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　　Kendrick "caught the acting bug" at the age of 10, when her parents would let her and her brother catch a bus from Portland, Maine, to New York- City so that she could attend interviews．Kendrick's first acting role was as Dinah in the Broadway musical High Society in August 1998 when she was twelve years old, a performance for which she earned Theatre World Award, Drama Desk Award, and Tony Award nominations(提名), making her the third-youngest Tony Award nominee．

　　Kendrick went on to appear in a number of other theater productions, including the musical A Little Night Music, before making her film presentation in the 2003 musical comedy Camp, for which she was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress list at the 2004 Chlotrudis Awards and Best Debut Performance Independent Spirit Award for her acting of the character Fritzi Wagner．

　　In 2007, she appeared in her next film．Rocket Science, in which she acted Ginny Ryerson, a fast-talking high school debater．Although she says she found the role terrifying and challenging after watching an actual national college championship debate, her performance was praised by critics and she was nominated for a 2007 Independent Spirit Award in the list of Best Supporting Actress．

　Kendrick's theater singing experience gave her the opportunity to star in her next project, 2009's The Marc Pease Experience, where she appears opposite Jason Schwartzman and Ben Stiller as a high school senior involved in musical theater．She appeared in the 2009 film Elsewhere, in which she plays her first lead character, a girl whose best friend(played by Tania Raymonde)goes missing, and in director Jason Reitman's Up in the Air, based on Walter Kim's 2001 novel of the same name, alongside George Clooney and Vera Farmiga．

　　In 2010 Kendrick also appeared in LCD Soundsystem's Music video Pow Pow as a "shape-shifter" who collects "the souls of bad men"．In October she attended the 2010 Top Glamour Awards in Mexico where she won for "Best International Actress"．

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　　If English means endless new words, difficult grammar and sometimes strange pronunciation, you are wrong．Haven’t you noticed that you have become smarter since you started to learn a language?

　　According to a new study by a British university, learning a second language can lead to an increase in your brain power．Researchers found that learning other languages changes grey matter．This is the area of the brain which processes information．It is similar to the way that exercise builds muscles．

　　The study also found the effect is greater, the younger people learn a second language．

　　A team led by Dr Andrea Mechelli, from University College London, took a group of Britons who only spoke English．They were compared with a group of “early bilinguals” who had learnt a second language before the age of five, as well as a number of later learners．

　　Scans showed that grey matter density(密度)in the brain was greater in bilinguals than in people without a second language．But the longer a person waited before mastering a new language, the smaller the difference．

　　“Our findings suggest that the structure of the brain is changed by the experience of learning a second language,” said the scientists．

　　It means that the change itself increases the ability to learn．

　　Professor Dylan Vaughan Jones of the University of Wales, has researched the link between bilingualism and maths skills．“Having two languages gives you two windows on the world and makes the brain more flexible,” he said．“You are actually going beyond language and have a better understanding of different ideas．”

　　The findings were matched in a study of native Italian speakers who had learned English as a second language between the ages of two and 34．Reading, writing, and comprehension were all tested．The results showed that the younger they started to learn, the better．“Studying a language means you get an entrance to another world,” explained the scientists．

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　　Grown-ups know that people and objects are solid．At the movies, we know that if we reach out to touch Tom Cruise, all we will feel is air．But does a baby have this understanding?

　　To see whether babies know objects are solid．T．Bower designed a method for projecting an optical illusion(视觉影像)of a hanging ball．His plan was to first give babies a real ball, one they could be expected to show surprised in their faces and movements, All the 16 to 24-week-old babies tested were surprised when they reached for the illusion and found that the ball was not there．

　　Grown-ups also have a sense of object permanence．We know that if we put a box in a room and lock the door, the box will still be there when we come back．But does a baby realize that a ball that rolls under a chair does not disappear and go to never-never land?

　　Experiments done by Bower suggest that babies develop a sense of object permanence when they are about 18 weeks old．In his experiments, Bower used a toy train that went behind a screen．When 16-week-old and 22-week-old babies watched the toy train disappear behind the left side of the screen, they looked to the right, expecting it to re-appear．If the experiment took the train off the table and lifted the screen, all the babies seemed surprised not to see the train．This seems to show that all the babies had a sense of object permanence．But the second part of the experiment showed that this was not really the case．The re-searcher substituted(替换)a ball for the train when it went behind the screen．The 22-week-old babies seemed surprised and looked back to the left side for the train．But the 16-week-old babies did not seem to notice the switch(更换)．Thus,the 16-week-old babies seemed to have a sense of “something permanence,” while the 22-week-old babies had a sense of object permanence related to a particular object．

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　　With their weakening bodies, advanced age or increasing pressure of work or study, people have been advised and usually persuaded to have health care products．Do you remember your first time to take a nutritional supplement(营养补充品)?What was your first impression?

