Social media platforms are filled with individuals proudly sharing their rapid mastering of a language. Where does the secret lie? The truth lies in our addiction to instant satisfaction promised by some language apps.
However, besides these apps, here are some ways to help you learn a new language:
1. Be a child, watch cartoons
One of the most common advice for language learners is to watch children's cartoons, which can be found on YOUKU. These cartoons are often made up of basic phrases and words that one would learn at beginner's level.
2. Turn the volume (音量) up
If watching cartoons is not your cup of tea, fear not, for there is the alternative of listening to podcasts (播客) and songs. Not only can you pick up phrases and idioms, but you can also develop your appreciation for the culture.
3. Let the words flow
Talking to wait staff at native restaurants can help with your language skills. To avoid the risk of making mistake in public you can start by speaking to your pets. Tell them about your day. As you grow more confident, work up to a native speaker.
4. Aforeign stamp
A commonly overlooked method is to keep a pen pal. Through the exchange of letters, you not only get to practise your writing skills but can also get a friend.
Over all, continuous practice is key to unlocking the door of mastery. No matter which approach you choose, it's important to revisit the language you are learning every day, even if it's just for 15 minutes.
Short-sightedness is thought to affect around one in three people in the UK. The World Health Organisation predicts that about half of the world's population will have myopia, or shortsightedness, by 2050.
Generally a childhood phenomenon, myopia happens when the eyeball grows too long from front to back, making it more oval-shaped (椭圆) than round, thus unable to see faraway things clearly.
While our first reaction is to blame the increased use of screens, experts believe the real reason is not that, exactly, but it's related: less time spent outdoors. Natural light is essential for healthy eye development, says Schwartz. Access to natural light stimulates dopamine (多巴胺), which helps normal growth and development of the eyeball. Indoor lighting doesn't do the trick. Ideally, kids should get at least two hours of natural light a day.
That said, our increased use of screens is a problem. Most screens are high contrast—like black text on a white page, or light text on a dark background, says Schwartz. A 2018 study in Scientific Records found that looking at black text on white backgrounds compared to natural environments could lead to myopia. Close work, like reading and looking closely at screens, has also been shown to cause myopia.
Most people's eyesight settles in their teens, but some people get nearsighted later in life. Poor eyesight isn't the only downside; people with myopia are at a higher risk of developing eye issues as they age. That's why regular eye examinations are important.
Researchers are working on ways to slow down rising myopia rates. A clinical trial at Ohio State University found that eye-drops with a low dose of atropine (阿托品) can slow myopia in kids. There's also some early evidence that a type of contact lens (隐形 眼镜) called Peripheral Defocus lenses might stop nearsightedness from worsening.
You can also reduce eye tiredness by making a few simple lifestyle changes, such as reading or working in good light, choosing non-glare screens for your computer or TV and taking frequent breaks.
Researchers working in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy, have found two frescoes (a type of wall painting) in a large dining hall. The art has laid undisturbed beneath ash and pumice (a kind of rock that comes from volcanoes) for nearly 2,000 years. Pompeii was a Roman city in ancient Italy, until an eruption by Mount Vesuvius, a nearby volcano, in AD 79 buried it. The thick layer of ash and rock protected many of Pompeii's treasures from damage and thieves. Teams of archaeologists, experts who study ancient objects to help us understand history, are gradually uncovering its mysteries.
The team put a special kind of glue into the back of the frescoes to keep them from falling off the wall. A roof is being put up over the room too, to protect it from the weather. The paintings show figures from Greek stories, including Helen of Troy, the daughter of the god Zeus, and Cassandra, who could predict the future. The Romans admired Greek culture.
Experts say the style of the art is unusual for the time. The frescoes are painted on a black wall, and experts think the colour was chosen to hide soot, a black powder produced by the oil-burning lamps used at the time. It also makes the frescoes stand out brightly. The floor of the dining room is a mosaic (马赛克) where patterns are created with small tiles (瓷砖). Researchers think the mosaic, which is white with a black border, contains a million tiles that would have reflected the sun up onto the paintings.
Archaeologists think they know who owned the building and paintings because they found the initials "ARV" carved into a wall. Dr Sophie Hay told the BBC, "We know who ARV is: he's Aulus Rustius Verus. He's a politician. He's super-rich."
Though there have been many incredible finds in the Pompeii area in recent years, uncovering Pompeii is tricky, expensive and time-consuming. A third of the city is still buried, but it will stay that way for now. The hope is that technology will improve and future archaeologists will find better ways of digging up the remaining ruins.
