【推荐3】Recently, Kevin Smith, the director of Clerks and Chasing Amy, got kicked off of a Southwestern Airlines flight for being too fat. He used the social media tool Twitter to take pictures of himself in a seat, and criticized the airline’s decision. In reality, most airlines have had policies for “customers of size” for the past 25 years, but few airlines have used these rules because they don’t want the negative publicity.

While it is very politically incorrect to look down on people because of their age, sex, race, or religion, many people believe that obese people are discriminated(歧视) against all the time. For an extremely large person, it is very difficult to get around on normal-sized public transportation, such as buses or subways. Flying is not much easier because the seats are small even for a regular person, and airlines have been squeezing as many people as they can onto flights.

With the combination of September 11 terrorist attack and the economic downturn, the airline business hasn’t been doing very well. This means that airlines are trying to squeeze every dollar out of flyers. Recently, they started charging fees for overweight luggage and extra carry-on bags. It makes sense financially to make an overweight person purchase two tickets if they can’t fit into one seat, but airlines have to be cautious when dealing with this problem. Usually, someone that is heavy is already embarrassed about their weight, and making them pay extra can violate（侵犯）their rights.

Many people believe that those who are overweight have a lack of willpower and should be treated accordingly. In fact, there are many diseases that cause people to be overweight. Discriminating against someone because they are overweight is morally wrong. For airlines to show prejudice against anyone is bad for business.

In conclusion, airlines should consider the special needs of their customers to earn repeat business. If they force obese passengers to buy two tickets for one flight, they not only discriminate them, but they may lose a lot of business as well.

【推荐3】These days, young people in some English-speaking countries are speaking a strange language, especially when communicating on social media.

Look at these words chosen by The Washington Post: “David Bowie dying is totes tradge” and “When Cookie hugged Jamal it made me totes emosh.” Or this sentence: “BAE. let me know if you stay in tonight.”

What on earth do they mean? Well, “totes” is a short form of “total if Similarly,” “tradge” mean: “tragic” and “emosh” means “emotional”. It seems that, for millennials, typing in this form is no only time-saving but fashionable.

As you can see, many millennial slangs are formed by so-called “totesing”— the systematic abbreviation of words. The trend might have started with “totally” becoming “totes”. but it now has spread to many other English words.

The origins of other millennial slangs are more complex than “totesing”. “Bae”, for example, has been widely used by African-Americans for years. It can be an expression of closeness with one's romantic partner or, like “sweetheart”, for someone without romantic connection. After pop singer Pharrell used the word in his work, “bae” became mainstream.

Some people might think millennial slangs lower the value of the English language, but Melboume University linguist Rosey Billington doesn't agree. She says when people are able to use a language in a creative way, they show that they know the language rules well enough to use words differently. Two other linguists, Lauren Spradlin and Taylor Jones, share the sane view. The two analysed hundreds of examples of totes-speak and discovered totesing has complex roots. It isn't simply an adult version of baby talk, nor a clever way to minimize your word count. Rather, it is a highly organized system that relies on a speaker's mastery of English pronunciation. It is about sounds, follows sound system of English and has strict rules.

【推荐1】Using less energy around the home is easier than you might think, saving your money while creating a healthier, more comfortable living space for you and your family. Changing a few old habits can make an impact on your energy bill, your comfort and the environment. Here are some handy tips to make your house more energy-efficient.

Lower the heat

If your home has adjustable central heating, lowering the room temperature even slightly can make a difference. You may not feel it, but your wallet will. It is even more advisable to control temperatures at different times of the day.

Hang clothes out to dry

If the weather allows it, head outside and dry your laundry on a clothesline. The sunlight will help eliminate (除去) bacteria and dust. While clothes dryers get the job done faster, they also use up energy. By hanging your clothes out, you' ll be cutting greenhouse gases by about three kilograms per load.

Take advantage of natural light

Installing (安装) large windows on the northern side of your house can help you make use of sunlight's natural warmth. To stay cool indoors on hot summer days, install blinds (百叶窗) to block the heavy sun. Put your desk near the window, then you don't need a lamp in the daytime.

