What is the nature of the scientific attitude, the attitude of the man or woman who studies and applies physics, biology, chemistry, geology, engineering, medicine or any other science?

    We all know that science plays an important role in our societies. However, many people believe that our progress depends on two different aspects of science. The first aspect is the application of the machines, products and systems of knowledge that scientists and technologists develop. The second is the application of the special methods of thought and action that scientists use in their work.

    What are these special methods of thinking and acting? First of all, it seems that a successful scientist is curious - he wants to find out how and why the universe works. He usually pays attention to problems which he notices have no satisfying explanation, and looks for relationships even if the data available seem to be unconnected. Moreover, he thinks he can improve the existing conditions and enjoys trying to solve the problems which this involves.

    He is a good observer, accurate, patient and objective and uses the facts he observes to the fullest. For example, trained observers obtain a very large amount of information about a star mainly from the accurate analysis of the simple lines that appear in a spectrum(光谱).

    He does not accept statements which are not based on the most complete evidence available. He rejects authority as the only basis for truth. Scientists always check statements and make experiments carefully and objectively.

    Furthermore, he does not readily accept his own idea, since he knows that man is the least reliable of scientific instruments and that a number of factors tend to disturb objective investigation.

    Lastly, he is full of imagination since he often has to look for relationships in data which are not only complex but also frequently incomplete. Furthermore, he needs imagination if he wants to guess how processes work and how events take place.

    These seem to be some of the ways in which a successful scientist or technologist thinks and acts.

    The introduction of the iPad,with its touch screen technology,has allowed even very young children to take advantage of a computer.So what if all children in a school were given an iPad to use in class and take home with them?

    Anne Laure Bazin works in a school where every child,teacher and teaching assistant is given a free iPad to use in and out of lessons.For her,the main advantage of everyone having an iPad had been the improvement in communication.Documents can be emailed straight over to workmates during a meeting.Children submit their homework by email,or through the school's learning environment.Teachers now take the register（点名）using their iPad,which means that there is a record of which children are in school,and which classroom they are in.

    The use of iPad has encouraged greater sharing of resources among teacher.All communication with parents is now done by email.Working as a group in class is much easier as children can share documents.The whole class can look at one child's work by attaching（连接）the iPad to the whiteboard.If a child has forgotten the textbook,the teacher can take a photograph of the relevant（相关的）page and send it to the student in class.

    While the use of the iPad in schools has revolutionized（变革）the way children are taught ,it hasn't completely replaced more traditional methods of teaching .Worksheets are still used in class as some children prefer the contact with paper.The children all have a textbook and exercise books.In Anne Laure's school,parents feared that the iPads would replace exercise books and children would lose handwriting skills.Anne Laure says,” The teacher are not ready to let go of the traditional style of teaching.We have welcomed the iPads in so much as they help communication and widen the resources available but we are not ready to let go of paper yet.The children themselves still value their exercise books and depend on them for review.”

    Researchers from France and Italy discovered that Canadian parents are less strict with their children than mothers and fathers in France and Italy.

    “Our most important finding was the difference between Canadians and the others,” said Professor Michel Claes, the lead author of the study. “Canadians focus on independence and negotiation. On the other hand, Italians, for example, exercise more control. We found Canadians seem to focus on negotiation in case of a conflict.”

    Claes said Canada, France and Italy were selected for the study because they share important cultural and social factors. “We chose French­Canadians because they share the same language as France, and originally came from France and share certain values. Italy was included because it was considered to have similar, strong and important family values,” he explained.

    The researchers examined the emotional ties between parents and their children by questioning 1,256 students aged 11 to 19 years old.

    Canadian students reported less control and more free actions, according to the study. Italian parents were stricter and French parents were somewhere in the middle.

    Claes explains that the differences lie in education in Canada, France and Italy.

    “North America has its own educational values, which promote individualization. Tolerance and comprehension are encouraged. Italy, on the other hand, promotes respect of authority, control, and the need for permission.” he said.

    Children from all three countries described their mothers as warm and communicative. Italian and Canadian children had similar feelings about their fathers, and reported high levels of emotional ties. But French fathers were generally thought by their children to be more distant and cold.