　　Posted by Amy, Dec．23, 2010 8：05 PM

　　Years ago, as a young mom with two small children, I struggled to keep up with the demands of a busy life．One day, I woke up feeling so tired that I knew something had to change!

　　A friend gave me some Royal Jelly－an amazing substance(物质)from the beehive(蜂房)．I was doubtful, but desperate…so I tried it! In time, I began to experience renewed energy and vitality(活力)like never before! Now, over two decades later, I travel all round the country, sharing my life-changing experience．I’m grateful for the energy to keep up and love to share this wonderful discovery with others．

　　Ten years ago, when I was 73, my mind wanted to be busy and useful, but my body didn’t．I became tired and lethargic(无精打采的)．That’s when my daughter Madeline tried to persuade me to try her special Royal Jelly．It made such a dramatic(巨大的)difference in her life, so she was sure it could help me too! Hesitating for 2 days, I gave in．She was right! I no longer felt worn out．I had a new, youthful zest(热情)for life and I’ve been OK－thanks to Royal Jelly!

　　When my mom Madeline was introduced to Royal Jelly, it affected my life, too! Mom gave me some of her fantastic Royal Jelly．Boy, things did turn around! I had more energy and stamina(耐力)and was finally able to keep up with high school and, eventually, college activities．Today, I’m a busy mom in my mid-thirties with two active boys and a new business! I have enough energy to do it all! I’m glad I took my Mom’s advice．

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　　The Hawaiian Islands are in the Pacific Ocean almost 4,000, kilometres west of California．Tourism is very important to Hawaii．The tropical weather and beaches bring people from all over the world．But Hawaii is also experiencing problems from the downturn(经济衰退)．

　　Last year was the first year since 2004 that Hawaii has had fewer than seven million visitors．The state had 6,800,000 arrivals in 2008．That was a decrease of 10％ from the year before．State officials expect a decrease this year of another 2％．And they expect no growth in the economy through most of the year．

　　The Hawaiian Islands were formed millions of years ago by hot liquid rock flowing from undersea volcanoes．Visitors can still watch the process take place on the largest island, which like the state is named Hawaii．People usually just call it the Big Island．

　　Experts say Polynesian people first sailed to Hawaii about 2,000 years ago．A king ruled the islands when the 18th century British explorer James Cook arrived．At first, Hawaiians treated Captain Cook like a god．But in the end, he was killed on the Big Island in 1779．

　　Britain gave the islands their independence in 1843．Then, fifty years later, a group of American businessmen ousted the ruler and founded the Republic of Hawaii．It became an American territory in 1900．

　　That was three years after the United States set up a naval base at Pearl Harbor, on the island of Oahu, which served as the command base for American operations in the Pacific during World War Two．

　　After the war, most Hawaiians required that Hawaii should be an independent state．In Congress(国会), though, there was resistance from southern states because of Hawaii’s non-white native population．But Congress passed the Hawaii Statehood Bill in 1959．Hawaiians accepted it, and on August 21st, President Eisenhower declared Hawaii the fiftieth state．

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　　Once upon a time two brothers who lived on neighbouring farms fell into conflict．It was the first serious one in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed．

　　Then the long cooperoration fell apart．It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence．

　　One morning there was a knock on John's door．He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox．"I'm looking for a few days’ work" he said．"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with．Could I help you?"

　　"Yes," said the older brother．"I do have a job for you．Look across the creek(河沟)at that farm．That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother．Last week there was a meadow(草地)between us and he took his bulldozer(推土机)to the river levee(堤)and now there is a creek between us．Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better．I want you to build me a fence－an 8-foot fence－so I won't need to see his place or his face any more．Cool him down, anyhow．"

　　The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation．I'll be able to do a job that pleases you．"

　　The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day．The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing, and hammering．

　　About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job．The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped．

　　There was no fence there at all．It was a bridge－a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work－and his younger brother, was coming across, his hand spread out．．

　　"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done．"

　　The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand．They turned to see the carpenter lift his toolbox on his shoulder．"No, wait! Stay a few days．I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother．

　　"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build．"

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　　A powerful earthquake struck the northeastern coast of Japan at 2∶46 p. m. local time on March 11th．Japan's Meteorological Agency released its first tsunami warnings just three minutes later．The country has one of the best earthquake early warning systems in the world．More than 4,000 Seismic Intensity Meters provide information within two minutes of an earthquake happening．

　　There are also concrete sea walls around much of the Japanese coastline．But these measures proved no match for the powerful earthquake and tsunami．

　　Costas Synolakis is a tsunami expert in the University of Southern California in Los Angeles．He says："Japan is one of those most well-prepared countries on earth in terms of tsunami warning．They had a warning．I think what went wrong is that they had not anticipated the size of this event．"

