1 . Teenagers who travel around the world alone have been making headlines quite often. A young person alone in a dangerous situation attracts attention and supporters. Young sailors also attract various views. For example, Jessica Watson was asked by the government to call off her solo trip across the ocean, yet the Prime Minister (总理) called her “a hero for young Australians” when she returned.   It seems views are poles apart on the ability and independence of young people.

Some experts tell us that teenage brains are likely to make wrong judgments. But such ideas often do not apply to specific individuals (个体) . Between the ages of 14 and 18, teenagers differ greatly in their abilities. The amount of independence that each is allowed should be determined not simply by their ages but by discussion with the related, responsible adults. Some teens are certainly inexperienced and make childish mistakes, but the ones who attempt dangerous journeys normally do so by winning the confidence of hard-headed and experienced adult supporters.

But it’s also wrong to think that any 16-year-old can make a hit as Jessica Watson. Watson calls herself “a common girl who had a dream”. Her purpose is to encourage teenagers but this idea can have the opposite effect of making them feel not good enough because great achievements are beyond them. Should all teens have such wild dreams? Actually, individuals face different conditions that limit their dreams.

Teenagers who travel around the world alone should not be judged by preconceived (先入为主的) views about young people. Nor should young “common” teenagers feel pressure to long for extraordinary personal goals. In fact, I believe the example of solo sailing overstresses what an individual can do. The teenage years are when most of us “common” people learn that we can achieve great things in cooperation with others.

2 . Mandy and Joe have been married for five years and they both love travelling to new countries. But while this hobby brings them together, it is also a source of contention. “I do all the planning and book.” says Mandy. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy it, but if Joe paid a bit more attention, he wouldn’t have turned up for a flight to Grenada packed for a winter city break. ‘Jumpers and boots?!’I cried.’ You’re supposed to have packed shorts and T-s—it’s 30℃ in the Caribbean!!Then I realized he thought we were going to Granada, in Spain.”

How Joe and Mandy each approach their travel plans is just one example of the many ways in which men and women differ. Yet, is what goes on inside our minds and bodies really so different? Furthermore, are we born that way?

On this issue, scientists are divided. The majority of scientists believed that patterns of behavior thought to be: male or female are learnt firstly from our parents, then from our peers(同伴)and, ultimately, from the societies in which we live. As Simone de Beauvoir famously said, “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.”

On the other side of the fence sat those who believed that male and female brains are actually wired (与生俱来的) differently. In one study in which 34 monkeys were required to interact with different types of toys, the males showed s strong preference for toys with wheels rather than soft toys, whereas the females were noticeably drawn to soft toys. These preferences were clearly not the result of parental influence.

Whatever the truth behind the differences between men and women, we can safely conclude that although the social impact on how we think and behave is undoubted, there exists a biological contribution. The question that now needs answering is to what degree biology affects the choices we make and the way other people treat us.

3 . I just flew from Berlin, Germany, to Atlanta,Gcorgia, and it took me 24 hours due lo the weather-related delay during my stopover in New York. Like many other passengers, I was so worm out, annoyed, and helpless that I could barely hold it together.

The pilot, called Thiemy Beyeler, was different. He left the flight deck and walked to the dissatisfied passengers to apologize and comfort them.The pilot's appropriate behavior set the tone and ensured no one got angry. It reminded me of the beauty of “elegance(优雅)under pressure”. Thierry Beyeler was a pilot with Swiss International Air Lines, for which he flew various aircraft. During the delay, I had the chance to speak to Beyelor and learn about his experience as a pilot.

He said, “Flying is a bit like eating chocolate. I love every flight. However, when you have 16 flights in four days, then that's too much chocolate for me..." As for crisis(危机)situations, he did have a few. “Once, I had an engine failure, but that's rare, and we handled it. Another time, we had smoke in the cabin,and we went to land quickly. In end, it was just the air conditioning having some problems…."He believes, "As Murphty's law puts it, 'What can be wrong will go wrong'. So think about it and try to prepare mentally."

Beyeler continued, "Compared with cars, a flight is a high-risk environment; it's not like riding a bike. Even if there was a minor error, it could have fatal consequences. Every pilot is quite professional in the field. But it is the strong mindset(观念模式)in the chaos(混乱)that plays the key role. Humans stop in technical systems to solve items countless times a day, and it would be dangerous if the pilot became nervous and forgot that."

I’ve been touched by Beycler's words. I understand that human factors, including confidence, courage, sensibility, and emotional intelligence are becoming more and more important in today's world.

4 . Whether you’re after a quiet beach holiday or an adventure-packed trip, with over 700 islands and 30 territories, the Caribbean offers many choices. Here we will provide practical tips to help you plan your dream Caribbean vacation.

