1 . Those of you who have seen the amazing National Geographic documentary Free Solo will know just how fascinating it can be to watch a professional climber scale the side of a mountain.
A new documentary, Explorer: The Last Tepui, shares a lot with Free Solo, which won the 2019 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Not only does it star rock climber Alex Honnold, it also shows him hanging off the side of a mountain in precarious positions that will make your stomach drop in extreme fear.
While his athletic achievements are amazing, Honnold isn’t the most appealing character in the film. That honor goes to Bruce Means, who has spent his academic career finding new species throughout South America to prove to the world that the area is a biodiversity hot spot to be protected at all costs. In Explorer:The Last Tepui, the 80-year-old ecologist decides to climb the 300-plus metres to the peak of the Tepui, deep in Guyana’s Amazon rainforest.
Means, Honnold, leader Mark Synnott and a world-class team of climbers have to hike 56 kilometres over 10 days across increasingly dangerous areas to reach the base of the Tepui. This is a very big deal because Means has problems with his knees. Once at the Tepui, Honnold and other team members plan to climb to the top and then pull Means up, which will allow him to explore the cliff wall for novel animal and plant species.
Unsurprisingly, because of the area they must cross to reach the Tepui, various major barriers soon get in the way of the party. The detailed descriptions of Means’ determination to overcome these challenges due to his age and health just add real suspense (悬念) to the documentary.
The constantly changing viewpoints and potentially life-threatening issues ensure that Explorer: The Last Tepui remains compelling (扣人心弦的) to the very end. Even though it is just 54 minutes long, you will still feel tired out, as well as inspired, by the time it is over.
1. What does the underlined word “precarious” in paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Comfortable. | B．Dangerous. | C．Easy. | D．Correct. |
| A．The 2019 Academy Award. |
| B．The discovery of new species. |
| C．Means’ plan to climb the peak of the Tepui. |
| D．Honnold’s appearance in the film. |
| A．Ensuring food supplies at the base of the Tepui. |
| B．Topping the Tepui as quickly as possible. |
| C．Helping Means find long lost species. |
| D．Assisting Means in carrying out the exploration. |
| A．It is inspiring and funny. |
| B．It is long and tiring. |
| C．It is full of heart-stopping moments. |
| D．It is filled with complicated elements. |
2 . Location
St Helena is one of the remotest islands on Earth. The subtropical (亚热带的) British Overseas Territory sits in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, 1,200 miles from the west coast of Africa and 1,800 miles from the east coast of South America.
Size Population
St Helena is only 16 km long and 9 km wide and the population is 5,000. This is 1/3 the size of the Isle of Wight, and the same size as Disney World Orlando. This is also the same size as San Francisco-yet the island has just 0.5% of San Francisco’s population. With an extremely low-crime community, you can freely explore the island’s natural and built attractions in peace.
Climate
As a subtropical island, St Helena’s temperature is 15-28℃ all year round. While the four seasons are not recognized on St Helena, the “cooler months” are generally June to September and the “hotter months” are December to March. St Helena is free from extreme weather events, with even thunderstorms only occurring perhaps once a decade.
Accessibility
Until 2017, St Helena did not have an airport and was only accessible by sea. Reaching the island meant a five-day ship voyage from Cape Town, South Africa. However, since October 2017, the island’s first and only airport has enabled passengers to reach the island in just a six-hour flight.
1. In what aspect are St Helena and San Francisco alike?| A．Climate. | B．Population. | C．Crime rate. | D．Area. |
| A．Tropical. | B．Mild. | C．Dry. | D．Extreme. |
| A．By plane. | B．By car. | C．By ship. | D．By train. |
3 . Life Book
There is no greater gift that you can give to the next generations of your family than your story. How? By sharing your story in the form of a private autobiography (自传).
Life Book, providing a full range of services, will unlock thoughts and memories, bringing them together in a way that will be enjoyable, stimulating and deeply rewarding, and create your own autobiography, 200 pages plus 60 of your own photos.
Your book in 3 simple steps
★ Relive memories and stories
Your personal interviewer will be skilled in the art of listening. Over 12 meetings, he or she will learn your story, helping you recall memories in an enjoyable and stimulating way.
★ Finish the manuscript (初稿), complete with photos
Every minute of your conversations with our interviewer is recorded and then shared with your devoted writer. He or she will work with you to finish a manuscript you are happy with.
★ Share your life story with loved ones
When the manuscript is done, it’s time for the final stage of producing your book. Soon,10 copies of a beautifully bound, hardback book will be delivered directly to you and the family members you’ve chosen to receive a “first edition”. Then enjoy the excitement and pride of sharing your very own personal autobiography with your family, now and forever.
