Earworms: Why songs get stuck in our heads? (Science)

URL: 

http://extensivereadingprogram.blogspot.com/2012/04/earworms-why-songs-get-stuck-in-our.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17105759

Reading Time: 22 minutes

Level of Difficulty: 3

Summary:
　　There are an abundance of reasons that cause songs to get stuck in our heads. Earworms maybe have disturbed numerous people. Thinking of another songs may help us get unwanted tunes out of our heads, but the songs that cure us will stay there, too.

Feedback/Comment:

　　

　　I am usually stuck with music, but I do not regard it as a problem. Unsurprisingly, this phenomenon often appears after hearing a song repeatedly. The tunes not only lingered in my mind but also could never be expelled. I even could remember all the song and sing complete lyrics of it. A film or TV show becoming popular will influence earworm experiences, too. I can’t agree with it more. When watching soap operas or movies, the theme songs of them usually got stuck in my head. No matter when or where was I, I desired to hum the tunes of them constantly. The music would become especially touching and impressive. The melody might stay there until the theme songs of shows became out of style or I was not as keen as before. Although an abundance of people get into trouble being stuck with music, I do not consent to that earworm results in annoyance or botheration. The song which popped into my head was often my favorite or beloved one. Its continual emergence may help me remember the tune. Drenched with charming melody is enjoyable and pleasant feeling. It do not disturb my life at all.
 

Discussion Issues:

1.What song got stuck in your head？

2.Did song that got stuck trouble you？

The Right Way to Fight Fat Creep (Health)

URL: 

http://extensivereadingprogram.blogspot.com/2012/03/right-way-to-fight-fat-creep-health.html

http://www.rd.com/health/the-right-way-to-fight-fat-creep/ 

Reading Time: 18 minutes

Level of Difficulty: 3

Summary:

　　
　　Many people have got into trouble with fat creep, and most of them used wrong manner to lose weight. We should find the right way, or incorrect approaches may sabotage our efforts.

Feedback/Comment:

　　An abundance of girls around me are often not satisfied with their shapes and trying hard to slim down. Unsurprisingly, I am no exception. I have attempted to go on a diet and sought for useful manners to stay fit. To my astonishment, Exercise alone leads to a modest reduction in weight loss—less than 3 percent！I usually go to our sports field to jog with my friend in the night. We even went jogging everyday when we were both free and the weather is cooler before. As our habit, we run a lap around the playground and then walk around the track. We always run about 1600 meters one night. Walking through running track can slightly relax and share everything that is going on our lives. Due to chatting with my friend, exercise becomes interesting and not as hard as I imaged. It seems perfect, but I found something was wrong after reading this article. In fact, I seldom go jogging recently because we are more and more busy preparing exams and holding activities. Next time, I will pair the right diet with exercise to make it more effective. I hope I could reach my goal as soon as possible.

Discussion Issues:

1.Have you ever tried to lose weight？

2.What manners did you take to keep fit？

What will happen to Norway mass killer Breivik? (Crime & Law)

URL: 

http://extensivereadingprogram.blogspot.com/2012/04/what-will-happen-to-norway-mass-killer.html?utm_source=BP_recent

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/17/world/europe/norway-breivik-trial-explainer/index.html?hpt=hp_c2 

Reading Time: 21 minutes

Level of Difficulty: 3

Summary:

　　Anders Behring Breivik, who is a mass killer in Norway. He set off a bomb that killed eight people, then shot 69 people at a youth camp. The trial of him is under way. Whether Breivik was sane or insane at the time of the killings is extremely critical.

Feedback/Comment:

　　Breivik’s crazy behavior is too horrible to define. I even can not imagine the gun rampage scene. His mental facility and consciousness are confusing and uncertain. Although somebody claimed that Breivik was paranoid and schizophrenic at the time of the attacks, I think he is guilty. His unreasonable act caused an abundance of innocent people passing away. It not only resulted in countless broken homes but also brought them boundless sorrow and pain. I can not easily forgive Breivik’s cruel behavior, to say nothing of victims and their family. Abolishing death penalty or not has provoked much discussion among everyone in Taiwan. I do not think death penalty is a good manner to deal with criminals because life is precious. In spite of opposing paying back in the same coin, I consider that Breivik should pay for his attacks to some degree. If he was insane then, Breivik will just be confined to a psychiatric institution for the rest of his life and pend reviews of his mental state by the court every three years. In my opinion, it is so cheap of it. He killed 77 people and made numerous people frightened and miserable. Maybe Breivik may regret and be sorry for victims, but I suppose that he have to be sentenced to prison or preventive detention. After all, the harm has been done and we could not bring victims back to life.

Discussion Issues:

1.What is your opinion about death penalty？

2.How do you think about Breivik’s attacks？