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In the 16th century, Dutch theologian Erasmus offered his friends paintings, books, and ancient coins, which became a kind of currency of friendship among early modern humanists.

By the 18th and 19th centuries in Ireland, the Claddagh ring had gained attention as a symbol of both love and friendship: the heart on the ring represents (代表) love, while the clasped hands represent friendship.

By the 18th century, friends were exchanging locks of hair, which degrades very slowly. Like friendship, so the belief went, hair seemed to be everlasting. George Washington even gifted his hair to some of his close friends, including fellow founding father Alexander Hamilton.

Throughout the 19th century, friends exchanged friendship brooches (胸针). They sometimes featured ivy flowers, which Victorians associated with loyalty, and the phrase, "Nothing can separate me from you." As one advertisement for friendship brooches said in 1913, the brooch's circular shape was, "like friendship, endless".

By the end of the 20th century, a new friendship symbol and gift-giving practice took hold: friendship bracelets, which tend to be brightly colored and woven. No one knows exactly where friendship bracelets came from or how the tradition started, but they may have their roots in woven bracelets from Central America.

All these show an idea that's been around forever: It's great to find someone who understands you in this big world, and it's something worth celebrating.

Honolulu Marathon

After New York, Chicago, and Boston, this is the fourth largest marathon in the United States. It's scenic and warm, and there's no time limit, so everyone is allowed to finish, making it a great first-time marathon race. The course runs through downtown Honolulu and its. famed Ghristmas lights, through Waikiki and up around Diamond Head, to an amazing oceanside finish in Kapiolani Park.

Bank of America Chicago Marathon

One of the six World Marathon Majors, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon is typically held on the second Sunday in October. The flat, fast course takes runners past Chicago landmarks on its journey through 29 neighborhoods, starting and finishing in Grant Park. This popular race attracts more than a million audience each year.

Shiprock Marathon

Held the first weekend of May, the Shiprock Marathon takes runners through the rugged（崎岖的）desert landscapes of the Navajo Nation. Along the way, participants enjoy a variety of live music to motivate runners, adding to this unique and memorable running experience.

CNO Financial Indianapolis Monumental Marathon

This is a good qualifying event, as the USATF-certified course is flat and fast. You'll run through the heart of Indianapolis' historic neighborhoods and enjoy Hoosier hospitality（好客）before finishing near the Indiana State House. With a November date, you'll get cool fall weather, and the final stretch is all downhill, so this is a great marathon for first-time long-distance participants.

1. 写作词数为100左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Dear Peter,

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Yours,

Li Hua

Originally constructed around 256 BCE by the State of Qin as an irrigation (灌溉) and flood control system, Dujiangyan is a remarkable example of ancient (engineer) skill and is still in use today.

During the Warring States period, people living along the banks of the Min River were troubled by annual flooding. Irrigation engineer Li Bing (lead) a team to construct an embankment (堤坝) to redirect part of the river's flow upon thorough investigation. Then they cut a channel through Mount Yulei to let out the extra water. During the construction, cutting the channel proved to be a much more challenging task than (anticipate), as the tools available could not break through the hard rock of the mountain. Therefore, they used a (combine) of fire and water to heat and cool the rocks until they broke could be removed. Once completed, the system prevented floods and made Sichuan one of China's most productive (agriculture) regions by using the redirected water irrigation.

Now if you visit Dujiangyan, you will see an unusual construction looks like a fish's mouth. This famous attraction, Yuzui, together with two other important parts, namely, Feishayan and Baopingkou, (design) scientifically to control the water flow throughout the year. Recognized as UNESCO heritage site, Dujiangyan has irrigated farms while preventing floods for over 2,000 years.

This was proven6, though, years later. I was working at a minimum-wage job,7to support my family. One day, I found myself with just 10 dollars in my wallet but the petrol tank on my old car was empty. I8 at a convenience store and bought 5 dollars'9 of gas. As I waited in line to pay, I saw a woman10 searching her purse for money to buy milk for her children. For a second,11 held me back: My math told me I had nothing left. The next moment, however, my emotions urged me to offer her my last 5 dollars! I felt12. It didn't make13 sense to me, but   I was sure this small sum of money made a big difference.

As I reflected later, I began to realize how math, in its own way, had guided my14. Math is much like love: the more we give, whether it's our time or money, the more we receive. Finally, I was able to appreciate the15of math.

