1 . Global Essay Competition
The John Locke Institute encourages young people to develop the characteristics that turn good students into great writers. Our Essay Competition invites students to explore a wide range of challenging and interesting questions beyond the limits of the school curriculum (课程).
All of our essay prizes are judged by senior academics from the University of Oxford. The judges will choose their favourite essay from each subject category and an overall “best essay” across six subjects: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology and Law.
Entry Requirements
Entry is open to students from any country. Candidates must be eighteen years old, or younger, on the date of the submission deadline, 30 June. Candidates for the Junior Prize must be fourteen years old, or younger, on the date of the submission deadline. Each essay should address only one of the questions in your chosen subject category, and must not exceed (超过) 2, 000 words.
Key Dates
30 June: Submission deadline
14 July: Short-listed candidates informed
26 August: Awards Dinner for the Junior Prize
2. September: Awards Dinner for the Economics Prize and other prizes
Prizes
There is a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category, and the winner of the Junior category, is a scholarship worth US $2,000 towards the cost of attending any John Locke Institute programme, and the essays will be published on the Institute’s website. The prize-giving ceremony will take place in Oxford.
The candidate who submits the best essay overall will be awarded an honorary John Locke Institute Junior, Fellowship, which comes with a US $10, 000 scholarship to attend one or more of our summer schools.
1. What should the entry be about?| A．The limits of school courses. | B．The characteristics of great writers. |
| C．One of the given questions. | D．Anything in the chosen fields. |
| A．It sets a word limit on essays. |
| B．It has six subject categories. |
| C．Its prizes are judged by voting online. |
| D．It is open to any student regardless of his or her nationality. |
| A．10 | B．14 | C．18 | D．20 |
| A．On 30 June. | B．On 14 July. |
| C．On 26 August. | D．On 2 September. |
| A．A fellowship at Oxford University. | B．A summer school scholarship. |
| C．A chance to get published. | D．A US $1, 000 award. |
2 . Natural disasters can cause environmental changes. How will cities use technology to maintain (维持) power during natural disasters in the future? Some smart middle school students are already thinking about this question.
Teams of students from around the world explained their ideas on this topic at the Future City competition, which recently took place in Washington, DC. Students from Justice Page Middle School in Minneapolis, US, were on one of the teams.
Instead of using popular technologies like flying cars and AI, the students from Justice Page Middle School took a more simple approach to the topic. They spent weeks developing their ideas and building a model to show them. They chose the city of Maui in Hawaii as the setting for their project. They chose this city because several different kinds of natural disasters had happened there in the past.
In their project, they covered roofs in the city with solar panels (太阳能电池板), which can produce and store power. When a power failure happens, the stored power can be sent to different neighborhoods.
The students brought their model to life with 3D printing technology. They printed the parts they needed. To make the model more real, they made a base out of wood and grass. The model has lights and even a small train that travels back and forth.
The team did not win the competition, but the experience was valuable. One competitor of the team, Ryan Rowell, 13, said he thought it was cool to think about things that he hadn’t considered before. He also saw how other teams advertise their models and interesting ideas. He said he wanted to keep learning about engineering.
1. Which word can be used to describe the competition?| A．National. | B．Unfair. | C．Meaningless. | D．Technological. |
| A．model | B．way | C．service | D．task |
| A．explain how a power failure happens | B．show how the students’ project works |
| C．list the ideas that the students used | D．explain why the students’ model succeeds |
| A．They won the competition in the end. |
| B．They made great efforts for their project. |
| C．They chose Minneapolis as the setting for their project. |
| D．They wanted to use popular technologies in the competition. |
| A．He learned a lot in the competition. | B．He was a teacher in Justice Page Middle School. |
| C．He thought advertising his team’s idea was hard. | D．He was disappointed at losing the competition. |
内容包括：
(1) 祝贺他在中国书法比赛获得了一等奖；
(2) 肯定他取得的成绩和他为此付出的努力；
(3) 约定时间在线交流练习书法的心得。
注意：(1) 词数不少于100；
(2) 可适当加入细节，使内容充实、行文连贯；
(3) 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
参考词汇：
中国书法比赛 Chinese Calligraphy Competition
Dear Chris,
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Yours,
Li Jin
Gary McKee ran 365 marathons in as many days to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria.
Gary McKee, 53, from Cleator Moor in Cumbria raised his arms in victory and was cheered by a crowd of supporters as he completed his 365th marathon of the year on New Year’s Eve. As of 4 pm on Saturday, he had raised more than £ 890,000 for the charities Macmillan Cancer Support and Hospice at Home West Cumbria, just shy of (缺少) his £1 million fundraising target. The father of three has gone through 22 pairs of sports shoes and has run 9,563 miles in rain, snow and sunshine to raise money for the charities.
