Environmental protection is one of the hottest topics nowadays. It was also something that ancient Chinese paid great attention to. In fact, the world's earliest environmental protection idea, ministry （部门） and law were all born in China. How did the ancient Chinese protect the environment?

The world's earliest idea of "managing state affairs（政事）through environmental protection"

Xunzi, a famous thinker in the Warring States Period, came up with the idea of "managing state affairs through environmental protection". He wrote in his book that vegetation（植被）should be protected well by humans.

Guan Zhong, a government officer 400 years ahead of Xunzi, was also an environmental protection expert. He said "a king who cannot protect his vegetation is not doing a good job".

The world's earliest environmental protection ministry"

Nine ministries set up by Shim, an ancient Chinese emperor, included "Yu"（虞） , an environmental protection ministry. Hie first " Yu'' leader was Boyi, an environmental protection expert. He invented wells so people could drink clean water. He knew a lot about animals and also called for animal protection.

The world's earliest "environmental protection law"

Over 4, 000 years ago, Dayu, an ancient Chinese water-control expert and also an emperor, made a rule, not allowing people to cut down trees in March or catch fish in June, because it was the time when they grew quickly.

Almost 3,000 years ago, Tianlv, the first environmental protection law, appeared in Qin. It recorded many ancient environmental protection rules. Two of them were interesting: firstly, rivers should not be blocked（堵塞）; secondly, grass and trees should not be burned to be fertilizer （肥料）except for summer. The second one is inspiring even for today. It can help to keep air clean and fresh.

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I'm Cindy. I'm in No. 3 Middle School now. We are very{#blank#}1{#/blank#} this term because we have many{#blank#}2{#/blank#} to do. On September 21st, we{#blank#}3{#/blank#} an art festival. It's very interesting. Then{#blank#}4{#/blank#} English teacher, Jack's birthday party is{#blank#}5{#/blank#} September, too. I like October and December{#blank#}6{#/blank#} we have two ball games. The soccer game{#blank#}7{#/blank#} on October 10th and the volleyball game is on December 18th. Volleyball is my{#blank#}8{#/blank#} sport. It is really fun. And many{#blank#}9{#/blank#} love November because we have a school trip on November 8th. That's relaxing! I love my school. What about{#blank#}10{#/blank#} school? Are you busy this term?

What will happen if there is no Internet in your family for a month? One American family d{#blank#}1{#/blank#} to find out. They have sent an i{#blank#}2{#/blank#} to a leading US TV station, expecting that it will send a film group to record their day-to-day life w{#blank#}3{#/blank#} information technology for a month.

When the film group meet the Smiths, they find that Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith and their two sons are so c{#blank#}4{#/blank#} about Internet that they hardly do things together. At mealtimes, no one sits at the dining table for their food. Mrs. Smith e{#blank#}5{#/blank#} "Everyone just runs into the kitchen, takes their food and then goes back to their screen. If we don't make a change, our family will become s{#blank#}6{#/blank#} to each other!"

Getting back to the n{#blank#}7{#/blank#} life is not easy, especially when the Smiths 1{#blank#}8{#/blank#} themselves in it. They have to make many changes. For e{#blank#}9{#/blank#} the two brothers have to go to the school library to borrow books for their scientific projects and Mr. and Mrs. Smith need to go shopping because they cannot buy things online. As the family has picked up the new lifestyle, they can spend more time t{#blank#}10{#/blank#} with each other, playing sports and doing all kinds of activities together.

Would they be able to go for long without using the Internet after the challenge?

Cindy and Anna were 1 friends. Some days they could spend hours happily together without any argument, but other days they just could not 2 on what to do.

One day they decided to play in the garden near their school. "Come on! Let's play chess." Anna said.

"I don't want to play chess." Cindy replied.

"We always do what you want to do, Cindy. It's my turn to make 3 ." Anna said. She was getting a little unhappy and 4 , leaving Cindy alone.

Cindy was very angry. 5 she got home, she found she still had Anna's notebook in her schoolbag. "Well, I'm not giving it back to her today. I'm too mad 6 her." Cindy thought.

The next day at school, their teacher Mrs. Stone asked for their notebooks. But Anna didn't have hers, and she looked 7 . Cindy knew she should tell Mrs. Stone that she had the notebook, but she was 8 angry with Anna.

When it was time for lunch, Cindy finally told Mrs. Stone the 9 . "Thank you for being honest, Cindy. I'm sure Anna will be thankful that you have given me her notebook." said Mrs. Stone.

Later, Mrs. Stone asked the two girls together and talked with them. Mrs. Stone helped them 10 that it was a good idea to take turns to decide the activity. They became best friends again.

My family has a new neighbor—a blind woman. Though she can't see anything, I can feel that she likes my children. She is {#blank#}1{#/blank#} quiet woman. When my children enjoy {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (they) in the garden, she would stand near them. At first, she was only a {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (strange) to them. They {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (dare) not to go near her. But one day, when she {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (hear) my daughter cry, "Help! Help!", she rushed in and asked {#blank#}6{#/blank#} happened. My daughter said that her brother's leg got hurt. She quickly took {#blank#}7{#/blank#} her blouse, spread {#blank#}8{#/blank#} on the ground and put my son on it. She treated him {#blank#}9{#/blank#} (careful). After that, they became the{#blank#}10{#/blank#} (good) friends in the world. 

A young man went for a job interview in a big company. The boss found that the young man's college grades were excellent. Then he asked the young man who paid for his education. The young man told the boss that his parents did and they worked as laundry (洗衣店) workers. 

The boss noticed that the young man's hands were smooth and perfect. He asked, "Have you ever helped your parents wash clothes?" "No. My parents always make me study. Besides, they wash clothes faster than I do."

The boss asked the young man to go back home and wash his parents' hands. When he got home, he told his parents that he wanted to wash their hands. His parents felt surprised but happy. Then the young man began to wash their hands slowly. 

He was in tears. He found his parents' hands were so rough (粗糙的) and pale because of washing a lot of clothes in the cold water. There were also many injuries (伤口) in their hands. After washing their parents' hands, the young man quietly washed the rest of the clothes. 

The next morning, the young man went to the company again. The boss noticed the young man's pale hands. He said to the young man, "Welcome to join us!"