Choosing the Best Time to Visit

Generally speaking, the Caribbean has a tropical climate with hot and humid weather year-round. Hurricanes are common during the summer months, so it’s advised to avoid travel during this season if possible. The best time to visit typically starts in November and runs through April. Be sure to check local weather forecasts before your trip.

Experiencing the Local Culture

The Caribbean is home to a variety of cultures. The local culture is a key part of the Caribbean experience, so make sure to soak up as much as you can. Visit museums and historical sites to get a deeper understanding of the local heritage, or explore local festivals for a display of music, dance, and art. Moreover, the people of the Caribbean are well known for their friendliness, so don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation.

Planning Your Activities

Whether you’re into diving, hiking, shopping, or simply lying on the beach, you will be able to pick between endless activities. Besides, you can try your hand at deep-sea fishing, horseback riding, or even bungee jumping. If you’re looking for something more laid back, take a guided tour of the island’s botanical gardens or explorer its national parks. Whatever you decide to do, be sure to review safety guidelines and pack all the necessary equipment before your adventure.

In conclusion, the Caribbean offers a diverse travel experience that caters to different preferences and budgets. With careful planning and a bit of research, you can plan a vacation that is truly unforgettable. So don’t wait — start planning your dream Caribbean trip today!

7 . Chinese traditional painting and dance are two vital parts of the art world. But what about when they meet each other?

This year, a dance drama titled Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting (《只此青绿》) was staged on CCTV’ Spring Festival Gala and went viral.

According to CCTV, this poetic dance programme was inspired by the about 900-year-old Chinese painting A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains(《千里江山图》). Created by Song Dynasty painter Wang Ximeng at the age of 18, the painting is amazing in its marvellous size, rich coloration and the expressive details, reported CCTV. It shows a Chinese blue-green landscape: mountains and groupings of infinite rise and fall between cloudless sky and rippling water.

When the dancers moved elegantly, audiences seemed to be looking at the moving mountains and rivers. “It brings me a pure experience of beauty. It is not only dance but also an ‘exhibition’. Vast mountains and rivers are coming to life!” An Internet user Mo Weisha wrote in a review, “About a thousand years later, green mountains and rivers still wow people as they did long ago.

Some people even decided to watch the dance again when it was staged in the theaters later. In fact, in recent years, more and more modern shows highlight Chinese traditional culture and have received warm welcome. As for why, it is due to people’s great love for traditional culture.

“The younger generations have grown up with a more open mindset. They embrace Chinese culture and are proud of it. ”Yao Wei, director of Henan TV Station’s Innovation Center, told China Daily.

8 . There are many podcasts (播客) that teach English and you can listen to them anytime. Here is a list of some of the best podcasts that you must see.

Learn English Podcast

This podcast has three levels.The first is for beginners, the second is for intermediates (中级学生) and the third is for upper intermediates. If a person wants to learn Business English,then episodes are also made for him.Every podcast is short but very informative. Worksheets and vocabulary tasks are also included.

Speaking Broadly

This podcast is made for advanced learners. Explained through discussion and interviews, each episode has non-native English speakers and every recording also has expert feedback. You will see some common mistakes made by English learners and you can improve your English by learning from those mistakes.

The English We Speak

This podcast airs one episode daily and every episode is only three to four minutes, which talks about phrases and idioms.There are two people in each episode who communicate with each other. Whatever level you are,you will find it rewarding

Elementary Podcast

This podcast is mainly for beginners and intermediate level learners. The length of a podcast is around 25 minutes but you can pause it anytime and continue whenever you want. The hosts of each episode are different.

10 . Most people agree that eating healthy food is important. But sometimes making good food choices can be difficult. Now there are apps that can help people learn about the food they eat to improve their health and their dining out experience.

Open Table app

Open Table app helps people choose restaurants when they want to go out to eat. It is a free service that shows users restaurant available based on where and when they want to dine. It gives users points when they make reservations, which can add up to discounts (折扣) on restaurant visits.

Max McCalman’s Cheese &Wine Pairing app

Wine and cheese can be a great combination. But which wines go best with which cheeses? Max McCalman’s Cheese & Wine Pairing app can help. It provides information about hundreds of different cheeses and suggests wines to pair with each. Max McCalman’s Cheese & Wine Pairing app is free.

Happy Cow app

Vegetarians do not eat animal meat. Vegans do not eat any animal products. The Happy Cow app is made for both groups. Users can search for vegetarian-vegan restaurants and stores around the world.

Local Eats app

Restaurant chains, like McDonalds, can be found almost anywhere a person might travel. But sometimes travelers want to eat like locals. The Local Eats app is designed for that. It can help you find local restaurants in major cities in the US and in other countries. It costs about a dollar.

Where Chefs Eat app

“Where Chefs Eat” is a 975-page book. Most people would not want to carry that around. But there is a much lighter app version of the same name for just $15. Six hundred chefs provide information on 3,000 restaurants around the world on the Where Chefs Eat app.