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We say that technology is a double-edged sword—while it brings convenience, it also brings new problems. The sword of "social media" even has a gender preference in its damage. It cuts deeper into girls than boys.

Earlier studies have shown that spending too much time on social media is bad for teenagers'mental health. Constantly watching their friends show off "perfect" lives can hurt their own self-esteem. That's not to mention the problems caused by online shaming and bullying.

Jean Twenge, a professor at San Diego State University in the US, recently discovered an alarming trend: Since 2010, the number of teenage girls who suffer from major depression—showing signs like self-harm and suicide—has increased much faster than that of boys. In an article she wrote at The Conversation, Twenge said social media, again, was to blame.

For starters, girls use social media more than boys. Boys tend to spend their screen time on games, where they talk to their teammates through headphones. This counts as real human contact. Girls, however, simply type and browse through posts, which is a much isolated experience. "They're not having a real-time conversation with someone," Mary Fristad, psychologist at The Ohio State University, told NPR.

And when it comes to online shaming, girls are also more vulnerable than boys. "Girls face more pressure about their appearance, which could be exacerbated (加重) by social media," wrote Twenge.

Shannon McLaughlin, for example, is an 18-year-old from Blackburn College in the US. She shared with the Guardian how social media made her feel depressed. "I was constantly confronted by women with skinny bodies who were praised for the way they looked. This was only made worse by the diet fixes and skinny culture," she said. But McLaughlin found a solution. She started volunteering with the National Citizen Service, where she made face-to-face contact with people. "It's so easy to forget the importance of real connections when we have hundreds of people that we're trying to impress at our fingertips," she told the Guardian. And she hopes that others "look up from their phones and focus more on the world around them".

While learning the science lessons, I used to get a doubt—why ears, nose, tongue and eyes should be called as special senses? The basic reason is that these are the channels through which we maintain contact with the surroundings. Though apparently it may feel like these are individual sensory organs, they do show some connectivity. Interestingly, our hearing is less sharp after we eat a heavy food. Isn't it good for a sound nap after a stomach-full meal? That does not mean we go deaf after a meal, but the hearing pitch (强度) does change after a heavy meal.

We usually give credit of the taste to our tongue, but do you know that unless saliva (唾液) dissolves something, our tongue cannot recognize the taste of the food eaten. Taste is nothing but the food chemicals dissolved in the saliva being sensed by the taste buds present on the tongue. Try to dry off your tongue and mouth with a tissue paper and then taste something.

Women are much better smellers than men. They are born with this characteristic ability and can correctly pinpoint the exact fragrance of the sample. We all can store almost 50, 000 different scents (气味), which are strongly tied to the memories. 

Pupils (瞳孔) do not respond to light alone, but to the slightest bit of noise around too. Thus surgeons, watchmakers and those professionals who have to perform a much delicate job do prefer to have a sound-free environment. Even a small noise can dilate (扩大) their pupils, change the focus and blur (使模糊) their vision. If you do not wear glasses or contact lens due to having a 6/6 vision, you are just among the one third of the human population. It is now statistically proved that only one third of the population has perfect vision, rest all are either wearing glasses or are trying to read with a compromised vision. 

Each and every one of us has a particular or individualistic or characteristic smell, which is unique to us, except for the identical twins. This smell is very subtle (微妙的) yet can be sensed even by a newborn. It may be due to this scent that the newborn recognizes the presence of his parents around. Many of us can pinpoint the smell of our significant friends and colleagues. A significant part of this phenomenon is guided by genetics but it is also changed by the environment, diet and personal hygiene. This all together creates the unique chemistry that is individualistic for each person.

I had not hugged a friend or a family member for more than two years until recently when my sister-in-law flew in for a brief visit. For everyone's safety, we met outside. Despite the wintry weather, her hug warmed me from the inside out. It's strange, but only now do I truly realize how much I've missed embracing loved ones—the warmth that remains long after our arms have untwined (松开).

Growing up through war in my hometown of Sarajevo, Bosnia, every moment was full of danger. On one peaceful morning, I had begged my mom to let me go outside after spending weeks wilting (蔫) indoors. She finally agreed. I was outside for only 10 minutes when I was caught in an explosion. I ran to my neighbor's house for safety and draped (悬挂) my arms around her neck just as my legs collapsed (瘫倒) underneath me. She hugged me with both arms and dragged me into her house. I was still in her arms when the ambulance arrived.

