With such a wide range of platforms and devices available to the everyday reader, the physical book, while not yet extinct, may end up going that way. Why? .

With a rapid increase in digital reading platforms, reading is no longer a common problem for bookworms. They're designed to simplify the process of reading on the go. You can select a book, track your progress, and even submit reviews. With no need to carry around physical books, readers are much more likely to pick up where they left off whenever and wherever they may be.

Readers can also carry around their favourite books within an e-reader. Common examples include the Amazon Kindle, Onyx Boox, and PocketBook. These hand-held devices offer fantastic portability, readability and variety.  They are much smaller and lighter than physical books, making them an ideal option for those always on the go.

Social media has had a great effect on our reading habits. It governs our daily life. With physical books no longer a key form of entertainment for children, it has been replaced with digital alternatives. Social media and video games have replaced the ways in which we traditionally read and tell stories. .

As is known to us all, technology has changed the ways in which we read at home as well as in the classroom.  Exposure to the digital potential of reading is introduced at an early age. Virtual learning platforms have also exploded in popularity in recent years. Technology in the classroom is no longer a luxury but a necessity to keep up with the modern age.

A. There are a number of apps out there.        

B. Books and lessons are delivered online.

C. We are still reading but just in a different way.        

D. Lots of people find it difficult to fit reading into their daily routine.

E. Some e-readers also allow users to access the Internet for various purposes.

F. There's nothing worse than realizing you have forgotten your favourite book.

G. Here are some ways technology has transformed our reading habits in recent years.

For even the most city citizens, a quick escape into nature is always a welcome breath of fresh air. Try looking for an urban garden nearby — they often hide themselves just around the corner. Click here to know more of the coolest gardens in cities around the world.

Sky Garden   As London's highest public garden, this social space offers splendid 360-degree views of the city. With a restaurant, observation decks and beautiful plant life, there is something for everyone in this city-center escape from urban life.

The BeltLine   In a massive, 22-mile loop (环线) around the city, the BeltLine connects many Atlanta neighborhoods with parks, trails, restaurants and art shows. Although it is still under construction, the sections that are open to the public act as alternative space to enjoy the outdoors.

Jardins de Rubió i Lluch   This walled, shady garden is in the courtyard of the historic Hospital de la Santa Creu. Decorated with lilac and mandarin trees — and string lights in the evenings — this small garden square is the perfect place to sip a coffee away from Barcelona's crowded atmosphere.

Dumbarton Oaks   The garden at this historic estate in Georgetown was listed as one of the 10 best gardens in the world by National Geographic in 2014. It has both a formal, carefully manicured (修剪整齐的) garden as well as a naturalistic garden — allowing visitors the ability to choose what they want to see.

Released on Aug 30, a three-episode web series titled Escape From the British Museum has gone viral online for its touching and innovative narrative (叙事). The series follows the journey home of a Chinese jade teapot that has come to life as a girl. She runs away from the British Museum and comes across a Chinese journalist who helps the artifact return to China. The series, created by two Chinese vloggers, aims to raise broader awareness of Chinese artifacts that were stolen or looted (掠夺) from China and are displayed or stored in the British Museum. 

The video series echoes the Chinese people's call for the British Museum to return these Chinese artifacts. However, some UK media outlets said that the video series promotes nationalism (民族主义). In fact, every country whose artifacts are displayed or stored in the British Museum wants them back. These countries, such as Greece, Nigeria and Sudan, have already issued their demands for the return of artifacts. It's fair enough to say these demands are shared. They can correct centuries-old wrongs by having the UK return artifacts to their rightful homes.

An opinion in the UK newspaper The Telegraph said that if the British Museum gives back its collection of artifacts, then nationalism will win over humanity's common heritage. It also said that the artifacts were "lawfully acquired (合法取得) " by the UK. By "lawfully acquired", does the writer mean the artifacts were acquired with the "help" of machine guns and warships? Or does he mean that the cultural artifacts of African, Asian and American countries should be kept in the hands of looters, rather than in their land of origin?

Have you ever wondered what happens to your mobile phones and laptops after you throw them out to make way for a newer model? According to its latest Global E-Waste Monitor, India is the third top producer of e-waste in the world. E-waste in Indian landfill goes on to pollute soil and groundwater, affecting food supply systems and water sources. 

Thankfully, the country has a new group of artists who are changing these thrown mechanical items-from mobile phones to old televisions-into large murals( 壁 画 )and artworks to creatively show their concern for the waste problem. 

Over the past quarter of a century, Mumbai's Haribaabu Naatesan has transformed hundreds of tonnes of e-waste into art, integrating elements from nature and industry. "I get my waste material from friends. relatives and neighbours who know my interest in e-art and send me bags of thrown electronic appliances, "says Naatesan. Over his career, he has created huge murals for several companies. He has also showed his work at the India Art Fair, as well as several other national displays.

Another artist Vishwanath Davangere has also long worked with e-waste. He likes to take apart old laptops and reassemble(重新组装)them into birds, animals and plants. After retirement, he started pursuing this hobby more seriously and started selling his creations across the world. His most outstanding works include a robotic Egyptian statue with glowing red eyes and a Milky Way made from keyboard keys. He hopes to enable others to reconsider their own consumption habits and make more environmentally conscious choices. 

