1 . Science reporting on climate change does lead Americans to adopt more accurate beliefs and support government action on the issue, but these gains are fragile, a new study suggests. Researchers found that these accurate beliefs fade quickly when people are exposed to coverage skeptical of climate change.

“It is not the case that the American public does not respond to scientifically informed reporting when they are exposed to it,” said Thomas Wood, associate professor of political science at the Ohio State University. “But even truly accurate science reporting recedes from people’s frame of reference very quickly.”

Results showed that accurate science reporting didn’t persuade only politicians and people who initially rejected human-caused climate change also had their opinions shifted by reading accurate articles. The study involved 2,898 online participants who participated in four waves of the experiment during the fall of 2020.

In the first wave, they all read authentic articles in the popular media that provided information reflecting the seientifie views on climate change. In the second and third waves, they read either another scientific article, an opinion article that was skeptical of climate science, or an article on an unrelated subjeet. In the fourth wave, the participants simply were asked their beliefs about the science of climate change and their policy attitudes.

To rate participants’ scientific understanding. the researchers asked after each wave if they believed that climate change is happening and has a human cause. To measure their attitudes, researchers asked participants if they favored government action on climate change and if they favored renewable energy.

“What we found suggests that people need to hear the same accurate messages about climate change again and again. If they only hear it once, it recedes very quickly,” Wood said. It was significant that accurate reporting had positive effects on all groups, including those who originally rejected climate change. But it was even more encouraging that it affected attitudes.

3 . Shawn Triplett, who now works as a volunteer at a local elementary school, was recently helping out at a shelter when he witnessed a damaging interaction between a mom and her young child after they had been displaced by the tornadoes.

“I saw a child crying in his mother’s arms. She was crying too, but you could tell she was doing her best to look strong,” he recalls. “The boy told his mom, ‘I’ve lost my Christmas.’ It was at that moment that I broke down and had to walk outside.”

After taking a night to think about how he could best help, Triplett decided to ask friends and family to donate money so he could buy toys for the children who were impacted.

“I was going to give them back their Christmas,” he explained. “There was so much support in the community for water, generators and food, but nobody was thinking about the kids. At least, not in the way it should be, so close to Christmas.”

Triplett ended up launching a GoFundMe page to help purchase holiday gifts for the children, which quickly spread on social media. Since launching the page three days ago, he had raised over $44,000. He also partnered with the local supermarket, which provided a 25% discount on all purchases for him.

While the toys were fully covered by the donors, Triplett said he had been footing the bill for wrapping paper. He planned to deliver the gifts in person in a Santa costume closer to Christmas. “We chose to wrap them so that the kids get the full experience of what Christmas should be,” he said. “We’re doing everything we can to normalize a traumatic (创伤的) experience for them, even if just for a few hours.”

5 . The moonlight poured in through the windows, lighting the room. Oliver was sitting at the table, totally _________ in his book. Oliver was a book_________ . He read books whenever he could. Grandma Agnes felt _________ Oliver when she heard him talk _________ about the books he read because they were poor. She knew the money she gave him for lunch was_________on those books instead.

The next day, on the bus, Oliver was reading his storybook again when he heard a noise and _________his eyes. He saw the bus driver_________ at a blind older woman. She _________ to the driver that her daughter was ill in hospital, and that she _________ to bring her purse. The driver mistakenly believed that she was making __________ to avoid paying the bus ticket! Knowing she wouldn’t be able to __________the driver, the older woman was about to get off the bus, when Oliver __________.

“I’ll pay for her fare, sir!” he said. Then Oliver helped the __________ older woman into the seat next to him and paid her fare. When he __________ to his seat, the woman said to him, “Thank you, little kid, you have a sweet voice!”

“I’m a big boy! And my name is Oliver,” Oliver said __________.

“I’m Mary,” the older woman __________ herself and expressed her __________ for helping her. Although Oliver had planned to use the money to buy the next book in the series he was reading, he couldn’t __________ to see Mary in trouble.

They had a __________ before Oliver’s stop arrived. Oliver liked Mary. She __________ him of Grandma Agnes. When he talked with her, she listened to him with the same patience as Grandma Agnes.

6 . The Internet can be a dark, unbearable place. Readers generally don’t show their true________and thus feel free to leave bitter comments.

So_______, schoolteacher Decker in Florida felt________when her son wanted to share her________online. She’d recently taken an art class and painted an egret(白鹭). Her proud son posted a photo of Decker_________holding her painting. Below it he wrote: “My mom painted this and said no one would be_______ of it. It's her 2nd painting.”

