【推荐2】Formerly known as Virtual Field Trips, PacSci’s Digital Discovery Workshops bring unique science experiences to you on your own schedule. With a focus on real world applications and spotlighting STEM careers, they bring classroom content to life and support Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Beyond your live class, each program includes a teacher toolkit packed with additional resources such as reading lists, hands-on activity guides, and STEM videos to extend the learning experience.

WHO ARE THESE FOR

Digital Discovery Workshops are designed for Pre K-12 graders joining from classrooms, library programs, or other community groups. Most programs have a max of 50 students to encourage a high level of interactivity for 1-2 classes per program.

HOW THEY WORK

PacSci educators send you a private Zoom link, or join a virtual platform of your choice. Meet your educator for a short tech check, then start your 40-minute live program.

COSTS & BOOKING

1-9 participants: $20 per person

10-49 participants: $30 per person

50+ participants: $40 per person

Qualified low-income schools will receive a 70% discount. Programs should be booked at least 2 weeks in advance.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

● One computer with a screen and speaker

● Internet connection

● Access to your selected virtual platform, such as Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet

● A webcam and microphone

● An adult must be present to help facilitate

Click on the link below and check out our Program Requirements and Pre-Program Checklist for more details.

1. Who will most probably sign up for the program?

A．A Pacsci educator.	B．A field trip guide.
C．A 9th grader.	D．A community librarian.

2. How much will 10 students in a qualified low-income school pay?

A．$90.

B．$180

C．$210.

D．$300.

3. What is necessary for participants?

A．A mobile phone.	B．Connected Internet.
C．Selected teams.	D．A peer friend.

【推荐1】From glaciers to beaches, whale-watching to wine-tasting, New Zealand has so much to offer. Not sure where to begin? Get started with these places.

Try wine-tasting on Waiheke

Home to a magical blend of vineyards, olive groves, beaches, art studios and funky cafes, Waiheke Island is an enchanting oasis. Sip New Zealand’s finest wines at one of the many vineyards while enjoying sea views.

Say “kia ora” in Rotorua

Soak up Maori culture and hospitality in Rotorua, the cultural heart of New Zealand. Visit an authentic pre-European Maori village for a cultural show. After a delicious “hāngi” feast,the thermal hot pools will be calling.

Go wild in Queenstown

Queenstown is the perfect place for an adventure. Experience jet boat rides, skiing, river rafting, hiking and biking, or go bungy jumping where it all began. Not for you? Try spa treatments or outdoor dining for a relaxing alternative.

Bathe in Milford Sound’s scale

Depart from Queenstown or Te Anau and enjoy an afternoon cruise around Milford Sound’s dramatic fiords, spectacular waterfalls and snow-capped peaks. Other ways to see the “Eighth Wonder of the World” is by flightseeing, kayaking or overnight boat ride.

1. In which place can you best experience local culture?

A．Waiheke.	B．Queenstown.
C．Rotorua.	D．Milford Sound.

2. What will you probably do in Queenstown?

A．Enjoy thrilling activities.	B．Visit a Māori village.
C．See many vineyards.	D．Get to know local artists.

3. Which of the following does Milford Sound provide?

A．Spa treatments.	B．Flightseeing.
C．Hot pools.	D．Whale-watching.

【推荐2】CAREER DISCOVERY DAY

Ages:11-17, with an adult chaperone(监护人).

Purpose: To find out what it is like to work at a zoo.

Descriptions:

Join us for a great program for middle and high school students to explore animal-related careers at Denver Zoo.

From keepers to trainers, vets and exhibits designers, different kinds of possible zoo and animal careers will be explored during our Career Discovery Day this fall. The program starts with an amazing gathering in which our animal stars will appear and perform. Participants(参与者) will attend lectures given by professors of the zoo and take part in special tours filled with activities and information. And you’ll have time to ask questions about what it takes to work on the wild side.

Registration(注册) required:

Registration closes at 10 am, September 16^th. Lectures and tours are limited to registered participants and their one chaperone only.

Cost:

Members: $70 per person. Nonmembers: $75 per person. The cost includes zoo admission for one participant and one required adult chaperone.

Note:

Participants will not be admitted without an adult chaperone and chaperones must stay with participants during the period of the event.

If you have any questions, please call at 720-337-1491 or e-mail at teenprograms@denverzoo.org.

1. Who would most probably be interested in Career Discovery Day?

A．Kids who love animals.

B．Adults who are looking for a job.

C．Children who like animal performances.

D．Teenagers who want to learn about jobs at a zoo.

2. How much should two members and their mothers pay to register for the program?

A．$70.	B．$140.
C．$150.	D．$290.

