【推荐1】Creative Writing Summer School

2-15 August 2015

Study at one of the world's leading universities

About the Creative Writing Summer School
       This programme is for those wishing to develop their existing creative writing skills, either for eventual professional use, or out of personal interest.Workshop courses take place twice a day.In a series of plenary(全体出席的)lectures (each morning, and on some evenings), novelists, poets and writers of creative non-fiction discuss their own work and the art of writing.Plenary lectures are designed to expand students' understanding of their own creative options.Students will expected to complete daily writing tasks outside classroom hours; the resulting work will form the primary focus of the workshops.
What will I be studying?

Workshop courses focus on practical writing skills and critical reflection; there are specialist options in fiction; creative non-fiction and poetry, and writing for stage and screen, as well as a more broadly-based writing course.

Who can apply?
       The programme is open to university students, literature teachers, professionals and those with other life experience; gap-year students preparing for university may also apply (students must be accompanied by a parent/ guardian if under 18 when the programme starts).Participants must also meet the language requirements specific to this programme and will be asked to provide a 300-400 word piece explaining their reasons for applying.
Who will be teaching me?
       Courses are taught by a combination of published writers associated with the School of Continuing Education, Peking University and by guest subject specialists from beyond the university.
Where will I stay?
       Participants can stay in the School of Continuing Education, Peking University, close to the teaching sites and city Coventry.
How do I apply?
       You can download an application form or apply online.
       Find out more: www.sce.pku.edu.cn
1. Participants are supposed to finish their writing tasks______.

A．in the morning	B．in the evening
C．after class	D．during plenary lectures

2. The writing courses_____·

A．focus on practical writing skills

B．cover various kinds of writing

C．don't include writing for stage and screen

D．are mainly about creative non-fiction

3. Applicants need to write an essay to_______.

A．introduce themselves

B．show their writing skills

C．state their language learning experiences

D．explain why they want to attend the programme

【推荐1】People are less willing to rely on their knowledge and say they know something when they have access (使用权) to the Internet. That suggests that our connection to the Internet is affecting how we think. Professor Evan F. Risko led a study where 100 participants (参与者) faced general knowledge questions, such as naming the capital of France. For half of the study, participants had access to the Internet. They had to look up the answer when they said that they did not know the answer. In the other half of the study, participants who did not have access to the Internet did differently.

The team found that the people who had access to the Internet were about 5 percent more likely to say that they did not know the answer to the question. And the people with access to the Internet reported feeling as though they knew less. “When a large amount of information is within reach, people seem less likely to rely on their own knowledge,” said Professor Risko.

Through the results, the researchers held that access to the Internet might make it less acceptable to say you know something but are incorrect. It is also possible that participants were more likely to say they didn’t know an answer when they had access to the Internet, because online searching offers a chance to confirm (证实) their answer or satisfy their curiosity.

“Our results suggest that access to the Internet affects the decisions we make about what we know and don’t know. We hope this research is helpful in our growing understanding of how easily access to large amounts of information can influence our thinking.” Risko said and planned to further the research in this area.

1. What can we know about the participants without the Internet?

A．They knew all the answers.

B．They asked to look up the answers.

C．They were surer of their knowledge.

D．They were more successful in their jobs.

2. Why did those with the Internet depend less on their knowledge?

A．They knew a little about the answers.

B．They wanted to avoid making mistakes.

C．They could not give the correct answers.

D．They were curious about other people’s lives.

3. What does the underlined part “this area” in the last paragraph refer to?

A．Our growing understanding.

B．What we know and don’t know.

C．Our access to large amounts of information.

D．The influence of access to the Internet on us.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Access to the Internet is running our lives.

B．The Internet is a good place to get information.

C．We’re unwilling to believe in others with the Internet.

D．The Internet makes us unwilling to say we know things.

【推荐2】As Internet users become more dependent on the Internet to store information, are people remembering less? If you know your computer will save information, why store it in your own personal memory, your brain? Experts are wondering if the Internet is changing what we remember and how.

In a recent study, Professor Betsy Sparrow conducted some experiments. She and her research team wanted to know the Internet is changing memory. In the first experiment, they gave people 40 unimportant facts to type into a computer. The first group of people understood that the computer would save the information. The second group understood that the computer would not save it. Later, the second group remembered the information better. People in the first group knew they could find the information again, so they did not try to remember it.

