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At around the same time, Bosch learned that her mother was struggling to find a good method for repairing 18th-century paintings in the church. Bosch said her mother, Pilar Roig, noted how difficult the restoration process was. One reason was the glue (胶水) used to attach paintings to walls in the 1960s. It was nearly impossible to remove the glue completely. "My mother had a very difficult problem to solve and I found a paper about bacteria used to clean frescoes (壁画) in Italy," Bosch said.

Bosch added she decided to write her doctoral paper on the same subject. That was more than ten years ago. Today, she gets to work with her mother on the church paintings' restoration. They are using the bacteria method to remove glue from artworks. The money of the $4.46 million project is given by local organizations. The process involves feeding small amounts of the glue — made from animal collagen (胶原) — to the bacteria. After a time, the bacteria begin to naturally produce enzymes (酶) to break down the glue. The mother-daughter team then mixes the bacteria with a natural algae-based substance, called a gel (凝胶), and places it onto the paintings. After about three hours, the gel mixture is removed, leaving the paintings glue-free.

Bosch's mother, now 75, noted that in the past, restorers of artworks had to use traditional cleaning methods that took hours and damaged the paintings. Bosch has also used her bacteria method process in other restoration projects in Italy and Spain.

Quizlet

This innovative app allows students to create personalized study sets that match with their unique learning needs and goals. By a range of interactive tools, such as flashcards, games, and practice quizzes, Quizlet provides students with an effective way to review and master key concepts across a wide range of subjects. One of the unique features of Quizlet is its cooperative learning function, which allows students to connect and cooperate with peers to improve their learning outcomes.

Duolingo

With its colorful and engaging interface (界面), Duolingo makes learning a new language fun and accessible. The app offers a range of interactive tools, including speaking and listening exercises, flashcards and quizzes, all designed to help users improve their language skills in a playful and interesting way. Additionally, Duolingo rewards users with cute cartoons and fun challenges as they progress, providing motivation along the way.

Forest

With its unique interface, Forest helps users stay on task and avoid the distractions of social media, games, and others. The app works by encouraging users to plant virtual trees, which grow and flourish as they focus on their work. If users leave the app to check their phone, the tree will fade and die. With its fun and playful approach, Forest can help high schoolers develop healthier habits and build better study routines.

Headspace

With its guided mindfulness exercises, Headspace helps users reduce stress, improve focus, and increase their sense of calm and balance. The app offers a range of strange features, such as themed meditation (冥思) sessions, breathing exercises and so on. Headspace also offers unique features, such as daily reminders, personalized progress tracking and even an SOS feature for those moments when you need a quick moment of calm.

（1）活动介绍；

（2）你的收获。

注意：

（1）写作词数应为80个左右；

（2）可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

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That morning, we hiked through an ancient forest,2 northwestwards. Leaping from one rock to the next, we gradually arrived at the destination. Directly ahead was a wall of rock. Tom3 over a gap to the rock face, climbed up a while, and found a good position where he could use holds to support the next climber. He4 the rope firmly between himself and Barney, yelling, "Climb!"

Barney looked to his left with a slight5, then he moved slowly and cautiously forward. I watched his moves carefully, so I could use the same6 he used. But I was7, wondering what was taking him so long. Finally, it was my turn. I stepped up to the gap edge, began to move to the cliff.8, when I glanced down, I was absolutely terrified. The cliff plunged (猛跌) straight down for what looked like a thousand feet. Then my legs began to shake. "Come on," they encouraged.9, I willed myself across the gap, struggling to10 the pull of the abyss (深渊) below. When I finally reached them, my mouth was as dry as a11.

Enjoying a good12 at the top of the mountain, I felt proud that I had13 my fear. Hard work will14 eventually. Those who have reached the peak will find15 that exists as long as life lasts.

When you need electricity, you just plug in the machine and switch it on. If you need water, you turn on the tap. For many people, these facilities are the basics of civilized society and the idea of living without them seems risky. Yet for a growing number of people, the idea of living off grid — without electricity, water or sewage (污水) — is an increasingly attractive lifestyle.

