1 . Traditionally, the number of meaningful social relationships one can maintain is around 150. This concept finds its roots in the natural development of the human brain. However, in the digital age, where our social connections extend far beyond the geographical boundaries (界限), we easily create more connections with the help of the rising online platforms. Then, a question arises: Does the digital age rewrite the rules of social connection?

A study published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking explored the effect of social media usage on the size of social circles and the closeness of relationships. The researchers found that more time spent on social media made for a larger number of online “friends,” but not a larger number of offline friends. Further, the findings were not linked to feelings of closeness towards online or offline friends.

Another study from the European Journal of Information Systems studied the link between social media usage and “social overload” — the feeling that too much of the energy for socializing is being used up by online relationships. The authors found that social media usage directly contributed to the experience of social overload, related to digital tiredness and dissatisfaction with social media.

With social media platforms rising, one’s ability to connect with people challenges the traditional concept. The brain, used to manage a limited number of relationships, now fights against the difficulties of dealing with a large number of digital connections, leading to a less attention and feeling investment (投入) in a relationship. And the online shallow connections can not develop meaningful, lasting relationships that stand the test of digital distance.

Therefore, in the digital age’s social whirlwind, instead of drowning (淹没) in a sea of weak interaction (互动), choose to engage in meaningful conversations and focus on the handful of relationships that truly fit your heart. Hug the beauty of face-to-face connections, allowing the richness of human interaction to flower beyond the digital world. By doing so, we create digital and physical spaces that truly improve our well-being.

3 . In the August sun, it’s very hot in my car. Tm in Vancouver, approaching the Knight Street Bridge as I try to get home after work. Traffic is slowing down and then it comes to a full stop. I’m _________even before getting on the bridge.

Seconds pass. Minutes pass. I stare at the endless rows of vehicles,_________. Looking at the rows of cars and trucks glittering(闪光) in the sun, I start _________—299, 300, 301—and I give up. Suddenly I remember I’m one of the 300 helpless drivers. When the cars do move, I move_________, making sure not to bump into other vehicles. Finally, I_________it on to the bridge. The traffic is still crawling at a snail’s pace. Tired and hungry, I become very _________. Just then, I hear a faint(微弱的)sound in the distance. The sound gradually becomes_________, until I can identify it as an _________vehicle approaching from behind. What do we do? The bridge is packed. There’s no room for us to move. But I’m wrong. Every single car_________, yet carefully, moves to the side. Without thinking, I follow suit. The lane remains open for a few seconds during which the ambulance __________ through. Afterward, every car moves back into formation(队形) . We__________the emergency lane, ready to continue our patient wait. Back in my spot, I’m awestruck. I forget my__________and hunger. My anxiety is gone. I start__________on what 300 fellow drivers and l just did.

Despite our exhaustion, we __________decided to help the stranger who needed the time more desperately than we did. We drew on our compassion(同情心) and intelligence, requiring no directives. Although I may seem alone stuck on the bridge, I’m__________to all the other drivers. Together we could make the impossible possible.

4 . A trip to Venice will now leave your wallet even emptier. Earlier this year, the city announced that anyone who enters Venice and doesn’t stay overnight is set to pay a fee ranging from 3 to 10euros (about 21 to 70 yuan), depending on factors such as advance booking and whether it peak season or if the city is very crowded. This rule will come into effect in January 2023.

According to The Associated Press, as mass tourism gained popularity in Venice in the mid-1960s, the number of visitors increased year by year. In 2019 the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were some 19 million day-trippers who visited the city.

As more visitors come to enjoy the charm of the distinctive Italian city, lots of Venetian residents have been forced to leave their homes. According to CNN, due to congestion (拥堵) and the increasing costs of delivering food and other goods in car less Venice, around 70 percent of Venetian residents have left the city in the past 70 years.

The government hopes the new rule could help to adjust tourism in the city and “find a balance between Venetian residents and long-term and short-term visitors”, as noted by AP. The money they collect will be used to cleanup waste and maintain the heritage of the city.

Local Marco Malafante, who manages luxury vacation rentals (租赁) in the city, expressed his approval for the move. But a Venetian gondolier, simply called Cuba, was worried and thought the government moves would “commercialize (使商业化) ” the city and disturb the lives of ordinary people. “Entering Venice will be like entering a museum. I don’t think the measure will help the problem of transforming Venice into a Disneyland, with fake (假的) glass shops and piazza sellers replacing the old artisan (工匠) shops, “Cuba told CNN.

6 . Have you felt annoyed when a cellphone rings during the class? Something must be done to stop this. Now in New York City, USA, a rule is carried out in schools. Students can't even bring cellphones to school. Is it a good thing or not?

Anxious parents say that cellphones are an important tool in holding New York City's families together.

“I worry about it，” said Elizabeth Lorris Ritter, a mother of a middle school kid. “It's necessary in our everyday life. We have a washing machine. We have running water, and we have cellphones.”

