Yosemite National Park has long been a place of inspiration for artists, climbers, and nature lovers.
Yosemite Falls
Repeatedly coming into view over treetops and around corners as you drive through the valley, the falls look different from every angle, and it's impossible to take your eyes off. You don't have to hike or even get out of your car to appreciate this waterfall, but the most complete view of the falls is from the start of the Yosemite Falls hike, along the route on the left side of the river. You can walk right to the base of the falls with minimum effort and feel the mist sweeping over you.
Half Dome
Half Dome is one of Yosemite's most famous sites and particularly well-known in the climbing world for being one of the first "big climbs". This granite icon(花岗岩雕像) looks much different depending on the angle you are viewing it from. Looking up at the sheer rock face from the valley, you can appreciate why climbers have been drawn here. The best place to view it is from the lookout at Glacier Point. From here, you get a true picture of the rock and how much higher it stands than the surrounding mountains.
EI Capitan
Popular among climbers, EI Capitan is a 3,000-footsheer rock face on the north side of Yosemite Valley. Although it may not seem like it, EI Capitan is actually 1,000 feet higher than the face of Half Dome. EI Capitan gained interest with the free solo climb of Alex Honnold in June of 2017, and the Academy Award winning documentary film, Free Solo. He became the first person to climb EI Capitan without ropes, and completely unaided.
Tunnel View
The most classic view of Yosemite Valley is from Tunnel View. This vista, which will feel very familiar to most climbers, stretches out to EI Capitan on the left, Bridalveil Fall on the right, Half Dome in the distance, and also takes in the lush valley at the base of the huge granite walls. The best time to appreciate this scene is in the afternoon, when the walls are bathed in sunlight.
Enjoying her tea and book, a young woman sits alone in a café. She pauses briefly to write in a nearby notepad and then shows her words to a passing café waiter: "Where are the toilets please?" This is a very scene in Tokyo's so-called "silent cafes", where customers are not allowed to speak, and only communicate by writing in notepads.
Although some people don't like silent cafes, the concept gains its popularity by a desire to be alone among young Japanese, a situation brought by economic uncertainty, a shift in traditional family support structures. The growing social isolation also contributing to its appearance, young people get used to the saying "Leave me alone. " The phenomenon is not limited to coffee shops but covers everything from silent discos, where participants dance alone wearing wireless headphones connected to the DJ, to products such as small desk tents designed for conversation-free privacy in the office. One Kyoto company even offers single women the opportunity to have a one woman wedding—a full bridal affair, complete with white dress and ceremony, and the only thing missing is the groom. The trend has its own media expression—"botchi-zoku", referring to individuals who consciously choose to do things completely on their own.
In order to enjoy some solo time, Chihiro Higashikokubaru, a 23-year-old nurse, travelled 90 minutes from her home, to Tokyo on her day off. When asked about the reason, Miss Higashikokubaru said: "I heard about this place via Twitter and I like the idea of coming here. I work as a nurse and it's always very busy and tough. There are very few quiet places in Tokyo, and it's a big and fast-paced city, which I don't always like. I just want to come and sit somewhere quietly on my own. I'm going to drink a cup of tea and maybe do some drawings. I like the idea of a quiet, calm atmosphere. "
Video conferencing has been around for more than 20 years. Until the COVID-19 pandemic, though, you would find that many people needing to attend a meeting remotely would be calling from a real conference room full of their teammates. Today, we're routinely holding video conferences that are 100% virtual. And this is creating a problem that technology can't fix.
The problem is us, specifically the fact that we haven't evolved socially to the point where we can bear much separation. So much of our well-being and work productivity is decided on how close we are physically. The removal of that for any period of time can be severely damaging. One surprising victim of social distancing is laughter.
Normally people laugh about 18 times per day. And 97% of that time we're laughing with others—we are 30 times more likely to laugh with others than to laugh alone. Think about it: how often when you and your friends laugh at something that is actually funny? Research shows that 80% of what people laugh at is really not that funny.