In another experiment, the researchers gave people facts to remember, and told them where to find the information on the Internet. The information was in a specific computer folder (文件夹). Surprisingly, people later remember the folder location better than the facts. When people use the Internet, they do not remember the information. Rather, they remember how to find it. This is called “transactive memory (交互记忆)”

According to Sparrow, we are not becoming people with poor memories as a result of the Internet. Instead, computer users are developing stronger transactive memories; that is, people are learning how to organize huge quantities of information so that they are able to access it at a later date. This doesn’t mean we are becoming either more or less intelligent, but there is no doubt that the way we use memory is changing.

1. What can we learn about the first experiment?

A．Sparrow’s team typed the information into a computer.

B．The two groups remembered the information equally well.

C．The first group did not try to remember the information.

D．The second group did not understand the information.

2. In transactive memory, people ___.

A．keep the information in mind

B．change the quantity of information

C．organize information like a computer

D．remember how to find the information

3. What is the effect of the Internet according to Sparrow’s research?

A．We are using memory differently.

B．We are becoming more intelligent.

C．We have poorer memories than before.

D．We need a better way to access information.

【推荐3】Online marketing means advertising and marketing by using the Internet to drive sales of a product or service. The following are four online marketing methods for you to choose from.

Write a blog

    1    . You can give advice on how to write articles and write product review s and posts about upcoming events. Blogs give you more flexibility than other forms of social media like Facebook or Twitter. That’s because you own the content and aren’t bound (约束) by a third party’s rules or restrictions.

Create videos

Video is so popular because it’s interesting and allows people to get information and entertainment that’s easy to digest. You can produce creative videos that educate your customers about your products.     2    .

Write e-books

    3    . Price Waterhouse Cooper predicts that income from e-book sales in the United States will grow from $2.31 billion in 2015 to $8.69 billion in 2023. Since the popularity of e-books is increasing so significantly, consider using this type of media to connect with your customers.

    4    

Teach a class in your specialty (专长) . You can teach the class in person, or you can offer it online.     5     because you teach it once, then you use it over and over again to connect with your customers. Choices for offering your class online include sending it through e-mail, posting it on your website, or publishing it on an online platform like Udemy.

A．Teach an online course

B．You had better not post these things on your blog

C．Teaching an online course is more practical and profitable

D．Also, promote your videos across several social media channels

E．If you have a business, consider starting a blog as part of your marketing plan

F．Many students drop out of online courses because of the lack of teaching support

G．E-books can help you build your brand and offer valuable information to your target audience

【推荐1】Here are some great museums you shouldn’t miss if you visit Europe one day.

Tate Museum, London

It is Britain's national museum. It exhibits international modern and present-day art where you can view artwork from Matisse, Picasso, Dali, Pollock, and countless others. With about 4.7 million visitors yearly, the museum is the most visited modern art gallery across the globe.

Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid

Considered as an important landmark in Madrid's art history, it holds a collection of paintings that includes artwork by the biggest names in European art from the 16th to the 19th century. Also, you will find collections of drawings, prints and sculptures and lots of examples of decorative arts and historical documents.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence

Considered a must-see in Florence, the Uffizi Gallery displays works from all the major Renaissance artists. It is packed with countless works of beautiful art and statues from the Renaissance period. If you want to visit it, you'd better get your tickets online before going or you'll end up waiting in line for three hours or more.

Louvre Museum, Paris

It is one of the largest museums in the world with 35,000 pieces of art. It is mostly famous for housing the Mona Lisa, The Raft of the Medusa, the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, etc. Many who visit will say that one day is not enough to see everything. Admission fees: a 2-day pass: £ 42; a 4-day pass: £56; a 6-day pass: £ 69.

1. To visit the most visited modern art gallery, you should go to ________ .

A．Paris

B．Madrid

C．Florence

D．London

2. One who is interested in Renaissance art should visit   ________ .

A．the Tate Museum	B．the Uffizi Gallery
C．the Louvre Museum	D．the Museo Nacional del Prado

3. How much should a couple pay to visit the Louvre Museum for six days?

A．£ 69.

