When he was nine years old, the American boy Milo Cress had a question: How many plastic straws（吸管） do Americans use every day?

He quickly learned there wasn’t a simple answer. The boy tried to work it out himself. Through lots of research（调查）Cress found out that Americans use about 500 million straws every day. In hopes of reducing plastic waste, he founded（建立）the Be Straw Free project in 2011.

Cress started the project in his hometown—Burlington, Vermont. He asked a local restaurant to stop offering straws with every drink order. It was a simple change. However, it would save money. And by doing that, the restaurant would cut down on its straw use by 50 percent.

For the years that followed, Cress tried to spread（传播） his project across the United States. More and more restaurants agreed to join. They stop providing the customer（顾客） with a straw unless he or she asks for one. Last April, Seattle became the first American city to completely ban（禁 止） plastic straws.

Plastic pollution has been one of the most serious problems today. According to scientists, more than eight million tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year. Plastic straws are especially terrible. They make it easy for people to get comfortable with single-use plastics.

After his project became popular, Cress took his findings on the road. He has spoken to tens of thousands of students around the world. He wants to encourage more people to say no to plastic straws.

“Focusing（聚焦） on straws is one simple step we all could take,” Cress says. “And it makes me feel that I, as a kid, could make a difference, too.”

Quinn Hill, a 6-year-old girl, became a hero when she took quick action during a medical accident that saved her mother’s life. Jennifer Hill, a 39-year-old mother of three, was at home preparing dinner for Quinn and her younger brother when she suddenly began to seize (疼痛侵袭). The last thing she remembered was sitting in a chair, looking up and unable to breathe. Quim, realizing the serious situation, took action at once.

Quinn made a decision to take her 3-year old brother and ask neighbors for help. “This is the first time that they’ve ever left our home without us,” Jennifer explained. “She even told us that she looked both ways before crossing the street. But they went to one neighbor’s home and they were not home, and after that, they went to the next home that they knew. And that neighbor was home and get back to the home with the children.”

The neighbor called 911, and Jeanifer was rushed to Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, North Carolia. Doctors said that she had experienced a seizure (癫痫), her first seizure ever.

Mayor (市长) Kyie J. recognized Quinn’s bravery and sated February 5th as “Quinn Hill Day”. The mayor presented the first grader with a certificate (证书) of recognition last Monday. Jennifer expressed pride in her daughter’s actions. “She’s my angel. She’s my hero for what she did,” she said.

Sometimes your biggest weakness can become your biggest strength.

Take, for example, the story of one 10-year-old boy who decided to study judo although he had lost his left arm in a car accident.

The boy began lessons with an old Japanese judo master. The boy was doing well, but he couldn’t understand why, after three months of training the master had taught him only one move.

“Sir,” the boy finally said, “shouldn’t I learn more moves?”

“This is the only move you know, but this is the only move you’ll ever need to know,” the master replied.

Not quite understanding, but believing in his teacher, the boy kept training. Several months later, the judo master took the boy to his first tournament (锦标赛). Surprising himself, the boy easily won his first two matches. The third match proved to be more difficult, but after some time, his opponent (对手) became impatient. Finally, the boy used his one move to win the match.

Still amazed by his success, the boy was now in the final match.

This time, his opponent was bigger, stronger, and more experienced. For a while, the boy appeared to be overmatched. Worried that the boy might be in danger, the judge (裁判) called a time out. He was about to stop the match when the master stopped him.

“No,” the judo master insisted, “let him continue.”

Soon after the match continued, his opponent made a serious mistake: He dropped his guard. Immediately, the boy used his move to pin him. The boy won the match and the tournament.

He was the champion!

On the way home, the boy and his master reviewed every move in each match. Then the boy asked what was really on his mind.

“Sir, how did I win the tournament with only one move?”

“You won for two reasons,” the master answered. “First, you’ve mastered one of the hardest throws in judo. And second, the only known defense (防卫) for that move is for your opponent to catch your left arm.”

The boy’s biggest weakness has become his biggest strength.