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Each year, more than 27 million. U. S. and Canadian kids get to school by bus. Most of those buses run on diesel （柴油） fuel, which give out pollution that riders can take in. Pollution levels can be several times higher inside a diesel school bus than outside it. Why? Pollution can leak in from the floor or blow in through windows. 

A U. S. government program started in 2012 offered schools' money spent on cleaner school buses but not all schools could get it. Five years later, emissions from buses in the winning districts fell. And a year after getting new buses, student attendance had improved in those districts. For an average district of 10, 000 students, about six more students attended 'school each day' in the winning districts, compared to the losing districts. Winning schools with higher rates of bus-riding kids had an average of 14 more students in class each day. And winning districts that replaced the oldest school buses? They had an average of 45 more students in school each day. 

Those numbers may sound small, but 'they add up. And school attendance matters for student achievement. Almost 3 million U. S. kids ride school buses more than 20 years old. If U. S. school districts had replaced all of those older buses, there would have been 1.3 million fewer student absences each year. 

There might be other reasons for better attendance. For example, maybe kids preferred new buses. However, the most-likely reason for fewer student absences was better health. A study done on adults showed that a brief exposure to diesel emissions reduced "network connectivity" in the brain. In other studies, such network-connectivity changes have been linked to worsened memory and mental tasks. A Washington State program upgraded pollution controls in old diesel buses. Afterward, fewer kids were hospitalized in those districts than in schools without bus upgrades. 

Almost all U. S. school districts can apply for the program. But schools in low-income areas, in tribal areas and, in rural areas will get priority. Kids in these areas tend to face. the most health risks from older buses. 

On March 1, Dr. Joseph Dituri began a project to stay for 100 days at a special hotel called Jules's Undersea Lodge 30 feet under the ocean surface in a conservation area in Key Largo. 

The farther you go below the ocean's surface, the greater the pressure. Dr. Dituri wanted to learn how this pressure would affect the human body over time. He believes that high pressure could help people live longer and stay healthier as they get older. It could also help doctors treat different medical problems, including brain injuries. 

While he was living underwater, Dr. Dituri stayed busy. He often exercised in the morning. He kept teaching his college classes virtually and had online chats with over 5, 500 students from 15 different countries. He also worked with ocean experts to figure out ways to preserve the ocean. He even had a number of visitors who dove down to spend a little time with him. 

On June 9, Dr. Dituri returned to the surface with a new world record, beating the old record of 73 days. Many friends, family, and other supporters were there to greet him and celebrate his success. Doctors quickly checked him out to make sure he was okay. 

Actually, Dr. Dituri went through several big changes. For one thing, he became 1.3 centimeters shorter during his time in the higher undersea pressure. Sleeping much better, his health greatly improved in a couple of ways. Dr. Dituri and his team plan to study the information they collected during the project. In November, Dr. Dituri will speak at an important medical meeting in Scotland about the discoveries the scientists made during the project. 

Dr. Dituri says his favorite part of the project was talking with young people. "Who knows?" he said. "Maybe one day, one of them will come. back and break the record we just set. My greatest hope is that I have inspired a new generation of explorers and researchers to push past all boundaries. 

The Biggest National Park On Continents

America

Covering nearly half of the world's largest island, Northeast Greenland National Park is currently the globe's single largest national park and biggest land-based protected area. It covers 972, 000 square kilometers. The vast Greenland: Ice Sheet makes up most of the park, but there's also a long coastline that is home to musk oxen, polar bears and many other Arctic creatures.

Oceania

Covering 36, 000 square kilometers, the Munga-Thirri-Simpson Desert National Park was set up in 2021 to protect the beautiful desert landscapes of far northern South Australia. It includes one of the world's largest dune （沙丘） fields. As well as more than 150 bird species, the park provides home for many animals.

Asia

Founded in 2021, China's Sanjiangyuan National Park is now the largest in Asia, covering 190, 700 square kilometers of the snow-covered Qinghai-Tibet Plateau that provides the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers. Rough and remote, the highlands harbor a range of rare, endangered animal species. The park also includes cultural sites.

Africa

Some of the world's highest and biggest sand dunes are the centerpiece of western Namibia's Namib-Naukluft National Park, Africa's largest at 49, 768 square kilometers. Easy to explore with your own, vehicle, the main park road leads to most dunes and forest. Hot air balloon flights offer a bird's eye view of the whole park. It is also known for plants and animals that have adapted to one of the Earth's most dry places.

During the 25 years we've lived in our home, many cats have appeared on my porch (门廊), gazing through the glass door, silently begging for food. Well, what can I do? Certainly not ignore their lovely faces. Even as my husband says "Don't feed these cats, Caren, " I am opening the door, with cat food bag in hand. These cats usually stay a few days, maybe a couple months before disappearing into the woods.

One evening while feeding the horses, I saw something move. I turned just in time to glimpse a black tail disappearing under our shed (小棚). Later, I saw a skinny young cat sneak around and finish the leftovers. The next time I saw her, she had a companion, a black male cat. I made sure to put out enough food for the both of them. 

Pretty soon, they were appearing at dinnertime with our other cats. I named them Minnie and Freddy. I would give them food in separate containers, but they would walk up and down until I went back inside. Then, with no human near, they would devour their meals. This went on for a couple of weeks. One day, Freddy didn't show up. We never saw him again.

But Minnie kept sticking around our room, dividing time between the shed and the porch. She was no longer skinny and looked quite nicely. I congratulated myself on her newfound health. However, she kept gaining weight —especially around her middle. Yup, she was pregnant (怀孕的). 

注意：续写词数应为90词左右。

We fixed up a small place in the shed for Minnie.

From that day on, our family grew not only with Minnie but also with her adorable babies, creating a harmonious and loving environment for all of us to cherish(珍惜).

Although the modern picnic (believe)to be a concept originating in Europe in the 1700s, China's version of such excursions (短途旅行), commonly known "spring outings" or "stepping on the green", can be traced back to at (little) the Wei and Jin dynasties (220—420) when people went on excursions or held banquets (宴会) by the water (celebrate) the Shangsi Festival on the third day of the third lunar month. Scholars would drink and compose (poem) by streams.

The activity became more common among women as well in the Tang dynasty (618—907). A special picnic for women, often daughters of official s and rich families, (emerge) As recorded in the book A History of the Tang Under Emperor Xuanzong's Reign, groups of ladies would compete on the value and beauty of the flowers they wrote (normal) between the two spring solar terms "The Beginning of Spring" and "Rain Water".

In the Song dynasty (960—1279), the Qingming Festival  Tomb Sweeping Festival included traditions of the Shangsi Festival and the Cold Food Festival,  cold food was eaten. At that time, people had a seven—day holiday for the festival, and would not only pay respect to  dead, but also enjoy scenery, food, and drinks on spring excursions. 

—Too bad! It's almost half—time．