相关试卷

First of all, barriers give you motivations. Sometimes barriers can reset your goals. You might be faced with setbacks or difficulties, you' re forced to re-think, and re-examine your path. You may end up focusing on something new and exciting. Or, you may concentrate on something that you otherwise wouldn't have if not for the particular setback. By having to overcome an obstacle, you'll be fulfilling a purpose, rather than just going through the motions.

Also, barriers prepare you for the unexpected. They serve as guides for where to go next. Even though barriers can bring out many negative emotions in us, such as frustration, anger, or sadness, it's important to realize that they don't stop you from reaching your intended goals. Instead, they, in a way, give you time to stop and think if perhaps there is a new and better path to take and what you can prepare for what will happen along the way. Barriers shift your perspective.

Barriers, more often than not, are unavoidable. Life will never stop throwing you new barriers. So, the best thing to do is know how to better see and approach these obstacles, and transform them into opportunities for self-improvement. The more you're able to see barriers as being an advantage to your life, the better you'll be at managing them.

It will be rewarding to accept barriers, which will make you constantly change and adapt to new situations, thus allowing you to grow into a better version of yourself.

The author carried on the cartoon caption (字幕) task. 159 participants were shown more than 30cartoons without captions and were asked to come up with a funny caption for each one of them. Later, independent judges classified those captions based on how funny they were.

The results showed that those who produced the funniest captions also produced more captions overall. What was more interesting was that creating funny captions was negatively related to appreciation of humour. In other words, funny people tend to find jokes less funny than other people do. It is not clear why this is the case, but it might be because creators of great humour have higher standards of humour creativity and expect higher levels of creativity from people who tell jokes, compared to those who are not so good at creating humour.

Moreover, outgoing people and those who are open to new experiences found the cartoons funnier, but surprisingly, outgoing people are less likely to be funny. This is consistent with my own research that comedians were more introverted than the general population. They usually don't like to express themselves in social situations.

Appreciation and production of humour are two different cognitive (认知的) tasks, each with unique characteristics. This is why when someone tells you he or she has a great sense of humour, you may ask, "Are you good at telling jokes or do you tend to laugh more?"

Happy Cow (Free)

Buying and selling secondhand is a more responsible and environmentally friendly way to consume and part of the solution to reducing the carbon emission (碳排放) of mass production. This app helps users anywhere in the world make a little extra money from things they no longer need and moreover, how good it is to find that hidden treasure at a great price!

My Footprint (Free)

Created by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), this handy app provides you with a wealth of detail on the latest facts and information on climate change issues as well as enabling you to track your carbon footprint and see how different areas of your life contribute to this. With this knowledge, you can then take part in challenges of your choice to help reduce your footprint.

Too Good To Go (Free)

With the aim of reducing the masses of food waste from shops and restaurants, this app helps to connect users with local businesses that have unsold produce to be collected for a small part of the cost. The app is the most direct way for you to get involved-all you have to do is search, place your order and go to pick it up!

Good On You ($ 2.99)

This app is a must-have that gives you the power to check the influence of brands (品牌) on issues that mean most to you. With more than 3,000 brands currently listed, and the option to request others to be added in time, this is a handy source of environment-friendly shopping information.

It's my graduation day! The ceremony was to be held in a large auditorium downtown on a damp December afternoon. As I prepared for this important day, choosing a simple black dress and even putting on makeup — both unusual for me — my mind was occupied with anxiety rather than excitement.

Due to my neurological condition (神经系统疾病) that affected my mobility and coordination (协调性), the upcoming ceremony filled me with fear. I had learned that I would need to negotiate a flight of stairs during the proceedings. The mere thought of walking across the stage was terrifying enough, but the additional challenge of stairs seemed impossible. To make matters worse, I would have to shake hands with my professors and receive my diploma with my right hand, which has limited control due to my condition These seemingly small details felt like impossible obstacles

Consumed by fear, I called Sally in tears, telling her I couldn't go through with it. She had been my notetaker throughout university because of my condition, but she was far more than that. We had been through many rough spots during the past two years. We took all our classes together, studied together, and edited each other's work.

Sally listened patiently as I poured out my anxieties. Then, she responded with determined support. "You are walking, damn it!" she declared firmly. She promised to handle everything and made me promise to show up at the auditorium. Though still fearful, I splashed cold water on my tear-stained face, touched up my makeup, and whispered to myself, "I'm doing this."

