Some people see a hobby as a waste of time. They think a hobby is only something to pass the time. In fact, a hobby is much more than that. Its advantages (优点) are as follows.

★People can have time for themselves.

If one has a hobby, he or she can enjoy quiet time. People usually think more clearly when they enjoy their favorite hobbies. People often get some good ideas at that time.

★People can discover their talent.

People often find new talent of themselves when they enjoy their hobbies. Some people find their talent for playing the piano only when they sit down and play. The only way to find this talent is to try. The first thing you should do is to find something that you are interested in.

★People can feel relaxed.

Most hobbies are good ways to relax. Coming home from work and sitting down to enjoy things you like help you relax. Hobbies also help you get a better sleep.

A large number of emojis (表情符号) are sent online every day. Emojis are pictures used in texts and web pages. Since emojis were invented in the late 1990s, they have been used as a modern international language.

We like emojis for different reasons. A written message is always black and white, but emojis can show meanings beautifully. Sometimes emojis also change the way we write. The more emojis we use, the fewer words we use.

There are many emojis with different meanings. They are easy to understand. For example, a smiling face means “I’m happy”. A cake with candles means “Happy Birthday”. When we want to say “goodbye”, we use a smiling face with a waving hand. When we are in a terrible situation but we have to laugh to cheer ourselves up, we can use a “cry-laugh” emoji.

Now emojis have great influence on us. Sometimes, emojis can be helpful to people from different countries in understanding each other. And when we are communicating online, we can’t see the person’s face and there is no feeling exchange. Then the invention of emojis helps change the situation. For example, when we receive a smiling face from our friends online, we try to exchange our feelings by sending the same picture.

It seems that emojis change as time goes by. However, we should be careful when we use them online.

Where does your food come from? How is it made? These days, many people worry about food safety. But food safety is not a new worry. In 1906, Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle. The book is the story of a poor family in Chicago. It is also about the dangerous ways that food was prepared. People were so worried that the U.S. started testing food.

These days, most food in the world is safe. The reason is laws control where food comes from. They also control how food is managed and prepared. Laws are important. But it’s more important to make sure the rules are followed. A good food safety system keeps people safe. It also helps them eat healthy food. Labels (标签) on food give people important information. Then they can make good choices about their food.

Although food safety systems usually work, there can be problems. Sometimes mistakes are made. For example, a truck might carry eggs and then ice cream. The ice cream could make people sick when the truck isn’t cleaned before carrying it. Other problems are not mistakes. Sometimes companies break rules to make more money. When this happens, people don’t know if their food is safe.

As we all know, food is closely related to our everyday life. We should take action to make food safer!

Whenever the exam season comes, stress may come along. Here are some ways that have helped me and my friends through this season.

When the stress of exams is really hitting me, I stop and take a walk. I usually borrow my neighbors’ dogs and walk for about fifteen minutes. Many boys would simply choose to run for a while, or play ball games. Having some sports drives away your stress easily most of the time.

And if you find music helpful, give it a go. Listening to your favorite songs will surely make you happy. The best thing about this is that you don’t have to go anywhere.

But if you are a book lover just like me, read a book you like for half an hour. Reading can take you to places you’ve never been to. Putting yourself into a new world helps you forget your stress in this world for a little bit.

For sure, laughing is the best medicine. It can really keep worry off your mind! Very often I call my best friend and we talk about our good time or something funny, and I’m feeling better than before.

Remember many others also face the problems of stress just like you, and it is not something that cannot be dealt with.

It’s very popular to travel in modern life. As travelers, we should try our best to protect the environment. Here is some advice on how to be a green traveler.

◆Make smarter flight choices

Air travel is not an environmentally-friendly way to travel because it uses a lot of energy. If you must fly, be sure to pack light to cut down the plane’s load. And try to book a non-stop fight(预订直达航班). Connecting fights(转机航班) usually require longer periods of flying and planes will use more energy.

◆Respect(尊重) natural environment

Marked hiking tails(有指示标识的游览步道) are there usually to protect the natural environment and keep wild plants safe. In beach areas, don’t use products that are harmful to the sea water and try to protect the ocean’s ecosystem.

◆Support locals directly

Buying handmade products and art pieces created by local people can help hand down cultural tradition and create jobs. Food that is grown locally and things that are sold by local families are often better and cheaper, all while helping keep money in local pockets.

◆Find ways to give back

Consider the ways that you can help the local community and give back while traveling. This can be as simple as picking up litter in a park or volunteering to clean up a beach. If you’re planning a trip where volunteering is your main goal, make sure you won’t take jobs away from local people.

8 . Cars powered by gasoline were sold for many years before hybrid vehicles that use gasoline, electricity, and solar energy. Car companies are now making cars that are fully powered by electricity only. How do these electric cars measure up to(符合标准)traditional gasoline cars?

Electric and gasoline vehicles look similar on the outside. They have very different parts under their hoods, though. Electric cars have one main moving part: the motor. But gas cars literally have hundreds of parts, often requiring frequent maintenance(保养). Having fewer parts makes the electric car cheaper to maintain and less likely to have mechanical problems.

Electric vehicles are energy efficient, also making them cheaper to operate. It costs about＄1.00 to travel 43 miles in an electric car, which is a clear contrast to a gas car, which costs about＄1.25 to go 18 miles. Basically, an electric car can go twice as far as a gas car for the same price.

Electric vehicles do not have tailpipe emissions, making them more friendly to the environment, too.

While some details make electric cars seem attractive, other details aren’t as favorable. For example, some electric cars can travel only 60 to 120 miles on a full charge(充电). Most gas cars can drive hundreds of miles on a full tank.

An electric car has to stop more often to get recharged. Therefore, a gas car would be a better option(选择) if you have far to drive. And electric cars aren’t as convenient(方便) to power up as gas cars are. There are plenty of gas stations, but not many charging stations for electric cars. Then, once an electric car reaches a charging station, it can take up to six hours to charge.

There are certainly benefits to both electric cars and gasoline cars. It’s good to know that there is an option.

9 . 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.

Durrow Scarecrow(稻草人) Festival 2022 will take place from July 24th to August 1st! The whole city is running a scarecrow competition and all the works will be shown during the festival. That will be nine full days of family friendly fun, along with other activities , including traditional games, and charitable activities!

Humans have used scarecrows around the world for over 3,000 years. The first recorded use of scarecrows was by the Egyptians to protect their wheat fields along the Nile River. Scarecrows were mainly used to scare away hungry birds. Nowadays, numerous exciting and enjoyable scarecrow festivals are born for all the citizens to attend.

The England scarecrow festival started in 1994. A man held a charitable activity by encouraging villagers to make scarecrows depicting (描绘) their jobs. The idea of homemade scarecrows arose people’s interest. Later, the festival grew into England’s village tradition. Every year it attracts countless visitors from all over the world to join in the fun.

Scarecrow festivals help people let their creativity out by experiencing DIY with straw. They also become a talking point for neighbors who have never met each other before. Citizens join in the fun and show off their creative flair(才华) to each other. Besides, through the competition, the team spirit will be displayed.