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Cleaning up a messy bedroom can seem like a frightening task, but if you prepare a simple plan, you can clean up thoroughly and quickly. Here's a basic speed cleaning roadmap:

▪First, bring in a garbage bag and pick up trash around the room. Getting garbage out of the way ensures you'll avoid spills or soiling linens like sheets or table-cloths while cleaning.

▪Next, take care of the bed. An uncluttered bed with a smooth blanket and neat pillows sets the tone for the entire room. If you have time to change the sheets, do it first. If not, shake out the blanket on the floor to refresh it, and then make the bed. A neat bed can also hold items such as picture frames or books, where you can neatly line them up and easily put them back after cleaning.

▪Put things in their proper place. Bring any kitchen items back to their rightful place. Place clothes either in the laundry bin, or make a pile in your closet to fold later. Put books in a neat pile or on a shelf. If you have items from other rooms lying around, start a sorting pile that you can remove and deal with later. We want the bedroom to be clean, and don't want this whole thing turn into a game of "Where does this go?"

▪Wipe down the furniture with microfiber dust wipes. Who needs polishing spray and a rag when you're in a hurry! Pre-cut and folded microfiber cloths work great to dust furniture, a TV, bookshelves and picture frames.

. Vacuum or sweep the floor. This is an essential step, since a lot of dust and crumbs settle here. A quick run around the room will be effective. If you have more time, go for a second round.

To be consistent, start in one corner of the room and work your way around it in one direction. If you move aimlessly around, you can lose focus. Also, try to attack one chore at a time, instead of doing multiple chores at once. Once all these tasks are completed, your bedroom should look much more inviting!

In my hometown of Idaho Falls, beneath the elevated train tracks that paralleled West Yellowstone Highway, there was a hidden gem that aroused my curiosity. A small opening in the hill, easily missed if one wasn't attentive, attracted me with its half-moon shape and stone-framed edges. Although it looked pointless, brilliant light poured through, creating a tapestry of thin trees covered in delicate, light green leaves—a symbol of freshness and new beginnings—and illuminating the space.

That image remains vivid in my mind, evoking a fanciful notion of a gateway to a secret world where wood nymphs and fairies have fun. I imagined an embrace of beautiful light, a peaceful place where I would feel secure and understood.

As a teenager, armed with a driver's license, I fantasized about driving to that spot and finally stepping through the opening. However, I knew deep down that the moment I ventured closer, the enchantment(魔法) would disappear like morning mist.

Even in adulthood, I had a knack for summoning enchantment. I could marvel at drifting clouds, sensing their magical dance. Old forests showed an otherworldly wisdom, and seemingly coincidental events held a mystical fascination. But the pandemic, like a thief in the night, robbed me of that gift. Confined to our homes, the cries of our children merged with our own as we wrestled with teaching them reading and math. Weeks stretched into months, and months into years, eroding my ability to find enchantment in the boring life, leaving only the residue of a COVID-infected existence.

So when I picked up Katherine May's newest book and read this bit, it felt really familiar:

"I have lost some fundamental part of my knowing, some basic human feeling. Without it, the world feels like tap water left overnight, flat and chemical, short of life. I am like lightning seeking earth. Uneasy. I need a better way to walk through this life. I want to be enchanted again. "

May has written an entire book about this, appropriately titled Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age. I dog-eared almost every page in this book, as they mirrored my own experiences. It was a confirmation I desperately needed—the realization that I wasn't alone in my struggle. May's exploration of curiosity, imagination, and the quest for meaning in our lives became a profound reminder of the path I yearned to rediscover. Therefore, I can't wait to recommend this book to you. You won't be disappointed; you have my word.

Recently, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York said that if we want to fix the gridlock(僵局) in Congress, we need more women. Women are more focused on finding common ground and 21 , she argued. Besides, neuroscientists have uncovered evidence suggesting that, when the 22  is on, women bring unique strengths to decision making.

Mara Mather and Nichole R. Lighthall, two cognitive neuroscientists, are two of the many researchers who have found that under normal circumstances, when everything is low-key and 23  , men and women make decisions about risk in similar ways. We gather the best information we can, we 24  potential costs against potential gains, and then we choose how to act. 25  , add stress to the situation and men and women begin to part ways.

