段落大意题 知识点题库

    Electrical devices (仪器) could soon use power made by human energy. Scientists say they have developed an experimental device that produces electricity from the physical movement of a person walking. British scientist Max Donelan and other scientists in Canada and the United States developed the device.

    The device connects to a person's knee. As the person walks, the device captures energy each time the person slows down. To do this, the device helps with the slowing down movement of the leg. The movements of the walking person push parts of a small machine that produces electricity. Using the device, an adult walking quickly could produce thirteen watts of electricity in just a minute. Donelan says walking at that speed could produce enough power to operate a laptop computer for six minutes.

    There are several possible uses for the device. Developers say it could help people who work in areas without electricity to operate small computers. The device could also be used in hospitals to operate heart pacemakers (起搏器). It could even be used to assist in the movement of robotic arms and legs.

    The experimental version of the device weighs about one and a half kilograms, but it is too costly for most people to buy. But the researchers hope to make a lighter, less costly version. An improved version should be ready in one year.

    The developers hope the device will one day help developing countries. Nearly twenty-five percent of people around the world live without electric power.

    A similar product was invented in 2005 by Larry Rome of the University of Pennsylvania. He created a bag carried on a person's back that also produces power from walking. The knee device does not produce as much electricity as the bag. But the bag requires the walker to carry a load of twenty to thirty kilograms.

    Technological change is everywhere and affects every aspect of life, mostly for the better. However, social changes are brought about by new technology are often mistaken for a change in attitudes.

    An example at hand is the involvement of parents in the lives of their children who are attending college. Surveys (调查) on this topic suggests that parents today continue to be “very” or “somewhat” overly-protective even after their children move into college dormitories. The same surveys also indicate that the rate of parental involvement is greater today than it was a generation ago. This is usually interpreted as a sign that today's parents are trying to manage their children's lives past the point where this behavior is appropriate.

    However, greater parental involvement does not necessarily indicate that parents are failing to let go of their “adult” children.

    In the context (背景) of this discussion, it seems valuable to first find out the cause of change in the case of parents' involvement with their grown children. If parents of earlier generations had wanted to be in touch with their college-age children frequently, would this have been possible? Probably not. On the other hand, does the possibility of frequent communication today mean that the urge to do so wasn't present a generation ago? Many studies show that older parents - today's grandparents - would have called their children more often if the means and cost of doing so had not been a barrier.

    Furthermore, studies show that finances are the most frequent subject of communication between parents and their college children. The fact that college students are financially dependent on their parents is nothing new; nor are requests for more money to be sent from home. This phenomenon is neither good nor bad; it is a fact of college life, today and in the past.

    Thanks to the advanced technology, we live in an age of bettered communication. This has many implications well beyondthe role that parents seem to play in the lives of their children who have left for college. But it is useful to bear in mind that all such changes come from the technology and not some imagined desire by parents to keep their children under their wings.

    Global GDP in 2030 will be 14% higher as a result of AI (Artificial Intelligence), thanks to improving labor productivity and increasing consumer demand, says a report.

    The report could increase the enthusiasm of economic policymakers and the public, and show the power of technology in changing not only people's daily lives, but also economic activities. However, history tells us that, while technological advancements have brought us benefits, they have also led to great social disorders, by changing the production and labor structures, and forcing many workers to either adapt to the changes or lose their jobs. In the 18th century, for instance, skilled workers rose up to resist the Industrial Revolution, destroying machinery in the early 19th century. We may not see similar protests today, but history should serve as a warning against the application of AI technology.

    While we may gain a lot of benefits from AI, we must work out plans to reduce its negative effect on society, especially for workers. AI can raise productivity and expand GDP, but it can also make non-adaptive workers jobless. In India, some technology personnel have already felt the negative effect of information technology. As technology industries across the world seek increasing support from automation（自动操作）, robotics and big data analysis, some technology workers have already lost their jobs.

