Something changed a few years ago. Around 2012, teens started to spend their time much differently from the generation before. I started to notice big difference in teen's b{#blank#}1{#/blank#}and attitudes in the yearly survey of 11 million young people.

    A 2017 survey found that two out of three U.S. teens owned an iphone. For this reason, l call them iGen (iphone generation).

What makes iGen different?

    Growing up with a smart phone has affected nearly every aspect of their lives. They spend so much time on the internet, texting friends and on social media, an average of about six hours per day, so they have less free time for everything else. That i{#blank#}2{#/blank#}going to parties, shopping at the mall or watching movies with their friends. These were o{#blank#}3{#/blank#}the favorite activities of most teens. But now iGen teens are taking part in these social activities at lower rate than others.

    A link that should be noticed

    I wondered if these changes might be c{#blank#}4{#/blank#}to their deteriorating(退化）mental health. Sure enough, I found that teens who spend more time on screens are less happy and more disappointed. Meanwhile, a 2017 study asked some adults to give up Facebook felt happier, less l{#blank#}5{#/blank#}and less disappointed during the week as they had more free time for social activities like meeting friends, watching movies,etc.

    What else is lost?

    Spending less time with friends means less time to develop social abilities. A 2016 study showed that the sixth graders who spent just five days at a camp w{#blank#}6{#/blank#}using screens ended time better at reading expressions on others' faces.

    That isn't to say that iGen teens don't have a{#blank#}7{#/blank#}. They are physically safer and more tolerant (宽容). They also seem to have a stronger work spirit and more realistic expectations. To my surprise, the iGen teens I interviewed said they preferred seeing their friends in person to communicating with them using their phones.

    But it might be just what iGen needs.

Pigs Teach Us about Life

    China and Western countries may have different cultural beliefs about certain animals, but when it comes to pigs, we have reached a(an) {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (同意) —that pigs are ugly, lazy and stupid. Just look at the idioms and phrases "Boiling a dead pig", "A pig looking in the mirror is still a pig" and "Eating like a pig", {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (没有一个) of them are words of praise.

    But the {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (真相) is that pigs do have some finer qualities. And there's probably no better time to clear their names than now, {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (尤其) with the arrival of the Year of the Pig on Chinese Spring Festival.

    Science long ago found that pigs aren't stupid at all. Pigs are {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (相似的) to dogs. They have good long-term memories. And they know the difference {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (在……之间) those who treat them well and those who don't.

    There are cute pig characters in cartoons too. Peppa Pig, for example, has been one of the most popular cartoons in 180 countries since it {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (出现) in 2004. The story of Peppa Pig which {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (翻译) into many languages, teaches children from all over the world about love, {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (友谊), and the value of family.

    Perhaps these are the qualities of pigs to keep in mind when we {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (庆祝) this Chinese New Year—their intelligence, bravery and cuteness.