A Healthy Mind

The brain is an amazing part of our body. Even with lots of research, no one can fully understand it. Like our bodies, it needs simple care. Sleeping well, eating right, and taking deep breaths help look after our bodies and brains.

Some think the brain slows with age, and memory weakens. ①However, we can ________. I help my memory by picturing what to remember. ②If I need bread, milk, and a birthday card for my brother, I imagine a piece of bread, a box of milk with a cow on the front, and a birthday card with a football on it.

This method works for remembering important dates too. It’s easier to recall events with a mental picture than just a date on a calendar.

③Exploring new places and having new experiences help the mind as well. Personally, learning another language keeps my brain active. Any language communication is important. Talking is better for your brain than watching TV or a screen.

It is well-known that silk was discovered in China. Chinese silk is strong, light and soft. As one of the best materials for clothes, it has a perfect look and feel that no other materials can match (与……匹敌).

There is a story about how Chinese silk was discovered. Lei Zu, the wife of Huang Di, was having tea under a big tree, when a silkworm cocoon (蚕茧) feel into her cup. As she tried to pull the cocoon out, it started to unwind (展开) and the “line” seemed endless. She realized that the strong line could be used to make clothes. Then Lei Zu taught her people how to raise silkworms and how to get silk. In this way, the silk industry was born.

For hundreds of years after that, silk was only used by rich people. With the development of the silk industry, more silk was produced. It was no longer just for rich people. In the Han Dynasty (汉朝), silk was transported (运输) as far as Spain, Rome and many other countries. The trade road was known as the Silk Road, which connected China to the rest of the world.

Today, silk can be used not only for clothes but also for paintings, kites, and even fishing nets. Wherever Chinese silk goes around the world, it is always warmly received.

Governments around the world are pushing for an end to plastic straws(吸管) and bags. More and more businesses are turning to paper products as a choice. Paper is considered to be better than plastic. However, it is harmful to the environment, too.

Firstly, paper bags and straws are made from trees. Trees, as you know, can reduce(减少) carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the air. They can slow down climate(气候) change. An increase in the use of paper bags can cause more acts of cutting down trees.

Secondly, products made from paper require more energy and water. About 10 percent more energy than a plastic one and four times as much water is used to produce a paper bag as a plastic one. You might say that we can use recycled paper to save that energy and water. This seems to be a good idea. However, it takes even more energy and water to go through the recycling process than to make a brand new paper bag. Products made from recycled paper are also often short-lived.

Thirdly, paper products are heavier than plastic ones. That means they require more oil to transport. Seven trucks are needed to transport two million paper bags, while only one truck is needed to transport the same number of plastic bags. The increased weight also leads to a large number of waste once the bags are thrown away.

Fourthly, paper products are actually a lose-lose for both the environment and businesses. They are more expensive than plastic products. A paper straw costs about 5 to 12 cents, while a plastic one usually costs only about 2 cents.

The most environmentally friendly solution is to avoid single-use products altogether. Products like glass water bottles and steel straws can be used over and over again. They are much better than either paper products or plastic products. Through increasing the use of these products, you can greatly reduce your throwaway waste and truly make our earth a greener place!