The Lifecycle of a T-shirt

    We all probably have a lot of T-shirts, but do you ever stop and think about the influence of a T-shirt on the planet? You'd probably be surprised to learn what's involved in the lifecycle of just one T-shirt.

    There are 5 major stages: material, production, shipping, use and disposal. The material stage involves farming, irrigating, fertilizing, harvesting and ginning. While cotton is a natural fiber (纤维) and not as harmful to the environment as manmade fibers, it still takes a toll in the material and production stages. Commercial cotton farming uses a large amount of water, and the use of pesticides (杀虫剂) is widespread across the globe, especially in cotton farming. Studies have shown that farmers spend around $4.1 billion on pesticides annually, of which 25% was spent on cotton crops in the US.

    Once the cotton is grown and harvested, so begins the production stage: spinning, knitting, bleaching, dyeing, cutting, sewing, etc.——these processes also use a great deal of water and energy. Commercial dyes and bleaches are harmful pollutants and can eventually pollute groundwater.

    After the T-shirt is produced, it enters the transportation stage. This often involves overseas shipping. Take a look in your closet. Chances are that most of your cotton garments (衣服) are made in China or India. Garments can be shipped via plane, ship or truck…, all of which spill CO₂ into the atmosphere. Calculations show that CO₂ emissions from light trucks alone amount to 1.15 pounds per mile.

    Once the T-shirt reaches the retail market, it is purchased. This stage may seem like the leastenvironmentally damaging part. But consider the number of times you've washed and dried your favorite T-shirt. Washing machines are certainly becoming more efficient. However, the average American household does 400 loads of laundry per year, using about 40 gallons of water per load. Such excessive water use is combined with the large amount of energy used by dryers.

    The final stage of life is disposal. This releases harmful emissions, or involves a landfill where cotton takes years to break down. Current US records show that an estimated 15% of clothes and shoes are recycled, which means that consumers send a shocking 85% of these materials to landfills.

    We all need new clothes every once in a while, but let's all try to keep in mind what goes into the production of clothing... It has a real impact on the planet.

    There are a lot of things you can do to help reduce your impact. Reuse and recycle clothes. If they're too worn out to wear, cut them up and use them as cleaning rags. Donate them to charity or another organization that recycles textiles. When possible, make an effort to buy organic cotton. Turn down the thermostat on your washer, and line dry your clothes when the weather will allow it.

    We all know that exercise is good for your health. But some kinds of exercise may be better than others.

    Running, for example, may help to protect against heart disease and other health problems. Running may also help you live longer. Researchers say it is not important how far you run. It also does not matter how fast or even how often you run. As advertisements for the running shoes Nike say, “Just Do It.”

    Recently researchers studied more than 55,000 adults. About one-fourth of the adults reported running regularly. The study found these runners were considerably less likely than non-runners to die of any form of disease, including heart disease. In fact, the runners lived, on average, three years longer than the non-runners.

    This study lasted 15 years. During that time, more than 3,400 of the individuals died. About 1.200 of the deaths were linked to heart disease, hear, attack or stroke.

    One of the researchers is a man named D.C. Lee, a professor of Iowa State University Compared to non-runners, he said, runners showed a much lower risk of dying from some diseases. “Compared to non-runners, runners showed 30 percent lower risk of death by any causes, including heart attack, stroke and cancer. Also, runners compared to non-runners showed 45 percent lower risk of death by cardiovascular diseases（心血管疾病）, including heart attack and stroke.”

    D. C. Lee and the other researchers found that speed, distance and how often one runs made little difference in reducing the risk of death. The runners in the study averaged between 10 and 16 kilometers per hour. Mr Lee said slower runners and those who only ran once or twice a week were helped nearly as much as those who ran faster and further. “And also we looked at the inning over time and we found that persistent runners（over six years）showed the biggest benefits, as well.”

    Spring is a wonderful season to celebrate rebirth and new life. The long, cold winter is over. The weather is warmer and sunnier. The trees again have leaves and the flowers are blooming. The season represents hope, joy and beauty. At this time, many people think of this classical music piece—Spring, which shows happiness. Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi wrote it in the seventeen hundreds.

    However, not all songs about spring are happy. This song written and sung by K.D. Lang is about dreaming of spring in cold dark places. She recorded I Dream of Spring in 2008.

    Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein wrote It Might as Well Be Spring for the movie State Fair in 1945.Frank Sinatra sings it. It is a feeling of restlessness or excitement brought on by the coming of spring. Richard Rodgers also wrote Spring Is Here, this time with Lorenz Hart. Ella Fitzgerald sings this song about feeling lonely during this season.

