Some of the greatest problems we face today are the destruction (破坏) of our environment. Brown clouds, polluted water, endangered wild animals.., these problems seem so huge.

    So my family does what we can. We take cloth bags to stores instead of using plastic bags. We walk where we don't have to drive...

    But does it do any good? When I am the only one in line at the market with cloth bags, am I doing any good? Does my walking to stores make any real difference to the world?

    I recently learned something about flamingos (火烈鸟) which like to get together in groups of a thousand or more. Every year, when the time comes for migration (迁徙), a few of them first takeoff from the lake. But none of the others seem to notice, so the small group returns. However, the next day they try again. This time few more fly along with them, but most of them still pay no attention, so they return again. They try for several times. Every time a few more birds join in but, since the thousands of others still take no notice, the great migration plan is once more stopped.

    Then one day something changes. The same small group of birds once again starts flying and a small number more join in just as before, then more. Finally, they all take flight and the migration really begins. What a spectacular sight it must be—thousands of flamingos taking off into the sky at once!

    A few can make a difference. Even if you're the one to take the first step, and continue trying, others will someday take notice and together we will solve even our greatest problems.

    Do you know why different animals or pests (昆虫) have their special colors? Colors in them seem to be used mainly to protect themselves.

    Some birds like eating locusts (蝗虫), but birds cannot easily catch them. Why? It is because locusts change their colors together with the change of the colors of crops(庄稼). When crops are green, locusts look green. But as the harvest time comes, locusts change to the same brown color as crops have. Some other pests with different colors from plants are easily found and eaten by others. So they have to hide themselves for lives and appear only at night.

    If you study the animal life, you'll find the main use of coloring is to protect themselves. Bears, lions and other animals move quietly through forests. They cannot be easily seen by hunters (猎人). This is because they have the colors much like the trees.

    Have you ever noticed an even stranger act? A kind of fish in the sea can send out a kind of very black liquid (液体)when it faces danger. While the liquid spreads over (散开), its enemies (敌人)cannot find it. And it immediately swims away. So it has lived up to now though it is not strong at all.

    Kate is reading something about how to keep healthy on the Internet.

    Good sleep is important for your health. You need about eight hours' sleep a night. Don't eat or read in bed. A cup of milk before sleeping may help you get a good sleep. Go to bed before 10: 00 and get up early every morning. For more information, please visit www.sleeping.com.

    How often do you exercise? If you want to stay healthy, you should do a lot of exercise. Try to exercise for 30 minutes a day, three or four times a week. For more information, please call Health Line at 180–2000.

    Studies show that the cold or flu virus（病毒） can live on our hands for long. So you should wash your hands often with soap and water. If you want to know more, please call Health Line at 180–1313.

    Brush your teeth twice a day and see a dentist at least once a year. The oral examination（口腔检査） is not only for the health of teeth, but the whole body. Please visit www.mydr.com for more information.

    "Mirror (镜子) mirror on the wall, what film is on in the cinema?"

Now with this kind of new mirror, you can brush your teeth and read news at the same time in your bathroom. Now not many people have this kind of mirror, but it will be popular very soon.

    The mirror works with new software(软件). You can use it to get news. You can also make your time table on it. It can also tell you what to wear because it knows the weather. The mirror is very clever. You can write notes on it for family members.

    There's another kind of new mirror, too. It can get much information from the user's clothes. It tells the users what clothes make him or her look good. Going shopping or eating out? Wait a minute! The mirror can give you some coupons(优惠券), too.

    Different weather makes people feel different. It influences(影响) health, intelligence(智力) and feeling.

    In August, it is very hot and wet in the southern part of the United states. People there have heart trouble and other kind of health problems during this month. In the northeast and the Middle West, it is very hot at some times and very cold at other times. People in these states have more heart trouble after the weather changes in February or March.

    The weather can also influence intelligence. For example, in a 1983 report by scientists, IQ of a group of students was very high when a very strong wind came, but after the strong wind, their IQ was 10% lower. The wind can help people have more intelligence. Very hot weather, on the other hand, can make it lower. Students in many schools of the United States often get worse on exams in the hot months of the year(July and August).

Weather also has a strong influence on people's feelings. Winter may be a bad time for thin people. They usually feel cold during these months. They might feel unhappy during cold weather. But fat people may have a hard time in hot summer. At about 18℃, people become stronger.

Low air pressure(气压)may make people forgetful, People leave more bags on buses and in shops on low－pressure days. People feel best at a temperature of about 18℃. Are you feeling sad, tired, forgetful or happy today? It may be the weather's problem.