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As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. Laughing is like a super drug for your health that can lift your mood, lessen pain, and protect you from the  (harm) effects of stress.

Journalist, author and professor Norman Cousins was  well-known supporter of laughter as a form of medicine and an outstanding figure  the field of health and wellness. Diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (强直性脊柱炎) in the late 1960s, Cousins  (age) about 50, had little hope of recovery; just one in 500 chances. However, Cousins  (notice) that his pain decreased when he involved in laughter, according to the Newport Academy. So, he began to schedule funny movies for  (he) on a regular basis.  (remarkable), he lived another 25 years post-diagnosis and conducted in-depth research on the medical benefits of laughter, with the support of California University Hospital.

Since then, research has continuously confirmed the effectiveness of laughter in relieving pain improving overall well-being. It's been found that a hearty laugh can lessen physical tension, (leave) muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes. Importantly, these physical improvements have a significant positive impact on mental health, as the mind and body (connect).

Three years ago, I spotted a video of someone making resin (树脂) art. He 1 poured and mixed colors together. I couldn't 2 thinking about its beauty for nights. Less than a month later, I ordered a beginner's resin kit to 3 .

When I was a kid, my artist grandmother taught me to 4 , and I've always enjoyed getting 5 and making things with my hands. The resin art videos 6 me to relight the childhood creativity that I had lost while working in London.

But it's more 7 than it looks. Resin s a heavy liquid that when applied can't be completely controlled. It was in those tougher moments that I 8 my artist grandmother, and our valuable moments spent painting together. Resin art was a 9 for me to honor her.

After I first 10  a picture of my work on my phone, my friends began 11  me for resin art. So I had an idea to make my artworks to be sold to the public and developed a resin art website. After 12  the first ones, I quickly sold out of them. Within a year, I had made over $2,600 13 , which I donated to charity. I even had my first display in Devon. I never thought it would turn into a life-changing 14 .

As long as there are people who'd like to buy my work, I'd like to make it. I pour colors from memories of beautiful places into my art, and I hope my grandmother would be 15 that I chose a life filled with more creativity.

With our lives becoming increasingly busy and stressful, it's easy to forget to check in on our mental well-being and to neglect our emotional health needs. So cultivating "self-compassion" is very important.

We're humans, not machines, and can't be completely together all the time. This helps us recognise the early warning signs that something is wrong like tearfulness and feeling overwhelmed.

We can then take action to improve our mental balance, which in turn can help us better cope with the challenges life throws at us. 

Doing just one small positive thing each day can make a big difference and be enough to restore a sense of balance.Or going for a walk in the fresh air and feeling the warmth of the sun. Or walking the dog.

Changing the way we tackle negative thinking also helps a lot. One technique is to stick to the facts about a particular situation rather than listening to negative thoughts and anxieties. So we can ask questions like: Is this true?Does this thinking benefit me or hinder me? Could I see it another way?

When we struggle to get to sleep, our minds can start to fill with anxious thoughts that make it even harder to doze off. Having a cool environment, not drinking caffeine past midday or banning mobile phones from the bedroom could be the changes you need.

A. How you set up your day?

B. Why am I seeing it like that?

C. Being a big advocate for helping others.

D. Having good-quality sleep can improve mental health.

E. Here are small but important steps that can ease the burden.

F. It might be simply like dancing around the house to expel nervous energy.

G. But we can monitor our mood and emotions to know what our "normal" is and if it's in need of a boost.

Young children are significantly more likely than adults to have their opinions influenced by robots according to a new research. The study, conducted-at the-University of Plymouth, compared how adults and children respond to an identical (相同的) task when in the presence of both their peers (同龄人) and robots. 

It showed that while adults regularly have their opinions influenced by peers, something also demonstrated in previous studies, they are largely able to resist being persuaded by robots. However, children aged between seven and nine were more likely to give the same responses as the robots, even if they were obviously incorrect.

The study asks people to look at a screen showing four lines and say which two match in length. When alone, people almost never make a mistake but when doing the experiment with others, they tend to follow what others are saying. 

When children were alone in the room in this research, they scored 87%on the test, but when the robots join in their score drops to 75%. And of the wrong answers, 74% matched those of the robot. 

