1 . If you are an introverted (内向) person who tends to focus too much on yourself or stay quiet in public places, don’t feel annoyed. Bestselling author Susan Cain says that supporting introverts during childhood can help shape them into high-achieving adults.     1    

The traditional model of leaders is seen as outgoing, talkative and brave — all typical features of extroverts.     2     Instead, it is believed that true leaders are driven by a desire to advance ideas and new ways of seeing the world or to improve conditions for a group of people. Moreover, “calm leaders” can resolve problems more effectively and better identify which risks are worth taking, thanks to their ability to deal with information and make decisions more carefully.

In the introduction to her book, Cain shares a question she was asked all the time as a child: “Why are you so quiet?” It was usually asked out of concern, she noted. People took her silence as a sign of uneasiness or anger. In fact, she was just listening and observing her surroundings.     3     Cain says introverts make for the best listeners. As keen listeners, introverts can pick up on information that some extroverts might overlook. Unlike extroverts, introverts are not known for jumping to conclusions, and as a result, they tend to receive more attention and appreciation from audiences when they do speak.

    4     However, introverts tend to contribute their best work and ideas on their own. “Introverts have an impressive ability to be independent,” Cain wrote. “We find strength in solitude (孤独) and are able to use our precious alone time to focus and concentrate.”    5    

2 . Whether you’re trying to get your brain back into shape or you just want to keep it as strong as it is now, there are some strategies you can use to enhance your thinking.     1    , but they can make a difference after a few months.

Read as much as you can. Try reading books that teach you something new, such as books about history or another subject that interests you. But just keep in mind that the more challenging the text is, the more of a workout your brain will get.     2    .

Learn a new language. Learning a language is like a hack (黑客) for your brain, opening up all sorts of pathways. This exercises the part of your brain that stores language information, even making you better at speaking your own language. Languages are a great way to keep learning new things and challenging your brain.     3     this can still exercise your brain.

    4    . Most short videos online tell you what to think and how to think, basically putting your brain on autopilot (机械性地做). That’s why it’s so relaxing. If you really want to watch, use your brain while you watch. Choose the educational contents and the ones with complex plot lines or character interactions.     5    .

3 . Over recent years, AI has become accessible to everyone, significantly making our lives easier compared to before. However, there are risks as well as benefits.     1    

Be critical (批判性). AI can do amazing things, like create images or write stories, but it does not reflect on what it is writing. It will put text together in a way that makes sense but often cannot read “between the lines”.     2    You can use this as an opportunity to develop critical thinking skills.

Watch out for chatbots. Chatbots are designed to simulate (模拟) conversations as if they were another human being. But there may not be any human checks on improper content. Don’t forget that the “person”you’re speaking to is actually a machine, not a human.     3    It only shows language based on pre-written models and rules.

    4    With all the focus on AI text, you might not notice that pictures and videos are also part of the AI. Your photos and facial image become available to AI when uploaded, which makes it harder to protect your identity. So be careful about your privacy and always remember that any data you upload to the internet can be stored, scanned and processed by AI.

However, the developments in this field are highly exciting. And with open policy conversations and some oversight, AI can be a powerful learning and engagement tool. -     5    

4 . For individuals with hearing loss, listening to conversations in noisy environments can be particularly challenging. Unfortunately, traditional hearing aids adopt a “one-size-fits-all” approach to processing sounds, regardless of the listening needs of individual users.     1     Users may also experience a lack of sound clarity (清楚) and do not want to engage in conversations with others.

Good news is that a hearing aid company named Oticon is taking an important step to solve this No. 1 challenge for people with hearing loss—hearing speech in noise. With new 4D Sensor technology, Oticon Intent, a new device, is capable of understanding the users’ listening intentions.     2     In this way, it is able to deliver truly personalised support. But the true hero in sound processing is the brain, as it is constantly working to make sense of sound. Oticon’s new technology provides the brain with access to the full sound environment.

    3     In conversation, users tend to keep their heads still to engage with a single person. Or they move their heads in a group conversation to engage with different people. When struggling to hear what someone is saying, users are likely to lean (倾斜) in to listen. The technology in Oticon Intent understands and adapts to the user through sensors that monitor head and body movements. It helps users move beyond just hearing and listening.     4    .

Thomas Behrens, Vice President of the company, said, “This small device has up to 20 hours of battery life.     5     When the device requires a recharge, users can simply place it into the charger for just 30 minutes to obtain up to 8 hours of battery life.”

5 . Taking responsibility for your actions is a fundamental aspect of personal growth and maturity.     1     Developing a sense of responsibility not only strengthens your character but also boosts healthier relationships and personal development. Here are ways to help you embrace responsibility for your actions.

Regularly take time to reflect on your actions and their consequences. Ask yourself if there are areas where you can improve and be frank about your shortcomings. When you make a mistake, admit it with no excuses.     2     Then analyse what went wrong and try to avoid repeating the same errors in the future.

Establish clear personal boundaries and core values that guide your actions. Having a strong moral compass will help you make better choices. Follow through on your commitments, whether they are personal or social.     3    

Resist the tendency to blame others for your mistakes. Instead, focus on what you can control and how you can revise the situation.     4     This can contribute to empathy and encourage responsible behaviour.

    5     They can help you explore underlying issues and develop healthier behaviors. Adopt their advice to become a more responsible individual. Embrace challenges as a chance to demonstrate your commitment to personal growth.

