An Accidental Invention

Did you know that tea, the most popular drink in the world (after water), was invented by accident? Many people believe that tea was first drunk nearly 5,000 years ago.     1    It is said that a Chinese ruler called Shen Nong first discovered tea as a drink.   One day Shen Nong was boiling drinking water over an open fire.     2    Some leaves from a tea plant fell into the water and remained there for some time.   It produced a nice smell so he tasted the brown water anyway. It was quite delicious. In this way,     3    世界上最受欢迎的饮品之一被发明了。

It is believed that tea was brought to Korea and Japan during the 6th and 7th centuries.     4    In England, tea didn't appear until around 1660, but less than100 years later. it had become the national drink. The tea trade from China to Western countries took place in the 19th century. This helped to spread the popularity of tea and the tea plant to more places around the world.     5    尽管现在很多人都了解茶文化, the Chinese are without doubt the ones who best understand the nature of tea.

Four rules for a healthy life

    1     Thanks to better health care, most people are living healthier and longer lives. It’s even thought that in the future more and more people will celebrate their hundredth birthdays. Here are four rules for a healthy life.

1. Get off the sofa!

Sure, it’s comfortable to sit on the sofa and watch TV. But doctors say you should get off the sofa.     2     要保持健康，你每天至少应走10000步。In the past, people’s jobs required more physical effort. They often had to walk for miles every day. When farmers were working, they were keeping fit at the same time. Think about it: Do you get the same amount of exercise today as they did in the past?

2. Eat healthy food!

    3     吃新鲜自然的食物很重要，for example, fruit and vegetables. Fast food is not healthy. You should only have it once in a while. Eating too much of the wrong food will harm your health.

3. Rest while you can!

    4     When we were babies, we slept for much of the night. Teenagers do not need as much sleep as babies, but it’s important for you to get about eight hours’ sleep a night. At weekends, you’ve got more time, so use it not just for your friends, but for rest too.

4. Don’t worry. Be happy!

    5     许多人认为幸福对我们的健康很重要。Sometimes it is not easy to be a teenager because of the difficulties of school, exams or friendships. If you’re worried about something, talk to your parents or your teacher.