1 . Our local Community Youth Club is a very popular organization with young people in my town. I have been a member for four years now and I’ve taken part in a lot of interesting projects. These include fun activities such as holiday camps and discos. We have organized sports competitions and we even made a video.

But it isn’t all just enjoyment, we have also started doing social work to help people in our neighbourhood. We have organized activities for small children during the holidays. We have also formed a social support group to help young people stop smoking.

We are particularly proud of the most recent group we have created. It organizes regular visits to the local old people’s home. This idea came from a school visit to an old people’s home. My class spent an afternoon at a home and everyone found the visit very rewarding.

The old people at the home were very excited by our visit. They were very talkative and they told us their personal stories. During our visit, the home was filled with the sound of laughter. We sang songs and played games with the old people and had tea together. But we realized that life wasn’t always easy. Some of them were in poor health and were very unhappy. They couldn’t go outside and the visits by children brought some sunshine into their lives.

Many young people like me do not live with our grandparents and we have very little contact with elderly people. As a result, many young people don’t know what they are like and we have a lot of wrong ideas about them. We have little or no idea of the kind of lives they lead in their homes. After this visit, my friends and I decided we should do something to help improve the quality of their lives.

Since the creation of our visiting group, over twenty volunteers have joined us. Up to now, we have organized three group evenings and a concert.But it is the individual (单独的) visits which are the most important. Club members regularly visit old people and everyone finds the experience rich and rewarding.

6 . Welcome to Reading Museum’s Hands-on Learning Service

During the past 100 years, Reading Museum has always been offering learning opportunities to schools, and we hope to continue this tradition for the next 100 years with your support.

Victorian Schoolroom

The session takes place in a grand reconstruction of a schoolroom in a late nineteenth century board school. The children will experience a wide range of Victorian style lessons and use slate boards and dip pens. The session leader will play the role of a Victorian teacher but will come out of the role during the session to comfort the children. We provide costume for all children.

Victorian Toys

Our Victorian nanny delivers this interesting session. The nanny will help children to explore the differences between rich and poor children’s toys from the past. During the session the children have the opportunity to make a toy to take home.

Victorian Christmas

In a specially decorated room the children will find out how the Victorians introduced many of our Christmas customs. They will make a simple card or present to take home.

For up-to-date prices and session details, please visit our website www.Readingmuseum.org. For all session bookings, please phone us on 01189373400. Reservation at least 4 weeks in advance is advised. Please be ready to tell us when you wish to come, the session(s) you wish to book and the year group of pupils. Our sessions take place between 10:00 and 12: 00 or 12: 30 and 14:30. The maximum group size is 35 pupils. We recommend that you bring 5 adults for each group.

8 . A new study suggests that dark markings on the planet Mars represent sand—not water. The research in 2015 suggested that lines on some Martian hills were evidence of water.Yet American scientists now say these lines appear more like dry flows of sand. If water is present, it is likely to be a small amount.Water in liquid forms would be necessary for microbial(微生物的) life.

NASA, the American space agency, said more research is needed. Michael Meyer is the lead scientist for NASA’s Mars’ exploration programme. He noted that the latest study does not reject the presence of water. But he admitted, “It just may not be as exciting as the idea of rivers going down the sides of cliffs(悬崖)．”

The new findings come from a team led by Colin Dundas of the United States Geological Survey. His team measured 151 of these lines in 10 areas. Most of the lines end with slopes between 28 degrees and 35 degrees. These measurements are similar to active sand dunes(沙丘) on both Mars and Earth. A small covering of dust that moves and sometimes becomes lighter might help explain the markings. They usually appear in the Martian summertime, and then disappear until the next year. If these lines are dry, this suggests that recent Mars has not had large volumes of liquid water. Dundas and his research team say that many questions remain.

“I still think that Mars has a great potential for having had life early on in its history,” Meyer said. “As long as that’s true, we also have a reasonable possibility of life still being on Mars. It just happens to be cryptic or well hidden.”

NASA currently has no robotic vehicle—either on Mars or in development—with the ability to climb steep slopes. The lack of such equipment has engineers coming up with ideas like Martian helicopters or planes without pilots.

9 . University Shotokan Karate Club

Learn Karate—self-defense and fitness

The University Karate Club was founded in 1962. All grades from beginners to advanced are welcome. The classes are suitable for both men and women and several women have obtained their black belt.

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY

6:00-8:00 p. m.

WEAVER HOUSE GYM

FIRST LESSON FREE

Hardly any of us have experienced real violence, but, over the last few years, attacks on innocent people have increased. Each of us has some ability to defend ourselves, and by learning a form of self-defence, we are not only increasing that ability, but also doing something to build our own sense of respect. Karate will show you a lot of simple and effective techniques to protect yourself, giving you increase self-confidence.

Far too many people think martial arts (武术) are about violence. Martial arts training is based on a lot of respect, self-discipline, self-control and non-violence. We learn basic etiquette (礼节), courtesy (礼貌) and tolerance. Good manners and consideration for others are expected at all times.

Karate is the practice of blocking and striking techniques for the purpose of self-defence, health and self-development. Karate exercises the entire body. Techniques are practised on both sides of the body, therefore muscle imbalances do not occur and the strength, coordination, flexibility and agility of both sides of the body are improved. Regular training in Karate improves the body’s physical endurance and flexibility. It also helps concentration and produces the mental calm and assurance that come from knowing we can defend ourselves.

Karate has many benefits but they do not come easily or overnight. Training requires ongoing commitment and hard work. Some of you will give up, but a few of you will get your black belt.

10 . Dogs wag(摇摆) their tails in different directions depending on whether they are excited and wanting to move forward or threatened and thinking of moving back, a study has found.

Researchers in Italy examined the tail wagging behavior of 30 dogs, catching their responses to a range of stimuli(刺激物) with video cameras. To conduct the study they chose 15 male dogs and 15 female ones aged between one and six. The dogs were all family pets whose owners had allowed them to take part in the experiment at Bari University. The dogs were placed in a large wooden box with an opening at the front to allow them to view various stimuli. They were tested one at a time.

The researchers led by Professor Giorgio Vallortigara of the University of Trieste found that when the dogs were shown their owners—a positive experience—their tails wagged energetically to the right side. When they were shown an unfamiliar human they wagged to the right, but with somewhat less enthusiasm. The appearance of a cat again caused a right-hand side wag, although with less excitement again. The appearance of a large unfamiliar dog, similar to a German shepherd dog, changed the direction of tail wagging to the left. Researchers supposed the dog was thinking of moving back. When the dogs were not shown any stimuli, they tended to wag their tails to the left, suggesting they preferred company. While the changes in the tail wagging were not easily noticed without the aid of a video, it was thought that the findings could help people judge the mood (心情) of dogs. Computer and video systems, for example, could be used by professional dog trainers to determine the mood of dogs that they were required to approach.