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Well, what about the brain? As we age, our brains can naturally begin to decline (衰退). In some cases, this can lead to certain mental conditions such as dementia (痴呆). However, all is not lost because these days it's relatively easy to train your brain. Smartphones and apps have put programmes that can test, keep and even improve our memories and a number of other mental abilities. With a little practice every day, we can keep our brains sharp, right?

Well, no, actually. According to a report from the Global Council on Brain Health, even though many people think it is beneficial to play some online games that are designed to improve brain health, the evidence of the benefits is "weak to non-existent". Playing a "brain game" may lead to improvements in game performance, but this has yet to show a convincing result in people's daily cognitive (认知的) abilities.

Don't lose heart, though. There are other ways to develop the brain. It recommends trying new activities that challenge the way you think and are socially engaging, while leading to a healthy lifestyle. Among their suggestions are practising tai chi, taking photography classes, learning new technologies, gardening, art projects or volunteering.

There's more good news, too. James Goodwin, chief scientist at Age UK, has said that brain decline is not unavoidable. As long as the activities are "new to you and require your concentrated attention", they can provide benefits for brain health. So, hurry up, get out there and try something new. Maybe it's time to try that hobby you've always wanted to do.

On New Year's Eve 2022, Heginbotham, 86, was spending the holiday by herself for the first time. Her husband died in June.

Heginbotham was feeling blue. The silence was almost unbearable and made the room feel colder than it was.

To cheer herself up, she decided to work on her holiday cards and send them to her friends and relatives. She carefully selected each card, thinking of the joy they would bring to them. That afternoon, she drove to Bethesda's post office to drop off the cards.

When Heginbotham was dropping off her cards, a kind-hearted man called Zein saw her and thought she was too old to handle so many cards. Zein approached her with a warm smile.

"Ma'am, do you need any help?" he asked gently. Heginbotham hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit embarrassed, but she was grateful for the offer.

Zein helped her fill in the addresses, chatting about holidays. Heginbotham felt a sense of connection, and she showed great gratitude to Zein by sending a holiday card to him as well.

When Heginbotham returned to her car, though, it wouldn't start because of the battery, a problem she had encountered before. There were two jumper cables (跨接线) in her car. She just needed to connect the positive and negative terminals (正负极) of the batteries of two cars. After the connection was made, she kept the other car's engine running, and then started her car with a dead battery. But she was too old to manage it herself. Her heart sank.

It was cold outside, and she realized that calling roadside assistance would likely take a long time, especially on a holiday. It was getting dark, and the thought of waiting alone in the cold made her scared. So she went back inside the post office.

The post office was nearly empty, with Zein and only a few workers finishing up their shifts. Heginbotham felt a bit embarrassed, but she knew she had to try.

"Does anyone know how to jumpstart a car?" Heginbotham asked.

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。

Without hesitation, Zein said right away, "I do."

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Heginbotham warmly invited Zein into the house for a drink.

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1.介绍社团活动；

2.加入该社团的好处。

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 Tom,

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Yours,

Li Hua

An exhibition highlighting gongbihua, a traditional Chinese painting style known for its fine and precise brushwork, has opened at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing.

The term gongbi (literal) means "fine brush", which describes the careful lines, soft colors, and (detail) shapes used in this style. Artists paint with very thin brushes, often adding color little by little (create) a smooth and bright look. Common (theme) in these paintings include flowers, birds, animals, and scenes from nature, (draw) with great care and accuracy.

As a mainstream form of Chinese fine art with long and rich history, gongbihua flourished(繁荣)during the Tang Dynasty and (reach) its peak during the Northern Song Dynasty. This exhibition features about 70 outstanding works by seven leading contemporary artists, including Chen Mengxin, Jia Guangjian, and Liu Wanming, have made significant contributions to the fields of academic exploration, artistic styles, and creative achievements. And their works collectively reflect a deep connection life, nature, and the times.

For example, in Liu's work, Clear and Far at the Lake, several egrets (白鹭) glide peacefully in the misty, simple environment. The peaceful beauty of solitude (独处) and purity brings a harmonious state of mind, (provide) spiritual comfort.

Lily was6, as she knew how much her mother7 that vase. It had been a gift from Lily's grandmother, and it was one of the most8 things her mother had kept since Lily's childhood. Lily felt terrible. Should she tell her9 the truth or try to hide it?

