1 . Pawn shops (典当行) have long been known as treasure banks of unexpected finds. From musical instruments to electronics, these establishments offer a diverse range of items that motivate the imaginations of both buyers and sellers. In this article, we explore the fascinating world of popular items frequently pawned at shops. Now, fasten your seatbelts and get ready for a journey through the fascinating stock of pawn shops.

In today’s digital age, electronics have become an essential part of our lives. From smartphones and laptops to gaming devices and home entertainment systems, pawn shops have become hotspots for tech enthusiasts seeking bargains and unique finds. These shops are packed with the items that have bridged distances, captured memories, and entertained us in various ways.

Guitars have a magnetic charm, attracting musicians and enthusiasts alike. From vintage classics to contemporary models, pawned guitars arouse a sense of nostalgia and craftsmanship. They have been the backbone of countless melodies and the catalyst (催化剂) for musical dreams. Whether it’s a legendary electric guitar that once rocked a stadium or a humble acoustic (原声吉他) that accompanied close and friendly performances, each guitar carries a unique tale of passion and creativity.

Pawn shops are also renowned for their dazzling arrays of jewelry. Rings, necklaces, bracelets, and watches — these delicate pieces hold sentimental value and timeless beauty, carrying stories of love, milestones, and cherished memories. From vintage heirlooms to modern designs, the jewelry section of a pawn shop offers a remarkable mixture, where you can find unique and eye-catching pieces and appreciate the charm and craftsmanship of fine decoration.

So, the next time you find yourself near a pawn shop, step inside, explore the aisles, and let your imagination roam. You never know what hidden treasures you might uncover, or what remarkable tales you might encounter in the attractive world of pawned items.

1. Who would most probably enter a pawn shop?

A．A research chemist.	B．A travel planner.
C．A wedding food provider.	D．A family party organizer.

2. What can we do in pawn shops?

A．Conserve the antiques.	B．Appreciate fairy tales.
C．Practice with the craftsman.	D．Experience the history and love.

3. What does the underlined word “sentimental” mean in Paragraph 4?

A．Emotional.	B．Social.
C．Economic.	D．Decorative.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Legends behind Pawned Items Never Disappear

B．Hidden Treasures in Pawn Shops Speak

C．Try Various Pawn Shops to Meet Your Beloved

D．Borrow Attractive Old Things from Pawn Shops

2 . Tilly Williams, a Parkside primary student, has broken a world distance running record, beating other girls who were eight years older than her to run 5,000m in just 17 minutes and 22. 7 seconds.

Tilly started running just three years ago and has already shot straight to the top. When some of her friends told her about the international record, she decided to give it a go while competing at the SA State Championships.

“Some of my running friends told me about it and I was like, wow, it would be crazy if I got that and here I am,” Tilly said. “I am the kind of person who really enjoys the challenge,” she added, “I really love surfing and I love bike riding and hiking - all different kinds of adventures and sports.”

She started running in 2021 when she joined her school’s cross-country team. Since then, she has run two to three times a week with her dad, Mark Williams, or at the Adelaide Harriers Athletics Club.

Tilly said, “It’s good knowing that my family’s on my side and my friends are on my side as well. Usually I just go out and run with my running group and with my dad as well because it is like a bond.”

Tilly doesn’t follow a strict diet, so her favourite food is still on the menu - her dad’s home-cooked pizza. “I do love pepperoni pizza,” she said.

“You never think that anyone’s going to get a world record at this age, at any age really. It’s just surreal,” Mr. Williams said, “It’s very important to recognise these achievements, but also to stay very much grounded and just enjoy the other pursuits that she likes. She loves her running, but she does so many other things as well and I think it’s really important that the focus is on life rather than just one thing.”

1. What do we know about Tilly?

A．She prefers surfing to bike riding.

B．She failed at the SA State Championships.

C．She holds the 5000m record of her age.

D．She’s lucky to have her dad as her coach.