Thankfully, I made a full physical recovery, but the emotional scars never left me. Years later there was another explosion near my house. I was safely inside, but my father had left to buy a loaf of bread. He had only just missed the blast. When he came back inside, I gave him the biggest hug imaginable. I was caked in tears as I held him tight.

That same night my parents managed to arrange my escape from our war-torn city. They desperately wanted at least some of my childhood to be normal. I was 16 and came to America on my own. A generous host family took me in and I began learning English and going to school. They had a large dog called Oscar. Over the next several months, I secretly struggled with feeling homesick and worried about my family back home. Despite managing quite well at school, I couldn't express my feelings. The only way I shared how I felt was by giving Oscar a big hug.

It is yet another sad aspect of our pandemic lives that hugging a stranger is the last thing on our minds. For many of us, even hugging a relative or a friend comes with stress and anxiety over risks and precautions (防范). Perhaps we have undervalued the impact of a simple hug. As I look back on my past, I count myself truly lucky to have been held, shielded and encouraged at some of the most key moments of my life by the almost otherworldly (超世俗的) power of a hug. I pray that in the not-so-distant future we can safely hold one another again -a friend, relative, or even a stranger.

London is a huge city with more things to do than anywhere else. With the London Pass, you get free entry to over 50 specially selected places with one purchase. In the list you'll find:

• 19 historic buildings

• 22 museums and art galleries

• 8 tours, cruises and walks and entertainment activities

• 13 places of interest including boats and aquariums

• 12 restaurants and services

The London Pass not only offers great value and convenience, but also enables you to beat the queues at selected attractions. There are also special offers such as discounts at restaurants and theaters, where the attraction is normally free to the public. The London Pass also gives you great offers such as a free guided tour. So whether you prefer museums or cinemas, galleries or ice skating or zoos, with The London Pass there really is something for everyone.

You can buy Adult or child passes for 2, 3 or 6 days. See all ticket prices bellow and choose what you need.

You can contact us by sending emails or making calls. Please call 1-888-254-0637. Outside the US please call 00-800-84468370 or+ 1210 507 5997.

VIP reservations: Contact a Customer Service representative at 1-866-270-2849.

NOTE: If your reservation is made prior to November 15^th, 2020 email sales@previewhotels.com.

When Jasmine Benton was just 9 years old, she realized that her love for creating art was more than just a 1  . Each night in her diary she wrote about the 2  she dreamed of starting, bringing it to her mother Jennifer Gormer one Sunday morning to 3  the important news.

"I want to start my own company." Jasmine told Jennifer. When Jennifer looked at Jasmine's 4 she was astonished to see the outline of a real, practical business 5 . "She had the name of her business, the 6 she was going to sell, and who her customers were," said Jennifer. "She had the vision (远见). It was all there."

Jasmine comes from a long line of 7 . Her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother all started their own businesses. And with her family's 8 , Jasmine started Precious Designs, a company that changes trash into treasure. She spent her adolescence and teen years creating artwork and 9 it at trade shows and art shows. Unfortunately, her friends were not very 10 , and she went through a 11 period when her work wasn't selling. 12 , she just kept trying and never 13 . Jennifer comforted and encouraged Jasmine and told her that sticking to her vision was 14 and asked her to 15 the naysayers (否定者).

Now Jasmine is 18 years old and her company is truly 16 . After working part-time at the "Steve Harvev Show ", Jasmine was tasked with redesigning Steve's nursery. She recently 17 the Youth Entrepreneurship Shark Tank Challenge and won. Besides, she has also 18 her first bit of investor seed money.

Jasmine continues to excel in her career thanks to her innate business sense and 19 to succeed. We could all take a(an) 20 from this young lady's vision and hard work! She has proved that if you can dream it, you can do it.

A light rain was falling as my sister Jill and I ran out of the shop，eager to get home and play with the presents that our parents had prepared for us and our baby sister, Sharon.Across the street from the shop was a gas station where the Greyhound bus stopped，which was closed for New Year，but I saw a family standing outside the locked door，gathering closely together under the narrow overhang in an attempt to keep dry.I wondered briefly why they were there but then forgot about them as I raced to keep up with Jill.

Once we got home，there was barely time to enjoy our presents.We had to go off to our grandparents' house for our annual family dinner.As we drove down the highway through town，I noticed that the family was still there，standing outside the closed gas station.

My father was driving very slowly down the highway.The closer we got to the turnoff(岔道) for my grandparents' house，the slower the car went.Suddenly，my father made a Uturn in the middle of the road and said that he couldn't stand it."What？" asked my mother."It's those people back there at the station，standing in the rain.They've got children.It's New Year.I can't stand it."

