Car companies are developing vehicles that will plug into electric sockets, ust like many laptops, digital cameras, cell phones and Mp4 do. Called “plug-in vehicles”, these cars will get most of their power from electricity. Their drivers won't have to stop at gas stations as often as usual.

    The technology is more than just cool. In our car-filled world, plug-in vehicles could reduce the amount of gas we use, which keeps rising in cost now and then. Besides, driving around in these vehicles may even help the environment. Gas-burning cars produce a lot of greenhouse gas, which causes global warming.

    The first company-produced plug-in vehicles could hit the roads by 2020. But engineers still have a lot of work to do to make the technology practical and inexpensive.

    Batteries are the biggest challenge. In the plug-in-vehicle world，Li-ion(锂离子)batteries are getting the most attention. These batteries can store a large amount of energy in a small package, and they last a longer time between charges. Li-ion batteries can fit laptops, cell phones, heart instruments and other similar pocket ones.

    But because cars are so big and heavy, it would still require a suitcase-sized Li-ion batteries to power about 12km of driving. What's more, the batteries are much expensive.

    “A car filled with batteries could go a long distance,” says Ted Bohn, an electrical engineer in Chicago. “But it couldn't pull any people, and it would cost $100,000.” So researchers need to work out how to make batteries smaller and cheaper, among other questions.

    “The answers don't exist yet,” Bohn says, “As a kid, I thought someone someplace knows the answer to everything. All of these questions haven't been decided. That's what engineering is about-making a guess, running tests and getting fine results.”

    SIGN YOUR CHILD UP FOR "FLY TO THE MOON CLUB"

    AND ENJOY A FREE * FLIGHT TO ANY DESTINATION IN ASIA!

    With a registration fee of just $50 per child, children under the age of 12 can join Eagle Airways'

    FLY TO THE MOON CLUB as members.

    They can then enjoy the same benefits onboard Eagle Airways' newest Boeing-797 to any destination in the world!

    BENEFITS YOU CAN'T MISS!

     A free * flight to any destination in Asia

    30% off any course at Tanya Language School

    20% off any purchase made at Ruby Bookstore

    A free notebook with every purchase above $50 at Starlight Stationery

    A free bowl of dessert for a family of four at Don's Diners

dinner ordered

    A birthday gift on your child's birthday

    A free album containing pictures taken during the journey

    All bookings made before 12 September will receive free travel insurance for the entire family! ** Insurance is issued by Live Life Insurance Group. 10% OFF ALL BOOKINGS

for departures from 5 to 11 September

    * Child must be accompanied by two paying adults.

    ** Terms and conditions apply.

    When someone says, “Well, I guess I'll have to go to face the music,” it does not mean he is planning to go to a concert. It is something far less pleasant, like being called in by your boss to explain why you did this or that, and why you did not do this or that. Sour music, indeed, but it has to be faced.

    The phrase “to face the music” is familiar to every American, young and old. It is at least 100 years old.

    The first information comes from the American writer James Fennimore Cooper. He said—in 1851—that the expression was first used by actors while waiting in the wings to go on stage. After they got their cue to go on, they often said, “It's time to go to face the music.” And that is exactly what they did-face the orchestra which was just below the stage.

    An actor might be frightened or nervous as he moved on to the stage in front of the audience that might be friendly or perhaps unfriendly, especially if he forgot his lines. But he had to go out. So, “to face the music” came to mean having to go through something, no matter how unpleasant the experience might be, because you knew you had no choice.

    The other explanation comes from the army. Men had to face inspection by their leader. The soldiers worried about how well they looked. Was their equipment clean—shiny enough to pass inspection? Still, the men had to go out, and face the music of the band, as well as the inspection. What else could they do?

    Do you want to get home from work knowing you have made a real difference in someone's life?

    If yes，don't care about sex or age! Come and join us, then you'll make it!

    Position: Volunteer Social Care Assistant

    (No Pay with Free Meals)

    Place: Manchester

    Hours: Part Time

    We are now looking for volunteers to support people with learning disabilities to live active lives! Only 4 days left. Don't miss the chance of lending your warm hands to help others!

    Role:

    You will provide people with learning disabilities with all aspects of their daily lives. You will help them to develop new skills. You will help them to protect their rights and their safety. But your primary concern is to let them know they are valued.

    Skills and Experience Required:

    You will have the right values and great listening skills. You will be honest and patient. You will have the ability to drive a car and to communicate in fluent written and spoken English since you'll have to help those people with different learning disabilities. Previous care-related experience will be a great advantage for you.

    Sports can help us a lot. Taking exercises can make us strong. In collective（集体的）sports like basketball, volleyball or football, we will learn the importance of cooperation(合作). And sports can also help us relax after work or study.

    However, as the saying goes, “there are two sides of everything.” Sometimes we may hurt other players or ourselves if we are not careful enough when participating(参加) in sports activities. What's more, too much or hard practice can be bad for our health.

    Sports can make us healthy both physically and psychologically(心理地). It is also a good way for people to know each other and can improve friendship between people. So long as we are careful enough, sports can do us nothing but good.

    The secret to living longer could be as simple as picking up your walking pace, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Sydney found that walking at a brisk (快的) or fast pace was associated with a risk reduction of 24 percent for any cause of death.

    This effect was even more obvious in older age group, with fast walkers over the age of 60 reducing their risk of death by a surprising 53 percent. Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis, who led the study, explained, "A fast pace is generally five to six kilometers per hour, but it really depends on a walker's fitness levels; an alternatives indicator is to walk at a pace that makes you slightly out of breath or sweaty."

    In the study, the researchers looked at the results of 11 surveys from 1994 to 2008, in which participants recorded their walking pace, as well as age, sex and BMI. The analysis showed that walking at an average pace was associated with a 20 percent risk reduction for all-cause mortality (死亡率) compared with walking at a slow pace, while walking at a brisk or fast pace was associated with a risk reduction of 24 percent.

    The researchers hope the findings will encourage the development of public health message about the benefits of walking pace. Professor Stamatakis added, "These analyses suggest that increasing walking pace may be a straightforward way for people to improve heart health and risk for premature mortality—providing a simple message for public health campaigns to promote.

    "Especially in situations when walking more isn't possible due to time pressures or a less walking-friendly environment, walking faster may be a good option to get the heart rate up—one that most people can easily add to their lives."