In the United States alone,over 100 million cell-phones are thrown away each year.Cell-phones are part of a growing mountain of electronic waste like computers and personal digital assistants.The electronic waste stream is increasing three times taster than traditional garbage as a whole.

Electronic devices contain valuable metals such as gold and silver.A Swiss study reported that while the weight of electronic goods represented by precious metals was relatively small in comparison to total waste,the concentration（含量）of gold and other precious metals was higher in So-called e-waste than in naturally occurring minerals.

Electronic wastes also contain many poisonous metals.Even when the machines are recycled and the harmful metals removed,the recycling process often is carried out in poor countries,in practically uncontrolled ways which allow many poisonous substances to escape into the environment.

Creating products out of raw materials creates much more waste material,up to 100 times more,than the material contained in the finished products.Consider again the cell-phone,and imagine the mines that produced those metals,the factories needed to make the box and packaging（包装）it came in.Many wastes produced in the producing process are harmful as well.

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency notes that most waste is dangerous in that"the production, distribution,and use of products-as well as management of the resulting waste-all result in greenhouse gas release." Individuals can reduce their contribution by creating less waste at the start-for instance,buying reusable products and recycling.

In many countries the concept of extended producer responsibility is being considered or has been put in place as an incentive（动机）for reducing waste.If producers are required to take back packaging they use to sell their products,would they reduce the packaging in the first place?

Governments' incentive to require producers to take responsibility for the packaging they produce is usually based on money.Why,they ask,should cities or towns be responsible for paying to deal with the bubble wrap（气泡垫）that encased your television?

From the governments' point of view,a primary goal of laws requiring extended producer responsibility is to transfer both the costs and the physical responsibility of waste management from the government and tax-payers back to the producers.

How teens can stay fit

Any type of regular physical activity can improve your fitness and your health.【小题1】

Exercise should be a regular part of your day, like brushing your teeth, eating and sleeping. It can be in a gym class, joining a sports team, or working out on your own. Keep the following tips in mind:

【小题2】A good attitude is important. Find an activity that you think is fun. You are more likely to stick with it if you choose something you like. A lot of people find it's more fun to exercise with someone else,so seek a friend or family member to be active with you.

Take it one step at a time.【小题3】For example, walk or ride your bike to school. Get on or off the bus several blocks away and walk the rest of the way. Use the stairs instead of taking the elevator.

Get your heart pumping. Whatever you choose ,make sure it includes aerobic （有氧的) activities that make you breathe harder and increase your heart rate. This is the best type of exercise because it increases your fitness level and makes your heart work better.【小题4】Examples of aerobic activities are basketball, running, or swimming.

Don't forget to warm up. Do  some  easy exercise or stretch （伸展) before you do any physical activity.【小题5】It is also important to stretch out after you exercise to cool down your muscles.

Five Ways to Make Studying More Fun

Pick an area of the house you haven't used before. Use a stand-up desk instead of the kitchen table. Set up a space in your bedroom or home office that is just for studying. Put some time into making it a place you want it to be. 【小题1】

Getting together with a friend or a group of classmates can help you learn new study skills while you are still getting a few laughs in. 【小题2】 Pick one person and each of you choose a side to argue. If you have a group, they can join and vote the winner.

Plan scheduled study breaks every hour and take part in an activity you enjoy. Go for a quick walk, watch a short video, or eat a snack. 【小题3】 Before you take a break, write down what you have learned during your study time and add to this list each time you take a break.

By activating the left and right sides of the brain at the same time, music maximizes（使最大化）learning and improves memory. It's no secret that music helps with concentration and creativity.

【小题5】 If the weather is nice, head to a park or the beach. Study at your favorite coffee shop or bookstore. If you're active, you might want to try exercising to improve memory and thinking skills. Some of your best thoughts and moments of clarity（清晰）come when you're moving your body.

   If you're the kind of person who loves travel but finds it difficult to break down language barriers，you may want to check out ICONSPEAK，a T-shirt covered in basic pictographs（图画文字）ranging from clocks to bathrooms. Simply point to the symbol associated with your need，and hopefully，the person you're talking to will understand you soon. I can tell you that it's better than having to make gestures to strangers.

ICONSPEAK is the brainchild of friends George and Florian. They were traveling through Asia in 2013 and found themselves in a remote（偏远的）village with no vehicle，no tourism，and just some locals. The problems they had while trying to express their needs to the locals inspired them to start working on a simple yet effective solution to the language gap. Two years later，they came up with the ICONSPEAK T-shirt.“In the furthest and deepest corners of our world we were repeatedly left with no words，either in breathtaking awe（赞叹）due to the scenery or in empty silence due to our lacking linguistic talents，”its website states.“Such situations got us thinking about how to bridge language barriers with simplicity on a global level. The answer came to us after a remarkable experience in Vietnam: ICONs. Because with ICONs, you can SPEAK, and you can SPEAK to the world.”

The ICONSPEAK collection consists of three types of T-shirts — long, short, sleeveless — as well as large bags and hats that feature fewer icons. The products are available internationally through the website, with the founders attesting that they work anywhere in the world.“I have used it in Norway,”said George.“It works beautifully — the people you ask are surprisingly quick in getting what you want or mean since they are anyway thinking in a certain context. If you point to the bus and the clock on the shirt and you do this at a bus stop, anybody will know that you want to know when the next bus leaves.”

ICONSPEAK is a clear example that the answer to complex problems can be very simple. I have yet to try the shirt, but somehow I have no doubt that it actually works. It might not always help, but for common problems, like finding a telephone, the nearest hotel or an ATM, ICONSPEAK seems like a good solution.