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I decided that St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church would be my first stop. Since the church opens its basement to homeless people every Friday for a hot meal，St. Vincent's was symbolically a very good place to start my day as a homeless man.

After praying before the Blessed Sacrament，I hit the subfreezing streets with no money. I got into a line of men，women and children waiting to be admitted into the dining room where a free hot meal is served every day.

From there I walked to Health Care for the Homeless—an organization dedicated to providing free medical care to people who have no permanent residence. Inside were about 75 homeless women and men waiting to be seen by a nurse. There I spoke with an older man who had serious family problems that caused his homelessness.

Next，I stopped at a hotel and fast food restaurant asking if they were hiring. From there I walked the streets of downtown Baltimore asking people for a little loose change to buy a cup of coffee. I politely approached approximately 35 people. About 30 of them ignored me，and said they didn't have any money，or simply said no. But five people did offer me a small donation. I explained what I was doing，and thankfully declined their generosity.

Later that night，as I walked back to my vehicle，I realized that I was a richer person for having lived one day as a homeless man. I thought about the homeless men and women I encountered，and their problems.

Ursula Burns， Chairwoman， VEON； Former CEO， Xerox

Her family was so poor that her single mother traded office cleaning for health care． But Burns' early gift for math won her a scholarship and an internship at Xerox， where she would compete her way to the top． "I'm a black lady from the Lower East Side，" she says． "Not a lot scares me．"

Howard Schultz， Executive Chairman， Starbucks

Schultz grew up in public housing in Brooklyn， surrounded by poverty， and was the first in his family to go to college （on a football scholarship）． After training in sales， he set up the company that would later buy Starbucks． "In the course of the year I spent trying to raise money， I spoke to 242 people， and 217 of them said no．" he said．

Sean Combs， CEO， Sean John

Combs began a generation of hip﹣hop talent and made a lasting influence on fashion． But his story could have turned out much differently： his drug dealer father was killed when he was 3． "It made me work even harder．" he recently said．

Geisha Williams， CEO， PG&E

Her parents fled Cuba when Williams was 5． By 7， she was her parents' main translator in talks with lawyers and accountants at grocery stores they owned in New Jersey． The experience did help her． "I went from thinking I could be a manager to thinking I could do something much bigger．" she told Fortune．

The smell of roasted chicken filled the kitchen as we gathered for our usual Friday dinner. Having swallowed a big mouthful of chicken, I took a deep breath and began, "Could I invite some friends over tomorrow? Just for the afternoon?"

My parents exchanged a glance, then nodded readily. But beside me, my younger sister, Lily, froze. Her wide eyes locked onto mine. "But... what about Miracle? She'll be terrified, Ethan."

Miracle was a cat Lily rescued on a rainy day last winter. True to her name, the cat had survived. Yet, it remained a creature of profound shyness: Loud voices sent her trembling under beds; sudden movements made her jump. She wasn't just a pet; she was a fragile soul Lily fiercely protected.

"I promise, Lily," I insisted, leaning forward, meeting her worried gaze(凝视). "We'll stay in the living room. No loud music, no shouting games. I'll keep the back door shut tight, and I'll warn everyone to be quiet. Miracle won't even know they're here." I saw the conflict in her eyes — her desire to be supportive warring with her deep concern for the poor cat. After a tense silence, she finally gave a small, reluctant nod.

Saturday arrived with sunshine and laughter as my friends piled in. True to my word, I guided them straight to the living room, reminding them firmly about Miracle's sensitivity.Initially, we chatted, played cards quietly. Glancing around, I spotted Miracle sliding silently down the hallway towards Lily's room. Good, she's keeping her distance, I thought, relieved.

As the afternoon wore on, however, the initial caution disappeared. A competitive board game led to enthusiastic cheers and laughter. Lost in the sheer fun of being with my friends, I forgot everything - he promise, the fragile creature.

After friends departed with cheerful goodbyes, I began tidying empty glasses, still lost in the happy scenes when Lily burst through the front door into her room. Then came her scream, "Ethan, Miracle is gone."

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。

A cold wave of fear rushed through me.

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Luckily, we finally found Miracle in the backyard.

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(1)你的参赛作品；

(2)感受和收获。

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。

Dear Frank,

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Yours sincerely,

Li Hua

Over the past few years, a fascinating cultural phenomenon (emerge) across China: a growing number of foreign tourists are (enthusiastic) embracing traditional Chinese clothing like Hanfu. At iconic sites such as the Forbidden City, visitors can (see) dressed in exquisite Hanfu, posing for photos against historic backdrops. This trend reflects a deeper appreciation for profound cultural heritage rather than mere curiosity.