Researchers led by academics at Imperial College London studied data from the UK Biobank study on more than 26,000 people who had completed intelligence, reasoning, reaction time and memory tests. They then examined how participants' sleep duration, quality, and chronotype (时间型) affected brain performance. They found that those who stay up late and those classed as "intermediate" had "superior cognitive function", while morning larks had the lowest scores. Going to bed late is strongly associated with creative types. Artists, authors and musicians known to be night owls include James Joyce and Lady Gaga.

But while politicians like Barack Obama famously seemed to thrive on little sleep, the study found that sleep duration is important for brain function, with those getting between seven and nine hours of shut-eye each night performing best in cognitive tests. Prof Daqing Ma, the co-leader of the study, added, "We found that sleep duration has a direct effect on brain function, and we believe that actively managing sleep patterns is really important for boosting and safeguarding the way our brains work. We'd ideally like to see policy interventions (干预) to help sleep patterns improve in the general population."

Some experts, however, urged caution in interpreting the findings. Jessica Chelekis, a sleep expert at Brunel University London, said there were "important limitations" to the study as the research did not account for education attainment, or include the time of day the cognitive tests were conducted in the results. The main value of the study was challenging stereotypes around sleep, she added.

Researchers have long struggled to explain how fish turn up in lakes far from other bodies of water, a mystery even Charles Darwin noted in 1859, when he suggested that aquatic (水生的) hatchlings might stick to the feet of birds, though his bright idea remained a theory.

In 2019, Yao Akifumi, a biology student then, wondered if Darwin might have been right and further wondered if fish-hunting birds might transport egg-bearing aquatic plants stuck to their feet. To test this, he set up two ponds one metre apart, one containing 36plants and the other without, both equipped with camera traps. After six months, some plants had switched ponds, and one camera captured a bird flying away with a plant on its foot. Next, Yao aimed to see if fish eggs could weather the journey being carried out of water. He attached tiny medaka eggs to aquatic plants and removed them for zero to 24hours—at favorable hatching conditions — before returning them.

In a paper in Science of Nature, Mr. Yao reports that the medaka eggs can successfully hatch after up to 18 hours out of the water. Eggs without a plant leaf to attach to rarely survived a few hours. The big drop in survival was at 16.3 hours, when half the eggs became lifeless.

Whether any egg could survive that long, given that a bird's average flight-speed is around 39kph, is doubtful, says Mr Yao, since wind exposure during such a long journey would dry them out.

Shorter journeys, however, are certainly possible. And since many other medaka-like species are found throughout Asia, the chances are high that hitchhiking (搭便车) explains how they have ended up in lakes with seemingly no connection to other water bodies. Yet again, it would seem, Darwin's theories turn out to be correct.

Deere decided to look into the problem. From his previous work on plows, he knew that dirt was less likely to stick to highly polished metal. That thought was in the back of his mind when he visited a sawmill (锯木厂) in 1837 and noticed a broken saw made of steel. Deere brought it home and began making a better plow. The plow he wanted would have to cut deep into the soil at a sharp angle so that dirt would fall off, yet it could not put too much burden on the horses pulling it. After several experiments, Deere constructed a new plow that featured wood handles. It proved a success. Unlike the old iron plows, Deere's not only had a blade from which dirt fell away cleanly, but it also turned the soil more efficiently and quickly.

Demand for Deere's plows increased sharply, but production was limited by the shortage of polished steel. Initially, Deere could only produce a few plows each year. However, Deere's persistence paid off as he sourced cheaper steel from Pittsburgh. Amazingly, in 1857, his company manufactured and sold 10, 000 plows!

Deere, a perfectionist, continually improved his plows, introducing multiple new versions in a single year. While this slowed down his production ability, it ensured Deere a solid reputation among his customers. Deere plows became world famous in the 1870s when they outshone the competition in a demonstration in France. That same decade, his company built its first riding plow and designed the leaping deer as its trademark.

Alex sat quietly at the back of his Chinese class, his eyes fixed on the textbook before him. As a shy and unnoticed student, he felt like a lone wolf, struggling against the complexities of high school life. Ms Lau, his Chinese teacher, was a light in his otherwise dark world. Her warm smile and gentle behavior made her stand out among the sea of teachers. She was the only one who seemed to understand his conservative nature, always encouraging him to step out of his comfort zone.

One day, after class, Ms Lau approached Alex with excitement shining in her eyes. "Alex, I have an offer for you," she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "I am organizing a cultural exchange program to China, and I believe it would be a great opportunity for you to explore a new world."