    In their 2013 research study, Michael Osborne and Carl Frey from Oxford University estimated 47% of the jobs in the United States are “at risk” of being automated in the next 20 years. They said jobs in transportation and office and administrative support are at high risk of being automated. And Kaifu Lee recently said that robots could take away about 50% of all jobs from humans in the next decade.

    Those estimates may sound sensational and the impact of technological advancements may not be that serious, as they will also create jobs in new industries. However, policymakers should consider how to better embrace the technological wave to bring benefits while taking action to minimize its negative effects. The government therefore needs to work together with business leaders and social organizations, to promote training programs for potentially helpless workers, in order to make them more capable of adapting to the structural changes in industries and job markets in the future.

    Shyness is the cause of much unhappiness for a great many people. Shy people are anxious and self-conscious; that is, they are excessively concerned with their own appearance and actions.

    Worrisome thoughts are constantly occurring in their minds: what kind of impression am I making? Do they like me? Do I sound stupid? Am I wearing unattractive clothes? It is obvious that such uncomfortable feelings must negatively affect people. A person's conception of himself or herself is reflected in the way he or she behaves, and the way a person behaves affects other people's reactions. In general, the way people think about themselves has a profound effect on all areas of their lives.

    Shy people, having low self-esteem, are likely to be passive and easily influenced by others. They need reassurance that they are doing "the right thing." Shy people are very sensitive to criticism; they feel it confirms their feelings of inferiority. They also find it difficult to be pleased by compliment with a statement like this one, "You're just saying that to make me feel good. I know it's not true." It is clear that while self-awareness is a healthy quality, overdoing it is harmful.

    Can shyness be completely eliminated, or at least reduced? Fortunately, people can overcome shyness with determined and patient efforts in building self-confidence. Since shyness goes hand in hand with a lack of self-esteem, it is important for people to accept their weaknesses as well as their strengths. Each one of us is a unique, worthwhile individual, interested in our own personal ways. The better we understand ourselves, the easier it becomes to live up to our full potential. Let's not allow shyness to block our chances for a rich and fulfilling life.

    This year's flu season is pretty scary. To try to minimize the effects, public officials are still urging anyone who hasn't yet gotten their flu shot to get one as soon as possible. However, even if every single person got a shot in the arm, the vaccine(疫 苗)—with its excellent 36 percent effectiveness—would not prevent everyone from getting infected with the annoying virus. Knowledge is power, so here's what goes on in your body when you come down with the flu.

    The influenza virus primarily attacks your nose, throat, and the tubes that lead to your lungs. But the flu is so much more than that. Your muscles ache, your head hurts, and your appetite goes down, among other things. To our surprise, almost all of these symptoms have less to do with the virus itself than with your immune(免疫的)response to them. Unfortunately, the very defense you have in place to get rid of the flu is the reason you feel so painful when you recover.

    The virus usually enters through your mouth, typically by way of your hands. But it takes a few days for symptoms to set in. While this process might cause some harm to your nose and throat, it's nothing major, and nothing like the symptoms that typically accompany a bad or even mild case of the flu.

    The real fun starts when your immune system begins to fight. Your immune system comes in two parts: the innate system and the adaptive. The innate immune system is essentially an all-purpose tool. As soon as your body senses the presence of any injury or invader, the innate immune system launches into action by producing tiny proteins called cytokines and chemokines. The cytokines reproduce almost immediately and start to attack the virus. This increase in immune cells creates a serious inflammation(炎症) throughout the body. But the worst is still to come.

    Meanwhile, the chemokines work with the adaptive immune system to help create T cells. These cells are a special type of white blood cell that works in a much more specific way: They find the influenza virus, identify what's special about it, and create something unique on their surface that finds and destroys similar invaders.

    You must have heard of Mr. No Ears. This earless, one-eyed cat from Albufeira, Portugal, is a Facebook phenomenon and has his own book: Saudades Mr. No Ears. But for those of you who don't know him, here is his story.

