Q: First recognized in 1900 by Max Planck, it was originally the proportionality constant between the minimal increment of energy, E, of a hypothetical electrically charged oscillator in a cavity that contained black body radiation, and the frequency, f, of its associated electromagnetic wave. In 1905 the value E, the minimal energy increment of a hypothetical oscillator, was theoretically associated by Einstein with a "quantum" or minimal element of the energy of the electromagnetic wave itself. The light quantum behaved in some respects as an electrically neutral particle, as opposed to an electromagnetic wave. It was eventually called the photon.

Classical statistical mechanics requires the existence of h (but does not define its value). Eventually, following upon Planck's discovery, it was recognized that physical action cannot take on an arbitrary value. Instead, it must be some multiple of a very small quantity, the "quantum of action", now called the Planck constant. Classical physics cannot explain this fact. In many cases, such as for monochromatic light or for atoms, this quantum of action also implies that only certain energy levels are allowed, and values in between are forbidden.

Answer the following questions:
1. Who originally associated the minimal energy increment of a hypothetical oscillator with a "quantum" or minimal element of the energy of the electromagnetic wave itself?
2. When did he do this?
3. What letter is the value called?
4. How did the light value behave?
5. As opposed to what?
6. What was it later called?
7. Who was energy E originally recognized by?
8. What type of action can't take an arbitrary value?
9. What must it be instead?
10. What is that also known as?
11. Is there another name for it?
12. What is it?
13. Is this fact widely understood in physics?
14. What does this imply about energy levels?
15. What about values in between?
A: 1. Einstein
2. In 1905
3. E
4. as an electrically neutral particle
5. an electromagnetic wave
6. the photon
7. Max Planck
8. a physical one
9. some multiple of a very small quantity
10. the "quantum of action"
11. yes
12. the Planck constant
13. no
14. only certain ones are allowed
15. they're forbidden
Q: Computers have been used in teaching for more than twenty years. But a new book says that only now are they changing education. And it predicts that a lot more is about to happen.

The book is called "Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns." "Disruptive Innovation" is a theory developed by lead author Clayton Christensen, a professor at the prefix = st1 /HarvardBusinessSchool. He says organizations almost always use new, creative technology only to continue what they already do.

New technology should change organizations, he says, and disrupt them in a good way. They should use the technology to do things differently--for example, to serve more needs. The book says the needed disruptive force in education is computer-based learning.

Michael Horn, another author of "Disrupting Class", told us about a Bostonpublic that he visited. Every student at Lilla G. Frederick Middle School inDorchester,Massachusetts, has a laptop computer. One class was learning about storms. Michael Horn says the laptops made it possible to truly individualize the lessons, to divide materials by ability level and learning style. At the end of the class, the students all took part in a discussion led by the teacher.

Computer-based learning offers a way for students to take advanced courses not offered at their school, or to retake classes they failed. It also serves those who cannot physically attend school, and students who receive home schooling.

Computer-based learning includes online courses. Enrollments in online courses have grown sharply. In 2007, the United Stateshad about one million enrollments, not including college courses. Students could be enrolled in more than one course, through schools or education companies. High school students make up about seventy percent of the enrollment. Still, nationally, only about one percent of all high school courses last year were taught online.

But the authors of "Disrupting Class"predict it will be ten percent in about six years. And their research suggests that the number will be about fifty percent by 2019. And Michael Horn says the future of online learning could be even greater in developing countries.

Answer the following questions:
1. How long does it say computers have been used for teaching?
2. What is the book called that says they are changing education?
3. What is the name of the author?
4. Is their other authors involved in the book?
5. What did Michael Horn say about students using laptops at Frederick Middle School learning?
6. Has Enrollments in online courses grown much?
7. What percent of all high school students are taught online?
8. What does the authors of Disrupting Class predict the percent will be in ten years?
9. What about by 2019?
10. does the book think computers are a needed disruptive force in education?
11. Does computer based learning offer students anything not offered in normal schools?
A: 1. twenty years
2. "Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns."
3. Clayton Christensen
4. yes
5. the laptops made it possible to truly individualize the lessons, to divide materials by ability level and learning style.
6. yes
7. about one percent
8. ten percent
9. about fifty percent
10. yes
11. it offers a way for students to take advanced courses not offered at their school, or to retake classes they failed. It also serves those who cannot physically attend school, and students who receive home schooling.
Q: Nature Love

Yolanda loves nature. She loves trees, flowers, grass, singing birds, the sky, and even the wind. She spends a lot of time lying on the grass, looking at the sky, and listening to the birds.

One of Yolanda's favorite things to do is to look at the shapes of the big, fluffy clouds. "That one looks like a flower. And that one looks like a boat. There's one that looks like my dog!" she says to herself. She is always surprised and happy to find a new shape.

Yolanda's most favorite thing to do is to look at the flowers and bugs that visit her place. She watches and studies all the butterflies, bees, ants, spiders, and even worms that are in her backyard.

Yolanda has a wonderful backyard. Her mother has a big, beautiful garden that she helps to take care of. This is how Yolanda is learning to grow and take care of plants. The garden makes the whole yard look beautiful and smell wonderful. And the garden brings in all kinds of amazing birds and insects.

Yolanda has lots of pictures of the birds and bugs that come into her backyard. She feels like a kid scientist. Someday, she wants to become a real scientist. Then she can learn all about plants, bugs and nature.

Answer the following questions:
1. Where is one of Yolanda's favorite places to be?
2. What does she like about it?
3. What does she do with it?
4. What is attracted to the garden?
5. Is she afraid of any of the insects?
6. What else does she like to do outside?
7. Why?
8. What game does she play when she looks at them?
9. What does she want to be when she grows up/
10. Why?
11. What insects does she like to explore now?
A:
1. her garden
2. it's beautiful
3. learns and takes care of plants
4. birds and insects
5. No.
6. She spends a lot of time lying on the grass
7. because she likes the clouds
8. find the shape
9. scientist
10. learn about plants, bugs and nature.
11. butterflies, bees, ants, spiders, worms