Exponents and square roots, pencils and erasers, beta decay and electron capture. Name two things that undo each other and explain why both are necessary.

– Inspired by Emmett Cho, Class of 2027

指数和平方根，铅笔和橡皮擦，贝塔衰变和电子捕捉。请列举两个相互抵消的事物，并解释为什么两者都是必要的。

–灵感来自Emmett Cho，2027届学生

“Where have all the flowers gone?” – Pete Seeger. Pick a question from a song title or lyric and give it your best answer.

– Inspired by Ryan Murphy, AB’21

“花儿都去哪了？” - 皮特·西格（Pete Seeger）。从歌曲标题或歌词中选择一个问题，并给出你最好的答案。

– 灵感来自Ryan Murphy，AB'21届学生

“Vlog,” “Labradoodle,” and “Fauxmage.” Language is filled with portmanteaus. Create a new portmanteau and explain why those two things are a “patch” (perfect match).

– Inspired by Garrett Chalfin, Class of 2027

“Vlog” (博客)、“Labradoodle” (拉布拉多犬) 和 “Fauxmage” (假芝士，指素食芝士)。这些语言中充满了混成词。创造一个新的混成词，并解释为什么这两个事物是一个“patch”（完美匹配）。

–灵感来自Garrett Chalfin，2027届学生

A jellyfish is not a fish. Cat burglars don’t burgle cats. Rhode Island is not an island. Write an essay about some other misnomer, and either come up with and defend a new name for it or explain why its inaccurate name should be kept.

– Inspired by Sonia Chang, Class of 2025, and Mirabella Blair, Class of 2027

水母并不是鱼。猫贼并不偷猫。罗德岛并不是一座岛屿。写一篇关于其他错误命名的文章，并要么提出并支持一个新的名称，要么解释为什么应该保留其不准确的名称。

–灵感来自Sonia Chang，2025届学生，和Mirabella Blair，2027届学生

Despite their origins in the Gupta Empire of India or Ancient Egypt, games like chess or bowling remain widely enjoyed today. What modern game do you believe will withstand the test of time, and why?

– Inspired by Adam Heiba, Class of 2027

尽管象棋和保龄球等游戏起源于印度的古普塔帝国或古埃及，但它们至今仍广受欢迎。你认为哪种现代游戏能经受住时间的考验？为什么？

–灵感来自Adam Heiba，2027届学生

There are unwritten rules that everyone follows or has heard at least once in their life. But of course, some rules should be broken or updated. What is an unwritten rule that you wish didn’t exist? (Our custom is to have five new prompts each year, but this year we decided to break with tradition. Enjoy!)

– Inspired by Maryam Abdella, Class of 2026

有一些不成文的规则，每个人都会遵守，或者至少听说过一次。但当然，有些规则应该被打破或更新。有没有一个不成文的规则你希望它不存在？(我们的传统是每年都提供五个新的文书题目，但今年我们打算打破它！请尽情享受你的写作过程吧！)

–灵感来自Maryam Abdella，2026届学生

And, as always… the classic choose your own adventure option! In the spirit of adventurous inquiry, choose one of our past prompts (or create a question of your own). Be original, creative, thought provoking. Draw on your best qualities as a writer, thinker, visionary, social critic, sage, citizen of the world, or future citizen of the University of Chicago; take a little risk, and have fun!

最后是我们一如既往的经典操作：开启你自己的冒险之旅！秉承着冒险与探索的精神，选择芝加哥大学任何一个过往的补充文书题目（或者自己创造一个）。要有原创性、创造性和思考的力量。充分发挥你作为作家、思考者、远见者、社会批评家、智者、世界公民或芝加哥大学未来公民的最佳品质；冒一点风险，然后尽情享受！

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