Professor Belpaeme said, "People often follow the opinions of others and we've known for a long time that it is hard to resist taking over views and opinions of people around-us. But as robots will soon be found in the home and the workplace, we were wondering if people would follow robots. What our results show is that adults do not follow what the robots are saying. But when we did the experiment with children, they did. It shows children can perhaps have more of an affinity (亲和力)with robots than adults, which does pose the question: What if robots were to suggest, for example, what products to buy or what to think?"

I still remember my friends giving me the advice: Get a hobby. I was stressed and, of course, also on my phone too much. I was writing about food for work, so cooking didn't really count as a hobby anymore, nor did reading, nor socializing, especially since all of my friends worked in my industry. I needed something in my life that existed apart from all that.

Cooking had once been the thing I did to relax when I got home from work, the thing I was curious about. The kitchen had once been a release, but now it was part of my professional life. It needed a replacement. A few months later, I dutifully signed up for a ceramics(制陶艺术) class at a studio near my apartment.

Powerlessness, for an amateur, can be its own draw. At the studio, I started as a lazy learner, but after a few months I became crazy, signing up for more classes when my session ended. I had something to be curious about, and my goals were unrelated to outer forces: a boss, a job, a market, a reader. Unlike with writing, my progress was quantifiable: Now I can make a vase this tall. Now my handles are beautiful. Now I have made two things that more or less look like a pair.

Finally finding a hobby that was just for my own enjoyment was enjoyable. I enjoyed having something to do that didn't involve a screen and therefore felt far from the style of work to which I was most accustomed —hands covered in clay cannot swipe(滑屏) very well.

Making time for this also means carving out time, for creation and inspiration, and also for the rest that is required for me to reflect on my life. This is something I desire more than a new hobby. This is peace.

The wind howled (呼啸) with the terrible storm at night. The stars were stuck to the black sheet of the sky. The next morning, when I woke up, the winter's icy wind caused me to shake

My friends and I agreed to take up the skiing contest. I took a seat near the heater, warming my hand and trying to calm myself before the skiing contest. I was encouraging myself by shouting, "I can win this contest. "As soon as I reached the white mountain top, I began wearing my safety guards for the climb down. We rhythmically recited "Ready-set-go" and the race began. At every moment my speed started to increase. Finally, winning was only one step away. As a wise man had once said, "With a determined heart, a mouse can also lift an elephant. So willpower and courage can help conquer (战胜) a hard task. " My hope helped me to conquer this challenging race. I was on top of the world by winning the skiing contest. Skiing has now become my hobby.

The next morning, it was snowing heavily. Watching this wonderful sight along with tasting the delicious hot chocolate, we friends were planning to go for an overnight climb to the top of the mountain. We came out of the hotel room and stepped into the deep snow which buried half our legs into the soft snowy ground. The best moment till now was looking up at the grand mountain. Also the view was clear. I was eager to start my climb. We climbed towards the top and all of a sudden I lost my balance and fell from the mountain. Fortunately I did not end up giving up my life but got a severe fracture (骨折) on my leg. 

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。

This put me into complete disappointment in the first few days of my recovery. 

……

One fine evening, I saw a joyful hawker (饲鹰者) with a disabled eagle. 

注意：
1.写作词数应为80左右；
2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Dear Peter,

……

Yours, 

Li Hua

Falling around December 22nd, the winter solstice (冬至) is one of the traditional Chinese festivals  also one of the 24 solar terms (节气).

The winter solstice festival originated from the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) and  (develop) well in the Tang and Song dynasties (618-1279). People in the old times attached great  (important) to the festival. In the Han Dynasty, the festival was regarded as the Winter Festival and people had one day off for the holiday. Officials organized the ceremonies  (celebrate) the day and people visited each other with delicious food.

Traditions and customs for the day vary different areas of China. In the northern part of China, people usually eat dumplings, and mutton to celebrate the day. In the southern part, tang yuan and noodles are the festival food. The dumpling is the (essence) food for people in northern China. After the winter solstice, it will become colder and colder. By eating dumplings, people think they can avoid (they) ears from being frozen as the dumplings look like people's ear.

