Although being the second-smallest independent state, only 0.7 square mile in the world, Monaco benefits from an excellent climate and beautiful settings between the Mediterranean Sea and France. Monte Carlo is its only city and capital.
Attractions
Every May Monaco has car racing events, such as the Monaco Grand Prix. In the main harbour, expensive yachts and boats make Monaco a good destination for the rich and famous. Monaco's pleasant climate and environment as well as the absence of taxes contribute to this situation. Tourism contributes about 25% of the government income. Museums, zoos and gardens are tourist attractions, so are the beaches, the royal palace and the opera house.
History
Monaco was built by the Phoenicians who occupied the area from the 10th to the 5th century B. C. The House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco since 1297 and the first Prince Rainier got the throne (王位) in 1304.Later Monaco was under the protection of Rome, France, Spain, and Sardinia. In 1612 when Honore ll was granted the title of prince by the French crown, he signed a treaty of friendship with France, and the country has remained independent from that time on.
People and Religion
Half of the residents of Monaco are the French with many Americans, Italians, the British and Belgians making up the other half. Although the official religion of Monaco is Roman Catholic, there is religious freedom in this French-speaking country.
Government
Prince Rainier Ill rules the country with a minister of state who is French. A National Council with 18 members must approve laws. Its legend was further spread by the marriage of Prince Rainier II to the American actress Grace Kelly in 1956.
At 12 years old, Braeden Mannering is already well on his way to running an empire! A 2016 win of Delaware's Healthy Lunchtime Challenge brought Braeden to the White House, where the president asked the children at the event to think about how they could pay the experience forward.
A few days later, on the drive back home, Braeden saw a homeless man in the rain. He had his parents stop so that he cold give the man a bag of snacks. Braeden knew at that moment that this was how he wanted to pay it forward. He knew what he wanted to do in the future. He felt that it was his duty to help people in trouble.
Since that day in July, 2016, Braeden has handed out over 8,000 bags to the homeless through his organization Brae's Brown Bags, also known as 3B. These bags vary (各不相同) in contents, and include food, toiletries (化妆品) and even books for the kids 'bags.
In addition to packing and distributing (分发) bags, Braeden travels the country, giving talks in schools to inspire other young people to help their communities. On his travel, he's raised$60,000 to expand his program. He also is a leader at the annual Delaware Hunger Conference, where he encourages kids to write to lawmakers and help pack bags, showing them how to make a difference.
This is a huge accomplishment, especially for someone of his age. But, as he says, "Anyone can change the world, as long as you dream big."
Bonnie often walks on two legs, like humans. And you can find the 32-year-old great ape copying her keepers by sweeping the floor of her zoo home. Sometimes she uses a piece of cloth to clean the window.
"Apes (猿) in general are very clever, but Bonnie is surely even more so," said Erin Stromberg, a great ape keeper who works with Bonnie and recently wrote a research paper about her ability to whistle.
Bonnie is one of the six adult great apes at the National Zoo. Bonnie and other great apes are part of a research project. Scientists there are trying to learn more about the way the great apes think and act. One part of the project is to learn whether great apes can develop a way to remember long lists.
Stromberg helped with a project on Bonnie's unusual ability to whistle. Years ago Bonnie started to whistle, probably after hearing a keeper do it. In the project, Stromberg made different whistling noises to see if Bonnie could repeat them. She did. Bonnie's whistling shows some apes have the ability to learn a new sound from another species.
The finding is especially important because, Stromberg said, it can help scientists better understand how human speech developed. Great apes, after all, are the closest relatives to human beings in the animal kingdom.
Bonnie was born in 1976 at a zoo in New Mexico and arrived at the National Zoo in December 1980. Bonnie has physical features common to great apes, such as a large belly. Her dark red coat makes her easy to spot on a visit to the zoo.
Imagine stepping out your front door and standing in the middle of a national park. Daniel hopes this might soon be possible for millions of London residents. Daniel is leading a campaign to make London a national park city.
Although London has much more concrete than a national park usually would, it is home to more than 13,000 kinds of wildlife. These species live in its 3,000 parks, along with 15,000 varieties of flowering plants, and more than 300 species of birds. In fact, 47 percent of the land in London is green space.
"We have 8 million trees in London; it's the world's largest urban forest," Daniel says. That's almost one tree for every person living in London! Yet, even though London has thousands of outdoor spaces, one in seven children living there hasn't visited a green space in the past year.
Daniel believes that making London into a national park will protect the animal life and green spaces in London. He hopes it will also encourage people, especially young people, to spend more time outdoors. Daniel takes his own son out to explore in London, and he thinks that other parents should do the same. Daniel believes that people who spend a lot of time in nature live happier and healthier lives. What do you think?
The effect of having no friends
A study has found that people who are lonely have more physical and mental health problems than those who feel connected with others. It affects your health in four ways.
