1 . J. K. Rowling frequently shows there is magic every day. Her Harry Potter series has helped people through times of stress and depression and she is always there to deliver wise words of encouragement.

She is one celebrity who is very active on Twitter. So when a single dad named Matt Burke sent her a message thanking her for the series, she noticed. Her series had helped strengthen his relationship with his 9­year­old daughter Bailey.

He included a link to his article titled Being a Broke Parent. He explained how he hadn’t found a level of financial stability that allowed him to pay bills on time and take his daughter on more activities and events. The family also doesn’t have the Internet or TV, which means there’s no “digital babysitter” and he has to rely on his own creative ways to bond with his daughter. Since he received the series, the main thing that has occupied them these days is reading books together.

Burke admits that he thought he was “too cool” for the books when they first came out and he was in his twenties, but he’s loving reading them now. “We switch off chapter by chapter reading them out loud，“Burke explains.” This not only allows her to get more used to reading aloud in front of someone, but it gets me directly involved in something she loves, and it gives me the chance to be very dramatic when I read my chapters and bring myself into the characters in the book, which has proven to be a ton of fun.”

After hearing Burke’s story, Rowling said how honored she was when Harry Potter was a part of his family’s life and offered Burke more books. Besides, people are also offering to send Burke more books as gifts. For Burke, this experience, far more than gifts, will be what he treasures.

1. Why did Burke thank J. K. Rowling according to the text?

A．She guided him how to write a good story.

B．She encouraged him when he was in trouble.

C．Her books helped him through times of confusion.

D．Her books helped him improve his bond with his daughter.

2. What is implied in Burke’s words in paragraph 4?

A．He has found it interesting to read the series.	B．He was too old to understand the series better.
C．He has chosen a better way of reading the series.	D．He hopes to play a role in the drama in the future.

3. Which word can best describe Burke’s experience according to the text?

A．Useless.

B．Normal.

C．Valuable.

D．Boring.

4. What is the main idea of this text?

A．J. K. Rowling chooses to help improve kids’ health.

B．J. K. Rowling gives a magical gift to a single father.

C．J. K. Rowling has a deep influence on others’ growth.

D．Burke comes to know J. K. Rowling through her series.

2 . Bored? Lonely? Out of condition? Need to relax? Why not try the SPORT CENTER?

TENNIS

Indoor and outdoor courts. Coaching from beginners to advanced learners. Children only. Mornings.

SKIING

Gentle slopes. Instructors of 3levels at weekends and Fridays. Daytime practice. 8 years upwards.

SWIMMING

2 pools, heated, Olympic length. Women: Tuesday and Thursday. Men: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Children: Saturday.

GOLF

9- hole practice course. Professional Coaching. Lessons must be booked in advance in daytime. Evening practice. Minimum (最小的) age — 9 years.

GYMNASTICS (体操)

Maximum (最大的) age—18 years. Children aged 5—10. Monday and Wednesdays. 4:00—6:00 p.m. 10—18 year-old. Friday evenings.

AND MUCH MORE

Table Tennis, Snooker (台球), Darts (标枪), Café (all day), Bar (lunch time and evenings), Nursery (weekdays and weekends, not evenings). Centre open 10:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m. Daily. Interested? More details, call 800-1234-5678.

1. What is this ad mainly about?

A．It mainly shows us some ways to spend weekends.

B．It mainly introduces us a place to relax ourselves.

C．It mainly introduces some events in a sports meet.

D．It mainly gives us some ideas to spend our holidays.

2. What can we learn from this passage?

A．People can play tennis day and night.

B．Men and women swim in the SPORTS CENTER separately．

C．Children at any age can play golf in the SPORTS CENTER．

D．People under 20 can also take gymnastics．

3. How many sports items are mentioned in the passage?

A．5.

B．6.

C．8．

D．11．

3 . Istanbul & Faces

Titled “Timeless City: Istanbul & Faces”, the Turkey photography exhibition celebrates the 30th anniversary of Istanbul and Shanghai’s sistership. The 42­year­old photographer focuses on the distinctive (独特的) historical quarters and the atmosphere that spreads in Istanbul. His work also pays respects to its people as well, with well­defined portraits.

Date: Till Jan. 18, 10 a.m.—4 p.m.   Venue: Shanghai Art Collection Museum.

Knitted Works

The knitted (编织的) show is aimed at raising awareness of post natal depression. The works were created by more than 20 mothers from different cities. All the knitted dolls and other works will be sold with the profits (利益) going to charity when the exhibition ends. If you are interested in the knitted works, you can order a special piece.

Date: Till Jan. 1, 7 a.m.—9 p.m.   Venue: B1 Jinxiu Fun.

Old Shanghai Teahouse

The newly­opened zone at Shanghai Dungeon features nostalgic sets and experiences for visitors to have “scary fun”. Visitors can wear traditional Chinese costumes and take photos with the performers.

