Once the colors of the world argued. All thought that they were the best and most important.

    Green said, "Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and hope. I'm the color of grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die."

    Yellow laughed, "You are all so serious. I bring happiness and warmth into the world. Every time people look at a yellow sunflower, they start to smile. Without me there would be no fun."

    Orange shouted, "I am the color of health and strength. I have the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, vegetables and oranges. When I appear in the sky, everyone is shocked at my beauty and nobody gives another thought to any of you."

    Red couldn't stand it any longer. "I am the color of danger and bravery. I bring fire into the blood."

    Their voices became louder and louder. The thunder got angry and the rain started to pour. When they became calm, the rain said, "You foolish colors. Don't you know that each of you is special? If you don't agree, just follow me." They did as the rain told them and together made the most beautiful rainbow.

    In early spring, the changing temperature usually makes a number of Chinese people uncomfortable. Cold air, bringing rain or even snow, easily tears up(破坏) the warmth of the spring within a night(一夜之间).

    However, with the coming of Guyu-the Grain(谷物) Rain, the blue sky and gentle winds would finally stay. Falling usually on or around April 20 every year, Guyu is the sixth of the 24 solar terms(节气). It means the beginning of a lively summer and people get busy from now on.

    Sow(播种) grains

    This is an important period of the growth of grains. The ancient Chinese already knew that as Guyu comes, the weather will become warm enough for sowing. The farmers usually catch the chance to plant rice, corn and beans.

    Hope for safety and harvest

    For those living near the sea, they will hold some ceremonies(仪式) on Guyu, hoping for safety as well as harvest during the coming fishing season.

    Watch the peony

    It's also a great time to see the peony(牡丹), which is known as “the Queen of All Flowers” in Chinese culture. As a result, watching peonies becomes one of the most enjoyable activities for many. The flower is said to be the favourite of Empress(女皇) Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty, who was the only woman ruler in Chinese history.

    Pick tea leaves

    Tea leaves picked before Guyu are among the best tea leaves. People believe that the tea leaves picked on the day of Guyu can make eyes clear and drive away bad luck. So the habit of drinking tea at this time of year has become a tradition in some places of China.

    Music touches our hearts and shortens (缩短) the distance between people of different countries. The super star Jay Chou has cooperated with the American NBA star Kobe Bryant to create a song named TheHeavenandEarthChallenge. That's a song written by Jay Chou whose favorite sport is basketball. It expresses the love for basketball. And it encourages young people to be more confident. Jay Chou has learned much from Kobe's sports spirit. In the song, Jay Chou does most of the singing part while Kobe plays a part of a rapper (说唱者). People can download the ring tone(铃声) of the song from the Internet. All the money from the downloads will go to Project Hope, which aims to improve the educational environment in poor areas in China.

    While you are at the bookstore, you may be faced with a difficult decision: e-books or paper books? Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. Making the best decision depends on a number of factor (因素).

    An e-reader can carry a whole library wherever you go, which is great for travelers or those who always want a choice of reading material Although e-readers are convenient, high levels of screen brightness from an electronic device(电子设备) can cause eye problems. A study in the Information Science Research found that young people preferred e-readers, like smart phones or iPads. That's why most teenagers are short-sighted.

    Many book lovers still prefer paper books and value the feeling of them. Paper books are very well designed, they look and smell good, and they carry with them a more human touch. Avid (热衷的)readers prefer reading on paper. Perhaps this is their choice because paper books give them a sense of ownership. It is reported that reading on paper rather than an electronic screen is better for memory and focus. But paper books are heavy and they are not convenient to carry.

    Which is your decision, an e-book or a paper book?

    It's easy to tell someone good news, but what about bad news? Are there any good ways to give bad news without making people too upset? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    ★Say something good. Try to start the conversation with something good so that what you say is not all bad. For example," I know you play soccer very well, but we only need one teammate." Or you may end the conversation with a promise. "{#blank#}2{#/blank#}."

    ★Prepare your listener for the news. Use words to introduce what you're going to say, like "I'm really sorry, but..."or "I'm afraid I've got some bad news." {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    ★Try to give a reason. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Try to explain the decision: if you have to cancel a trip with friends, can you explain why?

    ★{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. If you're giving someone bad news, try to use a soft friendly voice to make you sound kind. Say things to show you understand, like "I'm really sorry. I know this must be disappointing."