Four Unexpected Ways Different Countries Celebrate Birthdays
China
The Chinese typically only celebrate certain birthdays: the first, 10th, 20th, 30th, etc. The 60th birthday is important to the Chinese because it is seen as completing a full zodiac. Eating Chang Shou Mian on your birthday symbolizes long life you'll hopefully have. Your loved ones can also wish for a long life.
Mexico
A Mexican party is called a fiesta and includes traditional food items, such as tacos, as well as a candy-filled piñata that is hit with a stick until it bursts open and candy spills everywhere for the party guests to enjoy. A very important tradition in Mexican culture is the Quinceanera, which is traditionally celebrated on a young woman's fifteenth birthday. The celebration is meant to mark the young girl's movement into womanhood. The Mexican birthday song is called Las Mañanitas.
Ireland
One unusual Irish tradition is "bumping" the birthday child. An adult turns the child upside down and very gently bumps his head on the floor. The number of bumps equals the age of the child. For those who come of age, usually 21 in Ireland, the key to the house is given. This means that the person is an adult and can come and go as he pleases.
South Korea
Mi-yeok-guk, a hearty seaweed soup, is usually served as part of breakfast for the beloved birthday boys and girls in Korea. Mothers will also typically eat this soup after childbirth to make up for nutrients during pregnancy, so you'd better pay respect to your mother whenever she cooks this on your birthday because it's delicious, healthy, and nutritious.
Although different cultures have many birthday traditions around the world, individual families celebrate their birthdays with specific traditions and special memories unique to that family.
As this year's ski season got underway, Liu Zhihua joined the crowd at a ski resort and glided fluently down the piste (滑雪道). With only a brief break, she took a quick turn, got onto a chairlift and was ready for another round.
Liu has become a star at the resort in Urumqi. Dressed in her baby blue suit and white helmet, she blends in with the other ski enthusiasts. But in fact, she is the resort's oldest skier, at age 87. Though a fluent skier now, Liu only took up the sport when she was 72. Up until then, like many old people, she would spend her days taking care of her grandchildren, watching TV or playing mahjong. Encouraged by her children, Liu got on the piste for the very first time in 2007.
"The first day was not easy. My waist and legs ached. But in the following days, I was able to walk on the skis," Liu recalls. "After conquering the fear of falling, I became increasingly interested in it and got addicted as time passed." Starting on the beginner slopes, Liu gradually advanced to intermediate runs, and has even got onto the advanced ones. "I've taken part in a competition twice. I didn't do it for a medal. Finishing the competition without falling is enough for me," she says. When asked about the difficulties she had encountered during her years of skiing, Liu recalls that she fell over while going down a slope due to a lack of experience. "But skill comes from practice. Just get used to it," she says.
For Liu, skiing is also a way to keep herself young and lively. Despite being the oldest ski enthusiast at the resort, she thinks she is just as vigorous as younger skiers. "No one can tell your age when everyone's in a ski suit and with snow caps and goggles on," says Liu with a smile. "Health and happiness are the two things that doing sports has brought to me," she says. "I don't think age has much to do with my mindset. Old or young, I have been brave and optimistic."
Young adults in Singapore can often live with their parents into their 30s. They are encouraged by the government, which is fond of praising family values. Housing policy makes it difficult for young people to live independently. Almost 80% of Singaporeans live in subsidised (补助的) public housing. They cannot have a flat of their own until they marry or turn 35.
Yet a small but growing number of Singaporeans are resisting the nanny state (保姆式国家): Between 1990 and 2020, the number of those under 35 who lived alone or with non-family members grew from 33,400 to 51,300. Since they do not qualify for public housing, they must rent in the private sector. One factor is that Singaporeans are getting married later. In 1980, the average ages at which men and women married were 27 and 24; today, they are 30 and 29. A growing number choose not to marry at all. For others, it was COVID-19 that pushed them out of the nest. Serene Chee, a 25-year-old lawyer, did not greatly mind living with her parents until travel restrictions and work-from-home policies kept her stuck at home all the time. In June, Ms Chee and a friend moved into an apartment together.
