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Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus Cars, was once of motor racing's most influential engineers. Between 1962 and 1978 Lotus won seven Formula One constructors championships. He summed up his philosophy as "simplify, then add lightness". It appears to be an uncommon insight. A paper published in Nature suggests that humans struggle with subtractive(减法的) thinking. When asked to improve something, they tend to suggest adding new things rather than removing what is already there, even when additions lead to subpar(低于标准的) results.

The research was motivated by everyday observation rather than psychological theory, says Gabrielle Adams, the paper's first author, who cites folk wisdom such as "less is more" and "keep it simple". Perhaps the need for such reminders was evidence of a blind spot in people's thinking?

Along with colleagues at the University of Virginia, Dr. Adams conducted a series of observational studies. In one, when participants were asked to alter an essay they had written, 16% cut words while 80% added them. Others gave similar results. Of 827 suggestions received by the new boss of an American university for how the institution could be improved, 581 involved adding new things and just 70 suggested removing something.

Having established that addition does indeed seem to be more popular than subtraction, the next step was to work out why. One possibility was that people were considering subtractive options, but deliberately choosing not to pursue them. Another was that they were not even thinking of them in the first place.

Let's enter a new set of experiments. One experiment asked participants to redesign a lopsided(不平衡的) Lego structure so that it could support a house-brick. Participants could earn a dollar for fixing the problem, but each piece of Lego they added cut that reward by ten cents. Even then, only 41% worked out that simplifying the structure by removing a single block, rather than strengthening it by adding more, which was the way to maximise the payout. Another example, asking people to make a golf course worse rather than better did not change their preference for additions, which suggested that many were simply not thinking of the possibility, at least at first.

What all this amounts to, says Benjamin Converse, another of the study's authors, is evidence for a new entry in the list of "cognitive biases" that skew(歪曲) how humans think. Instead of thinking a problem through and coming up with an ideal solution, they tend to use cognitive shortcuts that are fast and mostly "good enough" in their mind.

Such research has inspired an entire field dedicated to working out when such shortcuts lead people astray(迷失). Dr. Adams and her colleagues, meanwhile, are keen to investigate their result thoroughly. One question is whether the preference for addition is inborn or learned.

As the saying goes, "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." This is the way the charity organization Heifer International (国际小母牛慈善组织) wants to end world hunger.

It began in the 1930s when an American farmer, Dan West, went to Spain to help people in need. He tried to feed the people with milk. But it seemed that there would never be enough milk. It made him think that what they needed was "not a cup, but a cow".

Dan West returned to America. He worked together with some friends to find ways to end hunger. He believed giving animals and providing training would stop world hunger. With his help, Heifer International was set up.

On Heifer International's website, you will see a list of animals like cows, chickens, pigs and even fish and bees. You can offer help by buying some animals for one certain family. Those animals will have babies. With more and more animals, these families will be able to support themselves. Once these families get better lives, they will pass on the act of kindness to others. More importantly, you are buying the resources (资源) for programs run by Heifer International to help more families.

The programs also help small-sized farms. As a rule, each farmer must give his animal's first female ( 雄性) baby to another in need. Heifer International also provides training on animals health and feeding. And these farmers all agree to teach others what they have learned as another rule.

However, there is still a long way to go. The milk may run out. But if families have their own cows, they can get plenty of milk to feed themselves. The organization wants the farmers to go on working together, helping each other and learning from each other. Maybe hunger can really be stopped.

STEM Summer Programs for High School Students

STEM is a term that stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Here is a list of some of the best STEM summer camps for high school students.

Future Matters Program

It is an 8-week paid summer research experience for high school students. This is a hands-on program for students interested in going after a career in medical research. Students will attend seminars led by the faculty and participate in discussions with peers.

Simons Summer Research

It is a seven-week program located at Stony Brook University. Students will have the opportunity to participate in special workshops, tours and events free of charge. They will conclude the program producing a written research abstract and a research poster.

Research Science Institute

It is the first cost-free summer program of its kind. During this six-week program, students will dive deeper into the world of science and engineering by experiencing the entire research cycle. In this program students will attend classes conducted by famous professors and prepare written and oral presentations to present their research.

Program in Math for Young Scientists

This is a six-week intensive mathematics program designed for students across the globe. Unlike common programs, it offers a great deal of independence for students to choose their own schedules and decide what they want to study. Besides learning, there is also "mandatory (强制的) fun time" built into the weekly schedule so that students are able to have non-math related activities.

It took place in a teacher's family. One day, Ben was playing basketball in the living room after school, when he accidentally threw the ball at a vase sitting on the shelf. The vase dropped to the floor and a large piece broke off. What made Ben more upset was that the vase was not a common decoration but an antique(古董), which was handed down through generations from the 18th century. It was also his mother's favourite possession. To cover his terrible action, the terrified boy glued(用胶水粘) the pieces together hastily and put the vase back to its place.

