1 . Of all the Chinese 24 solar terms, Clear and Bright (清明) is the only one whose first day is also a traditional Chinese festival, the Qingming Festival. The words “clear” and “bright” describe the weather during this period. Temperatures begin to rise and rainfall increases, making it an important time for growing crops in the spring. As is known, it is a time to worship ancestors, however, here are several things you may not know about Clear and Bright.

Spring Outings

Not only is it a period to honor the dead, but it is also time for people to go out and enjoy nature. As trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly, everything returns to life. It is a fine time to appreciate the beauty of nature.

Flying Kites

Flying kites is an activity favored by many Chinese during Tomb-Sweeping Day. Kites are not only flown during the day time but also in the evening. Little lanterns are tied to the kites. And when the kites are flying in the sky, the lanterns look like twinkling stars at night. What makes flying kites during this day special is that people cut the string while the kite is in the sky to let it fly freely. It is said that this brings good luck and that diseases can be chased away by doing this.

Cuju

Cuju is an interesting game played during this period. Ju is a ball made of leather with hairs plugged in it. Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor first invented it for training warriors. Later, Cuju was used by people to build up their bodies when they were unable to eat hot food during the Cold Food Festival.

Feasting on Qingtuan

In the lower parts of the Yangtze River region, qingtuan is very popular on Tomb-Sweeping Day. Qingtuan is a kind of round green cake. In order to make the cakes, people mash (捣碎) barnyard grass (艾草) to squeeze juice from it and mix the flour and juice to a paste. Then they put fillings into the paste and steam them. Pretty and delicate, qingtuan has a special flavor.

2 . When I was in third grade, my family and I took on an unforgettable trip across the country. It turned out to be more than just a/an _______ journey; it was a journey of discovery into our _______. Every day, Dad _______ us with his trusty road map. Mom, the heart of our family, shared folk tales and painted pictures about the upcoming _______. We went through diverse _______from the thick forests to the vast deserts of the West.

One day, while hiking through the Grand Canyon, I _______   a particularly rough path. Frightened, I _______, not knowing how to proceed. That’s when my parents _______ .

As Dad showed me footholds, Mom coached me with calming _______and reminded me of the breathtaking views that lay ahead. Then, I________the confidence as my feet ________ solid ground again. When I finally overcame my fear, I felt we became ________ as a family.

From then on, every evening, we’d gather around a campfire for what we________called “Family Reflection Time”. During these sessions, we’d share laughs, ________, and insights from the day’s experiences.

The trip taught me that the true meaning of travel isn’t merely about reaching the destination but about the personal growth that happens on the route, and the family bonds formed when facing ________ together.

5 . Guy Noble, one of Australia’s most famous conductors, who conducted the touring concert “East Meets West”, said he’d like to learn more about Chinese music. “I’m impressed by the history and the beauty Chinese music has,” he’s said in an interview recently.

“East Meets West” concert tour in Australia was resumed this year after being postponed twice due to the pandemic. It was hosted in Canberra last Saturday, bringing audiences some well-known Chinese and Western pieces such as Jasmine Flower, Carmen, Romeo and Juliet, and The Yellow River.

While it was called “East Meets West”, music from China and the West with the same themes was brought together. Chinese singer Ya Fen and Australian singer Victoria Lambourn performed a duet (二重唱) Hope Betrayed, which was inspired by the Chinese classic novel A Dream of Red Mansions. Noble said he loved the duet as it showed completely different singing styles: traditional Chinese opera style and Western opera style. “They’re not exactly the same, but they came together,” he said.

Having been a professional conductor for more than 20 years, Noble called music an international language. He noted that most music at the concert was about love, which was also an international language. He also spoke highly of some Chinese musicians, such as pianist Lang Lang who he thought has inspired many kids in China to learn music.

Noble admitted his knowledge of Chinese culture was limited. He said that conducting the Canberra concert was “an experience that I’ve enjoyed”, which made him more interested in discovering the background and history of the music, as well as the stories behind it. Noble is ready to create more things that can involve dance or calligraphy or some of the other aspects of Chinese culture, and put them together with music.

6 . Beaumont Hospital is proud of its reputation nationally and internationally as an academic teaching hospital providing excellence in patient care, medical education, innovation and research. Our aim is to deliver the highest quality of care to our patients, excellent training to our students and a friendly and professional environment for our staff.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for driving the overall strategic direction, operations and performance of Beaumont Hospital, and its related services and resources, within policy directions laid down by the Hospital Board and the Department of Health/HSE to deliver effective and efficient patient care.

This is a crucial leadership role responsible for driving strategic growth initiatives and providing strategic oversight, support and clear leadership to the Executive Management Team within Beaumont Hospital. The Hospital is in the process of developing a new 5-Year Strategic Plan. The successful candidate will carry out the agreed vision for the future of Beaumont Hospital, maintain the Hospital’s commitment to delivering patient-centred care to the highest standards of clinical practice, healthcare education, research, and innovation, and promote an organizational culture that is open to, and empowers innovation, creativity and learning in a clinical setting.

Informal Confidential inquiries to:

Ms Pauline Philip, Chair, Beaumont Hospital Board

Tel: ＋353 (1) 7974260

Interested candidates should apply by sending their CV and cover letter to:

Mr John Pepper, Human Resources Department

Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 Ireland

Email: hrdirector@beaumont.ie

For a more detailed job description brochure please access www.beaumont.ie/careers

Closing date: 4th December 2023.

Interviews will be held before the end of December, 2023.

7 . In the U.S., a recent trend shows a growing demand for natural wine, which attaches importance to minimal processing and eco-friendliness. However, IWSR Drinks Market Analysis indicates that these wines still make up less than one percent of sales in 2021. Despite a general decline in wine buyers since 2015, demand for natural wines is on the rise at a significant pace, as said by Drizly, an online alcohol delivery service.

