1 . 2024 Western Colorado Elementary Science Fair
EUREKA! and D51 are partnering to host our annual elementary (小学的) science fair! Here’s your chance to apply your love of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) by conducting your own scientific investigation.
Participation is open to all 3-5th graders living in Wester Colorado, and students can either enter as an individual or as a team of no more than 3 members. Judging will be based on grade, and a team composed of students from multiple grades will be judged in the grade category of the oldest participant’s grade.
Project Submission
All participants must complete all of the following by March 7, 2024:
●Complete the registration form (one per team)
●Create a display poster (either physical or electronic) summarizing their project and email the file or a clear photo of it to the science fair committee
● Create a video presentation (less than 5 minutes) explaining their project to the judges, and submit it to the science fair committee
Public Viewing
Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Location: EUREKA! McConnell Science Museum
Participants can display their posters and present their projects to the public (optional) .
Safety Regulations
It is important to wear proper protective gear (装备) when necessary in addition to disposing of (处理) waste properly when conducting a scientific investigation. We strongly recommend that guardians look up and study Safety Data Sheets for any chemicals that their students use and have responsibility for not allowing students to experiment with dangerous chemicals. EUREKA! holds the right to not display projects if they believe the components break our safety regulations.
1. What is an entry requirement for the science fair?| A．A team must consist of three members. |
| B．A team must be led by-the oldest participant. |
| C．All participants must be from Western Colorado. |
| D．Teams must be formed by students in the same grade. |
| A．Submit a display poster. | B．Video the investigation process. |
| C．Present their project to the public. | D．Fill in the registration form individually. |
| A．Disposing of waste improperly. |
| B．Performing experiments without a guardian. |
| C．Involving harmful chemicals in your project. |
| D．Conducting your investigation without protective gear. |
2 . Top Five Youngest Olympics Gold Medal Winners of All-Time
Marjorie GestringMarjorie Gestring of the US was only 13 years and 268 days old when she won the gold medal for her country. The diver won the medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games to become the youngest individual Olympic gold medalist. She would have won more gold medals considering her talent if it were not for the World War Ⅱ.
Klaus ZertaKlaus Zerta was only 13 years and 283 days old when he won a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy. Klaus was from West Germany but represented the unified team of Germany at the Olympics. Moreover, he is the youngest confirmed male athlete to win a gold medal in the history of the Summer Olympics.
Nishiya MomijiThe ongoing Tokyo Olympics saw a few record-breaking feats in the skateboarding event. Japan’s Nishiya Momiji became the first ever women’s Olympic skateboarding champion. The athlete is merely 13 years and 330 days old, which makes her one of the youngest individual gold medal winners in the history of the Olympics.
Fu MingxiaChinese female diver Fu Mingxia is popular for being one of the youngest Olympic diving champions. She was born on August 16, 1978, and won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona. She was 15 days older than Nishiya Momiji when they each won their first Olympic gold medal. Fu Mingxia dominated the sport throughout the 1990s with her skills in extremely difficult dives. In the coming years, she won three more Olympic gold medals and a silver across the platform and springboard events.
Nadia ComaneciNadia Comaneci is from Romania and is a five-time Olympic gold medalist. In 1976, she became the first gymnast to receive a perfect score of 10. She was merely 14 years old when she secured the Gold at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Interestingly, back then, a gymnast had to be 14 to participate but later the age limit went up to 16 years. Therefore, Nadia’s record cannot be broken.
1. What do we know about Marjorie Gestring?| A．She was the first women’s Olympic skateboarding champion. |
| B．She dominated the sport throughout the 1990s with her skills. |
| C．The war prevented her from achieving more. |
| D．A perfect score of 10 for a gymnast belonged to her. |
| A．13 years and 315 days old. |
| B．13 years and 345 days old. |
| C．13 years and 283 days old. |
| D．13 years and 268 days old. |
| A．News. | B．Sports. |
| C．Life. | D．History. |
3 . The teenage years are a transformative period marked by great physical, psychological, and emotional changes.
Understanding and managing social emotions can help develop teenagers’ identities. Teenagers experience a wide range of emotions from social interactions, which significantly influences their self-understanding and social awareness. In the process, they learn to understand, and appropriately respond to both their own emotions and those of others.
In academic settings, social emotional competencies like self-regulation, motivation, and social awareness directly impact a teenager’s ability to learn, participate, and engage in school activities.
