It is that time of the year, when a handful of world's leading scholars, social activists and researchers are rewarded with what is often cited as the most prestigious acknowledgement of human effort-the Nobel Prize. Here's a look at who has won the prize and for what.
Physiology or Medicine
Swedish geneticist Svante Peabo won the first Nobel of the year, for starting the field of ancient DNA studies. He is well-known for extracting, sequencing, and analyzing ancient DNA from Neanderthal bones.
Physics
Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger's work in quantum (量子) technology landed them the second Nobel Prize announced in 2022. Although Aspect is from France, Clauser from the U. S, and Zeilinger from Austria, the three separately performed "groundbreaking experiments" as one team. "Their results have cleared the way for new technology," the committee stated.
Chemistry
The Nobel Prize for chemistry went to another trio, Carolyn R. Bertozzi from the U. S. , Morten Meldal from Denmark and K. Barry Sharpless from the U. S. "for the development of click chemistry and biorthogonal chemistry," the committee stated. Dr. Bertozzi is the eighth woman chemist to be awarded the prize, while Dr. Sharpless is the fifth scientist to be awarded two Nobel Prizes.
Economics
The Prize in Economic Sciences was awarded to three American economists, Ben S. Bernanke, Douglas W. Diamond and Philip H. Dybvig "for research on banks and financial crises," the Nobel Prize committee announced on Monday. By studying the history of American economics, particularly the Great Depression of the 1930s, they improved how we understand the role of banks during times of hardship and the bank's impact on societal functions.
We spend around one third of our lives in bed, and the body does a lot of its repair work as we sleep, so enough good quality sleep is very important to our health. It doesn't stop there, though—some sleep positions are healthier than others. So which sleep position is the healthiest?
Sleeping on your back is the healthiest sleep position, health benefits include avoiding back and neck pain. Because the head is raised above the stomach when you sleep on your back, this position is best for people who suffer from nighttime acid reflux (胃酸逆流) as well. Around 80% of heartburn sufferers have problems during the night, so sleeping on their back could help a lot of people to enjoy a good night's sleep. If the sleep position alone is not enough to alleviate the condition, try raising the head of the bed by up to 4 inches by placing blocks under it.
When you sleep on your back, your face is in a natural position. This means less wrinkles (皱纹).
If you really can't face sleeping on your back, another healthy sleep position is the side sleep. It's almost as good as the back position, and it's better for people who snore (打鼾) and their partners. Whichever sleep position you choose, use a pillow that supports the head and the neck without raising the head unnaturally, as this can bring neck pain.
Everyone looks forward to progress, whether in one's personal life or in the general society. Progress indicates a person's ability to change the way he is living at the moment. Progress must lead to a better life and a better way of doing things. All these, however, remain true only in so far as people want to accept technology and move forward by finding new and more efficient ways of doing things.
However, at the back of the minds of many people, especially those who miss the "good old days", efficiency comes with a price. When communication becomes more efficient, people are able to contact one another no matter where they are and at whatever time they wish to. The click of a button allows people miles apart to talk or see each other without even leaving their homes. With the communication gadgets, such as mobile phones and iPads, people often do not take the effort to visit one another personally. A personal visit carries with it the additional feature of having to be in the person's presence for as long as the visit last. We cannot unnecessarily excuse ourselves or turn the other person off.
With efficiency also comes mass production. Such is the nature of factories and the success of industrialization today. Factories have improved efficiency. Unskillful tasks are left to machines and products are better made and produced with greater accuracy than any human hand could ever have done. However, with the improvements in efficiency also comes the loss of the personal touch when making these products. For example, many handicrafts(手工艺品) are now produced in a factory. Although this means that supply is better able to increase demand, now that the supply is quick and efficient, the demand might fall because mass production lowers the quality of the handicraft and it is difficult to find unique designs on each item.
Nevertheless, we must not commit the mistake of analyzing progress only from one point of view. In fact, progress has allowed tradition to keep up. It is only with progress and the invention of new technology that many old products can be brought back to their old state. New technology is required for old products to stay old.
It is people's attitude towards progress that causes the type of influence that technology has on society. Technology is flexible. There is no fixed way of making use of it. Everything depends on people's attitude. The worst effects of progress will fall on those who are unable to rethink their attitudes and views of society. When we accept progress and adapt it to suit our needs, a new "past" is created.
Parents express their sadness that their teenagers always have their noses in their phones. But they might need to rethink their own screen time.
A study came out from the Pew Research Center. It found that two-thirds of parents are concerned about the amount of time their teenage children spend in front of screens. But more than a third of parents expressed concern about their own screen time. Meanwhile, more than half of teens had an observation. They often or sometimes find their parents or caregivers distracted when the teens are trying to have a conversation with them. The study calls teens' relationship with their phones at times "hyperconnected". It notes that nearly three-fourths check messages or notifications as soon as they wake up. Parents do the same. But parents do it at a lower rate—57%. This is still substantial.
Big tech companies face a growing strong opposition. There are complaints against the addictive nature of their apps. People complain about the endless notifications and other features. They say they are created to keep people tethered(拴) to their screens.
Many teens are trying to do something about it.52% of teens have cut back on the time they spend on their phones and 57% have done the same with social media.
Experts say parents have a big role in their kids' screen habits and setting a good example is a big part of it. "Kids don't always do what we say but they do as we do," said Donald Shifrin. He is a professor of pediatrics. He teaches at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He was not involved in the Pew study. "Parents are the door that kids will walk through on their way to the world. " The study surveyed 743 U. S. teens and 1,058 U. S. parents of teens. It was conducted from March 7 to April 10.
