1 . Wondering what to read in this issue? Here is brief information about four contributors.

Roshaan Bouwer
CULTURE SHOCK(P31)

Roshaan Bouwer is a true Capetonian at heart. And while she loves her city, this has not stopped the adventurer in her from wanting to explore unknown lands. Of particular interest to her is the Asian continent, its cultures and food. In The Thread, she describes her experience teaching in Vietnam and then country hopping before returning home. When not dreaming of her next destination and trying her hand at cooking one of the exotic dishes she had on her travels, Roshaan keeps on working as Habari Media’s Chief Copy Editor and a contributing writer.

Justin Fox
QUINTESSENTIALKAROO(P70)

Justin Fox is a travel journalist, author and former editor of Getaway. His travel assignments take him all over the world, from the Gobi Desert to the Aretic Circle. In this issue, he recounts a recent trip to Samara Game Reserve in the Great Karoo, a part of the country that holds a special place in his heart. Justin’s latest book, Place: South African Literary Journeys, dedicates three chapters to the Karoo. His next book, The Wolf Hunt, is a World War II naval adventure due out next month.

Sue Adams
SAILING IN THE LAND THE WORLD FORGOT(P94)

Sue Adams grew up in South Africa in an adventurous family, and the wandering spirit has never left her. She has produced work for magazines all Africa as a travel writer and photographer. Sue loves the strange and unusual, the African bush veld and anything off the beaten track. She and her family spent a year sailing up the East African coast and across to Madagascar, where she fell in love with the gentle people, the quirk y animals and everything the sea had to offer. Sue is happiest when she can take off her watch and live by the natural rhythms of the moon and the tides, sun rise and sunset.

Neil Büchner Jnr
AN ATHENIAN STREET ART ADVENTURE(P102)

Neil Büchner Jnr is a Cape Town-based multi-instrumentalist, visual artist, writer and occasional model. He releases experimental electronic music under his Broken Telephone moniker, is perhaps best known as the frontman for local art-rock band PXLS, and works as a freelance copy and content writer for Letterhead. Neil prides himself on being a passionate, gifted writer with a talent for out-of-the-box thinking and, above all, a kind, driven and enthusiastic individual.

1. What do Roshaan Bouwer and Sue Adams have in common?

A．Both of them are sailing enthusiasts.	B．Both of them are female contributors.
C．Both of them are interested in cooking food.	D．Both of them are adventurous photographers.

2. Which page may you turn to if you plan to travel in Athens?

A．31

B．70

C．94

D．102

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A blog

B．A brochure

C．A magazine

D．A guide

2 . 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

2. What did the study find about male babies in the second year?

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.

3. What might cause the change in sound production for male babies?

A．Improved language skills.	B．Change in living environment.
C．Less need for fitness signaling.	D．Increase in social communication.

3 . Pål Spilling, a Norwegian Internet pioneer who passed away in 2018, was recognized as the person who brought the Internet to life by the Internet Hall of Fame in 2021. Pål was famous for turning off the Internet in Norway in 1988 when the first widespread infection(感染),which could make plenty of copies of itself on the same computer and damage systems, was headed its way. Pål's coworkers in the United States called to warn him about the infection.

“It was a big thing, I remember,” says Pieter Spilling, Pål's son. “He was quite calm when he got the phone call. Then he drove to the office and pulled the plug(插头). At that time, there was only one point of contact for the whole country——a single cable(电缆). And then we saw him on television talking about the infection.”

“My father loved doing research. Since the Internet was a new thing, he got inspired by the project because of the new technology,” says Pieter. Working with early Internet developers Peter Kirstein and Vint Cerf in the mid-1970s, Pål helped develop Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol, forming TCP/IP, to manage communications across the Internet. In 1979, Pål also contributed to real-time Internet speech and packet radio communications.

Though Päl was deeply in love with research, equally as important to him was his desire to connect and build the community. Pål volunteered in the local community, contributing to the building of a cultural center. He also served for a time as a volunteer at the local school.