Off-gridders do not have to give up electricity or a modern lifestyle — some choose to, but most use small hydroelectric(水电的)power systems, solar panels or windmills to generate enough power for their needs. Heating and cooking needs are met by solar energy or wood burning systems, and toilet facilities range from non-water toilets to outside compost (堆肥)toilets. It ranges from traditional yurts (a type of tent) to luxury houses with high-speed internet and central heating. Whether they live in simple homes or luxury houses, what they all have in common is that their lifestyles do not create any pollution or carbon emissions — the ultimate goal for off-gridders.

Around 100,000 people are thought to be living off grid in the UK now. They grow their own food, home-school their children and provide their own medical care. They are people who have been priced out of the housing market or who have grown disillusioned with what modern society can offer and who decide that an alternative lifestyle isn't a pipe dream, but a viable (可行的) option.

Off-grid houses are far cheaper to build than ordinary homes since they don't need to be connected to the electricity or water supplies and even road access is not necessary. Materials tend to be cheaper, too. Popular options include straw or old tyres and cement.

Surprisingly, the biggest problem off-gridders face is not building their homes or becoming self-sufficient but getting permission to build. Rural areas away from town are the perfect choice but these are often protected by law from construction of any kind or have building restrictions. There are now several websites dedicated to land-sharing so that the costs of buying land and getting permission can be shared, and there are increasing numbers of off-grid communities. Off-gridding could soon be common all over Europe and America.

A. Many are self-sufficient, not just providing their own electricity, water and sewage systems, but in all aspects.

B. After you use the toilet, you flush it and the waste disappears.

C. This shift from individual to group off-gridding reflects the fact that the trend is growing noticeably.

D. Living off-grid still has a long way to go before it becomes a mainstream way of living.

E. Rather than building permanent homes, vans or mobile homes or even old shipping containers are other options.

F. They live in a huge variety of types of accommodation.

G. Apart from living an alternative lifestyle, cost is a big factor in choosing to live off-grid.

Today, millions of people around the world employ these same techniques. "They are closely associated with our mental health," says Janine Smith, the owner of a store that sells supplies for knitting and crocheting (用钩针编制). "I know that if I haven't knitted for a few days, I really miss it. It's like meditation."

Physiotherapist Betsan Corkhill and occupational therapist Jill Riley were part of a team from Cardiff University that, ten years ago, surveyed more than 3,500 knitters and found that the more frequently people knitted, the calmer and happier they felt.

In reality, it is a "Flow", which is a concept first named by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi as he wrote in his book, "The best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times. The best moments usually occur if a person's body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile."

Shauna Richardson knows just how true this is. The artist spent 18 months in a state of flow when she crocheted three seven-metre-long lions for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. To complete the task, which required nearly 38 miles of wool, she says she had to "zone everything out and sustain a state of mind driven by rhythm and process."

But smaller projects will also get you there. Even a simple knitting or crochet pattern requires attentiveness to ensure that each stitch is made correctly. And if there's not enough challenge in the straightforward, you can make additions, from colour changes to textured stitches to highly complicated patterns.

The Cardiff research team found that even though most of the people surveyed were employed, three-quarters of those who knitted three or more times a week felt significantly more able to organise their thoughts and forget their problems.

Doing things against facts is a dangerous game, but you can picture a world in which, having chosen to start dealing with climate change properly in the 1990s, we would be just wrapping up the gentle path to net-zero emissions in time for a rapid AI increase fuelled by green power. Instead, we find ourselves at risk of running a 21st-century technology on a 20th-century energy supply.

If you live in the US, every time you use an AI model, around 20 per cent of the electricity required will be produced by burning coal. The explosive growth of AI makes this an even more pressing concern. According to one analysis, if Google chose to shift to an entirely AI-powered search business, its electricity consumption could match that of some countries.

Such estimates may be magnified, but evidence of rising power consumption from AI is all around. Microsoft is placing bets on nuclear plants to power its data centers, while the English government has promised to boost its national computing capacity by 50 per cent by 2025, which would help it keep pace with rapid AI developments in the world.

Thankfully, we may soon reach a turning point. As is reported, this year the global power department came close to reaching peak greenhouse gas emissions, as the switch from fossil (化石) fuels to clean and renewable sources is well underway. The question now is whether we can quicken the pace of decarbonisation(脱碳) to match the coming growth in energy consumption as AI becomes increasingly embedded in our society. Silicon Valley's intelligent machines may grab the headlines and the imagination, but the people really inventing the future are working on the energy sector.