Tangyuan,  is popular in southern China, is a kind of glutinous rice (糯米) ball with different fillings. It can  (boil) or fried. People think after  (eat) it, they will age one. People also use it to present to relatives and friends.

Jim Quick grew up on a farm in Orchard Hill, Georgia. There he learned how1 bees are to the food we eat. When he was 11, his grandfather asked him to start a beehive to keep the2 growing strong.

"Forty-two years later, and I'm still3 ,"Quick said in a recent interview. Before his retirement, the master beekeeper taught entomology (the study of insects) at the University of Georgia in Athens.

Quick is still learning about bees on the farm where he grew up. But he is worried: The bee4 is in danger. Nearly 40% of beehives in the United States were5 in 2021 alone. This6 Quick and other scientists because bees are essential to food7 .They pollinate (授粉) flowering crops and plants, 8 the production of seeds and fruits.

The declining bee population can be9 by several factors, including parasites (寄生物) that kill or weaken the hives. Habitat loss,10 , and climate change are also to blame. Pesticides get into the nectar (花蜜) of plants, which is essential to a bee's11 . Poisonous substances in the nectar harm the bees' memory.

Scientists are searching for12 to help the bee population. But Quick already has a(n)13 ."Set up a beehive at school," he said, "and learn more about pollinators." Kids aren't too young to14 . After all, just at the age of 11 Quick15 his first beehive. "We could grow more bees," he said, "if we had more people to do it."

All relationships require work, though it may not always feel like work.  Professional relationships require work too. Here are some tips to improve your relationships and get along better with others in both your personal and your professional lives. 

Listen to others. The most important skill in communication is the ability to listen to others. Rather than doing all the talking, take time to stop and hear what others have to say.  

Be polite and positive. When you are the one speaking, do it in a way that considers others' feelings and leaves a positive impact. Think about what you want to say before you say it. If you're responding to someone, say something positive if you agree and offer an encouraging word. Doing this early in your relationship sets a healthy example for future interactions.

Be honest and sincere. Another communication skill is to make sure you speak with honesty and sincerity. When we trust people, we know that "they say what they mean, and they mean what they say. "

Listen with respect for other people's experiences. Look for chances to listen to them, even if you disagree with what they are saying. Be open to changing your mind or understanding things in a different way. You may also want to ask for and receive feedback on your own business. A different view provides you with the chance to grow and learn.

A. Keep an open mind.

B. Look for common ground.

C. Avoid interrupting other people.

D. Ask questions that help you understand them more deeply.

E. Don't be afraid to apologize if you say something unintended.

F. You will build relationships with others when you tell them the truth.

G. That could mean calling a friend, or getting together with your family for the holidays.

Russia is launching a new module (舱) for the International Space Station(ISS), after more than a decade of delays. The Nauka module is set to lift off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on top of a Proton-M rocket at around 15:00 GMT today, along with a new robotic arm for the station created by the European Space Agency. 

The ISS is composed of modules and equipment from different space agencies including Europe, Japan and Canada, but the major part of the station is composed of two main sections, a Russian part and a US part. At 13 meters long and weighing more than 20 tonnes, Nauka, also called the Multipurpose Laboratory Module, will be among the largest in Russia's half.

After launch, Nauka will take eight days to reach the ISS. Once attached, it will act as a new centre for the Russian part of the station. "It's a science laboratory, and it also provides a lot of important service systems," says Anatoly Zak, editor of a website. Planned research includes biological and materials science experiments. "It's a step in making the Russian part more independent (from the US part)." This includes a new toilet inside the module and sleeping rooms for the crew.

The launch of Nauka has been a long time coming, with construction of the module beginning in the 1990s. Technical and supply issues since then, such as the loss of components from Ukraine following the Russian annexation (兼并) of Crimea in 2014, have seen development stumble (蹒跚而行). "It's much more complex than anything the Russian space programme has tried to build in the last few years," says Zak. Russia's last module — Rassvet — was carried to the ISS by a US spacecraft in 2010.

Inspired by the effortless way humans handle objects without seeing them, a team led by engineers at the University of California San Diego has developed a new approach that enables a robotic hand to rotate (旋转) objects alone through touch, without relying on vision. 

