1 . England Tours

Rick Steves England tours provide the best value for your trip to Europe. Browse Rick’s best England tours and vacation packages.

Family Europe: London to Florence in 13 Days Tour

$4,485 per person

Family Europe: London to Florence in 13 Days delivers a colorful mix of must-see cities. Along the way, you will encounter some fascinating bits of art, history, and culture — as well as a couple of castles, a boat, plenty of hiking, and even a swimming pool or two. Our stress-free Europe vacation package provides great guides, central hotels, all sightseeing — and memories to last a lifetime. And on this tour, kids aged 8 —19 get a $200 discount!

Best of London in 7 Days Tour

$4,495 per person

London has just what you need for a quick escape: direct flights, the best live theater scene on the planet, and an inviting pub on every corner. During your week-long stay in London, your Rick Steves guide will lead to the Tower, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s, and even take you on a train trip to Windsor Castle.

Best of England in 14 Days Tour

$4,395 per person

Our two-week tour of England offers a delightful mix of big-city thrills and village charm. Your Rick Steves guide will welcome you in the elegant Georgian town of Bath. From there you’ll be guided to King Arthur’s Glastonbury, flower-boxed Cotswold villages, and Caernarfon Castle. You’ll also be treated to the spectacular scenery of the Lake District.

Best of South England in 10 Days Tour

$4,595 per person

Starting in Canterbury and ending in Bath, our Best of South England tour brings you to the very roots of British history and culture. Your Rick Steves guide will introduce you to locals who have talents to share and stories to tell. You’ll also learn about and taste the delicious seafood and traditional Cornish pasties.

1. Which tour is probably the cheapest for a teenager?

A．Family Europe: London to Florence.	B．Best of London.
C．Best of England.	D．Best of South England.

2. What can tourists enjoy during the Best of South England?

A．Sea bathing.	B．Local school visits.
C．Local stories.	D．North Ireland’s history.

3. What service is offered in all of the four tours?

A．Direct flight.	B．Guided tour.
C．Village walk.	D．Delicious seafood.

2 . I had always looked forward to the day when I would finally apply as a delegate at a Model United Nations (MUN) conference. Therefore, you can imagine my excitement when I finally traveled to Belgium to participate in the 2023 MUN conference this March.

The conference was held on March 7-11. Despite the horrible weather throughout our stay, I still found the city extremely attractive due to its cobblestone streets, Gothic monuments and amazing lighting in the evenings. Meanwhile, the delegate’s fee covered lunches for four days, welcoming and closing receptions, a traditional Belgian dinner, a theme party and a gala night.

I was designated to represent Poland in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which turned out to be an unexpectedly unified and efficient committee. We managed to pass the communique to combat hybrid warfare and improve cooperation between NATO allies (盟友).

In the beginning, I felt intimidated by how passionate my fellow delegates were. As a first-timer, I was really confused and felt hesitant to speak up. I only started to enjoy acting my part as a diplomat on the second day. From there, things just got better and better. I got a bit ill at the end of the conference, however, so I couldn’t enjoy the conference to its fullest potential.

Even so, it is without a doubt that those days in Belgium definitely opened a new chapter in my MUN journey! It made me realize how fruitful MUN simulations are. Through the MUN conference, you will surely improve your public speaking skills massively and gain so many good friends, many of whom you will likely stay in touch with for the rest of your life. It is for these reasons that I have fallen in love with Leuven, that magical city.

1. What did the author like about Leuven?

A．The streetscape.	B．Delicious food.
C．Its rich history.	D．The friendly locals.

2. What was the author’s experience in the committee at the MUN conference?

A．She helped pass several resolutions.	B．She spent most of her time socializing.
C．She found the committee productive.	D．She struggled to get her ideas across.

3. What does the underlined word “intimidated” in the second-to-last paragraph most probably mean?

A．Inspired.

B．Frightened.

C．Touched.

D．Excited.

4. What is the author’s overall opinion of the MUN conference?

A．It is too challenging for first-timers.

