頁共Onthisdayandage,youprobablygetyourinformationfromvariouswebsitesandsocialmedia.Becausefakenewsisspreadingandbecominginfluentialinthisdigitalage,it'simportantthatyoudon'ttakeeverythingyoureadatfacevalue.Thevolumeofinformationencountereddailymakesitnecessarytotakeananalyticalapproachtowhatyoureadtomakesureitisreliable.Severalskills,includingcriticalthinking,whichmeanslookingforevidence,logicandcontext,areimportant.Thisskillhelpsyouidentifygapsininformationandpotentialmistakesorcontradictions.Usingsearchengines,databasesandothertoolstolocatetrustworthysourcessoyoucancrosscheckwhatyouarereadingisalsohelpful.Theyallowyoutofind,accessandusetrueinformation.Makethemostofyourdigitalknowledgebyusingdifferentformats,platformsandmediatogetanduseinformation.Identifyingfakenews,propaganda(宣傳)andclickbaitfallsunderthisskill.Youalsoneedastrategytodeterminewhetheronlinecontentcanbetrusted.MikeCaulfield,aresearchscientistattheUniversityofWashington'sCenterforanInformedPublic,createdtheSIFTmethodtodothat.Thisapproachhelpsyouanalyzeanddecideifonlineinformationisreliable.UsetheSIFTmethodwhenyoucomeacrosssomethingyouwanttoshareoruse.First,STOPandcheckyouremotionalresponsetotheheadlineorinformation.Manyheadlinesaredesignedtogetclicks,sotheytrytostirupaperson'semotionsaboutatopic.Askyourselfwhatyoualreadyknowaboutthetopic.Doesthesourcehaveagoodorbadreputation?Next,INVESTIGATEthesourcebylookinguptheauthorandwebsitecreators.Aretheycredible?Isitone-sidedinformation?Whatistheirgoal?Don'tusethesite's"AboutUs"sectiontofindout;readlaterally(橫向地)toseewhatotherssayCheckwhatseveralothersources,allofwhichneedtoberespectable,sayaboutthatsitetoseewhetherornotyoucantrusttheinformation.ThenFINDbettercoveragetoseeifothersourcesbackuptheinformationorargueaboutit.SiteslikeSorFactC,whichtrytobeunbiased,canhelpyouuncoverfakenews.ThelaststepistoTRACEclaims,quotesandmediabacktotheiroriginaltexttoseeiftheywererepresentedDoesthisinformationsupporttheoriginalBeingabletocarefullyevaluateinformationwillkeepeveryonebetter答案：Generally,criticalthinkingcanhelpidentifyincorrectnewsinthedigitalera.Besides,SIFTmethodprovidedbyMikeCaulfieldcanhelpjudgewhetherornotonlinenewsisworthyoftrust.First,stopbeingfooledbyatopic.Then,investigatetomakesurethesourceisdependable.Third,findotherevidencesforit.Finally,tracetheissue.(57w)TheFearofTakingRisksMayBeHoldingYouYourbrainwilltrytoconvinceyoutoplayitsafeandtellyouthatyoucan’tsucceedorthatyoushouldn’tbothertryingsomethingnew.Butevenwhenthesethoughtslackarational(理性的)basis,wesometimesallowouranxietytoprevail(占上風(fēng)).Theproblemisthatweoftenbaseourdecisionsonemotionratherthanlogic.Weincorrectlyassumethatthere’sadirectrelationbetweenourfearlevelandtherisklevel.However,learningtotakehealthyriskscanimproveyourlife.Ifyoufindyourselffearingtotakehealthy,calculatedrisks,therearetwostrategiesthatcanhelp.Tobeginwith,balanceyouremotionswithlogic.Toooften,wethinkourfearisrelatedtotheleveloftherisk.Thescariersomethingfeels,theriskieritmustbe.Drivingacarprobablydoesn’tfeelrisky,butgivingaspeechmightfeellikeahugerisk.Yetyourchancesofinjuryordeatharehigherwhenyou’rebehindthewheel.Spendafewminutesthinkingabouttheactuallevelofrisk.Askyourself,“WhatriskdoIactuallyface?HowcanIhandleitifitdoesn’tworkInaddition,increaseyourchancesofsuccess.Therearestepsyoucantaketoreducetheriskthatyouface.Spendtimepracticingaspeechbeforeyoudeliverit,whichcouldincreaseyourchancesofsuccess.Ratherthanspendtimetryingtodecreaseyourfear,putyourenergyintoincreasingyourchancesofsuccess.Facingyourfearsisakeycomponentindevelopingthementalstrengthyouneed.Ithelpsyoulearntotolerateuncertaintyandanxiety.Italsoprovidesyouwithachancetosharpenyourskillsandlearnfromyourmistake.Withpractice,youcangetbetteratcalculatingrisk.Andasyouimprove,yourchancesofsuccesswillskyrocket.