6 . Art is a way of using the human imagination to show expressive ideas or feelings. Now meet four types of the art to know it better.

A colorful expression from brushes

Artists use brushes and paints to create drawings on a big surface. And they can tell stories and make people feel different emotions. It is easy to find some well-known paintings in museums.     1    .

An important moment frozen in time

This is the art of taking photos or filming something with a camera. Photographers will capture (捕获) moments and create wonderful photos. And the photos are about some key moments to help people see the world from different views.    2    .

    3    

Performance art is a special art form.     4    . It can challenge the audiences’ ideas about what art is, make them think about the important things in life, and create a sense of community for them. The theaters are usually a good place to enjoy a great show.

A click of a mouse showing a world of beauty

Digital art is like painting and drawing, but using a computer or a software instead of a canvas or a paper.     5    . It’s a new and creative way that allows artists to explore new possibilities.

7 . How to Develop a Good Personality

There isn’t such a thing as having an objectively good personality. Everyone likes different types of people. The key is building a personality you can feel proud of and confident in. Developing your personality will take time and consistent effort.    1    

Figure out what “personality” means to you.     2    These are your enduring characteristics and tendencies to think, behave and feel in certain ways. While some of your personality is defined by your genetics and your early experiences, it is possible to change it to a certain extent.

Remain happy and cheerful. Try to see the joy everywhere. Laugh with others, but not at them.    3    Smiling and laughing a lot is a huge part of having a good personality.

    4    A lot of people think they have a good personality until you see them in a tense situation Then they lose their cool. If you are in tense situations, try to remain relaxed and see what you can do to resolve the situation.

Keep an open mind. One important part of having a good personality is willing to change your worldview. Listen to others and be willing to change your mind. Don’t pass judgment on other people just because they act differently.     5    Getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing new things can help you become more open-minded and develop new beliefs and habits.

Develop modesty. You could be the most talented person in the world, but if you don’t have any modesty, you probably won’t have a good personality. Nobody likes a big head.

8 . It’s always heartbreaking to learn about a medical problem that’s largely been addressed in the United States but continues to trouble low-and middle-income countries.

    1     It was a device developed by two former fellows with the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign. This foot-operated resuscitator (呼吸机) was designed for clinicians who often must work alone when a newborn struggles to take a first breath.     2     When a newborn fails to breathe, one clinician holds a respirator (人工呼吸器) mask to the baby’s face while another person squeezes a ventilation (给肺提供空气) bag, pushing air into the baby’s lungs. But in low-and middle-income countries such as India, where staff is more limited, resuscitation is not so straightforward. An individual clinician commonly revives the baby alone, using one hand to perform three movements of jaw sticking, chin lift and neck leaning, sealing the respirator mask around the baby’s mouth, and using the other hand to squeeze the bag.     3     Avijit Bansal, MD, a pulmonologist from India, was well aware of this earlier.

In 2011, he met a like-minded researcher and they began work on a solution. As the article notes: They developed NeoBreathe, a foot-operated resuscitator.     4     With the freed hand, the operator can multitask more efficiently. The device is now being used in the majority of India’s states, as well as in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, and Mali.     5    

9 . We’re always hoping something magical will come along to throw us to good health—some super food or new exercise trend.     1     It’s what we eat, how we move, how much we sleep, and how much we manage stress and social connection that can really make a difference.

    2     For those of you who don’t like the gym, you may get yourself moving, too. A garden pushes you to weed and water and harvest almost every day. That keeps you moving. Also, instead of lying on chairs or sofas, spend more time on the floor, either sitting or squatting (蹲).

Manage your social circle. Research has shown just how contagious(传染的) our habits are to people around. When one of your old friends has some unhealthy habits, they’re probably influencing you in the wrong way. If you aim to live a healthier life, you are more likely to achieve if those around you are committed, too.    3    

Have a short nap(打盹). Once you clock in to work in the workdays, there’s so much keeping you busy. To push through these busy days, it’s common to turn to coffee rather than slow down your pace. There is an alternative: a short sleep for as little as 20 minutes in the afternoon. Taking a nap after lunch is an age-old tradition.    4     However, the most recent science shows that a 20-minute sleep can make up for an hour of lost sleep and helps keep you sharp later in the day.

There’s no single change to create a culture of health.    5     That can help push people toward better choices and make the healthier choice the easiest.

10 . Cultural tourism is a form of travel that focuses on exploring and experiencing the cultural heritage and traditions of a particular destination. Cultural tourism is a good way to enrich your experience as a tourist.     1    .

Cultural tourism helps to encourage the protection of culture and heritage by keeping endangered traditions alive. For example, heritage handicraft skills (手工技能) might be little practical, but outside interest could be enough to safeguard a tradition that might otherwise have been lost.

Cultural tourism also improves education.     2    , such as workshops, language lessons, or historical tours. They can learn about the traditions and customs of different cultures, and enrich their knowledge and experiences.

However, when cultural practices and traditions are presented only for tourism purposes, they may lose their true meaning and become superficial (表面的) performances aimed at entertaining tourists.     3    .

In addition, a lot of tourists can put a pressure on local resources.     4    , which leads to overcrowding, too much pollution and damage to historical sites.

Most importantly, cultural tourism may lead to the loss of cultural diversity. As destinations become more popular to mass tourism, there is a risk of homogenization, where cultural practices and traditions become standardized to the tastes and expectations of tourists.

    5    , can the benefits outweigh the downsides.