2 . The British Museum is filled with some of the world’s most famous historical items. If you love history, it’s a good place to visit. It is said to be the top museum in London. The museum has millions of objects, making you worry about your first visit.

If you need help in exploring the museum’s displays, about 80,000 objects from a total collection of 8 million items, try joining a guided tour. There are various free tours. You can also rent audio guides.

Entry to the museum is free, but access to some exhibitions will charge you. The museum limits the number of people in the museum to ensure there’s room for you to safely enjoy your visit. You’re advised to book a free ticket to guarantee the entry. Self-led groups of 10 or more people will need to book a group ticket. School groups should contact the box office to book their visit to the museum.

Daily: from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (Fridays: 8:30 pm)

Last entry: 4:00 pm (Fridays: 7:30 pm)

The museum is closed from 24 December to 26 December.

Cafes and restaurants

Court Cafés: from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Great Court Restaurant: from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm

Bicycle racks are available inside the gates of the main entrance on Great Russell Street. If you’re planning to visit by car, please be aware that the museum doesn’t offer parking facilities. There is a taxi rank on Great Russell Street at the museum’s main gates. Going to the museum by bus or subway is very convenient, which can be your first choice.

For more information, visit the British Museum’s website.

3 . Last year in early summer, I was walking to my house when I saw two large birds standing in my yard. They didn’t seem to _______ me until I was right in front of them and then they _______ disappeared into the nearby bushes. I was quite excited by the _______ of two special birds making a nest (巢) in my yard．

A few weeks later, the birds _______. I found them crouching (蹲伏) beside a tree. As I approached them, they _______ their heads and made a croaking (嘶哑地叫) sound. I didn’t know why they were croaking at me until a short time later I made an amazing _______: there were two small birds _______ around happily.

As I inched towards the birds, _______ not to make sudden movements, they started their croaking again, putting their necks forward so they seemed _______ and more threatening.

The mother put the baby birds under her wings and carefully crouched down over them so her babies were well ________.

I was watching them with respect when I suddenly ________ and fell to the ground. The mother took this as a/an ________ and the father raced towards me, ________ his wings to protect the mother and the baby birds.

I felt sorry to have disturbed them and left quickly. I am amazed by their ________ actions. Their parental love made them so courageous. It is hard not to show ________ for nature.

4 . A Goodwill employee finds $42,000 in donated clothing and returns it to the owner.

The discovery came during a regular day on the job as Andrea Lessing, a goodwill employee, was performing her routine quality examination on closing items on the sales floor. As she pulled out two sweaters tied together from a donation box, she felt something heavy left. She first assumed the items were just books. When she pulled the sweaters apart, to her astonishment, she found lots of   envelopes filled with $100 bills. The cash was in $100 bills and totaled $ 42,000 dollars.

Andrea Lessing is used to discovering unique treasures in the varied collection of donated items her store receives daily. She always tries to be a good example to her daughter, so she immediately did the right thing and reported the cash finding. Luckily, the store's manager was then able to locate and return the money to the donator who had mistakenly placed the cash in the wrong box.

Andrea, mother of a six year old girl, admitted it was hard for her to do with that much money. Some might have thought that it was Andrea's lucky day, having a small fortune. However, the temptation to keep the cash by herself was just a passing thought. Andrea's honest nature inspired her to do the right thing.

Without hesitation, she handed the cash over to the store's manager so they could find the right owner. Andrea was not expecting a reward, but the owner of the money surprised her with a 1000 reward. Andrea was teary eyed and overcome with joy as her “good deed” flowed right back to her. She plans to spend part of the reward money on a memorable birthday party for her daughter.

5 . Four Autumn Festivals Recommended in Australia

Nothing says autumn like red and orange leaves and comfort food. Enjoy the ten-day Bright Autumn Festival in Victoria’s High Country. The tree-lined avenues, small-town charms and delicious fresh produce won’t disappoint, with everything from open gardens, historical tours, live music, markets to a dedicated Nut Festival.

Visit Robinvale on the banks of the Murray River for the four-day Water Lights Festival. Kids and adults alike will marvel at this attractive laser show that presents the vibrant, diverse and rich culture of the region.

Food and wine devotees, you’re in luck. The Grampians Grape Escape at Halls Gap is an unforgettable two-day experience that’s all about top-quality wines, gourmet food and live music -the perfect trio. You may even learn a few skills from one of the cooking demonstrations and masterclasses.

Every year in mid-May, the Myrtleford community celebrates its Italian roots with a three-day festival dedicated to all of the region’s cultural and culinary delights. There are food stalls, wine tastings, a movie night, kids’ activities and even a soccer tournament to look forward to, as well as markets and entertainment. Also a traditional grape stomp, part of the wine-making process, can be experienced. It showcases grapes being crushed by foot to release their juices.

7 . Traditional tea processing techniques and their social practices in China were added to UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on November 29th, 2022. This is the 43rd entry from China on the List. Therefore, China’s list tops all other countries.

In fact, what is on the List is not Chinese tea, but the knowledge, skills and practices concerning management of tea plantations, picking of tea leaves, and the processing, drinking and sharing of tea.

Over 2,000 tea varieties, mainly in six categories, which are green, black, yellow, oolong, white and dark, are grown in China. Although the types differ, the skills of making tea are very similar. They include inactivation (杀青), yellowing, piling, withering (萎凋), leaves shaking, cooling, fermentation (发酵) and scenting.

According to UNESCO, in China traditional tea processing techniques are closely associated with geographical location and natural environment. The techniques are mainly found in the provinces and autonomous regions of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hunan, Anhui, Hubei, Henan, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi. Associated social practices, however, are spread throughout the country and shared by multiple ethnic groups.

Tea-related customs are not only found across the country, but also influenced the rest of the world through the ancient Silk Road and trade routes. As a document from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to UNESCO explained, tea is common in Chinese people’s daily life. Steeped or boiled tea is served in homes, workplaces, tea houses, restaurants, and temples. And it is used as an important medium for communication in socializing and ceremonies such as weddings and sacrifices.

“Practices of greeting guests with tea and building good relationships within families and among neighborhoods through tea-related activities are shared among multiple ethnic groups, and provide a sense of identity and continuity for communities, groups and individuals concerned,” the document said.

10 . Jill Wheatley was a PE teacher in Germany. On the weekends she competed in marathons around Europe.But life threw her a near deadly blow. While teaching a PE class, she was hit in the head with a baseball. The impact was so great it left her with a brain injury and 70 percent vision loss, permanently blinding her in one eye. She spent 26 months in seven different hospitals, at times wishing it would just all end.

Desperately, Wheatley set out to find comfort and healing in nature. She travelled to Nepal where a friend convinced her to run in the Annapurna 100 with him. The power from that race changed her life and eventually had her looking up at the tops of the mountains. Project Vision 8000 was born. And she began her mission to stand on top of the world’s 14 highest mountains, towering 8, 000 metres above sea level, to show herself and others the power in choice and possibility.

Colours, and touch help guide her on the mountain and she has never once felt too tired to carry on.“The only thing constant is change, so when the weather gets really bad or a storm is coming in,I know it is going to pass.”So far, she’s had few problems standing among giants, but she admits she continues to struggle with overcoming: the “mountains of her mind”. Having already stared death in the face, Wheatley has great respect for the mountains and the mission she is on. But she’s not seared. The experience almost claimed her life, but it is now the driving force and fuel behind her success.At every icy peak, she smiles and takes a quick video with a breathless “so very thankful” whispered into the thin air.