The Clockwork Radio
    The British inventor Trevor Baylis created this really clever ′wind-up radio′ for people from Third World countries. in some parts of the Third World countries, it's very hard for people to get or pay for enough energy. This radio uses no batteries (电池) and does not need any electricity to run it. A clockwork generator (发电机) is put inside the radio and works as the power. When it is fully wound up (上弦), the radio can work for long periods.

    The clock work product is not a new invention. The Victorians had already put it in wide use. We may find them used in toys as well. Then what is new about this clockwork radio? Baylis has used this simple but effective (高效的) way of creating electricity to both help the people of the Third World and to develop a product which is selling well in Western Europe.
    Even former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandella has one of these radios and personally recommends this product to others.

    Winter solstice, as the name shows, means the coming of winter. As an important solar term in the traditional Chinese calendar, it is also a traditional holiday for Chinese, which is also called “冬节”， “长至节”，“亚岁”, etc. Generally, winter solstice occurs between December 21st and 23rd. According to the traditional Chinese calendar, five days constitutes a pentad and three pentads constitutes a solar term. One year is divided into twelve periods and twelve climates which are regarded as twenty-four solar terms. The Winter Solstice is one of twenty-four solar terms. On this day, in the Northern Hemisphere the period of daytime is the shortest of the year and the period of night is longest. . In Northern China during winter solstice there is a custom of eating dumplings.

    Have you ever heard of Weifang, Shandong Province? What is it known for? There is an international kite festival every April in Weifang. It is a modern city with many traditions. People from all over the world compete in the kite flying in Weifang. There are also competitions for the best kites. The kites in the competition are all made by hand.

    Most people have flown a kite. It makes people happy. It's easy to make it. It's made of bamboo and paper. But not so many people know that kites were first made in China thousands of years ago. The ancient Chinese made and flew kites even before they could write.

    A long time ago, the Chinese made kites to use in wars. They would fly these war kites in the dark. The kites were fixed and they made strange sounds in wind. Men who were at war against them would hear these sounds and run away. They thought those strange sounds were made by gods in the sky.

    The ancient Chinese also flew kites to bring good luck and to make their crops (稻谷) grow rich and tall. Sometimes they tied long strings and hooks(绳子和钩子) to their kites. Then they would fly the kites over water, letting the hooks hang down to catch fish.

    The Chinese use sticks, string and paper for their kites. Some of these kites look like animals or trees and others look like houses.

    British roads are the safest in the world in 2010, only 3.8 people out of 100, 000 died in road accidents. This number is less than in any other country. If you go there, you should try to driving the same way British people do. This is some advice for visitors who plan to go driving in the UK.

    Drive on the left side of the road. In most countries, people drive on the right side. Many visitors have problems because they forget about this difference.

    If there is a line of cars, don't try to go past other people to get to the called jumping the line. If you do this, other people will get angry with you.

    Stop at traffic lights(交通灯). In the UK, drivers always red, even if there aren't any cars or people around.

    Don't use your horn(喇叭) too much. If you do, people will think you are not polite, If another driver flashes(闪光)their lights at you, then they are probably trying to tell you that they will wait for you to go first.

    If you have an accident. then don't try to bribe(贿赂) the police! If you do, you might finish your visit in prison(监狱).

    Canada is the second-largest country in the world, with almost 10 million square kilometres of landmass. Due to (由于) its size, it is divided into four different regions(地区).

    The Atlantic Provinces

    Fishing is the old industry in this region. Agricultural crops, such as fruit and potatoes, and forests, which produce paper and lumber(木材), form part of the industry. Traditionally depending on fishing and farming, they are developing other natural resources, such as oil and copper.

    Central Canada

    Ontario and Quebec form the industrial and manufacturing (制造业的) heart of Canada. They produce three quarters of Canada's goods. More than half of Canada's population lives in the cities in the southern part of Ontario and Quebec. Most of the people living in Quebec speak French.

    The West Coast

    The British Columbia Coast is Canada's western continental coastline (海 岸 线 ). Europeans settled (定 居 ) in British Columbia in the early 1800s. The railroad built by the government in the late 1800s made moving much easier. Thousands of Chinese came to British Columbia during this period to work on the railroad. British Columbia has the most valuable forest industry in Canada.

Salmon (鲑鱼) fishing is not only a popular sport, but also an important part of the industry. Pacific salmon are exported (出口) all over the world.

    The North

    The Yukon and the Northwest Territories (领土) cover a third of Canada. This huge region has a very small population. Most of the people are natives. There are several native languages, which are equal (平等的) in status (地位) to English and French. During the Gold Rush at the end of the 1800s, thousands of miners (矿工) came to make their fortune (财富). Mining is still an important industry in this region.