1 . The fast-paced modern life in the city can be too much for an introvert (内向的人) like myself. And I sometimes really need some time to ______ my shell. Fortunately, I had the perfect ______ to learn and love gardening.

Well, after my A-levels, I stayed at my uncle’s house. At that time the gardening ______ me a lot, because my uncle does gardening with ______ and he has a beautiful garden. When I was there every day, I ______ the beauty of his garden and the interest he showed in ______ it. After seeing that, I was ______ to start gardening in my home and started doing it. Therefore, I started my ______ Garden in my balconies (阳台) with only pots of different coloured roses. As I grew up, my interest in gardening also ______ to grow. It gives me the biggest ______ .

Whenever I go to my uncle’s home, I collect more plant saplings (幼苗) for my Garden. So now my garden is full of colorful flowers and ______ , I went deeper into debt each day buying seeds, plants, flowers, soil, and pots. I preferred to spend my free time in my garden, without getting ______ . It makes me come alive and I just love that ______ .

I enjoy watering my Garden. It gives me enough physical exercise and sends me back to my work with ______ passion. The everyday sun shines bright on the plants and beautiful butterflies fly above the flowers. I smile with ______ when I cast my flourishing garden.

As China’s catering (餐饮) income reaches record highs, new trends are developing that combine ancient and modern elements. This comes among the noticeable growth of trends like guochao,       1     features modern designs mixed with Chinese cultural elements. Guochao has now found     2     (it) way into dim sum, a traditional food.

Beijing’s time-honored dim sum brand Daoxiangcun, founded in 1895,     3     (become) quite popular among young people in recent years. At Location Zero, a renewed Daoxiangcun store, the counter is filled     4     all kinds of Chinese pastries (糕点) .

The pipa cake, shaped like the traditional Chinese musical instrument, the     5     (delicate) made “paper cuttings” square pastry, and the “jade cabbage” pastry all draw     6     (inspire) from elements of traditional Chinese culture.

Among the new products, the cloisonne cake, like a gourd-shaped (葫芦形) vase, is a special product jointly    7     (launch) by Beijing Daoxiangcun and the Beijing Cloisonne Factory. The gourd shape symbolizes blessings and prosperity (繁荣) , showing the unique beauty of traditional craftsmanship.

With the rapid development of live-streaming e-commerce and cross-border e-commerce, innovations in Chinese dim sum     8     (product) are speeding up. Data from Tianyancha,     9     online query (查询) platform for company information, shows that there are currently over 25, 000 enterprises related to Chinese dim sum.

Chinese dim sum, with its characteristic of being low in sugar and fat, is gradually becoming a new favorite     10     is welcoming new opportunities, gradually moving towards healthier and more diversified channels of development.

5 . ALL DRESSED UP...with nowhere to go? It can hurt when your friend cancels plans at the last minute with a message: “Sorry, can’t make it after all.” But there are plenty of ways to get over the disappointment and make the most of your day.

How to be honest.     1    . You don’t want to make a friend feel bad. But brushing it off with a simple “No worries” might imply that you don’t mind and it’s OK to cancel without thinking.     2    . Let your friend know that you care about what’s happened, especially if you suspect there’s a deeper reason behind their no-show. And it’s good to suggest rearranging plans, so you have something you can look forward to together.

    3    . If the same person keeps cancelling plans with you, it might be time to reconsider the friendship. Have they let you down a lot? Is it often hard to get them to commit to things?     4    . If this is what you suspect, perhaps step back for a while and instead focus on other friendships. If you can, arrange to meet friends who make the effort to spend time with you and whose company you enjoy.

Have a back-up plan. Your original plans may not be possible, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time. Despite the upset feeling, you can still make the most of the time you’ve been given back to focus on yourself.     5    .

6 . Economist Tyler Cowen argues that traditional interview methods are not effective in determining the best candidates for a job, especially in creative roles. Candidates who are well-prepared often pass these interviews, but this only tests their preparation and not their abilities.

To determine the best candidate, Cowen suggests that interviewers concentrate on authenticity (真实性) and spontaneity (自发性) in their interactions with candidates, rather than relying on pre-written questions.

The interviewer should be trustworthy, Cowen argues, as it helps them better evaluate the authenticity of candidates. Eventually, “better allocation (分配) of talent” contributes to economic growth, and more thoughtful interview methods can help identify more talented individuals and elevate (提升) them to greater opportunities. Cowen adds, “There are too many interview questions, and every interviewer is ready. For example, ‘What mistakes did you make in your previous job?’ But many candidates just didn’t prepare well and didn’t provide a good answer. So in most cases, for better candidates, you are actually just preparing for testing. But for more creative jobs, you will lose candidates with other qualities.”

“How to get people into what I call the “Real Mode” largely depends on who they are, as well as who you are. If I am interviewing a candidate, my favorite discussions are just those without scripts. I prefer to have these conversations without asking questions. I hope they are natural. I like spontaneity — how to achieve it depends on the environment, work, how much time you have, and many other factors.”

