It was a cold winter morning when Lily woke up from her deep sleep. She stretched her arms and yawned lazily, feeling a sense of emptiness deep within. As she looked out the window, she noticed that the once lively and colorful garden outside was now covered in a blanket of snow.

Lily had always been fascinated by the beauty of nature. She loved watching the flowers bloom in spring, feeling the warmth of the sun in summer, and appreciating the golden colors of autumn. But now, with winter’s arrival, there seemed to be empty in her heart.

Determined to bring back the lost spirit of spring, Lily decided to take matters into her own hands. She put on her warmest coat, wrapped a scarf around her neck, and went out into the frozen world. With each step she took, she imagined the scent of fresh flowers filling the air and the sound of birds singing happily.

As she walked through the snow-covered garden, a small ray of sunlight broke through the clouds, casting a soft glow on the barren landscape. Lily’s eyes widened with wonder as she came across a tiny sprout (嫩芽) growing from the ground. It was a sign of hope, a promise of new life.

Eager to raise this fragile little life, Lily carefully dug a small hole and gently placed it in the soil. She watered it with tenderness, whispering words of encouragement. Days turned into weeks, and the sprout grew into a young plant, its leaves unfolding gradually.

One morning, as Lily stopped into the garden, she was greeted by a breathtaking sight. The once lifeless garden was now blooming with rows of colorful flowers. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of nature, and the sound of buzzing bees and singing birds created a symphony (交响乐) of joy.

One day, the weather took an unexpected turn.

Through this painstaking process, Lily witnessed her own growth and transformation._

Reading fiction is highly     1     (benefit), and there are scientific studies to back this up. A recent study     2     (publish) in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that people who grow up reading fiction have a richer and more complex worldview than those     3     don’t.

Reading fiction develops your     4     (imagine), which allows you to be more creative and helps you with your problem-solving skills. Moreover, the ability to imagine things influences everything a person does,     5     (think) about their profession and creates, regardless of their profession. All you need to do to work on this skill is to expose yourself     6     a great novel.

Reading fiction improves your mental health. Reading improves people’s mood     7     (great) and brings it to a pleasurable state. Moreover, research suggests that regular readers are relatively mentally healthy,     8     (show) lower stress levels and higher self-esteem than non-readers.

Reading fiction helps process your emotions. According to InDaily, when a person indirectly experiences     9     event associated with an emotion, for example, if they read about what happens to a character and how they feel about it, the same region of the brain is triggered (触发，激发) as if they’d experienced the event     10     (them).

4 . Traveling is an enriching experience that offers numerous benefits, especially for high school students. Exploring new places and immersing oneself in different cultures can broaden horizons, foster personal growth, and provide valuable education al opportunities     1     , traveling has the power to shape young minds and leave lasting impressions.

First and foremost, traveling exposes students to new cultures and perspectives     2     By encountering different languages, traditions, and customs, students develop tolerance, empathy, and appreciation for diversity. They learn to respect and embrace differences, which is a crucial skill in today’s interconnected global society.

Furthermore, travel provides unique education al opportunities that cannot be copied in a classroom setting.     3     Science becomes concrete when observing wildlife in its natural habitat or engaging in ecological projects Art and literature gain new perspectives when exposed to different artistic styles and literary traditions. Students can become active learners, connecting what they have studied with real-life experiences.

    4     It encourages students to step outside their comfort zones and face challenges independently. They learn to navigate unfamiliar environments, make decisions, and take responsibility for their actions. These experiences foster independence, self-confidence, and adaptability, qualities that will serve them well throughout their lives.

In conclusion, traveling offers high school students immense benefits. It broadens their perspectives, provides educational opportunities, promotes personal growth, and create s lasting memories and friendships. It is an investment in their future, shaping them into-well-rounded individuals who are open-minded, culturally aware, and adaptable to different situations     5     .

5 . Recent research highlights that the timing of our meals, particularly the last one of the day, can significantly affect our health. The story is not merely about what we consume, but also about when we do so.

The debate about dinner timing finds substantial, scientific support with a Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) study published in Cell Metabolism in October 2022, suggesting that early dinners could have more health benefits than previously believed. And it defined an early dinner as a meal consumed three to four hours before bedtime, in line with our body’s circadian rhythm (生理节奏).

The BWH study discovered clear differences in metabolic (新陈代谢的) profiles of early and late diners. Early diners demonstrated lower blood glucose (葡萄糖) levels, improved fat-burning capacity, better sleep quality, and higher energy levels. Meanwhile, late dinners led to increased hunger, slower calorie burning, and higher fat storage, posing risks for conditions like diabetes(糖尿病).

The exact timing of dinner isn’t a one-size-fits-all choice, as people’s routines vary widely. Maya Feller, a nutritionist based in Brooklyn, NY, emphasizes that our schedules —ranging from traditional nine-to-five to round-the-clock — are critical when considering “ideal” meal times. Therefore, finding a dinner time that fits into your schedule is essential, rather than sticking to a strict, potentially impossible timetable.

Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, offers insightful tips for those whose routines may not permit an early dinner. She recommends consuming meals or snacks every three to five hours. This regular eating pattern can help . stabilize blood sugar levels, preventing the feeling of hunger. Furthermore, it’s advantageous to leave a gap of two to three hours between your last meal and bedtime. This gap ensures your body has sufficient time for most of the digestion process — letting you get adequate rest and repair during sleep.

So it’s time to reconsider not just the contents of your plate, but also the clock. After all, leading a healthy lifestyle isn’t merely about counting calories but alșo understanding when and how to fuel our bodies.

6 . In the vast Atlantic Ocean, the hogfish is showing a talent that seems straight out of a science fiction novel. This species has the extraordinary ability to observe its surroundings through its skin, without the use of its eyes. The process behind this phenomenon is the subject of in-depth study, with researchers seeking to unlock the potential technologies this vision mode might inspire.

At the heart of the hogfish’s skin vision are special cells’named chromatophores, which are cells capable of changing color. However, the standout role is played by another set of cells, their iridophores. These cells are sensitive to light and send the signals to chromatophores, managing a complex interaction that enhances a visual understanding of their environment.

Exploring the complexities of this vision mode is not without challenges. Scientists are on the verge of fully understanding the complex relationship of these cells. The complicated manner in which these cells communicate and cooperate to create a unique vision system presents a fascinating yet difficult field of study. As Justine Allen, a researcher deeply involved in this study, admits, “We are far from truly understanding it.”

Despite the challenges, the scientific community is buoyant about the potential breakthroughs that might occur from this line of research. Revealing the secrets of hogfish’s skin vision can potentially lead to revolutionary developments in various fields. The horizon seems to be broad with possibilities like the creation of smart clothes that adapt to changing light conditions, or highly advanced cameras that copy the hogfish’s unique visual capabilities. Furthermore, the applications could extend to the car industry with smart cars adapting to changing environmental conditions, or even in the medical field with devices capable of non-invasive (非侵入的) sensing techniques.

As researchers explore deeper into this mystery, the potential seem limitless. Understanding the hogfish’s unique vision can open doors to technologies that are yet to be realized, presenting a future where science fiction might just integrate with reality.

8 . As you can imagine, there are many types of advertisements all of which run in different mediums, on different channels, and have different goals in mind for their business.

Direct mail involves creating and distributing printed materials to a targeted mailing list. These materials can include post cards, brochures, and letters. This method first came about in 1835.

It’s still quite effective, even in the digital age. Not only do consumers enjoy receiving physical mail, but there’s also much less competition compared to the tons of email marketing ads that people receive each day.

United States radio stations launched their first commercial broadcasts in 1920. And while we might all drive around with our iPhones for music these days, don’t let that fool you.

Radio is still a workable marketing and advertising platform today for expanding the reach of sponsored(赞助) events and new products. In this ad method, the advertiser pays the radio station to play the ir ad during breaks between music or a radio show.

Social media advertising is a form of internet advertising that combined with the introduction of social media in the 2000s. In this ad method, advertisers promote products, services, or content on social media platforms, such as Facebook and TikTok.

There are also many different ad forms to choose from when advertising on social media, such as image ads, video ads, sponsored posts, and more.

Since the early 2000s, mobile advertising has been a popular method due to the widespread use of cell phones. It involves delivering promotional messages or advertisements through text messages, mobile apps, and mobile websites.

With this method, advertisers can maximize the use of data and create highly personalized ads based on location, behavior, and user interests.

9 . My mother came from a traditional Catholic family and was a teacher before retirement. In short, she didn’t do crazy _______. That all changed a few years ago.

When she turned 75, she _______ us she’d booked a seven-night trip to Turkey. Alone. Of course, that was _______. She paid no attention to us. Off she went. When she returned she excitedly told us it had been _______.   As it _______ , she had barely spent any time alone after _______ Mustafa, a carpet seller, who showed her around Istanbul for several days. She bought some carpets. Mustafa had taken her address and _______ to ship the carpets home. Mustafa and my mother apparently _______ quite a friendship and she had told him to please drop by if he were ever in our town. We couldn’t believe how _______ she had been and explained that she had been cheated. ________ , some weeks later, her carpets arrived. As did a lovely note from Mustafa. To our even greater ________ , the following year Mustafa himself arrived and visited.

Still, this year, she decided to get a tattoo (纹身) as her 80th birthday ________ to herself. My brother and I ________ each other. Was she joking? Six days later, she had a tasteful butterfly on her left ankle.

Mum ________ straighter than most of us. Her absurd behavior seems to be thoughtfully based on a ________ that life is to be lived, and when there’s relatively little of it left, it needs to be lived now.