BeijinghasmadehistoryasthefirstcityintheworldtohavehostedboththeSummerandWinterOlympics.Let’slookbackonsomeoftheimportantfactorsthatmadethe2022BeijingWinterOlympicGamessoimpressive.
InrecognitionofBeijing’sstatus(地位)astheworld’sfirstcitytohostboththeSummerandWintergames,the2022Olympictorchfeaturedasimilardesigntothe2008Olympictorchbythesamecolorcombinationandartisticforms.Whattrulytookviewers’breathawaywasthemomentwhentorchbearers(火炬手)passedtheflametoanotherduringtheOlympicTorchRelay.ThetwoOlympictorcheslockedintoeachotheratthetop,whichrepresentedfireandice,symbolizinghowitwouldbringlightandwarmthtothewintersportsscene.
TheWinterOlympicmascot“BingDwenDwen”,acartoonimageofapandawearingaspacesuit,likeawintersportsathletefromthefuture,hasenjoyedwidepopularityathomeandabroadsinceitsfirstappearancein2019.“BingDwenDwen”isagreatcombinationofChinesecultureandtheOlympicspirit.“HopefullyBingDwenDwencanbecomeaclassicandleavelastingmemoriesinOlympichistory,”saidCaoXue,headoftheBeijing2022mascotdesignteam.
Soonaftertheannouncementof“BingDwenDwen”,Beijingorganizersalsointroduced“ShueyRhonRhon”asthemascotofthe2022BeijingParalympic(残奥会)WinterGames.
Asthecountdowntothe2022BeijingWinterOlympicscontinued,thenewhigh-speedrailwaylineconnectingthecapitalwithOlympichostcityZhangjiakoubegantoenterservice.Bycuttingthetraveltimebetweenthetwofromthreehoursto47minutes,thebullettraincanrunupto350kilometersperhourwithoutadriver,becomingtheworld’sfirstsmarthigh-speedrailway.So,whatmakesthem“smart”Well,equippedwith5Gsignals,intelligentlightingandsensorstocollectreal-timedataanddetectanyoperationalproblems,thetrainscanautomaticallystart,stopandadjusttothedifferentspeedlimitsbetweenstations.
IhadjustarrivedinthisAsiancountryforaone-yearteachingposition.Oneday,Itookasubwaytovisitsomeancientpalacesandtemplesinthedowntown.Whathappenedtomenextonthesubwayhastaughtmemuchaboutculturedifference.
Sincealltheseatsweretaken,Istood.Suddenly,Ifeltsomeonepullingonmybag.AssumingIprobablywasinsomeone’sway,Imovedoverslightly.Butinonequickmotion,Ifeltmybagremovedfrommyback,andinaflash,itwasgone.Iturnedaroundtoseewhothethiefwas.Ilookedatthepeoplestandingbehindme,butdidn’tseemybagoranyonesuspicious.MyheartbegantobeatwildlyandIbegantopanic.
Ilookedaround,onlytofinddirectlyacrossfrommewasanelderlylady,andsittingonherlapwasmybag.Itriedtogetitbackfromherlap.ButasIbegantopullitup,shequicklytookitbackandheldontoit.Ilookedaroundatthepeoplestandingbesideme,andthosesittingbesideher,butnoonetookanynoticeofthesituation.Tryingnottocauseascene,Itriedtonegotiatethroughgestures.IusedmyhandsasmuchasIcould,butsheignoredmyrequestsformybagandpointedtomyback.Shepickedupmybag,showinghowheavyitwas.Ifinallybegantounderstand.Shewasholdingmybagtohelpme.
Atthenextstop,amiddle-agedwomangotonthecrowdedsubway.Anotherelderlywomansittingdowntookherbag,settingitonherlap.Theydidn’ttalk;yetthisolderwomanwasmorethanpleasedtositwiththisstranger’sbagonherlapthroughoutherjourney.
AsthesubwaypulledintothemaindowntownstationandIwasgettingreadytogetoff,thewomangentlyhandedmebackmybag.ButbeforeIhadachancetothankher,shehaddisappearedintothecrowd.
Morethan2,000yearsago,ancientChinesepeoplecreatedanentireframeworktomarkthepassageoftimeinayearbasedonobservationofthesun’smovement,called“The24SolarTerms”.
Intheinternationalmeteorologicalfield,the24solartermsarerecognizedas“thefifthinventionofChina”.In2016,the24solartermswereincludedintheUNESCO’sRepresentativeListoftheintangibleCulturalHeritageofHumanity.
The24solartermsare:StartofSpring;RainWater;AwakeningofInsects;SpringEquinox;ClearandBright;GrainRain;StartofSummer;GrainBuds;GraininEar;SummerSolstice;MinorHeat;MajorHeat;StartofAutumn;TheEndofHeat;WhiteDew;AutumnEquinox;ColdDew;Frost’sDescent;StartofWinter;MinorSnow;MajorSnow;WinterSolstice;MinorColdandMajorCold.
