1 . Cash Composition Contest
In support of Financial Literacy Month (April), Michigan State University Extension and 4-H, a youth organization, are coordinating (协调) the Cash Composition Contest. Youths residing in Michigan are encouraged to answer this year’s essay question with an essay of 300 words or less. The 5 top-scoring essays will each win a $100 gift card thanks to the generous sponsorship by Extra Credit Union.
Timeline
April 30, 2023: Essay submission due by 11:59 pm
May 31, 2023: Winners notified
Cash Composition Topic
What is the difference between a need and a want? Discuss how you determine if something is a need or a want. How can you make sure you have enough money to get your needs and still enjoy some of your wants? Share how needs and wants might change throughout one’s life.
Grading Standards
● Quality of Writing
● Organization and Information
● Grammar
Guidelines
Participants must:
● Between 9—12 years of age as of January 1, 2023 living in the state of Michigan.
● Have knowledge of money management such as saving, spending, borrowing, and planning appropriate for age and grade level.
Requirements
● Youths must have parental or guardian permission to apply and participate.
● The application form must be completed by a parent/guardian.
● Youths must write an essay (300 words or less)on the assigned topic above.
● Essays must be submitted on the contest registration page.
● The essay must be the work of the student submitting it. It is highly recommended that youths write their essay prior to completing the registration/submission form.
1. Who will sponsor the contest prizes?| A．Michigan State University. | B．Extra Credit Union. |
| C．A local youth organization. | D．The state of Michigan. |
| A．The changes throughout one’s life. |
| B．The ways to improve quality of writing. |
| C．The need for charity management. |
| D．The discussions on needs and wants. |
| A．Submitting the essay on April 29. | B．Writing an essay of 300 words. |
| C．Filling the application form in person. | D．Finishing the essay before registration. |
At Piedmont School, everyone wanted to be on the soccer team. Laura had dreamed of earning glory for the Falcons ever since she had witnessed her older brother scoring the winning goal. On the day she joined the team, she felt like she could fly.
Unfortunately, her joy did not last long. She spent most of the matches on the bench. Walking to the car after the last game, Laura’s mother asked if she was feeling fine. Laura kept quiet and tried to smile at her mother. Having spent yet another game as a reserve, Laura had not even broken a sweat. Laura also joked that she would have baked in the hot sun if she had played. Her mother assured her that she would have another chance to play. She also cheered Laura on. Laura could only shake her head as she climbed into the seat, back hunched and face down.
A few days later, Laura’s mother found she sprawled on the couch, watching music videos on her phone, so she tried asking Laura to watch soccer videos instead. Laura looked at her mother blankly, rolling her eyes. “They won’t help me and I can’t get better by myself,” Laura said.
Sighing, her mother sank down on the couch. “Laura, for every lock, there is a key. We just have to find it. What if I film you practising to help you find ways to improve?”
“But the season’s over, Mum. No more practice, remember?” Laura said. Her mother looked at her resolutely and insisted that the best players keep practising even when the season is over. Laura protested, “But to practise plays, I would need at least one other person to join me! It is difficult to do that alone.”
Laura’s mother patted her and said, “We’ll find that key too, but we have to start somewhere.” While Laura’s mother was searching her wallet for her gold key, she smiled gently at Laura. She gave Laura an assuring nod before passing her the key. “This key is a reminder for you to be strong and not give up. Let’s build something tomorrow.” Laura’s mother said.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The next day, Laura and her mother built a goal and made a training plan.
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One evening, Dequan, a boy from Laura’s school and some other children saw Laura going about her routine and asked her what she was doing.
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3 . Poetry Contest
The contest is open to anyone aged thirteen and up who writes poetry. Enter your poem for a free chance to win prizes! You can submit a poem on any topic, employing whatever style you prefer.
Information
No entry fee is required for the contest. The main contest is held twice a year. Contest dates are January 1—June 30 and July 1—December 31. All winners will receive a letter and their prize via regular mail. The first place winner will be contacted by phone or email and asked to call our office to confirm their identity before their prize is mailed. As soon as the complete list of winners is drawn up, it will be posted on the home page.
Rules
·Only submit ONE poem, ONE time. Only one poem per household will be accepted.
·Poem must be 26 lines or fewer, including stanza breaks but not including the title, and lines may be no more than 55 characters across, including spaces.
·Do not use “texting” lingo. Properly spell out all words and typing the first word of each line in capital letter.
·All poems must be written in English.
Prizes
Both contests award one first place prize of $ 2, 000. 00 and a first prize wall plaque(匾牌)($ 100. 00 value); twenty second place prizes of $ 100. 00 each and a second place wall plaque($ 75. 00 value); one hundred third place winners of a third place gift certificate($ 25. 00 value). Sixty to seventy percent of all entries become semi-finalists and receive a certificate of participation suitable for framing.