    Often referred to as the “Lion King of Albufeira”, this adorable cat was the head of a eat colony in the region. Viewed from a distance, he appeared to be a king, sitting on a wall. On most days, this was usually where you would find Mr. No Ears, with the members of his colony scattered around on the walkway. At other times, he was jumping cliffs and running on the beach. No one knew on which day he was born, so his caretakers decided to celebrate his birthday on World Animal Day on October 4th.

    Although there were no ears, his hearing functioned well. One of his eyes was open and purulent (有脓的), with no sign of an eyeball…...Despite all of his problems, he was a strong-minded and happy cat. Some hotel owners found him annoying, ordering his caretakers to send him away so he wouldn't “upset tourists.” But there were just as many people who loved him to pieces, and once he got his own Facebook page, the entire world was at his paws.

    On the evening of 11 September 2015, Mr. No Ears was taken away against his will. Less than an hour later a request was made via a Facebook page asking for money, making false claims that he was “in pain” and “had bone cancer.” It was said that in an attempt to prove cancer which he did not have, Mr. No Ears suffered a heart attack. He then suffered organ damage, including his kidneys and liver. The taking-away of this much-loved cat from his home and family and the circumstances of his death were very emotive subjects, causing shockwaves throughout the animal-loving world.

    Thanks to Mr. No Ears, the Albufeirafs Peneco beach Colony became a household name and a “must see” on cat lovers, holiday choices. You will recognize Mr. No Ears' favorite seat under a palm tree because Mr. No Ears' love-lock is attached to it.

    Almost every second of every day an older adult falls in the United States. That's approximately 29 million falls per year and nearly 27, 000 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Still in the stating stage, the Active Pelvis Orthosis (APO) system in Switzerland wants to make a lightweight, wearable exoskeleton (外骨骼) that could detect signs of balance loss and assist with balance recovery to keep the elderly wearer from falling, only when needed.

    Other exoskeletons, either in development or on the market today, assist with movement and make heavy objects feel lighter. Mobility-impaired people can walk again. But none of these devices predict what the wearer is going to do next and take measures to correct an unsteady move.

    The 3 kilogram (6.7 pound) exoskeleton was built entirely from scratch by the research team and is designed to be worn on the lower half of the body. A waistband connects to two movable carbon fiber braces (支架), each one positioned on the outer side of a leg. Tiny motors and so-called "adaptive oscillators" (适配振荡器) in the computer circuits use a special process to detect the, wearer's unique paces. That part takes just a few minutes.

    While wearing the exoskeleton, a person may feel the braces and the motors pushing slightly on their legs. If their paces go against normal, the motors create a force in the braces that cause them to stiffen up and push a little more strongly against the legs, which provides stability.

    In the next three years, the APO hopes to develop something that is commercially available.

    In a large city like Beijing, what's the best way you can think of to spend only a single yuan to get around? Shared bikes!

    Shared bikes seem to have appeared in Beijing overnight. Their bright colour and stylish design make them stand out from other bikes. More importantly, they are "smart". A shared bike can record the route it travels, the calories its rider consumes and the amounts of carbon emissions(排放)the ride saves. The smart lock is powered by solar energy. It is designed to produce power throughout the ride to keep its "smart" system running.

    Registration(注册)for a shared bike is easy. As long as you have a smart phone, you're good to go. It takes only several minutes to register after scanning the QR code(二维码)on the bike. You have to provide your personal information such as name, ID card number and smart phone number. We are encouraging people to cycle short distances, rather than driving. We want to bring bikes back to China's cities, "said a founder of a bike-sharing company." We are using new technology to provide better services. "The free-floating model of shared bikes frees users from the need to find specific drop-off and collection points, and the GPS in the smart lock allows them to locate and book bikes in advance using their smart phone.

    The bike-sharing companies intend to develop a green travelling culture. The riders feel rewarded not only by building up their body, but also by helping to control climate change.

    Given the huge user base in the" kingdom of bicycles" and the growing demand for a green lifestyle, the future of the business should be optimistic.

