2 . In the Hollywood movie The Martian, actor Matt Damon plays an astronaut who grows food on Mars (火星) to survive alone on the red planet.

After seeing the movie, Washington State University physicist Michael Allen and University of Idaho food scientist Helen Joyner decided to carry out a case study helping students figure out how to farm on Mars. In the case study, students had to imagine they were mining on Mars and decide how to feed themselves there before starting on the journey. They got advice from Allen and Joyner on how to select crops and take the challenges of growing crops over long periods on Mars. Students used a scoring system to select three foods to plant on Mars.

Allen found the results impressive: among 30 students, “no two people have ever gotten the same answer”, he said.

Human travelers to Mars will likely have to make use of resources on the planet rather than take everything they need with them on a spaceship. This means farming their own food on another planet, one that has a very different ecosystem (生态系统) from Earth’s.

One challenge for those who would like to live on Mars is the fact that there can be no farming tools. Like real astronauts, students taking part in the study cannot take farming tools with them. As Joyner put it to his student astronauts, “You are starting with nothing.” Besides, students also have to deal with a very limited choice of diet. “If you had to eat a single food for the rest of your life, could you do it?” Joyner asked.

But Allen believes the case study is about more than farming and eating on the Red Planet. “I’m not teaching about growing food on Mars,” Allen said, “I’m teaching about living with choices. I’m teaching about problem solving.”

3 . Barditch High School decided to hold an All-School Reunion. Over 450 people came to the event. There were tours of the old school building and a picnic at Confederate Park. Several former teachers were on hands to tell stories about the old days. Ms. Mabel Yates, the English teacher for fifty years, was wheeled to the Park.

Some eyes rolled and there were few low groans (嘟囔声) when Ms. Yates was about to speak. Many started looking at their watches and coming up with excuses to be anywhere instead of preparing to listen to a lecture from an old woman who had few kind words for her students and made them work harder than all the other teachers combined.

Then Ms. Yates started to speak:

“I can’t tell you how pleased I am to be here. I haven’t seen many of you since your graduation, but I have followed your careers and enjoyed your victories as well as crying for your tragedies. I have a large collection of newspaper photographs of my students. Although I haven’t appeared in person, I have attended your college graduations, weddings and even the birth of your children, in my imagination.”

Ms. Yates paused and started crying a bit. Then she continued:

“It was my belief that if I pushed you as hard as I could, some of you would succeed to please me and others would succeed to annoy me. Regardless of our motives, I can see that you have all been successful in your chosen path.“

“There is no greater comfort for an educator than to see the end result of his or her years of work. You have all been a great source of pleasure and pride for me and I want you to know I love you all from the bottom of my heart.”

There was a silence over the crowd for a few seconds and then someone started clapping. The clapping turned into cheering, then into a deafening roar(呼喊). Lawyers, truck drivers, bankers and models were rubbing their eyes or crying openly with no shame all because of the words from a long forgotten English teacher from their hometown.

4 . Hello, boys and girls! I’m Helen. The Student Art Festival starts in our middle school. Today is December 13th. There is a photo show. Students take many photos. All of them are great. I love one of the photos a lot. It’s a photo of a big family. It’s named “Happy Birthday, Grandpa!” I think this student must have a happy family, just like me.

In the next two weeks, we have other fun things — the talent show, Chinese painting show and the DIY show. I like the talent show very much. The talent show is on the afternoon of December 19th. My classmate Tony and I will play the piano in the show. Our parents will come and watch the show. I hope we can do well. Do you have time? Please come and watch our show.

5 . What is spring break?

Between tests and after-school activities, we all deserve a much-needed pause from school to relax and regroup. Entering spring break, a glorious week set aside in the middle of the semester for students to take time off and unwind(放松).

When is spring break 2023?

The dates of spring break 2023 vary from school to school, but most take place in March or April. You can check your school’s calendar(校历) to see when spring break 2023 is scheduled.

How long is spring break?

Again, the length of spring breaks differ across the country. A majority are just one week, but some spring breaks(mostly among colleges and universities) are two weeks long.

What should I do over spring break 2023?

Spring break 2023-will be here before you know it, but that means you should start planning if you want to travel. Looking to escape the cold? Booking a trip somewhere beachside or poolside, taking advantage of spring skiing, snowboarding, or other late-winter activities. There are many, many options. Staycations(就近度假) are also perfect for connecting with family and friends, binge-watching(一口气看完)a new series on Netflix, planning a local museum trip, picking up a new hobby, going for a hike, or finally making a dent in your TBR list. Super scholars might take this time to prepare and get ahead on their studies. If college year is fast-approaching, you could even plan some college tours and arrange in-person visits to some of the campuses on your list.

Happy spring break!

7 . Mark asked, “Do you think they’ll let me play?” Mark’s father knew that few boys would want someone like Mark, mentally and physically disabled, on their team, but the father still approached to ask the boys if Mark could play. They exchanged glances with each other and said, “We’ll try to put him in to bat.”

Mark struggled over to the team’s bench and his father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in heart. The boys saw the father’s joy at his son being accepted.

In the bottom of the final inning, Mark was scheduled to be at bat. Everyone knew that a hit was almost impossible. The first pitch (投) came and Mark missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to throw the ball softly towards Mark. As the pitch came in, Mark swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The pitcher could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman, but he just threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, beyond the reach of all teammates. The audience and the players from both teams started screaming, “Mark, run to first!” Never in his life had Mark ever run that far but made it to first base, wide-eyed and shocked.

By the time Mark rounded towards second base, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time, understood the pitcher’s intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third baseman’s head.

All were screaming. “Mark, run to third.” As Mark rounded third, all were on their feet, crying, “Mark, run home!” Mark ran to home, stepped on the home base and was cheered as the hero who won the game for his team. Tears rolled down the father’s cheeks.

That day, the boys from both teams helped bring true love and humanity into this world.

9 . Top Summer Math Programs for High School Students

Canada/USA Mathcamp

This summer program offers gifted high school students the chance to “live and breathe” mathematics. Throughout the program, students explore undergraduate- and graduate-level mathematical topics. They design their own curriculum by choosing their own classes and learn from professional mathematicians in the process. Mathcampers also get the opportunity to go hiking, whitewater rafting(漂流), rock climbing and much more.

Cost: $4,500 (Financial aid is available, and the program is free for families with household incomes under $65,000)

Location: Ohio State University

Ross Mathematics Program

The program focuses on one central mathematical concept—number theory. Participants spend the entire summer solving problem sets related to integers(整数)and their properties. This process provides a great foundation for students interested in conducting mathematical research in the future.

Cost: $6,000(Financial aid is available)

Location: two campuses (Columbus, Ohio 8. Terre Haute, Indiana)

Program in Mathematics for Young Scientists (PROMYS)

For over three decades, PROMYS has been a place of mathematical exploration for talented high school students. Students in this program attend seminars on advanced mathematical topics. They also get the chance to participate in research projects under the guidance of professional mathematicians.

Cost: $5,500 (Financial aid is available, and the program is free for US families with household incomes under $ 60,000)

Location: Boston University

Stanford University Math Camp (SUMaC)

Students in this program choose between two courses—algebraic topology(代数拓扑学)and abstract algebra &. number theory. Both to picsare major areas of modern mathematical research. In both courses, students engage in daily problem sets, work with Stanford graduate students and attend lectures from mathematicians.

Cost: $3,250(Financial aid is available)

Location: online