4 . Roger Federer, a world-famous sports star, quit (放弃) the 2020 Olympic Games to deal with his knee problem. It was a hard decision because no one wanted to be a quitter. But finding the courage to let go can be good for you.

Nothing is fun all the time. Never giving up doing something difficult teaches us important skills like perseverance. However, learning to let go when things aren’t right is important too. Maybe your heart isn’t in playing the piano any more, or you only play football because your friends do and you want to try a different sport instead. Making the decision to walk away can make you have more free time and energy to spend on something you really enjoy. In fact, studies show that not paying much attention to the goals you can’t reach or don’t really want can build up your confidence and help you lead a happier and healthier life.

But how can you know it’s time to stop or move on? Eric Bean is an expert in sports psychology (心理学) who helps athletes and teams understand their feelings. He says, “Quitting is never a matter of black and white.” He suggests thinking carefully about why you aren’t enjoying something any more. Is it because you’ve argued with a teammate or can’t get on with a new art teacher? Talk about this with an adult or a friend who you trust. That can help you decide whether you should stick or quit.

Quitting doesn’t completely mean giving up, though. For example, playing an instrument might be more fun if you want to take away the pressure of exams. If you decide to give up an activity, Bean suggests picking up another where you can still enjoy things like teamwork, creativity, and exercise.

6 . Have you ever heard of a famous charity called Operation Smile? We hope we can help you understand how we are trying to help children all over the world.

Operation Smile was started by a doctor and his wife. In 1982, together with some volunteers, they went to Philippines to help children who had holes in their lips or inside their mouths. It was very difficult for them to eat and drink. These volunteers worked very hard. But they worried that they could not carry on with the work because they were short of money. Then they decided to start a charity so that they could help these needy children. They called it Operation Smile.

Operation Smile works in more than twenty developing countries and has cured over 300,000 children who have problems with their mouths. Operation Smile has won many prizes for its work and in 1999 they even started a special event called “The Journey of Hope”. 5,000 children in 18 countries were cured during the event.

On the other hand, Operation Smile trains local doctors and nurses in developing countries so that they can continue to help children when Operation Smile has left. As to the children with much more serious problems, they will send them to the USA for further treatment.

So show your kindness to the needy children now. You can send your donation to Operation Smile at local banks. Many thanks from the children who can smile now will come to you.

How green are you? Do you know how to be green? We all need a healthy environment, but we produce waste every day and it does harm to our environment. Though we are young, we can still do something to help. In fact, even the simplest everyday activities can make a real difference to the environment. Here are some ideas for you.

Reduce

Reduce means “use less”. Don’t waste things. This saves money and reduces pollution and waste going into the environment. Before we buy something new, think whether it is really necessary—or maybe the old one will be just as good! When we do buy things, choose local products if possible, and try not to buy too many things from abroad (国外).

Reuse

Reuse means “use again”. Use things for as long as possible. When we buy things, make sure that they last a long time. We should look after them so that they will last, and we should repair them if we can instead of throwing them away and buying new ones. Don’t use a paper cup or a paper bag. It’s better to use a china cup and a lunch box because you can use them again.

Recycle

Recycle means “change things into something else”. Though it takes energy to change something into something else, it’s better than throwing things away or burning them. Find out what can be recycled in your neighbourhood and take part in recycling programs. We should also buy products made from recycled materials, such as recycled paper, to help save trees.

So please remember these three words: reduce, reuse and recycle.

Many travelers feel nervous about going to a strange place. If you plan your trip carefully and get well prepared, you can relax and enjoy yourself. Remembering the following tips can help you have an enjoyable trip.

◆Check Your Paperwork

When you prepare for your leaving, make sure your paperwork is organized. You’ll check the dates on your visa (签证) and passport. Also, do some research on the local currency (货币). Some countries—like Jamaica—use more than one currency. It’s best to know how and when to use them.

◆Mind Your Health

Get a physical checkup before the trip. If you need to take medicine along, keep it in its bottles.

Also, make sure that you know the place or phone number of the local hospital so that if you are sick while traveling, you will be able get the treatment as soon as possible.

◆Pay Attention

Stay safe by keeping one eye on the amazing sights and the other on your personal things. When you get into a taxi, make sure there is a meter (计价器) and it is turned on. If there is no meter, agree on a price before starting out.

◆Learn About the Locals

If you will visit a country, buy a guidebook and a map. It’s a good way to learn about the culture of the country you will visit. Then you will have a better understanding of the country. For example, in Thailand, it’s impolite to point with your feet at someone or something. Also, try to learn a few basic words and sentences of the local language. Not everyone will speak your language.

Let’s play with pumpkins!

You may have seen many pumpkins in posters and TV shows recently, since Halloween came on Oct 31.

Lanterns made of pumpkins, also known as jack-o’-lanterns, are often seen during Halloween. Many people in the US like to make them and put them in front of their houses. People hollow out a pumpkin, carve a face on one side, and place a candle inside to make the pumpkin glow. The lanterns can look funny or scary.

This is not the only way in which pumpkins are part of American culture.

During the Thanksgiving holiday, pumpkin pie is a common food. It is made from pumpkins and has some delicious spices to give it a nice flavor. People often put some whipped cream on top of it before serving it. It is one of my favorite things to eat during Thanksgiving.

There is also “pumpkin chucking”. It’s a competition where people build machines to throw pumpkins through the air. The person whose pumpkin flies the farthest wins the competition. The world record for pumpkin chucking was set in Utah in 2010. The distance for that world record was about 1.69 kilometers!

Finally, there are also pumpkin growing contests. For these contests, farmers try to grow the biggest pumpkins they can. The person who has the biggest pumpkin will win first prize.