1 . You hate me. You don’t even know me and you hate me. Before we’ve even spoken, you hate me. At least that’s how it feels on my end of the call as a female collections officer at a call center.

I dread the moment when I have to log on to our phone system first thing in the morning because I never know who is going to be on the other end of that call.

Sometimes it’s an easy task. The caller is pleasant and has accepted personal responsibility for their debts, and we get through the phone call with ease. Then there are the ones who call in looking for a fight, or looking for someone to blame. Through the luck of the phone system, that person is me.

I’ve had people who shout at me, call me horrible names, accuse me personally of taking their money and threaten me. Why? I think it’s because I am invisible. I think I would be treated with the same level of disrespect if we were face to face. Fortunately for me, I have had years of experience in customer service, so I’m fairly rich in not letting the negative encounters bother me.

The biggest and most effective skill when it comes to the job is empathy (同理心). I can appreciate the situation which the caller is in because I’ve been there. That’s why I’m good at my job — I understand what you’re going through, and I’m here to help.

Some days though, no matter how much I try to leave the stress behind when I hang up the phone, it stays with me. I may do some deep breathing, go for a quick walk or simply stick my head outside for a burst of fresh air. I do this so I don’t carry that negativity on to my next call. That next call may be a person having the worst day of their life, but I don’t want to ever be the one who makes it worse. We are all humans just trying to get by in life, which makes you and me equal. So please, the next time we talk, remember that.

4 . As humanity sets their sights on deep space exploration, the moon becomes a stepping stone, with countries hoping to build lunar bases to support such missions. To solve the “lunch” problem, scientists have been exploring the possibility of growing plants on the moon. A new study by Chinese scientists has found that bacteria in soil from Earth could offer a solution.

Researchers from China Agricultural University tested five species of bacteria on a material that simulated (模拟) lunar soil. Within a period of 10 to 21 days, three of the bacteria species had doubled their amount of phosphorus (磷) content, a key element for plant growth.

They then grew model plants in the lunar soil containing these three bacteria species. They observed that the plants had longer stems and roots after six days of growth compared with those grown without the bacteria. The plants also had heavier and wider leaves after 24 days of growth. Besides, levels of chlorophyll (叶绿素) — responsible for harvesting energy from light — in the model plants were about double that of those grown without bacteria.

“The study results have important implications for future long-term stays on the moon,” the study’s lead researcher, Sun Zhencai, told Xinhua. Earth bacteria may help astronauts make better use of lunar resources, such as creating lunar greenhouses. In their follow-up research, they hope to experiment with real lunar soil samples and grow crops like rice, com and potatoes.

Since the duration of space missions is increasing, carrying all food supplies to space becomes unsustainable. Hence, “space farmers” becomes critical.

During the Shenzhou XI mission, astronauts managed to grow lettuce, from sowing to harvest. In the later missions, the “space farmers” have successfully grown wheat, rice and thale cress (拟南芥), according to CCTV News.

The most recent visitors to China’s space station, the Shenzhou XVII astronauts, are now growing lettuce, scallion and cherry tomato. These “space farmers” not only provide astronauts with food but also more oxygen and water.

6 . How to Build Resilience

Resilience (适应力) is a crucial skill that can help us face the unpredictability of life and thrive in the face of adversity.     1     Whether it’s learning how to be resilient at work or how to be resilient to stress, use these strategies as a starting point for your resilience-building journey.

Nurture strong relationships

    2     Having caring, supportive people around you acts as a protective factor during times of crisis. While simply talking about a situation with a friend or loved one won’t make your troubles go away, it allows you to share your feelings, get support, receive positive feedback, and come up with possible solutions to your problems.

    3    

Your physical well-being significantly impacts your resilience. A healthy body can cope better with stress and recover faster from illness or tiredness. Start to improve your health by integrating a simple exercise routine into your daily schedule, like a 30-minute stroll or a short yoga session. By taking care of yourself, you can boost your overall health and resilience and be fully ready to face life’s challenges.

Discover your purpose

A sense of purpose can give you direction and motivation, especially during tough times. Consider what goals you have, whether little or large. These goals give a sense of purpose to your life and keep you focused. Write down a list of things you want to accomplish in life.     4    

Develop problem-solving skills

Whenever you encounter a new challenge, brainstorm some of the potential ways you could solve the problem.     5     By practicing your problem-solving skills on a regular basis, you will be better prepared to cope when a serious challenge emerges.

China is known as Xia for its grand etiquette (礼仪) culture, and known as Hua for its beautiful attire (衣裳). With the     1     (change) in society, economic development, and cultural development, clothing has evolved over thousands of years. However, while the forms may have been changed, the essence (本质)     2     (remain) constant.

“In ancient China, emperors like Huangdi. Yao, and Shun brought peace to the world through their clothing.” Clothing holds     3     significant place in Chinese culture. It is not only used for daily wear,     4     (cover) the body and protect it from cold but also as an instrument of management. In ancient Chinese society, there were strict rules and dress codes about clothing. The presence of clothing distinguished civilization     5     barbarism (野蛮), while changes in color and style     6     (gradual) developed into a form of etiquette. Their design conveyed behavioral norms and     7     (they) patterns were rich in cultural significance. Moreover, ancient attire were also an important carrier of morality. China has always been known as a nation     8     values formal attire and etiquette.

What is the Chinese style? It is something that makes people think of China as soon as they see it. For example, the horse-face skirt, which     9     (favor) by international brands and Chinese people for many years, will continue to be attractive. Chinese clothing, as a classical style. has been known to the world overnight with good opportunities. It’s not just a traditional costume style but also a source of     10     (admire).

A brief meeting about the “China-France Year of Culture and Tourism in 2024” was held at the Palace Museum in Beijing on Thursday,     1     has released a variety of upcoming activities featuring cultural legacy and arts.

2024 marks    2    60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France. The meeting’s place, the Palace Museum, was chosen for a reason. Starting from April 1, an art show co-planned by the Palace Museum     3    the Palace of Versailles (凡尔赛宫) in Paris, will debut (首次亮相) on site. A pocket watch that once     4     (witness) the friendship between France’s King Louis XIV and the Emperor Kangxi of China’s Qing Dynasty will     5     (display) among 181 other items.

The rare objects will introduce visitors       6       the cultural interactions that took place between the two countries       7     (date)back to the second half of the 17th century through the 18th century.

Compared to       8     (field) such as painting, music and film, “cultural legacy” is a rather novel field in China-France cooperative exchanges.       9     (they) efforts in areas like legacy conservation will inspire the world to see how the growth of humanity is independent from different cultural contexts.

Besides shows in China, more than 10 programs will be       10     (specific) launched in France to bring Chinese culture to locals in 2024. More than 20 Tang Dynasty treasures will be selected and then exhibited at the Guimet Museum in France in November.