2 . Slowing down was the last thing on Elaine Schaefer's mind when she turned 70 last year. She'd enjoyed an ambitious travel schedule for the previous decade. She didn't feel too old to travel.

Yet many people are asking that slightly embarrassing question: Can you be too old to travel? The travel industry has already responded. Try renting a car in Europe, for example. In Croatia, Schaefer wouldn't be able to this year, because the maximum age is 70. Insurance companies require higher rates; tour operators limit certain activities. That feels like a " no" for many travelers.

Definitely some folks should think twice before traveling, but not only based on their age. It's their level of fitness, says Kirsten Veldman, a former tour guide who now edits a retirement blog. She recalls a 93-year-old who was disabled and traveling alone on a Caribbean tour. "You can't expect to ask a tour leader to be there for you 24/7 for medical care. " she says. "Tour guides don't have the time, skills, and knowledge for it. So, in this case, my advice is: he shouldn't have traveled with us in this situation. "

But some tour operators serve older travelers. For example, Grand Circle Travel started in 1958 to serve senior members. “We have travelers into their 80s and even 90s. Some travel as a couple and some alone,” says company spokeswoman Ann Shannon. “We have no age limit.”

If you ask travel experts, they'll tell you that age is just a number. It's a question of physical, and to a certain extent, mental ability. "Many of our travelers are retired, focused on keeping their good health, and are experienced travelers who have a good idea of what to expect, "says Sara Baer-Sinnott, president of Oldways, a food and nutrition nonprofit that operates tours. "Someone in their 40's may struggle more than someone in their 80s. "

I was still a thief when I met Anil. And though only 15, I was an experienced and fairly successful hand.

Anil was about 25—a tall, thin fellow—and he looked easy-going, kind and simple enough for my purpose. I might be able to get into his confidence.

I gave him my most appealing smile. “I want to work for you.” I said.

“But I can't pay you.”

Perhaps I had misjudged the man. I asked, “Can you feed me?”

“Can you cook?”

“I can cook.” I lied.

“If you can cook, then I can feed you.”

The meal I cooked that night must have been terrible because Anil gave it to a stray dog and old me to be off. But I just hung around smiling in my most appealing way, and he couldn't help laughing.

Later he patted me on the head and said never mind, he'd teach me to cook. He also taught me to write my name and said he would soon teach me to write whole sentences and to add numbers. I was grateful. I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve.

One evening he came home with a small bundle of notes, saying he had just sold a book to a publisher. At night, I saw him put the money under the mattress (床垫).

It's time I did some real work, I told myself. After all, he doesn't even pay me.

Anil was asleep. I crept up to the bed. Anil was sleeping peacefully. My hand slid under the mattress, searching for the notes. When I found them, I drew them out without a sound. Anil sighed in his sleep and turned on his side, towards me. I was frightened and quickly crawled out of the room.

I began to run, holding the notes by the string of my pajamas (睡衣). But I slowed down and sat down in the shelter of the clock tower. I should go back to Anil, I told myself, if only to learn to read and write.

I hurried back to the room feeling very nervous.

I awoke late next morning to find that Anil had already made the tea.

5 . Your preschooler is painting with fingers. Trying to be encouraging, you ask her, “What are you making with this mix of colors?” and she shrugs (耸肩). Until you mentioned it, she hadn’t given it any though.     1     They love the way it feels when they pour paint on paper, how it looks when they wildly drop glitter, and even the soft sound a brush makes as it crosses the page.

Most preschoolers aren’t self-conscious about what they’re doing or focused on creating a finished product.     2     But letting go — and allowing kids to enjoy the process of creation — can harvest big rewards. Children will be better off in the long run if they’re allowed just to be in the moment and express themselves.

Fostering (培养) creativity won’t just increase your child’s chances of becoming the next Picasso.     3     As kids use a paintbrush, their fine motor skills improve. By counting pieces and colors, they learn the basics of math. When children experiment with materials, they dive in science. Most important perhaps, when kids feel good while they are creating, art helps boost self-confidence.

    4     Set up an art space where your kid can be free to experiment. Throw a drop cloth or a newspaper on top of your kitchen table or in the garage. If weather permits, let kids paint outside. Avoid giving directions. Don’t tell your kid what to make or how to make it. Instead of saying, “Paint a rainbow,” encourage her to “experiment with mixing colors using different types of brushes and paper.” When a child finishes a piece, don’t suggest additions or changes.     5    

6 . Why humans make and appreciate music is an evolutionary (进化的) mystery. Recently David Schruth and his colleagues have a new explanation. They say the roots of human music can date back to the branches of trees more than 50 million years ago, when the first primates (灵长类) appeared. Early primates moved around forest by leaping (跳跃) from branch to branch, a very dangerous way to travel that relies on hand and eye working together and control over muscles.

Schruth argues that a primate that calls in a musical way is advertising that it has fine control over its vocal (声音的) muscles. This might have convinced other primates that the caller also had fine control over its body. His another research shows the species that leap the most tend to have more complicated calls, which the team jokingly named as ‘protomusical’.

Hagen, a worldwide famous scientist in this field, commented on the research: “Some people would not include what we see in primates and songbirds as music. But I do see a continuity between human music and primate vocalizations”.

Hagen doesn’t think human music has a single, simple explanation. He argues that human ancestors originally used music-like vocalizations in two ways: groups vocalized together to send

All these ideas might be compatible, says Hagen. Protomusic could have evolved in primates both to attract companions and for territorial signaling. Later, as early humans began cooperating in large numbers, protomusic might have been repurposed so it could attract rather than frighten outsiders, while also strengthening social bonds within groups.

10 . Tips for Submitting a Good Letter of Recommendation

If you consider applying for any colleges abroad, one of the most important parts is the recommendation letter. Its purpose is to give universities a complete picture of you.

    1    

But a credible (可信的) reference saying you’ve consistently worked hard on a project can be the difference between getting accepted or rejected.

Choose the right references

Universities want to know how well you work under pressure and how you react to criticism, basically your characteristics, abilities and mentality. A good referee (推荐人) should have a solid professional relationship with you and be able to communicate your academic and personal strengths.

    2    

Most universities ask for two recommendation letters. They are regularly split between a school professor and an extracurricular (课外的) source. Undoubtedly, it’s good to show your skills in the subject you want to study.     3    

Time

Professionals can sometimes find it hard to make time for writing recommendations.     4     So give them plenty of time and send them a link of your university’s recommendation letter guidance page, if possible.

Clear goals

Don’t be afraid to ask your referees to include certain qualities or examples you want to highlight. You should inform at least one of your referees about your career goals, grades and recent projects. They may not be referenced. But giving referees additional evidence to back up their points can make the letter more convincing.

    5     It’s where you can find what a university lays stress on, as well as some important information such as deadlines and so on.