1 . That artificial food dyes (染料) are unhealthy is not news. Some are known to cause hyperactivity (多动症) in some children, affecting their ability to learn. But regulatory agencies (监管机构) around the world don’t necessarily agree on which food dyes are a problem, or why. That may soon change. A 2021 peer-reviewed report by California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment concluded that artificial food dyes “cause or worsen neurobehavioral (神经行为的) problems in some children” and that the current levels that are regarded safe for consumption by the federal government are too high.

California is now considering requiring warning labels on food products and dietary supplements containing the seven most commonly used artificial dyes. The warning label requirement would put California on par with the European Union, which since 2010 has required food products containing certain artificial food dyes to carry warning labels about their negative effect on activity and attention in children.

Artificial dyes are used in foods for one reason: to make products look prettier. Bright colors make candies appealing, especially to kids. But dyes are also in chocolate cake mixes, salad dressings and other products that don’t seem to cry out for a color boost.

In Europe, it was the 2010 label lawmaking that triggered (引发) companies’ decisions to reformulate. “If you’re a company, you do not want to put a warning label on your product.” says Lefferts, an environmental health consultant. Warning labels are why European Starburst Fruit Chews are now colored with natural products, not the artificial dyes that brighten their North American counterparts (同类商品).

Given that artificial food dyes are used far more than needed, we need to be more cautious. After all, we don’t dye fresh fruits and vegetables, but we do dye candy and sprinkles, points out Joe Schwarcz, a chemistry professor at McGill University in Montreal. “The foods in which you find food dyes are foods that are poor in nutrition,” he says. “If you limit foods that contain food dyes, you automatically make your diet better.”

Did you know many adults sit for more than nine hours a day? Whether it’s working at a desk, sitting in a car,     1     lying on the sofa watching TV, we have     2     much more sedentary (惯于久坐不动的) lifestyle than our parents and grandparents did. The question that this raises is: what is it doing to our bodies?

The news isn’t good. If you live a sedentary lifestyle, you have a     3    (high) chance of being overweight, having diabetes or heart disease, and experiencing depression and anxiety. A study carried out in the 1950s     4    (compare) bus drivers with the conductors,     5     walked around the bus selling tickets. It showed that drivers were twice as likely     6    (have) heart attacks than the more active conductors. In fact, prolonged     7    (sit) has been connected with a number of different conditions. If you sit all day, you burn far fewer calories than someone with a more active job.

One possible answer to this problem is for desk workers     8    (use) standing desks, to spend at least part of a day on their feet. Other experts point out that standing all day can also have negative     9    (impact), such as leg or back pain, recommending that if people do want to use standing desks, they should     10    (gradual) increase the amount of standing time. They also point out that walking is a better choice because it burns far more calories than standing.

3 . Harbin Tourism Booms in Early 2024

As the curtains of 2024 drew open, Harbin, the northern city known for its icy charm, witnessed a tourism boom unlike any other. The city’s tourism sector received a _________ boost, gathering attention from netizens and travelers worldwide.

The local government and tourism authorities spared no _________ to prepare for this influx (人流量), ensuring that visitors were provided with the most _________ and convenient experiences. Specialties like the ice festival were very popular, with artificial intelligence used to _________ and entertain the crowds. The _________ and sincerity behind these efforts were obvious in every detail.

Harbin’s _________ rose, and it ranked among the top tourist destinations globally. This success was _________ to the city’s unique attractions, generous hospitality, and the lucky timing of the tourism boom. Visitors were impressed by the _________ shown to traditional culture and the immediacy (及时) of the local rescue teams, who were always on standby in case of any temporary inconvenience.

Netizens _________ positively on social media, praising the city’s efforts to boost its tourism sector. Some even suggested that other cities should stand in Harbin’s shoes and learn from its example. Complaints were few and far between, with most visitors agreeing that the city had __________ their stay.

The revenue (财政收入) generated by this tourism boom set a new record, __________ all previous revenue and proving that Harbin’s charm and attractions were more than just a passing fashion. The city’s tourism industry is now thriving and looks forward to an even __________ future. This success is a result of what can be achieved when sincerity, creativity, and hard work come __________.

