2 . Visiting Ireland? Here’s what the locals love to do.

Walking is one of the best ways to get to know Ireland. “I’ve been walking for about 30 years, but I’m still trotting off to find new routes, and all of the walks seem to have stories,” says John G. O’Dwyer, author of 50 Best Irish Walks.

“Ireland’s casual food has been elevated,” said food writer Ali Dunworth. These days, food trucks, pop-up stores, and shacks are fun places to taste soulful pub fresh seafood and toasties (toasted sandwiches) with farmhouse cheese.

Marnie Corscadden, owner of Ballyseede Castle in Tralee, is attracted by Cloughoughter Castle, in County Cavan. Cloughoughter Castle is a four-story stone tower castle consisting of a single circular tower with high walls and a moat (护城河) surrounding it. Each floor has a curved ceiling, and the staircase winds along the inner walls. Despite being heavily damaged, the castle remains a popular tourist attraction. "Nestled on a small island, this dreamy castle is like something from a fairytale,” she said. “The fact that it’s so remote and can only be accessed by boat adds to its mystery and appeal.”

“In Ireland, there are thousands of miles of quiet country roads where everyone you encounter is more than willing to give directions and point out places to visit,” said Ciaran Cannon, an official in Galway East, who cycled through all 32 counties for charity. A growing network of greenways rebooting derelict railways, such as Royal Canal and Limerick, are great for taking in the countryside.

4 . Communication Tips

Here are some suggestions about making your talk with your parents turn out for the best.

Be honest.

If you’re always honest, your parents will be likely to believe what you say. If you sometimes hide the truth, parents will have a harder time to believe what you tell them.    1    

Be brave and start talking.

It’s easy to say “Hi, Mum” or “Dad, can you pass the potatoes?”     2       Let’s face it. You will feel embarrassed (尴尬的)when talking about something personal, but your parents know you quite well. They were your age once, too! So don’t let a little embarrassment stop you. It’s OK to go ahead and share what’s on your mind.

    3    

If you have a disagreement, can you consider things from your parents’ points of view? If you can, telling your parents you understand their views and feelings helps them be willing to understand yours, too.

Try not to argue.

Using a friendly and respectful tone makes your parents more likely to listen to you and take what you say seriously.     4    

What if it doesn’t work? If you still can’t talk to your parents, seek other adults’ help.    5     Then follow all the tips above to make you communicate with that person well.

5 . The moonlight poured in through the windows, lighting the room. Oliver was sitting at the table, totally _________ in his book. Oliver was a book_________ . He read books whenever he could. Grandma Agnes felt _________ Oliver when she heard him talk _________ about the books he read because they were poor. She knew the money she gave him for lunch was_________on those books instead.

The next day, on the bus, Oliver was reading his storybook again when he heard a noise and _________his eyes. He saw the bus driver_________ at a blind older woman. She _________ to the driver that her daughter was ill in hospital, and that she _________ to bring her purse. The driver mistakenly believed that she was making __________ to avoid paying the bus ticket! Knowing she wouldn’t be able to __________the driver, the older woman was about to get off the bus, when Oliver __________.

“I’ll pay for her fare, sir!” he said. Then Oliver helped the __________ older woman into the seat next to him and paid her fare. When he __________ to his seat, the woman said to him, “Thank you, little kid, you have a sweet voice!”

“I’m a big boy! And my name is Oliver,” Oliver said __________.

“I’m Mary,” the older woman __________ herself and expressed her __________ for helping her. Although Oliver had planned to use the money to buy the next book in the series he was reading, he couldn’t __________ to see Mary in trouble.

They had a __________ before Oliver’s stop arrived. Oliver liked Mary. She __________ him of Grandma Agnes. When he talked with her, she listened to him with the same patience as Grandma Agnes.