This stylish wave is also taking over short video platforms like TikTok,, observers say, is a symbol of China's booming national confidence. On TikTok, the Hanfu hashtag (话题标签) has collected billions of views, foreigners sharing their photoshots and expressing how wearing Hanfu makes them feel like super stars in Chinese dramas. Meanwhile, Chinese content creators and bloggers have been actively promoting Hanfu overseas, organizing activities (introduce) the stories behind the clothing.

This exchange is mutually enriching: foreigners gain meaningful immersion into Chinese traditions, Chinese youth find creative channels to share their heritage. The (blend) of traditional clothing with modern fashion and media has not only boosted cultural confidence but also created new consumption scenarios, turning Hanfu into a dynamic symbol of (China) soft power.

I learned this lesson from a drive to a picturesque mountain range that lies just an hour from my city. However, the road there is dangerously2, with sharp turns every few seconds. Driving through it was once a3. My child often got carsick, while4 local drivers followed closely on my tail. The short journey always left me exhausted, and my motivation to visit5.

One day, I tried a new approach: I drove really6. It helped my child, but the line of cars in my mirror still7 me out. Feeling pressured, I would speed up again. So then I made one small adjustment: I tilted the rearview mirror up,8 the view behind me.

That simple method9 everything. I could finally enjoy the drive at my own10, appreciating the scenery. While cars occasionally pulled ahead whenever they could, they were no longer my main11. Each crossing of the mountains has now become a journey of peace.

I've reflected a lot since then. I've realized that we are often demotivated by12 pressures — be they social media, distracting environments, or13 voices, much like those cars filling up my mirror. Learning to occasionally "tilt the mirror" — to consciously tune out the14 of others — is essential to protecting our drive and15 at our own pace.

Practice in low-stakes settings

Before attending a major event, try initiating brief chats with waiters or neighbors. "Smaller, manageable social interactions don't carry as much emotional weight," Hall-Baldwin says. "so it's just trying to practice without feeling overwhelming pressure." Over time, you'll gain a sense of comfort and confidence as you step into larger social settings.

Use the echo technique

Another powerful technique is to "echo" the speaker. Paraphrase what they've said and encourage them to clarify. For example, if they mention they're struggling at work, repeat back their words with a question in your voice: "Struggling?" Not only does this make them feel heard but also shifts the conversational burden away from you, reducing pressure.

Find an anchor

When feeling anxious, find a physical anchor (锚). Holding a cold drink, pressing your feet firmly into the floor, or touching a small object can give your nervous system something to anchor to when you're feeling anxious. Research indicates that such physical sensations can pull you back to the present and signal safety to your brain, thereby curbing anxiety.

The good news about social events is that they all eventually end — and your departure can arrive as soon as you'd like. Informing friends beforehand of a hard leave time, or having a polite excuse to end a conversation (e.g., "It was really nice talking to you — I'm going to check in with Jane.") can significantly reduce the fear of being trapped.

A. Avoid social events politely

B. Have an exit strategy ready

C. This simple response often leads them to share more.

D. This fear can trigger various physical and emotional symptoms.

E. It ensures you can keep the dialogue flowing without needing to flee.

F. These short interactions can be a low-pressure way to build self-esteem.

G. The core principle is to engage your senses to stabilize yourself in the moment.

"Everyone I speak to in Canada and the US complains about poor sleep," says Leela McKinnon from the University of Toronto Mississauga. "But the data doesn't support that." It is commonly believed that the rise of devices like smartphones has resulted in reduced sleep — often referred to as a sleep-loss epidemic. Yet, many studies reporting a decline in sleep duration rely on self-reported data, which is an unreliable measure.

Research using more reliable methods, such as activity monitors or brainwave tracking, has not indicated a decrease in sleep over recent decades. For instance, a 2023 review of 168 studies found no significant drop in sleep duration over the past 50 years. However, these studies primarily focused on industrialized nations, leaving the question of whether sleep patterns were different before industrialization unanswered. The availability of wrist-based activity monitors made it easier to study sleep in non-industrial societies. Such studies have revealed short sleep durations. For instance, among hunter-gatherers, the San peoples in southern Africa sleep for 6.7 hours a night on average.

McKinnon and her colleague David Samson, also from the University of Toronto Mississauga, have participated in several relevant studies. They compared sleep habits in industrialized nations — like the US and Australia — with those in smaller, non-industrial communities, including local groups in the Amazon, Madagascar, and Tanna Island in the Pacific. Their analysis, the most comprehensive to date, involved direct measurements of sleep in 866 participants aged 18 and older with no serious health issues. They discovered that individuals in non-industrial societies averaged 6.4 hours of sleep, while those in industrial societies averaged 7.1 hours. Additionally, people in non-industrial societies were asleep for 74% of their time in bed, compared to 88% in industrialized areas, a concept known as sleep efficiency.

