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Now Brazilian officials think this expansive town can also be the site of the forest's rebirth. This year, the government set out to test a question that until now has largely been left to researchers: If left alone, can the Amazon forest restore itself? To test this assumption, officials closed off a degraded parcel of land and leased (租赁) it to a private carbon credit company to safeguard and restore. "Some of the tasks will be done by planting trees. But most of the restoration job will be left to Mother Nature. It's called passive restoration. This is opening a new model that may be applied across the state," said Governor Barbalho.

The search for solutions in the Amazon couldn't be more urgent. Rates of deforestation have been dropping since the government made fighting environmental crime a priority, but the destruction hasn't stopped. Nearly 6,300 square kilometers were lost last year, bringing the ecosystem closer to what scientists warn is a tipping point, when the Amazon is no longer able to maintain its own rainy ecosystem. Evidence of its arrival is springing up: dried riverbeds, forest fires, punishing droughts, and increased tree death. Scientists have predicted the forest could experience a broad ecological collapse by 2050, when 10 — 47% of it will be exposed to various disturbances that could activate unexpected ecosystem changes.

But other research has also provided cause for hope. Despite the delicate nature of the Amazon's ecosystem, the forest has also demonstrated a remarkable capacity for recovery. A recent study showed that roughly 72,000 square kilometers of destroyed forest are already in an advanced stage of natural recovery.

The research defines a "distinct brain-related signature" for identifying superagers: You might be one if you're 80 or older and can recall at least nine words 30 minutes after hearing a 15-word list. Superagers' brains also show slower thinning, with only a 1.06% reduction over 18 months compared to the 2.24% seen in their peers (同龄人), and a stronger cholinergic system, which is crucial for memory, learning and motor function. Critically, there's one quality all superagers share: sociability.

This observed sociability has biological roots. Superagers possess more von Economo neurons, a type of brain cell associated with sociability, than their peers, and even more than younger people. These neurons are found in highly social species like whales. "Animals with strong connections tend to outlive and outsmart their peers. It's like the pack culture," says study author Gefen. Additionally, superagers' thicker anterior cingulate gyrus — a brain region linked to motivation rather than memory — suggests that they may be more willing to engage in challenging tasks.

However, this isn't a long-term study tracking participants from youth, so "we can't completely know whether this high level of sociability is helping or not," Gefen notes. While other research suggests lifestyle factors like exercise may prevent up to 45% of serious memory loss, their role in superagers remains unclear. "When it comes to superagers, we have more questions than answers," she adds.

Still, this research could help find future treatments for some brain diseases. Northwestern's ongoing work aims to advance this goal, including investigating what makes von Economo neurons special and their role in disease resistance.

Darkness had fallen before her driver pulled into the rescue base. At 1,500 meters, it was safer from aftershocks and rock slides than lower ground. When she stepped out of the car and was briefed on the villages needing immediate help, the enormity of the task ahead hit her full force.

Lari, Pakistan's first female architect since 1964, was famous for designing modern glass and concrete towers in Karachi. Here, though, she'd design earthquake-resistant homes with stone and wood. In a simple cottage near the camp, she would spend the next four months working with volunteer architects and engineers to help displaced families build new homes, even as temperatures dropped and snow fell.

"You can't imagine the desolation (荒凉)," Lari recalls of those days in the mountains. Her team, often the first to arrive on the scene, were greeted with unexpected hospitality (热情款待), given the circumstances. On one visit, villagers pulled out their best chairs and table rescued from the earthquake. "They'd lost everything," she says. "But they put this damaged table in front of us and covered it with a beautiful patterned cloth. And then they served us their World Food Programme food: biscuits, tea and eggs."

With each passing day, Lari was re-engineering her identity — from "starchitect" to humanitarian. The profession had been good to her, but she had grown disappointed with projects for the rich. And doing disaster-relief work felt deeply right. So she made it her new mission.