She had no idea that, within days, millions of people would see her video, and her father's book would rise to the top of Amazon's Best Seller list.

Lloyd Richards first published Stone Maidens in 2012. It's a thriller about an FBI agent following a killer in Indiana and, by his daughter's account, it's quite attractive. However, his original release (出版) failed to drum up excitement.

It's a different world now, with social media making somebody and something rise to fame overnight. Richards, the daughter, decided to try her luck. "I saw how much time and effort and passion my dad put into his book. I know what a lovely storyteller he is," she told CNN. "He never stopped writing, and he always stayed positive."

Whether it was the interesting thriller, or the efforts of a proud daughter, the story of Lloyd Richards and Stone Maidens struck a chord.

Marguerite Richards posted the first TikTok about Stone Maidens about two weeks ago. It has since received 48 million views and numerous positive responses. After that, Richards posted more videos of her father, delighting in his unexpected success.

"My dad wasn't really sure what TikTok is, but he has been so pleased and grateful," Richards says. The experience has breathed new life into a labor of love. Now, Lloyd Richards has more than 360,000 TikTok followers and a brand-new story to tell. He has plans for the future, too.

◆Internet Archive

It is a non-profit digital library created in 1996 by Brewster Kahle. In addition to millions of books available to the general public, it also hosts a large number of video (movies), audio (music) and software files, etc. It is not necessary to register to access the information, so any user can easily view and download it, although those who decide to register obtain other benefits such as access to more than 1.3 million copyrighted e-books.

◆InfoBooks

Read, Learn, Grow… is the slogan of the digital library. It is divided into three sections to facilitate the search for content, and the first called "Best books to read" focuses on a special collection of various topics classified by famous authors. The second is "Free books and texts", where you will find public domain literature that you can download, and the third section contains resources to improve your reading.

◆Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg is a site that has available sixty thousand "free" books that are free of copyright so to speak, since the rights according to certain laws have expired in this case. That is why they can be downloaded with total peace of mind. The Project Gutenberg also has an Open Audio book Collection, almost 5,000 titles from 2023, via a Project Gutenberg collaboration with Microsoft and MIT. These use neural text-to-speech technology for more natural-sounding computer-generated audio books. These audio books are also available on major music/podcast platforms.

In a world where time was the most valuable currency, a man named Henry lived a life of monotonous (单调乏味的) routine. Every day was a mirror image of the last, filled with the tick-tock of the clock that dictated his every move. Henry was a skilled watchmaker, and his creations were admired for their precision and beauty. However, the irony (讽刺) of his profession was not lost on him; despite his ability to control the measure of time, he felt as if time was controlling him.

To make matters worse, there harbored a deep regret in his heart — his son Richard, who worked in another city, seldom contacted him. They were literally strangers living far apart.

One day, an elderly woman visited Henry's shop, seeking a watch with a peculiar request. She wanted a timepiece that did not tell the exact time but rather reminded the wearer of the fleeting and temporary nature of life. "This watch is also for my son, who once did something associated with the concept of time, but he…" she suddenly paused, and obviously there was a slump in her throat. But she quickly composed herself and told Henry she would come for the watch one month later.

Intrigued (感觉着迷的), Henry accepted the challenge, pouring his soul into the creation of a unique watch. He designed it with no numbers, only two hands — one moving rapidly and the other so slowly it was almost still.

As he completed the watch, he found himself fascinated by its unconventional design. The hands seemed to dance around the face, a visual metaphor for the passage of time. The more he observed it, the more it made him reflect on his own life. He realized that in his pursuit of perfection and order, he had forgotten to live and appreciate the present moment.

注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；

2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

One month later, the elderly woman returned to collect her watch.

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As the woman left, Henry felt a profound sense of change.

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In the digital age, (take) advantage of new technologies to create new cultural and tourism is a trend. In Langfang, Hebei Province, digital technologies have been combined with traditional Chinese culture. theme park has been built based on the Qing Dynasty novel Dream of Red Mansion, reflects aspects of ancient China, such as its social life and customs.

