【推荐1】We are often encouraged to perform random acts of kindness. It urges us to do kind things for others without thinking or planning ahead. Research shows that acts of kindness can make us feel better and improve our health. Researchers also say kindness plays an important part in how humans develop. Scientific evidence suggests that we are designed to be kind.

Most animals are only helpful to those in their close “family” groups but are not kind or helpful to strangers. But humans are different. Humans realize that there is not much difference between those close to us and strangers. Strangers can help us if we are kind to them. That is why we help strangers in need. In English there’s an expression: to rely on the kindness of strangers.

Research shows that our bodies can also reward us for being kind to others. Scientists have tested this idea in many experiments over the past 20 years. Psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky has found repeatedly that people feel better when they are kind to others, even more so than when they are kind to themselves. “Acts of kindness are very powerful,” she said. In one experiment, she asked people to perform three acts of kindness for other individuals each week. These kind acts include opening a door for someone. She asked a different group to do three acts of self-kindness. People who were kind to others reported feeling happier and more connected to the world.

Lyubomirsky studied a group of people with the disease multiple sclerosis (多发性硬化). She found that they felt better physically when they helped others. Her research showed that people who performed more acts of kindness had less inflammation (发炎) or swelling (肿胀) in their bodies.

【推荐3】We all know the pollution that’s created by driving oil cars. The world’s cities’ traffic is heavy, creating gases. The way to have a cleaner, greener future could be electric cars. But how positive and optimistic should we be?

There was much excitement last year when the UK government said it would ban the sale of new oil cars from 2030. But is that easier said than done? The road to traffic being totally electric is still a long way off. At present, battery(电池) life is a problem—a fully charged(充电) battery won’t take you as far as a full box of oil.

Of course, technology is always improving. Some of the biggest technology companies, like Google and Tesla, are spending a lot of money developing electric cars. And most of the big car factories are now making them too. Colin Herron, an expert on low-carbon car technology, told the BBC: “Solid state batteries will take a big step forward. They will first be used on mobile phones and computers before they are used in cars.” These will charge more quickly and make cars go farther.

Cost is another problem that may stop people changing to electric power. But some countries offer encouragements, such as cutting prices by reducing taxes(税), and not charging for road tax or parking. Some also provide special roads for electric cars to be driven on, passing past traditional cars which might be stuck in jams. These kinds of ways have made Norway the country with the most electric cars on average at more than thirty electric cars per 1000 people.

But Colin Herron warns that “electric drive” doesn’t mean a zero-carbon future. “The car has to be built, the battery has to be built, and the electricity does come from somewhere.” Maybe it’s time to think about making fewer journeys or using public transport.

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【推荐2】Zhang Guimei showed us how to be a good teacher and the importance of a teacher in students’ lives.

In 2009, Zhang Guimei founded the Huaping High School for Girls in Lijiang, Yunnan Province. This was a special school which did not ask for tuition (学费) from girls in poor families. In 2003, Zhang began to raise money for the school, but her effort was often met with suspicion and even misunderstanding. Between 2003 and 2007, Zhang spent her spare time asking people to give money to her school. However, the money she got was far from enough. In 2007, after her dream was reported by media, the government promised to help her project.

Zhang carries on strict school rules. She plans every minute of her students’ timetable 5:20 am, she wakes up all the girls. They must take a nap in the afternoon. They are only allowed three hours a week outside of the school. And having long hair is no allowed. She wants to change the lives of many girls from poor families through education.

Eleven years later, over 1,600 girl students have graduated from the school and received higher education—including many famous universities in China.

When people asked why she made so much effort to help girls in the mountains get better education, she just said, “I believe it is really important for girls to get education because it will break the circle between uneducated mothers’ and children. I hope they can live happier than me.”

【推荐3】Is Chinese your favourite subject? Many foreigners（外国人）learn Chinese now.

In Russia（俄罗斯）, middle school students can learn Chinese at school. It’s an optional subject. Students have one or two Chinese lessons a week. In 2007, about 17, 000 people in Russia learn Chinese. And now, the number is 56, 000.

Sergey is one of them, He is a middle school student. He likes Chinese very much. Chinese is difficult for him to learn. Luckily, he has a good Chinese teacher—his mother. His mother is Chinese. Sergey likes Monday, because he has Chinese on Monday. His Chinese teacher at school is also fun. He learned Chinese for five years in China, and he often plays games and teaches some Chinese poems（诗）in class. Sergey learns the poems at school and reads them aloud to his mother at home. He thinks writing Chinese characters（汉字）is the hardest. He wants to visit China and make more Chinese friends when he grows up.