One of the biggest mistakes a person can make is to try not to make mistakes. As you make decisions in your life, you will very likely make some mistakes. But making mistakes is a big part of how you gain(获得) experience.

    A simple example. You do poorly on a test because you didn't study hard enough. One bad test is not the end of the world, but it can quickly teach you that if you don't study, you won't do well.

    Mistakes sometimes lead to arguments(争论) between people.  But if you learn to understand things from another person's point of view, you will be able to learn very quickly from the mistakes you make and the mistakes you think other people have made. You can turn mistakes into opportunities(机会) .

    For example, if you learn to understand others' feelings and problems, you will understand the people you work with much better instead of getting angry. And you will learn to talk about problems and be more patient with people you don't agree with—a friend, or a mate in your workroom or company.

    So next time you think you've made a mistake, stop and ask yourself what you've learned from it, and what you will do differently in the future.

    Show me the person in the room who has made a lot of mistakes, and I'll show you the person who has probably learned a lot.

⑴{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Taking measures(措施)to use less water is something you can start doing right away. If you live in an area with a water shortage, this is even more important for the environment.

⑵{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Chemicals are used to wash our bodies, homes, cars and everything else, and end up in the water supply. Chemicals are doing real harm to water.

⑶{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Coal and natural gas are the most common sources of energy that can be turned into electricity. The burning of these things is a main cause in world air pollution. Reducing your reliance(依赖）on electricity is a great way to play a part in saving the planet.

⑷{#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you can drive and fly less often, you'll do a lot to help save the planet.

⑸{#blank#}5{#/blank#} You don't have to travel far to get what you need. Making smart choices about where your food, clothes and other products come from can help make a difference to the environment.

    There is something different in this week's blog. Let's look at some birthday customs around the world.

Harry Baker, Perth, Australia

    It's my birthday next Wednesday. I'm going to be 10 years old. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} in my country. My mom's going to make me a huge plate of fairy bread. It's a snack. We make it with bread, butter, and colorful sugar called "Hundreds and thousands".

Jim Dixon, Montego Bay, Jamaica

    I love birthdays! They are a lot of fun. Here in Jamaica, we have an old custom. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Guess what we do? We throw flour (面粉) at our friends! It's my best friend's birthday tomorrow. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} I'm going to buy a lot of flour to throw at him.

Victoria Smith, London, UK

    My grandmother is going to be 100 years old in June. She's very excited because she's going to get a special letter from the Queen. The Queen sends a letter to every person who reaches 100. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

Jiang Li, Beijing, China

    In my country, we celebrate birthdays with a special type of the food. Noodles are a sign of long life for us. This year, I'm going to make some "long life noodles" for all my friends. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} and have a great evening!

    Can you imagine a sea of sand three times bigger than India? This is the Sahara Desert, the largest desert in the world. It covers 11 countries in North Africa and is over 9 million square kilometers.

    In the Sahara, temperatures are very different during the day and at night. It is much hotter during the day than at night. During the day, the hottest time is between 2 p. m. and 4 p. m.-when temperatures rise to 33℃. But it is very cold at night, the coldest time is at 4 am, when temperatures fall to -1℃.

    Because of the extreme temperatures in the desert, it is a very difficult place to survive (幸存). Marco Rivera, our survival expert, has some tips.

    Take warm clothes and a blanket. You will need a hat, long trousers and a thick sweater to keep you warm at night. During the day, cover your body, head and face. Clothes protect you from the sun and keep water in your body. You will also need a warm blanket at night. It can get cold rapidly. When the temperature drops, it can be a shock and make you feel even colder.

    Try to drink some water at least once every hour. You need your water to last as long as possible. Drink only what you need. If you eat, you will get thirsty and your water will run out soon. You can eat a little, but only to stop you from feeling very hungry. Eat a small amount of food slowly.

    It's important to stay out of the sun during the day. Make a hole under your car and lie there. This will keep you cool and help you sleep. Find a warm place to sleep at night. A small place near a tree or a rock will be the warmest. But be careful before you decide where to sleep. Dangerous animals like snakes also like to sleep in these places. Look carefully for animals before you lie down.