1 . Are you happy with your appearance?     1    

“Almost all the girls with single-fold eyelids (单眼皮) in our class have had double eyelid operations,” Zeng, a Senior 2 student from Chengdu, told Xinhua. Zeng had the same surgery done this summer.     2    

From popular photo-editing apps to plastic surgery (整形手术), it seems that large eyes, pale skin and a skinny body are the only standard for beauty these days. But can following this standard really make us feel good about ourselves?

    3     . According to Huxiu News, over six in ten girls choose not to take part in certain daily activities, such as attending school, because they feel bad about their looks. As much as 31 percent of teenagers avoid speaking up in class because they worry that others will notice their looks.

“Many teenagers are upset about their appearance because they believe in unrealistic standards of beauty,” experts say.       4     Seeing all these things can make anyone believe that they’re too dark, too fat, too short, or too tall.

However, trying to live up to strict standards can make us feel anxious. What troubles us is not just our “imperfect” looks, but the fact that we criticize ourselves too much.

    5     Plus-size models are being featured in some fashion shows. All of us should be just as confident as they are.

3 . New technology rules the whole world now. But I still remember when I was a child, I did not have a cell phone or a computer because it was not necessary at all in those days. The internet was not popular, and the touch screen technology was unknown.

At this time here in the US smartphone are really a need, especially for young and business people. There are many applications really useful like maps, dictionaries, e-mails and games.

For me, I use my smartphone to check the weather and to look for something on the internet and of course to keep communicating through calls and texts. Besides, I like music applications, GPS and Facebook.

Many tests have discovered that cell phones cause damages to us because they send out radioactive(具有放射性的) waves to our bodies and this could cause cancer.

Psychologists say that these devices can affect behavior and I believe everyone knows it is harmful to the eyes if we are sitting for a long time in front of computer. However, it seems to be difficult for us to give up, even if we know how bad it is for our health. The use of technology becomes more and more important in our lives.

I think the use of technology has brought us unimaginable things. If we use technology correctly, I am sure it would be possible to decrease the damage to our bodies.

Keep in mind that it is important not to focus only on technology, but to spend time with our families and people close to us.

4 . Peppa Pig, a British preschool animated TV series, has undergone an amazing journey in adapting to Chinese culture and China’s market.

2015

In June, the Peppa Pig TV series was introduced to the Chinese market by Entertainment One and first aired on the CCTV Children’s Channel. Shortly after its publication, Peppa Pig attracted billions of views on social media platforms like iQIYI, Youku and Tudou.

2016

The Peppa Pig TV series was broadcast on the CCTV Children’s Channel for a second round. It also gained more viewers on the Golden Eagle Animation Channel, Hunan TV.

2017

The phrase “Peppa Pig Girl” became one of the hottest buzzwords on China’s Internet. It refers to a girl who holds a positive attitude toward life even though she tends to be lazy in her daily life. She might look a bit silly and often have tasty food as a top priority on her mind.

2018

Rumors claimed that Peppa Pig was banned from Douyin, China’s major video sharing platform, saying it “violates (违反) the community regulations and has not passed censorship (审查制度)”. In May, however, representatives from Douyin said the app was not forbidding Peppa Pig.

2019

According to Entertainment One, more than 40 million Peppa Pig books have been sold since its second round broadcast on CCTV. In the year of the Pig, more companies are adding Peppa-themed elements to their products for promotion.

5 . Why Walking in Nature Makes You a Better Worker?

We’re busy at work, distracted (注意力分散的) by technology and often live in urban environments far from wild spaces.    1    . The average American, for example, spends about 90% of their life indoors. But what happens if we maketime for an hour outside each day?

    2    . You’ll have to go out for a walk, which is beneficial if most of your day involves sitting in front of a screen. Research shows short breaks can improve work enthusiasm, and a quick break in natural light will deliver a shot of vitamin D.

There are also a lot of mental benefits when you are in nature-you are happy and your brain can make sense of life. “When people are all out in nature, even in urban nature, people tend to have more positive emotion and energy than when they are indoors.    3    ,” said Lisa Nisbet, associate professor at Canada’s Trent University.