As the world continues to assess the __________ of this tourism boom, one thing remains clear: Harbin has set a new standard for tourism excellence. We eagerly await what the future __________ for this active city.

5 . The Importance of Having Fun While Exercising

Enjoying your workout can be a complete game changer. Be prepared to discover how enjoying exercise can make you healthier and happier.

Make exercise more fun

The Heart Matters magazine gives a few suggestions on how to make exercise more fun, such as asking others to join you and exercising for a specific cause (like a marathon for raising funds for an organization).     1     But why?

Research shows that enjoying your exercise can be important for its long-term effect. When you pay attention to what you choose and want to do, rather than what you have to do, it changes your mind.     2    

Another very real benefit of enjoying your workout is that if you enjoy it, you are more likely to stick to it. Most people would rather do something that brings them pleasure than something boring and unpleasant. So, what do you find enjoyable? What is fun for you?

Different types of exercise

    3     Running is an excellent form of exercise, as is walking. Dance classes can be super fun as well. Playing sports is a form of exercise that shouldn't be forgotten.

Gyms that require a lot of equipment are not always available or possible.     4     Team sports like basketball, tennis or kickball with friends are great for your fitness.

Besides, you can also do other exercises.     5     Those are all excellent forms of exercise.

6 . Experts have found a group of lost cities in the Amazon rainforest. The cities were home to at least 10,000 farmers around 2,000 years ago.

Recent mapping using laser (激光) technology revealed those places to be part of a group of settlements and connecting roads. The settlements are in the forested areas near the Andes mountains.

“It was a lost valley of cities,” said Rostain, who directs research at France’s National Center for Scientific Research. “It’s unbelievable,” he added. The Upano people lived in the settlements between around 500 BC and 300 to 600 AD. That was around the same time period as the Roman Empire in Europe, the researchers found.

Ancient people built on over 6,000 earthen mounds (堆) in an area surrounded by agricultural fields with drainage (排水) canals. The largest roads were 10 meters wide and went for 10 to 20 kilometers.

While it is difficult to determine populations, the area was home to at least 10,000 people, and possibly about 15,000 or 30,000 at its highest point. That is comparable to the possible population of London, then Britain’s largest city.

It would have required a complex system of organized labor to build the roads and thousands of earthen mounds. The Incas and Mayans built with stone, but people in Amazonia didn’t usually have stone available to build — they built with mud.

The Amazon is often thought of as a wild area with only small groups of people. But recent discoveries have verified that the past was really more complex.

Scientists have recently also found evidence of complex rainforest societies that came before European contact elsewhere in the Amazon, including in Bolivia and Brazil.

“There’s always been an unbelievable diversity of people and settlements in the Amazon, not only one way to live,” said experts. “We’re just learning more about them.”

8 . Joyce Loaiza lives alone in a community for older people in the American state of Florida. When she is home, the retired office worker often talks with a friendly female voice that asks about her day.

A few kilometers away, the same voice helps 83-year-old Deanna Dezern. In New York state, it plays games and music for 92-year-old Marie Broadbent. And in Washington state, it helps 83-year-old Jan Worrell make new friends.

These women are some of the first in the United States to receive the robot ElliQ made by Intuition Robotics. The company says it is the only device using artificial intelligence (AI) to help older Americans from loneliness.

The device looks like a small table light and it has an eyeless, mouthless head that lights up and turns. It remembers each user’s interests and their talks, helping create a special experience with new discussions. They can be as deep as the meaning of life or as light as a small joke.

ElliQ also plays music and provides creative or spiritual sayings. On a video screen that comes with it, it will show different cities and places of interest. The device leads exercises, asks about the owner’s health, and gives reminders to take medicines and drink water. It can also support video calls and contact family, friends, or doctors in an emergency.

Intuition Robotics says none of the private conversations are heard by the company, with the information only staying on each owner's device.

A robot could fill the space of a friend by adapting to each person and their interests. The average user communicates with ElliQ more than 30 times a day and more than 90 percent report lower levels of loneliness.

The robots are mostly sent out by government departments. But they can also be bought individually for $600 a year plus $250 to set it up.