5 . In simpler times, we never had to consider a loved one’s privacy when gift-buying. But as technology has continued its high-speed advance and growth at all costs, many companies and the products they create have long been skirting (回避) adequate data and privacy protection, leaving users at risk. For example, the audiobook reader you give to your children to send them to sleep at night now captures (捕捉) data on what they like.

As we continue to integrate (整合) the Internet into more of our devices and cover our homes and lives with cameras, microphones and trackers, the lack of data protection and privacy is becoming dangerous. Very few companies are being honest about how they collect, store and use data, and the only loser is the very individuals who use these products.

But that, right there, is the one chance consumers have to turn the tide.

The change starts with us. Buying a small device isn’t simply buying a product anymore; it’s a conscious decision about whether you trust the company behind it to work in your best interests and keep you safe. It’s your responsibility as a consumer to be aware of this choice and act on it. In an ideal future, it won’t require hours of research- -whether done by the buyer or by organizations- -to buy safe, responsible products. But for now, it’s the best option available as these companies continue to get a free pass.

We can demand more. We must demand more. We can demand that privacy and security be taken seriously by the companies who build the products we buy. Yes, technology has vastly improved our lives, but that shouldn’t come at the cost of our safety. So if you want to give someone a gift, give them the gift of privacy. It’s the only way to make the Internet -and our lives-a little safer in this digital world.

7 . Every 40 days a language dies. This “catastrophic” loss is being intensified by the climate crisis, according to linguists. If nothing is done, conservative estimates suggest that half of all the 7,000 languages currently spoken will be extinct by the end of the century.

Speakers of minority languages have experienced a long history of persecution (迫害), with the result that by the 1920s half of all indigenous (土著的) languages in Australia, the US, South Africa and Argentina were extinct. The climate crisis is now considered the “final nail in the coffin” for many indigenous languages and the knowledge they represent.

“Languages are already endangered,” says Anastasia Rachel, director of the Strathy language unit at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. Huge factors are globalization and migration, as communities move to regions where their language is not spoken or valued, according to Rachel. “It seems particularly cruel,” she says, “that most of the world’s languages are in parts of the world that are growing unpleasant to people.” Vanuatu, a South Pacific island nation measuring 12, 189 km², has 110 languages, the highest density of languages on the planet. It is also one of the countries most at risk of sea level rise. “Marty small language communities are on islands and coastlines easily subject to hurricanes and sea level rise,” she says. Others live on lands where rising temperature threatens traditional farming and fishing practices, leading to migration.

In response to the crisis, the UN launched the International Decade of Indigenous Languages (IDIL) in 2022. Promoting and conserving languages of indigenous communities is “not only important for them, but for all humanity”, said Csaba Korosi, the UN general assembly president, urging countries to allow access to education in indigenous languages.

8 . Keeping fit often means sharing a busy pathway with cyclists,runners and walkers,but imagine facing the task of doing it all without being able to see or hear.It is a challenge many disabled athletes face,unless someone agrees to be their eyes and ears.

Newly formed group Achilles Brisbane pairs visually and audibly impaired (视觉和听觉受损的) athletes with people who would like to guide them.

Jane Britt,president of Achilles Brisbane,who is—vision and hearing—impaired,said,“When we go out,it’s much less frightening to have someone beside us that has full hearing to listen for us and tell us what’s there.”

Ms.Cullen and Ms.Britt meet up most Saturday mornings to take part in the five-kilometer park run.Their partnership is built on trust,but Ms.Britt said that it took time to develop.

Ms.Britt said it took an unexpected storm for her to trust Ms.Cullen completely.“There was violent rain,my glasses were broken and we were walking together.I suddenly had to tell her I couldn’t see anything,and I was going to have to completely trust her.From that time I knew it was going to work because she was so good about dealing with the special situation we both found ourselves in,” she said.

Isabella Allen and her seeing eye dog Tatum are two new additions to the Achilles Brisbane.Ms.Allen kept active by rowing,running and cycling but found it difficult to keep going as her vision became worse.After nearly giving up completely,she worked up the courage to ask Achilles Brisbane to find someone to share a boat with her.

Ms.Allen said the fear of not finding anyone to row with almost stopped her from reaching out to Achilles Brisbane.“But,they found people and matched me to them,” she said.“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Did you grow up in one culture, your parents come from another, and you are now living in a     1     (total) different country? If so, then you are a third culture kid.

The term ”third culture kid“     2     (use) in the 1950s for     3     first time by John and Ruth Useem. They first came across this phenomenon (现象) while     4     (research) North American children living in India. Usually third culture kids benefit from     5     (they) intercultural experience and they often get good grades.

Yet many     6     (difficulty) may arise from this phenomenon. Third culture kids may not be able to adapt (使适应) themselves completely to their new surroundings. Also, they often find it hard     7     (develop) new friendship. Moreover, for a third culture kid, it is often    8     (easy) to move to a new country than to return to his or her homeland. For example, after living in Australia for many years, Louis finally returned to the country     9     she was born. She didn’t know anything about popular TV shows or fashion trends. And she didn’t share the same values     10     other teens of her age.

10 . Twenty-five years ago, most young Britons wanted a career in law, to be a doctor, or, if they were creative enough, to take up singing. But today, things stand differently.

According to a survey by Tesco Mobile, a UK company, the “dream job” of young people aged between 16 and 25 in the UK is a video blogger(博客), or “vlogger(视频博主)”. The survey, carried out among 1,002 people, found that as much as 40 percent of them put vlogger as their number one choice on a list of ideal careers.

This change is undoubtedly as a result of the Internet and social media. They have made it so much easier to reach audience of the world, without having to enter a career in show business in the traditional way.

In the past, the biggest stars were trained by the Hollywood studios; now, anyone with a computer camera can become a star. Vloggers are the big stars of today because they are normal people interacting(互动) with their fans about everyday life.

However, what people see is only the bright side of being a vlogger and they fail to notice the fact that only those who are successful earn fame and fortune. For every success there are hundreds of others who never get off the starting line. There are the dreams that come true and the dreams that remain dreams forever.

Although being vloggers is popular, some young people choose to follow careers that don’t necessarily earn them fame, but allow them to make good use of the Internet to share their hobbies. Young Israeli David Leshaw, for example, runs a business called the Finishers Club. It’s an online platform(平台) for runners to keep a record of their races. His job allows him to express his enthusiasm, and is always a learning experience. And that’s enough for him.