Remember and be remembered
My hope is that my grandchildren and the next generation will get some of the values that are important to me. It is the best gift I could have given to my family.
—Jerrie Rudd-Breen
My children and grandchildren were amazed when I presented them with the books. My eldest so n then immediately read his copy from cover to cover.
—Harry Gow
Start your storytelling journey and preserve your legacy into your very own private autobiography! It’s easy to get started; call today on 08009992280.
1. What service does Life Book provide?| A．Recalling memories in an enjoying way. | B．Choose a great gift for one’s family. |
| C．Improve one’s thinking ability. | D．Write a book about one’s life. |
| A．Pick out sixty photos. | B．Rewrite your manuscript. |
| C．Meet your interviewer for the last time. | D．Record your conversations with your writer. |
| A．To call for comments. | B．To promote some writers. |
| C．To share some good stories. | D．To attract customers to Life Book. |
4 . Online Annual Refresher
This interactive yearly refresher course provides first aiders with an opportunity to practice and update their skills as qualified first aiders, at any time while their first aid certificates (证书) are valid (有效的).
Course description
Employers are legally required to ensure their first aiders are competent and maintain their skills throughout the three years in which their certificates are valid.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) strongly recommends that first aiders attend a refresher course once every year during this three-year period.
Course content
Session (阶段) 1:
Choking — 30 minutes to complete.
After this session, you will be able to help an individual who is choking.
Session 2:
Chest Pains — 30 minutes to complete.
After this session, you will be able to help an individual who is experiencing chest pains.
Session 3:
Severe Bleeds — 45 minutes to complete.
After this session, you will be able to help an individual who is bleeding severely.
Session 4:
Recovery Position — 45 minutes to complete.
After this session, you will be able to help an individual who is unresponsive and breathing normally.
Session 5:
Basic Life Support & AED (Automated External Defibrillator) — 30 minutes to complete.
After this session, you will be able to help an individual who is unresponsive and not breathing normally.
Booking details
Please click this button below if you are the person who wishes to buy and sign up for the course. You will be directed to our Learner Management System where you will be asked to login or register for an account. You will then be given the option to buy access to the course.
1. What is HSE’s suggestion for first aiders?| A．Buying a four-year first aid course. |
| B．Attending an yearly refresher course. |
| C．Updating identity information regularly. |
| D．Downloading their certificates from the Internet. |
| A．Session 1. | B．Session 2. | C．Session 3. | D．Session 4. |
| A．A news report. | B．A diary entry. |
| C．A research article. | D．An advertisement. |
5 . Paisley Museum and Art Galleries being repaired, Paisley Art Institute will be using alternative venue of the Glasgow Art Club for the annual exhibition. Due to space restrictions, applications for entries are for members only. The exhibition will run from 28 December, 2023 to 3 February, 2024. Further details on hand-in are below.
WALL-BASED WORKS
The maximum height or width of wall-based works should be 5 feet. Because this venue is not as large as our home venue, some larger works may not be hung. Works should be suitably presented for the exhibition, no clips or metal frames. All works framed or unframed should be strong enough to hang.
SMALL WORKS
Only small works under 16×16 inches (total size framed or unframed) must be strung but please cover rings to avoid damaging other works.
SCULPTURE WORKS
The Glasgow Art Club is restricted from displaying free-standing sculptures as the venue is also used for dinners and entertainment.
Sculptural works must be of the scale that will not create a health and safety issue when displayed on a plinth (底座).
We do have a few plinths but if sculptors can supply their own plinth, this would be to their advantage.
HAND-IN
Works can only be handed in on the following dates.
Hand-In Dates 2023 | Sculpture Delivery Time | Wall-Based Work Delivery Time |
Thurs, 20 December | 11: 30 a. m. — 6: 00 p. m. | 6: 15 p. m. — 8: 30 p. m. |
Fri, 21 December | 11: 30 a. m. — 5: 30 p. m. | 11: 30 p. m. — 5: 30 p. m. |
Sat, 22 December | 11: 30 a. m. — 5: 30 p. m. | 11: 30 p. m. — 5: 30 p. m. |
Note: hand-in on Thurs is specially set aside for sculptures up to 6 p. m. All other time may be busier. | ||
