【推荐1】NEW STORY CONTEST

Ah, the New Year — a time for visiting friends and family as we ring out the old, ring in the new and imagine all the new adventures that await us in the year ahead.

Who knows what you’ll find when you open the door to your dryer or gaze up at the night sky? Will you write about a visit from a mythical creature, or maybe a lost animal? Will the visitor cause a problem — or solve one?

Whoever your visitor is, every buggy in Cricket (an American children’s magazine) Country will be gathered around the mailbox, awaiting the visit of your best story — just 350 words or less, please — featuring a surprising or unexpected visitor. Happy New Year!

Contest Rules

Your contest entry must be original. Ideas and words should not be copied.

Your entry must be signed by your parent or guardian, saying it is original, that no help was given, and granting Cricket permission to publish prize-winning entries in the May 2024 issue or on our website.

Be sure to include your name, age and full address on your entry.

Only one entry per person, please.

If you want your work returned, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for each entry.

Incomplete entries cannot be considered. Your entry will be incomplete if you forget to include your age or the signature of your parent or guardian that confirms that your work is original.

Your entry must be received by April 25, 2024.

Send entries to Cricket League, P. O. Box 300, Peru, IL 61354. (No faxes or email submissions, please!)

1. The theme of the new story contest is “_________”.

A．new adventures	B．New Year’s resolution
C．unexpected visitors	D．surprising inventions

2. Every contest entry must ________.

A．be sent by means of email	B．arrive after January 25,2018
C．be the contestant’s own work	D．contain no less than 350 words

3. Each contestant’s parent or guardian must sign the entry to agree that ________.

A．the prize-winning entry can be publicized on the media

B．all the required information has been included

C．the content of the story is based on a real event

D．editors can make revision to the participant’s entry

【推荐2】How the Vox Book Club Works

Every month, we pick a book. We go through it week by week, with a discussion post (帖子) going up on the site every Friday. Each discussion post will contain thoughts and discussion questions from our book critic, but we’ll also have comments turned on so you can share your thoughts there with a chief editor, a column writer and even a TV host. Use our discussion posts as a jumping off point (起点) with your friends and family. And at the end of the month, we’ll hold a discussion.

Next June’s Main Discussion

Next June, we’ll turn to William Goldman’s The Princess Bride. It is a comedy, which is about how Westley saved his lovely and beautiful girlfriend Buttercup from a wizard (巫师) prince. You’ve probably seen the classic 1987 movie adapted from the book, which is one of those book-ad-movie pairs where each part can stand on its own, though they also perfect each other in very wonderful ways. That’s probably because William Goldman was also one of Hollywood’s greatest screenwriters.

The Vox Book Club Project for Next June
Friday, June 3, 2022: Discussion covering the introduction to the 30th anniversary edition—Chapter 4
Friday, June 10, 2022: Discussion covering Chapters 5-6
Friday, June 17, 2022: Discussion covering Chapters 7-8 in the original edition, plus Buttercup’s Baby at the end of later editions
Thursday, June23, 2022: Virtual (虚拟的) live event.

Come to join us, and sign up for the Vox Book Club newsletter (简报) to get the latest messages.

1. Who will raise discussion questions every Friday?

A．A TV host.	B．A book critic.
C．A chief editor.	D．A column writer,

2. What do we know about William Goldman’s The Princess Bride?

A．It is about a sad love story.

B．It was written before 1985.

C．It is Hollywood’s greatest film.

D．It has been adapted into a film.

3. On which day should a reader join in the discussion if he is interested in Chapter 6 of The Princess Bride?

A．June 3, 2022.	B．June 10, 2022.
C．June 17, 2022.	D．June 23, 2022.

4. How can readers get the latest messages about the Vox Book Club?

A．Take part in a virtual live discussion.

B．Discuss several chapters together.

C．Sign up for the club newsletter.

D．Complete the latest updates.

5. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To call on us to join a book club.

B．To advertise The Princess Bride.

C．To introduce a discussion activity.

D．To teach readers how to read a novel.

【推荐3】Gymnastics Summer Camps 2023

Morning and afternoon camps give students the opportunity to acquire and practice gymnastics skills. Team building exercises, climbing ropes, fun games, and art projects will keep your child active throughout the summer!

Camps run Monday through Friday during the following dates and times:

Half-Day AM Camp: 9:30 am—12:00 pm at $259/week

Half-Day PM Camp: 12:30 pm—3:00 pm at S259/week

WEEK 1: July 10th—July 14th

WEEK 2: July 17th—July 21st

WEEK 3: July 24th—July 28th

WEEK 4: July 31st—August 4th

WEEK 5: August 7th—August 11th

*Siblings (兄弟姐妹) signed up for the same weeks will receive a 10% discount. Discount will be applied whether siblings are in dance or gymnastics camp.

