1 . Top Family Vacation Destinations Everyone Will Love
Think of taking a vacation and need some inspiration for where to travel? We have you covered. Here are some of our top picks for kid-friendly destinations.
Anaheim, California
California is a great family vacation destination that you will remember forever. Additionally, there are many other places to visit around the Anaheim area besides Disneyland Park. Other attractions like Knott’s Berry Farm, a water park and museums are close by as well, so you are sure to have lots of family adventures.
Panama City, Florida
If you’re looking for some family beach fun, why not try Panama City in Florida? You’ll find white sand and a beautiful tropical climate. It is the perfect place to relax and enjoy yourself.
Salzburg, Austrian Alps, Austria
One of our top family vacation destinations outside of the United States is Salzburg. You can visit Mozart’s home and catch a concert show. Or, if you’re looking for a snowy outdoor adventure, then Austria is also a great place to go during the right time of year. Austria has some great family hotels. Some even offer baby monitors and child care available.
Dublin, Ireland
If you’re looking for peace and quiet, and beautiful surroundings, why not go to Dublin? It’s a place where your kids can run around wild and free and it also has a romantic feel. There are attractions to visit as well, such as Clara Lara Amusement Park, located in the Wicklow mountains and many other outdoor activities kids can take part in.1. Which of the following destinations is suitable for kids fond of coastal life?
A.Anaheim, California. | B.Panama City, Florida. |
C.Salzburg, Austrian Alps, Austria. | D.Dublin, Ireland. |
A.White sand. | B.Wildlife. | C.Music. | D.Water. |
A.They both feature theme parks. |
B.They both offer child care service. |
C.They are both perfect places for museum lovers. |
D.They both provide visitors with a romantic feeling. |
2 . Most Popular Activities Are on the Way
Northern Lights Chase
The Northern Lights are famously difficult to find, so ensure you maximize your chances of seeing them with this guided tour. Your guide will take you to the best destination for viewing the light on the evening of your tour and help you figure out your camera settings so that you can take great images of them.
$108. 07 per adult
Duration: 6—7 hours
Snowmobile and Ice Fishing Experience
Get a glance at the lifestyle of the Lappish people with this adventure and food experience from Rovaniemi. With a local guide, you’ll speed to a frozen lake in the forest by snowmobile, then try your hand at Arctic fishing. Finish up by huddling around a bonfire in the snow to prepare and eat a traditional barbecue with Lappish bread, salmon, pork sausage, marshmallows and hot blueberry juice.
$169. 95 per adult
Duration: 4h 30m
Lapland Husky Sled Safari from Tromso
Go dog-sledding (雪橇) through Norway’s great winter landscape on a half-day husky safari (观兽旅行) from Tromso. Ride in a great dogsled across Breivikeidet, and learn about dog mushing from your guide. A thermal suit is provided to keep you warm. After your ride, have time to pet the dogs at the farm, and enjoy a hot drink and snacks.
$230. 21 per adult
Duration: 7h
Cliffs of Moher Tour
The Cliffs of Moher are located in Burren on the Wild Atlantic Way, a winding coastal road notoriously difficult to navigate (导航). Spend less time reading maps and more time enjoying the scenery on a stress-free tour from Dublin. An experienced driver navigates the roads safely and a guide transports you to the best viewing spots you may have missed if exploring independently.
