1 . Interlibrary Loan is the service that the Osterhout Free Library offers for free to our patrons (顾客). You can use Interlibrary Loan to borrow an item (books, DVDs, music CDs, etc.) from within the continental 48 states if it is unavailable in the Luzerne County Library System.

How to request an Interlibrary Loan item
·To request an Interlibrary Loan item, you must either call the Osterhout Free Library, or come to our Information Services Desk.
·You must know exactly what item(s) you would like. We do not accept requests for general topics, for instance, “I would like books on antique cars.”
·Be sure to check the Luzerne County Library System’s catalog before asking Interlibrary Loan for an item.
Interlibrary Loan Processing
·When a patron requests Interlibrary Loan items, they are allowed to request more than one item, but there is a maximum of 5 requests in the system per patron.
·When the item comes in, the patron will be contacted via phone to ask him/her to pick it up. If the item is not able to be obtained, the patron will be notified via e-mail.
·If you wish to renew your Interlibrary Loan item, you must call us at least one week before the due date.
Interlibrary Loan Penalties (处罚)
·Interlibrary Loan overdue fees are $0.50/day per item.
·The following actions will result in an additional $3.00 per item fine:

(1)Returning an Interlibrary Loan item to any library other than the Osterhout Free Library.

(2)Returning an Interlibrary Loa n item without the paperwork with the due date.

1. What is a must when you borrow a book from Interlibrary Loan?

A．Renewing the book 3 days in advance.	B．Specifying your desired book.
C．Visiting the Osterhout Free Library.	D．Giving priority to Interlibrary Loan.

2. What’s a privilege for patrons of the Osterhout Free Library?

A．Being reminded of an unavailable item by e-mail.

B．Borrowing at least 5 items at a time.

C．Being given unlimited renewal of an item.

D．Having a free delivery service.

3. How much fine will you pay for just an item’s delayed return for 2 weeks?

A．$4.	B．$6.5.
C．$7.	D．$3.5.

2 . Hidden Gems: Underrated National Parks Worth Exploring

Many travelers flock to popular national parks like Yellowstone for their family vacations or adventurous getaways. However, there are some lesser-known gems that often go unnoticed despite their remarkable beauty and attractions.

Isle Royale National Park

Nestled in the heart of Lake Superior, Isle Royale requires a bit of effort to reach, but the journey is rewarded with breathtaking scenery. Accessible only by daily ferries, this park sees far fewer visitors compared to larger destinations like Yellowstone. Hikers are treated to sightings of wildlife such as wolves along the park’s picturesque trails.

Dry Tortugas National Park

Situated 68 miles southwest of the Florida Keys, the Dry Tortugas is a secluded (偏僻的) island park accessible only by boat or plane. Despite its small size, it boasts rich history, abundant marine life, and stunning coral reefs. At its center stands Fort Jefferson, the largest masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere.

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

Covering over 13.2 million acres, Wrangell-St Elias National Park is the largest in the entire U.S. park system. Remote and largely undeveloped, this park challenges visitors with limited access—only two roads lead into it. However, those who venture here are rewarded with a profound connection to nature unparalleled elsewhere.

Big Bend National Park

For travelers seeking a truly rugged (崎岖的) experience, Big Bend National Park is a must-visit destination. Renowned for its whitewater rafting, camping, and hiking opportunities, this park can be excessively hot during the summer months, deterring many tourists.

These hidden gems offer unique experiences and breathtaking landscapes, making them worthy contenders for any adventurer's bucket list.

1. Why does Isle Royale National Park receive fewer visitors?

A．It is located in a remote area and is difficult to reach.

B．It lacks wildlife and natural landscapes.

C．It has no historical or cultural significance.

D．Its climate is extremely hot.

2. What is Dry Tortugas National Park renowned for?

A．Its white sand beaches.	B．Its ancient ruins.
C．Its abundant marine life and coral reefs.	D．Its mountainous landscapes.

3. Which national park is particularly notable for its vast size and profound connection to nature?

A．Isle Royale National Park	B．Dry Tortugas National Park
C．Big Bend National Park	D．Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

3 . What is a GPA?

A GPA, or Grade Point Average, typically ranging from one to four, is a number reflecting your course performance on average. It’s used by universities to determine whether students meet academic standards and by students to enhance job prospects or secure admission into post-graduate programs.

How to calculate a GPA?

● Determine the letter grade and the number of credit hours for each course you take in a term;

● Translate the letter grade to grade points using your school’s grading system;

● Multiply the grade points by the credit hours for that course;

● Add up all the credit hours for the courses;

● Divide the total number of grade points by the total credit hours and you get the GPA.