　　He says there are two reasons for this．First, scientists had not expected such a large earthquake．The 9.0 magnitude earthquake was the 4th most powerful earthquake ever recorded worldwide．It was also the worst ever to hit Japan．The tsunami waves reached as high as 13 meters in some areas．

　　Second, Japan's concrete sea walls were not built to handle such high waves．" In Sendai(仙台), they were about three meters．At least in that area they were not expecting such a sizeable wave because they would have built a higher seawall．"

　　A tsunami wave can travel as fast as 800 kilometers per hour．To get to higher ground people would often have to travel for many kilometers．This can take more time than a fast traveling tsunami will permit．This is especially true in cases like Japan．The tsunami waves followed almost immediately．

　　Experts say early warning systems will continue to be limited by these facts until earthquakes and tsunamis can be predicted．

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　　Josie Robinson, who appeared on a so-called wall of shame at her school in south Manchester, was in tears．Her father has hit out at the "Victorian" methods．

　　Chorlton High School put up pictures of year 10 pupils who teachers believed had behaved badly．Children singled out for praise were placed on the wall of fame．Its head teacher said the scheme(策划)was designed to motivate pupils．

　　Carlo Robinson, whose daughter Josie was put on the wall after missing lessons, wants to make a complaint．The teenager had been missing school and turning up late because she was upset that her mother was ill．She said：" I thought it was embarrassing．"

　　Mr Robinson added："She was in tears．She couldn't tell me at first - it took her about an hour- because she wasn't sure what I would think of it．When she told me I was really shocked．I contacted at least 20 friends and they all agreed it was wrong - it's like Victorian times．"

　　Head teacher Andy Park said："We've successfully used a similar scheme in the past with Year 11 students to incentivise pupils and it really did make a difference - pupils took it in the right spirit and were motivated by it to improve their performance．Obviously this latest scheme wasn't intended to cause offence to pupils．It was actually developed to praise the students moving forwards successfully and to support pupils who needed to make improvements．No parents have complained directly to the school and I'd be very happy to meet with any parents to discuss further．"

　　Mr Robinson told the reporter he had contacted the school to schedule a meeting with the head teacher．

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　　Monkeys are very similar to us in many ways．We enjoy watching them because they often act like us．In fact, scientists say monkeys and humans share a common ancestor．

　　Monkeys make us smile, too, because they are creatures full of playful tricks．This is why many monkey expressions are about tricky people or playful acts．One of these expressions is monkeyshines, meaning tricks or foolish acts．So, when a teacher says to a group of students："Stop those monkeyshines right now!", you know that the kids are playing, instead of studying．

　　You might hear that same teacher warn a student not to monkey around with a valuable piece of equipment．You monkey around with something when you are touching or playing with something you should leave alone．Also, you can monkey around when you feel like doing something, but have no firm idea of what to do．

　　Monkey business usually means secret, maybe illegal, activities．A news report may say there is monkey business involved in building the new airport, with some officials getting secret payments from builders．

　　You may make a monkey out of someone when you make that person look foolish．Some people make a monkey out of themselves by acting foolish or silly．

　　If one monkey has fun, imagine how much fun a barrel of monkeys can have．If your friend says he had more fun than a barrel of monkeys at your party, you know that he had a really good time．

　　Monkey suits are common names for clothes or uniforms soldiers wear．In earlier years, performing monkeys’ tight-fitting, colorful jacket looked similar to a military uniform．So, people began to call a military uniform a monkey suit．

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　　There is a growing problem of what to do with electronic waste such as old televisions, computers, radios, cellular telephones and other electronic equipment．

　　Electronic trash, or e-waste, is piling up faster than ever in American homes and businesses．People do not know what to do with old televisions or computers so they throw them in the trash．

　　National Solid Wastes Management Association(NSWMA)state programs director Chaz Miller says the large amount of electronic waste Americans produce is not unexpected．

　　The US Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)estimates more than 400 million consumer electronic items are dumped each year, and there is a push by more states to ban the waste from landfills(垃圾填埋场)and create recycling programs．They can be torn apart and sorted for useable parts．Mike Fannon who runs the plant in Baltimore, says, "There are a lot of valuable metals that can be recovered and reused instead of just putting them in the landfill, and in certain components there are some materials that should not really be in the landfill," Fannon explained．

　　Fannon says nearly 20 percent of electronic waste is recycled nationwide．Thirteen years ago, it was only about 6 percent．Recycling rates continue to rise as more communities have banned electronics from landfills in an effort to keep e-waste poisons like lead(铅)and mercury(汞)out of garbage dumps．

　　This year several states like Vermont imposed a ban on electronic waste in landfills．More than 25 other states have also adopted landfill bans, e-waste recycling programs or both．Chaz Miller says more can be done to boost electronic waste recycling．

　　"We can do much better," noted Miller．"I think clearly our goal should be to do as well as we do recycling newspapers．"

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