【推荐1】Shanya Gill, 12, a seventh-grader at Miller Middle School in San Jose, spent more than a year developing a fire detection (探测) device.

Last summer Shanya was sad after a fire happened in a restaurant in her California neighborhood. So the middle-schooler got straight to work.

“I had never really experienced something like that before,” she said of the early morning fire at Holder’s Country Inn, which was reported, to have started in the kitchen. No one was hurt, but the restaurant was demolished. “It hit close to my heart because it was part of my community.”

Shanya created a tool that uses thermal imaging (热成像) to detect when a heat source (来源) — such as a gas burner — is left unattended for10 minutes. Her goal, she said, was to design an early warning system that is better than a standard smoke detector.

Shanya recently won the top prize at the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge in D.C., in part for her fire-detection device. Judges were impressed by her fire detection system, featuring a thermal camera and a Raspberry Pi, a small computer board.

Creating the prototype (原型) was not easy, Shanya said. “I had really big difficulties with my project, and almost all of them were related to code (编码),” she said. “I had two designs, and my first design completely failed.”

While Shanya is pleased with her final prototype, she is now working to improve it. She is in the process of trying to find something more affordable than the Raspberry Pi, which starts at around $35, and she is also working to improve the code. Her plan is to bring the product to market and give out the money to organizations that support people who suffer from fires.

Shanya’s success at a young age has made her excited about her future career in science. She hopes to continue creating products that help people.

“I want to follow what I love and try to create a positive impact,” she said.

1. What does the underlined word “demolished” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Damaged completely.	B．Decorated well.
C．Sold out.	D．Built up.

2. What is the primary goal of Shanya’s fire detection device?

A．To repurpose restaurants.

B．To win science competitions.

C．To replace smoke detectors in homes.

D．To identify unattended heat sources early.

3. What challenged Shanya when she developed the prototype?

A．The cost of materials.

B．Code-related problems.

C．No community support.

D．No experience in invention.

4. What is Shanya’s plan for her fire detection device?

A．Bring it to market.

B．Use it in her school.

C．Keep it for personal use.

D．Use it for further research.

【推荐2】I studied speech therapy at university, though I had no idea what it was about at first. Later, I got pregnant with my son, Dani. He was born with a cleft (唇腭裂). I studied clefts at university so I knew a little bit about clefts. Still, when you see your own newborn child looking up at you with a cleft, it is very different. I was not ready to face that.

After the delivery. Dani had his cleft surgery when he was just seven days old! It was an awful experience. I gave that doctor three chances to prove he was the right specialist for my baby, and he didn’t manage to convince me at all. But something very positive did come out of that experience — it was how I first met Dr. Youri Anastassov, who would bring Smile Train-sponsored cleft care to Bulgaria starting the next year.

Dr. Anastassov was my inspiration from the moment we met. He helped me realize how important, valuable, and meaningful it is to treat children with clefts and made me want to help them just like he does.

Though I stopped working with them directly for several years after having Dani, the idea of working with children with clefts was always percolating in my mind. Then it hit me: why not work with Smile Train?

Now, babies, children, and adults with clefts come to me, and I share my experience with them. I’m happy to work here and make change for the better every single day.

Smile Train gives Dani his wings. You want to know what a difference this makes? Look at my son. Dani wanted to be a pilot his whole life; he first flew when he was 16 years old! When he began his formal training, the medical exam was very difficult for him. The training team knew he was different. Instead of just showing pity, they worked him harder than the others. And now he is living his dreams as a pilot!

1. How did the author feel when Dani was born with a cleft?

A．Calm.

B．Grateful.

C．Angry.

D．Unprepared.

2. What do we know about Dani’s cleft surgeries?

A．They were successful.	B．They were far from satisfactory.
C．They were done by Dr. Youri Anastassoy.	D．They were government-sponsored.

3. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “percolating” in paragraph 4?

A．Stuck.

B．Removed.

C．Weak.

D．Practical.

4. What does the author want to tell us through Dani’s success?

A．It is a waste of time to be angry about clefts.

B．When you admit your weakness, you become stronger.

C．Just find something you’re good at and make it your life.

D．Smile Train plays a positive role in realizing Dani’s dream.

【推荐3】One day a poor farmer was taking a bag of rice to town. Suddenly the bag fell off his horse on the road. He didn’t know what to do about it because it was too heavy for him to carry it by himself. He only hoped that somebody would soon pass by and help him.

Just at this moment a man riding a horse came up to him. But the farmer was very disappointed (失望) when he saw who he was. It was a great man living nearby (附近). The farmer had hoped to ask another farmer or a poor man like him.

But to his surprise, the great man got off his horse as soon as he came near. He said to the farmer, “I see you need help, friend. How good it is that I’m here just at the right time.” Then he took one end of the bag, the farmer took the other. They together carried and put it on the horse.

“Sir,” asked the farmer, “how can I pay you? ”

“It’s quite easy,” the great man answered with a smile, “wherever you see anyone else in trouble (有困难) do the same for him.”

1. What happened when the famer went to town?

A．The farmer lost his bag.	B．The bag fell from his horse.
C．His horse’s leg was hurt.	D．The horse was ill.

2. The farmer couldn’t carry the bag onto the horse by himself because ________.

A．the bag was broken	B．the horse ran away
C．the bag was too heavy	D．the farmer was too old

3. The great man ________ when he saw the farmer on the road.

A．was riding a bike	B．was walking
C．was driving a car	D．was riding a horse

4. ________ helped the farmer.

A．A poor man.	B．Another farmer.
C．The great man.	D．A friend of the farmer’s.

5. If you see someone in trouble, what will you do after you read this story?

A．I’ll volunteer (自愿) to help him or her.