1. What do we know about the poetry contest?| A．It is a free contest. | B．Anyone can enter for it. |
| C．All poems will be published. | D．Each contestant will get a reward. |
| A．Submitting one poem. | B．Composing a poem of 23 lines. |
| C．Writing a poem in English. | D．Typing the poem in capital letters. |
| A．A wall plaque. | B．A gift certificate. | C．$25. 00. | D．$75. 00. |
The gym teacher blew the whistle (哨子) and four students dived into the swimming pool, racing to the other side. Then the next four were up, but only three stood on the diving board. “Where is Ren?” the gym teacher asked in concern.
Ren’s face turned red, and he was unsteady. He looked at the pool and stepped back. “You cannot make me do this!” he said.
Sadie patted him on the back gently. “You can do it! I will help you if you need it.” Ren stared into Sadie’s eyes and he calmed down.
“You can do it. You need to pass this class.” The gym teacher said. Ren stepped on the diving board,vputting his goggles (护目镜)vover his eyes, and the blue cap hid his red hair. The whistle blew and Ren stood there as the other three swam away. Then one boy ran and pushed Ren into the water.
Sadie glared at the boy. “Why would you do that?” A minute passed by and Ren still wasn’t coming up. Sadie jumped in and pulled him out of the water. She gave him CPR (心肺复苏)，and it took a while until water came out of his lungs. Then finally he spat out the water and sat up, feeling dizzy.
Ren looked over at Sadie,who breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank goodness! Why didn’t you use your arms or legs?”Ren stared away from Sadie, looking at the bottom of the blue pool, then looking up at the gym teacher who rolled his eyes.“I can’t swim. My parents never taught me as a kid. We are afraid of water.”
Sadie put her hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I will teach you how to swim. The water is my favourite place to be.”Ren thought for a while, and nodded gently.
注意：
1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1:
Ren and Sadie finished gym class and walked home together:
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Paragraph 2:
The gym teacher blew the whistle and this time Ren dived bravely.
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5 . Winter sports are constantly evolving and new sports activities are regularly being created. This makes sure your next holiday in the snow is an unforgettable experience.
Snow biking
The snowbike — a cross between a bicycle and skis — guarantees pure fun and a unique skiing experience for snow fans above six. Snowbikes can be used on well-cared-for slopes (斜坡) and riders navigate the slopes with the additional help of short foot skis. And it can be ridden without the rider having previous experience.
Freeriding
There is no other winter sport that gets you closer to nature. Due to the truly unaffected character of the slopes, snow and weather conditions have to be taken into special consideration when freeriding. Therefore, it is very important to be accompanied by a professional guide who knows the skiing area inside out and who is able to correctly assess the weather conditions.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is the perfect activity for those who want to explore the untouched winter landscape. The snowshoes distribute the weight of the person carrying them over a larger area so that the feet only sink lightly into the snow. Handling snowshoes is easy and does not require any previous experience: Simply fasten your snowshoes, pick up your sticks and off you go!
Snowtubing
Snowtubing is an activity for winter fans of all ages and involves sliding down a snowtubing slope in a rubber tire. Snowtubing tracks are often located close to a ski lift. This gives the tuber the opportunity to immediately go back up the mountain after the ride. The activity is the perfect and fun end to a day of skiing.
1. Which activity is the most demanding for skiers?| A．Snow biking. | B．Freeriding. | C．Snowshoeing. | D．Snowtubing. |
| A．They need no skiing experience. |
| B．They depend on special skis. |
| C．They are suitable for people of all ages. |
| D．They take place on slopes with deep snow. |
| A．To attract more tourists to get involved. |
| B．To prevent the rubber tire sliding down. |
| C．To create a fun ending to a day of skiing. |
| D．To help skiers get to the starting point easily. |
6 . BEST BODY FITNESS
About us
You don’t want just gym membership. You want membership that means something. And that means you need support, expert help and a community.
Best Body Fitness isn’t just a gym: it’s full-service fitness membership made for you.
Here’s how it works:
STEP ONE: Your assessment
We begin with an assessment session. This is a chance for you to see what we do at Best Body. Our assessment plans are no-cost and no-risk. We’ll also make a training plan specifically for you.
STEP TWO: Your training
When you decide to become a Best Body member, we show you what to do, how to do it and why you are doing it. After a few sessions with an expert private trainer you will feel comfortable working out on your own. But don’t worry, we’ll always be nearby if you have questions.