During the trip, a digital travel platform, Xiaowa, acts a travel planner and provides real-time insights and personalized recommendations. Once the schedule (confirm), visitors can compare it with the current conditions, including information about lines for various performances, which is (continuous) updated. The application enables visitors (experience) traditional Chinese culture at the park and (help) to draw in many tourists since it is launched.

Tang Jinnan, Peking University's School of Journalism and Communication's Party secretary, claim that AI's full (capability) are yet to be fully unlocked. Whether it's drawing by hand in the past, using a computer nowintegrating artificial intelligence, the essence of inheriting cultural heritage remains unchanged.

A decade or so later, however, I was3 to see the advertiser on TV, holding up his new4. James Patterson had5 into a best-selling author. "Maybe I was delusional (痴心妄想), but I6 thought of myself as an advertising person," he told me when asked how he'd done it. "I always7 to be a writer. It was always in my head."

Mr. Patterson's ability to see himself as a writer8 a concept known as "possible selves". It describes how people9 their futures: what they may become, or want to become, or even fear becoming.

The term,10 in 1986 by the social psychologists Hazel Markus and Paula Nurius, grew out of some11 on self-concept and self-perception. A possible self can take you12 daydreams, which are often fleeting and not necessarily grounded in13. It can come to fruition (实现) "if you build a14 from your ‘now' self to the possible self," Dr. Markus said.

If you want a change, imagine your possible self and15.

Halvorsen Fine Art Gallery

Established in Houston Historic Art District, at Sawyer Yards, Halvorsen Fine Art Gallery with 2,000 square feet features amazing paintings of landscapes and seascapes by impressionistic artists. In addition to hosting artist exhibitions, it provides art consultation services for collectors, designers and art enthusiasts.

Art of the World Gallery

The gallery provides a contemporary, complex and rich cultural experience for art enthusiasts and collectors from all around the world. Directly representing some of the most important living artists from Asia, Europe, and Latin America, Art of the World Gallery is one of the most famous galleries in the state, located in Houston's finest hotspot for locals and tourists.

Zatista Contemporary and Fine Art

With over 4,000 works from the most talented emerging and established artists, Zatista provides access to the types of works previously only available to seasoned collectors. Buying online with Zatista is easy with their free art consultation, certificates of authenticity (真实性), and a buyer guarantee that allows you to try art in your home with free returns.

John Palmer Fine Art

It's located in the avenue in the Historic Heights. The combination of a saved 1930's bungalow (平房) with museum-quality new construction is the perfect atmosphere to showcase the great works of artist John Ross Palmer. John Palmer Fine Art is open by appointment only. You can set an appointment by calling 713-861-6726. We look forward to showing you the beautiful world of John Palmer Fine Art!

The old bookstore on Maple Street had been Mr. Hale's life work. For forty years, he'd stacked its shelves with weathered novels, dog-eared poetry collections, and rare first editions, each with a story he could recite by heart. But last month, the bank had sent a notice — rising rents and falling sales meant the store would close by the end of the week.

Lila, a regular since she was a kid, couldn't bear the thought. She'd grown up here, hiding in the back corner with a book while her mom worked next door. Now a college student home for summer, she'd started a "Save the Bookstore" campaign: a petition, a GoFundMe page, even hand-painted signs taped to lampposts. But donations trickled in, and the petition barely had a hundred signatures.

"This isn't just a store," Lila said to Mr. Hale one afternoon, gesturing to the creaky wooden floors and the smell of old paper. He smiled sadly, polishing a leather-bound Dickens. "It's where Mrs. Carter met her late husband — they bonded over a shared love for Hemingway. Where Tommy, the shy kid from down the street, found the courage to join the debate team after reading To Kill a Mockingbird."

Lila's throat tightened. She knew those stories too. She'd left her own mark here: a faded drawing of a cat tucked inside The Secret Garden, a note scrawled in the margin of Pride and Prejudice ("Mr. Darcy is overrated!") when she was twelve.

On the penultimate day, Lila arrived to find Mr. Hale packing boxes. "I'm sorry, kiddo," he said, his voice rough. "We tried." She noticed a dusty box labeled "Memorabilia" in the corner — newspaper clippings from the store' s opening, a photo of Mr. Hale as a young man, and a stack of handwritten letters.