Samson believes that people in industrialized societies sleep longer and better because their environment is more suitable for sleep. "We see that we've made some real gains in the safety and security of our sleep sites," he says, "We no longer need to worry about rival groups or predators at night."

About 10% of the detected plastic particles were micro-plastics, and the other 90% were nanoplastic. Micro-plastics are between 5 millimeters and 1 micrometer; nanoplastic are particles less than 1 micrometer in size. For context, a human hair is about 70 micrometers thick. Micro-plastics have already been found in people's lungs and blood.

Nanoplastic could be even more dangerous than micro-plastics because when inside the human body, "the smaller it goes, the easier for it to be misidentified as the natural component of the cell," says Wei Min, a professor of chemistry at Columbia University.

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) said in a statement that it has had "very limited notice and time" to review the study. But the group said the new detection method "needs to be fully reviewed by the scientific community and more research needs to be done to develop standardized methods for measuring and quantifying nanoplastic in our environment." The association said there is "no scientific agreement on the potential health impacts of nano-and micro-plastic particles."

The particles they could identify accounted for only 10% of total particles they found — the rest could be minerals, other types of plastics, or something else, says Beizhan Yan, a research professor and co-author on the study. They hope the research will lead to a better understanding of how much plastic humans are regularly putting into their bodies and its effects.

Yan says they plan future research employing the same technology to look at plastic particles in tap water, in the air, in food and in human tissues. "This is basically just to open a new window for us to see what was this invisible world before."

Later as the sun came up over the mountains and I drank my morning coffee, I looked out my kitchen window and saw a robin sitting on the fence near my home. She had a long piece of grass in her mouth. She looked back at me before flying up into the upper branches of my maple tree to work on her nest. I stepped out of my back door to see if I could see her again but stopped in my tracks.

Only fifteen feet away was a deer eating the freshly grown grass behind my house. I raised my coffee cup to him to show him I meant him no harm then eased back into my house to let him finish his breakfast. As I did so, I was filled with a wonderful sense of peace in my soul. I could feel the love around me, not only from my pets but from the wild animals in my backyard. I could feel my oneness with nature, with life, and with love. And I could say was ‌"Thank you!"

This life is so glorious. Hug this life then. Value it. Feel your oneness with it. Know that you are loved. Know that you can love. Then go out, sharing all of your love, your joy, and your light with everyone everywhere.

Program Benefits

·Enhance research capability in state-of-the-art labs under the guidance of professors at USTC.

·Have a competitive edge in application for Master's, PhD. and post-doctoral programs at USTC by developing relationships with faculty and students.

·Apply for free Chinese language and culture class to learn basic Chinese language and explore unique Hui culture.

Application Qualification

1. Good command of English.

2. Non-Chinese citizens with a foreign passport.

3. Currently enrolled full-time students in undergraduate Year 3/4, Master's, or doctoral programs.

Cost

·Tuition: 2,100 RMB (≈304 USD) per month (undergraduate student or master student).2,600 RMB (≈377 USD) per month (PhD student).

• Student dormitory: 500-1,000 RMB (≈73-146 USD) per month depending on room type and size.

●Insurance: 160 RMB (≈23 USD) per month.

Scholarship

USTC offers limited scholarships to outstanding students. All applicants will be evaluated.

I had always thought language was just a subject in school until I stepped into college. Growing up in Kolkata, I studied at a government-aided secondary school. Though English was part of the curriculum, it never felt important. I could pass exams with minimal effort, so I never took it seriously.

That changed the moment I began my first term of engineering. All the lectures were in English. I sat in class, trying to grasp what the professors were saying, but all my efforts were fruitless. I couldn't follow the lessons, ask questions, or join in discussions. Outside the classroom, things were no better. My classmates quickly realized I struggled with English. Some laughed at me, while others simply ignored me. Slowly, I backed off. I avoided group outings and kept to myself for fear that I'd embarrass myself if I spoke.

At the end of the term, I failed almost every subject. I stared at my school report in silence. My chest felt heavy, but I knew I had two choices— either giving up or fighting back. I chose the latter. I started small. I read English newspapers daily, carried an English dictionary in my backpack, and watched English videos with subtitles (字幕). Bit by bit, I improved. By the second term,I could finally understand lectures.

But speaking was still a challenge. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't express myself fluently. By my final year, I had gained knowledge in my field but still failed in every campus interview — always rejected in the communication round. My parents were disappointed. My brother thought I hadn't worked hard enough. I was stuck in a sense of helplessness.

Then, one day, my cousin visited. He asked what was wrong and listened patiently. "You've done your part," he said. "Now let someone help you." He advised me to attend a spoken English class. I was hesitant. What if people found out? What if I failed again?

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。

Still, I signed up for the class.

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A month later, I stood before an employer, nervous but prepared.

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