3. After an adult chaperone enters the zoo, he/she ________.

A．has to pay extra fees

B．can go wherever he/she likes

C．is not allowed to attend lectures

D．must stay with his/her child all the time

4. The text is meant to ________.

A．attract visitors to Denver Zoo

B．tell kids how to have fun in fall

C．advertise an activity at Denver Zoo

D．encourage people to work at zoos

【推荐3】Popular Houston Events

Brick Fest Live LEGO@(乐高积木）Fan Experience by Brick Fest Live

$22.50-$39.50

October 20, 10:00 am; October 21, 5:00 pm

NRG Center

The event is filled with attractions and activities designed to inspire, educate, and entertain people. It is for LEGOR lovers of all ages to roll up their sleeves and play with over a million LEGOR bricks! Now it comes to Houston for the first time!

Houston Fairytale Ball by Pretty Princess Parties

$20-$65

November 17, 9:00 am; November 18, 7:00 pm

Norris Conference Centers

Meet all the princesses at the Houston Fairytale Ball. This event is full of magical moments you won’t want to miss! Dance with Cinderella. Read with Rapunzel. Share snacks with Tinkerbell. All of our princesses travel to Huston this time, excited to sing, dance, and play with your little ones! Our event focuses on making sure your little ones feel royal throughout all of our activities.

Sickle Cell(镰状细胞）Education and Research Day by Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center

Free

October 6, 11:00 am:-3:00 pm

Kingdom Builders’ Center

It is an event for families of children with sickle cell disease. It provides families in Huston the opportunity learn about managing sickle cell in fun ways. There is a theme every year and this year’s theme is “The Greatest Me” and we look forward to seeing your family here! To make sure your child gets a T-shirt you must register (登记) no later than September 3.

2019 KIDFITSTRONG Fitness Challenge by KIDFITSTRONG

Free

November 4, 11:00 am-6:00 pm

Playgrounds in Houston

It is the nation’s largest mobile fitness event traveling from coast to coast aimed at keeping kids active and healthy. Kids of all ages have a chance to take courses designed to challenge speed, strength, and general physical fitness. The event is free to the public and features a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

1. What event can you enter in early November?

A．Brick Fest Live LEGOR Fan Experience

B．Houston Fairytale Ball

C．Sickle Cell Education and Research Day

D．2019 KIDFITSTRONG Fitness Challenge

2. Where should you visit if you want to enjoy food as well as playing?

A．NRG Center.

B．Norris Conference Centers.

C．Kingdom Builders’ Center

D．Playgrounds in Houston.

3. Which of the following hosts may organize events locally and regularly?

A．Brick Fest Live.

B．Pretty Princess Parties.

C．Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center.

D．KIDFITSTRONG.

4. What do the four events share?

A．They last for two days.

B．They are free of charge.

C．They are family-friendly.

D．They focus on health problems.

【推荐1】One summer camp long ago， I experienced a terrible need of a practical budget （f）， so that I began to make a chart of my "money in"， "save" and "spend" every week．

1. How many items did the writer take down？　 　

A．2．

B．3．

C．4．

D．5

2. What is the best title for the passage？　 　

A．My Weekly Budget．

B．How to Make a Balance．

C．money for Future Use．

D．"Money in" equals "Spend"

3. What is the writer's final attitude towards buying soda after school？　 　

A．He took it as important as lunch．

B．He thought he should list it onto "Have to Spend．"

C．He considered it unnecessary to drink soda after school．

D．He was sure he should put this sum into his money bank account．

4. How will the writer most probably spend the money from "save Awhile"？　 　

A．On a car．

B．On his education．

C．On a present for her mother．

D．On a Piggy bank toy．

5. What did the writer conclude from the text？　 　

A．Summer camp usually costs children a lot of money．

B．Income should equal the expense and saving．

C．One should always balance Money In and Spend．

D．Parents should plan the budget for their children．

【推荐3】Railay Princess Resort and Spa is situated in Ao Nang, just 40 minutes from Krabi International Airport. It also has a coffee bar and an outdoor pool. Guests can enjoy a range of relaxing treatments and beauty therapy at the in-house Waree Spa. It provides family-friendly facilities, with room designs and services for families both large and small, plus a kids club and a playground. It also has a gym with a swimming pool.

Rooms at Railay Princess are peaceful and have a refrigerator, a mini bar and cable TV. Hot drinks can be made with the available tea and coffee supplies and enjoyed in the comfort of the room’s sitting area. Railay Princess Resort and Spa features both a restaurant and a bar where guests are able to relax at the end of the day with a meal and a drink. Breakfast is available each morning and can be enjoyed in the comfort of the rooms.