Curious, she pulled one out. It was dated 1998, from a girl named Clara: "Your store kept me going when my dad left. I'll never forget the day you let me take Anne of Green Gables home even though I couldn't pay — said ‘stories should be free to heal.'" Lila froze. Clara was her mom's name.

Before she could ask, the bell above the door jingled. A woman in a business suit stepped in, scanning the shelves. "I'm from the real estate company," she said, holding out a clipboard. "We need the keys by Friday."

Mr. Hale's shoulders slumped. Lila grabbed the letter, her heart racing. "Wait — this store matters. To all of us." The woman raised an eyebrow. "Prove it."

注意：

1.续写词数应为150左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Paragraph 1: Lila sprinted out the door, the letter clutched in her hand.

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Paragraph 2: By sunset, the bookstore's front lawn was crowded.

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（1）阐释项目核心；

（2）介绍项目活动；

（3）强调参与价值。

注意：

1.写作词数应为80左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

Dear students,

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

A traditional Chinese cultural exhibition at the City Art Gallery is showcasing works inspired by Chinese shadow puppetry (皮影戏) , has a history of over 2,000 years in China.

Chinese shadow puppetry is one of most ancient forms of storytelling through visual art. The vivid images of characters and the stories they tell reflect the wisdom and values of Chinese folk culture, according to Lin Hua, the curator (馆长) of the exhibition.

"The exhibition combines shadow puppetry culture, modern technology and contemporary art," says Lin. "We hope (show) the charm of this traditional art in a new way, and start conversations with modern art forms like installation art, multimedia art and pop art."

"In a shadow puppetry performance, each movement of the puppets is carefully designed. The performers use their skills to guide the puppets, leading the audience into a world (fill) with myths and legends," explains Chen Lei, a shadow puppetry performer participating in the exhibition.

"The performers' emotions (convey) through the puppets' actions, and their understanding of the stories is presented to the audience," she adds. "A skilled performer always (try) to make the performance touching, not just by the skills, also by the deep connection with the story."

Lin says that the unique shapes of the shadow puppets, the beauty in the (careful) arranged storylines, and the cultural meanings behind each character inspired artists to create paintings, sculptures, digital artworks for the exhibition. These works aim to let more people appreciate the charm of Chinese shadow puppetry in the context of modern art, (bridge) the gap between tradition and modernity.

We sorted items into three piles: keep, donate, and3. The "sell" pile included a vintage clock, a hand-knitted blanket, and an old camera. I took photos of these items and posted them online, hoping to4 them to people who'd appreciate them.

Days passed, and responses poured in. A woman messaged about the clock, asking for more5 — its age, condition, and whether it still worked. Another caller wanted to know if the blanket could be6 as a gift. As our moving day7, I felt a mix of sadness and relief.

Then came a8 that touched my heart: "I lost my grandma's clock last year. Your clock reminds me of her. Can I have it?" I agreed immediately. When she came to pick it up, her eyes9 up as she held the clock. "Thank you," she whispered, "this means so much."

10 by this experience, I started giving away more items for free. An elderly man took the old camera, sharing how he'd loved photography in his youth. Each exchange brought a sense of11 — these things weren't just objects; they were pieces of someone's past, now part of a new story.

Now, in our new apartment, the space feels12 but meaningful. I take13 in knowing that somewhere, the clock is keeping time for a new family, the blanket is warming someone's lap, and the camera is capturing new memories.

The process of letting go taught me that14 isn't about losing the past, but about15 it forward — allowing stories to continue in new hands.

In a world that often glorifies constant change and novelty, the value of routine is frequently overlooked. Yet, a well-crafted daily routine can be a powerful tool for personal growth, productivity, and well-being. It provides a framework within which we can thrive, helping us to balance work, rest, and self-care.

A morning routine, for instance, sets the tone for the day. Whether it's a few minutes of meditation, a brisk walk, or a nutritious breakfast, these small actions can have a profound impact on our mindset and energy levels. By starting the day with intention, we are better equipped to handle the challenges that come our way.

Of course, a routine doesn't mean rigidity. It should be flexible enough to accommodate unexpected events and personal growth. For example, if you find that a particular activity in your routine is no longer serving you, don't be afraid to adjust it. The key is to have a core set of practices that anchor you and provide a sense of stability.

