1 . Cooking should be considered as art just like any other activity which requires skills and knowledge. It is often said that students are supposed to learn scientific facts as well as how to prepare meals. The following will explain why cooking should be taught in schools.

Cooking is an important skill in life.

Schools are supposed to teach knowledge to the students so that they can lead successful independent lives when they are out of school. Also, they can step into the world knowing how to make a living.

Cooking helps discover future career.

When schools offer cooking lessons, students will show an interest in it and might take cooking as a career. This will give them the chance to perfect their basic skills and be creative in the kitchen.

Cooking avoids wasting money.

One of the main reasons why cooking should be taught in schools is that the students always use a lot of money to buy ready-made food, while in the real sense they could prepare a nice meal with less cost by buying the required ingredients.

Cooking betters math learning.

Schools do not just teach how to prepare delicious meals. Students are also taught to follow the instructions in a standard when mixing ingredients. If it is “add 1/4 spoon of salt”, students should only add that amount. So there is no more or less.

People from different countries greet each other differently. Read this article to learn more about the greeting customs in different cultures, and make sure you greet people in the right way next time.

France

French people greet each other with a handshake, but close friends kiss each other on both cheeks(脸颊) when they meet. They do this when they first meet and before they leave each other.

South Korea

In South Korea, it is a sign of respect for people to bow when greeting each other. A bow is followed by a handshake. In shaking someone’s hand, it is polite to support the right forearm(前臂) with the left hand. However, South Korean women do not shake hands with western men; instead, they bow slightly(轻微地).

Brazil

Kissing on the cheek is a common way of greeting in Brazil. But in a formal situation, a handshake is often done to show respect. Men should shake hands before and after meeting, and once they have known each other well, a light hug is often given.

Ghana

In a social situation, it’s polite to greet everyone in the room in Ghana. A handshake is used in greeting, and the palm(手掌) must directly touch the palm of the other. It’s considered impolite to touch the back of the hand.

3 . Over 30 percent of all food goes to waste, according to The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization（联合国粮农组织）. Supermarkets throw away food that is not sold before its sell-by date, while families throw away food that they can’t finish eating.

The world’s first food bank was founded in the US in 1967. Some people and stores donated （捐赠）extra food to the bank. People could take the food home there if they didn’t have money to buy any for themselves. In Shanghai, there is a “shared fridge” in some communities. It is free for everyone to take food from it.

A UK company called The Real Junk Food Project says that food that has passed its sell-by date is still safe to eat. They collect this food from supermarkets and sell it in cafes. You only have to pay as much as you feel is necessary. If you don’t want to spend money, you can volunteer at the cafes instead.

What else can we do to stop food waste? The answer is simply buying less food.

4 . Leonardo da Vinci（莱奥纳多·达·芬奇）was a famous artist who was born in Italy. He was also a great inventor. Many of his inventions have become important in modern life. Although Leonardo hated war, he invented many different machines used for war. His most special invention was the machine gun, which was produced and used in war. Besides, Leonardo spent days thinking about how to save time. He developed ideas for something like cutting machines.

Leonardo was a strange man. He never ate meat. That was very unusual in those times (时代). He never published (发表) scientific discoveries. He usually used mirror writing, which looks like usual writing in a mirror, starting from the right side of the page and moving to the left side.

Only a few of his paintings are left today. Many paintings were not finished because he thought they were not perfect.

Leonardo was talented and creative. He was regarded as one of the most intelligent men in the world.

Stop Smoking Now——We Can Help!

In most US cities and towns, there are local organizations to help people stop smoking. One of the most popular and successful organizations is California Smokers’Helpline.Here is a page from one of their leaflets(传单).

When you really want a cigarette(香烟)——try the three Ds:

1. Delay: Look at your watch and wait for a couple of minutes. If you can wait two minutes, you won't want to smoke.

2. Drink something: If you drink water or some other drinks, you will reduce the need to have something in your mouth.

3. Deep breathing（呼吸）: Take a deep and slow breath. Count to five when your lungs are full. Then breathe out slowly. Repeat several times.

And here are some ideas from Florida Anti—smoking Club to help people to give up smoking:

1. Make a plan: Make a list of friends who smoke and places where you smoke. Don't see those people and don't go to those places!

2. Keep busy: Instead of smoking, make a phone call, take a short walk, or talk with a friend.

3. Develop new interests: Exercise—walking, biking, jogging, swimming or taking a music class——helps you to forget about cigarettes.

Set a date and act at once to give up smoking for your own good.

It seems that a family just isn’t complete (完整的) without a pet. But if pets aren’t suitable to a family’s lifestyle or environment, they can quickly lead to problems such as stress or arguments (争执). To save yourself and your family such problems, treat this decision seriously.

When choosing a pet, people must consider the family’s health. Many people are allergic (过敏的) to cats and dogs. Perhaps a dog or cat with short hair will be fine. And a dog might not be the best choice for a child who is naughty (顽皮的) because the dog might bite him or her. Some people can also have problems with certain pets. It’s a good idea to spend a little time with the pet around each member of the family before making your decision.

Consider the quality of life of the pet, too. If a pet is used to having space to run around, it can quickly develop psychological (心理的) problems when it is kept in a small flat all day. If pets are allowed to run about in areas with lots of traffic, they can meet an early end. Cats shouldn’t be brought into homes that already have large dogs because they won’t be able to get along well with each other.

The decision as to what kind of pet to choose is very important. If you find the right one to suit (适合) everyone in the family and their lifestyle, then it’s time to choose one. Remember that your decision is important because it can have effects that last for many years.