Dr. Mather and her team taught people a simple computer gambling game, in which they got points for inflating(给……充气) digital balloons. The more they inflated each balloon, the greater its value, and the 26  of popping it. When they were relaxed, men and women took similar risks and averaged a similar number of pumps. But after experiencing the cold water, the stressed women 27  sooner, cashing out their winnings and going with the more guaranteed win. Stressed men did just the 28  . They kept pumping—in one study averaging about 50 percent more pumps than the women—and risking more.

Of course, just because it works this way in a(n) 29 doesn't mean the same thing happens in the messy real world. Do organizations with women 30 actually make less risky and more empathetic decisions in stressful circumstances?

Some evidence suggests they do. Credit Suisse(瑞士信贷) examined almost 2,400 global corporations from 2005 to 2011—including the years directly preceding(之前的) and 31 the financial crisis—and found that companies with at least one woman on their boards 32  comparable companies with all-male boards by 26 percent.

33 , what often happens is that women are asked to lead only during periods of intense stress. It's called the glass cliff, in which highly qualified women are asked to lead organizations only in times of 34 . Think of Mary T. Barra at General Motors and Marissa Mayer at Yahoo, who were both brought in only after things had begun to fall apart. If more women were key decision makers, perhaps organizations could respond effectively to small stresses, 35 letting them escalate into huge ones. There's a good reason that we'd benefit from more women in positions of power.

The serious business of being a social influencer

This week China promised a tax-evasion punishment on social-media influencers, who are paid by brands to promote products online to their followers. Viya, known as the live-streaming queen, has already been fined $210m for not  her income. The size of that levy(征 收税) shows the large scale of the industry, which  for 12% of online sales in China.

Outside China, influencers are also likely to have a(n)  role in e-commerce. For all firms with brands, it is time to realize that influencing is more than just a hobby.

The use of personal endorsements(宣传，代言) used to be about taking advantage of existing celebrity power. For example, Michael Jordan's deal in 1984 with Nike both basketball and branding. Influencers turn the logic on its head: selling things helps make them more famous. Through clipped videos and photos they offer recommendations to consumers, together with glimpses into their daily lives to increase the .

Total spending on influencers by brands could reach $16bn this year. The number of wannabe influencers outside China is in the millions. However, only under 100,000 of them get most profit. Their staying power suggests that they add value in several ways. Influencers' networks reach new audiences, younger shoppers. And influencers are technologically proficient in a way that old-style brand ambassadors never were. They can quickly adapt to and utilize newer platforms like TikTok. Yet one-third of brands do not use influencers. They worry about their .

Despite the risk,  influencers is a mistake. Their share of digital advertising budgets is still low at 3%, but it is rising fast. The borderline between entertainment and e-commerce is becoming unclear. The most popular marketing strategy of the 2010s—ads targeted through Google and Facebook—is under threat as new privacy standards make it harder to spy on potential customers.

To make full use of influencers, brands should set a clear strategy. They should expect more regulation on consumer protection. The guiding   should be to use only influencers who disclose to their audiences that their posts are paid.

Shampoo—do we really need to use it?

Buying shampoo can be overwhelming—there are so many brands to choose from, across a huge range of prices. Some brands promise to repair and nourish our hair,  others promise to strengthen and add volume. But is any of these claims true? Do we even need shampoo at all?

Since long before shampoo   (invent)—some say in India—our bodies have been producing sebum, an oil-like substance. Sebum stops our skin   (get) dry, manages the health of our scalp and makes our hair shiny. But it also collects dirt, and, if (leave) untouched for too long, sebum can cause our hair to become greasy. There are no disadvantages from a health perspective to letting our hair be greasy, says Eleanore Richardson, Trichologist at Fulham Scalp and Hair Clinic, but many people choose to wash their hair a regular basis for aesthetic reasons.

And so we reach for the shampoo bottle. Shampoos contain a group of chemicals called surfactants. They grab the dirt and grease from the surface of our hair, meaning when we rinse away the shampoo, we also wash away the grease and dirt. But, Laura Waters, a professor of Pharmaceutical Analysis, points out, "some surfactants work too well" and take the natural oils out of the hair, as well. Though more expensive shampoos may contain (harsh) surfactants, the type of shampoo doesn't really matter. "It's on our hair very briefly and gets washed away". It's the conditioners and styling products that we use after the shampoo that make a bigger difference to the texture and feel of our hair.

