【推荐3】A big sandstorm hit China in early April. It covered many places in thick clouds of yellow dust, including Qinghai, Heilongjiang and Beijing. The dust even traveled to Shanghai and Jiangsu. Where did such a strong sandstorm come and why?

It came from the Gobi Desert areas of Mongolia. This year’s wind was very strong there. It is because the temperatures this spring are higher than before. There was also little rain. So the land was dry and it was difficult for plants to hold sand and dust.

China has been working for many years to fight against sandstorms. In the 1970s, China started the Three-North Shelter Forest Program. It planned to plant trees in northern China to stop sandstorms and improve the environment. More than 66 billion trees have been planted so far.

But it also needs the effort of many countries and international cooperation. For example, about 70 percent of the land in Mongolia is facing desertification(沙漠化). Sand in the country has become a source(来源)of sandstorms in China and other countries nearby.

How to protect yourself in sandstorms:

☆Stay in a room with the doors and windows closed.

☆If you’re outside, avoid riding a bike. Cover your face and wear special glasses.

☆Stay away from trees if you are outside.

☆Go to the hospital if you are coughing a lot.

☆Airports, highways, and ports should be closed.

【推荐1】Do you like skiing? When it comes to skiing, we have to mention one person—Shan Zhaojian. He is known as China’s father of skiing.

In 1938, Shan was born in Tonghua, a city known for its ice and snow. In the 1950s, China began to develop winter sports in its northeastern areas, and Tonghua set up its first cross-country ski team. Shan joined it when he was 16.

“But things were really tough at that time. We didn’t have good equipment（装备）. We had to make skis out of wood by ourselves. But I kept practicing hard and believed we could do well,” he said. From 1957 to 1960, Shan won 10 medals in different national skiing competitions.

Because of some health problems, Shan said goodbye to his role as a skier at age 24, but he stayed close to the winter sport he loved. He worked as a ski coach, leader of Chinese Ski Association and head of Chinese Ski Team. After his retirement（退休）in 1998, Shan spent much time studying the history and culture of skiing, giving public talks and holding activities about ice and snow in schools across the country. “I hope to see more people take part in ice and snow sports,” he said.

Dorothy and her friends want to go to the Yellow Road, but there is a river in front of them.

“How can we cross (渡过) that river?” the Tin Woodman (铁皮人) asks.

“Easy!” the Scarecrow (稻草人) says, “We can cut some trees and make a boat.”

They work together and the boat is ready the next morning. They all get on it. The Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow use long poles (杆子) to make the boat go. But the water runs very fast. It takes them down the river and they are far away from the Yellow Road.

The Tin Woodman worries. “It’s no good,” he says.

“No, not at all.” says the Scarecrow, “It’ll be very dangerous (危险的) for us.”

“What’s wrong?” asks Dorothy.

“If the river takes us down the river, we’re going to the Wicked Witch (女巫) of the West,” answers the Tin Woodman, “she may catch and eat us!”

“Oh, no, I’m afraid.” Dorothy cries.

“We must go back to the Yellow Road,” the Scarecrow says. He tries to stop the boat with his pole. The boat goes away, but the Scarecrow is not on the boat. He is still on the pole in the middle of the river.

“Goodbye!” the Scarecrow shouts to his friends.

“How can we help him?” Dorothy asks sadly.

“Well, if one of us can fly, it would be easy,” the Tin Woodman says.