Floodwaters may not look all that dangerous on TV, especially if you’re a skilled swimmer. But flash floods, like what recently happened in Sichuan, are actually very dangerous. They can happen with almost no warning. 【小题1】

Prevention is always your best chance of living through a flash flood. Flash floods can happen without clear signs like clouds and heavy rain. 【小题2】 As soon as you receive words of a flash flood, head for higher ground at once.

If you see floodwaters, avoid all moving water, even if it seems to be very shallow. 【小题3】 You could hit your head, break a bone, or worse, get swept away into much deeper, faster-moving water. Any place where the water is above your foot is dangerous.

If you have no choice but to walk through water, go where the water is shallow and isn’t moving. If necessary use a stick to check the depth as you walk. As you make your way to higher ground, avoid touching or getting near electrical equipment. 【小题4】 And if flood waters have reached your home, do not use your home’s power.

If you get swept away by floodwaters, catch or climb onto something as soon as you are able. 【小题5】 It’s hard for rescue teams to find people stuck in the water, so anything you can do to make yourself more noticeable is a big help. Don’t give up keep shouting and waving until you’re rescued.

How to Investigate (调查)

①Planning

 Decide on a scientific problem to investigate

For example, a student named Mary has decided to research into how quickly sugar dissolves (溶解) in water.

 Write down your hypothesis

You may already have an idea of what you expect to happen in your investigation. This idea is called your hypothesis. It may not be right! It is just an idea, though it may be based on work in science which you have done before. The aim of your investigation is to test your idea.

 Decide what variables (变量) you are dealing with

Things like temperature, size, weight, and color are called variable. Variables are things you can measure.

In your investigation, you have to decide what the variables are, which ones you will keep fixed, and which you will change.

You need to change just one variable at a time. If lots of variables change at once, it won’t be a good test.

 Decide what equipment you need, and in what order you will do things.

 Prepare tables for your results.

②Getting your evidence (数据)

 Make your measurements, and record your results

③Reaching conclusions

 Look for patterns in your results

 Present your conclusions

What links (关联) did you find between any of the variables? How would you explain these links?

④Checking your findings

 Compare your conclusions and hypothesis

Do your results support your idea?

Many students have kept practising English hand-writing for nearly three years. Now a lot of students’ English hand-writings are getting better and better. That makes our teachers feel happy. Is your English hand-writing beautiful? If not, here are four steps that really work!

◆Use paper that has lines

When you write English words or sentences, you can use paper with lines. That will make your handwriting straight. Those lines on the paper can help you to write words in the right size. Be sure to fill the lined space completely. And make sure those capital letters(大写字母) are written properly.

◆Slow down

If your writing is hard to read, try slowing down a little. For some kids, going slower makes the handwriting clear. If you write too fast, it’s hard for you to stop where you should, and even worse, you may make more mistakes.

◆ Hold your pen right

When you hold your pen the correct way, writing is much easier. Some kids press(按，压) down really hard when they write. That makes the handwriting not nice. Try to relax yourself and don’t hold the pen so hard. Let your writing appear nice and clean. If you do so, people will guess you are a student with a good habit.

◆Draw more pictures

Drawing can improve your handwriting. You need to use the skills to control your pencil better when you are drawing pictures. Even though you have no chance to draw at school, you can practice by yourself at home.

Handwriting is very important. The English saying says “The style(字体) is the man.” Imagine you are a world-famous movie star or a well-known sports player, what do you do when your fans run up to you? Give them your autographs (亲笔签名), of course!