As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. Laughing is like a super drug for your health that can lift your mood, lessen pain, and protect you from the     1     (harm) effects of stress.

Journalist, author and professor Norman Cousins was     2     well-known supporter of laughter as a form of medicine and an outstanding figure     3     the field of health and wellness. Diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (强直性脊柱炎) in the late 1960s, Cousins     4     (age) about 50, had little hope of recovery; just one in 500 chances. However, Cousins     5     (notice) that his pain decreased when he involved in laughter, according to the Newport Academy. So, he began to schedule funny movies for     6     (he) on a regular basis.     7     (remarkable), he lived another 25 years post-diagnosis and conducted in-depth research on the medical benefits of laughter, with the support of California University Hospital.

Since then, research has continuously confirmed the effectiveness of laughter in relieving pain     8     improving overall well-being. It’s been found that a hearty laugh can lessen physical tension,     9     (leave) muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes. Importantly, these physical improvements have a significant positive impact on mental health, as the mind and body     10     (connect).

On an ordinary weekend, Charley went out as usual. Unfortunately, he had a car accident. Charley was hurt badly. With the help of the police and kind people, Charley was sent to a nearby hospital in time. The doctor said Charley might have broken his back and could lose the use of his legs. His life would change forever.

Over the next month, as Charley was in hospital, his friend Tad felt an strong sense of worry. When he picked up the courage to visit, he found a sad Charley. Looking small and pale, Charley shouted, “I can’t walk. What should I do?” Tad tried to comfort him, but words were not enough.

When Charley got out of the hospital, Tad went over to his house a few times and helped him with the lessons, but it just wasn’t the same. Not only was Charley’s body damaged, so was his spirit. Gradually, because of busy study, Tad didn’t have much time to visit Charley. He felt sad and guilty (内疚的) that he wasn’t spending more time with Charley. He wanted to help him but didn’t know how to do it.

On returning to school, Charley’s challenges became more obvious. Sitting in a wheelchair brought him several difficulties, from picking up his schoolbag to getting trapped by gym doors. Though Charley wasn’t hurt, he was so embarrassed that he didn’t talk to anyone during the rest of the day. Tad wanted to help his friend to make it all better but he knew his help was limited, so he needed to seek help from other people or organisations. He knew that Charely always loved dogs. He remembered reading on the Internet that therapy (治疗) dogs can help reduce anxiety and sadness. So he made every effort to find organisations that had therapy dogs and told them about Charley, hoping they could help him. In the end, Tad showed up in the Charely’s with a big black dog.

The dog, named Rowdy, was a trained service dog to help Charley.

Tad could be aware that something had changed.

7 . Animals being extinct from the Earth is a serious issue. When this happens in order to use their fur or skin for fashion, it is even worse, since it’s not even for a matter of human survival. That’s why a London zoo decided to make a powerful statement at the Siamese crocodile enclosure (鳄鱼围栏).

When visitors come in expecting to see a crocodile, they’re greeted with the handbag instead, making a very effective and powerful point about illegal wildlife trade and the harm it takes on the species involved.

A sign by the enclosure reads, “This bag used to be found swimming in slow-moving rivers and streams across Southeast Asia and Indonesia. Over the last 75 years, more than 80% of Siamese crocodiles have disappeared. Many, like this one, were hunted for their skins as part of the illegal wildlife trade.”.

Native to parts of Southeast Asia, Siamese crocodiles are critically endangered and have become virtually extinct in the wild. Due to hunting as well as habitat loss, they are now absent from nearly 99% of their original range. A huge part of the decline of population is due to humans using their wetland habitat for rice farming, and things only took a turn for the worse when large-scale hunting for their skin for commercial purposes began in the 1950s.

The particular handbag that is on display at the zoo was confiscated at a UK airport, according to Benjamin Tapley, leader of reptiles and amphibians at ZSL London Zoo.

