1 . Whether you work at a desk, drive in a car, or take a bus or a train, you spend plenty of time in your seats. But do you know what this means for your body?

In the 1950s, a study compared bus drivers with conductors (售票员) who walked around the bus to sell tickets. It showed that drivers who spent many hours sitting at the wheel were twice more likely to have heart problems than the conductors.

In fact, nowadays we know that sitting for long is connected to different health problems. When we sit all day, we burn fewer calories (卡路里). Some people say it also slows down our body’s ability to control sugar levels, which can increase the chance of getting diabetes (糖尿病).

One possible solution to this problem for desk workers is to use standing desks—to spend at least part of their day on their feet. A study showed that office workers who stood for three hours after lunch had smaller increases in their blood sugar levels. Researchers at the University of Chester also found that if we stand for three or four hours a day, five days a week, we will burn as many calories as ten Marathon (马拉松) runs in a year!

However, some experts question these numbers and say that standing all day can also cause problems like leg or back pain. They suggest gradually increasing the time spent on standing if you want to use a standing desk. They also point out that there are many other choices besides sitting or standing. For example, walking burns far more calories than just standing around.

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2 . Back when I was little, I was shy. I was afraid to speak up in class or make new friends. My heart would beat fast whenever someone asked me a question, and my face would turn red like a tomato. I spent most of my spare time playing video games and watching cartoons. I was comfortable in my little world, but I knew something was missing.

One day, I met a new friend, Sarah. Sarah was different from me. She loved trying new activities and meeting new people. She encouraged me to step out of my world. We went on bike rides, climbed trees, and tried painting together. I was scared, but Sarah taught me that it’s OK to make mistakes and that failure is a steppingstone to success.

Slowly but surely, I started to change. I began to raise my hand and share my thoughts in class. It felt great to be heard and valued by my classmates and teachers. I even joined school clubs and took part in talent shows.

Now, I’m different. I’m shy sometimes, but I’ve learned to be proud. I’ve discovered that being myself is the best way to make true friends. Thanks to Sarah, I see the world as a place full of possibilities. I’m not afraid of trying new things because they help me grow. I’m thankful for what I’ve become—someone brave, confident, and ready to explore the world, one step at a time.

E-books mean electronic books. You can use a device (设备) called an e-book reader to read e-books.     1    

First, they are cheaper. In general, e-books are about 8% cheaper than paper books. Second, they are faster and easier to buy. You don’t have to go to a bookstore.     2     Third, you can carry e-books easily. An e-book reader can hold thousands of e-books and remain thin and light. Finally, an e-book is comfortable to read.     3     You can also change the brightness of the screen.

E-book sales in the US are increasing every year. At the same time, paper book sales have been going down. In 2020, e-book sales were only $3. 04 billion. Paper book sales were $11.9 billion.     4     In 2023, e-book sales increased to $5.7 billion. Paper book sales fell to $10 billion.

Some experts say that e-books will sell more than paper books in the future. They predict (预言) this will happen in the US by 2026. On the one hand, e-book sales will rise to $12.8 billion.     5     All these numbers show that e-books are becoming more and more popular.