Mr Li: Sam, did you enjoy your first Spring Festival in China?

Sam: Yes, I did. During this festival, many family members get together.

Mr Li: Yes. I hear that at Thanksgiving Americans also get together for a special meal. It sounds similar.

Sam: Yes. It's similar. During these holidays, both the Chinese and Americans come home and have a big dinner. It's great fun.

Mr Li: What do you think are the main differences between the Spring Festival and Thanksgiving?

Sam: Well, we take part in different activities and eat different kinds of food. In China, people usually set off fireworks and eat dumplings. In the US, we usually watch a Thanksgiving parade and an American football game on TV. We also eat turkey.

Mr Li: That's interesting.

    One of the greatest mysteries on Earth is the statues which stand on Easter Island. Easter Island, which was almost uninhabited when it was discovered on Easter Day in 1722 by a Dutch captain, is the most distant island in the world covered with hundreds of giant statues, each weighing several tons and some standing more than 30 feet tall.
    Who built these statues and why and how did they get there? Nobody knows the answer for sure.
    One theory suggests that Easter Island was first inhabited by Polynesians, who traveled thousands of miles in their canoes（独木舟）in 400 A.D. However, the ocean currents（洋流）which carried them there would not take them back, so that they could not leave.
    The statues appear to have been made out of the top edge of the walls of a volcano on the island. Then, it may have been rolled or dragged down to the foot of the volcano(火山). Then, it was stood upright（直立）and ropes were tied around it, which was made to act as a pulley（滑轮）. Over a period of months, a statue could be walked for miles down to the ocean. Finally, it was placed in line with other statues, all of them looking towards the center of the island.
    This process was difficult. If a statue fell over, it was too heavy to be pulled upright again, so the islanders went back and carved another statue.
    The population of Easter Island must have reached 11,000. Later, the resources of the island were used up and people began fighting and eating each other. Work on the statues stopped and the statues were knocked over. When the first Europeans finally arrived on the island, most of these people had died out.

Tourism has become a huge industry. Tourists make millions of foreign trips a year, twice as m {#blank#}1{#/blank#}as 20 years ago. It's now the largest employer on Earth. Clearly, it can do great good, but it can also do great damage.

It's true that tourism has brought benefits to many areas of the world that were very poor. However, mass tourism also has some bad e {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Local culture and customs change as more tourists arrive. Too much tourism damages the environment. And more and more tourists are behaving badly.

Complaints from local people are growing. In cities such as Barcelona or Venice residents say that too many tourists arrive on cruise ships(游轮). As a result, town centres are overcrowded. They tell stories about n {#blank#}3{#/blank#} parties that keep people awake all night. In famous beauty spots, where tourist money was welcomed, people are now worried about the damage tourists do to the environment.

Of course, many tourists enjoy the benefits of tourism in a responsible way. They choose holidays that support the local economy and they respect the local culture and the environment. Environmentally friendly tourism, or eco-tourism, is becoming more p {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

Responsible tourist behaviour is necessary, but it isn't enough to solve the problem. Many people now believe that governments should control how many visitors enter their country. They believe they should limit the n {#blank#}5{#/blank#}of cruise ships that use their ports and should not allow too many hotel developments.

U {#blank#}6{#/blank#}, governments are in a difficult situation. Tourism brings in a lot of money and this helps them i {#blank#}7{#/blank#} life for the local people. However, some governments are beginning to understand that too much tourism can be bad for the local population and the environment. They've taken some measures to promote environmentally friendly tourism. There may still be hope.

Dopamine (多巴胺), known as the "source of pleasure", is a chemical released in the brain that makes you feel good. But do you know "dopamine dressing"? It is one of the most popular fashion{#blank#}1{#/blank#} for 2023. Many people take this style to fight back bad feelings and show {#blank#}2{#/blank#}.

First created by American fashion psychologist Dawnn Karen in her book Dress Your Best Life in 2020, dopamine dressing is dressing for joy. It encourages people to choose colorful clothing so {#blank#}3{#/blank#} they can get more dopamine and feel happier.

But is there {#blank#}4{#/blank#} any science behind this? According to Science Focus magazine, {#blank#}5{#/blank#} there is no study about how colorful clothes can increase dopamine, there are studies showing a relationship between the clothes we wear and how we act and feel. One study showed that wearing red can {#blank#}6{#/blank#} to better physical performance. It found that in soccer matches over the last 55 years, teams with red clothes always played better in home games {#blank#}7{#/blank#} many other clothes colors. Another study showed that wearing green can make people become more {#blank#}8{#/blank#}. Green has also been found to help people relax, likely because it reminds us of nature. Yellow, and its suggestions of summer and warmth, can bring people happiness, energy and excitement.

So {#blank#}9{#/blank#} not try dopamine dressing? You can try one thing at a time. Here is some expert-backed advice:

Bags: With black and white clothes, you can use a bright pink or green bag.

Shoes: You can light up your dark clothes {#blank#}10{#/blank#} a pair of red shoes.

Socks: Colorful socks can make you look cute.

 Cats and dogs are some of the most popular pets. There is an old question-which one is better and why?

 If you ask me, I'm a cat person through and through. To me, there is nothing better than having a cat of your own. Every time I see a cat, I am filled with so much joy! Don't even get me started on all of the cute cat videos online. 

 Cats are very independent animals. They like to have their personal space. But this doesn't mean that they don't love their humans(人类). Cats may seem standoffish(冷淡的) at first, but they can quickly warm up to their owners and become their very best friends. 

 Cats can also be a lot of responsibility (责任) and hard work. For example, cats like to be clean. You usually don't need to give them baths, but you do need to keep their fur clean and clean their litter boxes every day. Not only this,    ▲    . Cats don't need to go outside for daily walks like dogs do, but it's important to give them a lot of exercise through playtime. 

 For me, cats are the perfect friends. There's nothing better than a cat sitting next to you after a long day of work. So why not choose cats as your pets?

 In China, when a baby is one year old. there is a fun activity, zhuazhou, at his or her birthday party. 

 On that day, people usually put some food, toys, and other things on a table. Then , parents put their tables a the table and they can take anything on it. 

 If a baby takes a pen, people will say he or she may be a good writer in the future. If a baby takes a cooker. people will know he or she will take good care of the family. When a baby takes a cake or a toy, people will think he or she may know how to have a good time in future life. 

Zhuazhou has a long history in China. lt begins in the Northern and Southern Dynasties(南北朝). And it becomes popular(受欢迎的) in the Tang and Song Dynasties. Ancient (古代的) people think of it as one of the most important rituals (仪式) in life. Now zhuazhou, is still (仍然) popular. Many Chinese families will have zhuazhou, parties these days zhuazhou, , as an old tradition(传统) in China, shows people's great love for a new member of their family.