1 . A fat man with a camera around his neck and a bottle of sunscreen cream sticking out of his bag, he really did look like a tourist. He sat on the terrace (平台), sipping lemonade and pretending to look at a tourism brochure. His sunglasses masked his eyes, but I knew he wasn't looking at the brochure: he hadn't turned a page for the last ten minutes. As I brought him his dishes, he coughed up a "thank you" and looked at me briefly I tried not to stare at the tiny scar across his left eyebrow.

I walked back inside with my empty tray, shaking my head. He looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place him. Then it hit me. The car accident. The mysterious stranger who helped me out of my crashed car, just before it exploded. I rushed back to his table. He was gone.

I moved his saucer and found his tip, along with a card: I am deeply grateful to you. The night of your car accident, I was on my way to rob a jewelry store. Saving your life brought things back in a right way. I now live an honest life, thanks to you. God bless you! Mr. D.

I shivered (震颤). The night of my car accident, I was heading for an interview in an illegal dance club. Seeing human kindness through his heroic gesture (英雄姿态) turned my life around and brought faith back into my life. I unfolded the tip he left. Among the singles was a grand (一千块) with a pen mark underlining "In God We Trust. "I said a silent prayer for him and got back to work, smiling.

2 . Researchers from Purdue University have developed a new white paint that can reflect over 95 percent of sunlight, which can cool the surface even lower than the surrounding temperature. Painted on a building, the new paint could help cut cooling costs and energy use.

Many different reflective cooling paints have been developed over the years, but they all have their drawbacks. For the new study, the Purdue researchers developed a new method—using calcium carbonate (碳酸钙) fillers, which are much richer, cheaper, and absorb less ultraviolet (紫外线的) light. And the new reflective cooling paint can give off more sunlight—reflecting 95.5 percent of the light that strikes it. That’s better than many of the other paints in development, which manage between 80 and 90 percent, although it falls short of the record holder—the Teflon coating, which reflects 98 percent of light.

The team tested the new coating outdoors over two days, and showed that under direct sunlight it remained 1.7℃ below the surrounding temperature. In another set of tests, the researchers painted some parts of a pattern with the new paint, and others with a regular white paint of the same thickness. Using a special camera, they could see the pattern clearly, thanks to the difference in temperature between the two materials.

The team says that the new paint could not only help cool buildings, but prevent outdoor electrical systems from overheating. But to ensure that it is commercially practicable, the researchers next plan to investigate how well it lasts out in the environment.

“The cost of our paint may be comparable to other commercial paints or even lower than them,” says Xiulin Ruan, an author of the study. “The key is to ensure the reliability of the paint so that it is workable in long-term outdoor applications.”

3 . Amsterdam Destination Guide

Amsterdam is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, famous for its beautiful canals, top art museums, cycling culture and so on. It is the capital and most populous city in the Netherlands and often referred to as the “Venice of the North” because of its expansive system of bridges and canals. Here are some of the key points to remember as you plan your trip to Amsterdam.

Must-See Attractions

Most visitors begin their Amsterdam adventure in the Old Centre, which is full of traditional architecture, shopping centers, and coffee shops. You’ll also want to check out Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter in the South District, which is great for shopping at the Albert Cuyp Market and having a picnic in the Vondelpark. The top museums to visit there are the Rijksmusuem, the Ann Frank House, and the Van Gogh Museum.

If You Have Time

There are several other unique districts in Amsterdam, and you should try to explore as many of them as time allows. The Canal Ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally built to attract wealthy home owners and is a center for celebrity spotting and nightlife today. The Plantage area has most of the city’s museums, including the Jewish Historical Museum, the Scheepvaart Museum and the botanical gardens.

Money Saving Tips

◆Unless you really want to see the tulips (郁金香) blooming, avoid booking between mid-March and mid-May. This is when hotel and flight prices rise.

◆Look for accommodations in Amsterdam’s South District, where rates are generally cheaper than in the city center.

◆Buy train tickets at the machine instead of the counter to save a bit of money.

◆Instead of hiring a tour guide, hop on a canal boat. They’re inexpensive and will give you a unique point of view of the city.

Check out our homepage to view price comparisons for flights, hotels, and rental cars before you book.

An organization has taken measures     1     (add) chopsticks to the Shanghai Intangible Cultural Heritage list recently. Xu, chairman of the organization, says chopsticks are increasingly ignored in modern China despite the fact    2     they are unique Chinese items. Even China’s neighbor Japan has set aside August 4th as Chopstick Day already.

Chopstick culture in Shanghai     3     (date) back to the Tang Dynasty, when these items    4     (make) in the City God Temple area enjoyed widespread    5     (popular).

After opening as a commercial port, Shanghai is proud    6     having the first mechanized production line for chopsticks,     7     are not only supplied to Zhongnanhai and Diaoyutai State Guesthouse but also presented to foreign friends as gifts.

At least 1.8 billion people    8     (current) use chopsticks worldwide. Chopsticks, though small, serve as     9     means to pass down Chinese civilization. It’s believed that    10     (recognize) the cultural value of the custom matters in the promotion of Chinese traditions.

7 . It's “Baby Day” at the Riverpark seniors’ home in Ottawa—a twice-monthly event Eulah Johnson, 90, never misses. “I really enjoy it. It's a shift from the regular routine,” says the retired nurse.

Today, Johnson sits on a sofa and looks at a laughing child perched on the seat of her walker. After a few moments, the girl skips off to play with the dozen or so other small children and babies mixed with 20 of Johnson's fellow residents.

Some, like 12-month-old Owen, are regular visitors to Ottawa seniors' homes. “We've been doing this since he was three months old,” says his mother, Allison Rodgers, 33.

She loves the social calls, too. “I didn't have grandparents while growing up. It's nice to spend time with older people, and it feels good to know they're betting so much out of it.”

Babies Who Volunteer, the initiative bringing these generations together, is the inspired idea of Jessica Turner, a former educational assistant. The idea came about during a March 2018 visit with her 22-month-old daughter Amelia to a friend's mother, who was living in a long-term-care unit. She was most surprised by the response of her friend's mother; she hadn't spoken in two years, but with Amelia in her lap, she began singing. Turner went home and immediately put out a call on a mums' Facebook group: Would anyone be interested in dropping by seniors' residences with their babies?

A year later, there are now 1,500 volunteers, and the organization visits 39 homes in Ottawa. Everyone benefits from intergenerational programmes, she says. “This playgroup is good for the mothers, too. They're giving something to the community, which provides a sense of purpose and belonging. It can really help someone who is feeling isolated.”

8 . About National Geographic Kids

National Geographic Kids Magazine offers a fresh new look for today’s kids! Each issue is filled with great stories about wildlife, adventures, other kids, animals, sports, science, technology, terrific places in the world, popular culture, and more cool things — all designed to keep kids reading, thinking, learning and having fun! For ages 6-12.

Every edition of National Geographic Kids contains photos, fun facts, and articles presented in a cheery style, making it perfect for keeping kids’ attention. Your children can explore ancient civilizations on one page, come face to face with interesting wildlife on another, and turn the next page to a make and do project, which is often perfect for homework. There are always plenty of interesting facts about animals that your children are certain to share   with you, or they can turn to the page that gives them the low-down on their favorite star.

A gift subscription to National Geographic Kids is perfect for young readers, who are interested in the world around them.