Stargazing Festivals in 2023
As more areas grow brighter with light pollution, national parks across the country have become dark-sky havens. Over the years, they are making a push to get certified as havens for sky-watching by the International Dark Sky Association, and they even host events like stargazing festivals to get travelers excited about astronomy.
·Bryce Canyon National Park—June 14-17
Situated in southern Utah, Bryce Canyon earned its dark-sky title in 2019. The 35,835-acre park is an ideal place to stay up late. This year, its annual astronomy festival includes guided stargazing sessions, lectures and “star stories” presentations, family-friendly activities, and even a performance by strings musicians in the northern Arizona-based Dark Sky Quartet.
·Shenandoah National Park—August 11-13
Conveniently located within a day’s drive from two-thirds of Americans, Shenandoah National Park’s night sky festival is a low-lift way to dabble in astronomy. The nearly 200,000-acre park will host ranger talks, public stargazing sessions, lectures, presentations, and activities for kids. Staffers are still working on this year’s full schedule, but past events have covered topics ranging from space weather to nocturnal(夜间的) creatures.
·Great Basin National Park—September 14-16
Great Basin is one of the least crowded national parks, making it the perfect place to quietly appreciate the mysteries of the cosmos. Its annual astronomy festival is scheduled for this fall and includes guest speakers, constellation talks, observatory tours, and a photography workshop. During the festival’s unique “Art in the Dark” program, participants will get to paint in low-light conditions and experiment with how their eyes perceive color.
·Joshua Tree National Park—October 13-14
Joshua Tree National Park, as the International Dark Sky Association notes, is the “nearest convenient place to go stargazing under a relatively dark sky” for the 18 million people who live in the Los Angeles area. It became an official dark sky park in 2017, and each year, it hosts a night sky festival in the fall. As luck would have it, this year’s dates overlap with an annular “ring of fire” solar eclipse. From Joshua Tree, the moon will appear to obscure between 70 and 80 percent of the sun.
1. What is the purpose of Stargazing Festivals?A.To raise public interest in astronomy. |
B.To call for action against light pollution. |
C.To provide a platform to observe stars. |
D.To collect money for more observatories. |
A.Bryce Canyon National Park. | B.Shenandoah National Park. |
C.Great Basin National Park. | D.Joshua Tree National Park. |
A.An observatory tour. | B.A photography workshop. |
C.A stargazing tour. | D.A solar eclipse. |
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【推荐1】On Mother’s Day, surprising your mother with a delicious cake is a must. Before you order a cake, you need a Mother’s Day cake design.
Dessert(甜点) Chocolate Cake
Who in the world can say no to a cake that is chocolate inside? This cake design is unique—other than the chocolate, there are delicious and lovely desserts on top of it.
Price: $42, 6-inch/$58, 8-inch
Black Velvet Cake
Black is forever beautiful! And as mothers are a long preference for love and beauty, you can pick this Black Velvet Cake to surprise your mother. As beautiful as the cake looks outside, when you cut the cake, it is relaxing to see the red and black delicious layers(夹层)inside.
Price, $32, 6-inch/$42, 8-inch
Naked Rose Cake
We know you came across the thought of surprising your mom with a bunch(束)of flowers as gifts for.
Mother’s Day, and you should go with it. With the cake design that we bring here, you can take a floral surprise ahead. Three layers of baked batter, three layers of whipped cream, and the topping of real strawberries and real pink roses!
Price: $36, 6-inch/$48, 8-inch
Wafers and Chocolate Strawberries Cake
Does your mom love wafers? Is she a fan of chocolate? And is she also mad on strawberries? Breaking the usual round shape, here is a Mother’s Day cake design in a square, which is covered with breakable wafers on the sides. Also, there is white and black chocolate and fresh strawbemes on top of it
Price: $38,6-inch/$50,8-inch
1. How much does a 6-inch Dessert Chocolate Cake cost?A.$ 36. | B.$42. | C.$48. | D.$58. |
A.It’s black. | B.It’s sweet. | C.It’s square. | D.It’s round. |
A.Naked Rose Cake. | B.Black Velvet Cake. |
C.Dessert Chocolate Cake. | D.Wafers and Chocolate Strawbemes Cake. |
【推荐2】What is your favorite holiday? Here are some students’ opinions.
