Vegetarian UK

Vegetarians and vegans

    Vegetarians (people who don't eat meat) and vegans (people who don't eat or use any animal products) are becoming increasingly common in UK culture. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} A recent survey showed that three million people were vegetarian. Visit a British supermarket and you will see a wide range of vegetarian ingredients and prepared meals on the shelves, including vegetarian sausages and vegan cheese.

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    So why are Brits cutting out meat? Many are unhappy about the poor treatment of animals and the effects of meat and fish production on the environment. Worries about food safety (for example BES or “mad cow disease”) also play a part. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} According to the Vegetarian Society, a meat-free diet could help reduce the risk of certain cancers and heart disease, as well as obesity and high blood pressure.

    Organic farming

    Another rising trend is in how UK food is produced. Many people are rejecting GM (genetically modified) food and intensive farming practices. They want their food to be organically produced. Organic farmers use very few or no chemicals, pesticides or fertilizers and organic meat is produced without the use of drugs and antibiotics. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}  

    Organic food

    According to the Soil Association, three out of every four UK households now buy some type of organic food. Some get organic meat, fruit and vegetables from farmers' markets, where products are sold directly to the consumer. Others have a box of organic fruit and vegetables sent to their homes every week. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Although it\s often more expensive, fans of organic food say it tastes much better!

A. A healthy diet

B. A balanced diet

C. Many people buy organic products in their local supermarket.

D. More and more people are deciding not to eat meat or use animal products.

E. A healthy soil reduces disease and helps crops grow strong and healthy.

F. Others choose to change their eating habits to improve their general health.

G. Organically farmed animals also have more living space and more nutritious food.

How can I fight laziness?

    Lazy people will never amount to anything in life. However, laziness can be defeated once a few changes have been made in your mind.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Many people lack sleep constantly, since they stay up too late and get up too early to prepare for work. These people have little motivation once they arrive home. Laziness works hand in hand with a lack of motivation and a tendency to put off things. By adjusting your sleep schedule to provide a few more hours of meaningful rest, you can fight laziness throughout the day.

    Another way to fight laziness is to change your mind from passive to active. Some people treat their lives as if they were pushed from task to task. Others take a more protective approach, viewing each task as a challenge they must overcome alone. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Some people fight laziness by removing the temptations(诱惑) that surround them. A television in the living room may provide entertainment, but watching too much TV often contributes to laziness. Create a reward system for yourself, just as parents do for a child to promote responsibility. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Spouses(配偶) and children may all have different energy levels, but laziness can be spread if not dealt with immediately. To fight household laziness, lead by example. Be the first to collect and wash dishes after a meal. Others in the home may eventually follow your example and perform their own task. It is difficult to practice laziness when you are surrounded by motivated people.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} enough exercise and a balanced diet can help you to develop a healthy lifestyle, thus enabling you to have more energy and help lift your spirits.

    You can't choose friends for your child, but you can help him learn to choose friends wisely. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are a few ways to help your child make friends.

    Build your child's self-confidence.

    When he succeeds or has made a great choice, tell him you are proud of him.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}Your middle school student is going through many changes and may feel like he isn't “good enough”. Building his self-confidence will help him feel more confident and will make it easier for him to form healthy friendships.

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    Give him your full attention when he talks, and really listen to what he has to say.

    Discuss the qualities in a friend with your child.

    Discuss with your child the qualities that matter most, such as being reliable and kind, and making good choices when it comes to avoiding alcohol and cigarettes.

    Get to know your child's friends.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It's more important to talk with them and find out what they like to do. Allow your child to invite his friends over and get to know them better.

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    After-school clubs and sports programs are good places for meeting new people. Be open to exploring different activities with your child to find something that he enjoys.