Architect Kéré won the Pritzker Prize, the world’s highest recognition in building design. “The 56-year-old Kéré     1     (honor) on Tuesday for his pioneering designs,” said Tom Pritzker, who is the chairman of the Hyatt Foundation. He added, “The architect’s     2     (work) are sustainable to Earth and its inhabitants.” Kéré is a citizen of both Burkina Faso and Germany and lives in Berlin. He said he was     3     happiest man on the planet to become the 51st recipient of the famous yearly prize. Kéré is     4     (know) for building schools. health centers, housing and other public places across Africa. He is     5     (equal) an architect and a servant,     6     (improve) the lives and experiences of countless citizens in a region of the world that is at times forgotten.

Kéré won special praise     7     his 2001 project to build a primary school in Gando, the village where he was born. Unlike traditional school buildings, which use concrete, Keré’s     8     (create) design combines local clay and cement (水泥)     9     (form）bricks. The material helps keep the building cool in the hot environment. A wide metal roof protects the building from rain     10     helps air flow. The success of the project lies in the creation of an extension, a library and teachers’ housing in later years.

7 . Can go skiing in China? Yes, of course! At present, there are 770 ski resorts being built in China, and the snowing season can last for 140 days from November to March. Here are the top four ski resorts in China.

Harbin Yabuli Ski Resort

About two and a half hours drive from Harbin downtown, Yabuli Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in China, as well as China’s biggest training center for snow activities. It consists of three mountains and boasts the longest alpine (高山的) ski slope in Asia.

·Opening Dates 2022: 12. Nov 2022-mid-March 2023

·Ticket/pass price: 140 yuan/2 hours, 280 yuan/4 hours, 380 yuan/full day, the price will rise on weekends and holidays.

·Suitable for: beginners, intermediates, experts

Beidahu Ski Resort

Only 33 miles away from the downtown of Jilin City, Beidahu Ski Resort is an important skiing center for both sportsmen and ski lovers. There are 26 ski runs in the resort with a total length of 48km.

·Opening Dates 2022: 12. Nov 2022-mid-Mar 2023

·Ticket/pass price: depending on your skiing hours, usually from CNY 190 (for 4 hours) to CNY 230 (for one day). The price will rise during weekends and holidays.

·Suitable for: intermediates and experts

Wanda Changbaishan International Ski Resort

Among the original forest of Changbaishan Mountains Nature Reserve, Wanda Changbaishan International Ski Resort is a great place to go skiing with beautiful natural scenery. It has great snow quality which is close to that of France and North Italy.

·Opening Dates 2022: 15. Nov 2022-mid-Mar 2023

·Ticket/pass price: CNY 300-CNY780

·Suitable for: intermediates and experts

Songhua Lake Ski Resort

Songhua Lake Ski Resort, located in Fengman Economic Zone, Jilin, is famous as an urban ski resort in China, and is just 19 kilometers away from the city center. Songhua Lake Ski Resort occupies a total of 175 sq. m skiing area, which has a capacity of 8, 000 for skiing.

·Opening Dates 2022: 12. Nov 2022-mid-Mar 2023

·Ticket/pass price: from CNY470

·Suitable for: all ages skiers and families with young kids

The health condition of Yaya, a 23-year-old giant panda who has lived in Memphis Zoo in the US for 20 years, attracted public concern recently. Tourists posted pictures of Yaya and claimed she suffered from skin disease and malnutrition,    1    (call) for her return. With it being decided that Yaya will come back home, this episode raises the question of    2    giant pandas are so difficult to feed and breed.

Giant pandas only feed on bamboo. The Calgary Zoo in Canada sent two pandas back to China in 2020 due to a    3    (short) of bamboo. Pandas also have trouble absorbing nutrients. They can only digest 17 percent of what they eat.

Their low reproductive rate is a crucial reason as well.    4    (general), giant pandas can breed when they reach 4 to 8 years old. Females breeding only once    5    year leave their scent on bamboo so that males can locate them. Even if a pair meets, successful breeding is not certain.

Females normally give birth    6    one or two cubs(幼崽). If twins are born, the mother may only raise the    7    (strong) of the cubs. A newborn panda baby only    8    (weigh) about 0.1 percent of the weight of a fully    9    (grow) panda, making its survival extremely difficult.

Despite these    10    (issue), progress has been made in breeding and protecting the widely loved animals.