B．£ 84.

C．£ 112.

D．£ 138.

【推荐2】Have you ever experienced any inconvenience caused by language barriers while travelling? Have you ever thought how awesome those language courses would be if they didn't cost so much money and require so much time?

Translaty is created to serve this purpose -without wasting your money and time on language courses, you can instantly become "fluent" in more than 40 languages with this genius device!

What is Translaty?

Translaty is a simple yet life-changing invention that helps you to overcome any obstacles caused by foreign languages, whether you're in a business meeting with an international client or sunbathing somewhere on a Spanish beach. This small but ingenious device is able to instantly recognize and translate over 40 different languages, making intercultural communication completely effortless!

What languages can I actually communicate in?

Translaty has more than 40 languages pre-installed, so you're able to use it the minute you get it! It provides fast and accurate two-way communication and allows you to install some other languages that you might be missing.

What makes Translaty so special?

* Makes travelling easier — forget language barriers and become "fluent" in 40 + languages.

* Helps in business --- strengthening your international business relationships. It's easy when you speak the same language.

* Assists in daily life ——allowing you to overcome language differences with your foreign friends.

* Convenient and easy to use ——lightweight and simple design ensures it's there when you need it the most.

* Offers 100% accurate, two-way translations.

* High sound and recording quality ensure there are no misunderstandings.

To sum up --- get it while you can!

1. Translaty can help users .

A．better understand foreigners	B．learn foreign languages well
C．spend less in learning a language	D．build relationships with colleagues

2. What is special about Translaty?

A．It's secure.	B．It's strong.
C．It's reliable.	D．It's affordable.

3. What's the purpose of the text?

A．To report.	B．To advertise.
C．To appeal.	D．To reply.

【推荐1】A Lighter Touch

In recent years, superheroes such as Superman, Thor, Iron Man, and Black Panther have starred in film series with complex, serious storylines about the end of the universe. However, the makers of Shazam! which came out in China on April 5,have a different opinion on the superhero movie.

It’s “just a light, funny...action comedy about a boy in a superman's body”, wrote Owen Gleiberman in his review for Variety magazine.

Billy Batson, the film's main character, is a 14-year-old who's been in and out of foster homes(寄养家庭). One day, on the way to another home, Batson escapes to the subway and meets a wizard(巫师), who gives him magical powers. Whenever Batson says "Shazam", he changes into an adult-sized man with superhuman strength.

But how does he use his new superpowers? With the help of his new foster brother Freddie Freeman, Batson tests his strength like any teenager would do-by breaking the rules. He breaks a soda machine to get a drink, tricks his teachers, and even buys beer.

While the film is fun and joyous, it also has emotional weight. A major part of the story is Batson searching for his real mother. And later when Batson faces the evil Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, a former misfit kid himself, he realizes that his new found superpowers can't solve all the problems, and that he has something valuable to protect-his new family.

“With strong messages about families of all shapes and sizes and the importance of supporting and educating young people, Shazam! really feels like the movie we need right now,” Den of Geek website noted.

1. How is Shazam different from other superhero movies?

A．It has a complex, serious storyline.	B．It is about the end of the universe.
C．It has several important characters.	D．It has a light and funny atmosphere.

2. What do we know about Billy Batson in Shazam!?

A．He was born with magical powers.

B．He lives with a wizard near the subway.

C．He enjoys his time with his foster family.

D．He has no idea who his real mother is.

3. What can we learn about Batson from the second to last paragraph?

A．He fails to find his real mother in the end.

B．He loves playing tricks with his magic powers.

C．He realizes what his new family means to him.

D．He teaches Dr. Thaddeus Sivana to be a good person.

4. What's the main purpose of the article?

A．To share the author's view about families.

B．To introduce the movie, Shazam!.

C．To persuade readers to watch Shazam!.

D．To teach readers how to write a movie review.

【推荐2】Scientists have long struggled with how to measure the effects of climate change on wildlife. This is especially true for birds flying in and out of coastal areas bordering the Arctic Ocean.

In the past, researchers depended mainly on information gathered by satellite to follow the movement of birds and animals. But this method can be costly and result in huge amounts of information, which can be difficult to process.

