2 . A scientist goes to a forest to study monkeys. He or she wants to study their habits and behavior. But the problem is: how to know who’s who?

In the past, scientists had to make marks on each of the animals to distinguish them. But in the future, they may have a much easier way to tell them apart thanks to facial recognition technology.

A research team from China’s Northwest University is using facial recognition technology to identify thousands of snub-nosed monkeys (金丝猴) that live on Qinling Mountain in Shaanxi province.

Similar to human facial recognition, the technology that is used to identify monkeys uses their facial features to create a database that includes every monkey, Xinhua reported.

“When the system is fully developed, we can connect it with cameras set up in the mountains. The system will automatically recognize the monkeys, name them and analyze their behavior,” said Zhang He, a member of the research team.

“For each snub-nosed monkey, we have 700 to 800 image samples, and the recognition success rate is 94 percent,” Zhang added.

Compared with facial recognition technology for humans, facial recognition technology for monkeys is more complicated because monkeys have hairier faces. The color of their hair causes them to blend into their environment. These factors make it harder for computers to do the job.

“Monkeys do not cooperate with researchers in the same way humans do. It is difficult to take high-quality pictures and videos of them, which are needed to improve the system,” said Li Baoguo, leader of the research team.

Currently, there are about 4,000 snub-nosed monkeys living on Qinling Mountain. The team’s goal is to successfully identify every monkey that lives there.

3 . Edward rose early on the New-year morning. He looked in every room and wished a Happy New Year to his family. Then he ran into the street to repeat that to those he might meet.

When he came back, his father gave him two bright, new silver dollars.

His face lighted up as he took them. He had wished for a long time to buy some pretty books that he had seen at the bookstore.

He left the house with a light heart, expecting to buy the books. As he ran down the street, he saw a poor family.

“I wish you a Happy New Year.” said Edward, as he was passing on. The man shook his head.

“You are not from this country.” said Edward. The man again shook his head, for he could not understand or speak his language. But he pointed to his mouth and to the children shaking with cold, as if (好像) to say, “These little ones have had nothing to eat for a long time.”

Edward quickly understood that these poor people were in trouble. He took out his dollars and gave one to the man, and the other to his wife.

They were excited and said something in their language, which doubtless meant, “We thank you so much that we will remember you all the time.”

When Edward came home, his father asked what books he had bought. He hung his head a moment, but quickly looked up.

“I have bought no books”, said he. “I gave my money to some poor people, who seemed to be very hungry then.” He went on, “I think I can wait for my books till next New Year.”

“My dear boy,” said his father, “here are some books for you, more as a prize for your goodness of heart than as a New-year gift.”

“I saw you give the money cheerfully to the poor German family. It was nice for a little boy to do so. Be always ready to help others and every year of your life will be to you a Happy New Year.”

6 . Here are the major ways for your teens to gain international experience during a summer abroad:

Volunteering abroad offers a unique insight into another culture. Programs can teach much, while strengthening a commitment to the life of volunteering. Amigos International offers immersive programs that include leadership training, along with volunteering. Visions Service International shows ways for your teens to be a teen without borders through service work and cross-cultural living.

Study abroad is my passion — there’s something unique about studying in another country that makes the subject matter come alive, from archaeology to literature. Studying abroad in high school, whether for a summer or on exchange, can get your teens excited about learning again. For those who can’t afford it, there are many ways of financing study abroad, including government programs to fund language learning overseas.

Maybe your teen is more drawn to adventure. There are many opportunities for adventures abroad — the best programs combine adventures with language learning, cultural activities, and community service, so that adventurous teens get the best of both worlds. Broadreach offers more than 70 summer adventures in more than 40 countries, including marine biology, sailing, language immersion, culture, arts, community service, leadership, and outdoor skills.

Some language learning programs also provide volunteer opportunities. This can be an ideal way to study by helping others. Intercultural Costa Rica also includes cultural activities and tours. The Alpine French School provides both language learning and cultural and outdoor activities. French Summer Classes is a unique opportunity for your teen to have a homestay and the language program in one place. Whatever language program your teen chooses, the chance to learn language through immersion is, as research has shown, the best way to not only learn a language, but gain academic, cultural, and employment benefits.

Start Looking Now and Change Your Teen’s Life!

What are you waiting for? Start researching options with your teens and help them have a summer that will change their lives.

For more information, please visit Why Your Teen High School Student Should Go Abroad: The Parents’ Guide.

Through travelling you can enjoy beautiful views and     1     (broad) your horizons. In summer, you’d better get on a cruise (乘船游览) ship in the city of Chongqing which will take you to the Three Gorges, for those ordinary ships are usually too     2     (crowd). Near Yunyang, at the steep edge of the hills     3     (stand) the famous Zhang Fei Temple     4     (surround) by trees. Because smoking     5     (forbid) in the cabins, you have to go to the deck to smoke,     6     you can enjoy the beautiful scenery. You can see some fishermen     7     the distance. First, you will go through the Qutang Gorge, which narrows to 350 feet. Then you will sail through the Wu Gorge and the Xiling Gorge. However,     8     impresses you most may be the Daning River in Wuxi County. There is immense     9     (mountain) land on both banks of Yangtze River with only small areas of flat     10     (plain).

8 . In late June, two companies were given permits to sell chicken meat that has been grown in a lab. The companies say they will be serving the meat in restaurants this summer.

Unlike normal chicken meat, lab-grown meat isn’t created by raising and killing chickens. Instead, it’s a meat product developed from animal cells that are grow n in a lab. The process is called “cell-based” or “cultured” meat.

The process of creating lab-grown meat is completely different from the normal meat raising process. Scientists have known for a long time how to keep living cells alive and grow them in a lab. In this case, experts choose cells that can grow quickly and will have good flavour. The first cells come from live animals. Then the cells are grown inside large steel tanks, where they’re fed with everything they need to grow. In a few weeks, the cells grow into sheets of meat. The companies then form this meat into more familiar shapes that can be cooked and sold.

The companies say that their meat is better for the environment than meat from animals. Raising animals for food uses huge amounts of land and water. It also creates a lot of pollution. Raising animals for food create s about 15% of the world’s greenhouse gases. That’s why cutting back on eating meat is one of the easiest ways to fight climate change.

There are many companies these days that focus on making plant-based meat substitutes (替代物). But since lab-grown meat is made from animal cells, it is very hard to tell it apart from actual meat. It looks, smells, and tastes like chicken.

Polls (民意调查) have shown that many people aren’t too interested in lab-grown meat. Lots of people believe that “it just sounds strange”. But Russel Phillips, a biologist, suggests people give it a try. He says that once people try the meat, they will be amazed. The common response must be, “Oh, it tastes like chicken.”

But right now, the meat is far more expensive than meat from animals. Now that the companies have been approved, they have the huge challenge of figuring out how to make much more meat far more cheaply. It will probably be a long time before you’re able to buy lab-grown chicken in stores.