You are more likely to be depressed (抑郁的).
Researchers have shown that when you're lonely, brain hormones associated with stress such as cortisol (皮质醇) become active, which can cause depression. The previous research has found that the more positive social interactions (交流) people with depression have, the more improvement in symptoms they experience.
Research has shown you'll eat less healthily if you frequently dine alone. Researchers have pointed out that if you are cooking for other people, you are more likely to prepare a healthier meal that contains a range of foods—meat, starch (淀粉) and vegetables. People who are lonely are also more likely to be physically inactive.
You are more likely to suffer from heart disease.
Research has repeatedly shown lonely people have a higher risk of heart disease, and it's for many reasons. Since they don't have social support, they're more likely to be affected by stress. If they're lonely, they're less likely to be physically active or eat properly. If they don't feel well, they're much less likely to go to see a doctor.
Research has found that loneliness can affect the immune (免疫的) system. People who are lonely produce more inflammation (发炎)—related proteins in response to stress than folks who feel more socially connected. Inflammation is linked to numerous health conditions including heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease.
A. You are likely to eat more food.
B. You had better get on well with others.
C. You are less likely to take care of yourself.
D. You could have a weaker system to fight off disease.
E. This increases the possibility of getting heart disease.
F. Otherwise, you're just throwing something together for yourself.
G. The more lonely you feel, the more likely you are to be depressed.
When I was a little girl, I spent memorable (难忘的) school holidays with my grandmother. She was a farmer. Early in the morning, she set out to the farm. I would run 1 alongside trying to keep up. On our way, my grandmother would 2 everyone we met in the village.
These were 3 greetings: "Did you sleep well? Are the grandchildren in good health? And what about their parents?" If she passed the same person on our return later, she would greet again.
The people my grandmother greeted would 4 similarly, "I see your granddaughter with you today. How is her father?" As a 5 girl, I found these greeting habits 6 time-consuming (耗时的). But I now realize that the greetings strengthened (加强) the 7 that get the people closer in my grandmother's village. They also strengthened a sense of 8.
I believe in the gift of a deliberate greeting. I believe it is more than mere good 9. It is like 10 the pause button among the noise of our daily lives, as we 11 from home to work, from one meeting to another, to 12 and drop off children. It is stopping to 13 the person in front of you as if to simply say, "I see you."
My grandmother 14 me that there is always time to greet someone before getting down to business. I believe you can take a few extra seconds to make a greeting to a person. I believe we can enrich our society when we acknowledge (确认) the 15 of another.
All the housewives who went to the new supermarket had one great wish: to be the lucky customer (顾客) who do not have to pay for (she) shopping. For this was what the notice just inside the entrance promised. It said, "Remember, once a week, one of our customers gets free goods. This may (be) your lucky day!" For several (week), like many of her friends, Mrs. Edwards hoped to be the lucky customer. Unlike her friends, she never gave hope. The cupboards in her kitchen were full things, which she did not need. Her husband tried to advise her against buying things but failed. She dreamed of the day when the manager of the supermarket would come to her and say, "Madam, this is your lucky day. Everything in your basket is free."
On Friday morning, after she had finished her shopping and taken it to her car, she found that she had forgotten (buy) any tea. She ran back to the supermarket, got the tea and went towards the cash desk (收银台). As she did so, she (see) the manager of the supermarket come to her. "Madam," he (glad) said, holding out his hand, "I want to say (congratulate) to you! You are our lucky customer and everything you have in your basket is free!"
A few years ago I worked in an international company that sold computer devices. I had to travel a lot over the country as a part of my work. I remember that I was at a stage of my life where I only cared about how to make more money.
On one of my trips, I came to the airport to take a bus to downtown, as usual. It was the same routine: get into the city, take the bus to the hotel, visit the customer, work late, take the bus back to the airport and fly back…That day, for some reasons, I decided to take the stairs down to a different exit, where I came across a beautiful garden I had never seen before. I waited there, enjoying the scenery. Finally the bus came.
Usually I always took the seat behind the driver. That day I sat down somewhere in the middle. A boy was seated next to me, carrying a lot of suitcases. Suddenly, he turned to me and gave me one of the most sincere smiles I had ever seen from a stranger. Warmly, he said, "hi, the perfect day in the perfect place, huh？"
I remember thinking to myself ﹣ this must be one of those typical people who is young and naive and just thinks everything is beautiful and easy. Why was he annoying me when I just wanted to enjoy the bus ride？ But out of politeness, I replied, "Perfect! Did your parents pay for you to have some vacations on the beach?" "No, I'm not here for vacation, and I don't have parents," He shook his head, "I'm here because I want to achieve my biggest dream. I'm on the way to the army school where my grandfather studied a long time ago. "
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"I lost my dad 10 years ago then my mom married again. My stepfather…
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He smiled and told me that for 10 years, he had only one thing on his mind to…
