1 . People always ask me how I got into the sport of weightlifting. I know it sounds weird, but I’m so focused on lifting that everything else _______. Because I was super depressed, weightlifting helped me manage those mood swings.

Now, being bipolar (双相情感障碍) is something I’m proud to say. And I would like to _______ the shame on all mental disorders. As I grew up, sports played a vital role in my life. And I spent 11 years doing gymnastics, which I found just to stay in _______, so when I was 15 years old I decided to _______ it. My current coach recruited (招募) me to get into weightlifting competitively. About two years into my career I _______ realized I could go places with this. My first _______ came in 2018, when I had my first International medals at the Junior World Championships, from where it took off. In 2019 World Championship I had my _______ year.

Last year I had a minor meet in Cuba but not feeling motivated, I definitely _______, which meant I didn’t make a lift. In fact, I had been fighting _______ for probably two years at that point — I was ________ with bipolar disorder type two. One of the first things in my mind was that I was ________ because there was a fixed image around people that ________ with the mental health. ________, it didn’t take me long to realize that there’s nothing to be ________ of. I could go to train and focus on weightlifting, ________ on whether I’m gonna feel great or awful.

At this point, I’m all but ________ for the Olympics. There are some days that I ________ have to push to my maximal ________. It can be very painful, but when it ________ it, it is the days that get you stronger. And then it’s really ________ to just put everything into those few seconds that you’re competing.

2 . When I first aspired to become a science writer, I imagined each day would be filled with inspiration and creativity. The reality, of course, is far less enjoyable than my fantasies. Researching a story, for example, often involves reading lots of dry and technical papers before I finally strike gold with the information that I seek.

Most professions, I imagine, include challenging but necessary tasks that sap enthusiasm. But a recent paper from Edward Lai at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and his colleagues may offer us all a way to boost our motivation. It is called the "easy addendum effect", and, as the name suggests, it involves ending each work session with a more pleasant task that will be relatively straightforward to complete.

The strategy was inspired by a phenomenon known as the "peak-end rule", which means we often judge events by the way they finish, rather than the overall experience. In one experiment, Daniel Kahneman and his colleagues asked participants to plunge their hands into water at unpleasantly cold temperatures, the first group simply in 14℃ water for 60 seconds, while the second one were given a further 30 seconds in water at 15℃. Surprisingly, most preferred the second option. It seems their memory of the experiment only focused on the last moments, which was slightly more pleasant in the 90-second set-up.

The research suggests that our impressions of work fall prey to the same preference — and we can use that to our advantage. Lai's team gave participants a series of dull tasks — from flexing their muscles against heavy weights to sorting books into alphabetical order or answering customer complaints. In each case, participants performed the tasks with or without an "easy addendum" attached to the end of the job. Those testing their strength were given a few extra rounds of lighter weights while those answering customer queries with some more straightforward requests.

Much like the ice-bath experiments, there was no logical reason why loading on additional work to an existing task should make it more pleasant overall. But the researchers found that the "easy addendums" significantly reduced the anticipated difficulty and increased participants` satisfaction with their jobs.

Since learning about Lai's research, I have tried applying this strategy to my own work. Writing is still my favourite part of the job, and so this article was a pleasant addendum to an otherwise demanding day of research for another one. By putting these words on the page, I feel far more energised about the work behind me — and readier to enjoy the evening ahead.

Chinese archaeologists recently released the findings of a series of new excavations     1     (relate) to the Hongshan Culture, a new stone culture renowned for its jade carvings, raising the number of Hongshan Culture sites from a little over 90 to more than 500.

Active 6,500 to 5,000 years ago, the Hongshan Culture extended throughout a 200,000-square-kilometer area of     2     is today the West Liaohe River Basin. The excavations in 2022     3     (unearth) remains of grains, sacrificial buildings and a large settlement, revealing an agricultural society that ate grains. The discovery demonstrates the Hongshan people made sacrifices to wish for     4     better harvest.

Before the new discovery, the fishing and hunting     5     (know) to be main activities in Hongshan ancestors’ life.     6     these findings were valuable, there was little     7     (evident) that gave archeologists an idea of what people’s daily life was like back then. This has changed, however,     8     the discovery of a large settlement site in the Niuheliang region     9     (contain) 27 homes. Present research shows that the Hongshan people’s houses were semi-underground and made use of long entryways.

“The Hongshan Culture     10     (original) began about 5,000 to 8,000 years ago, and promoted the development of Chinese civilization,” noted Sun Yonggang, a history researcher at Chifeng University.

6 . Tips for finding your life purpose

What does life purpose mean and, more importantly, how does one find and fulfill it?     1    . Here is what I have learned so far along the way.

