1 . National parks like Yellowstone are popular destinations for both family vacations and adventure trips alike. But there are some places that simply don’t get the love that they deserve despite the fact that they are truly impressive.
Isle Royale National ParkLocated in the heart of Lake Superior, Isle Royale requires a bit of work to reach, but it is well worth the effort. Access is permitted only via daily ferries, which is why larger parks like Yellowstone see more visitors in a day than Isle Royale sees in a year. Wildlife like wolves are frequently spotted by hikers along the park’s scenic trails.
Dry Tortugas National ParkAnother island park, the Dry Tortugas can be found 68 miles to the southwest of the Florida Keys. Accessible only by boat or plane, this park is actually quite small, but it’s packed with history, abundant sea life, and amazing coral reefs. At the center of the park is Fort Jefferson, the largest masonry(砖石)structure in the Western Hemisphere.
Wrangell-St. Elias National ParkCovering more than 13.2 million acres, Wrangell-St Elias National Park is the largest in the entire U.S. system. Remote and mostly undeveloped, this is a park that demands more from its visitors, after all there are just two roads that lead into it. But in return, it gives them a special connection with nature that simply isn’t found anywhere else.
Big Bend National ParkTravelers looking for a truly wild experience should have Big Bend National Park on their bucket lists. Big Bend is well known for its whitewater rafting camping, and hiking although during the summer months it can be intensely warm, keeping many visitors away.
1. What is the main reason for fewer visitors to Isle Royale National Park?A.The terrible work. | B.The dangerous wolves. |
C.The remote location. | D.The inconvenient transport. |
A.Big Bend National Park. | B.Isle Royale National Park. |
C.Dry Tortugas National Park. | D.Wrangell St. Elias National Park. |
A.With its wide roads. | B.With its large area. |
C.With its beautiful scenery. | D.With its special visitors |
2 . Welcome to the “Chicken Soup” family
The first Chicken Soup for the Soul book was released in 1993 and quickly became a holiday favourite. Thereafter, more than 250 books have been put together based on inspiring stories submitted by readers.
On this part of the website, you will find a list of our new book topics, our writing guidelines and our submission form. We welcome your stories, written in English, from all over the world!
Guidelines for a Chicken Soup for the Soul story
1. Tell an exciting, heart-warming or funny story about something that has happened to you or someone you know. Your story should be written in the first person.
2. Don’t be afraid to speak from the heart. We do let you use a pen-name for your story.
3. Keep your story to 1,200 words or less.
4. We love poems that tell a story, but we do not publish poems that seem overly focused on rhyming (押韵) or those which read more like greetings cards.
A few more tips about submitting your stories
1. The only way to submit your stories is via our website. If you have any problems when trying to fill out the form to submit your work, please contact us.
2. Please submit stories that have not been previously published. The only exception to this is if your work has only been published in a small local publication with limited circulation (发行量) or on your own blog.
3. Please do not send us any book manuscripts (手稿), unless through a literary agent (作家代理人), as they will be automatically discarded.
What happens after you submit your story?
Please complete all fields in the submission form. After you press the SUBMIT button, wait for the next screen to come up with a message that says: “Thank you! Your information has been received.” This is the only confirmation that your story has been entered into our database.
We do not send rejection letters, and we occasionally will save a submission for consideration for a future book. But in general, if you have not heard from us 60 days prior to the book’s on-sale date, that probably means we have decided not to use your story.
If we choose your story for a future book, we will notify (通知) you by email and request your permission to print it. You will be paid $200 one month after the publication of the book and receive ten free copies of the book your story appears in. You will also be entitled to buy books from us at half price.
1. According to the article, a Chicken Soup for the Soul story may be anything but a ________.A.work of fiction | B.narrative poem |
C.humorous story | D.tale of adventure |
A.you don’t submit it on your own |
B.you don’t use your real name in the story |
C.it has already been published on a large scale |
D.it seems similar to a story that has already been published |
A.as soon as you submit your story on its website |
B.after your story has been published in a new edition |
C.when your story has been chosen for a future edition |
D.45 days before its new edition is available for purchase |
3 . Top Exhibitions to See in London in 2023
Architectural: Vanishing Points
While we like to think of architecture existing purely in the real world, emerging designers and architects are using platforms like Instagram to create structures in the virtual world. This collection of works, which range from the practical to the fantastical, are all by architects who have gathered significant social media followings.
In the Digital Universe at ROCA London. 8 February—31 July, free.
Flowery: Orchids
This annual festival is back in bloom (开花), this time inspired by the beauty and biodiversity of Cameroon. Just like previous years, the orchids are spread throughout the various zones of the Princess of Wales conservatory and accompanied by sculptures that are just as colourful as the flowers on display.
