1 . If you are crazy about paintings, you shouldn’t miss the following four famous masterpieces which have stood the test of time.
The Arnolfini Portrait
Jan van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait, an oil painting on wood produced in 1434, in which a man and a woman hold hands with a window behind him and a bed behind her, is undoubtedly one of the masterpieces in the National Gallery, London. This painting is as visually interesting as it is famed. It is also an informative document in fifteenth-century society, through Van Eyck’s heavy use of symbolism—while husbands went out to engage in business, wives concerned themselves with domestic duties.
The Starry Night
Vincent van Gogh painted The Starry Night, oil on canvas, a moderately abstract landscape painting of an expressive night sky over a small hillside village, during his 12-month stay at the mental hospital near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France between 1889 and 1890. When the Museum of Modern Art in New York City purchased the painting from a private collector in 1941, it was not well known, but it has since become one of Van Gogh’s most famous works.
The Harvesters
The Harvesters is an oil painting on wood completed by Pieter Bruegel the Elder in 1565. It depicts the harvest time which most commonly occurs within the months of August and September. Nicolaes Jonghelinck, a merchant banker and art collector from Antwerp, commissioned this painting. The painting has been at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City since 1919.
Guernica
Guernica, a large black-and-white oil painting, was painted by the Cubist Spanish painter, Pablo Picasso in 1937. The title “Guernica” refers to the city that was bombed by Nazi planes during the Spanish Civil War. The painting depicts the horrors of war and as a result, has come to be an anti-war symbol and a reminder of the tragedies of war. Today, the painting is housed at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofaí in Madrid.
1. Which of the following paintings was produced earliest?| A．The Arnolfini Portrait. | B．The Starry Night. |
| C．The Harvesters. | D．Guernica. |
| A．It was painted on wood in oil. |
| B．It wasn’t widely recognized before 1940s. |
| C．It described the painter’s life in hospital. |
| D．It was given away to the museum by a private collector. |
| A．Pieter Bruegel the Elder. | B．Vincent van Gogh. |
| C．Jan van Eyck. | D．Pablo Picasso. |
2 . If you have been wanting to learn Spanish, or perhaps you once took a Spanish course in college and want to improve your skills, but are too busy to take more lessons, you might have thought about using an app.
Pimsleur
The Pimsleur app offers an audio-based method for learning foreign languages. Its program includes core lessons, role-play speaking challenges, practice activities and games, as well as cultural and historical facts. The Pimsleur system states that you’ll learn the language in just 30 minutes a day without boring grammar lessons or mindless repetition.
Babbel
Babbel is a popular app that is based on conversational skills. Its program is based on real-life conversations about useful topics, and it uses speech recognition technology to help you improve your pronunciation. The app provides you with grammar tips and lots of review activities, and it also tracks your learning progress so that you can see how you are improving.
Duolingo
Its program is made to be game-like to make it fun. It claims to adapt to your own learning style so that you can have lessons that can meet your specific needs. It also offers rewards to keep you motivated (有积极性的). Duolingo includes reading, writing, speaking, listening and conversation practice. People enjoy this method because they feel like they are playing a game instead of working.
Beelinguapp
It is a clean, user-friendly app that focuses on learning a language by reading. It places Spanish and another language side by side using different stories, so you can build awareness of how the language works and listen to a native speaker read your favorite stories. You can choose different text genres (类型) and create flashcards to keep track of everything you learn.
1. What do Pimsleur and Duolingo have in common?| A．They both focus on grammar learning. |
| B．They both use relaxing ways to interest users. |
| C．They both reward users for their learning progress. |
| D．They both provide one-on-one instruction for beginners. |
| A．Developing their interest in science. |
| B．Making friends with native speakers. |
| C．Getting better grades in Spanish exams. |
| D．Mastering expressions in daily communication. |
| A．Beelinguapp. | B．Pimsleur. | C．Duolingo. | D．Babbel. |
3 . Kangaroo Kids
Fall Jump Rope Workshop
Invited: All skill levels, kids ages 6 and up
Skills Taught: Single / Long Rope, Speed, and Double Dutch (交互花式跳绳)
Learn new skills with nationally recognized jumpers!
Jumpers must be willing to learn and have fun!
Saturday, November 9, 9:00-16:00
North Laurel Community Center
9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd • Laurel, MD 20723
Participant Fee: $55 by 10/21 ($65 after 10/21)Judge’s Clinic Fee: $25 by 10/21 ($35 after 10/21)
How to Register (register by 10/30)
Use our online registration system for all event registrations, T-shirt orders; and lunch orders. Please register and pay at http://registration. kanagrookids.org/FallWorkshop. First-time users will create a user account to register for the Fall Workshop as a participant. Please create only one user account per household. All members of a family will be part of one account.
NOTE: PLEASE REGISTER AS EARLYAS POSSILE, ASPACE IS LIMITED.
