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."

    Every night in Jinan University in Guangzhou, {#blank#}1{#/blank#}play diabolo (空竹) as a crowd watches in amazement.

    Chen Zhelun, 25, a Malaysian-Chinese started the diabolo club, which helps to increase the popularity of this traditional Chinese game. He is one of many students expressing their interest in the country's cultural heritage (遗产) by {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

    The diabolo, which came from China, is popular among Chinese living in Malaysia.

    "We played diabolo from primary school onward. I thought I could find someone {#blank#}3{#/blank#}in China, but only a few students knew about it. So I started a club to develop it," says Chen.

    To Chen's surprise, the old game has interested a huge crowd—more than 1,000students have joined the club.

    "It {#blank#}4{#/blank#}and it's fun," says Chen.

    But some prefer quieter activities. Every weekend, one classroom in Shenzhen University is always crowded, but it's unusually silent. The members of Lanting Calligraphy Club are writing Chinese characters with traditional brushes.

    As head of the traditional Chinese local operas club, Kong Yanquan plans to put modern elements (元素) into traditional culture to get students to join his club.

    "I think it's everyone's duty {#blank#}5{#/blank#}China's traditional culture among young people," he says.

    It's 21:00 in Beijing now. Let's look at what the four students are doing.

    Nowadays we can see more and more electric bikes in the street. Electric bikes 61. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (be) easy to ride. They run fast and make no {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (pollute). They become very popular, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}the electric bikes also cause more traffic accidents. So China plans {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (make) a new rule for the electric bike riders. If an electric bike is {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (heavy) than 40 kilos and can go faster than 20 kilometers an hour, its rider must get a license. It means some riders have to pass driving tests before they ride {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (them) electric bikes on the road.

    People have different ideas after {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (hear) the plan. Some welcome the plan. A bus driver said happily, " {#blank#}8{#/blank#}a good plan! I think it will make the street much safer." Some are not happy with the new rules at all. One rider said {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (sad), "I don't want to get a license. It's not convenient {#blank#}10{#/blank#}me to get one." Some don't care about it. A young rider said calmly, "I prefer to use shared bikes which are popular in many big cities of China now. I hope they can come to Loudi earlier!"

    Here is a picture of my birthday party. My friends and I are all very happy at the party. Peter is eating the birthday cake. My mother makes it for us and it's delicious. My sister Molly is singing. And Selina is playing the guitar for her. Selina's father is a music teacher and he teaches Selina to play the guitar. Dave is talking about basketball with my brother. Where am I? I'm in front of Dave.

    In my life, the person who has influenced me most is my father. He is a role model for me. Now I'll tell you something about him. My father is in his{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(fifty). He never smokes or drinks. He{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(work) in a local factory for years. You will not find anything{#blank#}3{#/blank#}(usual) about him until you learn more. He works{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(care) all the time, so he{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(respect) by his colleagues. My father has always been kind and helpful. He has fun{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(talk) with old people. He gave our TV to a family who could not afford one. He cares for the children who have lost their parents. Whenever he has some money left, he {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(give) it to someone in need.

    My father has donated blood many times since we{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(move) here. The blood he has donated is much enough{#blank#}9{#/blank#}(save) over 70 lives. He has donated blood cells to people with blood cancer. To my surprise, he has decided to donate his body for medical research after his{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(die).

    When I was a little girl, I could not understand why my father always seemed to be{#blank#}11{#/blank#}(kind) to others than to his own families and why he thinks of others more than{#blank#}12{#/blank#}(he). Now I realise that he owns a heart full of love.