1 . Your neighbors are probably the first line of defense in case of any problematic situation.
The first step is introducing yourself when you move to a new neighborhood or when a newcomer moves in. Leave them a note under their door to introduce yourself.
Be respectful of your neighbors. It’s in poor taste to have regular insensitive parties at your place causing disturbances. Before your party, it’s good practice to notify your neighbors. Besides, avoid chatting them up for hours on end, which may be inconvenient, especially if you don’t know their schedules.
As Emma Seppälä put it, “social connectedness generates a positive feedback loop (圈) of social, emotional and physical well-being.” It feels so easy to just stay home without having to engage with your neighbors but connecting with them is worth the effort.
| A．Remember every small gesture counts. |
| B．A crisis is a test of communication skills. |
| C．It can actually boost your mood in the long run. |
| D．Slipping it in their mailbox further solidifies friendship. |
| E．It’s essential to ensure you maintain decent relationships with them. |
| F．Alternatively, you can give them a gift while making yourself known to them. |
| G．Only by establishing healthy boundaries will you achieve peaceful coexistence. |
2 . Jimmy Jiang envisions a future where every house is powered by renewable energy stored in batteries.
Jiang and his team at the University of Cincinnati have developed a new battery that could have far-reaching implications for the large-scale (大规模) energy storage needed by wind and solar farms.
“Batteries store renewable energy for when it’s needed, not just when it’s produced. This is crucial for getting the most out of wind and solar power,” Jiang said. “Energy generation and energy consumption is always mismatched. That’s why it’s important to have a device that can store that energy temporarily and release it when it’s needed.”
They described their novel design in the journal Nature Communications.
Traditional car batteries contain a mix of sulfuric acid and water. While they’re inexpensive and made from readily available materials, they have severe drawbacks for industrial or large-scale use. They have a very low energy density (密度), which isn’t suitable for storing sufficient power needed to power a city. And they have a low level for electrochemical stability, which means they can blow up.
Water has a voltage (电压) limit. Once the voltage of such a battery goes beyond the stability window of 1.5 volts, the water can decompose into hydrogen and oxygen, which is explosive.
But Jiang and his students have developed a battery without water that can generate nearly 4 volts of power. Jiang’s novel design does so by removing from a battery the membrane, which is a huge component of upfront costs and accounts for as much as 30% of the cost of the battery. They invented a new type of energy storage material that improves performance at a lower cost. “Membranes are also inefficient. They can’t separate the positive and negative sides completely, so there is always crossover,” he said.
The group has submitted temporary patent applications. “There is still a long way to go, but we’re advancing toward a dramatic battery transformation in the next decade. I’m confident about that. There is a lot of intense research going into pushing the boundaries of battery performance,” Jiang said.
1. What’s mainly talked about in paragraph 3?| A．Why batteries are essential. | B．How to store renewable energy. |
| C．Why green energy is needed. | D．How to conserve natural resources. |
| A．They’re too pricy. | B．They’re made of rare materials. |
| C．They’re slow to charge. | D．They have a potential explosion risk. |
| A．It may reshape the battery industry. | B．It’s inappropriate for large-scale use. |
| C．It may help minimize power consumption. | D．It’s subject to mature industry standards. |
| A．Dismissive. | B．Uncertain. | C．Positive. | D．Pessimistic. |
3 . KidsWorldFun Short Story Contest
Calling all young writers from around the world! It’s time to release your creativity and share your incredible stories with us. KidsWorldFun presents the ultimate Short Story Contest, open to young people of all ages.
Two Modes of Entry
● Free Entry: get the chance to win a certificate and have your story published on our website.
● Entry Fee of $10: get the chance to receive a cash prize as well as a certificate and have your story published. Payment links will be sent via email for these entries.
Amazing Prizes Await
First Prize: $100, certificate and publication;
Second Prize: $75, certificate and publication;
Third Prize: $50, certificate and publication.
Highly commented stories will also be published for the world to enjoy.
Contest Categories and Word Limits
To ensure fairness, we have set three categories for writers to choose from and minimum and maximum word limits for each category.
Categories | Ages | Word Limits | |
Minimum | Maximum | ||
Sub-junior | 7-9 | 300 words | 1000 words |
Junior | 10-12 | 500 words | 1000 words |
Senior | 13-16 | 700 words | 1000 words |
Submission Guidelines
● Include proof of age with your entry (scan or take a photo of your identity card). Entries without proof of age will be disqualified.
● Your story must be original and unpublished.
● Type your story out.
Our judges will evaluate each story based on content, language and writing style. Their decision will be final. For more information, please contact us at enquiry@kidsworldfun.com. We’re here to assist you every step of the way.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to showcase your talent and win amazing prizes! Enter the KidsWorldFun Short Story Contest today!
