1 . In 2014, a sophomore student at the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts went with friends for a birthday celebration to Beijing Zoo. Little did he know that a chance _________ at the aquarium (水族馆) there would light a lifelong passion.

Fast-forward to today, Xu, a Beijing native, has _________ to the tropical island of South China’s Hainan province, where he serves as a coral _________ for a Sanya-based tropical biological laboratory attached to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Each day, he spends several hours diving deep under the waves to observe and _________ the growth and development of the creatures that _________ him all those years ago. Xu, who is nicknamed “coral man”, is _________ engaged on such social media platforms as Sina Weibo, where he regularly shares visually amazing photos and entertaining videos of corals. He aims to _________ individuals to take action in protecting coral reefs(珊瑚礁) and the oceans as a whole.

For Xu, who had been studying Peking Opera since childhood, becoming a coral conservationist was an _________ turn of events. After he first saw corals at the aquarium, he began to _________ the local market to learn about coral __________ from merchants who sell decorative plants, fish and corals. He also __________information online. Before long, he had set up a small fish tank at home and started cultivating a coral.

“The coral organism is quite sensitive to its environment and has extremely high __________ for water quality,” recalls Xu. “When I started growing coral, its state was not __________.” But as Xu gained more __________ about coral, including how to control factors like water temperature and pH levels, his coral gradually started to flourish. He also learned that coral reefs are known as “tropical rainforests” and “underwater gardens” of the ocean, providing a __________ for a quarter of all sea creatures.

2 . Across the world, humans purchase around 1.3 billion single-use plastic water bottles a day. Because only about 9% of plastic is recycled, the vast majority of those bottles wind up in landfills, the ocean, or elsewhere in nature.

When beach-loving Madison noticed those plastic bottles during her family’s trips to California, the 12-year-old “just felt like this needed to change,” she told Smithsonian Magazine.

So as she began thinking about what to do for her school science fair back in 2021, the idea of a project centered on reducing plastic pollution quickly came to her mind: she would design an eatable water bottle called the Eco-Hero.

“One of my biggest ambitions for my project was wanting to help the world,” the confident young inventor said in a video on the website.

To bring her idea to life, Madison built upon the already established method by experimenting with common food materials. She also took inspiration from previous versions of eatable water bottles, though she focused on making hers bigger and more durable. She found that the combination of water, lemon juice, natural gum, and Alginic acid (褐藻酸) resulted in a gel pouch that wouldn’t break, could hold up to 3/4 cup of water, and would last in the fridge for three weeks.

Though she’d like to improve the Eco-Hero by making it able to hold more water, she believes her current version would work well as a replacement for the paper cups used by runners in races. All one needs to do is bite a hole in the water ball, drink the water, and then eat the pouch or throw it away to biodegrade.

Madison hopes the Eco-Hero inspires others to take better care of the planet. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be in a big way,” she told Smithsonian. “People can still make a difference in the world, even if it’s just in a small way.”

3 . Consumers increasingly use smartwatches and other wearable devices to measure their heart rates and rhythm during exercise and for overall health monitoring. However, those measurements may be less accurate in people with darker skin tones (肤色), according to a study.

The findings are based on a systematic review of 10 previously published studies involving a total of 469 participants. The study is the first to pool data from many studies to specifically examine how skin tones may affect the accuracy of heart data in wearables.

After screening 622 scientific papers, the researchers identified 10 studies that reported the heart rate and rhythm data for consumer wearable technology according to a participant’s skin tone. Of those studies, they found that heart rate measurements were significantly less accurate in darker-skinned individuals compared with either lighter-skinned individuals or measurements from proven devices, such as chest strap monitors or electrocardiograms (心电图). One study reported that although there was no difference in heart rate accuracy, wearable devices recorded significantly fewer data points for people with darker skin.

Most wearables detect the heart rate and rhythm by aiming a beam of light at the wrist and then detecting how much light is absorbed. Greater light absorption indicates a greater volume of blood flowing through the veins (静脉) under the skin. The study results suggest that this signaling process might not work well in darker skin that contains more melanin (黑色素), which absorbs light.

In addition to the rising use of wearables to monitor physical activity and sleep patterns, interest in the use of consumer wearables for medical research and even early detection of heart problems has increased in recent years.

The study emphasizes the importance of ensuring that technology meets the needs of diverse populations, especially when it’s intended to improve health. “It’s urgent to explore alternative options to collect reliable data from all users. There is some evidence to suggest that certain light, particularly green light, is more accurate in people across all skin tones,” Daniel Koerber, the study’s co-lead author, said.

6 . Oaks Farms is a combination of experiences that are designed to keep your students engaged in fun and exciting learning opportunities. We are truly a classroom without walls, offering educator-developed programs and field trips. We invite you here to explore sustainability (可持续发展), which includes not only the environment but also animal welfare, safety and our community.

