5 . The health of our oceans is related to the planet’s overall environmental condition, with ocean currents (洋流) playing a key role in reflecting Earth’s climate. A recent study has shed new light on the impact of rising ocean temperatures on one of these vital current systems.

This significant research provides the first documented proof of a significant slowdown in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation or AMOC (大西洋经向翻转环流). Alexey Mishonov and his team dive deep into the data in NOAA’s World Ocean Atlas to track down the AMOC’s performance over time. Their findings reveal a change: from 1955 to 1994, the AMOC’s flow remained unchanged. However, starting in the mid-1990s, a marked decline in its strength was observed, with a striking reduction in its speed.

Mishonov explains the signs of weakening circulation in Atlantic ocean currents, stating, “If AMOC slows down, the heat exchange will be reduced, which in turn will affect the climate, causing hot areas to get hotter and cold areas to get colder.” This imbalance could have far-reaching effects on global climate patterns, possibly leading to more extreme weather conditions, rising sea levels, disorders to marine (海洋的) ecosystems, and a mass of other climate feedbacks.

Mishonov’s research also touches on the cultural spirit, referring to the dramatic description of a similar scene in the 2004 disaster movie The Day After Tomorrow. While he stated that the film’s scenes with explosive effects is highly exaggerated and not supported by the scientific community, the hidden message — that a significant slowdown in the AMOC could lead to great and unpredictable climate changes — resonates with (与……共鸣) many experts.

As the scientific community continues to uncover the mysteries of our oceans, the significance of Mishonov and his workmates’ work cannot be overstated. Their research contributes to our understanding of the relationship between ocean currents and global climate.

A farming-themed reality show has taken Chinese social media by storm. The show,     1     (name) Become a Farmer, highlights the importance of agriculture in Chinese culture. Many young urbanites (城市居民), however, may be unfamiliar     2     the word “farming”.     3     (bridge) this gap, the 50-episode program invites 10 young men from diverse backgrounds to experience life on the farmland. This show aims to provide insights into farming     4     (activity) and modern agricultural production.

Yang Changling, chief director of     5     program, said it intends to show farming through a documentary approach. By sharing these young people’s experiences and personal growth stories, it hopes to deepen the audience’s understanding of agriculture and raise the     6     (aware) of food security.

Wu Han, the producer, said the show aims to promote traditional Chinese farming culture while     7     (strengthen) communication between urban and rural residents (居民).     8     (additional), cast members document their experiences through vlogs,     9     contents vary from building a hen house to digging up fresh bamboo shoots.

In one vlog, 27-year-old Jiang Dunhao recalled helping with the birth of lambs, writing on Weibo: “A newborn lamb struggled to stand, but after resting, it gathered its strength and finally     10     (rise).”

Become a Farmer has emerged (为人所知) as an influential show that not only entertains but also educates, which has becomes a hit.

8 . I received one act of kindness from a stranger after my husband died. It happened when I went to have a photo _________ for the funeral (葬礼). Enveloped by grief, I was unable to talk with anyone. Printing the photo should have been an easy task, but it felt _________ as I walked into the building.

I had often used the print service and was _________ in and out within ten minutes. But, on this day, nothing went _________. My USB wouldn’t load properly and I couldn’t locate the photo. Overcome with _________, I broke into tears.

Then a woman _________ me and asked if she could help. I cried that I couldn’t get the machine to _________. She sat down and with a few quick taps (敲击) on the keyboard, _________ the photo. She moved as if to leave. _________, she sat back. She asked if this was what I would like printed. Still sobbing, I said it needed to be cropped (裁剪). She put it all into the system and waited. I thanked her as she __________ the USB to me. She nodded and sat silently until I was __________ enough to walk out.

By sitting __________, she permitted me to cry without judgment. She didn’t ask what was wrong or offer well-meaning but unhelpful __________. She allowed me to deal with my __________ in a cared-for space. Through that brief exchange of time, I felt some of the hopelessness __________.

9 . How to Improve Your Sense of Self-worth

Self-worth is a key factor when it comes to your mental and physical health. Stress, depression and anger have all been shown to pave the way to illness and disease.     1     If so, you’re probably more content, confident and successful. You’re likely also healthier. If you find that your self-esteem (自尊) is weakening a little, there are plenty of ways to build it back up again.

Let yourself off the hook. As the saying goes, it is better to try something and fail than to not try anything. Focus on goals that are linked to activities you are interested in. Don’t care about whether or not you achieve your goal in full, just enjoying the process.     2    

Keep your body healthy. Eat a balanced diet and stay physically active to keep your body in good shape. You will look better, feel better and have more energy for new activities.

    3     Redefine the roles you play in the society and give yourself more sense of self-worth. Instead of “sales manager” or “mother”, start thinking of yourself as “community organizer”, “literacy volunteer”, “great cook”, “gifted gardener” and more.

Be aware of your advantages.     4     Are you fun to be around, thoughtful, generous? Keep adding to the list and pull it out whenever you need an improvement.

If you feel good about yourself, have a positive outlook and stay active and involved, you’re more likely to be happy and healthy.     5    

10 . With stories about legends, romance and superpowers, Chinese online literary works are gaining a growing global readership.

Online literature, or web literature, refers to a new literary form created and published in a digital format (格式) on the Internet, which can include novels, poetry or prose. It mainly consists of original works which are posted onto a website previous to any type of physical publication in book form. Authors are free to build their stories on online reading platforms, which are usually update d on a daily basis. Fans log on to platforms, reading the latest content and paying for it. On online reading platforms, readers not only rank books based on their plot, word building, translation, but they also interact with the author.

Chinese web novels are popular among young Chinese, who share similar reading preferences with their overseas counterparts (相似的人). Popular Chinese web novels adopt the styles of Western fantasy novels which are familiar to Western readers, who also find freshness with elements from traditional Chinese culture. By the end of 2022, more than 16, 000 Chinese online works of literature had been exported abroad, reaching over 150 million readers outside China.

As a literature scholar who took notice of the phenomenon, Noah Forrin noticed the growing number of local writers overseas on WebNovel. He said they understand the preferences of the locals and are well aware of the taboos of their culture so that they can decide what can be included in their writing and what should be avoided, while having the potential to create popular online works for local readers using the production system of Chinese online literature.

The young scholar has full confidence for the future of online literature, since both the literary circle and readers are pushing authors to write better works. He believes adaptations to films, TV dramas, and games will also boost (促进) the development of online literature. “For now, Chinese online literature is seizing the moment, but other countries and cultural circles will join in, bringing about changes worldwide,” said the young scholar.