    Frank Loesser wrote the sad song, Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year. Why has the season been delayed? Because the singer's lover has left her. Sarah Vaughn released(发行) her version of the song in 1953.

    By now you may be thinking, "Enough with the sad songs, already！"OK ,then how about a cowboy song? Gene Autry was one of the America's most famous singing cowboys. He recorded When It's Spring time in the Rockies in 1937.

    And finally, we'll leave you with a sunny song called Up Jumped Spring. Freddie Hubbard wrote this jazz song in 1977 and Billy Taylor Trio performs it.

When the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, the resulting view of the Sun is called a solar eclipse(日食). Solar eclipses are beautiful astronomical events and many people across the world travel to faraway places to get a clear view of the phenomenon. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Others choose special eyewear.

It is believed that a pregnant woman with a baby should not view a solar eclipse. They are often told that their child will be badly formed if they view a solar eclipse. However, various scientific authorities have stated over and over again that there is no harm at all in viewing a solar eclipse with the right eye gear. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

It is important, however, that you view a solar eclipse with the right eye gear. Staring right at the sun could permanently damage the eyes. It is wrong to assume that the sun can be looked at after the moon blocks out a majority of it. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

If you want to view the eclipse, you have to get special glasses. As opposed to popular belief, sunglasses and dark films do NOT protect our eyes. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}You can do this by fixing a telescope and focusing the image onto a sheet of paper. You can clearly see the eclipse on the sheet of paper. You should never look directly at the eclipse through the telescope.

Similarly, you can make a tiny hole on an opaque(不透明的) sheet of paper and let the light passing through fall on a sheet of paper. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Alternatively, you can watch it live on TV which is the safest way of viewing a solar eclipse!

A. It is best if you purchase eye wear.

B. So they need not worry to view a solar eclipse.

C. Viewing a solar eclipse directly is a strict no-no.

D. Some of them watch the event through special, telescopes.

E. This method is an effective way to watch an eclipse as well.

F. To safely watch a solar eclipse, wear protective eclipse glasses.

G. The best way to see a solar eclipse is by viewing its projected image.

When a new school semester begins,many children felt very bad about it.They feel very nervous about going back to school.According to the experts,it's totally normal.Transitions(转变) are hard for everyone,{#blank#}1{#/blank#}.That's because routines are healthy for us,and changing into a new one can throw us off. 

For parents,it's really important to know that it's very normal for their children to have a whole range of feelings about going back to school—from excitement,to anxiety and sadness,to even anger.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}.They might have stomachaches or headaches when thinking about returning to school in September.And that's all normal,too. 

One of the best ways to ease into a new routine is to help the children focus on what they are looking forward to,{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.It could be one friend they're excited to see or even the idea of walking to school every day. 

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.Walking or biking by the school can help.Hanging out with a kid who's going to be in the same grade is a better way to relieve anxiety. 

Getting enough sleep,exercising,and talking to reliable adults and friends are other effective ways to cope with anxiety and negative feelings.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}."If bedtime is now super late,or there is no bedtime,try to move it an hour earlier every night leading up to your first day of school," said an expert. 

A.whether you're a kid or an adult

B.rather than what makes them feel nervous

C.instead of returning to school without preparation

D.For some kids,those feelings can even be physical

E.Most parents don't have empathy for their children's feelings

F.Besides,getting used to the new environment before school starts is also a good idea

G.It's also suggested that kids should get their bedtime back on track a week ahead of school

We high school students do have some growing pains,but we can get rid of them correctly and{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (wise).Some of us are upset{#blank#}2{#/blank#} their body styles and looks.It's unnecessary and it's not important at all.We needn't care about it.It is one's inner beauty{#blank#}3{#/blank#} matters.Second,we sometimes seem to be{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(misunderstand) by our teachers,parents and classmates.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}(face) with this,we can find a proper time to have{#blank#}6{#/blank#} heart-to-heart talk with them,{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(try) to remove the misunderstanding.Some of us have fewer friends.I think being open-minded and{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(friend) will do you good.Third,we may fall behind others,{#blank#}9{#/blank#} makes us stressed.Actually we can encourage ourselves to work efficiently,full of{#blank#}10{#/blank#}(determine).At last,some of us don't have much pocket money,so they feel unhappy.Isn't it strange?So long as we have some,that's enough.And we can learn how to spend money.