As for what Pål would think of the Internet today, Pieter says, “My father didn’t like the act of leaving personal information all over the place so that people could track you. He would have been quite worried about the bad sides of the Internet, especially how the Internet can be used to spread opinions in society.”

1. How did Pål respond to the infection in 1988?

A．He made a phone call to his son immediately.	B．He turned to his coworkers in the US for help.
C．He gave people advance warning of the infection.	D．He disconnected Norway from the rest of the Internet.

2. What is paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Pảl's achievement in research.	B．Famous Internet developers.
C．The future of new technology.	D．The change in communication.

3. Why did Pål do volunteer work?

A．To build his personal skills.	B．To get a better job at school.
C．To help the local community.	D．To set an example to his son.

4. What is Pảl's attitude to today's Internet?

A．Positive.

B．Concerned.

C．Uncaring.

D．Unclear.

4 . MyHeritage has announced the release of two new AI features which it promises will ‘revolutionise genealogy (系谱学)’ research, similar to how ChatGPT revolutionised searching the Internet.

The first feature, AI Record Finder^TM, is an interactive chatbot that helps family historians find relevant historical records about a person of interest within MyHeritage’s database of 20 billion records. This free-text chat tool enables users to talk to an intelligent assistant to find information about their ancestors, relatives, or other people who have passed away.

In addition to AI Record Finder^TM, MyHeritage has also introduced AI Biographer^TM, another innovative feature that automatically generates a narrative biography about an ancestor’s life using information from historical records that match the person. This creates a Wikipedia-like biography, which gives users a complete understanding of their ancestor’s life story.

These two new features are integrated, allowing MyHeritage users to create an AI Biography for their ancestors using the AI Record Finder^TM. With this integration, users can easily use a conversational AI to search for historical records. This makes it faster and easier to find information about their family members.

Gilad Japhet, Founder and CEO of MyHeritage, said of the new features, “We’re constantly pushing the boundaries of genealogy to reinvent the way people can discover their family history as we aim to reshape genealogy in the 21st century. Together, these advanced features strengthen MyHeritage’s position as the industry leader for innovative genealogy and continue our mission to make family history easier, more accessible, and more fun for everyone.” AI Record Finder^TM is a disruptive feature that simplifies the way people can find information about their ancestors by making the search easier. AI Biographert M tums a person’s life details into a fascinating story. Not all our ancestors were famous, but they all deserve to be remembered!

1. What is a typical feature of AI Record Finder^TM?

A．It updates MyHeritage’s database.	B．It generates a narrative biography.
C．It narrows down the target information.	D．It helps users interact with intelligent people.

2. Which of the following would Gilad Japhet probably agree with?

A．That AI genealogy promotes family history creation.

B．That the new AI-driven features give way to MyHeritage.

C．That MyHeritage spares no effort to advance genealogy.

D．That more will be done to strengthen MyHeritage’s position.

3. Which of the following can best replace the underlined word “disruptive” in the last paragraph?

A．Relevant.

B．Pioneering.

C．Disturbing.

D．Comprehensive.

4. What might be the best title for the text?

A．MyHeritage Leads in AI Genealogy

B．MyHeritage Promises to Revolutionise

C．AI Features: A New Era for Genealogy

D．AI Record Finder: Smart Search for Family Histories

5 . Indoor Games to Play with Family This Winter

Gather round the table with your favorite warm drinks and try some of the following indoor games with your family and friends.

Escape Rooms

Have you ever been to an escape room? Whether you have or you haven’t，the escape room fun is far from being over, with choices to order your own home escape room tools! You can even find some online free escape room choices to try out for hours of thinking and exploring and lots of fun for everyone who takes part.