Learning social emotions involves a combination of personal experience, guidance, and formal education.
| A．What exactly are social emotions? |
| B．The journey into mature emotion is quite easy. |
| C．Social emotion learning for teenagers is essential. |
| D．Central to this phase is the concept of social emotions. |
| E．This helps shape their own personal principles and beliefs. |
| F．Families play a crucial role in modeling and developing these skills. |
| G．Moreover, social emotional skills are closely linked to mental health. |
4 . There is a mountain of great ski opportunities not too far from Boston. Road-trip to one of these fantastic ski mountains this winter.
Blue Hills Ski Area
A ski day trip doesn’t get any easier than the Blue Hills Ski Area. It is the only snow sports facility in the metro area. Skiing and snowboarding are spread over its 60 skiable acres, 90% of which are equipped for snowmaking. The vertical drop is 309 feet and there are four lifts serving the 16 trails, most of which are for advanced skiers. There are lessons for kids and adults to help you get there.
Crochet Mountain Resort
It’s famous for signature “Midnight Madness” events and daily night skiing. It has an 875-foot vertical drop and 23 trails across 75 skiable acres. A great mountain for skiers, half its terrain is graded for intermediates with the rest being split between advanced and beginner terrain.
Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort
It’s the only one of ski resorts to be 100%powered by renewable energy sources. Skiers will find a 1,150-foot vertical drop, 45 trails, 3 terrain parks and 9 lifts across 167 skiable acres. The whole family can take lessons, enjoy dining or buy a ticket and go for a ride on the 3,600-foot Mountain Coaster!
Smugglers’ Notch
Smugglers’ Notch has a 2,564-foot vertical drop, 78 trails, 5 terrain parks and 8 lifts spread across 1,000 skiable acres. Known as a full-service family-oriented resort, it offers plenty to do off mountain like ice skating, arts and crafts workshops and an indoor swimming pool!
1. Which ski resort mainly targets advanced skiers?| A．Blue Hills Ski Area. | B．Crochet Mountain Resort. |
| C．Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort. | D．Smugglers’ Notch. |
| A．Its trails. | B．Its location. |
| C．Its vertical drop. | D．Its green concept. |
| A．Have a swim. | B．Ski with world champions. |
| C．Enjoy stone sculptures. | D．Ride a roller coaster. |
5 . Winter seems to drag on endlessly this time of year, so it’s only natural to start thinking about getting away, and the sunny south of France is calling your name!
Avignon
If you’re looking for history, then visit the town center of Avignon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you want to learn even more about this attractive town, then take a tour— it is often guided by a local expert. Hear the history first-hand and come away with a greater understanding as to how the town came to be.
Chateau
Nothing says French countryside more than a chateau surrounded by acres of vineyards. There are wines to choose from. You can also explore the surrounding natural beauty on a horse ride, and they even run vineyard tours on horseback for a truly unique experience. Be sure to bring back a bottle or two of the Chateau des Bertrands wine so you can share a glass with friends as you tell them all about your trip.
Magnificent Marseille
The oldest city in France, starting out as an ancient Greek colony (殖民地), with its rich history, can keep every holidaymaker happy. A unique way to see as much as possible of what this great city has to offer is to book onto a segway tour. See the sights of the Museum Marseilles, Cathédrale La Major, and the historic Le Panier, while you walk around the streets.
Cannes
With amazing blue waters, fresh seafood, and mild winters, it’s an attractive destination to visit all year round. If you want a beach day, we’d recommend the Plage du Midi, easily accessible from the center of town. If you want to make the most of the Mediterranean Sea, don’t just look at it — sail on it!
1. What makes Avignon different from the other three places?| A．Its beautiful scene. | B．Its mild weather. | C．Its rich history. | D．Its guided expert. |
| A．Ride a horse. | B．Take local wines. | C．Buy a gift. | D．Taste some snacks. |
| A．Beach lovers. | B．Museum goers. | C．Enthusiastic hikers. | D．Sports players. |
6 . A father who wants to help make a city one of the most autism (孤独症) — friendly places in the UK is creating a network of signs to help non-verbal (非言语的) children communicate in public spaces.
Dan Harris, from Peterborough, whose son Joshie is autistic, has gained funding for 100 picture boards in the city. They help people communicate through images. He said, “We no longer want autism to be hidden.” The communication boards include symbols representing common words and phrases that allow non-verbal people to communicate how they are feeling and what they want to do.
The idea for the picture boards came from Mr Harris' son, Joshie, who points to pictures on an electronic tablet (平板电脑) to communicate. Mr Harris said, “He is a very clever little boy, but because he is non-verbal, he has to communicate using different methods. This communication board truly gives him a voice.”
