Hope Justman, in 81-year-old American, has just completed her 24th trip along the shudao,     1     ancient road system in Sichuan province that dates back to two thousand years ago.

Running for around 1,000 kilometers, the shudao     2    (wind) through mountains and crosses streams, connecting Sichuan province with the northern Guanzhong Plain, which was once the heartland of ancient China.

Justman’s     3    (connect) to the ancient road system dates back to her college days. As part of a course on Chinese literature and art, she     4    (visit) an exhibition in Boston,     5    a painting captured her attention.

In 1997,after reading almost every English travel book, finally she found the shudao     6    the help of local guides. Since then, she has hiked more than 400 km of it.

Justman created a website to share her     7    (photo) of the ancient road network. In2015, a friend shot a documentary about the shudao and uploaded it to YouTube,     8    (earn) the attention of like-minded people, some of whom asked to join the American on her walks.

Last month, she took some of those friends to the Cuiyunlang section of the shudao,     9    (line) by ancient cypress trees with an average age of 1,050 years, the oldest tree being     10    (approximate) 2,300 years old. She and her friends planted two cypress trees, and promised to meet again there next year.

4 . Many of us would probably say that lying is a matter of moral choice. But in his philosophy book A History of Lying, Juan Jacinto Muñoz-Rengel takes us in a different direction, which he calls “non-moral”.

He takes several persuasive steps to redirect us. First, he asks us to take into account how we represent reality to ourselves, and how we see it in relation to the self. This requires us to employ awareness of not just the world but also the concepts to describe it to ourselves and others. Moreover, “the reality” we believe we see and know might be an illusion (幻觉). So how do we even know when we’re telling the truth, and when we’re lying about it?

His second step is to say that our sense of personal identity should be treated with doubt, since we’re frequently wrong about our own experiences. If continuing personal identity might be an illusion, then the reality we see might be an illusion as well. But we choose to take part like actors in this illusion.

From here Muñoz-Rengel takes a third step towards what he calls “evolutionary epistemology (认识论)”, which shows everything we claim to know should be evaluated through an evolutionary angle. For instance, to stay safe from natural enemies or hunt for food, some animals evolve into being capable of mixing with the surroundings to delude others. The thing is, the species continues through natural selection processes. Equally, we grow myths to explain the natural world and our place in it… As individuals and as societies, various forms of lies are built into our DNA.

The arguments in this book are strongly made, but more than a few of Muñoz-Rengel’s viewpoints need far more evidence as support. But anyhow, in separating the discussion from conventional morality-based studies of lying, he has produced a lively and distinctive work. But still, there is one thing to remember — we perhaps will be liars, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ask ourselves when it is acceptable to lie and when it isn’t.

5 . It lasted just 24 seconds, but it’s an unforgettable moment that has caught hearts everywhere. During a basketball game at Zeeland East High School in Zeeland, Michigan, the crowd fell quiet, giving high school junior Jules Hoogland an opportunity to take a shot.

Hoogland, who is blind, followed along as a woman tapped (轻敲) a yellow pole against the backboard and a teammate guided her to the perfect position. Thirteen seconds later, the 11th grader nailed a free throw and the silent audience erupted in roaring cheers and applause.

Zeeland Public Schools shared the extraordinary moment, filmed by Brandy Navetta, the school district’s communications and marketing director on Twitter, along with the words, “You thought national basketball tournaments were infusive, but Zeeland Public Schools Unified Basketball took over the court this morning. And the crowd went wild!”

Hoogland’s mom Karen said she was so proud of her achievement. She also praised the young students for their respect and sensitivity towards her daughter. Hoogland set a new record on what blind people can achieve and wanted this video to inspire all those who are facing challenges. “I’m hoping this video will inspire others to keep trying no matter what their challenges are,” she said.

Students from both Zeeland East and Zeeland West High School witnessed Hoogland’s uplifting shot, part of an inclusive basketball game with zLinks. Nathan VandeGuchte, a special education teacher with Zeeland West, added that inclusive sports has made a significant impact on students at Zeeland schools since the zLinks program started. “It was so moving to see Hoogland hit that shot again in front of 2,500 people,” said Nathan. “The lens (视角) with which many of our special education students are viewed has now been forever changed. They know that they are important, and they recognize that they are contributing members of our student body!”

When Mary entered the south Pole Penguin Research Lab, she saw her friend Tom gently stroking (轻抚) a penguin in his arms. As children of the lab scientists, Mary and Tom often observed the emperor penguins that were studied to understand how they adapted to extreme temperatures —insights that could aid human survival.

“We’re thirteen, Tom. It’s time to grow up and stop playing with the lab penguins,” said Mary as she started cleaning. “They’re research animals, not pets.”

“But the birds listen to me1” insisted Tom, his breath forming a cloud in the freezing air. “You’re just trying to be a penguin whisperer again,” Mary replied, shaking her head with a gentle smile. The penguins seemed playful as they walked, dove, swam and chased their live fish for sport before eating.

Suddenly , an alarm rang out and red lights flashed , signaling a problem. The kids rushed over to look into it. “It’s colder than before —there’s ice forming on the water,” noted Tom. Though always cold, Mary had never seen ice here before. She checked the habitat monitor and found that the temperature had gone down a lot. “The heater must be broken!”

Mary quickly sent a message to their parents’ research team, who were conducting outdoor studies. With the adults away, the kids would have to deal with the freezing conditions until help arrived.

Time dragged as Mary and Tom anxiously waited. The increasing cold caused them to shake. “I wonder what emperor penguins do in extreme cold, since they stay in the Pole all winter instead of going somewhere warmer,” asked Mary. “They huddle (挤作一团), ” Tom answered. “They huddle together tightly so that the birds in the middle will be warm enough.” “What about the ones on the edge?” Mary asked. “They push their way towards the center, and then move back out to the edge, and struggle back again. Scientists in the early 21st century recorded it.” He replied as he stared at the large crowd of the penguins in the lab.

”I have an idea to stay warm1" Tom shouted excitedly.

Two and a half hours later , the parents returned with help.

9 . As our lives become more closely connected with the digital age, it’s more important than ever to keep the spark of human connections, a key part of which is making small talk.     1     Here’s how to master the art of small talk.

The cornerstone of effective small talk lies in developing genuine interest. Genuine interest is about actively seeking to understand the other person, valuing their perspectives and appreciating the uniqueness they bring to the conversation.     2    

Small talk extends beyond spoken words; it includes the art of observation. As you engage in conversation, pay attention to the speaker’s body language, facial expressions and tone of voice.     3     Being familiar with them not only helps you navigate the conversation with sensitivity but also enables you to establish a deeper connection by respecting the slight differences of the other person’s communication style.

Actually listening and connecting with someone is essential for a conversation. By providing your undivided attention, you convey respect and interest in what the other person has to say.     4     Ask follow-up questions to show that you value their insights. This depth of engagement lays the foundation for a more meaningful connection.

At the heart of successful small talk lies the authenticity (真实性) of your engagement. Authenticity fosters a sense of trust and connection, making the conversation more meaningful and memorable. Avoid the temptation to project an image or use scripted responses.     5     In the world of small talk, authenticity is the key that unlocks the door to deeper connections and more fulfilling interactions.