“The support has been amazing and it always is and the West Cumbrians get behind us, but cancer affects everybody so it isn’t just a West Cumbrian thing, it’s a national thing,” said Gary. “I just hope that people do get behind us and we do raise those million pounds.” Gary has not only raised money for two fantastic charities, but he has also sprinkled magic on the local community and brought people together to support him with the challenge.
Chris Young, 29, ran 90 marathons with Mr. McKee. “Gary set a good example to me this year when I began running frequently with him and has given me both physical and mental resilience (适应力) that I don’t know if I would have ever discovered in myself in a million years. I know I don’t just speak for myself on that front as he has inspired not just me or the few, but the entire local community and beyond,” said Chris, “This challenge has raised a great amount of money for two fantastic charities, but the impact Gary has provided to the community and people around him is immeasurable. A lot of people’s lives will be much better off thanks to Gary’s efforts, mine included.”
1. What did Gary do when he completed his 365th marathon? (no more than 10 words)2. What is Gary’s goal of running 365 marathons? (no more than 10 words)
3. How do you understand the underlined part in Paragraph 3? (no more than 10 words)
4. In what ways has Gary McKee influenced Chris Young? (no more than 5 words)
5. What does Gary’s story inspire you? Put it in your own words. (no more than 20 words)
1. 赛程回顾(如啦啦队欢呼，队员奋力夺冠，冠军感言等);
2. 赛后反响。
注意：1. 短文不少于100词;
2. 标题已给出，不计入总词数。
The volleyball Final
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6 . Ken Campbell had last attempted running at high school. When his wife, Susan, injured her foot, she needed
So how does someone with no
Campbell went out to visit Susan’s group, and “the trails were a terrible
What he liked
Running the 100km ultramarathon took Campbell 16 hours. When Campbell
Campbell suffered arthritis (关节炎) before he started running, and was “a(n)
| A．operation | B．support | C．dignity | D．arrangement |
| A．symptom | B．recovery | C．treatment | D．diagnosis |
| A．came out | B．got around | C．went off | D．fell away |
| A．talent | B．health | C．experiences | D．abilities |
| A．sporting | B．volunteering | C．appealing | D．inspiring |
| A．graduation | B．injury | C．growth | D．attendance |
| A．moved about | B．accounted for | C．got off | D．took to |
| A．fancy | B．atmosphere | C．mess | D．dream |
| A．sliding | B．moving | C．hiking | D．stretching |
| A．above all | B．at random | C．on purpose | D．in turn |
| A．appreciated | B．invited | C．buried | D．embraced |
| A．familiar | B．generous | C．native | D．strange |
| A．parted | B．returned | C．crossed | D．divided |
| A．locate | B．display | C．remain | D．advertise |
| A．community | B．achievement | C．process | D．class |
| A．drivers | B．vehicles | C．athletes | D．trees |
| A．target | B．alternative | C．candidate | D．survivor |
| A．staying up | B．living through | C．looking back | D．holding off |
| A．throw light on | B．put an end to | C．have an eye for | D．take advantage of |
| A．lie | B．rest | C．stop | D．walk |
7 . If this time last year you had told me that an exercise bike would save me, I’d have
In Grade 7, my physical education teacher watched me, eyebrow
In high school, I wasn’t
I discovered jogging in my late 20s, and I enjoyed the feeling of quiet accomplishment—without the fear of
It was,
I
Athletes find glory in sports. For the rest of us, the
| A．realized | B．denied | C．hoped | D．insisted |
| A．height | B．speed | C．potential | D．intelligence |
| A．laid | B．extended | C．raised | D．waved |
| A．talent | B．interest | C．power | D．respect |
| A．applicable | B．reliable | C．suitable | D．available |
| A．plan | B．image | C．draft | D．standard |
| A．left | B．abandoned | C．remained | D．held |
| A．turning down | B．letting down | C．taking down | D．breaking down |
| A．mental | B．academic | C．financial | D．social |
| A．otherwise | B．therefore | C．instead | D．however |
| A．failing | B．quitting | C．suffering | D．fighting |
| A．nothing | B．something | C．anything | D．everything |
| A．tension | B．confusion | C．satisfaction | D．fascination |
| A．track | B．throw | C．ease | D．leak |
| A．dealt with | B．ran into | C．figured out | D．settled on |
| A．called | B．missed | C．dropped | D．delayed |
| A．consequently | B．deliberately | C．naturally | D．necessarily |
| A．difficult | B．funny | C．impressive | D．disappointing |
| A．demand | B．offer | C．reward | D．honor |
| A．persistence | B．patience | C．confidence | D．courage |
8 . National Music Theater Competition
The 2024 National Music Theater Competition (NMTC) will be held. It was launched in 2011 as the first national competition for the emerging professional music theater soloist (独唱者). NMTC has provided industry connections for past competitors and winners that have led to their success on Broadway and other venues.
