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Does work ever leave you feeling stuck in a boring way of life with limited opportunities to be creative? To thrive(成长), you might want to increase your brain's flexibility. But is this even possible, and if so, how?

Most jobs require the ability to problem-solve and cope with challenges, at least to a certain extent. Imagine a teacher who has a new and very nervous student in their class. If that teacher is a flexible thinker, they will be able to adapt their classroom management, even if they haven't seen this situation before. According to Leonard Mlodinow, author of Elastic, flexible thinkers rely on idea generation and imagination—they are willing to experiment and take risks. "Elastic(灵活的) thinking is what you need when the circumstances change, and you are dealing with something new. It's not about following rules." Therefore, instead of following the typical procedure for handing a new student, the teacher might come up with a tailored response, based on prediction and previous experience.

So, how can you become a more flexible thinker? According to Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett, it's all about exercising the brain. One way of doing this, she says, is through exposure to a variety of experiences which make it easier to adjust to new situations. A lot of companies now consider flexible thinking in the workplace, especially when it comes to design. Workspaces may have couches where workers can lie down and relax, giving them the space to come up with and process new ideas. Mlodinow says it's very important to take time today dream, listen to ideas and concepts you disagree with and spend time doing activities outside of your comfort zone. This will help you understand multiple opinions and therefore blossom in many different aspects of your career.

In a word, if you want to make a change, you can become a flexible thinker too, with a little practice.

Splendid straw-made miniatures(缩微模型) of classic ancient buildings decorate Xu Jian's home. They range from the Yellow Crane Tower to Forbidden City's turrets. They are all full of details and delicately crafted, tied and arranged by Xu's hands from countless sorghum straws(高粱杆).

The craft involves carving grooves(沟槽) into the sorghum straws, before multiple straws are locked together through those identically sized grooves, Xu says, adding that the sorghum straw art requires a great deal of patience, especially for works depicting ancient architecture.

Under the influence of his father Xu Yanfeng, Xu Jian got his hands on sorghum straws in childhood. He still vividly remember show his father would follow a film featuring scenes of Tiananmen Square and then note down all the details before creating a delicate miniature of it for over three years. The work was then sent to Japan for exhibition and collected by a local museum. Ever since, many of his father's works made their way to exhibitions at home and abroad.

Xu Jian became committed to the art after he reached 19, getting into the depth of the related techniques. "My father urged me to keep in mind traditional Chinese architectural skills and the history of traditional building protections, and to apply them to my own sorghum straw artworks," he says. Through hands-on guidance from his father, Xu Jian's skills became increasingly proficient. While inheriting the craftsmanship from his father, Xu Jian has produced his own creative works.

To date, Xu Jian's works have been exhibited in over 40 provincial and national-level exhibitions, earning numerous gold awards. To promote the art, Xu Jian joined hands with the School of Civil Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, in 2013, and founded a sorghum straw carving and tying base where the art has been integrated with architectural courses to enhance students' thinking and practical skills.

The European Towns and Cities That Are Magical at Christmas

Hallstatt, Austria

The town of Hallstatt and its beautiful landscape enjoy UNESCO protection. The old townhouses, tiny lanes and snow make this the ultimate destination forgetting into the festive mood. Hallstatt's Christmas market is the stuff of legend. Picture a brightly lit tree and stalls selling decorations and handicrafts and you're halfway to imagining just how special this spot is.

Valkenburg, Netherlands

Valkenburg has much of the usual European Christmas charms to attract visitors. However, what makes it special is the fact that they can all be found underground. The town's Christmas Caves have become internationally renowned, with a wide range of stills selling festive gifts and decorations. The larger Municipality Cave is home to one of the largest indoor Christmas markets in Europe.

Wroclaw, Poland

Wroclaw is regarded as one of Poland's most beautiful cities, but it takes things to another level at Christmas. The city's Christmas market is home to over 250 stalls and a superb fair. The architecture here captures the Christmas feeling too, with Gothic structures meaning everyone can tap into the special feeling that only comes round at this time of year.

Gothenburg, Sweden

Gothenburg is full of festive surprises for those willing to risk traveling north and brave the Scandinavian chill. And chief among them is the Liseberg Christmas Market. Set in an amusement park celebrating its100th anniversary in 2023, visitors can enjoy rides here and taste delicacies(佳肴) from across the country, including pickled herring, reindeer and spiced wine.

In 1989, just out of high school, I was faced with the tough job of deciding my own course of study, which was only three months away from university. In those days in Pakistan, there were limited choices: becoming a doctor or an engineer or entering the financial world after obtaining a business degree. I didn't have any interest in engineering, so all I had to do was either medical or commercial work. I couldn't decide.

My uncle, an influential member of the family, recommended that I spend a month in an international company and then a month at a hospital. Then I could make a decision. I thought it was a great idea.

I was accepted for a month's placement（实习工作）at a foreign bank in Karachi. I had some insight into how the financial world worked, met new acquaintances, and enjoyed the general relaxed atmosphere of the office.

The month passed quickly, and I was soon employed at one of Karachi's premier hospitals. The experience could not have been more different. There was a tense atmosphere at the hospital. Days began sooner（at seven as opposed to nine in the morning at the bank）, and they were full of interminable（无止境的）chores and late-night visits! It was insane（疯狂的）, working all day, all night, and then another.

I was starting to think about both of my experiences. The bank had offered a more relaxing environment, better working hours and less pressure. It was exciting and unpredictable in the hospital, but it was hard to learn and practice. It looked like the business choice would win.

Near the end of my month in the hospital, I was on my way back from a particularly hectic（紧张忙碌的）evening call, and there was a public bus in front of me, and there were some kids in it. While the driver threaded his way through the cars, I saw that the boys were swaying left and right.

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。

All of a sudden, a boy fell from the back of the bus. 

……

When I visited him at the hospital the following morning, all his family members stood up with grateful smiles on their faces. 

1.写信目的；2.具体安排；3.期待回复。

注意：1.词数80左右；2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。3.参考词汇：民间工艺美术博物馆the Folk Art Museum

Dear Bill,

……

Yours,

Li Hua