Each and every year, during Chongyang Festival, citizens of China celebrate the elders in their families and communities. It's a special tradition which is rooted in the deep value that Chinese culture places on honouring their elders.

Sadly, many of our aging population are seniors without sons, daughters or grandchildren to visit. While they may have great friends, they no doubt miss the tender and loving relationships unique to families. To fill this void（空虚）, many volunteers turned up on October 28 at nursing homes around the country in order to spend time with the residents. In some cases, they performed humble（谦逊的） gestures of kindness, such as combing their hair or washing their feet.

    While the kind acts were appreciated, one embarrassing story out of Anhui province raised a valuable question. Reportedly, one old gentleman had his feet washed seven times during the day by different volunteers. Is this genuinely（真诚地） caring for the elderly? Many of the residents at the home said that those gestures do not make them feel cared for at all. Their family members or community volunteers may drop by for a few hours of token time, but soon they disappear back into their busy lives.

    There is nothing we can give that is more valuable or appreciated than our time. While you may feel like there is barely enough time to care for your many responsibilities, might it be possible to spare just a moment as you walk home from school to sit with a senior who lives in your community? Just five minutes is not going to prevent you from getting your homework done, but it may totally change a day of loneliness into a day of joy for one old man or woman. Do you live far from your grandparents? Why not pick up the phone and let them know you're thinking of them? Or maybe you could remind them of the “good old days” and mail them a short letter. Imagine their surprise and joy!

We live in a complicated（复杂的） and busy world, but kindness and caring is still a very simple thing.

    I have a lovely dog named Bobby. He looks pretty with short legs, big ears and short tail. He is my good friend and he is also easy to take care of. I walk him at least twice a day, feed him and spend time with him. He also gives his love to me in return.

    He is always there to lick me and lie on me. I like playing with him. I think he can tell when I am happy, sad, angry or troubled. Sometimes he can be noisy and run around the room. In a word, he is not only my dog, but also my friend.

    I love him. He can roll on the floor. He can play balls with me. He can look after my house when I am out. Bobby is very clever. But sometimes he isn't.

    One day Bobby runs away. He is out for three days. After he comes back, I tie him to a tree and give him some food. Bobby begins to eat. But then he stops. He sees a fox. The fox is looking at his food. Bobby barks and barks. He wants to catch the fox. But he can't. The fox runs round the tree. Bobby runs after the fox. So the rope goes ground the tree. Of course Bobby can't run. Quickly he eats up the food and runs away.

    Instead of studying abroad during college, more and more Chinese teenagers have chosen to do so as early as in high school, Students from China make up about 42 per-cent of the international students at high schools in the US, according to the latest study by the Institute of International Education. So, what is the main attraction for Chinese high school students to study abroad? What is overseas life like？We interviewed several students. Have a look!

    Pan. 15. Moreau Catholic High School in San Francisco, California, US

    In the future, I want to go to college in the US. Studying in high school here will help me get used to college life in the future. Also, I want to improve my English

    Studying here is not easy. Instead of exams like in China, we have more projects in class. For example, we have to make a PPT about a historical figure and then design a creative item for that person, such as a painting.

    Zhao. 15. Unionville High School in Toronto, Canada

    For me, experience matters. It's good to have the experience of living in another country. Unlike other international students, my parents accompanied me, which makes my life here much easier.

    In Canada. I have more time to develop my interests. I can choose classes I like.

    However, taking the entrance examinations to high school and college at home would be great. It's a shame that I have no chance to do that.

    Zheng. 14. Walsh Jesuit High School in Cleveland, Ohio. US

    I want to try different cultures and education styles. Two years ago, I visited some famous universities in Boston, such as Harvard and MIT. The academic atmosphere(学术氛围) deeply impressed me. Every student seems to spare no effort on academics. I saw students doing morning exercise everywhere and I watched a football game. I found that school life in the US was colorful. So I decided to study in the US.

    Obesity (肥胖症) is becoming a problem in our busy society, almost one in three American adults is now considered to be obese. Children obesity is also at an all-time high.

    Obesity means being very overweight. If you are obese, you have too much body-fat. If you eat more food than your body can use, this will make you put on weight. Food that your body does not need will be stored (储存) as fat by your body.

    The following are the major factors (因素) that increase the risk of obesity.

    What you eat plays a major role in weight gain. Eating a lot of fattening food such as hamburgers, sweet drinks, ice creams and other sweet food can increase the risk of becoming obese.

    If you do not do enough exercise, you will put on weight as the food you eat is not being used to make energy for physical activities.

    The chances of your being obese are greater if your parents are obese.

    There are many psychological (心理的) factors that cause people to eat too much. People who are worried, unhappy or bored will often eat to make themselves feel better. This is known as comfort eating.

    Age is another factor, as you tend (趋于) to be less active when you get older. When you get older, you need to eat less, and if you do not eat less, you will put on weight.

    Obesity can cause many health problems such as heart problems, high blood pressure and many other serious medical conditions.