Arts venues, such as theaters, cinemas and opera houses, lost a lot of money during the COVID-19 when they closed. The public missed out, too, because people couldn’t go to shows. Going to a show, especially around festivals, is enjoyable. The excitement starts as the lights dim and the heavy curtain (幕布) rises. However, tickets can be very expensive: for example, it can cost more than £100 for a ticket to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre in London. Even when shows are not as costly, many people cannot afford (负担得起) the ticket prices, so they miss out. Some places are trying to make sure that nobody is left out because of cost by asking audiences to pay what they can afford. What do you think? Should all shows be “pay what you can”?

Tell us what you think by voting (投票) at our website. We’ll announce the results next week.

Parents often believe that they have good relationship with their teenagers. But last summer Joanna and Henry noticed a change in their older son. Suddenly he seemed to talk far more to his friends than to his parents. “The door to his room is always closed,” Joanna noted.

Tina and Mark noticed similar changes in their 14-year-old daughter. “She used to cuddle up (蜷缩着) against me on the sofa and talk,” said Mark. “Now we joke that she does this only when she wants something. Sometimes she wants to be treated like a little girl and sometimes like a young lady. The problem is understanding which time is which.”

Before the age of 11, children like to tell their parents what’s on their mind. “In fact parents are the first on the list,” said Michael Riera, author of Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers. “This completely changes during the teen years,” Riera explained. “They talk to their friends first, then maybe their teachers, and their parents last.”

Parents who know what’s going on in their teenagers’ lives are in the best position to help them. To break down the wall of silence, parents should create chances to understand what their children want to say, and try to find ways to talk and write to them. And they must give their children a mental break, for children, they also need freedom, though they are young. Another thing parents should remember is that to be a friend, not a manager, with your children is a better way to know them.

Today, our children spend more and more time online. Many children spend a lot of their free time playing games on the Internet, on video game systems or on their mobile phones. In the UK, 99% of teen kids aged 8 to 15 play video games every week, and children as young as five play video games regularly (有规律地). This information tells that the advantages and dangers of video games must be carefully considered.

For many people, ________ They have bright lights, funny cartoons and exciting stories. Video games also make you think in a creative way and you have to move your hands and eyes quickly. This can improve the way that a child’s brain works. Video games also make children use their imagination (想象力). The player has to do many creative things, like drawing and building things. Video games are also a good way to teach children about technology because they can learn how computers and other devices (设备) work while they play.

However, a recent study suggests that video games can also be bad for children. First, children can download (下载) many games for free. They don’t need money, so they don’t need to ask their parents if they can download the games. This means that parents often don’t know if their children are playing violent (暴力的) or scary games. Second, many children spend too much time playing games on computers, smartphones and iPads and this can lead to health problems – children who spend too much time on the computer and don’t exercise can become overweight. Third, if children spend too much time playing games instead of doing homework, they can have problems at school and get bad grades. Finally, video games can affect children’s social skills, they might not learn how to play with their friends.

In conclusion, it seems clear that video games have some advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, they are fun and educational. On the other hand, they can cause problems with children’s health and social skills.It is up to parents to know what games their children are playing and how much time they spend on them. Parents should also make sure their children get enough exercise and spend time with other children.