In the deserts(沙漠)of North Africa and Saudi Arabia lives the smallest fox with the largest ears. This animal is the fennec fox.

Fennec foxes have ears that are 5 to 6 inches long. That's big for an animal that weighs less than four pounds. Their ears help shed (去除) body heat. And, as you may have guessed, they also provide great hearing.

    It's also interesting to think about the hair of fennec foxes. Why would a fox that lives in the desert need a thick, fur coat? Actually, the desert isn't always warm. During the nighttime, a desert can be terribly cold! A fennec fox's fur keeps them warm during those desert nights. They also have long bushy tails that they use as a blanket. And the hair on their feet protects them from the hot sand in the daytime.

    Fennec foxes live in small communities of dens (兽穴).They spend most of the day sleeping in their dens, out of the hot sun. Then, when night comes, they come out in search of food. In addition to(除……之外) their great hearing, fennecs also use their great sense of smell and big eyes to track down dinner.

    Fennecs eat both meat and plants. They like eating birds, eggs, insects, snails, fruit and leaves best. Fennec fox mothers have one to five babies at a time. Sometimes they are in danger. They have to be careful with predators (捕食性动物), such as caracals (a type of wild cat) , jackals, eagle owls, hyenas and humans. Humans catch them for their fur and to sell as pets.

    Weather has a strong effect(影响) on people. It influences health, influences health(智力), and feelings.

    In August, it is very hot and wet in the southern part of the United States. Southerners have heart trouble and other kinds of health problems during this month. In the northeast and the Middle West, it is very hot at times and very cold at other time. People in these states tend to(趋向) have heart trouble after the weather changes in February or March.

    The weather can also influence intelligence. For example, in a 1983 study by scientists, the IQ scores of a group of college students were very high during a hurricane(飓风), but after the storm their scores dropped 10%. Storm can increase intelligence. Very hot weather, on the other hand, can lower(降低) it. Students in many schools of the United States often do badly on exams in the hot months of the year.

    Weather also has a strong influence on people's feelings. Winter may be a bad time for thin people. They usually feel cold during these months. They might feel sad during cold weather. In hot summer weather, on the other hand, fat people may feel unhappy. At about 18℃, people become stronger.

    Are you feeling sick, sad, tired, forgetful（健忘）, or very intelligent today? The weather may be the reason.

    It was a summer afternoon in the countryside. Wan Bo, a university student, was painting while his classmate Tang Qi was making a wooden box by the river. A little riding on a rocking horse caught their eye by chance. It brought them back to their childhood, warm and happy.

    "Why not try to make one by ourselves?" said Wan Bo. "You are good at making things and I am interested in painting."

    "Actions speak louder than words," Tang Qi said. Then, the two young men began to collect some information about it. During those days, watching videos about caring(雕刻) and shaping wood into horse shapes on the Internet became an important part of their life.

    Several months later, a wooden rocking horse appeared. They felt so excited that they put the picture of it on the Internet right away. To their surprise, it attracted lots of people's attention and some even hoped to order one.

    The two young men thought it might be a good chance. They sent some forms to the customers to make a survey. According to the result, they made each customer a special rocking horse. These horses were quite different from those produced in other factories, and they soon became popular among the customers.

    In the first year of their new hobby, Wan and Tang made thirteen rocking horses. Sometimes, they also repaired rocking horses for people. They made the old ones look new again. Wan and Tang helped those people bring back many happy memories.

    Their hobby has now become a successful and busy business.

    Need a reason to be happy? Then you will be happy to know that March 20th is the International Day of happiness.

    The united Nations set up the International Day of happiness in 2012 to remind us that happiness is a basic human goal and right.

    It was celebrated for the first time in 2013. On that day, we celebrated hundreds of "Happy Heroes" – those who did so much to bring happiness to others. They helped the homeless to live a comfortable life and the poor kids to go to school.

    The 2014 Day of Happiness actions asked people to share pictures of making them happy. People all over the world showed their favourite pictures on the Internet. "It's exciting to see so many people sharing photos of what makes them happy." Joe, a senior high school students from Canada said. The 2015 Day of happiness actions gave attention on relationships. Modern society is leaving more and more people felling lonely. On that day, thousands of people all around the world reached out to make new connections with others. They visited their neighbours, gave calls to the doctors they didn't know very well, drove the strangers to station for free…

    The theme of the 2019 Day of Happiness is "Happier Together". It encourages people worldwide to focus on what we have in common, rather than what divides us.

    Joining a short-term research program in China has not only allowed Pakistani agricultural scientist Sayyar Khan to push forward with his academic studies, but also given him a chance to see a country he had heard so much about.

    Khan is now doing a one-year research program at the Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences. The program is sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology and many young talented scientists who come from collaborating countries, such as Pakistan, are given opportunities to work in China.

    Although this is his first visit to China Khan says he is well-informed of the long friendship between China and Pakistan. He is impressed most by the cooperation (合作) in education between China and Pakistan. especially since the start-up of the Belt and Road Initiative ("一带一路"建设) in 2013.

    "Many students from my university and my city have visited China and completed their higher education here." he says, adding that he has met with many of them.

    "I hear news about China on television and read about it in print media, so I know of the rapid development of China in recent decades."

    Khan says the Belt and Road Initiative will have a very positive effect on the world.

    "I hope that I can stay in China to participate in such cooperation projects." he says. Khan says life in Beijing is much easier than he'd expected, thanks to the convenient(便利的)public transportation and restaurants offering food for Muslims(穆斯林). This encouraged him to bring his family to live with him a couple of months ago.

    He says that language is the only challenge for them so far. However, he finds no problem talking with his Chinese colleagues, many of whom speak good English. He also enjoys the relaxing working environment and has a very good relationship with his co-workers.