About Ocean Info
Ocean Info, which was created in 2020, is a website that shares information and stories about the ocean, sea life, rivers, and a journey of oceanic discovery. Our mission is to educate and inspire our readers, promoting a deeper appreciation for the ocean's invaluable role. With this, Ocean Info has donated $50 a month to Ocean Conservancy, as well as $30 a month to World Animal Protection.
Our Team
At Ocean Info, we are privileged to have a team of highly accomplished ocean experts who bring together an unparalleled depth of scientific knowledge and a committed passion for marine conservation. With qualifications spanning fields like marine biology, zoology, environment al policy, and climate science, our experts offer a multidisciplinary approach to understanding and protecting the vast oceanic ecosystems that sustain life on our planet.
How to Best Explore Ocean Info
◎Want to look for specific ocean animals, plants, lakes, or rivers? Visit our Ocean Glossary(术语汇编)：
Discover the biodiversity of ocean animals.
Learn more about marine plants.
Learn about bodies of water, such as key lakes around Earth.
◎Want to read about our ideas? Visit our Listicles.
◎Want to have a comparison between two similar ocean animals or plants? Visit our Comparisons.
◎To explore the ocean, you sometimes need to sail. See more on Sailing.
Join the Ocean Membership
We're in the works of making an Ocean Membership, which combines the experience and expertise (专长) of Ocean Info, for something special. If you are interested, get in touch with us by email: support@oceaninfo.com.
Many economists predict 2024 will be the time shoppers tighten their belts. That doesn't mean people will stop spending, say retail (零售) analysts. But it will change what they choose to buy. With a slowing job market, global consumers are likely to move away from more high-priced purchases and focus instead on smaller, less expensive treats.
The economic uncertainty means that consumers are becoming more discriminating about their purchases, says Ethan Chermofsky, senior vice president of marketing at intelligence platform Placer. ai. "There are the things we decide are necessary, and then there's another category of things that aren't necessary but that we consider affordable luxuries, he says. This desire for these "affordable luxuries" is common in difficult economic times. Some economists refer to the phenomenon as the "lipstick index": a small economic increase led by budget-minded consumers seeking out relatively affordable splurges (挥霍), like small cosmetics (化妆品).
Analysts at Deloitte say consumers will spend on little luxuries like specialty coffees and snacks as well. Additionally, stressed-out shoppers are prioritizing small splurge purchases for wellness and personal care.
As retailers see shoppers turning to little luxuries, they're offering more and more of them. Target, for example, has staked a flag in what they refer to as "affordable joy", which includes a selection of self-care and cosmetic products, along with wellness-centric beauty products. Beyond diversifying their offerings, stores are also bringing in luxury-feeling products at lower price points to appeal to more consumers.
Ethan says not every shopper will shift their spending to little luxuries-but even those who are still longing for the "must-haves" of social media will also look to get a deal. They want the feeling of purchasing lower-priced affordable treats. To get these goods, shoppers are likely to tap into the re-sale market for designer items at a more reasonable price. They want things that make them feel good about themselves-they just want to do it without breaking the bank.
The ocean is a huge body of saltwater that covers about 71 percent of Earth's surface. An estimated 97 percent of the world's water is found in the ocean. Because of this, the ocean has a considerable impact on weather, temperature, and the food supply of humans and other organisms. Despite its size and impact on the lives of every organism on Earth, the ocean remains a mystery. More than 80 percent of the ocean has never been mapped, explored, or even seen by humans. A far greater percentage of the surfaces of the moon and the planet Mars have been mapped and studied than that of our own ocean floor.
Although there is much more to learn, oceanographers (海洋学家) have already made some amazing discoveries. For example, we know that the ocean contains towering mountain ranges and deep canyons, known as trenches (海沟), just like those on land. The peak of the world's tallest mountain — Mount Everest in the Himalayas, measuring 8.84 kilometers (5.49 miles) high — would not even break the surface of the water if it was placed in the Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench or Philippine Trench, two of the deepest parts of the ocean. On the other hand, the Atlantic Ocean is relatively shallow because large parts of its seafloor are made up of continental shelves — parts of the continents that extend far out into the ocean. The average depth of the entire ocean is 3,720 meters (12,200 feet).
It is unknown how many different species call the ocean their home. It could be that more than 90 percent of the ocean's species are still undiscovered, with some scientists estimating that there are anywhere between a few hundred thousand and a few million more to be discovered. Currently, scientists know of around 226,000 ocean species. Since the ocean is so vast, there is plenty for future oceanographers from all corners of the globe to explore and discover.
Over the years, education technology has changed so greatly that it may be challenging to keep up with all the changes.
Online learning has changed a lot over the years. There was a time when learning mostly occurred when the students and the teachers were in the same place. Now, it is possible for a student in Kenya to attend classes in China, do their exams, pass and get their certificates Remember the days when, if you needed a textbook, you either had to go to the library or to buy a physical copy? Now, there are many books you can find online. With Open Educational Resources, it is possible to find digital versions of some resources like textbooks. You can save the money for something else.
Long gone are the days when some few individuals held most of the knowledge, and the rest learned from them. Now, thanks to the Internet, anyone can learn and teach.
Take blogs for example. With blogs, anyone can give an account of their activities and their opinions, and discuss places they have visited on their websites. Of course, there are drawbacks to the technological advancement. One of the main problems is that it is easy for someone to publish wrong information.
Artificial intelligence is changing many ways of the education industry, from teaching to administration. For example, Al can be used to monitor a student's progress and give reports to the teachers. Teachers can use Al to analyze students' records and results and give feedback. Some universities are even using AI to teach.
When it comes to education technology, it is clear that some technological advancements were not directly created for education but have made learning more accessible. For example, one may not consider social media as educational technology.