When I arrived at the auditorium, the reality of those frightening stairs hit me again. Just as panic began to seize me. Sally found me immediately. She hugged me tightly and assured me, "I have it all worked out. It's going to be fine." To my surprise, I noticed many of my classmates gathered nearby, their faces filled with warm smiles and encouraging nods. At this, I felt a surge of strength flowing through me, though I still couldn't imagine how I would manage the challenges ahead.

注意：

1. 续写词数应为150左右；

2. 请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

Paragraph 1: As my name was called, I took a deep breath and began moving toward the stage.

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Paragraph 2: Walking down the stairs on the other side, I felt an overwhelming surge of pride.

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(1) 书本简介；

(2) 赠书理由；

(3) 寄语希望。

注意：

(1) 写作词数应为80左右；

(2) 请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。

Dear friend,

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Yours,

Li Hua

Beijing recently made technological history by hosting the world's first half-marathon for humanoid robots, marking a significant milestone in robotics development. Twenty teams from top universities and tech firms participated, with six robots (complete) the 21-kilometer race. The winner, Tiangong Ultra, finished it in just 2 hours and 40 minutes.

This groundbreaking (compete) represented a crucial transition from controlled laboratory testing to real-world application. Unlike artificial lab environments, the marathon's unpredictable outdoor conditions tested the robots' adaptability and endurance capabilities. Beyond sports, such robots are already in use — for example, the specialized inspection robots (develop) by China Southern Power Grid, can operate (reliable) in temperature extremes ranging from 40℃ to 80℃ while maintaining power lines in remote (mountain) regions.

Since the beginning of this year, Chinese tech giants like Xiaomi and Huawei, well aware of the opportunities, (join) forces with automotive leaders including Tesla and Toyota in has become an international race to advance this technology. However, experts caution that rapid progress, significant technical hurdles remain. Most robots currently operate at Level 2 autonomy but achieving Level 4 — full independence — needs breakthroughs in AI decision-making.

For students considering future careers in technology, humanoid robotics represents one of the most exciting and promising fields may transform industries and daily life. successful Beijing marathon serves as both a testament to how far we have come and s preview of the remarkable innovations still to come.

However, Rose was difficult to get along with. She would take them out for dinner but then4 what they could order, and complained about everything they did. This led to their confusion, leaving them feeling increasingly5. One day, Karen shared with me the growing weight of6 she felt from caring for Rose. When I asked if she had any volunteer7, she responded that she had no time. I then suggested that she8 looking after Rose as volunteer work. Instantly, it was like a light bulb went on. Karen's9 shifted. She told David the same that night, and the idea changed everything. From then on, they still did the same work, but as "volunteers," it felt10 — no longer a duty, but a choice. For the rest of Rose's life, they still11 helped, finding joy in the role.

We often talk about volunteering, which makes us feel good. But there's also a way to12 a burdensome commitment as "volunteering". By doing so, a task we feel forced to do can become a voluntary act.

Let's take Karen and David as an example. Their13 to helping Rose at first seemed like an unwanted14. But after the shift, a chore turned into a15 experience.

With electric vehicles (EVs) gaining significant popularity globally — accounting for 22% of new car sales in 2024 — many passengers report experiencing increased motion sickness compared to traditional vehicles. Social media platforms are filled with such personal experiences, particularly from those riding in passenger or back seats.

A primary reason for this phenomenon is the lack of familiarity with EV motion patterns. As William Emond, a PhD researcher in France specializing in motion sickness, explains, people's brains heavily depend on past experiences to predict and interpret motion. For instance, experienced drivers naturally expect acceleration after hearing engine revs in fuel-powered cars, but EVs operate without such familiar auditory signals.

Recent research indicates that specific seat vibrations and the complete absence of traditional engine noise in EVs contribute significantly to motion discomfort. Furthermore, the regenerative braking systems — innovative technology that transforms kinetic energy (动能) into battery power — cause an unusually gradual slowdown.

Beyond this, motion sickness fundamentally occurs when the brain receives contradictory sensory signals about body movement. The inner ear, visual cues, and physical sensations send mixed messages to the brain, creating what experts call a "neural mismatch". This mechanism explains why drivers themselves rarely experience carsickness — they control and predict the vehicle's movements.
 