2. What might Williams agree?

A．We’d better concentrate on a single thing.

B．Tilly deserves the reputation and praise.

C．Tilly should make efforts to keep her record.

D．People should consider needs more than hobbies.

3. Which of the following can best describe Tilly?

A．Gifted and persevering.	B．Optimistic and careful.
C．Determined and humorous.	D．Dynamic and warm-hearted.

4. Where can we find this text?

A．www. naturewatch. com.	B．www.thecookinghouse.com.
C．www. kidsnews. com.	D．www.adventuretours.com.

3 . Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery with Saskia Wilson-Brown

Course Description

Led by Saskia Wilson-Brown, the founder and director of The Institute for Art and Olfaction, this course will provide an expansive overview of perfumery. Starting with the important social context for the global history of perfumery, the class will go on to cover fragrance families and classification, materials of natural and synthetic (合成的) origin, diluents, and the basics for a safe practice. Importantly, we’ll do the fun work of smelling, discussing each material in the kit through a process of sensorial evaluation. Finally, we’ll create several introductory perfume formulas and end the course with a glimpse into the perfume industry with a focus on independent and experimental practices.

Syllabus
Session 1(7: 00-9: 00 pm, Mar. 18): Lah Basics: Safety, tools, and fragrance families
Session 2(7: 00-9: 00 pm, Mar. 25): Materials and Strategies
Session 3(7: 00-9: 00 pm, Apr. 1): Industry: Mainstream vs. artisan practice
Price
$215 per person(course only)
Course Materials

We offer a material kit containing 18 aromatic materials and some tools, which costs $75. We recommend ordering your kit instantly you have purchased the course to ensure your receiving it in time for class, though it’s not strictly necessary to have received it by the first sess10n.

Please note that these are professional-grade perfume materials and although we have carefully selected all our materials to prevent allergens, there is nevertheless a slight possibility that you may experience a sensitivity to one or two of them. We request you not work with your material kit until our first class, in which we will cover health and safety tips. If you’re highly sensitive to fragrance, we recommend you not take this class.

Please contact us at experiences@atlasobscura. com if you have any questions.

1. Which is covered in this course?

A．Strategy of selling fragrance.	B．Distribution of global perfumery.
C．Smelling scents.	D．Evaluating perfume formulas.

2. When can we take the fragrance classification class?

A．On Mar. 25.

B．On Mar. 18.

C．On Apr. 1.

D．On May 18.

3. What can we say about the course?

A．The kit should be opened in advance.	B．The materials are safe for they are natural.
C．We need to pay $290 for the experience.	D．It is suitable for those sensitive to fragrance.

5 . If you have some free time in fall, would you like to go to the theatre?

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Sep. 12th, —Oct. 28th, 2024

Main Stage: UK Royal Opera House

Follow Alice down the rabbit hole in Christopher Wheeldon’s beautiful ballet, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s much-loved book.

Conducted by Koen Kessels. Last few tickets at $6.99.

Music: Joby Talbot. Designer: Bob Crowley.

Running time: 2hrs, 40 mins.

Enjoy three of your favorite productions in our Autumn Season for a 10% discount.

Cats

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s long-running classic music al is back on Broadway!

Jul. 31st, — Dec. 30th, 2024

No show on Wednesday.

THEATER: Neil Simon Theatre, 250 West 52nd Street, New York, NY.

Running time:2hrs, 20 mins.

Buy tickets from $59! Group tickets: 12 seats or more.

Les Misérables

Start from Sep. 20th to Sep. 29th, 2024

The West End’s longest running classic musical, Les Misérables has been enjoyed by over 70million people in 42 countries and in 22 languages around the globe and is still breaking box-office records as it passes its 30th year in London.

Book your Les Misérables tickets, playing at the Queen’s Theatre today.

Running time: 3 hours.

Buy group tickets from $69.

If you require more than 8 tickets, please call us for great rates: 020-7492-0810.