After a few minutes of thinking, Lily decided to clean up the mess. She carefully picked up the pieces and put them in a box. Then, she sat down and10 a note to her mother. In the note, she explained what had happened and11 for breaking the vase. She also promised to save her allowance to buy a new one.

When her mother came home, Lily12 handed her the note, thinking her mother would be very angry and scold her severely. Her mother read it quietly, and then she looked at Lily. Instead of getting angry, she smiled and hugged her. "Thank you for being honest," her mother said. "The vase was special, but your13 means even more to me."

Lily felt14 and learned an important lesson that day. Sometimes, telling the truth is15, but it's always the right thing to do.

As the name suggests, creative writing is an imaginative process. It doesn't fit one set genre (体裁).. However, with that being said, there are a few general principles that you can follow to make your creative writing as strong as it can be.

·. All great stories begin with a target audience in mind, which can help tailor your writing and connect with them. Therefore, any creative writer should begin their writing by plotting out exactly who they want to read their work.

·Write what you know.. Or you don't necessarily have to write about your life, but draw on knowledge you have about different elements of our lives to give your story some authenticity and more credibility.

·Creativity is key. Creativity is one of the most important elements of creative writing.. Of course, this doesn't demand that you write a tale about a totally imaginary world, but simply use your creativity to think outside the box and put a unique twist (转折) on things.

·Plot a loose story arc (弧线). Despite the loose bounds of creative writing, it is still advisable to plot a loose story are for any piece of literature you create. Story arcs are essential for giving your writing direction and purpose, helping you to write the whole piece at a good pace. Follow your story are, and your writing will have a strong structure, pace and direction..

A. Know your audience

B. Talk to your readers in person

C. These will keep your readers more engaged

D. You can then probably win an award for writing

E. It's what sets your writing apart from other pieces of writing in the genre

F. Quite often, the best stories are those which you can connect to your own lives

G. Therefore, there will never be an umbrella definition to describe the perfect piece

The scientists estimated that if wolves were reintroduced, a population of about 167 of the animals would thrive, which would be enough to reduce the red deer population to a level that would allow trees to regenerate naturally. This alone could contribute to about 5% of the carbon removal target for UK woodlands, roughly equal to 1 million tonnes. Each wolf would lead to an annual carbon intake capability of 6, 080 tonnes of CO₂.

The study's lead author, Prof Dominick Spracklen, said, "The positive effect of biodiversity on the climate cannot be overlooked. We need to look at the potential role of natural processes such as the reintroduction of species to recover our degraded (退化的) ecosystems and these in turn can deliver co-benefits for climate and nature recovery. "

It is widely accepted that wolves were eradicated (根除) from Scotland about 250 years ago, leaving red deer with no natural enemies. Over the last 100 years, while efforts have been made to control the population, it has increased to an estimated 400, 000 today in Scotland alone. The researchers said only 4% of Scotland was covered by native woodland today, making it one of the least natively forested places in Europe.

The researchers have expected some strong reactions against their research, particularly from deer chasers and farmers concerned about their cows or sheep. The policy of reintroducing wolves in Scotland has been intensely opposed by some farmers and rural communities.

Lee Schofield, a co-author of the study, said, "We recognize that actual and wide-ranging stakeholder (利益相关者) and public engagement would clearly be essential before wolf reintroduction. Most importantly, conflicts between human beings and wildlife must be addressed through public policies that account for people's attitudes for a reintroduction to be successful. "

Created by NowHere Media before the start of our project, Kusunda is an immersive interactive film that encourages viewers to learn key words of the Kusunda language, which is under threat of disappearing in Nepal. The film documents the nomadic way of life of the Kusunda people. It features their language, in the form of interviews with its last remaining speakers. NowHere Media worked closely with Lil Bahadur, just one of 150 Kusunda speakers left in the world, and his granddaughter Hima. Lil almost lost his mother tongue when he gave up one of his indigenous culture — the hunter-gatherer lifestyle— to live in the city at the age of 18.

But researchers discovered that Lil's teenage granddaughter was ardent about keeping her grandfather's language and culture alive. "If the Kusunda language disappears, then the existence of the Kusunda people in Nepal will also fade away," Hima said. "We'll lose our identity. That's why I want to save our language."

