Weddings are important in every country, and there are different wedding customs in different countries. In western countries the bride's (新娘的) dress—her wedding dress—is very important. Some brides wear a new dress. Some brides wear the dress their mothers or even their grandmothers wore at their weddings.

       Some people believe the bride should wear something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. She may wear an old ring and will usually have new shoes. She may borrow something to wear from a friend, and the ring on her finger may have a blue jewel in it or some of her clothes may be blue.

       Many married people in western countries wear a ring to show that they are married. They wear the ring on the fourth finger of their left hands.

       At the wedding, as soon as the man and the woman are married, their friends often throw rice or very small pieces of paper over the couple. They believe this will bring them good luck and that they will have many children. The bride often carries flowers, and after the wedding she throws them up in the air. People believe that the woman who catches the flowers is lucky enough. The bride and the groom (新郎), their friends and family then have a party. After that the bride and the groom go on holiday together. This holiday is called "the honeymoon".

    My challenge for you is this: to read a book for 15 minutes a day. Let me explain where the challenge came from.

    I have many things in common with my dad, like music taste and sense of humor, but sadly reading isn't one of them. I can happily spend a whole day reading a book. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} He reads e-mails, websites and papers for work, but not books. He is a busy person, with a short attention span, so I think that sitting down to read for just 15 minutes a day is a good way to introduce him to reading. Giving yourself a goal or challenge is a good way to change a habit or achieve something, so why not try to develop a new habit of reading?

     {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Everyone is different and has their own interests, but I think there are lots of benefits of reading, which screen-based activities (games, films,

TV) don't have.

     {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Looking at screens can cause tire eyes, and you should avoid looking at screens for a long time.

    Another thing I love about reading is being transported to another world. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} So you go to bed. Because you think more about the world of the book, rather than the real world and the problems you have during the day, so you can truly relax.

    I also love people. I enjoy hearing what people are doing and finding out what people think.{#blank#}5{#/blank#} It also teaches me to see things from other people's point of view, and understand other people's decisions or opinions.

    So give it a try! Include 15 minutes of reading in your daily schedule and see the difference you can make.

A. Firstly, it's better for your eyes.

B. But my dad can't read a book for longer than 5 minutes.

C. I often forget the time or things that are going on around me.

D. Reading ten thousand books is like travelling ten thousand miles.

E.  Reading gives me the chance to get to know hundreds of new people.

F. You can download free e-books online and read them on your computer.

G. I know lots of people would rather relax at the computer or in front of the TV.

In 2023, a group of the young drew much attention in their different fields. They have become role models for young Chinese by showing how excellent and active they are. Here are the stories of three of them.

Chinese writer Hai Ya's The Space-Time Painter won an important prize on Oct 21st. He is the third Chinese writer to win this prize. Hai Ya was born in the 1990s. His work mixes history and science. The Space-TimePainter, for example, tells us a story of a painter called Zhao Ximeng. 

15-year-old Chen Yujie won the 100-meter event at the second U15 Gymnasiade (世界中学生运动会) in August. Chen often takes hard training all day and all night. Although it makes her painful sometimes, she says, "I get used to the training and it gives me the chance to realize my dream. I will keep on running!"

On Dec 21st, the members of Shenzhou XVII carried out their first spacewalk outside the Tiangong space station. Among them, Tang Shengjie who was born in 1989 set a new record by becoming the youngest Chinese astronaut (宇航员) to have a spacewalk. "It's the highest honor (荣誉) for me." he said in an interview with Xinhua.

My dad bought me a new Jeep when I was 17, but the real gift was what he  taught me about life through this car. Every month, on the first day, he asked me  to pay him $150 if I wanted to continue driving my Jeep. If I didn't pay, I  couldn't drive my car〔or "his car", as he often reminded me, since he owned the title (所有权). My dad was (and still is) a successful businessman, who makes a very good living. To a 17-year-old student who only had a part-time weekend job, $150 was more  than  I  usually  made  every  month.  I  had  to  work  harder.  Although I was unhappy about my father's request, I always made sure to give him $150 on the first of each month, and did so for two years.

The day I graduated from high school, my dad pulled me into his office at our house for a talk. "Kevin," he gave me a white box and said, "here is your graduation present. To be honest, this is actually a present you gave yourself." I opened the box carefully, and almost started crying when I realized he just gave me $3,600! It was 24 car payments that he had saved for the last two years. Every payment I gave him went straight into this box. By requiring me to pay him every month, he was teaching me how to save, how to use my money and how to be responsible (有责任心的). My dad is and will forever be the best man I have ever known.

Four years later he gave me the title to the Jeep, as my college graduation present.

Betty wanted to see the Beijing Opera. So Lingling {#blank#}1{#/blank#} (提出) to take her to Lao She Teahouse. They {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (喝) tea and watched an opera. It was {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (困难的) to understand the words, but the actors and {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (女演员) were excellent. They only {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(计划) to watch for an hour, but in the {#blank#}6{#/blank#} (末尾), they stayed there for three hours. Betty thought it was interesting— that was the {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (主要的) thing. However, Betty had no {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(主意) who Lao She was. Lingling said Lao She is a great {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (作家). He is {#blank#}10{#/blank#} (特别地) famous for his play Teahouse. Betty and Lingling had a great time there.