【推荐1】

Want to improve your writing skills?New Writing South is directing the way！

•Towner Writer Squad (班组) for kids aged 13-17

Led by comedy and TV writer, Marian Kilpatrick, Towner Writer Squad will meet once a month at the contemporary art museum for 11 months, starting 12 October, 2014.

The FREE squad sessions will include introductions to a wide range of writing styles, from poetry to play writing and lyrics (抒情诗) to flash fiction, to support the development of young writers.

Application&Selection

If you would like to apply to be part of the Towner Writer Squad, please send a sample piece of your writing (about 500 words), responding to the title ‘LUNCH,’ with your name, age, address and e-mail address to:debo@newwritingsouth. com.

Once all applications are in, you will be invited to an open selection event on 17 September, 4-5pm, at the gallery of Towner.

Deadline for applications: 8 September, 2014

For further information go to: facebook.com/towner or towner.org.uk or newwritingsouth. com

Any questions — feel free to send your e-mail to Towner Writer Squad Associate:wharne@towner.gov.uk

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•Beginner Writing Project for kids aged 10-13

Due to popular demand, a writing project will be started for eager beginners.

Start time:6 September, 2014

Meet every other Saturday, 2-4 pm, at the Towner Study Centre.

Study and write at your own pace — you do not have to rush — as you have a year to go through the project. Practise under the guidance of some experienced writers and teachers who can help you with basic writing skills. Most importantly, build confidence and have fun while writing!

No previous experience or special background is required. Many others have been successful this way. If they can do it, why can't you?

Fee: £ 179

For more information go to: newtowner.org.uk or generate.org.uk

1. Towner Writer Squad will be started _______.

A．to train comedy and TV writers

B．to explore the fantastic gallery space

C．to introduce a contemporary art museum

D．to promote the development of young writers

2. Applications for the Writer Squad should be e-mailed no later than ________.

A．6 September, 2014	B．12 October, 2014
C．17 September, 2014	D．8 September, 2014

3. What is most important for the beginners?

A．Practising as much as possible.

B．Gaining confidence and having fun.

C．Studying and writing at their own pace.

D．Learning skills from writers and teachers.

【推荐3】Brisbane is an exciting city, voted as one of the most livable cities in Australia. Its fine food will make you hate to leave. Here are four famous restaurants.

Kingsleys Steak & Crabhouse

Located on the waterfront of the Brisbane River with views of the Story Bridge, Kingsleys Steak & Crabhouse supplies an unmatched ideal setting for the lunch or dinner. With breathtaking views & a combination of both indoor and outdoor settings, it offers a wide range of high-quality cuts of steak fresh seafood.

Riparian Plaza/71 Eagle Street Brisbane

Rates from ﹩21﹣﹩36

Moo Moo the Wine Bar

Moo Moo the Wine Bar is an award-winning chain of fine dining restaurants. Originally founded by CEO Steven Adams in 2001. Moo Moo has since claimed many awards including: Queensland's Best Steak Restaurant 2008, Gold Riverside Restaurant of the Year 2007, Gold Coast's Best Steak Restaurant.

Stamford Plaza, Margaret Streets Brisbane

Rates from ﹩21﹣﹩35

Jellyfish Restaurant

The grand views over Brisbane River are just a starter to come from Jellyfish Restaurant. Our aim is to source and serve a group of 8 species daily, to learn and understand the texture and qualities of each specie and commend to our customer the best way to cook and serve for unique experience.

Riverside 123 Eagle St Brisbane

Rates from ﹩34﹣﹩45

Tibetan Kitchen

For a fine dining experience in Brisbane, it is land to go past Tibetan Kitchen by award winning well﹣known chef Matt Moran. With a beautiful setting on the hank of the Brisbane River, Tibetian Kitchen is all about beautifully presented food. This is what Tibetian Kitchen differs from other restaurants.

216 Riverside Terrace Brisbane

Rates from ﹩35﹣﹩45

1. What is Kingsleys Steak & Crabhouse famous for？

A．Dining surroundings.	B．Alaskan seafood.
C．Fresh steak.	D．Competitive price.

2. What makes Tibetan Kitchen different from other restaurants？

A．Its many awards.	B．Its elegant envimnment.
C．Its inviting food.	D．Its affordable price.

3. What do the four restaurants have in common？

A．They all serve steak and seafood.	B．They have well﹣known chefs.
C．They provide wonderful service.	D．They are neighboring water.

【推荐1】War or natural disasters often destroy or cause major damage to sanitary systems. The destruction of waste treatment systems can increase the risk of disease and even death among survivors.
Some people dig holes in the ground that serve as individual toilets. However, micro-organisms from human wastes can reach water supplies and cause cholera or other diseases.
A United Nations team is now developing a toilet for disaster areas. The experimental project is called eSOS—for the Emergency Sanitation Operation System. The system is lightweight and operates on sunlight power.
Scientists are working on the toilet at the UN’s Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands. Damir Brdjanovic is heading the project. He says his team hopes to bring disaster assistance into the 21st century.
The eSOS system has several ‘smart’ features, such as a self-contained energy supply unit. Another is a global positioning system sensor, very much like the GPS equipment in some vehicles. There is also equipment that measures waste buildup. All of the information from the toilet system can be shared with an emergency organization center. Officials at the center can then identify the needs of an affected disaster area. The eSOS system can also recycle liquid wastes into water that can be used for farming. This involves treating the urine(尿液)with the help of a membrane bioreactor system(膜生物反应器系统).
The smart toilet is being tested. Damir Brdjanovic and his team plan to test the toilet at a refugee camp in the Philippines later this year. The developers hope this disaster relief will save the lives of many refugees.