Now scientists are turning to another kind of technology to help them follow birds and other wildlife. Songbirds are especially difficult to study in the wild. They can fly across thousands of kilometers and their bodies are too small for electronic tracking equipment A new report tells about a project in which researchers recorded songbirds and then put the sounds into a computer program to be studied.

Birds are known to make more singing noises after arriving in areas where they plan to mate. Spring is short in extreme northern areas of the American state of Alaska. There, the birds must mate and have their young before winter. A algorithm（计算程序）is designed to use the recordings to predict when the birds arrive in large groups to begin mating.

While some results were produced completely by machine, human supervision（监督）helped to improve the process. In both cases, the researchers reported the computer was correct in predicting when the birds arrived to their breeding grounds.

In another study, researchers reported how machine learning methods can be used to identify, count and describe animals in the wild. Researchers created a machine learning system that they say uses artificial intelligence or AI to identify, count, and describe the behavior of 48 animal species. They said their method can correctly identify animals at a rate of 94 percent.

The scientists said results showed AI can be used as an effective way to gather“a wealth of information”on huge numbers of animals in the wild. They say the new method will save time and costs, and can even operate in real-time.

1. Why are songbirds especially difficult to study in the wild?

A．Because they fly too fast.

B．Because of the climate change.

C．Because there are too much information.

D．Because of the long flying distance and their small bodies.

2. To track songbirds, what does the first study focus on?

A．Their destination.	B．Their sounds.
C．Their young babies.	D．Their movement.

3. What are the advantage of using the machine learning system to follow birds and other wildlife?

A．It can provide too much information to deal with.

B．It can save time and money.

C．It doesn't need humans to attend in the process.

D．It can identify animals in the wild at a rate of 100 percent.

4. What's the main idea of the passage?

A．New technology used to track wildlife.

B．How to protect animals in the wild.

C．How to track birds by satellite.

D．New progress on artificial intelligence.

【推荐3】The custom of celebrating from the end of January until mid-February has long been popular in Quebec City, Canada. The first large Winter Carnival here, in the world’s snow capital, took place in 1894. Faced with winter’s hardships, the city’s population made this popular tradition into a winter celebration that warmed the hearts of all people.

Interrupted by two wars and then the economic crisis of 1929, the Carnival was held from time to time until the second half of the century. In 1954, a group of business people re-started the festivities. That year, Bonhomme was born and was elected the event’s representative.

The next year the first official Quebec Winter Carnival took place. The Carnival snowballed into a big event and was important for tourism and economic activity in the city.

From one winter to the next, the Carnival enriched its activity program. We have since added even more popular activities, such as winter sports, snow sculptures, and activities based on the traditional Quebec lifestyle, such as dogsled races. The Quebec Winter Carnival is the largest winter carnival in the world today, and is third on the list of Top Carnivals after the famous carnivals in Rio and New Orleans.

1960

The people living along Rue Sainte-Therese created many snow or ice sculptures, and this location became known as Carnival Street.

1964

The name of Bonhomme Carnival and his image became registered trademarks.

1970

A new tradition was born: closing the event with a firework display.

1975

A new activity, called The Break, was created, on Friday from noon till midnight. Many employers gave their employees time off so they could go dancing at the Quebec City Convention Centre. The event continued to be held until 1986, sometimes late into the night.

1977

Until 1991, the Carnival offered a children’s sculpture competition.

1987

The snow bath became part of the program.

1999

Because of the importance of volunteers, the human resources department was created to improve organization.

1. The Quebec Winter Carnival     .

A．is held from mid-February to the end of March

B．is an encouragement for the local people in winter

C．is the second largest carnival in the winter

D．has as many activities as when it was first held

2. The first official Quebec Winter Carnival was held in ____.

A．1894

B．1895

C．1954

D．1955

3. In 1976, which of the following activities were held during the Quebec Winter Carnival?
①The snow bath ② The Break ③ A children’s sculpture competition ④A firework display at the end of the event

A．①②

B．①①

C．②④

D．①④

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．History of the Quebec Winter Carnival.

B．Welcome to the Quebec Winter Carnival.

C．Activities during the Quebec Winter Carnival.

D．Importance of the Quebec Winter Carnival.