STEP THREE: Your membership
Membership works on a month-to-month basis. There are no sign-up fees and no cancellation fees. Start and stop whenever you want. And the best part? Our fees are the most competitive in the whole downtown area.
STEP FOUR: Your community
At Best Body Fitness, we see everyone as part of a big team. And when you work with a team, you can do great things. Join any of our specialized classes, led by expert instructors. Come to our nutrition classes. Participate in our regular social events. Everything is included in your fee.
Finally, share some reasons why our members have chosen us over any other fitness centre in the city.
It’s so EASY
Easy to start, stop, cancel or refund membership
Easy to access — we’re open 24/7, we never close
Easy to do exercise — we have lots of equipment, no long wait
Easy to find — in the centre of town, near public transport and with parking
1. Which statement about Best Body Fitness is correct?| A．It provides you with a fitness assessment after training. |
| B．It offers you a customized training plan. |
| C．It allows you to work out without any fees. |
| D．It asks you to work out on your own. |
| A．Its price is quite good. | B．Its time is enough. |
| C．Its classes are no-risk. | D．Its trainers are experienced. |
| A．News report. | B．Speech. |
| C．Announcement. | D．Advertisement. |
Sun Yang wins men's 400m freestyle in FINA Champions Swim Series on January 15 in Shenzhen. “My 400m free remains smooth all the time, showing that my training is
Liu Xiang bagged her second gold medal in the 50m freestyle in 24. 04. “I got
According to FINA official website, the brand-new “FINA Champions Swim Series" is since 2019 a circuit
8 . Winning literary competitions doesn't always lead to fame. But having a few such wins to boast about does you no harm when approaching editors or agents, so if you have dreams of a writing career, these could be the place to begin. Below is a list of the most interesting competitions. Bear in mind that contests with smaller prizes attract fewer entries and are therefore easier to win.
Wundor Editions Poetry Competition
Wundor Editions are looking for creative writers to enter their latest poetry contest. If you happen to be 16 or over, send in a poem on any subject running to as many words as you think you can get away with before the judge's eyes glaze over(兴趣丧失).
Closing: Nov.30. Prize: £ 500. Entry Fee: £ 10.
Manning's Pit Poetry Competition
It doesn't sound very attractive but it seems Manning's Pit is something of a beauty spot with more than its share of wildlife. But it's now under threat. This contest aims o raise funds to help save it. Your task is to write a poem of up to 40 lines about Manning's Pit or a similar treasured and threatened piece of countryside near a town or village.
Closing: Nov.30. Prizes: £ 100, £ 30, £ 20. Entry Fe: £ 3.
Commonwealth(英联邦)Short Story Competition
This contest from Commonwealth Writers is for unpublished short fiction of between 2,000 and 5,000 words aimed at adults. But you have to be a citizen of a Commonwealth country. You can write your story in English, Bengali, Chinese, Portuguese, Samoan, Tamil, Kiswahili or Malay.
Closing: No.1. Prize: £ 5,000. Entry Fee: £ 25.
Southword Fiction Chapbook Competition
To enter this international contest from the Munster Literature Centre in Cork，Ireland you should submit 10,000 to 15,000 words of fiction in the form of a collection of short stories. Stories can have been published previously in web or print journals, but not in a stand-alone publication by the author.
Closing: Oct.31. Prizes: Best International Entry and Best Irish Entry. Entry Fee: £ 5 for one, £ 10 for six.
1. What's the purpose of the literary competitions?| A．To attract more kids to write poems. |
| B．To bring up more Internet celebrities. |
| C．To make people know more about literature. |
| D．To offer a platform to those with writing dreams. |
| A．They should be Commonwealth citizens. |
| B．Their works should be up to 40 lines. |
| C．Their works should be aimed at teenagers. |
| D．They should write their stories in English. |
| A．Manning's Pit Poetry Competition. |
| B．Wundor Editions Poetry Competition. |
| C．Commonwealth Short Story Competition. |
| D．Southword Fiction Chapbook Competition. |
1. What made Jane get interested in boxing?
| A．A TV programme. | B．Her parents’support. | C．The school training. |
| A．Pretty good skills. | B．A very quick brain. | C．Great physical condition. |
| A．In February. | B．In April. | C．In May. |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Li Ming is a friend of mine. I'm glad he changed greatly in the past two years. I clearly remember he was quite fat two years before. He got tired so easy that he couldn't take exercise, that made him very upset. Later, he realized unless he went on like that, he would end up achieve nothing. So, he made up his minds to make a change. He went running every morning and played the basketball every afternoon. Besides, he followed a diet of more vegetables or less meat. Gradually he began to lose weight. He is now an energetic boy in good health. So when faced with problems, we should overcome it with great determination and strong willpower.