Prizes (each prize only for a person)
The champion: $5,000 plus a concert at the next national conference of National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), a $1,000 Gift Certificate from Hal Leonard, a Career Management Services package from Stage Door Connections.
The runner-up: $2,500 plus a $500 Gift Certificate from Hal Leonard.
The third place: Louise Lerch Prize; $1,000 cash prize.
The fourth place: Bill Hayes Prize; $750 cash prize.
Qualification
Singers aged from 20 to 28 as of September 15, 2023.
Entrance Procedure
Application requires a fee of $900, but for these students of NATS members the fee is $75. Application fees due to cancellation by the applicant won’t be returned. All application materials must be submitted by September 15, 2023. If you are planning to submit your application for the online round, you must complete the submission by September 15, 2023, but you’ll have 30 days after the deadline to upload your audition (试唱) videos. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Where to Audition
The preliminary (预选的) round
Live auditions: November 1 to 10, 2023 in New York City.
Online auditions: Video submission deadline is October 15, 2023.
Semifinal and final rounds
Live auditions: The semifinal round: January 3 to 9, 2024; the final round: January 15 to 20, 2024.
The semifinal and final rounds will be held in New York City as part of the 2024 NATS Winter Workshop.
1. Why was the National Music Theater Competition launched?| A．To make people like music. |
| B．To promote the leisure industry. |
| C．To popularize Broadway musicals. |
| D．To seek promising talents. |
| A．A $500 Gift Certificate and Louise Lerch Prize. |
| B．$2,500 in prize money and a Gift Certificate. |
| C．A Career Management Services package. |
| D．A chance to perform at a concert. |
| A．Being at least 28 years old. |
| B．Applying for membership of NATS. |
| C．Submitting application materials on time. |
| D．Uploading audition videos by September 15. |
| A．Competitors can enter the semifinal round on January 18, 2024. |
| B．Both online and live auditions are available in any round. |
| C．There are three rounds in the competition in total. |
| D．Application submission deadline is October 15, 2023. |
| A．To call on people to explore their potential in music. |
| B．To attract young singers to apply for the competition. |
| C．To appeal to young singers to become NATS members. |
| D．To encourage people to enter the musical industry. |
9 . So whether you are “a yoga professional” looking for somewhere new to practice, or “a novice” interested in trying yoga for the first time, Move GB is pulling all the stops out for National Yoga Month, reaching out to its 1,281 yoga partners to generate a yoga schedule for Londoners that will keep you inspired and feeling great throughout the month.
Monday, 3 September
Sunrise yoga in the clouds at Yogasphere
Start the day with an active yoga practice. An hour of mind, body and soul relaxation makes you feel flexible, inspired, and ready for the day ahead.
24th floor of The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street SEI 9SG; movegb.com
Saturday, 8 September
Aerial (空中的) yoga at Flying Fantastic
Aerial yoga gives a slightly different reading of the ancient art of yoga I uses poses through seven paths in the body and can help those with back and shoulder pain and provides a good workout. It’s devoted to helping you reduce the tension in the bones and muscles, which in turn increases your balance ability and flexibility in the muscles.
Yard Arches, 229 Union Street SEI 0LR; movegb.com
Wednesday, 12 September
Color therapy with Chroma Yoga
Conquer the mid-week tiredness and stimulate your senses with Chroma Yoga, which combines yoga practice with light and color therapy techniques, brain-stimulating music and natural smell to create a wellness experience.
45 Charlotte Road, Hackney EC2A 3PG; movegb.com
Thursday, 20 September
Power yoga at Factory 45
Turn on your holiday with an experimental studio space in the heart of Borough that is now home to art, music, fashion and fitness.
44-46 Newington Causeway, Elephant & Castle SEI 6DR; movegb.com
1. What is “a novice”?| A．A student. | B．A beginner. | C．A yoga coach. | D．A pregnant woman. |
| A．Power yoga at Factory 45 |
| B．Aerial yoga at Flying Fantastic |
| C．Color therapy with Chroma Yoga |
| D．Sunrise yoga in the clouds at Yogasphere |
| A．helping you get rid of outdated yoga moves |
| B．teaching you some basic dancing skills |
| C．curing your back and shoulder diseases |
| D．making your body more flexible |
| A．do yoga exercise while your senses are stimulated |
| B．experience floating in the air and enjoy nice views |
| C．enjoy colorful paintings by famous artists |
| D．create your own therapy techniques |
| A．To teach us the correct yoga routines. |
| B．To show us the benefit of doing yoga. |
| C．To encourage people to take more exercise. |
| D．To spread yoga classes throughout London. |
1．学生参与体育运动的情况；
2．体育运动的重要性；
3．提出倡议。
注意：1．词数100左右；
2．可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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