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The Chinese term for this social media phenomenon is "new farmer". This generalizes the rise of rural celebrities who use platforms like Douyin or Weibo to document and commercialize their way of life. Sister Yu: with over 23 million followers, she showcases the rural charm of northeast China as she pickles (腌制) vegetables and cooks hearty meals. Or Peng Chuanming: a farmer in Fujian whose videos on crafting traditional teas have captivated millions.

Since 2016, the number of rural influencers has been increasing in once-forgotten villages. What began as simple documentation has evolved into a phenomenon commanding enormous audiences, fueled not just by nostalgia (怀旧) but economic necessity. In China's megacities, where the air is thick with pollution, there's clearly a hunger for something real and natural. And rural influencers serve slices of a life many thought lost to China's rapid development. Besides, China's post-COVID-19 economic downturn, marked by soaring youth unemployment and decreasing urban opportunities, has driven some to seek livelihoods in the countryside.

As with all formulas, there's a trap to the new farmer movement. The more popular rural influencers become, the more pressure they face to perform "authenticity". Or put another way: The more real it looks, the less real it might actually be. Yet, for the potential trap, the new farmer trend is a chance to challenge the urban-centered mode that has dominated China's development for decades and rethink whether progress always means high-rises and highways, or if there's value in preserving ways of life that have sustained communities for centuries.

To achieve causal evidence, the researchers from the group examined brain activity in regions involved in stress processing in 63 healthy volunteers before and after a one-hour walk in Grunewald forest or a shopping street with traffic in Berlin. The results revealed that activity in the amygdala decreased after the walk in nature, suggesting that nature triggers beneficial effects on brain regions related to stress.

"The results support the previously assumed positive relationship between nature and brain health, but this is the first study to prove the causal link. Interestingly, the brain activity after the urban walk in these regions remained stable and showed no increases, which argues against a commonly held view that urban exposure causes additional stress," explains Simone Kühn, head of the group.

The authors show that nature has a positive impact on brain regions involved in stress processing and that it can already be observed after a one-hour walk. This contributes to the understanding of how our physical living environment affects brain and mental health. Even a short exposure to nature decreases amygdala activity, suggesting that a walk in nature could serve as a preventive measure against developing mental health problems and reducing the potentially disadvantageous impact of the city on the brain.

In order to investigate beneficial effects of nature in different populations and age groups, the researchers are currently working on a study examining how a one-hour walk in natural versus urban environments impacts stress in mothers and their babies.

Growing up in a Russian family, my fascination with languages grew thanks to my father, a language expert. It's during a cultural appreciation class in junior high that I was first introduced to the world of Hong Kong films, famous for their characteristic action-packed dramas and storytelling styles. However, what really amazed me was the uniqueness of the language, Cantonese, which sparked a urgent need within me to explore it and the rich culture behind. This marked the beginning of a thrilling linguistic journey.

Learning Cantonese posed challenges, such as unfamiliar characters, complex tones, and different grammar structures, yet I persevered. Immersed in textbooks and available online courses, I practiced the tones everyday until my pronunciation flowed naturally. Cantonese dramas and music also played a role in familiarizing me with its rhythm.

To truly grasp the essence of Cantonese, I knew that studying alone wasn't enough — I needed firsthand experience. So, I took a gap year to pack my bags for Hong Kong, a city featuring the lively heartbeat of Cantonese culture. Buried in its busy streets and daily conversations, from casual chats to food ordering, I found myself enveloped in a linguistic wonderland. Within a few months, my Cantonese proficiency flourished, fueling a surge of confidence.

My explorations extended beyond the streets. I enrolled in formal language classes that offered professional guidance. Through hard work, I successfully completed all the courses in Cantonese Linguistics. From then on, I've been passionately committed to spreading the Cantonese culture, ensuring its richness reaches a wider audience.

Today, I continue my Cantonese voyage with unflagging enthusiasm. It has transformed into more than just a linguistic pursuit; it grants me a passport to sincere connections, profound insights, and heartfelt admiration for its one-of-a-kind culture.

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From the age of eight, I had to contribute my share of2 along with my parents and two elder brothers. On the hottest summer days when the air3 flowed, I knelt in a paddy field (稻田)with my knees deep in mud. The bugs and worms in the water4 into my skin, and the sun burned upon my5 back. Sweat streamed down; if a drop ran into the eyes, it would6tears. So I always kept my face as low as possible.

I told myself, "Be7!" If my parents and brothers could go on taking it, so could I.8 I pulled myself together and dragged myself forward. I learned not to be afraid of difficulties and the meaning of "you reap (收获) what you9."

"Judge a man not by his face, but by his10," my mother used to say. The land is11, as long as you are willing to work on it. When the wind blew and the rice plants moved like12 in the sea, breathtakingly beautiful, a deep sense of satisfaction13 in me.

Although later I went into academic research, I shall always remember what working in the paddy fields taught me:14 your feet firmly on the ground, never give up and you will be15.

When I was in fifth grade, I moved to Vermont. Everything here was different. I quickly grew fond of the place. I loved the garden, the woods, the snow. I loved everything here, except for the slush (融雪).

Now it's slush season, or mud season. The outside is covered in thick wet slush that flows through your snow pants and your boots. Everything is soggy (湿透的). I hate soggy.

