1 . The recent spread of “fake news” may make it seem like misinformation is a relatively modern invention. But falsehoods (假话) and wild claims have been part of human culture for about as long as it’s existed. This is because misinformation originates with, and is spread by, fellow humans.

When you’ve ever had to communicate an important, but complex, issue to a general audience, you may have a sea of the most reliable data, the most elegant PowerPoint slides and the full backing of every famous expert in the relevant field. And yet, you can still be less persuasive than someone whose entire argument is: “A guy I met down the pub told me something different.”

In a perfectly sensible, logical world, someone who is loosely connected with a certain field or industry wouldn’t have the same influence as actual data, or the leading experts in the field. But humans aren’t perfectly sensible, logical creatures and neither is the world we live in.

The ability to think rationally and analytically is a relatively recent addition to our mental abilities (in the evolutionary sense). And it costs our brains a lot of energy and effort, The more established, fundamental systems in our brain, which shape memory and learning, are heavily reliant on emotion. The more emotionally stimulating something is, the easier it is to remember. That’s why we can spend months revising the material for a crucial school exam, but struggle to remember any of it once we’ve passed. Meanwhile, the embarrassing tine we slipped and landed on our backside in the school canteen. that memory will last until our dying day.

The most determined sceptics (无神论者) will often say, “Facts don’t care about your feelings,” which is correct. But feelings don’t necessarily care about facts either. And ultimately, feelings have more of a say in what we think and do. And that’s why your mate down the pub can seem more believable than a pile of published research.

2 . Torrie, 16, and her friend Azarria were driving back home when another car hit them. When Torrie opened her eyes, she _________ their car had been pushed into a tree. There came _________ from the gathering crowd as the car was smoking. Torrie’s door wouldn’t open, but her window became an escape _________.

“Everyone ran away, fearing the car was going to _________. But turning around, I didn’t see Azarria. I ran back and saw she was _________ in the back seat. I decided to help her out of the _________.”

“I didn’t know how I made it. I just became stronger at that moment,” she says. She _________ a bystander to call 911 and started CPR.

After 30 chest compressions and two rescue breaths, Azarria began to show _________ of life. Just then, the paramedics _________ to rush Azarria to the nearest hospital.

__________ for both girls, their Lakewood High School offers a First-Aid Skills class taught by Erika Miller. Torrie had earned her __________ in the class just the day before this accident.

“I was absolutely astonished,” Erika says. “In my years of teaching, I never __________ a student would finish the course and in 24 hours have to __________ CPR on her friend.”

“I was grateful to Torrie, but I wasn’t surprised.” Azarria says. “She would have done that for anyone. That’s just __________ of her.

“First-aid training should be a(n) __________ in schools,” Torrie says. “It can make a difference between life and death.”

Many people may throw away the pits (核) or nuts after eating fruits, but inheritors (传承人) of nut carving have instead collected them and turned them into artworks.

“One nut,    1     (range) from 0.8 to 6 centimetres, can be made into delicate fan pendants (扇坠), earrings, buttons, seals, ect,” said Tan Wanhai,    2     inheritor of Weifang nut carving.

Weifang nut carving     3     (date) back to the Qing Dynasty. During that time, retired imperial craftsman Wang Dayan spread the skill to the local people in Shandong Province. Craftsmen back then often used peach pits     4     (show) off their artistic skills. Due to the rigorous (严谨缜密的) carving skills    5     its rich artistic content, Weifang nut carving    6     (list) as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Tan couldn’t forget    7     impressed he was when he first saw a nut carving. Yet, the 48-year-old craftsman also admitted that the journey of bringing this kind of masterpiece to life is not all smooth sailing. “Unlike some pits    8    a flat surface, each peach pit has its own unique texture (纹理),” Tan said, adding that craftsmen have to study and trace each peach pit to carefully plan out their artwork.

“Now, the number of inheritors is about 1,000. But I believe it could be     9     (high) as more craftsmen give up the tradition of passing down the skill only through the family and open up the     10     (occupy) to anyone who is interested,” added Tan.

8 . At the beginning of my journey of learning Peking opera, I had_________ that I could manage to perform it outstandingly. Later I found out I was_________.

The most difficult part is that a singer has to first understand the _________ of a character. Once, I acted as Lin Chong, the hero of Outlaws of the Marsh. It was hard for me to understand his emotions when he was _________ for Liangshan on a snowy night. I couldn’t sing or perform as if I _________ was Lin, and so I felt very frustrated.

My teacher seemed to recognize my_________.One day, she approached me, and said with great _________, “The future is like the sea full of chances. There will be a long way to go before you can _________. Wipe the tears away from your eyes and keep _________.!”

After hearing my teacher's touching words, I suddenly felt __________. I bought a copy of Outlaws of the Marsh and began to read it at once. While reading one part of the novel, I understood that Lin was recalling his life while he was on the way to Liangshan，__________. in the cold moonlight. He had to leave his family, his job and so on. After I finished reading the novel, I spent a whole evening __________ his life story. After that, I spent more time practicing, and I__________won the award at the city competition.

This experience has further strengthened my beliefs and __________ the meaning and value of life for me. As long as we catch the __________ and take full advantage of it, we will succeed.

10 . Consciousness (意识) rises slowly, awakening with the dawn that brightens my room. Cool air clears my mind as I walk to the kitchen, where my husband is making his morning coffee. The fire he thoughtfully started is beginning to heat the living space.

By my second cup, everyone is awake. After breakfast, we begin the busy work of a rural place. Chopping (砍) wood for the stove and clearing snow off steps and pathways. Our kids are big enough to be properly helpful and find joy in the work when everyone is doing it together.

Weekends at the cabin (木屋) are magical. During the break, our family constantly balances the demands of work and school. I’m subject to my watch and alarm clock. But coming to the cabin on the weekend is like entering another world.

Here, I don’t need to know what time it is-sunrise and sunset, hunger and chores set our schedule. The house and the woods around it are silent and dark, except for birdsong and the moon. Life seems less pressing, and it’s easier to live in the moment without distraction.

When I get up the next morning, my son is already sitting in front of the fire, staring at the flames. I sit beside him, and he leans into me, sleepy and a bit sad. “What’s up?” I ask. “I just don’t want to go home yet. I like it better here.”

I know what he means. I smile and put my arms around him. “Even when we’re home, this place is always here, where it’s quiet and safe, and everyone you love has time for you.”

I don’t really mean the cabin, and I think he knows that.