1 . When it comes to poverty relief efforts in the developing world, small is the new big. Consider juncao, a group of wild grasses that have become one of China’s most significant contributions to the world’s sustainable development, with multiple uses being shared by people in 105 countries to help tackle food issues and desertification (沙漠化).

Juncao, which literally means “the herbal plant for growing edible (食用的) mushrooms”, has worked miracles for Chinese scientists who are cultivating it as a substrate (培养基) for growing edible and medicinal mushrooms or as food for livestock, as well as using it as green barrier to stop sand hills from advancing.

China introduced the grass and its cultivation technology to Papua New Guinea more than 20 years ago to help local formers raise livestock and grow edible mushrooms. “We hope we will help double the agricultural production capacity and farmers’ incomes in Papua New Guinea,” said Lin Zhanxi, a 79-year-old professor with Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University and the chief scientist for grass development.

It’s been 35 years since Lin selected the grass species to replace wood as a substrate for growing mushrooms in East China’s Fujian province, and this has saved a vast coverage of natural forest there. Through the years, Lin has developed 45 varieties of juncao, which can be used to cultivate 55 mushroom species.

Despite his age, Lin has often traveled afar to help people in developing countries learn about the benefits of this agricultural technology. "The first time I went to Papua New Guinea in 1997, I realized how people there were struggling with extreme poverty," Lin said. At that time, a tribe chief knelt down before Lin to thank him for bringing the technique to save them from starvation. To his astonishment, the tribe people celebrated the whole night. Members of the team were so touched that they decided to stay and help the people shake off poverty. In a land without electricity or modern devices, the team members worked there for eight years to teach locals how to cultivate and use the grass.

6 . In 2020, compared with the previous year’s film market, the popularity of domestic films this year improved, the themes were more diverse, and the coverage was more extensive. Here are some of the top 10 domestic box office movies in 2020.

It is based on the battle of Songhu in 1937 and tells the story of a camp of the Chinese National Revolutionary Army and its adherence in Shanghai. To strengthen the momentum, the actual number of 400 people was changed to 800 people. The “800 heroes” fought hard for four days and it wasn’t until Oct. 30th that they were ordered to withdraw to the British concession (租界).

The film was released in Chinese mainland on Aug. 21st, with a total box office of 3.09 billion yuan ($ 472.39 million) by Oct.25th.

The film tells the story of China’s women’s volleyball team’s life and death battle from its first World Championship in 1981 to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. It also tells the legend of several generations of women’s volleyball players who have experienced setbacks but remained indomitable (不屈不挠) and constantly struggling.

The film was released on Sept. 25th, with a total box office of 827.37 million yuan ($126.43 million) by Nov. 8th.

A young dancer finds Lin Ge’s diary while rescuing the elderly theater manager. In the diary, the old man with white hair is like her best friend. To fulfill his promise, Lin Ge goes back to the past, corrects his mistakes and saves his love. However, he is teased by fate and cannot be satisfied.

The film was released on Aug. 25th, with a total box office of 510.1million yuan ( $76.47 million) by Sept. 27th.

It tells the story of three young people with different personalities who return to an ancient village in Yunnan from a big city to start their own business. They understand that e-commerce going the countryside is not only to sell things in the city to the countryside, but also to sell things from the countryside. They change everyone with sincerity and start an extraordinary journey.

The film was released on Oct. 4th, with a total box office of 306.19 million yuan ($46.79 million) by Nov. 8th.

Sometimes it     1     (take) specially designed methods and approaches to let kids learn things which might not naturally come to them. Likewise, the first step in teaching     2    child to play football is letting her become familiar     3     the ball. Trainers at child football classes question them     4     (repeat) "what do we use in football"   and kids answer "feet".

Next, they should     5     (allow) to become confident with the ball. For this, you ask her to keep the ball under one foot and then do it with the other one. Subsequently, you gently roll it forwards and backwards by supporting the kid's foot on it. It lets her know that she can control the ball and that too without hands.

Progressing gently, you can start showing the     6     (difference) paths the foot can follow to stop and control the ball. You roll the ball towards her and let her control the ball. Followed by this comes the fun part,     7     you teach your kid to kick the ball properly. Teach her to kick with the top of the foot with the laces part and not let her get stuck at     8     (kick) by the toe-end.

After having her equipped with these basics, you can continue gradually teaching     9    (they) dribbling (带球)，some trickery and advanced football skills. It takes a lot of     10    (patient) and time, but eventually, the joy the kid will find in the sport is worth all of it.

