Vegetarian UK

Vegetarians and vegans

    Vegetarians (people who don't eat meat) and vegans (people who don't eat or use any animal products) are becoming increasingly common in UK culture. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} A recent survey showed that three million people were vegetarian. Visit a British supermarket and you will see a wide range of vegetarian ingredients and prepared meals on the shelves, including vegetarian sausages and vegan cheese.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} 

    So why are Brits cutting out meat? Many are unhappy about the poor treatment of animals and the effects of meat and fish production on the environment. Worries about food safety (for example BES or “mad cow disease”) also play a part. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} According to the Vegetarian Society, a meat-free diet could help reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease, as well as obesity and high blood pressure.

    Organic farming

    Another rising trend is in how UK food is produced. Many people are rejecting GM (genetically modified) food and intensive farming practices. They want their food to be organically produced. Organic farmers use very few or no chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers and organic meat is produced without the use of drugs and antibiotics. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}  

    Organic food

    According to the Soil Association, three out of every four UK households now buy some type of organic food. Some get organic meat, fruit and vegetables from farmers' markets, where products are sold directly to the consumer. Others have a box of organic fruit and vegetables sent to their homes every week. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Although it\s often more expensive, fans of organic food say it tastes much better!

A. A healthy diet

B. A balanced diet

C. Many people buy organic products in their local supermarket.

D. More and more people are deciding not to eat meat or use animal products.

E. A healthy soil reduces disease and helps crops grow strong and healthy.

F. Others choose to change their eating habits to improve their general health.

G. Organically farmed animals also have more living space and more nutritious food.

    How to Welcome Change in Your Life

    Do you embrace(欣然接受) the road you are now on or resist and avoid change at all costs when a recent event has shaken you greatly? Here are things you can do in the midst of uncertainty to choose differently to change the track of your life.

    Don't react.

    What do we do when we don't know what to do? First, stop, take a deep breath and don't do anything.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} It is having faith and trusting what you do know in the unknown.

    Reflect on the past.

    Another activity is to recall times in your life when you were faced with an unknown. Then, think about how you handled the situation.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Use your past experiences to bring you strength, and to remain you what you are capable of.

    Make conscious decisions.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} However, more possibilities open up when we are at peace. Go over your list of what ifs and make a more balanced list of the best and worst situations possible. Then talk to loved ones about what you would do in each situation and the choices you do have.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    We often see fears as our greatest enemy, yet they provide us with an enormous opportunity for self-growth. What if we were to see them as friends who want to help us become a better person? Let your fears help you instead of hurting you. Then, write down what comes to you.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}.

A. Don't panic.

B. Befriend your fears.

C. You may be surprised by the answers.

D. When we are fearful, our options seem limited.

E. Then try to feel at ease with the state of “not knowing”.

F. Learning from past failures helps you make better decisions.

G. Remembering these incidents will remind you that you've gone through difficult situations.

    We often carry a lot of things when we're traveling.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}On long ones we carry things like passports, visas, etc. Though traveling can be fun, we're likely to misplace these things and even lose them because of the excitement of the journey or being too busy or tired. So how can we carry valuable things safely while traveling?

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Place most of it in a wallet and put the wallet in your main suitcase or bag with a lock-and-key system. Don't open it until you reach your destination (目的地). Guess how much money you'll need on the journey, and place this money in a different wallet and carry this in your pocket.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Next, instead of wearing your jewelry, you can carry your jewelry at the bottom of your suitcase or bag.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Many people think that since the purse is always going to be in their hands, it'll remain safe. But other things like tickets, phone numbers, keys, etc., are all going to go in there. So you're often going to open your purse for something or the other. What if you just drop it?

    Then remember to hook (钩住) the keys. You get those really nice key chains these days that come with a big dog-hook.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Use one of these to carry your keys. This way, you won't leave the keys in a restaurant or any other place.

    Hope all the above tips for traveling will help you.

A. So you'll know what to bring.

B. It's a kind of vacation, but without your parents.

C. Spend money from this wallet till you get to your destination.

D. Firstly, distribute (分开) your money if you're traveling alone.

E. You can hook the key chain to your jeans or your handbag.

F. On short trips we take things like money, jewelry (首饰), house keys, etc.

G. Don't carry it in your purse, just in case somebody is quick in stealing your purse.

    Multitasking-doing several things at a time-was once applauded as the best way to work. But does it actually help you get things done, or does it make you less effective?

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}If you can actually do two or more things at one time, that clearly saves time.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}And it can fill time that would otherwise he spent poorly.

    However, a growing body of research shows that multitasking is not as productive as it appears. It turns out that when most people multitask, they don't actually focus on more than one thing at a time.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}But changing your focus constantly uses mental energy that could he spent working. It also causes you to take longer and make more mistakes. In addition, it creates stress. People who try to multitask often end up feeling more anxious and less peaceful than people who don't.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}A very small group of people-about two percent of the population-excel at multitasking. These people, called supertaskers, are able to work on several things at once without their performance suffering. But experts caution: supertaskers are very rare. The majority of people who think multitasking makes them more productive are fooling themselves.

    If you do want to multitask, productivity experts recommend doing it carefully.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. There are some exceptions to the no-multitasking vile.

B. Instead they switch back and forth between concentrating on two or more tasks.

C. Doing things one at a time usually helps people produce better work.

D. To some people, the advantages of multitasking seem obvious.

E. Multitasking actually works against the goal of getting things done.

F. It might also make you feel productive, which can in turn make you happy.

G. Pair a mentally challenging task with a physical task you don't have to think about.

How students can stay safe while studying abroad

Safety has always been a huge concern for students who study abroad. What are the best ways to ensure safety while studying abroad in unfamiliar surroundings? We've compiled our top tips for staying safe abroad.

Learn about the country's language, culture and legal system.

As well as learning the language, students should get familiar with their host country's legal system and culture. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}What are your legal rights as a foreigner abroad?

Research your destination.

Before you leave, find out as much as you can about the local area using travel advisories (公告) and alumni (校友) recommendations. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Pay attention to everyday safety.

In some countries, tourists are frequent targets for crimes such as pickpocketing. So avoid travelling alone, especially at night. Let others know where you are going. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

You should also plan for emergencies by saving the number of a trusted friend as well as your local embassy or consulate (领事馆).

Protect your privacy.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}While it's OK to be outgoing, you shouldn't be too open with strangers as any personal information could be used to steal your identity.

While out, you should also be aware of your possessions and not have them on display.

Buy travel and health insurance.

Depending on the country, you may want to buy travel and health insurance, which will cover the cost of stolen items or personal injury. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}So consult those in the travel abroad office to find out your options.

A. Sometimes these services are provided by your college.

B. You should learn to communicate with local people fluently.

C. You should always do your best not to draw attention to yourself.

D. For example, is it offensive to wear certain clothing to go to certain popular sites?

E. And always use licensed taxis or ride-sharing apps with pre-arranged fares.

F. Many students choose to study abroad for they want to expose themselves to another culture.

G. This includes knowing the nearest subway or train stations, emergency service numbers and areas to avoid.