Naturally, the more we put onto our hair, the more we need to cleanse it off, (create) a vicious circle. So, yes, it seems we do have a need for shampoo, but we also shouldn't expect it (serve) as a miracle cure. And, finally, next time you're in a shampoo aisle, remember that hair is made up of dead protein cells and that, sadly, not even the most expensive shampoo bring them back to life. See to it that you make better decisions.

注意：1. 词数100左右，开头和结尾已经给出，不计入总词数；2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Jim,

Yours; 

Li Hua

If you are a fan of fast fashion, your choices may be narrowing in the near future. Recently, a large number of fast-fashion stores were closed worldwide. 

A major reason is the shift in the mindset（心态） of consumers. Millennials, those who were born in the 1980s or 1990s, are now the largest consumer group.  Low-priced fast fashion is not their priority. More people are starting to care about quality and the stories behind a product.

 The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters of clean water and three-fifths of clothes produced in a year end up in landfills（垃圾场）. As there is more awareness of the climate crisis（危机）, younger people are pursuing more eco-friendly choices.

Molly, 22, is one of them. Before she went to college, she used to frequent fast-fashion shops. Now, she tries to shop in a way that is both sustainable（可持续的） and affordable:She shops second-hand. "My friend showed me how easy it was to be thrifty（节约的）, and I developed a new personal style that focused less on trends but on basics that don't go out of style," she said.

In order to survive in the competitive market, many fast-fashion brands are making changes as well. "Sustainability is a never-ending task in which everyone here is involved", said a CEO of a fast-fashion company.

A. Millennials like brands with a long history.

B. It shows that fast fashion is slowing down.

C. Climate change should be blamed on the fashion industry.

D. Unlike their predecessors（前人）, millennials hold different attitudes towards products.

E. Another factor is the growing concern over the fashion industry's effect on the environment.

F. For example, some companies plan for all of their clothes to be sustainable in the future.

G. But after taking a class that focused on the environmental impact of clothing production, her preference changed.

Almost everyone has heard the expression, "the calm before the storm." It is usually used to describe a peaceful period just before a very stressful situation or a tense argument.

British sailors coined the phrase in the late 1600s; they noted that before certain storms the seas would seem to become static and the winds would drop. But why is it often so calm before a storm?

Science has given us the answer. According to a US website How Stuff Works, a calm period occurs because many storms, such as tornadoes and hurricanes draw in all the warm and humid air from the surrounding area. As this air rises into the storm clouds, it cools and acts as "fuel for the storm like petrol in a car". Once the storm has taken all the energy it can from the air, it is pushed out from the top of the storm cloud sand falls back down to ground level. As the air descends（下降）, it becomes warm and dry. Warm, dry air is stable, so once it covers an area, it causes a calm period before the storm. This same process also causes the "eye of the storm" in hurricanes and tornadoes. In these conditions, the calm occurs in the center of the storm because of the strong rotating（旋转的） winds.

The Weather Network has a tip for working out how far away a storm is. First, count how many seconds there are between a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder. Roughly three seconds equal one kilometer. So, for example, if you count nine seconds, the storm is about 3 kilometers away. A good gauge（评估） is that if your count is below 30 seconds, you should seek safe place straight away.

However, due to the complexity of storm system, not all storms come after calm. Given the right conditions, some storms announce themselves with heavy rain and chilling（寒冷的） winds. So, your best bet is to keep yourself updated with weather reports for any predictions regarding a coming storm in your area. That's the most reliable and sensible way to predict the next display of nature's temper.

It's always exciting to receive a letter in the mail. Even today, when the world is digitally connected, receiving an actual letter in your mailbox from a distant land is a great way for children to make new friends.

The Peaceful Pen Pals Project is a beautiful project that blends together global connection and self-expression. The project is part of the nonprofit Kids for Peace, founded by Jill McManigal and Danielle Gram in California in 2006. It is open to all children, ages two through seventeen. To date, there are 1,500 children from 17 countries participating in the program according to the organization. Currently, all letters are written in English. When children sign up, they can select if they would rather be matched with a USA Peaceful Pen Pal or an international one.