On a clear night in 1994, an earthquake hit Los Angeles and caused a city-wide power cut just before dawn. Awake in surprise, some residents who had escaped outside called various emergency centers to report a mysterious cloud over head.

That unusual object turned out to be the hand of the Milky Way, which had long been unclear from view by the city's lights.

Arguably, the light bulb is the most transformative invention humans have introduced to this planet. By pressing a switch or pushing a button, we can lift the veil (面纱) that would naturally cover our lives each night. Now, we work long after the sun sinks below the horizon. We play games outside far into the night. We more safely wander around city streets after dark.

But if light bulbs have a dark side, it's that they have stolen the night. The extra light brightening our environments is endangering ecosystems by harming animals whose life cycles depend on the dark. We're endangering ourselves by changing the biochemical rhythms that normally go out and flow with natural light levels. And in a basic sense, we've lost our connection to nighttime skies, on the basis of which our ancestors made up their star-related stories, timed the planting and harvesting of crops, and inferred the physical laws governing the universe.

"The disappearance of the night sky is tied up with our ever more fast-paced world," says Amanda Gormley of the Tucson-based International Dark-Sky Association. "We lose something vital; we lose a part of ourselves when we lose access to the night sky. We lose that sense of stillness that should be right over our heads every night."

Now, as the consequences of light pollution arise out of the shadows and into the spotlight, cities, regulatory agencies, and conservation groups are seeking solutions. And in some areas, lots of improvements are already in place, powered by a new wave of cheaper, more energy-saving light bulbs.

In 2019, more than 1. 4 million young people around the globe took part in the School Strikes for Climate Action protests that were largely prompted by a 17-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The inspirational teenage is far from the first or last young person to fight for a better environmental future.

With the rise of social media in recent years, young people around the globe have easy access to surprising information about how we're currently failing to look after the Earth. Websites such as YouTube provide accessible coverage on ecological matters and links to new scientific information are easily shared between peers. But, it's not just online research that exposes the truth, and it's not a distant threat either. Climate change is around us. Our oceans are 30 percent more acidic(酸性的)due to carbon pollution, an increase of droughts and heatwaves means a loss of crop production and forest is cut down every second.

Of course, just because young people are now readily armed with statistics doesn't mean all adults will eagerly listen to them. Many write off young activists simply due to their age, and others still aren't willing to see the environmental challenges we face, but that doesn't mean a diligence can't be made.

In fact, there are some advantages of being a young activist. A study on participants aged 16-24 in the UN climate negotiations revealed that adults perceived younger activists as being more trustworthy. Young activists not only aren't smudged (弄脏)by agendas being forced on them, they also have an untainted(未染污的)view of what's going on and, being free from politics, they often say what adults aren't willing to.

So, it seems achieving a carbon neutral world in the future might depend on young determined voices inspiring experienced adults who can make a difference. Preferably, young people wouldn't worry about the environment at all, but our civilization forced them into the conversation when their futures were put at stake, so their voices should be included in the solution.

The term" liberal bubble"(自由泡沫) suggests that people usually surround themselves with those who hold similar opinions to them. Think about your own social media platforms(社交媒体平台)—who your Facebook friends are, and who you follow on Instagram and Twitter. You probably share a lot of opinions with most, if not all, of them. However, if you're used to everyone agreeing with you all the time, it becomes difficult to have a good conversation with someone who disagrees.

The world is full of experiences, realities, and history. It would be naive(幼稚的) to believe that only your views are correct. We should always make space for the possibility that someone who looks different might have something valuable to offer the world. Carefully listening and being curious about different perspectives, in most cases, can help build bridges instead of walls. We all benefit when we listen carefully—even if we finally conclude that we disagree.

