【推荐1】If you’re new to a school or you are shy or tend to not get out of your comfort zone, making new friends at school might seem like a challenge. Luckily, you can overcome that challenge by looking for people with the same interests as you and by being friendly when you meet new people. Also, participate in after-school clubs and events whenever you get the chance, since that will help you meet people outside of class!

Look for people who have the same hobbies as you.

You’re more likely to be friends with someone if you have something in common with them. Try to find clubs or groups based on your favorite hobbies, then join them to meet like-minded people. Also, pay attention to people who spend their free time doing the same things you love to do.

If you’re a passionate reader, join a book club, go to public readings, or start a conversation with someone who carries novels around with their textbooks.

Spend time around people who show kindness.

Finding someone who will treat you well and support you is more important than popularity. Avoid spending time with people who talk bad about others or put them down. Instead, look for people who invite others to sit with them at lunch, who encourage others when they speak up in class, or who are always willing to help when someone needs a hand.

Introduce yourself to new people whenever possible.

When you’re around someone you don’t know, it is not unusual to just sit there quietly, especially if you’re shy. However, you and the other person will both be more comfortable after a simple introduction. Make eye contact with the person, smile, and try to seem warm and relaxed instead of nervous or anxious. Then, break the ice by talking about whatever is going on around you.

Keep the conversation going with open-ended questions.

When you start talking to someone, try asking them questions about what they like to see what you have in common with them. However, avoid simply asking yes or no questions, since one-word answers don’t necessarily keep a conversation alive. You can ask questions about whatever you’re already talking about, or you can change the subject if you feel that ran its course.

【推荐2】Sharing a room with a family member or a friend can be tough (困难), but it becomes especially difficult when you are sharing it with someone you hardly know. If you find yourself in a similar situation, do not despair. There are things you can do to help you cope with having a roommate, no matter who it may be.

First of all, you have to remember that you get what you give. If you are nice to others, then others will be nice to you as well. You also need to set boundaries for yourself and for the other person. So before your new roommate moves in, talk to him. Set the rules early on and discuss your hopes.

Remember that there are two things that make up any good relationship: belief and respect. The same thing applies to (适用于) having a roommate. You have to respect each other. So he has that new PS3 game that you have always wanted to try out? Ask permission first. If he says no, don’t ask him for it again. If he lets you borrow his stuff, take care of the item and treat it as if it were your own. Make sure that you return it in the same condition as when you borrowed it.

To keep away from disagreements over who does the housework, clean as you go. For chores (杂务) that can be shared, you may want to divide it equally so that you don’t do all the housework. Take turns in washing the dishes. You may do it every other day or you may divide the task so that you only have to do it in the morning and your roommate will only have to do it at night.

When it comes to food and grocery items, determine what can be shared. Don’t be too mean when it comes to sharing food. On the other hand, determine what you can share and what you can’t and be clear about it. The advantage of sharing food is that you can save on time and food preparation.

【推荐3】If you make multiple trips to China every year, a 10-year visa can be a convenient option to consider. Let’s take a closer look at what it is and how you can apply for one.

What Is a 10-Year Visa?

A 10-year visa doesn’t permit you to stay in China for an entire decade; instead, it means that your visa remains valid for ten years. This type of visa allows short stays for tourists or business visits. The duration of each trip varies from 30–120 days based on your nationality and the purpose of your visit.

Reasons to Get a 10-Year Visa for China

1. Convenience: If you frequently travel to China for work or family purposes, having a 10-year travel visa can save you time and trouble by avoiding the need for a visa application process for each trip.

2. Cost-effective: For US citizens, the cost of a 10-year visa is the same as that of other short-term visas. Paying the $140+ fee just once will cover your visa expenses for the next ten years.

How to Apply for a 10-Year Visa?

1. Download the visa application form and fill it out.

Note: when filling out the application form, please select the “10-Year Visa” option.

2. Submit your documents.

3. Pay the visa application fee and collect your visa.

What Documents Do You Need to Apply for a 10-Year Visa?

- An original passport valid for six months with blank side-by-side visa pages.

- A completed visa application form.

- A recent passport photograph.

- Proof of a round-trip flight ticket booking record and hotel reservation.

【推荐3】Tracy was always hard-working and creative. She started a website called TEAM for girls when she was 16, and it’s doing better than ever.

TEAM now has 10 million visits every month.

When she was ten, Tracy drew four characters (人物). They are all girls, and they are good friends. She called them “Amazing Girls”. The main amazing girl, Miss E, represents (代表) her younger sister Elizabeth. Amy writes stories, and Mary answers questions. “Amazing Girls” finally became TEAM. “TEAM” means “Together everyone achieves more”.