Natural wines typically use organic grapes, avoiding chemicals for pest and weed control. Traditional methods like foot treading (踩) are sometimes employed for crushing grapes. Afterwards, the crushed grapes ferment (发酵) naturally. Manufacturers don’t add water, yeast or other substances. There are some exceptions. Some natural winemakers add extra sulfites for preservation. Others clarify the wine to get rid of any small piece that could make it look cloudy, resulting in the earthy and unique flavor.

However, the market faces barriers due to a lack of set definitions for natural wine, creating confusion and marketing challenges. As Professor Anita Oberholster from UC Davis suggests, defining “natural wine” could help its growth. Yet, industry opinions vary on regulation: while some support official guidelines, others, like John Keller of Neu Cellars, worry about higher costs involved with certification.

CEO of Vinovest, Anthony Zhang sees another problem. Some wine companies are profiting using labeling content like imagery that suggests their wine making is natural when they are not. The European Union has taken measures to stop this by requiring wines sold in its markets to list all contained substances, starting December. It’s expected that the U.S. may soon adopt similar regulations, increasing transparency for consumers. With these advancements, buyers may soon be able to make more informed purchases.

8 . Being the England women’s national team coach demands a lot from me. With this responsibility, there are no days off. During Euro 2022, when I had Covid (冠状病毒), I felt the _________ to return as soon as possible. The situation _________ when my sister, Diana, my greatest _________, who watched every game no matter where we played, fell seriously ill just before the tournament started. In those moments, I _________ to be able to switch off and just be with my family.

The weeks before Diana’s passing away were especially _________. The focus was on her, and I had to step away from football. My responsibility for the European Championship, however, weighed heavily on me. I _________ my staff together and had a difficult conversation about the possibility of me being _________ on the day Diana passed away. It was a(n) _________ discussion, but I was amazed by their understanding and support. Their _________ truly touched me. This discussion deepened our bond, and provided me with a sense of __________ and freedom during such a difficult time. When I __________ Mark Bullingham, the CEO of the FA, about Diana’s condition, he __________ responded, saying, “Stay in the Netherlands. That’s the most important thing in your life right now.” His support meant a lot, as he didn’t question how it would __________ the team.

I returned to the team after Diana’s death, and the players showed their __________ by wearing black armbands. Before the Euro final, I managed my __________ with help from the team psychologist, and after winning, I got a tattoo on my wrist like the same image on Diana’s. For me it was a way to feel __________.

The death of my sister and __________ our team handled it had a big impact on the staff at work. It reminded us that life isn’t always easy. It was important for me to __________ and let others know I was __________. It has showed that it’s OK for us to __________ when we need to deal with real-life issues.

9 . Air pollution remains a critical health risk in the European Union, claiming over 500,000 lives in 2021, with findings suggesting nearly half of these could have been prevented if pollution were reduced to levels recommended by health experts. Data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) show that of these deaths, 253,000 were linked to exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) going beyond the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline limit of 5 micrograms per cubic meter. These particles are especially dangerous as they can pass into the bloodstream and affect various organs. Nitrogen dioxide and ozone also contributed to the mortality (死亡频率) statistics, associated with 52,000 and 22,000 deaths respectively. The EU’s environment commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevicius, underlined that air pollution poses the top environmental health risk in the EU. Nevertheless, there is evidence of improvement, with deaths from PM2.5 decreasing by 41% between 2005 and 2021, and the EU targets a reduction of 55% by 2030.

In response to these concerns, the WHO, which updated its air quality guidelines in 2021, warns that no level of air pollution can be considered safe but has set upper limits for certain pollutants. The European Parliament vote to bring the EU’s air quality standards in line with the WHO but decided to delay doing so until 2035.

Sinkevicius said that air quality is indeed improving due to effective clean air policies. Beyond death counts, the EEA also assessed air pollution’s broader impact on diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and diabetes, stressing not only mortality but the quality of life impacts. EEA researcher Alberto Gonzalez Ortiz pointed to severe disability states caused by these conditions, worsened by air pollution.

The EEA’s comprehensive approach shows that while the fight against air pollution has seen progress, immediate action is still critical to reduce pollution and reduce its widespread effects on public health.

10 . In her latest gardening story, Jessica Damiano tells of the garden pests and diseases she has seen in her plants. She suggests acting quickly when dealing with these issues, as they can rapidly spread and cause significant damage to plant health and growth.

Her measure always begins with the gentlest treatment possible. She only intensifies her treatments when necessary. Even then, she has her limits. Damiano says she would rather lose a flower or vegetable plant than use strong chemicals. In the case of her tomato plants, Damiano caught the aphids, a pest, early. She washed them off and removed the ones that would not come off by using her fingers under moving water.

Had the invasion been severe or the water and finger removal method been ineffective, she would have used Neem oil. This organic oil from Neem tree seeds, kills aphids and is safe for plants that will be consumed. However, she would apply it after sunset when helpful insects are less active.

On the same day, Damiano also found scarlet lily beetles on her Asiatic lily plants. They cover themselves in waste. This makes them less appealing to those that would want to eat them. But the coating also protects them from chemicals, making them difficult to remove. To fight against them, she physically tapped the beetles into a mixture of water, soap, vinegar, or household cleaners.

Her rhododendron, a flowering plant, got attacked by a pest called azalea bark scale last summer. When she noticed the return of these white insects this year, she immediately removed the infested leaves. For the remaining leaves with a few pests, she was able to remove them by touching each insect with some rubbing alcohol.

By working early, Damiano slowed or stopped infestations that could have killed her plants. The same would be true for diseases, many of which also respond better to early treatments.