1 . Lots of animals play. But the behavior is best known in mammals (哺乳动物) and birds. Now the scientists at London’s Queen Mary University report that bumblebees (大黄蜂) know the same thing. But before this, there were no reports of insects playing.

Dr. Lars Chittka began to wonder if bumblebees played during an earlier test. In that test, Chittka guided bumblebees to move balls into a goal for food. He noticed that some bees were rolling (滚动) balls even when they weren’t given food. He wondered if they were playing.

To test the idea, the scientists at his lab set up a new test. First, they numbered 45 young bumblebees between one and 23 days old. The numbers let them follow bumblebees’ behavior. Then, they set up a clear pathway from the bumblebees’ home to a feeding area. On either side of the open pathway, the researchers placed small colored wooden balls. On one side of the path, the balls couldn’t move. On the other side, the balls could roll around. For three hours a day, over 18 days, the scientists opened the pathway between the home and the feeding area. The bumblebees never had to leave the pathway to find food, but they left anyway. They weren’t interested in the side where the balls didn’t move, but they made lots of visits to the side with the rolling balls.

Catching the balls with their legs, the bees would move their wings to pull on the balls, causing them to roll. The 45 numbered bumblebees did this 910 times during the test. Though some only did it once, others did it a lot. The younger ones liked to spend more time rolling balls while the older ones showed less interest in it. One bee was recorded rolling balls 44 times in a single day. One was seen rolling balls 117 times over the whole test.

The test raises important questions about how the insects’ minds work and whether they have feelings.

The custom of lighting up flower lamps during the Lantern Festival has a history of over 2,000 years in China. Various kinds of flower lamps with diverse styles are popular in different parts across the country. According to some Chinese folk customs,     1     the fifteenth day of the first lunar month,     2    (witness) by a full moon hanging high above the sky, people will light up various lanterns at night to celebrate. It is the time for the whole family     3     (enjoy) the bright moon, fire firecrackers, guess lantern riddles, eat the rice glue balls and celebrate the holiday     4    (joyful). As a form of art, the Chinese flower lamp combines     5     variety of skills, procedures, decoration methods and raw materials. Typical flower lamp includes the dragon lamp, the palace lamp and the dragon- phoenix lamp, etc.

Today,     6     (economy) development and social progress provide the     7    (motivate) for upgrading designs and creative styles of lamps. Whether paper lamps, electric lamps     8     LED lamps, flower lamps have seen the changes of time.     9     has never changed, however, is craftsmanship. Flower lamp is more than a handicraft; It’s also an inheritance. Watching flower lamps has become a culture, which     10     (pass) down from generation to generation.

9 . I was waiting in a checkout line. A woman and two boys were ahead of me. At the cash desk, a white-haired man had begun to _________ his goods. Then came the question. Sometimes it’s a customer with multiple coupons (优惠券), or someone who forgot to _________ a piece of fruit. Fair enough. One waited.

But today, it was something else. The man didn’t have _________ money. So he began the process of choosing which _________ to keep and which to hand back. He paused over each one before keeping or _________ it. We waited. Longer lines surged ahead.

_________, his _________ came to an end. The man turned back to us as he left, _________ and apologetic. We waved off his chagrin (懊恼). It could happen to anyone.

But I had no idea just how _________ the family of three ahead of me were until their turn came. The woman asked the cashier to add all the __________ goods to her bill as quickly as possible. Then the two boys __________ through the exit with the small bag of groceries. When they returned, it was clear that their mission had been __________.

Then I __________ all it took to witness this flash of __________ was waiting a little longer in a checkout line. I could have caught the bus. But I felt so __________ on my feet that I walked home instead.

10 . People love to sing! Whether you sing in the shower or with a chorus, raising your voice in song comes with some very surprising benefits. From improving your mood to making you healthier, there is scientific evidence that singing is good for your body and your mind.     1    

It helps relieve stress.

Singing can help relieve stress by reducing cortisol(皮质醇), a hormone that is known as the “stress hormone”.     2     Too much cortisol is very bad for your health. A study measured the amount of cortisol in the participants before and after singing. The researchers found that cortisol levels were lower after singing.

    3    

People who sing use deep breathing and control the use of the muscles in their breathing systems. While singing cannot treat lung diseases, anything that helps to strengthen the throat muscles could help people breathe easier.

It helps you have a sound sleep.

If your sleep is interrupted by snoring(打鼾), try singing.     4     A 2008 UK study about the effect of singing on snoring compared singers with non-singers. The researchers found that far fewer singers snored, and they recommend singing as a potential treatment for snoring.

It may improve memory.

    5     A study found that besides remembering the lyrics(歌词), singing brought back other memories too. The researchers found that singing songs that were learned in childhood actually caused a return of very specific memories and that gave the participants a feeling of hope and positivity.