3 . With artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic technology improving at impressive rates, there are some who worry that there’s a risk of artistic and creative people being replaced. A new study by the Korean Institute of Industrial Technology, however, is showing exactly why that can’t and shouldn’t happen. It all started when the South Korean company posed this question: Can robots replace conductors?

Over a year ago, work to develop automaton (自动化) began. At first, it was designed like a machine, and didn’t live up to expectations. Then the company sought ways to improve it. In the end, it was given two arms with joints to copy wrists and elbows, allowing it to move a stick similarly to how a human conductor would move it. It was named the EverR 6 robot, and stands at 1.8 meters. It was finally time to figure out how it could follow through on its musical role.

“We got involved in this project to see how far robots can go in more creative fields like the arts, and what the challenges are,” Dong-wook Lee, a senior researcher at the Korean Institute of Industrial Technology said.

In order to pull this off, Dong-wook Lee cooperated with the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra. The 12-minute piece they planned to perform — “Feel” by Il-hoon Son, was created specifically for this event. It was created with the strengths of both EverR 6 and the human conductor, Soo-yeol Choi, in mind.

To pull off this impressive performance, the robot was preprogrammed to conduct through 30 cycles of beat patterns. Meanwhile, it was up to the human conductor to lead the orchestra in creating an improvisational (即兴的) score, adding depth to the otherwise planned piece. Together, they pulled off a masterful performance that the audience seemed more than happy to have had the opportunity to witness it firsthand!

With the concert having gone so well, this is only the start of EverR 6. Still, no matter the improvements they’re able to make to this robot, the human conductor isn’t concerned about being replaced. “Let’s leave the accuracy to the robots,” Soo-yeol Choi said, “but the musical and artistic aspects to a human conductor.”

4 . I had been a shy and quiet person; whenever I had to do public speaking, I would get ______, tremble (发抖), and turn red. I spent so much time fearing the judgement of others that I ______ opportunities like school plays and performances. Then I ______ a competition called Poetry Out Loud, which is a national high school-level competition where students compete by ______ “poetry out loud”. I had terrible stage ______, but I figured it was time to face my fears.

Little did I know, I’d actually been given a mentor (指导老师) to help me prepare for the ______. Honestly, without him I wouldn’t be the person I’m today. I remember meeting him for the first time and being so ______ that when I had to practice reciting one of the poems, I was as ______ as a mouse, eyes glued to the floor. My mentor softly ______ me to be a little louder, look a little higher. Slowly but surely, I got better at making eye contact and ______ my voice.

On the big day, when it was my turn, I took a deep breath and began to recite. With each word, I grew more and more ______. It was ______ a(n) indescribable feeling; it felt like I was freeing myself from the chains of fear and ______.

Since then, I’ve also written a ton of poetry, and some pieces have been published already! Being ______ poetry has been a(n) ______ journey that has helped me grow as both a poet and a person.

5 . One early morning, I went into the living room to find my mother reading a thick book called Best Loved Poems to Read Again and Again. I became immediately interested because of the word “Poems” that appeared in big, hot pink letters.

“Is it good?” I asked her.

“Yeah,” she answered. “There’s one I really like and you’ll like it, too.” I leaned forward.

“Patty Poem,” she read the title. Who is Patty? I wondered. The poem began:

She never puts her toys away,

Just leaves them scattered(散乱的)where they lay, …

The poem was just three short sections. The final one came quickly:

When she grows and gathers poise(稳重),

I’ll miss her harum-scarum(莽撞的)noise,

And look in vain(徒劳的) for scattered toys.

And I’ll be sad.

A terrible sadness washed over me. Whoever Patty was, she was a mean girl. Then, the shock.

“It’s you, honey,” my mother said sadly.

To my mother, the poem described a parent’s feeling when her child grows up and leaves. To me, the “she” in the poem was terrible. It was my mama who would be sad. It was so terrible that I began crying.

“What’s wrong?” my mother asked.

“Oh Mama,” I cried. “I don’t want to grow up ever!”

She smiled. “Honey, it’s okay. You’re not growing up anytime soon. And when you do, I’ll still love you, okay?”

“Okay,” I was still crying. My fear had gone. But I could not help thinking about that silly poem. After what seemed like a safe amount of time, I read the poem again and was confused. It all fit so well together, like a puzzle. The language was simple, so simple that I could plainly understand its meaning, yet it was still beautiful. I was now crazy about the idea of poetry (诗歌), words that had the power to make or break a person’s world.

I have since fallen in love with other poems, but “Patty Poem” remains my poem. After all, “Patty Poem” gave me my love for poetry not because it was the poem that lifted my spirits, but because it was the one that hurt me the most.