B．I’ll give some help if I know him or her.

C．I won’t give any help unless he or she pays me money.

D．I’ll go away as soon as possible because I don’t want any trouble.

【推荐1】

The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie by Chavonne D. Stewart The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie is the first book in a wonderful children's books series, which is fun and exciting and also teaches kids valuable lessons. It tells the story of Amilya Rose Patterson, a creative eight-year-old with “can do” attitude and full of imagination, who is determined to set out on a new adventure, even if it means getting into trouble in the end and learning a lesson. Once she sets her mind to do something, nothing can stop her.

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry The Little Prince, the most translated book in the French language, tells the story of a little boy who leaves the safety of his own tiny planet to explore the universe, learning the unexpected and unpredictable changes of adult behaviour through a series of his personal journeys to Earth and further adventures.

Chester and Gus by Cammie McGovern Chester has always wanted to become a service dog. When he fails his test, though, it seems like that dream might never come true—until a family adopts (收养) him to be a companion for their ten-year-old son, Gus, who has autism (自闭症). But Gus acts so differently from anyone Chester has ever met. He never wants to pet Chester, and sometimes he doesn't even want him in the room. Chester is not sure how to help Gus since this isn't exactly the job he trained for—but he's determined to find it out and show he's the right dog for the job.

Invisible Emmie by Terri Libenson The novel tells the story of two totally different little girls—quiet, shy, artistic Emmie and popular, outgoing, athletic Katie—and how their lives unexpectedly intersect (相交) one day, when a note falls into the wrong hands.

1. From whom can you learn how to achieve your goals?

A．Gus.	B．Emmie.
C．Katie.	D．Amilya.

2. Which book shows the exploration of the universe?

A．The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie.

B．The Little Prince.

C．Chester and Gus.

D．Invisible Emmie.

3. What do these four books have in common?

A．They are stories about children.

B．They are written for parents.

C．They are about popular people.

D．They are love stories.

【推荐2】Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair 2024

The Novel Fair is an annual competition initiated by the Irish Writers Centre (IWC). Described by The Irish Times as “A Dragons’ Cave for writers”, each year the Fair aims to introduce up-and-coming writers to top publishers and literary agents.

The Prize

The twelve winners will have the opportunity to present the summary of their novel directly to industry professionals. Leading publishers and agents will be invited by the IWC to meet these writers in person or through a series of online meetings. To get fully prepared for the meeting with publishers and agents, the winners will receive a place in a workshop on “How to Promote Your Novel”, two weeks in advance. Also, applicants who are longlisted (初选) but do not make it to the shortlist of twelve will have their works evaluated and criticized by the judging panel.

How to Enter

Entry fee for application is £55 (Members of IWC can enter for a discounted fee of £45). This competition only accepts manuscripts (原稿) for novels. Applicants are required to send a summary within 300 words and up to five chapters of their novel, which should be 10,000 words (+/-10％). Manuscripts should be submitted online. There is a limit of one entry per applicant.

Entries are welcome from anywhere in the world. Before entering the competition, please ensure that you have read the Novel Fair Terms & Conditions 2024 very carefully as the Fair is open to only novelists who have never published work previously. If you have any questions about the application process, please email novelfair@irishwriterscentre.ie.

1. What’s the purpose of the Fair?

A．To advertise local stories.

B．To encourage literary reading.

C．To serve as a platform for writers.

D．To arouse enthusiasm for writing.

2. What can the workshop help the winners do?

A．Deal with the judging panel.

B．Improve their writing skills.

C．Learn about publishing process.

D．Present their novels attractively.

3. Which of the following meets the requirement of the Fair?

A．A summary of 200 words.

B．A novel published in 2023.

C．A paper manuscript by post.

D．A submission of seven chapters.

【推荐3】Elizabeth Sherrill is a long-time writer. For 70 years, her stories about faith, her experiences of traveling the world and dealing with depression (抑郁,沮丧) have been a beacon (灯塔) of light for many people. Check out some of her articles and let her words affect your heart.

A Letter on Depression

My struggle with depression hasn’t totally disappeared. It still surrounds me from time to time, blocking light and making it hard to smile. But the suffering no longer makes me frightened, because I keep telling myself to be positive.

An Angel Named Maria

“A baby was born here and no one knows what to do,” the doctor said into the telephone. He went on to explain that the mother had disappeared from the hospital after seeing the disabled baby. “She will not live long,” the doctor continued. “Bring us the baby,” answered Sister Marie Patrice at the other end of the line, who ran a day nursery.

Lessons from Abraham Lincoln

When I turned to leave, the picture over the door stopped me. It was a black-and-white photo: a tall, thin man with his hand on a table and with the saddest, most pain-filled face I’d ever seen.

The letters on the frame said “Abraham Lincoln”. He won every wrestling match and told funny stories that crowds would gather to enjoy. Over time, that picture made him more important to me than ever.

A Lesson while Moving

I stood looking out the kitchen window wondering how John and I could ever leave this house. We’d lived here for 50 years. Under the maple tree was the garden where we grew tomatoes that never ripened. There was the stump (树桩) of the cedar (雪松) we cut down to make room for our daughter’s wedding reception.

1. What doesn’t frighten Elizabeth?

A．The thick morning fog.	B．Suffering from depression.
C．Losing the ability to smile.	D．The darkness in bad weather.

2. Which of the following tells a story of adopting a baby?

A．A Letter on Depression.	B．An Angel Named Maria.
C．Lessons from Abraham Lincoln.	D．A Lesson while Moving.

3. What’s the text mainly about?

A．John’s garden.

B．Maria’s telephone.

C．Elizabeth’s articles.

D．Lincoln’s lessons.