Example: Academic Transcript of Jane Smith                    Winter 2023
Courses	Letter Grade	Grade points	Credit hours	Total points	GPA
Creative Writing	A+	4.0	3	12	-
Psychology	A-	3.7	3	11.1	-
History	B+	3.3	3	9.9	-
Computer Science	F	0.0	2	0	-
Total	-	-	11	33

What are the consequences of failing college courses?

● Every failing grade (F) significantly impacts your GPA for that academic year, limiting clubs, organizations and program choices, as competitive programs require top GPAs.

● Most financial aid programs require a specific GPA. A sharp drop in GPA due to several course failures may lead to withdrawal from financial aid programs, unless you retake the courses and pass.

● For college athletes on sports scholarships, failing courses repeatedly can lead to losing scholarships and team spots.

● Failing multiple courses can result in school removal and affect future applications.

1. What is Jane Smith’s GPA this term?

A．3.3.

B．3.0.

C．2.8.

D．1.0.

2. What would be a result if you get one F in college?

A．School removal.	B．Loss of financial aid.
C．Choice limitation.	D．Disqualification in sports.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．An academic course guide.	B．A campus job fair poster.
C．A graduate application form       .	D．An athletic team schedule.

4 . Top Museums to Visit in Paris

Think Paris is all about the Louvre? Think again! Dive into the vibrant art scene of the City of Light with our guide to the best museums you shouldn't miss.

Louis Vuitton Foundation

Designed by the renowned architect Frank Gehry, the Louis Vuitton Foundation is a masterpiece of modern architecture. But it's not just the building that's stunning; inside, you'll find an impressive collection featuring artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Ellsworth Kelly, and Jeff Koons, among others. Admission is €16.

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (closed Sundays)

Paris Museum of Modern Art

Located in the 16th arrondissement, the Paris Museum of Modern Art boasts an array of monumental artworks and captivating exhibits. While entry is technically free, a suggested donation of €5 helps support the museum's preservation efforts and grants access to the permanent collection.

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm (closed Mondays)

Musée National Picasso-Paris

Immerse yourself in the genius of Pablo Picasso at the Musée National Picasso-Paris. Home to thousands of Picasso's works, this museum offers a comprehensive exploration of the artist's life and legacy. Admission is €14.

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 10:00 am to 6:30 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 9:30 am to 6:00 pm (closed Mondays)

Musée Marmottan Monet

Step into the world of Impressionism at the Musée Marmottan Monet. Devoted primarily to the works of Claude Monet, this museum houses a remarkable collection donated by Monet's son, Michel. Tickets range from €9 to €14.

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; late nights on Thursdays until 9:00 pm (closed Mondays)

There you have it! With these top museums, you'll experience Parisian art and culture at its finest, beyond the iconic halls of the Louvre.

1. Who is the architect behind the design of the Louis Vuitton Foundation?

A．Michel Monet	B．Jean-Michel Basquiat
C．Olafur Eliasson	D．Frank Gehry

2. How much is the suggested donation for entry to the Paris Museum of Modern Art?

A．€10

B．€5

C．€20

D．€15

3. What is the primary focus of the Musée Marmottan Monet?

A．Works of Jean-Michel Basquiat	B．Sculptures by Rodin
C．Works of Claude Monet	D．Contemporary art installations

5 . Top 4 must-see ancient villages in Beijing

Beijing is a world-famous historical and cultural city with a history of more than 3, 000 years. The rich and profound ancient village culture found in and around the city remains an important part of the capital’s history and culture. Below we recommend 4 must-see ancient villages in the Beijing area as the 2024 May Day holiday approaches.

Lingshui village

Located in the northwest of Mentougou district, Lingshui village was formed in the Liao and Jin dynasties. The ancient dwellings in Lingshui village are a model of rural residential buildings during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) in northerm China, and their original appearance is well preserved. Tourists can explore over 120 folk houses, alongside many cultural relics in the village.

Shuiyu village

Shuiyu village is in Fangshan district. The village was built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. With 600 houses and more than 100 sets of courtyard houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties, the original cultural ecology of the village has been well maintained. Facing both north and south, the village is laid out in a circular shape, forming a unique architectural style.

Sangyu village

Sangyu village lies in the north of Mentougou district, Beijing, next to Lingshui village. Prior to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) , Sangyu village was called Sanyu or “encountering” in English, named for the three water channels that meet in the village. Dense mulberry tree forests surround the entire village, and when they bear fruit, purple mulberries light up the village valley.