1. What may a free entry second prize winner get?| A．A reward of $10. | B．A certificate and publication. |
| C．Prize money and honors. | D．$75, certificate and publication. |
| A．A handwritten draft. | B．A science fiction of 1500 words. |
| C．An award-winning essay. | D．A printout of a 900-word original story. |
| A．To promote a reading website. | B．To appeal for participation. |
| C．To explain an application process. | D．To teach kids writing principles. |
4 . That dinosaurs ate the mammals (哺乳动物) that ran beneath their feet is not in doubt. Now an extraordinary fossil newly described in Scientific Reports, unearthed by a team led by Gang Han at Hainan Vocational University of Science and Technology in China, shows that sometimes the tables were turned.
The fossil -dated to about 125 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period-was formed when a flow of boiling volcanic mud swallowed two animals seemingly locked in a life-and-death fight. The one on top is a mammal. This animal is a herbivorous species closely related to the Triceratops (三角恐龙). Animal interactions such as this are exceptionally cam e in the fossil record.
One possibility is that the mammal was eating something already dead, other than hunting live prey. These days it is uncommon for small mammals to attack much larger animals. But it is not unheard of. And Dr. Han and his colleagues point out that those mammals which eat dead bodies typically leave tooth marks all over the bones of the animals. The dinosaur’s remains show no such marks. There is also a chance the fossil could be a fake. More and more convincing fake s have emerged, as this one did -though Dr. Han and his colleagues argue that the complexly connected nature of the skeletons (骨骼) makes that unlikely, too.
Assuming it is genuine, the discovery serves as a reminder that not all dinosaurs were enormous during the Cretaceous and not all mammals were tiny. From nose to tail, the dinosaur is just 1.2 meters long. The mammal is a bit under half a meter in length. Despite being half the size, the mammal has one paw firmly wrapped around one of its prey’s limbs, and another pulling on its jaw. It is biting down on the dinosaur’s chest, and has ripped off two of its ribs. Before they were interrupted, it seems that the mammal was winning.
1. Which idiom is closest in meaning to underlined part “the tables were turned” in paragraph 1?| A．The fittest survives. | B．The hunters become hunted. |
| C．Fortune always favors the brave. | D．The truth will always come to light. |
| A．To prove the fossil was fake. | B．To show the forming of the fossil. |
| C．To illustrate the process of hunting. | D．To suggest the dinosaur was hunted alive. |
| A．The size of the fossil. | B．The absence of fake fossils. |
| C．The complexity of the skeletons. | D．The consistency of the opinions. |
| A．It offers a cause. | B．It highlights a solution. |
| C．It justifies the conclusion. | D．It provides a new discovery. |
5 . Five years ago, Chinese skater Wu Dajing introduced himself to the skating world by winning a silver medal at the Sochi Olympic Winter Games. At Pyeong Chang Olympics, Wu not only returned, but also made history.
On Feb 22th, 2018, Wu won the gold medal in the men’s short-track 500-metre race. He set a new world record with a time of 39.584 seconds. He also became the first Chinese man to take home an Olympic short-track gold medal. BBC said Wu’s win was “flawless”, because he was much faster than all of the other skaters.
“I didn’t give them a chance and I kept my speed from the start,” he told the media after the match.
But China’s short-track teams didn’t do well in general at the Games. Chinese skaters in the women’s 500 metres, 3000-metre relay and men’s 1500 metres all failed to take home the gold. Wu was China’s biggest hope, which put a lot of pressure on him. But he proved himself with his great performance.
Wu is now known as a highly talented skater. But things were not always that way. When Wu joined the national team in 2010, he was seen as almost “nothing” compared to gifted skaters like Zhou Yang and Fan Kexin, as his coaches said at the time. Their comments made him quite upset. But as the saying goes. “Winners never quit (放弃) and quitters never win”. Wu didn’t want to give up and worked as hard as he could. He practiced skating all year round. He even didn’t return to his hometown for the holidays for 10 years. “I believe in myself.” he told the media after his match at the Olympics.
1. People began to know Wu Dajing by the time he .| A．won the second place at the Sochi Olympic Winter Games |
| B．won a gold medal at the Sochi Olympic Winter Games |
| C．won a gold medal at Pycong Chang Olympic Winter Games |
| D．entered the Pycong Chang Olympic Winter Games |
| A．common | B．valuable | C．perfect | D．difficult |
| A．Wu won a gold medal at the Sochi Olympic Winter Games four years ago. |
| B．Wu broke the world record with a time of 39.584 seconds and made history. |
| C．Wu’s coaches placed great hope on him when he joined the national team. |
| D．Chinese skaters in women’s 500 metres, 3000-metre relay took home the gold. |
| A．The national team and coaches thought Wu as a talented skater all the way. |
| B．Wu kept on practicing skating all year round even in the holidays for 10 years. |
| C．Zhou Yang and Fan Kexin were more hard-working on skating than Wu Dajing. |
| D．It is the hardwork, confidence and strong will that have made Wu a winner. |
6 . Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist Frank Wilczek has been honored with this year’s Templeton Prize. The award recognizes individuals whose life’s work brings together science and spirituality.