8 . Audiences may be ready to return. Will they have anything to watch? It is turning out to be a long pause.

Cinemas across the West closed in March and, despite attempts to reopen in the summer, the box office has not recovered. From October 9th Cineworld, the world's second-largest chain, will temporarily shut its 536 Regal theaters in America and its 127 British ones. AMC, the biggest, will cut the opening hours at some Odeon cinemas in Britain.

Early in the pandemic the problem was audiences. In March Disney's "Onward" closed as people refused to breathe the air with a crowd of strangers. Business got harder when governments ordered theaters to shut.

As countries have cased （解除）restrictions and audiences prepared to return, cinemas are finding little to show them. In China, where Covid-19 seems under control, studios have resumed pumping out hits. But Hollywood will not risk premiering （首映）costly blockbusters （大片）while many markets, including New York and California, remain closed, and cinema-goers cautious. Most big titles have been postponed.

Nine months without income would be disastrous （灾难性的）.America's National Association of Theatre Owners predicts that seven out of ten small or medium-sized cinema companies will go bust （破产）,which it has urged Congress to approve.

Both AMC and Cineworld are likely to stop a contract or file for going bust, believes Moody's, a ratings agency; AMC could run out of cash by January. Share prices of Western operators have dropped sharply this year, and are now worth a fifth as much as five years ago. Chinese ones have done better.

9 . Baby Yoda Joins Oregon Firefighters in Battling Wildfires

“Because of all these photos, people are now seeing the human faces behind the wildfires," Tyler Eubanks excitedly told the Washington Post. "It is giving firefighters a huge confidence which is something that's really needed right now."

Sasha agrees, "It's a wonder how one small gesture can create a wave of kindness." She says Carver is excited that everyone likes Baby Yoda and happy that the first responders-many of whom have been unable to see their families for weeks-have a “little friend" to give them a comfort.

The toy, along with a note saying, "Thank you, firefighters. Here is a friend for you, in case you get lonely. Love, Carver," was handed to volunteers on September 12th, 2020. The thoughtful gift brought tears to their eyes. "The fires were close to us, and everyone was really high on emotion," says Tyler Eubanks. "We were all really touched that Carver wanted to give a companion to the people who were out there risking their lives to fight the wildfires.”

Eubanks delivered the toy to a group of firefighters working to contain a 25-acre flames in Colton, Oregon. She had originally intended to take a few pictures of the Baby Yoda in action for Carver, and then bring back the toy to the donation site. However, the firefighters decided to hold on to the doll and share it to lift the spirits of firefighters across the state.

"He's been a really big encouragement” said Jaebyn Drake, a firefighter with the Oregon Air National Guard. "A lot of the people on my crew, I showed them the note and everything, and they just loved it. A couple of people broke down in tears ... It just really meant a lot to us, and it was really emotional for a lot of people.”

10 . In the UK, the Met Office — which keeps track of the weather — chooses the names for storms but they’re asking for members of the public to help by suggesting new ones. It’s five years since they first asked people for ideas and that time they got more than 10,000 suggestions.     1    .

Why do storms have names?

The Met Office decided to start giving storms names back in 2014, in the same way they do in America. The first windstorm to be named was Abigail on 10 November, 2015.     2     They think it will be easier to follow the progress of a storm on the TV, radio, or on social media, if it has a name.

    3    ?

Since September 2015, the Met Office has asked people for suggestions for storm names. The most popular names put forward by the public are made into a list, along with other names suggested by Met Office. Sometimes the UK will be hit by storms from Europe or other countries, and the storm will keep the name the first country gave it — even if it doesn’t follow the UK’s alphabetical order - like Storm Jorge from Spain which hit Europe in February.

How big do storms have to be to get a name?

Not all storms will be big enough to get names — only those expected to cause significant damage. A storm will be named when it has the potential to cause an amber ‘be prepared’ or red ‘take action’ warning.

Who decides if they’re named after girls or boys?

The UK storms will take it in turns to be girls ‘or boys’ names.    4     Scientists think that’s because people find female names less threatening.

Which storm name will be picked first?

    5    . That’s because the US National Hurricane Centre leaves out names that begin with these letters. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokesman said, “It’s just too difficult to find names beginning with X, Y and Z.” The Met Office has done the same thing to make sure official storm naming in the North Atlantic is consistent.