China covers large areas and has a great population. Different living habits have always been an interesting topic in the country. Recently, another difference between southern Chinese and northern Chinese became a hot one: the way people shop at markets.

    People from southern China say that they always buy what they need for just one or two meals. It is normal for them to buy half of a Chinese cabbage, two potatoes and 0.25 kilogram of beef at a time.

    However, one may be laughed at if he does this in the north. Instead, buying vegetables and meat enough for a week is usual. Also, you can buy a small amount (数量) of fruit, such as a single apple or pear, each time in the south. Shop owners even help you peel and cut them. But shop owners in the north hardly offer such service. And many fruits are sold in baskets and boxes.

    The difference could be due to the different weather.

    Food can be kept for a long time in the north, as it is usually cold and dry there. Many northern Chinese have the habit of storing food, especially for the long winter. But the hot and wet weather in the south makes southern Chinese buy just enough food for one meal or one day, or else the food may go bad.

    Hello, boys and girls. I'm Tom. Nice to meet you. Tom is my first name, What's my last name? My last name is Hanks. Tom Hanks is my full name(全名). I'm twelve years old. I'm from England and I'm English. Thanks.

    Jack is my best friend. He is in a new school. He likes it very much. It's not far from his home. And it usually takes him 10 minutes to get to school by bike. School begins at 8: 00 every morning. But these days Jack is often late for school. This morning, he is late again. The teacher is very angry.

    "How do you usually come to school?" asks the teacher. "By bike." Jack answers. "What time do you usually get up?" "At 6: 30." "Well, it's not late. What time do you usually leave home?" "I leave home at 7: 55." "Why not leave home earlier?" "My mother is ill (生病的). She stays in bed all day. I must look after her and give her medicine at the right time， so I'm often late for school," says Jack with tears (泪水) in his eyes. "I see, Jack, you are a good boy!" says the teacher.

Hong Kong is surrounded(环绕着的) by mountains and seas. It lies in southern China, and is China's"South Gate"to the world. In the old days, HongKong was only a small fishing village, but now Hong Kong has become an important trading center and shipping center in Asia and the Pacific. Since HongKong's return to China in 1997, the rule of law system has been perfected.

Hong Kong is made up of three large parts and nearby islands. There are few flat areas in Hong Kong, and only a small part of the coastal area is low,surrounded by hills. Because Hong Kong is one of the most densely(稠密地) populated areas in the world, dozens of high-rise buildings are built on hillsides.

Hong Kong's tourism industry is highly developed. There are all kinds of goods from all over the world, and the prices are very low, so Hong Kong is a good place for buyers. It is also a place where Chinese and Western cultures mix. Food from all over the world is brought together to make Hong Kong a"FoodCapital". Every year,a large number of tourists from all over the world come to visit.

The kites in Weifang never disappoint. Every year the Weifang International Kite Festival amazes visitors with creative kites, as "paper birds" of varied designs keep appearing in the sky.

Kites in China can originate from the Warring States Period when Mozi made the first "wooden kite". Kites didn't actually become popular until the Ming Dynasty. By the middle of the Qing Dynasty, artists who were good at kite making began to appear in Weifang. In 1984, the first Weifang International Kite Festival was held.

Kites were used in China during the wars at the very beginning. For example, they can be used to record wind readings, similar to ship flags at sea. Over time, kites became connected with relaxing activities, and were often flown during festivals and holidays.

Today, kite-flying is a popular activity in China, and the Weifang International Kite Festival is one of the largest kite festivals in the world. In 2024, 622 kite artists from 59 countries and areas took part in the event. Zhang Xiaodong,74, has attended all the festivals. In the early days, he only brought traditional kites to take part in the competitions, but this time, he used sound and light to make the story of Chang'e flying to the moon come "alive".

The festival is a great platform to share kite-making skills. It also brings the people of China and other countries closer. As one citizen put it, "No matter how far away kite lovers go, there is always a 'thread' in their heart that can pull them together."