Wrap (裹) your pipes

Be sure your hot-water pipes are properly wrapped. In an average home, heating water accounts for more than one-quarter of the energy bill. Why let warmth go to waste before it reaches you?

Choose the right size for appliances (家用电器)

When the time comes to replace (更换) appliances, select those that are both energy-efficient and of the appropriate size for your needs. Don' t buy bigger ones just because you can.

【推荐2】Enter for a chances to win a Montana adventure

Imagine yourself hiking on the same route that Lewis and Clark once explored, fly fishing and whitewater rafting（激浪漂流）in beautiful lakes and rivers, learning how to speak Blackfeet, digging for ancient dinosaur remains, and standing at the edge of a 6,000-year-old glacier（冰川）in Glacier National Park. You have the chance to do all of this and much more with the National Geographic Kids Hands-On Explorer Challenge Expedition Team. The Hands-On Explorer Challenge is heading west in 2016 to Montana.

HIKE!

Montana is home to many species of plants and animals. Follow in the footsteps of legendary explorers and get a close-up view of waterfalls, wildflowers, and wildlife.

DIG!

Some of the most important dinosaur discoveries have been found in Montana. You’ll discover treasures yourself as you dig for ancient dinosaur remains in Montana’s High Plains.

CULTURE!

Montana has eleven Native American tribes (部落)―each one filled with a unique heritage (遗产) and lots of rich traditions. View the world as they see it through their dances, songs, food, games and languages.

HOW TO ENTER

1. Write an original, personal essay in English of no more than 300 words telling us how you explore your world and what it is about exploration that inspires and excites you.

2. Take a photograph of what, where, or how you explored the subject of your essay.

3. Enter by January 7, 2016. Open to kids who will be ages 9—14.

4. Send your entry (参赛) form essay, and photo (as described in the Official Rules) to: NG Kids Hands-On Explorer Challenge National Geographic Kids magazine /CDH 1145 17th Street NW Washington DC 20036. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO KIDS. NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/KIDS/CONTESTS/EXPLORER- TRIP-2016.

【推荐3】In the fall of 2017, when Naomi needed to get a job, she found herself at a crossroads. The 50-year-old wasn’t sure she would ever work again, due to health issues.

But Naomi’s life and career journey started to turn around after she connected with Bestwill of Central Iowa’s skills training programs. These programs are tailored to help people develop the kind of specific, real-world skills they need to get or keep a job, through a combination of detailed instructions and hands-on experience.

When Naomi first connected with Bestwill in September 2017, she was dealing with several barriers to immediate employment. Transportation was challenging, as she didn’t have a driver’s license or own a car. Naomi also had a limited work history with long employment gaps, meaning she missed out on learning important skills, such as working a credit card machine. On top of that, her physical health issues were also a problem.

According to Duff, a career specialist at Bestwill of Central Iowa, the biggest barrier Naomi had to overcome was from within. “She said outwardly that she had all of this confidence and that she knew how strong a worker she was, but I don’t think she truly believed it herself.”

Thankfully, Naomi had plenty of people on her side to provide motivation and guidance. She originally started off in the food service training program but was eager to enter the retail skills program, since she had previously worked at the Salvation Army and Subway. When Naomi mentioned her interest in retail, Duff recognized that her go-getting attitude would be a perfect match for the program.

The seven-week retail skills training is a systematic program combining classroom instructions with on-the-job experience at a Goodwill store. As Naomi progressed and graduated from the program, she became more confident in her abilities.

Duff said it was great to see how Naomi grew into the devoted, driven worker she is today. “She has this strong desire, this longing to succeed. And she knows that she’s able to do that, although she has fallen short in the past.”

【推荐1】Light pollution is blocking a starry view of the night sky for more than half of people across England, a research has found.

Fifty-seven percent of stargazers(观星者)struggled to see more than 10 stars, while just 2% of participants said they experienced a truly dark sky enabling them to count more than 30, according to the research by the Campaign to Protect Rural England(CPRE). People in the countryside were encouraged to count how many stars they could see with eyes within the constellation(星座)of Orion, which is visible only in the winter months.