The world we live in is increasingly divided, especially on social media, which means that for most, the only opinions we hear are ones that agree with our own thoughts. So how can we have productive discussions with people who think differently than us？First, follow people who don't look like you on social media. Follow people with different skills. Follow people of many different nationalities. Just reading their day­to­day thoughts, in addition to seeing their bigger moments, will help you learn about worlds you didn't even know. It'll help you understand where people are coming from when they do or say something you might push back on at the beginning. As far as having productive discussions, don't try to win others over to your side. Just listen to each other. Respect your differences. Another way is to join a club or organization where many people have different views and are willing to debate with love.

Rosie, a first-year university student in Beijing, entered a classroom for her oral English exam and slid her topic across the table to Joe, a foreign teacher. My Story, it read. "In middle school, my classmates laughed at me for having deaf-mute parents," she began softly. "From that moment on, I decided not to tell anybody. But today…"

It's widely considered taboo(忌讳) in Chinese to discuss the details of an unhappy family life with anyone other than very close friends. However, as Joe has noticed, many Chinese students appear surprisingly comfortable discussing emotional moments from their lives when they speak with foreign teachers in a language different from their own.

"Speaking English," one of his Chinese students told him, "I feel like another person." When speaking Chinese, he is kind of reserved; in English class, he is more open. English, to the Chinese speaker, may be like a mask, creating a buffer(缓冲物)between speaking the truth and the listener's reaction. Students focus on how to speak rather than what is being said. If there's a misunderstanding, English can take the blame.

Another reason why Chinese students are more comfortable sharing their secrets during English class may be the distinct approach to teaching used by their foreign teachers. "I always try to come to each student, make eye contact, have a 20-second conversation and see how they are doing," Joe said. Classes taught by Chinese teachers, in contrast, are more formal. Many students said they had never been asked their opinion in class.

Rosie's English vocabulary is now extensive, but she still can't find the words to describe her feelings towards the English language. "English makes me feel I am different," she said. "English is beautiful."

A flock of wild mandarin ducks(鸳鸯) are the biggest draw in the West Lake scenic area in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, with tourists flocking from around the country to see them. However, some of the tourists have been feeding the ducks, even pulling them by the neck to force-feed them. On Monday, a video claiming that some of the ducks had died from over-feeding went viral on social networking sites.

Although there are prominent signboards warning people against feeding them, tourists just cannot hold back. Some even believe the ducks are underfed and they are doing them a favor, little realizing that their action can be detrimental to the birds' health.

Human food does not always go down well with ducks, particularly potato chips, as the oily snack can damage the health of mandarin ducks. However, tourists can frequently be seen feeding the ducks food that the birds cannot digest. Besides, feeding the ducks could stop them from competing in the wild to find their food. If they become dependent on food provided by humans, they will lose their survival skills. Also, by giving food to them, the tourists are polluting the environment. Especially, food thrown into the water could harm the ecosystem there.

However, the tourists know little about the harm they cause to the environment and there is a need to create awareness about it. Meanwhile, the number of mandarin ducks at West Lake has dropped from 336 last year to 260 this year. Maybe the declining numbers will wake the tourists up to this reality.

That was how the adventures began. It was the sort of house that you never seem to come to the end of, and it was full of unexpected places. The first few doors they tried led only into spare bedrooms, as everyone had expected that they would; but soon they came to a very long room full of pictures; and after that was a room all hung with green, with a harp in one corner; and then a kind of little upstairs hall and a door that led out on to a balcony. And shortly after that they looked into a room that was quite empty except for one big wardrobe, the sort that has a looking-glass in the door.

"Nothing there!" Everybody rushed out but Lucy stayed because she thought it would be worthwhile trying the door of the wardrobe, even though she felt almost sure that it would be locked. To her surprise, it opened quite easily, and two mothballs dropped out.

Looking into the inside, she saw several coats hanging up—mostly long fur coats. There was nothing Lucy liked so much as the smell and feel of fur. She immediately stepped into the wardrobe and got in among the coats and rubbed her face against them, leaving the door open, of course, because she knew that it is very foolish to shut oneself into any wardrobe... She took a step further in—then two or three steps, always expecting to feel woodwork against the tips of her fingers. But she could not feel it.

