Just after finishing his work, Mr. Philips was going to the grocery shop to buy some bananas, but he saw a poor old lady     1     (sell)fresh bananas on the street, so it seemed     2     (convenient)to buy some from her.

The old lady charged $7     3     one kilo of bananas. “But the shop     4     I usually buy from gives them for $5 per kilo!”, Mr. Philips said. “I’m sorry sir, I cannot afford to match that price”, the old lady responded. Mr. Philips said nothing and went to the grocery shop.

    5     , when he wanted to pay for bananas he picked, the cashier told him that the price per kilo was $10. He tried to bargain again, but the manager said coldly, “We do not bargain.” Mr. Philips felt very     6     (annoy)with his attitude, and decided to put the bananas back and go back to the old lady.

She recognized him     7     (instant)and told him, “Sir, I can’t match that price.” “Don’t worry, I will pay you $10 per kilo!” said Mr. Philips. “Now, give me two     8     (kilo)please!” The old lady happily packed the bananas and said, “I can’t accept $10 per kilo but I will accept $7 per kilo. I appreciate your     9     (kind).”

Mr. Philips left the old lady speechless with gratitude, and also recommended many friends to buy bananas from the old lady, which they did. From that day on, she made     10     much better living than ever before.

3 . Being a people-pleaser(讨好型人格)is second nature to many people. We tend to calm those around us, often regardless of our own needs. Actually, it is unhealthy to do so.     1     Here are some tips one can follow.

Be sure of your own value.

You were created differently from every other human. Overcoming people-pleasing starts with clearly knowing the value of your thoughts and actions, and that your presence matters. By pleasing people at the cost of your own desires, you’re forgetting that you are here for a reason.

    2    

When something goes wrong, it’s quite natural for me to say sorry. It is pretty true of you if you’re a people-pleaser too. However, before words of apology trip from your lips, stop and look at the situation. Apologize sincerely and timely on condition that it’s really your fault. Otherwise just let it go.

Keep saying no.

    3     Indeed, getting over people-pleasing requires people to understand that you can say no and mean it. Saying no may be hard, but the more you say it, the more you understand how important it is to say.

Speak up.

People-pleasers like to agree with the masses. We are quiet, listening, waiting to agree on whatever decision is reached. Many times, I simply stayed quiet and agreed, even when I really didn’t like the plans at all. And bitterness surged when I was asked to deal with what I didn’t want.     4     Even sometimes you have to shout so as to be heard.

Without any doubt, it’s difficult to go against the nature that you tend to please everyone around you.     5     It’s the same with me. The best part is we get the grace of a new day to try all over again.

4 . No matter how many times Sandy has rescued an animal, she never gets over the casual cruelty some people display toward unwanted pets. When she lost her own “angel” dog, she started Logan’s Legacy to help other pets in need.

Sandy recently received a phone call about a small dog, possibly a puppy, that had been abandoned on a street. Since she was too far to help on, she called a friend who lives nearby to get there as soon as possible. When her friend Tom arrived, he found a tiny dog curled(蜷缩)in a tight ball with the chain firmly tied to a tree. Someone had left food and water for her, but the puppy was too frightened to eat or drink. Once gathered up in a blanket and placed into the back seat of the car, she began to get weak quickly from dehydration(脱水)and exhaustion.

The moment she got some water and food, the puppy made a rapid recovery, and her lovely and sweet personality could finally shine! “We have named her CiCi,” Sandy added, “She is feeling so much better. She has been observed at my place and she is doing great. This sweet baby girl will never feel fearful again, and won’t ever be abandoned again.” After winning hearts at Sandy’s office, CiCi has been approved for adopting and will soon leave for her new life. Sandy and her fellow rescuers are trying their best to find her the perfect family to love her and treat her with the respect all living creatures deserve!

