Expectations

Parents have expectations of their children with everything from grades in school and how they dress to college and career choices later on.

Parental disappointment creates conflict and problems in the relationship between them and their teenagers.

It often comes across as anger, giving teenagers the feeling of rejection from the people who were once the most important figures in their lives.

parental (adj)父母的 

come across 给人以。。。的印象   

rejection (n) 拒绝

Family Conflict

When parents argue, teenagers may feel that they were somehow the cause, which can lead to alienation if the parents allow their words and actions to escalate out of control.

Teens may feel that their parents don't love each other anymore, leaving the teenagers to wonder how it will affect them.

Although arguing can be a healthy way of airing differences and working through problems, mean-spirited fighting with harsh words can leave a lasting negative impression on everyone in the family, including the teenagers.

alienation (n) 疏远  

escalate (v) 恶化、升级  

air (v) 使公开、宣扬

work through… 解决 

mean-spirited (adj) 心胸狭窄的、小心眼的

Psychology as a profession

The goal of psychology is not just to study human thinking and behavior, but to put that knowledge into practice, to help people, communities, and society in general to solve day-to-day problems and improve quality of life.

Psychology is therefore also a profession,devoted to helping people and the community find solutions to real life problems such as improving mental health and wellbeing, learning, performance,relationships, and societal cohesiveness.

day-to-day (adj)日常的 

bedevoted to… 致力于。。。   

wellbeing (n) 康乐 

societal (adj)社会的  

cohesiveness (n) 凝聚力

Psychology as a science

As a science, psychology is the study of the human mind and its wide-ranging functions and influences.

Psychological research advances our understanding of human emotion, personality, intelligence, memory, perception, cognition, attention,and motivation, as well as the biological processes that drive these human functions and behaviors.

In essence, psychology studies individuals and groups to better understand how people, communities and societies function and ways to help them thrive.

wide-ranging (adj) 覆盖面广的  

advance (v) 促进、推动   

perception (n) 感知  

cognition (n) 认知 

In essence 本质上  

thrive (v) 蓬勃发展

Making new friends. There are lots of shared activities for pet owners, ranging from communal walks to charitable events and other organizations that cater to animals and protecting the environment. It can be hard to meet new people, but pets are great icebreakers.

Taking care of something. Sure, you need your pet. Your pet needs you,too. The need to be useful and of value doesn't magically disappear when your career ends or your kids grow up and build their own independent lives. It isvery satisfying to take care of another living creature.

communal (adj)共享的、共有的 

cater to 满足…的需求、迎合 

icebreaker (n)打破僵局的事物 

Companionship. Loneliness can become an unwelcome companion as we age and can lead to depression as well as physical problems. Dogs mold their schedule and personality to you. They are never unavailable or off duty. Smaller dogs, in particular, can easily travel.

Having a routine. The routine of caring for a pet can bring structure and purpose to daily life. Maybe you don't always want to get out of bed, but your pet wants you to. Isn't that a good thing?

companionship (n) 伙伴关系 

mold (v) 使适合    

off duty 不当值 

routine (n) 常规   

structure (n) 周密安排、体系

Stress Relief

Many kids find stress relief on the field. When people exercise or play sports, the brain releases chemicals that improve their moods. If your child is feeling pressure in the classroom, sports may be the answer.

Sports are also fun. Playing on a team with friends is a fun way to take a break from the pressure kids feel in school.

But trying to fit sports practice and competition into an already packed schedule can have the opposite effect, creating more stress for your child, and not leaving enough time for creative play, family time and homework.

Chemical (n) 化学物质  

fit (v) 将…放进…  

packed (adj) 拥挤的

Sportsmanship

If your child plays a team sport, he will quickly learn the art of sportsmanship, sharing credit and sharing responsibility.

Being part of ateam helps a child learn to think about doing what is best for the group as opposed to focusing only on himself.

Children on teams discover the positive feelings associated with cheering others on and feeling proud of teammates' accomplishments, as well as their own.

sportsmanship(n) 体育精神  

credit (n) 功劳、赞美 

be associated with… 与。。。相关      

cheer…on为。。。加油

Public libraries are at a turning point.

The way we access and consume information has changed dramatically in the 21st century, and this presents major challenges and opportunities for public library systems across the world.

The advent of new technologies has changed some of our reading habits. But our need for shared, community-centered spaces to find information and connect with others is unlikely to change any time soon.

To survive in the digital age and stay relevant, public libraries need to be brave and innovative. They must embrace both the physical and virtual.

consume (v) 消化（信息）    

advent (n) 出现、到来   

digital age 数字时代 

relevant (adj) 有价值、有意义的   

embrace(v) 欣然接受  

virtual (adj) 虚拟的

What is a library?

Libraries have always been at the heart of the communities they serve. They are accessible and safe spaces, providing access to huge resources of information and knowledge.

There are an estimated 315,000 public libraries in the world, 73 per cent of them in developing and transitioning countries.

The public library transcends national and cultural boundaries -- no matter where you are in the world, they are an essential part of creating and maintaining an educated and literate population.

at the heart of…  核心  

transitioning (adj) 转型的  

transcend (v) 超出  

boundary (n) 界限   

literate (adj) 有读写能力的