Date: Daily, 11 a.m.—8 p.m.   Venue: Mosaic Shanghai Mail.

Musical Titanic

The Tony Awards winning musical “Titanic” is in Shanghai with more than 100 characters cast. The impressive stage effects promise to take the audience to the bottom of the ocean.

Date: Till Jan. 22, 2 p.m.—7:30 p.m.   Venue：SAIC Shanghai Culture Square.

1. Where should you go if you want to learn more about Turkey’s history?

A．B1 Jinxiu Fun.

B．Mosaic Shanghai Mail.

C．Shanghai Art Collection Museum.

D．SAIC Shanghai Culture Square.

2. What can we know about knitted works?

A．People can have a talk with the creators.

B．All the works can be sold when the show begins.

C．They were made by people from different places.

D．The show offers people chances to learn how to make one.

3. What makes the Musical Titanic special?

A．Its opening time is the longest.

B．It raises money for a special purpose.

C．It allows interacting with performers.

D．It offers a lifelike experience under water.

4 . What are scientists?They are often described as gray-haired white-coated dull scholars.

But the world has changed.Young scientists are making their voices heard and releasing their powers on the world stage.

This is also true in China.Rising stars include new materials expert Gong Yongji,university professor Liu Mingzhen,and biologist Wan Ruixue.At the age of 28 in 2018,Wan Ruixue received the 2018 Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists.This is a global prize to reward outstanding scientists at an early stage of their careers.

She focuses mainly on biomedicine (生物医学) and artificial intelligence.“Both are cutting-edge (前沿) technologies at an early stage of development,” she said.

“So,I think they have great potential to be developed.I think in the study of cutting-edge technologies,China and other leading countries in the world are standing on the same starting line.And in the study of structural biology,China is likely to become the leader.”

She felt it was her fate to become a biologist.“I grew interested in the natural world,when I was very young,” she said.In 2009,she entered Sun Yat-sen University.

In her third year at the university,she realized that she wanted to do something related to biomedicine.So she emailed China’s top biologist Shi Yigong,hoping to join his lab at Tsinghua University.

Shi recognised her talent and welcomed her.Years of efforts at the lab have paid off.Her research on the high-definition 3D structure of spliceosome led to a scientific breakthrough.

Unlike many of other young scientists who choose to pursue further study abroad,Wan currently has no plan to go overseas.

“The whole ecosystem for scientific research is continually improving in China,” she said,adding that the country has great science facilities.

1. What does the underlined word “releasing” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Giving out.	B．Getting over.
C．Finding out.	D．Taking over.

2. What does Wan Ruixue feel about the study of cutting-edge technologies in China?

A．Anxious.	B．Confident.
C．Disappointed.	D．Satisfied.

3. What can we learn about Wan Ruixue’s journey of becoming a biologist?

A．Her teacher led her into the field.

B．She finds it’s easier than she thought.

C．Her contribution has been recognised.

D．She thinks it’s boring but worth trying.

4. Which can be the best title of the text?

A．China’s Breakthrough in Science

B．Rising Young Scientists in China

C．Wan Ruixue:A Successful Young Scientist

D．New Image of Chinese Scientists

5 . Virtual Winter Math Contest Preparation Club registrations are now open!

Winter Contest Preparation Club (January 10—February 3, 2023, Online)

Math Enrichment Courses (February 7—March 3, 2023, Online)

Course Streams

·Contest Courses are designed to cover contest questions and problem-solving strategics. Instructions focus on the fundamentals of problem solving in fun ways, and improving skills in solving a problem by recognize ng its type.

·Programming Courses focus on exploring the relationship between math and programming. Building on math knowledge, solving math puzzles, and learning programming receipts students program together to solve challenges and projects.

·Enrichment Courses are designed for students who are comfortable in math concepts at their grade level and are looking for greater challenges and new ways to stimulate their interest in math.

Program Fees and Financial Sapport

·Online Grades 1-8 Contest Club and Enrichment Courses: $275

·Online Grades 9-12 Contest Club and Enrichment Courses: $290+tax

If you are unable to pay for the full program because you have been financially affected. please apply for a scholarship. Further information and an application form can be found here.

Refund(退款)Policy

There is a $50 administrative fee for cancellation(取消)requests. Cancellations made 48hours before the first class will receive a full refund, but the administrative fee will not be returned. Requests for refunds after the deadline will not be processed.

Registration

To register for any class, you must create an account on our registration system by clicking the button below.

1. What is the focus of Contest Courses?

A．Designing projects.	B．Dealing with problems.
C．Improving math levels.	D．Learning programming concepts.

2. How much can a 6th grader be refunded if he cancels registration 3 days in advance?

A．$225.

B．$240.