Alex's heart skipped a beat, the prospect of traveling to a foreign country both exciting and terrifying. He hesitated, unsure if he had the courage to start such an adventure. But Ms Lau's firm belief in him gave him the push he needed to take a leap of faith.

Under Ms Lau's guidance, Alex began preparing for the trip. He got really interested in Chinese culture and learned about its long history and traditions. Ms Lau became his mentor(导师), teaching him not only the language but also invaluable life lessons. She taught him the importance of being confident and not giving up, reminding him that growth only happens outside one's comfort zone.

The day of departure arrived, and Alex found himself on a plane headed for China. He couldn't help but feel amazed as he stepped off the plane and into a world so different from his own. The busy streets, bright colors, and unfamiliar sounds flooded his senses. Yet, Ms Lau's comforting presence by his side provided him with the strength to face the unknown.

注意：

1. 续写词数应为150词左右；

2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

During their time in China, Alex wholeheartedly enjoyed the experience.

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Back in the United States, Alex was a changed person.

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Kunshan is the birthplace of Kunqu, blends poetry, music, intricate costumes and graceful performances. In Kunshan City, the melodies of Kunqu Opera are not confined to the stages of grand theaters, but ring out in (expected) scenes — school bells, fitness routines and even bus stop illustrations. In the streets of Kunshan, this ancient art form continues to find new life, (delicate) balancing preserving its timeless beauty and embracing the demands of modernity.

For performers like You Tengteng, actress at the Kunshan Contemporary Kunqu Theater, the act is both a challenge and a passion. You and her colleagues often discuss their latest performance (strategy), not in a traditional theater but on Douyin. In partnership with the platform, You and other performers livestream their Kunqu shows for 20 hours each month. Their goal is simple yet ambitious: (reach) a new generation of audiences who might hesitate to sit through a two or three-hour-long performance in an opera house.

To draw audiences in the digital age, the performers have condensed the intricate art form into digestible one-hour segments, (invite) viewers to experience Kunqu in more relaxed settings, whether at a café in a museum.

The strategy (seem) to be working, particularly among Chinese youth. After performances, it is not uncommon to see young fans eagerly lining up for selfies and autographs with the performers. Their newfound passion this ancient art is a testament to its evolving relevance.

I never felt an urge to learn any sign language before. My entire family is hearing, and so are all my friends. The3 languages were enough in all my interactions. Little did I know that I would discover my4 for ASL.

The5 began during my first week at college. I watched as the ASL Club6 their translation of a song. Both the hand movements and the very idea of communicating without speaking7 me. What I saw was completely unlike anything I had experienced in the past. This newness just left me8 more.

After that, feeling the need to explore further, I decided to drop in on one of ASL club's meetings. I only learned how to9 the alphabet (字母) that day. Yet instead of being10 by my slow progress, I was excited. I then made it a point to11 those meetings and learn all I could.

The following term, I12 an ASL class. The professor was deaf and any talking was13. I soon realized that the silence was not unpleasant.14, if there had been any talking, it would have caused us to learn less. Now, I appreciate the silence and the15 way of communication it opens.

The appeal is easy to see. The study provided a simple solution to a tricky life problem and, to people making less than $75, 000, offered a goal to struggle for. But like those other experiments, the popular perception of the research is wrong. No. But it can improve happiness if you spend it thoughtfully.

These include your work, health, relationships, schedule, education, personality, life philosophy, and so on. If you're secure, healthy, living in a good neighborhood, and enjoying an active social life, then the figure in your checkbook doesn't weigh as much on your daily happiness. In other words, if you're struggling, unhealthy, lonely, or living in an unsafe neighborhood, then your financial difficulty will likely worsen those challenges. Indeed, they are the cause of some of those struggles.

It is true that there is a strong connection between happiness and money. But it doesn't mean that money can buy happiness. It merely stands in for the things, services, and experiences we buy with it. So when it comes to discussing money and happiness, it's not just about how much money you have. It also depends on how you use it.

Spend your money on the things, experiences, and necessities. Otherwise, your spending habits can actively work against your well-being and life satisfaction. In a word, people with more money are happier isn't just the size of their bank accounts —it's how they use their money to generate happiness.