While there is no single academic path for all students to follow, we want to help you make choices that will lead you to a successful college career.

A well-rounded education

A good high school education should do more than prepare you for the next level of education or for later employment — it should prepare you to take advantage of future learning opportunities of all kinds. You should gain particular skills and information, as well as a broad perspective on the world and its possibilities.

Choosing high school courses

By taking the most academically demanding courses you can find, you can improve both your chance of admission to a selective college and your performance during the first years of college.

We recommend:

● The study of English for four years: extensive reading of the classics of the world's literature

● Four years of a single foreign language

● The study of history for at least two years, and preferably three years

● The study of mathematics for four years*

● The study of science for four years: physics, chemistry, and biology, and preferably one of these at an advanced level

Various important secondary school subjects, such as art and music, are not specifically mentioned in our recommendations. Leaving out these subjects should not be interpreted as a value judgment. We are concerned only with secondary school subjects proven by data to support college coursework.

*Ideally, math courses should focus on conceptual understanding, promote higher-order thinking, and encourage students to use mathematical reasoning to critically examine the world. Examples include courses in computer science, statistics and its subfields, mathematical modeling, calculus, and other advanced math subjects.

The bell rang. I grabbed my backpack and headed to the library for my favorite after-school activity: Writing Club.

"Today we will share our stories with a critique (评论) partner. It means to give helpful feedback so someone can tell their best story," said Miss Lisa, our writing teacher.

My partner was Penny. I handed my story to her, nervous. I had no problem coming up with great story ideas, but I did struggle with spelling and grammar. Penny didn't look at me or smile as she pushed her story across the table toward me. Why was she worried? She always got perfect scores on her spelling and grammar tests.

I read her story. It was about a dog named Sunny saving a family from a flood.

"Wow, great story," I told her. "I don't have any suggestions. It's perfect!"

"Yours too," she whispered. She didn't even look at me as she passed mine back.

When the club ended, Penny rushed out, dropping a book in haste. I picked it up: Sunny the Brave. My heart sank as the plot matched her story exactly. She hadn't written it — she had copied it. It wasn't fair. I thought about telling Miss Lisa, but Miss Lisa had already left.

Outside of the school, I spotted Penny sitting on a bench, crying. Instead of accusing her, I simply handed her the book. Seeing her tears, I remembered my job as her critique partner was to give helpful feedback. But what should I say?

I kept thinking about Penny and her story. When I got home, I found Mom in the kitchen making dinner with Dad. Dad chopped (切割) vegetables carefully, while Mom added spices (调料) freely. Their dinners turned out delicious. Mom and Dad had different skills, each using their strengths, making them a great team. That gave me an idea to suggest to Penny.

注意：

（1）续写词数应为150个左右；

（2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

The next morning, I found Penny outside the classroom.

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Penny's eyes widened with hope.

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1．活动具体内容；

2．你的感想与收获。

注意：

（1）写作词数应为80个左右，开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数；

（2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Dear Chris,

How is everything going?

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Best wishes,

Li Hua

Chuxiong Yi Embroidery (刺绣) is a precious National Intangible Cultural Heritage of China with a history of over 1,300 years. (pass) down through generations of Yi people in Yunnan, it stands out from other embroideries because of its unique color and patterns.

In the past, Yi embroiderers created works any design sketch (图纸). They just (rely) on their memory and imagination, turning (nature) elements like mountains and flames into special symbols. Every stitch (针) tells a story: flame motifs (火焰纹) symbolize the Yi people's respect for fire and vitality azalea flowers (马缨花) represent love and fertility. Traditionally, a Yi girl would express her (affect) by gifting her embroidery.

Nowadays, this ancient craft is gaining new life. It has entered the fashion world-some international brands once cooperated with Chuxiong embroiderers, (bring) Yi embroidery to global runways. Local cooperatives help women earn money through embroidery, and a fine piece can sell for thousands of yuan. (additional), universities play a key role in its inheritance. Yunnan Arts University has set up Yi embroidery courses, allows young students to learn this skill, making the craft more popular.

