One of the most popular items (项目) in the class newspaper is the advice column (专栏). Here are some of the questions and their answers:

Every thirty seconds there is an earthquake in the world. Some of these earthquakes are so weak that people can’t feel them. But some of them are very serious and many people get hurt or die in them. Do you know what causes earthquakes?

The earth’s surface (表面) has many pieces. These pieces are always moving. When two pieces move past each other, there is an earthquake. Scientists are trying to predict (预测) big earthquakes, but it’s very hard. Do you know how to protect yourself during an earthquake? Here are some ways. You should remember them.

Quickly move under a desk or along a wall. It will protect you from falling things. Don’t run out of the door.

Keep away from windows.

Turn off lights.

Don’t get into a lift. If you are in a lift, get out as quickly as possible.

Don’t stay near tall buildings and trees. Things may fall on you.

Be careful of fallen power lines.

Lie on the ground in clear areas until the shaking stops.

When I was a senior high school student, I had to drop out of school to work in a factory. Because my family couldn’t pay my tuition (学费).

Later on, something changed my life. I still remember that it was a rainy day. I walked slowly in the street. Suddenly the rain stopped! I raised my head and found “the sky” was in fact a dark blue umbrella. Then I noticed a middle-aged man with one leg on crutches (拐杖) standing behind me. He said to me, “Why not run without an umbrella? If you don’t run, you will get drenched.”

The man told me that he was a salesman (推销员). He once dreamed of being a policeman, but his dream ended in an accident. Though now his job was not fit for his legs, it was a wonderful start to him. He didn’t lose heart and still “ran” on the road of life. I was encouraged by the man’s words. I went to a big city and after two years’ running, my family condition (条件) turned much better. Later I returned to school and succeeded in my entrance to university.

Life is like this. When you are in rainy days in your life, if you can’t find a way to prevent you from being wet, you will be overwhelmed (被压倒). But if you decide to deal with it, you’ll find that the rainy days last not so long as you imagine.

What does filial piety (孝顺) mean to you? It might mean listening to your parents, helping them with housework, or just being kind to them. They are very common things. Everyone can do those.

Ten teens got awards (奖励) for their filial piety in a contest called Searching for Filial Teens. The youngest award-winner was 7 years old, while the oldest was 15. They come from different places, but they have something in common. They all love their parents. Now let’s learn about one of them here.

Yu Qiwei and his mom. CCTV

15-year-old Yu Qiwei, Sichuan Province, had a happy family of three. But several years ago, his father died while saving someone who was drowning (溺水). And his mother had a serious brain disease. He had to learn how to cook dinner, clean the rooms and wash clothes.

To make a living, his mother and he opened an online store. Yu worked for this store by buying goods and sending them to customers.

Though he was busy taking care of these things, he still did well in school. He spent his free time studying or staying with his mother. He saved money by not taking any after-school classes. “Life is hard, but one day, I will ‘fly’ high together with my mom,” Yu said.