At Kew Gardens. 4 February —5 March, &16.50—entrance to the gardens included.
Female Abstraction: Action, Gesture, Paint
Art history has often shone a light on the men of Abstract Expressionism, such as Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. Well, now’s the time to let the most important women of the movement take the limelight in an exhibition that includes works by American artists such as Lee Krasner and Helen Frankenthaler, but spreads the net wider to include the female abstract artists from Europe, Asia and the wider world, with whom most of us will be unfamiliar.
At Whitechapel Gallery. 9 February—7 May, £ 16.50—concessions available.
Powerful Portraits (肖像): Alice Neel
The largest UK exhibition to date of American painter Alice Neel’s work will bring together her figurative pieces from across her 60-year career. Neel went against the popular grain by painting figures when abstract works were most popular, and she painted subjects that other artists ignored — pregnant women, labour leaders, black children, civil rights activists and strange performers. It’s high time we had a major show of her work in London, and the Barbican has duly provided.
At Barbican Art Gallery. 16 February—21 May, & 18.
1. Which of the following exhibitions is held once a year?A.Flowery: Orchids. |
B.Powerful Portraits: Alice Neel. |
C.Architectural: Vanishing Points. |
D.Female Abstraction: Action, Gesture, Paint. |
A.On February 8. | B.On January 7. | C.On April 7. | D.On May 8. |
A.She is 60 years old now. |
B.Her works didn’t follow the trend. |
C.She often ignored some common subjects. |
D.She is the most popular American painter in the UK. |
4 . The most famous war movies reflect the American public’s continuous fascination with World War Ⅱ and the Vietnam War. Many movies of this kind have been wellreceived when they were first shown, but few of them have enjoyed lasting fame and popularity. The films on the list of the five most famous war movies still remain fresh and are popular among many people.
The Longest Day
An allstar cast recreates DDay and the Normandy attack, the greatest landing and aerial (空中的) invasion in history. This is probably the most famous war movie because of the large number of big stars who have roles in the film.
Apocalypse Now
This is a famous war movie because of its description of the Vietnam War and excellent performance from Marlon Brando, Martin Sheen and Robert Duvall. The film, full of memorable scenes and quotes, is widely viewed as a masterpiece of movie making.
The Dirty Dozen
Lee Marvin, playing an officer who thinks and acts independently, is appointed to train twelve prisoners, most of whom have been sentenced to death, to go on a suicide mission to kill several Nazi generals. If any of the men makes it back, they may get a pardon. This is one of the most popular war movies ever made.
Platoon
This famous war movie is the fictional account of a platoon (排) in Vietnam that is divided into two competing groups. The plot is partly based on the director Oliver Stone’s real life experiences.
Midway
This is probably the most famous war movie ever made about navy. It’s based on the battle between Japanese and American aircraft carrier groups near Hawaii in World War Ⅱ that resulted in a decisive American victory.
1. What are the most important themes of the movies mentioned above?A.World War Ⅱ and the Vietnam War. |
B.Competitions in the Vietnam War. |
C.Fights between Nazi generals and soldiers. |
D.DDay landing and the Normandy attack. |
A.describe five most famous movie posters |
B.choose the best war movie among the five |
C.introduce five masterpieces of American war films |
D.celebrate the success of the five American war films |
A.The prisoners will be punished if they fail. |
B.The prisoners might be willing to have a try. |
C.The prisoners might be scared and run away. |
D.The prisoners have to take Nazi generals back. |
5 .
