If you want to travel around London, this introduction may let you have a good journey during your travelling time.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is a bascule(悬索) bridge in London, UK. It crosses the River Thames and is named because it's near the Tower of London. It's the first bridge from the mouth of the Thames (there are 15 bridges on the river). It's also a symbol of London. The bridge was built in 1886 and opened to the public on June 30, 1894, connecting the north and south areas of London.
St. Paul's Cathedral
St. Paul's Cathedral is a landmark in London and the largest church in the UK. Known for its milky-white Baroque tower top, it's a great place to view London. After the 1666 fire, it was redesigned by Christopher Wren and took 35 years to complete. The interior is magnificent. There's a Whispering Gallery and many famous tombstones. It's a representative of British classical architecture.
Big Ben
Big Ben, a London landmark in the Parliament clock tower by the Thames, has kept time since 1859. A must-photo spot, it's grand and complex. After renovation, it's still a British pride and cultural symbol. People gather here on New Year's for fireworks.
Edward Ndiritu joined Lewa Wildlife Reserve in central Kenya in 1996 as a rhino monitor. Back then, illegal hunting had greatly reduced the country's black rhino population. Worried that they might become extinct, he worked his way up to lead Lewa's anti-hunting team. In 2015, his team's community-focused conservation method won him the first Wildlife Ranger Award from conservation charity Tusk.
He grew up in a village between Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Forest, which was once a wildlife route for migrating elephants and black rhinos. He saw them disappear gradually. He realized that hunting and the disruptive actions of the community were the reasons. The demand for rhino horn(角), which is very valuable in Asia, drives hunters. They are part of a big and rich crime network. There are people who help them by giving them equipment. In 2011 and 2012, Lewa had many difficulties. They lost rhinos. It was found that those involved in hunting were also linked to human smuggling(走私) and other illegal activities.
The hunting challenge has changed. Hunters now have networks, get information from the local community, and use technology like phones and motorbikes. Edward's team has adapted by using cameras, sensors, trackers, and a system that tells them when and where hunting might happen. They also work closely with the community, which is now the first
line of defense. Lewa gives agricultural training, medical help, and business support to rural women. This makes locals more likely to report hunting before it happens.
To be a good forest guard, one needs to be honest, tough, and motivated. Edward now knows that making sure the forest guards are happy and well is very important. He is hopeful about wildlife conservation in Lewa. Funding is a problem, but organizations like Tusk are helping. Conservation is about people. Looking after those outside the reserve is necessary for the future of wildlife. Only when communities can live in harmony with the animals they see every day will there be a good future for wildlife.
The ancient Egyptians were known for their carefully record-keeping, documenting prayers, declarations, and taxes. This extensive writing has now been linked to physical marks on the bones of the kingdom's scribes, as revealed in a new study published in Scientific Reports.
The study focused on the bones of 69 adult men buried between 2,700 and 2,180 B.C. at Abusir. The researchers identified 30 of these individuals as either professional scribes or high-status officials who needed language skills for their work. These scribes exhibited specific physical characteristics related to their occupation. Many had osteoarthritis in their right collar bone, shoulder, and thumb, likely due to the repetitive movements involved in writing. Their ankle and leg bones were flat from sitting cross-legged for extended periods, and they also showed signs of spinal(脊柱) osteoarthritis, possibly from looking up to listen and then bending over to write on papers.
An fascinating finding was the prevalence of jaw joint issues among the scribes, which
the researchers speculate might be associated with chewing on reed(芦苇) pens. The ink for these pens was typically black from soot(烟灰) or red from iron for important documents.
However, not all scholars are convinced by the study's conclusions. Cynthia Wilczak and Danny Wescott, who were not involved in the research, argue that more evidence is necessary. Only six of the 30 bones were confirmed to be scribes based on their titles, while the rest were identified based on their tomb locations and social status. Additionally, there is no dental evidence to support the theory that the scribes chewed on pens.
Despite these criticisms, Brukner Havelková and her team aim to expand their research by examining scribe remains from other locations to confirm their findings. While this study is just the beginning, it offers a unique perspective into the lives of ancient Egyptian scribes and the physical cost their work demanded.
There is increasing evidence suggesting that ultra-processed food addiction is indeed a significant issue. These foods, which are carefully manufactured in industrial factories rather than in the familiar setting of grandma's kitchen, are filled with altered ingredients that are artfully combined to enhance fat, sugar, and salt levels. Moreover, they contain a lots of flavor and sensory enhancers, which render them irresistibly appealing. Examples of ultra-processed foods range from packaged snacks to fast food and mass-produced desserts. In fact, they account for nearly 60 percent of the calories consumed in the United States.
Studies have revealed that up to 20 percent of adults and 15 percent of kids and adolescents might exhibit signs of addiction to these foods, a phenomenon that has been recognized for decades as rat studies in the 1980s demonstrated that the brain's reward system is powerfully activated when rats consume certain foods, a reaction similar to that when they self-administer cocaine.
In recent years, as the obesity rate in America has soared to 42 percent, especially among Black and Hispanic populations, scientists have been devoting increased attention to the impact of ultra-processed food addiction. These foods not only activate the brain's reward system but also may involve the gut-microbiology. Symptoms of craving and withdrawal are clearly evident with ultra-processed foods. People will go to great lengths to obtain these foods, and when they are refused, they may experience a series of discomforts such as headaches, fatigue, and irritability(易怒的). A study in 2022 found that ultra-processed foods meet the same addiction criteria as tobacco products.