As symbol of Yi culture, Chuxiong Yi Embroidery carries the soul of the Yi ethnic group. Its beauty lies not only in the delicate stitches, but also in the endless dedication of embroiderers. This "art at fingertips" will surely continue to shine brightly in the future.

According to Jason Snape, one of his design2, he was one of the lucky receivers of the postcard with the3, "If you're reading this, I'm4, and I really5 you." "It was the6 thing I expected," Snape told The Washington Post. "It made me laugh really hard." He also credited Glickman as a huge7 throughout his career. "I hope you all had a teacher like him, inspiring us on our way."

Don's daughter, Leah, said the postcard idea8 her father last summer when he was in home hospice (临终关怀).

She9 names and addresses, mailed the cards, and added a final message. "After 94 years on this planet, my dad has departed," the message10. "His last11 were filled with ice cream, music and love."

12 the Glickman family was never one to colour the idea of death, Leah hoped that this final project could encourage others to think13 about death. "It doesn't have to be so14," she added. "If you're lucky enough to be able to make these decisions at the end of your life, you should feel15 to make them."

Instead of thinking about the task, use data. Think back to when you last completed a similar task. How long did it take? This works best if you keep some actual notes. For example, before estimating how much time you need to prepare your next presentation, review your notes from the last three presentations.

Add buffers (缓冲) as percentages.

Adding buffers is a good idea, but "a little extra time" will never be enough. Add 25 percent to your estimate (instead of 10 minutes more). If you still end up needing more, add 50 percent next time. If you are left with extra time, adjust it down a bit next time. Don't be depressed if you end up adding 150 percent or more. We are really that bad at estimating duration.

Break tasks into steps.

Large, complex tasks often fall victim to the planning fallacy. Break big projects into smaller, more predictable steps, and estimate the duration of each one. It's easier to estimate "get the sales data from last quarter" than "complete the division's report."

The next time you think a task will take only minutes, pause and remember the planning fallacy. The goal, however, is not to become pessimistic about your capabilities. Your future self will thank you.

A. You are not alone.

B. Learn about yourself.

C. Make realistic estimates.

D. This is because they involve many unknowns.

E. One practical way is to add percentages instead of fixed time.

F. It's to become realistic about the complexities of the real world.

G. It will damage your reputation and make others lose trust in you.

This study, led by Arne Güllich, a sports scientist at the RPTU University Kaiserslautern-Landau in Germany, analyzed data from more than 34,000 world-class performers across several fields, including sport, chess, classical music and academia. It found a striking pattern: about 90% of adult superstars had not been outstanding as children, while only around 10% of top-performing children later became exceptional adults. In fact, childhood excellence was not a positive predictor of adult success; the two were negatively correlated, according to Dr Güllich.

The adult superstars also followed a different developmental path from child prodigies. When young, their performance in the field they eventually specialized in tended to fall behind that of their more focused peers. However, once they did specialize, their progress accelerated rapidly, showing greater "training efficiency".

The researchers proposed three explanations. The first suggests that delaying specialization while exploring multiple interests increases the chance of finding the field best suited to one's abilities. The young Rafael Nadal- an all-time-great tennis player- toyed with a career in football before settling on tennis. Second, learning itself is a learnable skill and improves through varied experience, making later focused training more effective. Finally, avoiding intense early specialization may reduce the risk of burnout caused by prolonged narrow focus.

The researchers hope to extend their analysis to more fields such as business and art. In the meantime, Dr Güllich emphasizes that his team is not saying the early-specialization model does not work. It is a reliable way to produce highly competent people - just not the truly world-class ones. Sports academies, selective schools and high-end music schools, in other words, may want to reconsider how they do things.

