【推荐1】In America, there are chores for children of different ages. American people think it’s important to tell children their duty in the family. Use this list of age chores for your children.

【推荐3】Potatoes are very popular today. But in the past this was not true. Potatoes grew in South America 5,000 years ago. But they only became popular in other places 200 years ago.

In the 16th century, the Spanish took the potato from South America to Europe. But the people didn’t like this strange vegetable. Some people thought that their skins would look like the skin of the plant if they ate the potato. So they only ate the leaves. This made them sick because there is something harmful in the leaves.

In the 1800s, people started to eat potatoes. Potatoes became the main food in Ireland. Then something unlucky happened. In 1845, a disease killed all the potatoes in Ireland. Two million people died of hunger.

Today each country has its potato dish. Germans eat potato salad, and the USA has the baked potato. Of course, the French invented French fries.

Experiencing life is a kind of learning.     1    

Take care of your body. Life always loves those people who look good. So it’s important for you to try your best to make you look best. I mean dressing nicely, exercising regularly and eating healthily.     2     You may even get better paid on your job. You should remember that your health is always your greatest wealth.

    3     In high school I was thinking about college. In college I was thinking about life after college. I’m planning my life and making decisions today that will enable me to live the life I hope for in the future. You have to think in the long term; You have to see the “big picture”. By planning your future properly, you will live into your   plans.

Be clear about the power of focus. If you fail in the lifetime, maybe it’s mainly because of broken focus. If you focus on the goals that are important to you, you will achieve them. What separates the winners from the losers is that the winners learn to focus on their goals.     4    

【推荐2】You may hear about earthquakes, but do you know what to do before, during and after an earthquake? Here is some advice for you:

    1    

It’s necessary to prepare yourself and your family. All family members should know how to turn off gas, water and electricity (电) and know useful telephone numbers (doctor, hospital, police, 119, etc.). Never put heavy things over beds.

    2    

It’s important for each of you to stay calm (冷静). If you are indoors, quickly move to a safe place in the room such as under a strong desk or a strong table.     3     Stay away from windows, large mirrors, heavy furniture and so on. If you are cooking, turn off the gas.

If you are outdoors, move to an open area like a playground.     4     If you are driving, stop the car as soon as possible, staying away from bridges and tall buildings. Stay in your car.

After an earthquake

Once the shaking has stopped, DO NOT run out of the building at once.

It’s better to wait and leave when it is safe. Check around you and help the people who are in trouble.     5     If you smell or hear a gas, get everyone outside and open windows and doors. If you can do it safely, turn off the gas. Report it to the gas company.

【推荐3】Hu Yaohui, a schoolgirl in Henan province, didn’t want to speak or eat for a week. She kept worrying about her scores on the exam.     1    

Stress is a normal physical response to things that make people feel worried or break their balance of life in some way. About 70 percent of the 2, 000 students to take the college and high school entrance exams feel under pressure.

    2     Sometimes, people’s stress is important during emergency situations, such as when a driver has to stop his car to avoid an accident. Sometimes, stress can also help people do their best while preparing for a big exam.

However, too much or long-term stress gives people a stress overload.

    3     They are quick to get angry or lose patience. They may even have other problems, such as sleeping problems, headaches and often getting colds.

    4     for example, you might manage it by getting a good night’s sleep, or by exercising every day.

Another good way to deal with stress is to ask parents or friends for help. Everyone has stress. For many people, stress is so common that it has become a way of life. Don’t be too shy to tell others that you are having a hard time.       5     Sometimes just sharing your problems with someone else can make you feel better.