A. emerge B. absorbing C. subject D. defining E. movement F. originally G. course H. universally I. happens J. constant K. corresponds |
How Long Is a Second?
The length of a second depends on how you’re measuring it. There are 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes in an hour, and 60 seconds in a minute — so surely a second is 1/86400, of a day, right? Well, it turns out that
“The second was
In the 16th century, people turned to technological solutions to this problem, and the first recognizable mechanical clocks began to
By around 1940, quartz crystal clocks (石英钟) had become the new gold standard. However, problems arose, and this was where atomic clocks came in. “Atoms exist only in particular energy states and can only change from one state to another by
In fact, scientists are discussing whether it’s time to redefine the second again. But while several important questions still need to be answered before this
2 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.
A. digesting B. distinction C. examine D. identical E. intervening F. live G. mixture H. perspective I. shock J. space K. texting |
Communication — a thing of the past?
We all think we communicate all the time, and that’s true. There’s also non-verbal communication you could add into the mix — everything we’re saying when we’re not saying anything. But there’s a(n)
So it was quite a(n)
I don’t think our common, current methods of communication come close to being in a small house with lots of people and having to communicate
A. categorise B. creation C. good D. innovative E. maximum F. packed G. pedestrianise H. processing I. shape J. short-lived K. transformation |
All Change in Curitiba!
Like many other major world cities, Curitiba in southern Brazil has had to deal with issues such as pollution, poverty, and limited public funding. However, the architect and three-times mayor of the city, Jaime Lerner, has introduced some
As part of his ‘Master Plan’, Lerner hoped to make the city more environmentally friendly. He initiated a recycling scheme. In return for delivering recyclable rubbish to specified
Lerner did not win over all the city’s residents immediately, however. When his plans to
Lerner’s determination helped
So, is it all just one big success story? In some respects, Curitiba may have been too successful for its own
A. accounts B. credibility C. declaring D. filtered E. pays F. particularly G. enduring H. principle I. ignoring J. reputation K. revolutionized |
The serious business of being a social influencer
This week China promised a tax-evasion punishment on social-media influencers, who are paid by brands to promote products online to their followers. Viya, known as the live-streaming queen, has already been fined $210m for not
Outside China, influencers are also likely to have a(n)
The use of personal endorsements (宣传,代言) used to be about taking advantage of existing celebrity power. For example, Michael Jordan’s deal in 1984 with Nike
Total spending on influencers by brands could reach $16bn this year. The number of wannabe influencers outside China is in the millions. However, only under 100,000 of them get most profit. Their staying power suggests that they add value in several ways. Influencers’ networks reach new audiences,
Despite the risk,
To make full use of influencers, brands should set a clear strategy. They should expect more regulation on consumer protection. The guiding
A. assigned B. attractive C. bridge D. cooperating E. exposed F. possessions G. requests H. screen I. socializing J. unappealing K. virtual |
The office used to be a place people went because they had to. Meetings happened in conference rooms and in person. Desks took up most of the space. The kingdom of Dilbert and of David Brent is now under threat. The pandemic has
Start with what the office is for. In the past it was a place for employees to get their work done, whatever form that took. Now other conceptions of its role strive for attention. Some think of the office as the new offsite (异地活动) . Its purpose is to get people together in person so they can do the things that remote working makes harder: establishing deeper relationships or
In other words, a layout that is largely devoted to people working at desks alongside the same colleagues each day all feels very 2019. With fewer people coming in and more emphasis on cooperation, fewer desks will be
To
Designs for the post-covid office must also allow for hybrid work. Meetings have to work for
A. including B. urgent C. features D. targets E. lengths F. chasing G. accused H. commands I. fed J. restock K. collecting |
Pokemon Stickers Are Back for Koreans Nostalgic (怀旧的) for Childhood
Small pastries include a surprise sticker, and the goal is to find all 159 varieties — just like a trend more than 20 years ago.