Recommended for children aged 7 or over; children under 5 will not be admitted.

Carmen

Check https: //www.laopera. org for best availability and lowest prices        !

“Much greater than any other opera”— Los Angeles Times.

SCHEDULE: Opening on September 9th,2024. Opening night celebration tickets available. Call213-972-8097. Closing on October 1st, 2024.

Running time: about three hours and 25 minutes, including two breaks.

Two operas available:

Opera at the Beach: Santa Monica Beach. Opera in the Park: Victoria’s Park.

1. Which show has the longest running time?

A．Cats.	B．Les Misérables.
C．Carmen.	D．Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

2. How much does it cost if a couple want to see ballet?

A．$6.99.

B．$13.98.

C．$59.

D．$138.

3. What do Cats and Les Misérables have in common?

A．They are both classic musicals.	B．They are playing at Neil Simon Theatre.
C．Their show time are more than three hours.	D．Their group tickets are at least eight people.

7 . Abeid was born in a village of Tanzania and dreamt of flying a plane, soaring (翱翔) through the sky. Due to financial difficulties, he became a wildlife guide instead.

Abeid didn’t give up. He became a chief pilot of hot air ballooning at the age of 20. His passion for flying was matched by his skill both as a pilot and as a guide. Then, he came up with the idea of flying across the Serengeti from east to west, which would take four flights on successive days, taking off and landing where no one had ever seen a balloon before.

As a journalist, I was so lucky to make a journey with Abeid. We were up at 3 am. Abeid walked into the basket and checked the lines and the fastenings. Moments later, he was instructing me to get into it. With barely time to catch my breath, he gave a long blast (猛吹) on the burners and the basket tipped upright.

Over the following days, we gasped at the joy and wonder of the sky; at the beauty and complexity of the land beneath us. There was no fear, just a sense of being part of something fantastic as we floated in the silence of the African sky.

But not everything went entirely to Abeid’s carefully worked-out plan. The rains that had started to fall every afternoon slowed the air. On the final day, we landed 20km short of the destination. Luckily, we finally made the crossing the next morning.

When we were returning to the land, crowds of people shouted and waved. Many children looked up as we flew over them, and started to run. As Abeid brought the balloon down, people gathered around the balloon, pressing against the basket. Those children were also there, flushed and breathless, eyes wide with amazement. Abeid and I both looked at each other in silent agreement. Suddenly we were helping some children into the basket. Abeid lifted off and we flew just a few hundred metres with the excited crowd running alongside.

I realized that Abeid’s journey was more than just about flying. It was about hope, inspiration, and the joy of sharing one’s passion. And as I penned down the last words of this extraordinary experience, I knew that Abeid’s story would resonate (回荡) far beyond the Serengeti.

1. What did Abeid dream of?

A．Being a wildlife guide.	B．Being a journalist.
C．Flying a hot air balloon.	D．Flying a plane.

2. Which of the following best describes the journey across the Serengeti?

A．Smooth.

B．Pioneering.

C．Painful.

D．Eco-friendly.

3. What agreement did Abeid and the author reach?

A．Showing their technical skills.	B．Teaching the children to be a pilot.
C．Taking the children for a ride.	D．Attracting people to their show.

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

A．A Beautiful View: from East to West

B．A Balloon Adventure: the Dream Soaring High

C．Different Job Experiences: from a Guide to a Pilot

D．A Wildlife Exploration: the Unforgettable Experience

9 . Subscribe to Reader’s Digest Magazine

Launched in 1922, Reader’s Digest has built 100 years of trust with a loyal audience and has become the largest circulating magazine in the world.

Reader’s Digest magazine is bursting with stories, news, advice, recipes, reviews, tips, jokes and anecdotes. Each issue is small enough to fit in your pocket, but big enough to keep you entertained for weeks on end.

SUBSCRIBE FOR £22.99 FOR A FULL YEAR!