$87. 33 per adult
Duration: 13h
1. Which tour should visitors choose to know about the life of the Lappish people?A.Cliffs of Moher Tour. | B.Northern Lights Chase. |
C.Snowmobile and Ice Fishing Experience. | D.Lapland Husky Sled Safari from Tromso. |
A.$216. 14. | B.$339. 9. | C.$174. 66. | D.$230. 21. |
A.They are outdoor activities. | B.They are more or less dangerous. |
C.They are friendly to families with kids. | D.They are activities special to snowy weather. |
3 . When I was thirteen years old , a girl gave me an important gift. It was a
One day, my classmates were talking with their friends, but I sat
Now I believe that the world is what you think it is. If you
A.toy | B.smile | C.postcard |
A.reminded | B.cheated | C.knew |
A.lonely | B.comfortable | C.excited |
A.problem | B.suggestion | C.danger |
A.in turn | B.in silence | C.in surprise |
A.shouted to | B.looked at | C.sent for |
A.Briefly | B.Terribly | C.Suddenly |
A.warm | B.angry | C.shy |
A.destroyed | B.controlled | C.changed |
A.workers | B.neighbors | C.students |
A.trust | B.ignore | C.refuse |
A.bright | B.forced | C.sad |
A.how | B.why | C.where |
A.doubt | B.answer | C.think |
A.difficulty | B.advice | C.chance |
4 . Mr Guo is a teacher from Xi’an. He asked his students to hand in their homework through a QR code (二维码). “We spent an hour or two in class learning how to generate (使产生)the codes, and in the end everything gets easier, ” said Guo. “When students finish the homework, they keep it on WeChat (微信). Then, each student makes his own QR code and gives it to me. So I can check their work everywhere using my computer or telephone. ”
The QR codes can be sent to Mr Guo by email, QQ and WeChat. When Guo scans (扫描) his students’ QR codes, their homework appears on his phone. He finds that their homework becomes more creative (创新的), with many pictures, music and even videos.
Guo’s students like the new way and think it is interesting. “We are living in the information age. Many students like to work with computers, which makes learning more fun,” said Tingting, a student of Guo’s.
“The paper is not easy to keep, but the code is easy to keep and share,” Guo said. “It is worth trying to use new technology in education. Education itself is a kind of creation. I don’t want my students to fall behind the times.”
However, some parents are worried. They are afraid that their children will spend too much time on computers and less time communicating with teachers. But in fact, it’s unnecessary. Students still need to look up information in books and write it down when they do their homework. They only use the code when they hand in their homework, which doesn’t take them too much time. Also for teachers, it allows them to check the students’ work at any time. And it’s also an easy way to share homework with other students.
1. According to the passage, students can keep their homework on .A.WeChat | B.QQ |
C.email | D.blog(博客) |
A.strange | B.boring |
C.interesting | D.unnecessary |
A.The paper is not easy to keep. |
B.Keeping and sharing the code easily. |
C.Trying to use new technology in education. |
D.Education itself is a kind of creation. |
A.talk with teachers face to face |
B.spend too much time on computers or phones |
C.not like the new way of handing in homework |
D.find the QR codes too difficult to use |
A.Teachers needn’t check homework any more. |
B.Students needn’t hand in homework any more. |
C.Using QR codes makes checking homework easier. |
D.Some parents are worried about their children. |
5 . Windows open? Fans on? Ready for another water break? For schools across Greater Toronto, the extremely hot temperatures provided some lessons in how to beat the heat—or at least attempt to—without air conditioning. It wasn’t easy. With some classroom temperatures getting close to 40℃—one teacher even handed out temperature meters to see how hot it got—both students and educators were red-faced and bathed with sweat all day.
The extreme weather had some parents wondering if their children should be spending most of the day inside hot schools, and a few chose to keep them home. Very few schools across Greater Toronto are air-conditioned. There are no rules or requirements that schools shut down as the temperature rises.
At Bowmore public school, near Coxwell Ave. and Gerrard St. E, teachers arrive at 7 am and open all the doors and windows to circulate fresh air. The windows at the school, replaced in stages over the past few years, swing in at the top, and out at the bottom to provide better air flow.
“Is it hot? Yes. Is it something that makes us feel uncomfortable? Yes,” said Headmaster Lilian Hanson. Despite that, she said she’d never advocate for air conditioners in schools, which are expensive and would consume the city’s electric power. She’d rather see more gardens, more trees—more natural solutions, more sustainable choices.
