The Secret of happiness

    1     Money and success alone do not bring lasting (长久的) happiness. Happiness depends on ourselves. In other words, we make our own happiness. Here are a few suggestions to help you be happier.

    2     Too often, we spend so much time thinking about the future—for example, getting into college or getting a good job that we fail to enjoy the present (现在). You should enjoy life’s simple pleasures, such as reading a good book, listening to your favorite music, or spending time with close friends.     3    

Another secret to leading a happy life is to be active, and have hobbies that can help you forget your problems. Many people experience this by dancing or playing a sport, such as skating or playing.     4    

Finally, many people find happiness in helping others. According to studies, people feel good when they volunteer their time to help others.     5     You can help a friend with his or her lessons, go shopping to buy food for your family members, or simply help out around the house by washing the dishes.

Do you like travelling? Have you heard of volunteer travel?     1    

The main purpose of volunteer travel is to take part in service opportunity to help others. During the trip, volunteer travelers often provide services like teaching, cooking, animal caring, and cultural activities. The volunteers may get free or cheap accommodation (住处), meals and clothes-washing, activities, or classes-because of their help.

    2     However, volunteer travel dates back to the 1960s, when Alec Dickson and his wife Mora from the UK founded Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), an international volunteer organization,

    3     But now, more volunteer trips have taken place within the volunteers’ own countries in recent years. Volunteer projects in the countryside are now attracting more visitors living in the cities as a break from the fast and stressful city lives.

By doing voluntary work while traveling, travelers may make a real, positive influence on the world.     4    Another advantage of volunteer travel is that it helps people living in cities experience the life in the countryside. For those who are tired of city life but can’t move to the countryside, volunteer travel can be a way. On the one hand, travelers can relax themselves from their busy lives.     5    

As we know, there are differences between Western culture and Chinese culture.     1     Let’s look at some words about animals and plants.

Most expressions in China about the dog, for example, “a homeless dog” “a mad dog” “a running dog” and “a dog catching a mouse”, have bad meanings.     2     In English, people use the dog to describe good actions. For example, “you are a lucky dog” means you are a lucky person. And “every dog has its day” means each person has good luck sometimes. To describe a person’s serious illness, they say “sick as a dog”. The word “dog-tired” means very tired.     3     But in Western culture, “cat” is often used to describe a woman who is unkind. There are many other examples of how “cat” is used differently as well.

We can see similarities when we pay attention to the way words are used. People think the rose stands for love, peace, courage and friendship.     4         5     We can learn about many differences in cultures by comparing how some words are used.

As people say, you can’t change the environment, but you can change your own.     1    

You can’t control other people, but you can be master of your own. You can’t do everything well, but you can be careful with everything.     2     You can’t choose what you look like, but you can show a smile.

    3     There are some differences between winners and losers. Winners always think troubles and difficulties are due to personal ability and experience.     4     While losers will blame (怪罪) on the opportunity, and the environment injustice (不公). They always complain, wait and give up.

In many cases, the person who was born in a poor family looks down upon his own. A person’s appearance and his family may not be minded. If he can’t deal with the mind, how can he deal with more difficult things?

    5     Emerson said, “A move toward their goals is always people who gave him or her the whole world to give way.” On the contrary, failure is not because we do not have the strength, but because we can’t stick to ourselves, and always follow others’ examples. We should believe the strength of mind, and change our attitude when we face disappointments in life. I believe the power of mind, and now it’s up to you to make the final decision.

8 . The past years have shown we need to prepare for the worst earthquakes. So an earthquake emergency kit（急救包）should be something we need to have.     1     Well, that may not be a problem because you can buy your own one online.

According to experts, around 275 earthquakes are felt every day around the world.     2     There is a 30% higher chance that you will survive（幸存）an earthquake if you have the kit.

Some people think they can go to a shelter（避难所）after an earthquake.     3     There may be too many people in the shelter. You may not find food or water, either.

    4     But whether you are near the fault line（断层线）or far from it, owning one for your household is still a must. Studies show that some states that are near the fault line have earthquake magnitudes（震级）of above 4.5.     5    

So if you don’t have an earthquake emergency kit at home, make one yourself or buy one online.

9 . The Dragon Head-raising Festival

China is a country with a long and rich history.     1     The Double Second Festival（the Dragon Head-raising Festival or Longtaitou Festival）is one of them. This special day is on the second day of the second month in the Chinese lunar calendar. It stands for the start of spring and farming.

The dragon plays an important role in Chinese culture. Dragon culture is one of the most popular cultures in China.     2     People celebrated the Dragon Head-raising Festival with many customs（习俗）about the dragon in ancient times.

On this special day, people put ashes（灰）in the kitchen.     3     People believed that if the dragon went into their houses, they could have a good luck all year round. People also ate special food.     4     For example, people ate noodles called “dragon whiskers noodles” and dumplings called “dragon ears”. Besides, people sent gifts to each other, picked vegetables and went on a spring outing.

    5     Today people hurry to have their hair cut, especially have their children’s hair cut on the Dragon Head-raising Festival. They want to make themselves have new looks and have a good year.

Frank lived on a farm with his parents and three brothers. He didn’t play games, or go fishing or help out with the animals like his brothers. The boy spent all his free time sitting on the chair with his nose in a book.     1    

“That is not a normal (正常) boy, maybe he doesn’t love us.” The old sheep said to his friends, the horse and the pig.

The horse said, “I don’t think so.     2     There must be something special about those books.”

The pig said, “Why don’t we find out for ourselves?”

The next morning, the animals got their opportunity (机会).     3     The animals watched them go. Then they went into the house and looked around for the boy’s books. The sheep picked up a book. The horse picked up a book. The pig picked up a book.     4    

The sheep and the pig didn’t find anything special. After a moment, the horse said, “See, I told you so.” The sheep and the pig looked over into the horse’s book. In it were colorful pictures of animals, much like themselves. “The boy loves animals so much.     5    ” said the horse.