【推荐1】This is a common situation for beginner-level language learners—they want to read classic(经典的) books, but what their language skills allow are usually little more than children's books.

Oxford University Press tried to solve this problem back in 1988 by designing a series of graded English reading materials known as the Oxford Bookworms Library. It now has a collection of over 200 books—many of them simplified versions of classics—which fall into seven difficulty levels from “starter level” to level six.

However, there has always been a debate over whether shortened versions of classics have less value. Some worry that by reading them, students don't get to learn the essence of the original(原版的) text.

Rob Waring, a Japanese professor, mentions one of his students, Satoko, as an example in his booklet The "Whay" and “How" of Using Graded Readers. Satoko was a Japanese student majoring in English. But by the time she graduated, she had only managed to finish reading just one English book because it was far beyond her language level. “For Satoko, reading in English was a fight; a fight that she lost,” wrote Waring, who suggested that reading easy texts is necessary because it helps language learners build up confidence and fluency in reading. By reading a lot—rather than getting stuck in one book—they can get used to kinds of English expressions and writing styles. Only by doing this can they reach what Waring calls the “reading-with-ideas” level of reading.

So it doesn't matter if the books ae original classics or not-for beginner-level language learners, the simple act of reading is a form of learning in itself. "Stories offer a window to other cultures, other worlds, real or imagined, beyond the classroom," Jennifer Bassett, the first editor of the Oxford Bookworms Library, said in an interview with GetEnglishLessons.

【推荐3】As an elementary school teacher, my mother did everything she could to ensure I had good reading skills. This usually consisted of weekend reading lessons at our kitchen table while my friends played outside. My reading ability improved, but the forced reading lessons didn't exactly inspire a love of reading.

High school changed everything. I learned that I couldn't depend on a school or a teacher to teach me what I needed to know. I decided I would no longer allow other people to instruct when and what I read. And without realizing it, I had unexpectedly discovered a key to helping children read-identity.

Instead of focusing on skills and moving students from one reading level to another, we should be asking ourselves this question: How can we inspire children to identify as readers? DeSean, a brilliant first-grader I taught in the Bronx, helped me understand how identify shaped learning. One day during math, I walked up to DeSean and said, "DeSean, you' re a great mathematician." He looked at me and responded, "I'm not a mathematician; I'm a math genius!"

"OK, DeSean, what about your reading?" I asked.

"Mr. lrby, I can't read. I' m never going to learn to read," he would say. I taught DeSean to read, but there were countless boys who remained trapped in illiteracy(文育).

This is why I set up Barbershop Books, a literacy non-profit that creates child-friendly reading spaces in barbershops. The mission（任务）is to help young boys identify as readers. Lots of boys to to the barber shop once or twice a month. Barbershop Books connects reading to a male-centered space and involves men and boy’s early reading experiences.

This identity-based reading program uses a list of children’s books recommended by boys, which inspires children to say three words: I’m a reader.

【推荐1】Even for a civilization as advanced as the Harappan, a second drought was perhaps one too many. The climate disaster may be what drove the ancient society to disappear step by.

The Harappan started in the Indus valley around 5200 years ago, strongest around 2600 BC. Much about them is unknown. Yet archaeological remains tell the story of the people, skilled in trade and city planning, and particularly good at controlling water. Their huge cities, complete with excellent systems for underground water and public baths, existed long before the Roman Empire.

But by 1900 BC, their society seemed to be on the fall, and by 1300 BC, the Harappan civilizations had broken down. Several ideas have been put forward to explain the downfall, including invasion and climate change. One recent study refers to a major drought in the northern half around 4200 years ago. This event was recently considered as the start of the Meghalayan period. It is thought to have broken up climate systems around the world, including the summer monsoon rainfall the Harappan depended on.

Nick Scroxton at University College Dublin, Ireland, and his team are now challenging this idea after studying 10 ancient records. They found some facts of a sudden drought starting around 4260 years ago. The study suggests the Harappan faced a sharp decrease in winter rain. “The civilization suffered, that's for sure,” says Scroxton. But that wasn't the end of the Harappan. “Their politics might change, the crops might change, the location of their cities changes, but they adapt,” says Scroxton.

Some 300 years later, however, just as the winter rains were starting to recover, a hottest drought kicked off. This was a slowing reduction in the sum monsoon rains over several centuries. Scroxton and his team say this second drought changed the Harappan into a poor society that disappeared at last.

【推荐2】By drawing patterns on the surface of a cup of tea, chabaixi, an ancient Chinese tea trick displayed in a recent TV drama, has gone viral for its apparent similarity with modern latte art (咖啡拉花艺术). However, ten years ago, this distinctive technique was close to disappearing completely. Zhang Zhifeng, a practitioner of chabaixi, found scenes of chabaixi in the drama aroused great interest among ordinary people.

Chabaixi can create endless patterns such as bamboos and mountains or even calligraphy. There are over a dozen steps, from grinding (碾碎) tea for fine powder, to pouring boiled water, stirring the mixture for thick froth, and finally drawing the patterns. It is different from making latte because people use clear water as the object to put into the cup instead of milk. But when the water touches the surface of whipped (搅打起泡沫的) tea, it turns into a white color and disappears in 20 minutes. The process before the drawing is known as the tea-making technique, diancha. The quality of diancha is crucial to whether patterns can be successfully produced later.