1. What’s the best title of the passage?

A．Toilet for Our Future Life

B．Machine to Recycle Human Wastese

C．New Technology to Reduce the Risk of Disease

D．SOS—the Emergency Sanitation Operation System

2. Which of the following is NOT true about eSOS?

A．It weighs light.

B．It serves as individual toilet for disaster survivors.

C．It doesn’t need any power.

D．It is equipped with a global positioning system sensor.

3. What can we infer from this passage?

A．eSOS can prevent any risk of disease.

B．eSOS will be put into use in the near future.

C．Damir Brdjanovic holds a negative attitude to eSOS.

D．The eSOS system can recycle liquid wastes into drinkable water.

【推荐2】Joyce Loaiza lives alone in a community for older people in the American state of Florida. When she is home, the retired office worker often talks with a friendly female voice that asks about her day.

A few kilometers away, the same voice helps 83-year-old Deanna Dezern. In New York state, it plays games and music for 92-year-old Marie Broadbent. And in Washington state, it helps 83-year-old Jan Worrell make new friends.

These women are some of the first in the United States to receive the robot ElliQ made by Intuition Robotics. The company says it is the only device using artificial intelligence (AI) to help older Americans from loneliness.

The device looks like a small table light and it has an eyeless, mouthless head that lights up and turns. It remembers each user’s interests and their talks, helping create a special experience with new discussions. They can be as deep as the meaning of life or as light as a small joke.

ElliQ also plays music and provides creative or spiritual sayings. On a video screen that comes with it, it will show different cities and places of interest. The device leads exercises, asks about the owner’s health, and gives reminders to take medicines and drink water. It can also support video calls and contact family, friends, or doctors in an emergency.

Intuition Robotics says none of the private conversations are heard by the company, with the information only staying on each owner's device.

A robot could fill the space of a friend by adapting to each person and their interests. The average user communicates with ElliQ more than 30 times a day and more than 90 percent report lower levels of loneliness.

The robots are mostly sent out by government departments. But they can also be bought individually for $600 a year plus $250 to set it up.

1. What do Joyce Loaiza and Jan Worrell have in common?

A．They interact with robots.	B．They have many good friends.
C．They love advanced devices.	D．They are in bad health.

2. What do we know about the discussions between human and robots?

A．They are very inspiring.	B．They have background music.
C．They aim to solve users’ problems.	D．They are both serious and humorous.

3. Why doesn’t Intuition Robotics hear the talks of the robots and users?

A．To avoid computer viruses.	B．To reduce the costs of production.
C．To protect personal privacy.	D．To make communication simple.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Artificial Intelligence Robots Enter Home

B．Talking Robots Help Seniors Fight Loneliness

C．Loneliness Is a Hug e Challenge for Old People

D．Retired People Receive Attention of Government

【推荐1】Harvard student guides lead Highlights Tours and Quick Stops, available during the fall and spring semesters, except during holidays, winter sessions, and breaks. Fall tours begin on Friday, September 6, and ran through Wednesday, November 27. Spring tours start on Friday, January 31, through Friday, March13 and then from Wednesday, March 25 through Wednesday, April 29. Tours may also be offered in French and Chinese besides English.

Highlights Tours
Fridays, 12:30pm Saturdays, 2:00pm Sundays, 2:00pm

Visit towering Native American totem (图腾)poles and precious artifacts of the ancient world. See life-size casts of Maya monuments and exhibitions such as Wiyohpiyata which is about the 19^th century warrior art, and Digging Veritas, which explores the history of Harvard. The themes of the exhibition vary every two days. Visit the museum near the fountain. Tours last 45 minutes, and museum admission is free. For groups of 6 or more, please reserve a scheduled group tour for the day and time of your choice by contacting reservations at 617-495-3216. Each guide may lead a maximum of 20 people per tour. These tours are mainly offered to people of college age or older. Groups with younger people may reserve K-12 school programs through reservation.

Quick Stops
Wednesday, 3:30pm Sundays, 11:30am

Let a Harvard student help you focus on a few special objects in the galleries. Each Quick Stop lasts about 25 minutes and offers replica (复制品)objects to handle while you are engaged in lively conversations. Tell us what the exhibits show you. Topics change daily and there is no age limit, but children between six and ten travelling with adults are free of charge.

For more information, please visit https://www.harvard.edu.

1. How long does the Fall tours last?

A．More than two months.	B．Within two months.
C．Within a month.	D．At least three months.

