A. defined B. popularized C. wordlessly D. alarming E. proposing F. nonexistent G. withdrawn H. springing I. assumed J. seriously K. seeking |
A growing number of Japanese have become recluses(隐居者). Pressure from work and society is causing some to escape.
About a year ago, Mika Shibata's youngest son returned to the family home and went
The Shibata family's pain is shared by many others in Japan. The government says there are more than 1 million hikikomori, or recluses,
A handful of
When the phenomenon became widely noticed over a generation ago, few understood it. Recluses were considered lazy or odd. Mental-health care was scarce and official support
Parents felt responsible and were too embarrassed to look for help. But even now, occasional crimes involved recluses cause concerns that they are dangerous, says Morito Ishizaki, a recovered hikikomori who runs a magazine for sufferers.
In fact, he explains, they are rarely criminals. Many have just collapsed under pressure at school or work and have
Support groups are
Ageing parents often come
More than half of Japan's recluses are now aged over 40, according to a Cabinet Office survey this year. That shocked the government, which had
Tamaki Saito, a psychiatrist who
place ride however with after deal bravely better feel remind different |
Located in one of Beijing’s most active art communities, the Loneliness (孤独) Museum is always very crowded.
People may get used to loneliness as they get older
Luckily, our society is more tolerant (宽容的) towards this kind of young group, often encouraging them to face this crazy changing world
A. academics B. advocate C. camp D. cease E. debate F. disaster G. fears H. polarized I. run J. universal K. wages |
Will a Robot Really Take Your Job?
“47 percent of American jobs are at high risk of being automated by the mid-2030s.” It is one of the most widely quoted data of recent years. No report or conference presentation on the future of work is complete without it. It has been pointed to as the evidence of an upcoming job
At one extreme are the negativists. They warn that mass technological joblessness is just around the corner. One
At the positive end of the debate, classical economists argue that in the past, new technology has always ended up creating more jobs than it has destroyed. It was several decades before industrialization led to significantly higher
Frey is often assumed to be in the first
A. prevent B. colour C. threatened D. discrimination E. demand F. nonviolent G. armed H. equally I. rapidly J. race K. detailed |
The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Long Struggle for Freedom
In the spring of 1941, hundreds of thousands of whites were employed in industries mobilizing for the possible entry of the United States into World War II. Black labour leader A. Philip Randolph
The fight against fascism during World War II brought to the forefront the contradictions between America’s ideals of democracy and equality and its treatment of racial minorities. Throughout the war, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People(NAACP) and other civil rights organizations worked to end discrimination in the
After the war, and with the onset of the Cold War, segregation and inequality within the US were brought into sharp focus on the world stage, prompting federal and judicial action. President Harry Truman appointed a special committee to investigate racial conditions that
A. recorded B. roughly C. especially D. narrow E. advocate F. transformation G. challenge H. emitting I. changing J. address K. strive |
“Climate change is moving faster than we are,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said back in 2018 in his
The essential goal of the Paris agreement of 2015 has been to limit the rise in average global temperatures to no more than 2℃ above pre-industrial levels — a time period centered
But with carbon dioxide levels in the global atmosphere topping 420 parts per million — the highest level in
With a 1.5℃ rise, about 4% of Earth’s terrestrial land area is projected to undergo a
According to the UN’s 1.5℃ report, the world’s countries
Despite the great
The path “is
A. published B. weight C. obesity D. beginning E. less F. vulnerable G. admissions H. rise I. reduction J. Globally K. impacts |
The climate crisis is damaging the health of fetuses (胎儿), babies and infants across the world, six new studies have found.
Scientists discovered increased heat was linked to fast weight gain in babies, which increases the risk of
The studies,
“From the very
The link between heat and rapid
Hotter temperatures also increased the number of admissions of young children to emergency departments in New York City, another new study found. The scientists looked at 2.5m admissions over eight years and found that a 7℃
The burning of fossil fuels drives the climate crisis but also causes air pollution and a new study in Denmark assessed the impact of dirty air on 10,000 couples trying to conceive naturally. It found that increases in particle pollution of a few units during a menstrual cycle led to a decrease in conception of about 8%.
Wellenius said an important aspect of the studies was that they showed that
A. unique B. proud C. well off D. poverty E. shoeshine F. selected G. stand H. Unfortunately I. Currently J. digital K. earn |
Staying Connected Far from Home
In Chad, the refugee camp of Danamadja stands in the midst of a forest. Here, staying connected is a challenge. “Most of the young people who want to use the Internet have to walk long distances to connect to the network,” says Mahamat Djida, 25, who owns a phone-charging
In addition to helping stay in touch with families and friends, mobile phones and the Internet offer young people opportunities to cope with life in the camp. Adam Souleymane, a 16-year-old
It is vital to advocate for improved access to
A. defined B. aiding C. trends D. dominate E. typical F. loss G. necessities H. featured I. mark J. survive K. appliances |
American Decoration in the Middle of the 20th Century
Home decorating has come a long way over the decades. Certain elements that began as
No one knows what home decoration of the future will look like. But if we look back through history, we can guess which design elements will come back—and which will disappear forever.
The Great Depression affected every aspect of American life—including decoration. People were just trying to
It’s impossible to describe the 1940s without mentioning World War II. During the first half of the decade, home design took a backseat to
Post-war America was a lot happier and shinier than recent decades. With a prospering middle class and a healthy economy, people had more time and money to devote to new pursuits—like decorating their houses.
The unfussy furniture made popular by Charles Eames started to
The 60s brought about many changes to American culture and home design was no exception. People wanted to show off their unique sense of style more than ever before. Homes weren’t just seen as a
Clearing Your Plate with Tech
A. identifying B. unknowns C. recognized D. diners E. contribute F. cherish G. officially H. collectively I. swept J. concerning K. restricted |
Multiple actions have been taken to fight food waste, but one young man is making a big difference with technology.
Liu Jichen, 23, a student from Tsinghua University, has developed a WeChat mini-program called “Clear Your Plate”. After a meal, users can access the mini—program and take a picture of their empty plates. Once the image is
Liu and his team, together with other organizations, launched the “Clear Your Plate” campaign in November for the third year. It has
The idea to develop such a mini-program came from Liu’s experience in a canteen. In 2017, he found that a restaurant would give
“Technological innovation is a good way to reduce food waste,” Liu thought. He organized a team of 20 members to work on the project at the end of 2017. To solve the AI’s problem of
”There were so many
Thanks to his innovative and practical actions
“We hope our efforts can start a new trend among the younger generation by encouraging them to
A. respond B. typically C. minority D. prediction E. cruel F. posted G. frightened H. attain I. eventually J. accidental K. happier |
Are you ready for your 15 minutes (or more) of fame?
Cheng Yunfu has been quietly making noodles in his small Shandong village for the past fifteen years. During that time he hasn’t raised the price; it’s still 3 yuan a bowl. However, someone
“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” This celebrated quote appeared in a 1968 exhibition of American artist Andy Warhol’s work in Stockholm. This
Unlike Cheng and his
There is also the problem of losing your privacy and facing criticism from your fans. Those who follow Internet celebrities may come to believe they are your closest friends and get angry when you don’t