Do you notice music playing there when you go somewhere? Today most stores, stations restaurants and other places play music. You might even hear music in an office or on a farm.

Scientists believe that music changes the way people behave. They think that Western classical music makes people feel rich. When a restaurant plays classical music, people spend more money on food and drinks. When the restaurant plays modern music, people spend less money. Without music, people spend even less.

Scientists also believe that loud, fast music makes people eat faster. In fact, people eat their food faster when the music gets faster. Some restaurants play fast music during their busy hours. This gets people to eat faster and leave more quickly. Restaurants can make more money this way.

Some scientists think that music makes people think and learn better. They say that music helps students be more active. It is true that people learn better when they are relaxed. And listening to music can help people relax.

    Next time you hear music somewhere, be careful. It might change the way you do things.

    Today many people like growing plants at home because the plants help make the indoor environment beautiful and healthy. However, sometimes people may be too busy to remember to water their plants. If you have the same problem, don't worry. Designer Alastair Crompton can help you solve the problem with his amazing product-Plant Pod. It can water itself without any help.

    The Plant Pod is a self-watering container (容器) for small to medium-sized plants inside the house. Alastair Crompton makes it use a very simple process to provide the plant with the water it needs every day. With a Plant Pod, people no longer need to worry about how much water is perfect for their plants to grow. The water in the Plant Pod is enough to last for at least two weeks. So if people are away from home on a short holiday, they don't need to ask their relatives or neighbours to look after their plants. Won't it be great to see your plants welcome you when you are back home after one or two weeks?

    You may know several kinds of police, traffic police and street police. But have you ever heard of energy-saving (节能) police?

    A group of 22 new policemen went to work in Beijing. They went around the city to see the use of energy in hotels, office buildings, shopping centres and other public places. One of their aims is to make sure that these places have set their air conditioners (空调) no cooler than 26℃.

    They also set up a special phone hotline so that people can tell them which building doesn't follow the rule.

    "If everyone sets the air conditioner at 26℃, Beijing will save 400 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in one summer. That's one third of all the usage of the city in the season, said an advertisement."

    A show was held in Beijing last week on energy-saving technology (技术) and productions to introduce a green life to the public. Environmentally—friendly machines, like a machine that helps collect used bottles, have attracted lots of attention.

    "We want to tell people that there are some ways to protect the environment. Each of us can find effective (有效的) ways to do it in our daily life," said Liu Qianguang, an environmental engineer.

Paul is my good friend. This is his 1 . It's small, but it's always 2 . His bed is in the middle of the room. And a yellow quilt is 3 the bed. Paul loves yellow. Look! The bookcase is 4 , too. In it, you can see some books. A black computer is on the table, 5 it's not Paul's. It's his father's. 6 is that next to the computer? It's a photo of his family. There are 7 people in it, his parents, his sister and him. Where is 8 phone? Oh, he lost it. Do you 9 it? If(如果) you do, pleasee-mai lhim10 PAUL3456@126.com.Thanksalot.

Knowing the City by Walking

From July 2022 to July 2023, city walkers in China together covered over 320,000 kilometers. That's like circling Earth 8 times.

Some interesting things about Start of Spring

The traditional Chinese solar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Start of Spring, the first solar term of the year, starts on Feb. 4th and ends on Feb. 18th this year. After that everything turns green and is full of energy; people clearly see that the daytime is becoming longer and the weather is becoming warmer. Here are some interesting things about Start of Spring. 

weather is becoming warmer. Here are some interesting things about Start of Spring. 

◆   Flying a kite

Spring is the best season for kite-flying. As a tradition, it has a history of more than 2, 000 years. It can help build one's health and prevent diseases. 

◆   Erecting the egg (立蛋)

In China, it is said that the egg can be set upright on the first day of Start of Spring. It is believed that if someone can erect the egg on the first day of Start of Spring, he will have good luck in the future. 

◆   Making a Spring Ox (做春牛)

This custom in Shaanxi is practiced right before the Start of Spring. The officers ask some artists to build an ox with bamboo, wood, paper and paint. When the paper ox is ready, people will worship (敬神) it and hope for a harvest year. 

◆   Posting spring calligraphy and paintings (张贴春季字画)

The custom of posting calligraphy and paintings on one's door in the spring was first celebrated during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). People would do so to welcome spring and pray for good luck on the first day of Start of Spring. 

What do you like to do on the Start of Spring and why? {#blank#}5{#/blank#}