When my father pulled into the service station，I saw that there were five of them: the parents and three children—two girls and a small boy，who were getting wet standing there. My father rolled down his window."Happy New Year，" he said.

"Thanks. You, too，" the man replied. He was very tall and had to bend slightly to look into the car. Jill, Sharon, and I looked at the children，and they looked back at us.

"You waiting on the bus？" my father asked. The man said that they were. They were going to Birmingham, where he had a brother and chances of a job. Knowing the bus wouldn't come along for several hours, my father invited them to our home to shelter from the rain.

Paragraph 1：

The man thought about it for a moment ， but then refused.

Paragraph 2：

When we got out of the car at our house ， the three children ran through the front door happily.

要点包括：1. 她身上让你欣赏的品质；2. 她带给你的启示。

注意：1. 词数80左右；2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Mary,

……

Yours,

Li Hua

5G is developing, but most of us aren't really sure what it is or the reason  we need it. A big part of the reason is that 5G means more than one thing. If you ask different people, you (provide) with different answers.

Experts believe that 4G is on  way out. In 2020, the U.K. is expected to use 5G. At present, it is unknown exactly what influence 5G will have on people's life but it is widely thought that 5G will  (definite) be faster than any generation of networks we have used previously.

Work will likely become much easier as 5G will allow quicker downloads and a better ability to work online even if there is no wi-fi connection. With the  (develop) of 5G, driverless cars will be able to communicate  other vehicles, which can reduce road accidents by about 10%, One of the most  (impress) things will be that people can see which seats on a train are accessible to  (they) when it arrives at the station.  (get) around the world will also be more convenient.

A number of  (company) are now working on bringing 5G to the market. It remains to be seen how much of the country 5G will cover and whether everyone will be able to benefit from it.

On a common morning just inside the entryway to a subway station, a young man took his violin out of its case. He seemed quite common in 1 . Then the man plucked (拨) the strings for minutes to tune his 2 . After that, he reached into his pocket and 3 a few dollars, which he threw into the violin case, hoping that the passers-by would 4 . Then he began to play, and thousands of people were hurrying to work, school, or wherever they were 5 as the morning rush was 6 . Though the incredible sound of this man's violin filled the subway station, it was apparently 7 by all.

If he were any other street 8 , perhaps it would have been 9 that he earned little attention of people. 10 , he is Joshua Bell, one of the world's most renowned 11 , and he was playing one of the most classical masterpieces on his $3,000,000 violin. Actually, almost nobody noticed his playing. Why? One reason is that he didn't look like a special man; the other is that everyone was too busy to 12 Joshua Bell's excellent music.

"I'm busy!" is an everyday 13 from people like those who walked past Joshua Bell's music without 14 a moment. All of this got me thinking: sometimes we should say no to useless busyness and allow for some 15 presence so as to perceive the beauty around us.

The History of the Automobile

The automobile, more commonly known as the car, certainly counts as one of the greatest inventions in human history. 

As to who invented the automobile, the answer is not quite so clear-cut. While some give credit to Karl Benz, who patented the first gas-powered vehicle in 1886, others give the praise to Gottlieb Daimelr. Incidentally, the two inventors' companies merge (合 并) in 1926 to form the famous Mercedes-Benz.

It was Henry Ford who designed a system of mass production that allowed him to produce cars far more cheaply, which in turn meant he could sell them at lower prices. By 1927, 15 million of Ford's famous all-black Model Ts had been produced. Mass car ownership had become a reality.

Inventors were working on electric vehicles around the same time that gas-powered ones were being developed. The first electric car was designed in 1884 by Thomas Parker, the same man who electrified the London Underground. By 1900, electric vehicles were giving gas cars a run for their money. They were quiet, did not give off emissions, and were easier to drive, especially for women.They were difficult to charge when most people's homes didn't have electricity. They were also rather expensive. In the end, Henry Ford's cheap Model T put an end to interest in electric cars which didn't become popular until the gas shortages and environmental concerns of the late 20th century.

Now, early in the 21st century, we find ourselves on the brink of yet another age in automobile history. Electric cars are set to make the gas-guzzler (油 老 虎) out of date.Benz, Daimler and Parker would surely be amazed by how far their dreams have come.

A. But why were early electric cars not popular?

B. However, they weren't without shortcomings.

C. They were also popular in European countries.

D. It allows people to travel great distances quickly, safely and cheaply.

E. And self-driving cars may soon make human drivers a thing of the past.

F. At first, European models were far too expensive for most people to buy.

G. Many people think of electric vehicles as a new invention, but actually that's not the case.

Most people hate mosquitoes — but scientists are about to build a "mosquito factory" to release modified (改良的) mosquitoes.

