Last month, girls took all the top 4 prizes at the Broadcom Masters, a competition for middle school students across the US.
Rachel Bergey won the Lemelson Award
She developed an equipment to catch the Spotted Lanternfly, an animal destroying trees in Pennsylvania. She got her idea when she was climbing on her favorite tree at her family's farm. The Lemelson Organization gives the award to a student who provides answers to real-world problems.
Sidor Clare won the Marconi Award
She developed bricks that one day could be made on the Moon. That way, astronauts would not have to bring building materials with them when they build houses there.
Alexis MacAvoy won the Robert Wood Johnson Award
She designed a film to remove heavy metals from water. The award recognizes the student whose work shows the most promise in public health-related fields, and an understanding of how social problems affect (影响) health.
Lauren Ejiaga won the DoD STEM Talent Award
She studied how certain kinds of light from the sun affect plant growth. The DoD STEM Talent Award is given to a student for showing talent in science, technology, engineering or math. along with the leadership and technical skills necessary to success in the future.
At the Broadcom Masters, there were 30 winners-18 girls and 12 boys. They were chosen from 2. 348 middle school students in 47 states. A group of scientists, engineers and educators selected the winners. Each winner's school will receive $1,000 from the Broadcom Masters to support the school's science program.
What a day! I started at my new school this morning and had the best time. I made lots of new friends and really liked my teachers. I was nervous (紧张的) the night before, but I had no reason to be. Everyone was so friendly and polite. They made me feel at ease. It was like I'd been at the school for a hundred years!
The day started very early at 7:00 a. m. I had my breakfast downstairs with my mom. She could tell that I was very nervous. Mom kept asking me what was wrong. She told me I had nothing to worry about and that everyone was going to love me. If they didn't love me, mom said to send them her way for a good talking to. I couldn't stop laughing.
My mom dropped me off at the school gate about five minutes before the bell. A little blonde (金黄色的) girl got dropped off at the same time and started waving (招手) at me. She ran over and told me her name was Abigail. She was very nice and we became close straight away. We spent all morning together and began to talk to another girl called Stacey. The three of us sat together in class all day and we even made our way home together! It went so quickly. Our teacher told us that tomorrow we would really start learning and developing new skills.
I cannot wait until tomorrow and feel as though I am really going to enjoy my time at my new school. I only hope that my mew friends feel the same way too.
Puzzled face asks for help
Think about the last time you did something that you found difficult. Was it working out a puzzle or working hard on your math homework?
Can you remember the expression you had on your face? Most people will press their lips together and frown when they are doing something they find difficult. This is normally seen as a sign of effort. Now we've found that it can also say more than that.
A recent study at the University of Portsmouth in England suggests that the human expression of effort and frustration(挫折) is our way of asking others for help.
Scientists at the university gave children and chimpanzees(黑猩猩) an impossible puzzle to work out. When the children couldn't work out the puzzle, their faces expressed determination and effort. The chimpanzees' did not.
Humans and chimpanzees have many facial expressions that share the same meaning. A human smile is the same as a chimpanzee showing its teeth in happiness.
Scientists believe that over time, humans have evolved(进化) to use this facial expression to ask for help. We have also learned to respond to it by offering help.
According to Dr Albert Mehrabian, a well-known professor of psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), only 7% of human communication happens through words and 55% is through body language. Therefore, understanding expressions is second nature to human beings.
With this in mind, next time you see a person with a frustrated expression, listen to your heart and stop to lend them a hand.
Living the light life
Many of us like to eat out and treat ourselves to delicious food. We are used to choosing hearty, fat-filled dishes and sugary desserts, which are not easily cooked at home.
The recent rise of light meals, however, gives diners a smarter choice. According to Economic Daily, low-calorie, low-fat and high-fiber (高纤维的) meals have become popular in China's restaurants and online delivery platforms.
The country saw a rapid expansion of restaurants specializing in light meals, from just 600 in 2017 to more than 3,500 in 2018. According to a report released by Meituan, a major online food delivery platform, the number of light meals ordered online also rose 75 percent compared to the previous year.
Having a light meal, however, doesn't mean eating only vegetables. Different from the meat-free lifestyle, a typical light dish avoids oily, salty and spicy food. Instead, it contains things like boiled meat, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Healthy nutrients (营养成分) are the theme of the light meal.
