Clothes are traditionally made of natural materials, such as cotton, leather and wool. They are all from plants or animals, but that doesn't mean they're friendly to the earth. For example, farmers have to use a lot of chemicals to grow cotton plants.

    Scientists are now looking for new ways to make clothing materials. They hope the new materials are both comfortable and good for the earth. Scientists have worked out how to make materials out of cornhusks (谷壳), chicken feathers and rice straws.

    "They used to be useless things. We always have a problem of how to deal with them," Yang, a scientist says. "Now, we can turn them into beautiful materials. Chicken feathers are better than other things. They have small air pockets like honeycombs. That means it will be very warm if you use them to make a jacket or sweater, and I think more and more people will like to buy these kinds of clothes."

    Treasure hunting(寻宝游戏) is not just a story from m{#blank#}1{#/blank#} or books, but can also be part of your next holiday.

Five years ago, US art collector and writer Forrest Fenn h{#blank#}2{#/blank#} a treasure box somewhere in New Mexico, the US. The box was f{#blank#}3{#/blank#} of gold coins, diamonds and other treasure. It's worth about ＄1. 8 m{#blank#}4{#/blank#} (12, 400,000 yuan), and it will go to whoever finds the box. The 84-year-old millionaire(百万富翁)7 l{#blank#}5{#/blank#} some clues(线索) in his book The Thrill of the Chase.

    Fenn said the i{#blank#}6{#/blank#} came to him after he got cancer(癌症) in 1988." I wanted the monetary value(金钱的价值) to be a consideration for those who are l{#blank#}7{#/blank#} for it, but mostly my motive(动机)was to get kids off the sofa and a{#blank#}8{#/blank#} from their texting machines and out in the m{#blank#}9{#/blank#} ."he told KOAT News in the US. Fenn said about 30,000 people came to find the box last year. He g{#blank#}10{#/blank#} that this year more than 50,000 people would come.

    Deserts are found where there is little rainfall or where rain for a whole year falls in only a few weeks' time. Ten inches of rain may be enough for many plants to survive (存活) if the rain is spread throughout the year, If it falls within one or two months and the rest of the year is dry, those plants may die and a desert may form.

    Sand begins as tiny pieces of rock that get smaller and smaller as wind and weather wear them down. Sand dunes (沙丘) are formed as winds move the sand across the desert. Bit by bit, the dunes grow over the years, always moving with the winds and changing the shape. Most of them are only a few feet tall, but they can grow to be several hundred feet high.

    There is, however, much more to a desert than sand. In the deserts of the southwestern United States, cliffs (悬崖) and deep valleys were formed from thick mud that once lay beneath (在……之下) a sea more than millions of years ago. Over the centuries, the water dried up. Wind, sand, rain, heat and cold all wore away at the remaining rocks. The faces of the desert mountains are always changing--very, very slowly--as these forces of nature continue to work on the rock.

    Most deserts have a surprising variety of life. There are plants, animals and insects that have adapted (适应) to life in the desert. During the heat of the day a visitor may see very few signs of living things, but as the air begins to cool in the evening, the desert comes to life. As the sun begins to rise again in the sky, the desert once again becomes quiet and lonely.

Royal Engineers Museum

Events

    Today more and more children wear glasses before going to middle school. They keep their eyes watching TV or playing computer games for a long time. Eyes are the windows of our hearts (心). We use our eyes to see everything around us, so we should know how to protect our eyes.

    Love our eyes. When we open (睁开) our eyes every day, we can see the lovely friends and parents, beautiful flowers and green trees. If our eyes don't work, how can we see the world. In our eyes, everything and everywhere is dark. It's like a house with no light (光). How important our eyes are!

    Relax our eyes. First, stop to relax 30 minutes when using the computer for an hour or two. Next, remember to do eye exercises every day. Then, looking at green trees also helps a lot. In these ways, our eyes will feel relaxed.

    Have good habits. When writing homework and reading, it is important to keep a distance (距离) of 30 cm between your eyes and books. Remember to use our eyes in a right way. Don't read in bed or on a moving bus. Eat something healthy for eyes, such as carrots, fish and eggs.

    Follow my advice (建议) and get good habits. It's time to say goodbye to thick (厚的) glasses.

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.