C．$275.

D．$290.

3. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A local newspaper.	B．A research report.
C．A course website.	D．An instruction booklet.

6 . San Francisco Fire Engine Tours

San Francisco Winery Tour
Running: February 1st through April 30th

This delicious tour goes through the city on its way to Treasure Island where we will stop at the famous Winery SF. Here you can enjoy 4 pours of some of the best wine San Francisco has to offer.(Included in tickets price)

Departing from the Cannery: Tour times upon request.
Duration(时长): 2 hours
Price: $90
Back to the Fifties Tour
Running: August 16th through August 31st

This tour transports you back in time to one of San Francisco’s most fantastic periods, the 1950s! Enjoy fun history as we take you through San Francisco for a free taste of ice cream.

Departing from the Cannery: 5:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Duration: 2 hours
Price: $90
Spooky Halloween Tour
Running: October 10th through October 31st

Join us for a ride through the historical Presidio district. Authentic fire gear(服装) is provided for your warmth as our entertainers take you to some of the most thrilling parts of San Francisco.

Departing from the Cannery: 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Price: Available upon request
Holiday Lights Tour
Running: December 6th through December 23rd

This attractive tour takes you to some of San Francisco’s most cheerful holiday scenes. Authentic fire gear is provided for your warmth as you get into the holiday spirit.

Departing from the Cannery: 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Advance reservations required.
1. Which of the tours is available in March?

A．San Francisco Winery Tour.	B．Back to the Fifties Tour.
C．Spooky Hallowen Tour.	D．Holiday Lights Tour.

2. What can tourists do on Back to the Fifties Tours?

A．Go to Treasure Island.	B．Enjoy the holiday scenes.
C．Have free ice cream.	D．Visit the Presidio district.

3. What are tourists required to do to go on Holiday Lights Tour?

A．Take some drinks.	B．Set off early in the morning.
C．Wear warm clothes.	D．Make reservations in advance.

7 . Central Park

Explore Central Park, one of the largest city parks in the world and one of the most famous symbols of New York. Let’s have a look at its main sights.

Central Park is New York’s largest city park and one of the biggest in the world, with an area of 843 acres (about 3.4km²). This park is home to man-made lakes, waterfalls, grass and wooded areas. You will also find the Central Park Zoo, among other attractions in this greenspace of New York.

Besides being the city’s primary green lungs, Central Park is also a favorite spot for many New Yorkers. It is perfect for sunbathing, going for walks, or doing any outdoor sports. Something that we found curious is seeing so many people running with their babies in prams (婴儿车).

On Foot or by Bicycle

To get to know some of the wildest parts of Central Park we suggest walking. However, to get a general feel for the whole park, the best thing to do is hire a bicycle and enjoy the scenery.

If you decide to hire a bike, you will find lots of bike rental stores around Central Park that are not very expensive.

Open Time

From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.

From 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Price

Entry to the Park is free. But if you visit some parts like Central Park Zoo, you need to buy a ticket.

Transport

Subway: Line 5, 6, 7, A, B, C and D．

Bus: Line M1, M2, M3, M4 and M10.

Nearby places

Metropolitan Museum of Art (447 m)

Guggenheim Museum (564 m)

American Museum of Natural History (688 m)

Whitney Museum of American Art (1 km)

The Frick Collection (1.3 km)

1. What can we learn about the Central Park from the text?

A．It is home to lakes and waterfalls.

B．It is perfect for doing outdoor sports.

C．It is the largest city park in the world.

D．It is the most famous symbol of New York.

2. Which one of the following things is free?

A．Hiring a bicycle.	B．Entrance to Central Park.
C．Visiting Central Park Zoo.	D．Going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

3. Where can we find this text?

A．In a science report.	B．In a geography book.
C．In a fashion magazine.	D．In a travel guide.

8 . Becca was 6 when she was told she had cancer on Sept. 8, 2014. She clearly remembers the bad days of her 26 months of non -stop treatment. Luckily, Becca celebrated her final treatment on Nov. 13, 2016, and she has been cancer-free ever since. But she was thinking about what her life was like while experiencing the treatment.

“I was never able to do much, and that’s what the kids lying in their hospital beds right now experience, asking their mom and dad, ‘When are we leaving? When can I play with my friends?’ So I decided I have to help them.”

In February, 2017, Becca came up with the idea for Knots and Arrows, a company that makes bracelets (手镯) out of swimsuit materials (泳衣布料). Part of the money made from each bracelet goes to the organizations that help people with cancer.

Becca created the company with her father, Gerhard Salmins. Gerhard Salmins once had cancer and already recovered from it. “I would be in the hospital sitting there crying and then my dad would come in and he would play games with me,” she said. “It made me forget about what I was going through” Becca said the name of the organization shows the motto (座右铭) she stuck to through her personal cancer journey.

