2 . You may think you cannot live through summer without air conditioners （空调）. But in ancient China, hand fans were almost the only ones to help people keep cool.

Chinese people started to use hand fans more than 2,000 years ago. The fans came in different shapes, such as round and square. They were also made from all kinds of materials. Palm （棕榈） leaf fans were cheap and easy to make. Feather fans （羽毛扇） showed the owner’s high status （地位）. Sandalwood （檀香） fans could send out sweet smell.

Later, hand fans became far more than just something that could cool you down. They developed into art works, in which Tuanshan （round fans） and Zheshan (folded fans) were the most common.

In the shape of a full moon, Tuanshan were usually made of silk.They had beautiful birds and flowers on them.Women especially those in the imperial palace （皇宫）, liked to use them. Meanwhile, men, especially the literati （文人）, used Zheshan.The literati liked them because Zheshan were usually made of paper and they could paint and write poems on them.It was a way for them to show off their ability in literature, painting and handwriting.Almost anything can be painted on Zheshan.

Today, Chinese people still use these fans.Next time when you are waving a fan, you may think of the stories behind it.

3 . When we play a game with our classmates or friends, we usually need to make some rules first. I think it’s very important to have rules.

There are lots of rules in my school. We have to get to school on time. We have to wear the school uniform on Mondays and Thursdays. We can’t run in the hallways. We can’t fight. I think it’s very good to have rules at school.

We have to follow traffic (交通) rules. We can go at green lights (灯) and have to stop at red lights. The traffic rules make us safe (安全的).

When we take a car or sit next to the driver, we have to wear the safety belts (安全带). Also, little children need to take the back seats. The car rules make us safe, too.

4 . The traditional Chinese lunar calendar(阴历) divides the year into 24 solar terms(节气). Lichun, the first of the 24 solar terms, lifts the curtain(窗帘) of spring. After that everything turns green and is filled with energy. People clearly see that the daytime is becoming longer and the weather is becoming warmer. Here are some things you might not know about Lichun.

As a solar term, Lichun entered people’s lives in the Spring and Autumn period. At that time, there were eight solar terms. According to some experts, the 24 solar terms were used for the first time in books during the Western Han Dynasty, when people set Lichun as the Spring Festival.

Wearing fabric swallows(织成的燕子) is a custom in some areas in Shaanxi. Every Lichun, people like to wear a swallow made of colorful silk on their chests(胸部). The swallow is a sign of spring and a symbol of success, wealth and happiness.

In China, it is said that the egg can be set upright on the first day of Lichun. It is believed that if someone can make the egg stand on the first day of Lichun, he will have good luck in the future.

In many parts of China, people follow the custom of “biting the spring” on the first day of Lichun. They eat spring pancakes, spring rolls(春卷) and so on.

8 . Running is becoming popular these days. Many of us run for health. Doctors say many health problems come from these bad habits: eating and drinking too much, smoking, and not taking enough exercise. Doctors tell us, “Eat and drink less, don’t smoke, and exercise more.”

Running is a good form of exercise because it helps build a strong heart. It also helps most people lose weight. One 68-year-old woman runs three times a week. “I love to eat,” she says. She runs to lose weight.

Running is good for health in other ways, too. Many runners say running keeps colds and other small health problems away. “Running is my doctor,” says one man.

Running can also help people to relax. So today men and women of all ages enjoy running.

9 . Whose house is this? It’s the Greens’ new house in the village. The name of this village is Ken. It’s a little village near the big city. There are two small lakes in Ken, and they live near one of them. They like it very much.

Mrs. Green is usually busy because she does her housework, she cooks the meals, she cleans the house, she washes the clothes, and she does the shopping for the family. Her daughter Ann helps her a little every day. Mr. Green sometimes helps his wife, too.

Many people are now moving from the cities to the villages. A village is like a little town. It’s usually quieter and more friendly, don’t you think so?

10 . Almost every Chinese person can recite the two lines of the famous poem, “Every grain on the plate comes from hard work(谁知盘中餐，粒粒皆辛苦).” But sadly, many of us don’t actually get the real meaning of these lines: Don’t waste food.

A CCTV program, News One Plus One, reported that the food Chinese people throw away every year is enough to feed 200 million people for a year.

Do we have too much food? Of course not. According to the UN World Food Program, there were 925 million hungry people around the world in 2010, especially in developing countries. Six million children die of hunger every year.

Chinese people are well known for being hospitable(好客的) and generous. Many even feel that they lose face if their guests have eaten all the food on the table.

Luckily, a number of people have realized the importance of saving food. Last November, Li Hong, a waitress in a restaurant in Nanjing, took some leftover food home for her son. Many people praised her.

What should we do in our daily lives to waste less food? Here are some tips:

1. Do not order too much in a restaurant. Only order as much as you want to eat. If you cannot eat all the food you ordered, take the rest of it home.

2. Don’t be too picky(挑剔的) about food. Some food may not taste great, but your body needs it.

3. Keep an eye on what food you have at home. Don’t buy too much, especially for vegetables and fruit.