1. What kind of works may be suitable for the exhibition?
| A．Free-standing sculpture works. |
| B．Exhibits applied by non-members. |
| C．Small framed entries with 2×3 feet. |
| D．Wall-based works with wooden frames. |
| A．11: 30 a. m. — 5: 30 p. m., Fri, 21 February, 2023. |
| B．11: 30 a. m. — 5: 30 p. m., Sat, 22 December, 2024. |
| C．11: 30 a. m. — 6: 00 p. m., Thurs, 20 December, 2023. |
| D．11: 30 a. m. — 6: 00 p. m., Thurs, 20 December, 2024. |
| A．A flight timetable. | B．A working schedule. |
| C．An advertisement. | D．An announcement. |
6 . You have a story to tell and pass on — Start today! Your memories and legacy will inspire and enrich others. LifeStories.com guides you in writing your life story. Our goal is to help you build a bridge from you to future generations and transform the lives at both ends. This easy, creative, comprehensive and a fun website allows you to:
ComposeCapture your memories and write your life story using questions. We provide over 1,000 questions to help you! These questions help stimulate your memory and cover your different life stages. You can answer all of them or just a partial list.
Collaborate (合作)Invite others to read your story AND they can add content to your story. It’s easy and fun to do. After all life is about those experiences and events with others. So invite them to enrich your story.
ContributeYour journey is something beautiful to share with your family and friends. Really… is there anything more important to pass on to generations that follow? Your Life and Your Story will be honored and treasured for generations to come.
Tell Others!Nothing is more important then the legacy of your spiritual life story. Spread the good news to your friends and family and help them get started telling their story. Click here to get started.
Don’t Have An Account?Creating an account is easy. Start writing your story today by signing up for an account here.
Register now, it’s FREE!This registration is free and you will see your life story book in your library, the chapters of your book, and over 1,000 questions. If you wish to answer these questions, and share your answer with family and friends, you will need to pay a small annual fee of $100.00. So, check it out! We hope you join our ever-expanding list of satisfied customers who are writing their stories and sharing it with those they love.
1. What is the advertisement for?| A．Teaching learners to build websites. |
| B．Selling the famous writers’ story books. |
| C．Assisting readers to write life stories. |
| D．Providing students with reading materials. |
| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Five. | D．Seven. |
| A．Registering to become learners. |
| B．Going over the guiding questions. |
| C．Seeing the chapters of your book. |
| D．Sharing your answers with others. |
7 . We love the idea of writing contests, but we hate con test fees. That’s why we’ve rounded up these 4 writing contests that all have no entry or reading fees. Some end soon, so be sure to apply for those right away if you’re interested.
The Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry is currently open for submissions. Poets can submit a book-length manuscript, but there is no page requirement. The winner will receive $10,000 and publication by Milkweed Editions. Deadline is March 1. To learn more, click the prize submission guidelines.
The Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award is currently accepting nominations (提名，推荐). Indiana-born or Indiana-based Authors may nominate themselves or be nominated. There are several award categories. The cash awards range from $6,000 to $10,000. Deadline for nominations is March 18. To learn more, click the award guidelines.
Winning Writers is currently hosting its Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. Poets can submit one humorous poem for consideration. The first place winner will receive $1,000; second place will receive $250; and 10 honorable mentions will receive $100 each. All winners will be published online. Deadline is April 1. To learn more, click the contest guidelines.
The Griffin Poetry Prize welcomes poets and translators to submit their work. Two prizes will be awarded. The Canadian Prize will go to a Canadian poet or translator who has published or translated a work. The International Prize will go to a poet or translator from any part of the world. Each prize winner will receive $65,000 CAD. Deadline is June 30, with a second deadline of December 31. To learn more, click the prize guidelines.
1. What do the four contests have in common?| A．All of them are for poetry only. | B．The winners’ works will be published. |
| C．Everyone is welcome to submit their works. | D．Application for the contests is free of charge. |
| A．The Griffin Poetry Prize. | B．Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. |
| C．The Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry. | D．The Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award. |
| A．In a magazine. | B．On a website. | C．In an advertisement. | D．On a poster. |
WRITER’S DIGEST COMPETITIONS 92st ANNUAL WRITING COMPETTITION |
 WRITE TO WIN: $5,000, A TRIP TO NYC& MORE Enter up to 9 categories to win big in our 92st Annual Writing Competition! ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER WILL RECEIVE: ·$5,000 cash ·An interview in Writer’s Digest. ·A paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference in New York City. CATEGORIES: ·Personal Essay·Rhyming Poetry·Non-Rhyming Poetry ·Genre Short Story·Short Story·Children’s Young ·Mainstream/Literary·Script ·Nonfiction Essay or Article Fiction ·Inspirational/Spiritual |
| READY TO WRITE YOUR SUCCESS? IT ALL STARTS WHEN YOU ENTER TODAY! Writers-digest.com/writers-digest-competitions/annual-writing-competition |
| A．A paid trip to Writer’s Digest annual meeting. | B．A teller in Writer’s Digest. |
| C．A valuable working experience. | D．5,000 yuan. |
| A．Hand in your work. | B．Enter the website. |
| C．Register an account. | D．Pay necessary fees. |
| A．A diary. | B．A guidebook. | C．A novel. | D．A website. |
9 . 2023 Hot List: The Best New Restaurants in the World
Place des Fêtes—New York City
This famous wine bar provides a spot with a rare sweet and warm atmosphere. For date night, go to the bar with views of the open kitchen; or fill up the large table in the back with a group and taste the entire 20-item menu. Either way, do not miss the famous mushroom soup.