Campaigners said the results of the star count, supported by the British Astronomical Association, showed the problem of light pollution and how it affected one of the countryside's most magical sights-a dark, starry night sky. They said the results of the research to map England's night skies suggested more could be done by the government, local councils and the general public to lessen the negative effects of artificial light from streets and buildings.

Emma Marrington, dark skies campaigner at the CPRE, said, “We're hugely grateful to the people who took the time to get out and take part in our star count. But it's deeply disappointing that the vast majority were unable to experience the natural wonder of a truly dark sky blanketed with stars. Without intervention, our night sky will continue to be lost under a covering of artificial light, ruining the health of the natural world.”

She added, “The star count results show just how far-reaching the light from street lights and buildings can be seen. Light doesn't respect boundaries, and careless use can see it spread for miles from cities.”

She suggested better-designed lighting, street light dimming(暗淡)systems and partnight lighting where some street lights are turned off during the small hours should provide an opportunity to limit the damage caused by light pollution, reduce carbon emissions and save money.

【推荐2】When you buy fresh-cut flowers, do you think about where they came from？You might think they were grown somewhere nearby. The reality, though, is that the cut flower trade is increasingly International. Today, thanks to airplanes and high-tech cooling systems, even the most delicate flower be exported and sold thousands of kilometers away from where it was grown.

The Netherlands handles about 60 percent of the world’s cut flowers. And its auction houses（拍卖行）are very large---Aalsmeer, near Amsterdam, is auction house in the sense that Tokyo is a city, or Everest a mountain. About 120 soccer fields would fill its main building. Nineteen million flowers are sold here on an average day.

The Netherlands is also a world leader in developing new flower varieties. Dutch companies and the government invest a great amount of money in flower research. Their scientists look for ways to lengthen a flower’s vase life, to strengthen flowers to prevent them from being damaged while traveling, and also to strengthen the natural fragrance of the flowers.

There are also many other places with a better climate for growing flowers, and the climate of Ecuador is almost perfect. With predictable rainy periods and 12 hours of sunlight each day, Ecuador’s roses are famous for their large heads and long, straight stems（茎）. Every year, Ecuador sells about 500 million flowers to the U.S. alone. The industry has brought employment opportunities and a stronger economy to the country. “My family has TV now. There are radios.” says Yolanda Quishpe, 20, who picked roses for four years.

To others, the increasingly international nature of the flower trade is very bad news. In recent years local growers in the U.S. faced huge competition from international flower companies, and many lost their businesses. Lina Hale, an independent rose grower said her father had predicted the situation in the 1980s. “I see a train coming down the track,” he warned her, “and it’s coming straight towards us.”

【推荐3】The entire global population of marbled crayfish (龙纹虾) has been traced to a single female held in a German aquarium (水族馆), which was born with the ability to reproduce without males. Every marbled crayfish is female, and every egg laid is an exact clone of its mother. The ability to reproduce quickly with such ease made them popular in the aquarium trade, but when they found their way into the wild, the crayfish got out of control.

The first known marbled crayfish appeared in 1995. Since then, they have spread into the wild and populated in freshwater ecosystems around the world. Scientists studying this animal have raised the alarm about its likely influence on local wildlife, ecosystems and agriculture as it spreads into new environments. Successful non-native species like the marbled crayfish often cause trouble when they arrive in new environments, as they can feed on local wildlife or compete with it for resources.

According to Dr Frank Lyko, a researcher at the German Cancer Research Centre, the first marbled crayfish appeared due to a sudden change in its parents’ cells. It was an animal that reproduces clonally and therefore represents a model of a central aspect in tumor (肿瘤) development.

“Tumor genomes (基因组) also develop clonally, because they go back to a single original cell,” he said. However, both crayfish and tumors are still able to adapt to their environments through a process termed “clonal evolution”, and in both cases this can be harmful. In crayfish, their ability to adapt means they can spread to a variety of different environments and climates, and in tumors this means they can develop resistance (抵抗) against cancer-targeting drugs.

At present, with the potential influence of the increasing marbled crayfish on local places, governments from different places are working on controlling their population.