T-shirt OrderWorkshop T-shirts: $18, order by 10/18. Shirt Size (please circle during order): YS/ YM /YL/AS/ AM /AL
Jump ropes, T-shirts, shorts, tennis shoes, and water bottles will be available for sale at the event on November 9. There will be instructors helping adjust the length of your jump ropes.
Lunch OrderSubway lunch (sandwich or salad, fruit drinks and cookies): $8, order by 10/30.
Workshop Hours: 9:00-12:00 and 1:30-4:00
Lunch: 12:00-1:30
1. What is the early bird participant fee?| A．$25. | B．$35. | C．$55. | D．$65. |
| A．Bring their own lunch. | B．Create one registration account. |
| C．Register for the same instructor. | D．Adjust the length of their jump ropes in advance. |
| A．10/18. | B．10/21. | C．10/30. | D．11/9. |
4 . DISCOVER WEEDON ISLAND’S ANCIENT PAST
If you are interested in archaeology, experience hands-on archaeology at Weedon Island Preserve, one of Florida’s exceptional archaeological sites. AWIARE offers one-week camp focused on archaeology for kids entering Grade 1 and 5. Students will learn about the basic archaeology through hands-on, interactive classroom projects, outdoor activities, and a visit to an archaeological site in the Tampa Bay area.
Day 1-2 Followed by engaging icebreaker activities and team-building exercises, participants will attend the speeches delivered by the world-known archaeologists. Dr. Robert Austin and Dr. John Arthur will respectively give speeches about the site and local history of the Tampa Bay area. The days will conclude with basic training on excavation techniques and tools, setting the groundwork for hands-on involvement in the archaeological exploration ahead.
Day 3-4 Participants will explore local historic sites long-covered by plants and learn how archaeologists survey sites using direct measurements, digital cameras, careful notes, and hand-held GPS units. This trip will also provide an opportunity to learn more about the environment in which these sites were created.
Day 5-7 Participants will be involved in assisting AWIARE researchers in excavation, recording data, screening sediment, and collecting artifacts, bone, and samples. What’s more, You will also help sorting and processing artifacts from the excavation and other sites in the Tampa Bay area.
Date: August 10-16, 2024
Time: 9: 00 am-5: 00 pm
Expedition cost: $300 per participant, which includes daily lunch at the AWIARE Research Station. Return campers receive a 20% discount.
Registration is now open for the Hands-On Archaeology Camps.
1. Who can be the target audience for the camp?| A．Students in primary school. | B．Kids interested in UK history. |
| C．Tourists interested in Weedon Island. | D．Undergraduates majoring in archaeology. |
| A．Help improve the site’s environment. | B．Help reconstruct ancient objects. |
| C．Assist professional excavations. | D．Explore vegetation-covered local historic sites. |
| A．$240 | B．$480. | C．$600. | D．$720. |
5 . The Best Places for Camping Near Portland
Lost Lake
With 148 campsites, Lost Lake has plenty of room for everyone who wants to go camping near Portland. In addition to a place to park up for the night, the park also has numerous trails to explore, a public boat launch and a fishing dock(码头). But there are no electrical connections available.
Price: Tent sites range from $29- $32 depending on their location.
The Vintages Trailer Resort
Located in the heart of the Willamette Valley, camping in a vintage trailer can be a lot of fun, offering a unique lodging experience. It is a pretty luxurious experience, with terrycloth robes, pour-over coffee, and breathtaking views of the neighboring vineyards. There are plenty things to do in the surrounding valley, but primarily it is one of the nation’s top wine-producing regions.
Price: Each trailer varies.
Beaver Campground
Located in between huge old maple trees and sycamores(悬铃木), Beaver Campground makes a great place to stay. The surrounding forest is a great place to explore, and as the campgrounds are small, with only 24 campsites, you will really feel as though you are in the middle of nowhere.
Price: Between $20- $100 a night.
Oxbow Regional Park
One of the most picturesque places to go camping, the perfect place for swimming, rafting, fishing and much more, the park offers 74 drive-up campsites, each of which comes with a picnic table, fire pit, and cooking grill, and there are also 12 RV sites.
Price: $22 a night
1. What can you do in the Lost Lake?| A．Swim in the lake. | B．Use your rice cooker. |
| C．Take part in water activities. | D．Explore the surrounding forest. |
| A．Lost Lake. | B．Beaver Campground. |
| C．The Vintages Trailer Resort. | D．Oxbow Regional Park. |
| A．Beaver Campground charges the most. |
| B．Price ranges from place to place. |
| C．All places carry out the same pricing policy. |
| D．Oxbow Regional Park enjoys the lowest price. |
6 . Animal volunteering abroad is the perfect opportunity for animal lovers who want to do something good while traveling. Here are several programs.
