Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2 has set new nationwide and global box-office records for ticket sales in its opening weekend. The final part of the Harry Potter series is creating the perfect storm of record-breaking box-office sales. Before this movie, The Dark Knight held the opening weekend record. The Dark Knight actually sold a few more tickets. But with 3D and IMAX ticketing as well as the passion of fans who have waited for a long time to see the ending of J.K. Rowling's brilliant story, the final Harry Potter movie was going to be hugely successful, no matter what.

And as if film-makers were magically able to save the best for last, critics(评论家) completely agree that The Deathly Hallows, Part 2 is the best film of the entire series and there has been little negative(负面的) to say about the performances of the film's stars. When they were 10 or 11 years old, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have grown up on the big screen. They grew in their character as the story was told through the years.

    As the story draws to a close, the final Harry Potter film is set to break the $1 billion mark in worldwide sales. And even though the film series is finally over, J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter will live on in different forms of merchandising (附带产品), including major theme parks, action figures and almost certainly, various versions of the story.

    A characteristic of American culture that has become almost a tradition is to respect the self-made man--the man who has risen to the top through his own efforts, usually beginning by working with his hands. While the leader in business or industry or the college professor occupies a higher social position and commands greater respect in the community than the common laborer or even the skilled factory worker, he may take pains to point out that his father started life in America as a farmer or laborer of some sort.

    This attitude toward manual (体力的) labor is now still seen in many aspects of American life. One is invited to dinner at a home that is not only comfortably but even luxuriously (豪华地) furnished and in which there is every evidence of the fact that the family has been able to afford foreign travel, expensive hobbies, and college education for the children; yet the hostess probably will cook the dinner herself, will serve it herself and will wash dishes afterward, furthermore the dinner will not consist merely of something quickly and easily assembled from contents of various cans and a cake or a pie bought at the near- by bakery. On the contrary, the hostess usually takes pride in careful preparation of special dishes. A professional man may talk about washing the car, digging in his flowerbeds, painting the house. His wife may even help with these things, just as he often helps her with the dishwashing. The son who is away at college may wait on table and wash dishes for his living, or during the summer he may work with a construction gang on a highway in order to pay for his education.

    We often just use our sense of sight, touch, smell, and taste to eat food. But what about our sense of hearing? Does sound also affect our dining experience?

    A new report answers, “yes, it does.”

    That answer comes from researchers at Brigham Young University and Colorado State University in the United States. They found that hearing is important in the eating experience.

    Hearing is often called “the forgotten food sense”, says Ryan Elder. Elder is an assistant professor of marketing at Brigham Young University's Marriott School of Management. He says that if people notice the sound the food makes as they eat it, they might eat less. On the other hand, watching loud television or listening to loud music while eating can hide such noises. And this could lead to overeating.

    For the study, the researchers wanted to test whether the sounds of eating—chewing, chomping and crunching—had any effect on how much a person ate. During the experiments, the test subjects wore headphones and listened to noise at either a high or low audio level. Then researchers gave them a crunchy snack: pretzels. The study found that subjects who listened to the higher volume noise ate more pretzels than those with the low audio levels.

    Elder says that when hiding I heard sounds of eating, like when you watch television or listen to loud music while eating, we take away the sense of hearing. And this may cause you to eat more than you would normally. The researchers are calling this, the “crunch effect”.

    The researchers admit that the effects may not seem like much at one meal. But over a week, a month or a year, all that food can really add up.

    Daylight-powered germ-killing equipment（杀菌设备）may someday help protect health workers from deadly virus like Ebola virus. That is a finding from a study published in the journal Science Advances.

    Study organizers say they've developed membranes（薄膜）that produce very small amounts of hydrogen peroxide（过氧化氢）when left in daylight. Membranes are thin plastic, structures that can serve as barriers. They let some things pass through, but other things art blocked. Hydrogen peroxide, a liquid sold in drug stores, works as a disinfectant（杀菌剂）.