Balloon Volleyball

This indoor game is great for keeping active while people are stuck indoors, and it is super fun and doesn’t make a mess. All you need to do is blow up a balloon and throw it at each other, making sure it doesn’t hit the floor，just like volleyball. This is another great game for all ages, even babies.

Pictionary

Have you got any promising artists at home? This game is a classic and fun for kids and adults of almost all ages. All you do is make teams and take some paper and pens to write proper words. You can then either use the real Pictionary cards or go the DIY route, creating your own cards. Write your own song or movie titles for great fun!

Indoor Hopscotch

Hopscotch can be made in so many different ways and doesn’t necessarily have to be played with chalk on the sidewalk. Hopscotch made with popsicle(冰棒) sticks is a great indoor kids’ activity, but it can definitely be enjoyed by the whole family. Make squares creatively from all kinds of materials, maybe even with tape on your footcloth.

1. What is special about Escape Rooms compared with the other games?

A．It takes the most energy to do.	B．It has free choices online.
C．It requires team spirit.	D．It is suitable for all ages.

2. What should you avoid doing while playing Balloon Volleyball?

A．Hitting the balloon too hard.	B．Making the house out of order.
C．Throwing the balloon at each other.	D．Dropping the balloon on the ground.

3. Which game can benefit your language skills?

A．Escape Rooms.	B．Balloon Volleyball.
C．Pictionary.	D．Indoor Hopscotch.

6 . Here is something you need to know before your trip to Grenada.

When to Go

With an average annual temperature of around 25°C, the year in Grenada is divided into two seasons. The dry season is from January to May, and the rainy season is from June to December. The weather is hotter from June to November and cooler from December to March. Hurricanes occur during the rainy season.

What You Need

●A valid passport book and evidence of return/onward travel arrangements are required to enter Grenada.

●A valid passport means it doesn’t expire within 6 months after your return date.

What You Can Do in Grenada

There are so many fun and amazing things to do in Grenada. If you love beaches, you can find your joy in the Grand Anse Beach and the Levera Beach. And for nature lovers, Mount Qua Qua, Royal Mount Carmel Waterfalls and La Sagesse Nature Center are places you are sure to visit. You can’t miss Fort George and Fort Frederick built long ago, which have been standing for centuries. What’s more, if you like eating chocolate a lot, you can also come here in May to be part of the Grenada Chocolate Festival.

Safety & Security

Grenada is very safe but it’s always sensible to exercise caution regardless of where you’re traveling. Exercise these precautions while in Grenada.

●Stay in well-lit and populated areas after dark.

●Don’t leave money, credit cards, cameras and other electronic devices unattended, especially on the beaches or in vehicles.

●Most hotels provide a safe in the room. Lock important things, like your jewellery and passport in it.

1. In which month can you go to Grenada if you want to avoid hurricanes?

A．In December.

B．In November.

C．In June.

D．In March.

2. Which place is best for history lovers to visit?

A．Fort Frederick.	B．Grand Anse Beach.
C．La Sagesse Nature Center.	D．Royal Mount Carmel Waterfalls.

3. What are you advised to do when travelling in Grenada?

A．Leave your passport on the bus.	B．Avoid using cameras in the hotels.
C．Keep your valuables in a hotel safe.	D．Stay in less crowded outdoor areas at night.

7 . This week sees the opening of the Venice Biennale, an 8-month-long festival of art and culture staged every other year. With the main event running from April 20 to November 24,2024, here's our pick of what to see if you head to Venice.

Willem de Kooning e l’Italia

One of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Willem de Kooning is the subject of a major exhibition(展览) exploring his time in 1959 and 1969 and the impact it had on his works. The show will bring together around 75 works, making this the largest   presentation of the artist ever organized in Italy.

Rise of the Sunken Sun

This photography exhibition by Greenlandic artist Inuuteq Storch marks the first time that the Danish Pavilion has showcased both a major exhibition by an artist from Greenland and a presentation on photography. With over 200 images, Storch's project aims to tell the Greenlanders' history, not seen through the visitors' eyes, but through the Greenlanders' own.

