2 . Humans are driving climate change. That means we can change our path.     1    , individual actions matter, too. Here are some individual actions that can make a positive impact.

    2    . First, be mindful of your meat. Cows create a lot of methane (甲烷), a significant driver of global climate change. One study found replacing beef with almost anything else for one meal a day can cut a person’s dietary carbon footprint by 48%. Then, address your food waste. Cut down on what you throw away and watch out for single-use items like coffee beans whose production produces greenhouse gases.

Extend product lifespan (寿命).     3    . Shoes, clothes, furniture and even some electronics can be repaired to extend their life and keep waste out of landfills.

Switch to electric cooking. Not only is gas-powered cooking releasing harmful chemicals into the environment, but it could be contributing to health problems for you if you’re cooking indoors.     4    .

Plant trees where you can. Trees can help control temperatures and improve air quality.     5    . Local wildlife organizations often have lists of plants with neutral (中性的) or positive impacts on local flora and fauna (动植物群).

3 . China’s growing excellence in scientific and medical research is playing a major role in the global war on pathogens (病原体) and infectious diseases, according to Alain Merieux, chairman and CEO of French Conglomerate Institute Merieux.     1     Merieux has made a massive contribution to improving China’s public health over the past 40 years, initially by providing vaccines, and then through medical diagnostics and immunotherapy.

He first visited the country in April 1978, several months before the central government launched its transformative reform and opening-up policy. Since then, he has spent decades dedicated to cooperation in the health sector, eventually leading to the opening of China’s first P4—photolithographic pattern plated probe—laboratory in 2015. The lab, which is based in Wuhan, Hubei Province, has the highest biosafety standards in the world, allowing researchers to study the most dangerous viruses, including Ebola.     2    

“In the health field, which is the one I know best, China has been able to address major issues over the past 40 years,” Merieux said, “providing access to healthcare for everyone in an enormous country; fighting against the major threats represented by pathogens, respiratory diseases and cancer; and preventing food-borne health risks.”

    3     “China has made exceptional progress that commands respect,” he said. “The country has accomplished in 40 years what other countries took a century to do, and has been able to assert (评估) itself as a leading global power.” In four decades, “China has rediscovered its pride and strength,” Merieux added.

“The country has particularly excelled in terms of infrastructure (基础设施), as the creation of highways, airports and high-speed trains has completely changed the country,” he said.     4     Merieux called for greater international cooperation with China to help in the prevention and control of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (肺结核).     5    

5 . The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) facilities have the primary purpose of supporting MIT’s educational and research programs as well as serving the local community, the nation, and the world. Access to and use of the MIT Libraries is a privilege extended to the members of the MIT community of faculty, students, staff and their families. Visitors can access Libraries’ resources for scholarly, research, and educational purposes.

MIT Libraries use policies are consistent with current MIT campus policies.

Principles for Library Use

Library users and staff will interact with mutual respect and consideration. Library users will:

Respect private and Institute property.

Obey all Institute and Libraries’ policies, licensing and contractual agreements.

Show valid identification upon request.

Use MIT Libraries’ resources (content, equipment, or facilities) safely and appropriately.

Prohibited Behaviors

Behaviors that threaten personal safety or the security of personal or Institute property.

Behaviors that disturb the activities of other library users or staff, including excessive (过度的) noise, cell phones, music and rudeness.

Alcohol, drug use and smoking — as detailed in MIT’s Policy on Substance Use.

The MIT Libraries may limit or refuse access to individuals or groups who fail to follow these guidelines. Interpretation of policies or guidelines is at the decision of the MIT Libraries’ staff.

The General Hour Rules

Weekdays: Libraries typically operate from early morning to late evening, with extended hours during examinations.

Weekends: Reduced hours are offered, with generally later opening and earlier closing times.

Special hours may apply during holidays, breaks, and summer. Some libraries may close entirely, while others operate on limited schedules.

Users are advised to consult the library website for the most current information on specific hours, closures, and exceptions.

6 . My mom is one of the least wasteful people I know. She always brings her own metal containers to buy basic foods like rice and flour.     1     The key is to be creative about reducing plastic and other waste — just like my mom does at home.

One effective way is to conduct a review of household rubbish. List the rubbish by room or by activity.     2     This examination will help you assess your waste output and identify the ways to reduce it. For example, use reusable bags if you find a lot of plastic bags piling up under your sink.

    3     A lot of low-waste solutions might seem like they require buying special containers like silicone (硅胶) replacements for your Ziplock (带封口的) bags. But you don’t need to spend money on those items. Instead, figure out a way to repurpose the waste. Use empty cans, boxes and other food containers to store leftovers.

Reyond repurposing food containers, explore ways to save household items before throwing them away. Maybe you can mend an old pair of jeans instead of buying a new pair. Or maybe you can cut up old T-shirts into rags, which is what my mom used to do with my dad’s old T-shirts.     4     I don’t feel bad about getting grease (油脂) on them.

Remember: Lowering the amount of waste you create doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing pursuit.     5    

8 . Suppose you’re eager to watch the latest televised sport. Nothing looks more attractive to you than your couch. But you also could use that time to figure out how to complete the home craft project, which will take you at least an hour of watching instructional videos to complete it. You know that you’d feel proud of yourself if you got it done. However, the couch’s attraction becomes too hard to resist.

According to a research, your dilemma is an example of what’s called the “happiness paradox (悖论).” Simply stated, this is the tendency for people to choose a leisure activity that requires very little effort even though they know that a true mood boost would come from sharpening and applying their skills. Prior research showed that when given a choice, people would rather engage in passive rather than active pursuits during their leisure time. However, it’s an unreasonable choice because what will really make you happier is being busy in an activity that allows you to expand and strengthen your skills.

Why would engaging in a more challenging activity increase happiness? The answer lies in the concept of “flow”, that is, when you’re using your abilities at their peak, you experience an uprush of happiness that pushes you through a challenging task. You won’t feel that way if you just do the simple task.

Although the sofa is inviting compared to a halfway-done project, we still have a way to approach it. You can break the activity down into what can be more manageable sections. Looking more realistically at your abilities, and then seeking guidance, you can now feel better about the whole enterprise.

The finding doesn’t mean that you have to abandon your couch all the time when you’ve got a choice about how to use your leisure time. Instead, you could put some variety into your choices. If you had a particularly tough week, either with managing your family or responsibilities at work, it’s fine to take a break. You don’t even need to feel guilty about that occasional use of “me-time.”