So why do people laugh? They laugh in order to laugh with others. Just as everyone starts yawning when just one person yawns, most people can't help but laugh when those around them do. This is why TV comedy shows often use prerecorded laugh tracks.
Laughing in response to other people's laughing is not just a behavioral phenomenon. When we laugh, our body produces two key chemicals: endorphin which helps relieve pain and sets off feelings of pleasure, and dopamine which can improve learning, motivation and attention. In fact, studies show that people can stand 15% more pain simply by laughing for a few minutes beforehand. Laughter is also associated with higher motivation and productivity at work.
In today's home-alone, virtual-team world, this is exactly what you as a team leader should be doing: for your team members to stay healthy and productive, you need to get them to laugh more and stress less.
In a large survey of people's first memories, nearly 40% of participants reported a first memory that is likely to be fictional, according to findings published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Current research indicates that people's earliest memories date from around 3 to 3. 5 years of age. However, the study from researchers at City, University of London, the University of Bradford, and Nottingham Trent University found that 38. 6% of 6, 641 participants claimed to have memories from age 2 or younger, with 893 people claiming memories from age 1 or younger. This was particularly prevalent among middle-aged and older adults.
As many of these memories dated before the age of 2 and younger, the authors suggest that these fictional memories are based on remembered fragments(碎片) of early experience—such as a pram(婴儿车), family relationships and feeling sad—and some facts or knowledge about their own infancy or childhood which may have been derived from photographs or family conversations.
"Further details may be unconsciously inferred or added, e. g. that one was wearing nappy when standing in the cot(幼儿床)," added Shazia Akhatr, first author on the study and Senior Research Associate at the University of Bradford.
"When we looked through the responses from participants we found that a lot of these first 'memories' were frequently related to infancy, and a typical example would be a memory based around a pram, explained Martin Conway, Director at the Centre for Memory and Law at City, University of London and coauthor of the paper.
"For this person, this type of memory could have resulted from someone saying something like 'mother and a large green pram'. The person then imagines what it would have looked like. Over time these fragments then become a memory and often the person will start to add things in such as a string of toys along the top," he added.
"Crucially, the person remembering them doesn't know this is fictional," Conway noted. "In fact when people are told that their memories are false they often don't believe it. This is partly due to the fact that the systems that allow us to remember things are very complex, and it's not until we're 5 or 6 that we form adult-like memories due to the way that the brain develops and due to our maturing understanding of the world. "
Teenage years are one of the most exciting yet confusing stages in a person's life. You are no longer a child, yet not quite an adult. One of them is your pastime.
Some pastimes have no moral implications. For example, shall we play basketball or soccer? Some examples include attending a party where there will be alcohol and drugs freely given out, lying to your parents or even skipping school to watch a movie with some friends. How do you respond? Will you follow them?
Wanting to feel part of a group may force you to do things against your better judgement. However, it is okay to say no to anything that is illegal, or potentially causes harm or is hurtful to you or others. But you do not let that stop you from standing up to peer pressure and being true to yourself. If your friends are true friends, they will respect your decision and not force you to join them.
There are some steps you may take to keep away from negative peer pressure. Firstly, stay away from friends who force you to do things that you know are wrong. Instead, spend more time with friends who share the same value as you. And if a situation gets out of hand, do not hesitate to approach an adult you trust for help.
It may not always be easy to resist peer pressure, but do know that you will feel good about yourself later. And even without you realizing it, you may have been a catalyst in your group to bring about a positive change.
A. This is when you form a new habit of making friends.
B. Next, be true to yourself and stick to what you believe in.
C. You are at a time of exploration, trying to find out your preferences.
D. These peers no longer have the ability to develop their own personality.
E. You may be afraid to refuse for fear of losing friends or being laughed at.
F. However, there are other choices that need to be made based on your values in life.
G. Others in your group may just follow your lead and gain courage to do the right thing.
One day, a vendor (小贩) came to our doorstep, selling bundles of vegetables priced at one dollar per bundle. My mom's1was 50 cents, no more than that, but she2to buy four bundles at that price. Politely declaring that she wouldn't even3the cost at that price, the vendor walked away.