Using their technique, the researchers built a robotic hand that can smoothly rotate a wide variety of objects, such as small toys, cans, and even fruits and vegetables, without damaging them. The robotic hand performed these tasks using only information based on touch. The work could aid in the development of robots that can manipulate objects in the dark. To build their system, the researchers attached 16 touch sensors to the palm (掌心) and fingers of a four-fingered robotic hand. Each sensor costs about $12 and serves a simple function: detect whether an object is touching it or not. 

What makes this approach unique is that it relies on many low-cost touch sensors that use simple, binary (二进制的) signals — touch or no touch — to perform robotic in-hand rotation. These sensors are spread over a large area of the robotic hand. This contrasts with a variety of other approaches that rely on a few high-cost touch sensors attached to a small area of the robotic hand,primarily at the fingertips. 

The researchers then tested their system on the real-life robotic hand with objects that the system has not yet encountered. The robotic hand was able to rotate a variety of objects without losing its hold. The objects included a tomato,pepper,a can of peanut butter and a toy rubber duck,which was the most challenging object due to its shape. 

Wang and his team are now working on extending their approach to more complex operation tasks. They are currently developing techniques to enable robotic hands to throw and catch, for example. "If we can give robots this skill, that will open the door to the kinds of tasks they can perform," said Wang.

As founder of the Global Water Policy Project and lead expert for National Geographic's Freshwater Initiative, Sandra's goal is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of the Earth's freshwater resources.

Sandra says she grew up in New York as a Long Island beach kid. She was always a ware of the "comfort, peace, and balance" offered by the natural world, especially the environments of wetlands and rivers. Before starting work on a project, Sandra considers an area's "geography of water": the amount of water in the area's basin, the population, and the agricultural use of water. The geography of water helps Sandra determine an area's water stress. Water stress is the situation where a community is using more water than nature made available.

Sandra first became aware of the concept of water stress after reading Swedish hydrologist Malin Falkenmark's book Water for a Starving World. This groundbreaking work linked water use, food and population. As Sandra began to understand water stress, she realized it affects everything, from a community's development to its political security. "So many great civilizations developed alongside rivers and lakes," she says, pointing to the ancient civilizations of Ur (between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers), Egypt (which developed on the Nile), and the Indus River Valley.

Today, Sandra points out, more than 200 rivers are shared between two or more nations. Dams and other river management techniques implemented (实施) by nations upstream have a huge impact on nations downstream. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers have their sources in Turkey, for example, but their basins are in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. River management from Turkey would impact the freshwater available to these countries for drinking, hygiene (卫生), industry, and transportation. 

Water management has become part of many nations' foreign policy. Sandra points to the Mekong River Commission. The headwaters of the Mekong River are in China, although the basin is nearly 800,000 square kilometers and includes the nations of Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Many governments are members of the Mekong River Commission, which promotes sustainable development of the water supply.

Based on 2023's new book releases, we have a feeling that we'll be reading all year long. Below, we're highlighting just a few of the new books coming out in 2023 that you may want to check out.

The People Who Report More Stress

By Alejandro Valero

$24.18

Alejandro's first novel The Town of Babylon came out in 2022, and this forthcoming short story collection, full of memorable personalities, explores similar themes: community, relationships, modern incredible life, racism and parenthood.

When Trying to Return Home 

By Jennifer Maritza McCauley

$25.11

Spanning (跨越) between Puerto Rico, Pittsburgh, Louisiana and Miami, this short story collection explores the complexities of belonging and the true meaning of home. Each individual story and the themes mentioned are written through the Black American and Afro-Latino experiences.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride

By Roshani Chokshi

$43.70

Roshani Chokshi's first surprising novel for adults is a fairy tale-filled story about marriage and the secrets couples keep from each other. That, and an enchanted (施过魔法的) house off the coast of Washington and hotel fortune.

I Have Some Questions for You

By Rebecca Makkai

$27.90

Imagine if your life was the stuff of a true crime documentary. Bodie Kane has tried to move on past the 1995 murder of her boarding school roommate. When she returns to the boarding school as an adult, Bodie realizes there are still mysteries about how the case was wrapped up and justice was served.