The Rooted Nomad

This exhibition will examine the life and works of M. F. Husain, a modernist painter called “India’s Picasso”. Celebrating his talent as an artist, thinker and writer, the show exhibits his paintings, photographs, letters and parts from his films and poetry that shaped his vision of India as a richly layered cultural nation.

The Arch within the Arc

The exhibition in Italy of Houston-based artist Rick Lowe takes place at Palazzo Grimani, home to a large collection of 16th-century Greek and Roman sculpture(雕像). Inspired by the architecture of the Museo di Palazzo Grimani and the experience of moving through Venice and its waterways, the exhibition features new paintings by Rick Lowe that reflect his consideration of the arch(拱) in architecture.

1. What is Rise of the Sunken Sun intended for?

A．Showing Greenland's history.	B．Reflecting Storch's life in Italy.
C．Praising an admirable character.	D．Attracting visitors from Europe.

2. Who is regarded as“India's Picasso”?

A．Rick Lowe.

B．M. F. Husain.

C．Inuuteq Storch.

D．Willem de Kooning.

3. Which event will you go to if you want to see the paintings inspired by Venice?

A．The Rooted Nomad.	B．Rise of the Sunken Sun.
C．The Arch within the Arc.	D．Willem de Kooning e l’Italia.

8 . Dozens of scientists are ready to delight, provoke, and shed light on global scientific issues. Hosted by different columns on New Scientist, they’re here to engage with latest discoveries. Read on for what New Scientist has offered this week.

NS Live

Why do we need more women in science? Physicist Athene Donald will be at New Scientist Live on & January to explore the disadvantages that women in science face. Her talk will erase myths (传言) about “gendered” brains and what attributes are needed to become a successful scientist. Now, more than ever, there is a moral and business case for greater diversity in research, she says.

Weekender

From black holes to Big Bang, explore the space in this getaway featuring talks from some of the brightest minds in astrophysics. Visit the Lovell Telescope at the Jodrell Bank UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plus, go stargazing with New Scientist features editor Abigail Beall. This weekender runs from 19 January to 1 February and costs £959.

Essential Guide

What drives the ageing process? What can science tell us about the stages of life? And how can we use the latest research to live healthily into old age? This Essential Guide offers some fresh insight. Available to download on the website or to purchase in print from our shop.

Newsletter — Wild Wild Life

In an act of companionship, an African bird called the greater honey guide may get a badger to help it break into a beehive so the two can share the honey. Michael Marshall finds that there are many surprising truths in his reports, which lie behind the fables (寓言), though these animals’ behavior seems unusual in real life.

1. What’s the purpose of NS Live?

A．To set moral and commercial rules for the study.

B．To encourage more women to devote to science.

C．To demonstrate the vital elements to be a scientist.

D．To reveal the existence of gender differences.

2. Which will attract the amateur astronomers most?

A．NS Live.

B．Weekender.

C．Essential Guide.

D．Newsletter — Wild Wild Life.

3. What does Michael think of the animal companionship?

A．It exists indeed in wild world.	B．It happens only in the fables.
C．It is widely accepted by humans.	D．It reveals the truth behind the lie.

9 . “A fish out of water.” “A bike without a chain.” There are many metaphors for culture shock, all of which attempt to describe the unique experience of being far from one’s home country and culture.

Scientists have studied culture shock for over a century. Rather than focus on the purely negative aspects, psychologists describe it as a process of stress and adjustment. The first stage is the honeymoon phase, when we are filled with excitement about being in another country. Eventually, as daily challenges arise, we enter a state of crisis and anxiety, harboring unfriendly feelings about the host culture. The longer we are immersed in the culture, we adjust and recover from those negative feelings. Finally, after some time we adjust even more and fully accept the new culture.