A. Can money buy happiness?

B. Money is a medium of exchange after all.

C. Are people happy without enough money?

D. Then your money will make your life happier.

E. At this point, their happiness tends to stabilize.

F. Happiness rose alongside income all the way up.

G. Happiness is a complex emotion influenced by many factors.

Scientists in China say they've found Syntrichia caninervis, a moss native to Antarctic and desert regions, could endure Mars-like conditions, such as drought, high levels of radiation, and extreme cold. The moss demonstrated remarkable recovery ability: it could regenerate under normal growth conditions after spending up to five years at -80℃, up to 30 days at -196℃, and after exposure to gamma rays. To further test its adaptability, the research team created a set-up with Mars-like pressures, temperatures, gases, and UV radiation. The moss not only survived in this man-made Martian environment but also regenerated under normal growth conditions, even after seven days of exposure.

"These experiments represent an important first step, but they do not show that the moss could be a significant source of oxygen under Martian conditions, nor do they show that the desert moss could reproduce in the Martian context," McDaniel said. "Implying that moss, or any other pioneering species, is ready to terraform (行星地球化) Mars, or any other outer planet, is an overstatement." Zupanska added.

Dr. Wiger of Wageningen University, also raised concerns, including that temperatures on the red planet rarely got above freezing, making outdoor plant growth impossible, while the new study did not use Mars-like soil. "The mosses were treated under Mars circumstances for a maximum of several days and then regrown under Earth conditions on sand," he remarked. "This, of course, doesn't show at all they can grow under Mars conditions."

However, Prof. Edward Guinan of Villanova University in the US described the study as impressive. "This moss, highly tolerant to extremes, could promise to be a pioneer plant for Mars colonization," he stated, although he noted the moss would need water to grow.

"We have a lot of things to do," he added. "But this lowly desert moss offers hope for making small portions of Mars habitable for humankind in the future."

Climbing the challenging and adventurous Nose route of El Capitan was a labour of love for Selah in more than one way. Her parents, Mike and Joy Schneiter, fell in love on this 3,000-plus-foot huge rock and she has always wanted to feel the way that her parents felt when they were up there together. Selah showed great interest in rock climbing at an early age. She wore her first rock-climbing equipment shortly after she learned to walk. She first dreamed of climbing El Capitan when she was 6 or 7.

El Capitan is a famous mountain-sized rock in Yosemite National Park. Getting to its top is no easy task. It's taller, as reported, than the tallest building in the world — Dubai's Burj Khalifa. El Capitan, with its difficult Nose route, which runs more than 3,000 feet high up the centre of the rock's face, is considered one of the world's hardest big wall climbs and has attracted the best climbers over time. But never before had a youngster accomplished it.

Selah's achievement caught national attention. Outside Magazine called her the youngest documented person to climb the Nose. Ken Yager, president of the Yosemite Climbing Association, said he also couldn't think of anyone younger who had done it.

Selah didn't talk much about her El Capitan accomplishment. "I'm not necessarily a special kid or anything like that, she said. "There were a few times when I would be so worn that it somewhat discouraged me from holding on. But overall, it was just great to keep going."

Selah shared this advice for other young climbers dreaming of big walls, "It doesn't necessarily take a super special person to achieve something like that. You just have to put your mind to it."

We've all heard of the expression "new year, new you", right? It's meant to inspire all sorts of major life changes. But you're already pretty great, just the way you are. Instead of trying to put together a whole new "you", why not start a little smaller, a little simpler with a new hobby? These books to inspire your new favourite hobby are a great place to start.

This Is Skateboarding by Hannah Wilson

Celebrate skateboarding, from its start on the streets of Los Angeles in the US to its first appearance at the Olympic Games. Find out about great skateparks and tricks; meet pioneering skateboarders and medal-winning champions; and discover how skateboarding has influenced everything from shoes to art and city design.

The Life-Changing Magic of Chess by Maurice Ashley

The world's first black Grandmaster of chess Maurice Ashley shares the magic of this classic game in this fun, illustrated handbook. There are step-by-step instructions for how to play, explanations of basic and advanced skills and words of advice from Maurice himself.

Foraging (觅食): The Complete Guide for Kids and Families by Stella and Dane De Luca Mulandiee

Foraging is fun but you need expert advice. This useful guide will reveal how to safely identify the berries and plants you can eat, as well as the incredible secrets of flowers and trees and how you can help protect the environment.

Orangutan Can't Draw Comics, But You Can by Luke Newell

If you've ever fancied creating your own comic strips (连环漫画) but weren't sure where to start, then this book is for you. Orangutan and his friends teach you how to tell a story, create a layout, draw characters and finalise your work to create your own masterpiece.