1 . The Best Ways to Deal with Awkward Silences

We all know what it’s like when a conversation dies off and you’re left to sit in silence together. There’s only one word to describe it: Awkward!     1    . Here are some ways to deal with the silences.

Think of topics ahead of time. Before attending a social event, think of a few “‘go-to” topics to jumpstart a dead conversation.     2    . So you aren’t scrambling (绞尽脑汁) for words in the moment. People who share your interest in a sport or hobby can be the easiest to talk to.

Ask open-ended questions. Open-ended questions have more than one possible answer, so they are likely to get the person talking more than asking a question that will result in a short response. Ask “    3    ?” instead of asking “Did you like your high school?”

Make a general statement to fill the silence. Find something casual (随意的) to comment on if things start getting awkward.     4    . If you are having a meal together, you could say something about the food: “Is it me, or is this the best salad place in town?” Not only does that break the silence, but raising a question gives the other person a chance to respond.

    5    . This is always a safe bet, as long as it’s appropriate. For example, you could say, “ I’ve been meaning to tell you I really like your shirt. Where did you get it?” This could move the conversation in another direction while making the other person feel good. Stick to complimenting (赞扬) someone’s personality or achievements if you’re trying to make small talk.

2 . As the climate continues to get warmer, the glaciers (冰川) are melting and the sea levels are rising. As it affects the land, mountains are taller than before. How does this happen?

Scientists studied the last ice age, which occurred 16,000 years ago when much of Earth’s Northern Hemisphere was covered in ice. Although the ice melted long ago, Earth’s crust (地壳) is still rising and sinking in reaction to its previous ice age burden. This movement is called glacial isostatic adjustment (冰川均衡调整).

Scientists believe that an ice sheet about 800 meters thick could cause a depression (洼地) about 275 meters deep, according to the Smithsonian Magazine. “As the ice sheets began to melt around 11,700 years ago, the glaciers cleared large and heavy masses, allowing the mountains to rise up,” US geologist Mike Kaplan told the Columbia Climate Scehool website.

Recent studies suggest that land in southeast Alaska is rising at a rate of about 3centimeters per year. Families living on the coast welcome this “new” land, according to The New York Times. However, they soon find themselves in a trap. As the land uplifts and coastal areas move away from the sea, rivers can dry up more easily, making it harder for them to reach the sea. This could result in a reduction in water resources, affecting animals and creatures living in the rivers. Researchers are concerned that this may make a challenge to fishermen, as raising fish in these areas could become more difficult.

While the depression of Earth’s crust springs back slowly, once uplifted areas are sinking. For example, a 2015 study suggests that the Chesapeake Bay on the eastern coast of the US could sink more than 15 centimeters by 2100. This sinking trend also suggests that these areas may experience more significant impacts from a rise in sea levels.