SummerSolsticeandWinterSolsticearethetwodaysoftheyearwiththelongestandshortestamountofdaylightrespectively,whileSpringEquinoxandAutumnEquinoxaredayswiththemostbalancedamountofdaytimeandnighttime.Throughthesefourpoints,ayearisdividedintofourparts:Spring,Summer,AutumnandWinter.
Inancienttimes,thissystemnotonlyguidedagriculturalproduction,helpingfarmerstoexpectthechangesintemperature,springplantingandautumnharvest,butalsodirectedChinesefolkcustoms.Forexample,WinterSolsticewasthefirstonecreatedamongthe24solarterms,andlaterturnedintoafestivalheldinhonorofHeavenandancestors.EveryyearatWinterSolstice,emperorsoftheMingandQingdynastieswouldgototheTempleofHeaventoholdaceremonytohonorHeaven,prayingforgoodweatherfortheircrops,andpeaceandwealthforthecountry.
Nowadays,the24solartermscouldnotonlybeappliedtofarming,butalsoguideChineseineverydaylife.Theyremindpeopletoadapttothechangesintheseasonsthroughsuitablefoodsandculturalceremonies.Seasonalcustomsstillenjoywidespreadpopularity,suchaseatingspringpancakesatStartofSpring,sweepingancestors’tombsatQingming,gainingweighttokeepwarmatStartofAutumnandeatingnutritiousfoodtostoreenergyatStartofWinter.TheyhaveactuallybecomeimportanttraditionsinChineselife.
Thisancienttimesystemhasgainednewcharminthenewera.Itreflectstheemotionalconnection,thewisdomandcreativityoftheChinese,whorespectandliveinharmonywithnature.Ithasadeepimpactonthewaypeoplethinkandtheirprinciplesofconduct.
Withlowtemperaturesandalackoffood,winterisahardseasonforanimals.Manyanimalsenterhibernationtogetthroughit.
Hibernationiswhenananimalgoesintoastateofcontinuousinactivity.Animalshideawayfromnaturalenemies.Theirmetabolismwillslowtolessthanaquarterofitsnormalrate.Thiscoolsthecreature’sbodyandslowsitsheartbeattojustafewtimesperminute,foruptomonthsatatime.
Butwhydon’thumanshibernateHumanhibernationdoesn’texistformanyreasons.Ourbodyisnotdesignedforhibernation.Ourancestorsweretropicalanimalswithnohistoryofhibernating.HumanshaveonlysettledintemperateareasandtheareasneartheNorthPoleinthelasthundredthousandyearsorso.That’snotquitelongenoughtoevolvealltheadaptationswewouldneedtobeabletohibernate,accordingtotheBBCScienceFocusMagazine.
Forexample,wastemanagementisahugechallengeforhumanhibernation.Animalsthathibernateareabletobasicallystoptheirurinationduringhibernation,sinceanimalscanreabsorbthewastetheirbodiesproduceduringhibernation.Unfortunately,humanscan’tdothis.
Thereareotherchallenges.Bodytemperaturesbelow2.8℃tendtodamagethehumandigestingorgansandmaycausepain.Coldtemperaturescanalsodestroytheimmunesystem,leavingthebodywideopentoinfections,accordingtoSmithsonianMagazine.
Infact,humansdon’tneedtohibernatethroughwinter.Wehavediscoveredfire,clothes,shelter,huntingandagriculture,allofwhicharemuchmoreeffectivewaysofsurvivingthecold.
CouldhumanshibernateinthefutureForlong-distancespacetravel,it’slikely.AjourneytoMarswouldtakemonthswiththetechnologywehavemastered.Ifwehopetovisitanotherstarsystem,evenifwecouldtravelatthespeedoflight,thejourneywouldtakeyears.Beingabletohibernatewouldmakesuchdistancesconsiderablylessboringfortheastronautsandsavekeyresources,accordingtoUniversityofOxfordintheU.K.
Thereisanoldstoryaboutanarmyoffrogsthatwerejumpingthroughtheforestonedaywhentwoofthemsuddenlyfellintoadeephole.36Thefrogsoutsidetheholeallbegantosadlyshaketheirheadsandcroakoutwarnings.“It’stoodeep!”croakedonefrog.Anothercroakedthattherewasnowaytheywouldeverbeabletogetoutalive.
Thetwofallenfrogsbegantocontinuouslyjumpastheyattemptedtogetout.Butthefrogsthatwerewatchingkeptcroakinglouderatthemthattheymightaswellstop.37.Oneofthetwofrogsfinallygaveup,followedtheiradviceanddied.
38,inspiteofalltheloudcroaksofdisapprovalfromthefrogsaroundthetopofthehole.Theykeptcroakingathimtoquitjumpingandsavehimselffromallthepainandsufferingashejumpedandfellbackdowntothebottomoverandover.
39.Theotherfrogsaskedhim,“Howdidyoumakeitwhenweyelledandcroakedatyoutostop”Thefrogexplainedtothemhewasdeafatthattimeandthathehadthoughttheywerecheeringforhimandyellingwordsofencouragementtohimtheentiretime!