As the mother herself dusted the vase every day, she naturally noticed the cracks(裂纹) that evening. To her surprise, the repair work was actually very good. At dinner time, she asked her boy if he broke the vase. Fearing punishment, the suddenly inspired boy said that a neighbour's cat jumped in from the window and he couldn't drive it away no matter how hard he tried. It raced around the living room and finally knocked the vase off its shelf. His mother was quite clear that her son was lying, for all the windows were closed before she left for work each morning and opened after she returned. However, in the face of her son's nervous eyes and the suspicious looks of the other family members. Ben's mother remained calm. She realized she shouldn't just simply blame and punish her son for lying. She came up with another idea.

Before going to bed, the boy found a note from his mother in his room, asking him to go to the study at once. The boy thought he would now be punished but, as he had already lied, he was determined to deny(否认) everything to the end, no matter how angry his mum became.

In the study, calmly bathed in the light, his mother's face showed no sign of anger. On seeing her son push open the door and cautiously enter, she took a chocolate box out of a drawer and gave him one.

The mother said, "This chocolate is a reward for your imagination: a window-opening cat!"

……

Now with some chocolates in hand, the boy's bad attitude disappeared. It seemed that everything was all at Mom's fingertips. Speechless, the boy felt a lump in his throat. He lowered his head in shame and stammered out the truth. "Mom, I'm so sorry that I broke your vase and lied to you. I was too terrified because it's your favourite antique." Relieved and delighted, the mother held him in her arms and whispered, "Good boy... It's never too late to mend." With the chocolate box handed to the boy, Mom said delightedly, "These ones are all for your honesty, my boy! Do remember that honesty values more than any antique."

写作要求：
（1）词数80左右。
（2）不要逐条翻译，可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Simon, 

……

Yours,

Li Hua

Friendship on the rocks: please advise!

I'm so sorry! But this friendship is worth (save): eight years (be) a long time! Don't be so quick to judge your friend. Perhaps she knows she's the wrong and wants to apologize, or maybe she has a simple (explain) for her behaviour. In any case, find an opportunity to have full and frank talk with her. Listen to what she has to say, and be sure to explain how you feel. I'm sure you can solve this problem together.

I (definite) understand how you feel. I also had a friend I trusted a lot. When I found out that I (trick) by him, I was really hurt and let go of our friendship. I know you value your friendship and want your friend to value it equally. , if your friend ignores your feelings or makes you suffer, it's time to rethink your friendship. Talk to her and decide whether this friendship is still important to you. It's sad (move) on, but you have to accept that friends come and go in life.

It's amazing that one dollar can change the culture of a school.

We have a 1 school of about 30 students. It is really full of pressure as most of the kids get good2 and try to be the best ones. It's good except that a lot of us middle kids feel really3 .

My friend and I set out to find a way to 4 the culture. We thought doing things for others was the only way to5 our depression(沮丧) about school.

On the first day of school we put a 6 folded into a heart into one of the leaders' lockers with a piece of paper that7 , "Buy yourself a snack." We hoped to8 small gifts every day. We didn't know the9 it would have.

People were10 about it and everyone was talking about who it might be that did the acts of kindness. It is so much fun to see the11 on everyone's face now! Lots of other people have started sharing the12 now too: chocolate bars, cookies and so on.

Now I actually expect to go to school to have the chance to13 people up. I hope the kindness will14 to other schools. If anybody is struggling with being15 at school, I totally suggest doing acts of kindness.

How to make friends at a new school

Starting with a new school can be difficult. Everything is nothing like your previous school, and you don't even know where to go for your own classes.  However, if you use these skills, you can quickly turn some of those strangers into friends. 

Be yourself.

 If some people don't accept you, they're not the kind of friends you need. People often stay together because they have similar interests. For example, someone who does a lot of sports may make friends with those who also run or swim a lot. 

Remember to be nice to the people you meet at your new school. If you think that you will say something that may make them feel sad, do not say anything and just nod your head if they talk to you. Also, remember to be as helpful as possible!

Believe in yourself.

A smile goes a long way. When you walk in the halls, don't keep your eyes on the floor. Raise your head and make eye contact (接触) with other people.  Tell them your name and where you're from. 

Remember people's names.

You like it when people use your name, and so do other people.  Besides, ask them in a kind way if they have a nickname (昵称). You'd be amazed how often this might come in handy. 

A. Be friendly to others. 

B. Making new friends can be hard, too. 

C. Join after­school activities you like. 

D. Never change who you are to try and fit in. 

E. If you see someone you know, smile and introduce yourself. 

F. People might become angry if you just begin by saying "Hey" each time.

G. Don't sit at the back of the classroom where other people don't notice you!

In the ongoing battle between Tiger Moms, French Mamas, and everyone else who wants to know what is the best way to raise their kids, a new study adds evidence that the extreme Tiger­style may do more harm than good. Authoritarian(专制的) parents are more likely to end up with disrespectful children with violent behaviors, the study found, compared to parents who listen to their kids with the goal of gaining trust.