How to Improve Your Communication Skills
If you feel like you lack the basic skills required for good communication, there are a number of reliable ways to improve. Here are a few tips:
Effective communicators are always good listeners. Active listening means engaging with what people say by giving positive replies and asking follow-up questions to show that you are paying attention.
Focus on nonverbal communication. Mastering nonverbal signals can help prevent miscommunication and signal interest to those around you. Your nonverbal signals affect the first impression you make on someone. Maintaining eye contact, limiting hand gestures, and having good posture go a long way when meeting someone for the first time.
Manage your own emotions. For clear communication and your own personal well-being, it's important to manage your emotions and express them appropriately in context.
Practice public speaking. However, there's no better way to develop good communication skills than by seeking out public speaking opportunities. Great communicators are able to clearly express their feelings, whether they're speaking to a large group or talking face-to-face to one other person. Regularly speaking in front of a group will help you find your strengths and weaknesses and force you to develop great communication habits.
Ask for feedback. There's no shame in asking for honest feedback on your communication skills from people around you.
A. Practice active listening.
B. Develop communication skills.
C. Public speaking may sound frightening.
D. Know what's appropriate to express when speaking publicly.
E. Turn to them for advice on improving your communication skills.
F. Showing strong emotions can lead to poor communication and conflict.
G. Pay attention to your facial expressions and body language when speaking with someone.
Here's a black walnut (黑胡桃) tree in my backyard. I've been in an 18-year love-hate
1 with it. It's a unique tree. In late September or early October, falling fruits as hard as baseballs 2 the heads of you. Patio (露台) umbrellas are a must while dining in the garden in early August, and because of the volume of fruit this season, I wear my bike 3 while working in the garden.
The black walnut also releases a chemical substance through its roots as a 4 strategy. It's harmful to several common plants. There have been many new plant varieties that I brought home with 5 that maybe the black walnut would accept them, but they failed to 6 .
Have I thought of getting rid of this giant pain in my tiny backyard? Yes, however, getting rid of this tree standing at 50 feet with an 87 -inch trunk is 7 . It's also protected under the law. Rightfully so. Trees are important to the urban forest and for all of those that inhabit it. Trees are 8 to numerous birds and insect species and are essential for keeping our environment 9 .
Sometimes I think about my life without the black walnut. I can't imagine a spring without the birds who arrive every year and loudly sing their songs before dawn. I'd miss falling asleep on 10 weekend afternoons as I 11 into its leaves before the nuts threaten to fall.
Every spring, I wonder what the season holds. What are the chances of being knocked 12 while barbecuing? Like any good relationship, I'll never be pleased. I'm 13 with this tree. 14 , my walnut offers a home to wildlife and a 15 that acceptance, instead of resistance, is the better way to be.
Hua Weiguang, retired teacher from Tongliao, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is a photography enthusiast.
A decade ago, the arrival of tree planters (catch) Hua's attention and the photos of the tree planters
(take) by Hua are evidence of the (remark) transformation of the land. In those photos, hats, scarves and goggles, for the workers fighting desertification, are basic necessities to protect them the wind and sand. There was no way to avoid the brutal summer heat in the land so the workers had to lie down on the ground or curl up in the narrow shade of their cars to cool off. And they also had to eat their lunch amid the blowing sands, taking in the small pieces of sand with their food.
"we don't fool the tree, it won't fool you. You take it(serious), and then it behaves in the same way to you. You put efforts to make it live, and the tree lives up to your (expect)," the planters say.
China's forest resources have increased by over 70 million hectares in the past decade，(rank) first in the world. One tree after another, a green Great Wall has been built. Brush by brush, a green field(paint) over the yellow sandy land up to now.
Mark was a successful lawyer. Since graduating from law school, he seldom went home. Although he loved his mother deeply, he was too busy with his work.
One Saturday when driving to his company, Mark suddenly remembered it was his mother's birthday. But being occupied with his work, he couldn't make time to visit his mother who lived 200 miles away. Just then, he spotted a flower shop, thinking the flowers were the best solution.
Mark parked in front of the flower shop where a girl was standing outside. Since Mark was thinking about the note he would send to his mother, he paid no attention to her. After chatting with the shop owner, Mark bought some pink roses and asked the shop owner to deliver the flowers to his mother. "Happy birthday to my mom; love you," he wrote on the note.
Mark then walked out of the shop, thinking his mother would get the flowers later tonight, and felt satisfied. When walking to his car, Mark saw the girl again. She was crying. Mark couldn't help asking, "Hey, are you OK? Are you lost?" The girl shook her head. Mark later knew the girl was Mandy, who was eight and lived nearby. Feeling a little worried about her, Mark asked gently, "Can I help?"
Mandy said she wanted a rose for her mom. But she couldn't afford it. "The flower lady said my coins could buy a daisy, but my mom loves red roses," she added. Touched by the girl's words, Mark went back into the shop and bought a bunch of red roses.
"Here you go," he said. Mandy took the roses, smiled brightly, and thanked him. "Anything else I can do for you?" Mark asked. Mandy hesitated. Then she said, "Could you take me to my mom? It's not far but I'm not supposed to go on my own." Mark nodded. "Sure, lead the way!" Mandy took his hand and walked with him down the street. As they passed by a graveyard, Mandy stopped.
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。
To Mark's surprise, Mandy directly went inside the graveyard.
……
After dropping Mandy off by her house, Mark went back to the flower shop.