To address this challenge, archaeologists are increasingly turning to advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. Recently, two archaeologists — Sarah Parcak, an Egyptologist, and Chris Fisher, a Mesoamerican archaeologist — worked together with OpenAI to organize a public competition that encouraged tech enthusiasts to analyze satellite images and remote sensing data in search of potential archaeological sites.

The winning team identified 67 different areas across the Amazon that could contain historically valuable remains. Using deep learning models trained on public data, including satellite imagery, the team taught an AI system to recognize patterns associated with known archaeological sites. The system then compared those patterns with unexplored regions and highlighted promising locations, mainly in Brazil, for future investigation. Many of the identified areas appeared to be distributed along bodies of water. This result actually makes sense, as ancient civilizations tended to flourish (兴旺) near accessible water sources.

By processing vast amounts of geographic data within a short period of time, newer AI models could look beyond established targets and turn up entirely new areas for investigation, says Parcak. In addition, many sites around the world are disappearing due to environmental change and human activities. "We have a very limited period of time to document the Earth and everything as it exists now before it fundamentally changes," says Fisher.

Other experts warn that they could invite moral concerns. Parcak and Fisher, however, expect to see more private companies launching similar competitions. "Our field has to ask itself some uncomfortable questions about where they're willing to go to get support," even if it means working with tech giants, Parcak says.

One day, one of those distractions changed my life for good. I came across a video for Justin Peck's ballet Year of the Rabbit. From that moment on, I fell in love with ballet. I longed to try dancing myself. Luckily for me, there was a dance studio right down the street from my apartment. On a day when I felt well enough, I gathered my courage and enrolled in a class. Sue, the studio owner and primary instructor, loved teaching the basics of ballet. She took extra care to point out when students did something well, and took equal joy in the unique ways they made mistakes.

The more time I spent in Sue's studio, the more I began to relate to my body in a new way. Learning to dance was a transformation of mind as much of body. After frustrating me for so long, my body even began to be a source of accomplishment and pride. It made me realize that even my sick body had much more potential than I'd realized.

Being human means being vulnerable — getting sick and hurt, and getting older too. But those same bodies that cause us grief also make it possible to live full and meaningful lives. Ballet continually reminds me that having a body — and being human — is beautiful, even when it's hard. And it's much more fun than being a brain in a vat.

However, certain requirements must be met for you to take a dog into the cabin:

·In order to ensure the safe and undisturbed operation of the flight, your dog must be trained to obey your commands and must behave appropriately in a public space (it must not bark or jump up at people or other animals).

·Your dog must never defecate (排泄) in an uncontrolled manner in the cabin or at the gate. If it is necessary, it must be done in a way that does not affect the health of others.

Before travelling

·Make sure you meet the rules for taking your dog across borders.

·Complete any necessary veterinary examinations (e.g., vaccinations).

·Have official and veterinary documents ready (e.g., pet passport).

·Register your dog with Lufthansa or a travel agency and receive a passenger receipt.

·Bring the carriage form and proof of assistance dog training if required (not required for direct flights to/ from the USA).

On board

Your dog must fit under your seat and must be attached to your seat belt.

·A regular seat may not be used for the animal under any circumstances.

·We recommend securing your dog with a properly fitting belt rather than a collar.

·Please bring a muzzle (嘴套) with you in case it is needed.

Click here for more information

In 2005, my husband Meherwan and I took a leap of faith. We moved with our 3-year-old daughter, Aria, from the bustling streets of San Francisco to Asheville, a small Appalachian town. To me, relocating from a major international city to the mountains seemed like a "wild experiment", filled with the unknown.

However, Asheville quickly got its hooks into us. We opened a restaurant, and soon discovered that life here felt "real". During a local festival, I watched Aria run to embrace a stranger of her age, while around them, punk-rock cooks and elderly people from all walks of life held hands in a community dance. I realized then that people moved here to rediscover community and look out for each other. We had found our "forever roots" in this unique haven of openness and tolerance.