"This must be a simply vast wardrobe!" thought Lucy, going still further in. Then she noticed that there was something crunching under her feet. "Is that more mothball?" she thought, stooping down to feel it with her hand. But instead of feeling the hard, smooth wood, she felt something soft and powdery and extremely cold. "This is very queer," she said, and went on a step or two further.

... And then she saw that there was a light ahead of her; ... A moment later she found that she was standing in the middle of a wood at night-time with snow under her feet and snowflakes falling through the air.

When my grandmother Deed was young she contracted polio (小儿麻痹症). She was kept in bed for the better part of a year and lost the use of her right leg. She was raising my young father on her own, so it felt like an impossible situation. Her family gave her much support and encouragement. Slowly but surely, Deed learned not only to deal, but to thrive with her disability. People thought she was crazy when she wanted to start her own business, but she was determined. She borrowed money from the bank for her business. She went on to run a successful company and became one of the first women entrepreneurs in the city of Revere, Massachusetts.

I truly believe polio was a gift to my grandmother. It strengthened her beliefs and made her strong and resilient (有适应力的), but it also forced her to slow down and think about everything quietly and seriously. She never complained about her condition, not once.

However, I often got angry and complained when things weren't going my way. Deed would turn to me and gave me advice on my next move. Though far from Hollywood (she lived on Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire), Deed seemed to know answers to the problems that seemed to puzzle me. She was my trusted mentor (导师). With each visit, she would help me better myself, expand my mind and go after bigger dreams.

I became confident, more driven and focused on what I wanted to achieve. Each step of the way, Deed was there to cheer me on. The more I leaned back out of fear, the more she challenged me to walk further to the possibilities.

Within a month of selling my first screenplay, Deed passed away. She is on my mind daily. Now, whenever I deal with career issues that scare me, I would remind myself of her greatest piece of advice: Sit down and take a breath. It will all work out

On a clear night in 1994, an earthquake hit Los Angeles and caused a city－wide power cut just before dawn. Awake in surprise, some residents who had escaped outside called various emergency centers to report a mysterious cloud overhead.

That unusual object turned out to be the band of the Milky Way, which had long been unclear from view by the city's lights.

Arguably, the light bulb (电灯泡) is the most transformative invention humans have introduced to this planet. By pressing a switch or pushing a button, we can lift the veil (面纱) that would naturally cover our lives each night. Now, we work long after the sun sinks below the horizon. We play games outside far into the night. We more safely wander around city streets after dark.

But if light bulbs have a dark side, it's that they have stolen the night. The extra light brightening our environments is endangering ecosystems by harming animals whose life cycles depend on the dark. We're endangering ourselves by changing the biochemical rhythms (节律) that normally go out and flow with natural light levels. And in a basic sense, we've lost our connection to night­time skies, on the basis of which our ancestors made up their star－related stories, timed the planting and harvesting of crops, and inferred the physical laws governing the universe.

"The disappearance of the night sky is tied up with our ever more fast－paced world," says Amanda Gormley of the Tucson－based International Dark－Sky Association. "We lose something vital; we lose a part of ourselves when we lose access to the night sky. We lose that sense of stillness that should be right over our heads every night."

Now, as the consequences of light pollution arise out of the shadows and into the spotlight, cities, regulatory agencies, and conservation groups are seeking solutions. And in some areas, lots of improvements are already in place, powered by a new wave of cheaper, more energy－saving light bulbs.

 Modern medicine and the latest technology can save many lives. If you live in a country where healthcare is readily available and accessible, then your chances of recovering from illnesses or accidents are very good. But for many people in the US who are uninsured (无保险的), they can't afford these new medical treatments. That's why Doctor Demetrio Aguila in Norfolk lets poor patients pay for surgery (外科手术) through volunteer work.  

 "For years I had been doing surgery for patients and taking care of their health problems. Then I would find out months later sometimes years later, that I had caused their financial ruin," Aguila said. Serious illnesses can completely deplete a family's savings, leaving them no choice but to go bankrupt (破产).  