The modified mosquitoes carry a bacterium called Wolbachia pipientis (沃尔巴克氏菌), which can be naturally found in most insect species. However, it's rarely discovered in mosquitoes. "We actually grow these mosquitoes that contain the bacterium," Scott O'Neill, an Australian scientist involved in the project, told CBC News. When the modified mosquitoes are released, they slowly spread the bacterium to the population.

Several studies have demonstrated the insects' success. For example, a controlled experiment in Indonesia showed that the modified insect helped reduce the cases of the disease dengue (登革热) by 77 percent, according to a study paper published in 2021.

The World Mosquito Program has announced that it will release modified mosquitoes in many of Brazil's urban areas over the next 10 years. The aim is to protect up to 70 million people from diseases such as dengue, an infectious disease mainly spread by mosquitoes.

Brazil has one of the highest rates of dengue infection in the world, according to the Nature website. "More than 1,000 people died of dengue in 2022 because of the spread of mosquitoes. It's going everywhere," Luciano Moreira, a scientist in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, told CBC News.

Another way to prevent mosquitoes from spreading diseases is by producing genetically modified mosquitoes (GM). In 2022 the US Environmental Protection Agency approved the release of 2.4 billion GM mosquitoes in California and Florida.

According to the agency, GM mosquitoes carry two types of genes: a self-limiting gene that prevents female offspring (后代) from surviving to adulthood; and a marker gene that allows researchers to identify GM ones in the wild. After being released, GM mosquitoes lay eggs, so the genes are passed on to offspring. In this way, the number of female mosquitoes is reduced, therefore reducing the chance of spreading disease.

The growing ice cream franchise(特许经营权) is the brainchild of Tom Landis, a restauranteur(餐馆老板), who wanted to create a safe space for people with special needs to work in the food industry, plus the flavors are great!

At the Dallas-based restaurant, employees serve large scoops of ice cream handed over with love. Tom Landis has hired people with special needs for many years. But he couldn't always provide a job for everyone who came to his fast-paced sandwich shops and pizza joints looking for work. Determined to create a business where friendliness mattered and kitchens were safe, he landed on ice cream.

In 2015, he opened the first ice cream shop; there are now seven franchises in cities including Asheville, El Paso, Indianapolis and Denver. Each shop creates 15 jobs in a safe environment for people with special needs. He said two more franchises were opening soon. "Our relentless mission is to employ all," he said while interviewed by the local media.

Employees are behind some of the best ideas at the ice cream shops, which boast(有) fun flavors like top-selling Dr Pepper Chocolate Chip, and other favorites like Cold Brew &Cookies and Strawberry Milkshake. In-store sampling events are leading to deal with some grocery stores in the coming months.

When Landis talked about the varieties of ice cream in his shops, he said, "It just works. We sell out every time." In the sunny and brightly colored shops, employees spread kindness and happiness to their customers as they dish out extra ice cream and free sprinkles.

"That's what ice cream is," said Landis with joy. His employees are heroes. "They lead me," he added.

World's Greatest Places

Want to see the world? Each year, TIME magazine makes a list of the World's Greatest Places. TIME for Kids picks its favorites. Some places are a window on the past. Others look out on the future. Together, they represent the range of beauty and culture on our planet, from wildlife and other natural wonders to incredible human-made structures. Get ready for an adventure!

I sland Living

Dominica is called the Caribbean's nature island for its waterfalls, hot springs, and volcanoes. Visitors can hike trails and kayak along the coastline. And the island is eco-friendly. There's a new resort that's fully powered by sun and wind.

Family Fun

Phuket, Thailand, is known for its beaches. But there's a new theme park called Carnival Magic, which re-creates traditional festivals. Look at the fireworks! At the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, visitors can feed the animals. Local shops offer ice cream made with coconut milk.

City Central

In 2022, Vienna was named the world's most livable city. Austria's capital has more than a thousand miles of bike paths, and green spaces cover half of its area. There's plenty to do indoors, too. The Belvedere Museum just celebrated its 300th birthday.

Rain On

This is the new visitor center at El Yunque, a rainforest in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. El Yunque is the only tropical rainforest in the United States National Forest Service, and is famous for its biodiversity. Puerto Rico is home to more than 240 plant species and 18 native bird species. You can spot many of them in the park.