question: Do you have imagination? Do you like to solve problems? Can you? If so, you could be the next great inventor. "But I'm just a kid",you might be! Don't worry about a little thing like age. For example, one famous inventor-- Benjamin Franklin--got his start when he was only 12. At that young age, he created paddles for his hands to help him swim faster. Finally his creation led to what we know is called flippers!

So you don't have to be adult to be an inventor. One thing you do need, though, is something that kids have plenty of: curiosity and imagination. Kids are known for looking at things in new and unique ways.

So what should you do if you have what is a great idea for an invention? Talk to a friend or family member about it. Get input from others about your idea. Then ask them to help you create a working model--called a prototype of your idea.

Once you have a prototype, you can test it. Sometimes your idea turns out to be not as great as you thought. At other times, though, you realize it is a good idea and your prototype can help you figure out how to make it even better.

If your idea is really a good one, an adult can help you contact companies that might be interested in it. You will also want an adult's help to get a patent for your idea, so that it is protected and can't be stolen by someone else. If you need some inspiration, consider these kids and their inventions:

Jeanie Low invented the Kiddie Stool when she was just 11. It's a folding stool that fits under the kitchen sink. Kids can unfold it and use it to reach the sink all by themselves.

At the age of 15, Louis Braille invented the system named after him that allows the blind to read.

Chelsea Lanmon received a patent when she was just 8 for the "pocket diaper ",a new type of diaper that includes a pocket for holding baby wipes and powder.
1. What inventor became famous a long time ago?
2. How old was he when he started inventing?
3. What did he make?
4. Does this mean kids can invent things too?
5. What should you do once you have a prototype?
6. What will testing it prove?
7. Should you contact someone if it's a good idea?
8. Who should you get in touch with?
9. Can someone steal your idea?
10. What can you do about that?
11. Can a kid get one?
****
answer: 1. Benjamin Franklin-
2. 12
3. paddles for his hands to help him swim faster.
4. yes
5. test it
6. whether it's a great idea or not
7. yes
8. companies that might be interested in it
9. yes
10. get a patent
11. no

question: CHAPTER XIX

MAUD MAKES A MEMORANDUM

My mother used to say to me: "Never expect to find brains in a pretty girl." Perhaps she said it because I was not a pretty girl and she wished to encourage me. In any event, that absurd notion of the ancients that when the fairies bestow the gift of beauty on a baby they withhold all other qualities has so often been disproved that we may well disregard it.

Maud Stanton was a pretty girl--indeed, a beautiful girl--but she possessed brains as well as beauty and used her intellect to advantage more often than her quiet demeanor would indicate to others than her most intimate associates. From the first she had been impressed by the notion that there was something mysterious about A. Jones and that his romantic explanation of his former life and present position was intended to hide a truth that would embarrass him, were it fully known. Therefore she had secretly observed the young man, at such times as they were together, and had treasured every careless remark he had made--every admission or assertion--and made a note of it. The boy's arrest had startled her because it was so unexpected, and her first impulse was to doubt his innocence. Later, however, she had thoroughly reviewed the notes she had made and decided he was innocent.

In the quiet of her own room, when she was supposed to be asleep, Maud got out her notebook and read therein again the review of all she had learned concerning A. Jones of Sangoa.
1. Who was good looking?
2. Was she very good looking?
3. What did she have along with her looks?
4. Was the narrator also good looking?
5. Who did Maud think was keeping a secret?
6. What did she think it would to, if revealed?
7. What did she do to try to uncover this secret?
8. What surprised her?
9. Did she initially think he might be guilty?
10. What did she decide subsequently?
11. Where was the man from?
****
answer: 1. Maud Stanton
2. yes
3. brains
4. no
5. A. Jones
6. embarrass him,
7. secretly observed him
8. The boy's arrest
9. yes
10. .he was innocent.
11. Sangoa.

question: China's top labor official said the country is planning to push back the age at which workers can retire.

Yin Weimin, minister of human resources and social security, demonstrated that we did not put a timetable on the move when he spoke about it during a forum at the weekend.

"Delaying the retirement age is a very complicated issue and we will study it according to the situations of population and employment and consider different groups of people," Yin said.

He noted that _ in the retirement age have been brought in by many countries and can be a good way to deal with an aging population and ensure the healthy and stable development of social security.

The life expectancy of Chinese people is now 73 years and is expected to rise to 74 during the next five years, he said.

Nearly three out of 10 Chinese people will be older than 60 by 2040, according to a United Nations forecast.

The retirement age in China currently is 60 for men and 55 for female civil servants and 50 for female workers.

The idea of delaying the retirement age is being widely supported by government officials, while many laborers and non-government employees were less enthusiastic about the prospect of working for longer. Currently, they have to pay into their pension plans for at least 15 years before they can retire.

Chen Xianlian, a female worker at a motorcycle parts manufacturer in Chongqing municipality is among those who would like to see the retirement age left as it is. "I have to do lots of tough and repetitive work every day and I feel very tired after my working day," the 41-year-old said. "All my colleagues are discussing the government's possible move to lift the retirement age. None of us wants to work any extra years."

University graduates also fear that any rise in the retirement age could limit their employment opportunities.
1. Is Chen an old guy?
2. What's her job?
3. For what type of company?
4. Where?
5. What does the company manufacture?
6. How old is Chen?
7. Is she more or less energetic when she gets home after her working day?
8. Does she want to work extra years?
9. Three out of 10 Chinese people will be older than what age in 2040?
10. According to what?
11. Is the retirement age the same for both genders in China?
12. Who gets to retire earlier, men or women?
13. How many different tiers are there for retirement ages and work duties?
14. How many years does everyone have to pay into their pension plans before they can retire?
15. What is the current life expectancy of Chinese people?
16. What is it expected to rise to?
17. When?
18. What is a fear that University grads have about a rise in the retirement age?
19. Will they all have to get jobs in Nebreska?
20. Is delaying the retirement age a complicated issue?
****
answer:
1. No
2. a worker
3. a manufacturer
4. Chongqing municipality
5. motorcycle parts
6. 41
7. less
8. No
9. 60
10. a United Nations forecast
11. No
12. women
13. Three
14. 15
15. 73
16. 74
17. during the next five years
18. it could limit their employment opportunities.
19. unknown
20. Yes