1 . When we see babies or pets, we can’t help gently touching them to show our love. And they give us happy feelings back. But a recent study shows that it’s different for plants.

In fact, ▲ . That’s because touching changes their genes and, even worse, can slow their growth. Professor Jim Whelan of the La Trobe Institute in Australia gave an explanation. “The lightest touch from a human, or even plants touching each other in the wind, leads to a huge gene change in the plant.”

In order to test the idea, the scientists did an experiment on plants. They grew a number of plants to the age of four weeks. Then they touched them with a paintbrush every 12 hours over a 36-hour period. They found that as a result, the mitochondria in the plants had been partly hurt. The mitochondria are the “powerhouse of the cell”. The mitochondria produce energy for the rest of the cell in both animals and plants. If this “powerhouse” is weakened, the plants will lose a large amount of energy that should have supported their growth. Whelan further explained, “If the touching is repeated, then plant growth is reduced* by up to 30 percent.” According to Science Alert, repeated touching or moving plants will make them grow shorter than others.

Although the touching does have a strong effect on plants, it’s not always bad. The researches believe, in some way, it could be helpful. It may help plants fight against insects and bad weather. The new research findings have led to a deeper understanding of the plants’ reply to touching. And the research might also “open up new ways to optimize growth in the future.” Science Alert reported.

A different kind of school in Pakistan is giving poor children, and even their mothers and grandmothers, a new chance to get an education (教育).

The programme is called Street to School. It is a way to keep these children off the streets, while providing them with a basic education and useful life skills. Organizers started it in 2014 to set up a school for children who played on the streets every day while their parents were working. Mohammad Hassan, the founder of the programme, says children who spend all day on the streets are in danger of catching dangerous illnesses and could also be caught up in crime (犯罪).

This programme centers on reading, writing and maths. Students are also taught English as well as the local language, Urdu. Street to School also includes sports activities and provides students with information on how to stay healthy and take care of themselves.

Street to School managed to get children off the streets. And running the school also taught Hassan another great need in the community. “We started this programme for kids, but we found very quickly the kids would bring their homework without parents’ signatures (签字). That meant kids were not getting the needed help at home to do their homework. So we decided to develop a special course for these parents.”

Tahira Bibi is a grandmother who has always worked as a clothes maker and never got the chance to attend school. She cannot read or write. She says watching her grandchildren pushes her to act. “When I watched my grandson and granddaughter studying. I also developed an interest in learning. I believe that learning has no ending.”

Street to School now teaches 15 adult women and Hassan expects this number to keep growing.

All clever people know that it takes some time to make your life better. This doesn’t mean that you can’t make small changes to make your life better in a few weeks or in a few days! Here is some helpful advice.

(1)________.

Some people feel very busy every day. There are so many people everywhere. They have much work to do. But when you get up early, you will find fewer people and when you get on the bus, you will find it is almost empty.

(2)________.

We always become so worried, because we are busy and may forget some important things. When you write down a plan, you start feeling more comfortable about your future and you will worry less in your life.

(3)________.

Do you know that unhealthy food can make you feel unhappy? Once you start eating healthy food, your health will be better and your life will be better, too.

(4)________.

Did you fight with someone lately? If so, call him or her and say sorry. Not only will you make him or her happy but you will also feel better.

Just as you see, simple things can help you live a better life, so you can use these simple tips to make your life better.

4 . ①This year is the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese lunar calendar (农历). Maybe now is the best time to talk about this lovely animal in the eyes of different cultures.

②Rabbits are quiet and friendly. It matches with the kindness in the eyes of Chinese people. There is a view of rabbits in Chinese culture as being smart and kind. In Chinese culture, the rabbit represents the moon. Chinese people believed a rabbit was living on the moon. The rabbit is called the Jade Rabbit or the Moon Rabbit. It’s the pet of the moon goddess Chang’e, a goddess widely known in China.

③In nature, rabbits can produce babies in large numbers in a short time. In this way, Chinese people saw the rabbit as a good sign. They believed the more children they had.

④Western people also believe the rabbit brings ▲. In the old tradition, if people caught a rabbit, they could get the animal’s foot as a gift for them.

⑤Rabbits also show up in other areas of Western culture. It is a rabbit that Alice follows in the story of Alice in Wonderland to escape from the normal world and helps to begin her adventure. The night before Easter, kids often make nests for the Easter Bunny in the garden. Rabbits are close to the idea of new life because they have lots of babies.

⑥So, now it’s the lucky animal’s turn on the Chinese Zodiac (生肖). May the Year of the Rabbit can bring you some good fortune.

A．	B．
C．	D．

5 . Victor’s project

As part of my history project on transport (交通), I did some short interviews with people in my neighborhood. My first interview was with my friend Susan’s grandmother, Mrs.Sanderson.

Question 1

How did you get to school when you were young?

I walked to school with my friends, except for Fridays when we had to carry all of our things for school sports. Then we caught the bus. I enjoyed walking because we could chat on the way. I didn’t like it when it was raining though, but Mum always made sure I wore my raincoat and gumboots. On the other hand, and I believe that’s why I’ve been healthy all my life.

Question 2

My parents drive me to school. Why didn’t you go to school by car?

You know, we were not rich enough at that time. We could not afford a car until after I had finished school.

Question 3

How did you get around when you weren’t going to school?

We often went for a family trip by train. Most weekends we went on picnics and I loved playing with my cousins in the park. The trip took much longer than it would take by car today of course.

Question 4

How do you get around now?

I still love walking, but I need to drive my grandchildren around, so I mainly use my car. It is fast.

Over 5 million shared bikes in China are using services offered by Beidou Navigation Satellite System. These shared bikes all use Beidou-based positioning chips.

The chips have high qualities. They can deal with information accurately and quickly. They provide a better user experience and easier management for the local companies. Now, several new models of shared electric bikes with Beidou-based chips have also started to be produced and put into market. Besides positioning and navigation, the chips will help users and bike companies record user speed and battery condition of an electric bike. The possible crimes during the bike using will also be recorded.

In fact, years ago, shared bike companies began to use positioning chips which worked well with both GPS and Beidou services. After the Beidou system became completely in use in the summer of 2020, shared bike companies started to install Beidou-based chips on more bikes in more areas. The latest chips which are popular with bike companies are smaller and have more advantages over the old types.

Since 2000, a total of 59 Beidou satellites have been sent into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province. After the final satellite was sent in 2020, the system was completed and started providing global services. Beidou Satellite System is designed and developed by China. China has built the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) into a top-class system with cutting-edge technologies, pioneering design and powerful functions, according to a white paper published on Friday by the State Council Information Office. It is one of four global navigation networks, along with the United States’ GPS, Russia’s GLONASS and the European Union’s Galileo.

According to a research in 2022, by the end of 2021 the total value connected with satellite navigation and positioning services in China was 469 billion yuan, a 16.3 percent increase year on year. More than 500,000 Chinese people now work at around 14,000 China’s companies and organizations doing business connected with Beidou and other satellite navigation and positioning services.

I’m Sandy from Sunshine Middle School. This is a map of it. The building in the middle of the school is the classroom building with forty classrooms. On the left of the classroom building is the science building. There are eight science labs in it. Behind the science building is the dining hall. And the office building is between the dining hall and the playground. The sports hall is in front of the playground. I like doing sports on the playground and in the sports hall. Near the sports hall is the library. I can read a lot of books in it. I like my school.