1 . There are many theories that suggest different ways of improving memory or thinking more clearly. One of those is the idea that adding rosemary (迷迭香) to your food or water, or even breathing in its fragrance, can give your brain a boost.

First, it’s important to understand what rosemary is.     1     It’s a perennial, meaning that once you plant it, it should re-grow every year when the weather is warm enough for it to do so. It’s native to Asia and the Mediterranean.     2    

Rosemary is related to the mint (薄荷) family of plants. When it blooms, its flowers are white, purple, pink or deep blue. It is often used as a flavor in food, including soups, meat, fish and other Mediterranean food. And it has a somewhat bitter flavor. Some people also enjoy tea flavored with rosemary.     3    

One study that involved 28 older adults found that consumption of a small amount of dried rosemary powder was associated with statistically significantly improved memory speed.     4     Researchers found that their memory of images and numbers improved when the essential oil of rosemary was sprayed in the room.

    5     But one theory is that rosemary appears to have some antioxidant (抗氧剂) properties that may offer some healing for the damage in our bodies. Another idea is that rosemary appears to lower anxiety, which in turn, may increase the ability to concentrate.

While rosemary shows some promise for boosting our brain power, it’s important to check with your doctor before you begin having it.

2 . It is said that honesty is the best policy. But we’re constantly disturbed by lies. Why is it important for us to avoid lying in turn?     1    

Being honest is easier than lying. Have you ever told a lie and then forgotten the details about it? Sure, you may have been able to be safe for the time being, but lies have to be maintained with even larger lies.     2    

You will be found out if you lie.     3     Your kids’ hamster dies and you say that it has run away. Ten years later they accidentally dig it up in the backyard and they’ll realize that you have lied. Trust in the fact that the truth always finds a way to rise to the surface.

The worst truth is better than the best lie. Sometimes a lie can cause much more worries, like telling kids that their grandmother “went to sleep” instead of letting them know that she had died. If they’re young, they’ll end up terrified of going to bed for fear that they’ll never wake up again.

    4     If someone finds out that you’ve lied to them, they will never be able to fully trust you again. Even if you spend the rest of your life sticking with honesty, the person you’ve lied to won’t ever have true faith in you again. There’s no such thing as a good lie.     5    

3 . Hurricane Harvey struck Texas over two years ago, and many communities continue to feel its effects today. The areas that were _________ most by Harvey were already facing many economic _________. After Harvey hit, the people who were _________ to meet their basic needs were faced with having to rebuild their lives and their homes as well. _________ Harvey and the affected communities, the East Harris County Recovery Project was created to help individuals and families that were hit particularly _________ by the hurricane and support them as they _________. Good360, a non-profit charity group, is _________ to partner with this organization to assist the _________ communities.

Good360 donated backpacks to East Harris County Empowerment Council for students returning to school this fall who _________ would not have been able to buy new backpacks. The weeks __________ the start of school are particularly hard for families. Parents are often forced to choose between having __________ on the dinner table, putting gas in the car, and buying school __________ for their children. The donation of backpacks allowed them to __________ meeting other needs.

One family in the county was especially impacted by this donation. When it came time to buy school items, the mother was __________ that she would not have enough money for her two children in school. Thanks to Good360’s __________, both children received brand new backpacks.

4 . A TV interview can be as simple as asking questions of people on the street, or it can be as involved as a one-on-one, sit-down discussion with an important person.     1     so that you can lead the people you interview into giving you the information you want with simple TV interview tips every news media worker can use.

 Decide the TV interview focus

Sometimes, all you want from an interview are some facts. As long as you get answers to basic questions, like “who, what, when, where, why and how”, your needs are satisfied.     2    . You need to demonstrate that your skills go beyond asking simple questions.

     3    

Sometimes interviewers are so devoted to planning their next question that it’s obvious that they’re not even listening to the conversation.

    4    : The mayor says, “I have failed my city. I apologize for my poor performance in office and ask all residents to forgive me.” The interviewer: “So when’s the next city council meeting?”

One aspect of listening is to not immediately jump in with your next question the moment the person stops talking. If you wait for a second or two, while maintaining eye contact, often the person will keep talking.     5    .

East or west, home is the best. However, home can also be a stressful place when heated     1     (argue) and cold silence are in the air.

You might feel anxious when shooting up     2     height compared to your friends, and get worried about other physical changes like weight problems and skin issues. Besides, you might have a desire to be more     3     (independence) and take more responsibilities for yourself. If parents fail to notice your changes and needs, or treat you like a child     4     expect you to act like an adult, you     5     (lose) confidence in yourself, and your relationship can hit a freezing point.

The key to     6     (handle) this situation is sincere and constant communication. It is necessary for you to open your hearts to each other, and talk about your feelings     7     (regular). Remember that it is completely normal     8     (struggle) with the stress that parent－child tensions create, and     9     you and your parents can work together to better your relationship. As Bin Xin said, “Home is the place     10     unhappiness and worries melt away.” Once the stormy period is over, your sweet home will still be your warmest harbor.

6 . How coming to China has changed my life and career

Hello, everyone. My name is Jonathan Lopez, and I am a dual(双重的) citizen from Colombia and Canada.     1    ， and how it has a potential to also change yours, if you allow it to have the opportunity to welcome you to China.