While we are not offering full-day camp, families looking for extended hours can sign up for both an AM and PM session. If you enroll (登记) your child in both a morning and afternoon session of camp in the same week, your child will need to bring lunch from home.

Camp sign-up is on a WEEKLY basis! You can register your child for camp directly through your account on the parent portal (入口站点) or by emailing info@vikinggymnastics.com.

To guarantee your spot in camp — a 25% non-refundable (不能退款的) payment is due at the time of registration for all weeks that you register your child. Therefore, a credit card must be on file at the time of sign-up. By April 1st, 50% of your camp payment must be made, non-refundable. Your final camp payment is due no later than June 1st.

We look forward to having a great time with your child at Camp!

1. How much should a parent pay in total if he enrolls his two children into an AM session of WEEK 3?

A．$233.1.

B．$259.

C．$466.2.

D．$518.

2. What is required of a child if he signs up for both an AM and PM session in the same week?

A．Bringing his lunch.

B．Joining a competitive team.

C．Being accompanied by a parent.

D．Choosing between the dance and gym camp.

3. When should parents pay the final camp payment?

A．Before April 1st.	B．Before June 1st.
C．On July 10th.	D．On August 11th.

【推荐1】Four Books on Relationship

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

The Little Prince is one of the most translated books in the world and, in France, it has been voted the best book of the twentieth century. This is a simple, yet meaningful classic, one that can be enjoyed from the ages of 9 to 99. The story highlights how most grown-ups miss out on the simple things in life, such as friendship, love and the beauty of the world because they are too busy gaining wealth and power. It allows readers to reflect on what is truly important in life — what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Swing Time by Zadie Smith Swing

Time traces the lives of two women — the unnamed narrator and her best friend Tracey. The two brown girls dream of being dancers, but only Tracey has talent. Thenarrator succeeds as the assistant to a famous pop star, while Tracey, after a few performances as a dancer, lived in poverty. Swing Time tells of their close but complex childhood friendship that ends suddenly in their early twenties, exploring themes of motherhood, friendship and loyalty.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Kile Runner is The New York Times bestseller and international classic loved by millions of readers. Set in the country Afghanistan that is in the process of being destroyed, ittells a heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

This is a Printz Honor Book. The author tells a coming-of-age story of two Mexican-American teenagers, Aristotle Mendoza and Dante Quintana, their friendship, and their struggles against racial and ethnic identity and family relationships.

1. What can we know about Swing Time?

A．It’s written by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.	B．It shows different life roads of two girls.
C．It’s set in the country of Afghanistan.	D．It tells a story of a lasting friendship.

2. Which book is written by Benjamin Alire Sáenz?

A．The Litile Prince

B．Swing Time

C．The Kite Runner

D．Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

3. Where is the text most likely to come from?

A．An advertisement.	B．A scientific report.
C．A literary magazine.	D．A travel guidebook.

【推荐1】Four Most Popular Hollywood Singers in 2022

Jon Bon Jovi

The American singer and professional songwriter Jon Bon Jovi was born on 2nd March, 1962 and achieved many records after entering the music industry. He produced many songs which are very popular worldwide.

Songs like Living on a Prayer, It’s My Life, Wanted Dead or Alive always are some of the best hits given by this Hollywood singer.

Madonna

Multitalented Madonna is a popular American singer, songwriter and actress. This Hollywood singer was born on 16th August in 1958 in the city of Michigan, United States.

Madonna is an energetic woman who is famous for her exceptional singing ability as well as her business mind. Within no time she got popular in the music industry because of some of her super hit songs like Crazy for You, Cherish, and 4 Minutes.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez is a wonderful lady with great talent. She was born on 24th July, 1969 in New York City of America. She is a multi-talented artist who is famous for her acting, singing as well as dancing abilities.

Some of her super hit songs are I’m Real If You Had My Love, and On the Floor. Rather than singing, she has done many series and films which hit audiences and billboards. She has also joined the 2020 FIFA world cup opening ceremony.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga was born on 28th March 1986. She is one of the most inspirational and legendary ladies, who is famous for her exceptional singing talent. She is the richest singer and person in Hollywood and her net worth is almost 275 million-dollars. Her hit songs are Just Dance and Bad Romance.

1. What do Jon Bon Jovi and Madonna have in common?

A．They have sharp business mind.

B．They were born in the early 1960s.

C．They are famous for their dancing abilities.

D．They are not only good at singing but also writing songs.

2. Which singer performed at the 2020 FIFA world cup opening ceremony?

A．Jon Bon Jovi.

B．Madonna.

C．Jennifer Lopez.

D．Lady Gaga.

3. Which song is Lady Gaga's hit song?

A．It’s My Life.

B．Crazy for you.

C．On the Floor.

D．Just Dance.