Mr Harris got funding for the first communication board last year. Now government money has been secured through Peterborough City Council to create a network across the city and Mr Harris would like it to go further. “This is a proof of concept. There are about 3,000 autistic people in Peterborough and it's important that the needs of that community are met.” He said he wanted to see the boards introduced across Britain and in other countries. The boards cost £6,000 and are funded through a combination (结合) of charity donations and local government funding.
Mr Harris, who is also the founder of the charity Neurodiversity in Business, which works to raise more awareness, said, “This board is extremely important because it doesn't just help non-verbal people communicate, but it also promotes discussions.” He also said that autism acceptance can only come after autism awareness.
1. Why did Dan Harris create the communication boards in Peterborough?| A．To raise funds for charities. | B．To promote autism awareness. |
| C．To help non-verbal individuals communicate. | D．To educate the public on special words. |
| A．His wife first expressed the idea to him. | B．He was greatly inspired by his son. |
| C．He learned the idea from an electronic tablet. | D．He was affected by other autistic people. |
| A．Donations from local businesses. |
| B．Government funding and charity contributions. |
| C．Money collecting events organized by the community. |
| D．Contributions from-Neurodiversity in Business. |
| A．Patient and rich. | B．Humorous and brave. |
| C．Creative and kind. | D．Honest and determined. |
7 . Young babies make many short and word-like sounds such as “ba” or “aga”. Those early sounds are later replaced with words and, eventually, sentences. While some of them are born to be more talkative than others, a new study confirms that male babies make more sounds than female babies in the first year.
While the research confirms earlier findings from a much smaller study by the same team, they still come as a surprise. That’s because there’s a common and long-held belief that females have an advantage over males in language.
In the study, Dr Kim and his team included more than 450,000 hours of all-day recordings of 5,899 babies, using a device about the size of an iPod. Those recordings were processed to count the number of words spoken by babies and adults across the first two years of life.
Generally, the data showed that male babies made 10% more sounds in the first year compared to females. In the second year, the difference turned directions, with female babies making about 7% more sounds than males. Those differences were observed even though the number of words spoken by adults caring for those babies was higher for female babies in both years compared to males.
Why, then, would male babies be more talkative than females in the first year and not later? “We think it may be because boys are more likely to die in the first year than girls. Given that so many male deaths happen in the first year, boys may have been under especially high selection pressure to produce fitness signals to express their wellness and improve their chances of surviving,” says Kim. By the second year of life, as death rates drop sharply across the board, he added, “the pressure on special fitness signaling is lower for both boys and girls.”
1. Why are the findings of the new study surprising?| A．They are similar to earlier ones. |
| B．They show males are more talkative. |
| C．They go against people’s common belief. |
| D．They show babies learn language differently |
| A．They received more language input. |
| B．They showed better language abilities. |
| C．They communicated more with adults. |
| D．They made less sounds than female babies. |
| A．Improved language skills. | B．Change in living environment. |
| C．Less need for fitness signaling. | D．Increase in social communication. |
8 . Changing schools can be a difficult experience for a child, because making new friends can be hard in a new environment.
10-year-old RafaelAnaya and Amanda Moore have proven that friendship can go beyond any language barrier (障碍). Rafael had just begun going to Paloma Elementary after he moved to California from Mexico with his family. Amanda noticed that her classmate Rafael ate lunch and went home alone, and looked sad in the cafeteria every day without any friends. She felt sympathy (同情) for him.
One day she decided to join Rafael for lunch. When trying to communicate, she realized that he spoke Spanish but did not speak much English, so the next day she decided to write him a note using Google Translate. Amanda translated her note into Spanish and began practicing reading the note so she could speak with her new friend. On the way to school, Amanda asked her mom Kimber to correct her note, and her mom was so proud of her kind little girl that she decided to share her story online.
Hundreds of thousands of people online were deeply touched when hearing of the kindness of Amanda to reach out to Rafael at their school. Amanda’s note read:
“Would you like to sit with me today? Look for me and I will show you where I sit. We can paint or simply tell scary stories. Thank you for your time.”
Amanda’s mom said that since her daughter gave Rafael the note, the two have become good friends. They spend time together at school and also go trick-or-treating together for Halloween. Rafael told ABC news that he and Amanda would be friends “forever.”
Amanda’s act of kindness shows how wonderfully she was raised; to be kind to others, regardless of their language ability or country of origin.