After taking four steps ahead, however, she4and shouted, "Make it 75 center bundle, and I will sell it to you." Mom shook her head and5to her original offer of 50 cents. 6for a while, the vendor came back to our doorstep. The deal was7at my mom's bid. My mom paid the money. The vendor took it without even counting. As she8, she swayed (摇晃) due to apparent dizziness. My mom held her hands and asked whether she had had any9in the morning. The vendor said, "No, I will need to buy some with today's earnings."
My mom asked her to sit down, 10inside, came back swiftly with some food and drink and offered them to the vendor. The vendor hungrily and11, finished them all. Thanking my mom for all the food, she went on her way.
I was12. I asked my mom why she was so mean in bargaining for 50 cents but was13in offering food of a much higher price to that vendor. Mom smiled and said, "There is no kindness in business, but my treating the vendor kindly is from my morality, which is different from14. Remember, there shall15, be any business in kindness."
A video of a 66-year-old disabled carpenter (become) a hit on Chinese social media, ever since his nephew Tang Hao shared the man's inspiring life story on short-video platform Bilibili.
Tang uses witty storytelling in the 11-minute video to describe the experiences of Erjiu. Erjiu was a bright kid at first. (fortunate), his life took a dramatic turn when a botched treatment he received for a high fever left him with a lame leg. After the medical mishap, the man learned carpentry and used the skill (support) himself and his family. Remaining single his whole life, Erjiu adopted an (abandon) girl in the village and raised her. He even saved large sum of money from his small income to finance her marriage. Erjiu is now a full-time caregiver for his mother and a handyman in the village. Tang said his uncle is always ready to help fellow (villager) repair broken items such as furniture, electric appliances, door locks and so on. matters is that Erjiu touches the hearts of millions of online viewers his story of self-reliance. Erjiu's story epitomizes (成为……的典型) the lives of millions of ordinary people, and people (inspire) by his strong will and kindness, also inspires people to move forward despite the difficulties in life.
I was moving as fast as I could, stepping cautiously from rock to rock along the uneven jetty(栈桥). Far ahead, I could see the back of my brother's sandy hair and the bright orange of his shorts.
"Too slow, sister!" I heard Sam yell as he hopped with ease.
"I'll show him," I thought, and attempted a double jump. What a mistake! My left foot came down hard between the edges of two gray rocks. scraping my ankle. "Ouch!" I yelled. I tried to wiggle(扭动) my foot out, but my shoe was stuck. I bent closer to the rock and that's when I saw it: a shiny, square shaped stone the color of water, attached to a glittery gold chain. It was just lying there on the wet sand, and a few seconds later it was in my pocket.
Sam squinted(眯着眼睛看) in the sun. Could he tell I was hiding the most perfect discovery of the summer? I kept turning the treasure around in my pocket, pushing each corner of the square stone into my finger. I was dizzy, but I didn't want Sam to notice. He liked to tell everybody my business.
Ryan saved the mini cola bottle from the carnival! It happened to be perfect for sand art!
"Ryan wasted her allowance on salt and pepper shakers from the yard sale!" They were antique little pig and cost only 50 cents.
"My family calls me their" little collector. Some mean kids at school call me "trash girl".
Sam and I walked along the main street, the small buildings giving us a break from the sun. Through the window of the candy shop, I could see tubes of colorful jelly beans. A sign on the window's glass read LOST: Gold and blue necklace. Very special. If found, call Chrissy at 555-9924.
Chrissy had drawn a crayon version of the necklace at the bottom of the poster. The necklace looked different from the one I clutched in my pocket, I decided. Rounder, bluer. The poster appeared old and weathered. It must have been put up months ago. We continued to walk, and I noticed four more posters. Someone must have returned that necklace by now, I thought.
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，每段的开头语已为你写好。
Paragraph 1:
Once home, I placed the necklace in my special spot for special things, lost in thought.
Paragraph 2:
Fifteen minutes later, I was sitting across from Chrissy in the candy shop.