Leatherback Turtle Ambassador
Our main mission is to protect endangered sea turtles such as the leatherback sea turtle and the green sea turtle. By working with locals and environmental education programs, we will be able to educate people on the importance of protecting the valuable sea ecosystem.
Location: Limon, Costa Rica
Requirements: Age: 18-50; Language skill: basic English
Fee: 266€ per week
Wildlife Shelter Carer
Every year, hundreds of thousands of native animals are injured or become sick, often because of interaction with people or pets. Our wildlife shelters have rescued sick, injured native wildlife and loved them back to health to be returned to the natural environment. Since we receive no funding from governments, the shelters rely on the donations of volunteers and the public.
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Requirements: Age: 18-50; Language skill: fluent English
Fee: 706€ per week
Thai Elephant Sanctuary
Our program helps domesticated elephants rescued from a life of working on the streets or logging and provides care to rescued elephant population. The program has won numerous awards for its ethical contribution to the assistance of Thai Elephants. The team have rescued dozens of elephants and given them shelters in beautiful, open spaces.
Location: Phetchaburi province, Thailand
Requirements: Age: 18-50; Language skill: fluent English
Fee: 647€ per week
Force-free Horse Sanctuary Assistant
Are you passionate about horses and eager to make a positive impact on horse welfare? Join our incredible Force-Free Horse Sanctuary Program, where you’ll become part of a devoted team caring for our beautiful horses. Through positive reinforcement and force-free horsemanship skills, you’ll help improve the lives of these magnificent animals.
Location: Atajate, Spain
Requirements: Age: 14-50; Language skill: basic English or basic Spanish
Fee: 392€ per week
1. Which program costs least per week?| A．Leatherback Turtle Ambassador. | B．Wildlife Shelter Carer. |
| C．Thai Elephant Sanctuary. | D．Force-free Horse Sanctuary Assistant. |
| A．Advocate protecting sea animals. |
| B．Attend to animals in poor condition. |
| C．Adopt endangered animals as your pets. |
| D．Acquire complicated horsemanship skills. |
| A．Limon, Costa Rica. | B．New South Wales, Australia. |
| C．Phetchaburi province, Thailand. | D．Atajate, Spain. |
7 . There is no better way to explore the Great Wall in China than by hiking or walking along it. Here we recommend three most popular hiking routes for you. Take your time and feel the history coming to life.
Route 1: Jinshanling-Simatai (West)
This route is also called Jinshanling Great Wall hiking. It is definitely the best hiking route if you want to see the original Great Wall. It includes some ruined sections as well as some breathtaking scenery with the Wall snaking along the mountain ridges into the distance.
Distance from Beijing: 1.5 hours by road Wall conditions: half ruined
Time needed: about 3 hours on the Wall Length: 5 kilometers
Difficulty:＊＊＊＊
Route 2: Mutianyu-Simatai
Mutianyu is the best fully restored section of the Great Wall with convenient access from Beijing. Simatai is the most spectacular wild section of the Wall but this route is the most visitor-friendly. An overnight stay in a hotel at Gubei Water Town will allow you to have a relaxing tour of the Simatai Great Wall section.
Distance from Beijing: 5 hours by road Wall conditions: totally ruined
Time needed: two days Length: 10 kilometers
Difficulty: ＊＊＊
Route 3: Jiankou-Mutianyu (Wild Hike)
The experience will be extraordinary. When you reach the mountain ridges, you have conquered the most challenging Great Wall section. What's more, there are no crowds around you-it's just you, the mountains, the ruined wall, your guide, and the history behind these ancient ruins.
Distance from Beijing: 2. 5 hours by road Wall conditions: partly ruined
Time needed: about 4 hours on the Wall Length: 7 kilometers
Difficulty: ＊＊＊＊＊
If you love a hiking trip with pleasant surprises and no disappointments, just pick one from the above routes.
1. What elements are included in the above three routes?| A．Equipment and scenery. | B．Length and ticket prices. |
| C．Distance and time needed. | D．Time and weather conditions. |
| A．It includes a night’s stay to relax. | B．It covers the most original section. |
| C．It offers a full view of the Great Wall. | D．It provides best sites for taking photos. |
| A．A novel. | B．A brochure. | C．A course plan. | D．A book review. |
8 . Critics’ choice: The year’s best novels…
1. The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (Harper, $29)The novel from a celebrated poet, this 800-page work is many things at once: a moving coming-of-age story, an examination of race, and an exploration of American history. Out of curiosity about the secrets in her family, Ailey uncovers stories that trace back to her Native American, Scottish, and enslaved African-American ancestors.
2. Matrix by Lauren Groff (Knopf, $28)If Matrix were written by anyone else, it would be a hard sell. But Lauren Groff has reimagined the life of 12th-century poet Marie de France so that we can’t help but stay with this royal castoff as she’s sent away, at 17, to run a poor church, which she eventually changes into a shelter for women and a challenge to the male-dominated world.
3. Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro (Knopf, $28)A robot that has been programmed to be a sickly teenager’s “Artificial Friend,” Klara serves as our eyes on a troubling near future in which technological progress is pushing moral boundaries. But her outsider view allows the author of Remains of the Day, now a Nobel Prize winner, to explore what makes people irreplaceable.
4. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr (Scribner, $30)Doerr’s first novel since 2014 covers several hundred years — from 1453 Constantinople to a 22nd-century spaceship escaping from Earth. The book runs 640 pages, but without a wasted word. As engaging as a great bedtime story and as readable as Harry Potter, it’s above all a celebration of the human spirit and its power to dream impossible dreams.
1. Which book is written by a poet?| A．The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois. | B．Matrix. |
| C．Klara and the Sun. | D．Cloud Cuckoo Land. |
| A．Historical events. | B．Pursuit of dreams. |
| C．Human irreplaceability. | D．Teenagers’ friendship. |
| A．They all cover hundreds of years. | B．They are all chosen by critics. |
| C．They are all the author’s first novel. | D．The main characters are all humans. |
9 . Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair 2024
The Novel Fair is an annual competition initiated by the Irish Writers Centre (IWC). Described by The Irish Times as “A Dragons’ Cave for writers”, each year the Fair aims to introduce up-and-coming writers to top publishers and literary agents.
The Prize
The twelve winners will have the opportunity to present the summary of their novel directly to industry professionals. Leading publishers and agents will be invited by the IWC to meet these writers in person or through a series of online meetings. To get fully prepared for the meeting with publishers and agents, the winners will receive a place in a workshop on “How to Promote Your Novel”, two weeks in advance. Also, applicants who are longlisted (初选) but do not make it to the shortlist of twelve will have their works evaluated and criticized by the judging panel.
How to Enter
Entry fee for application is £55 (Members of IWC can enter for a discounted fee of £45). This competition only accepts manuscripts (原稿) for novels. Applicants are required to send a summary within 300 words and up to five chapters of their novel, which should be 10,000 words (+/-10％). Manuscripts should be submitted online. There is a limit of one entry per applicant.
Entries are welcome from anywhere in the world. Before entering the competition, please ensure that you have read the Novel Fair Terms & Conditions 2024 very carefully as the Fair is open to only novelists who have never published work previously. If you have any questions about the application process, please email novelfair@irishwriterscentre.ie.
1. What’s the purpose of the Fair?| A．To advertise local stories. |
| B．To encourage literary reading. |
| C．To serve as a platform for writers. |
| D．To arouse enthusiasm for writing. |
| A．Deal with the judging panel. |
| B．Improve their writing skills. |
| C．Learn about publishing process. |
| D．Present their novels attractively. |
| A．A summary of 200 words. |
| B．A novel published in 2023. |
| C．A paper manuscript by post. |
| D．A submission of seven chapters. |
10 . Whether you want to broaden your horizons, entertain the family or are simply looking for something to do on a rainy day, a trip to a free museum might be just the ticket.
Science Museum
At the Science Museum, you can enjoy award-winning exhibitions and collections spanning the sciences. From Helen Sharman’s iconic space suit to Amy Johnson’s Gipsy Moth airplane, explore the extraordinary stories of human achievements and the challenges we have overcome. You can book your free admission ticket on its website.
Natural History Museum
London’s world-famous museum is home to over 80 million objects and specimens including plants, creatures, dinosaur fossils, rare bugs and more. Billions of years of natural history is all open to visitors, completely free of charge. You can even get up close to collections made by Charles Darwin.
Discovery Museum
The Discovery Museum offers a great selection of exhibits to the whole family. Here you can stand in awe at the world’s first steam turbine-powered ship Turbinia which stands proud in the central hall. It also offers educational workshops and also provides a wealth of online content for virtual learning opportunities. The museum is free of charge.
Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
For art and design lovers, the Victoria and Albert Museum is the perfect free-to-visit attraction in Britain’s capital. Named after Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, who laid the building’s foundation stone in 1899, the V&A has an impressive collection of original masterpieces, contemporary art, architectural marvels and even a fantastic fashion gallery.
As well as dozens of free permanent exhibitions available in-house and online, the V&A also hosts temporary collections and events throughout the year, many of which are also completely free!
1. What can visitors do at the Science Museum?| A．Explore the world’s first ship. |
| B．Enjoy some contemporary art. |
| C．Admire Charles Darwin’s collections. |
| D．Learn about the great people and their achievements. |
| A．Science Museum. | B．Natural History Museum. |
| C．Discovery Museum. | D．Victoria and Albert Museum. |
| A．They offer free visits. | B．They are world-famous. |
| C．They show diverse ships. | D．They are in the same city. |
