Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rational about what to believe or what to do. According to a report on the World Economic Forum, critical thinking, creativity, and their practical application are widely accepted as the top three skills that young people need to possess in their future career.

A good critical thinker usually takes the following steps before he decides what to do. Whenever he needs to do something, he would, first of all, reason. He checks why he needs to do it and whether he really needs to do it. Then, analyze. He tries to find out what it really is and the best way to do it. After that, evaluate. He makes sure whether he is able to do it and how to do it well. Finally, he makes the decision and takes action. Take the “Double 11” (a popular online shopping day in China) as an example. A few days before it, he checks carefully what he needs and whether he really needs them, and makes a shopping list. He goes to the online shops to compare the quality and the prices of the things that he is going to buy. He compares the ships that sell these things.

Then he checks whether he can afford them and in which shops he is going to buy them. Although it takes him some time to make the decisions, he would not regret after the shopping. Then what would happen if he didn’t think critically before he made the decision? After the crazy “Double 11”, there were usually a lot of complaints on the Internet. There were regrets about buying more things than they needed. There were complaints about the poor quality and the prices of the things they bought. There were also complaints because they received wrong things or simply received nothing. There were all kinds of regrets and complaints. Why so? They had not thought critically before they made the decisions.

Critical thinking helps you make wiser decisions. It helps you avoid wasting time, money and so on. Therefore, do look before you leap.

There are millions of recipes (菜谱) hidden in the boxes and hearts of grandmother and parents. These family recipes are a special part of our family history. People have passed down some of them from generation (一代人) to generation.

“I realized I couldn’t go home every weekend for my mom's delicious dishes,” says Shreya. She is about to enter university and has recently started following her mother around the kitchen, taking notes on how to make her special tastes. She adds, “I am looking to the day when my kids will come to know of their grandmothers through the dishes they cooked.”

But many of us find it difficult to keep the food connection with our busy life. Even if we have time, not many of us take the effort to collect and record the recipes from our grandmothers and parents. We often get a recipe on the phone and take it down quickly on a piece of paper. We just stick it onto the fridge for a week or two and forget about it as soon as the paper disappears.

Actually, there are simple ways to keep family recipes. Scrapbooks (剪贴薄) are easily found in the market. You can even add photos to record every detail of your memories about the recipe. You can also use some popular apps like Story Scans to record family recipes. You just scan (扫描) the recipes and record the story behind each of them. It can become the most meaningful work you have ever done with and for your family.

Keeping family recipes is saving and honoring our tradition so that future generations can continue to make family ties stronger. Every time you remember your loved ones, recreate one of the dishes from your collection and let the memories from the good old days comfort you. So why not gift your kids a family recipe book when they are starting a new life?

Most people want to be happy, but few know how to find happiness. Money and success alone do not bring lasting happiness.【小题1】 In other words, we make our own happiness.

Here are a few suggestions to help you be happier.【小题2】. Too often, we spend so much time thinking about the future —for example, getting into college or getting a good job that we fail to enjoy the present. You should enjoy life’s simple pleasures, such as reading a good book, listening to your favorite music, or spending time with close friends. People who have several close friends often live happier and healthier lives.

Another secret of living a happy life is to be active. 【小题3】. Many people experience this by dancing, swimming or playing a sport. You can forget about your problems, and only think about the activity.

Finally, many people find happiness in helping others. Studies show that people feel good when they spend their time helping others.【小题4】 You can help a friend with his or her studies, go shopping to buy food for an elderly person, or simply help out around the house by washing the dishes.