Alittleencouragementcangoalongway.Wedon’toftenthinkabouttheeffectthatourwordshaveuponothers.40
ZhangGuimei,whohas________her40yearstoeducationinaChina’ssouthwesternarea,isa“mother”andheadmasterwhohasignited(点燃)thehopesofmanygirlswiththelightof________.
At17,sheleftherhometownHeilongjiangforYunnanprovince.WhileteachinginHuapingcounty,shesawmanygirls________ofschoolduetopoverty.Itsaddenedherverymuchandmadeher________thataneducatedfemaleisabletochangethesituationofpovertyinafamilyandeventhefate(命运)ofthreegenerations.In2002,Zhangwas________tobuildafreeall-girlshighschool,inhopeofchangingthefutureofthegirlsinthemountainsandliftingthemoutofpoverty.
In2007,Zhang________areportinBeijingatthe17thCommunistPartyofChina(CPC)NationalCongress.Herreport“Ihaveadream”madeherdreamofbuildingafreeall-girlshighschool________toall.
Ayearlater,Zhang’sschoolwas________,becomingthefirstfreeall-girlshighschoolinChina.Beforeitwassetup,lessthan50percentofthestudentsinHuapingtookhighschoolentranceexams.However,thefigure________toover90percentlastyear.Inthepast,ruralgirlsinthecountyoftenhadnochoicebutto________atayoungage.Today,an________numberofthemaregoingtohighschoolsforeducation.Duringthepast13years,theschoolhashelpedover1,800students________theirdreamsofgoingtouniversities.
Duetoherselflesswork,Zhangwas________CPC’stophonorJuly1MedalattheGreatHallofthePeopleinBeijing.Attheceremony,shesaid:“ThethingswehavedonearewhatmanyCPCmembersaredoingeveryday.________I’mstillcapable,Iwillstandintheclassroomtogivemyall,whichIwillneverever________”sheremarked.
Everyyear,hundredsofthousandsofpeoplesetoff56Quebectotakepartintheweek-longwinterfestival.Everyonemustbepreparedtokeepmoving,asitistoocold57(stand)forlong.
Earlyinthemorning,youcanwatchvarious58(compete)suchasskiingandsnowboardingonthehill.Oneofthefavoriteeventsisthedog-sled(雪橇)race.Eachteam,which59(make)upofsixhuskydogs,pullsalongsledatgreatspeed.Onepersondrivesthesled,60(shout)tothedogstoencouragethem.Thesoundofdogsbarking,theshoutsofthedriversandthecrowdscreatean61(extreme)excitingnorthernexperience.Whileadmiringtheicesculptures(雕塑)everywhereinthecity,youcanstopoffwithother62(tourist)inanicehouseforhotteaandcoffee.Itisamazing63warmtheseicehousescanbe.Laterintheevening,youcandanceoutsidetothemusicofaband,64membersarealldressedinheavyclothes.
Inspiteofthefreezingcold,thecityisfilledwith65(warm)inthefestivalatmosphere.
IamLiHua
Yours,
LiHua
IalwayswonderedhowpeoplewouldreactifItriedtoapproachastrangerforhelpinabusyplacelikeastreetcornerorinabustlingmall.Ipersonallyhavehurriedpastastrangerwhotriedtocatchmyattentioninabusyplace.
YesterdayIhadatasteofbeingstuckinsuchadesperatesituationwhereyouronlyhopeofhelpwouldhavetocomefromatotalstranger.
Iwasinabusyshoppingmallbuyingalargepieceofluggage.Afterthepurchaseinoneofthelargeandexpensiveshops,Ipickedupmyphonefrommypockettocallmydriverwaitingintheparkinglotandmyphonewasdead.
Ithenrequestedtheshopassistantsellingmetheluggage,whichwasnotcheapatall,ifshecouldringthenumberofmydriverforme.Shereplied,stillallsmiles,“I’msorrySir,butitistheshoppolicythatwecannotusemobilephoneswhileworkingintheshop.”
AsIwaswonderingwhatkindofpolicythatwas,Isawanice-lookingteenageboycomingtowardme.Remembermywife’sinterestingtheorythatbeautifulpeoplearemorelikelytogiveyouahandwhenyou’reintrouble,IthoughtImighthaveachance.ButbeforeIcouldsayaword,hewalkedpastme.Itturnedouthesimplydidn’tseeme.
Iwaitedinthemallbutitseemednobodybotheredtolookatme.Disappointedandtired,Igotoutoftheshopontothebusystreetinfront.Istoodtherewithpeoplerushingby,lookingattheirfacestoseeiftheywillshowkindnesstome.IbeganwonderinghowmanytimesIhadreactedtostrangersliketheshopgirlandtheteenager.
ThatwaswhenIsawayoungmotherwithhertwokids.
FinallyamanwearingacheapT-shirtanddirtyjeansseemedtonoticeme.
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