—Yes. I {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(visit) it twice when I was in Harbin.

    It seems that Chinese people have always loved to discuss {#blank#}1{#/blank#} differences between northerners and southerners. Now, another difference has drawn wide attention: the way northerners and southerners shop {#blank#}2{#/blank#} food at markets.

    People from southern China normally buy what they need for just one or two meals at a time. It's normal for {#blank#}3{#/blank#}to buy just half a Chinese cabbage, two {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (potato) and 25 grams of beef at a time. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, a person may be laughed at {#blank#}6{#/blank#} they do this in the north. Instead, buying enough vegetables and meat for a week {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (be) normal.

    The difference could be because of the different climates. Food can {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (keep) for a long time in the north, as it's {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (usual) cold and dry there. Many northerners have the habit of {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (store) food for a long time. But due to the hot and wet weather in the south, southern Chinese people prefer to buy just enough food for one meal or one day. Otherwise, the food may go bad.

    Maybe these debates about different customs help us to understand each other better.

    Crows(乌鸦) are remarkably intelligent birds. Now these feathered geniuses are given a job: Six crows have been trained to pick up rubbish in the Puy du Fou historical theme park in western France. Whenever the six crows put cigarette ends or other small {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (piece) of trash in a special container, it offers a treat to reward the crows {#blank#}2{#/blank#} their efforts.

    The idea came from one of the park's employees, Christophe. In 2012, the theme park held a show during which the crows picked up roses and brought them to a “princess”. It was the show {#blank#}3{#/blank#} inspired him. Since then, six crows {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(raise) and trained to do the same with rubbish. The training system is similar to the one for testing crows' intelligence, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} a food dispenser(分发器) gives away a food reward when a crow {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (correct) performs a task. Christophe also introduced other species of birds to go through the training. {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (compare) with other birds, crows are much cleverer.

    The purpose of {#blank#}8{#/blank#} (train) the crows is to educate the people to reflect on themselves. Since the birds are able to protect the environment, we need to care about it too. “It is {#blank#}9{#/blank#} funny way to remind people not {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(throw) the rubbish everywhere,” said Christophe.

    As we head towards midwinter all seems quiet in the garden, but now is the perfect time for {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (plant) a tree. Are you worrying about not having the space? Are you gardening on concrete? There {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (be) a simple solution {#blank#}3{#/blank#} the problems: grow a small tree in a pot. This is often overlooked, so in an effort {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (change) that, here is a list of the best species for pot growing, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} will work well in even the tiniest of the city gardens.

The most {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (common) suggested candidate for this treatment is an olive(橄榄树)—and with good reason. They are evergreen and have character from a young age.

    If you want something {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (usual), I'd give dwarf eucalypus {#blank#}8{#/blank#} try. Eucalypus kybeannensis is much slower growing than its cousins, creating an airy treetop of fragrant leaves on trees just 5m tall.

    Finally, if bright {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (colour) are more your thing, you can choose Cercis canadensis “Forest Pansy”(加拿大红叶紫荆). It is clothed all summer in rich and heart-shaped leaves with bare branches {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (decorate) with pink flowers in the spring.