In today's world of modern science and medicine, a more traditional treatment is once again becoming popular -- animal friendship.

    It is now well-known that people with problems such as heart disease or cancer live longer and get better more quickly if they have pets. Keeping pets lowers blood pressure and makes people less worried. Animals are increasingly important in treating older people who have memory loss(损失) and other brain problems. These people often feel nervous and upset. Activities with animals help them improve their physical condition and also give them joy, entertainment and loving friendship.

    Here is a case that shows the benefits of animals. John was a six-year-old boy. He had no physical problems. He just refused to talk. His older cousin, Ned, had a parrot called Sally, and John used to visit it. When he arrived, Net used to say, “Hi, John!” We all know parrots copy what they hear. After a few visits, Sally began saying “Hi, John!” When John came into the room. Then, one day, John turned to the parrot and replied “Hi, Sally!” Staying with the parrot encouraged John to begin talking.

    Another use of animal helpers is in schools. In some cases, they are used to teach children to get on and share with others, and even to teach them about animals.

    If you want to know more about animal helper programs, you can get in touch with organizations like Riding for the Disabled or do a search about animals on the Internet. You don't have to be an animal trainer or a doctor to join in.

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    It's true that every country has its customs.

    We all know that in America if people are pleased with you, they will give you a sign "OK". But maybe you don't know this sign is rude in Brazil.

    In Poland, guests usually choose flowers as presents for hostesses(女主人). Remember the number must be odd(奇数的). And the hostess doesn't hope that you remove the cover of the bunch(束) of flowers. You must be more careful when you give red roses to a woman because the red rose means love.

    In China we often hear people say that "nodding" means agreement(同意). And "shaking the head" means disagreement. But in Bulgaria they mean the opposite.

    We really need to pay more attention to the differences in customs. What's more, we should learn more about them in order to avoid embarrassment(尴尬). Do remember: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

    Now satellites(卫星)are helping to forecast(预报)the weather. They are in space and they can reach any part of the world.The satellites take pictures of the atmosphere(大气), because this is where the weather forms(形成). They send these pictures to the weather station. So meteorologists(气象专家)can see the weather of any part of the world. From the pictures, the scientists can often say how the weather will change.

    Today, nearly five hundred weather stations in sixty countries receive satellite pictures. When they receive new pictures, the meteor- ologists compare(比较)them with earlier ones. Perhaps they may find that the clouds have changed during the last few hours .This may mean the weather on the ground may soon change, too. In their next weather forecast, the meteorologists can say this.

    So the weather satellites are a great help to the meteorologists. Before satellites were invented, the scientists could forecast the weather for about 24 or 48 hours. Now they can make good forecasts for 3 or 5 days. Soon, perhaps , they may be able to forecast the weather for a week or more ahead(提前)

They hang from trees.They float in rivers and oceans.They are piled up in landfills（垃圾填埋场）.Our frequent use of plastic products has，for many years，been a leading cause of serious environmental problems in the world.Last month，China drew up new guidelines（指导方针）aiming to bring plastic pollution under control across the country in five years' time. 

According to the new guidelines，the ban（禁令）on the use of non-biodegradable（不可生物降解的）plastic bags will have been applied to cities including Beijing and Shanghai by the end of this year.Other sources of plastic garbage will have been banned in these cities by the end of 2022.And that rule will have extended nationwide by late 2025. 

Fortunately，China will not start from zero.Late last year，the country announced a national standard for biodegradable plastic shopping bags.It is technologically prepared for their production.Some regions have gained valuable experience that others can learn from.For example，Jilin province is leading the way by providing eco-friendly（环保的）shopping bags in some local supermarkets. 

Given the size of China's consumer market，one main obstacle（障碍）is the large number of plastic items that are being used by restaurants and e-commerce（电子商务）platforms.It's estimated that nearly 25 billion plastic bags were used for deliveries in 2018.Most of them were rarely reused. 

However，most Chinese people welcomed the government's effort to reduce the use of plastics."Beijing is thinking about the problem seriously，"said Tang Damin，a member of Greenpeace East Asia in Beijing.He added that the policy could be far more effective（有效）by using incentives（激励）such as a deposit（押金）return program on plastic products.

I run a lot of writing workshops in secondary schools and what I often see is this: teenagers in class just look at the blank page and freeze. Even when I tell them they can't get it wrong in creative writing, they still stop and feel painful, looking to me for clear and definite instructions. This behavior results from their training to mimic(模仿). {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In time, they are afraid of getting things wrong and risking failure. Creativity is no longer supported and is even viewed as a soft skill, or even a weakness.

However, creativity is highly valued by employers. According to The Conversation, creativity has been the number-one skill needed by 20 million job ads on Linked for two years in a row. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Because of limited educational resources and assessment(评价) pressures, teenagers' thinking becomes increasingly narrow, leaving them afraid to explore other possibilities.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It's just an ability to make new connections and follow where they go. Actually, creativity requires qualities available to us all: courage, observation, curiosity, flexibility and perseverance.

So how do we help teenagers be hopeful and brave? Firstly, we need to avoid the idea that their whole futures depend on this very task or that decision. Life is long enough to try many things, and to change directions. There is no right way to live a life. Secondly, let's encourage raising questions. Children are naturally curious, but this curiosity often fades as they grow older, although it still exists within them. Just because they lack answers doesn't mean they shouldn't ask questions; rather, they should ask even more. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Young people need reminding that their stories haven't been written. They need opportunities to try new things. They need permission to keep asking "what else is possible?" because anything is.

A. But in schools, it is different.

B. Being creative isn't a magical skill.

C. It allows us to understand their feelings better.

D. They know it is a safe way to get good grades.

E. The main problem is how to keep those creative juices flowing.

F. The world is held together with unanswered questions and endless possibilities.