Her organization has already given thousands of dollars to research organizations and families in need. Becca said she hoped her bracelets would make people remember that great things can result from small changes. “No matter what age you are, what you look like, and how you act, you can make a difference!”she said.

1. What happened to Becca at the end of 2016?

A．She recovered from cancer.	B．She created an organization.
C．She raised a lot of money.	D．She was helped by a company.

2. What do we know about Becca’s father?

A．He showed Becca a famous motto.	B．He fought off cancer successfully.
C．He advised Becca to forget her pain.	D．He named the company Knots and Arrows.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Becca?

A．Negative.

B．Creative.

C．Caring.

D．Clever.

4. In Becca’s opinion, what’s the meaning of her bracelets?

A．To tell us having a motto is important.

B．To prove cancer can be got over successfully.

C．To show there’s always someone who needs help.

D．To make us realize everyone can make a difference.

9 . Twelve-year-old Leonardo was born in a poor family in Bambamarca in Peru. He knew how to read but he had never seen a book in his life. So he asked the new priest (牧师) in his village to give him one. But there was no electricity. So Leonardo borrowed candles from the church and sat up all night reading it. The next morning, he was at the door of the priest asking for another book to read.

John Medcalf, the priest, was moved. He also realised that people would love to read if given a chance. But he knew how difficult it was for Leonardo and those in his village to get books. And yet, no one can be taught to read and write without books. To make people in a poor, faraway area grow to love books, they have to be with them. So he thought the only way was to bring books to people.

But how could this be done? Mobile libraries or car libraries would be too expensive and difficult to continue in the rocky, hilly land of Peru. So what other methods could be used?

Medcalf got a new idea from the barefoot doctors of China. And that was how the barefoot librarians first appeared in the villages of northern Peru, almost thirty years ago.

The librarians began by going from village to village, lending books to villagers. They helped start The Rural Library Network of Peru.

At first, they were teachers of the village schools which these faraway libraries belonged to. But the teachers were not very interested in the job because it meant a lot of hard work. So, village leaders took on the job themselves.

Today, there are 600 village libraries across Peru. The barefoot librarians who walk up to 15 hours a day with bags of books are their lifeline.

1. The first paragraph tells us that Leonardo ______.

A．enjoyed reading books

B．bought candles from the church

C．had a lot of books

D．lived in the church

2. The underlined word “this” in Paragraph 3 probably refers to ______.

A．to grow to love books

B．to read and write

C．to bring books to people

D．to build a new library

3. The passage doesn’t mention ______.

A．where Medcalf met Chinese doctors

B．who worked as village librarians at first

C．when the barefoot librarians appeared

D．how many village libraries Peru has today

4. It can be inferred (推断) from the passage that ______.

A．the first church in Peru was set up by John Medcalf

B．car libraries used to be popular in Leonardo’s village

C．teachers were interested in bringing books to villagers

D．the barefoot librarians are important to village libraries

10 . It can be tough to pull kids away from their computers and mobile devices these days. While they’re playing games, wouldn’t it be great if they could be learning at the same time? Good educational apps offer fun challenges that teach specific grade-level skills. Here are four that combine fun and learning.

Understanding Math($3.99; iOS)

Understanding Math goes beyond basic comprehension to gain a deeper understanding of the whys and hows of math. The app tracks your child’s progress to determine strengths and weaknesses in different skill areas, and you can customize(订制)your child’s learning experience to suit the needs.

Word Creativity Kit($2.99; iOS)

Word Creativity Kit aims not only to make creative writing fun but also build up grammar rules. The app presents a series of words from seven categories, such as space or fantasy. Kids add their own words to finish the complete thoughts that these words have inspired.

Barefoot World Atlas($4.99; iOS)

Barefoot World Atlas helps kids learn about geography and world cultures with a touch of the screen. Each region features a set of sub-topics, from wildlife and natural features to native people, landmarks, and architecture. These facts and illustrations are delivered in photographs, sounds, and hundreds of mini videos.

My Grades & Homework($0.99; iOS)

A combination of grades and homework tracker, My Grades & Homework can help your child stay organized and on top of the progress in school. A convenient calendar and course list format and offer a glance at your child’s assignment schedule that he or she might not normally get from standard homework planners.

1. Which app is beneficial to children’s writing skills?

A．Understanding Math.	B．Word Creativity Kit.
C．Barefoot World Atlas.	D．My Grades & Homework.

2. What is the common part of the four apps?

A．They need purchasing when downloaded.

B．They help children improve their grades.

C．They make studies fun because of mini videos.

D．They inform parents of their children’s progress.

3. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To wish readers to bring in more similar apps for children.

B．To encourage parents to allow their students to play apps.

C．To design the educational apps to combine fun and learning.

D．To introduce four educational apps for readers to buy and use.