A. Such long-term conflict can trigger motion sickness symptoms.

B. Another contributing factor is that EV-specific features add to the problem.

C. Some manufacturers are improving suspension systems to minimize vibrations.

D. Drivers usually don't experience carsickness due to their control over the vehicle.

E. This technology lengthens the stopping process and may worsen feelings of sickness.

F. Without previous EV experience, the brain has to struggle to estimate forces accurately.

G. In regard to this phenomenon, researchers have identified several scientific explanations.

Our behavior and our brains are closely linked. And yet, the majority of studies only take a snapshot of our lived experience. "We know little about the response of brain functional connectivity to environmental, physiological, and behavioral changes on different timescales, from days to months," said Triana, a professor from Aalto University.

To investigate these effects, Triana and his colleagues tracked their own brain activity and behavior over a five-month period using a combination of brain scans, wearable devices and their smartphones. "We studied brain activity using FMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), sleep and physical activity patterns using a smart-ring, heart and respiration rates using a smartwatch, and mood using questionnaires prompted on their smartphone," Triana said.

Triana's brain was scanned twice a week, followed by qualitative (定性的) data from mood surveys. The team identified two distinct brain patterns in response to specific behaviors: a short-term wave lasting less than a week and a long-term wave lasting up to 15 days. The short-term wave was reflective of rapid responses to a behavior, like struggling to focus after a poor night's sleep. Meanwhile, the long-term wave suggests more gradual, lasting effects of a particular behavior. These were particularly apparent in areas of the brain tied to attention and memory. In other words, a workout or restless night from two weeks ago could still be affecting you — positively or negatively — today.

While this study only shows the brain activity of one individual, the researchers hope that it demonstrates the importance of studying brain activity in the context of our wider lifestyle and behavior, rather than a single snapshot in the lab. "This research is important because it provides a more comprehensive and dynamic view of brain function, highlighting the long-term impact of everyday behaviour on brain health," Triana said.

If you've experienced anything like the above anecdote, you're not alone. People responding "maybe" to invitations is a common yet annoying aspect of social life. What goes on in people's heads when they aren't sure whether to accept an invitation? Social invitations can be a delicate dance. People often misread what someone extending an invitation wants to hear and overestimate an inviter's likelihood of preferring a "maybe" over a "no." Moreover, they fail to realize how much more disrespected people feel when they receive a "maybe" in response to their invitation.

Naturally, we wanted to figure out why this awkward dynamic plays out. We found that it's largely due to something called "motivated reasoning." Motivated reasoning occurs when a person interprets information in a biased (有偏差的) way to suit their own wishes. In other words, invitees convince themselves that inviters want to hear "maybe" instead of "no" because a "maybe" is better for the invitees, allowing them to leave their options open. Besides, people tend to overestimate the negative consequences of saying "no" to invitations, thinking it will upset, anger and disappoint inviters.

However, there were certain situations that made people more comfortable saying "no" to an invitation. When recipients of an invitation put themselves in the shoes of the person extending the invitation, they are more likely to realize that they'd probably prefer a definite answer. When the participants get invited to do something they didn't want to do, they had no desire to keep their options open. The motivated reasoning then became irrelevant.

While navigating social situations can be tricky, being direct and definite is sometimes best. It might reduce your options. But it'll keep those who invite you from being left uncertain and maybe they'll still think of you when the next concert comes to town.

Though never skilled at crafts, I've always found comfort in textiles. My mother, who had knitted a granny-square blanket in her twenties, was game to re-learn how to do it. In her youth, Granny squares became the after-dinner routine and soon I was churning out dozens of multicolored squares. And it felt like this project was, maybe, helping?

"It's incredibly mindful," says Gabrielle Gatto, a death educator in our community. "That's part of really sitting with something."

On a Tuesday evening, Gatto sets up a snack table inside the cemetery's church, preparing for the start of her monthly interactive workshop, "Grieving & Weaving. " "I think it was important to have that in the name as well," she says. "We are going to talk about grief, death and loss. But we're also going to create happy memories together, eating and drinking a bunch of things."

It's a project that had been sitting in her closet for months. Earlier this year, after both her grandmothers died, she lost what she calls the "knitting light" for a while. Rafferty, who is also a therapist, says she almost skipped the workshop to stay home with her dog, but she's glad she didn't — being here is therapeutic.

As Gatto says, after all, it's not the end product that's the therapy. It's the act of doing it. "A big thing with grief is moving through it both mentally and physically," Gatto says. "And that's exactly what we do here. We bring something that is maybe heavy on our minds or our hearts. And then we work with our hands. We work with it, and we work together."

Duration

4 weeks, 2-3 hours per week; start from Nov. 5.