Far from not enjoying it — more than 24,000 people________her painting! An artist saw the photo and made a decision to express his________for the mother by painting Decker carrying her painting. He even________the shy look on her face. He________himself having his painting of Decker with her painting and posted the image online.

Then, two days later a journalism student________her picture of the artist holding his painting of Decker holding her painting online. Well, thus the Internet just stepped in and_______. More and more people joined in and________the “fun”. By this time, the paintings and pictures of paintings had got over one million people’s________online.

Instead of the________remarks she was expecting, Decker said so many people were very_______to her. She registered a social media account to________their support. She wrote, “I was really________I was going to read a lot of hateful comments. You all have proven me so_______. You all are sympathetic, caring, and a ton of fun! You all have________me and strengthened my confidence. Thank you!”

Here is a little tale about the Chinese zodiac     1    (know) as Shengxiao, and     2    the rat became the first sign.

Legends tell us there was a great race between the     3    (animal) to decide the order of the lunar calendar. The finish line laid on a vast river, but the cunning rat hitched a ride on ox’s shoulder, singing a song to make a go faster, and got to     4    opposite bank without even     5    (get) his feet wet. Just before the finish line he quickly jumped off and slipped ahead to take first place. Diligent ox came second while     6    (speed) tiger and rabbit in third and fourth. Parting the clouds, brave dragon flew into fifth with small snake moving just behind. They     7    (follow) by horse and sheep, two kind and modest animals who each let the other go first. Monkey had fallen behind but made up ground to come     8    (nine), while rooster, dog and pig killed the last three places. With the race over and the places     9    (decide), the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac came     10    being.

9 . Like many great ideas, Mahoney’s started small. In 2014, a friend invited her to perform an act of kindness to old men as a Facebook challenge. So Wagner occurred to her, a kind senior who was not only busy helping young people in_________, but also_________at the homeless shelter.

Mahoney wanted to_________Wagner better, so she asked to_________a day together. “It was the first time in years that someone had made a day about him,” says Mahoney. Their_________one-day experience made Mahoney think: How many other seniors might_________that kind of devoted attention? And had some seniors delayed their own dreams because they had been_________busy caring for others?

At the time, there was a student named Chisholm_________at the pub. He was_________interested, so they made a plan: to find local seniors with long time dreams and realize them. They soon settled on a(n)____________for their new charity: We Are Young, or WAY for____________.

By 2017, after organizing golf tournaments to____________funds, they were ready to realize their first wish. Since then, WAY has realized 38 dreams____________from taking a helicopter trip to____________ a football game in Qatar. Seniors can apply; wishes are then assessed by a committee that looks at factors such as____________conditions and financial need.

Although their____________operates only in Nova Scotia, each WAY wish is recorded and spread through a video. Mahoney and Chisholm have their own____________— the pair want people to be____________to realize a dream for a senior. “We want to create a nationwide movement that____________how we view and support seniors,” says Mahoney. “That is considered our social mission, and that is the difference our organization is trying to make to the____________.”

10 . Four Stylish Cottages to Book

Church Cottage

This three-bedroom cottage is just two minutes from the South West Coast Path. Enjoy magnificent views and cool air then return home to the comforts of handmade bedding and underfloor heating. The artwork is a highlight — there’s a selection of carefully chosen pieces by young British artists hanging on the cottage’s walls.

Details: Three nights £400 (churchcottage.cornwall.com)

Little Nut Cottage

A wood-burning stove and a hot tub for warming up after a hike around the hills-all the essentials are here at this cottage. There are many non-essentials, too, from an electric car-charging point to smart TVs. With high-tech facilities for entertaining, it’s probably one for a grown-up rather than a trip with kids.

Details: Three nights £ 600 (littlenutcottage.co.uk)

Henllys Farmhouse

This historic farmhouse is perfect for larger groups, sleeping 14 and with enough room to allow everyone their own space. It’s within walking distance of beautiful beaches, hills or autumnal woodland. Newport is nearby for shops, where you can have a delicious dinner.

Details: Three nights £ 700 (airbnb.co.uk)

The Craftsman Barn

It stands in a little comer of Praktyka, a farm near Bideford. Co-owner Ania offers jewellery-making workshops, but guests are encouraged to explore whatever creative pursuits they fancy.

Details: Two nights £ 200 (praktyka.co.uk)