Smart phones have clearly changed our life. Now many things can be done on the phone. For many smart phone users,     21     young people, scanning QR Codes （⼆维码）has become a new and convenient life     22     these days. In fact, the QR Code was created in Japan in 1994, but until 11 years later, it was first used in China. It soon became popular around the country. The QR Code is much-loved because it     23     a way to get to website more quickly. By scanning QR Codes, people can do lots of things, such as adding new friends, getting information, downloading Apps, shopping and so on. As for the shopping websites, there are usually more     24     , including coupons （优惠券）for the phone users. The QR code is so common that people can scan them everywhere.

Fireworks are always an important part of celebrations. We all enjoy watching bright firework shows in the sky. However, in an Italian town called Collecchio, the local government has made a law: fireworks in their town must be silent. The law is     25     made for animals. Fireworks are beautiful, but their sound is too much for animals. Every time we set off fireworks to celebrate a holiday, our animals do not want to be anywhere near them. Animals'     26     is very sensitive. They have no idea what fireworks are and are afraid of them. Dogs even hurt themselves while trying to hide from the loud noise. Many of them run out and get     27     by cars. What's more, the noise and smoke of fireworks are unhealthy for animals. Some animals keep     28     in fear and even get heart problems. To show love and respect for the animals, the town of Collecchio passed the firework law in 2015. With the help of a firework company, people in the town are now able to watch a silent but wonderful firework show with their pets.

Practice doesn't always make perfect when it comes to becoming the next Mozart, a new study suggests. This may be because some aspects of musical talent are built into the genes（基因），the researchers said. Samuel Osmond is a 19-year-old law student from Cornwall, England. He never studied the piano. However, he can play very difficult musical pieces by musicians such as Chopin and Beethoven just a few minutes after he hears them. He learns a piece of music by listening to it in parts. Then he thinks about the notes（音符）in his head. Two years ago, he played his first piece Moonlight Sonata（奏鸣曲）by Beethoven. He surprised everyone around him.

Amazed that he remembered this long and difficult piece of music and played it perfectly, his teachers say Samuel is unbelievable. They say his ability is very rare, but Samuel doesn't even realize that what he can do is special. Samuel wanted to become a lawyer as it was the wish of his parents, but music teachers told him he should study music instead. Now, he studies law and music.

Samuel can't understand why everyone is so surprised. "I grew up with music. My mother played the piano and my father played the guitar. About two years ago. I suddenly decided to start playing the piano, without being able to read music and without having any lessons. It comes easily to me--I hear the notes and can bear them in mind--each and every note. "says Samuel. Recently. Samuel performed a piece during a special event at his college. The piece had more than a thousand notes. The audience was impressed by his amazing performance. He is now learning a piece that is so difficult that many professional pianists can't play it. Samuel says confidently, "It's all about super memory--I guess I have that gift."

However. Samuel's ability to remember things doesn't stop with music. His family says that even when he was a young boy. Samuel heard someone read a story, and then he could retell the story word for word. Samuel is still only a teenager. He doesn't know what he wants to do in the future. For now, he is just happy to play beautiful music and continue his studies.

On December 23, 2008, Niu Niu held a piano recital(独奏会) at the national Grand Theater. As an eleven-year-old boy, he became the youngest pianist ever to perform a concert at the theater.

Never too young to learn

Niu Niu was born into a musical family in Xiamen. His father Zhang was a piano teacher. Niu Niu grew up listening to his father’s student playing the piano. At just three years old, Niu Niu asked his father to teach him to play, too.

“I gave Niu Niu some sheet music(活动乐谱) and helped him find the eight notes(琴键) when he first played the piano. To my surprise, he played nearly 80 percent correct,” said the father. He used to think that 3 years old is too young an age to learn piano, but Niu Niu changed his mind. He continued to allow Niu Niu to watch his teaching of other students and gave him more sheet music to play.

Playing for fun

Zhang started teaching Niu Niu standard piano lessons when he was four. Unlike many other piano teachers, Zhang didn’t insist that Niu Niu play strictly with the correct finger positioning(指法). He said that the strict finger positioning would rob some kids of fun of playing. So Niu Niu could play in his own way. He could play the tone successfully. But Niu Niu was required to play the music without looking at the sheet music. Now he can memorize about 80 pages.

Rising to fame

In 2003, at the age of 6, Niu Niu successfully held a sole concert(独唱⾳乐会) in his hometown Xiamen. At the age of 8, he gave a performance at the International Piano Festival in France. At the age of 10, Niu Niu played in London and his performance was praised by Prince Charles. Last year, this young pianist published his first album(专辑) “Niu Niu Plays Mozart” and over 10,000 copies have been sold in the world.

We are very glad to see a young Chinese pianist rising in the music world.