High consumption of ultra-processed foods is linked to numerous health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, depression, anxiety, and an increased risk of death. Thin people can also be addicted, perhaps burning off the extra calories through exercise or having a genetic predisposition(易患病体质) not to gain weight easily. Food companies argue against denying these foods, but experts advocate for clear nutritional labels and restrictions on marketing to children. Treating food addictions remains an open question, but there is hope that people will become more aware of the dangers, just as they did with smoking.
Sometimes, it's good to be bored
"I am dying of boredom," complains the young wife Yelena in Chekhov's 1897 play UncleVanya. Of course, if Yelena were around today, we know what she would do: pull out her smartphone and find something fun. Today it is easy to get rid of boredom.
That is the finding of two fascinating recent studies. In one, researchers asked subjects to do something boring, like copying out numbers from a phone book, and then take tests of creative thinkings. The result? In the second study, subjects gave more answers to a word test than a non-bored control group after being forced to watch a dull screensaver.
"An restless mind hungers for stimulation, so boredom becomes a seeking state," says Sandi Mann, the psychologist at the University of Central Lancashire. "" Parents will tell you that kids with "nothing to do" will eventually invent some fun games to play — with a cardboard box, a light switch, whatever.
The problem, the researchers worry, is that these days we don't struggle to overcome these slow moments. "" Mann says. "This might relieve us temporarily, but it shuts down the deeper thinking." So here is an idea: Instead of always avoiding boredom, embrace and face it. Sometimes, anyway. Mann has found she gets some of her best thinking done when she is driving her car and therefore can't be distracted by her phone.
The good type inspires you to see what can come of it. The bad type, in contrast, tires you and makes you feel like you can't be bothered to do anything. An important part of our modern task, then, is learning to evaluate these different types of boredom — to distinguish the useful kind from the harmful one.
A．And there is, of course, bad boredom.
B．Bored subjects came up with more creative ideas.
C．But what if boredom is a meaningful experience?
D．These moments are a lot more valuable than expected.
E．Actually, tips on getting away from boredom are countless.
F．We try to kill every moment of boredom with mobile devices.
G．When not satisfied with your state, you're seeking and engaged.
In a small town, there was a young man named Tom. Although he was just a(n) 1 person, Tom had a very kind heart and a strong sense of 2 . The town had a serious shortage of clean water. This problem had a big influence on the 3 . It messed up their usual activities and was a big threat to their health.
Tom, decided to do something. He spent a lot of time, working day and night to find possible solutions. He 4 different organizations and asked for their help. Many people around him thought it was a 5 thing and told him to stop. But Tom was very firm in his decision and always positive.
He 6 a group of people and they started a 7 to make people know how important clean water is. They gave out flyers all over the town and even went to every house to 8 the situation. Their efforts slowly started to work. People from all 9 of jobs in the town were 10 by their hard work and began to offer their help and resources.
With the efforts of the whole community, a new water 11 system was finally put in. The town now had clean and 12 water. Tom's action not only solved the water problem but also made the people closer to each other. It 13 that even an ordinary person can make a big difference in 14 if they are 15 and have a positive attitude.
Chinese brocade(云锦) has a history of 1,300 years. It (be) once for the Chinese elite. Now, young fashion(design) like it. Things like flames, beasts, weapons, and stars decorate the brocade. Flowers are a common pattern, like in a silk piece from the middle of the 18th century.
This art is very complex. Old craftsmen can only make about two (inch) of cloth a day. Traditional looms are 18 feet long and have thousands of parts. (Operate) them needs dozens of steps. Artisans sing songs to remember the process. The made fabric is bright, patterns made of silk, gold, and peacock-feather yarn.
The (early) Chinese brocade is from the Tang Dynasty. Different regional kinds (develop) in places like Nanjing and Chengdu. Silk museums there let tourists buy real brocade scarves and bags. Factories can't copy this complex fabric. It can only be made on traditional looms. It is a proud symbol of cultural heritage and (appeal) to older Chinese people. More and more new fashion designers are working with (tradition) weavers. Designer Chen Liwen launched a series of scarves and accessories for Gen Z consumers last year with the hu bu tiger pattern. Ancient brocade seems closely tied China's future.
1. 进行安慰；
2. 提出建议。
注意：
1. 写作词数应为80个左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Dear Lucy,
I'm Li Hua,
Yours sincerely
Li Hua
Jon's Pajama Problem
Oh no, he had done it again. He'd forgotten something important. Last year on their family trip to his uncle's cottage for Christmas, he had forgotten the bag with the toiletries (洗漱用品) in it. Neither he nor his brother had toothbrushes or toothpaste or shampoo. He'd had to borrow from his cousins who were not thrilled to share, and Jon was not too thrilled that his hair smelled like strawberries all week.
The year before, Jon had left the marshmallows and graham crackers at home, so they had no mores for the evening fire and annual reading of "The Night Before Christmas". They had to nibble on (小口咬) some stale (不新鲜的) crackers instead. His cousins still teased him about that.
And now, Jon couldn't believe he had forgotten to pack his pajamas. At home, that wouldn't really be a problem: he had extra pajamas. But at the cottage, there were photographs dating back for years and years of Jon's family on Christmas morning in front of the tree in their pajamas. Jon was feeling awful. He would be the first one to break the family tradition ever. Would he ruin Christmas for everyone? What could he do?
He didn't want to tell his parents. He went looking around the cottage, and found an old T- shirt. That could work. He tried putting it on, but it was too small. He tried to stretch it, but it must have been washed 100 times, and it ripped when he pulled on it.
At this point, Jon was getting desperate. He snuck into his brother's luggage, trying to find some spare pajamas, only to find himself in trouble when his older brother caught him and yelled. His brother hated it when Jon messed with his stuff.
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。
Then his brother told their parents.
Then came the next morning. Jon's mother said. "Before we take the Christmas photo, I have a special gift for someone."