New big pack from Sierra Designs The latest pack from Sierra Designs is the Gigawatt 60L. The pack has an adjustable back system that fits back lengths from 40cm to 53cm. It’s made from durable 300D polyester. Features include a zipped top and side access, oversized side and front pockets. The Gigawatt 60L weighs 1.84kg and costs £130. sierradesigns.com | Scarpa upgrades its Maestrale boots Maestrale Re-Made ski boots are made from Polymer taken from around three tons of leftover materials. Creating a Re-Made boot from Polymer emits 27% less carbon dioxide than creating a “classic” boot from plant-based Pebax Rnew, which emits 32% less carbon dioxide than Fossil-based Plastics. The design and manufacturing process behind the Re-Made boot were developed by Scarpa’s Green Lab, the production department dedicated to sustainable solutions. A pair costs £500. scarpa.co.uk / ellis-brigham.com |
Vasque Breeze gets sustainable update The well-established Vasque Breeze hiking boot has been modernised with environmentally friendly materials. It’s now made with recycled polyester and is the first boot to have a VasqueDry Waterproof membrane, which is made from 25% recycled materials. The Breeze is also comfortable to wear with its soft footbed. The Breeze weighs 1120 grams and comes in two widths. It costs £140. vasque.com | The North Face launches new ski touring clothing The Dawn Turn clothing provides a layering system for ski touring designed to keep you warm, dry and freely moving. It includes a shell jacket, midlayers, trousers and accessories. The Dawn Turn 2.0 jacket won the innovation award at ISPO for its breathable layer. The cost is £350. The Dawn Turn 1.0 Jacket is made from waterproof DryVent. It features a windproof hood and oversized front pockets, and costs £325. thenorthface.co.uk |
A.The ski athletes | B.The outdoor lovers |
C.The environmentalists | D.The sports retailers |
A.Both kinds of boots mentioned in the passage have two different widths. |
B.The latest big pack from Sierra Designs has a fixed back system. |
C.The Vasque Breeze hiking boot is both eco-friendly and waterproof. |
D.The Dawn Turn 1.0 Jacket won the innovation award at ISPO. |
A.Polymer > Pebax Renew >Fossil-based Plastics |
B.Fossil-based Plastics > Pebax Renew > Polymer |
C.Fossil-based Plastics > Polymer >Pebax Renew |
D.Polymer >Fossil-based Plastics >Pebax Renew |
6 . Removing gender bias
Tailors worked out long ago that men and women have different shapes. Yet this message has failed to enter many other areas of design. Car seat belts, for example, which date back to the 1880s, are often still more suitable for men, who tend to sit farther back than women when driving. And today the most forward-looking tech companies on Earth are still placing old-school bias (偏见;成见) into new products. Consider smart phones. Most are too big to fit comfortably into the average woman’s hand, as are many video-game controllers.
An obvious part of the explanation for their design problem is that men control most of its companies—male-run firms receive 82% of venture-capital (VC) funding. Male bosses may be unaware of the problems women face. They may not flag up obvious areas of concern, or ask the right questions when doing their research for a new product design. And once an idea gets the green light, it will then be handled by product-design and engineering teams, three-quarters of whose members are men. These teams often use data to make decisions, but mixing all users together means they may fail to spot trends based on sex differences. Dependence on historical data, and the lack of data on underrepresented groups, can also create bias in algorithms (算法).
Next comes testing. Naturally, designers test original models on their intended customers, but they may not get feedback from a broad enough group of people. There is also the risk of confirmation bias—designers may listen to what they want to hear, and ignore negative reactions from some groups of users.
Tech’s design bias needs fixing for moral, safety and business reasons. The ethical importance is obvious: it is wrong that women have to make do with a “one-size-fits-men” world, as Caroline Criado Perez, a writer, puts it. As for safety, regulators can tackle that by banning things that are dangerous to women—including seat belts—because they are no! designed properly.
But there is also a powerful business case for avoiding design bias, because huge opportunities are being missed. Women are 50% of the population, and make 70—80% of the world’s consumer-spending decisions.
Change is coming. The first voice-recognition systems struggled to understand female voices, but most now manage just fine. “Femtech” start-up companies, which focus on women’s health and well-being, may raise MYM 1 billion by the end of this year. VC funds and tech firms are hiring more women. Ensuring that products are designed for everyone would lead to happier and safer customers. For the companies that get it right, that means higher profits. What is holding them back?
1. The underlined part in Paragraph 2 means ________.A.hits the market | B.gets approval |
C.becomes successful | D.comes into being |
A.Why tech’s design bias needs to be fixed. |
B.How gender bias is affecting tech companies. |
C.Where gender bias in product design is rooted. |
D.Who is to blame for gender bias in tech companies. |
A.tech companies are unwilling to change |
B.design bias may result in missed opportunities |
C.male workers benefit more in engineering teams |
D.tech companies are poor at making user-friendly products |
A.Uncertain. | B.Sceptical. |
C.Positive. | D.Negative. |
7 . Most of us in China are used to paying for everything with our phones.
Mobile payments are now a normal part of life in China, and the trend is sweeping other nations. According to Forrester Research, in America, mobile payments rose by 37 per cent in 2016.
This may be partly because western mobile payment services require businesses to install expensive equipment before customers can use them.
A.He was trying to figure out how they got paid. |
B.Foreign tourists don’t like to pay with their mobile phones. |
C.But in China, all it takes is a QR code (二维码) and a phone. |
D.Soon after, he realized that the customers were using WeChat Pay. |
E.Still, Chinese mobile payments were nearly 50 times greater than those in the US. |
F.But for foreign visitors who aren’t familiar with this method, it may seem strange. |
G.The popularity of Chinese mobile payments has pushed some foreign companies to accept them. |