1 . GET A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE WORLD’S MOST ATTRACTIVE FEATHERED ANIMALS WITH THESE BOOKS

Biologist and photographer Claudio Contreras Koob spent 20 years travelling deep into the wet lands and forests of his native Mexico—and beyond—to feed his flamingo attraction. This book offers a unique window into the behavior and life of red-feathered birds, with more than 120 show-stopping shots displaying their beauty. teNeues, £35.

Inspiring secrets, national pride or scientific discoveries, every bird has a story to tell, from the weaver bird building multi-nest “apartment blocks” in Namibia to the bar-headed goose taking on a twice-yearly trans-Himalayan journey at an extreme altitude. Mike Unwin’s tour is accompanied by beautiful illustrations from Ryuto Miyake. Laurence King Publishing, £22.

Pulitzer-shortlisted Weidensaul, who’s at the forefront of research into bird migration, here tracks some of nature’s most remarkable journeys. He sails through the stormy Bering Sea, encounters trappers in the Mediterranean and visits former headhunters in northeast India, where a bird migration crisis has become a conservation success story. Pan Macmillan, £9.99.

Explore this updated version of the 1968 title, Galapagos: Islands of Birds, by late bird expert Bryan Nelson, with previously unpublished material from his wife, June. The couple spent a year living on two Galapagos islands, studying birds, including the Galapagos albatross (信天翁). This is their clever and amusing account. Bradt Guides, £11.99.

3 . Does the happiness of parents play a role in shaping the overall happiness of their children? Scientific studies have shed light on the far-reaching connection between parental happiness and the positive development of kids. It seems that parental happiness has an important influence on the emotional, social, and cognitive (认知的) development of children.     1     If they know their mental and emotional happiness has an impact on their children, perhaps it can motivate them to view it as part of being a good parent.

    2     For example, they can join in activities that bring them joy and satisfaction. This could include hobbies, exercise, pursuing personal goals, or taking time for relaxation. When parents improve their own happiness, they can better support their children’s happiness.

Another great idea is sharing experiences and creating many memories together. The idea is twofold.     3     At the same time, the shared experiences and showing their children how happy they are to do something they love can be incredibly valuable as well.

One of the main aspects of being happy parents is feeling comfortable, confident and able to be themselves, despite their new status and huge responsibility. Honestly, when parents prioritize their own happiness, it has positive effects on the overall happiness of the family.     4    

When parents put their own happiness first, they become role models for their kids. They see the importance of self-care, pursuing passions and maintaining healthy relationships.     5     So, parents should accept their uniqueness, enjoying life!

4 . Fun things to do in high school

Learn another language

Your school might be holding foreign languages classes, so this is a great way to start your language learning journey! If you want more self-paced learning, apps like Duolingo are easily accessible (可使用的) on our mobile phones. As our world becomes more interconnected, it’s always good to learn another language or two.

Aim for a semester (学期) of straight A

This can be a difficult task but not impossible to achieve, as long as you put in the right amount of work and effort. If you are struggling(挣扎)with your grades, you can host or join group studies with your classmates!

Don’t be disheartened if you are not able to get an A in a semester. What’s important is having the drive to go forward. As a famous person once said, “He who would climb a ladder must begin at the bottom.

Experience another culture

Culture and tradition are something that all humans share. No matter where we come from, we always bring our culture with us. People coming from different cultures may be among your friends or neighbors.

You can go to a museum, read a book, or try new food in your area. Remember to keep an open mind and take the time to learn about them.

Bring a shareable treat to class

If you know your way around the kitchen, you can impress your class by making and bringing them a delicious treat! Not only will this make their stomachs happy, but you’ll also bond (联系) the whole class together. Just don’t forget to check with your teacher first before bringing one.

Missy was absolutely my best friend in the whole world. We had known each other since first grade, and we literally did everything together. We frequently visited each other’s homes, we knew each other’s families like they were our own. The interesting thing about our relationship, however the fact was that the older we got, the more our values seemed to differ. We still enjoyed a lot of the same things, but I was a bit more settled while she loved being associated with popular people and things. Although she was basically a good person, she had no problem with forcing things to go her way.

Perhaps this is why it seemed that her family actually trusted me more than they trusted her. So, on the day when Missy showed up at my house with a huge dent (凹痕) in her father’s car, I knew that we were in for a troublesome time.

