—dated only as far back as 6 million years ago. These apes are called Toumai.

Boehme, along with researchers from Bulgaria, Canada and the United States, examined more than 15,000 bones recovered from the archaeological remains found. Among the remains they were able to piece together were primate(灵长目动物) fossils belonging to four individuals that lived 11.62 million years ago. The most complete, an adult male, likely stood about 1 meter tall, weighed 31 kilograms and looked similar to modern-day bonobos, a species of chimpanzee.

Like humans, Danuvius had an S-shaped backbone to hold its body upright while standing. Unlike humans, though, it had a powerful big toe that would have allowed it to grab branches with its foot easily.

Fred Spoor, a paleontologist at the Natural History Museum in London, called the fossil finds “fantastic” but said they would likely be denied or suspected by others, not least because they could challenge many existing ideas about evolution.

【推荐3】When you enter high school this fall, you’ll find yourself immersed (沉浸) in traditional Chinese culture.

In January, the Ministry of Education worked out a new set of curriculum standards (课程标准) for high school students, People’s Daily reported. One of the biggest changes will be a greater focus on traditional Chinese culture.

According to Professor Han Zhen from Beijing Foreign Language Studies University, the new standards echo (回应) President Xi Jinping’s call for strengthening education. “The standards help students build cultural confidence,” he told People’s Daily.

The new standards call for students to be able to recite 72 ancient poems or articles. The number used to be 14. Recommended classic literature from ancient China includes The Analects of Confucius, Records of the Grand Historian and more.

Apart from Chinese language, other subjects such as fine arts, music and physical education will also focus more on traditional Chinese culture. For example, fine arts will include new lessons on Chinese alligraphy and painting.

China has also seen a growing interest in traditional culture in the private education sector. According to Southern Metropolitan Daily, since 2004, more than 3,000 traditional private schools have been built. They mainly teach traditional Chinese classics.

According to Fu Yan, a Chinese language teacher at Hangzhou Xuejun High School, learning about traditional Chinese culture is a good thing for students.

“At their age, the students may be too young to understand some classics,” Fu told Qianjiang Evening News. “However, as their life experience builds up, they may develop their own thoughts about the wisdom of the classics, which could be a driving force for their growth.”

Ancient Chinese culture is gaining popularity in China. This is reflected not only in the new curriculum standards, but also in the increasing interest in cultural TV programs.

For example, the weekly show National Treasure has become a big hit. It was first aired on China Central Television (CCTV) last December. The show uses dramatic performances to present some of China’s finest cultural treasures.

Other cultural TV programs such as The Chinese Idiom Competition and The Chinese Poetry Competition have also made more people fall in love with traditional Chinese literature.

Throughout China’s history, scholars and authors have written many classics worth studying. Those classic writings also interest people.

Here are some of the country’s most well-known works:

【推荐1】Claire Wyatt, a 24-year-old British volunteer, led eight Cambodians living with disabilities on a 155-mile bike ride from Phnom Penh, the nation’s capital, to Siem Reap to raise money and deliver supplies to those in need in the coronavirus pandemic(新冠病毒大流行).

“Leading this trip was an incredibly special experience for me,” said Claire. “Not only was I encouraged by the determination of each and every rider, but also the team taught me every day not to focus on their disability.”

When she was first asked to lead the trip, Claire admitted, she was feeling nervous about her team traveling such a distance in just a few days because cycling with a disability can come with added physical and emotional challenges.

One team member named Dy, who lost an arm in an accident, biked using just one arm to balance. Another named Vulta could only pedal on one side due to polio(小儿麻痹). Despite all the difficulties, Claire realized quickly that she didn’t have to worry about her team. She saw them deal with rough area that she had seen abled cyclists give up on before.

The volunteers covered the distance in just four days, not only helping so many people across the country, but also overcoming huge difficulties to get there.

“The best thing about this ride is that the riders have all volunteered their time to do this. They are so enthusiastic about Cambodia and raising money for others in need,” said Claire. “The money raised will feed 99 families in Siem Reap.”

Claire recalled her favorite moment of the experience, when one of the cyclists pushed an exhausted teammate up a hill for 2 miles. “One moment that stood out for me was when Naret, our only female rider, was feeling tired,” she said. “Her fellow rider gently put his hand on her back and pushed her for 2 miles! They were encouraging each other to push through the tiredness.”

【推荐3】Managing a popular tourist attraction can be kind of like throwing a party — everyone wants to come and have fun, but nobody wants to help clean up when it's over. But the Faroe Islands have come up with a creative way to take care of their home and welcome visitors at the same time.