About this course

The crises of our time generate enormous adaptive challenges for our families, organizations, communities, and societies. The need for leadership that can mobilize people to meet these challenges and improve life is critical.

In this introductory course, you will explore strategies for leading in a changing world where adaptive pressures will continue to challenge all of us. You will discover new ways to approach complex organizational systems and take thoughtful action on the work we all face ahead. Most importantly, you will reflect on how to move forward on the leadership challenges you care about most.

At a glance

·Institution: HarvardX

·Subject Business & Management

·Level: Introductory

·Language: English

·Video Transcript: English

·Associated skills: Leadership

What you'll learn

In this short introductory course, you will discover a diagnostic-and-action process for exercising leadership that explores the following foundational principles and strategies:

·How to identify and break down complex challenges.

·How to understand the role of formal and informal authority.

·How to build and renew trust relationships.

·How to approach conflict.

About the instructor

Ronald Heifetz: Founder, Center for Public Leadership.

Hector stood in the front of his fifth-grade classroom as one of the last two competitors in the Room Five Geography Bee. His opponent having missed the last question, it was Hector's turn. If he answered his question correctly, he would be the Room Five champion.

"Where did I put that second sheet of questions?" Mr. Adler whispered while searching through a thick pile of papers on his messy desk. Mr. Adler, though a great teacher, had a reputation of being disorganized with a long history of misplacing things. "Oh well, I apologize for the delay." said Mr. Adler after what seemed like a long time. "Hector, please tell us the capital city of Brazil." Hearing the question, Hector smiled. Then, there was the answer.

Later that day in the courtyard, many classmates congratulated Hector. Wearing a proud smile, he greeted and thanked them all. Oh, the sweet taste of victory. As it was getting late, the courtyard became deserted. But Hector still didn't want to leave. Then he saw Mr. Adler crossing the courtyard and holding a half-open bag full of papers. As he hurried past, an envelope dropped out but Mr. Adler was unaware, turned a corner and disappeared out of sight. Hector picked it up. On the envelope were the words "Fifth Grade Geography Bee Questions and Answers". Hector stared wide-eyed at the envelope. Before he even had time to reflect on the consequences, he opened it and read the questions.

As soon as Hector had done it, he knew it was the wrong choice. He'd cheated and whatever he did now, he couldn't change the fact. "What if Mr. Adler thought I stole this morning's questions too?" Hector thought. "He'd take away my Room Five victory for sure." Little did he know that one of the best days in his life would be turned into the worst so quickly. Torn by his conscience, Hector was totally at a loss what to do.

Para 1: Before he realized it, Hector found himself standing in Mr. Adler's room.

Para 2: The next day the entire school came to watch the Fifth Grade Geography Bee.

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。

Before he realized it, Hector found himself standing in Mr. Adler's room.

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The next day the entire school came to watch the Fifth Grade Geography Bee.

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1．描述这首诗所呈现的景象，解释诗歌的含义；

2．说明诗中所蕴含的作者的思想感情并阐述你的感受。

注意：

1．写作词数应为80左右；

2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Dear Peter,

I'm glad to receive your letter where you asked me about a Tang poem — Sympathy for Farmers.

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Yours,

Li Hua

No matter how bad my mood is, the delicious rice pudding is always enough (lift) my spirits. In its broadest sense, comfort food refers to any food makes us feel better. They often make up for bad feelings by (help) us recall happy memories of the people, things or places we love. And they usually vary from person to person, (depend) on our own unique experiences that have (shape) our lives. When we link a food with positive emotions, it will cheer us when we eat it again. Each person's comfort food (large) depends on where they come from. Comfort food can also take us back to our (culture) roots, giving us the "taste of home" that we cry out for and (relieve) feelings of homesickness. They always make us happy by building an emotional bond with our happy (memory).

It started out5 enough. I was just searching for some information online when I6 a social networking site. Soon I became7 to my new-found electronic friend, began to spend more time on YouTube, and even became enslaved by Facebook and Twitter. Never in my8 dreams had I thought about the day when I was so focused on the glowing screen before me. As time passed, it even came to a9 where I chose to lock myself in my room, refusing to engage in family discussions. Soon, my sleep was10 to only scattered (分散的) naps, and my study suffered.

It was about this time that my parents started their11 . I was asked to reduce my use of the Internet. Hard as I tried, I was unable to pull myself away, unable to12 my chat sessions and concentrate on my lessons. I was13 for just another click and another look at my message board. Then one day, my father took away my laptop. I complained but to no avail (无济于事).