A consistent sleep routine is another crucial aspect. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day helps to regulate our body's internal clock, leading to better sleep quality and overall health. It also allows us to wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day ahead.

In the end, a routine is not about restricting freedom but about creating a foundation for a fulfilling life. By embracing the power of routine, we can unlock our potential and live with greater purpose and joy.

A. It gives us a sense of control and predictability in an otherwise chaotic world.

B. A good night's sleep is essential for cognitive function and emotional well-being.

C. It can include activities that nourish our minds, bodies, and souls.

D. Many successful people attribute their achievements to their well-structured daily routines.

E. It should evolve as we grow and change, reflecting our current needs and priorities.

F. Establishing a regular exercise routine can also have numerous benefits for both physical and mental health.

G. It's about finding rhythm in the repetition and using it as a springboard for growth.

Now, a groundbreaking study published in Environmental Science Advances offers a glimmer of hope in the fight against these elusive pollutants. Researchers from a multinational team discovered that a specific combination of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and a natural clay-based filter could potentially reduce nanoplastics in drinking water by a significant margin. In controlled laboratory tests, exposing water contaminated with nanoplastics to UV light for 15 minutes, followed by filtration through a montmorillonite clay filter, resulted in the removal of at least 75 percent of certain nanoplastics.

Crucially, the effectiveness of this method hinged on multiple factors. The pH level of the water played a vital role — alkaline conditions enhanced the binding of nanoplastics to the clay particles, while acidic environments weakened it. Additionally, the study was limited in scope: it focused only on three prevalent types of nanoplastics — polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, and polyethylene terephthalate — and did not account for the complex chemical interactions with other contaminants commonly found in real-world water sources, such as heavy metals and pesticides.

Still, the findings underscore the urgency of addressing the nanoplastic crisis — a problem that's growing more complex by the day. Earlier this year, independent studies revealed that nanoplastic concentrations in bottled water brands, previously thought to be a safer alternative, were up to 500 times higher than initial estimates. This suggests that even seemingly pristine water sources are not immune to nanoplastic contamination.

Scientists remain uncertain about the full extent of nanoplastic toxicity, but early research points to alarming possibilities. These particles, due to their small size, can penetrate cell membranes, potentially disrupting cellular functions and triggering inflammatory responses. The new study's authors emphasize that while their method shows promise, it's just one piece of the puzzle. "The way we demonstrated the interaction between UV, clay, and nanoplastics provides a foundation," says Dr. Elena Vazquez, an environmental chemist at the lead institution of the study. "But we need to scale up these solutions and integrate them into existing water treatment infrastructures to truly make a difference."

Urban planners Lila Chen and Ryan Moore are deeply troubled by such issues. In their newly released book Green Living: Reclaim Our Cities' Natural Spaces, they call for a fundamental rethinking of urban design and the role greenery should play in our daily lives.

The landscape of urban living began to shift decades ago. Vast areas of natural vegetation were cleared to make room for sprawling concrete structures and commercial centers, forcing residents to seek nature in distant suburbs. Some grassroots groups fought back. Most notably, a community organizer from Seattle, who relocated to the city in the early 2000s, launched a movement to save a local wetlands area from being converted into a shopping mall. Expressing her outrage at the planned destruction, Emily Clark appealed to the city council to "Preserve Seattle as a city where nature and urban life coexist harmoniously, not just a place of concrete and commerce." Similar initiatives took place in other major cities across the country in the 2010s.

Although these initiatives gained public attention, the harsh reality is that the majority of modern cities remain overwhelmingly dominated by urban development at the expense of green spaces. The coverage of natural areas in cities has been shrinking steadily. In California, for instance, the ratio of urban green spaces to total city area has dropped to a record low, even as the state promotes environmental protection campaigns.

We invest substantial resources in building urban infrastructure that prioritizes speed and efficiency, yet we neglect to consider the true value of green spaces. Do we fully comprehend the social and psychological costs when citizens lack easy access to natural environments for mental rejuvenation? The authors of Green Living are spot-on: it's high time we re-evaluate the urban landscapes right outside our homes.