Le Doyenné——Saint-Vrain, France
Australian chefs James Henry and Shaun Kelly transformed the former stables (马厩) of a 19th-century private estate into a working farm, restaurant, and guesthouse driven by the principles of regenerative agriculture. More than one hundred varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs make their way into Henry’s cooking after being carefully nurtured by Kelly.
Mi Compa Chava—Mexico City
Seafood is a hangover cure in Mexico, and almost everyone eating here is devoted to fixing last night’s damage from drunkenness and getting a head start on creating today’s. On the sidewalk, crowds of locals and tourists alike line up for fisherman Salvador Orozco’s creative takes on Sinaloa and Baja seafood. Anything from the raw half of the menu is a sure bet, though cooked dishes like fish can help fill out a meal.
Vilas—Bangkok
Can a dish inspired by a Spanish recipe using Japanese ingredients still be considered Thai? For Chef Prin Polsuk, one of Bangkok’s most famous Thai chefs, it most certainly can. At his latest restaurant, a small dining room at the base of Bangkok’s landmark King Power Mahanakhon Tower, he draws inspiration from King Chulalongkorn’s 1897 journey around Europe and the foreign ingredients (原料) and cooking techniques he added to the royal cookbooks.
1. What does the author highly recommend at Place des Fêtes?| A．Red wine. | B．Mushroom soup. | C．Baja seafood. | D．Fried fish. |
| A．Place des Fêtes. | B．Le Doyenné. | C．Vilas. | D．Mi Compa Chava. |
| A．To introduce the features of some restaurants. | B．To state the similarities of some restaurants. |
| C．To recommend some cities. | D．To compare the origins of some restaurants. |
10 . Four Library Events
East Side Dreams: The Untold Story of East San José
11: 00AM-6: 00PM; From January 1 to May 24, 2023.
Willow Glen Branch Library
Description: Willow Glen Branch Library proudly presents the exhibit East Side Dreams: The Un-told Story of East San José, which will include stories both remembered and forgotten. Experience the East Side’s development from fields of fruit and flowers to a diverse city. Learn about the social forces, organizations and individuals that shaped the East Side into the place we know today.
Exhibit Hours; Monday & Saturday: 1: 00PM-6: 00PM; Tuesday-Friday: 11: 00AM-6: 00PM; Sunday: Closed
Hour of Code(编码): Intro to Block Coding
4: 00PM- 5: 00PM; February 27,2023
Edenvale Branch Library
Description: Hour of Code workshop will allow teenagers to build basic coding skills with the introduction of block coding to complete tasks. Participants will conduct multiple exercises with block coding before completing an exercise with basic JavaScript commands. Top universities like Berkeley and Harvard teach block-based coding to remove the complexity of typing out all the code and under-stand programming mechanics.
Seven Trees Teens Reach Meeting: Moon Festival Craft
5: 00PM-6: 00PM; March 27, 2023
Seven Trees Branch Library
Description: What is Teens Reach? Be part of a fun volunteering opportunity for teens between the ages of 13-18. Earn community service credit s while supporting the library by assisting with library programs, promotion, and representing the library ‘s teen point-of-view.
INSIDERS Programs
4: 30PM-5: 30PM; April 25, 2023
Calabazas Branch Library
Description: Join us for socializing, finding new friends, networking, making jokes, crafting, having fun with art and much more. INSIDERS Programs are designed for teens and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
1. What do we know about the exhibit in Willow Glen Branch Library?| A．It lasts for about two months. | B．It is not available on weekends. |
| C．It features the locals’ dreams. | D．It presents the development of the East Side. |
| A．Willow Glen Branch Library. | B．Edenvale Branch Library. |
| C．Seven Trees Branch Library. | D．Calabazas Branch Library. |
| A．They are intended for teenagers. | B．They are held all day long. |
| C．They provide community service credits. | D．They allow participants to complete exercise. |