 Then he formed Healing Hands M25 as a way to give poor patients the medical fees they need by donating their time to community service. The process is pretty simple. They practice partners with local charitable organizations. The patient picks the charity and donates his time and sweat; Aguila determines the amount of volunteer hours the patient has to complete. "We've lowered the cost of healthcare. We've made it fair for everybody involved," Aguila said.  

 The first patient to participate in the program was Jeffrey Jenson who worked for 560 hours to pay for surgery on his leg. Jenson asked his friends and family to help him complete the hours. Jenson said that his volunteer work greatly affected his life as much as the surgery. "The M25 program is not about money — it's about if people come together to help other people, then the community becomes better，" said Jenson.  

 This program is a big win for the patients, the local community, and Dr Aguila who knows he has done everything he could to help his patients.  

It will come as no comfort to a child shivering on a playing field on a cold winter's day. But regular organised school sport helps children in their academic studies in years to come. The researchers said other "structured" activities such as music or religious activities were not as beneficial for attention as taking part in a games lesson. The difference in academic ability was noticeable even at age ten, with those who had taken in sports since the start of junior school faring better than those who hadn't.

The Canadian study looked at children aged six and then ten. Professor Linda Pagani said:" We worked with information provided by parents and teachers to compare kindergarteners' activities with their classroom activities as they grew up. By the time they reached the fourth grade, kids who played structured sports were clearly better at following instructions and remaining focused in the classroom. There is something special to the sporting environment-perhaps the sense of belonging to a team to a special group with a common goal—that appears to help kids understand the importance of respecting the rules and honouring responsibilities. "

Researchers began studying 2, 694 Canadian children around the age of six，with teachers filled in questionnaires about their behaviour in school. Meanwhile, the children's parents were interviewed by phone or in person about their home life. The exercise was the repeated four years later to test what effect the behaviour had.

Professor Pagani said: "We found children who had better behaviour in the kindergarten class were more likely to be involved in sport by age ten. Nonetheless(虽然如此), we found those children who were specifically involved in team sports at kindergarten scored higher by the time they reached the fourth grade. "The researchers believe sporting activities and attention skills go hand in hand. Professor Pagani added:" The results should be encouraging for schools looking to cut childhood obesity rates and low attainment in schools. "

Wang Fang, a Suzhou native, has given her heart and soul to Kunqu Opera. Wang, who has twice won the Plum Performance Award-China's top award for theater and opera performances—started to learn the traditional art form from a young age.

Born with a sweet voice, Wang loved to sing and dance and was selected by the Suzhou Kunqu Opera Troupe when she was in middle school. However, her parents refused the troupe's invitation, insisting that she should concentrate on her studies. After members of the troupe visited the parents repeatedly, Wang's parents finally agreed.

Learning the traditional art form was never easy. She started to learn how to pronounce words, sing them lyrically and make gestures gently. At first, she had to spend extra time practicing kung fu move-ments. Years later, Wang used the word "unimaginable" to describe how hard the days were when she first learned Kunqu. She was soaked（浸泡）in sweat when practicing movements in summer, while in win-ter she often had chilblains（冻疮）on her hands. "But I was determined at the time. No matter how diffi-cult, I always got up early the next morning to practice, " Wang recalls.

Wang says she did not love Kunqu at first, but in her early 20s, when she watched the show Peony Pavilion performed by Zhang Jiqing, a master of the art form, it clicked. "I was shocked, " Wang says. "Her every movement was full of elegance. Each of her lines and songs was perfect. I was struck by the beauty of Kunqu for the first time, and it has stayed with me since. "

"I always believe that ‘Not everything is meant to be, but everything is worth a try. ’ First you must be a dreamer, then a doer, and only then can you be a master. I believe in this order —that it should be this way and that I am this way. " Wang once said in an interview. Now, Wang has become a master of Kunqu. Her performances have impressed generations of audiences and helped to promote the art form a-mong young people.