● Never miss an issue and receive your copy before it hits the shops.

● Free UK delivery direct to your door each month.

● Over 100 years heritage: A trustable guide for advice.

● Lift your spirits with positive and uplifting true-life stories.

● Exclusive(独有的) subscriber offers and competitions.

	RRP: £54 £22.99 Save 57%	12 Issues/12 Months—Only £1.92 per issue (payment by direct debit, renews annually at £22.90)
	RRP: £54 £23.99 Save 56%	12 Digital Issues/12 Months—Only £2 per issue (supplied by Pocketmags, single issue and other subs available)
	RRP: £13.50 £3.00 Save 78%	12 Issues/3 Months—Only £1.00 per issue (payment by direct debit, renews at £6.99 every 3 months)

When will my subscription start?

When you place your order, you will be given the option of which issue to start with. All our issues are on sale early, so our May issue is mailed in mid-April, June issue is mailed in mid-May, and so on.

Do you offer print and digital subscriptions?

Yes, we have options for print, digital, or both. Our best value deal is our bundle (捆) package, which costs £34.99 for a 12-month print and digital subscription.

Can I buy a subscription as a gift for someone else?

You certainly can, and Reader’s Digest makes the perfect gift because it keeps on giving the whole year through! During checkout, you will be able to add a different recipient’s address.

Can I cancel a subscription?

You are welcome to cancel your subscription at any time by calling at 0330-333-2220 or by sending an email to enquiries@readersdigest.co.uk.

1. What features Reader’s Digest?

A．The flexible sizes.	B．A wide variety of topics.
C．Its imaginary stories.	D．Its longest history in the UK.

2. How much should you pay to get the digital annual subscription?

A．£13.5.

B．£22.99.

C．£23.99.

D．£34.99.

3. How can you cancel your subscription?

A．By clicking the link.	B．By phoning the service.
C．By contacting the deliveryman.	D．By visiting the magazine office.

10 . It was nearly midnight when my wife Rita and I were driving home from the University of Illinois, where our son Randy was a freshman. Rita was asleep in the passenger seat. I headed north, wondering what on earth had made us take the afternoon off to drive to the university and back, a six-hour round trip. All for nothing.

For weeks Randy had been telling me how much fun he was having in football matches. I suddenly got the idea to show up and cheer my son, like we did in high school.

Just several hours earlier, Rita and I had met him on the field. We watched the young go on to the field, warm up, and then…there was something wrong. Randy ran over. “We cannot hold a competition today. The other team doesn't have enough players,” he said. It was not a big deal. I tried to comfort myself. But I'd just driven three hours to get here and I'd had my heart set on seeing my son in action. Instead, we took Randy out for pie and coffee.

As I was driving on the road, a memory rushed back to me when I was a Boy Scout (童子军). Our team made a canoe (独木舟)   journey down the Fox River. My dad drove miles to see me. About a mile downriver we came to a bridge. I looked up and there he was. Dad was standing right on the bridge. He didn't shout like others. He simply waved until we passed underneath. But several miles later, on the next bridge, there he was again. And the one after that. And the next. My dad had taken the chance to show he was always with me.

At last I understood the most important thing I could do for my son — just be there, even if it meant driving a long way.

1. How did the author feel at first when he was driving home with his wife?

A．Hopeless.

B．Shocked.

C．Unhappy.

D．Worried.

2. Why did the author and his wife make the trip to the University of Illinois?

A．To cheer their son on.	B．To watch a football match.
C．To have a meal with their son.	D．To encourage their son to study hard.

3. Why did the author mention his experience of being a Boy Scout?

A．To show how his dad cheered him on.	B．To show he missed his dad very much.
C．To show he lived a happy life when young.	D．To show how his dad showed his love to him.

4. What did the author learn from his father?

A．Be strict with his children.	B．Just be there with his children.
C．Have more patience with his children.	D．Do what he could to help his children.