答案：Fearofrisksholdspeoplebackduetoemotionalratherthanlogicaldecision-makingHowevertwostrategiescanhelpyoutakehealthyrisks.First,balanceemotionswithlogicbyassessingactualrisklevels.Second,boostsuccesschancesbyfocusingonpreparation.Facingfearshelpsbuildmentalresilience,improveriskcalculation,andenhancesuccesslikelihood.(49words)WhatisAI’sRoleinArtAsartificialintelligenceadvancesacrosscreativefields,aquestionemerges:DopeoplewantAItobecomeanartistorsimplyatoolforartisticcreation?EvidencesuggeststhatwhilethepublicisincreasinglyfamiliarwithAIsystems,theywouldprefertoseeAIsupportinghumancreativityratherthanreplacingit.Akeyreasonliesinthehumandimensionofart.Whenpeoplepicturetheirfavoriteworks,say,VanGogh’sTheStarryNight,whattheyvalueisnotmerelytechnicaldeliverybuttheemotionaldepthtiedtohumanexperience.Inarecentsurvey,over60percentsaidtheywouldvaluetheirfavoriteartworklessiftolditwasAI-produced.Theirresponseshighlightasharedbelief:Peopleseektheimaginativestrugglesandpersonalhistoriesbehindcreativeworks,aqualitymachinescannotgenuinelycopy.Concernsaboutoriginalityandcopyrightstrengthenthisresistance.RespondentscriticizedAIoutputsasunoriginal,seeingthemasmerereflectionsofmodelstrainedonvastquantitiesofhuman-createdmaterials.Thepossibilityofunauthorizeddatauseandunclearartisticownershipfuelsdistrust.TheseworriesrevealwhypeoplehesitatetoviewAI-generatedmaterials–especiallyfilms–asrealart:Itlacksclearauthorshipandtruecreativeintention.YetattitudesshiftwhenAIassistsratherthanreplaceshumanartists.Forty-twopercentofparticipantsregardedusersofAIasartistswhoprovidedclearcreativedirection—asignofopennesstohuman-AIcollaboration.Thisperspectivepointstoarealobstacleintoday’screativeworld:Manyindividualswithideaslacktheresourcesorskillstorealizethem.Insuchcases,AIcanserveasanenablingtool,loweringcostsandexpandingaccesstocreativeexpression.Ultimately,peoplevalueartasahuman-centeredmeansofconnection.WhileAIcanbroadenartisticpossibilities,it’sbestusedasatoolthatsupportsandenricheshuman答案：MostpeoplepreferAItosupportratherthanreplace,humancreativityTheybelieveAIartlacksemotionaldepthandhumanexperience,whichareessentialtogenuinecreation.Meanwhile,worriesaboutoriginalityandcopyrightdeependistrustinAIworks.Yet,withmeaningfulhumanguidance,AIenablesmorepeopletorealizetheirartisticvisionsbyloweringfinancialandtechnicalbarriers.(58words)ThePressureonParentstoTrainTheirBabies’Relax,butbeonconstantalert.Followyourinstincts,butdoexactlywhatthescientistssay.Amidsuchafloodof“expert”advice,isitanywonderthattheexperienceofmodernparentingcanoftenfeelexhausting?Thankfully,researchersarequestioningthisstress-generatingsituation.Itallbeginswiththeideaof“intensiveparenting”,coinedinthe1990s,describingaparentingstandardthatparentsneedtobesharplysensitivetotheirchildren’scognitive,psychologicalandemotionalneedstoshapetheirbabies’brains