In summer, millions of people will head for the beach．And while the ocean can be a great place to swim and play, it may also be useful in another way. Some scientists think that waves could help make electricity．

    “Have you ever been on a surfboard or boat and felt yourself being lifted up by a wave? Or have you jumped in the water and felt the energy as waves crashed over you?” asked Jamie Taylor of the Wave Energy Group at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland．“There is certainly a lot of energy in waves．”

    Scientists are working on using that energy to make electricity．Most waves are created when winds blow across the ocean．“The winds start out by making little ripples (波纹) in the water, but if they keep on blowing , those ripples get bigger and bigger and turn into waves, ” Taylor said．“Waves are one of nature's ways of picking up energy and then sending it off on a journey．”

    When waves come towards the shore, people can set up dams or other barricades to block the water and send it through a large wheel called a turbine (涡轮) ．The turbine can then power an electrical generator (发电机) ．

    The United States and a few other countries have started doing research on wave energy , and it is already being used in Scotland．

    The resource is huge．We will never run out of wave power, besides, wave energy does not create the same pollution as other energy sources, such as oil and coal．

    Oceans cover three quarters of the earth's surface．That would make wave power seem perfect for creating energy around the world．There are some drawbacks, however．

    Jamie Taylor said that wave power still cost too much money．He said that its effects on animals in the sea were still unknown．Plus, wave power would get in the way of fishing and boat traffic．

    With more research, however, “many of these problems might be overcome,” Taylor said．“Demand for energy to power our TVs and computers, drive our cars, and heat and cool our homes is growing quickly throughout the world．Finding more energy sources is very important, for traditional sources of energy like oil and gas may run out some day．”

    In the future, when you turn on a light switch, an ocean wave could be providing the electricity!

    Like to watch TV or play with your phone while you eat your dinner?Watch out—it could make you pile on the pounds.Not paying attention to our food makes us tend to more snacking later.

    Over a series of experiments were carried out by researchers.For the first experiment,39 normal-weight young women were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: a high-distraction group,a low-distraction group,and a no-distraction group.Each person was given the same 400-calorie lunch consisting of several food items presented in a fixed order,and instructed to eat all of the items.

    In the high-distraction group,the women were told to play a computer game while eating,and that they would win money if they did well.In the low-distraction group they were just told to play the game while eating; and in the third group they were just told to eat their lunch.Later in the afternoon,each participant had access to a variety of biscuits on a plate,and the amount each person ate was assessed by weighing the plate before and afterwards.

    There was a significant difference between the groups.Those in the high-distraction condition ate 69 per cent more snacks than the no-distraction group,and those in the low-distraction group eating 28 per cent more (than those in the no-distraction group) .

    A second experiment,involving a further 63 people,was similar,but involved watching TV (in the distraction condition) and eating soup and bread.This found that those who watched TV while eating their lunch ate 19 per cent more biscuits later on than those who had eaten their meal without any distractions.

    A third experiment was also carried out,in which 45 normal-weight people were allocated to three groups.The first listened to an audio clip instructing them to imagine they were watching themselves eat—making them extremely focused on their own food intake.The second listened to a clip instructing them to imagine they were watching a celebrity—specifically David Beckham—eat (making them still focused on the food,but to a lesser degree);the third,which was the control group,just ate their lunch in silence.When all participants were given access to biscuits later,those in the self-imagining group-i.e. those who had really paid attention to what they were eating—ate far fewer than the other groups.

    Spell checks are turning us into a nation of idiots with a third of adults failing to reach the expected spelling ability of an 11-year-old child,a shocking study shows.

    A survey involving 1,000 adults aged between 16 and 77 found that 67 percent would reach Level 4 in Standard Assessment Tests (ASTs),while less than half (44 percent) would achieve Level 5.Fifteen percent of the adults tested even failed to reach Level 3,which is below Level 4—the expected level of children at age 11.Experts blamed the poor showing of the adults on the popularity of tools such as spell check and auto-correct,which both play an important role in modem-day living.