A. When he does not succeed, help him feel better and keep trying.

B. You can teach him ways to find friends who will have a positive influence on him.

C. There are many types of friends and we should be careful when making our choices.

D. Introduce your child to new groups of people.

E. Friends are very important for us.

F. Talk with your child every day and listen to his concerns.

G. Try not to judge your child's friends according to how they dress.

    Thanks to world-famous Colombian writer Garcia Marquez, many people think of Latin America as a land of magic. In his books, impossible things happen.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It may come from the mix of different cultures and ethnicities (种族) in Latin America. Although some of these differences have caused conflicts, they have also been a source of beauty, as well as encouraged people in Latin America to be more open-minded.

    Latin America includes more than 30 countries and areas located south of the United States in the American continent. From north to south, it starts from Mexico in North America, goes through the Caribbean and ends at the southernmost tip of South America.

    Latin America's environment is quite diverse. People can enjoy sunshine in the Caribbean islands, ride horses on the green grasslands of the Pampas, and explore volcanoes and snow-capped mountains in the Andes. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Many of the world's most unique plants and animals live there.

    There is also a diverse mix of people in Latin America. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} In countries like Mexico and Colombia, over half of the population is of mixed ethnicity. However, most of them speak the same languages — Spanish or Portuguese.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Latin American people have created the samba, rumba, cha cha and tango. These dance styles require dancers to hold each other closely and move passionately. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Latin America is an open and romantic place. Its impressive natural environment, historical contributions and cultural traditions have made it unique and influential.

A. It has natives, Africans and Europeans.

B. Where does the magic in his books come from?

C. They are cheerful and can bring strangers together.

D  It even has the world's biggest rainforest — the Amazon.

E. Many people in Latin America have open and romantic hearts.

F. The music and dance of Latin America are quite well-known.

G. To most people, Latin America is a land of happiness and passion.

    Live Every Day Like It's A Holiday

    We feel great on holiday because we let go of everyday stresses and strains. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} So whether or not you're going away this summer, there's plenty you can do to make sure you benefit from that holiday feeling.

    Sleep like a holidaymaker

    Sleep like a baby when you're on your holidays but stay awake when you're in your usual routine? {#blank#}2{#/blank#} To reset your sleep pattern, avoid bringing problems to bed. That includes your phone, TV or laptop. Make sure the room is dark and cool. Aim for at least seven hours' —just as you would on holiday.

    Get moving

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Given that exercise is cheap, healthy and reduces stress, it makes absolute sense to build it into your day. A walk will release happy hormones, and eases anxiety and mild depression.

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    Part of the joy of going away is lingering over delicious food with families. Take up the holiday habit of sitting down as a family for at least one meal a day. Families who eat together experience less anxiety, less depression and less obesity, research has found.

    Be a tourist in your own city

    Part of the thrill of a holiday is the novelty of discovering a new place and doing new things. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} At weekends, check out a new music venue, visit a different museum or have a drink in that interesting-looking pub you're always walking past. It will get you out of routine and make you feel alive. A bit like a holiday, really.

    There are so many words in English that learning all of them can seem difficult. To make things even more challenging, certain sounds are pronounced differently. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Learn the vowel元音) sounds.

    In English, there are five main vowel letters: a, e, i, o, u. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Each vowel letter has both a short sound(such as the a in "bat")or a long sound(such as the a in "play"). Learn and practice these different vowel sounds to help teach you how to pronounce certain words and to improve your English pronunciation.

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    One of the most effective ways to learn a language is to listen to someone speaking it. Once you are familiar with how a language sounds, you will be able to start picking up on more sounds, words and phrases.

    Record yourself.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}To solve this problem and really see how you sound, try recording yourself. Use a smart phone or tape recorder to play back how you sound when you are speaking English.

    Get a spoken English tutor.

    To truly understand if you are saying and pronouncing things the right way, find someone who can practice with you and act as a spoken English tutor. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Break down words.

B. Listen to an English speaker.

C. Sometimes the letter "y" can make a vowel sound, too. .

D. How do you know if you are saying things correctly?

E. He or she will be able to correct you and teach you how to pronounce better.

F. Thankfully, there are tips that you can learn to make things a little easier.

G. Compare your English comprehension to someone else to see if you are doing it correctly.