.Unfortunately,itturnsmanyofparenting’spleasures—suchassmilingalongwithyourbaby—intocriticallyimportantworkwhich,ifnotperformedadequately,putsthatchild’sfuturehealthandhappinessindanger.However,theevidenceusedtoexplainhowbabybraindevelopsisoftenflawed—whetheritisaresultofsmallsamplesthataremorelikelytoturnupweirdresultsorstudyingchildrenwhohaveexperiencedextremeneglectandtheninferringmoregenerallessonsfromthis.Worsestill,suchresearchtakesashortpathtobecomingpublicpolicy.TakeAvisionforthe1,001criticaldays,aUKgovernmentreportpublishedin2021,whichstatesthattheinfantbrain“becomeshardwiredbythebaby’searliestexperiences”.Similarnarrativeshavebeenadoptedbyvariousorganizationsthatframeparents’interactionswiththeirbabyasacrucialwindowforshapingthatchild’sfuture.Ofcourse,thereisaplaceforscienceinunderstandingchilddevelopmentandparenting.Ratherthananalyzingtheparent-childrelationship,thinkhowbabiesandchildrenreallylearn.Theydosofromeveryone,notjusttheirparents,andaredoingitallthetime—throughwatching,listeningandplaying.Ratherthanattempttoshapeinfantsintoaparticulartypeofperson,parentsjustneedtoprovideasafeandstableenvironmentinwhichtheycandevelop.答案：Modernparentingisexhaustingunder“intensiveparenting,”whichtreatsparentalinteractionasshapingbabies’brains.Thoughevidenceforthisideaisweakandbasedonlimitedorextremecases,ithasinfluencedpolicy.Infact,sincechildrenlearnwidelyfromtheirenvironment,parentsmainlyneedtoofferasafe,stablesetting.Doyoueverfeel,withoutanyproof,thateveryonehatesyou?Ifyouranswerisyes,youarenotalone.Itcanoccurafteraneighbordoesn’tsayhello.It’shearingthatthebosswantstochatwithyouandimmediatelyassumingyou’regoingtobefired.Thestrategyusedtokeepthepainfulfeelingawayisfawning,anextremeformofpeoplepleasing.Whilefawningcanhelpprotectyousometimes,youmaygettrapped:yoururgetoscanforthreatsandreadothers’feelingsgoesintooverdrive,makingyouseedangerevenwhenyou’resafe.Then,howtostoptheurgetoFirstly,youcanchallengeyourinsightthatsomeoneismadatyoubyaskingsomequestions.Forexample,whenafrienddoesn’ttextyouback,yousometimesthink,“Ohmygosh,isitsomethingIsaid?”Thenyouremindyourselfofthemanytimesthatyou’vereceivedatextthatlatersaid,“Sorry,Iwasinameeting.”So,it’shelpfultopauseandremindyourselfthatyouranxiousmindhasliedtoyouinthepast.Also,checkfawningbehaviorbystartingsmall.Forexample,ifyourfriendsays,“I’mnotmadatyou,”afteryouapologizeforcancelingplans,takeherwordforitinsteadofreplayingtheconversationinyourhead.Getcomfortablewiththediscomfortoftakingwhatpeoplesayatfacevaluewithoutsecond-guessingwhatelsetheycouldsecretlybeLastly,makehonestcommunicationyourgoal.Ifyouarenotinterestedinafilm,behonestinsteadofmakingupanexcusesothatthepersonwon’tbeupsetwithyou.Thispracticemightbeuncomfortableintheshorttermbutsavesyousomuchenergyinthelong-term,anditstrengthenstherelationshipsyoureallyvalue.答案：Youmayfearbeingdislikedandoverreacttoimagineddanger/threats,abehaviorknownasfawning—tryingtoohardtosatisfyotherstoavoidpainTobreakthehabit,youcanquestionanxiousthoughts,startsmallbytakingpeopleattheirword,andaimfordirect,truthfulcommunicationtobuildhealthierrelationships.TheDrawbacks—andBenefits—ofLonelinessisincreasinglyseenasaseriousprobleminmodernsociety,affectingboththeelderlyandmanyyoungpeople.Smartphones,socialmedia,andremoteworkareoftenblamedformakingindividualsfeelisolated.Threerecentbooksexplorethecomplexnatureofbeingalone.