1 . Some 20 percent of adults are procrastinators (拖延症患者). Everyone might put off a task or two, but long-term procrastinators do it at home, at school, at work and in their relationships.

For years, researchers have focused on the personalities of people who procrastinate. The results suggest procrastinators may be impulsive (冲动), worriers and have trouble regulating their emotions. But procrastinators are not lazy. They’re actually very busy doing other things than what they’re supposed to be doing. Though procrastinators may think they perform better under pressure, studies have reported the opposite. And when deadlines are uncertain, procrastinators tend to delay their work.

When people put off a tough task, they feel good-in the moment. Procrastinating is a way to avoid the negative emotions linked to the task. But the relief it provides is only temporary, and many seek out ways to stop procrastinating.

In fact, most research today suggests procrastination is a behavioral pattern, which means it’s something you can change, regardless of whether you’re impulsive. What works best is still under research. Some scientists have reported success with time management. But the evidence for that is all over the map. That’s because poor time management is a symptom not a cause of procrastination.

For some procrastinators, seemingly obvious tips can work. Researchers advise students to simply put down their smartphones. Silencing notifications or studying in the library rather than at home can regulate distractions and keep people on task. But that won’t be enough for many people. Stubborn procrastinators may benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy (认知行为疗法). This type of therapy, which involves managing thoughts and emotions and trying to change behavior, seemed to be the most helpful. Still, not many studies have examined treatments, and there’s room for improvement.

2 . “If you buy things you do not need, soon you will have to sell things you need.” This is a piece of wise advice from Warren Buffet, arguably one of the greatest financial minds of the 21th century.     1     This is true especially in the present economic climate.

While the idea of being frugal(节俭的) has long been a part of Eastern culture, the relatively recent growth of wealth in China as well as the ease of purchasing has led to increased consumerism for many across the country. Yet this increased consumption of goods has been pushing up the prices of certain bare essentials such as housing, transportation and food, which is forcing people to reevaluate their priorities while spending money.     2    

The internet is flooded with advice on where one can save money as well as good opinions about how they should spend their money. For example, clothes can be bought second-hand, but you should never skip a visit to the dentist.     3     In the meanwhile, you should limit those that are fancy but not entirely necessary. Of course, it is still fine to occasionally spend money on a nice vacation, but buying thirty pairs of shoes you will only wear a few times is neither responsible nor sustainable.

Hopefully, we all fully understand at this point that the resources on the earth are indeed limited.     4     As a result, the choice (forced or not) to be frugal is not only good for one’s wallet, but also beneficial to the planet in the long run. Have you ever chosen to starve yourself to get a pair of limited-edition sneakers?     5    

3 . A diverse workforce consists of people from all walks of life. These are employees who will view the world differently, and who will apply their personal experience to contribute unique viewpoints which can benefit your company.     1     There are still more real and immediate benefits of diversity in the workplace.

When employees with different viewpoints come together, everyone shares a slightly different approach to the job and the problem at hand. And that’s a benefit, as far as your success is concerned.     2     They’re diverse too, after all.

Meanwhile, workplace diversity boosts creativity. Think about it this way: sameness causes sameness. If you only hire employees coming from similar cultures and socioeconomic circumstances, you’re limiting the creativity and innovation of your company.     3    

In general, people like to fit in, so they are careful not to stick their necks out. When in a strong, homogenous (同种类的) culture, they prevent the natural cognitive (认知的) diversity in groups through the pressure to follow the majority.     4     No matter who they are or where they come from, this inclusiveness helps them break down barriers and reduce the fear of being rejected.

    5     A diverse workforce gives you a diverse and global perspective — a point of view rich in incredible slight differences in human experience and culture — and that means you will have a greater chance of expanding into more diverse markets, both at home and abroad.

7 . The topic “slash youth”,   referring to those refusing to be defined or bound by just one personal identity and choosing to undertake multiple careers, has fueled heated debate on social media. On Douban, a Chinese social networking platform, the topic has attracted about 11,000posts and has been viewed over 400 million times. China’s young people are keen to share their slash youth stories online, presenting themselves as multiple and sometimes distinct identities, such as a nurse and model, a teacher and stand-up comedian, and an engineer and musician.

