【推荐1】Long long ago, people lived a nomadic(游牧民族的) life. When the sun came up, people began to collect food. When the sun went down, they went to sleep.

All of that changed when they began to build towns. They needed a way to tell time and the first useful time-telling tool was invented — the sundial(日晷). As the sun travelled across the sky, it made shadows (影子) on the face of the time of day.

The hourglass(沙漏) was another time-telling tool. It was possible to get a general idea of the time.

In the 11th century, mechanical(机械的) clocks were invented. But they weren’t very accurate. They lost fifteen minutes each day and they became more accurate when small springs(小弹簧) were added to move the hands of the clock. As a result of this invention, clocks became smaller.

Over the next 300 years, many improvements were made to clocks and soon many people could afford a clock or watch. By the 1950s, digital(数字的) watches had been invented in 1967, the atomic(原子的) clock was developed. The atomic clock is accurate to within one second every twenty million years.

【推荐2】“They tell me that you’d like to make a statue of me — is that correct, Miss Vinnie Ream?”

The deep, gentle voice helped calm the nervous girl. Asking a favor of the President of the United States was no casual matter, especially for a seventeen-year-old girl.

“Yes, sir,” she replied, her dark eyes meeting his. “I wouldn’t have dared to ask you, but my teacher, Mr. Mills, says I am ready. I plan to make it in an admirable manner.”

President Lincoln smiled.“Painters, sculptors — they’ve all tried to make the best of this ordinary face, but I’m afraid there’s not much hope. What did you have in mind, Miss Ream? A bust (半身像)?”

Before Vinnie could say yes, the President hurried on, a shade of apology in his voice. “Of course — I shouldn’t have asked. A full-length pose would be much too big a project for a young woman your size.”

Vinnie’s face turned red. She realized she looked like a child, with her tiny figure. “Small does not mean weak, sir,” she defended herself. “I was born in the country of Wisconsin. I’ve driven teams of horses and carried water. Making a full-length clay (黏土) figure would not exhaust my strength — and that is what I intend to do!”

The President’s eyes, brightened at her show of spirit. “Sorry, madam, I have underestimated you as I didn’t know your background.”

But his smile faded as he rubbed his beard with bony fingers, in thought. “Miss Ream,” he sighed, “I’d like to let you do it, but as you know, we are in the middle of a war. How could I possibly take the time to pose for a sculpture now? I hardly have a minute to myself.”

Vinnie glanced around and noted the size of his office. “I work quickly,” she said. Her voice was soft but confident as she pointed to the corner near the windows. “If I were to bring my clay here and work for three hours every afternoon, I could complete most of the project while you are at your desk.”

The President seemed to consider her idea seriously. He got up and shook Vinnie’s hand warmly, “I’ve heard that you are a talented young woman, and I have found you charming and intelligent as well. I cannot make my decision immediately, but you will hear from me soon.”

The very next day, Vinnie received an invitation from the President.

【推荐3】In 1938 Portugal held a national competition to identify the country's most ''Portuguese” Village. Sticking to a rocky promontory（海角）far above the Beira Baixa plains, Monsanto is easily the most impressive. So it came out on top.

Cottages, a lot of which are made of very large round rocks, seem to grow out of the mountain itself. Above them rises a stone fortress(城堡), parts of which predate even the arrival of the Moors. And views across the plains are, simply put, astonishing.

Since being honored as the most Portuguese village, Monsanto has reminded largely separated from modernization. These days, goats and chickens seem to outnumber humans in the village. Most young people leave for large cities and the growing investment in the area’s heritage (遗产）has not encouraged more attractions for the younger generation. Tourists walking along the village's tiny streets can see elderly women walking and chatting in doorways.

Several houses near the village entrance are surprisingly grand. Halfway to the castle you'll come across the gruta, a cozy cave apparently once used as a pub …and still used as such. This stone fortress seems almost to have grown out of the hillside that supports it. It’s a wonderfully beautiful site, populated by wildflowers.

Alter Dom Sancho I drove out the Moors in the 12th century, the fortress was strengthened. Dom Dinis improved it, but after centuries of attacks from across the border it finally fell into ruin. Just below the entrance is a public square. To the right is a ruined Renaissance church and bell tower.

On 3 May Monsanto comes alive in the Festa das Cruzes, remembering a siege(围困）in the Middle Ages. The story goes that the starving villagers threw their Iasi lonely cow over the walls, making their enemies believe they had plenty of food, because they immediately abandoned the siege. These days, young girls throw baskets of flowers instead, after which there's dancing and singing beside the castle wall.