1 . What makes people so special? Tool use, self-consciousness, language, and culture are high on the list, but in fact all of these characteristics can be found elsewhere in the animal kingdom. Humans and apes are close relatives, so it is perhaps not surprising that chimpanzees use tools or that gorillas (大猩猩) have a sense of fair play, even rejecting carrots (which they normally accept) when they see their neighbors getting grapes. But the qualities that we often think of as uniquely human exist not just on land, but in the ocean as well.

Among the invertebrates, octopuses (八爪鱼) are known for their intelligence, even exhibiting evidence of playfulness, tool use, and personality. But these skilled predators live alone and consequently lack culture. Dolphins, on the other hand, are large-brained, long-living, social- group-based predators, and it is here that we find the greatest similarity to human-like culture and awareness.

Culture depends on the ability of animals to pass on things they have learned to others. Many animals have culture in this sense, but what sets dolphins apart is what they pass on. Some bottlenose dolphins hold sponges in their mouths that they use as tools to sweep for fish hiding on the ocean floor. This ability is handed down through generations (especially in females), with some families — grandmother, mother, and daughter — all feeding in this highly specialized way.

Another characteristic that dolphins share with humans is their ability to recognize themselves in a mirror. When facing a mirror, most animals behave as though they are interacting with another individual. Even in humans, the ability to recognize that the image in a mirror is oneself does not occur before the age of 18 months. Dolphins not only recognize themselves, but if a black mark is put on the body of a dolphin, it will spend extra time at the mirror to look at the mark.

2 . The following four famous paintings—from Jan van Eyck’s portrait to Pablo Picasso’s masterpiece—have stood the test of time.

The Arnolfini Portrait

The Arnolfini Portrait of Jan van Eyck, an oil painting on wood produced in 1434, in which a man and a woman hold hands with a window behind him and a bed behind her, is undoubtedly one of the masterpieces in the National Gallery, London. This painting is as visually interesting as it is famed. It is also an informative document on fifteenth-century society, through Jan van Eyck’s heavy use of symbolism—while husbands went out to engage in business, wives concerned themselves with domestic duties.

The Starry Night

During his 12—month stay at the mental hospital near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France between 1889 and 1890, Vincent Willem van Gogh painted The Starry Night, an oil on canvas(帆布), a moderately abstract landscape painting of an expressive night sky over a small hillside village. When the Museum of Modern Art in New York City purchased the painting from a private collector in 1941, it was not well known, but it has since become one of Van Gogh’s most famous works.

The Harvesters

The Harvesters is an oil painting on wood completed by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in 1565. It depicted the harvest time which most commonly occurred within the months of August and September. Nicolaes Jonghelinck, a merchant banker and art collector from Antwerp, commissioned this painting. The painting has been at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City since 1919.

Guernica

Guernica, a large black-and-white oil painting, was painted by the Cubist Spanish painter, Pablo Picasso in 1937. The title “Guernica” refers to the city that was bombed by Nazi planes during the Spanish Civil War. The painting depicted the horrors of war and as a result, has come to be an anti-war symbol and a reminder of the tragedies of war. Today, the painting is housed at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid.

3 . If you’ve ever been bitten by a mosquito, you know how frustrating their bites can be.     1    , creating an itch (痒) that once you start scratching only seems to get worse. Why does a mosquito bite itch and what can we do?

Why does a mosquito bite itch?

When a mosquito bites you, it pierces (刺入) the skin using a special mouthpart to suck up blood and injects saliva (唾液) into your skin. Mosquitoes’ saliva has lots of proteins in it, some of which our body recognizes as foreign, and our immune cells spring into action to try to fight them.    2    . It’s actually the body’s response to the foreign mosquito protein. It is trying to fight. That’s why some people may only have a mild reaction to bites, while others, more sensitive to the foreign protein, react with large areas of swelling that are more painful.

What helps resist the urge to scratch?

“Don’t scratch” is the advice that most experts and health professionals give. As hard and sometimes unrealistic as it can sound, scratching inflames (发炎) the skin, and the inflammation makes the skin itch more. “    3    ,” warned Daniel Markowski, technical adviser for the American Mosquito Control Association, adding that in extreme cases, people can scar (留下疤痕) themselves.

Instead, there are dozens of creams and sprays that promise itch relief as well as home remedy (疗法). Choose what’s right for you can often come down to trial and error. In general, all of the various anti-itch creams are very similar. There is no scientific evidence these remedies work, and they can come with their own side effects.    4    .

