Computer technology has become an important part of people's life. This technology has its own special words. One well-known computer word is Google. It's the name of a popular “search engineer(引擎)” for the Internet. People use the search engineer to find information about almost any subject on the Internet. The people who started the company named it Google because in math Google is a very large number-One hundred zeros follow the number one. When you “Google” a subject, you can get a lot of information about it.
    If you Google someone, you might find that person's name on a blog (博客). A blog is short for a Web log. It's a personal Web page. Some people write blogs to express their opinions and ideas over the Internet. Some use them to share their lives with faraway friends or family. Others write blogs to help them deal with sickness, money problems or to choose movies to see or books to read. Some people add information to their blogs every day. People who have blogs are called bloggers.

B

    Around the world, there are about 7,000 National Parks. Most of them cover huge areas of land where nobody lives. However, the National Parks in England include places where people live and work, as well as wild areas where there are few human activities.

    The National Parks in England are called “England's Breathing Spaces” because they are places where people can go to be in the open air, away from the dirt and noise of cities. They provide wonderful scenes of mountains, woods, grasslands and wetlands. And there are plenty of activities to do in all of the National Parks in England. Visitors can walk or ride bikes for fun. Many of the parks put on activities for families.

    Every year there are about 110 million visitors to the parks, bringing many benefits(益处) to the areas. At the same time, it creates problems too. First, life can be difficult for local people. Car parks and roads are too crowded. Gift shops and cafes take the place of many everyday shops. Even house prices in some areas can become too high. Besides, country roads can be damaged, for too many people walk, cycle or ride horses on them. Roads can be rebuilt, but then they look less natural. Another big problem to the National Parks is litter. In the parks it is a danger to wild animals. Broken glass can also cause fires by focusing the rays of the sun. Such fires in wild places can be out of control.

    ▲   ? All National Parks in England are making more rules, which tell people how to take good care of their environment. If these rules are followed, the National Parks will be well kept and continue to give pleasure to many people for a very long time.

    We need animals. Every animal has its place in the balance(平衡) of nature. We should try to help save the animals.

    Some people think zoos are good places. The zoos give the animals the comfortable and safe living places. If the animals get hurt or ill, people will take care of them. The zoo is a good place to know the rules in the wild world. We can be much closer to nature. We can know more about the animals in the zoos by watching, listening even smelling instead of just looking at the pictures in books.

    Some people don't think animals feel happy in the zoos. Animals like pandas, wolves and bears usually live in the wild. They play and find food by themselves. They are free and happy in the wild. If they are in the zoos, food is enough and rooms are comfortable. They do not need to do their best to find food to eat or places to stay in. They just walk around, sleep day and night, but they are not free at all.

    I think we should build national parks as wild life nature reserves to protect animals. If we do nothing, animals will get fewer and fewer.

    Radios, telephones and televisions are widely used in the world. When you switch on the radio, you can listen. But when you use the telephone, not only can you listen to others, but also you can chat with them. However, you cannot see anything at all. Television is much better than both of them. People can watch TV and listen to it, but they cannot take part in what they see.

    Today, some people are using a new type of telephone called vision phone. With it two people who are talking can see each other. Vision phones can be of great use when you have something to show the person whom you are calling. It may also have other uses in the future. Some day you may be able to call up a library and ask to read a book right over your vision phone. You may be able to do the shopping through it too. Perhaps in the near future, vision phones will come into our everyday life.

    Earthquakes are hard to predict, but do you know what to do before, during and after an earthquake? Here's some advice:

    Before an earthquake. It's necessary to prepare yourself and your family. All family members should know how to turn off the gas, water and electricity and know useful telephone numbers (120, 110, 119, etc.). Never put heavy things over beds.

    During an earthquake. It's important for each of you to stay calm. If you are indoors, quickly move to a safe place in the room such as under a strong table. The purpose(目的) is to protect yourself from objects. Stay away from windows, large mirrors, heavy furniture and so on. If you're cooking, turn off the gas. If you're outdoors, move to an open area like a playground. Move away from buildings, bridges and trees. If you are driving, stop the car as soon as possible and stay away from bridges and tall buildings.

Stay in your car.

    After an earthquake. Once the shaking has stopped, DO NOT run out of the building at once. It's better to wait and leave when it's safe. Check around you and help the people who are in trouble. If your building is badly broken, leave it. If you smell the gas, get everyone outside and open windows and doors. If you can do it safely, turn off the gas. Report it to the gas company.