Each child is then matched to a pen pal of similar age. This establishes a point of connection quickly for the children and facilitates（促进） a stronger bond. If the letter writers are in the same grade, they can chat about school, their teachers, and what they are studying. They can also compare what different states or countries learn about and how the atmosphere of the classroom are, whether socially or academically. Children may also be more likely to write about problems they are having if they feel like they are speaking to a peer in a similar situation. Although pen pals may live in different countries, they may find common ground. The writer lists their favorite activities to do outside, plus what they like best and least about school. This gives the writer an opportunity to express and receive advice or feedback（反馈） from the pen pal.

"Hearing first-hand stories from an international pen pal can encourage teens to take someone else's viewpoint and to think outside of themselves," writes Rebecca Fraser-Thill on Very Well Family. "Having a foreign pen pal can also encourage interest in geography, history and culture."

Walking around the world may seem impossible, but that didn't stop Angela Maxwell from putting one foot in front of the other. In 2020, Maxwell, then in her early 30s, began her walk around the world alone. After six-and-a-half years and over 32, 000 kilometers, Maxwell's walk ended where it began.

Before she left on her journey, Maxwell found inspiration from women explorers of the past. "I read their books in hopes of finding encouragement-and I did—by learning about their challenges and struggles as well as their triumphs（胜利）. Each woman's story was quite different and it gave me the confidence to give my walk a try," Maxwell said.

After selling all of her belongings, Maxwell left her hometown of Bend, Oregon with 50 kilograms of camping gear, dehydrated（脱水的） food, a water filter and clothing for all four seasons. 

Maxwell's worldwide walk wasn't easy. She suffered from sunburn and heatstroke（中暑） in the Australian desert and dengue fever（登革热） in Vietnam. She heard gunshots while camping in Turkey and was attacked in her tent in Mongolia. Still, she continued to walk. She learned beekeeping in the Republic of Georgia and camel-handling on the historical Silk Road in Mongolia. She helped a farmer renovate（翻新） his house in Sardinia and handed out food to homeless people in Italy. She gathered countless stories that she'd go on to speak about at schools, universities and conferences.

When the reporter asked her what kind of person it takes to walk around the world, Maxwell said, "It's probably a combination of ambition, a little stubbornness and a pinch of passion—not for hiking as a sport, but for self-discovery and adventure."

"I didn't start walking because I was fearless—but rather because I was terrified. I was more afraid of not following my heart than I was of losing everything I owned and loved."

Throughout her journey, Maxwell raised about $30,000 for non-governmental organizations, such as Her Future Coalition and World Pulse that focus on supporting girls and young women.

"Walking has taught me that everything and everyone has a story to share, we just have to be willing to listen," she said.

Buffalo &Erie County Public Library

MY ACCOUNT

You must have a PIN to access your account at any library terminal（终端） remotely through the B&ECPL's website. To create or reset a PIN, click the Forgot My PIN link.

If your account is not in good standing, it will run out 6 months after it is issued.

An account is in "good standing" when the charges are not over $50.00 or there are 15 or less overdue（逾期的） items.

BORROWING LIMITS

Most card holders are allowed to check out as many as 50 items at one time.

The length of time is different depending on the type of material borrowed.

RENEWING OR RETURNING ITEMS

To renew online 24/7, access My Account on our website. To renew by telephone 24/7, call 716-845-9040. You must have your library card number and PIN ready.

Stop by any B&ECPL library (except the Central Library) to renew in person or call 716-858-8900 during Central Library open hours.

Most B&ECPL libraries have outdoor drop boxes in place for 24-hour returns without any charge.

Going from junior high school to senior high school is a big challenge. I had to think very (careful) about which courses I wanted to take. I had to choose extra-curricular activities, too. I (join) a volunteer club. I know I'll have to study (hard) as a senior high school student and get used to being responsible for a lot more. (study) hard isn't always fun, but I'll be well prepared for university or whatever else comes in the future.

I always wanted to look like the slim girls on TV even though I knew that it was impossible. I worried about my weight and (try) every new diet! Then I read an article that said I should be asking "Am I fit?". So I started thinking about (fit) rather than weight. Finally, I stopped (compare) myself with actresses and models. Instead, I made a list of the things I liked about myself.

This four-day walking tour will take you on amazing paths through the Andes Mountains on the way to the city of Machu Picchu. After reaching your destination, you (have) a day to explore and be amazed by this ancient city. Especially amazing is the Incas' dry stone method of (build). Inca builders cut stones to exact sizes so that nothing (need) to hold walls together other than the perfect fit of the stones.