Many people think if you turn off your TV, your life will be colorful. They also suggest children should watch less TV. TV can give children big problems. First, it's bad for your studies, you spend too long on TV. You can't do well in school. Second, it's bad for your health. Because you watch too much TV, you are getting overweight and your eyesight is getting worse. Third, it's bad for your family life. While your families are watching TV, they don't talk too much. Also it has too much fighting. Some children always follow the fighting in real life.

    If you turn off your TV for a week, maybe you can find something fun to do. Maybe you can read books, learn to swim or paint pictures. What do you think? Would you want to have a try?

    Have you ever taken photos by using mobile phones with selfie sticks (自拍杆)?{#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

    However, a pair of US artists from New Mexico, Arie Snee and Justin Crowe believe they have invented a better one and they call it "selfie arm". {#blank#}2{#/blank#} It makes those people in the pictures seem to be holding hands with a love one.

The pair say it offers a far better experience than using a straight stick. The selfie arm makes people feel they are not alone when they take photos. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They think their invention solves the main problem that the selfie stick has – people look alone while they are taking pictures of themselves with great interests. The product, at present, just an art project and a model, conveniently provides you a welcoming arm. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} The pair say they are fascinated by these new ideas.

    The "selfie are" is made of fiberglass. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    The project that they work on shows the growing selfie stick phenomenon (现象) directly and increasing need for narcissism (自恋) and Internet agreement.

    Started in the year 1970, Earth Day is now celebrated in more than 193countries each year. Every year, the event is celebrated under a different theme. The theme for 2016 is" "Trees for the Earth". Here are five things you can do to celebrate Earth Day (apart from planting trees)and make this a better world for future generations.

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    Cars, being the greatest source of air pollution, can be left at home this weekend. Traveling by public transport is the better choice. Other greener choices are carpooling, riding a bike or you can also walk if your workplace isn't that far away from your home.

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    NO, we don't mean you should be dirty. We simply mean to say, don't take a bath every day. A day or two without a bath won't harm you, but it will certainly do a lot of good for our planet. Water saved is the planet saved.

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    This is one of the best things you can do. Why? Because it will do you good, too. Volunteer to join other tasks. If you have time, you can plant trees, clean a park or simply come up with ways you can preserve mother Earth.

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    This is one of the most common things that people can do at home, that is, turn off their lights. However, this isn't something you should do just for a day. Save energy by turning off all electricity points whenever they are not in use.

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    Do something every day that will improve your surroundings and contribute to making the planet a better place to live in. Always remember that every step counts.

    Helen has always been interested in helping her community (社区). Her first volunteer experience was for the American Red Cross when she was in high school. When she was a school teacher, she also found time to volunteer.

    After she retired (退休), she started volunteering to help the old. When her father was older, he was not able to see as well as he used to, which made her sad because he had always enjoyed reading. She decided it would be fun to read to elderly people in her community.

    She also helped one woman write her stories. Ann was almost 100 years old, and Helen wrote down information about her life when she visited her. She put the information in a book and got it published (出版), Ann was very excited to share her life story with her children and grandchildren.

    After a strong storm hit some southern cities, Helen volunteered again for the American Red Cross. She prepared food and answered phones in a care centre.

    One day Helen read an article in the newspaper about refugees (难民) who needed to learn English. She met once a week with Sahra, a 38-year-old woman from Somalia. Helen gave Sahra a camera and asked her to take pictures of her daily life. In the end, they wrote a book together and used the photos in the book. This helped Sahra learn many new words about her everyday life.

    Helen says, "The real value of my volunteer work is becoming friends with the people I help. They enrich my life as well as I enrich theirs."

    A good book can be satisfying, can improve your knowledge and can teach you a lot. There are several ways to develop a lifetime reading habit.

    Set times. You should have a few set times every day when you'll read for at least 5—10 minutes, no matter what happens. For example, make it a habit to read during breakfast and lunch (and even dinner if you eat alone).

    Always carry a book. No matter where you go, take a book with you. When you leave the house, make sure to have at least one book. You may keep the book in the car, or into the office or to anywhere you go, unless you're sure you won't have time to read.

    Make a list. Keep a list of all the great books you want to read. You can keep this in a pocket notebook. Be sure to add to it whenever you hear about a good book. Keep a running list, and cross out the ones you have read.

    Find a quiet place. Find a place in your home where you can sit in a comfortable chair without television or computer near the chair. There should be no music or noisy family members.

    Set a high aim. For example, tell yourself that you want to read 50 books this year. Your best to finish reading them. Just be sure you're still enjoying the reading.

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    These days, "What do you want to do when you grow up?" is the wrong question to ask children in the USA. The question should be: "What job are you doing now？"American companies are employing more and more young people as consultants(顾问)to evaluate(评估)products for child consumers. The 12-to-19 age group spends more than $100 billion a year in the USA. Specialist agencies help manufacturers ask kids about all the latest trends in clothes, food and other markets. One company, Teenage Research Unlimited, has groups of teenagers who give their decisions on products like jeans. Another company, Doyle Research Associated, holds two-hour meetings in a room called the "imaginarium". Children are encouraged to play games to get into a creative mood. They have to write down any ideas which come into their heads.

    Some manufacturers prefer to do their own market research. The software company Microsoft runs a weekly "Kid's Council" at its headquarter in Seattle, where a group of school children give their decision on the latest products and suggest new ones. They are called young consultants. One 11-yearold consultant, Andrew Cooledge, told them they should make more computer games which are suitable for both boys and girls. Payments for the work are increasingly attractive, Andrew Cooledge was paid$250 and given some software. However, even if their ideas are valuable, the children will never make money. They cannot have the copyright to their ideas.