It was the first study to look at how parenting styles affect the way teens view their parents and, in turn, how they behave. The study considered three general styles of parenting. Authoritative(权威式的) parents are demanding and controlling while also being warm and sensitive to their children's needs. Authoritarian parents, on the contrary, are demanding and controlling without the appearance of caring, attachment and receptiveness. They take a "my way or the highway" approach to their kids. Permissive(放任的) parents, the third group, have warm and receptive qualities, but they set few boundaries and carry out few rules.

Using data on early 600 kids from an ongoing study of middle school and high school students in New Hampshire, researchers from the University of New Hampshire were able to find "my way or the highway" parenting with more violent behaviors like robbery, drugtaking, and attacking someone else with the intention of hurting or killing.Firm but loving parenting, on the other hand, led to fewer lawbreakers. Permissive parenting, surprisingly, didn't seem to make much of a difference either.

To explain the link between parenting style and behavior in kids, the researchers suggested that what matters most is how reasonable kids think their parents' power is. This sense comes when kids trust that their parents are making the best decisions for them and believe that they need to do what their parents say even if they don't always like how their parents are treating them. When kids respect the power of their parents, the researchers reported in the journal of Adolescence, their behavior is better. Previous research has also linked firm but caring parenting with kids who have more self­control and independence.

When children consider their parents to be the reliable figure, they trust their parents and feel that they have a duty to do what their parents tell them to do. The child is more likely to follow the rules when the parent is not physically present.

It is rightly said one can share any secret with a true friend. He may know your deepest fears and weaknesses and yet will never take advantage of you. However, keeping a friend's secrets to yourself and not telling the world is what makes the bond grow strong and last forever. You need to develop trust and mutual(相互的) understanding before you start sharing secrets with each other. With friends, secret talks never seem to end and it can get really amusing to know what has been going on in your friend's mind.

There is a certain time in life especially from the teenage years when one starts having a personal periphery(界限) in life and parents are excluded from it. It is because there are certain things that they can't understand and we can't discuss with them. That is when friends become the best secret sharers. They are the ones to whom one reveals one's feelings and best kept secrets.

It is a general belief that only girls share secrets. But boys have their own secrets that they discuss with only closest friends. The secret talks can range from relationships, talks about fights with parents, secret activities and anything that is not supposed to be known to others! If you think secrets are limited to only teenagers, get your facts right! Secrets can be shared at any age and there is no hard and fast rule that secrets are shared only among youngsters.

Sharing secrets with a friend is not just fun, but it also helps to develop a lasting trust in one another. Sometimes, sharing secrets will tell you more about the person. You will come to know whether your friend is reliable and trustworthy and whether it is worth sharing your secrets with them. You can call it a test of friendship.

Yesterday afternoon I was in my studio working. I was chatting on the phone when something made me look up. Out of the window, on the other side of the street, I saw my very elderly neighbor kneeling (跪着) in the grass, his caregiver beside him. "I've got to go," I said to my friend. "I think something is wrong." So I ran downstairs, out my front door and across the street.

"He was taking a walk, and he tripped (绊倒) on the pavement," the caregiver said. "I can't lift him on my own." My neighbor is a large man, so I ran back across the street and got my husband! Together we were able to get him standing, but he couldn't walk. Luckily, a woman bicycled by and asked if we needed help! She got a lawn chair from my front porch and we got my neighbor seated. After a few minutes of rest, we were able to help him get into the house. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't rushed over to help. I was all alone," his caregiver said.

So here's what I've been thinking about since: help your neighbor. Look up from what you are doing, and look around for who you can help. It may not be as clear as it was in this case, but there's always help you can give—to your neighbor across the street, or the person standing beside you. They are all your neighbors.

Hilton English Language Center

Information for New Students

CLASS TIME: 9:00 a.m. — 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. — 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. — 3:00 p.m. The Language Center is open Monday to Friday. Each class has one afternoon free per week. On the first day, go to the lecture hall to check your timetable.

SELF-ACCESS: The language laboratory (Room 1110) is open Monday to Friday from 3:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for all full-time students.

You can learn how to use computers for language games or word-processing. There are tapes(磁带) for students to borrow to practice their English. Go in and ask the teacher to show you. If you plan to take public examinations, there are dictation and listening comprehension tapes for you to practice with. There are cloze exercises on the computers. Ask your class teacher for a list of past exam essays. Students can borrow tapes to take home but they must be returned after two days.

ATTENDANCE (出勤)：All students are expected to attend classes as it is required. Students who do not attend classes will be reported to OSS. Eighty percent attendance is required for students to receive their certificates (证书) when they finish their courses. It is also required by OSS for an extension to your visa.

BOOKS: If students are given course books, the books are their responsibility. If a book is lost, the student will be expected to pay for it.

If students wish to buy books, there is a bookshop in the college specializing in English books (Room 3520).