1 . EVENTS FOR JULY

Alice Hunter Morrison, Arabist (阿拉伯学家) and writer, will talk with Jacki Hill-Murphy about her successful Morocco to Timbuktu: An Arabian Adventure — a place which she reached by travelling along Africa’s salt road through the Sahara Desert.

In this talk, Ian Gilchrist reflects (反思) on the time he spent in Iran from 1976 to 1979 and again in 2019, and offers thoughts on what has changed and what has not.

Whilst Gunnerside Gill looks beautiful, it’s not always been so peaceful. Look into the lead mining (铅矿开采) history and the things left behind by this industry during this guided walk by Vivienne Crow.

Professor Kathryn Monk will give a short talk about the Grade I listed building and then will continue onward to Repton’s 18th century Blaise Estate and Roman road.

3 . Lying on the northern tip of Beijing Central Axis(中轴线), the Bell and Drum Towers were built in 1272 and rebuilt twice after two fires. At one period in history they were the time-telling centre of the capital city during the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Bell Tower

The Bell Tower is 47.9 metres high. This brick-and-stone-made building has two floors. Located on the second floor, the bell is the largest and heaviest in China. It is 7.02 metres high, with a weight of 63 tons. It was made of copper(铜), and you can hear its clear sound from far away.

Drum Tower

Situated 100 metres south to the Bell Tower, it was placed on a 4-metre-high stone-and-brick base. It is 46.7 metres high. It is a two-storey(两层的) wooden building. There was one big drum and 24 smaller ones, but only the big remains from ancient times.

On the New Year’s Eve of 1990, the sound of the bell rang out again and the drum was beaten on the New Year’s Eve of 2001 after being silent for so long. Since then, the drum and the bell have sounded 108 times every New Year’s Eve.

How to get to the Bell and Drum Towers

By Subway:

1. Take Subway Line 8 and get off at Shichahai Station.

2. Take Subway Line 2 and get off at Gulou Dajie Station.

By Bus:

1. Take Bus 5, 60, 82, 107, or 124, and get off at Gulou (Drum Tower) Station.

2. Take the Sightseeing Bus 3 and get off at Gulou (Drum Tower) Station.

Ticket Price: Bell Tower: CNY 15; Drum Tower: CNY 20

Ticket for both places: CNY 30

Opening Hours: High season: 09:30-17:30; Low season: 09:30-16:30

Drum Performances at the Drum Tower:

High season: 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00

Low season: 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00

Dian Fossey was an American zoologist who devoted 20 years of her life     1     the study and protection of Africa’s rare and endangered mountain gorillas (山地大猩猩). She received instruction in fieldwork from chimp     2     (specialize) Jane Goodall, and began watching and recording the behavior of mountain gorillas. Her work took her to Zaire and then to Rwanda,     3     she founded the Karisoke Research Center. After years of     4     (patience) observation, the gorillas came to know and trust her, and she found that she could sit among the gorillas and even play with     5     (they) young.

In 1970, she attended the University of Cambridge. Afterwards she took     6    teaching job at Cornell University in New York, where she wrote a book     7     (call) Gorillas in the Mist about her experiences in the rainforest with the mountain gorillas. Later, she returned to the Karisoke Research Center     8     (continue) her fieldwork. When her favorite gorilla     9     (kill) by poachers (偷猎者), Fossey started a campaign against poaching.

She raised worldwide awareness about the endangered mountain gorilla, and the animals are now protected by the government of Rwanda and some international     10     (organization) including the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

Blue whales are not fish! They are marine mammals. This means they are warm-blooded and the females produce milk     1     (feed) their babies.

    2     (have) the honour of being the world’s largest animal, adult blue whales can grow to 30 metres long, with the female usually a little     3     (long) than the male, weighing about 170 tons. These sea creatures have some huge body     4     (part). Their hearts, for example, are about 1.5metres long, 1.2 metres wide and 1.5 metres tall. Their tongues weigh about 2.7 tons — the weight of a small elephant. Not     5     (surprising), blue whales have large appetites.     6     is usual for a blue whale to eat fish in large quantities —around 40 million in a day.

In the past, blue whales were hunted     7     their meat and their oil. Whaling was a primary industry in Australia in the     8     (nineteen) and early twentieth centuries but whaling in Australia     9     (limit) in 1987. Today, most countries are strongly against of whaling, including Australia     10     now supports an anti-whaling policy.

The movie Jaws was filmed in 1975, mainly     1     (tell) a story that a shark attacks and kills swimmers. The film was     2     great success, and it     3     (strength) people’s long-held idea of the great white shark as a dangerous animal. Consequently, people became more     4     (scare) of sharks. And many wanted them     5     (kill). After 1975, the number of large sharks fell quickly due     6     fear of sharks as well as finning, a type of fishing where sharks are caught and their fins are cut off. Finning would have an unexpected effect upon Peter Benchley     7     wrote the book the film Jaws was based on. He became aware of his mistake and fought     8     (protect) sharks. Experts have also proved that sharks don’t target humans and they attack us by mistake.     9     (fortunate), today, as we learn more about sharks, more people than ever want to protect them from     10     (extinct).

Jim Barr stared in awe (敬畏) at the platform in the crowded school hall. The headmaster marched onto the stage, followed by the captains of the school soccer team and rugby side. Jim watched with envy as each was presented with an honor s jacket for their contribution to the school’s sporting success over the previous year. When the next presentation of honors jacket would come around, Jim knew there was little hope that he would be the receiver of one of these treasured items of clothing.

“I wish you all a happy summer holiday,” the headmaster announced. “Although most of you will be going away to sunnier parts, there are others who will be staying near their home. The local council has asked the school to undertake a project over the next six weeks to help clear up rubbish around the area and separate it for recycling. If anyone is interested, come to my office and you will be supplied with a rubbish picker, bags and heavy-duty gloves.”

Jim knew he would be at a loose end over the holiday, so he went to the office along with five classmates to pick up the equipment needed to gather up the rubbish which littered the streets around the school. When he arrived home, his mother looked at him curiously as he placed the equipment on the kitchen table.

“What is this all about?” she asked with a smile on her face. “Mum, I’m an average pupil and I’m not very good at sports,” he replied. “This waste recycling is one way I can contribute to the good name of the school.”

“Just as long as you don’t get fed up and stop half way through,” said Mum.

“I won’t give up. I have made up my mind to do it well,” Jim said confidently.

Over the next few weeks, his classmates dropped out of the project.

Hearing his name called by the headmaster, Jim nervously made his way to the platform.

In an age of rapidly growing urbanization, rooftop farming has emerged as a sustainable response     1     the challenge of creating green space in cities. This innovative practice transforms rooftops into mini farms, where vegetables, fruits, and even flowers     2     (plant), providing local residents with fresh produce and adding a touch of nature to urban environments.

Rooftop farming, also     3     (refer) to as vertical agriculture, is more than just a trend; it’s a step towards environmental conservation. Green roofs with vegetation help to absorb sunlight and release moisture, cooling the air and reducing the demand for air conditioning,     4     in turn lessens energy     5     (consume) and carbon emission. Meanwhile, rooftop farms serve as educational platforms,     6     (teach) city dwellers about sustainable agriculture practices and the importance of     7     (local) sourced food.

As urban populations continue to grow, rooftop farming fosters community engagement     8     promotes healthier lifestyles by providing access to fresh and organic produce. When we look towards     9     future where environmental consciousness and sustainable practices become increasingly vital, rooftop farming stands as a testament to our ability to cultivate more than just food—we cultivate hope for a     10     (green) and more resilient (可迅速恢复的) world.