Tapley told The Huffington Post, “We made this exhibit, within ZSL London Zoo’s Reptile House, to draw visitors’ attention to the destructive impact the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) is having on species around the world. At ZSL, we are working globally with governments and local communities to protect wildlife, support law enforcement (执法) that targets illegal trade networks, empower local communities affected by IWT and reduce demand for threatened wildlife.”

8 . When Amelia Lisowe was told she was too young to volunteer, she decided to make a difference by herself. The Benton, Arkansas native launched her own non-profit, Lisowe’s Lights, in 2018, donating over 500 nightlights to kids in the Arkansas foster (寄养的) system that year alone.

Since, she has expanded to all 50 states (and 9 countries) and raised funds to distribute more than 15,000 nightlights — with no plans of slowing down.

“Kids in foster homes sometimes have to leave in the middle of the night without taking anything with them,” she says. “I wanted to help them feel less scared and more safe.” The 12-year-old hopes to give away at least 2,500 more lights in 2023.

Amelia grew up volunteering with her mom, Lauren, who encouraged her daughter to find something she was good at and use it to make the world a better place. “I’m so proud of her,” Lauren adds. “She’s involved in every decision we make. Every time we spend money, she helps decide if something is a good idea or will further our cause.”

Amelia also gets help from friends in the Royal International Miss Pageant system, who run their own nightlight drives in person and online. Amelia, a sixth grader who also volunteers at her local food bank and nursing home, says she feels the impact of her work most when she hears from organizations that have put her lights to use.

“I heard about one boy in Oklahoma who never turned off his hall light, not because he was scared, but because he wanted to make sure his little sister was always doing okay across the hall,” Amelia shares. “When they got their nightlight, he knew she wouldn’t be afraid anymore.”

9 . The Bullock Texas State History Museum

The museum opened in April of 2001. Here’s the museum’s official mission statement: We create experiences that educate, engage, and encourage a deeper understanding of Texas. It offers interactive exhibits that explain Texas history and an IMAX^® theater.

The Exhibits

The first floor is about the land and covers the first meetings between Native Americans and Europeans, early settlers and missions and the mapping of the state. The second floor is about identity and discusses Texas history, the significant battles and people who made the state what it is today. The third floor covers important technology from Texas, Texas-led explorations and other Texan achievements.

IMAXW Theater

The Bullock museum’s IMAX® theater was one of the first IMAX® theaters in Texas, and one of few in the world. The theater seats 329 guests and houses the biggest IMAX ^® screen in the state at 6 stories high and 84 feet wide. Guests can enjoy sharp and vivid images, as well as immersive (沉浸式虚拟现实的) sound.

Museum Store

On the first floor of the Bullock Texas State History Museum, you will find the museum store. It is filled with Texas-themed goodies, such as clothing, ornaments, books, movies, jewelry, music, home décor and kitchenware.

The Essentials

Address: 1800 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

Hours: The museum is open from Monday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.

Parking: The museum has an underground parking garage with an entrance. Parking in the museum garage is $15 for full-day parking.

10 . Best for Formal English Classes: Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

MOOCs, as the name suggests, are online courses that are open to an unlimited number of students. If you’re someone who prefers this kind of course, one of these could be for you.

Opened in 2007, Alison is considered to be the first MOOC. It has a whole section for learning English and is one of the best MOOCs for starting your English studies from ABC.

The courses offered here come from 40 places all across the world, including some top British institutions like the British Council. But it has no partners in the US, so if you’re looking for American English, you might want to try a different site!

Udemy wants to teach everything and is one of the biggest MOOCs out there. There are tens of thousands of courses. Not all the courses on Udemy are free, but there’re a good number of free ones. Even the courses that aren’t free can be pretty affordable.

Recommended for advanced learners, Coursera is another MOOC that offers saved courses without the Internet. Coursera has a great many partners, institutions and universities. You can complete courses as they take place, or just play back the lessons when they are over.