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Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.  But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Climate change can cause extreme events like wildfires and floods. 

How does climate change make you feel? The news of melting glaciers and oil spills may seem overwhelming and can make you feel angry, frightened, hopeless or upset. This is called climate anxiety. If you feel worried about what's happening to the world, good for you. It's normal to be upset when things you care about are getting hurt.

There are lots of things you can do to help adults take better care of the world. Turn your fear into power by doing something. Breaking the problem into bite-sized chunks is a good way to start. Think of something you feel passionate about, such as protecting ocean life or saving forests, and join a community group or charity that supports that cause. Local charities like Plastic Free Coast organize beach cleans, and the Rainforest Team has lots of planet-saving ideas, such as reducing food waste.

Positive action can inspire others too. Sisters Kim and Stella King from the charity Fights Against Plastic have picked up 90,000 pieces of plastic. They ask schools, businesses and organizations to follow their lead.

A. Why is there climate anxiety?

B. And it is a normal, healthy response.

C. This risks the lives of humans, animals and plants.

D. Remember, it's important to get support from people around.

E. No one can fix climate change on their own but we can all play a part.

F. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle.

G. So, tell friends and family what you're up to and encourage them to join in.

Any parent of growing teenagers knows their kids' appetite (食欲) can be extremely large. Now, imagine having a young dinosaur checking the fridge. The out size appetites of growing dinosaurs reshaped food chains in their environment and crowded out other carnivores (食肉动物), according to a new study.

Most groups of animals have many small-sized species, somewhat fewer medium-sized species and the fewest large-sized species. However, the extinct dinosaurs—especially carnivores had plenty of species no bigger than modern-day chickens and also many extremely big species, but few medium-sized ones.

Scientists wondered whether teen dinosaurs crowded out medium-sized adults by taking advantage of the habitats and food sources those species might have taken. To test the idea, Katlin Schroeder, a Ph. D. student at the University of New Mexico (UNM), combed a global collection of data to determine the size of more than 550 dinosaur species in 43 ancient ecosystems.

"In most communities, plant-eating dinosaurs were in multifarious sizes. But carnivores were completely different," Schroeder says. Plant-eating dinosaurs came in a range of sizes, while carnivorous dinosaurs between 100 and 1, 000 kilograms were quite rare. "The size of the carnivorous dinosaur is surprising. It's as if you went to the savanna, a large flat area of grassy land, and saw nothing in size between a small fox and a lion," Schroeder says. "Patterns in all the dinosaur communities studied are very similar. We saw the gap in species' sizes for years, but never measured it."

Schroeder and paleontologists Eelisa Smith of UNM and Kathleen Lyons of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, modeled the role that young carnivorous dinosaurs might have played in ecosystems. "If the teen dinosaurs are really using up this space, how many of them would you expect?" Smith says. Their study showed that "the teenagers fill the gap," she says. "If you fill them in, then you get a community that looks like what you'd expect."

"The effect maybe stronger in meat eaters because each carnivorous dinosaur species hatched (孵化) from small eggs; then they grew very quickly. They had to change diets and hunting methods to adapt to their new sizes and compete with a range of other species along the way," Erickson, another scientist, says.

"The study's stress on how animals' niches (生态位) can change as they grow offers fresh understandings," says Mike Benton, a scientist at the University of Bristol.

When I handed my daughter a copy of King of the Wind by Marguerite Henry, she looked skeptical. She reluctantly agreed to read it with me after I told her it was one of my favorite stories when I was her age, and her skepticism quickly morphed into enthusiasm as she fell in love with the book. 

Watching her connect to the story brought back a flood of memories about my first time reading the book. It was like introducing my daughter to a much younger version of myself. I highly recommend other parents share their favorite childhood books, a sweet activity with lots of benefits. 

Every night, I sit on the end of my daughters' beds and read them the stories I've cherished for decades. This distraction-free time gives my kids the chance to ask questions about the book we're reading, the "olden days" when I was a kid, and whatever else is on their minds.

My 9-year-old especially adores this time together and the deeper connection she feels to her family because of it. Reading her a book that holds significant meaning for me brings us together in a whole new way. 

There's nothing better than watching my kids' reactions to books I've loved my entire life. They chattered with excitement when Charlie found his golden ticket in Roald Dahl's classic and pulled the covers over their blushing faces when Almanzo asked Laura if he could walk her home in the Little House series.

In these moments, it feels like I'm reaching through time and connecting my childhood with theirs.

Every generation has books that define them. For my kids, it's mostly fantasy and realistic fiction. By reading my childhood favorites to them, my kids step outside their comfort zones and try new genres, authors, and writing styles. My 9-year-old didn't know she loved folklore until we read my favorite collection of Japanese children's stories together. My 11-year-old became obsessed with wilderness survival stories when I read Scott O'Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins to her.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites were created to celebrate and safeguard the most unique places around the world. Below are my 4 favorite UNESCO World Heritage Sites. 

Cinque Terre, Italy

With cars banned here, you'll really get to feel the unique history and character of the Cinque Terre's five centuries-old coastal villages. The breathtaking views of harbors far below the wild coastline along with the rich colors will definitely make it a memorable holiday.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Angkor Wat is the world's largest religious (宗教的) monument and it contains impressive remains from the Khmer Empire (9th to 15th century). The site has dozens of iconic temples like Ta Prohm (a magnificent temple ruin hidden in the jungle). Hosting more than two million visitors annually, this artistic masterpiece is a must-see site.

Petra Jordan

Petra's rock-cut architecture has contributed to its nickname, the Rose City, based on the color of the stone it was carved from. The delicate constructions of temples and tombs along with the remains of churches and temples are only a couple of reasons why this world-famous site is a must-visit destination.

Yellowstone National Park, USA

Yellowstone's vast wilderness includes mountain ranges, lakes and waterfalls. One of the main reasons for tourists to visit Yellowstone is to observe the amazing wildlife like grizzly bear, bison, bighorn sheep wander the plains and valleys.

For a daily moment of travel inspiration, click here to follow me.

—Great. I like weekends because I____get up so early.

— To tell you the truth, I really can't go anywhere because I ____ an important visitor from out of town.

—OK we will, Mum.