1. At school, Amanda Moore found that________ .| A．Rafael Anaya was lonely | B．many students didn’t talk to RafaelAnaya |
| C．Rafael Anaya liked eating alone | D．RafaelAnaya cried in the cafeteria |
| A．Rafael was too shy to talk. | B．Rafael just spoke a little English. |
| C．She was afraid of saying something wrong. | D．She thought that could make Rafael feel comfortable. |
| A．they painted pictures together | B．they sat together to have lunch |
| C．Amanda sent Rafael a note in Spanish | D．Amanda showed sympathy for Rafael |
| A．Easy-going and generous. | B．Thoughtful and kind-hearted. |
| C．Creative and determined. | D．Patient and careful. |
9 . While many people adventure to the tops of mountains, there is a lot to be found underground as well. Here, we’ve found four secret caves that are worth knowing about.
1. Hidden Cave at Grimes Point, Nevada
Hidden Cave was formed about 21,000 years ago. Native Americans used it to store tools. The cave was discovered by four kids out looking for treasure in 1927. When they found the cave, they were the first humans in the 20th century to see it. Today, Hidden Cave is a free public tourist attraction.
2. Ice Caves, North Dakota
Ice Caves, located in the northwest part of North Dakota, were first discovered by Joe Quinion in the early 1900s. These caves get their name from their cool temperatures. People have reported seeing ice and snow from the previous winter in the caves well into July. The caves ’ thick sandstone and limited air flow help keep ice from melting.
3. The Ramble Cave, New York
Unlike other secret caves that are located in remote (偏远的) areas, the Ramble Cave is located right in the middle of America’s biggest city — in New York’s Central Park. However, it wasn’t originally part of the designer’s plan for the park. Instead, it was discovered by accident by workers in the 1850s. The cave was a popular attraction for children in its early days but was closed in 1934 after a man was shot and killed in this cave.
4. Tears of the Turtle, Montana
This cave wasn’t found until 2006. It is located in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness, a vast area with no roads. That means to reach this cave, you have to hike or ride a horse 33.7 kilometers into the wilderness area from Meadow Creek. Also, with a depth of 496.5 meters, the cave is definitely not for inexperienced explorers.
1. What is the reason why Ice Caves get their name?| A．Snow will not melt in the caves. |
| B．It is quite cool inside the caves. |
| C．They were formed in winter season. |
| D．They are located in the coldest place in the world. |
| A．Its location is far away from the city center. |
| B．It was included in the designer’s original plan. |
| C．It is not accessible to the public because a crime (犯罪活动) happened there. |
| D．It was discovered later than Hidden Cave. |
| A．Hidden Cave | B．Ice Caves |
| C．the Ramble Cave | D．Tears of the Turtle Cave |
10 . One Saturday in December, Annacarin Elf, the head of operations at Gothenburg City Library, just happened to walk by her workplace. Noticing that the door was open, she entered the library, and was astonished to see the heartwarming scene that people were using it like on a regular day.
It was scheduled to be closed for the New Year holiday. The people in the library behaved as usual. Many were sitting reading newspapers, some families were in the children's section and others were searching for books on the computer.
It seemed that Elf's colleagues had simply forgotten to lock the door, and because this popular library is usually open on Saturdays. visitors just assumed they could walk in. Elf called to check with her staff team, before announcing to the people present that the library was about to close. Then she expressed her regret for what had been done wrong and caused them a problem. It later turns out that 446 locals visited the city library borrowing a total of 246 books during the day. What's remarkable is that people checked out their books through the library's electronic self-service system, and that to date, all the books have been retuned!
Many Swedes have reacted positively to this uplifting demonstration of local respect for the library, a center that can be seen as a sign of the community, and what the locals did has strengthened their sense of belonging in their community.
Elf says, “Nothing was destroyed. It's amazing that Gothenburgers entered an empty library and treated and so lovingly.” The city leader has even suggested that this unusual Saturday serve as an accidental experiment to analyse the possibility of operating a totally automated library without staff.
1. Why did Elf feel surprised after entering the library?| A．The library staff were in it. | B．People kept reading on holidays. |
| C．People came in without permission. | D．It was used though supposed to be closed. |
| A．She left the library open. | B．She asked the staff back. |
| C．She apologized to the visitors. | D．She read books in the library. |
| A．It displays community spirit. | B．It gives the library much uplift. |
| C．It is a positive reaction to society. | D．It strengthens trust between people. |
| A．People tend to show care for others. | B．Life is always full of the unexpected. |
| C．Libraries can be automated sometimes. | D．A library can bring out the best in people. |