“Chabaixi is one of the countless forms of tea-making techniques in China. The importance of chabaixi is not only that this technique is unique in the world, but also it gives us a window into people’s lifestyle in the Song Dynasty, a period of time when leisure activities in some ways resemble what we have now,” Zhang said.

Before chabaixi was discovered by TV audiences, the technique was listed as part of China’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017, after it was recovered by Zhang Zhifeng. He started researching the origins of chabaixi in the 1980s and brought the technique back in 2009 after decades of trials and practice. Zhang spent nearly 30 years studying and researching the origins and making of tea, but for him it was all worthwhile.

“This technique is key to the tea culture of the Song Dynasty, and it would be a shame to let it fade. This technique must be passed on to the next generations so they can understand its history,” Zhang said.

【推荐3】The UNESCO has recognized the Chinese art of paper cutting on its Intangible Cultural Heritage List. But paper cutting is at the risk of disappearing.

Voyo Woo, a Chinese immigrant, who loves paper cutting, worked hard to celebrate the ancient art form. With a keen interest in paper cutting, Ms Woo held a paper cutting exhibition at a shopping center near Washington. “I really love it. I get so much fun by doing it. So I’m just kind of hoping that more people will learn about this art which is about to disappear. I think it’s time to take action. So I held it.”

Voyo Woo began to study paper cutting when she was a 14-year-old girl in southeastern China. Voyo Woo’s teacher gave her extra training after class because Voyo Woo discovered a special love for it. Later, her beautiful paper cuttings won second prize in a national painting competition. “Paper is the easiest material that you can find. You can just turn it into beautiful art. I think it is like magic to me.”

Ms Woo came to the US after she finished college in 2008. She has been invited to show the art at a wide collection of events. She also has shown her skill and works at famous museums like the Smithsonian Institution’s Freer and Sackler art galleries in Washington.

“I saw so many people coming to me and asking me. They were amazed. I think it’s important to introduce the art form to American people or anyone who is interested.”

Ms Woo placed examples of her art around her as she displayed paper cutting at the shopping center. Ann Russ, a shopper, was attracted by the nature of the work. She said it put her at ease. “I like to know about Chinese art, specifically because it’s almost relaxing to put that much effort into it,” Russ said.

【推荐3】More people have strong desire to travel and the market is seeing more opportunities for healing tourism, which means less tight schedules and more health related projects, bringing joy to the spirit, a new survey shows.

As China improved their COVID-19 response measures, the pent-up travel demand has been released (解除). About 91.24 percent of respondents to the survey conducted by Chinese financial media outlet Yicai said they have a plan to travel this year. About 60 percent of respondents said they have a plan to travel domestically, while 32.37 percent choose both domestic and outbound tourism this year.

Though the tourism industry was hit hard by COVID-19, after the pandemic people began to pay more attention to their health and have strengthened their will to travel, Cheng Chaogong, a senior researcher with the research institute of Tongcheng Travel, told Yicai.

A growing number of consumers are paying more attention to health-related consumption, among which healing tourism has become a bright spot. About 87 percent of respondents to the survey said they are willing to spend toward healthy products, and more than half, or 55.24 percent, said they plan to participate in healing tourism this year. In terms of tour cost, 57.39 percent of respondents said they would prefer 10,000-20,000 yuan per person per single trip, while 32.6 percent choose 5,000-10,000 yuan, according to a survey based on more than 1,200 questionnaires.

Data from travelling platforms showed cities located around the tropic of cancer (北回归线) such as Sanya, Zhuhai, Xishuangbanna, Dali, Xiamen, Haikou, Tengchong and Beihai are becoming popular.

【推荐1】There is one language that is used in every country in the world. The people who use it are young and old, short and tall, thin and fat. It is everybody’s second language. It is easy to understand, although you can’t hear it. It is sign language.

When you wave to a friend who is across the street, you are using sign language. When you nod to someone, you are saying, “I want to be friendly.” But you are not using speech; you are using sign language. When you raise your hand in class, you are saying, “Please ask me. I think I know the correct answer.”

Babies who can’t talk can point at things. They are using sign language. A policeman who wants to stop traffic holds up his hand. He is using sign language.

Many years ago, a French priest, Charles Michel de L’Epee, became interested in education for deaf people. He invented a finger alphabet, which is still in use today. People can make signs for letters and spell words with their hands, and deaf people can read and understand them. Soon there were schools for the deaf in many countries. There are many universities for the deaf in the US now.

The actors in the Theatre of Deaf don’t spell every word. Sometimes they use hand signs. When they put two hands together, it means sandwiches. They can make a roof with their hands when they want to show a house. One finger in front of an actor’s mouth can mean “be quiet”. You can talk to people who are behind windows that are closed. And when you go swimming with your friends, you can have conversations underwater.

【推荐3】The exam comes in July. When the exam finishes, the summer vacation begins. Boys and girls have two months to rest. The summer vacations are the best part of a year for most children. The weather is usually good. They can swim, go to summer camp or visit other places with their parents. 

We all know that the beaches are good places to relax. Some children are lucky to live near the sea. They can enjoy the sea at any time. But for the children who live far from the sea, they go to the beaches for only one or two weeks with their parents. 

Why do children like spending their summer vacation on the beaches? It is because they like the sand, the sun, the cool wind and the salt water. There are a lot of new things to see, nice things to eat and exciting things to do.