As China continues its way to higher-quality economic development, it is increasing its dependence on the Intelligent Economy, driven by innovation and new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
While development of AI in the West began in the 1950s, China did not begin conducting its own AI research until the end of the 1970s. Despite its later start, China's AI research is among the most advanced in the world in some areas. China now ranks first in its number of AI research papers, AI patent (专利) applications and the scale of its AI industry and research.
The development of AI is now part of China's national strategy. In 2017, China released the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan, which set the goal of reaching global forefront in AI by 2030 China is also strengthening international cooperation in the development of AI, especially with the United States. As the world's two largest economies, development and competition between China and the United States in AI development is attracting global attention. China has a lot to learn from the United States in the depth and breadth of its AI research.
AI technology is having a positive impact on China in many fields. Technologies and products are arising in intelligent driving, smart homes and smart cities, and breakthroughs are being made in fields such as smart chips and general large language models. People are becoming used to AI-powered technologies, such as self-driving vehicles and aircraft, and contactless supermarkets.
Like elsewhere in the world, AI development also creates moral risks in China, and the country is carrying out research on AI morals to ensure that technological development remains in line with social morals.
AI presents a historic global opportunity, and China will continue to increase its investment in AI research and application and promote the integration ( 融 合 ) of AI technology into other industries. Doing so will speed the development of the Intelligent Economy.
Have you ever heard of "children of the stars"? It might sound mysterious, but the expression refers to children with autism(自闭症). World Autism Awareness Day falls on April 2.
Autism is a disorder with signs that appear within the first three years of life. The condition is believed to involve difficulties in social communication as well as limited, repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities.
Many children with autism experience epilepsy (癫痫) due to differences in brain activity. Epilepsy among people with autism becomes even more common starting from teen years.
At present, the exact cause of autism remains unknown, but research indicates that it is likely a result of a mix of developmental, genetic, and environmental factors. If the first child in a family has autism, the chances of the second child also having autism are about 10 times higher than in families where the first child is not autistic.
Although autism is a lifelong condition, there are various ways available to help them. Agreements from others will make them feel proud, enabling them to communicate with others more effectively.
For those close to autism sufferers, it's useful to figure out what is acceptable and what is not. For children with autism, these may benefit them for a lifetime.
A. Their parents often feel depressed. B. Children with autism also have physical sufferings. C. They made less eye contact with people compared to other kids. D. It is essential not to view people with autism with a sense of strangeness. E. Older parents are more likely to have autistic children than younger parents. F. They should also have a deep understanding of autism and how to deal with it. G. It was started to raise awareness and promote acceptance of people with autism. |
One sunny afternoon, Wang Qing, a student at the Communication University of China, was walking on campus when her eyes were 1 to a cheongsam ( 旗袍) dress in a second-hand shop.
Wang Qing 2 the shop and gently touched the dress, feeling the history and culture behind it. The dress was cheap but of excellent quality, perfectly in line with her shopping 3 : valuing cost-effectiveness over 4 about buying second-hand things. She gladly bought the second-hand cheongsam dress and returned to her dormitory with joy.
Actually, Wang Qing often found 5 items on second-hand platforms like "Xianyu," saving money while 6 her needs. She also received textbooks from 7 who no longer needed them, preventing waste.
Wang isn't 8 . Zhang Yiming from Renmin University ventured into the world of second-hand trading by chance. He had a movie ticket but couldn't attend due to a schedule change, so he decided to sell it. This experience 9 him to the joys of second-hand trading, leading him to 10 both online and offline options.
"In a seller's 11 , selling an unused item not only prevents waste but also earns some money in the 12 ," Zhang said in an interview. He believed that modern youths put more 13 on practicality, seeking 14 for money in their purchases.
The stories of these two young people 15 more and more young people to join the second-hand trading movement, promoting a green, eco-friendly, and economical lifestyle.
Chopsticks have a history of more than 3,000 years. They are a (reflect) of Chinese wisdom, and they are also a symbol of the eastern civilization.
Usually, chopsticks (make) of wood, bone, metal and other materials, and they are also known as "zhu" in ancient China. Chopsticks are convenient,eating with chopsticks is very difficult for first-time learners. (hold) two chopsticks with one hand, you have to pick up the food and send it into your mouth by moving your fingers (flexible).
Ordinary chopsticks are the inheritance (传承) of the Chinese culture. The sound of washing chopsticks under running water and the taste of familiar food from a chopstick eating end remind Chinese people home.
Chopsticks are not only eating tool but also a kind of art. There are delicate patterns on the chopsticks. Small chopsticks can pass on Chinese civilization , carry forward different forms of Chinese culture. Thanks to (vary) civilizations, the world becomes colorful. The cultural tensions (create) by differences have a unique form of charm.
Chinese culture has always been there showing its unique charm and openness. Chopsticks are not simple.
