Sugar painting, one symbol of traditional Chinese art, uses hot liquid sugar to create objects on a marble (大理石) or metal surface. As     1     unique art form in China, it is said to go back around 600 years ago to the Ming Dynasty. Over time, its charm is gaining more     2     (recognize) and attention.

    3     is so breathtaking about sugar painting is its production process. With hot sugar poured from a small in spoon onto a flat surface, the outline of the figure     4     (draw) with a thick stream of sugar. Then     5     (relative) thinner sugar is added to support the outline and fill in the figure of the body in     6     (combine) patterns, supported by a wooden stick. The painter has to work quickly,     7     (make) sure he gets every shape just right before the sugar cools down.

Today the chance to appreciate this classic art form is much     8     (small) than it once was, but it still has the power to amaze     9     (tourist) who come across talented street artists who make these amazing creations. Hopefully, sugar painting, whether it serves as a delicacy     10     an artistic treasure, will continue to last for generations.

4 . Orion Jean, a young boy from Texas, initiated an extraordinary mission of kindness and inspired others. His journey_________when he participated in the National Kindness Speech Contest. Giving a speech about the_________ of kindness to transform a nation, Orion won a $500 cash prize. Instead of spending it on himself, he chose to use it to give those in need a_________.

So the little boy, who said his parents always taught him that “kindness is a virtue that should be_________above all others,” came up with the idea of the Race to Kindness campaign. It_________doing good deeds in his community.

Orion set out to help children requiring_________treatment. He thought there was no better way to_________a kid than a toy. So he used the winnings to buy as many toys as possible and_________a toy fair to get over 600 fun toys donated to the Children’s Health Hospital in Dallas.

After the toy fair, he launched a/an_________“Race to 100,000 meals” to help food-insecure people in his community.__________with a local nonprofit organization, he helped feed people who might not have had a meal for Thanksgiving.

In May 2022, to provide books to children who lacked__________to them, Orion launched the “Race to 500, 000 Books”. It centered on poverty-stricken areas, __________those known as “book deserts”. The result? Many people__________the chance to show their love to strangers. So the goal of “500, 000” was exceeded (超越).

Orion’s story is an example of how a wave of positive__________is generated by one individual’s kindness. “The Race to Kindness” is grateful to everyone who comes together to be a__________system in time of need.

6 . When children are growing up, what they see in their families is what they tend to consider normal. That means family traditions and other activities are generally seen as just normal. If a family eats dinner together or spends time talking with each other, that’s what the child absorbs and internalizes.

Our family traditions are declining as we move toward a more isolated (孤立的) society. How many families no longer share meals around the dinner table, instead choosing to watch TV or text friends on their phones? This tends to isolate and disconnect family members from each other. It also stops families from communicating and catching up on each other’s lives.

For those of us who grew up in a household where families shared meals together and spent time talking with each other, chances are that we are passing along those traditions to our own families. The problem is, children today often want to spend their time in front of screens rather than people. Cell phones, computers and other attention-grabbing devices often mean parents get resistance to traditional family togetherness time. This pressure can lead to parents giving in and letting children do what they want rather than fight with them over sitting at the dinner table. This creates a new normal that no longer values the idea of families and the society at large, connecting with each other.

Family and community traditions are important, not just for the current shared experiences, but for the future as well. Since children internalize their experiences, that means generations to come may not know what it’s like to sit together around the dinner table and truly connect as a family.

That is why it is so important that parents and caregivers create boundaries of behavior that help to keep family traditions alive. If you remember the shared experiences you had with your parents and grandparents, you know the important bonding that took place during those times. It is this shared experience that brings people closer together and is well worth preserving.

7 . When Hurricane Ian made landfall on the southwest Florida coast as a Category 4 storm, it brought strong winds and heavy rain. It was a deadly hurricane, attacking more than four million people, and causing serious flooding and at least 150 deaths. However, during the disaster, there was one innovative community that weathered the storm well: Babcock Ranch, the brainchild of Syd Kitson.

