Using iPads to Make Learning Fun

    Paper, pencil, whiteboard, textbook are the tools you need if you want to go to school. But recently, you can add another one to the list: an iPad.

    Because the popular Apple tablet is not only useful for searching the Internet and watching videos, but it is also being used to make learning fun.

    Scientists now know that we learn better when we are enjoying ourselves, so recently software developers have made iPad applications(应用程序) that look like video games, but have strong educational content. One of the best examples of this new form of teaching application is Futaba, game in which up to four children try to recognize a spinning旋转的）object, and then identify what it is. The game can be used to teach English, math, foreign languages, or just about anything, and students love it. Teachers can even make their own questions. The important thing is that children enjoy the game, and don't even realize how much they are learning!

    So the next time you have to choose between making your child study or letting them play game, just remember——they could do both at the same time!

    Imagine one day, the water taps (水龙头) in your house stop running. You have to buy water from shops. And still there isn't enough for everyone. Your mother has to save the family's shower water to do other things. Would you be able to stand that kind of life?

    Probably not. But that's what kids in Yemen are experiencing. Experts said Yemen is going to be the first country in the world to run out of water. According to a report, the capital, Sana, will run out of drinking water as early as 2025.

    Because of the shortage, the government often cuts the water supply(供应). Hannan, an 18-year-old from Lahej, told Times, "In a good week we'll have a water supply all week. But then the following week there will be water only for a day or two."

    Hannan said only rich people have enough water to use. They can buy water from the shops or from the water trucks. Private companies own the trucks. They travel around the city every day to sell water—at very high prices. "A lot of people can't afford it," she said.

    The average(平均) person in Yemen uses 100 to 200 cubic(立方) meters of water per year. That is far below the international water poverty(贫困) line of 1,000 cubic meters.

    The government is thinking of making use of seawater. But it will cost a lot and it may not happen soon enough to help the people of Yemen.

Everyone worries. But how do you deal with your worries? Whether your worries are big or small, you can take these three steps to deal with your worries：

1 Try to find out what you're worried about Sometimes, you know what you're worried about. Other times, you might not. Try to find it out first; if you can't, you can ask for help.

2 Think of ways to make it better

There is always something you can do to help you feel less worried. Sitting there worrying is no fun and it won't solve your problem.

Grades at school are often a top worry for kids. If you' re worried about grades, ask yourself these question:

☆ Why are grades important? What do grades mean tome?

☆ How do I get ready for class? Do I go over my notes even when there isn't a test?

☆ Do I have a good place to do my homework?

☆ Have I tried different ways of studying?

If your worry is about a fight you had with a friend, you might write down all the things you could do —write a note to him or her, invite him or her to a basketball game, say sorry to him or her etc. Once you have a list of things you could do, you can choose the one that gets your friend back.

3 Ask for help

When you're worried, you can find someone to talk to. You can ask your parents, friends or teachers for help.

There is great excitement and argument over Artificial Intelligence（AI）. The argument about whether robots will replace teachers in the classroom is very heated Some people think it is sure to happen in the next ten years. Others think that the value a good teacher brings, not only to the classroom setting, but in developing a child's confidence and creativity outside lessons, cannot be easily replaced.

AI is not new for us and is already being used successfully in many fields, such as medicine, science and so on. So what does this mean for our future? In my view, AI will help kids to think more freely and creatively. Can AI possibly cut down the teaching work in the future? Of course. Our teachers are always busy preparing for their lessons. Just imagine how happy they will be if they don't have to correct hundreds of papers, but instead, have this task or others done by machines

However, most importantly, I do not believe AI will be able to imitate the human mental condition totally, especially emotional intelligence（情商）.What makes learning unforgettable is shared experience, the communication between people, and long- lasting positive relationships. For example, experienced teachers can comfort a student if he had a terrible experience. But no research shows that robots can imitate this well.

I also believe we need to develop our kids' personality and their ability not only to make decisions but also make the right decision. To achieve this, depending only on AI is impossible.

In short. AI has both its advantages and disadvantages. To what degree can teachers use AI in their classes? You can have all the information you want with the help of Al, but great teachers will also. need to depend on their own feelings.

If you want to visit Guangzhou, please pay attention to its weather. Guangzhou is a beautiful city in the s{#blank#}1{#/blank#} of China. Spring comes in March and April. There is much rain lasting for a long time, so the weather becomes warm and w{#blank#}2{#/blank#}. During this time, tourists should bring umbrellas with them. 

Summer lasts from May to September in Guangzhou. It is quite long and hot. Bad weather such as thunderstorms (暴风雨) and typhoons (台风) happens very often. 

Autumn is short. It lasts from October to early December. The weather is sunny and cool with little rain. Autumn is the best season of the year. This is the r{#blank#}3{#/blank#} why many tourists go to Guangzhou. 

Winter lasts from December to early March. It is a little cold, but it s{#blank#}4{#/blank#} snows. January is the coldest month of Guangzhou. Different from cities in North China, Guangzhou becomes a world of flowers in January. You can see flowers in every c{#blank#}5{#/blank#} of the city. 

Ever wondered why a simple walk along the beach or a moment by a lakeside feels so relaxed? Or why the sound of a flowing river can calm the mind? There's a scientific reason behind our strong feeling for water.

According to Wallace J. Nichols, being close to water can cause a certain state(状态) of mind. The scientist call it"Blue Mind". This state is marked by relaxation and a sense of happiness.

This theory is well supported by science. Researchers have found that water can lower the body's levels of the stress hormone(压力荷尔蒙). One study found that people living near bodies of water report feeling calmer and less stressed. The sight and sound of water are believed to bring about a flood of neurochemicals(神经化学物质), which can increase blood flow to the brain and heart, and help you relax.

Water activities, from swimming to even watching animals in the sea, can help calm the mind and reduce stress levels. In addition, the blue color of water has also been proven to have calming effects on the mind. Research shows that blue spaces are as helpful as green spaces ( like forests and parks) when it comes to creating feelings of love. They can both improve mood. What if it's hard to get water? Even listening to the sound of water can help reduce stress levels.

So, the next time you' re feeling down or in need of a break, consider spending time near a body of water. Whether it's the ocean, a river, a lake, or simply a swimming pool, water will calm your mind.