6 . On the last day of college before graduation, our professor walked up onto the stage to give us a final lesson, which she called “a life lesson on the _________ of mindsets (思维模式)”. As she raised a glass of water over her head, everyone _________ her to mention the typical “glass half empty or glass half full” question. _________, with a smile on her face, the professor asked, “How heavy is this glass of water I’m holding?”

Students shouted out answers _________ from eight ounces (盎司)to a couple of pounds.

After a few moments of _________ answers, she replied, “In my opinion, the absolute weight of this glass: doesn’t _______ . It all _________ how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute or two, it’s _________ light. If I hold I for an hour straight, my arm might feel painful. If I hold it for the whole day, my arm will feel completely numb, _________ me to drop the glass to the floor. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change. __________ the longer I hold it, the heavier it __________ to me.”

As the class nodded their heads in __________, she continued, “Your worries, disappointment and stressful thoughts are like this glass of water. Think about them for a while and __________ happens. Think about them a bit longer and you begin to feel __________. Think about them all day long, and you will feel completely numb, __________ to do anything else until you drop them.”

7 . When did you last write a letter? Properly write one — by hand? In a digital world, where sending a text or email is far more convenient than using snail mail, is the writing on the wall for traditional pen and paper? Well, some people claim that writing still has many benefits, so maybe it’s not time to ditch your ballpoint or fountain pen yet.

These days, when people request things in writing, a typed, electronic document will be accepted. Doing this on a computer means it could be saved, edited, copied and sent via email. But crafting a handwritten document is unique: it requires planning and thought, and, as well as practising your handwriting, it helps you to remember spelling and punctuation.

Some experts believe your brain benefits from using old-fashioned pen and paper. This is particularly relevant for students, where typing notes into a laptop is thought to lack the “tactile feedback (触觉反馈)” to the brain that contact between pen and paper does. BBC Worklife website quotes Hetty Roessingh from the University of Calgary, who says that taking notes by hand involves cognitive (认知的) engagement in summarising, paraphrasing, organising, concept and vocabulary mapping. Others agree that handwriting may boost fine motor skills in your hands and fingers.

There are everyday benefits of using pen and paper too. Scribbling (匆忙书写) notes, shopping lists or messages on the back of an envelope can still be useful, quick and portable. But putting pen to paper in a letter to a friend or loved one can probably have the most impact. Pen pal writer Katherine Moller told the BBC, “In a world where it is so easy to hop online to email or to send a fast text, it is so personal and so precious to know someone chose to turn off the virtual world to spend some time with you.”

So, while digital skills remain important, don’t write off your pens and pencil s yet— especially if your smartphone, tablet or laptop runs out of power.

9 . Watching the latest Hollywood movie in a great cinema brings about a lot of excitement. Here are the best movie theaters in the world.

Prasad—Hyderabad, India

Can you think of anything better than a movie viewed on a screen measuring 97×117 feet? Prasad has the answer. It has been screening movies since 2003. Every day, it gets round 1,500 inquiries (咨询) on its phone booking system.

Castro Theater—San Francisco, United States

Back during the 20s, movie palaces with huge reception halls and video halls were put up for the pleasure of customers. This theater, with a cathedral façade (立面), is one of the last from that period.

Cine de Chef—Seoul, South Korea

Want to go out for dinner and a movie? Here you get to do both. And the food is not just the typical popcorn and soda, but a real meal made up of French and Italian cuisine (菜肴).

Secret Cinema—Worldwide

Secret Cinema is a group based in London that holds monthly screenings of a movie. You have to sign up for it, and they will tell you where and when to go for the movie. Hired actors will then act out the scenes from the film.

10 . Bill Sumiel was having a tough Friday. The 71-year-old, who was _________ kidney (肾) failure, found himself at a medical center 30 miles from home for the second time in 24 hours. Sumiel was on the transplant (移植) list, but no _________ had yet appeared. Without a taxi ride lined up for his _________, Sumiel took an Uber to and from his appointment.

Uber driver Timothy Letts took Sumiel as his _________ even though the trip was out of his way, sensing Sumiel might need help. During the 40-minute drive, Sumiel _________ his positive energy and the struggles of his treatments, revealing he was _________ a kidney donor.

As they neared Sumiel’s home, Letts _________ him by expressing interest in being a kidney donor. Shocked but _________, Sumiel exchanged contact information with Letts. _________, after the initial excitement, Sumiel started feeling a bit less optimistic. Although he was __________ by Letts’ offer, he wondered if it had just been an emotional moment. But Letts was true to his __________. He got in touch with Sumiel just a few __________ later, and by the next week, Letts had __________ the kidney transplant program. After a months-long screening process, the results were in: Letts and Sumiel were a __________ match.

On Dec 7, 2021, they had their surgeries. It was a __________. Letts and Sumiel still keep in touch to this day.