As is often the case, when your teacher asks a question, there is only one correct answer. But there is one question that has millions of current answers. That question is "What's your name?" Everyone gives a different answer, but everyone is correct.

    Have you ever thought about people's names? Where do they come from? What do they mean?

    People's first names, or given names, are chosen by their parents. Sometimes the name of a grandparent or other member of the family is used. Some parents choose the name of a well-known person. A boy could be named George Washington Smith; a girl could be named Helen Keller Jones.

    Some people give their children names that mean good things. Clara means "bright"; Beatrice means "one who gives happiness"; Donald means "world ruler"; Leonard means “as brave as a lion”.

    The earliest last names, or surnames, were taken from place names. A family with the name Brook or Brooks probably lived near brook(小溪); someone who was called Longstreet probably lived on a long, paved road. The Greenwood family lived in or near a leafy forest.

    Other early surnames came from people's occupations. The most common occupational name is Smith, which means a person who makes things with iron or other metals. In the past, smiths were very important workers in every town and village. Some other occupational names are: Carter — a person who owned or drove a cart; Potter — a person who made pots and pans.

    The ancestors of the Baker family probably baked bread for their neighbors in their native village. The Carpenter's great-great-great-grandfather probably built houses and furniture.

    Sometimes people were known for the color of their hair or skin, or their size, or their special abilities. When there were two men who were named John in the same village, the John with the gray hair probably became John Gray. Or the John was very tall could call himself John Tallman. John Fish was probably an excellent swimmer and John Lightfoot was probably a fast runner or a good dancer.

    Some family names were made by adding something to the father's name. English-speaking people added –s or –son. The Johnsons are descendants of John; the Roberts family's ancestor was Robert. Irish and Scottish people added Mac or Mc or O. Perhaps all of the MacDonnell's and the McDonnell's and the O'Donnell's are descendants of the same Donnell.

Advice for High School Students

    As a person who is graduating from high school very soon, I have some suggestions for students in high school or students who are soon going to be high school students.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} I am sure others can benefit from reading them and will not make similar mistakes like me.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Do not value first impression highly. Don't dismiss a person or an idea too early just because you immediately get a bad impression. You will miss many opportunities because of that.

    Although something seems bad at the first impression, it does not mean it is bad all the time. Try to give everything a fair chance.

    Don't try to please everybody. There is no way you can please everybody or get everybody to agree with you.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It is a huge waste of time.

    Have respect for authority. No matter how much you may dislike them, just remember that teachers and parents care about you and they are only doing their jobs.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Don't argue with them and just obey them.

    Realize a high school is not the real world. The real world isn't a closed environment. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} What is rewarded in high school such as popularity and agreement is different from what is rewarded in the real world. If high school isn't working out for you, you may find yourself better at handling the real world.

A. Do not be too quick to judge.

B. So just learn to say the word “No” a lot.

C. Listen to their advice and consider it carefully.

D. Many of these are based on regrets that I have.

E. Bad habits are hard to break and remain with you for a long time.

F. Don't spend any effort trying to please others who will never like you.

G. It is a free society where people accept responsibility for their actions.

    China now has 52 sites included on the UNESCO World Heritage list, which was established to safeguard unique and irreplaceable cultural and natural sites around the world. Let's have a look at some of them, which may give you some clues on your next travel plan.

    Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor

    The Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor is located in Lintong county, near Xi'an city, capital of Shaanxi province. A total of 8,000 life-size terracotta warriors, chariots and horses, and hundreds of bronze weapons have been unearthed from it. Many state leaders and experts worldwide believe that the discovery of the mausoleum is a major archeological find and can be called the eighth wonder of the world, paralleling Egypt's pyramids.

    Kulangsu, a Historic International Settlement

    Gulangyu Island, known in the local dialect as Kulangsu, is located on the entry of the Jiulong River, facing the city of Xiamen. The island was occupied by at least a dozen countries, including Great Britain, France and Japan. As a result, Western culture grew rapidly there in the 19th century, especially music. With such a harmonious blend of Western music and Eastern culture, Gulangyu is naturally referred to as the “island of music”. It is famous for its outstanding musicians and musical instruments.