Wilczek is known for his research into the laws of nature. In a statement, the John Templeton Foundation said his work changes “our understanding of the forces that govern our universe.” It said he used physics to address “the great questions of meaning and purpose pondered by generations of religious thinkers.”
John Templeton created the prize in 1972. It is one of the most highly valued prizes at more than $1.3 million. Past winners include Jane Goodall, Mother Teresa and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Wilczek told The Associated Press, “It’s a company I’m very glad to join in.” He added, “It’s encouragement in a direction that I’ve really only taken up in a big way quite recently… which is thinking about not just what the world is and how it came to be this way but what we should do about it.”
Over a long career, Wilczek had many successes. He won the 2004 Nobel Prize along with David J. Gross, and H. David Politzer for their 1973 research explaining the unusual properties of the strong force. Wilczek is currently a physics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Arizona State University and Stockholm University. He is also the founding director of Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s T. D. Lee Institute. He has also written several books that are informed by science but look into spiritual and philosophical questions.
Heather Dill is the Templeton Foundation president. In a statement, she said, “Like Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, he is a natural philosopher who unites a curiosity about the behavior of nature with a playful and profound philosophical mind.”
1. What is Frank Wilczek famous for?| A．His long-time efforts in philosophy. | B．His study in natural science. |
| C．His gains in the chemical awards. | D．His contribution in the field of art. |
| A．Governed strictly. | B．Designed seriously. |
| C．Considered carefully. | D．Abandoned completely. |
| A．His hobbies. | B．His advantages. |
| C．His expectations. | D．His achievements. |
| A．To advertise a book. |
| B．To introduce a great scientist. |
| C．To explain the difference of two prizes. |
| D．To stress the importance of science and philosophy. |
7 . Explore your world—Mirthy
Online events to help you discover, learn and connect
Who is Mirthy?
Mirthy is one of the most popular websites for online events and already loved and trusted by more than 45,000 people. It was designed to create an inclusive community where people can learn, share, and connect with others through a variety of events that are active, sociable, and uplifting. It’s all about fulfilment and wellbeing.
There are some online events each month to try, from craft workshops (手工工坊) to fitness sessions. For example, according to our event calendar, this week you can attend gardening classes and singing lessons. So whether you have a desire to get fitter or to pick up a new skill—signing up for classes and events with Mirthy could be just what you have been looking for.
How does it work?
Sign up via the online registration form at Mirthy.com. Then you can take a look through the calendar of upcoming events and see what takes your fancy.
Once you register for an event, you will then receive a link on email ready for you to join the live event. If your plans change and you can’t make it, you will receive a link for a 7-day replay that you can watch at a time that is convenient for you!
Best of all, it’s completely FREE to join!
Join Mirthy for free today, and you can enjoy any 4 events every month, for free! If you’re up for more, then you can either select and book additional events on a pay-as-you-go basis, normally for £2.99 each, or you can upgrade to the Premium membership giving you full free access to all events for only £4.99 per month.
If you choose to go for the Premium membership, there’s no contract. You simply upgrade your membership and you can cancel anytime.
1. Mirthy is intended to_________.| A．improve people’s fitness | B．organize sociable events |
| C．provide craft workshops | D．create an online community |
| A．Make art crafts. | B．Talk about fitness experience. |
| C．Learn songs. | D．Study wild plants and animals. |
| A．People can sign up for the events online. |
| B．The events can be watched again at any time. |
| C．People can upgrade their membership for free. |
| D．No more than 4 events are offered each month. |
| A．To share a lifestyle. |
| B．To recommend a website. |
| C．To introduce online events. |
| D．To explain a registration process. |
8 . Every year around August, millions of teens take their parents to stores to buy new clothes for the start of the school year. Not every parent can afford this, and some teens are forced to go to school in the same clothes they wore last year. The obvious differences in clothes cause differences among students. There is a simple solution to this problem; school uniforms (校服).
I know from personal experience and surveys that wearing uniforms creates a sense of equality among peers (同龄人).
From sixth grade until I graduated from senior high school, I attended a school that required students to wear uniforms. The uniform was very simple: dark brown shoes, green-brown pants, and a white shirt. The uniform left little room for any kind of self-expression, especially through clothes.
