In much of Asia, especially the so-called “rice bowl” cultures of China, Japan, Korea, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Vietnam, food is usually eaten with chopsticks.

    Chopsticks are usually two long, thin pieces of wood or bamboo. They can also be made of plastic, animal bone or metal. Sometimes chopsticks are quite artistic. Truly elegant chopsticks might {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (make) of gold and silver with Chinese characters. Skilled workers also combine various hardwoods and metal {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (create) special designs.

    The Chinese have used chopsticks for five thousand years. People probably cooked their food in large pots, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (use) twigs（树枝）to remove it. Over time, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} the population grew, people began cutting food into small pieces so it would cook more quickly. Food in small pieces could be eaten easily with twigs which {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(gradual) turned into chopsticks.

    Some people think that the great Chinese scholar Confucius, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} lived from roughly 551 to 479 B.C., influenced the {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (develop) of chopsticks. Confucius believed knives would remind people of killings and {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (be) too violent for use at the table.

    Chopsticks are not used everywhere in Asia. In India, for example, most people traditionally eat {#blank#}10{#/blank#} their hands.

    Polar bears are suffering in a {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (warm) world.

    Polar bears live in environments too cold for most animals. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} much of the year, they live and hunt on the frozen Arctic sea ice. Nature has prepared {#blank#}3{#/blank#} for the cold conditions. But nothing has prepared the bears for the danger that {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (threat)the only home they know.

    The polar bears' world is melting. Studies show that the polar ice has reduced by 9.8% every 10 years {#blank#}5{#/blank#} 1978. Now about 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears depend on the sea ice for their {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (survive). “The sea ice is more than just this platform that the bears walk over,” says Andrew Derocher, {#blank#}7{#/blank#} scientist who studies North American polar bear populations. “{#blank#}8{#/blank#} it, they can't exist.”

    Some melting and refreezing of the polar ice is natural. {#blank#}9{#/blank#} in a warmer world, these cycles speed up, and bears have less time to hunt. Normally, they have three months in the spring when they gain more weight. The extra fat is used later, {#blank#}10{#/blank#} the bears are not actively hunting.

    On April 1,2017, China announced that it would build the Xiongan New Area in Hebei province. This will be{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(great) important to China.

    The New Area, about 100 km southwest of downtown Beijing, will cover three counties{#blank#}2{#/blank#}sit at the center of the triangular area formed by Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei's provincial capital Shijiazhuang.

    “The Xiongan New Area has great potential for{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(grow),” reported People's Daily. It had a broad space{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(develop) and will expand to cover 2,000 square kilometers . The transportation of the area is convenient, with only one hour's drive to Beijing and Tianjin.

    The New Area also has{#blank#}5{#/blank#}sound natural environment. It is home to Baiyangdian, one of the{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(large) freshwater wetlands in North China. With more than 140 lakes, the wetland is known{#blank#}7{#/blank#}the “pearl” of the North China Plain.

    Once{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(build),the area will reduce the heavy burdens of Beijing. For example, many companies , universities and scientific research{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(centre) will move from Beijing to the area.

    “International experts and media also think highly of this new area , saying that it {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(set) an example to developing countries,” noted Xinhua.

    No matter where you are, humans are constantly measuring and checking time. Some of us are good at it—planning and doing things ahead of time,{#blank#}1{#/blank#}others are always trying to beat the clock and do things at the eleventh hour.

    Tardiness (拖拉) can be serious. If you{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(be) one minute late for work, would you resign? It may sound extreme, but that is exactly {#blank#}3{#/blank#}occurred in the UK upper chamber of parliament, the House of Lords, in January 2018. International development minister Lord Bates arrived one minute late, and, as a result, was unable to answer a {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(schedule) question. Instead of trying {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (make) up for lost time, as many might do, he resigned on {#blank#}6{#/blank#}spot. He apologized for his discourtesy (无礼) and stated that he was ashamed. His resignation, though.{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (reject) by the UK prime minister.

    So, how late is too late? Many cultures take punctuality very seriously. In contrast, others seem to view tardiness{#blank#}8{#/blank#} just the normal way of things. What is considered acceptable is based on culture. That is, if you don't mind waiting, it might be best to attend your{#blank#}9{#/blank#} (appoint) in good time. And if the worst comes to the worst, remember the old English proverb.{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (well) late than never.”

    Should naps(小睡) actually {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (take) during the day? Well, we certainly know from {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (evident) in the sleep center and that of many other scientists that naps can give you benefits for both your brain {#blank#}3{#/blank#} your body. But naps can actually be {#blank#}4{#/blank#} double-edged sword because while we're awake during the day, we're building up sleepiness or sleep pressure. So when you try to fall asleep at night, you'll fall asleep quickly and then you'll stay asleep. And when we sleep, we actually release that sleepiness so that we wake up the next morning feeling {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (refresh).

    So if you take a nap during the day, especially if you take it too late in the afternoon, you will actually release some of that sleepiness and it will make it much {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (hard) to fall asleep and stay asleep soundly throughout the night. So the advice would be if you don't struggle with your sleep and you can nap{#blank#}7{#/blank#} (regular), then naps are just fine.

    But if you do find it difficult {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (fall) asleep or stay asleep at night, then you should avoid naps and try to build up that healthy sleepiness in the evening.

    The ideal nap depends on {#blank#}9{#/blank#} you want from that nap. Different stages of sleep actually give you different types of brain and body  {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (benefit).