“AlltheLonelyPeople”sharespersonalstoriesfromindividualsexperiencingdeepisolation.Theauthor,SamCarr,apsychologist,sensitivelyshowstheemotionalpaincausedbylossoffamilymembers,disease,ordifficultchildhoodexperiences.Afterreadingthisbook,onemaywonderwhetherlonelinessisjustanunavoidablehumanexperience.Actually,Carrsuggestslonelinessisn’tonesimplefeeling,butamixofdifferentunhappyemotionsandunsatisfiedAnotherbook,“Solitude”,writtenbytwopsychologists,showsacompletelydifferentstory,exploringtherewardsoftimespentalone.Itiscommontotreatlonelinessandbeingaloneassimilarconcepts,buttheyarenot.Basedonlaboratorywork,interviewsandsurveys,theauthorsarguethatisolationoffersvaluablebenefits,whichallowspeoplespacetorest,think,andescapeconstantnoiseanddistractions.However,theexperiencedependsentirelyonwhetherbeingaloneisvoluntary.Beingforcedtostayisolated,likeprisoners,isusuallymiserable.“TheSuccessoftheSlippers”presentsamorecriticalviewofmodernisolation.MrBruckner,aphilosopher,callsthepresentperiod“aGreatWithdrawal.”Thebookdescribesasocietywheremosttaskscanbecompletedwithoutleavinghouse.Theauthor’scomment?“Whileit’snicetobecomfortable,youcan’tbuildacivilizationonsoftness.”MrBruckner’smainthemeistheneedforpeopletorelearntheartofaffection.Theauthorbelieves“interactiveisolation”enabledbytechnologycannotreplace“thegreattheatreoftheworld.”MrBrucknersuppliesachecklistforgettingridofenduring,painfulfeelingsofloneliness:“Havewelovedothersenough,givenothersenough,heldothersenough?”Maybeitistimetotrytoanswerthese答案：Thispassageintroducesthreebooksthatexploreisolationfromdifferentangles.“AlltheLonelyPeoplepresentsstoriesoflonelyindividuals,showingthatlonelinessinvolvescomplexemotionalpain.“Solitude”highlightsthebenefitsofvoluntaryisolationbasedonsolidevidence.“TheSuccessofSlippers”describesandcriticizesisolationinmodernsocieties,arguingthattechnologyshouldn’treplacerealhumanaffection.(57words)TheroleofmusicinMusicisallaroundus.It’sanaccessibleandpopularartformwhichaccompaniesourdailylives,soadvertisersspendmuchtimeandmoneysecuringtherightmusicforanadvertisementinordertoboostsales.Researchsuggeststhatthespecificqualitiesofmusicasanartformenhancethescienceofselling.Asoneresearcherputsit,“Musicisthecatalyst(催化劑)ofadvertising.Itexpandspicturesandcolorswords,andoftenaddsaformofenergyavailablethroughnoothersource.”TakethevisuallysimplebutinterestingadvertisementforanairlineinFrance,withthesoundtrackofMozart’sPianoConcertoNo.23,forexample.Itprojectsgreatnessandeleganceinthehopethatviewerswillassociatethosequalitieswiththeairline.Myresearch,whichlookedathundredsofviewercommentsaboutthemusicusedinadvertising,suggesteditwassuccessful.Musicisalsoeffectiveatarousingfeelingsofnostalgia(懷舊之情).Theextenttowhichmusicarousesemotionalmemoriesinadvertisementscreatesassociationswithconsumers’pastexperiences.Agoodchoiceofmusicallowsbusinessestotapintothisnostalgiaforcommercialbenefit.However,theuseofpopularmusicinadvertisingcanalsodevelopargumentsaroundthetensionbetweenartisticeffortandcommercialism.Somepeoplebelieveaworkofartshouldn’tbeusedforthepursuitofprofit.Thefindingsofmystudyshowedthatconsumerssometimespassionatelyopposetheuseofmusicproducedbyrespectedmusiciansinadvertisements,astheybelievethatdoingthisdestroysitspureartisticvalue.Forexample,theuseoftheBeatles’songRevolutionbyoneshoebrandwasseenbysomeasusingJohnLennon’ssongwordtosellshoes.Itmadesomeofitswearerssoangrythattheyrefusedtobuytheproducts.Soadvertisersneedtobecareful.Whiletherightchoiceofmusiccanattractcustomers,thewrongchoicecancreate答案：Advertisersusemusicinadvertisementstoboostsales.Foronething,musiccancreatebrandassociations,projectingthequalityoftheproductForanothermusictapsintonostalgia,boostingcommercialappealHoweverusingcherishedsongscancauseopposition,assomeperceiveitascommercialexploitation,harmingartisticintegrity.Therefore,advertisersmustcarefullyselectmusictoattractcustomers.(57words)Shouldyoubuildacapsulewardrobe（膠囊衣柜Doyoueverstrugglewithchoosingyouroutfitinthemorning?Ifyouhaveafullwardrobeyetstillfeelyoudon’thaveanythingtowear,youmightwanttobuildyourselfacapsulewardrobe!So,whatisthis?Putsimply,acapsulewardrobeisasmallselectionofitemsofclothingthatgowellwitheachother,andarethereforeinterchangeable.Keytothecapsulewardrobeissolidbasics,likeplaintops,and,ideally,neutralcolors,becausetheymakecombinationseasier.Considertheflexibilityofabasicpairofjeans.TheycanbepairedwithsneakersandaT-shirtforarelaxedstyleorajacketpairedwithhighheels,ifyouwanttolookmoresophisticated.Fashionbloggersalsotalkabouttimelessclassics–picturealuxuryblackhandbagthatwillsuitanyoccasionandwon’tgooutofstyle.Butwhymightitbebeneficialtobuildacapsulewardrobe?Well,bylimitingyourchoices,itcanbecomemucheasiertochoosewhattowear,butthereisanotheradvantagetoo–itcanreducetheamountoffastfashion.Fastfashionreferstoclotheswhicharetrendyforjustashorttime,sotheyarequicklyreplacedbynewertrends.Thisresultsincheapandpoor-qualityclothingwhichhashugeenvironmentalcostsaswastegoestolandfill,resultinginanincreaseinpollution.AccordingtoUKclotheswastecharityTRAID,theaveragegarmentiswornjust10timesbeforebeingdisposedof.So,havingacapsulewardrobewithlong-lastingandhigh-qualityclothesshouldhelpreducethis,evenifitmeanspayingmoreinthefirstplace.Buildinganexcellentcapsulewardrobetakestimeandpatience.But,ifyouwanttoreducewasteandhavesomeextratimeinthemorning,itmightbetimetostartbuilding!答案：Acapsulewardrobeisasmall,interchangeablecollectionofclothingbasedonsolidbasicsandneutralcolorsforeasymixingandmatching.Itsimplifiesdailyoutfitchoices,thussavingtime.Italsocurbsfastfashionconsumption,therebyreducingwasteandpollution.Thoughittakesefforts,buildingawell-plannedcapsulewardrobeisworthit.(53SleepHaveyoueverwokenupinthemiddleofthenight,awareofyoursurroundings,yetcompletelyunabletomoveorspeakforafewsecondsorevenminutes?Thisunsettlingphenomenon,oftenaccompaniedbyasenseoffearorpressureonthechest,isknownassleepparalysis.ThistemporaryparalysisisanormalfunctionofyourbodyduringasleepstagecalledRapidEyeMovement(REM)sleep.DuringREMsleep,yourbrainactivelydreams,andtopreventyoufromphysicallyacingoutthosedreams,yourbodytemporarilyparalyzesyourmuscles.Normally,youareunawareofthisparalysisbecauseyouareasleep.Ineverydaylife,certainconditionscanmakesuchepisodesmorelikelytooccur.Notgettingenoughsleepandhavinganirregularsleepschedulearecommonriskfactors.Additionally,itmaybemorecommoninpeoplewhohavehighbloodpressureorwhosufferfromseriousheadaches.Whiletheexactcauseoftheseepisodesisnotfullyunderstood,researchhasconfirmedtheirassociationwithsleepparalysis.Infact,recentfindingssuggestthatsleepparalysiscanhappentoeveryone,withapproximately8%ofthegeneralpopulationexperiencingitatsomepointintheirlives.Fortunately,formostpeople,theepisodesusuallylastlessthanaminuteandoccuronlyafewtimesintheirlives.Studiesshowthatthevastmajorityreportlittledisturbanceafterward.Giventhesefindings,mostpeopledon’tseekparticulartreatment.However,forthoseinneedofhelp,it’sbesttofollowaregularsleepschedule,createarestfulsleepenvironment,andavoidcaffeineorheavymealslateatnight.Shouldtheepisodesbecomefrequentandseverelydisruptive,it’svitaltoconsultaprofessionalhealthcareprovider—commontreatmentsliketargetedmedicationandstructuredbehavioraltherapyoftenworkeffectively.答案：Sleepparalysis,anormalfunctionduringREMsleep,referstoatemporaryinabilitytomovewhenwakingup.Itcanbetriggeredbyfactorsincludingpoorsleephabitsandweakphysicalcondition.Althoughcommon,itdoesnottypicallyrequiretreatment.Forthoseneedinghelp,improvingsleeppracticesorseekingmedicaladviceareeffectiveSocialmediaLikeothermillennials,Ms.Yu,agraphicdesigner,wentthroughherbumpyteenyearsamidtheriseoffirst-wavesocialmediasuchasFriendsterandMyspace.“Socialmediawasveryinterestingandfreshtome,asitwasaconvenientwaytoconnectwithothers,”sherecalls.Aboutthreeyearsago,however,shestartedfeelinglessrosyaboutsocialmedia.“Iwasspendingsomuchtimetakingphotostopostonline,hopingtogetpositivecomments.IwouldbeembarrassedifIreceivedfew‘likes’formyposts.Iwouldaskmyself,‘Whydidmorepeoplelikesomeoneelse’spostsbutnotmine?Aremypostsnotgoodenough?AmInotgoodenough?’”Ms.Yuwaseventuallyabletoovercomeherself-doubtbycuttingbackontimespentonsocialmedia,andusingitonlyincaseswhereitwouldpotentiallyboostratherthanweakenherconfidence.Herexperiencehighlightsthedouble-edgednatureofsocialmedia.ClinicalPsychologistMs.MichelleTannotesthatitcanbeapowerfultoolforrelievingsocialisolationandloneliness.Onlinecommunitiesprovideemotionalsupport,oftenhelpingusersturnonlineconnectionswithlike-mindedpeopleintoreal-lifefriendships.Theycanalsoserveasamotivationaltoolforachievinggoalslikequittingsmokingorgettinginshape.Ontheotherhand,itcouldinvitenegativesocialcomparisonswithotheronlineusersandloweraperson’sself-worth.Excessivevirtualengagementmayweakenreal-lifesocialskills.Also,beinganonymousonlinemakescyberbullyingmorelikely.Still,mentalhealthissuescan’tbeblamedsolelyonsocialmedia,asmultiplefactorsplayarole.Thekey,therefore,istodevelophealthyonlinehabits(orcyberwellness).“Tobecyberwellonsocialmediaistostrikeahealthybalancebetweenonlineandofflineactivities,”saysMrsLow-Lim,amemberoftheMediaLiteracyCouncil.Aperson’sdailylivingandsocialfunctioningshouldnotbeaffectedbysocialmedia.答案：Ms.Yuovercameself-doubtbylimitingheruseofsocialmedia.Herexperienceshowssocialmediaisadouble-edgedsword.Positively,itcanrelieveloneliness,buildsupportivecommunities,andmotivateuserstoachievegoals.Negatively,itmaycauselowself-esteemthroughsocialcomparison,weakenreal-lifesocialskills,andincreasecyberbullyingrisks.Thekeyistocultivatehealthyonlinehabits.CataniaTurnstheTablesonBlueInasuburbofCataniaonSicily’seastcoast,smokerisesfromstreetstallsgrillinghorsemeat,whileyoungstersgatheraroundcounterssellingseltzlimoneesale—asodadrinkwithlemonandseasalt.Amidthislivelyscene,afamilyofex-fishers,theSalamones,haveopenedLaFish,aseafoodrestaurantthatdarestochallengelocaldiettraditions.AlongsideSicily’sclassicslikeswordfish（劍魚）andtuna,tonight’stastingmenufeaturesasurprisingnewcomertotheisland’stables—theAtlanticbluecrab.Theseblue-clawed,olive-shelledcrabs,originallyfromthewesternAtlanticOcean,havebecomeanecologicalthreatintheMediterranean.Withoutnaturalenemies,theyfeedonyoungclams,destroyingshellfishharvestsanddestroyingItaly’sreputationasoneoftheworld’stopclamproducers.Theirrapidspreadhasbeenlinkedtorisingseatemperatures,whichhavemadeSicilianwatersincreasinglywelcomingtonon-nativespecies.Whatbeganasanenvironmentalconcernisgraduallyturningintoatestofhumanadaptability.PeopleinSicilyarerespondingincreativeways.OneformofresponsecomesfromchefMarioContadino,whocelebratesthecrab’ssweetanddelicateflavor.Heservesitonstickysushiricewithonions,bellpeppers,garlic,admits,“butthatfirstbitedoesnotlie.”Anotherresponsecomesfromscientists.MarinebiologistFrancescooftheUniversityofCataniaarguesthatembracingsuchnon-nativespeciesinlocaldietsis“anecessaryresponsetoclimatechangeandecologicalchallenges.”Socialacceptanceisfollowingslowlybutsteadily.InthefishmarketbehindPiazzadelDuomo,shopkeeperRosarionowsells20kilogramsofbluecrabaday,sayingcustomersloveitstaste.Meanwhile,theSalamonefamilyturnsoutsiderintoopportunity:bypresentingbluecrabasafancyfood,theyshowthat“anythingcanbeTheAtlanticbluecrab,aninvasivespecies,threatensSicily’secologyandshellfishindustry.（1）RisingseatemperatureshavehelpedthebluecrabspreadrapidlyinSicilianwaters.（1）Siciliansusecreativeways—likecookingthecrabintodishes—andscientistssupportthis.（2）Thebluecrabisnowwidelyaccepted,turninganenvironmentalthreatintoanopportunity.(1)Theyareinvasivethreateningshellfishindustriesduetowarmingseas.(1)Localsarecreativelyrespondingbyincorporatingthemintocuisine.(1)Threechefshighlighttheirflavor,scientistsseeitasclimateadaptation.(2)Socialacceptanceisgrowing,turningaproblemintoanopportunity.(1)TheAtlanticbluecrab,aninvasivespecieswhoserapidspreadinSicilianwatersisdrivenbyrisingseatemperatures,threatensSicily’secologyandshellfishindustry.Sicilianscreativelycookitintodishes,withscientists’support,turningthisenvironmentalthreatintoawidelyacceptedopportunity.InlivelyCatania,afamilyrestaurantservesbluecrab,anewcomerthreateninglocalseas.RisingtemperatureshaveallowedthisAtlanticspeciestospread,harmingclamharvests.Chefspromoteitssweettaste,whilescientistscalleatingitanadaptiveresponsetoclimatechange.Gradually,marketsanddinersaccepttheinvaderaspartofSicilianlife.Doesworkeverleaveyoufeelingstuckwithlimitedopportunitiestobecreative?Toprosper,youmightwanttoincreaseyourbrain’sflexibility.Butisthisevenpossible,andifso,how?Mostjobsrequiretheabilitytoproblem-solveandcopewithchallenges,atleasttoacertainextent.Imagineateacherwhohasanewandverynervousstudentintheclass.Ifthatteacherisaflexiblethinker,heorshewillbeabletoadapttheclassroommanagement,evenifheorshehasn’tseenthissituationbefore.AccordingtoLeonardMlodinow,authorofElastic,flexiblethinkersrelyonideagenerationandimagination—theyarewillingtoexperimentandtakerisks.“Elasticthinking,orflexiblethinkingiswhatyouneedwhenthecircumstanceschange,andyouaredealingwithsomethingnew.It’snotaboutfollowingrules.”Therefore,insteadoffollowingthetypicalprocedureforwelcominganewstudent,theteachermightcomeupwithatailoredresponse,basedonpredictionandpreviousexperience.So,howcanyoubecomeamoreflexiblethinker