She had banged the car into a tree while out that day, and she knew her father was going to have an explanation. So she stopped by my house in order to make up a story that would lessen her father’s rage. Missy decided to tell him that while in a parking lot, someone must have backed into the car and dented it. Looking at the dent with some crashed leaves and bark still sticking there, I attempted to perish (打消) her thought. “I don’t think your father will buy it.” “ Don’t worry,” she insisted,“even if my dad doesn’t trust me, he’ll trust you.” My role was to confirm for her. Now keep in mind that I had strong objections to lying and I wanted absolutely nothing to do with the situation. I loved her parents just like my own, and I did not want to be a party to this lie that Missy was creating. Nevertheless, after much request and a general questioning of my loyalty to our friendship, I decided that the least I could do was to act as a silent witness. That way, I wasn’t actually lying; I just wasn’t telling the full truth.

7 . While rice and wheat are the two most commonly consumed cereal grains worldwide, a study covering more than 100,000 people in Northwest China has revealed that choosing rice as a main food may result in a lower risk of obesity.

Researchers from Xi’an Jiaotong University collected data from participants aged 35 to 74 who are residents of five northwestern provincial-level regions. They divided the participants into three groups. The first group eats rice as their main food, consuming it either daily or four to six times per week, while consuming wheat less than four to six times per week. The second group’s main food is wheat, and the third group consumes both rice and wheat as their main food, with similar frequency.

Then the researchers compared results and found out that rice preference might be associated with a lower risk of certain obesity types in the population of Northwest China. Higher wheat intake was associated with higher risks of excessive body fat and central obesity (stomach fat) in men and central obesity in women, according to the study findings published in the journal Nutrients.

According to the researchers, previous animal studies shows that wheat gluten (谷蛋白) promoted weight gain by reducing heat production and energy consumption, while rice protein shows the potential for anti-obesity and triglyceride-lowering (抗肥胖和降低甘油三酯) effects. Meanwhile, rice-based dietary patterns often have more fresh vegetables, meat and fish servings. People with wheat preference in Northwest China tend to eat large bowls of noodles with fewer vegetables or less meat, and sometimes even with a large amount of oil.

However, researchers noted that given the vast territory and diverse ethnic groups present in Northwest China, further studies might be necessary to fully understand the regional specificity and potential hidden reasons for the observed links.

8 . It was early winter several years ago. I had pulled out my old winter coat for another year’s use. It was still in pretty good shape although it was looking dirty from so many winters’ wear. I didn’t really need a new one but I wanted one and casually mentioned it to my daughter one day. She was such a sweet, loving girl that I should have guessed what would happen next. A few weeks later she gave me a new winter coat as a gift.

I put the old one in my closet and started to wear the new coat every day. Each day, though, when I opened my closet, something troubled me. It seemed a shame that my old but still good coat should just sit there keeping no one warm during the cold winter days. After a few weeks, I took it out and drove to a local charity shop. I knew that there was someone who couldn’t afford a coat but could get my old one.

My new coat is my old coat now. It is getting a little dirty and worn, too. It has black marks on the sleeves. It is in too bad shape to even donate to charity. I wonder if I should buy a new one soon, but I think I will wait for a while. I don’t really need a new one and maybe I can find something else to give to the charity shop instead.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Want is a growing giant whom the coat of Have was never large enough to cover.” Perhaps the best way to deal with our wants then is to give instead. Love, after all, brings us the most joy. And the more of it you give away, the more of it you have.

10 . How to Show Respect

Whether you’re talking to your best friend or a stranger, respecting them shows that you’re kind and considerate. Here are some easy ways to show respect in your life.

Listen to others.

Practice active listening to show you respect others.     1     Nod your head and ask follow-up questions to stay focused in the conversation. Even if you disagree, try to consider the point of view before responding.

Confirm (肯定) people’s opinions.

When you’re talking to someone, confirm their opinions in your own words. You can also mention their achievements to let them know you see how hard they’ve worked. You could say something like, “What you just said was really cool.     2    ” Or, “I can tell you’ve worked super hard to get your business off the ground.”

Apologize when you’re in the wrong.

It shows a great deal of maturity (成熟). If you mess up, a simple “I’m sorry” goes a long way. Try not to make excuses for yourself.     3     For example, if you forgot a deadline, you could say, “I’m really sorry. I’ll be setting reminders so this doesn’t happen again.”

    4    

Stick to your word. If you commit (承诺) to an event or make plans with someone, come through on your end of the deal. Being reliable shows respect for people’s time. Have your materials in order and complete all the necessary work ahead of time.     5     It can be tough at first, but it’s better to be honest.