4 . It was a February afternoon in a Brooklyn classroom. Sixteen-year-old Taylor Engler came face to face with a cow. But it was all in her head. She was transported by a virtual reality (VR) headphone. It took the Berkeley Carroll School junior and eight other classmates to a northern New York farm. The farm was 250 miles away. For students, the technology means field trips are no longer kept within the length of a bus ride.

It's unknown how many classrooms have or will use the technology, but experts say few classrooms do or will do. Headphones that require a user's phone can cost as little as $20 or $30, but systems and software for classes run into thousands of dollars. The problem of not having good software is disappearing as more companies enter the market. But the rules for use haven't kept abreast of the development of the technology. In New York, for example, virtual reality lab experiments are not included in the state's hands-on lab time requirements.

Experts say science classes are where virtual reality holds promise for classrooms. “The biggest problem, I think, is going to be how closely it mimics the real world." That's according to David Evans, the director of the National Science Teachers Union. However, he said, “The ability to do dangerous things and to run many, many more cases in a virtual space as opposed to the real physical space stands for a huge learning chance.”

Lamb taught chemistry and he agreed. “Too often in schools, when you do experiments in labs, you mix these together, you mix those together and you get this result. And if you don't get that result, you have done something wrong. But we don't have enough resources for you to redo it, “he said. “In virtual reality, all I do is hit reset on the computer. I don't have to actually use chemicals.”

Should Children Have Smart Phones?

Today, it is common for children to use smart phones every day. Smart phones are very useful for communicating and doing tasks. However, smart phones can also cause unwanted     1     （consequence）,especially when used by young children.

Smart phones are convenient not only for children,     2     for the rest of family members as well. With them. parents always know the real-time location of their children. Smart phones can also promote better interactions with friends, regardless     3     their locations. They're useful when children are doing their homework and need     4     （assist）. Children can get some information that can help them to understand learning materials more quickly and     5     （well）.

But parents should provide correct guidance on how to use smart phones     6     （proper）. Without parental guidance, children can spend more than five hours each day     7     （use）smart phones. Teenagers tend     8     （waste）nearly eight hours a day on their phones. Addiction to smart phones may cause lower academic grades. Frequent use of smart phones may affect the quality and quantity of sleep,     9     can lead to weakened immunity（免疫力）, reduced focus and depression（抑郁症）.

Therefore, without proper guidance, parents shouldn't allow children to use smart phones for a long period of time. Only when children want to communicate with friends and do research for learning projects, can they     10     （give）smart phones.

9 . Record-breaking. Abnormal. Dangerous. That’s how the National Weather Service described the heat wave hitting much of North America.

The heat wave has already broken all-time high temperature records in places unaccustomed to such extreme heat. For example, Oregon’s capital city, Salem, recorded the highest temperature in its history on Sunday: 130F, breaking the old mark by 4 degrees. The temperature hit 104F in Seattle. It was an all-time record for the city better known for rain than heat and was the first time the area reached such a high temperature since records began being kept in 1894.

Weather forecasters said the heat wave was caused by an extended “heat dome”which allowed hot air from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic to stream northward over much of North America.

This current heat wave was yet more evidence of the impact of human-caused climate change. “When it comes to record-breaking heat events, the study has been run for event after event in region after region in year after year. And the answer is almost always the same,” said Kristie Ebi, a professor at the University of Washington “The days-long heat wave is a taste of the future as climate change reshapes global weather patterns.”

“Another aspect that we see connected to climate change but that we don’t hear about as much is the fact that there is also a lot more water in the atmosphere now. As we warm the oceans and warm the air, there is more evaporation（蒸发）and that wetter air makes us feel hotter,” added weather forecaster, Jennifer Francis. “A combination of high temperature and moisture（湿度）in the air means dangerous conditions for the young, elderly or others who are not healthy. Please drink plenty of water; stay out of the sun and in air-conditioned rooms.”

10 . Music Moves Europe

ABOUT US

Music Moves Europe is the framework for the European Commission's initiatives and actions regarding the European music. The general goal of Music Moves Europe is to identify and support innovative（创新的）approaches to music education and learning through cooperation between music and education.

Music education can be beneficial in many ways: however, the range of Music Moves Europe will be limited to projects that contribute to promoting social inclusion to allow people to have access to musical education and learning. Social inclusion means in this context providing the necessary support to all learners according to their particular needs, including those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds or those with special needs. It wants to test small projects with a European background and promote European music diversity.

FOR BRITISH APPLICANTS

Please be aware that following the entry into force of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement（PDF）on February 1 and in particular Articles 127（6）, 137 and 138, the references to natural or legal persons residing（居住）in the Member State of the European Union are to be understood as including natural or legal persons residing in the United Kingdom.

UK residents are therefore eligible（有资格的）to participate under this call.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Due to the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Commission has decided to also accept applications sent by email. Please note that the same rules apply to an application sent by email, but it has to be complete with all supporting documents and sent within the deadline. If a document cannot be provided due to these exceptional circumstances, the burden of proof lies with the applicant.