3 . When asked why he or she wears clothes, some people will probably answer “to keep warm and to cover my body”. These are the basic reasons why clothes are worn, but people also want to look attractive and appear successful to others.

If people only wore clothes for warmth and to cover their bodies, most clothes would be simple and cheap. In most Western countries, however, clothes are sometimes very expensive. The main reason for this is not the cost of the cloth or the cost of making the clothes. The clothes are expensive because of fashion.

Successful businessmen, for example, often wear very expensive suits, shirts and ties. Sometimes they pay thousands of dollars for a suit and hundreds of dollars for a tie. It’s just a suit and a tie but they pay these prices because of the famous name of the designer. A suit costing much less would be just as warm and would cover the wearer’s body just as well.

Fashion is always changing, which means those who want to be fashionable have to buy new clothes every few months, even if last month's clothes have only been worn once or twice. Some people have wardrobes full of clothes that have hardly been worn but are no longer in fashion. Being fashionable, therefore, can be a very expensive pastime!

4 . An interesting study posted on Facebook recently shows how men and women develop new interests as they mature(成熟).

While women tend to take exercise seriously from the age of 34, men will wait until their 45th birthdays before working hard to get in shape.The average woman spends more time talking about sports, politics, career and money as she gets older.

Women’s interest in books reaches its peak(顶峰) at the age of 22, while that of men does so when they are in their 50s.

Men start to change their focus from the workplace to other things after age 30, while women do not do so until eight years later. Both, however, care most about fashion at age 16.

The research used anonymous(匿名的) data donated by thousands of Facebook users, recording the statuses, ‘likes’ and ‘interests’ they had posted on their profiles.

It found the average woman talks about television most at 44, while men peak much younger, at age 31.

Men are also most likely to see a film in a cinema at age 31, while women go out to see films most when they are only 19.

Men are most interested in travel at 29, women at 27, while women talk most about food and drink at 35, and men at 38.

And if you are middle aged, a safe topic for any audience is the weather, which is a key interest for many as they approach 60.

Stephen Wolfram, the British scientist who carried out the research, says, “It’s almost shocking how much this tells us about the changes of people’s typical interests. People talk less about video games as they get older, and more about politics.”

5 . From the earliest times，man has been interested in art．People have often worked together to collect and save the world's art treasures．

Fine art treasures from many countries are kept in an art museum called the Louvre in Paris, France. The works of art have been collected by the people of France over many centuries．

The Louvre has not always been a museum．The first building was a fort（炮台）．In 1190，it was the king's castle with high walls and a round tower. It had a moat to keep out his enemies．

Over the years，the number of buildings around the castle grew. By 1350，the castle was no longer needed as a fort. The Louvre became a palace home for French kings and queens．

During times of peace, new treasures were brought in. During days of war, many treasures were stolen, and the buildings were damaged．

When Francis I became king of France in 1515, he brought in artists from many countries. One of the artists was Leonardo da Vinci from Italy．Da Vinci's “Mona Lisa” is the best known painting in the museum today．

In 1793, the Louvre became a public museum, just as it is now. It is a place where art treasures have been saved for everyone to enjoy．

7 . Wisconsin Historical Museum

30 N. Carroll Street on Madison’s Capitol Square

Discover Wisconsin’s history and culture on four floors of exhibits. Open for public program.

Admission is free.

Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am -- 4:00 pm.

Swiss historical village

612 Seventh Ave., New Glarus

The Swiss Historical Village offers a delightful look at pioneer life in America’s heartland. 14 buildings in the village give a full picture of every day life in the nineteenth-century Midwest.

Tue.—Fri., May 1^st –October 31^st , 10:00 am—4:00 pm. Admission is $20.

Artisan Gallery & Creamery Café

6858 Paoli Rd., Paoli, WI

One of the largest collections of fine arts and crafts (手工艺品) in Wisconsin. Over 5000 sq. ft. of exhibition space in a historic creamery. While visiting enjoy a wonderfully prepared lunch at our café overlooking the Sugar River. Just minutes from Madison!

Gallery open Tue. –Sun., 10:00 am—5:00 pm. Café open Wed. –Sat., 11:00 am –3:00 pm. Sun. brunch with wine, 10:00—3:00 pm.

Christopher Columbus Museum

239 Whitney St., Columbus

World-class exhibit –2000 quality souvenirs (纪念品) marking Chicago’s 1893 World Columbian Exhibition. Tour buses are always welcome.

Open daily, 8:15 am – 4:00 pm.

9 . With the summer holiday around the corner, it seems that everybody is busy planning their vacations. Here are some tips that can help you enjoy your holiday without emptying your pocket:

Go to your destination while the demand is low and take advantage of huge discounts. During the peak season, the hotel and flight prices increase quickly.     1    .

Look for places that do not charge extra for children.     2    . If you and your family are going to stay for a longer period, renting a small apartment is a good choice.

    3    

Planning your meals is another way to reduce your travel costs. During your family trip, try new food the locals eat, which will save money.

Tourist-heavy places are known for overcharging for just about everything. Clothes, travel goodies, souvenirs, etc. are very expensive at these places.     4    . Bargain hard to get the best price.

    5    . Instead, take buses, railways or subways, which are always cheaper. If you are planning to stay for a while, you can consider renting a car.

10 . Nelson Mandela is respected and admired across the world. And to South Africans he is a superstar. He is a hero who shocked the world by fighting for peace between races, despite the 27 years he spent in the prison of the South Africa’s white, racist regime(政权).

Mandela, who won the nation’s first all-race elections after the fall of apartheid(种族隔离) in 1944,retired in 1999. But he remains as popular as ever.

＂He’s loved by all people, whether you’re white or black, whether you’re young or old,＂ said Ali Bacher, South Africa’s former cricket(板球) chief.

His popularity has inspired an entire national industry. His portrait has appeared at many places, including on some goods. His face has appeared on a South African coin, a metropolitan(大都会的) area was named in his honor and some business leaders hope to build a massive, rotating statue in his likeness — the Statue of Freedom. It would stand taller than New York’s Statue of Liberty.

His popular appeal is similar to that of John F. Kennedy with US or Winston Churchill in Britain, but few politicians in his times have achieved his level of admiration, said Tom Lodge, head of the political science department of the University of the Witwatersrand.＂ Sometimes it isn’t completely appreciated what a skilled performer Mandela has been throughout his political career. He is a very, very clever man,＂ However, he is far from perfect.

Most articles for his birthday, which appeared in every major South African newspaper on the day, briefly mentioned that Mandela did have his shortcomings. Then they returned to their flowing praises. ＂Through the ages, the human race has had its icons(偶像) — men and women who rose above ordinary people to inspire their generation,＂ The Mail and Guardian Weekly said. ＂In our generation, the gods presented us Nelson Mandela.＂