The Pig Adventure

This program will help you learn all about pork and its benefits and discover the growth cycle of pigs from little babies to full grown-ups. Monitor the development of baby pigs and see how the farm works at the Pork Education Center. You will get first-hand knowledge about how our feeding system works.

The Dairy Adventure

This program encourages you to play as you learn, by opening up a fun space for dairy discovery including learning how to use a “real” station. Understand the nutrition of the animal products, and how robots are used in the Voluntary Milking System. You can start at the entrance to the adventure, and then stop by our Birthing Barn, which is an independent education center, and take a look inside.

The Crop Adventure

Explore the Crop Adventure program to learn about the importance of working to feed

8 billion people, the many uses of corn outside of consuming it, and how we can be sustainable with limited resources. See how a tractor (拖拉机) can tell you about the nutrients in the soil. Explore how technology assists farmers and the amazing biodiversity on the Farmer’s Garden.

The Pig Adventure ($3/student)

The Dairy Adventure ($5/student)

The Crop Adventure ($4/student)

Whole Adventures — include admission to the Pig Adventure, the Dairy Adventure, and the Crop Adventure ($7/student)

In September, UNESCO Director-General Audrey visited Zhoukoudian in Beijing. She was full of praise     1     a special structure which     2     (successful) protected Yuanrendong Cave from an unusual rainstorm in July. The karst cave     3     (reveal) the fossilized remains of 40 individuals so far.

The structure protects the site from the extreme weather, secretary-general Qin Changwei said at the 2nd World Cultural and Natural Heritage Forum. “    4     provides a reference for the protection of cultural relics, and suggests     5     (measure) for helping heritage sites respond to the influence of climate change.”

Organized by various organizations,     6     forum brought together some 50 professionals to discuss the protection and     7     (sustain) development of heritage sites.

“Climate change has been the subject of in-depth discussion by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. Questions like how to balance humans and nature, how to respond to natural disasters     8     what new challenges this brings to World Heritage Sites are worth     9     (consider),” says Qin.

“Addressing the issue requires multi-sectoral and interdisciplinary cooperation, making full use of cutting-edge technology and jointly     10     (develop) risk prevention and response plans,” he adds.

In the gentle winter sunlight, Gulangyu Island lies like a pearl in the ocean, quietly revealing     1     (it) unique charm. This small island is a witness     2     history. Every brick seems to tell stories of the past.     3     (original) named “Yuanshazhou” and also known as “Yuanzhouzi”, it     4     (refer) to as “Wulongyu” during the Southern Song Dynasty. Later, due to the sound resembling a drum, it was renamed “Gulangyu.” Famous for its natural landscapes and cultural heritage, Gulangyu boasts     5     (attraction) such as Sunlight Rock, Shuzhuang Garden, and more. Figures like Ba Jin and Lin Yutang found inspiration here,     6     (enrich) the island’s intellectual heritage.

During the winter, life here seems to slow down. In the early morning, it’s preferable to walk through the alleys     7     (surround) by European-style buildings. Breathing in the air filled with the smell of the sea     8     (bring) an extraordinary sense of freshness and joy.     9     walk to Sunlight Rock on the island offers a view of the entire city of Xiamen. In the afternoon, one can enjoy a rich cup of coffee in a café by the sea,     10     feels like being in a moving painting with the occasional fishing boat passing by. As the sun sets, the entire island is enveloped in a golden sunset. At this moment, Gulangyu becomes even more gentle and romantic.

9 . Amazonian natives are facing home destruction. To arouse people’s awareness of protecting them, Thomas, an American documentarian, decided to record the lives of the Awa, a ________ and isolated Amazonian community. For the sake of gaining their trust, Thomas had to mix himself with the natives. When ________ their unknown personal daily routine, he tried to remain as ________ as possible. ________ , he failed. As a tall man ________ over the natives at 1.93 meters, Thomas couldn’t fit in ________ . It wasn’t just a white guy walking in, but a massive large one.

Thomas ________ something else —making friends. With the help of a silly application in his smartphone, Thomas soon ________ the children, filling the forest with hearty laughter. After all, the kids didn’t have the ________ as adults. Unexpectedly, the adults also burst into laughter, a symbol of trust that ensured Thomas he was ________ .

The rainforest is amazing, but it was challenging to work in it. Heat, rain, and various unwanted souvenirs from Amazonian ________ complicated Thomas’ job. The bites and poison got him to stir up a love-hate relationship, once pushing him in a dilemma. Despite the ________ , Thomas insisted on his mission.

To make audience better understand the Awa, Thomas focused on something ________ , like the universal affection for homes and families. With the common topics, viewers can ________ the feelings and better realize the Awa’s current problem.

With tireless efforts, Thomas presented the ________ life of the Awa to the world, fostering a better understanding and support for protecting the Awa’s home.