“We are teaching kids to make good choices,” she said. “Social responsibility is the key.” Students from kindergarten to Grade 8 seek pleasant places under trees and in the outdoor peaceful garden during the break time between classes and after school as the trees there provide much-needed shade. Teachers also take classes with students out there during the day. And kids do get the message about staying cool. Students are reminded to dress in cool clothing. When Hanson arrived at work in a dark-colored dress, a student asked her: “What were you thinking wearing a black dress on a day like today?”
1. What can be learned about the new windows at Bowmore public school?A.They can let air in and out continuously. |
B.They can let more light in. |
C.They can stop the noise. |
D.They can collect rains. |
A.She thought the heat bearable. |
B.The schools hadn’t enough money. |
C.The city lacked enough power. |
D.She was concerned more about environment. |
A.Frightened. | B.Puzzled. | C.Embarrassed. | D.Interested. |
A.The students enjoy studying outdoors. |
B.The school is unfriendly to the students. |
C.The school beats the heat in different ways. |
D.The students are free to learn anything they like. |
6 . College Undergraduate Poetry (CUP) Competition
AWARDS
Two winners will be chosen for the College Undergraduate Poetry Competition, one receiving the Edna Meudt Memorial Award; the other receiving the Florence Kahn Memorial Award. For each winner, prizes include:
●$500 cash prize.
●Publication of the manuscript (原稿) as a book & marketed through Amazon.com.
●75 free copies of the book.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
●Application and Manuscript. Complete the application form and upload your manuscript file online at https://nfsps.submittable.com/submit.The manuscript must be a single document that contains only your title page followed by ten poems. Once you have uploaded the file, you cannot make edits.
●Fees.There is a $10 contest submission fee and no charge to open an account at Submittable.com.
●Submission Period. From the first minute of December 1 to midnight on January 31.
MANUSCRIPT GUIDELINES
Not following ALL guidelines disqualifies a submission.
●No Identification. There must be no author identification on any page of the manuscript.
●Title Page and Ten Poems. The manuscript will include only the title page and 10 original, unpublished poems.
●Titles. Except for haiku and related Japanese forms, each poem must be titled.
JUDGING and NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS
●Judging.Up to 60 entries will be sent to a judge who will remain anonymous (匿名的) until the winners are announced. Manuscripts are judged blind (identified only by machine-generated number). Decisions are final.
●Notification of Winners. Winners will be announced in the April issue of Strophes, available at nfsps.com.
●Contact Information. If there is any change in your contact information, please contact Jessica at jessica.NFSPS@gmail.com.
1. What is different for the two winners?A.Cash prize. | B.Copies of the book. |
C.The title of the awards. | D.Publication of the manuscript. |
A.Once published poems. |
B.Only the title page and 10 originals. |
C.No author identification on the manuscript. |
D.Some related Japanese forms without a title. |
A.They will be announced online. |
B.They will be judged by machine first. |
C.They will be given a number randomly. |
D.They will be classified according to the content. |
7 . It was raining. I went into a cafe and asked for a coffee. While waiting for my drink, I saw many people playing computer games.
I stood up and walked between the tables. When I came to the biggest computer, I saw a thin, small man sitting in front of it. “I am Steve,” he finally answered after I asked him a couple of times what his name was. “I can’t talk with you. I’m busy,” he said. He was chatting online and, at the same time playing a computer game—a war game. I was surprised.
Why didn’t Steve want to talk with me? I tried again to speak to that computer geek (电脑迷), but not a word came out of his mouth. I touched his shoulder, but no reaction. I was unhappy. I put my hand in front of the monitor and he shouted, “Leave me alone.” I took a few steps back, wondering if all those people were having a nice conversation with their machines, not with people, especially Steve. I wouldn’t want to imagine the future of human beings if they preferred sharing their lives with machines instead of with people. I was worried and sank in my thoughts. I didn’t even realize that the coffee was bad, just as Steve didn’t notice there was a person next to him.