Malan village

Malan village, which means “horse stable” in English, had a history of keeping horses that dates back to the Ming dynasty. The ancient buildings in Malan village are made of stone and mud. When building and repairing houses in the village, people try their best to maintain their original appearance. There is also an exhibition hall, a row of old houses, as well as 12 gate bridges in the the village.

1. Which village is designed round according to the text?

A．Lingshui village.	B．Shuiyu village.
C．Sangyu village.	D．Malan village.

2. What does Lingshui village and Malan village have in common?

A．They are models of rural buildings.

B．The houses are made of stones and mud.

C．Their original appearance are well maintained.

D．They were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

3. From which column of a newspaper can this passage probably be taken?

A．Nature.

B．Agriculture.

C．Geography.

D．Tourism.

6 . To produce the classic clothing, blue jeans, producers rely on indigo dye (靛蓝染料), the only molecule known to provide jeans’ unique, beloved color. While indigo itself naturally comes from a plant, growing demand for blue jeans throughout the 20th century gave rise to synthetic (合成的) indigo, which is now more commonly used.

Indigo is the dye that makes jeans blue, but it doesn’t mix with water. To dye clothes, usually, chemicals are needed to make the color stick to the cloth. But in Denmark, scientists have created a new way to dye clothes using an enzyme (酶), which is a kind of protein that can cause chemical reactions, instead of harmful chemicals. This new method is better for the environment and doesn’t use poisonous stuff.

The chemical process for dyeing blue jeans has persisted for the last century. Workers are exposed to the poisonous chemicals, which also pollute the environment near factories. Waste water from those factories often ends up in waterways, decimating local ecosystems and even dyeing rivers blue.

Ditte Hededam Welner, the study’s lead researcher, says their new enzyme works really well and is strong enough for making lots of jeans without breaking down. This enzyme makes dyeing with indican, which is like indigo, much less harmful to the planet — about 92% better than the old way.

However, the new method doesn’t fix all the environmental problems of making jeans. Making a single pair of jeans uses a lot of water — enough to fill many bathtubs — from growing the cotton to putting the final touches on the jeans.

Even though the new dyeing process is better for the environment, it’s not always easy or cheap to change to it. Welner’s team isn’t sure if jeans companies will find it easy or affordable to switch to this method. It costs a little bit more — just seven cents extra per pair of jeans — to use the enzyme for dyeing. But Welner believes it’s worth it because it’s much better for the environment.

1. Why was synthetic indigo created in the 20th century?

A．It made jeans’ color unique.	B．It was easy to dye cloth with it.
C．People liked jeans made from it.	D．People were in greater need of jeans.

2. What does the underlined word “decimating” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Troubling.

B．Entering.

C．Destroying.

D．Defeating.

3. Which is an advantage of the new method?

A．The colour is more beautiful than the synthetic indigo.

B．The market can keep stable goods supplies.

C．Enzyme facilitates the advance of science.

D．The dye is more environmentally friendly.

4. What makes Welner worried about the new method?

A．Production costs.	B．Environmental benefits.
C．Water consumption.	D．Laborer shortage.

8 . On July 29, 10-year-old Mayah Zamora went home after being hospitalized for 66 days. Mayah was a survivor of the May 24 shooting rampage at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas.

The little girl had more than 20 surgeries and underwent weeks of physical therapy after being shot in her hands, chest and back during the school shooting. Mayah’s doctors have called her survival miraculous.

On August 24, she was honored as the Hero of the Month for August by MLB’s Houston Astros at a game against the Minnesota Twins, where she threw out the first pitch. While there, Mayah also met former Astros shortstop (游击手) Carlos Correa, who shared some incredible news with her family.

The Zamoras learned during the game that the Correa family Foundation and other donors are funding the construction of a new home for the family in a location they chose. The trauma (创伤) of living just blocks from the gunman’s house had been taking a toll on (给……造成重大损伤) the young survivor.

“I could never begin to imagine everything she has gone through, and we feel that this is one thing we could do to try to alleviate some of her pain,” Correa said. “I’m thankful to both teams for being a part of this effort.”

His foundation shared a statement and some great photos of Mayah’s special night at the ballpark on its Facebook page.

“We are so proud of you. Mayah, and we are honored to recognize you as our Hero of the Month,” wrote the Correa Family Foundation. “We hope this will be an opportunity for Mayah and her family to rebuild their lives, make new memories, and look towards a bright future.”

1. Why did the Correa family Foundation and other donors fund a new home for the Zamoras?

A．Because the Zamoras didn’t want to live in their home.

B．Because Correa wanted to reward Mayah for her bravery.

