Too much TV - watching can harm children's ability to learn and even reduce their chances of getting a college degree, new studies suggest in the latest effort to examine the effects of television on children.

One of the studies looked at nearly 400 northern California third-graders. Those with TVs in their bedrooms scored about eight points lower on math and language arts tests than children without bedroom TVs.

A second study ,looking at nearly 1000 grown - ups in New Zealand, found lower education levels among 26 - year - olds who had watched lots of TV during childhood. But the results don’t prove that TV is the cause and don't ride out (排除) that already poorly motivated youngsters may watch lots of TV.

Their study measured the TV habits of 26 - year - olds between ages 5 and 15. These with college degrees had watched an average of less than two hours of TV per week night during childhood, compared with an average of more than 2 hours for those who had no education beyond high school.

In the California study, children with TVs in their rooms but no computer at home scored the lowest while those with no bedroom TV but who had home computers scored the highest.

While this study does not prove that bedroom TV sets caused the lower scores, it adds to accumulating (积累) findings that children shouldn't have TVs in their bedrooms.

Walking over water might sound like something unbelievable. In fact, people do it all the time. How? Almost all of the world’s liquid fresh water lies underground. This stash beneath our feet is called groundwater.

Earth is a water planet, but most of its H20 is in the oceans. Only about 2.5 percent of the planet’s water is fresh water. Of that, nearly 69 percent is frozen in glaciers (冰川) and ice caps. And about 30 percent is ground-water—much more than the 1.2 percent that flows through rivers and fills lakes.

Groundwater is found almost everywhere on Earth. It hides under mountains, plains, and even deserts. Tiny gaps between rocks and soil grains take in and hold this water like a sponge. forming buried bodies of water called aquifers (地下蓄水层). Together, they hold about 60 times as much water as the world’s lakes and rivers combined. Groundwater is a key part of the earth’s water cycle. Rain and melted snow go down into the ground. The water can stay there for thousands of years. Some groundwater naturally runs out onto the earth’s surface through springs. It also flows into lakes, rivers, and wetlands. People get groundwater through wells for drinking, watering crops, and other uses. People draw more than 200 times as much groundwater from the earth as oil every year.

As human-caused climate change dries out parts of the planet, demand for groundwater may rise. At the same time, climate change may intensify (加剧) storms. Heavier rain is more likely to rush straight into streams and storm drains, instead of going into the soil. So, there may be less groundwater around.

Many of the world’s aquifers already seem to be drying up. Twenty-one of the earth’s 37 biggest aquifers are becoming smaller, satellite data show. The most dried-out aquifers are near big cities, farms, or dry regions. As groundwater stores dwindle, they hold less water to refill rivers and streams, thus threatening freshwater ecosystems. In California, drying up the ground may even be causing small earthquakes.

LIKE-MINDED MATES

It’s fun to spend time with people who have similar interests to you. Friendships based on mutual passions enable you to indulge (沉溺) in the things you enjoy doing while sharing your creativity and experiences with others. Here are some of the benefits you might discover.

【小题1】. And having a place where you can explore and develop your creative self is fulfilling and energizing. Groups enable you to gain support, seek advice, and find inspiration. They can be a welcome break and somewhere to relax after a busy day.

·Chance to escape and recharge

Taking part in activities that differ from those in your daily life is a good way to refocus and recharge. Time away from school is uplifting. 【小题2】. Engaging in creative pursuits with others also helps you to be more mindful, meaning you’re more present in the moment and less likely to be thinking about the past or worrying about the future.

·【小题3】

Talking through projects can help you to discover and develop new ideas. 【小题4】. You might uncover an innovative technique, a way to streamline your work. Creative groups enable you to experiment with things you might not have considered, exposing you to new modes of expression.

·Motivation

Learning and growing with friends allow you to make more of your potential. Sharing a journey can give you a push forward if you become stuck. And the enthusiasm of others is a great motivator. 【小题5】, everyone in the group can support each other, working towards your various goals.