【推荐3】Your next car might drive itself. After years of trials on city streets, driverless vehicles are now nearing the production phase. Last month, a driverless bus began carrying passengers through Lyon, France. Most in the automobile industry think self-driving vehicles will be on the road by 2020 or before.

Driverless cars will at first be huddled with human-driven cars. But the first places where they will become dominant（占支配地位的）are dense urban areas-precisely the spots most damaged by the automobile age. Many advanced cities are already reducing the role of human-driven cars. Driverless cars will quicken that process and will bring us great benefits.

Driverless cars will reduce accidents by around 90 percent. That's big-the annual death toll on the world's roads is about 1.2 million a year. Pollution and carbon emissions will drop, because urban driverless cars will be electric. The old, otherwise they would stay at home most of the time and the disabled and teenagers will suddenly gain mobility.

On the other hand, driverless cars will bring catastrophe（灾难）.The best thing about the automobile age is that it employs tens of millions of people to make, market, insure and drive vehicles. Over the next 20 years, most men who now drive trucks, taxis and buses will see their jobs reduced. Carmakers are especially scared. A few cars in the future might be made by tech companies such as Apple, Baidu and Google. Imaging the impact on Germany, where the automotive sector is the largest industry.

Dramatic change is coming, and driverless cars could arrive by 2020. But governments have hardly begun thinking about it. Only 6 percent of the biggest US cities have factored them into their long-term planning.

A decade ago anyone hardly saw the smartphone coming. It has brought an epidemic of mass addiction. Let's hope we do a better job of handling the driverless car.

【推荐1】Happiness is important for everyone. Most people want to be happy but few know how to find happiness. Money and success don’t bring long-lasting happiness. Happiness depends on ourselves. In other words, we make our own happiness.

Some people believe that if they are wealthy, with the money they will be able to do anything they want, which means happiness. On the other hand, some people believe that holding a high position in the government is happiness. In this way, you have not only money, but also many other things which can’t be bought by money. However, other people believe that having lots of money is not happiness, nor is holding a high position in the government. These people value (重视) their beliefs, or their intelligence, or their health. They think these can make them happy.

Here are a few ways to help you be happier.

The first secret of happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life. Too often, we spend so much time thinking about the future, for example, getting into college or getting a good job that we don’t enjoy the present. You should enjoy life’s simple pleasures, such as reading a good book, listening to your favorite music, or spending time with close friends. People who have close friends usually enjoy happier and healthier lives.

The second secret of happiness is to be active. Many people go dancing or play sports. People can forget about their problems and only think about the activities.

Finally, many people find happiness in helping others. According to studies, people feel good when they volunteer their time to do many meaningful things for other people. If you want to feel happier, do something nice for someone. You can help a friend with his or her studies, go shopping to get food for an old neighbor, or simply help around the house.

Now maybe you know how to find happiness!

【推荐2】Electric cars have been gaining popularity in recent years, and for good reason. Not only are they cost-effective in the long run, but they also offer many benefits for the environment. Here are three reasons why electric cars are great for the planet.

One of the biggest advantages of electric cars is that they produce zero emissions (排放). Unlike gasoline cars that emit harmful pollutants into the air, electric cars are powered by electricity that is generated from renewable sources such as wind or solar power. This means that when you drive an electric car, you’re not only saving money on gas, but you’re also helping to improve air quality.

Electric cars also save more energy than gasoline cars. When you drive a gasoline car, only about 20% of the energy made by the fuel is actually used to move the car forward. The rest of the energy is lost to heat and other things. Electric cars, on the other hand, convert (转化) almost 100% of the energy stored in the battery into motion. This means that electric cars can travel further on the same amount of energy, which is great news for the environment.

Another benefit of electric cars is that they reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Gasoline cars are powered by gasoline, which is a non-renewable resource that is taken from the earth. As we continue to use gasoline, we’re using the earth’s natural resources and contributing to climate change. By driving electric cars, we can reduce our need for gasoline and move towards renewable sources of energy.

In conclusion, electric cars offer many benefits for the environment, including zero emissions, energy efficiency, and reduced need on fossil fuels. As more people make the switch to electric cars, we can help to create a cleaner and more sustainable future for ourselves and for future generations.

【推荐3】Get your vaccine shot

The COVID-19 virus is still spreading around the world. It hangs over all of us. But some good news about vaccines ( 疫 苗 ) for COVID-19 is bringing us closer to ending this terrible pandemic.

On Dec 8, the UK rolled out (推出) a vaccine made by Pfizer and BioNTech. The US started its own COVID-19 vaccine rollout nationwide on Dec 14, Xinhua reported.

China will start vaccinating high-risk groups over the winter, Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health Commission (NHC, 国家卫生健康委员会), said at a press conference on Dec 19.

This means that those who work in the cold-chain industry, healthcare, customs ( 海 关 ), seafood markets and public transportation are among those who will receive the vaccine first. Their work puts them at higher risk of being infected (感染).

This is the first step in China’s COVID-19 vaccination plan, Zeng said. As more vaccines are approved (批准) and produced, elderly people, people with underlying conditions (基础疾病) and the general public will receive vaccines in an orderly manner.

China’s COVID-19 vaccines can offer effective protection for at least six months, Zeng pointed out. Vaccination experiments have shown that the vaccines are safe and effective.

As for those who are not among the first to receive vaccines, officials at the NHC said there’s no need to worry. “Wearing masks in public places, practicing social distance and washing hands are protective measures that have been proven to be very effective,” said Cui Gang, a senior NHC official.