A new report says plastics are responsible for $13 billion in damage to the oceans and the undersea environment. The findings were announced recently at a United Nations conference. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}.

    Plastic thrown away carelessly makes its way into rivers and other waterways.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} After a while, it collects in the sea. And plastic never goes away. Plastic is not biodegradable—destroyed by bacteria or natural processes. Instead, it just breaks up into smaller pieces over time. The oceans contain a lot of chemicals and other pollutants(污染物). {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. That means harmful material may get into our food supply.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Human beings cause pollution and they can take steps to stop it. They can use fewer single use product containers and throw plastics away correctly. Plastic recycling programs also works—where old bottles and other plastics are collected, broken down and used to make new products. We could reuse bottles in our households many times if we wish to, rather than end it after the first use. We could, when we get rid of that plastic, recycle it and reuse it, which replaces the need for raw materials.

    The report also calls on companies to improve methods for using plastics. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. And it calls for information about the way plastic is thrown out or removed from use. By putting a new value on plastic, industry has a special reason to clean up the environment. But all of the companies must join to deal with the problem.

    When we think of holidays, we think of traveling, beaches, fun, and adventure. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Smartphones have taken the world by storm, influencing the manner we interact with each other. Does this sound like you? If so, it sounds like you need a digital detox (数码产品戒毒期).

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Whether you are a businessman or a student, everyone needs some time away from technology.

    Having a tech-free holiday is becoming increasingly popular especially among families. The reason is obvious. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} While it may seem that sending a quick text message or uploading a photo to WeChat doesn't take so much time, these things eventually add up without us even knowing it.

    Whether to give yourself a digital detox is a difficult decision to make. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} To help you along, it is probably a good idea to choose a remote area, somewhere close to nature, where you can truly immerse (沉浸其中) yourself.

    Taking a tech-free holiday would be a good time to pick up something new, or return to hobbies which you never had time for. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} If you're going with friends or family,  perhaps bring along some board games to spend time rekindling (重新点燃) tired relationships.

In today's fast paced world, it's important to find time to stop and smell the roses — without taking a selfie at the same time, that is.

A. You could sketch (描述) the view of the coast, or take photos with your old film camera.

B. One of the best things about a digital detox is the fact that anyone can do it.

C. But the reality is, we spend most of our holidays on our personal digital products.

D. Nothing in this world can compare a holiday like this.

E. However, it may be just the thing you need to cleanse (清洗) your mind, body, and soul.

F. It enables them to spend quality time with together without being distracted by social media.

G People tend to keep connected with smartphones and never feel bored with them.

Being a superhero to others

    Ewan Drum has always liked superheroes. He likes how they help people. At age seven, he told his parents, “I want to dress up like a superhero and help the homeless.” {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Wearing his red superhero cape (斗篷), Ewan helped pass out  bag lunches to hungry people in a park in Detroit, Michigan. That's how Super Ewan was born.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}People donated(捐赠) money and supplies (供给物), and Ewan took them to those in need.

    When someone donated jugs(大罐) of water, Ewan and his family drove their car to get even more. They took the water to Flint, Michigan, a city that had unsafe drinking water. Another time, a businessman donated six turkeys(火鸡) for Thanksgiving.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}“In the end”, he says, “we gave turkey dinners to families all around Detroit.”

    Ewan has a motto: Everyone can be a superhero to someone. At an event called the Hero Round Table, Ewan told the audience, “It's not hard to help people. You can keep some socks and food in your car to help people in need. You can help a neighbor with doing the garden. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} ”

It's been several years since Super Ewan started his task. Every month, he still visits the same park to hand out clothes, food, and supplies to people who are hungry or homeless —his Super Friends. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    “No matter what,” Ewan says, “I will always keep helping people.”

A. News spread about Ewan's act of kindness.

B. This superhero says he'll never take off his cape.

C. Ewan says he wants more adults to act like superheroes.

D. Every little thing helps and can make someone feel happy.

E. A few months later, Ewan's family planned a day of giving.

F. Several days later, his parents drove to Flint and helped him raise a lot of money.

G. With his parents help, Ewan asked for more turkeys through the Internet, plus side dishes.

Signs of Eating Disorder

    About 30 million Americans live with an eating disorder. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Yet many others are often hidden in plain sight. It's important to know the symptoms in those who might be at risk for an eating disorder.

