In a historic moment on June 26, the US Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is a legal right across all 50 states. The Supreme Court justices ruled states cannot deny gay men and women the same marriage rights. The decision means the 13 states with bans on same-sex marriage are no longer able to enforce them.

    Same-sex couples “ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law”. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion: “The Constitution grants them that right.”

    The decision came after decades of litigation（诉讼） and activism. It set off celebrations across the US. In affected states including Georgia, Michigan, Ohio and Texas, same-sex couples rushed to wed, while officials in Mississippi and Louisiana said marriages had to wait until procedural issues were addressed, reported the BBC.

    According to “The New York Times”, the ruling came against the backdrop of fast-moving changes in public opinion in the US, with polls indicating that most Americans now approve of same-sex marriage.

    US President Barack Obama welcomed the ruling, saying it “affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts.” “Today,” he said in a press release, “we can say, in no uncertain terms, that we have made our union a little more perfect.”

Another win.

    This was the second time the Supreme Court took up same-sex marriage, according to an article in “Business Insider”. The first time, in June 2013, the court made a decision that allowed the US federal government to recognize same-sex marriages in states where they were already legal.

    But at that time, the Supreme Court declined to rule on the broader question about gay marriage: Is there a constitutional（宪法的） right to same-sex marriage? The June 26 ruling gave a positive answer to that question.

Justice Kennedy wrote in the majority opinion that the Constitution should evolve with societal changes.

    “The nature of injustice is that we may not always see it in our own times,” he wrote. “The generations that wrote and ratified the “Bill of Rights” and the “Fourteenth Amendment（修正案）” did not exactly know the extent of freedom in all of its dimensions, and so they hoped the future generations can protect the right of all persons to enjoy liberty as we learn its meaning.”

    The Fourteenth Amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection of the law. In the June 26 ruling, the Supreme Court declared that the equal protection clause of the amendment requires marriage rights be extended to same-sex couples, too.

    What will our future look like? People have always been wondering about this question. Go on reading this text and you will know what will happen in the next fifty years.

    How can we know what the future will look like? To be able to understand the future, you must know the past. What has taken us to where we are today and what has changed along the way? The world has changed a lot in the last 150 years, but we humans are driven by the same basic needs as we were 150 years ago. Will this change in the next 150 years? No.

    What inventions have really made a difference in the last 150 years? In the past years, the inventions that have affected most people around the world for everyday living are the telephone, electricity, radio, television, computer, the car and the ability to communicate through the Internet. Then we of course have a lot of inventions that have made life easier, like new medicine, faster transports etc. In general, human beings have been working hard in the last 150 years to make the inventions so that they will be able to get control of the time and the world. Since there is still much to do in this area, this will be the focus at least for the next 150 years.

    Why do we need to predict the future? Predicting the future is important for two reasons: first we need to start to think about what kind of what kind of future we would like for ourselves and to pass on to the next generation, and then we need to know what decisions we need to make today that will give the best result in the future.

    Sharon, aged 22

    The most important thing to keep in mind when you're going into high school is to be yourself. Besides, some high school teachers will not care about things like how much homework you have already had in one night. It's best to just learn to deal with things and manage your time wisely so you can achieve everything you need to.

    Frank, aged 21

    I think almost every kid feels both nervous and excited before their first day of high school. You will probably love it. I know I did. You should join some sports or activities that will make your high school experience more enjoyable. Good luck!

    Eddie, aged 20

    When I started high school, I was really nervous too, especially since I had been homeschooled all through middle school and didn't really know anyone. I suppose the best advice would be to just relax. The first couple of days can be a little bit hard, but things will become easier before you know it.

    David, aged 19

    I'm not going to lie. The first day is kind of frightening. But you'll get used to it. Don't be afraid of anyone; some students may pick on (故意刁难) you more if you let them know you're afraid. Just take it easy. Making some friends and staying with them will greatly help you get used to high school quickly. After the first week, it's really not bad at all. Don't worry.

When did we start walking for leisure?

"Going for a walk" is a popular pastime among older and younger generations alike because of its well-known benefits for our physical and mental health. But you may be surprised to hear that wandering through pretty streets or hiking in mountainous have not always been considered leisure activities, according to Daniel Gale, a researcher of pedestrianism (步行运动).

{#blank#}1{#/blank#} Before that, it was just something people did out of necessity, some of whom even associated it with criminal activity. But for Charles Dickens, the famous English 19th Century author, marching through London streets and tramping around the countryside was a big part of the creative process. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} He walked at an impressive pace of four miles per hour, according to his biography by Peter Ackroyd.

{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Perhaps you can take inspiration from another big-thinking wanderer. 19th Century American writer Henry David Thoreau took a slower approach, preferring to stroll over hills and fields and through the woods. He said that he could not preserve his health and spirits without walking at least four hours a day.

This idea of taking a stroll to clear your head has survived through to the 21st Century. But have pedestrian manners remained the same? A 1780 article for the London Magazine advised pedestrians to avoid things such as hanging around in conversation and obstructing people behind you. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

In this modern age, when many of us are tied to our desks and to our screens, try the simple act of stepping out onto the city pavements, or getting lost in nature. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Whether you see yourself more as a casual stroller or a purposeful strider (阔步者), why not build a habit out of it?

A. What if speed-walking isn't your thing?

B. This may make all the difference to our wellbeing.

C. Nowadays, we could add distracted phone-users.

D. He brought the recreation of walking into fashion.

E. Going on an urban walk is much more pleasant now.

F. It was a time to absorb what was going on around him.

G. In Britain, walking for fun wasn't really a thing until the 1780s.

ChatGPT, a new chatbot model! Developed by Open AI, has quickly become a hit all over the world because of its powerful conversational abilities.

It can write emails, computer codes (代码), songs, poems, and even short stories, and has passed a number of tests within seconds. Experts around the world are discussing whether AI should be used in education. Some schools have banned(禁止)it. The New York City's Department of Education, for example, banned ChatGPT from its public school networks, and some people are warning that it could encourage more students to cheat, especially in exams.

Many more welcome this app, saying that, like most technologies in history, ChatGPT is a powerful tool for the development of education.

Accepting AI as early as possible is a good choice. Schools should make preparations for including AI in their teaching plans. They can start by offering Al courses, because by understanding how it works, they can make better use of it. Besides, students with good knowledge of AI are more competitive when it comes to getting a job, as an increasing number of jobs are being done by computer programs. AI powered education technologies can be used to make the learning experience more suitable for each student. As for teachers, AI can free them from doing some boring work so they can focus on their teaching.

Since we cannot avoid ChatGPT and other AI powered apps from entering the field of education, we should make efforts to make sure they have a positive impact(积极影响)on society and the future of education. AI helps to make learning much more interesting and enjoyable, but humans need to work very hard to win the race with technology.