Chinese Elements (元素) in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics
Different Chinese elements were shown at the opening ceremony (仪式) of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. They mixed traditional culture with modern technology.
Traditional music
At the opening ceremony, traditional music was played with Chinese instruments such as guzheng, pipa in order to further spread traditional music around the world.
Greeting pine (迎客松)
During the ceremony, a firework in the shape of a "greeting pine" was set of in the sky. The "greeting pine" stood for Beijing's warm welcome and friendly service provided for Winter Olympic guests from all over the world. The idea came from a 1, 000-year-old pine tree on Mount Huangshan in China's Anhui Province.
24 Solar Terms (节气)
The exciting counting down phase (阶段) of the opening ceremony used traditional 24 Solar Terms, starting from the last to the first, known as lichun. This term stands for the start of springtime in the traditional Chinese culture.
On a snowy day, there was a man walking in a hurry on the road. His clothes were in poor condition. You might think he was a beggar (乞丐), but in fact he was a painter. His name was Vincent Willem van Gogh. With a painting he had just finished, the poor Vincent went into a painting store.
"Can you buy this painting to help me pay the rent (租金)?"
"I don't really like your painting, but it is said that you are gifted (有天赋的) and I want to help you. Here is five francs (法郎)."
Although it was only five francs, Vincent was very happy.
He took the money and said thanks, thinking that he could buy some food and pay the rent.
Near his home, Vincent saw a little girl in dirty clothes shaking in the snow. The girl smiled sadly at the painter asking for some help. It was clear that the girl was hungry and cold.
"Poor child! I should help her!"
Vincent put the five francs into the girl's hands, totally forgetting that he still needed money to pay the rent. Before the girl expressed her thanks, the kind Vincent had gone away with his empty stomach.
With the winter vacation coming, I realized I needed to find a part-time job, because I didn't want to ask my parents for money. I had imagined having a job at a winter camp where I could play games with children. In fact, the only job I could find was cleaning up tables at a local convenience store.
At first, I wanted to give up the job because getting up too early in the morning made me unhappy. I'll never forget how tired I felt on my first day, but I'll never forget sitting together and talking about our days with my workmates for the first time either. Suddenly, I felt good to be a member of them.
After working at the convenience store for almost one year, I was used to getting up so early, because I knew there would be a few good moments every day there.
Working at the convenience store, I've learned to grow into a boy that can depend on myself and get along well with others. And I'm not the shy person that I used to be. Meeting an impolite customer might make me feel bad, but very soon I could deal with it without difficulty. The job has given me so much, and I can't wait to go back to the convenience store and continue to grow from my experience.
In August, 2021, some new rules came out to restrict (限制) young people's online game time. People under the age of 18 can only play online games three hours a week. Online game providers can offer only one-hour service to young people from 8 p. m. to 9 p. m. on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. They are very popular with teachers and parents.
Zhang Zhe, a high school teacher in Nanjing, thinks online games influence students' studies a lot. At home, parents often find it hard to stop their children from playing them. What's worse, students might have no interest in developing friendship. "Students who become seriously addicted (上瘾的) to online games often find all kinds of excuses to play them. They also spend little on food or clothes to save their money for online games. So I think it is really necessary for the government to take action." said Wu Li, a teacher in Wuhan.
Mrs Wang, a mother of a high school student in Shanghai, used to have difficulty keeping her son away from online games, so she felt really glad when the new rules came out. "Whenever I tried to stop him, he got really angry. For several months, he even refused to talk to me." said Mrs Wang.
Thanks to the rules, students can have more time to take up new hobbies. To make sure that students develop healthier lifestyle (生活方式), schools, teachers and parents need to work closely to help young students find proper hobbies, and hold different after-school activities for them.
①They should work together to help young students.
②They should take up new hobbies.
③They should develop healthier lifestyle.
④They should hold different after-school activities for students.
How Can You Create Luck in Everyday Life?
What is luck? It is agreed that more good things happen to some people. Let's just call that luck. Now would you like to be one of these lucky people? .
Feel lucky about what you have
, but they just don't know it. Instead of giving all your attention to what you are short of, look at how lucky you are already. You no doubt have some wonderful friends, and a roof over your head.
Luck doesn't just happen to you—it comes to you when you're open. Learning a new skill, visiting a new place and trying a new hobby are all great ways of creating your chances.
Do it right now
You'll never create any luck if you sit there waiting for it to fall into your lap (大腿). . You will find you create more luck in everyday life.
Ask for help if necessary
Sometimes people would be ready to help you out. , don't wait for others to offer you help but go and ask them if they will give you a hand.
A. Try special things
B. Try something new
C. When you are busy
D. If you are in trouble
E. Some people are already lucky
F. Act towards your goals and dreams at once
G. Here are 4 top suggestions for creating your own luck
The journey Betty had with her swimming was long but beautiful. She suffered some terrible illness in her early childhood. After years of 1, she finally became healthy.
Two years ago, while Betty was watching a sports program, a dream came into her head—to be a swimmer. Last summer, she wanted to 2 a local swimming team. So she practiced hard and finally 3 in being a member of it. However, the team training was a difficult start. She coughed 4 in her first few weeks. But she didn't want to 5. She kept swimming and didn't miss a single practice. She had a strong will to be the best she could be. 6 there were many difficulties, nothing could keep 7 trying.
Then came the final award (奖项) ceremony at the end of the year, Betty didn't 8 any award but was still there to cheer on her friends. With the ceremony near the end, she suddenly heard the coach announcing (通知), "The highest honor (荣誉) goes to Betty! She has inspired (激励) us with her 9 and love."
It was the 10 moment of Betty's life. With all she had been through in her ten years 
this was the hour of true success.
Zhang Guimei, is the headmaster of Huaping High School for Girls, has been given the title (称号) "Role Model of the Times" for (help) girls from poor families.
She moved to Lijiang to teach in the middle school in Huaping county the age of 17. Once, she got badly ill but had no money. The local people raised money helped her. "From then on, I told myself that I must do something for those people who helped me." Zhang said.
She was sad when she saw her (student) couldn't afford to go to school. (slow), a dream appeared in her heart. In 2008, she managed (found) the Huaping High School. This is free school for girls from poor families. When people asked why she worked so hard, she just said, "I hope these girls can live a (happy) life than me."
With her great efforts, she (send) more than 1, 800 students to universities so far.
In China, more and more people have realized the seriousness of climate (气候) change. Many young people have been living a low-carbon (低碳) life.
Zheng Xiyu is one of them. She has been trying to reduce her carbon footprint. Every morning she takes a bus to her office and it takes her about 40 minutes. But Zheng has been thinking of changing this. She wants to try a different means (方式) of transport—cycling. Riding a bicycle to work, the lady says, takes about the same amount of time as taking a bus. "However, it's better for the environment and my health." she says.
Professor Li Lin has also been leading a low-carbon lifestyle. Her office uses energy-saving lights. These lights go off themselves when they are not needed. This has saved a large amount of electricity. Another way to save energy is to double-print the paper. Professor Li says small actions like these are important for protecting the environment. "Let's say you have saved one ton of paper. That's about two and a half tons of CO2." Professor Li says.
Lin Hui always chooses products with a longer life when he shops. He says this helps to reduce waste. Two years ago, Lin and his friends set up an environment website, where he wanted to give some advice on saving energy and protecting the environment.
It's easy to change to a low-carbon lifestyle. Everybody can do this and make a difference.
