Bob’s problems began during his formative years. His parents got divorced when he was young, and neither of his parents wanted to raise him or his brother and sister, so he     1     (bring) up by a foster family chosen by a social worker in the community.

Unfortunately, his foster father was a strict authoritarian and often beat him. Bob rebelled against this strict upbringing, and by the time he was eight years old, he     2     (run) wild, stealing from shops and playing truant. When he reached adolescence, sometime around his thirteenth birthday, he had already appeared in court several times, charged     3     juvenile crimes. The judge blamed his foster parents,     4     (explain) that children needed responsible parents and guardians who would look after them properly. The foster father didn’t agree with the judge and objected to this, pointing out that Bob’s two brothers and sister were well-adjusted children who behaved at home and worked well at school.

This has raised some interesting questions about the modern family system.     5     it is true that parents should not be too lenient with children by letting them do     6     they want,     7     too over-protective by sheltering them from the realities of life, it is also true that they should not be too strict. It has also highlighted the disadvantages of the modern nuclear family     8     the child has only its mother and father to rely on or the single-parent family, in which the mother or father has to struggle particularly hard     9     (support) their dependents.     

In fact, many people believe that we     10     return to traditional family values and the extended family: extensive research has shown that children from these families are generally better behaved and have a better chance of success in later life.

It’s odd — we’re always talking about the healthy work-life balance and know that working long hours can lead to stress, anxiety, and    1     (depress). Yet, we continue to devote more and more time     2     our jobs. In fact, research shows that 80% of workers answer emails and return phone calls after hours.

People believe long hours on the job to be proof of their work ethic (职业道德). And no matter how much we’d like     3     (think) there’s a direct correlation between hours worked and results produced, it might not actually be the case. Quite the contrary — doing overtime     4     (find) to lead to lower productivity.

A study     5     was made by Ford Motor Company in the 1990s already showed that every additional 20 hours of work could only increase productivity     6     (temporary) before it drops. Another research indicates that working more     7     48 hours a week is associated with significant declines in productivity, more     8     (mistake), and more mental health problems.

Clearly, doing overtime     9     (be) not a sustainable way of working, and that’s why it’s time for us to rid     10     (us) of the always-on mentality. The key is not to add more working hours to your day but to increase efficiency during your working hours. But how can we achieve this?

Gather together a couple of good friends and take a leisurely walk through the streets—this is what many youngsters in China enjoy doing when they pay a visit     1     a new city. To them, Citywalk means “wandering around the city” on foot. Participants can follow a special urban route, exploring old     2     (building) or enjoying real local snacks.

The origins of Citywalk can be traced (追溯) back to London, England. Strictly speaking, this form of urban tourism     3     (be) not as casual and aimless as it may appear. In the beginning, Citywalk referred to tours where participants followed a     4     (plan) route under the guidance of tour conductors, exploring deep into the city’s history, culture, landscapes     5     other aspects. Gradually, the concept of Citywalk,     6     focuses on the quiet appreciation of urban lifestyle and cultural atmosphere, has gained popularity worldwide.

Up to now, the Citywalk trend     7     (spread) from first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai to second-tier and third-tier cities, encouraging more participants and event organizers to get involved. Some organizers invite folk culture researchers and enthusiasts (爱好者)     8     (act) as tour guides.

In short, Citywalk not only offers     9     way for young people to interact with a city but also provides them with a new social scene, where people wit the same interests and ideas can     10     (easy) make friends.

The internet and its cultural impact are most often viewed through the lens of the “tech bro”. Biographies, and memoirs about these big-tech bosses have shaped readers’ understanding of    1     the online world changes the offline one. But these books rarely mention the principal figures who have shaped the experience of being online: social-media influencers.

Influencers—the (usually female) people behind the most popular accounts on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube—have large followings, often in the hundreds of thousands or millions. People like Jackie Aina, Matilda Djerf and Molly-Mae Hague earn a living from a combination of sponsored posts, commissions     2     (make) through associate links and by creating their own brands, from fake tan to eyeshadows.

Though they shape digital culture, too often influencers     3     (dismiss) as fame-hungry celebrities, who post about the details of their lives and mindlessly promote branded products for eye-watering sums. But a new crop of books takes the influencer industry    4     (seriously) by exploring the way social media’s most popular users are reshaping the global economy and changing what the average person views online.

Taylor Lorenz,     5    technology writer for the Washington Post, is a leading voice on social-media trends and internet culture. Her book, “Extremely Online”, argues that influencers hold huge power: “Tech founders may control the source code,     6     it is users who shape the product.” Charting the history of the influencer from the 1990s to today, Ms. Lorenz argues influencers rose by making fame and luxury less “sealed off”. Like reality-TV stars, early influencers created a new, niche sort of celebrity, popular enough    7     (draw) attention but still unrecognizable to most.

Ms. Lorenz makes the case that, despite its bad rap, influencing has “given more people the chance to benefit directly from their labor than at any other time in history”,     8     (entertain) readers with stories about “mommy bloggers” turning the pain of parenthood into six-figure businesses and teens becoming multi-millionaires through short comedy skits.

Some experts estimate as much as 90% of online content could be AI-generated by 2026.     9    the number of believable posts and photos produced by AI soars, influencers will face significantly more competition for internet users’ attention. No influencer,     10    skilled they have proved to be at using the internet to gain popularity and profits in the past, is guaranteed to retain any kind of influence in the next technological transformation.

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.