Do you have your own mobile phone? Where do you usually use it, at home, on the bus or in the street while walking? Anyway, schools are certainly no longer a place to use it.

Earlier this year, a national ban(禁令)on mobile phone use was passed . According to it, both primary and middle school students are not allowed to bring mobile phones to school. If they have to, they need to get their parents and the schools permission(许可). Besides, all phones must be kept by the teacher during the class.

According to the Ministry of Education, the main aim of the ban is to protect students eyesight and. prevent them from getting addicted (上瘾) to the Internet and video games.

In2009, China had 175 million Internet users under the age of18, with 74% having their own mobile phones, according to a report By the China Internet Network information Center last year. The report found mobile phone users in this group used their phones mostly for online learning, listening to music and playing games.

The Ministry of Education also says that teachers are not allowed to ask students to finish homework on mobile phones. Schools should set up more public pay phones and find other ways of talking to parents.

The new ban appears to be widely supported. In a survey on Weibo, 54% of more than 1900 people who took part in the survey said they believed it was unnecessary for school children to take mobile phones to school; more than a quarter wanted a more flexible policy(灵活的政策) with 20% saying mobile phones should be allowed in school .

What's your opinion? What good do you think the ban has brought to you?

Independence Day is a national holiday in America. Similar to other summer-themed events, Independence Day celebrations often take place outdoors. Many politicians(政治家)make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise the nationals, the nation's laws, history, society and people.

Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic. Many people spend the holidays staying with relatives or friends. Little things used to celebrate the day are colored red, white and blue—the colors of the American flag.

Parades (游行.) are often held in the morning before family get together, while fireworks displays (烟花表演) take place in the evening. Independence Day fireworks are often displayed with patriotic songs such as America, the Beautiful, My Country and so on. Fireworks shows are held in many states, but some states such as New. Jersey don't allow the use of fireworks, considering people's safety.

A salute(鸣礼炮)of 1 gun for each state(州) in the United States called "a salute to the union "is fired on Independence Day at noon.

New York City has the largest fireworks display in the country. It is often held on the East River. The major displays are in places such as Seattle on Lake Union and Boston on the Charles River.

Since Independence Day is in July, the first week of July is one of the busiest United States travel periods of the year as many people use what is often a 3-day holiday weekend for extended vacation trip.

While it is common for restaurant owners to connect with their customers, a restaurant owner in the US is taking it to a whole new level. Tim Harris gives out free hugs to every customer at the end of each meal.

The atmosphere(气氛) at his restaurant "Tim's Place" is so positive(积极的) that customers often call it the "World's friendliest restaurant".

"Tim's Hug" is in fact an item on the menu described as a "love" treat. Tim's hugs are doubly special because of everything he has achieved. The 26­year­old is probably the only Down Syndrome Sufferer(唐氏综合症患者) in the US to own a restaurant, but he has several other things to be proud of—he's a skillful special Olympian, an excellent sailor, and an experienced fisherman. He was also chosen as Homecoming King and Student of the Year in high school!

When Tim expressed interest in opening a restaurant, Keith, a small businessman himself, supported him. Tim hired(雇佣) other people to manage the place and do the cooking, and he introduced the idea of free hugs. He realized that people want to feel at home at a restaurant. That is why he included "love" as an item on the menu. Customers can order the free hug from Tim, and even if they don't, he'll probably hug them anyway.

The restaurant has been around since 2010, and Tim has given out over 19，000 hugs in the past five years—he keeps count using a special Hug Counter. "I've been coming here once a week，" said Michelle Garth­Jones, a regular customer. "I love local restaurants, and this special one has a story that stays with you."