B．It is a good way to improve negotiation skills.

C．It is a valuable experience for personal growth.

D．It offers a great chance to learn about other cultures.

3 . Finding your next awesome read

When you read as much as we do, it can be hard to find a good new book. There are so many read out there that it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all of the possibilities, often leading to a disappointing choice or wasted money and time. We’re here to make the process just a little bit easier. Here are five tips to find your next awesome read:

World’s famous works

If you’re looking for a popular current read, then bestseller lists are a great place to start. Usually there’s a reason that a book ends up on one of these lists, guaranteeing a high quality read. There are always the classic lists to consult, like the New York Times or USA Today, which are both reliable and constant.

Book clubs

Maybe you’re already part of a local book club, so you know how great they can be in terms of introducing you to new books you might not discover on your own. But there are also tons of online book clubs you can join, giving you an even wider access to some awesome reads. Some of these clubs are celebrity-run, like Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 or Emma Watson’s feminist book club: Our Shared Shelf.

To 100 Lists

Another way of finding a good book is to consult a top 100 lists. There are tons of them out there, from the traditional to the unusual. If you’re looking for a lot of solid classics, then try Time’s All-Time 100 Novels, which included books like On the Road and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. If you want something a little more global, then head over to thegreathooks.org for their Top 100 works in World Literature.

Goodreads

Considering the fact that part of Goodreads’ mission is to “help people find and share the books they love,” then there’s no surprise that it’s an awesome way to discover new reads. Fans, readers and authors all connect on the site, sharing review s and shelving books they’re interested in.

1. What can we infer from the first paragraph?

A．Reading wastes a lot of time.	B．There are various wonderful books out there.
C．Electric books are more popular now.	D．Readers prefer to buy books online.

2. Which one would you join if you’re a fan of Emma Watson?

A．A local book club.	B．Book club 2.0.
C．Feminist book club.	D．A celebrity club.

3. Where can we probably find the text?

A．An online column.	B．A travel journal.
C．A text book.	D．A newspaper.

4 . Whether you are looking for an exciting way to spend weekend nights or a new hobby that would help your teen live healthily, LKA Teen Nights are a perfect solution.

Our Montessori-inspired environment empowers students to focus on what interests them most be it exploring cooking art, learning new skills, or making meaningful connections. In Teen Nights, students are motivated to promote their knowledge about nutrition, eating locally and organically, and the impact of their food choices on their minds, bodies, and the environment.

Curriculum(课程)

During the sessions, our professional instructors cover diverse topics about food and nutrition that are essential for teenagers to sustain a healthy lifestyle. The curriculum mainly includes developing a moderate portion and preparing meals for various categories such as athletes, picky eaters, and people with eating disorder.

·We challenge our teens by making creative recipes with limited tools, or missing ingredients.

·Our recipes will involve trying a popular dish from a local restaurant and improving it.

·We will ask our teens to look up the price for the ingredients we are using to calculate the cost of our meals.

At the end of every session, we gather around the community table made from recycled chopsticks, where we enjoy the delicious meal teens worked so hard to create.   

Targeted Groups

Teen Nights are suitable for all learning styles from traditional schooling to alternative education for exceptional learners.

Opening Time

Our LKA Teen Nights run every Friday & Saturday night from 7:30 pm to 10 pm.

View information on the location-specific page for details on the enrollment.

1. Who is the text intended for?

A．Teenagers.

B．Parents.

C．Chefs.

D．Instructors.

2. What are Teen Nights mainly aimed at?

A．Improving athletic skills.	B．Raising healthy eating awareness.
C．Solving environmental problems.	D．Strengthening family connections.

3. What is known about the curriculum?

A．It encourages creative cooking.	B．It promotes community service.
C．It focuses on home-made dishes.	D．It recommends recycled materials.

5 . One destination is always on trend: the beach, People ready to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life are looking to discover tranquility (宁静) along a picturesque beach. Check out the list below to discover beaches you like.

