After you have a long day at school or work, getting a bit of shut-eye on the way home is sometimes just what the doctor ordered. But sleeping too long and ending up way past your destination is a real possibility. According to research from sleep specialists in the US, there are several possible explanations for being able to nap during a train or bus ride and still get off at the right stop.
One theory states that some people have established sleep pattern that allow them to sleep and wake up at precisely the same time each day. That means their body knows when to wake up and get off the train. Another theory is that people are more likely to recognize the name of their stop, so their brain wakes them up when they hear it announced. Alternatively, those who can effectively sleep on the train might actually be waking up at every stop, but not long enough to become conscious until they know they've reached the right place.
These short naps might work for those who are really exhausted, for even a brief rest has the benefit of reducing stress and helping you relax a little. But if you are travelling really far each day, chances are that you will reach rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycles. According to Dr. Marc Leavey, who has studied this skill, "You're more likely to be tired or disoriented when you wake up from these dreams, so if you're sleeping for longer than 20 minutes, you may find it harder to wake up out of this dream state. If you're in a deep REM sleep, you're more likely to miss your stop or sleep through it.” Not everyone can do it, but some people can run their sleep cycle like clockwork and take a nap on public transportation.
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It’s difficult not to admire the talent of a skilled musician. Whether it be a pianist or cellist, these individuals have shown dedication and passion over a long period of time to reach the highest levels of performance. But they say it’s never too late to learn. So what are the benefits, for both children and adults, in learning a musical instrument?
Learning to play a musical instrument when growing up can improve hearing in adulthood. According to a study by Dr Nina Kraus at Northwestern University in Illinois, US, children who played musical instruments were better at recognizing different frequencies. This improved hearing skill carried over into later life with adults who had once played an instrument able to discern (分辨)sounds of different pitches more easily. And it could also have some academic benefits too. A study conducted by the University of British Columbia found that students who engaged in music-related activities during grades 7-12 scored significantly higher in science, English and maths.
And there are not just benefits to children. Whether you choose to play the piano, pick or strum a guitar or learn a drumbeat, you could end up joining a band or orchestra. This in turn could improve your social life, meeting other bandmates who are likeminded in their love of a good tune. Learning an instrument can also give you a sense of achievement. Nailing that perfect chord (和弦)is one way, but what if you got together with a bunch of friends and entered into a battle of the bands-and won?
So, whether you’re looking to de-stress playing out some chords, or improve your grades at school, maybe taking up an instrument could help you.
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Most children are taught the virtue of honesty from fairy tales and stories. The famous story of Pinocchio, who begins life as a puppet, teaches the importance of telling the truth. Every time Pinocchio lies, his nose grows longer and longer. Another story about the boy who "cried wolf" describes how lying led to his losing all of his sheep as well as the trust of his fellow villagers. These types of stories show children that "honesty is the best policy." Still, lies are told all the time and are part of many people's everyday social life. Then why do so many people lie?
While everyone makes a mistake, some people do not have the courage to admit their mistakes because they fear blame. For example, students might lie to their teachers about unfinished homework. They might say that they left the work at home when, in fact, they did not do the work at all. These students do not want to seem irresponsible, so they make up an excuse-a lie-to save face.
Parents, particularly those with small children, may teach their children to use a type of "protective" lie in certain situations. What should children do if a stranger calls while the parents are out? Many parents teach their children to explain that mom and dad are too busy to come to the phone at that time. In this situation, a lie can prevent harm.
Many times people lie to protect the feelings of other people, and there's nothing wrong with that. A good friend shows up with a bad new haircut, you're more likely to say, "It's very cool! It suits you." You might tell a cook you loved the dinner even if you could hardly eat it, or tell a friend you loved the shirt you got as a gift even though you knew you would never wear it.
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Studies have shown that children from poor families have more difficulty in school than other boys and girls.Children with higher socioeconomic roots seem better prepared and perform better on school tests.
Now, American researchers may have found a biological reason for that difference.They found differences in the brains of students who had low standardized test scores.Their brains had less gray matter and their temporal lobes(颞叶) developed more slowly than the other children.The findings were reported in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.Temporal lobes and gray matter are very important brain areas, says researcher Barbara Wolfe.“The brain areas are critical in the sense that they keep developing until individuals are well into their adolescence or early 20s,and critical in the sense that they are important for executive function,” she said.
Researchers studied brain images of nearly 400 children and young adults.The youngest subjects were four years old.The oldest were 22.Researchers looked for a connection between the person’s socioeconomic status and his or her test results.On average, young people from poor families had test scores between 3 and 4 points below what is expected for their age group.The poorest students scored between 8 and 10 points below the developmental norm.
Ms Wolfe says there are several reasons why poorer students often have lower scores.One reason could be poor children do not get the food they need for healthy development.Poor parents are less likely to stimulate their children’s brains through talk，play, and activities.Ms Wolfe also blames the “stress that parents face in trying to deal with poverty, putting food on the table”. The researchers say that up to 20 percent of the achievement gap, or difference in test performance,could be tied to poverty.
Ms Wolfe suggests early action may improve the brain development of children living in poverty.Reaching out to children when they are very young could help raise their test scores and academic performance when they are older.
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