However, consider how many people who have similar ideas have been connected and shared information over social media with those who would not have met otherwise.
This adaptation of different technological tools from different fields is helping improve the quality of education for students everywhere.
Overtourism Is For Real: How Can You Help?
Travel promotes understanding, expands our minds, makes us better people, and boosts local economies and communities, but the rapid growth of travel has led to overtourism in certain regions and destinations. Certainly not. The loss of what travel offers would be unacceptable in today's world. Here are some tips on making wise decisions to minimize pressure on the places we visit and improve our experience.
●Choose mindfully. Overvisited destinations are that way for a reason: they're special. With so many online posts featuring the same places, it's easy to feel like you're missing out. Go somewhere only when the landscape, culture or food deeply draws you.
●Get creative. The best way to ease pressure on over-touristed destinations is to go somewhere else. Though overtourism is described as a problem affecting the entire world, it's actually concentrated to a small number of extremely popular spots. That means you have tons of less-visited options to choose from. Why not try a regional alternative or check out a popular destination's lesser-known sights?
● Minimize impact and maximize experience by skipping major holidays or rush hour. You'll compete with fewer tourists, save money, experience a different side of a popular place, and boost the economy when tourism is traditionally slower.
Visiting a place that others call home is a privilege（荣幸）. Do your part to preserve what makes a destination special in the first place. You may be amazed how much closer you'll feel to the people there.
A. Visit during off-peak times.
B. So, should we stop traveling?
C. Travel for you and no one else.
D. Can overtourism be avoided then?
E. You can still find relatively undiscovered places.
F. You'll find yourself virtually alone, or close to it.
G. Consider giving back to the communities you're visiting.
During the first weeks of his retirement from the fire service, Max had felt lost. And that's when Polly, a library manager, helped him sign up as a1 , for Robot Club in the library.
Max hadn't volunteered before and he didn't know anything about2 . He opened the packs containing the robots, nervously staring at the mess of parts. A dozen primary-age children gathered around the table,3 eagerly. Almost double the number of adults crowded around them, watching.
Glancing around the4 at the many parents and carers accompanying the robot builders, Max knew he had to face this5 .
"Okay, team," he started6 , adopting the tone he'd used to7 his unit during his firefighting days. "We're going to build these robots one step8 ."
The children nodded, their hands busy with screws (螺丝) and plastic limbs. Max wandered from table to table,9 words of encouragement, and slowly but surely,10 the instructions in his mind.
An hour passed, and the room was filled with the sound of chatter and clinking parts. As the final minutes of Robot Club ticked away, Max stood back and11 the room. Robots of all shapes and sizes stood on the tables. The children were excited,12 their creations to anyone who would look.
As they began to leave, many children stopped to thank Max. Each "thank you" and "see you next week" chipped away at the sense of13 he had felt since retiring. He hadn't put out a fire today, but perhaps he had14 something far more important — a new15 for himself.
In the island province of Hainan, the village of Chubao boasts something unique. Hidden in the boundless lush mountains, the cottages there feature walls made of wood or mud, and triangular thatch (茅草) roofs, giving them the(appear) of an overturned boat.
The boat-shaped houses(build) by the local ethnic Li people. For thousands of years, the local Li people have lived in these houses in the rainforest. In recent years, locals have(gradual) moved into modern new houses. Butthe traditional dwellings bear evidence to the Li culture, they are now well preserved.
The Li people have developeddistinctive culture over many years of development. Legend hasthat the ancestors of the Li people arrived in Hainan by boats. When they arrived, they turned the boats upside down as houses for shelter. Their descendants built the boat-shaped housesmemory of their ancestors.
But the houses were made of thatch or mud,(make) them susceptible to the damage from wind and rain. Though villagers no longer live in the houses, they have unique feelings(attach) to them. The houses should be preserved as cultural relics so that the younger generation will know the stories of their ancestors. Authorities are applying for the houses(include) in the World Heritage List, hoping to draw more attention to the distinctive values of the Li culture.
1.写信目的；
2.个人优势；
3.表达期望。
注意：
1. 词数80左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Dear Sir and Madam,
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
How to Fix a Mistake
After many continuous days of steady downpour, the sun finally came out on a Sunday morning. My friend Allan and I decided to play catch in my yard. We were having fun throwing the ball back and forth.
"Run! Nice catch!" It had been days since we enjoyed ourselves. Then, I threw the ball too hard and Allan missed his catch. The ball flew like lightning, crossed the yard and hit my neighbor's window. We heard the big sound. Crash! Smash! The window broke into many pieces.
Allan turned pale, and a look of panic crossed his face. He froze, too scared to move an inch. Without a second thought, I grabbed his hand, whispering, "Come with me!" We ran into my backyard and hid behind a stack of hay. It seemed to be a place of safety. However, my heart was still pounding hard, as if it were about to pop.
Mr. Jones, the neighbour, who was a seventy-year-old man, lived alone. Though he was poor, he was well loved in the neighborhood for he always helped those in need.
Obviously, he heard the big sound, too. He came out of his house, with a ball in his hands. It was exactly our ball! Did he recognize who the ball belonged to? With butterflies in my stomach, I breathed deeply. In the meantime, Mr. Jones looked around, trying to see who threw the ball. Of course, no one was outside. He gazed the window for a while, and then the ball. Finally, he went back into his house.
A few days later, I saw that Mr. Jones had repaired the broken glass. He was sitting outside. When he saw me, he waved at me. I felt ashamed as I waved back at him. I knew what I should do, but I was afraid to do it.
Later, my mom and I were talking and she told me about the broken window.
Mr. Jones looked at me after I explained what had happened.
