Teenagers are often misunderstood. They are at a stage in their lives     1     they are trying to figure out who they are and what their place is in the world. It can be a     2     (challenge) time for them, but it is also an exciting time of growth and self-discovery.

One of the biggest misunderstandings about teenagers     3     (be) that they are lazy and unmotivated. While it may be true that some teenagers struggle     4     motivation, many others are passionate and driven. They have big dreams and aspirations and are willing to work hard to achieve them. Whether it is excelling in school     5     pursuing their interests outside of the classroom, teenagers have the potential     6     (achieve) great things when they     7     (give) the opportunity and support. Another common misunderstanding is that teenagers are rebellious (叛逆的) and difficult. While it is true that they are more likely to question authority, this is not necessarily a bad thing. It is a sign that they are developing     8     sense of identity and learning to think for themselves. Teenagers need guidance and boundaries, but they also need the freedom to express     9     (they) and make their own decisions.

In order to better understand and support teenagers, it is important to recognize their     10     (individual) and potential.

In recent years, China has been working hard to improve living conditions in rural areas through a program called the New Rural Development Initiative.    1     goal of this initiative is to improve infrastructure (基础设施), modernize farming practices, and enhance the overall quality of life for those     2     (live) in the countryside.

One important aspect of the initiative is the improvement of rural infrastructure    3       includes the construction of better roads, bridges, and watering systems     4     (improve) the efficiency of transportation and agricultural activities.

Another key focus is the promotion of modern agricultural    5     (technique). By introducing advanced farming methods and technologies, such as organic farming and the use of

machinery, farmers are able to increase their productivity and income     6       damaging the environment.

Furthermore, the initiative emphasizes the importance of preserving traditional culture and heritage in rural communities. Efforts    7     (make) to regenerate local traditions, which not only enriches the cultural     8     (diverse) of the countryside but also creates new opportunities for cultural tourism and sustainable development. The initiative also aims to enhance the living environment in rural areas through the restoration of traditional houses     9     the construction of public facilities.

Through the initiative, China is working hard to create a more prosperous (繁荣的) and     10     (harmony) countryside, providing its rural residents with better opportunities and an improved quality of life.

4 . Want to know what is coming soon to a cinema near you? Probably not a 1.5-hour-long movie, as in the old days. On October 20th comes Killers of the Flower Moon. At nearly three and a half hours, its length is nearly double that of the average film last year. Even movie fans struggle to concentrate for that long and some viewers even nod off. Afterwards there is a mad dash for the toilets. When does watching a film become such a slog?

The Economist analyzed over 100,000 feature films released internationally since the 1930s, the start of Hollywood’s golden age, using data from IMDb, a movie database. The average length of productions rose by around 24%, from one hour and 21 minutes in the 1930s to one hour and 47 minutes in 2022. For the ten most-popular titles, the average length grew to around two and a half hours in 2022, nearly 50% higher than in the 1930s.

One driver of this trend is that studios want to squeeze the most out of their costly intellectual property (知识产权), but they are competing with streaming platforms for eyeballs. The hope is that a spectacular, drawn-out “event” movie will draw audiences away from the small screen and into cinemas. This approach has often paid off: Avengers: Endgame Marvel’s three-hour superhero masterpieces, was the highest-grossing (票房最高的) film in 2019. Last year long movies series made up most of the highest-grossing films in America.

Another explanation for longer films has to do with directors’ growing influence. Who would dare tell the likes of Mr. Nolan to cut out his masterpieces? Moreover, streaming platforms, which do not have to worry as much about the length because viewers can pause whenever they like, may attract big names by promising them sufficient fund and creative freedom. Netflix funded and released three-hour The Irishman in 2019, a film that would have benefited from a decisive editor, Irish or otherwise.

5 . Like many young Chinese, Zuo had been raised from a young age to be “a good student”. As long as she followed the rules and worked hard, money and success would naturally followed. Zuo had followed the instructions to the_________. She aced exam after exam, winning a place at a prestigious college inBeijing. However, when Zuo sent out a sea of job applications , She didn’t just fail to_________her preferred role; she didn’t receive a single_________.

For Zuo, the failure came as a crushing_________. Being a high flier, she was emotionally unprepared for such a setback. She struggled with anxiety for months: unable to sleep,_________ by guilt, and feeling compelled to repeatedly apologize to her parents and teachers.

But the ordeal (磨难) has left a profound impression on Zuo. The former teacher’s pet has transformed into a passionate_________of what she calls the ”good student mentality.“ In January, Zuo set up a group on Douban named “Victims of the Good Student Mentality,” and it has quickly attracted a passionate following.

“Good students” like Zuo tend to be_________vulnerable (脆弱的) to mental health issues. Successive studies have found that high achievers are more likely to_________ anxiety, depression than the general population. This is because high achievers like Zuo often excessively rely on _________ validation (认可) to support their self-esteem, leaving them unable to cope with setbacks. Over time, students __________ the externa world’s evaluation criteria as their own standard for self-assessment.

It’s clear that a diverse range of young people can__________victim to the “good student mentality.” Luckily, in Chinese education system, there is growing __________that student anxiety is a serious problem. A teacher in Shanghai, surnamed Dong, tells that “the good student mentality” is becoming ever more prevalent, with well behaved, introverted children__________seeking praise and awards as a way to __________their self esteem. If they fail to meet the school’s incredibly high standards, there’s a risk that it will trigger an emotional __________.Hence, Zuo recently wrote a welcome message offering new members some advice: “Be kind to yourself; challenge the norms; treat yourself well.“ And, most importantly:” You can be a “bad” kid.

7 . Why do we laugh at movies like Office Space or shows like The Office? What’s so funny about work?

Steve from California shared. “During a meeting, my boss praised our colleague, saying how handsome he is. The team felt awkwardly surprised, until my boss corrected, ‘No — it’s great how hands-on he is!’ Everyone laughed, easing the tense atmosphere from the meeting. ‘Well, he is handsome, too!’ I defended jokingly, and we al laughed again!”

Office may seem like a serious place. But, according to a study, introducing some laughter into work life can contribute to our well-being and productivity. In fact, finding humor is one of the practices we teach students in our online course. The funny stories they shared remind us that a little playfulness goes a long way toward a more enjoyable work life.

Laughter serves to create and strengthen social bonds in humans — as well as in our chimp (黑猩猩) ancestors. One evolutionary theory claims that laughter first appeared in these ancestors as a response to signal that they are safe at present and a relief to others after something unexpected occurs. This also has implications in modern times, and it may explain why colleagues who laugh more together tend to enjoy a more safe or comfortable environment and a greater sense of unity among teams.

Feeling comfortable in our work environment can enable us to think openly and take risks — a basis for finding creative solutions at work, contributing to our productivity. According to one study, managers who use humor at work are more likely to reach their unit’s target goals. What’s more, employees who say that their manager “makes us laugh at ourselves when we are too serious” or “uses humor to take the edge off during stressful periods” are more likely to trust their manager, and feel a sense of belonging at work.

Of course, humor isn’t always called for — particularly if it’s a distraction from our tasks or keeps us from seeing and addressing real problems at work. But in many situations, sharing jokes with colleagues and finding humor in the chaos can make work a little more fun.