The Kalahari Desert spans three African countries; it goes across Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. It can get very hot in the summer, the hottest season there. The desert is in the southern hemisphere, and therefore, its seasons are__26__ from those in the northern hemisphere. There, summer lasts from November to March; winter lasts from May to August. In the summer, temperatures can__27__ over 100 degrees during the day. At night, they go down to around 68 or 70 degrees. In the winter, temperatures during the day are about 77 degrees,__28__ the nights can get very, very cold. Temperatures can drop to 14 degrees! Although the Kalahari is a desert, it__29__ rain. The rain is usually not steady. Instead, it comes in thunderstorms. When it rains, dry water holes fill up, and__30__ lakes. The rainy season is between November and April, and the rainiest month is usually April.

       Watching a touching movie, going through a stressful event, and even receiving good news may all lead to the similar reaction—bursting into tears. Crying is a part of everyone’s life. Some people cry more __31__ than others. Nevertheless, it remains unclear about the reasons __32__ crying happens. Humans are the only species to weep from emotions, and scientists still do not know how the physical act of crying is connected to our feelings. However, the study of crying does show some positive effects. One of the __33__ benefits of crying is that it relieves physical tension and stress. Crying also releases endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, that contribute to a better mood. Together__34__ the release of stress, crying can help regulate and even lower the temperature of our brains. When we cry, we take in many quick 35 of cool air. As a result, our body may cool down and thus our mood may improve.

        In this digital era, emojis are part of our daily communication. These small icons—smiley faces, winking eyes, hearts of all shapes—are used in text messages, emails, and social media. They are__36__ these days because they can increase the accuracy of our brief messages and decrease the misunderstanding in communication.__37__ , a picture is worth a thousand words. Because emojis often represent an easily identified thought or feeling, they are mostly__38__ in context. They help us add tone and clarity to our communication. Emojis are visual aids and can be used in many ways,__39__ softening the mood of serious conversations, expressing ourselves in a more comfortable way, and communicating when words fail us. However, emojis are not labeled, so their meaning is__40__ to those who use them. Some emojis may have different meanings across cultures. Therefore, when using emojis, we should use them with caution.

       The environment can influence our emotions. The experiences we gain through our five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell), such as the weather, food, and music, can directly impact our happiness. This is especially true of the colors around us. Research has shown that “warm colors” are rated as more exciting, while “cool colors” leave people feeling more relaxed. Experts have identified warm and cool colors that can improve our mood.

       Warm colors make us think of warm things, such as sunlight and heat. Orange, for example, is one of the most social of all colors. It reflects youth and energy and is a great choice for a room with lots of action, activity, and high energy. In addition, studies have confirmed exposure to natural light to be one of the most effective ways to increase our happiness. The color yellow makes people associate with the sun and feel cozy in many countries. For this reason, it can be the best paint color for rooms.

       In contrast, cool colors give us feelings of calmness, relaxation, and freshness. Of the cool colors, green is a dominant color in nature. Spending time outdoors has been found to help with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. So, why not try painting our rooms green that make us feel like living in the great outdoors? Likewise, painting our rooms with dark blue or light blue can also be a good choice. Shades of blue color are not just calming; they have been linked with productivity, honesty, and authority. If these are the things that bring us joy, we should consider using dark blue for our rooms. In short, using the right colors can make us happy, relieve our stress, and help us wander off into a good night’s sleep.

       Do your actions sometimes go against your beliefs? Here are some examples that you may even notice on your own. You fully understand smoking is harmful to your health, but you do it anyway. You want to lose weight, but don’t exercise regularly or eat a nutritious diet. You believe that if you want a good career, you have to do well in school, but you just cannot give up video games. The difference between what you are doing and what you believe you should be doing can cause a feeling of mental discomfort known as “cognitive dissonance.” This term was created by a psychologist called Leon Festinger in 1954. People with cognitive dissonance may experience various kinds of feelings: anxiety, embarrassment, regret, sadness, shame, or stress. These negative feelings can also influence how they view themselves, and therefore lower their self-confidence and self-worth.

       To reduce cognitive dissonance, some doctors and psychologists offer three pieces of advice: change your behavior, change your thoughts, and justify your behavior and thoughts. Some people can take the advice and put it into practice. One example is that a person who often drinks alcohol and then drives may choose to stop drinking or hire a taxi after having a few drinks. However, some people who experience cognitive dissonance do not want to change their actions. They find reasons to explain their actions and justify the conflict between their actions and beliefs. For example, after tasting the sweet desserts, you might tell yourself, “It’s probably a low-fat doughnut. Not a big deal. I’ll start dieting right after this.” Although it is quite impossible to achieve a full agreement between our actions and beliefs, we can change something in order to bring back balance.