"By giving e-waste a second chance, I aim to raise awareness about the environmental impact of electronic waste."says Davangare, who today has a collection of more than 600 eco-art objects.

"I'll be back in three hours, "Dad said as he hurried out for a meeting that late afternoon. "Three hours, "I told myself. "You can do this. "I took a 1 breath and turned to Mom. Through her vision problems, at least, she couldn't see the 2 in my face. If she had an Alzheimer's （阿尔茨海默症） attack, I didn't know if I could handle it 3 , especially at the end of the day.

I 4 Mom to her chair. "Turn a little more. "Mom moved her feet slowly while I helped her get into a good position. Once she was 5 with a blanket on her lap, I sat next to her in Dad's chair and hoped she could 6 now. As she fell asleep, I opened a book, and time passed 7 as I became fully absorbed in the words. Then Mom cried, "I'm scared. " 8 drew lines across her face. "The snow's getting on me. I'm cold, so cold. "

"Mom, you're safe. You're here at home. "

"Help me!" She grabbed 9 to my hand.

"I won't 10 you. " As much as I tried to promise her, I knew she could hear the 11 in my voice. I prayed for Dad to hurry home.

Maybe words weren't the 12 . I did the only thing I could think of. I rubbed（揉） her forehead and hummed （哼曲子）, which 13 her. This was what she'd done for me as a child when I had a bad headache.

As the minutes 14 , the tension left her face. She began to hum along. It was the 15 sound I'd ever heard.

A lot of manufactured glass today made from sand and sodium carbonate (碳酸钠) can be reused or melted down and recycled into new items, but it doesn' t break down in the environment and will sit in landfills for thousands of years. A team of Chinese scientists aimed to deal with this environmental concern by developing an eco-conscious alternative. 

In a study published recently in the journal Science Advances, a team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences'  Institute of Process Engineering describe how they engineered biodegradable glass made from amino acids (氨基酸). That glass would have a smaller impact on the environment and can break down in a few weeks or in several months. 

In a test, glass beads (珠) made out of amino acids were placed under the skin of mice, and the breakdown of the beads and the skin healing process were observed for 30 days. A diagram from the study shows how the mice' s bodies broke down the beads. In that month, the glass implant degraded beneath the skin, the wound site healed, and fur grew back. " Throughout the experimental period, no mice exhibited any pain-related behavior that may have been caused by the glass implantation, and none of them experienced obvious weight loss,"  the researchers wrote in their paper. 

Although amino acids do degrade over time in the environment, this biodegradable glass is not as durable as traditional glass, because amino acids can break down quickly in heat. In order to overcome this hurdle, the researchers chemically modified the amino acids using the heating-cooling procedure applied in glass manufacturing. This is when materials for the glass are heated to become soft and then rapidly cooled so as to make the glass tougher. 

" It' s important to point out that this biodegradable glass is currently in the lab stage, and far from large-scale commercialization,"  emphasized Yan Xuehai, a professor involved in the study, in a press release. 

Online voting has become so  (increase) popular that many people get involved in it. It is beneficial to some people, while it puts others into a dilemma over whether to vote or not.

In my opinion, online voting is  inseparable part of modern life and should be welcomed, since it is no  (much) than a way to participate in public life. There is very little  (different) between it and ordinary voting events, in  candidates go around to seek supports. In addition, the Internet makes  (survey) and voting easy and convenient, regardless of time and place. Furthermore, voting on the Internet makes instant feedback  (possibility).

To be honest, voters sometimes feel annoyed,  because they hate voting, but because they are divided between emotion and fairness. Things  (turn) for the better if we can work out some participation rules for people  (obey). Therefore, I hold a positive attitude toward online voting.

Xinjiang has long been known as a place of music and dancing.

No matter which ethnic group is living in Xinjiang, music and dancing are an inseparable part of our lives. From festive holidays to 1 and parties, music, singing and dancing are must- haves, with people of all genders and ages taking part in them. Even young children in Xinjiang, upon 2 music, start moving their hands and stepping on the beat. It is often the case that people say, "Everyone in Xinjiang knows how to dance." Dancing shows our 3 for life.

When it comes to folk dancing in Xinjiang, the first thing people will 4 is "neck moving", or more 5 , the "head slide". To do this, you move your cheek to each side.

The moment when I 6 people's love for the ethnic dances of Xinjiang came during the COVID-19 7 in 2020. I launched an open course on Douyin. Every day I live-streamed (直播) for an hour. In the 12-day period, more than a million people 8  my course.

Every day I would assign my viewers 9 , asking them to shoot a short video and interact with me on the platform. I was flooded with 10  . I could see people of all ages and ethnic groups, even overseas Chinese showing their passion for Xinjiang dances. Many of them even 11  Xinjiang-style clothes and did their hair. I was quite 12  by my students during that period.

Short video and live-streams do not only 13  tourism and sell products, they also serve an important role in 14  a communication channel with the majority of netizens.

I believe so many people would like to connect with me on the Internet because they see me as a down-to-earth, relatable and real director of the 15  and tourist bureau (局).