Baby Beach in Maui. Hawaii   

It scores the top spot for the calmest beach in the world with its calm waters. “Baby Beach is an ideal beach for families with toddlers,” Betts said. “Since the waters are so calm and shallow, it provides the perfect opportunity for children to splash around in the ocean.”

Browne’s Beach in Bridgetown, Barbados

This famous half-mile expanse of white sand draws crowds with its calm, crystal-clear waters. It is celebrated for its natural beauty and historical significance, boasting landmarks like the Barbados Yacht Club and the Barbados Cruising Club.

Mauna Kea Beach on Hawaii Island, Hawaii

Fronting the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on Hawaii Island, Mauna Kea Beach is ideal for visitors to peacefully enjoy the Pacific Ocean. With its calm and clear conditions, it’s an ideal destination for swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing.

Playa La Entrega in Oaxaca, Mexico

Situated along the Oaxacan coastline in a protected bay, Playa La Entrega offers a peaceful mix of natural beauty and adventure. Translating to “the delivery” in English, the beach was once a delivery point for goods during colonial times. It’s a popular place to snorkel along coral reefs filled with marine life. Visitors can rent snorkel gear or buy fresh fruit from local vendors.

1. Which beach best suits families with children?

A．Baby Beach.	B．Browne’s Beach.
C．Mauna Kea Beach,	D．Playa La Entrega.

2. What do these beaches have in common?

A．They all have a long history.	B．They are all famous for their quietness.
C．They are fantastic destinations for surfers.	D．They are used for delivering goods.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A research paper.	B．A travel brochure.
C．A geography textbook.	D．A personal journal.

6 . Have you ever felt the need to grab a pen and start writing your thoughts on paper? Words—beautiful and fascinating. But you know what is better than putting your imagination somewhere? In my case, to win the competition for the best novelist.

That was a small tournament organized by my school annually to _______ our creative writing and vivid imagination. Since I had a burning passion for _______, I decided to show my power. I thought no one could _______ me.

I finished a long story and e-mailed it. As I _______ the email every day, my eyes were wandering to _______ the line “Congratulations! It is a great pleasure to inform you that…” _______, no such thing came.

I was not accepted. I _______ my abilities. The next day at school, I tried my best to be _______, avoiding the usual contact. But in the corridor, I _______ Stacy Williams, my school rival. Could she be the ________? I started walking sneakily. In class, I was just looking out of the window at the ________ clouds which were a reflection of my soul.

Thankfully, a film that night—Forrest Gump lifted my ________. I wouldn’t let a stupid competition ________ my future. I could win on the next one or even at a better tournament. The important thing was to ________ my head and face my challenges without losing hope when everything seemed ________.

1.

A．advertise

B．demonstrate

C．defend

D．distinguish

2.

A．speaking

B．acting

C．dancing

D．writing

3.

A．beat

B．touch

C．contradict

D．dominate

4.

A．answered

B．sent

C．checked

D．shared

5.

A．notice

B．smell

C．taste

D．feel

6.

A．Moreover

B．Otherwise

C．However

D．Hence

7.

A．abused

B．overestimated

C．enhanced

D．proved

8.

A．moody

B．normal

C．natural

D．invisible

9.

A．encountered

B．shadowed

C．greeted

D．congratulated

10.

A．sponsor

B．organizer

C．reporter

D．winner

11.

A．clean

B．dark

C．soft

D．light

12.

A．spirits

B．eyes

C．boundary

D．restriction

13.

A．promote

B．decide

C．sustain

D．safeguard

14.

A．lower

B．position

C．straighten

D．shake

15.

A．never-ending

B．abstract

C．contradictory

D．hopeless

7 . Shane Grammer’s artwork can be found in cities in Mexico, South Korea, Dubai and beyond.In the past years, it’s the murals (壁画) he painted on damaged walls throughout the town of Paradise, California that have gained attention and touched viewers.

