In China, it is common to see people playing a board game on a table, a chair or just on the ground.     1           

Many overseas (海外的) Chinese play the game as a way of having fun and celebrating Chinese culture. Chinese chess is a two-player board game with a total of (总共) 32 pieces in red and black.     2     It must remain in the palace (宫殿). If it gets checked (被“将死”), the game will be over. So the object of the game is to check the other’s King while protecting one’s own King.

    3     Some believe that Chinese chess appeared during the Warring States Period (战国时期). Others believe that Emperor Shun (舜帝) invented the game to educate his younger brother Xiang. That might be why the game’s Chinese name is Xiangqi.

    4     Many countries now have their own Xiangqi clubs. Many foreigners enjoy playing Chinese chess. In their eyes, Chinese chess can help them learn Chinese culture and communicate with Chinese people better.

    5     However, most people in China still love to play it in parks, streets and yards.

2 . Whenever the exam season comes, stress may come along.     1    

When the stress of exams is really hitting me, I stop and take a walk.     2     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.     3     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.     4     Putting yourself into a new world helps you forget your stress in this world for a little bit.

    5     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 times or something funny, and I’m feeling better before I know it.

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

Most people want themselves to be happy forever, but few know how to find happiness. Others say if you own lots of money and success, you will be happy.     1     A famous Greek thinker, Aristotle, said, “Happiness depends on ourselves.” That’s to say, we make our own happiness.     2    

The first secret of happiness is to enjoy the simple things in life.     3     For example, getting into college or getting a good job, which makes us fail to enjoy the present. You should enjoy life’s simple pleasures, such as reading a good book, listening to your favorite music, or spending time with close friends. If you live with a few close friends, you will feel happier and healthier.

    4     Many people go dancing or do sports. People can forget about their problems and only think about the activities.

Finally, many people find happiness in helping others. Studies show that people feel good when they spend their time helping others.     5     You can help a friend with his or her studies, go shopping or help out with some things around the house for an elderly person. If you can do that, you will feel happy.

“Look! Here is a black-faced spoonbill (琵鹭) at the Futian Mangrove (红树林) Ecological (生态的) Park,” said Yan Zihan, a 15-year-old student from Shenzhen, Guangdong.     1    

Some experts said, “Spoonbills can live happily in Shenzhen because mangroves provide them with food and home. Generally, the special plants grow in warm places by the sea.”

    2     So its mangrove area has increased from 22,000 hectares (公顷) in 2001 to 27,000 hectares today, making China one of the few countries in the world with an increase in mangrove areas.

Recently, the world’s first international mangrove center has been set up in Shenzhen.     3     Local government has tried hard to protect mangroves. For example, back in the1990s when the city was building a road along the coast, instead of just cutting down the mangroves, they decided to move the road 260 meters to the north.     4    

The protection of mangroves is also good for the people living in Shenzhen. The park hosts fun events like the spoonbill festival and the otter (水獭) festival.     5     Students can learn about nature through programs like researching on mangroves or designing the park. From 2019 on, over 3,000 students and teachers have taken part in educational activities about wetlands at the park.

5 . What is a goal? Goal is something that can make us know where we will arrive.     1    

Great people make it clear the kind of their life. They imagine what their life should be like and set certain goals. We control of our life by setting goals.     2     Think of it this way. There are two drivers. One has a place to go to clearly in mind which can be found on a map. He can drive straight there surely without any wasted time.     3     He starts off at the same time from the same place. But he drives aimlessly around, never getting anywhere, just using up oil. Which driver do you want to be?

    4     And they get there by setting goals and making plans. Unsuccessful people usually just let life happen by accident. Goals aren’t difficult to set and they aren’t difficult to reach. It’s up to you to find out what your goals really are.

Research shows it’s more possible to achieve a goal when we write it down.     5     They are harder to forget. Also when you write your goals in your own way, you are able to make yourself realize situation that will bring you nearer to your goal.

Now students’ English handwriting (书写) gets worse and worse. That   makes their teachers feel worried. Is your English handwriting beautiful?     1    

Use paper with lines

When you write English words or sentences, you can use paper with lines. That will make your handwriting straight.     2     Be sure to fill the lined space completely. And make sure these capital letters (大写字母) are written properly.

Slow down

If your writing is hard to read, just slow down a little.     3     If you write too quickly, it’s hard for you to stop where you should, and you may make more mistakes easily.

    4    

When you hold your pencil in the correct way, writing is much better. Some kids press down really hard when they write. That makes the handwriting bad. Try to be relaxed and don’t hold the pencil so hard. Let your writing appear nice and clean. If you do so, people will guess you are a student with a good habit.

Draw more pictures

    5     While you are drawing pictures, you need to use the skills to control (控制) your pencil better. Even though you have no chance to draw at school, you can practice by drawing at home.

Handwriting is very important. Imagine you are a famous movie star or a well-known sports player, what do you do when your fans run up to you? Give them your autographs (亲笔签名), of course!

Have you heard of the story of Madam White Snake (《白蛇传》)?     1    . It’s a love story between White Snake and Xu Xian. It has a connection (联系) with the Dragon Boat Festival in China.

Once upon a time, there were two snakes—White Snake and Green Snake. They had magical powers and turned themselves into two beautiful young ladies.     2    . White Snake quickly fell in love with him. They got married soon and lived happily.

The Dragon Boat Festival came. On that day, people drank realgar wine (雄黄酒).     3    . If she drank the wine, she would turn into a snake again. However, Xu Xian didn’t know anything about it, so he asked his wife to drink realgar wine together.     4    . When Xu Xian entered the room, he couldn’t find his wife. He only saw a huge white snake on the bed.     5    . Later, White Snake recovered (恢复). In order to save her husband, she went to steal the magical herb (药草). In the end, the god was so moved by her true love that he saved Xu Xian. What a moving love story!

Whether it’s changing jobs, taking care of a sick parent, or moving to a new place, the mess in life can make it hard to keep moment-by-moment focus (焦点) and health. Long-term goals remain important, but long-term focus can be hard. Daily or weekly habits supporting your long-term goals can keep you going smoothly even when it’s hard to think ahead.

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The first is personal reflection (反思). This can mean keeping diaries, recording the funny things our friends say and what we are thankful for a few times every week.     2    

Second, we need time for professional reflection. For example, you may sit down on a Sunday night and write down the most important to-dos in the coming week.     3     Instead, it directs your focus to what’s most important. Simple, daily or weekly reflection can make a meaningful difference in productivity and focus.

A third area is building and keeping relationships. It’s important to manage our relationships well. For us, right now, the primary relationships are with our parents and teachers.     4     These sound like small things, but they matter a lot.

Finally, we all need to form good habits that encourage physical and mental (精神的) health. Studies show that people who get at least two days of exercise every week are happier.     5