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    LONDON－Scientists have found an unusual way to prevent our planet from overheating: move it to a cooler spot. All you have to do is send a few comets (彗星) in the direction of Earth, and its orbit will be changed too. Our world will then be sent spinning into a safer, colder part of the solar system.

    This idea for improving our climate comes from a group of U. S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) engineers and American astronomers. They say their plan could add another six billion years to the useful lifetime of our planet－effectively doubling its working life.

    The plan put forward by Dr. Laughlin, and his colleagues Don Korycansky and Fred Adams, needs carefully directing a comet or asteroid so that it passes close by our planet and sends some of its gravitational energy to Earth.

    “Earth's orbital speed would increase as a result and we would move to a higher orbit away from the Sun,” Laughlin said.

    Engineers would then direct their comet so that it passed close to Jupiter or Saturn. The comet would pick up energy from one of these giant planets. Later its orbit would bring it back to Earth, and the process would be repeated.

    In the short term, the plan provides an ideal way to global warming, although the team was actually concerned with a much greater danger. The Sun is certain to heat up in about a billion years and so “seriously compromise” our biosphere (生物圈) －by cooking us.

    That's why the group decided to try to save Earth.

    The plan has one or two worrying aspects, however. For a start, space engineers would have to be very careful about how they directed their asteroid or comet towards Earth. The smallest miscalculation (误算) in orbit could fire it straight at Earth--with deadly consequences.

    There is also the question of the Moon. As the current issue of Scientific American magazine points out, if Earth was pushed out of its current position, it is “most likely the Moon would be stripped away from Earth”. This would greatly change our planet's climate.

    You may not know a lot of people when you start high school. Maybe your friends from middle school are going to a different high school. Even if you know other freshmen(新生), you still feel nervous that you don't know any upper-classmen. How are you going to make friends among this sea of unknown faces?

    Most high schools hold a freshman orientation(训练) before school actually starts. These are helpful not only because you learn your way around the building and get to meet some of your teachers, but you also get to meet fellow freshmen. That way, when you show up on your first day of school, you may already recognize a few familiar faces.

    When you talk to people at orientation, you'll probably find that a lot of them are feeling just like you are. They're all new to the school and don't know what to expect. Talking about a common concern with your classmates can help you develop friendships.

    The work in high school is something freshmen are probably worried about. The work in high school builds on what you learned in middle school, giving you a more advanced knowledge of many subjects. So you may find you have more work to do or that it's a bit more challenging. If you ever find your work too difficult, teachers can give you extra help.

    High school also has more after-school activities than middle school did, such as clubs, music and theater groups and sports teams. This is a good time to explore your interests and try new things.

    Middle school taught you the basics of academics, time management, and social skills while providing you with a little extra support and guidance. High school gives you the chance to learn how to be more independent and responsible.

    Pet Emergency? Call us right away at(403)342-5200!

    If you live in Red Deer or the surrounding area and need a trusted veterinarian(兽医) to care for your pets—look no further. Dr. Pat Higgins is a licensed Alberta veterinarian, treating all types of pets. Your pets' health and happiness are very important to us, and we take every possible measure to give your animals the care they deserve.

    Deer Park Pet Hospital is a full service animal hospital and welcomes both emergency treatment cases as well as pet patients in need of routine medical, surgical, and dental(牙科) care. Dr. Pat Higgins has years of experience treating serious conditions and offering regular pet health care. Beyond first rate pet care, we make our clinic comfortable, kid-friendly, and calm, so your pet can relax in the waiting room and look forward to meeting our Red Deer veterinarian.

    We are happy to offer a number of resources that enable you to learn about how to take better care of your pets. Please feel free to browse our site, particularly the informational articles. The best veterinary care for animals is ongoing nutrition and problem prevention, so becoming knowledgeable about preventative pet care is vital to the ongoing success of your animal's health. If you have any questions, call(403)342-5200 or email us and we'll immediately get back to you. Our Red Deer veterinarian office is very easy to get to—and you can find directions on our Contact Us page! We also welcome you to subscribe to our newsletter, which is created especially for Red Deer pet owners.

    At Deer Park Pet Hospital, we treat your pets like the valued family members.