C．Because the Zamoras’ home was near the gunman’s house.

D．Because the Zamoras’ home had been destroyed by the gunman.

2. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “alleviate” in Paragraph 5?

A．Ease.

B．Suffer.

C．Delay.

D．Confirm.

3. Which of the following can best describe Correa?

A．Selfish.

B．Caring.

C．Determined.

D．Responsible.

4. What is the text?

A．A diary entry.

B．A news report.

C．A book review.

D．A moving story.

9 . A study published in the journal Nature lists some hybrid (杂种的) species that could become prevalent (盛行的) in the ocean due to climate change. Here are four of those hybrid species.

“Brolar” bears — Brown bears and polar bears

Evidence of a hybrid species born from brown bears and polar bears has been found in the United States and Canada in the past.

Known as “Polar bears” or “Pizzlies”, they have a mostly white coat, with a brownish hue and a nose that is a cross between a polar bear and a brown or grizzly bear.

They are known to be more suited to warmer temperatures than their Arctic relative, as they do not rely so heavily on sea ice for hunting.

“Narlugas” — Narwhals (独角鲸) and beluga whales (白鲸)

In 1990, a hunter in West Greenland discovered an interesting skull, which appeared to be that of a beluga whale-narwhal hybrid. It wasn’t until 2019 that DNA analysis confirmed that the creature was indeed 54% beluga from its father, and 46% narwhal from its mother.

Experts believe that the hybrid may have been grey in color and possessed a tail like a narwhal but forward flippers like those of a beluga whale.

Hybrids of harp seals and hooded seals Numerous species of Arctic seal are expected to mate (交配) to form hybrid offspring due to diminishing sea ice. This includes a hybrid of the harp seal and hooded seal, which both breed on pack ice of the North Atlantic Ocean and extend into the Arctic Ocean in summer months.

A hybrid animal, found in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada, was formally reported and confirmed by molecular analysis in 1997.

“Harbor-Dall” porpoise (鼠海豚) — Harbor porpoises and Dall’s porpoises

Hybrids of the harbor porpoises and the Dall’s porpoises have been found off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. Harbor porpoises are thought to be in decline due to habitat disturbance, meaning they may turn to other species to mate with.

Experts believe more harbor porpoises will move north as temperatures rise, which will further increase their chances of breeding with Dall’s porpoises.

1. What do the four listed animals have in common?

A．They share the same color.	B．They are born due to the polar cold.
C．Their parents come from different species.	D．Sea ice is extremely important for them to hunt.

2. Which animal can’t be found in Canada?

A．“Brolar” bears.	B．“Narlugas”.
C．Hybrids of harp seals and hooded seals.	D．“Harbor-Dall” porpoise.

3. In which section of the Internet can we find this text?

A．Economy.

B．Education.

C．Entertainment.

D．Environment.

10 . Ideally located in the heart of New York Times Square, Yotel New York, a five-star hotel, has comfortable accommodation in a modern design.

The hotel has convenient transportation with an 18-minute walk from Fifth Avenue and Grand Central Station. John F Kennedy Airport can be reached directly from Times Square Underground Station.

All rooms include cozy beds, 54-inch HD TVs with free Sports and Movie channels, and free Wi-Fi. Each room also has luggage storage, and hanging space for clothing. Yotel New York also offers wheelchair accessible rooms and free accommodation for kids under 13.

American breakfast is served in Yotel New York every morning, including fresh juice, corn flakes, buttered toast and scrambled eggs. A selection of salads, sandwiches and hot dishes are offered throughout the day.

Yotel New York is our guests’ favorite part of New York, according to independent reviews. This area is also great for shopping, with popular brands nearby: Apple, H&M, Zara, Burberry and Channel.

Yotel New York is rated for the best value in America! Guests are getting more for their money when compared to other hotels in this city. Come and stay with us!

Prices:

Room type	Price	Options
Twin Room — non-smoking	$125	Non-refundable Good breakfast $9
Double room — non-smoking	$165	Non-refundable Good breakfast $9
Queen Room — disability access	$215	Pay at the hotel Good breakfast included

1. What probably makes a tourist choose this hotel?

A．Airport pick-up service.	B．Chinese-style breakfast.
C．Good value for guests’ money.	D．A shop with popular brands in the hotel.

2. If a person in a wheelchair wants to stay in this hotel for two nights, how much should he pay?

A．$ 259.

B．$ 339.

C．$ 421.

D．$ 430.

3. In which section of the newspaper will readers see the above information?

A．Advertisement.

B．Lifestyle.

C．Entertainment.

D．Business.