2026
2026 Essay Prompt
1. Innovation sometimes emerges when organizations apply their expertise in unfamiliar domains. Identify a well-known brand and design a new product or service outside its traditional scope. Your idea should initially seem unexpected but become convincing upon explanation. Discuss how it addresses a contemporary need.
2. According to UNESCO, “cultural diversity is as essential for humankind as biodiversity is for nature,” yet globalization, driven by migration, digital technology, and economic integration, has intensified cultural interaction. Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of this cultural convergence, and whether it ultimately advances or undermines human progress.
3. Psychological studies suggest that adolescents often develop emotional attachments to public figures. When such attachments develop into idol worship, should they be understood as a form of positive emotional support or as a mechanism that may intensify dependency, loneliness, and detachment from real-life social relationships? (Inspired by Elena Liang, Pinghe Class of 2028)
4. In "The Better Angels of Our Nature", Steven Pinker writes, "Violence has been in decline for long stretches of time, and today may be the most peaceful era in our species' history." Considering both theoretical perspectives and historical experiences, evaluate to what extent development will reduce the likelihood of violent conflict?
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