    Dr. Pat Higgins

    Red Deer Veterinarian│Deer Park Pet Hospital│(403)342-5200

    420 Allan Street#4

    Red Deer, Alberta T4R 2K7

    Teens and younger children are reading a lot less for fun, according to a Common Sense Media report published Monday.

    While the decline over the past decade is steep for teen readers, some data in the report shows that reading remains a big part of many children's lives, and indicates how parents might help encourage more reading.

    According to the report's key findings, “the proportion (比例) who say they 'hardly ever' read for fun has gone from 8 percent of 13-year-olds and 9 percent of 17-year-olds in 1984 to 22 percent and 27 percent respectively today.”

    The report data shows that pleasure reading levels for younger children, ages 2-8, remain largely the same. But the amount of time spent in reading each session has declined, from closer to an hour or more to closer to a half hour per session.

    When it comes to technology and reading, the report does little to counsel(建议) parents looking for data about the effect of e-readers and tablets on reading. It does point out that many parents still limit electronic reading, mainly due to concerns about increased screen time.

    The most hopeful data shared in the report shows clear evidence of parents serving as examples and important guides for their kids when it comes to reading. Data shows that kids and teens who do read frequently, compared to infrequent readers, have more books in the home, more books purchased for them, parents who read more often, and parents who set aside time for them to read.

    As the end of school approaches, and school vacation reading lists loom(逼近) ahead, parents might take this chance to step in and make their own summer reading list and plan a family trip to the library or bookstore.

Simply being quiet is a growing appeal. Lots of business have appeared to meet a rising demand for quiet time, from silent weekend getaways to silent dining, silent reading parties and even silent dating. Silence can mean different things to different people. We are usually silent only with those closest to us. So there is something almost radical(不同凡响的)about the recent trend towards enjoying silence with strangers.

Mariel started a regular silent reading party in Dundee just under a year ago. Readers bring their books and meet in a bar, where they read together in silence for an hour or sometimes two and then put their books away to chat and have a drink. "When the reading party starts, everything goes quiet," says Mariel," It's a little bit surreal (超现实的), especially in what is usually a noisy bar. However, there is something special about sharing the silence with others. It offers a chance to escape from reality; everyone is so busy with work and with technology being ever present. An event like this gives people the opportunity to escape these things for a while."

Honi Ryan is an artist based in Berlin who began hosting silent dinner back in 2006. The rules of the dinner are: no talking, no using your voice, no reading or writing, trying to make as little noise as possible, not connecting with technology, and staying for at least two hours. So far she has taken her silent dinner project to Mexico, the US, Australia and China. "It's evident that the age-old connections we make over food do not depend on the words around it. Silence creates the space for the people and places involved to fill with whatever is needed; it is quite different from our usual social behaviors."

Lying awake for hours before falling asleep is a common problem. Even if you can finally fall asleep, taking too long to fall asleep can lead to too few hours of sleep altogether. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}So people having trouble falling asleep always wonder how they can sleep well.

Parents know from experience that gentle music can help babies fall asleep. Science supports this, showing that children of all ages, from babies to elementary school children, sleep better after listening to comfortable music. Fortunately, children aren't the only ones who can benefit from gentle music before bedtime. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Listening to music likely improves sleep for more than one reason. Music can promote sleep directly by affecting your physiology (生理机能). {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Besides, it can also promote sleep by becoming a healthy bedtime habit. Many people can't fall asleep quickly because stressful and worrying thoughts keep them awake at night. By listening to music, the mind has something else to focus on. With time, the practice of listening to music at bedtime becomes more effective as the brain positively associates music with sleep.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Studies have looked at many types of music and playlists but there isn't a clear answer about the best music for sleep. What we do know is that researchers have typically used either a self-made playlist or one that has been designed especially with sleep in mind. One of the most important things on how music affects a person's body is their own musical preferences. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}For those who don't want to design their own playlist, online music services have stepped in and usually offer playlists for sleep or relaxation.

A.It can guarantee sufficient sleep.

B.It's natural to wonder about the best type of music for sleep. 

C.The quality and quantity of our sleep become poor as we age. 

D.Listening to music can reduce your stress and inspire positive feelings. 

E.This can have a serious effect on a person's quality of life if it continues. 

F.People across age groups report better sleep quality after listening to soft music. 

G.Useful personal playlists may include relaxing songs that have helped with sleep in the past.