However, I learned how to stand out by expressing myself through my personality, art, and sports. I did not know I could draw until the sixth grade. I also would never have learned of my musical abilities if it hadn’t been for my desire to find ways to express myself. Uniforms taught me that I was myself, except what I wore.
Uniforms also contribute to a much safer learning environment. I remember a particular event that happened in my junior high school. A man ran away from prison and wanted to hide in the gym of our school. Luckily, cameras all over the school quickly found the stranger before any danger could ever happen as he was out of place. School officials kept the man locked inside our gym until the police came to take him back to prison.
Uniforms help provide a better educational experience for all students no matter what race, culture, or economic class (经济阶层). In closing, wearing uniforms is good for both schools and students.
1. How does the author introduce the topic?| A．By explaining a basic rule. |
| B．By challenging others’ views. |
| C．By describing a common problem. |
| D．By sharing his parents’ experience. |
| A．Uniforms should be more modern. |
| B．Uniforms can help shape better students. |
| C．Uniforms are popular with students. |
| D．Uniforms are bad for self-development. |
| A．Dressing differently. | B．Standing straight. |
| C．Running fast. | D．Breathing heavily. |
| A．To record his high school life. |
| B．To show his supportive view towards uniforms. |
| C．To ask students to like what they wear. |
| D．To introduce high school uniforms. |
9 . Artwork Competition — Create a Character!
Are you an artist? This may be the perfect competition held by Teen Ink to check your creative abilities. We want you to create your own character. You must create a backstory for the character and give it a name. Your character must be completely original.
Rules:
● You must be a teen (aged 13—19) with a Teen Ink account to enter.
● No improper content.
● Submissions (提交的材料) must be connected with the topic (Create a Character).
● The competition is open to all the individuals. Character must be your own — The character you create must be entirely your own idea and design. The backstory and name must be original as well. Ideas that do not belong to you will not be considered for the competition.
Guidelines and Details:
● All art types are accepted.
● There is no limit to the number of pieces you can submit.
● Give your character a name and backstory. Leave these in the “Author’s Comments” section of your submission.
How to Submit:
● Submit entries through our website. All entries submitted to Teen Ink are automatically (自动) considered for the competition. See our submission guidelines for more information.
● Include the words “Character Competition” in your submission’s title.
● Submit your reviews to the “Artwork” category on our site. Select the art type connected with what you are submitting. Hand in your entries before March 1, 2023.
Prizes:
Winners and honorable mentions will have their characters published in Teen Ink magazine. The overall winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.
1. What is the purpose of holding the artwork competition?| A．To increase the sales of Teen Ink. |
| B．To attract people of all ages to the activity. |
| C．To test the teenagers’ artistic creativity. |
| D．To praise the young artists for their talents |
| A．The works should be a team effort. |
| B．The participants should be under 13. |
| C．The content should be in connection with the subject. |
| D．A common account should be shared. |
| A．By submitting works on the webpage. |
| B．By handing in entries before April 10. |
| C．By posting entries to the magazine directly. |
| D．By sending in works titled “Character Competition”. |
10 . Located about 10 km northeast of the city center, the Chengdu Panda Base is a popular place to see lots of pandas of different ages in what’s close to their natural habitat.
Highlights and Travel Tips
The Chengdu Panda Base is a nonprofit research and breeding (繁殖) facility for giant pandas that was originally founded in 1987 and opened to the public in 1993. The center began with a population of just six giant pandas and has since grown to more than 100 pandas.
For visitors, it is more like a nice park than a traditional zoo. The base is large and nice to walk around, since much of it is in a bamboo forest. There are also shops selling panda-related souvenirs, but the prices are usually higher than markets or shops outside the base.
Accessibility Information
While the main road is flat, the base is large, so it is better for visitors with mobility issues to ride the shuttle (往返) bus. Visitors who completely rely on wheelchairs may need help from others to guide. Most restrooms within the base are wheelchair accessible.
Opening Hours and Ticket Prices
| Opening hours | 7:30 am - 6:00 pm |
| Entrance fee | 55 CNY |
| Shuttle bus fee | 10 CNY |
| Average time for this activity | 2-3 hours |
How to Get There
It takes about a half hour and costs around 30 CNY to get to the Chengdu Panda Base from the city center by taxi. You can also get there by public bus or subway, although these routes require a few transfers.
1. What is special about the Chengdu Panda Base?| A．It offers tourists panda souvenirs. | B．It is a zoo with the features of a park. |
| C．It is the largest panda research base. | D．It has more pandas than anywhere else. |
| A．110 CNY. | B．75 CNY. | C．55 CNY. | D．45 CNY. |
| A．A guidebook. | B．A news report. |
| C．An announcement. | D．An exhibition guide. |