In 2018, the Camp Fire, the deadliest wildfire in California’s history, swept through Paradise, flattening entire communities, killing scores of people, and displacing tens of thousands. Grammer,whose hometown was just 15 miles from Paradise, was living with his family and working in the Los Angeles area when he saw accounts of the destruction on his friends’ social media pages. A single mother he knew shared a photo of ash and rubble where her home once stood. A childhood friend’s post showed her burned-down house. After he saw a photo of a friend Shane Edwards’ home, which had been reduced to a brick wall with only a chimney standing, he was driven to paint it.

With Edward’s permission, Grammer then used spray paint to transform Edwards’ burnt chimney into a strikingly black-and-white portrait of a woman, a piece he called “Beauty Among the Ashes.” Once the image was posted on Instagram, the victims of the fire, especially, could not contain themselves. “You bring beauty and hope.” one posted. Over three months, the 47-year-old created a series of more than a dozen spray-painted murals on the remains of buildings and vehicles rendered useless by the flames. The images included a victim of the fire, a young girl who survived but lost her house, and a series of religious characters.

As a street artist, Grammer has committed his life to creating more art installations (装置艺术) all over the world that connect people through tragic life events. He has started a foundation called the Art Through Hope Foundation where he intends to bring peace through his art to those affected by tragedy. “I want to do something powerful and make art that emotionally influences people,” said Grammer in an interview with KRCR. “I think any artist would consider that as their ultimate goal. And to me, that is the biggest miracle I feel like.”

1. What has led to Grammer’s rise to fame?

A．The Art Through Hope Foundation.	B．The post of a burnt-down house.
C．His paintings on the ruins in Paradise.	D．His art installations all over the world.

2. Why did Grammor paint murals after the Camp Fire?

A．To record the wildfire.	B．To bring hope to the victims.
C．To add beauty to the ashes.	D．To remember his friend's home.

3. What docs the underlined word “that” in the last paragraph refer to?

A．Creating touching art.	B．Working miracles in art.
C．Bringing peace through art.	D．Doing something powerful.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．From Ashes to Art: Street Artist’s Murals of Hope

B．From Paradise to Worldwide: Street Artist’s Journey

C．From Tragedy to Hope: the Story of Shane Grammer

D．From Mural to Miracle: Shane Grammer’s Art Mission

8 . Carillon Canal National Historic Site

The Carillon Canal, built on the Ottawa River for military purposes, was opened in 1833. Located 100 kilometres from Montreal and 130 kilometres from Ottawa, it is today a pleasure boating waterway.

Things to do

The Carillon Canal is fed by the water of the Ottawa River. The Canal opens a huge gate to enable boats to sail an impressive 20-metre drop in just 40 minutes!

Have a family picnic in beautiful scenery, then visit the old barracks (营房) which are now a museum. Curious to see a huge power station up close? Visits are free of charge.

Opening hours

The national historic site is open every day of the year from sun rise to 11 p. m.

Fees

Site access is free. Otherwise, there are fees for locking and overnight mooring(停泊).

When is the Canal the busiest?

From mid-June to the end of August, and especially during the following vacation periods and holidays:

·Fete Nationale du Quebec (June 24th).

·Canada Day (July 1st).

·Summer vacations.

·Labour Day(the first Monday of September).

·Thanksgiving.

What are the best times for sailing?

To avoid waiting lines, experience the Carillon Canal during the quieter periods, i. e. before June 24th, and later in early autumn, from Labour Day to mid-October. In this way, you’ll discover these wonderful places at your own pace, without pushing through the crowd that might have had the same idea as you, and you’ll gain the peace of mind to sail in complete relaxation!

1. What do we know about the Carillon Canal?

A．It was originally for educational purposes.

B．It is now visited by boaters for pleasure.

C．It enjoys a high reputation for its 20-metre drop.

D．It was formed naturally on the Ottawa River.

2. What can visitors enjoy in Carillon Canal National Historic Site for free?

A．Mooring overnight.	B．Staying overnight in old barracks.
C．Exploring a power station.	D．Passing through locks.