“An estimate suggests that since the 1960s, 20% to 40% of US economic growth has come from “better talent allocation”. If we had a fresher and more creative interview process, I do think people would be more thoughtful. They will think more deeply about the work they will be engaged in. I think we will find talents that we haven’t seen so far. We will enable more people to have greater opportunities.”

7 . Dr. Francis Collins, a renowned American scientist with both an MD and a PhD, holds an outstanding place in the scientific community. His groundbreaking work in mapping the entire human genome (基因) represents a monumental achievement in the history of science. In a recent interview, Dr. Henry inquired about the origin of Collins’s dedication to a life in science. Collins owed his contribution back to a remarkable high school science lesson.

In this particular class, students were presented with sealed boxes containing unknown contents. The assignment was to determine what was inside the boxes without opening them, a task that required creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving skills. Collins explained that this assignment captured his imagination and sparked his desire to explore the unknown.

This lesson, Collins explained, was a powerful example of “education from the inside out.” It stimulated a sense of internal curiosity and the urge to seek answers. In contrast, traditional education often follows a “from the outside in” approach, where teachers serve as authorities with the answers, and students are expected to learn and absorb the information. This traditional model can sometimes stifle curiosity and prevent students from developing a deep emotional connection with the subject matter.

Collins’s experience highlights the importance of stimulating a curious mindset in education. When students are encouraged to explore and question, they are more likely to engage with the material, develop a deeper understanding, and memorize the information longer. This “education from the inside out” approach not only benefits students academically but also helps them develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills necessary for success in life.

In conclusion, Dr. Francis Collins’s dedication to science was lit by a high school science lesson that contained the principles of “education from the inside out.” This approach to learning, which promotes curiosity and problem-solving, is crucial for stimulating a deep understanding of subject matter and developing the skills necessary for success. Collins’s story serves as a reminder that we can all be inspired to go after our passions and make meaningful contributions to the world through the power of education.

8 . Manager Jan Millward has a background in facilitating activities for older people and also in farming. She describes the service: “Many people who are here have worked the land all their lives and need to get outside. When men come here, they feel they have a purpose. The Countrymen’s Club cares for them and supports their families. Their wives take breaks for two to three hours a week and precious time to speak to other ladies.

“While the men are here, they can engage in woodworking, assist with animal care, or cultivate vegetables. Some simply desire a friendly conversation. We’ve even set up a polytunnel (塑料大棚) for them to pick flowers for their wives.”

Located in Ryland’s Farm, a humble house filled with tools and craft projects stands as the heart of the Countrymen’s Club. Here, the men gather with support workers to reflect on their day, perhaps sing a song and enjoy the tea and cake to their hearts’ content.

Ryland’s Farm becomes lively with activity as people tend to the animals. Some walk down the path, actively participating in planting. Jan explains: “When someone is referred to us, we invite them for a session. For instance, we once had a gentleman who was struggling with emotional despair. Building back his self-confidence and belief in himself was a gradual journey. We all need a sense of purpose in life, one that goes beyond the loneliness of being alone.”

Amid the background of Ryland’s farm, Glenn Hamblin trims (修剪) the garden’s bushes and shares his experience: “I had heart problems and needed quadruple bypass surgery(四重搭桥手术) . I have been in agriculture all my life. It’s made a world of difference to me. It’s not the place but the people who make it special.”

Acknowledging the crucial roles that farming and rural communities play in ensuring food security, environmental preservation, and local job opportunities is inspiring. It’s equally encouraging to witness innovative solutions emerging to address the unique needs of these rural populations.

9 . From Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga to Wicked: Part One, 2024 is shaping up to be a thrilling year of films. Here’re some you have to see at the cinema.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

(May 24, 2024)

It’s hard to believe it’s been almost a decade since the superb Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) , but George Miller is finally returning with the sequel (续集) this year, and it looks promising. While Charlize Theron played the so-called Furiosa in Fury Road, this time Anya Taylor-Joy will be the actor to tell her origin story as she is taken and trapped between two warring cruel rulers and tries to find her way back home.

Inside Out 2

(June 14, 2024)

Returning with a sequel to 2015’s surprisingly emotional Inside Out, Pixar picks back up the story of Riley and the emotions who control her inside her brain. Now a teenager, Joy (Amy Poehler) and the other core emotions are joined by new addition Anxiety (Maya Hawke) and some other, unconfirmed emotions as well, judging from Anxiety saying “we wanted to make such a good first impression” in the advertisement.

Wolves

(September 20, 2024)

This highly anticipated movie sees Hollywood royalty Brad Pitt and George Clooney reunite for their first film together since 2008’s Burn After Reading. After showing their on-screen chemistry in the Ocean’s Eleven permission, the Jon Watts (Spider-Man: No Way Home) directed film follows two lone wolf fixers assigned to the same job.

Wicked: Part One

(November 27, 2024)

This one has been a long time coming! Originally announced all the way back in 2012, the first act of the film adaptation of the multi-award winning musical Wicked is nearly here.

It is a prequel (先行篇) to the beloved The Wizard of Oz, telling the story of Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West, played by Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda (the Good Witch, played by Ariana Grande) in the years before the tornado transported Dorothy and Toto to the magical land of Oz.