Caroline Solomon was on her high school's swim team. But at times she could not go into the creek（小溪）near her home. It was simply too polluted. "I decided I wanted to do something about it，"she recalls. So she studied environmental science and public policy at Harvard University in Cambridge. Later，she went to graduate school. Some of her classes could be challenging，though，since she couldn't hear her teachers. "I've been deaf since I was 15 months old，"Solomon notes.

Today she teaches biology at Gallaudet University in Washington，DC. She has no trouble communicating with her students. They，too，are primarily deaf or hard of hearing. That's why all classes at Gallaudet are taught in American Sign Language. Solomon also has an active life outside the classroom. She especially enjoys hiking，biking and other activities with her family.

Her research takes her to the Anacostia River. "It is very close to Gallaudet，and I easily bring my students there，"she says. Water running through local forests and marshes drains into this river，so does water running off urban streets，golf courses and industrial sites." The river's watershed（流域）kind of concentrates all the things that happen when humans mess with the natural landscape，"she explains. Not surprisingly，this river has developed a reputation for being quite polluted.

Solomon has been focusing on how pollutants affect tiny organisms that form the base of the river's food web. "I am now looking at the bacteria population，" she says，"to see what types there are."

Solomon wants to see more students who are deaf or have other disabilities make a difference in environmental science and other fields. As she often says, "If I can do it, you can do it."

As a working mom with three young sons，keeping the house clean is a big challenge. 【小题1】 we clean the house every week，one hour later after cleaning our bedrooms and bathrooms are back to their 【小题2】（mess）look. When asked, my boys will help neaten their room, clear their plates from the table and pick up their school junk. But I need to remind them 【小题3】 it again and again.

If I don't remind them, I will step over all the things 【小题4】 make my house look like a garbage can. This is quite 【小题5】 change from my pre-kid years when I never 【小题6】 (leave) any waste in the house. 【小题7】 seems that I cannot get these days back again at my own house.

When last week I found a program 【小题8】 (call) Share a Healthy Habit in a newspaper, I saw a great chance to engage my sons in doing chores. Why not encourage these behaviors during the 【小题9】 (relax) life in summer vacation?

The goal for my boys is to clean their own bedrooms themselves when they are free. The rewards for clean habits start young and continue as they get 【小题10】 (old), so I need to start my plan as soon as possible.

I'm a booklover but like sharing my love for books！So I've been bought books constantly. Finishing reading one book，I placed it in my school so that some of my schoolmate can enjoy themselves when reading it. I especial like placing it on a stone table in the little garden that students might have time to take a rest. I was delighted when I saw the card left on the table to say thanks the other day. And from the card，I knew my book turned out of to be a birthday gift for a strange girl. It was so lovely find out that my book could bring anyone pleasure！

How to Keep a Diary

In an age of blogs and social media postings，diaries still have a huge following. Here you can be completely honest，and protect your privacy. What's more，you can keep your writings forever. 【小题1】 Diaries have also been shown to help regulate（调节）moods and emotions. If you are interested in keeping a diary，you can refer to the following rules.

Be honest. Diaries can be very beneficial. A study at the University of California showed that writing about feelings honestly helps the brain regulate emotions. 【小题2】This is good for your emotional well-being.

Decide what to write about. There are many different types of diaries. Some people use diaries to record daily events. 【小题3】 If you're working towards a goal，like losing weight or completing a creative project，a diary can be a great means to discuss your feelings and progress.

【小题4】 Many people struggle to find the time to write a diary entry（记录）each day. If you're interested in keeping a diary，try to stick to a schedule. Write your diaries around the same time each day. In this way，it will become as much a part of your schedule as brushing your teeth at night or showering in the morning.

Write short entries when you're pressed for time. 【小题5】 If you're in a rush，just write a shorter entry. Write down the bare minimum of your feelings and thoughts quickly. You can always record more about an event later in the week when you have time. Simply try to write down the basic details before you forget.