At that time, Tracy wanted a safe and warm site for girls, but she couldn’t find one. So she decided to create one herself.

At first, Tracy asked family members and friends for help. Her computer teacher also helped her a lot. She created a small website. “There was a homepage, which had the four characters and simple flash animations (动画),” Tracy says. “It was very, very simple, but it was a start.”

Now it is a heaven for millions of girls. It has message boards, quizzes, games, music, and more. Girls can help each other with homework here. And they can also discuss fashion, dancing and singing stars. They feel free and comfortable. They have made their life more fruitful and meaningful.

“I’m able to learn so much about culture around the world,” Tracy says. “The goal for the site was, and still is, to help young girls to believe in themselves.”

【推荐1】For many years, scientists saw trees as independent living things. Each tree in the forest was trying to get light, water and nutrients. Trees competed for resources.     1     They cooperate with each other with the help of fungi (真菌).

In forests, fungi connect trees through underground networks. Trees’ roots branch out in all directions. The same soil is home to fungi, which can grow on and around tree roots. The fungi grow in thin threads (线状物). As they grow, the threads can link to numerous trees. The fungi create webs between trees known as mycorrhizal (菌根) networks.     2     The trees give sugars to the fungi and the fungi get mineral nutrients from the soil. They share them with the trees.

The fungi in a mycorrhizal network link the trees together.     3     For example, if a young plant is growing in a shaded area, it may not get enough sunlight. However, larger trees growing around it can send sugars to the young tree’s roots through the fungi. Similarly, if a tree is dying, it might give its nutrients to the healthy trees growing around it.

Mycorrhizal networks are not always cooperative. Some plants will use the networks to take nutrients from their neighbors. Some flowers will steal food from other plants.     4     They want to harm plants that are competing for sunlight and water.

    5     They can send chemical or electrical signals through the wood wide web. If a tree is being eaten by insects, it will send out signals for help. Similarly, when diseases attack trees, they can send out chemicals.

【推荐2】Sunflower season generally runs from late July, so be sure to visit the best sunflower fields near Chicago.

Thompson Strawberry Farm

This huge Wisconsin sunflower field covers an area of 15 acres, so come prepared with scissors and a jar to prepare for a long day of picking. Visitors are welcome to cut up to a dozen sunflowers from the field, but if you really want to take home a few more, additional flowers will only set you back a dollar each.

$25 per car for up to six people, $5 per person for more than six people.

Heap's Giant Pumpkin Farm

Flower enthusiasts will delight in walking through more than 5 acres of sunflowers at this farm, which offers an all—day pass that gives you access to the sunflower field and other farm attractions like corn mazes(迷宫). You can buy a De Bucket: a $20 basket you can fill with as many flowers as you can fit inside.

Thistleberry Farm

Though some of its previous summer sunflower fields have already been cleaned, South Bend's Thistleberry Farm will once again erupt in a 3—acre sea of sunflowers from September 16—27. You can order tickets online to reserve a spot before visiting.

$6 per person plus a $ l online processing fee.

M&D Farm and Garden Center

Located just 45 minutes of driving outside the city in Homer Glen, Illinois, this 10—acre farm allow for six weeks throughout the season. Check the farm's Facebook page for updates about when the field will enter full golden time — and when you visit, be sure to have a couple of fresh cut sunflowers for $2.50 each.

$5 Monday —Friday, $7 Saturday — Sunday, children under 3 free.

【推荐3】It’s a fascinating story of how nature is reclaiming and transforming the broken soil we leave behind. Wildlife filmmaker Dan O’Neill and zoologist Yussef Rafik are on a mission to uncover the wildlife secrets hidden inside some abandoned places.

This island off the Scottish coast had been an important strategic location for military defences for over 500 years by 1957. While its buildings might be empty and in bad condition, the wildlife has bloomed. Dan and Yussef watch young seal pups on the beach and spot seabirds and European cave spiders.

Dan and Yussef visit this former slate quarry（采石场） in Wales. Dinorwic closed its doors in 1969 and nature has slowly been reclaiming the land ever since. Dan and Yussef are searching for the fastest animal in the world, the peregrine falcon（游隼） and spot rare wild mountain goats.

Today it looks more like a set from a film, but at its peak Chatterley Whitfield was a busy coalmine. Since it was closed in 1977, wildlife has taken hold. Dan and Yussef find plants including sunflowers that have sprung up in the most unlikely places. And hidden cameras capture footage of the rabbits and foxes wandering these empty buildings at night.

Dan and Yussef explore one of the seven great graveyards in London, which was closed right after the Second World War and soon became neglected. Now hundreds of species live alongside the dead. Dan spots bright green ring-necked parakeets, the non-native bird that’s made London its home and the pair sample blackberries growing among the graves.