The idea that nature is good for us has been gaining grounds since the 1980s.    4    . Afterwards, shinrin-yoku, the Japanese concept, which is the practice of taking a short, leisurely visit to a forest for health benefits, followed that. Researchers of shinrin yoku have since found plenty of physical and mental benefits, while global studies suggest spending time in nature can, for example, restore our ability to focus, increase our creativity, and even help us live longer.

Of course, many of us live in cities with no ready access toforests or the wilderess.    5    . Various studies have shown that green environments in cities have beneficial effects.

7 . Around the world, people are realizing the significant problems caused by plastic waste. In the last 65 years, we have become increasingly dependent on plastic. It’s easy to understand why: it’s cheap to produce, light—therefore easy and cheap to transport—and incredibly strong and durable.     1     The microplastics that result from these processes are harmful to the environment. It is also very difficult to recycle; in fact currently only 9% of all the plastic produced has been recycled.

One popular solution to the problem is to ban single-use plastic. In the UK, shoppers are encouraged to make more environmentally-friendly choices in packing and transporting their food. A tax has already been placed on plastic carrier bags, which has cut their use by 90%.     2     Some governments have even promised to ban the use of single-use plastic altogether in the not-too-distant future.

Such plans are well-intentioned, but may not be helpful in getting rid of the use of single-use plastic altogether.     3     This is not just because of its low cost. It’s also because, by using dishes, phials (小药瓶) and so on just once, infection and cross-contamination (交叉污染) are minimized. Plastic packaging is also important in the food industry, as it ensures that food is safe for consumers.

Another issue is that alternative(可供替代的) materials are often more environmentally harmful than plastic. Take paper bags, for example.     4     The process requires cutting trees, the emission of greenhouse gases and the production of poisonous chemical waste. Even more pollution is created when paper bags break down.

Clearly there is a need to reduce plastic waste and its impact on the environment.     5     Industries that rely on single-use plastic for people’s health and safety must be considered. Moreover, alternative materials must be evaluated strictly regarding their own environmental impact.

8 . Below are the future optional majors for you to take into consideration before entering college.

Architecture

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Architecture is the design of the built environment: buildings and their surroundings. As a profession, it is an art, science, and business with careers available in schools of architecture, and in architectural research.

Department of Architecture Design, 101 Alumni Hall, Phone: 513-529-7210

Accountancy

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Accountancy is the language of business. Accountants prepare profit and loss statements, cost studies, and tax reports. They can work for firms of any size, ranging from a large international firm to a small local accounting practice, and government.

School of Business, Student Services Office, Phone: 513-529-1712

Journalism

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Journalism includes the fields of Media & Culture, and Interactive Media Studies. In addition to essential reporting, writing, and editing skills, journalism combines the art of communication with the science of digital technology. Graduates may become magazine editors, reporters, or copywriters.

Department of Media, Journalism &Film, 206 Williams Hall, Phone: 513-529-5893

Anthropology

Degree: Bachelor of Arts

Anthropology is the study of humans. Individuals and societies are complex and dynamic, which means anthropology covers a lot of ground. The study of people can lead to almost any career path, including education, health care, social work, international development, government and human relations.

Department of Anthropology, 120 Upham Hall, Phone: 513-529-8399

10 . The Internet has become part of teenage life. There’s a report on 3375 students aged from 10 to18 in seven Chinese cities. It says that 38% of them believe they use the Internet often. While most of them get useful information and use the Internet to help in their studies, some are not using it in a good way. Many are playing online games too much. A few even visit Websites they should not look at. Bad things can happen if young people spend too much time on the Internet.

In order to help young people use the Internet in a good way, a textbook on good Internet behavior has started to be used in some Shanghai middle schools this term. It uses real examples to teach students all about good ways of using the Internet. Some students also make online friends. But if you are meeting a friend offline, let your parents know.

Teachers and parents all think the book is a very good idea. It will teach students how to be a good person in the online world. It will be a guide for teens using the Internet and keep students away from bad sites.