Over time, I realized that Dad and Mom had always wanted the best for me. That was when I decided to14 my Internet addiction. Quitting was harder than I had expected. But with dogged15 , I knew that I would turn over a new leaf.

However, a team states that at least one-third of European plant species could be in trouble because more than one-third of seed-dispersing animal species are ranked as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) or are decreasing in numbers, which could harm the ability of plants to expand their range to cope with climate change or recover after wildfire. For example, the garden warbler, a common migratory bird that spreads the seeds of 60 plant species, is declining across Europe.

Although the study does not detail how the crisis is affecting ecosystems in that IUCN assessments haven't yet been conducted for 67% of the plant species, researchers did find that more than 60% of the plants had five or fewer animals that eat and distribute their seeds, which could make them particularly sensitive to the decline or disappearance of any of these critical seed dispersers.

And some plants do seem to be in big trouble. The authors came up with a list of nearly 80 "very high concern" interactions, in which both the plant and the animal are threatened or declining. "We need to make sure we're looking after the dispersers that are doing a lot of the work," Andy says, "Despite the massive data set, much remains unknown about the extent of the problem. It's a mystery which animals move the seeds of some rare plants, for instance - in spite of centuries of natural history observations in Europe." Even for common, well-studied species, it's not always apparent which dispersers are most important and whether other species might take over if they were to decline or disappear. There are some similar cases on other continents, too, including North America. But the picture there is even less clear.

"It could have been worse," I reminded myself as she cried all the way to the doctor's office. Luckily, four days after the accident, Julia felt better. At her appointment, her doctor cleared her to resume normal activities, including driving. But I could tell by her look that she had no intention of getting behind the wheel.

Later that day, I sat with Julia as she spoke on the phone with our insurance agent. On the phone, she was professional, telling the agent what had happened in a clear, brief way. I realized she sounded like an adult. And adults drive cars. I realized that no matter how I felt about it, allowing Julia to give in to her fear wasn't good for her. When she hung up, I hugged her. "You're stronger than you think," I said. "And tomorrow you're going to drive my car and meet your friends for lunch. You just have to push through the fear and do it, and it will get easier each time you do." I ignored the fear in her eyes and the way my heart   sped up when I thought about Julia behind the wheel again.

The next day, Julia drove my car to meet her friends. As I watched her leave, I felt nervous and proud. She texted me when she got to the restaurant, and I felt my heart rate return to normal. The tears I'd been holding back all week flooded my eyes. Watching her leave the house without me for the first time since the accident was frightening, but it was also necessary.

Andy Warhol said, "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." Soon, the phrase "fifteen minutes of fame" became a standard promise. Like most people, I never really expected to have even a few seconds of many people's wonderful attention. And then it happened.

We were aboard the big ship, the National Geographic Explorer, on a trip to Antarctica. The ship carried many passengers and crew members. Excitement filled the air as we witnessed huge pieces of ice and snow covered mountains.

Motor-driven boats took us across the frozen sea so we could climb snowy mountain ranges and watch unique animals. In the following days, we relaxed in the beautiful White Continent. Then one morning, we saw a sign announcing an open invitation to all passengers, "Polar Plunge (跳水) at 12:30. You're welcome to participate in the wonderful and meaningful event for fun, physical health, charity and also courage building."

My husband and I were surprised at the sign. His face brightened, showing he wanted to have a try, but I had panic. Many reasons for not doing such a silly act clicked through my mind. "No way," I said. "For starters, we're a little too old. The water is freezing. Heights terrify me. In simple language, I'm a coward."

My words didn't weaken my husband's enthusiasm. "Moreover," I continued,"it means I'd have to wear a swimsuit in public with many people staring at my fat, old body. "We'll never have another chance," he just smiled, "and it's for charity how meaningful that is!" My determination gradually weakened. My hearty "No way" gave way to a weak "Maybe". Finally, I gathered my courage and said, "Okay. Let's go for it."

After medical workers carefully checked our physical condition, we wore our swimsuits, and gathered at the diving board with the other participants. A brave teen wished to be first in line. The remaining few ranged in age from energetic young people to middle-aged adults joking and laughing. My husband and I were visibly the ancient, senior citizens of the group. Volunteers stayed on the lifeboats below to ensure all participants' safety.

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。

We waited for our turn to come.

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Then, my husband and I rushed to float to the surface.

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1.作品描述；

2.创作缘由。

注意：

1.写作词数应为80个左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Hello, everyone!

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