But our bond was tested on September 27, 2024, when Hurricane Helene struck with record-breaking quantities of rain. We awoke to a world of utter devastation. Ankle-deep streams had turned into wild rivers, smashing homes and businesses. The ruin was complete: roads were washed out, power lines were down, and we were cut off from the rest of the world. No cell service, no Internet, no running water — only the frightening silence of isolation. Refusing to sit still and grieve, Meherwan and I gathered a small crew at our restaurant. We had thrived here for nineteen years, and now it was time to give back. By the second day, we began cooking for our neighbors, despite the lack of resources. We weren't just serving food; we were trying to sustain the spirit of our town.

While we were busy in the kitchen, I looked up to see a group of kids wandering in on their bikes. They weren't looking for a handout but rather to give a hand. With their boots covered in mud, they stood ready. "We want to help," one of them said firmly.

注意：

1.续写词数应为150 左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题卡相应位置作答。

I nodded and assigned the young volunteers to the sandwich station.

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Soon, similar scenes of support were playing out all over the city.

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1. 描述具体现象；

2. 呼吁爱护公物。

注意：

1. 写作词数应为80左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear teacher and classmates,

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I was1 my team when our goalkeeper got injured. No one else volunteered, so I2 reluctantly, never having tried the position before. I felt3 in the unfamiliar spot. Soon, a striker broke through and I dived to4 his shot. His boot caught me right in the face in the5. The cut was deep and blood was everywhere.

I had no money for a taxi and was too embarrassed to get on a bus with a6 face. I asked a friend for a7 on his bicycle, but the bridge on our way was too steep for him to pedal with my8. I had to walk the rest of the way,9 my heavy kitbag. People gaped at my face in shock, but I kept moving. The long walk home felt like a lonely march of10.

When I finally arrived, my grandmother treated the wound with warm turmeric. Seeing my downcast eyes, she whispered, "The mark on your face isn't a sign of failure, but a proof of your11. You stood where others wouldn't." Her words12 me faster than the medicine.

That wasn't the only time I got hurt on those overused pitches. Injuries were frequent, but they13 me for the struggles ahead. Over time, I realized the scar became a medal of14, a symbol of pride and courage. It taught me being a sportsman meant15 every ball life throws without fear.

Snip the bottom of the stems.

Cutting the bottom of flower stems on an angle is a traditional and effective technique. "An angle is best," says Wiles. "It creates a larger surface area to draw up water and prevents the stem from sitting flat against the bottom of the vase." What matters most is keeping the vase clean and water fresh.

It's vital to change out the water before it gets cloudy. Every day would be best. "Some flowers, like sunflowers, promote more bacteria growth, so they need more frequent changes," says Wiles. When doing so, remember to also add more flower food to the fresh water to maintain nutrient levels.

Keep the environment clean and tidy.

"As flowers die, they produce more bacteria and ethylene gas, which makes the other flowers wilt faster," Wiles noted. Removing them as soon as possible helps the rest last longer.

Keep the vase out of the sunlight.

A vase is not a garden of living flowers; it's a container of dying ones, so they don't need direct sun. In fact, that's a bad thing. "Direct sunlight increases the temperature and reduces vase life. The warmth accelerates the flowers' breath and water loss, essentially making them ‘age' faster," Wiles says.

By following these simple steps, you can slow down the clock and enjoy the natural beauty of your blooms for as long as possible.

A. Why does this supposedly work?

B. Refresh water and flower food regularly.

C. What will actually make your flowers last longer?

D. Buy more flower mix to add back into fresh water.

E. A cooler, darker room will keep flowers fresh longer.

F. While it turns out that's a good thing, don't worry if you cut them straight.

G. You can do this for artistic factors, but there's an even better reason to do it.

A healthy river should be winding, free flowing and filled with wildlife. The ideal river is "very dynamic, messy and chaotic", says Glen Swainson, a manager of RSPB. In Britain, however, 97% of rivers are broken up by artificial barriers. And for centuries rivers have been slowly artificially straightened to stop water from flooding and spilling onto farmland and houses.