    They're constantly talking about dieting.

    The discussion around changing eating habits is incredibly common. Look at any lifestyle magazine or website and you'll likely find dieting tips and advice. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If someone you love is constantly talking about food or their dieting habits, it might be a sign of concern.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Changes in mood or behaviors surrounding food or exercise can be signs of concern. This could mean a switch in activity level like overexercising, too often counting calories, frequently visiting the bathroom after eating, fasting or eating too much. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    They're constantly turning down food-centric social gatherings.

    Avoiding social interactions such as birthday parties or going out to dinner with friends is a significant danger signal. People living with the condition have an intense focus on food or body image. They will keep away from situations likely ones that once brought them joy—where that determination might be tested.

    The best way to support someone who may be experiencing an eating disorder is by talking with them, but when and how you do it matters. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Approach them with love and compassion, let them know that you care about them and that you notice that there is something they may be struggling with.

A. This also might come with a noticeable weight loss or gain.

B. However, being trapped in that discussion is a different story.

C. Their fitness or eating habits are constantly out of the ordinary.

D. Mood changes associated with eating may also be a danger signal.

E. It should be away from the normal routine and outside of a meal time.

F. Some symptoms of an eating disorder may be more visible to the eyes.

G. Eating disorders are a group of conditions marked by an unhealthy relationship with food.

    People have always wanted to know what the future will look like. Then, how can we? {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The world has changed a lot in the last 150 years, but we humans are driven by the same basic needs as we were 150 years ago, such as food, sleep, the feeling of being appreciated and loved. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} No. In addition, generally speaking, the inventions for the last 150 years have been a human effort for freedom and communication, to be able to get in control of the time and world. Since there is still much to do in this area, this will be the focus at least for the next150 years.

    But why do we need to predict the future? Predicting the future is important for two reasons: First, we need to start to think about what kind of future we would like for ourselves and to pass on to the next generation. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    How about the virtual worlds? It might be in the future to experience the sand between your toes, and hear the waves, just lying in your bed at home. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} So, even if a great invention is there for an affordable price, it'll never take the place of the common experience if it is not real.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} What we'll see in the next 50 years is the transition (过渡) from an oil-dependent society to a new society. Here there'll be new medicine, continued exploration of space, challenges in the climate change, and new inventions that make life a little easier.

A. Will this change in the next 150 years?

B. So what will the future look like then?

D. Well, to understand the future, you must know the past.

E. However, you'll never get the feeling of being there.

F. However, no matter how real the experience will feel, it doesn't happen for real.

G. Then we need to know what decisions we need to make today that will give the best result in the future.

    Unless you think you're the smartest, who doesn't want to be smarter? Of course I want to be smarter too. So I try to find out who's the real smart guy that maybe I can learn from.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    ▲ They probably do social media. Not always, but probably.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} They also use this to ensure they can feed their brains with things they otherwise wouldn't have come across.

    ▲ {#blank#}3{#/blank#} They never bother their head about the problem of "work-life balance" and somehow manage to seem 100% engaged in what they're doing, on all fronts simultaneously(同时), even though you know they're taking appropriate steps behind the scenes to make sure their lives are well balanced.

    ▲ They know they are the smartest in the room, but they don't spend much time talking about that.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} That is, they challenge themselves to make everyone else in the room the smartest person too.

    ▲ They never, ever, under any circumstances, make you look stupid, even though it would be easy to do so. They've learned through bitter experience that the only thing that happens when you make someone look bad is that you look bad yourself.

    ▲ If they are managers, they will make every effort to get people more connected and more popular than them in their teams.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} They're not threatened because they know that smartness is synergistic.(相互促进的)

A. It is not only a chance to listen.

B. They know it is an advantage to them.

C. They take it as a personal challenge instead.

D. They will be smiling even when things go wrong.

E. Now I've got an answer about whether someone's smart.

F. They also ensure their smart people look smarter than them.

G. They deal with home, work and personal interests perfectly.