When Justin Tong was a child, other kids felt sorry for him. His parents always had him doing lots of housework such as carrying out the rubbish and sending newspapers. But when he grew up, he was better off than his childhood friends and lived a happier and healthier life.

This is the finding of a 40-year study that followed the lives of 456 children in London. It showed that the children who had worked hard in childhood had a richer and a happier future. "Children who worked in the home or community gained competence(能力) and came to feel they were worthwhile members of society," said Daniel Brown, the psychologist(心理学家) who made the discovery. "And because they felt good about themselves, others felt good about them."

Brown's study followed these children in great detail. Interviews were repeated at ages 25, 31 and 47. Under Brown, the researchers compared the children's mental-health scores with their childhood-activity scores. Points were awarded for part-time jobs, housework, effort in school, and ability to deal with problems.

    Working at any age is important. Childhood activities help a child develop responsibility, independence, confidence and competence — the underpinnings (基础) of emotional health. They also help him understand that people must cooperate and work toward common goals. The most competent adults are those who know how to do this.

    Yet work isn't everything. As Tolstoy once said, "One can live magnificently in this world if one knows how to work and how to love, to work for the person one loves and to love one's work."

    Books are our best friends. They are very quiet, but we can always find both fun and knowledge once we open them. Here are two good books you can read during the holiday.

    The Little Prince(王子)

    French Writer: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

    Both adults and children love this classic book. It is about the adventure of a young prince. It shows the importance of innocence(纯真), imagination and love.

    The little prince comes from planet B-612. In his eyes, adults are all very strange. Unlike them, he sees the essence(本质) of things. He cares more about a flower and a sheep than the "important" things of the adult world.

    The prince lives on his planet with a rose. He loves the rose very much. But he soon feels tired and leaves his planet. He meets many more strange adults on other planets.

    On Earth, he discovers interesting things such as a snake, other roses and a fox. The fox tells him a secret: Only the heart can discover the most important things. This helps the prince realize his love for the rose and he goes back to his planet.

    To Succeed on One's Own

    American Writer: Liu Yong

    Writer Liu Yong from Taiwan wrote this book for his daughter. It can help young people succeed.

    The book teaches you about student, how to use your free time and even what kind of clothes to wear. It answers many teenagers' most common questions. Liu uses his daughter's stories as examples to help readers understand the principles(原则).

    His book is far from boring. There are lively stories and dialogues, with objective analysis (客观分析), hope and confidence(信心) from a good father.

    Jack King

    I work in a TV station from Monday to Friday. My house is near a beautiful park and is about thirty kilometers from my office. I usually go to work by train. I usually get up at 6:30 a. m. and take the train at 7:00 a. m. It usually takes me about thirty minutes to get to my office. The train is quick and cheap. I am never late for work.

    Peter Green

    I am a student, My house is near a beautiful lake. My school is across from the lake. I can walk to school across a bridge. It takes me about thirty minutes. But I often go to school by boat, because it is more fun. It takes me about twenty minutes.

    Molly Smith

    I'm a waitress I work in a restaurant from Monday to Saturday. I often go to work by bus, It is about five kilometers from my house to the restaurant. It takes me twenty five minutes to go to work. Sometimes I am late for work because the traffic is very busy.

W: Did you go shopping in town yesterday, Jim? 

M: {#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

W: Did you go to the computer shop called "IT Sky" in Puguo Road?

M: Yeah. It was crowded yesterday. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} 

W: Did you buy any books? 

M: Yes, I chose five or six books. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

W: Where did you go after that? 

M: I went to Dream Clothes in Chaoyang Street. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It was 800 yuan. 

W: Oh, that was expensive. Do you always buy clothes there? 

M: Yes. The clothes last a long time and they look smart. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} 

Why does the Sky Change Colours?

What is the sky? How high is it? What colour is it? What birds can live above it? These questions are difficult to answer, aren't they?

In fact, the sky has no colour. Then why does the sky look blue?

We know that there is air around the world. When planes fly, they need air to lift their wings (机翼). Planes can't fly very high. That's because the air gets thinner when they go higher. The same will happen to us if we go high enough. If we go up about 1,000 kilometres from the earth, we'll find no air there. Some birds can fly into the sky as high as a plane, but they cannot fly or live without air.

Looking up above us, you will see the blue sky with white clouds. It is usually light blue. The colour will be bluer when you see on the top of a high mountain. And you will see fewer clouds in the sky between you and the sun.

Sometimes the sky doesn't look blue. When the sun rises or falls, you will see red, orange, and other colours in the sky. Such are the most beautiful moments of the day.

Who can see the colours of the sky high above the earth? The astronauts! They can see those beautiful colours of the sky from outer space. However, before flying into outer space, they sit in a spaceship high above the earth, and there is no air at all. The sky will be that dark and its colour will be black.

Now you may understand that we see colours because the air scatters (使散射) the sunlight. Light travels through the air. Without air, there would be no light or colours.

 Rongchang xiabu(荣昌夏布),a Chinese traditional intangible cultural heritage(非物质文化遗产), is getting international attention thanks to the efforts of Ivan Andrew Chen from India and his Chinese wife, Tang Yi.

 Rongchang xiabu is an ancient handmade fabric (织物) that first appeared in Rongchang district, Chongqing, during the Han Dynasty. The district is known for its cultural heritage, such as Rongchang xiabu, Rongchang pottery, and Rongchang paper fan-making techniques. It is also famous for producing high-quality ramie, the material(材料) used to make the xiabu cloth.

 Chen has a deep connection to China--his grandfather is a Chinese Indian from Guangdong province, and he has a quarter Chinese heritage. After meeting Tang in 2015, he knew a lot about Rongchang xiabu and decided to live in Rongchang. And in order to know Rongchang xiabu better, he left his job in India and learned Chinese himself. Tang, his wife, comes from a family with a long history in the xiabu industry.

 The couple aim to honor traditional practices while catching international attention. Many wonderful products were made by using xiabu fabric. Also, they have successfully introduced xiabu products to foreign diplomats(外交官) and opened a xiabu-themed hotel in Rongchang. Besides, they have taken part in international trade shows and exhibitions to present Rongchang xiabu' s qualities. Now, they are planning to work with environmental brands, start educational programs, and work with fashion companies to connect xiabu with modern designs.

 Their efforts have made a great difference to the growth of the xiabu industry in Rongchang, and brought this ancient treasure to the world.