    5    

Some people can have serious allergic reactions to mosquitoes, although in practice it is rare, Vosshall said. If you experience severe symptoms such as breathing trouble, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Yours,

Li Hua

    1     (admire) among youngsters brings China Chic (国潮) into sharp focus. According to a report released on Feb 3, 2021 by Bilibili, more than 177 million of the platform’s users were in favor of videos featuring traditional culture. The approval reflected the situation    2     the “China Chic” phenomenon     3     (embrace) by the younger generation in recent years.

During the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, young athletes wore sports clothing     4     (bear) Chinese elements such as dragons, pandas and tigers, also competition venues like the Great Wall and auspicious (吉祥的) patterns     5     (include) in the design. China Chic could also be seen during the opening and closing ceremonies, and in the designs of gifts and medals.

A China Chic artist Yu Yang said, “China Chic represents a kind of pride and     6     (strong) in our culture. We used to follow the lifestyle promoted by the West, one     7     does ignore Chinese traditions and values. As China’s economy is becoming stronger, the young generation gradually get to know who they are and     8     they really want to follow.” However,     9     this trend can go on still hangs in the balance. “Some people just simply do ‘copy-and-paste’ jobs. That will hurt the consumers’ passion and    10     (ultimate) ruin the trend’s development. We have to deeply understand and love our culture first as designers,” Yu said.

6 . It was surprised for me to learn the accommodation arrangements at the log home we were sharing with my in-laws for the week——_________ my young daughter was going to sleep in a first-floor bedroom by herself.

As we settled in, we had a heated discussion about the number of deer we had_________ on our way to the log home. “I hope we will see a bear or two this week!” my wife shouted.

In the evening, my wife and I retreated to the upstairs loft, and my in-laws _________ a bedroom on the first floor. We were about to fall asleep when our daughter appeared with a(n) _________ look on her face. She said a_________ was scratching at her window. I decided to sleep downstairs and my daughter_________ the loft with my wife. On my way down, everything was just silent except my father-in-law, _________ in front of the television, with his snore resounding through the house. I was in bed only a several minutes when I heard a tap...tap on the window. Something was indeed out there, _________ it wasn’t a bear——at least that’s what I told myself.

Sometime later, I was awakened by a loud, low-pitched growl(低声吼叫). I saw a large _________ in the doorway and froze as it__________ closer to me. I realized what it was - only after my father-in-law bent to give me a __________. I blurted out(脱口而出), “ It’s David.” My father-in-law __________. We both laughed nervously at the __________ moment, and I explained his granddaughter’s bedroom __________. I told him that the only thing __________ than a bear attack was Papa Bear’s good-night kiss. He growled in agreement!

7 . Eight Days from just £299 Departs May-October Includes:

Return flights from 8 UK airports to Naples

Return airport to hotel transport

Seven nights’ accommodation at the 3 ☆ Hotel Nice The services of guides Government taxes

Join us for a wonderful holiday in one of Europe’s most wonderful corners. A favorite with holidaymakers — indeed the ancient Romans called the area “happy land” — this simply attractive coastline of colorful towns, splendid views and the warm Mediterranean Sea is a perfect choice for a truly memorable holiday!

Choose between the peaceful traditional village of Sant’ Agata, set on a hillside six miles from Sorrento, or the more lively and well-known international resort town of Sorrento, with wonderful views over the Bay of Naples.

Breathtaking scenery and famous sights everywhere. From the legendary Isle of Capri to the haunting ruins   of Pompeii, and from the unforgettable “Amalfi Drive” to the delightful resorts of Positano, Sorrento and Ravello, the area is a feast for the eyes! Should you choose to join us, we know that you will not be disappointed!

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9 . The local transport in Liverpool City Region is convenient for visitors to go around. The following are some means of transport for you to choose from.

By Train

Mersey rail trains run frequently throughout the day across 68 stations in and around the Liverpool area. With 4 city centre underground stations you can easily get around the city.

You can now buy tickets online. Your ticket will be emailed straight to you, so you don’t have to think about it at the station, just jump on the train and enjoy your journey!

By Bike

Liverpool is easy to get around by bike. Bike parking can be found on the Liverpool Cycle Map. If you’re arriving in Liverpool by train or ferry, bikes go free.

The CityBike bicycle hire system is also available in the city centre. Find more information at www.citvbiheliverpool.co.uk

By Bus

Bus travel in and around Liverpool is a green and convenient way to explore the destination. The bus network is run by Merseytravel, with two main city centre bus terminals — Liverpool ONE and Queen Square.