    The study asked adults to complete Key Stage 2 spelling tests designed to judge the performance of children aged 10 and 11,as they reach the end of primary school.But the test spelled trouble for many of the adults tested.The study was charged by King Digital Entertainment,makers of popular mobile games such as Candy Crush.People taking part in the test were asked to spell 35 different words taken from SATs spelling papers from the past three years.In a test which imitated real exam conditions."Phenomenon" and "unnecessary" were among the words spelled wrong by more than half of those participants.Other words which fewer than half were able to spell included rhythmic (42 percent) and jewellery (49 percent).

    Susie Dent.Lexicographer（字典编纂者）and resident word expert on TV show Countdown,believed the results were partly down to the popularity of tools such as spell check and auto-correct.She said,"Tho result is disappointing. It suggests that the ability to spell is losing its importance in our daily lives.Modem tools like spell check and auto-correct encourage us to switch off from learning,leading to satisfaction or,at worst,indifference."

    If you think American cooking means opening a package and throwing the contents into the microwave oven (微波炉)，think again. On the one hand, it's true that many Americans have cold cereal for breakfast, sandwiches for lunch and instant (方便的) dinners. From busy homemakers to working people, many Americans enjoy the convenience (方便) of fast food that can be ready to serve in 10 minutes or less. On the other hand, many Americans realize the importance of cooking skills. Parents—especially mothers'—see the importance of training their children- especially daughter's. Most Americans think that there's nothing better than a good home-cooked meal. But with cooking, as with any other skill, good results don't happen by accident.

    Probably every cook has his or her own way of cooking. But there are some basic skills that most people follow. For example, baking is a main method (方法) of preparing food in America. For that reason, Americans would find it next to impossible to live without an oven. American cooks pay special attention to the balance of foods, too. In planning a big meal they try to include meat, a few vegetables, some bread and often a dessert. They also like to make sure the meal is colorful. Having several different colors of food on the plate usually makes for a healthy meal.

    For those who need guidance in their cooking, or for those who have just run out of ideas, recipes are a great help. Recipes list all the ingredients for a dish (generally in the order used), the amount of each to use, and a description of how to put them together.

    A group of people asked this question to a group of 4-to-8-year-old children. “What does love mean?” The answers were surprising. The children would answer like they did below.

    “When my grandmother hurt her knees, she couldn't bent (弯腰) over and paint her toenails (脚指甲) any more. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands hurt too. That's love.” Rebecca–age 8

    “Love is when someone hurts you. And you get so mad but you don't shout at them because you know it would hurt her feelings.” Samantha–age 6

    “Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.” Terri–age 4

    “I let my big sister pick on (捉弄) me because my mum says she only picks on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby sister because I love her.” Bethany–age 4

    “I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new clothes.” Lauren–age 4

    “Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.” Elaine–age 5

    “My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.” Clear–age 5

    “You really shouldn't say ‘I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.” Jessica–age 8

    With 830 students aged between 12 and 8, Lochaber High School, at Fort William, is one of the largest secondary schools in the Highlands, It covers a huge area and many of the students come from small communities (社区) and travel up to 40 km to get into school each day, In the past, the school covered a much larger area and many students had to stay in one of the school dormitories, or-if older to live with local families, but other high schools have opened in the West Highlands, so the catchment area（责任区域） for Lochaber High, though still very large, is not as large as it used to be. Students travel into school by car, by bus, or by special minibus each day, and some come on foot or by bike. Most students live in Fort William itself, or in one of the surrounding villages.

    At the end of their high school life, and after getting higher or advanced higher grade exam results, most students decide to move on to some form of further education. Some students can remain, taking specialised courses at the West Highland college, but most leave home in Lochaber and go south or east to cities, Many young people in this area feel that there are not enough opportunities here, Going to a city certainly means new friends, a whole new lifestyle, and a more exciting night life.

    Even though Fort William is, in a way, small and far away from cities, as far as I am concerned, it is a great place to live. There is a real community atmosphere(氛围)here, and many people know, or are related to, many other people. There is always something to do or see in Fort William and there is no excuse for being bored! But there is one thing that is certain for everyone, that is, Highland hospitality. It is still very real, very alive! People look forward to seeing you!