Have you ever felt you were being watched? Some new technologies might make you feel that way. Digital billboards (电子屏幕) are able to recognize certain human characteristics (特征). They have cameras pointed at the people on the street, and can recognize people’s age, a man or a woman. Then a computer inside the billboard uses this information to make ads (advertisements) for the people who are looking at the billboard. For example, if a man passes a billboard showing an ad about women clothes, the computer can change the ad to something such as men’s sporting shoes, to catch the man’s attention.

Although advertisers see this as a great chance to reach their customers, some people feel that this is an invasion (侵犯) of their privacy. However, advertisers say that the billboards will not be able to recognize their face or get any personal information about them.

In fact, this kind of “personal” advertising has already appeared on the Internet. Search engines (引擎) like Google and Bing can follow what we search for. When we have searched for some products and services, companies then pay search engines to use it in ads. So if you search for travel information, you may see ads for airlines and hotels. This kind of advertising has proved to work better than traditional advertising.

In today’s world, people see thousands of ads every day, but they don’t take much notice. Advertisers are trying to change that by personalizing the experience of seeing an ad. So pay attention the next time you see a billboard—it would be talking to you.

Dwayne sat staring at the peeling (剥落了的) paint on the walls of the small, messy room he shared with his two younger brothers. Through the apartment walls he could hear the crying of the neighbor’s newborn child competing with the music from the cars below. Dwayne sat and stared at the blank paper in front of him, considering how he would write a composition about his life.

Mama wouldn’t be home for another half an hour, so Dwayne went to the kitchen to prepare dinner for his family. With Mama’s low income (收入), there wasn’t much to choose from.

“I’m hungry,” said 8-year-old Raymond. “What do you have cooking?”

Holding his brother around the waist, Dwayne replied, “I’ve got my famous bean and rice casserole (锅菜). Want to help?”

“I want to help, too!” cried Jesse.

Shortly after 7:00 p.m., Mama got home. She saw her three sons laughing as they worked together setting the mismatched plates and forks. In the middle of the table she eyed an old baby food jar with a flowering weed that was pulled from the front yard.

“Mmm-mm! Is that your famous bean and rice casserole?” Mama asked. “Mama, you’re home!” the two younger boys said as they raced to hug her.

After the dinner, Mama stood behind Dwayne as he sat at the kitchen table, adding the last sentence to his composition “Son, what are you writing?”

“Mama, it’s my composition,” came his reply. “And what is that composition about?”

“It’s about our life,” said Dwayne.

Dwayne’s mother looked around at the house. She thought about all the things she wished she could provide for her family.

“Dwayne, I’m sorry you don’t have a lot in your life,” his mama said.

“I have you and Raymond and Jesse. I live in a house full of love. I wouldn’t trade what we have for all the money in the world.”

Pulling her son close, she whispered. “Neither would I, Dwayne. Neither would I.”

Should schools pay students to come to class?

Friday is payday for students at one charter high school in Cincinnati. Dohn Community High School recently began rewarding students who had perfect attendance and good behavior with cold, hard cash. At the end of each week, seniors who have shown up on time all five days and stayed out of trouble receive $25, while younger students who have done the same receive $10.

People who support the program and others who like it say the rewards motivate（激发）many kids to come to class when they would otherwise stay at home. Those who oppose (反对) such programs say that paying kids sends the wrong message. They say students should come to class because they want to learn, not because they want to earn money.

Students’ reporters Joseph Maneen and Peter Brosnan hold different opinions.

YES.

I believe granting money to high school students for attendance is a good idea. Teens can use that money to help themselves later on in life, whether for college, an apartment, or a rainy day.

Studies have shown that rewards can motivate students to go to school and that the more kids are in school, the more they learn. Chloe Hughes, a 15-year-old high school student from Bradford, Mass agrees. “The money at the end of the week encourages students to try hard in school and get better grades.” she says. “By making money at school, there is no need to get a separate job, so they can focus on their studies.” Receiving the money will make many teens want to come to school, rather than be on the street getting into trouble.

NO.

Think about what motivates you to go to school every day. Your list might include learning new information or spending time with your friends. Should getting paid be included on that list? Of course not!

Learning to be self-motivated is an important life skill. “Students should want to come to school and want to learn, not to make money.” Leigh Kouril, an eighth grader from N.Y. explains. “Students should realize that doing well in school now could help them to earn a good living in the future.”

In addition, students may be unlikely to pay attention in class if they are being paid just to attend.

Finally, paying students to attend class sends the wrong message. Students may think that basic tasks deserve tangible (有形的) rewards. Intangible rewards, such as gaining self-confidence, are worth much more than money. Anna Kouril, another eighth grader from Yorktown Heights, says, “What students put into their education is what they will get out of it.”