Teacher 李 guides 小美 in a tone imitation game to help her understand how different tones in Chinese change the meaning of words.

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李芳: 小美, let's play a tone game!
小美: A tone game? How do we play?
李芳: I'll say a word, and you imitate the tones, like 'mā, má, mǎ, mà.' Listen to the differences.
小美: Mā~ má~ mǎ~ mà! Haha, it sounds like singing!
李芳: That's right! Different tones mean different things. '妈' means mom, '马' means horse you ride—are they the same?
小美: They're different! I can't ride my mom!
李芳: Haha, you're so clever, 小美! Now try 'bāo' and 'bào.' Do the sounds feel different?
小美: Bāo~ bào! One is like carrying something, the other is like hugging a doll!
李芳: Excellent! Chinese tones are really interesting. Practice more, and you'll speak very well too!
小美: Okay! I like the tone game. I want to get really good at it!

Liu Na and Yuko discuss the hot topic among Chinese netizens about earthquake rumors in Japan.

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优子: Ms. Liu, recently the topic of a big earthquake happening in Japan on July 5th has been really popular on Chinese social media. I even saw news that 250,000 people watched livestreams waiting for the quake.
刘娜: Yes, it's all over Weibo and Moments—everyone's talking about it. But the Japan Meteorological Agency has debunked the rumor many times, saying that current technology can't accurately predict earthquakes.
优子: Actually, in Japan, people aren't really concerned about this rumor. My friends all think it's exaggerated, and basically no one believes it.
刘娜: I see. Sometimes a story can become a hot topic overseas, but locally, people don't pay much attention.
优子: But I heard that some foreign tourists have canceled their travel plans because of it, so there is some impact.
刘娜: That's why we need to learn to distinguish between true and false information and not believe every online rumor.
优子: Yes, from now on I'll be more careful about information sources, and discuss trending topics rationally with people around me.

A couple discusses paternity test data and issues of family trust.

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黄刚: Xiao Hua, did you see the news? At a paternity testing center in Hebei, 22% of the results showed the child wasn't biological. That's such a high number—it's really shocking.
陈花: I saw it too, especially that more than a third were discovered after the child turned 10. I can't imagine the psychological impact on those families.
黄刚: Yeah, paternity testing is a technical matter, but it really reflects the fragility of family relationships and trust. Especially since 89% of requests are initiated by men, which suggests men may feel less secure in family relationships.
陈花: I think technology makes things convenient, but the ethical issues are definitely complicated. Some cases even involve secretly collecting biological samples, so privacy concerns are pretty serious.
黄刚: Exactly. In the end, technology should serve people. The key is building family trust, not just relying on cold, hard data to define relationships.
陈花: That's right. The most important thing for a couple is communication and trust. If you're relying on a test to confirm your relationship, you might already be at a disadvantage from the start.

Xiao Gang and Xiao Bao discuss the decline in soccer players' salaries and the hardships behind it.

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小刚: Xiao Bao, did you know that people who play soccer now earn much less than before?
小宝: Why is that? Aren't they fast and good at kicking the ball?
小刚: Yes, but many people say they don't play well and still get a lot of money, so some people want them to get paid less.
小宝: Would that make them unhappy?
小刚: Some people are really unhappy. An uncle said that playing soccer is tough and it's easy to get injured. If there's no money, no one would want to play.
小宝: So can I still play soccer for fun in the future?
小刚: Of course! Playing soccer is really fun. But if you want to be a professional player, it won't be that easy.

Two friends enthusiastically discuss the technology and future prospects of miniature bionic robots.

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赵强: Huang Gang, did you see the news? Our country has successfully developed a bionic robot the size of a mosquito that can perfectly mimic the way mosquitoes fly!
黄刚: I saw it! It's amazing. It can even flap its wings 800 times a minute, and can be used in military, medical, and rescue fields. This technology is truly disruptive.
赵强: Exactly. It could even deliver medicine precisely to lesions, and in the future it might even enter blood vessels to treat diseases. The progress of technology is truly astonishing.
黄刚: But I was also thinking, with such tiny robots, if they're used for military purposes, privacy and security could become sensitive issues. The public might have concerns.
赵强: That's true, but the key is how the technology is regulated. I think as long as there's proper oversight, the potential for this technology is enormous. Our lives could really change.
黄刚: You're right. The most important thing is how to use these technologies well so that humanity truly benefits. That's what matters most in technological development.

小潘 wants to borrow historical materials. Teacher 刘娜 explains the library borrowing process and important notes.

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小潘: Teacher 刘, I want to borrow some historical materials from the library. How can I borrow books?
刘娜: It's very simple. Do you have a library card?
小潘: Yes, I got a student library card.
刘娜: Then you can first search for the book title or author on the library computer.
小潘: What should I do after I find it?
刘娜: Write down the call number, then go to the corresponding bookshelf to find the book.
小潘: How do I borrow the book after I find it?
刘娜: Take the book and your library card to the service desk or self-checkout machine to borrow it.
小潘: I see. How long can I keep the book?
刘娜: Normally, you can borrow it for one month. You can renew it once when due.
小潘: Thank you, Teacher. I'll go try it now!
刘娜: You're welcome. Feel free to ask me if you have any questions.

A couple discusses how Labubu's popularity reflects China's transformation in soft power.

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黄刚: Xiaohua, have you noticed that Labubu has suddenly become popular all over the world? Even American media are talking about it, saying it represents China's 'soft power.'
陈花: I noticed too! My students are all using Labubu stickers and even buying its plush toys. I didn't expect this mischievous little creature to be so loved by young people overseas.
黄刚: Yeah, in the past, when people talked about China's soft power, it was all about the Great Wall, pandas, kung fu. Now, new cultural products like Labubu, Nezha, and even Black Myth: Wukong attract young people globally.
陈花: Actually, Labubu's success makes me realize that cultural influence isn't just about traditional images. Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and domestic animations are quietly changing how foreigners see China.
黄刚: The US used to win hearts with Hollywood and Silicon Valley, but now their soft power is clearly declining. Many young people in Europe find China trendy and creative instead.
陈花: It's quite interesting. Before, 'Made in China' just meant good quality and low price, but now it's about 'Chinese creativity.' Even American media admit that China has become a new player in the global creative scene.
黄刚: Cultural influence is hard to measure with numbers, but it's like a gentle spring rain, slowly soaking into every corner of the world. Maybe one day, a little monster like Labubu will become a symbol of China's new generation of culture.

赵强 points out issues in the Chinese email David wrote and provides concrete suggestions and writing templates to help him improve his Chinese writing skills.

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赵强: David, your email doesn’t look very professional and needs to be revised.
大卫: Okay, Manager Zhao. How should I revise it?
赵强: First, the greeting should be formal. For example, use 'Dear Mr. Zhang' instead of just 'Hello.'
大卫: Understood. What else should I pay attention to?
赵强: The email content should be concise—state the issue, make suggestions, and end with a polite thank you.
大卫: Could you give me a template to look at?
赵强: Sure, for example: 'Dear Mr. Zhang, regarding your question, we suggest... Thank you for your understanding and support.'
大卫: Thank you, Manager Zhao. I’ll try revising it.