Children who lack self-control don't lack intelligence. People who are impulsive(冲动)and quick to take risks have wonderful strengths. They are often the ones who become our adventurers, discoverers, or inventors.【小题1】

Self-control feeds directly into decision-making. A shortage of self-control during childhood might lead to a bit too much fun food at the party, more time gaming than homeworking, or a few too many bursts of anger.【小题2】During adolescence though, the consequences of poor decisions and a lack of self-control, could be disastrous.

【小题3】They close down opportunities and set them on a path to a more harmful lifestyle. These include decisions around their health, money and behavior.

Adolescence is a time of massive brain change, designed to support their preparation for adulthood.【小题4】Risk-taking is a healthy, normal part of adolescence, but teens with higher self-control are more able to calculate the risks and tell the difference between a dangerous risk and one that they can learn from and grow through.

When adolescence hits, the experiences our children expose themselves to will largely be out of our hands. This is where they start to discover who they are and where they fit into the world.【小题5】It will play a huge part in driving their decisions, their experiences and the way their brain develops as they move into adulthood. Self-control in childhood, sets up self-control in adolescence, which sets up a brain for life.

An unusual experiment in Botswana suggests that painting eyes on the rear ends (臀部) of cows may help protect them from large predators (食肉动物)like lions. Protecting cows could also end up protecting the lions from angry farmers.

Large predators like lions are under pressure. Much of the land they used to roam (漫步) has been taken over by humans. Many are hunted illegally. One serious threat to large predators comes from farmers, who often shoot or poison them after losing farm animals for their attacks.

This has long been a problem in the Okavango Delta. Some parts of the Okavango are protected, but there are also many small farms in the area, with between 6 and 100 cows. Lions are the biggest threat to cattle in the area. At night, farmers normally keep their animals in closed areas protected from predators. But in the daytime, when many predators are most active, the cattle are allowed out to eat grass.

Scientists from the University of New South Wales wondered if painting pictures of eyes on the cows’ rear ends might protect them. The idea isn’t as strange as it may sound. There are many examples of animals such as butterflies or fish using fake (假的) “eyes”to protect themselves.

Working with over 2, 000 cows on 14 different farms in the Okavango area, the scientists tested their ideas in a four-year study. The researchers separated the cows into three different groups. They painted large eyes on the rear ends of one group of cows. The second group got simple Xs. The final group got nothing.

The eyes worked very well. Of the 683 cows with eyes painted on them, none were killed in the four-year period. Cows with nothing on their rear ends didn't do so well. Fifteen of the 835 cows with bare backsides were killed. The scientists were surprised to learn that even Xs seemed to give the cows some protection. Only 4 of the 543 cows with Xs were killed.

Wearing flip-flops (平底人字拖鞋) was once considered bad fashion manners. And flip-flops are considered only for beach goers or a short, relaxing walk to the mailbox on a hot summer day. 【小题1】. In fact, flip-flops have become so popular that many major designers are designing them for people.

However, wearing flip-flops could be bad for our bodies and the scientific studies are there to back it up. As a rule, flip-lops are not particularly supportive shoes even if they are comfortable and cool to wear. There is actually no arch support to flip-flops. By nature of design, flip-flops aren’t exactly fit for the foot — they don’t stay on well. In order to walk without losing a shoe, people unconsciously change their ways of walking. 【小题2】

Some experts also warn of short-term effects. Wearing flip-flops instead of more appropriate footwear for certain activities, especially when too much walking is involved, can lead to injured feet and ankles. 【小题3】 This makes it more likely to slip, trip, fall, and later twist an ankle.

【小题4】 For activities that require much walking or activity, such as shopping or gardening, consider wearing more appropriate shoes. When shopping for flip-flops, avoid the poorly made ones that can easily twist in your hands. Instead choose shoes that have a stronger, thicker, well-made sole. 【小题5】 Though less fashionable, these flip-flops offer some support and stability beyond the traditional ones.