Living on your own is not easy. First, you must inform your parents. It took Lydia Yang, an illustrator who was then 28, three months to gather the courage. Then you must learn to pay bills and do basic chores. When Lenne Chai, a photographer, moved out seven years ago at the age of 23, she did not know how to cook.
Life on your own can be lonely. Ms Yang found it "a bit depressing", particularly during the lockdown. But living apart may improve relationships. Both Ms Yang and Ms Chai said that they got on better with their parents after moving out. When living together, they paid each other little attention. Now their weekly visits are "quality time", said Ms Chai. When Ms Chee's parents came to her flat for dinner recently, they were impressed by how tidy it was.
Do you prefer working on school projects with a friend, rather than alone? Neuroscientists (神经科学 家) from Keio University in Japan have discovered that when two people work together on a task their brains actually start working in the same way.
For their study, the scientists picked 78 people, paired them up and set them a task to design the inside of a room without any limits on time or how much they spoke to each other. Each pair sat opposite each other and completed one task together and one on their own. When they worked together, the participants had to create a room that satisfied them both.
The pairs sat with their brains wired up through a special kind of headwear that monitors how the brain's neurons react to different situations. Neurons send signals around the brain and to other parts of the body. The researchers also studied how often each pair looked at each other and compared this with what was happening in their brains at the same time. The experiment showed that, for people working together, when groups of neurons in one participant's brains were activated, similar groups of neurons in their partner's brain were also activated. Yasuyo Minagawa, a researcher working on the study, said it was"as if the two brains functioned together as a single system".
They called this group brain activity "between-brain synchronisations", and it was particularly strong when the participants raised their gaze from the activity to look at each other. Minagawa says the study proved something called the "we-mode", which is when two people "share their minds". There is a lot scientists don't know about how brains operate when humans are interacting with each other. Now the researchers are hoping to develop the technology to study how other social interactions, like conversations and facial expressions, affect what's going on inside the brain.
Going to an art museum or gallery can be a fun activity to do with family and friends. It may even seem boring if you're not sure what the art is about. Thankfully, there are many ways to appreciate different types of art and figure out what the work might mean to you.
Choose a museum
You don't need to visit the most famous museum in your area. Choose one to visit that has something you're interested in. For example, if you enjoy taking photos, you might want to view a photography exhibit.
Take your time
When you're at the museum and a piece of art catches your eye, pause and spend some time really taking it in. You can start by getting close to the artwork （without touching it） so you can see details you might miss if you were viewing it online. If you're looking at a painting, for example, consider the texture on the surface and whether any brushstrokes are visible. Then step back and look at the way the brushstrokes work together to create the piece of art. Think about the story the art work may be trying to tell. You might see new aspects of it that you didn't notice before.
Consider the meaning
Once you've absorbed the physical aspects of the work, try to find out more about what it means. A volunteer at the museum may be available to talk to you about the piece. Free brochures may also provide information. You can also ask yourself what the work means to you.
Thinking about the meaning, subject, colors, and setting of a piece of art can help you better understand and appreciate artists and their work. After you leave the museum, consider which pieces of art stay in your mind and why. Talk to a friend or adult who went with you, and ask them about their favorite pieces, too. Thinking about how artists—especially those who might be from a different background or lived thousands of years ago—can connect with others through their work is part of the magic of art.