Sandy from Taiwan says:
My favorite holiday is the Mid-Autumn Festival. I always visit my grandfather and grandmother, and we always go to the same restaurant on the mountain to hold jubilation. At night, we always have a barbecue, and watch the moon together. I enjoy it a lot.
Zhenia from Ukraine says:
My favorite day is New Year’s Day. We celebrate the new year on the 31st of December. Father Frost comes with his granddaughter on that night. He puts his presents under the New Year Tree. We have a party and stay up until midnight to see the New Year in and the Old Year off. We cook delicious food for the party. People also celebrate Old New Year in our country. It is on the 14th of January.
Yagna from India says:
My favorite day is Deepavali(屠妖节), which is also called Festival of Lights. People do some cleaning at home and light their oil lamps to thank for the defeat of the bad king. To celebrate it, we also eat sweets and delicious food, wear new clothes, and give presents to our friends and relatives.
Pat from Thailand says:
My name is Pat. My favorite holiday is Songkran. It takes place from the 13th to 15th of April. On the holiday people pour water on each other. It is a lot of fun. People also buy new clothes and they have big parties.
1. What is Sandy’s favorite holiday?A.Deepavali. | B.New Year’s Day. |
C.The Mid-Autumn Festival. | D.Songkran. |
A.supper | B.game | C.exercise | D.celebration |
A.To thank for the defeat of the bad king. |
B.To eat sweets and delicious food. |
C.To give presents to others. |
D.To wear new clothes. |
【推荐3】Five of the Most Interesting Customs in the World
Switzerland- -Honesty shopping
There are little shops in the middle of the Swiss Alps that allow you to buy your fresh cheese, milk, bread, honey,and butter without anyone to watch you. In fact, no one watches these shops because they are owned by farmers who are out taking care of the animals.
South Korea—NOT tipping
Tipping is in the blood for someone who is raised in the United States along with many other European countries. But in South Korea, employees in the food service industry are given fair wages and take pride in their work,and it is disrespectful to attempt to tip them.
Iceland—Christmas Eve books giving
People puzzle over the question of Christmas gifts. Iceland has solved this problem with the Christmas Eve tradition of giving a book. After everyone unwraps the books, they spend the evening reading together.
Japan—Pushers on the subway
Japan’s subway is crowded during rush hours. But instead of settling for the inefficiency that personal space demands,Japan has“pushers" . They are exactly what they sound like- -employees whose only job during rush hour is to push more people onto the train.
Russia—Offering vodka
It is the custom to welcome new friends with shots of vodka. What better way to break the ice than with some stomach-warming shots of this Russian tradition? That’s something we can all toast to, or, as they say in Russia, “Na zdorovye!”
1. In which of the countries is it a tradition to give books as a Christmas gift?A.Japan. | B.South Korea. | C.Iceland. | D.Russia. |
A.Tipping is in the blood for people in South Korea. |
B.“Pushers” in Japan help you get off the train faster. |
C.It is common to welcome guests with vodka in Japan. |
D.No one watches you shop in some Swiss little shops. |
A.Those who want to learn Russian. |
B.Those who are fond of natural scenery. |
C.Those who are interested in global customs. |
D.Those who intend to travel in their home country. |
【推荐1】From Marrakech to Cape Town, Africa has so much to offer. Here are some top destinations to discover in this fascinating continent.
Kruger National Park
Bursting with a diverse array of wildlife in large numbers, Kruger is considered South Africa’s best park for a reason. In addition to the awesome amount of nature on display, the amenities are also fantastic, with a great array of lodges and camps to suit all kinds of budgets. Kruger is also heaven for birdwatching, so there’s something to excite everyone.
Victoria Falls
Next, we’ve got one of the wonders of the natural world. The colossal Victoria Falls sits on the Zambia and Zimbabwe border. As November marks the start of the rainy season, it’s the perfect time to visit, as the falls will be at their most dramatic! Book onto one of Tripbeat’s Victoria Falls multi-day camping adventures to explore the amazing landscape and animals.
Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta is another fantastic choice for safari. Instead of jeeps, boats are the best way to get around this watery wilderness, and perfect for getting up close to hippos and crocodiles. Botswana is also a great place to explore African cuisine, with delicious dishes like Vetkoek, a type of burger normally served with curry, thyme, and chilli sauce.