An official notice on the islands' national tourism website reads "closed for maintenance (维护), open for voluntourism.”Following a successful plan this year, the country has made the decision to "close” its major tourism sights and attractions during the weekend of April 16-17, 2020. Hotels will be open, and flights will continue. That weekend, people all over the Faroe Islands will be working on environmental protection projects.

However, people who are just dying to visit the Faroe Islands during that weekend can sign on to help with the housekeeping. The islands are looking for 100 volunteers to come to the country to help with the caretaking efforts. There were thousands of applications for the 2019 plan, so would-be islanders better apply fast.

"For us, tourism is not all about numbers, " Director at Visit Faroe Islands told CNN Travel earlier this year." We welcome visitors to the islands each year, but we also have a responsibility to our community and to our beautiful environment, and our aim is to protect the islands, ensuring responsible growth." The first group of voluntourists included travelers from Mexico, Israel, Australia, China and the United States. The director said that because of the surprising popularity of the volunteering weekend in 2019, the Faroes will host the event yearly. According to the Faroes' tourism authority, visits to the country have increased by 10% over the past few years.

【推荐1】A man with a “sob story” has been earning up to $400 in cash handouts from shops on the lower North Shore. He has hit three shops in the past two weeks at North Sydney, Mosman and Crows Nest.

“The man has been telling a sob story about needing money because he has been locked out of his home and his wallet is inside, and he needs money to pay a locksmith,” a police officer said. “Sometimes he tells a story about needing money for a new car battery. He has received amounts between $50 and $400 and is then never seen again.”

The conman has also hit businesses on the lower North Shore and northern beaches. “The man seems to do his research and he'll say he is a friend of the shop owner and mentions the owner's name,” the officer said. The man usually targets shops that are busy or short­staffed.

The police officer said shop owners approached by the man should not give him money and contact the police immediately. The man is described as of European appearance, about 50 years old with a strong Italian accent. He is of medium build and about 180 cm tall, wearing jeans, a brown T­shirt and an expensive­looking gold watch. The police said the man sometimes gives the name of Tony.

【推荐2】Inflammation (炎症) is the body’s defense mechanism. You might have experienced it if you sustained physical injuries or had an infection, like the flu, which causes a sore throat. Inflammation can occur in any organ, but it is most common and easy to see in the skin. You will notice redness, heat and swelling.

Usually this is a good thing, as it shows you have a healthy immune system that can kill pathogens (病原体) and repair damage. However, inflammation can be a double-edged sword as in some people it can target the body’s healthy cells, causing what is called an autoimmune disease.     

Given this danger, a new study from Cambridge University, UK, has been looking into brain conditions that are not usually linked to autoimmune diseases. The study found that inflammation of the brain — known as neuroinflammation (神经炎症) — has been linked to several forms of dementia (痴呆).

In this new study, researchers scanned the brains of 31 volunteers with three different types of dementia. The first scan was to highlight neuroinflammation, and a second scan illuminated (阐明) poisonous proteins that are linked with dementia. The team also examined 12 post-mortem (after death) brains.

These experiments showed similar patterns of poisonous protein build-up and neuroinflammation, suggesting a relationship between inflammation and dementia.

“Even we were surprised by how tightly these two problems mapped on to each other. Now, the big question is what role this neuroinflammation plays in the decline of the mind associated with dementia,” said Thomas Cope, one of the authors of the study.

Another of the study’s researchers, James Rowe, highlighted the importance of further research. He said the frequent presence of inflammation in neurodegenerative (神经退化的) diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, “offers hope that immune-based treatments might help slow or prevent these conditions”.

【推荐3】The famous Spanish painter Pablo Picasso once said, “Every child is an artist. The problem he has is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

This is both encouraging and discouraging. The fact that we were all born to be artists is certainly exciting, and yet the reality has proven that remaining one is a task that many of us have failed.

Fortunately, some people have seen the problem and want to solve it.

Western educators have suggested that we introduce the concept of “STEAM” instead of “STEM” - traditional “core majors” including science, technology, engineering, and math -since the “A”, which stands for “arts”, is just as important.

And on April 11, China’s Ministry of Education issued a guideline. Colleges and universities are required to provide more art-related courses and students need to earn a certain number of art credits in order to graduate.

These efforts came after many scientific studies had found that art education helps students develop self-confidence and teamwork skills, as well as habits of mind such as problem solving and critical thinking, according to The Washington Post.

It’s true that none of these skills target specific jobs. But as former US ballet dancer Damian

Woetzel told The Atlantic, the purpose of art is “to give kids the tools to become adults who are creative, adaptable, and expressive - capable of having their eyes and ears and senses alive”.And we can now see how we lost track of our born “artist self” on our way to growing up: We failed to keep our capabilities to see, hear and feel, and became blind, deaf and insensitive adults.

Hopefully, art education can help turn things around.