“I have her call me when she gets out of school，” said Lindsay Walt, a schoolgirl's mother. “ No one in New York is going to let their child go to school without a cellphone.”

What about the cellphone owners, the students? Most of the students say cellphones are essential and that they are like extra (额外的) hands or feet for them.

“I feel so empty，” said May Chom，14. “There is also no way to listen to music on the way to school without my phone. It will be a really, really boring trip.”

2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

As to the online course, it is extreme convenient and flexible in time to learn from something. However, there are many different courses who are from different teachers or institutions. You can learn them over or again. Then there’re social forums where you can communicate with other learners, helped to improve your understanding.

But on the other hand, you can't see and feel teachers as in traditional classes. You will also fail to enjoy the liveliness in it. And a great quantity of problem will not get solved in no time when meet them. So you can try the online course, and you can also learn in the school in the same time.

8 . A generation ago young people longed to become lawyers and doctors. Now they desire to be the next Oscar winner or famous pop star. But one university psychologist has pointed out that this is damaging our self-image and sense of self-worth. Over recent years people around the world have been suffering from an increasing fear of their own “insignificance”, according to Dr. Strenger of Tel Aviv University.

He began a project on the phenomenon 10 years ago, after noticing an increase of fear in his own patients. His findings note hundreds of research projects that have recorded an unprecedented (前所未有) increase in levels of anxiety and depression. By using a wide-ranging framework Dr. Strenger thinks he has given the accurate cause. “The impact of the global entertainment network on the individual is to blame,” he said. “A new species—global man—is born and we are defined by our close connection to the global entertainment network, which has turned ranking and evaluating people according to wealth and fame into an obsession (狂热).”

As humans we naturally measure ourselves by those around us, but now we live in a “global village” where we are comparing ourselves with the most “significant” people in the world - and finding ourselves not good enough. Today, even high achievers constantly fear that they are insignificant when they compare themselves to success stories in the media. “This creates highly unstable personality and an unstable society,” Dr. Strenger said.

Dr. Strenger says people should stop measuring their achievement through the cultural fantasies of rich and famous people. The remedy (治疗方法) is a process that he calls “active self-acceptance” through a continuing search for self-knowledge through life. The fear of insignificance can only be overcome through strong individual and cultural identity over and above measurable achievement. “People should invest time and thought in their personal growth from different aspects in the same way they invest in medical studies and law school,” Dr. Strenger advises.

9 . The term "healthy obesity" has gained value over the past 15 years,but scientists have recently questioned its very existence."Our new findings suggest that health measures may be necessary for all obese（肥胖的）individuals, even those previously considered to be metabolically（代谢的）healthy,"says study first author Mikael,"Since obesity is the major driver changing gene expression in fat cells,we should continue to focus on preventing obesity."

Obesity has been a global problem,affecting approximately 600 million people worldwide and increasing the risk of heart disease,stroke,cancer,and so on.But in the 1970s and 80s,experts began to question the extent to which obesity increases the risk for these disorders.Later studies in the late 90s and early 2000s showed that some obese people show a relatively healthy life.

However,there are no accepted measures for measuring metabolically healthy obesity,and whether or not such a thing exists is now up for discussion."Our study suggests that the idea of metabolically healthy obesity may be more difficult than thought,"Mikael says,"There doesn’t appear to be a clear line that separates obese subjects with high or low insulin（胰岛素）sensitivity,indicating that obesity is the major driver explaining the changes in gene expression."

One limitation of the study is that it examined gene expression only in white fat cells,not other types.Moreover, all of the obese subjects were scheduled to experience obesity operations,so the findings may only apply to people with severe obesity.In future research,Mikael and his group will track the study patients after surgery to determine whether weight loss normalizes gene expression responses.They will also look for specific genes linked to improved metabolic health in these people.

In the meantime,the study has an important take-home message."Obese people may not be as metabolically healthy as previously believed,"Ryden says.

10 . Over and over again I meet babies desperately    1    (try) to “read” a magazine with fingers. I am constantly shocked: How can these parents stay at ease when their kids    2    (harm) so much from technology? How on earth can they not know what a magazine is in other ways?

Researchers from Canada looked at this. The results were not good, especially for younger children. They found that parents that used technology too much negatively affected their    3    (children) sense of security. Besides, babies need imagination, not instant satisfaction, which is    4    screens often provide. “Babies are often distressed and put into bad mood when they turn to their parent    5    a connection and discover the parent is uninterested,” they wrote.

Being involved in too many electronic devices (设备)    6    (be) bad. But the idea that parents should spend all of their free time ensuring kids are well-developed is actually a modern concept – and an    7    (absolute) unrealistic one. Our kids will just be fine if we hand over the iPad at a restaurant to have a grown-up conversation.

I’m certainly not arguing that hours upon hours of screen time is a good idea for kids,    8    that we shouldn’t try to have their view    9    (broad). But who among us didn’t give our parents    10    much-needed weekend break by sitting in front of Saturday morning cartoons?