One of the factors that determines how we react to cultural stress is our personality. Not surprisingly, extraverts (外向者) tend to have an easier time adjusting to new cultures. That is because being in a new country means meeting many new people and spending a lot of time around them, and extraverts thrive in these situations. But introverts simply prefer to be alone after spending time in groups, and only have limited energy to spend in social settings.

Cultural intelligence, or CQ, also plays its part. Cultural intelligence is defined as the capability of an individual to function effectively in situations characterized by cultural diversity. It has to do with our interest in interacting with people from culturally diverse backgrounds, and our ability to adapt to new cultural context. It is argued that the higher our CQ, the lesser the effect of culture shock on our ability to cope in new situations.

Many effective coping strategies are interpersonal. A recent study found that relating to others with empathy is significantly associated with lower stress levels abroad. The more we are able to take on other people’s points of view, the more positive our interpersonal relationships and thus our adaptation to the stress of culture shock.

1. What is the function of the first paragraph?

A．Explaining the quotes.	B．Raising an argument.
C．Introducing the topic.	D．Presenting an example.

2. How will a person feel the moment he arrives in a foreign country?

A．Anxious.

B．Thrilled.

C．Shocked.

D．Grateful.

3. Who will most probably be affected by the cultural shock?

A．An active boy interested in anything new.

B．A shy boy unwilling to socialize with strangers.

C．A quiet girl open to diverse cultural backgrounds.

D．A communicative girl fluent in the local language.

4. What is important for dealing with the cultural shock?

A．Lowering the stress level.	B．Developing self-awareness.
C．Analyzing the cause of discomfort.	D．Understanding others with sympathy.

10 . Best of Nashville TN Vacation

Enjoy the best of this unique city with the Best of Nashville TN Vacation package. This package allows you to experience hand-picked activities that will help you to have a truly memorable Music City adventure.

Package Includes

● 5 Nights’ Accommodations in your choice of over 46 hotels

● Discover Nashville Tour

● Grand Ole Opry at Opry House Preferred Seating

● General Jackson Showboat Evening Dinner Cruise

About the Included Discover Nashville Tour

See all of the most exciting attractions in Nashville with the incredible Discover Nashville Tour. This tour will give you views of historic downtown, the Tennessee state capital, the Parthenon and many other wonderful attractions. This tour also includes admission to the legendary Ryman Auditorium where the tradition of the Grand Ole Opry began as well as admission to the huge Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

About the Included Grand Ole Opry at Opry House

Guests will also be able to attend the most famous country music show in the world with Grand Ole Opry Tickets! Head to the Opry House to see some of legendary stars in the country. You never know who you may get to see! This package includes Preferred Seating.

About the Included General Jackson Showboat Cruise

Experience one of the most beloved activities in Nashville, TN with tickets on the General Jackson. Climb aboard this fantastic showboat and set off for an evening of great entertainment, sightseeing, and delicious food. Enjoy some of the most beautiful landmarks in Nashville and glimpse the skyline from the water. It’s sure to be an awesome addition to your journey!

About the Included Lodging

Visitors on this vacation will also be able to choose which lodging option best suits their needs. Whether they wish to stay in a budget-friendly hotel that will fit the entire family or would like a more peaceful suite in a resort hotel, there are options for everyone. The package includes five nights of lodging.

Experience the best of the best of Nashville’s finest attractions, cruises, and more! You and your loved ones are bound to have an awesome time with these fun activities and five nights of lodging.

1. What is NOT included in the Best of Nashville TN Vacation package?

A．Meeting superstars of the country.	B．Learning the history of the state capital.
C．Appreciating the scenery on the showboat.	D．Enjoying the most famous country music show.

2. What is true about the included lodging according to the passage?

A．The lodging option is fixed.	B．A wide choice of hotels are offered.
C．The hotels to be selected are luxurious.	D．Extra expenses are needed for accommodations.

3. What is the passage probably taken from?

A．A travel journal.	B．A textbook.
C．An advertising page.	D．A news report.