Located 30 miles inland, Babcock Ranch is an environmentally friendly and fully sustainable town that Syd Kitson and his partners hoped would be hurricane proof. Its homes are built to go through severe weather without losing essential services like electricity, water, or the Internet. A significant factor in its design is that power and. Internet lines are buried to avoid wind damage. Additionally, large ponds surround the development to protect houses from flooding. As a backup, streets are designed to absorb floodwaters and spare the houses.

Central to Babcock Ranch’s sustainability is its extensive use of solar energy. The community possesses an 870-acre solar farm with 700,000 individual panels operated by Florida Power & Light, capable of powering 30,000 homes — far more than the 5,000 residents currently living there. At night and on cloudy days, a natural gas generator kicks in to fill the gap.

Hurricane Ian served as a true test for the community. While the surrounding regions suffered, Babcock Ranch’s minimum damage and quick recovery showcased its effective design against natural disasters. Residents even opened their community center, doubling as a storm shelter, to the victims from other hard-hit communities.

Kitson’s vision for Babcock Ranch is not just about creating a sustainable and resilient (适应性强的) community but also about learning and improving. He hopes that the lessons learned from Babcock Ranch can be applied to other developments, contributing to more climate-resilient communities across the United States. This approach reflects a growing awareness of the need for sustainable and resilient urban planning in the face of increasing climate challenges.

8 . In August 2022, Don Powell from Orchard Lake Village, Michigan, found a wooden doll (玩具娃娃) couple, Mary and Shelley, inside his custom-designed mailbox. Initially assuming it was a mistake, he left them there out of curiosity. Over time, the dolls’ living space expanded with the addition of furniture like a bed, a painting and a stove. Don responded humorously, requesting a refrigerator. A year later, the dolls still reside there, amusing neighbors who follow updates on the local Nextdoor page.

The Powells had paid a local craftsman (工匠) $250 to create a mailbox that looked like their house, which included windows and solar-powered ceiling lights. This mailbox provided a large and bright space for the growing collection of doll furnishings.

Despite potential fines for non-postage items in mailboxes, Don didn’t consider removing the dolls, as the mail carrier found it amusing and it didn’t stop mail delivery. The Powells regularly discovered new items for the dolls, especially during holidays. For example, Halloween saw the dolls temporarily disappearing and replaced by skeletons (骨骼), and Christmas brought festive decorations.

The doll family grew, with the addition of a cousin, Shirley, and a service dog named Maggie. A note mentioned their gratitude for a one-story house compared to their previous multi-story dollhouse.

Don even contributed to the setup by adding a small letterbox to avoid confusion with their mail. He enjoys the mystery-and community enjoyment, resisting the idea of an outdoor camera to uncover the responsible party. The story continues to attract neighbors, who often stop by with questions and enjoy the lighthearted community spirit it brings.

9 . While there are many books available that explore resilience (韧性), the following are our favorites based on their contribution to our theoretical understanding and practical application of the concept.

Developing Resilience: A Cognitive-Behavioral Approach—Michael Neenan

Michael Neenan uses a cognitive-behavioral(认知行为) approach to increase resilience in clients. In his insightful book, Neenan explores what we mean when we talk about resilience and discusses why one person can overcome multiple challenges and crises at the same time while another failed.

Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life’s Greatest Challenges—Steven Southwick, Dennis Charney, and Jonathan DePierro

Now in its third edition, this in-depth and valuable book will become a fundamental resilience resource to be revisited repeatedly. Steven Southwick, Dennis Charney, and Jonathan DePierro offer deep insight into resilience as a complex product of genetic, biological social, and psychological factors.

Resilience: A Practical Guide for Coaches—Carole Pemberton

While this is a relatively short book at less than 200 pages, resilience coach Carole Pemberton packs a great deal of practical and helpful information in it on how to coach clients to overcome difficulties and achieve their potential.

The Resilience Club: Daily Success Habits of Long-Term High Performers —Angela Armstrong

As a strategic leadership partner, Angela Armstrong supports leaders in delivering sustainable high performance using a series of resilience habits. She believes that with the right tools and mindset, we can deal with life’s challenges and say yes to the exciting opportunities that present themselves. Her goal is for clients to develop a balanced set of resilience habits that support managing and handling both challenges and opportunities as they arise.