1 . Science fiction is a fantasy-filled world where the impossible comes to life. In a world where science fiction fans are abundant, it is hard to escape the influence of the popular genre (类型) of entertainment— be it in the form of reading material or films. This includes the exposure of children to science fiction. Hence the effect of science fiction on children is definitely worth considering.

The main effect that can be noted is that it inspires the imagination of children. The young and inexperienced mind is exposed to the exciting world of countless possibilities. This allows the children to experience and comprehend the possible options of events that may occur, which are beyond the normal life they experience.

Besides this, the imagination of children is improved to understand the world around us with more interest. While astronomy may sound very uninteresting to a child, the possibilities of aliens living outside Earth make the topic more exciting and hence more accessible to the young thinking minds. The imagination of children would even stimulate their interest in history when it concerns science fiction related to both extinct and fantasy animals.

An enhanced imagination is vital to a sharper cognitive (认知的) ability as children are able to think out of the box and are not limited to what is normal to them in their daily lives. Their imagination would work much better as they would have curiosity raised by their science fiction experience.

Imaginative children would have an enriched life with an active mind. Aware of their surroundings, imaginative children are able to see life in a more delightful way than realistic children who may not be able to enjoy their childhood as much.

6 . Here are four of the late bloomers (大器晚成者) who made great achievements later in life.

Judi Dench

Although Judi Dench has been a standout in her work for theatre and TV during her entire working career, she only became a household name in her 60s. Judi received seven Oscar nominations (提名) when she was over 60. She won Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 1999 for Shakespeare in Love.

Grandma Moses

Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses, started painting in her 70s. She decided to give painting a go when she could no longer hold an embroidery needle (刺绣针) due to her illness. Her works were spotted by an art collector, who bought all her paintings and displayed them at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

James Parkinson

At the age of 62, James Parkinson identified Parkinson’s disease (帕金森病). His An Essay on the Shaking Palsy led to our general understanding of Parkinson’s today. Although others had previously written about shaking palsy, Parkinson’s descriptions were so in-depth that he inspired other medical scientists to study the disease.

Kathryn Joosten

Kathryn was a nurse and mum, but after her marriage failed she made up her mind to pursue her dream of being an actress. Close to the age of 60, she threw herself into the industry and achieved success. Since then she has appeared on TV shows like Desperate Housewives. She has also won two Emmy Awards.

7 . The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Moungi G. Bawendi of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Louis E. Brus of Columbia University, and Alexei I. Ekimov of Nanocrystals Technology Inc. in New York for the discovery and development of quantum dots (量子点).

The three scientists each contributed to a fundamental discovery, according to officials from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, which awards several of the prizes each year. The work they’ve done has already led to new technology in television screens and bio-imaging.

Reached by phone during a press conference early Wednesday morning, Bawendi offered a stream of reactions: “Shocked. Sleepy. Very unexpected. And very honored.”

In a rare event, the winners’ names were leaked to the Swedish media before the official announcement. But Bawendi said he’d been sound asleep, so he didn’t hear anything about it.

Quantum dots are particles (粒子) that are so incredibly small that their size actually starts to affect their properties. For example, blue quantum dots and red quantum dots can be made from the exact same material, with the only difference being the size of the particle itself. (The blue quantum dots are smaller than red ones.)

In fact, changing the size can alter (改变) many different properties beyond just color, which means that quantum dots could be useful for a variety of applications, including building better solar panels and perhaps even creating fuel by using sunlight.

The three scientists will share the prize money of 11 million Swedish kronor (close to$995,000) in equal parts. This is the third science-focused Nobel Prize to be awarded this week. On Tuesday, the physics prize was awarded to Anne L’ Huillier, Pierre Agostini and Ferenc Krausz. And on Monday, Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman won the prize in physiology or medicine.

Officials plan to announce the literature prize on Thursday, followed by the peace prize on Friday. The economics prize will be awarded on Monday.

Qian Xuesen is a great scientist, a man of distinction. He     1     (bear) in Hangzhou, was admitted to the aeronautics department of the MIT in 1934. After graduating with his PhD, he was employed as     2     assistant researcher at Caltech. Qian’s missile designs laid the foundation for the successful building of missiles in the US in the 1940s and 1950s,     3     (make) him a world-renowned rocketeer.

When he learnt of the     4     (thrill) news of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, Qian resolutely gave up his privileged conditions in the US and decided to return to his longed-for homeland to contribute as much as he could     5     his own nation.

Upon returning to China, Qian Xuesen was actively involved in research work. Under his     6     (participate) and guidance, China successfully launched its first rocket in 1960,     7     in 1964, it was a great success to run the flight test of China’s first self-designed medium-range rocket. In 1965, Qian’s proposal     8     (develop) an artificial satellite was included in the country’s key projects, after     9     the first artificial satellite was finally launched into space in 1970.

In 1999, Qian Xuesen     10     (award) the “Two Bombs and One Satellite” Meritorious Medal by the government of PRC, and was hailed as the “Father of China’s Missiles” for his significant contributions to China’s space industry.

10 . Italy’s Attractive Towns

Whether you’re looking for historical adventures or attractive walks along the coast, Italy’s fascinating towns can be your choices.

Featuring houses of different colors well layered on the cliffs (悬崖), Positano is also charming with the blue sea, blue sky, white clouds, flowers dotted with the town. Lined with umbrellas, beach chairs and yachts, the town’s beach transports you to a beautiful setting. When the sun sets, the town bathes in golden sunshine, creating a perfect photograph opportunity.

Nestled in the Itria Valley countryside, the small town Alberobello awaits. It features a kind of whitewashed round houses like mushrooms from a distance, the unique trullo architecture, listed as a World Heritage Site. If you’re in the mood for more fun, the Itria Valley is a great starting point for picturesque bike rides and scenic walks, with the Castellana Caves being only a short drive away.

Cefalù is the example of old-town elegance. Stone streets, a sandy beach, and local crafts shops make the town so attractive as a destination. Whether you want to go on a historic exploration or want a city-style break, the small town has it all. The main church of Cefalù, Duomo di Cefalù, built in the 11th century, is the most recognizable landmark in the city.

Polignano a Mare is a picture-perfect old town on a hilltop. The beautiful whitewashed houses spread out along the curving (弯曲的) shore, transporting you to a simpler time. Visitors are invited to swim to explore the natural wonders. If swimming isn’t your thing, then the famous Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will definitely take your breath away.