It's puzzling, isn't it? No matter where you try to tickle yourself, even on the soles  of your feet or under your arms, you just can't. To understand why, you need to know more about how your brain works. One of its main tasks is to try to make good guesses about what's going to happen next. While you're busy getting on with your life, walking downstairs or eating your breakfast, parts of your brain are always trying to predict the future. Remember when you first learned how to ride a bicycle? At first, it took a lot of concentration to keep the handlebars steady and push the pedals . But after a while, cycling became easy. Now you're not aware of the movements you make to keep the bike going. From experience, your brain knows exactly what to expect so your body rides the bike automatically. Your brain is predicting all the movements you need to make. You only have to think consciously about cycling if something changes---like if there's a strong wind or you get a flat tyre. When something unexpected happens like this, your brain is forced to change its predictions about what will happen next. If it does its job well, you'll adjust to the strong wind, leaning your body so you don't fall. Why is it so important for our brains to predict what will happen next? It helps us make fewer mistakes and can even save our lives. For example, when a chief fireman sees a fire, he immediately makes decisions about how best to position his men. His past experiences help him foresee what might happen and choose the best plan for fighting the fire. His brain can instantly predict how different plans would work out, and he can _ any bad or dangerous plans without putting his men at risk in real life. So how does all this answer your question about tickling? Because your brain is always predicting your own actions, and how your body will feel as a result, you cannot tickle yourself. Other people can tickle you because they can surprise you. You can't predict what their tickling actions will be. Our brains cannot predict what will happen when we  _  . A) walk down the stairs B) eat our breakfast C) suddenly lose our balance and fall D) ride a bike
C


It is a plain fact that we are in a world where competition is going on in all areas and at all levels. This is exciting.Yet,on the other hand,competition breezes a pragmatic  attitude.People choose to learn things that are useful,and do things that are profitable.Today's college education is also affected by this general sense of utilitarianism  . Many colleges students choose Business,Law not Computer Programming as their majors convinced that these professions are where the big money is.It is not unusual to see the college students taking a part--time job as a warm--up for the real battle.I often see my friends taking GRE tests,working on English or computer certificates and taking the driving tests to get a license.Well,I have nothing against being practical.As the competition in the job market gets more and more severe,students do have reasons to be practical. However,we should never forget that college education is much more than skill training.Just imagine,if your utilitarianism becomes the main trend on campus,leaving no space for the cultivation  of students' minds,or development of their soul.We will see university is training out well--trained spiritless working machines.If utilitarianism controls society,we will see people lost in the money--making adventures;we will see humanity losing their grace and dignity,and that,would be disastrous.I'd like to think society as encouraging and people regard profit or fame only as a horse that pulls the courage.Yet without the driver picking direction,the courage would go straight and may even end out in a dangerous situation. A certificate may give you some advantages,but not broad horizons,positive attitudes and personal integrity ,which are the wealth you cannot acquire through any  quick fixed  way. Although in today's world,the highest level of competition may not be that of skills or expertise ,but vision and strategy, your intellectual quality largely determines how far you can go in your career. The author does strongly suggest that  _  . A) more competition be encouraged on college campus. B) people not ignore the value of broad horizons,positive attitudes and personal integrity. C) intellectual quality determine how far one can go in his career. D) college students get as many part--time jobs as possible.
B


It's 8:00 a.m.James Butters gives,18-month-old Thomas his milk,then breakfast.After getting Thomas into his outdoor clothes, they head for the park to watch birds and play on the grass.With lunchtime drawing near,they're back home for an afternoon of drawing,    playing with cars,or maybe watching some children's programs.     James isn't Thomas'dad.He is a nanny -a man nanny obviously,humorously     termed a"manny"--specially trained and in his third nannying position.At 27,he cares for     Thomas,and another boy of a simliar age."It's much freer than an office job,"he says,    "and you're getting to see children develop and grow.You become very close to them,for     sure.I don't think I'm special or better than a woman nanny; everyone has their own ap-    proach.But I'm unusual.Friends laughed when I started studying nursery nursing.In my     class,I was the only man among 70 women.Somehow,I made it,"he said.     Although it's not yet common to find men in traditional nannying courses,things are     changing.In the United States,parents are employing young mannies,sometimes to care     for babies,but more often as active role models to get their children away from the TV and     the computer.From rollerblading friends to summer swimming mannies,these are     the big brothers who are always willing to play,largely because they're paid for it.It is     catching on here in Britain,too.Earlier this year,Norland Nanny College welcomed its     first full-time man student,19-year-old Peter Cummins in Wales.While some families find     it difficult to accept the idea of a young man in a traditional nannying role,man nannies are     increasingly popular. Why are young mannies becoming popular in the United States? A) They are good at playing computer games. B) They can get boys in more healthy activities. C) They are better trained than women for their jobs. D) They can protect the boys like big brothers.

B