    Nearly 500 health workers were infected and died in 2014 when Ebola spread through parts of West Africa. Caregivers wear full-body protective suits when they come into contact with patients with infectious diseases. But the process of removing the suits is a time when infection can spread if the surface is covered with virus. “If there's any live bacteria or virus on the surface, it's still transmissible and could cause infection,” said Gang Sun of the University of California. He is one of the researchers that worked to develop membranes that could cover the outside of protective equipment.

    When the chemical molecules（分子）on the surface of these membranes are put in sunlight, they react with oxygen in the air to produce small amounts of hydrogen peroxide. Gang Sun explains that the process creates less hydrogen peroxide than what you would use to remove dirt on clothing, for example. But it is still enough to kill organisms.

    Rohan Tikekar is a food scientist with the University of Maryland. He described the development as “quite novel,” or new and different, Tikekar was not involved with the recent study. He said others have developed materials that produce disinfecting chemicals. But most only work under high-energy ultraviolet（U V）light, and not usual daylight. The new membrane also works in the dark for at least an hour or two because of chemical properties that can recharge its germ-killing powers. Tikekar called that an important improvement.

    Gang Sun said the new membranes, though still Far from perfect could be used for things other than protective equipment for health workers. They could also be added to packaging for fruits and vegetables to keep foods fresher and reduce the risk of being polluted. Some versions of the material use natural chemicals' Sun says that one of the next steps is to make it safe to sat

Dear Editor,

    I'm a Senior 1 student in a middle school. This term, my favourite teacher, Miss Mao, no longer teaches us. I want to see her, but I'm afraid that she no longer likes me and I don't want to trouble her. I really miss her. What should I do?

Tian Yan

Dear Tian Yan,

    It's bad luck that you have lost your favourite teacher. But, if she is still in your school, nothing can stop you going to see her. When she isn't busy, ask her if she minds having a quick chat. You can then tell her she was your favourite teacher. Everyone is happy to know they are liked!

    If she has left the school, it will be more difficult to meet her. It will be hard, but remember people always come and go in our lives. We can't depend on them being with us all the time.

    You may be sad to say goodbye to her, but we can remember and learn from her. Think of her best qualities.    

    You could also try looking for similar qualities in your other teachers. Study hard and give your new teacher a chance. In time, you might start to see that he or she has different qualities to learn from.

    Finally, you can not completely depend on other people getting you through your studies, or even your life.

Editor

    It seems as if Christmas and their birthday aren't enough. Kids have another day which revolves (围绕) around them. There are a lot of funny activities in Shanghai especially for families as Children's Day falls on 1^st June.

    ①Indoor activities at Big E

    Big E is a great place for kids. All kinds of ball games can be found here. This Sunday, there are some other interesting activities: free movies and a magic show with three sessions (场) between 9 a. m. and 6 p. m.

    ②The Wizard of Oz at Kerry Hotel

    If eating and relaxing is what your family are interested in, Kerry Hotel should be your favourite place. The COOK and The MEAT both offer excellent brunch (早午餐) every weekend. Besides, The BREW will organize The Wizard of Oz for children in a repeat of its special Easter performance.

    ③Brunch at City Bistro

    If you're looking for a restaurant with a more relaxing atmosphere and lower price than either The COOK or The MEAT, then go to City Bistro. A special discount on its brunch this Sunday has never happened before. While parents are enjoying the food, their children can play in the kids' corner and let parents catch their breath.

    ④Children's exhibition at Gallery G1

    If going out for brunch is too regular, families can try something a little more cultural at Gallery G1. There is an exhibition of children's artwork named My Sky, which will be displayed this weekend. There are also a number of artistic (艺术的) activities for kids to try.

    ⑤Get creative at Petit Chameleon

    Petit Chameleon at the Daycare centre is organizing a new activity named Art from the Start to show kids' creative ability. The event is about ancient Greece. On Sunday, you will see kids make their own armors (盔甲).