Everybody needs water. Everything needs water. We use water to wash the bowls(碗), clothes and ourselves. We use water to plant trees, flowers and crops(庄稼). Where does all water come from? It comes from clouds.

    Some of rain goes into the ground. Many people get it under the ground. Some rain water goes into the hills. It runs into lakes and rivers. Many people get it there.

    Heritage (遗产) is traditional customs, history and beliefs. We use the word "heritage" in many different ways. People talk about their family heritage, city heritage and national heritage.

    Today, heritage is changing. The Internet connects people around the world. In many ways this is a good thing, because we can learn about the heritage of other countries, and we can show our own heritage to the world. However, some people worry that traditional heritage is disappearing. In many ways, countries are becoming more and more alike(相似的). In most countries around the world, you can find KFC. Nike shoes, Starbucks coffee. American movies and so on. Some people think this is a good change, and others don't like it. You can decide whether or not it's a good thing.

    However, everyone wants to protect traditional heritage, and sometimes this is hard. For example, when a new KFC opens in your city, a traditional restaurant might have to close.

    That is why heritage protection is so important. Heritage protection is a simple thought. It means keeping your country's or your city's heritage alive. People do this in many ways. The biggest part of heritage protection is probably preserving (保护) old buildings. Some suggestions of heritage protection are making sure your kids speak your traditional language, and teaching knowledge about heritage to them.

    The world is changing. No matter how it changes, never forget the heritage of our parents and grandparents.

    Imagine a world with no more animals: no elephants, no tigers or lions. To some people, that thought is too terrible for words. So they are doing something about it. Tiffany Soechting is one of them.

    Being among wild animals—feeding them and caring for them—is all Tiffany Soechting has wanted to do with her life. And that is exactly what she does!

    Soechting is the human "mother" to the 500 animals that live on her family wildlife farm in San Antonio, Texas. On the farm, she cares for animals from around the world. Soechting says she loves them all. However, two reticulated giraffes(网纹长颈鹿) take up a special place in her heart. Their population in the wild has become smaller by 80% in the last 15 years. "I'm so glad to get help from five wildlife researchers that took giraffes up to a higher level. All our hard work helps protect giraffes living in the wild."

    Besides her animal caring, Soechting also holds monthly classes, where she teaches school children about the animals.

    Soechting also opens the farm to the public. Visitors not only learn about the animals, they can also get close to them. And the animals are not against that. For them, people are part of their natural environment.

The farm is part conservation(保护) area, part educational center and part animal park. As the animals walk peacefully around the grounds, it is easy for them to forget that San Antonio, a busy city, is just a few minutes away.