Play to your strengths

We are not capable of being all things to all people.     2    . Develop your natural talents into skills by studying, exercising and practicing those talents. There is nothing wrong with trying to learn new things, but the likelihood is that you were born with the abilities needed to fulfill your life purpose.

    3    

For whatever reason, we all feel enthusiastic about certain things in life. In order to live your life purpose, you must become completely immersed in whatever it is, which means it must be something you are highly interested in. Otherwise, it will be impossible to perform at the highest level.

Focus on what you can control

No matter how hard you try, no matter how much your actions may be based on intended or expected outcomes, you absolutely cannot control the results of your actions. The path to living your purpose is paved with good intentions and continual self-improvement.     4    , which means cultivating your mind, body and spirit to achieve your greatest potential and always acting with the best of intentions.

Embrace your creativity

We are all capable of producing something both original and of value to the world. Those two components—originality and value—make up the definition of creativity.     5    , and you will view the world and know the value your perspective can add. Of course, when you focus on cultivating your talents and immerse yourself in what you are passionate about, creativity comes easily.

8 . Having grown up in northern Arizona with the Grand Canyon and the plateaus of Sedona in my backyard, I believed that the southwestern state was home to the most beautiful landscapes on the planet. I spent many a youthful day fantasizing that my cozy valley was a flatland base, protected all around by mountain titans and with an infinite blue sky that promised impossible potential for exploration. These scenes are permanently in printed on my mind, forever the litmus test（试金石）for comparing the beauty of newly discovered sights. Thus far, no landscapes had come close.

That is, until I was invited to explore Guizhou province by the China Storyteller Partnerships Tour. Had someone articulately described how beautiful Guizhou can be in poetic detail, they would not have done it justice. There is no substitute for seeing with one’s own eyes. I will attempt to do so here.

My father used to drag my brothers and me on yearly fishing trips around Arizona. We would compete to catch the largest fish, which we jokingly called “Jeffs”. I recall sitting in a small boat in the middle of the lake, fishing pole limp in my impatient hands while my father attempted to share with me the whispers of the wind, a fish dancing on the surface of the lake or the majesty of a hawk hunting for prey overhead. On my trip to Guizhou I had the opportunity to kayak on Wanfeng lake. At one point I rested, floating at the center of the lake, listening to the spaces between silence and taking in the surrounding karst mountains. I thought about my childhood, and wished I had listened more closely to my father’s fishing musings.

During my trip around the city of Xingyi, in Guizhou, I saw the artwork of the Bouyei ethnic group. They use dyes produced from local plants to make clothing of striking blues and greens, and blankets. Local elders still practice weaving with wooden machines and pass that tradition on to their grandchildren. The history here is palpable, one could reach out and touch it, breathe it, even. My mother loved to decorate our home with paintings, jewelry and pottery. The designs were ancient, and carried tangible wisdom within them. This Earth is our home, and we celebrate its wonders. I caught that same feeling while gazing upon the art on display in Xingyi.

9 . Long weekends in the UK to immerse yourself in science

Mysteries of the universe, Cheshire

30 August—1 September 2024     From £959

Spend the weekend with some of the brightest minds in science, as you explore the mysteries of the universe in a fascinating programme that includes an excursion to UNESCO World Heritage Site Jodrell Bank to see the iconic Lovell Telescope.

·Hear from leading experts in astronomy, cosmology and space science.

·Live link-up with remote telescope in Australia to view the southern hemisphere’s night skies.

·Private tour of Jodrell Bank.

·Stay at the beautiful, Grade 1l-listed De Vere Cranage Estate hotel.

The science of the Jurassic Coast, Dorset and Devon

17—19 May 2024     From £899

Discover the science of the Jurassic coast, from the ever-changing coastal landscapes to the historic beaches and geology with insights from a variety of geology, palaeontology and palaeozoology experts.

·Hunt for fossils along Lyme Regis’s famed ammonite pavement.

·A private tour of Lyme Regis Museum, former home of fossil hunter Mary Anning.

·Explore the Jurassic Coast by sea on a cruise with a local geology expert.

·Hear from leading experts in geology and palaeontology.

The science of rewilding, Coombeshead, Devon

16—18 August 2024     From £749

Stay at the heart of this conservation-in-action project, Rewilding Coombeshead, nestled deep in the beautiful Devonshire countryside. Discover how nature is making a comeback and witness the project’s “rewilding helpers”, such as water buffalo, wild boar, mouflon sheep and Exmoor ponies in action.

·Talks from leading rewilding conservationists and New Scientist staff writer, Graham Lawton.

·Small group guided tours of the 160-hectare site and rewilding areas.

·Guided tour of the species breeding and reintroduction centre.