Today was even worse. I forgot my boots. Now I had to walk through knee-deep slush in my indoor shoes. Indoor shoes get wet fast. If I wore them on the playground, I could feel the cold slush running through the shoes with every step.

The teachers here are serious about break time. It's sharply different from my old school,   where even a small conversation could cost you the whole week's break time. One time, a teacher took away break time ‘cause a kid held his breath for too long'. Here, though, the teachers here are crazy about recess. They'll force you to go out for break time even if you really don't want to.

"Natalie, you have to go outside for break time, " Ms. White said. She's super nice, but today I'm not going to listen to her.

"I don't want to, " I grumbled.

"It's school policy that we send every kid out for daily recess. Time outdoors helps you pay attention in class." She explained.

"But it's soggy outside," I complained,

"I know it's soggy, but you have to go outside anyway. Everyone else is outside."

I glanced at my wet shoes and imagined how much worse my cold socks would feel. There's only one thing left to do. Completely refuse.

"I'm not going outside, " I said firmly, sitting down hard in my chair.

"Natalie, It's not a choice. " She insisted, calm but firm.

"I'm not going!" I repeated, louder this time. Maybe I yelled it. I was not sure. Whatever I did. It was that for Ms. White to send me to the principal's office.

As I walked to the principal's office, memories from my past rushed into my mind. Just like at my old school, I would get yelled at, the principal would call my parents. I'd have to write an essay on the importance of not talking back to adults. Now I'll face the same trouble. Crazy.

注意：

1. 续写的词数应为150左右：

2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

The principal opened the door

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I couldn't believe what he said

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1. 描述问题： 2.   提出要求。

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 Sir/Madam,

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Best regards,

Li Hua

As The Timer's classical music reporter, I don't often get "news"from long-dead composers. But I recently learned that an unknown waltz by the eminent composer Chopin, (write) nearly 200 years ago, had been discovered in the basement of the Morgan Library & Museum in New York. It (find) in a collection of memorabilia (收藏品), alongside postcards signed by Picasso and letters from Tchaikovsky. The piece was (mood) and reflective, and noticeable name was on the top: Chopin.

Such kind of works are rare in classical music, especially for Chopin, composed fewer works than other composers. We knew that readers would want to hear the waltz, but we needed a (music) who could do it justice. I immediately thought of Lang Lang, one of the biggest stars in classical music. I told him about the (new) discovered Chopin and sent him the score.

"Wow. this is a great piece!" he said in a voice message. "I'm very surprised. It's very Chopin. It must be Chopin. It sounds very much like Chopin, with a very dramatic darkness turning into a positive thing It's beautiful."

While Lang was in New York, I met up with him (record) the waltz. He adjusted his interpretation after each take, (change) the tempo and refining the quiet opening notes.

Sitting near the piano, I asked him people should care about this waltz, 175 years after Chopin's death. "This level of music making-it always touches us the deepest," he said. "To have a new work by this level of great artist — we're just so lucky. Just enjoy it."

It was a Saturday like any other until I found my husband, Ken, collapsed on the floor,8 breathing. My first aid training kicked in, and as I called for help, I felt surprisingly composed, recalling the moment at the9 . At the hospital, we learned Ken had suffered a severe stroke (中风) at just 44. I realized our lives had irreversibly changed. We were being given a great test. We were about to10 this unexpected new chapter in our lives.

Five months later, after11 the idea of placing Ken in a nursing home, we brought him home. Once strong and independent, he now relied on us for even the most basic tasks. After formal therapy ended, we12 the journey of home-style therapy, using patience, creativity, and lots of love. My children displayed incredible dedication to13 their father's life.

Over time, Ken made14 progresses. He can walk with a cane, and speak "I love you" and "thank you." His courage inspires us all. Though we wouldn't wish this journey on anyone through the storm, we've found strength, resilience and an incredible sense of calm that has deeply15 our lives.

However, saying no isn't easy for some people. For these people, a "soft no" can be a good start. This involves providing an explanation, without being overly apologetic. For instance, "Thank you so much for asking me to work on this project. It sounds really interesting, but I can't handle this right now." Over time, as confidence grows, use "hard no" responses. A "hard no" is firm, clear, and brief. For example, "No, thank you," or "Thank you, but I'm not available this week." Saying no gets easier the more we practice.

However, we should only accept requests that match with our personal values, make us feel good, and for which we truly have the time and energy.

Perhaps we worry unnecessarily about saying no to other people. A recent study showed that the negative consequences of declining requests are less than we think, especially in social situations. Furthermore, we tend to overestimate how others will react to our refusals.

Of course, having difficulty saying no isn't a mental illness. If it's a persistent concern, however, it might be a sign of something deeper. In these cases, seeking treatment can allow the person to deal with any underlying issues.

A. It can be a healthy thing.

B. It can be a skill that requires intentional practice.

C. Saying yes to everything is a people-pleasing behavior.

D. Learning to say no doesn't mean we can't ever say yes.

E. This behavior can reveal low self-esteem or personality disorders.

F. In fact, most reactions are far more positive or neutral than we anticipate.

G. We might fear refusing a request will anger our friends, family and peers.