We live in a noisy world. Young and old alike are troubled by sounds over which we may have little or no control: car and house alarms, motorcycles, loudspeakers, even movie previews.

We attend rock concerts, weddings, parties and sports events at which the music is so loud that you can hardly hear the person sitting next to you. At home, televisions, stereos and computer games are often turned up so loud that listeners cannot hear a doorbell or a telephone.

As if environmental noise were not enough, now we surround children with noisy toys and personal listening devices that can permanently damage their hearing. A series of studies conducted in 2002 indicated that even moderate (缓和的) background noise can interfere with how they learn language. In fact, children in classrooms on the noisy side of a school had lower reading scores than those whose classes were on the quiet side.

Noise-induced (噪音诱发的) hearing loss can come about in two ways: from a brief exposure to a very loud noise or from consistent exposure to moderate-level noise. Thus, there is much concern about the lasting effects of MP3 players that are turned up loud enough to block out surrounding sound, like street noise. An MP3 player at maximum volume produces about 105 decibels（分贝）— 100 times as severe as 85 decibels, where hearing damage begins.

So, before buying noise-making toys, parents would do well to listen to how loud they are. If the item comes with a volume control, monitor its use to make sure it is kept near the lowest level. Consider returning gifts that make loud noises, or disable the noise-making function. Children who play computer games and stereo equipment should be warned to keep the volume down. Most iPads have a control that allows parents to set a maximum volume.

Avoid taking children to loud action movies. If you do go and the sound seems deafening, ask the management to turn down the volume or insist on your money back.

The League for the Hard of Hearing urges parents to encourage participation in quiet activities, like reading, doing puzzles, making things with construction toys, playing educational computer games, drawing and painting, and visiting libraries and museums.

School activities for kids and teens
July is a month of fun-filled activities for kids and teens as long as you know where to find them. When you want some fun activities for July, consider these ideas happening in this month.

Secret of the Dragon Time     Monday, July 1, 2013, 10:30 am Cost     Adult: $ 7.40 children (number 15 years): half Bookings  Phone the booking office: 3403 2578 Address   Brisbane Botanic Gardens Note      Secret of the Dragon is a magical story about two children who are taken on a dragon ride to expel the universe.	The Search for Life: Are We Alone? Time    Thursday, July 4, 2013, 2:00 pm Cost     Adult: $ 14.50 Children (under 15 years): $ 8.70 Bookings  Phone the booking office: 3403 7689 Address   Brisbane Botanic Gardens Note      Are we truly alone in space? Is there any life out there? These are the questions asked in this show.
Magic Class Time     Friday, July 12, 2013, 10:00 am Cost      Free Bookings  Please call 3403 8470 to book your place. Address   Centenary Community hub, 171 Dandenong Rd Note      Would you like to be a magician? Then join David, the magician, to learn about real magic with playing cards, coins, ring ropes and DIY projects and be able to become the life of the party.	Science with Me: Making your own guitar Time      Saturday, July 20, 2013, 3:00 pm Cost       Free Bookings   Please phone 3403 1226 to book your place. Address    10, Egginton Close Note       Do you want to make a guitar with Katy and her mom? Science with Me is going to be with you. Please remember to bring a piece of wood, a hammer, some rubber bands and some nails with you.

School activities for kids and teens

July is a month of fun-filled activities for kids and teens as long as you know where to find them. When you want some fun activities for July, consider these ideas happening in this month.

Secret of the Dragon

Time     Monday, July 1, 2013,

10:30 am

Cost     Adult: $ 7.40 children (number 15 years): half

Bookings  Phone the booking office:

3403 2578

Address   Brisbane Botanic Gardens

Note      Secret of the Dragon is a magical story about two children who are taken on a dragon ride to expel the universe.  

The Search for Life:

Are We Alone?

Time    Thursday, July 4, 2013,

2:00 pm

Cost     Adult: $ 14.50

Children (under 15 years): $ 8.70

Bookings  Phone the booking office:

3403 7689

Address   Brisbane Botanic Gardens

Note      Are we truly alone in space? Is there any life out there? These are the questions asked in this show.

Magic Class

Time     Friday, July 12, 2013,

10:00 am

Cost      Free

Bookings  Please call 3403 8470 to book your place.

Address   Centenary Community hub, 171 Dandenong Rd

Note      Would you like to be a magician? Then join David, the magician, to learn about real magic with playing cards, coins, ring ropes and DIY projects and be able to become the life of the party.

Science with Me:

Making your own guitar

Time      Saturday, July 20,

2013, 3:00 pm

Cost       Free

Bookings   Please phone 3403 1226 to book your place.

Address    10, Egginton Close

Note       Do you want to make a guitar with Katy and her mom? Science with Me is going to be with you. Please remember to bring a piece of wood, a hammer, some rubber bands and some nails with you.

注：universe 宇宙； magic 魔术

根据材料内容选择最佳答案，并将其标号填入题前括号内。

1.Alec is strongly interested in space life. He may go to _______.

A．Magic Class                            B．Science with Me

C．Secret of the Dragon                     D．The Search for Life

2.John and his 10-year-old son want to watch Secret of the Dragon. How much should they pay?

A．$7.40            B．$11.10            C．$14.80           D．$23.20

3.Rita plans to join Magic Class. She may learn about _______.

A．real magic         B．making coins       C．magic stories       D．holding parties

4.According to the next, making a guitar needs the things except _______.

A．a piece of wood    B．a hammer         C．some nails         D．ring ropes

5.What do the four activities have in common?

A．They are all free.                        B．They happen in the same place.

C．They are all weekend activities.             D．They can all be booked by phone.