Breathing in polluted air on busy roads is as harmful as passively smoking ten cigarettes a day, new research has found. The drop in pollution had the same effects as avoiding four cigarettes a day. One of the researchers, Saskia van der Zee, explained why they compared the effects of pollution lo passive smoking. “We thought that passive smoking would be easier to understand,” she told The Times. "You don't want your neighbors to come into your house and smoke three cigarettes every day."

    Earlier this week, doctors warned that Britain is facing a major health emergency unless diesel(柴油)cars are taken off the roads. Emissions (排放物) from diesel cars arc already contributing to smog which has been linked to the deaths of 40,000 people a year. Health charities, medical leaders and environmental groups have called for a modern Clean Air Act lo bring pollution under control. Separately, more than 300 doctors in the Doctors Against Diesel group have written to Theresa May, calling for a diesel reduction.

    Professor John Middleton, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, said, “Diesel is the primary source of nitrogen dioxide(二氧化氮)in urban areas and is linked to health effects that begin before birth and extend throughout life, from childhood lung development to increased risk of heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. It is high lime lo handle the problem.”

    London is already planning to introduce an “emission zone” which diesel drivers would be charged to enter, and other cities are set to follow. But exerts are desperate to find new ways to control the damage done by pollution. Diesel drivers in Westminster have been told they may soon be charged 50 percent extra for on-street parking. And Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London，submitted a £ 3,500 plan to encourage drivers to switch to petrol or electric cars.

    “Cutting diesel emissions would therefore have an immediate effect on children's personal exposure, and improve their long-term health.” A government spokesman said.

    After twenty-third hour at night, the house was quiet. I didn't go to bed. Under the strong light, I looked sadly before me at a huge pile of that troublesome thing they call “books”.

    I would have my important examination the next day. “When can I go to bed?” I asked myself. I didn't answer, in fact I dared not.

    As soon as the clock struck twelve, I suddenly heard and couldn't help crying “Oh, dear! Many more books to read before I can go to bed!” We students are the most wretched creatures in the world. Dad does not agree with me on this. He didn't have to work so hard when he was a boy.

    When the clock struck one, I felt I was hopeless now. I forgot all I had learned. I was too tired to go on. I did the only thing I could. I prayed, “Oh, God, please help me pass the exam tomorrow. I do promise to work hard afterwards, Amen.” My eyes were so heavy that I could hardly open them a few minutes later, with my head on the desk, I fell asleep.

    In America, each of the states likes to promote itself with a slogan (口号). I currently live in Utah, where the slogan is '“Life Elevated”. It's a nod to outdoor entertainment in the hill country, including the ski industry. I previously lived in Colorado, a land with red dm. great mountains and golden plains. The slogan there is ''Colorful Colorado”. Years ago I lived in the “Peach State” of Georgia, and I grew up in New Mexico as a little boy, whose slogan is “Land of Enchantment (魔力)”.

    We never seemed to get away from dust in New Mexico, so I appreciate the story of a newcomer to the Land of Enchantment who learned about dusty wind. She was visiting an antique shop and the owner wiped down every item before showing it. The newcomer said, “Everything gets dusty here pretty quickly, doesn't it?” “That's not dust, honey,” the shop owner replied, “That's ENCIIANTMENT”. That made the problem more acceptable or at least can be live with. An escalator (自动扶梯) broke, so he posted a sign to warn customers. He chose not to use the traditional “Out of Order” or “Do Not Use” warnings. Instead, his sign read, “This Escalator Is Temporarily a Stairway”. He turned a minus into humor and made it a plus.

    And in fact there arc sonic things, like the weather, we can't change. All we can change is our ways that we think and feel about them. I believe one of the best techniques to do this is to find some humor in the situation. Finding something amusing or enjoyable of difficulty, a troublesome problem can be one of the most creative and effective things we can do. Sometimes the only sense you can make of a situation is a sense of humor.

