In northern China during spring, big sandstorms often make trouble for people. When the sky is dark with sand, buses and cars all move much more slowly. Sometimes, people can't even see for 20 metres.

    Sandstorms usually happen in spring. Big sandstorms happened in more than 10 provinces in northern China last year. More than 70 million people have had problems in those places because of the sandstorms.

    People in southern China don't have to worry about this kind of bad weather. Most of the sand comes from the north of China. In northern China, lots of places have few trees and don't get much rain. People there have been cutting down too many trees. When there aren't many trees, the ground can't keep enough water. Over the years, the ground dries up and turns to sand. When spring comes and the ice melts (融化), the ground becomes looser (更松散的). Strong winds take the loose sand into the sky.

    Sandstorms are bad for people's health. If people take in too much sand, they could cough or have asthma (哮喘).

    Sandstorms also give farmers lots of problems. Sometimes their sheep get lost in the storms and never get back home. The winds also tear down farmers' houses.

    What can you do to stop sandstorms? Here's an idea: Ask your parents to help you plant some trees this spring.

    If you see people cutting down too many trees, tell them about the dangers of sandstorms, and ask your government to stop them from cutting.

    Babies born after 2017 may never need to take a driving lesson because of the development of self ­driving cars. Some scientists say that self ­driving or driverless cars(无人驾驶汽车)may hit the roads within 15 years, and it is possible that driving may become unnecessary, or more relaxing and enjoyable.

    Companies like Google, Baidu, Apple and Alibaba are working on driverless cars. But, if the tests are successful, these electric self­ driving cars could be put into use very soon. This kind of cars may change the way we live in the future. All you have to do is to type in the address!

    According to Baidu, driverless technology has the following four advantages. Firstly, driverless cars are actually safer. With driverless cars, the number of deaths caused by accidents will decrease. Secondly, driverless cars are more efficient(效率高的) than manned cars. Thirdly, driverless cars follow the traffic rules. Therefore traffic control will be easier to achieve. At last, the cost of transportation will be reduced as the labor cost becomes less.

    There are many different technologies needed to make a successful self ­driving car. The most difficult technologies of all are environmental perception(感知), behavior prediction, planning control, HD mapping, and exact GPS.

In Yunan, many people eat rice noodles{#blank#}1{#/blank#}, and even for lunch and dinner. To make this special food, you need to{#blank#}2{#/blank#} rice noodles, chicken soup, chicken, lettuce and eggs. (Of course, you can also have other things like fish and different{#blank#}3{#/blank#}. First, wash the lettuce and cut it up. Next, cut the chicken into pieces. Then, make the chicken soup very{#blank#}4{#/blank#} over 100℃. Then, cook the eggs, meat and lettuce in the pot of hot soup, one by one.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}, put the rice noodles into soup. Now, it's time to enjoy the rice noodles!

Another Disney princess movie hit theatres on 5th March 2021. But this time the princess doesn't wait for the prince to save her — she is ready to save the world herself. Raya and the Last Dragon, the film shows Southeast Asian culture and Disney's first Southeast Asian heroine (女主角).

The story takes place in a world called Kumandra. Five hundred years ago, the world's dragons died to save humans. But the world breaks up into five states and they fight against each other. Raya, the princess of one of the states, needs to find the last dragon to save the world. On her journey, Raya invites other people to join her and learns to trust others and be more responsible.

Once upon a time, being a Disney princess meant being a damsel in distress(落难女子) in a European fairy tale, but this movie is different, according to the BBC. Raya has no boyfriend, but is a great fighter who is very brave and independent, according to the movie's writer Adele Lim.

Besides Raya, most of the main characters in the movie, including the dragon Sisu, are female. They stand out and depend on(依靠) no one else instead of acting as supporting roles for males. Namaari, once a friend to Raya, is now a dangerous enemy. She is a strong, brave and loyal fighter, just like Raya.

The movie shows "a complicated dynamic(复杂互动) that's still rare in the Disney universe, particularly between women," the Los Angeles Times said.

Everyone needs friends. How do you have real friendship and keep it?

The American writer Sally Seaman tells young students some smart ways to find friends. Sally says finding friendship is just like planting a tree. You plant the seed（种子）and take care of it to make it grow. 

What makes a good friend? It s not because he or she has money or good looks. A good friend should be kind and patient（有耐心的）. For example, if you are in a bad mood, a good friend should listen to you and do his or her best to help you. 

But things can t always be happy. Even the best friends have fights （争 吵）. What should you do when you have a fight with your friend? You, d better talk to him or her. 

There are three steps（步）to be friends again： say sorry to him or her； tell him or her how you are feeling； tell him or her why you did this or that. Remember that friendship is the most important thing in your life. 

Several months ago, New Zealand announced a plan. Under the plan, the country would make it illegal(非法的) for people born after 2008 to buy cigarettes(香烟). {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. And it won't make a difference to smokers now.

Starting in 2023, people under the age of 15 would be stopped from buying cigarettes. After that, the age limit(限制) for buying tobacco products would be raised every year. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. In short, the move will stop people born after 2008 from ever buying tobacco products.

Tobacco products contain something poisonous(有毒的) called nicotine(尼古丁). Though nicotine isa poison, when people have a little bit of it, it can give them an excited feeling. Over time, nicotine changes the body so people feel like they need more of it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. Then people are unable to stop taking it. That's why it's so difficult for people to stop smoking.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}. It's one of the leading causes of deaths around the world. In New Zealand, about 5,000 people die every year from illnesses connected with smoking.

No country has ever tried an age limit- raising smoking plan like New Zealand's before. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. We expect the plan to have important influences.