A. Appreciate the fine art.
B. Reflect on what you saw.
C. Try looking at it from a different angle.
D. For many people, though, viewing art can be frightening.
E. You can experience an artistic feast of paintings, sculptures, and more.
F. For example, maybe the colors in the piece remind you of a place that's special to you.
G. Look at the websites of a few local museums to see what types of art or special exhibits are on display.
I still remember that busy fall evening as I hurried with my eldest daughter, Athena, to get to her classroom on time for a parent- teacher night. We walked in and all 1 were on me. A few adults quickly quieted their kids '2. A classmate3 my daughter," What's wrong with your mom's4? " Shocked, I started to explain my5but my six- year- old daughter looked at him and said, " It's my mom's birthmark! Don't be rude!" I was extremely6of how she handled that situation.
I was quite young when I realized I looked7. I always thought I would be alone because of birthmark, but I was lucky enough to meet my 8 who saw me for who I am inside. When I had my first daughter, I was overjoyed, but I began to9if the world would judge my children. 10, my facial difference has 11 my children. My daughters get disinvited from birthday parties or certain kids are no longer friends with mine.
When my kids were12 , I explained how my special purple skin was rare, and we talked about acceptance and never 13 others on how they look. With time, both my daughters have become my strongest 14: we see the world a little differently and with a kinder, more15 heart.
After winning the belt for the first time in 2020, Zhang Weili believed that her dream had come true. However, just one year later, failure became new challenge for her. After her losing the gold, public opinion （come） in waves. Some netizens acted angry parents, blaming（责备）her for " not training seriously by participating in （variety） of shows and posting videos on TikTok" and " （lose） face and blaming the judges for her defeat ". Zhang Weili described that " Many videos on Tik Tok are talking about me ". The cruelty of losing the title was （particular）highlighted at that moment. （interview） by the local newspaper, Zhang Weili sighed, " Actually, （competition） sports is also cruel. After you win, everyone will listen to what you say and interview you. after you fail, no one will listen to what you say; your words are excuses and reasons." In 2022, Zhang Weili experienced a comeback: she knocked out the UFC women's strawweight world champion Carla Esparza and regained the belt, brought her into sharp focus of the media again.
1. 当前文化遗产的现状；
2.保护文化遗产的意义；
3. 呼吁大家一起保护文化遗产。
注意：
1. 词数 80 词左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Standing at the lake's edge, I cast my line onto the smooth-as-glass water of Police Outpost Lake. Down the shoreline was my cousin Isaiah's father, my Uncle Rick, who liked to fish alone, away from noise and other people. I'd learned to fish from my dad who had been a fish and wildlife officer. He loved his job, especially the part where he protected nature from humans. He'd taught me everything about fishing. However, he passed away.
Isaiah shouted, "Dad, where should I stand? "Uncle Rick pointed to a shady spot by a large rock where he had cast his line, and shook his head gently.
"He wants us to be quiet or else we won't catch any fish, "I whispered.
Isaiah frowned, pouting, but it was" message received. "
Songbirds, ducks, and Canada geese glided by on the breeze, touching down briefly on the water's surface before flapping and quacking their way back up into the sky.
"Why do I have to be so quiet?" asked Isaiah. "All those birds are making way more noise than I ever could!"
I ignored him and focused on the water. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a few loons（潜鸟） gathering together not far from the shoreline. What were they doing there? Loons usually travel alone, but here were five of them. Maybe it was a family? One loon, wailing and making yodeling sounds, swam away from the group, toward me.
"Isaiah! Come here!"
"Now who's shouting? "asked Isaiah.
"Come here. A loon is swimming toward us, closer and closer. "
Just then, the loon stopped, letting out a crazy and loud sound, as if trying to catch our attention. Stepping into the water and getting closer to the loon, we both saw thin wire wrapped around its neck. Fishing line maybe? Reaching down, I touched its head, my heart racing. I could see a fishing line was wrapped tightly around its neck. Left like this, the loon couldn't fly or fish or survive. It was asking us to
help!
注意：
1）所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2）续写部分分为两段, 每段开头语已为你写好。
Paragraph 1:
"Get the scissors from the toolbox. "I shouted.
Paragraph 2:
As I set the loon down on the water, it beat its wings joyfully.