When I was 18 years old, I had the opportunity to leave Columbia for the first time to go to see my father in Canada. I studied in a university in Canada, during which I had a chance to go study abroad in universities in Netherlands and Australia, travelling to many countries.     2    ， because I got a scholarship to study at Tsinghua University as a choice for scholar.

When it came to China, I had so many ideas about what China was supposed to be about. The surprise is that it was nothing like I imagined in a more positive way than expected. When I come here,     3    . All the development and how fast things move in China really allow me to quickly realize that this is the place where I needed to continue growing in my career professionally.

    4    . After I graduated from Tsinghua university, I got a job at Bytedance Internet Company first, and currently for Tiktok. But the most important thing is that I can be able to become an ambassador, and share my story about how being in China—my another home—impacted me and change my life so much.

It's been only three years in China and it's just the beginning. There is so much more that I can continue to learn in this place, and it's just an open invitation for people that are thinking to study abroad, work abroad or do things anywhere in the world, to also consider China. Hence, this is a place to be, and this is a place where you can learn and grow a lot.     5    .

In late August, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, one of the most     1     （destroy) hurricanes in American history, hit the south-eastern parts of the country.

It began on August 23, causing only slight damage in the beginning. But it soon     2     (grow) to be a Category 5 hurricane over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, causing severe damage along its path.

New Orleans, a city     3     was built largely below sea level, was worst hit. In     4     (react) to the coming hurricane, the city government gave an order     5    (clear) the city of all residents. However, many stayed in the city. Some of them chose to stay because they believed that the city’s defense system     6     (keep) them safe and sound, while others were unable to leave     7     they had no access to transport. The defense system finally failed. As     8     result, 80% the city was flooded for weeks. People were stuck in the city without power, food, or drinking water,     9     (anxious) waiting for rescue.

The hurricane died away on August 31. In all, Hurricane Katrina caused nearly 2, 000 deaths, and left     10     (million) of people homeless.

8 . Top tips for students doing voluntary holiday work

I have had some of the best and worst experiences of my life doing volunteers projects. Having taken part in a few such programs before, here are some tips I have picked up.

    1    

Many of these schemes are advertised on legal websites, but even these can have hosts who take advantage of them. These people will advertise something that simply isn’t true and when you arrive the arrangement may be different from what you expected.

Choose somewhere with a lot of positive reviews.

Many sites that advertise work projects have a space for reviews. Reviews tend to mean people have been there.     2     Again, be cautious because reviews can be faked. Besides, what one person loves may not be your cup of tea.

Bring a friend or a few.

    3     And it’s good to have a partner if you end up in a difficult situation. Try to find a friend with some good skills to travel with you. Trade skills can be very useful.

    4    

In one place where I volunteered, a team member complained about having to work a few hours a day. He didn’t seem to realize it was a small(or no)price to pay to live in a hotel with food and a swimming pool for free.

If you find a good place, don’t move on too soon.

If you like the work and you’re getting free food and accommodation, why leave?     5    

Anyway, volunteering is an amazing experience. Enjoy it.

9 . In the past decade or so, you may have heard the term “growth mindset” thrown around a lot. Many influencers and self-improvement coaches talk about how it is something we should all be fighting for with great efforts.     1     Here are a few ways you can start training your brain.

Start worrying if you’re working hard enough.

As Dr. Dwek explains: “genius is not enough; we need to get the job done.” At the end of the day, does it really matter how intelligent you are if you get the job done? Of course not.     2     Stop judging your worth based on how smart you see yourself to be, and start focusing on trying your best, learning along the way, building a growth mindset, and enjoying the process.

    3    

People with fixed mindsets often see failures as reflections of their own intelligence or skill, so they end up giving up when confronted with disappointment. But instead of seeing failure as a negative thing, reframe it as an opportunity to learn something. If this set of actions resulted in failure, how could you change things next time to result in success? This is a huge part of developing a growth mindset.

Praise effort rather than outcomes.

In Dr. Dwek’s book, she writes: “after seven experiments with hundreds of children, we had some of the clearest findings I’ve ever seen:     4     Children love praise, especially to be praised for their intelligence and talent. It really does give them a boost, a special glow, but only for the moment. The minute they encounter difficulties, their confidence goes out the window, and their motivation hits the bottom. If success means they’re smart, then failure means they’re dumb.     5    

In whatever small ways you can, begin to explore what it feels like to have a growth mindset. With a growth mindset, anything is possible. You may just be surprised at all the amazing things you accomplish.

10 . “I knew when I saw you, I wanted to take you home,” my dad says to me when I visit him one Saturday. There is a deep-seated _________ of a father seeing his daughter when she was born.

My father has Alzheimer’s (老人痴呆症). He does not _________ express in words, so the sudden accuracy of his words _________ me.

Another Saturday, he points to a photo of me and says, “She’s smart.” Does he know the _________ person, 30 years older, is sitting beside him? It does not matter. At that moment I can feel his _________.

Now I bring a spoonful of yogurt to his lips. With a _________ hand, he touches me and says, “You’re very good. Thank you.” He totally forgets it was he that _________ me in lifting a spoon to my mouth.

These words are all he can give now. But they make me understand more _________ my generous father.

His door was always _________. Drop-in visitors were welcomed with a drink. He would not ____________ to give money to a family member in need. In the community, he ____________ his time to preserve the historical buildings.

Time, advice, money. There were many ways he ____________.

And he gives, still. The ____________ has taken much from my father. What’s ____________ are his words. It’s ____________ for him to find the right word and say it out loud. Yet he keeps going.