1 . We’ve all done it before—dropped a box of unwanted household belongings at a flea market and driven off with a sense of accomplishment. But have you ever stopped to think about where those items actually go?

Business journalist Adam Minter began considering this while cleaning out his late mother’s home. Seeking reassurance that his mother’s donated items would be put to good use rather than destroyed, he started a journey worldwide that resulted in his latest book, “Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale”. He found the industry significantly in the dark, with a disturbing lack of data on secondhand goods, despite their crucial role in clothing, furnishing and educating people worldwide.

In this book, Minter fully reveals himself as an investigative journalist. He doesn’t shy away from the commonly-accepted assumptions about the global trade in used goods. First, Minter questions the idea that shipments of secondhand clothes from developed countries to Africa have destroyed local textile industries (纺织业). That’s overly simplistic, he says. He further explains that multiple factors, such as declining cotton production in local areas and economic liberation, have influenced the situation.

Minter then explores the topic of car seats, making a statement that recycling car seats, instead of selling them secondhand, is wasteful and might compromise (危害) safety for children in developing countries. It is disturbing to say so in a society that prioritizes child safety and highlights zero risk, but when you consider the excessive caution that might endanger children’s lives elsewhere, the situation starts to look different.

Minter calls it “waste colonialism,” this idea that developed countries can apply their own safety standards onto the markets of developing countries—and it’s deeply wrong. Why label an used car seat or an old TV as unsafe if someone else, with different skills, is perfectly capable of repairing it and willing to use it, especially if they lack access to new products and other options?

The book explores the huge problems of handling surplus (剩余的) items and how producers discourage repairs and promote the sales of new products. Minter calls for initiatives to enhance product repairability and increase product lifetime.

3 . One third of adults over 65 in America have never used the Internet, and half don’t even have Internet access at home. In San Francisco, “the center of tech”, 40% of older adults do not have basic digital literacy skills.

This situation is becoming appalling as over 10,000 Americans turn 65 every single day. By 2050,22% of Americans will be 65 or older. Meanwhile, technology is developing very fast. This means that a large number of people will be unable to proficiently use emergent technology.

Many people believe that seniors aren’t required to participate in our tech future because they’ll be retired and relaxed soon. But this is the farthest thing from the truth. Baby boomers are currently experiencing a different boom: With more people getting older than ever before, their life expediencies are also increasing dramatically. With medical advancements, the number of American people projected to live into their 90’s has doubled since 1965.

However, they don’t have strong financial or educational support. This is not a problem; it’s a crisis. More than half of employees over 50 have been laid off in what’s being called ”forced retirement“. And few organizations are actively helping older employees make the transition from full-time jobs to part-time ones. For those fortunate enough to be employed, 3 out of 5 older workers experience prejudice.

The easiest solution is to teach digital literacy. If baby boomers want to survive the forthcoming retirement crisis, they should get enough digital knowledge and skills to operate today’s tools and tomorrow’s platforms. With every crisis comes an opportunity. Tutoring, customer service, editing, research, book-keeping, and other virtual assistance-based work open the doors. But again, digital knowledge is first required to live in our high-tech society and gig economy. So try to get more online and navigate the growing number of sites and apps.

6 . Research among 2,000 adults showed that about four out of five find small talk with colleagues in the office annoying, especially if it involves football or children. Talking about the weather, or asking someone how their weekend was, was also listed among annoying subjects, according to the study by Hyper Recruitment Solutions.

Most of those surveyed said they had experienced rudeness at work, including being reprimanded（训斥）in front of colleagues or personal remarks about their clothes or possessions.

Half of those asked admitted to avoiding making coffee for themselves at work so they didn’t have to make one for colleagues. A report said, “While employees are direct on some issues, they’d rather avoid the situation completely than feel it is a duty to make coffee for others.”

The report also suggested most employees found that physical contact in the workplace was acceptable, including a kiss on the cheek, high fives or hugs. Ricky Martin, founder of Hyper Recruitment Solutions, said, “We often hear and read in the media how physical contact at work isn’t acceptable, yet the results suggest otherwise. Of course, physical contact isn’t always appropriate or well received, so I would advise it should be essential to be aware of factors such as personality, religion and culture.”

What might be regarded as friendly in one culture may be considered as deeply offensive in another. However, as the results suggest, should the relationship be there and requited（回报）, it shouldn’t be frowned upon（反对）for colleagues to hug, give high fives or give one another a pat on the back.

You are on your way     1     a concert. At a crossroads, you see a group of people, all     2    (stare) at the sky. Without even thinking about it, you stare upward, too. Why? In the middle of the concert, someone begins to clap     3    . suddenly the whole room joins in. You do, too. Why?

Sometimes social proof determines that people feel that they are behaving    4    (correct) when they act the same as other people. In other words, the more people follow a certain idea, the better or truer we consider     5     idea to be.

Why do we act like this? Well, in the past, following others    6     (be) a survival strategy. Suppose that one day 5,000 years ago, you were traveling with     7     (you) hunter friends. Suddenly, they all ran away. You would have run, too. We are later generations of those who copied     8    . (others) behavior. This pattern is so deeply rooted in us that we still use it, though it offers few survival     9     (advantage) today.

Social proof is the evil behind many things. The advertising industry, for example, often makes use of it. Therefore, be skeptical whenever a company claims its product is the    10    (popular) of all.

8 . Parents can often be concerned about giving eggs to their babies, as they commonly cause food allergies. If you have a family history of allergies, you will need to be more cautious about the introduction of new foods. Always talk to your GP first if you have any concern.

However, it is best to offer your baby well cooked eggs before 12 months of age. A single egg contains essential minerals like copper, zinc, calcium and iron. It also has proteins, cholesterol, fat, fatty acids, vitamins D, B12 and E, chorine and foliate. All of the above nutrients are essential for the healthy growth and development of infants. Delayed introduction of these foods has been shown to increase the chance of developing a food allergy.

As the baby is around six months old, mash (捣碎) one hard-boiled egg and serve it to your baby. For a more liquid consistency, add breast milk or water. From the eight month mark, scrambled egg pieces make a fantastic finger food for your little one. When you’re offering new foods to kids, it’s a good idea to do it during the day instead of the evening, so you can keep an eye on response if they have an allergic reaction.

Food containing raw or minimally cooked eggs can contain salmonella (a type of bacteria), which is why it’s advised to wait until your child is 12 months or older before serving half cooked eggs. When starting solids, you should make the introduction of different foods gradually, both in terms of quantity and the speed of feeding. Ensure it consists of very basic, natural foods, such as fruit and vegetables, which can be managed by their still sensitive digestive system.

Remember that encouraging your little one to accept a wide variety of healthy foods early on in his or her life will have plenty of benefits later, when he or she begins to express his or her personal eating preferences.