As to immersive technology, StoryLab received a grant from the British Academy to evaluate its potential for bringing endangered languages back to life. Our research study, Reviving Kusunda, compared the interactive VR experience alongside a short film created during the project. We threw light on the role of immersive technologies in creating emotional understanding of the subject in comparison to regular film.

Participants in our research — both members of the Kusunda community in Nepal and the public in the UK — identified many benefits of using multiple formats. However, they expressed a clear preference for VR. They highlighted the importance of interactivity and immersion in engaging viewers in the subject matter. With the VR experience, viewers are part of the story — a key aspect that helps revive stories and memories from the past.

In 2019, six schools were chosen to receive Lab-École makeovers, one of which was Marguerite-d' Youville Elementary School. The $16.75-million design featured three interconnected, all-wood pavilions (亭子) with sloping roofs reminding all of Saguenay's Little White House.

When I walked into the first wing of the school, it houses offices and kindergarten classrooms, while the second, central wing has a cooking lab and multi-purpose creative lab, along with a community learning center that doubles as a library and gathering space. In the third wing, the school's 12 elementary classrooms are spread out between three homey cottage-like structures. Outside, the yard is surrounded by the U-shaped main building, protecting the area from high winds and other wild weather. There's an outdoor classroom, a sports circuit and lots of climbable play structures made with repurposed wood from old buildings. Bio-retention basins are built into the garden to manage storm water runoff. Here, we had the chance to learn the ins and outs of urban agriculture.

After doors opened in August of 2023, the structure received good reviews from its 290 pupils, including me and the public, who make regular use of its park and kitchen. The province has no plans to extend Lab-École after all its schools are completed this year, but the program has already aced its assignment: to get Canadians thinking differently about what a school can be.

Every year, on the night of the full moon in the 12th month of Thailand's lunar calendar, usually in November, people across Thailand gather to celebrate Loy Krathong. As part of the festival, people release small floats, krathongs, which are commonly covered in decorative banana leaves, flowers, candles, and so on. People release these on water to wish for good luck.

Last year, the best place to enjoy Loy Krathong is Sukhothai, Thailand's first capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the week-long celebration, locals and visitors could see parades, fireworks, and traditional shows.

Getting in and Around Sukhothai

In the 13th century, Sukhothai was the center of the Kingdom of Siam, the former name for Thailand. Today, it is known for its well-preserved historical parks. The parks are home to impressive Buddhist temples. The calm and peaceful atmosphere of the city adds to its beauty. During Loy Krathong, Sukhothai's historical parks are lit up, making its ancient architectures even more magical.

Celebrating Loy Krathong Creatively

Over time, people thought floating krathongs on water would bring them good luck, but in recent years it's been impossible to ignore the environmental impact. "Releasing flower krathongs made out of banana plant stems and leaves was never a problem until recently, when the population increased a lot. Of course it creates a mass of krathongs and pollutes water," says Tongthong Chandransu, a well-known historian. In response, many people are now choosing creative ways to honor the tradition, such as making their krathong bases out natural materials. Others just light a digital krathong online.

On the first day of school, our professor introduced Frank, a teenager with a slight limp(跛行)but a bright smile. He sat next to me, and I told him about my passion for robotics. Frank said he'd always been interested in technology but never had the chance to explore it deeply. He had a minor physical disability but was determined to pursue his education and prove what he could achieve.

Over the next few days, Frank and I became friends, talking during breaks and sharing our dreams. Frank spoke about overcoming his challenges, while I shared my love for robotics. We found our interests complemented (补充) each other, and we often discussed how technology could help people.

One day, Frank mentioned a secret technological project that could bring convenience to the disabled but needed access to specialized lab equipment. I suggested he talk to our professor, known for supporting innovative ideas. Frank took my advice and was surprised when the professor offered him access to the advanced lab and a mentor.

With the professor's support, Frank's project began to take shape. His enthusiasm inspired other students to pursue their own projects. I was drawn to Frank's project, seeing how it could fit with my robotics skills. However, I hesitated to start my own project. I had always been passionate about robotics, but I was afraid of failure and the challenges that came with it. I worried that my ideas wouldn't be good enough or that I wouldn't be able to handle the pressure. Despite my passion, I held back, unsure if I was ready to take that leap.

But Frank's determination and the professor's encouragement changed my perspective. "You can do it. We can work together to complete this project," he said. Then I saw how Frank faced his challenges head-on, never letting his disability hold him back. His courage pushed me to overcome my fears.