Railay Princess Resort and Spa is surrounded by the area’s well-known sightseeing attractions, including Princess Lagoon, which is within walking distance.

Features:

General: Room Service, Restaurant, Air Conditioned, Mini Bar, Refrigerator, Cable TV, Bath, Coffee / Tea Maker, Hair Dryer, Shower, Private Bathroom, Private Toilet, Kids Club, Packed Lunches

Activities: Fitness Room, Swimming Pool, Beauty Centre, Garden, Karaoke, Water Activities, Playground, Spa and Wellness Centre, Child Pool, Outdoor Pool

Services: Business Centre, 24-Hour Reception, Dry Cleaning, Babysitting, Conference Rooms, Currency Exchange, Meeting Rooms, Laundry Service, Photocopier, Ticket Service Parking: There is an airport shuttle (摆渡车) that runs from the hotel.

Check-in: From 2:00 p.m.

Check-out: By 11:30 a.m.

1. In Railay Princess Resort and Spa, people can do all of the following things EXCEPT ____.

A．have fun with their kids	B．walk their dog
C．have a drink in the bar	D．have a relaxing spa experience

2. What can guests do in their hotel room?

A．They can make coffee or tea in the room by themselves.

B．They can cook because the rooms are equipped with kitchens.

C．They can have a good view of Princess Lagoon.

D．They can have breakfast and dinner from the restaurant in their room.

3. When can you check out?

A．At 12 a.m.	B．At 4:00 p.m.
C．At 3:30 p.m.	D．At 10:30 a.m.

【推荐1】The different parts of a health-care system have different focuses. A hospital’s stroke unit monitors blood flow in the brain. The cardiac (心脏的) unit is interested in that same flow, but through and from the heart. The data is effective in its own field, but for the most part has little relevance to other bits of the body and conditions.

Apart from all this, the instruments that doctors use to monitor health are often expensive, as is the training required to operate them. That combined cost is too high for the medical system to scan regularly, for early signs of illness.

A research project called AlzEye, run from Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, may change this. It is attempting to use the eye as a window through which to detect signals about the health of other organs. The doctors in charge of it, Siegfried Wagner and Pearse Keane, are linking Moorfields’ database of eye scans, which offer a detailed picture of the health of the retina (视网膜), with information about other aspects of its patients’ health collected from other hospitals around England.

The data set includes every one of the 300,000 patients who visited Moorfields between 2008 and 2018 and was over the age of 40. The idea is to examine changes to people’s eyes within that ten-year period, and link these with, say, the appearance of Alzheimer’s disease in the same patient.

Drs Wagner and Keane are searching for patterns in the eye that betray the appearance of disease elsewhere in the body, and are focusing first on Alzheimer’s disease. They will seek such patterns with the help of algorithms (程序) that can spot far tinier variations. They may, it should be remembered, never find such patterns. Although there is evidence that the back of the eye does change as its owner develops Alzheimer’s, it may be that the changes are too small to be detected reliably enough for diagnosis (诊断). If such patterns could be recognized reliably, though, the potential impact would be huge. Even in rich countries, between 50% and 80% of Alzheimer’s cases go undiagnosed. Moreover, even if the technique does not work for Alzheimer’s, it might work for something else. Dr Wagner and Dr Keane therefore plan further searches for patterns related to strokes and heart disease. Even one relevant pattern would contain a remarkable diagnostic leap forward.

If it does work, the technique the two researchers are recommending will be cheap to carry out. An indication of how cheap is the project’s total budget of just £15,000. Also, the equipment and algorithms to perform an eye scan are available to anyone, through cloud-computing services like Google and Amazon.

1. What is the disadvantage of the traditional way to monitor health?

A．Doctors are only interested in their own fields.

B．It can’t find early signs of illness effectively.

C．It can’t offer all-around health information.

D．Hospitals can’t afford the equipment and training.

2. Drs Wagner and Keane use eye scans to _______.

A．decide whether the patients’ retinas are healthy

B．compare Moorfields’ database with other hospitals’

C．find the connections between eye changes and disease

D．explore the use of algorithms in detecting Alzheimer’s

3. The underlined word “betray” in Paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to _______.

A．change	B．show
C．cause	D．prevent

4. What do we learn about the AlzEye project?

A．It examines the lifelong changes to 300,000 patients’ eyes.

B．It can correctly diagnose Alzheimer’s cases by scanning eyes.

C．It may be applied in finding other diseases besides Alzheimer’s.

D．It provides cloud-computing services with Google and Amazon.

