We know music is very important in our daily life. Do you notice music playing at any of those places when you go somewhere? Today most stores, stations, restaurants and other places play music. You might even hear music in an office or on a farm.

Scientists believe that music influences the way people behave. They think that the sound of western classical music makes people feel richer. When a restaurant plays classical music, people spend more money on food and drinks. When the restaurant plays modern music, people spend less money. Without music, people spend even less. Scientists also believe that loud, fast music makes people eat faster. Some restaurants play fast music during their busy hours. This makes people eat faster and leave quickly. Restaurants can make more money in this way.

Some scientists think that music makes you think and learn better. They say that music helps students to be more active. It is true that people learn better when they are relaxed. And listening to music can help you relax.

The next time you hear music somewhere, be careful. It might influence the way you do things.

    This is a song， and millions of Americans will hear it on New Year's Eve. It is called "Auld Lang Syne" (《友谊地久天长》). It is the traditional music played during New Year's celebration. "Auld Lang Syne" is an old Scottish(苏格兰)poem. It tells about the need to remember old friends.

    The words "auld lang syne" mean "old long since". No one knows who wrote the poem first.

    However， a version(版本)by Scottish poet Robert Burns was published(出版)in 1796. The words and music we know today first appeared(出现)in a song book three years later.

    The song is played in the United States mainly on New Year's Eve. The version you are hearing today is by the Washington Saxophone Quartet. One of the 4 musicians in the group is VOA's Rich Kainfaite. As we end our programme with "Auld Lang Syne"，I would like to wish all of our radio friends a very happy New Year! This is Buddy Thomas.

    It is well-known that it will take travelers only 48 hours by train to go from Beijing to Lhasa， the capital of west China's Tibet on July 1 this year. Travelers can enjoy the beautiful views during the 48 hour train ride.

    The new railway line will be controlled by the Beijing' s West Railway Station from July 1， 2006. The most important part of the line， the Qinghai-Tibet Railway， has been completed.

    The Qinghai-Tibet part of the railway is the world's highest railway. About 960 kilometers of the train tracks are 4，000 meters above sea level. The highest parts reach 5，072 meters.

    The railway is the world' s longest plateau railroad which is 1，956 kilometers long， from Qinghai's capital Xining to Lhasa in Tibet. The Golmud-Lhasa part is 1，142 kilometers long and goes across the Kunlun and Tanggula mountain ranges.

    The trains running on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway have very good conditions. If the passengers feel hard to breathe， they will be provided with oxygen masks， because all of the trains have oxygen supplying equipments.

    If you're invited to your British or American friend's home for a meal at home, you should learn some table manners about their countries.

    Their dinner parties usually start between 7 and 8 p. m. and end at about 11 p.m. Ask your hosts what time you should arrive. It's polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine as a gift.

    Usually the evening starts with drinks and snacks（小吃）. If you want to be more polite, say how much you like the room, or the pictures on the wall. But remember-it's not polite to ask how much things cost.

    In many families, the husband sits at one side of the table and the wife sits at the other end. They eat with their guests. You'll probably start the meal with soup or something small, then you'll have meat or fish with vegetables, and then dessert（甜点心）, followed by coffee. It's polite to finish everything on your plate and to take more if you want it.

    Did you enjoy the evening? Call your hosts the next day, or write them a short "thank you" letter. British and American people like to say "thank you, thank you" all the time!

    1970 was World Conservation (保护) Year. The UN wanted everyone to know that the world was in danger. They hoped something could be done.

    Here is one example of the problem. At one time there were about 1,300 kinds of plants, trees and flowers in Holland, but now only about 866 are left. The others have been destroyed by modern people and their science. We are polluting earth, air, water and everything around us. We can't live without these things. If things go on like this, we shall destroy ourselves.

    What will happen in the future? Perhaps it's more important to ask "What must we do?". More and more young people have known this. Many of them are helping to save our Earth. For example, they plant trees. In a small town in the United States, a large group of girls cleaned the banks of 11 kilometres of their river. Young people may hear about conversation through an album called "No One's Gonna Change Our World". It includes songs of Cliff Richard and other singers. The money from selling it will help to conserve tigers, elephants and pandas on Earth.

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