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。

Finally, I told Frank that I wanted to join his project.

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Frank's heartfelt speech encouraged me to start my own project.

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1.介绍一种中国文化形式；

2.该文化形式对你的影响。

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。

A Form of Chinese Culture

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As the world's largest ice-and-snow theme park, the 26th edition of Harbin Ice-Snow World, (official) opened on 21st, December, 2024 in Harbin, the capital city of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The park was built with 300,000 cubic meters of ice and snow, including elements (inspire) by the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games.

With area of a million square meters, the park is the largest in its history. Harbin Ice-Snow World stands out one of China's iconic winter attractions. It surged (激增) in (popular) on Chinese social media, (gain) lots of likes from the Internet users in 2023 winter, and the 25th edition of the park received over 2.7 million tourists in 2023.

Usually, the park features nine major (zone). The most popular attraction in the park, the Super Ice Slide, with a 300-meter-long windproof warm house mounted at the queuing area, allows visitors (take) a break from freezing weather while overlooking the park's scenery.

In 2024, in addition to ice-and-snow landscapes, the park added fantasy shows, virtual reality projects, and a digital art museum to its inventory of winter wonders that could offer new and exciting experiences for both global and domestic visitors. The "Snow Disco" event, attracted thousands of tourists in 2023 winter, (hold) at the Dream Stage in the park for the 2024 edition too.

For over 15 years, Christina Cavanaugh, who has Down syndrome (唐氏综合征) and is mostly nonverbal, has made3 movies an essential part of her routine. Christina has always had a deep4 to video rental stores, associating each one with her favorite films. When Video Stop closed, Christina5 to understand why she couldn't go inside anymore, a(n)6 moment for both her and her mother, Toni.

That's when Kraning7 with a heartfelt solution. He decided to keep a portion of the store's collections of films and dedicate a quiet corner in his convenience store to continue providing8 for Christina.

Employees in Kraning's store have long9 Christina like family, even learning her unique way of checking out movies. When providing her phone number at checkout, she often10 for employees to repeat each number before moving on—a process they11 accept.

While the new rental corner will be accessible to other trusted customers, it was Christina who12 its creation. When Toni, first saw the13, she affectionately called it "Christina's corner". Overwhelmed with14, Toni expressed her appreciation for Kraning and his team. "How can your heart not15 when you see people in the community taking care of each other?" she said.

Reduce online interruption

If you're working on a task and you stop to look at your phone, it takes just two seconds to read a text message — but it may make you twice as likely to make an error on what you're doing. Worse yet, it takes you extra time to get back into the flow of your previous task..

Build an orderly environment

Having organized, comfortable space — both physical and digital — is important to our mental and physical health. Chaos in your home or work environment invites distraction into your life.. Establish some digital boundaries that work for you and clearly communicate them to family members and work contacts.

Whether a certain technology enhances or harms our life is often dependent on how we use it. The temptation to endlessly scroll on social media can be high, especially when your brainpower is low. In the morning, take a few minutes to write down first things that you need to complete for the day and plans., and use your screen-time settings to hold yourself to your limits on the Internet.

Prioritize meaningful relationships

, particularly when some online contacts may turn out either shallow or insincere. Rather than focusing on the quantity of relationships, concentrate on the quality of your connections online. Unfollow irrelevant people or groups who are not adding value to your life.

A. Depend on social media

B. Regulate daily online time

C. To proactively set yourself up for better management, take action

D. Consider including an intention for how long you want to be online

E. Social media can be the source of much anxiety and social comparison

F. Make efforts to contribute to a positive group in your community nearby

G. So turn off unnecessary notifications to lower distractions and enhance your focus

A recent study from Kyushu University and Osaka Metropolitan University suggests that stars in the early universe might have formed in soft molecular clouds, which make them float like cotton. This discovery was made by observing the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), a small galaxy near the Milky Way. The SMC has fewer heavy elements compared to our galaxy, making it similar to the conditions of the early universe about 10 billion years ago.

In our galaxy, molecular clouds that help form stars usually have a long thin shape. Scientists think the solar system was created in a similar way, where a large molecular cloud broke apart to form a core that eventually became a star. Over time, gravity pulled more gas and matter into these cores, leading to star formation.