    “We were surprised by this,” Claes admitted.“It seems as though the relationships between French mothers and their children were becoming closer over time, while fathers maintain a form of distance and coldness, which is more of a source of conflict in France than in the other countries.”

    2018 Music Festivals, UK

    The Green Gathering

Date:15th Aug. —22nd Aug

    Location: Chepstow Center

    Details: Over 100 live bands plus DJs on five private solar-powered stages. A wonderful site in a wooded area of outstanding natural beauty. 8 days of inspiration and relaxation are about traditional crafts, campaign stalls(活动摊位), and a magical kids' area.

    Sport Beat Music Festival

Date: 20th Aug. —29th Aug

    Location: Oxstalls Sports Park

    Details: Time for fun in the sun with Sport Beat. The festival is for those who wish there are volleyball and netball games that take place over the weekend. Attractions include: ball coaching, food village, and bars. Please see details for VIP passes on our website.

    Creamfields Festival

    Date: 26th Aug——28th Aug

    Location: Daresbury Court

    Details: Creamfields is the world's leading dance music festival. Creamfields is famous for many things, not just its traditional world class dancing but its unbeatable atmosphere! The festival mixes together style breaking pioneers from across the DJ and live music spectrum(声谱).

    Wilkestock Charity(慈善)Music Festival

    Date:27th Aug—31st Aug

    Location: Wilkestock Stadium

    Details: With entertainment this year from mystery jets to a huge electronic lineup(陈容), this festival keeps turning up the heat year on year while keeping all profits donated direct to charity.

Top 4 Amusement Parks in the World

    It's summertime! That means parents have extra time to spend with their children, and what better way to engage in classic fun with family and friends than to visit an amusement park? Take a look at these fun choices — perfect summer trip ideas to fit every budget (预算).

    Cedar Point

    Tickets: $280 for adults, $120 for children

    Praising itself as the roller coaster capital of the world, Cedar Point's 18 coasters will ensure you're riding all day. Reader Alicia Goettemoeller describes the park as a "paradise for excited thrillers" while reader Nick Schuyler says it is "built for grown-up kids."

    Knoebels

    Tickets: $120 for adults, $10 for children

    This old-fashioned amusement park is a must for your old memory games as well as money saving - admittance and parking are free of charge. Reader Tracy Ginsburg Maier says "a family of 4 can enjoy special offer to eat, swim and ride all day for $100" at Knoebels.

    Kings Island

    Tickets: $340 for adults, $160 for children

    Kings Island is one of the most visited theme parks in the US, with more than 3 million visitors per year. The park is especially known for its family-friendly attractions, such as Snoopy Island. Tickets to the main park also include admission to the nearby water park, Boomerang Bay.

    Dells Water Parks

    Tickets: $140 for adults, $80 for children

Wisconsin Dells is a water park with dozens of indoor and outdoor water parks to spread around in. One of them, Noah's Ark, is the largest outdoor water park in the US. Many are open year-round and no charge for children under five.

    In earliest times, men considered lightning to be one of the great mysteries (神秘的事物)of nature. Some ancient peoples believed that lightning and thunder were the weapons (武器) of the gods.

    In reality, lightning is a flow of electricity formed high above the earth. A single flash of lightning 1.6 kilometres long has enough electricity to light one million light bulbs (灯泡).

    The American scientist and statesman, Benjamin Franklin, was the first to show the connection between electricity and lightning in 1752. In the same year he also built the first lightning rod (避雷针). This device (装置物) protects buildings from being damaged by lightning.

    Modern science has discovered that one stroke (闪击) of lightning has a voltage (电压) of more than 15 million volts (伏特). A flash of lightning between a cloud and the earth may be as long as 13 kilometers, and travel at a speed of 30 million meters per second.

    Scientists judge that there are about 2,000 million flashes of lightning per year. Lightning hits the Empire State Building in New York City 30 to 48 times a year. In the United States alone it kills an average (平均数) of one person every day.

    The safest place to be in case of an electrical storm is in a closed car. Outside, one should go to low ground and not get under tress. Also, one should stay out of water and away from metal fences. Inside a house, people should avoid open doorways and windows and not touch wires or metal things.

    With lightning, it is better to be safe than sorry?