Jeong Bo-ram’s new fascination has him
Just a few short of a full 159-sticker collection, 29-year-old Mr. Jeong has gone to more than 10 convenience stores and supermarkets a day, often leaving empty-handed. He has paid hundreds of dollars. He has learned the evening
More than two decades ago, the Pokemon sticker-treat duo caught on with a generation of South Korean children, before the craze passed after a few years and the products were discontinued. Now the goodies are back just in time for the country’s broader retro boom,
South Koreans are going to great
Retailers have posted signs on their entrances that read, “We have no Pokemon bread,” while some store owners are
Ko Hyo-jin shrieked when she ripped open a package of “Diglett Strawberry Custard Bread” recently and discovered inside a sticker of Mewtwo - a two-legged monster shown extending its paw. She immediately dialed up her husband. “It felt like winning the lottery,” said the 39-year-old homemaker in the Seoul Suburbs.
The nostalgic chase has been embraced by young adults facing Korea’s stagnant economy, soaring real-estate prices and a tight labor market.
A.award B.house C.hit D.namely E.specifically F.grabbed G.traded H.gang I.bar J.principled K.transmission |
American authorities arrested Masphal Kry, an official in Cambodia’s forestry administration, last November when he was heading to an international meeting about trade regulations for endangered species in Panama. Prosecutors accused him of conspiring with a smuggling ring. The contraband (违禁品): monkeys,
Getting lab monkeys from abroad became harder during the pandemic. Chinese authorities banned the export of all primates in early 2020. The Chinese government wanted to
That forced American companies to rely on less
A. definitely B. permission C. clue D. critical E. featured F. added G. negative H. credits I. spoil J. ridiculous K. eventually |
Knives Out film director Rian Johnson has revealed a secret in the world of product placement—bad guys cannot use an iPhone on the big screen. Johnson, whose film
He pointed out the Apple warning, saying, “Apple, they let you use iPhones in movies, but, and this is very
“With feature films, every production needs the brand’s
But will it
Film critic Hannah Woodhead works at Little White Lies magazine, she told ITV News now one of the secrets of Hollywood is out of the bag, she’ll be much more eagle-eyed.
A. hints B. dominant C. oriented D. duly E. rhyme F. featuring G. preservation H. inheritance I. symbolizes J. historically K. morality |
Huizhou heritage comes to life
![](https://img.xkw.com/dksih/QBM/2023/5/26/3245957440159744/3250210970075136/STEM/dba4be2def0b4cd983ab98bfeb412605.png?resizew=265)
It was a natural choice for veteran Huang Yu, after serving in the army and owning a business in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, for years, to go back to his hometown in Xidi village, Huangshan, Anhui province, in 2016. He took over the homestay his parents opened when he was a middle school student.
In 2000, Xidi and the nearby Hongcun village were declared World Heritage sites by UNESCO for their outstanding
This level of preservation could not be achieved without the participation of local residents. According to Huang, this awareness is not new - since all streets and alleys in Xidi are paved with bluestone,
A local folk
“Some folk customs have been retained and newly
He further suggests that the old Huizhou villages explore and find their own unique, marketable themes. “Each of them should find a
A. addressing B. adoption C. attend D. budgeting E. cautions F. correspond G. extended H. hesitancy I. packages J. regardless K. rigid |
Top work-life balance benefits for 2023
“Flexibility is the gold standard of work-life balance benefits,” says Jonathan Pas, health care leader at consulting firm Mercer.
It’s no surprise then that two years after the pandemic forced most office workers to perform their jobs remotely. 78% of employers say they’ll allow employees to continue doing so regularly in 2023, according to a Mercer survey. But there’s still some
Pas
Other benefits requiring a broader organizational buy-in are sabbaticals(公休假) and unlimited vacation days. Both benefits encourage employees to pursue interests outside of work with
Instead, they prefer to find new ways to give employees more money, with the rise of employer-funded lifestyle accounts, which are often reserved for big-ticket items that might otherwise require some
But perhaps the most telling statistic about the importance of