4 . Restrictive uniforms could be preventing primary school pupils, especially girls, from being physically active, research suggests. In countries where most schools require students to wear uniforms, fewer young people reach the World Health Organization’s minimum recommendation of 60 minutes of physical activity a day across a whole week, according to a study by the University of Cambridge.

There was a greater difference between girls and boys of primary-school age in countries where uniforms were common. The finding was not copied among children of secondary-school age. This may be owing to the exercise younger children get throughout the day — for example, through running, climbing and active play at break and lunchtimes. The findings confirm earlier evidence that girls feel less comfortable participating in active play if they are wearing certain types of clothing such as skirts or dresses.

Dr. Mairead Ryan, a researcher at the institute of education and MRC unit at Cambridge, said, “ Schools often prefer to use uniforms for various reasons. We are not trying to suggest a blanket ban on them, but to present new evidence to support decision-making. School communities could consider design, and whether specific characteristics of a uniform might either encourage or restrict any opportunities for physical activity.”

A 2021 study in England found the design of girls’ PE uniforms prevented students from participating in certain activities. Other studies have suggested girls are much shyer about taking part in physical activity when wearing uniforms in which they do not feel comfortable. Dr. Esther van Sluijs, senior author and MRC investigator (调查员), said, “Girls might feel less confident about doing things like cartwheels and tumbles in the playground, or riding a bike on a windy day if they are wearing a skirt or dress. Social expectations tend to influence what they feel they can do in these clothes. Unfortunately, when it comes to promoting physical health, that’s a problem.”

The WHO recommends that young people get 60 minutes of at least moderate-intensity (中等强度) physical activity a day. The Cambridge study confirmed previous observations that most children and teenagers were not meeting this recommendation — especially girls, who have a gap of 7.6 percentage points with boys.

Fusong County in northeast China’s Jilin Province was abuzz (热闹) with activities last winter,     1     (especial) when the World Robot Contest Finals 2023 were held there. The finals attracted over 5,000 youngsters from across the country who competed fiercely with their self-designed robots.

“We need to compete in assembling, programming and operation. I believe that maintaining a resilient mindset is the key to     2    (win) out,” said Yu Yiyang, who is a fifth grader from Shanghai and has a profound passion     3     robots. Yu said that from robotics class, he acquired knowledge beyond     4    (convention) textbooks, refining his practical skills and fostering innovative thinking.

Many of the contestants     5    (educate) in robot programming before participating in the robot contests. Their skills, mental strength and the sense of teamwork improved a lot as a result of their     6    (expose) to such competitions.

The young contestants, from various places and with diverse     7    (background), offered a glimpse of the popularity of robotics education among Chinese students. For many,     8     they learn robot programme and participate in robot contests offers opportunities     9    (sharpen) their cognitive abilities and their skills. The contests also serve as     10     effective means to boost their spirit of teamwork.

9 . Pickleball (匹克球) is like a combination of ping-pong and tennis, and attracts many beginners.     1     Here are some pointers on avoiding injuries.

    2     Doing some types of exercise preparation beforehand makes a big difference to prevent injuries. After that, do some arm circles and shoulder rotations (旋转). Hold your arm s straight out from your sides and rotate them in small circles, and then gradually make bigger circles before rotating in the opposite direction. Finish with some leg swings. Stand next to a wall for support, and then swing one leg back and forth, then side to side.     3    

To build coordination (协调), about 15 minutes should be taken to do a few drills. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. and then quickly move side to side.     4     Cross one leg in front of the other. Then quickly move your back leg out from behind the front leg to return to the position you started in. Keep moving side-to-side, crossing and uncrossing your legs in this way.

Choose the right gear (装备), too, including a paddle that is appropriate for your strength level. You may need different shoes for outdoor and indoor play.     5     Protect yourself from the sun with sunglasses, possibly with a string or silk tape that helps keep them in place, and sunscreen of SPF 50 or higher.

French-Iranian artist Marjane Satrapi has introduced a nearly 30-foot long tapestry (挂毯)     1     (mark) the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.     2     (know) best for her graphic novel Persepolis, Satrapi displayed the finished tapestry at the Mobilier National, a public organization that preserves France’s state furniture and textile collections, on March 12. The     3     (impression) work of art is a triptych (三联画) crafted from wool yarn,     4     weighs about 130 pounds.

The tapestry     5     (feature) brightly colored outlines of athletes competing in various sports around the Eiffel Tower. On the left, a woman participates in the traditional javelin (标枪) throw. On the right, a skateboarder performs a trick in the air above a break dancer, implying two of     6     newest sports in the Olympics’ lineup. The central part shows a man and a woman.     7     (graceful) running toward each other, their hands ready to meet     8     front of the Olympic flame.

The tapestry took Satrapi three years to create.     9     (craftsman) at the Gobelins Manufactory, a French tapestry factory wove it. The tapestry will be exhibited at the Hôtel de la Marine in Paris     10     (begin) on June 21. After the Olympic and Paralympic Games end in September, the tapestry will travel to Nice.