2. What should a group of 12 people participating in Highlights Tours do?

A．Call the guide at 617-495-3216.	B．Make the reservation ahead of time.
C．Take a 10-year-old child if they want.	D．Arrive at the museum 45 minutes earlier.

3. Which of the following is true about Highlights Tours?

A．Wiyohpiyata is closely connected with Native American totem culture.

B．Digging Veritas explores the history of Native Americans.

C．You can get close to the special objects in the gallery.

D．One exhibition is about the art of ancient soldiers.

4. What is the similarity between the two tours?

A．They have changeable themes or topics.	B．They are targeted at tourists of similar ages.
C．They tell about the Maya civilization.	D．They allow the visitors to guide the tours.

5. What can we learn from the text?

A．Tours are offered only in French or Chinese.

B．Visitors can have a tour on Christmas Day.

C．A child aged eight can travel free in Quick Stops with his parents.

D．Highlights Tours offers free museum admission just for children under ten.

【推荐2】B

The African grey parrot’s ability to talk and mimic sounds makes it a charming companion. African grey owners often report that their greys oftentimes talk in context and can understand their people’s emotions(情感). The African grey parrot is not just a top talker — this bird is also known for its extreme intelligence, which gives them the name ＂The Einsteins of the Bird World＂.

The bird is medium-sized, dusty-looking and almost pigeon-like. It has a bright red tail, intelligent orange eyes, and a stunning scalloped(扇形的) pattern to its feathers. Their diet in the wild consists mostly of nuts, seeds, fruits, and leafy matter.

At home, African greys need plenty of toys that challenge their intelligence, such as food searching and puzzle toys. Nutri-Berries by Lafeber Company are a perfect choice, which, with a balance of grains, seeds and other nutrients in the shape of a berry, encourages African greys to hold, bite off, and even play with, just as they do in the wild.

African greys seem especially affected by stress and disturbing noise in their environment and can be put more at ease by placing one corner of the cage against a wall as opposed to in the middle of a room.

African grey parrots are more likely to suffer from lack of Vitamin-A/beta-carotene, and therefore benefit from eating vegetables high in beta-carotene, such as cooked sweet potato and fresh kale. Lack of Vitamin-D is another concern, especially for greys on a poor diet. Offering a balanced, pill-shaped diet, such as Nutri-Berries, helps prevent vitamin and mineral shortage.

1. Why are African grey parrots called ＂The Einsteins of the Bird World＂?

A．Because of their brain size.	B．Because of their intelligence.
C．Because of their talking ability.	D．Because of their rich emotions.

2. What can ＂Nutri-Berries＂ probably be?

A．Puzzle toys for birds.	B．A type of round fruit.
C．A brand of bird food.	D．Wild Intelligence games.

3. What is the characteristic of African grey parrots?

A．They are smart and love to have fun.	B．They are medium-sized with blue eyes.
C．They may get ill due to lack of Vitamin E.	D．They prefer to stay in the middle of the room.

4. Where can we most probably find the passage?

A．In science fiction.	B．In a travel guide.
C．On a shopping website.	D．In a wildlife magazine.

【推荐3】A boy was dying of terminal leukemia (白血病). His mother took his hand and asked, “Bopsy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be when you grew up?”

“Mommy, I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.”

Later that day she went to the fire department, where she met Fireman Bob. She explained her son’s final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six-year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, “Look, we can do better than that. We’ll make him an honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And, we’ll get a real fire uniform made for him.”

Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Bopsy, dressed him in his fire uniform and escorted (护送) him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Bopsy was in heaven. Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished (慷慨给予) upon him, Bopsy lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.

One night all of his vital signs began to drop and the head nurse called the fire chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Bopsy as he made his transition. The chief replied, “We can do better than that. We’ll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens (警报器) screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that it’s just the fire department coming to see one of its finest members one more time? And will you open the window to his room?”

About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital, extended its ladder up to Bopsy’s third floor open window and 14 firemen and two fire-women climbed up the ladder into Bopsy’s room. They hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved him. With his dying breath, Bopsy looked up at the fire chief and said, “Chief, am I really a fireman now?”

With those words, Bopsy smiled and closed his eyes for the last time.

1. Why did Bopsy’s mother go to the fire department?

A．Her son wanted to get a fire uniform.

B．Her son wanted to ride on a fire engine.

C．She wanted her son to become a real fireman.

D．She wanted to help her son to realize his dream.

2. What did Fireman Bob probably mean by saying “the whole nine yards” in the third paragraph?

A．The fire engine was nine yards long.

B．The whole journey that day was very upsetting.

C．Bopsy could experience everything as a fireman.

D．All the sirens of the fire engines would scream that day.

3. Why did the head nurse want a fireman in uniform to be sent to the hospital?

A．Because Bopsy begged her to do so.

B．Because Bopsy saw the firemen as his family members.

C．Because she wanted Bopsy to be approved as a real fireman.

D．Because she wanted to do something for Bopsy before he died.

4. Which of the following statements best shows the theme of the passage?

A．Where there is a will, there is a way.

B．Sometimes there are miracles because of love.

C．Great things may be done by painstaking efforts.

D．A mother understands what a child does not say.