Kazuki Tokuda, a researcher at Kyushu University, explains that understanding how stars formed in the early universe is challenging because the universe was mostly made of hydrogen and helium (氮) back then. To study this, the team used the ALMA radio telescope in Chile to observe the SMC. They found that 60% of the molecular clouds had the usual long thin shape, while 40% were soft. The temperature inside the thin clouds was higher than that in the soft ones, which might be due to how old the clouds are.

If a molecule cloud keeps its long shape, it's more likely to break apart and form many stars like the sun. However, if it becomes soft, it may be harder for stars to form. This study shows that having enough heavy elements is important for maintaining the long shape of molecular clouds, which can be crucial for forming planetary systems.

The company plans to use 3D-printed metal homes to survive ocean pressure. Their first small station will be ready this year. It is as big as a small classroom and can hold 3 divers at a depth of 100 meters into the ocean for short trips. Bigger stations will later allow 6 people to live for a month, with bedrooms, kitchens, and labs.

In the 1960s, early submarine labs let people stay for about a month. In 2023, a professor named Joseph Dituri broke the record by living beneath the ocean's surface for 100days. His body changed slightly — like shrinking half an inch — but he stayed healthy. Still, scientists warn long-term living beneath the ocean's surface might harm blood flow, and returning to the surface too fast can be deadly.

Another problem is wildlife. Ocean animals already suffer from warming waters, and building metal homes could damage their habitats. Nancy Knowlton, a marine science professor in the US, said, "Humans have not done enough to protect the ocean. While the UK company claims they want to study and protect sea life, we fear this might cause new issues."

Despite challenges, the company has big dreams beneath the ocean's surface:10 stations worldwide by 2035, and the first "baby" born beneath the waves by 2050. Their leader stresses, "We can't ignore the oceans anymore — protecting them is key to the Earth's future.

Just as our ancestors left the sea long ago, humankind, in my view, might now start a new chapter beneath the waves."

I spoke four languages naturally: German and Hungarian with my parents, Spanish outside home, and later English. My parents survived World War II and taught me their stories of hope through their languages. At school, we learned different subjects in Spanish, German, and English. Though switching languages was easy for me, sometimes, it made me feel different. While friends had one main culture, I balanced many cultures, which made me feel like I belonged nowhere.

Our home traditions stood out. We ate dinner earlier than most Argentine families did. When friends stayed out very late as teenagers, I preferred going home earlier like my family. Music at home, in addition, was different too. Instead of Argentine tango or folk songs, we listened to German classical music and American pop. I connected more to these sounds from my parents' childhoods.

Living with three cultures was hard at times. Even though I was born in Argentina, I didn't always feel completely Argentine. My daily habits, traditions, and even how I thought about things felt more connected to my family's European background. I wished I didn't have to explain why my family did things differently. As I grew up, however, I learned to love my background since it taught me to adapt, understand different views, and feel at home anywhere. If you have multiple cultures, don't see them as an issue. It's special! I have more homes, more traditions, and a wider view of the world. My background is a gift that makes me unique.

China Grand Canal Museum, China

The museum stands as a centre of the collection, display, research, and education surrounding the canal's cultural artifacts. Housing over 10,000 pieces of relics ranging from ancient books, calligraphic works, and paintings to pottery, the museum offers visitors a comprehensive insight into the Grand Canal's evolution from the Spring and Autumn Period to the modern era.

Golden Gate Highlands National Park, South Africa

Nestled in the Maluti Mountains' foothills in the Free State Province, this park is named for the golden shine that bathes its sandstone rocks at sunset. It offers scenic hikes among breathtaking sandstone cliffs (悬崖) and vast reddish grasslands. Spend time in mountains riding a horse and exploring caves to know about the original wildness more.

Prince Edward Island, Canada

The island is renowned for the red-sand beaches, whose ecosystem is rich and varied with beautiful coastal landscapes, rolling green hills, and wonderful forest trails. Plus, the redand-white lighthouses have become popular historical landmarks for the public to visit. The island is small in size, but you'll be surprised by the vigour of fishing villages, small towns, farming communities, and urban centres.

Ngardmau Waterfall, Palau

Located on Babeldaob Island, the waterfall is not only a natural wonder but also a site of cultural significance. It is located in the village of Ngardmau, which is named after the waterfall itself, and can be accessed on foot or by rail, with the latter taking less time to reach. Today, it holds both cultural and historical significance for the place's community.