The Kalahari Desert spans three African countries; it goes across Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. It can get very hot in the summer, the hottest season there. The desert is in the southern hemisphere, and therefore, its seasons are__26__ from those in the northern hemisphere. There, summer lasts from November to March; winter lasts from May to August. In the summer, temperatures can__27__ over 100 degrees during the day. At night, they go down to around 68 or 70 degrees. In the winter, temperatures during the day are about 77 degrees,__28__ the nights can get very, very cold. Temperatures can drop to 14 degrees! Although the Kalahari is a desert, it__29__ rain. The rain is usually not steady. Instead, it comes in thunderstorms. When it rains, dry water holes fill up, and__30__ lakes. The rainy season is between November and April, and the rainiest month is usually April.

       Watching a touching movie, going through a stressful event, and even receiving good news may all lead to the similar reaction—bursting into tears. Crying is a part of everyone’s life. Some people cry more __31__ than others. Nevertheless, it remains unclear about the reasons __32__ crying happens. Humans are the only species to weep from emotions, and scientists still do not know how the physical act of crying is connected to our feelings. However, the study of crying does show some positive effects. One of the __33__ benefits of crying is that it relieves physical tension and stress. Crying also releases endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, that contribute to a better mood. Together__34__ the release of stress, crying can help regulate and even lower the temperature of our brains. When we cry, we take in many quick 35 of cool air. As a result, our body may cool down and thus our mood may improve.

        In this digital era, emojis are part of our daily communication. These small icons—smiley faces, winking eyes, hearts of all shapes—are used in text messages, emails, and social media. They are__36__ these days because they can increase the accuracy of our brief messages and decrease the misunderstanding in communication.__37__ , a picture is worth a thousand words. Because emojis often represent an easily identified thought or feeling, they are mostly__38__ in context. They help us add tone and clarity to our communication. Emojis are visual aids and can be used in many ways,__39__ softening the mood of serious conversations, expressing ourselves in a more comfortable way, and communicating when words fail us. However, emojis are not labeled, so their meaning is__40__ to those who use them. Some emojis may have different meanings across cultures. Therefore, when using emojis, we should use them with caution.