    At some point in life, many people suffer a mental problem. While most people get over it, for others it doesn't go away easily.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) says that about 20 percent of children and teenagers across the globe suffer from mental illness. It's thought that the number of children and teenagers with mental illness around the world will increase by half by 2020. It will become one of the main causes of disease, disabilities and even death.

The reason for mental problems among young people may be the increasing pressure in life. Study and relationships have always caused huge stresses for school children. For instance, they experience school bullying(欺凌)and academic pressure.

    In China, the picture isn't bright, either. About 30 million Chinese children and teenagers under the age of 17, or 10 percent of children and teenagers in China, have a mental health challenge, reported China Daily.

    Also, according to China Daily, Chinese people don't seek help with their mental problems. They fear that others will think less of them if they admit that they are in trouble. Many Chinese people are ashamed of their mental problems and mental illness is taboo(禁忌)in any Chinese families.

    In the UK, over three-quarters of young people believe their mental health problems have a social shame and a quarter of young UK people wouldn't ask for help if they developed a mental problem.

    Young people who don't seek help for their condition may be creating problems for themselves in the future. If you feel something is wrong within you – seek help.

Feeling down? Here are three things to try if you feel low.

    Go to a psychology teacher. The teacher will listen to you and offer help – for free!

    Call 800-810-1100. It's the number of a hotline run by the Mental Health Research and Prevention Center. The line is open 24 hours a day.

    Tell your parents and visit the hospital if the situation gets out of control.

    Each time Chinese New Year is approaching, preparations are underway around the world. Here are some Chinatowns for those outside of China wishing to mark the day.

    London

    Although it may not be as large or as long-built as others, having only become a center for the Chinese community during the 1950s, London's Chinatown is perfectly formed little firework that knows how to see in the year with a bang. Decorated with red lanterns, previous years have seen shows with acrobatics（杂技）, martial arts（武术）,dance and opera nearby.

    San Francisco

    San Francisco's Chinatown is perhaps the most famous in the United States. The city was the main entry-point for Chinese who had crossed the Pacific to the USA during the early 19th century. Between the Grant Avenue and the Stockton Street, this historic area is a local treasure, attracting more visitors per year than the Golden Gate Bridge.

    Bangkok

    With an about100-year-old history, the Thai capital's Chinatown contains complex streets offering all kinds of tasty treats, clothes, toys and antiques. Sunday market days are such a good time to get the full atmosphere of the neighborhood. The area is also known for its gold dealers, whose shops line the road.

    Mauritius

    Found in Port Louis, this Mauritian Chinatown shows the island nation's rich multicultural diversity. Established in the early years of the 20^th century by settlers from China, its tiny shops and restaurants serve locals and visitors. During the Chinese Spring Festival, the most exciting sight is the Dragon Dances on Rue Royale when Chinese musicians and dancers perform the traditional lion dances through the streets.

    Recently, some Chinese experts advise people to be more careful about making a "V" gesture (手势) while taking a photo, because the fingerprints may be stolen.

    It is possible. If the distance between the person and a smartphone is less than half a meter, the possibility of the fingerprint being stolen will be bigger. Having fingerprints stolen can cause a lot of difficulty, as they are used in many things, including ID cards, passports and online payments. So it's a must to pay attention to their protection and avoid them being spread on the Internet.

    This kind of discussion was first raised by a Japanese research center, the National Institute of Informatics.

    ZengQiaoyi, 19, who likes sharing selfies (自拍) on WeChat, said she is also worried about it. She said she seldom posts pictures with "V" gestures and most pictures she shares are made to be not so clear by certain software. "I blur backgrounds in selfies, hoping to hide my location," she added.

    Tan Tieniu, a scientist, said at the 2016 China National Computer Congress that using fingerprints instead of passwords or voice identification is far from safe, compared with face recognition (辨认).

    But a police officer from Jiangsu province, said locals don't need to be overly anxious, because the cameras of many cellphones are not clear enough, and the shooting distance of most photos taken by cameras is too far.