2 . Different countries celebrate Christmas in different ways. We asked some of our friends to explain what happens in their countries. This is what they told us:

France

In France, Christmas is always called Noël. Everyone has a Christmas tree, sometimes decorated in the old way with red ribbons and real white wax candles. Fir trees in the garden are often decorated too with lights on all night.

Father Christmas is called Père Noël. The Christmas meal is an important family gathering with good meat and the best wine. Few people send Christmas cards. More people send New Year cards to wish everyone good luck and joy for the New Year. These days Christmas lunch is a starter of foie gras (a strong tasting pate made from goose liver) followed by lunch of seafood — usually including lobsters and oysters.

New Zealand

Christmas starts for us with gifts under the tree, to be opened on Christmas morning. Then it’s onto a Christmas lunch either at home or at one’s parents place. Turkey or chicken with all the trimmings (佐料) is eaten. Then comes tea time. It is a BBQ for friends and family to get together, and have a few beers or wines with the meal!

Russia

In the days of the Soviet Union, Christmas was not celebrated very much. New Year was the important time — when “Father Frost” brought presents to children. With the fall of Communism, Christmas can be openly celebrated either on December 25th; or more often on January 7th. This unusual date is because the Russian Orthodox church uses the old “Julian” calendar for religious celebration days. Special Christmas food includes cakes, pies and “meat dumplings”.

Sweden

The most important day is Christmas Eve. A special Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve — ham (pork), herring fish, and brown beans — and this is the time when families give presents to each other. Many people attend a church meeting early on Christmas Day.

3 . I’m much more used to the simple language of chopsticks. To me, the art of chopsticks______more than any silver knives or forks ever could.

My grandfather’s language of love is ______. I still remember his______clearly, “Only your first two fingers should be moving, and your two chopsticks must never cross.” He can use chopsticks______. He shows me chopstick tricks and we play games with chopsticks,

What about my ______? No doubt it is ______. In her hand, chopsticks are no longer just cutlery (餐具), ______ a tool to show her concern. “Come, ______ more,” she always says while using chopsticks to ______ food for me. When my grandfather co mes home from a long day’s work,______ all the nagging (唠叨) that she gives to him, my grandmother always,______ places the best part of their food onto his plate with chopsticks, and takes the ______ for herself. There is no need for any words, when the love can be ______ with a pair of chopsticks.

Using chopsticks ______ practice, patience and perseverance ( 毅 力). After more than fifty years of marriage, my grandparents are still ______ it and practising it, with every meal and every mouthful.

4 . Climate breakdown threatens to cause a global food production crisis. The UN forecasts that by 2050, feeding the world will require a 20% expansion in global water use for agriculture. It is hard to see how agriculture can feed the population of the planet, let alone toward the end of the century and beyond. Agriculture is a major cause of climate breakdown, and both river and air pollution. Industrial fishing is similarly driving ecological collapse in seas around the world.

However, at this critical time, farming (a new kind of food technology) is creating astonishing possibilities to save both people and the planet. Farming will enable the return of vast areas of land and sea to nature, greatly reducing carbon emissions (排放物). It means an end to the employment of animals, a stop to overfishing, and a dramatic reduction in cutting down forests and the use of pesticides (杀虫剂). It is the best hope for stopping the destruction of the planet and, if it is done right, it means cheap and abundant food for everyone.

We are about to welcome one of the biggest economic transformations, of any kind, for 200 years. Arguments continue about plants against meat-based diets; however, new technologies will soon make these arguments irrelevant. Before long, most food will come neither from animals nor plants, but from micro-organisms (微生物).

Not only will food be cheaper, it will also be healthier. Due to the fact that farming creates food products built up from simple components rather than broken down from complex ones, hard fats and other unhealthy components can be screened out. Meat will still be meat, but it will be grown in factories rather than in the bodies of animals. Fats will still be fats, but food is likely to be better, cheaper and much less damaging to the living planet.

8 . How to change the world

There are so many things you can do at home or in your community to make the world a better place. Even the smallest things can lead to bigger changes, so don' t be afraid to get out there and start helping.     1    No matter where you are or whom you meet, give them a warm smile when you’re around them. When you smile, you make the other person feel good and encourage them to smile too.

You’ve probably felt warm when someone says something nice about you, so why not return the favor? Say something that shows your appreciation for how they handle themselves emotionally or treat other people. Make sure you act sincerely when you give your praise so you come across as a truthful person.    2    

It can be really easy to get jealous (妒忌的) of other people when they succeed, but it’s a lot more rewarding to share their excitement. Avoid comparing yourself to other people and thinking of ways you can be better than them.     3    

Even though being kind to someone doesn’t seem like you’re making a big change, your kindness will continue to spread through them. Real kindness involves being friendly and considerate no matter the circumstances.     4    For example, if you see someone struggling to carry groceries , you can offer to help them to their vehicle.

When people litter, the rubbish ends up in the environment and damages the natural wildlife .     5    You may end up picking rubbish up from a beach, cleaning up around highways , or collecting waste from public parks.