1. What was the weather like when the author entered the cafe?A.Sunny. | B.Windy. | C.Rainy. | D.Snowy. |
A.He was impolite. |
B.He didn’t know the author. |
C.He thought the author was ugly. |
D.He was playing a computer game and chatting online. |
A.显示器 | B.检测器 | C.主机 | D.鼠标 |
A.Polite. | B.Generous. | C.Patient. | D.Cold. |
8 . One year my children came home from school asking where we were going on summer vacation. It seemed that all the other kids were
I called several amusement parks to see if there was a half-price event during the summer but no such
One mother was a
Another mother had Bible
At our house on Wednesdays, I made an outdoor
On
The summer was a big success. Okay, it wasn’t Disney World,
A.rejecting | B.discussing | C.learning | D.reporting |
A.sacrifice | B.offer | C.select | D.afford |
A.hope | B.luck | C.attitude | D.hobby |
A.come up with | B.face up to | C.look forward to | D.step away from |
A.teacher | B.doctor | C.gardener | D.grocer |
A.debates | B.readings | C.explanations | D.contests |
A.computer | B.obstacle | C.painting | D.speech |
A.Thursdays | B.Saturdays | C.Sundays | D.Mondays |
A.hiding | B.making | C.hunting | D.donating |
A.and | B.so | C.or | D.but |
9 . Many have had the same thought as Shannon St. Onge when looking at the approach of snow on a weather forecast—that they have time to finish their jobs. As the director of finance at the First Nations University of Canada, she had to drive 25 kilometers from her home to the city of Regina to attend an important meeting.
As she was leaving, the winter snow began to fall. Taking a dirt road for better traction (牵引) on her tires, she quickly became lost, with no ability to see the edge of the road from a rolled-down window. After a while she stopped and called 911.
“The operator took my information and told me to wait out the storm as my tank was full and I was warm. I waited almost 14 hours and nobody has called me yet to check in,” she wrote in a Face-book post.
“Would the gas tank last until morning? What if I was hit by another vehicle? What if I didn’t make it home at all?” St. Onge wondered.
Determined to ensure the safest end, she went out in the storm and discovered her location on a road sign, and then found a neighborhood Facebook group for the area she was passing through—warning others of her plight through a Google Maps pin.
That was when 80-year-old Andre Bouvier Sr., a retired rescuer, got a call about St. Onge’s situation. He went out to find her, on foot, since he couldn’t manage to start his tractor.
On the way he found three other stranded (被困) vehicles. He walked the quarter mile there and back, and led the helpless cars one by one to his home. Bouvier let the survivors sleep at his house, where they ate and laughed, and departed the next morning after he had cleaned the driveway.
1. Why did St. Onge take a dirt road?A.She was familiar with it. | B.She could refuel on the road. |
C.She took the dirt road to save time. | D.She thought dirt road could increase traction. |
A.Wrong turn. | B.Poor sense of direction. |
C.Difficult situation. | D.Bad weather. |
A.Patient and gifted. | B.Brave and selfless. |
C.Proud and determined. | D.Adventurous and ambitious. |
10 . Do you like travelling? Do you want to travel with less money? OK, let me introduce something about couch surfers(沙发漫游)to you? They are travelers who spend the night in an Internet friend’s house. Let’s share some of their stories.
After spending the whole day traveling in Paris, I met Theo at the bus station. At his apartment I met his roommate Roger. Both of them were very friendly. They took me to a party the next day. I went back to Theo’s apartment on the back of his bicycle. Peter |
When I traveled in Vienna, I stayed with Artur, a college student. One day I forgot to turn off the tap after having a bath. The bathroom was full of water. However, Artur did not get angry with me. Henri |
I got off the bus at the wrong station, so I had to take a taxi to Judit’s apartment. Judit was a reporter and she was always busy. The next day we went shopping together and she bought a dress for a party. In the evening she went to the party and I stayed at the apartment alone. Lucy |
A.To London. | B.To Paris. | C.To Vienna. | D.To Budapest. |
A.got on the wrong bus | B.couldn’t find his partner |
C.forgot to turn off the tap | D.did not know how to use the tap |
A.By bike. | B.By taxi. | C.By train. | D.On foot, |
A.Peter. | B.Judit. | C.Theo. | D.Lucy. |