6 . The tea that has delighted and fascinated the world for thousands of years has finally received top-level global recognition as a shared cultural treasure of mankind. China’s traditional tea-making was added on Tuesday to the intangible cultural heritage list of UNESCO.

The traditional tea processing techniques and associated social practices in China consist of knowledge, skills and practices concerning the management of tea plantations, picking of tea leaves, manual(手工的)processing, drinking and sharing of tea. Since ancient times, Chinese people have been planting, picking, making and drinking tea. Tea producers have developed six categories of tea: green, yellow, dark, white, oolong and black teas. Together with reprocessed teas, such as flower-scented teas, there are over 2, 000 tea products in China.

Tea-related customs are not only found across the country, but also influence the rest of the world through the ancient Silk Road and trade routes. Tea is ubiquitous in Chinese people’s daily life, as steeped(浸泡)or boiled tea is served in families, workplaces, tea houses, restaurants and temples, etc. It is also an important part of socialization and ceremonies such as weddings and sacrifices. The practice of greeting guests and building relationships within families and among neighbors through tea- related activities is common to multiple ethnic groups, providing a sense of shared identity and continuity for the communities.

In China, 44 registered national-level intangible cultural heritage entries are related to tea. There are over 40 vocational colleges and 80 universities that have set up majors in tea science or tea culture, resulting in over 3,000 graduates specializing in tea production and art every year, according to the ministry.

China now has 43 items on the intangible cultural heritage list, continuing to be the most enlisted country in the world.

7 . Today’s workers are suffering from a burnout. The danger of this is that burnout is linked to under performance and feelings of hopelessness. Would you know how to fight burnout?     1    

Find out the cause.

    2     Think back a little and find out when these feelings developed. The added workload can cause early work days and late work nights, which could leave you tired.

To fight burnout, you may have to get rid of anything that weighs you down. Remember, the less you have on your plate, the better you may feel.

Separate work from home life.

When you stop working at the end of the day, leave your “office hat” in the office. And while we’re talking about balance and relaxation, make sure you schedule real days off from work. No work emails, no work text messages, and no wok phone calls—a day devoted entirely to you, your family and rest.

Set realistic goals.

Maybe you have short-term and long-term goals for your life. Goals are an excellent motivator.     3     You may feel that accepting every additional assignment at work will help you achieve your goal faster. However, there is only one of you and if you don’t pace yourself, you may crash before reaching the finishing line.

    4    

The best solution to burnout is seeking out rich interpersonal communications, and continual personal and professional development. Find coaches and mentors who can help you identify positive relationships and learning opportunities.

Take short breaks during the day.

When you’re working throughout the day, schedule short 10-minute breaks every hour or every hour and a half.     5     Ten minutes may not seem like a lot, but this refresher could be the thing that keep you sane.

10 . Several years ago, a worldwide heavy rain was predicted, but no one got prepared for what was to come. Then, some areas received over 100 mm of rain. Cars and trucks floated down the streets. Whole buildings were swept away. At least 225 people lost their lives, and millions became homeless.

The weather is always changing. Over the past few years, heavy rains have led to floods in many parts of the world. Droughts have taken place in Brazil and Australia. There have been heat waves in Europe which killed thousands. There have been more powerful hurricanes and tornadoes than ever before. In 2017 alone, the financial cost from global weather events was up to 340 billion dollars.

With more wild weather events happening, people couldn’t help asking questions: What is happening with the weather? And why? Is this natural, or our fault? The answer seems to be: a little of both. Wild weather is natural. But most scientists hold the same view that human activity has made the Earth warmer. It is this global warming that makes heat waves more likely. The higher temperatures also result in more water to go into the air, which causes heavier and more frequent rain. Many scientists also believe global warming makes hurricanes and other storms stronger.

This means we’re likely to see more wild weather. “But we don’t have to just stand there and accept it,” says scientist Michael. He and other experts say we need to stop the Earth from getting warmer. We also need to be prepared, to do things that will help save lives.