Xing Eryang, a 31-year-old female resident in Beijing, founded the Douban topic in 2021.While staying diligent about her daytime work, she is developing her hobbies, including stand-up comedy and vlogging, into secondary careers during her spare time. And she is amazed to find her “slash life” philosophy followed by so many of her peers.

Weiheng, a 26-year-old woman in Guangzhou, and Tang Yuhan, a 27-year-old man in Xuancheng city, Anhui province, are both participants in the topic, with their stories earning thousands of likes so far. The two are both musicians in their spare time, even though they are thousands of miles apart and have different jobs in media and finance. Their passion for music has grown since college and they didn’t abandon their enthusiasm, even after entering the workplace.

Their reaction showed the gap between the young and former generations. “My parents used to say,   ‘music cannot earn you money’,   so the band thing was regarded as a waste of time. However,   we want to pursue whatever we love and are willing to pay for it.” says Weiheng.

“The ‘slash life’ mania(狂热)shows that, along with China’s economic development, our society is becoming more and more diversified and inclusive, and it welcomes everyone’s self-fulfillment,” says Shi Yanrong, an   associate researcher from Tianjin Academy of Social Sciences. “Young people no longer have to rely on work and money for their sense of self-worth. They tend to practice a carpe diem(活在当下)philosophy and create their own identities.”

8 . Every time I take time off with my family, I tend to reflect on how technology has impacted our lives. It’s when we try to _________ the technology that we realize just how much we have _________ it. What happens when we have to _________ our own imagination and mind when there is no technology? If you ever stood in a long line and _________ went for your phone, you know what I am talking about.

When my family and I go on a trip together, it usually takes a few days for my kids to finally _________the fact that they have to let go of their electronic devices. They go through a withdrawal period (戒断期) where Mom is “the worst” for expecting them to go a few days without _________. I need to be _________ here. I am writing about my kids but the _________ is that I _________ withdrawals as well. I find myself having to use all my willpower just to __________looking at emails.

It has become a(n) __________ that vacation time is quality family time and when we are together, there are no __________. When vacation mode sets in, it becomes easier to __________ the technology and enjoy the moment. My children start to share stories and we find ourselves having fun just spending quality time together. __________, it always surprises me how quickly we __________ to our regular routine once the __________ is over. It becomes part of my __________ once I am back at work to have the phone beside me at all times.

Do you use technology as a tool to improve productivity or communicate and connect? Or, has technology become a(n) __________ that contributes to devaluing ( 贬值) “real life”__________with the people right in front of you?

So, spend __________ time with your loved ones and become engaged in the moment.

9 . ChatGPT, a new chatbot model developed by US-based AI research laboratory OpenAI, has quickly become a hit globally due to its advanced conversational capabilities,

It can write emails, computer codes, even academic papers and poems, and has passed a number of tests within seconds. Academicians worldwide are discussing whether AI should be used in education. Some universities have banned it. The New York City’s Department of Education, for example, banned the chatbot from its public school devices and networks, with some people warning that it could encourage more students to cheat, especially in exams.

Many more welcome this app, claiming that, like most technological advances and groundbreaking innovations in history, ChatGPT is a powerful tool for the development of higher education.

Embracing AI as early as possible is advisable. Higher education institutions should make preparations for including AI in their syllabus (教学大纲). They can start by offering related courses, because by understanding how it works, they can make better use of it. Besides, students with good knowledge of AI are more competitive when it comes to getting a good job, as an increasing number of jobs are being done by computer programmes-some in cooperation with humans, AI-powered education technologies can be adopted to make the learning experience more suitable for each student based on his or her strengths and weaknesses. As for professors, AI can free them from doing some dull tasks so they can concentrate on teaching and interacting with students.

Since we cannot avoid ChatGPT and other AI-powered applications from entering the field of higher education, we should make collective efforts to ensure they have a positive impact on society and the future of education Despite AI helping make learning much more interesting and enjoyable, humans need to work very hard to win the race with technology.