But removing a river's natural meanders has, in fact, achieved the opposite effect. Instead, it has disrupted the flow of rivers and destroyed water habitats, water quality and heightened flood risk. As the poor health of Europe's rivers and streams continues to make news, communities are turning towards natural solutions to restore their rivers.

According to Tom Hayek, a natural flood management specialist, adding meanders into rivers has two benefits — it changes both the volume and the speed of water. Firstly, it decreases what's known as flow conveyance. "When the length of the river is increased, you spread water over a wider area. This allows more water to sit up in the headwaters." The second impact is on speed. Put simply, the more structure you add to the shape of a river, the slower the water will move down it. If it's straight, water will "fly" through, says Hayek. When the flow of water is slowed, it creates deeper pools for fish to gather and rest.

With meanders added to Swindale Beck, the results were astonishing, says Annabel Rushton, a visitor experience manager. "Within three months of that river being re-wiggled, the salmon (鲑鱼) were spawning (产卵) in that one kilometre area for the first time in over150 years," she says. Scientists have also noted an increase in fish gathering. Then, there were the knock-on effects. Water-loving plants returned, providing cover for young fish to feed and hide.

Let us not forget my wedding-regift incident. We received a very expensive electric teakettle. We don't drink tea, so we returned it to the store and got S75. Later, the store manager called, furious, accusing us of trading them a piece of junk. Someone had bought the kettle and discovered an obviously used cut-glass Easter basket inside. It turns out that person had regifted it to us. We paid the store back and were handed that ugly Easter basket.

This made me wonder: Is regifting a form of rudeness? To find out, let's explore both sides of the regifting debate.

First of all, humans have been regifting since the dawn of time. Caveman A gives Caveman B a rock; Caveman B gives it to Caveman C. We call that anthropology (人类学). Modern life demands efficiency. Why let something sit in a cabinet? Why not give that brand-new item to someone who will actually use it? It's economical. It's environmentally friendly. It's basically the circle of life.

And yet, regifting is a high-risk sport. It requires memory and strategy. Give the gift to the wrong person, and suddenly people are texting: "Didn't I give this to you?" Regifting can go terribly wrong if you misjudge a person's taste, so you should not regift within the same social ecosystem, while also carefully removing all the evidence (cards, receipts, etc.). Ultimately, the key is to match the gift to the person — so never give spa products to someone who hates lotions (乳液).

My official ruling? Regifting is not rude. Thoughtlessness is rude. Waste is rude. But giving something new, unused and suited to someone else's preferences is generosity in its most practical, planet- friendly form. So go ahead — regift joyfully, wisely and guilt-free. After all, someone out there really needs those candied nuts.

A recent report led by Rahul Mahna's team from the University of East London found that an AI password cracker called PassGAN could crack any seven- digit password in less than six minutes — even if the passwords contained symbols, numbers, and capital and lowercase letters. Additionally, the AI cracked 51% of these usual types of passwords within a minute, 65% within an hour, 71% within a day and 81% within a month. After seeing these worrying results, you'll undoubtedly take online security more seriously.

How can you protect your passwords from these hackers? Mahna suggests the following methods to help you protect yourself against hackers.

Unique passwords everywhere

Mahna emphasizes having different passwords for each website, device or service. Don't worry about remembering all these passwords, since password managers can not only store your passwords but can also generate unique combinations for you.

Long passwords

Using long passwords that include numbers, capital and lowercase letters and symbols — and are not easily understood or inferred — will enhance the protection element.

Personal privacy

Posting too much information online — like on Facebook or Instagram — about your life is not a good idea if you're concerned about security. It can provide information about your location, valuables and family.

If you assume you've been hacked, don't scan for viruses or change passwords until you have disconnected from the Internet. The best way to handle an attack is to prepare in advance, like changing your passwords frequently.