Cape Town
Our last recommendation is one of three capitals. Relax at the Victoria and Alfred waterside area where you can visit the Museum of Contemporary African Art, or join a walking tour to discover more about the area’s history that dates to the17th century. If you only do one thing, visit Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for18 years. It offers a sobering insight into the history of the anti-apartheid activists’ life and imprisonment.
1. Visitors who want to plan an economical trip may go to .A.Victoria Falls | B.Cape Town |
C.Kruger National Park | D.Okavango Delta |
A.Travel. | B.History. | C.Location. | D.Food. |
A.Victoria and Alfred. | B.Robben Island. |
C.Botswana. | D.Zambia and Zimbabwe border. |
【推荐2】These are the best online fitness programs that you should sign up for this year, with so much variation that there’s bound to be a class that suits you perfectly. These virtual fitness classes can help you to feel renewed energy for your fitness goals.
Peloton Digital
Cost: $12.99 a month Trial period: 30 days
As one of the world’s best online fitness programs, Peloton Digital offers better and more enjoyable at-home workouts. You don’t need a Peloton bike to use the Peloton app. The Peloton Digital app gives you access to this world-beating online fitness training program on your phone, tablet or laptop, so you can work out wherever you are.
Fitbit Premium
Cost: $9.99 a month Trial period: 90 days
Fitbit Premium is ideal for beginners and people returning to exercise after a long break. It offers audio workouts for runners and walkers, and these focus on things like pace and relaxation. Fitbit’s online fitness program displays an average amount of calories you can expect to burn per workout in the home.
Daily Burn
Cost: $19.95 a month Trial period: 30 days
Daily Bum could be the best online fitness training program for those who want to lose weight through a combination of regular exercise and a healthy diet. It helps people to not only lose weight, but to then maintain their new healthy weight. You will get a personalized plan recommending specific workouts to help you achieve your goals.
Obe Fitness
Cost: $27 a month Trial period: 7 days
Obe Fitness is the best choice for you as it features live workouts each day to keep you entertained and challenged. This is the closest real-life workout class at home. There are more than 100 live classes on offer each week. Perfect if you feel energized when you know classes are happening in real-time, and you’re following along—instructors even shout out to you to keep you focused.
1. Which program is suitable for cyclists?A.Peloton Digital. | B.Fitbit Premium. |
C.Daily Burn. | D.Obe Fitness. |
A.Its entertaining at-home workouts | B.Its low price and long trial period. |
C.Its combination of exercise and diet. | D.Its real-life workout classes at home. |
A.They satisfy beginners' needs. | B.They offer personalized plans. |
C.They provide virtual classes. | D.They suit people losing weight. |
【推荐3】If you want to understand China but can’t afford an expensive international flight, these four books can give you a complete overview of the country.
River Town
River Town: Two Years on the Yangize by Peter Hessler—This book is a journal of the author’s two years spent teaching English in a small town called Fuling, situated on the banks of the Yangtze River. Hessler writes about his experiences living in a foreign culture and observing the lives of the town’s residents. The book was published in 2001 and has won several awards, including the Kiriyama Prize.
Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China
It is a book that tells the story of China’s modernization. It was written by Ezra Vogel and published in 2011. The author describes how Deng Xiaoping’s policies led to significant changes in China’s economy and society. The book has received critical honors and won the Lionel Gelber Prize in 2012.
The Search for Modern China by Jonathan Spence
This book is a comprehensive history of China from the Ming dynasty to the present day. The author, a prominent scholar of Chinese history, provides a detailed analysis of the social, cultural, and political changes that have taken place in China over the past 500 years. The book was first put out in 1990 and has since been revised and updated several times. This book was the top bestseller for years.
Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China
Written by Leslie T. Chang, this book, published in 2008, is reportage on the lives of young women who leave their rural homes to work in factories in China’s cities. Chang, a former New York Times journalist, interviewed hundreds of factory girls to provide insight into the social and economic changes in China.
1. What kind of book is River Town?A.A science fiction. | B.A travel guide of Fuling. |
C.A nonfiction. | D.A reference book. |
A.It was published 500 years ago. | B.It was written by a history teacher. |
C.It has remained the same since its first publication. | D.It was very popular. |
A.River Town. |
B.Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China. |
C.The Search for Modern China. |
D.Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China. |