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    Droughts(干旱) are common in Kenya. Before, they came every 10 years, but now they seem to be hitting us more often and for a longer time.

    We gave the droughts names "longoza" was the drought when many animals died; there  was the drought of the "planes" because food was dropped from the air by planes; and one particularly bad drought was called "man who dies with his money in his fist(拳头)", because, even if there was money, there was simply no food to buy.

    I was born in 1951 in Machakos. From what my mother tells me, when I was 7, there was a serious drought . I clearly remember the terrible weather and the hunger. I can't tell you how many times I went to bed without eating. "I slept like that," is how we described it. I can't count the number of days when "I slept like that," or describe the feeling of going to sleep hungry, knowing I'd wake up and there would still be no food for breakfast.

    My father would leave early in the morning carrying a little basket to ask for food on credit(赊欠). Each night he would return home around 10:00 pm. My mother would try to encourage me by telling me to keep the water in our pot boiling so that when my father arrived we could quickly cook any food he brought in the already prepared water. I would keep the fire burning and the water boiling, along with the hopes that we would eat that night. But my father would arrive frustrated and empty-handed. And I would sleep like that.

With our already busy lives, finding time to exercise can be impossible. So maybe it would help if there was ‘a best time' to exercise.

There are clear benefits to exercising in the morning. Many of us have more free time than later in the day, and it may be easier for us to keep a morning plan. A study found that people could sleep better when they exercised in the morning or had the physical activity during the whole day. Exercising on an empty stomach（空腹）before breakfast could also have less fat（脂肪）and keep healthier.

So, good news for early birds, but what if you're not a morning person? Working out in the afternoon or evening is also good, but different. For example, your body's ability reaches the highest level in the afternoon, according to a 2010 study. Also, in the afternoon and evening, your mind is the quickest, and your heart rate and blood（血）pressure are lowest, and you aren't getting hurt（受伤）easily when exercising.

But can this happen? Deciding on if you are a man or a woman? Our bodies are different, after all, so the best time to exercise may be different too. Want to reduce（降低）your blood pressure and you are a woman? Exercise in the morning. Want to improve your heart health and you are a man? Evening is better for you. But, a 2022 study found that it's both OK for them to exercise at either time of day.

So what time is best? It seems the answer is: whatever time is best for you!

Last year, we took a trip to New York City.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} we arrived at our hotel, it was around I am. My son Joseph looked out at the lights of Times Square and said he{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(want) to go outside.I told him it was {#blank#}3{#/blank#} late to go out, but he kept looking out of the window and said, "Just for two minutes."My wife and I just looked at each other, surprised and said "Two minutes". We got {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (dress) and walked to the center of Times Square. When we got there, my son pointed at {#blank#}5{#/blank#} lights and said "Dad, look!" and then started to fall asleep.

It took us {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(minute) to get ready for the 20 seconds we spent outside, but it made {#blank#}7{#/blank#}(we) son happy and that meant a lot to us. That night, I learned a lesson about this small experience.I used{#blank#}8{#/blank#} (find) an excuse(借口) to do something else,but in fact I could have happy moments in our lives.

Because of my son, I learned that I am {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(big) enemy to my own happiness in my life. Happiness is created{#blank#}10{#/blank#} ourselves. And it is a door that is always open. However, we are the ones who have to decide if we are going to walk through the door.

 Guo Guangpu, a university professor, can be a bit odd outside the classroom, especially when he is seen sniffing(闻) bird droppings, or even pretending to eat them for dramatic effect.

 This dramatic way of teaching has proved to be effective. To date, Guo has made more than  100 short science videos about animals and plants, as well as eco logy systems. People can find information on a wide range of interesting natural phenomena(现象) in Guo's educational videos on the popular short video- sharing platform Douyin.

 His followers have watched his trips to learn about unusual knowledge. For example, they can see lychee in Dongguan of Guangdong province, Asiatic toad (蟾蜍) in Zhejiang province, and weird fruits of various shapes and sizes in Yunnan province.

" Science videos are not easy to make. You have to be professional as well as lively and interesting. Only in this way can people with different levels of knowledge understand," Guo says. Therefore, he needs to look up plenty of information to make sure that there are no mistakes in his videos. While presenting the knowledge, he also tries his best to deliver the information in plain words.

 As a result, his efforts have attracted more than 14,000 followers since March. Some of his videos have received as many as 17,000 likes.

" With the help of Professor Guo,I am able to appreciate the beautiful land across the country even without leaving home," says Ren Jiaxi, one of Guo's Douyi n followers." His video encourages my interest in learning," Ren adds.

 When shopping for clothes, my mother and I have always disagreed on what fits me well. To me, if it zips, it fits. My mom, however, usually tells me I need a bigger size.

 When I was a teenager, I wanted to dress like my friends, but my body size made it impossible. When mo m told me something didn't suit me, or I needed a bigger size, all I heard was that my body was wrong.

 To avoid arguments, we stopped going shopping together. This continued until  I got engaged(订婚) last year and needed to buy some clothes. When I tried on a blouse. my mother looked at me, and I knew what was coming." You need a bigger size," she said.

 There was no bigger size. I tried to hold back my tears. Maybe I could buy it alone, of course, but my mom is my favorite person to hang out with The idea of looking for a wedding dress without her seemed just as scary as taking her with me.

 And so the day came. As I tried on a simple white dress. I saw tears in my mom's eyes. " You look beautiful! " she told me. Nothing could have shocked me more.

 This one didn't zip up at the back and I did actually need a bigger size, but my mother didn't say that. She just told me how beautiful I looked. In that moment, all the argument s in the past ended. We didn't buy a dress that day.

 We decided to see more, which I would never have predicted.

A few weeks later, we found the perfect dress. We both loved it as soon as I put it on. And during those few weeks, mom and I also found the perfect fit for our shopping relationship.

A woman came out of her house and saw three hungry old men sitting in front of it. She kindly invited them to come in and have 1 to eat. But they refused 2 so.

After the woman's husband (丈夫) came home, she told him what 3 . He said, "But they need help. 4 you go outside and invite them in again?" The woman agreed.

"But we hardly go into a house together. We three are 'Love', 'Wealth' and 'Success'," one of them said. "Discuss with your husband which one of 5 you want in your home," he added.

The woman's husband said, "6 wonderful it is! Let's invite 'Wealth', then our home will be filled 7 money." But the woman and her daughter disagreed. The wife wanted "Success" while the daughter thought "Love" would be 8 guest. She hoped their home would be full of love. The parents agreed and the woman went out and invited "Love" in. To her 9 , "Wealth" and "Success" followed.

"I only invited 'Love'. Why are you coming in, too?"

The old men replied together, "The other two will stay outside 10 you just invite 'Wealth' or 'Success'. But wherever (无论哪里) 'Love' goes, the others usually go with him."

Always remember: you should have "Love" first before you have "Wealth" and "Success".