Chester Greenwood was freezing. It was in 1873 and Chester was _________ a new pair of ice skates. The 15-year-old was getting _________because he couldn't keep his ears _________ or protect them from the bitter cold. He tried wrapping a _________around his head but it was too _________and itchy. Besides，who can _________ with a scarf tied around their heads？

To _________his problem，Chester made two ear-shaped rings from wire and asked his grandmother to sew beaver fur and cloth _________them. Over the years his new invention，the earmuff，improved-a steel band was added，so it became _________and tiny chains were added so it would ____________in pockets. Finally Chester had his own ____________，Greenwood's Ear Protector Factory. He made a ____________providing ear protectors for the US soldiers during World War I.

Chester ____________over 100 products during his lifetime. Some of them are the wide bottom kettle，the spring steel rack，the folding bed，the shock absorber（减震器）that ____________today's airplane landing gear（起落架）and bearings to keep ____________from being pulled off，ensuring that they touch the ground safely. The Smithsonian Institution named Chester one of America's 15 ____________ inventors.

The town of Farmington, Maine, where Chester was born, has an annual holiday to ____________the inventor. December 21st is Chester Greenwood Day and people all over the state of Maine ____________in the celebration. Farmington has a parade on the first Saturday in December and everyone from kids to old people shows up ____________earmuffs. He invented over 100 products ____________Chester will always be remembered for inventing the earmuffs when he was 15.

   Researchers are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck, an expert in the human-animal relationship, and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal-assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people’s depression, physical activity, and life satisfaction. “No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated (刺激), ”Edwards points out. “The problem is how we promote that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution.”

In the study, the robotic dogs, called AIBO, are placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activities before and after AIBO being placed. Then, the researchers will study the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner.

“I talk to it all the time, and it responds (回应) to my voice,” says a seventy-year-old lady. “When I’m watching TV, it’ll stay in my arms until it wants to go down. It has a mind of its own.”

The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.

“At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog because it is metal and not furry,” Beck says. “But it’s amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.”

“Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels, or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people’s minds.”

Anvitha Vijay，who is only nine years old，has built two educational apps. One is Smartkins Animals，which helps many 【小题1】（child）identify more than 100 animals and 【小题2】 other is Rainbow Colors，which teaches kids colors.

With the help of YouTube videos，the young girl from Melbourne，Australia，learned codes（编码）at age 7 all by 【小题3】（she）. Soon，she was trying her hand at making apps.“When I first got my iPad，I 【小题4】（attract）immediately by all the apps on it，”she told TFK.“It wasn't long 【小题5】 I wanted to create my own.”

Anvitha's skills won her a scholarship to attend a big tech conference hosted by Apple in San Francisco，California. There，she got tips from the professionals and went to workshops 【小题6】 she learned about the latest software for app building. All that training led to an idea for a third app. This one，called GoalsHi，inspires kids 【小题7】（develop）good habits.

Anvitha's goal is to keep on 【小题8】 (create) technology that helps kids learn while they are having fun. But what's even more 【小题9】 (importance) to her is that the world sees the power of technology in kids' hands.“The more training we get in tech at an early age,”she says,“the 【小题10】 (good) chance we will have of becoming champions who will one day change the world.”

   A new keyboard can tell whether you are its owner. The keyboard records information about the typing pattern（模式）and sends it to a computer program. The program then checks to see if the pattern matches the right user. If not, an alarm sounds, and the computer locks the typist out. It locks out everyone else, even if the person knows the password. What's more, this equipment needs no batteries. It collects all the energy it needs from your actions of typing. Besides, the keyboard is also self-cleaning and the keys are free of damage from water, oil and dirt.

The keys of the new keyboard are made of the same inexpensive plastic that might be found on any other standard keyboard. But instead of being smooth, the keys have millions of tiny plastic nanowires（纳米线）on their surface area, increasing the effective contact areas between the plastics and fingers. This guarantees that there's enough power to run the keyboard as someone types.

Liming Dai, a scientist, did not work on the new keyboard, but he thinks the design could be important in getting better performance from a variety of equipment. "It could also be applied to a touch screen, for example, "Dai says. " Then smart phones and notepads could collect energy from someone's actions of typing or drawing. "

"Future work might make the keyboard even more useful, "Dai adds. " A later design might build tiny capacitors onto the nanowires, "he suggests. Capacitors are little devices that temporarily store electric charge. Those might then be LEDs to light a keyboard in the dark.

Zhonglin Wang is a co-designer of the new keyboard. His team has built a working model of the keyboard. "If a company decides to fund（资助）its production, this keyboard could be in stores in as few as two years, "says Wang.