3. Which of the following is the best time to visit the Carillon Canal?

A．July 1st to July 24th.	B．October 24th to October 31st.
C．June 1st to June 24th.	D．August 24th to June 30th.

9 . BEST FORENSIC SCIENCE SUMMER CAMPS 2024

If your child is fascinated by true crime investigations and all things forensics, then consider enrolling them in a forensics summer camp. Check out these top-rated forensic summer camps for your future scientist.

Embry-Riddle Forensic Science Summer Camp

This summer camp by Embry-Riddle lasts a week and is open to 14 to 18 year olds. There are many activities, including a simulated crime scene investigation. Topics like DNA analysis, psychological profiling, computer and phone hacking, ethics, and evidence collection are covered. Your tuition includes housing, meals, and materials used throughout the program. The Forensic Science Camp takes place at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.

National Online Forensis

Looking for an online forensics program? National Online Forensis serves elementary to college students. They have summer programs mainly geared towards kids with some previous experience. Kids can receive one on one coaching, listen to lectures, and participate in labs from Monday to Thursday in preparation for a tournament on Friday. On Friday, they will join an online tournament with judges and awards for the top performances. National Forensis holds events throughout the year for different age groups and levels. They make it possible for kids to compete nationally without the expense of traveling. There is a limit for each session to 15 students that are overseen by 2 lab instructors.

Stockton University CSI Summer Camp

This five-day CSI camp gives teens a chance to solve a murder mystery from start to finish. They search for evidence at the scene of the “crime”, interview witnesses, and prepare and try a case. Students will work alongside university professors and police and take field trips to an autopsy room, county jail, and more. They stay on the Stockton University campus, which is located in Stockton, New Jersey. All costs are covered by the registration fee and students from all over the country are welcome to attend. Pick-up is available from the airport. They get insights into everything it takes to solve a case and see if this is the right career path for them.

1. Who are the intended readers of the passage?

A．Children.

B．Future scientists.

C．Parents.

D．Investigators.

2. What do the three summer camps have in common?

A．Campers will get to participate in hands-on activities.

B．They are open to students from elementary to college.

C．They are free of charge except the housing and meal fees.

D．Campers are required to have previous forensics experience.

3. Which column is the passage probably taken from?

A．Business.

B．Technology.

C．Health.

D．Education.

10 . Dear readers,

“Persist.” — Viet Thanh Nguyen

“Success is no accident.” — Chris Bohjalian

“Keep writing and it’ll get easier.” — Lisa Jewell

“Be patient with yourself.” — Min Jin Lee

These are words of advice taken from our interviews with award-winning and bestselling authors. Notice, though, not a single mention of their status, prizes, or advances—in other words, their success. And while status, literary awards, and money can be indicators of a successful writer, one must actually sit down and write for any of those things to happen. That’s what all of these pieces of advice have in common: putting words on the page.

In this issue, you’ll find articles to help you succeed, no matter your goals. If it’s to figure out whether that mess of a novel you’ve got sitting in a drawer can be rescued or if you need to move on, Andromeda Romano’s article will offer questions to ask yourself. Michael La Ronn’s essay will give you an example of how an unexpected opportunity might be just the push you need. Or, if you’ve had trouble finding an agent, Ryan Van Cleave’s collection of tips and advice from 22 literary agents on every aspect of the business might change your luck. Matty Dalrymple shares ways to reach more readers and build a community with them.

Wish you success and happy new year!

1. The advice mentioned at the beginning highlights the importance of ______.

A．a big dream

B．constant practice

C．earning money

D．achieving success

2. Whose article may help those who are unsure whether to save an unsuccessful novel?

A．Matty Dalrympl.	B．Michael La Ronn.
C．Ryan Van Cleave.	D．Andromeda Romano.

3. Who might be the target readers of this issue?

A．Writers.

B．Businessmen.

C．Booksellers.

D．Literary agents.