These dishes are useful for keeping healthy and controlling your weight. That's probably why so many people, especially Millennials (千禧一代), are into them. Diners see it as "a great way to avoid bloating (变胖)," wrote The Telegraph.
"After eating several light meals, I feel my appetite has shrunk (缩小). I now prefer light flavors," Zou Jing, a college teacher in Wuhan, told China Daily. She shared a picture of her lunch: a mixture of beef, eggs, corn, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes.
These changes in eating behavior are connected with deeper changes in how people think about food, says Walter Willett, chair of the nutrition department at the Harvard T. Chan School of Public Health, US. "Diet quality, not quantity, is important for both weight control and long-term well-being," Willett told The New York Times.
So next time you have a party with friends, try a light meal. It will satisfy not only your stomach but maybe also your heart.
Within your family, are you the "boss", the "peacemaker", the "baby" or the "king"?
Firstborn — The "Boss"
First-time parents often have very high expectations for their eldest children. Firstborns tend to be natural leaders who respect and trust authority. Many astronauts and engineers are firstborn children.
Middle child — The "Peacemaker"
Typically, parents don't give middle children as much attention as the firstborn or the youngest. As a result, they are usually determined to achieve success in their own way. They don't like conflict and will try to avoid it. They are often realistic, independent, patient peacemakers and good communicators.
Youngest child — The "Baby"
By the time the youngest family member is born, most parents have loosened their rules. They often enjoy amusing others and being the center of attention. They are typically fun-loving, creative people who aren't afraid to question authority or take risks.
Only child — The "King of the Castle"
Life in the family of an only child often revolves around him or her. An only child enjoys learning from adults and is usually very clever for his or her age. Only children are creative and intelligent and can easily communicate with adults. They are typically confident, independent and very successful. What about you? Does the birth order description match your personality?
A. Thus, they tend to have more freedom.
B. That often causes them to feel they are ignored.
C. Early-born children experience a better social environment.
D. These kids don't have to share their toys or their parents' time.
E. Many researchers believe your position in the family influences your personality.
F. As a result, these kids are often responsible, organized, bossy, successful achievers.
G. The relationships between birth order, personality, and behavior confuse many researchers.
At the age of 60, my father was hit by a car when he walked to a nearby supermarket to buy vegetables. After 1 for two months in hospital, he finally woke up. His waking up 2 all our family. 3, he didn't know any of us. Doctors said his brain was hurt so 4 that he had lost all his memory. And his mental age (心理年龄) was only five. We were sorry to hear about the bad news.
Since I was his only child, it was my 5 to look after him. He forgot 6 everything, but he did remember he liked sweets. I used the sweets as a way of 7 bad behaviors. I would gave him one sweet 8 he didn't sit on the ground, a second for stopping painting on the wall, and another for not trying to put clothes on the dog.
Dad became the 9 child in town. He climbed up the tree to catch a bird and couldn't get down after it 10 away. He broke my window with a ball and 11 our telephone in water like washing clothes. When I told him he was doing 12 things, he would answer smilingly, "I like that!" My son, then aged five, and two eight-year-old daughters, welcomed their 13 playmate. He would happily make them real cigarettes, 14 his sweets with them, and carry them high in the apple tree to 15 apples.
It is eight years since the 16. Dad has accepted the fact that he is the 17 of his three playmates but not a brother. He has also accepted that they grow taller but his 18 stays the same. Though it is still 19 to take care of him, he brings us a lot of fun. In some way I think it is a(n) 20 thing to look after dad like looking after a child. How many people can have the chance to care for a child-like parent?
The World Wide Web is now more than thirty years old. Its (invent), Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has spoken about his creation its 30th anniversary. He said he was concerned about how people are using the Internet and its billions of websites today. He also said he is concerned about the future of the Web. He wrote a letter (say) he knew many people felt unsure about whether the Web was "a force for good". He believed it can be a force for good and can empower(授权)billions of people. He wrote that he believed governments and companies must work together to build a (good) Internet.
Sir Tim had three main concerns about the World Wide Web. The first was criminal behaviour. He described it as a "mirror of humanity(人性)" "you will see good and bad". He said governments must pass laws (keep) people safe. The second thing that worried Berners-Lee was how social media (use) to spread misinformation. The past few years (see) a rise in fake news. Berners-Lee is also worried about people's privacy and (person) information. He stressed the importance of fighting for better and safer Web and keeping it free for everyone to use.
