Where you sit and how you fit

For more than seventy years, psychologists (心理学家) and teachers have studied the link between the place where students choose to sit in class and what they are like as people and learners. Where do you usually decide to sit? Have you ever really thought about the reasons for your decision?

At the back

People often think that students who sit at the back are lazy. But is this really true? Well, some researchers say it is not. In fact, shy students often choose the back row because they probably won’t speak much, but in big classrooms, it can be hard to see the board and hear what the teacher is saying. This could be the reason why students who sit here often get lower grades on tests and exams. For students with poor eyesight or hearing, a seat at the back of the classroom is definitely not a good choice.

At the side

Students who sit at the side of the classroom are normally interested in class, but they like watching and listening rather than joining in. These students are usually also very good at taking notes. On the sides of the classroom, you will generally find modest and thoughtful people. These people usually get good grades in school and are interested in learning.

In the middle

Do you sit in the middle of the classroom? Then the statistics (统计资料) say you probably like your teacher. You probably also have a good relationship with your classmates. Caring, outgoing, and cheerful people usually sit in the middle. They are normally serious about learning and feel disappointed with low grades on tests and exams.

At the front

Are you crazy about knowledge? Are you worried about missing important information in class? Students at the front usually want to discuss things with the teacher and are often very interested in the subject. They want to be in the best place to see and hear everything the teacher does and says. The only problem with sitting at the front is that it can be difficult to see and hear what other students do and say in class. Therefore,                .

Most people agree that a pet adds joy to a person’s life. Scientists are now finding that having a pet may keep its owner healthy. And good health may add years to a person’s life.

Scientists have been studying the connection between pets and health for years. In 1990, a study was done with people aged 65 and older. It shows that pet owners go to the doctor less than people without pets. Do pets make people happier? Do they help people live on their own longer? If the answer to these questions is yes, then having pets may be a good idea.

Can pets really help people live longer? Rebecca Johnson did a survey to find out. Johnson taught nurses how to care for older people. She shared the findings of her study at a meeting about pets and the aging. Her study shows that having pets may cause people to age more slowly.

The human body makes many chemicals (化学物质). Some of the chemicals make people feel good. Others make people feel bad. In Johnson’s study, levels of the good chemicals rose when people were around pets. Levels of the “bad” chemicals went down. The good chemicals seemed to slow the aging of cells (细胞). If this is true, maybe people should spend more time with their pets. Then the levels of good chemicals will go up. People might feel better and age more slowly.

They might even live longer.