Most people have a place to call home on Earth. What about in outer space? The International Space Station (ISS) became our first “home” in space in 2000. It welcomed its first scientist that year, designing the way for 20 years of future research.

“You just have this impression that we’re all citizens (公民) of not a country, but of the planet,” former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly told National Geographic about working in ISS. “We’re all in this thing called humanity（人类）together.”

Over the past 20 years, the ISS has mainly been used as a science lab, hosting 241 people from 19 countries, according to NASA. They have gone on spacewalks, done research on how space affects the human body, and even grown plants in space.

_________ For example, the station’s water purification （简化）technology has been used in poor areas to provide clean drinking water. The station also helps to warn us of natural disasters (灾难), such as earthquakes.

However, after being our home in space for over 7.000 days, the station is starting to get old. It has leaked （泄露） air a few times. Scientists think that the station can keep working until 2024. After that, scientists will bring it down to Earth. It is believed that Earth’s atmosphere（大气）will burn up most of the station. Other debris （残骸）will fall into the Pacific Ocean.

In the future, space will be home to more stations like the ISS. NASA is building a space station that is smaller than the ISS near the moon. Also, China will have its own space station up in 2022.

Look at the bus. It’s a little different from other buses. It’s black and white, and has two black “ears” on the top, just like a giant panda. The lights of the bus are its “eyes”. This is the popular Panda Bus in China. The bus is 12 meters long and there are 23 seats on it.

The Panda Bus is popular not just because of its cute looks. You can also find something cool when you get on it. First of all, it’s very easy for people to buy tickets. They don’t need to use their phones or bus cards like before. All they need are their hands. They can buy tickets just by scanning（扫描）their hands. In this way, people can also buy drinks and food on the bus. There is a vending machine（自动贩卖机）in the middle of the bus. Another surprise is the small computer on the back of each seat. People can choose to watch a movie on the way. How interesting! There are also some cameras on the bus. If someone steals（偷）things, these cameras will catch them. So, it’s safe and comfortable for people to take the bus. Most importantly, the bus is driverless（无人驾驶的）. It can stop at lights and park at the stop all by itself. It only needs someone to watch all the way just in case. And it usually runs a little slower than other buses.

By the end of 2021, there had been over ten cities in China having the Panda Bus, such as Tianjin, Shanghai and Jinan. Would you like to take such a bus to go to school?

At this moment in different places of the world people are doing different things. In London it’s five o’clock in the afternoon. 【小题1】 They are waiting for buses or trains. Some people are driving their cars. Some are having afternoon tea at home or waking to the pubs(酒吧) to have a drink.

In Moscow it’s eight o’clock and people aren’t having afternoon tea. 【小题2】 Some are going to the opera or watching a ballet (芭蕾舞). Some are watching TV or playing games at home. In Beijing its one o’clock in the night. People aren’t having dinner. 【小题3】

In Los Angeles it’s nine o’clock in the morning. People aren’t getting up, washing or getting dressed. 【小题4】 Children are starting their lessons.

【小题5】 People are having lunch. They are eating hamburgers or hot dogs and drinking coffee or Coke. Some are seeing friends or shopping.