【推荐2】Explore More in Thailand’s Parts Unknown Ban Krut

Ban Krut

In Ban Knit, travelers will find one of the cleanest and quietest pieces of white sandy beach within driving distance of the capital, Bangkok. This sleepy seaside community, known mostly by locals, is a five-hour drive or six-hour train trip from Bangkok.

Don’t miss the splendid Wat Tang Sai, a massive, fairy tale castle-like Buddhist temple located atop Thong Chai Mountain.

River Kwai

Most visitors come for the beaches, but the rivers and parks in Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province have much to offer the off-the-beaten-track road tripper. Lots of scenic paths and waterfalls exist in Sai Yok and Erawan national parks.

Just two hours’ drive from Bangkok is the bridge made famous in the book “Bridge over the River Kwai” by French author, Pierre Boulle, and the 1957 Academy Award-winning film adaptation of the same name.

Stay on the river at one of Kanchanaburi’s many floating hotels, or “floatels”, where you can kayak(划独木舟) to your front door.

Khan Sam Roi Yot National Park

Hiking tracks, wetlands and mangrove(红树) forests make Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park a weekend adventure worthy of topping your Thailand to-do list.

The park’s crown jewel is the extraordinary Phraya Nakhon Cave. Come early to catch the picturesque inside space flooded with morning sunshine that spotlights the royal pavilion(凉亭) that sits inside.

Outdoorsy travelers can camp in a park house or choose more luxurious accommodation in the nearby tourist town of Hua Hin, three hours by car, or four by train, from Bangkok.

Lopburi

Bypass the tour groups at the ancient city of Ayutthaya and head two hours north of Bangkok for a more peaceful walk through Thai history.

Lopburi, one of Thailand’s oldest cities, boasts(拥有) Khmer-era temples and the uncrowded ruins of King Narai’s Palace, which was built in the 1600s.

It’s also known for the naughty monkeys that gather at Phra Prang Sam Yot temple in the center of town.

1. Which destination might be the farthest from the capital of Thailand?

A．Ban Krut.

B．River Kwai.

C．Hua Hin.

D．Lopburi.

2. What is special about River Kwai?

A．It has the most beautiful white sandy beach.

B．It owns the most national parks of Thailand.

C．It offers all kinds of hotels to the hikers.

D．It is well-known for a bridge over the river.

3. Who will be most interested in Lopburi?

A．Holiday hikers.

B．History lovers.

C．Beach travelers.

D．Nature lovers.

【推荐3】Ever called a movie theater to find out showtime? Or called a customer service center for help? Chances are you didn't speak to a human being. You probably gave commands to an Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) system. These types of systems are efficient money-saving tools that allow companies to address many customer concerns with minimum human intervention.

The technology for such a system has advanced greatly since its appearance in the 1950s. One significant recent achievement is the launching of virtual personal assistants (VPAs) on mobile phones. The most well-known of these is Apple’s iPhone VPA, Siri. If you tell Siri that you want to schedule lunch with a friend, “she” can set the appointment on your phone in seconds. The VPA can also hold a basic “conversation” with a sense of humor. However, it can only be set off when the human user speaks certain key phrases or words.

While the potential for communication between a human and a machine may seem exciting, this possibility concerns some people. Some experts worry about people’s attachment to these machines and fear that the art of successful human-to-human conversation will be undeveloped in younger generations. They worry that people won’t be able to display the right emotion or tone in conversations because they haven’t been practicing those skills. Others fear that machines will take over functions that were traditionally performed by humans, such as customer service.

Another concern often associated with the development of new technology is the invasion of privacy. When people use certain speech recognition applications, they leave behind an audio track of their speech. When you ask a VPA for directions, your speech is often sent and saved to a remote server for processing. This digital information may lead to data mining, or the collection of large quantities of personal data.

For now, however, the continuing evolution of ASR software is thrilling to behold. Asking for and acquiring information from an automated source has never been easier. Leading companies in the speech recognition world will make human communication with machines as seamless as possible - in other words, just like communicating with another human.

1. What can we say about Apple’s Siri?

A．It’s a helpful VPA.	B．It first appeared in the 1950s.
C．It’s the most advanced ASR system.	D．It has the same sense of humor as humans.

2. What are Paragraphs 3 and 4 mainly about?

A．The broad definition of ASR.	B．Potential problems with ASR.
C．The fast development of ASR.	D．Movements against using ASR.

3. What is the author's attitude towards the future of ASR?

A．Worried.

B．Doubtful.

C．Hopeful.

D．Indifferent.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Talking to Technology	B．The Application of Siri
C．The Art of Conversation	D．VPAs on Mobile Phones