Your mom tells you to put on your hat and gloves. But as the cold winter season gets closer, it's so cold that even mom's advice does not work.

    That means it's time to put on your qiuku! This is a kind of "thermal underwear(保暖内衣)" or long underpants that keep people warm in the coldest months of the year.

    In Western countries, qiuku is usually known as long johns  but they aren't popular. Long johns in the US are usually two pieces,  a long-sleeved(长袖的) shirt and long pants, worn under other clothing or sometimes even used as pajamas(睡衣).

    Long johns first appeared in England during the 17^th century. We call them long johns because the US boxer John L. Sullivan wore them while he boxed. But this is not a historical fact.

    In the US, it gets quite cold and snowy in many places. And while parents often push kids to wear more clothes and long underwear,  it's very special when young people actually(实际上) put them on.

    Part of the reason might be because it's not very fashionable(时尚的) and another reason might be because people don't spend much time outside during the cold months. So they just deal with the freezing(冰冻的) temperatures when they have to leave the warm building. But in their parents' eyes, staying warm is more important than looking nice.

    Hi, my name is Murray Wenzel. But my friends call me Muz, Muzza, Wenz or even Moon. Yes, I have lots of nicknames. But in Australia, where I am from, that's quite common.

    In fact most men in Australia call their friends something other than their real name. It is part of our culture to shorten or make up names for those we know and love. For example, one of my friend's names is Alex, but we call him Al. Another is named Jayson, but everyone knows him as Jase. In Australia most men called William are known as Bill, while Jeremy is Jez, James is Jim and Joseph is Joey.

    Sometimes we use the person's surname in their nickname, like my friend Karl Schussig who we call Schuzza. Sometimes we combine them, like my friend Troy Cassels being called TC. And we sometimes make up a new name for our friends. My friend Nathan's nickname is “Prez”, because when we first met he joked that I should call him “El President”.

    Even more confusing is when we are given ironic(讽刺的) nicknames. For example, a man with red hair will be known as Bluey, a tall man will be called Shorty or a large man will be known as Slim.

    Most of my friends call me Muz, but those who I play hockey(曲棍球) with call me Moon. However, my parents still call me Murray.

    So, I have different names depending on who I am talking to. Nicknames are so popular that sometimes people forget what the person's real name is.

    I think it is our way of showing affection to those we are close to.

    Cara Lang is 13. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts, US. Last Thursday, she didn't go to school. She went to work with her father instead. Every year, on the fourth Thursday in April, millions of young girls go work. This is Take Our Daughters to Work Day. The girls are between the ages of 9 and 15. They spend the day at work with an adult, usually a mother, father, aunt, or uncle. They go to offices, police stations, laboratories, and other places where their parents or other family members work. Next year, the day will include sons, too.

    The Ms. Foundation, an organization for women, started the program about ten years ago. In the U.S, many women work outside the home. The Ms. Foundation wants girls to find out about many different kinds of jobs. Then, when the girls grow up, they can choose a job they like.

    Cara's father is a film director. Cara says," It was very exciting for me to go to the studio with my dad. I saw a lot of people doing different jobs." Many businesses have special activities for girls on this day. Last year, Cara went to work with her aunt at the University of Massachusetts. In the engineering department, the girls learned to build a bridge with toothpicks and Candy. In the chemistry department, they learned to use scales. They learned about many other kinds of jobs, too.

    Right now, Cara does not know what job she will have when she grows up. But because of Take Our Daughters to Work Day, she knows she has many choices.

    Dragon Boat Festival is very popular in China. It usually comes in May or June. On that day, people eat special food " rice dumplings. It is known for the dragon boat race. The dragon hoar race is the most popular activity during the festival. A dragon boat looks like a dragon, and is painted red, white, yellow or black. Usually, a dragon hoar is 20 to 40 metres long, and needs 20 people to row. Boatmen row the boat in cadence(节奏) with the drumbeats(鼓声), and a man in the front of the boat waves a small flag to help coordinate(使动作协调) the rowing.

    The dragon boat race becomes a popular activity in. South China. The international(国际的) dragon boat race is held in Guangzhou and Hong Kong every year.