3 . In an era of digital technology, the art of writing by hand has slowly been downgraded to a past entertainment. However, recent research suggests that this physical act is essential to brain health and development, having multiple cognitive (认知的) benefits. It is time we should reevaluate the potential benefits it may have on our mental capacities.

According to numerous studies, writing by hand stimulates more complex and diverse brain connections essential for encoding new information and forming memories. For instance, a recent investigation found that brain connectivity patterns were far more complicated and widespread for participants who wrote by hand compared to those who typed. Thus, it is clear that handwriting has a distinct and significant impact on our brain health.

Handwriting isn’t just good for our brains health—it also has clear, practical benefits. Research has shown that students who take handwritten notes score significantly higher on quizzes, demonstrating improved learning. This extends beyond the classroom too. People who recorded information on paper calendars demonstrated more brain activity and recalled information faster than those who used smartphones. The act of handwriting, therefore, could be a valuable tool for students preparing for exams and adults managing daily tasks.

Despite its clear benefits, handwriting has been on the decline. However, 25states in the US have reintroduced writing back into school curriculums. This is a step in the right direction, as previous research has also indicated that handwriting is essential in children’s brain development. Preliterate (未识字的) children who wrote by hand demonstrated brain activity in a circuit of the brain used in learning to read, further strengthening the link between handwriting and cognitive development.

It is clear that handwriting is a valuable activity that has the potential to enhance our brain health, learning, memory, and problem-solving skills. As we continue to navigate the digital age, it is important not to overlook the value of this seemingly simple activity. So, the next time you reach for your keyboard, remember the benefits of picking up a pen instead.

5 . Talk to any “successful” person and you’ll quickly realize success doesn’t come suddenly. First comes _________, and it takes perseverance to _________ past the discouragement it brings.

Popular actress Meryl Streep has been winning awards since the 1980’s. Yet, she shares a story from before she _________.

Before she earned herself the _________ of “the best actress of her generation”, she had to _________her own insecurities and setbacks. Meryl says, “I didn’t have _________ in my beauty when I was young.” So, imagine how disappointing it was for a (an) _________ actress to be denied by a major role based _________ on her looks!

It was the mid-1970’s, and Meryl Streep was struggling to make a _________ for herself. Certainly the young actress was __________ excited when she was __________ to meet a major Italian film producer. But as Meryl walked into his office, he turned and asked, “Who brings me this __________ thing?”

Had she accepted this __________ opinion as fact and considered herself “too ugly” to ever succeed in Hollywood, Meryl Streep would have never become a __________ name. “I think the most liberating thing I did early on was to __________ myself from any concern with my looks,” Meryl says. “For an actress, worrying about appearance is a horrible, horrible __________.”

Meryl refused to __________ her dream, and she’s since enjoyed a __________ that’s spanned several decades. The actress has won 2 Emmy’s, 8 Golden Globes and 3 Oscars, among many others, and currently holds the __________ record for the most Academy Award acting nominations (提名).

Meryl bravely chose not to place her focus on her looks but on her __________. Failure is part of life. But when we do encounter it, it’s important to fight on.

6 . Much like our guts (内脏), cities too have various types of microorganisms (微生物) that grow in the environment. And, much like analyzing the microorganisms in our guts can show important details about our physical condition, doing the same thing with a city’s microorganisms can help us understand data on the kinds of bacteria and other small life forms that are living alongside urban people.

While it’s possible to use human researchers to collect data on a city’s microorganisms, that kind of field research can be costly, difficult, and time-consuming. In 2010, honeybees in Brooklyn visited a nearby cherry factory, producing bright-red honey. This caused researchers to examine what other things New York’s honeybees were bringing back to their hives. It struck the researchers that this might be an easier way to collect microorganisms than to search for them on subway poles or sidewalks. So in a new study, researchers decided to seek help from the honeybee, which spends its days exploring cities all over the world, to learn about the urban microenvironments.

The team analyzed hive debris (碎片) from around the world and had some interesting findings. In Sydney, the hive debris showed DNA from microorganisms that can break down rubber, while in Melbourne, a significant amount of DNA from eucalyptus, a kind of tree originally from Australia, appeared at the bottom of hives. And the hive debris from Venice had microorganisms commonly found in rotting wood.

The analysis of Tokyo hives not only found DNA from local unique microorganisms, but also showed the presence of a microorganism that can cause disease among humans. This finding led the team to believe that using bees to learn about urban environments might be a great way to track the spread of human diseases.

While the study is still at the initial stage and it remains to be seen whether honeybees will help scientists find diseases or help city planners make cities greener one day, the insects’ great promise as little research helpers is obvious.

7 . In San Francisco, a large group of sea lions move themselves out of the bay waters and hang out on PIER 39, which is a popular tourist destination. According to dock (码头)officials, this is the most sea lions seen in the region in 15 years.

“Over 1,000 sea lions have been counted this week,” PIER 39 harbormaster Sheila Chandor told many different media. “The surge in sea lions is usually a good sign of their strong population and healthy living environment,” said Adam Ratner, Director of Conservation Engagement at the Marine Mammal(海洋哺乳动物) Center in Sausalito, California.

“California sea lions are sentinels(哨兵) of the ocean,” Ratner said. Their population to some extent reflects the health of the ocean. Therefore, seeing a large number of California sea lions is clearly a good thing.

For nearly 35 years, the slippery(滑的) residents have been a star attraction for tourists. That autumn in 1989, PIER 39 had just been repaired, but the ships had not yet been moved back. At that moment, the sea lions unexpected arrival not only attracted fans but also created enemies. According to a website, some dock residents and workers were scared away by the strong and very unpleasant smell and noise of their new neighbors, while others saw these animals as a bright spot after the destructive Loma Prieta earthquake.

The officials sought help from the Marine Mammal Center to find a way to deal with sea lions. Ratner said that the final decision is to let the sea lions stay and coexist with humans. “The fact proves that this is really a good thing,” he said. “This is just a proof of how we can truly work together and think about how we can share our coasts with marine mammals and other wildlife in a way that benefits all the parties involved.”

8 . In 2019, after retiring from her career as a social worker, Ane Freed - Kernis decided to build a home workshop and devote all of her free time to stone carving. “I might be covered head to to e in dust but I’m happy — it was something I needed more of in my life when I hit 60,” she says.

This appeal has its origins in Freed - Kernis’ childhood. Growing up on her father’s farm in Denmark, she used to wander through the fields with her eyes fixed on the ground, looking for stones to add to her collection. “I’ve always been drawn to the shapes and textures(质地) of stones,” she says.

After moving to England in 1977 and training as a social worker, Freed - Kernis soon became occupied with her busy career and the demands of raising her son. Stones were the last thing on her mind, until her father died in 2005. “He took a stone carving course in his retirement, and I always thought stone seemed so fun but never had the time to look into it myself,” she says. “After he died, I became determined to learn in his honour.”

Signing up for a week-long stone carving course at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Freed - Kernis began to learn how to turn a block of rock into well-designed shapes. “It was really scary at the start because you would spend hours just hammering(锤打).”

Now 65, Freed - Kernis has a thriving small business built largely through word of mouth. She creates 12 to 15 pieces a year that can take anywhere from a few days to three weeks to complete, while her prices range from £ 200 to £ 3,000. “I’m making smaller ones,” she says. “I don’t have to depend on the money much, so I want to keep prices in the range that people can afford, mainly just covering costs and labour(劳动力).”