It's five o'clock in the afternoon. The last class is over. Some students are going home and some students are going to the dining room.

The football players are doing some exercise on the playground. Some students are swimming in the swimming pool. Others are warming up (做准备动作) near the pool. Many students love music. The members of the school band are practicing (练习) in the garden. In the computer room, there are some students playing computer games. In the library, some students are reading English newspapers.

      After-school activities (课外活动) are interesting.

    Many people in the world are living a very fast life. They seem to be always in a hurry (匆忙).

No time to stop

    People in cities around the world walk 10 percent more quickly than they did twenty years ago. Singapore is at the top of the list for fast walkers.

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    People aren' t as patient (有耐心的) as they were in the past. If it takes more than five minutes for a bus to arrive, they become very impatient. They think they don' t have any time to wait

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    Written communication (交流) on the Internet is getting shorter and shorter. People now use more and more simple words, like BRB (be right back) or NP (no problem).

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    Even in their free time, people do things in a hurry. Twenty years ago when people went to art museums, they spent about one minute looking at each picture. But today they spend much less time.

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    The cars are faster, but the traffic (交通) is worse, so people drive more slowly. They spend more time than ever sitting in their cars, feeling worried that they aren't going to arrive on time.

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    In the US, there is a book called One-Minute Bedtime Stories, for children. The stories in it are famous but short. They are popular with those parents who are too busy to tell their children long stories.

    People are living faster, but are they living better?

    While you are at the bookstore, you may be faced with a difficult decision: e­ books or paper books? Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. Making the best decision depends on a number of factors(因素).

    An e­ reader can carry a whole library wherever you go, which is great for travelers or those who always want a choice of reading materials. Although e­ readers are convenient, high levels of screen brightness from an electronic device(电子设备) can cause eye problems. A study in the Information Science Research found that young people preferred e­ readers, like smart phones or iPads. That's why most teenagers are short­sighted.

    Many book lovers prefer paper books and value the feeling of them. Paper books are very well designed, they look and smell good, and they carry with them a more human touch. Avid(热衷的) readers prefer reading on paper .Perhaps this is their choice because paper books give them a sense of ownership .It is reported that reading on paper rather than an electronic screen is better for memory and focus .But paper books are heavy and they are not convenient to carry.

    Which is your decision, an e ­book or a paper book?

    When was the last time you gave or received a hug? Do your parents hug you before you go to school? In Western countries, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    You might hug your teammates after winning a basketball game. If one of your friends is having a bad day, {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Friends who haven't seen each other for a long time will usually hug each other when meeting.

    Of course, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. After coming to China, I've noticed that people are generally more reluctant (不情愿的) to hug than they are in my home country, the US.

    My Chinese friends told me that hugging is considered to be very intimate (亲密的) in their culture, {#blank#}4{#/blank#}, like couples. Chinese people don't usually hug in public, either.

    But people's attitudes toward hugging can also change.

    I remember watching a video story about a "hugging party" that was held in Shanghai. A local artist held the party, inviting strangers and asking them to hug each other.

    The Chinese participants clearly looked uncomfortable, {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. They decided that hugging doesn't have to be awkward (尴尬的) and can actually be quite nice. So next time you see your mom or dad, give them a hug—see how it makes you feel.