Technology is everywhere. In fact, almost all of us carry a certain piece of technology with us every time we leave the house. What I always forget, though, is just how useful and powerful technology can be when we want to help others.

    There is not a single room in my house that does not have some electronic devices(设备).Whenever I am at home, I am almost always using at least one electronic device. If you walk into my living room on any given day, you will find that, first, I have the television on. At the same time, I usually have my laptop resting on my knee, or I am using my mobile phone. Even when I'm not at home, I am always using my phone, and at work or in cafes, I sit down and connect to the local wireless network on my laptop.

    I must say that I waste a lot of time on the computer and the time I spend on it could be much better spent if I were to take up a little online volunteering.

    Recently I discovered just how much online volunteering there is to do in the world. From using your language skills to do translations, to developing and managing projects and helping with IT work, there is so much that so many people can do to help people in their own countries and across the world. The United Nations, in fact, has a huge page with "Volunteers Recruited" on its website.

    This work can support the poor and help charities who cannot pay for staff members. Many organizations only require you to work an hour a week, some even less. And the support provided by online volunteers can really help make a difference to those in need.

    Have you noticed the waste bins(垃圾桶) in different colors on the street? Do you often put all the waste in the same bin? It's reported by Changchun Daily that people must do waste sorting(分类)in most places in Changchun at the end of 2019. Waste sorting is a wonderful way to make good use of energy and protect the environment. But do you know how to sort the waste?

    Usually, people should sort their waste into four groups: wet, recyclable, harmful and dry. Different kinds of waste should go into different bins. Wet waste means the things you don't want but pigs can eat, mostly coming from your kitchen. Things that can be used again, such as paper, metal and glass, are recyclable waste. Harmful waste might be dangerous or cause serious pollution, like medicine and batteries(电池). And any waste that's not wet, recyclable or harmful will go into the dry waste bin.

    Different countries are trying different methods to sort the waste. A university in England has invented a smart bin. When people drop their waste into the bin. It can tell what kind of waste it it and sort it correctly. The bin can also compress the waste to make it smaller in size and take up less space. In South Korea, people have to separate their food waste from other kinds of waste and pay for it. The more food waste they throw away, the more they pay. Japan has the strictest rules for waste sorting in the world. For example, plastic bottles and their caps should go into different bins.

A lot of people like taking a trip with no plans . They think it is very {#blank#}1{#/blank#}( excite) and has more fun . But in fact , it is not good. Making vacation plans {#blank#}2{#/blank#} ( be) very important.

 First, a vacation plan can make sure that everything goes {#blank#}3{#/blank#} ( good). If you visit a place but you don't book {#blank#}4{#/blank#} hotel , you may have no place to stay at night.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#}( two ), you have lots of things to take with you for a vacation . You need to plan what t things you have to buy and what things you need to put in bags . For example, you want to visit one place , but when you arrive {#blank#}6{#/blank#} the airport , you forgot to bring your plane ticket! You may be late for the plane.

 Third,{#blank#}7{#/blank#}( make) a vacation plan can help you save a lot of money . No one wants to spend more money than they want to . If you surf the Internet before you go: on a vacation , you may find some cheap plane {#blank#}8{#/blank#}( ticket) and hotel rooms.

 Next time if you go on vacation, try {#blank#}9{#/blank#}( write ) down some plans . They can help you have {#blank#}10{#/blank#}( much ) fun in your vacation.

 Silk is a thin and pretty strong fiber(纤维制品). Thousands of years ago, in ancient China, people began making the silk fiber into a soft fabric(织物). It was very beautiful. However, silk could only be used in the palace(宫殿) because of its high 1 at first.

The silk in China was not a secret. When the Chinese government paid visits to other countries, they carried gifts made of silk. The people in other countries started to use this 2 thing. It became popular in the West 3 .

Silk business always encouraged people who traded (从事贸易) to 4 ways to travel from Europe to the Far East. Later they came to be known as" the Silk Road". At the same time, some people 5 sea routes(路线).

The Silk Road played a(n) 6 role in bringing people from different countries into communication. To make 7 deals, people had to learn the languages and cultures of other countries first to make better communication. Through communication, people could 8 knowledge about arts, science and technology with each other. The Silk Road has always been of great 9 to the tour of the countries along the route.

The Silk Road has a far greater 10 on history than we can imagine. It made China famous and popular around the world in ancient times.