【推荐1】Critical reading is important. It’s a form of language analysis, involving a deeper examination of the text and the ideas for better comprehension. This means the reader should always keep an open mind, read slower than usual, pay extra attention, take notes and try to put himself in the shoes of the author’s target audience.

One of the most obvious benefits of critical reading is that it is an amazing workout for our brains. By getting more involved in the text and analyzing more aspects of the language, more areas of our brain are being activated and our brains develop better and faster.

Reading critically has a positive effect on how much, how well and how quickly we understand what we read. It implies a level of involvement in the activity of reading that doesn’t allow us to skip any unknown words, any connections to other events the author is making. No stone is left unturned.

In critical reading any thought, idea or concept expressed by the author needs to be observed, judged and carefully analyzed. The same mental process is involved in critical thinking. Being able to distinguish between real and fake news for example is absolutely essential nowadays. That is the power of critical thinking and critical reading is therefore a great means to an end.

In critical reading it is not unusual for a reader to go over the same paragraph several times to make sure all the information is understood. A critical reader will often take notes in order to structure the gathered information. This process in turn tricks our brain into remembering a lot more information than you would through regular reading.

Given its strong connection to critical thinking, the benefits of critical reading extend over a much larger spectrum: better decision making, a clearer mind, crisper logic and even an ability to solve problems faster, better and with less effort.

【推荐2】When schools shut down. To get parents through the difficulty, we have collected a list of study apps to keep children entertained and learning.

Super Reader     $3.99 /month

Super Reader is an excellent app for children who are learning to read books independently. Kids can choose books from different topics, including fairy tales, cartoons and folk tales. Books are read aloud while music and games are used to get children familiar with background. Children will receive a new free story weekly and can learn at their own pace.

Mini Library     $5.99/month

Mini library, a trusted name for decades, includes digital books and videos for children to read and explore the world. It offers reading passages with beautiful pictures, and kids will be asked a series of questions to check their understanding of the material. In this way it equips them with necessary skills for reading success. Children can sign up and use it for free in the first week before monthly or yearly payment.

Future Writer     $6.99/month

Children can write a book and add pictures in Future Writer. The app makes it easy to create cartoons. photo books, storybooks and more. It covers many grades and is in both English and French. Children practice skills and the app rewards them for the progress they have made. Check with school teachers to apply for a free online classroom and invite their students.

Khan Academy Free

Khan Academy is a popular tool in all subjects,offering students the chance to practice, memorize and challenge themselves. Children can create personalized scoreboards to keep track of their progress.And if students need help in organizing their writing, the app also helps them with“mind-mapping”before pen meets paper.

【推荐3】Espionage (间谍活动)! Secrets! Suspense(悬念)! If you’ve ever dreamed of being a spy, Max in the House of Spies written by Adam Gidwitz is for you. New York Times bestselling author of Wonder, White Bird, and Pony strongly recommended this book for teenagers, saying Max in the House of Spies is everything you could hope for in a book.

Espionage and courage are at the heart of this historical novel about Max, an 11-year-old boy sent to London as Germany became ever more dangerous for its Jewish citizens. Max has lots of questions, not the least of which are why the Nazis hate him so much, and why teachers and other adults are saying terrible, hurtful, things about Jewish people as if they are facts. Humor comes in the form of two little sprites from German and Jewish folklore (民间传说), who are forever weighing in—and arguing—about Max’s decisions and desire to return to Germany to save his folks. Fantastic characters and important topics for conversation make this a top read.

Max Bretzfeld doesn’t want to move to London. Leaving home is hard and Max is alone for the first time in his life. But not for long. Max is surprised to discover that he’s been joined by two unexpected traveling companions, one on each shoulder, a kobold (精灵) and a dybbuk (恶灵) named Berg and Stein. Germany is becoming more and more dangerous for Jewish families, but Max is determined to find a way back home, and back to his parents. He has a plan to return to Berlin. It merely involves accomplishing the impossible: becoming a British spy.

Max in the House of Spies is a thought-provoking World War II story as only acclaimed storyteller Adam Gidwitz can tell it—fast-paced and hilarious, with a dash of magic and a lot of heart.

【推荐3】This year has witnessed many new products hitting the market, and we have rounded up the most inviting product launches that you may have missed.

Woodfire Outdoor Oven

One of the newest, the most exciting products is the Woodfire Outdoor Oven, which can make not only pizza in three minutes, but plenty of other delicious dishes. It can also roast, bake or even keep items warm if your backyard party guests are running late. Our reviewer loves the oven because it cooks food evenly without you even needing to turn it.

Hatch Rest Go

It is one of the most unique in a long time. It’s a portable device you can take with you to provide comforting sleep sounds for your baby, which features ten sounds like white noise, heartbeat and the sound of the ocean. It runs on a rechargeable battery that lasts all day.

Mate Bluetooth Tracker

Built for attaching things like keys and backpacks via a key ring, it connects to your phone through Bluetooth for easy tracking. You don’t necessarily have to be close to whatever you’ve lost to find it; even when you’re out of Bluetooth range, you can open the accompanying app to see where on a map your thing is.

Silent Electric Coffee Grinder(研磨机)

It is an electric coffee grinder, perfect for whoever loves delicious coffee without all the noise. This wonderful device helps cut down on noise, so let this machine g rind coffee beans without waking everyone up in the house.

【推荐3】Gibraltar has vaccinated (注射疫苗) its entire adult population, making it a perfect “green list” destination for the coming sunny break. Here are our tips on what you can get there.

Cable car

The views from the Cable Car’s Top Station, located 412 m above sea level, are truly breathtaking and it will take you only 6 minutes to get to the top. You will find our tailless monkey at the Cable Car Top Station. However, please be aware that although they look cute and friendly, they are wild animals and must be treated with caution and respect.

The Cable Car is open 7 days a week from 09:30 to 19:15. No reservation needed.

ADMISSION PRICES: £16 for each adult, £7 for each child, and £14.5 for senior citizens

E-bike

E-bike system was established in July 2019 to provide e-bike guided tours and bike rentals in Gibraltar.

The directors of our tours bring 20 years of experience organizing and operating e-bike and motorcycle tours around the world. Our tour guides are officially licensed by the Gibraltar Tourist Board, are native English speakers and carry first-aid. German and Spanish speaking tour guides are also available on request.

CONTACT: TEL +350 56004948, e-mail info@ebike-gibraltar.com, or visit http://www.ebike-gibraltar.com/

Lower St Michael’s Cave

When the upper section of St Michael’s Cave has been known for over 2000 years and used for various purposes such as a hospital during World War II, it was only in 1942 that Lower St Michael’s Cave was discovered.

The tour into Lower St Michael’s Cave normally lasts around three hours. People are advised to wear shoes and clothing suitable for climbing. Due to the unusual nature of this tour, children under the age of ten years are not allowed. Three days in advance is also necessary for bookings.

ADMISSION PRICE: £25 per person

For details: TEL +350 20076849 or e-mail eltopo@gibraltar.gi