    Qinghai Hoh Xil

    Hoh Xil, which means “beautiful girl” in Mongolian, is located in the north-eastern end of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve is China's largest and the world's third largest uninhabited area. Because of the high altitude and fierce weather, it is impossible for people to live there, and therefore, it is a paradise for wildlife and home to more than 230 species of wild animals including endangered species such as the Tibetan antelope, which is recognized as the National Class I Protected animal.

    Huangshan Mountain

    Huangshan, known as “the loveliest mountain of China”, lies in the south of Anhui province in eastern China. The scenic area covers 154 sq km, and is famous for its peaks, rocks, pines, clouds and springs. It also has a rich cultural heritage. Xu Xiake, a famous traveler of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), visited Huangshan twice, and described it in a poem, calling it the best of all mountains in China. Today it holds the same fascination for visitors, poets, painters and photographers.

    In an effort to avoid a coming storm, Ronnie Stewart and Krystal Stewart were running to their car in the parking lot of Refuge Church when they noticed two young homeless boys with their parents on the sidewalk. The Stewarts approached the boys' parents asking to take them home for a night for a bath and warm bed. They didn't know what their response would be, but as it turned out, they were thrilled.

    The Stewarts took the two boys, who are 1 and 2 years old, home, where they slept for over a straight 10 hours.,

    “I don't think they've ever slept in a bed before,” Krystal said.

    The next day, the Stewarts gave the parents their phone numbers and told them to call if they ever wanted the boys to have a warm bed.

    It wasn't long before the Stewarts headed to pick the boys up after receiving a call from their parents at midnight.

    They brought them back the next morning and a few hours later, they were greeted by the Department of Social Services and police officers, who had been discussing living arrangements for the boys with their parents.

    “They asked if we could take them, in. Next, thing I knew, the boys were in my backseat with my kids on their way home with us. They may not have known at that time, but our three kids were already calling the two young boys their brothers,” Krystal said.

    A few days later, the Stewarts sat down with two social workers and the boys' parents. They had many choices to choose from, but felt strongly about wanting the boys to join the Stewarts' family.

    The agreement has been signed and adoption procedure（程序）should be finished before long.

    Summer Activities

    Students should read the list with their parents/careers, and select two activities they would like to do. Forms will be available in school and online for them to indicate their choices and return to school. Before choices are finalised, parents/careers will be asked to sign to confirm their child's choices.

    March 3 marks World Hearing Day. This year's theme is “Check your hearing!” Many experts and health organizations, including those who pay attention to the hearing-impaired (听力障碍), are working to help people realize the importance of protecting their hearing and avoid hearing loss.

    When we talk about music, what kind of feelings does it bring? Excitement… and relaxation. But what if the music lasts for hours?

    We interviewed a group of musicians based in Beijing during the weekend. They all said that hours of exposure to loud music can cause discomfort. One added that band members like to play at maximum volume (音量) and forget the harm that loud music can cause. The same thing not only occurs to musicians. It's also not rare for daily users since listening to loud music on loud sound equipment has become a part of modem life. According to the WHO, the practice has put more than a billion people around the world, aged 12-35, at risk of losing their hearing.

    We also interviewed some headphone users in the street, and most of them said that they are not heavy users but admitted they use headphones for hours on the subway and in the office or home. It's easy for these people to gradually increase the volume without awareness, especially in a noisy environment. Often, headphone users fail to realize they're listening to audio at unsafe levels until serious hearing problems suddenly occur.

    There are many reasons for hearing loss, including loud acoustic (听觉的) sources, drug abuse, and diseases. Experts suggest frequent medical checks and prevention measures.

    Whether congenital (先天的) or acquired, loss of hearing is usually irreversible. “Once the hearing loss occurs, it's already too late to be changed back to what it was before,” said Yang Shiming, expert of the Chinese PLA General Hospital. “Early prevention, early identification and early treatment. If everyone could do these things, hearing loss and its harm could be kept to a minimum,” Yang said. Of course, this applies to every one of us.