1 . 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.

Hong Kong film director Wong Kar-wai’s first television series, Blossoms Shanghai (《繁花》),     1     (begin)airing on December 27. The hit drama, which has been six years in the making, is adapted     2     the 2012 novel of the same name,    3     (write)by Jin Yucheng in Shanghainese.

Set in Shanghai during the 1990s, the     4     (romance) drama features a young man, Abao,     5     rises from small beginnings to become a successful businessman in the space of 10 years. Along the way, he receives help from partners such as Ling Zi, Miss Wang, and Uncle Ye, with his aim     6     (explore) his bigger business empire.

Jin wrote Blossoms Shanghai hoping it would help erase stereotypes (刻板印象) of Shanghai     7    improve readers’ understanding of the culture of the city. Staying true to the novel’ distinctive local flavour, the television series’ leading actors were all bom and raised in Shanghai and a lot of the dialogue is in Shanghainese.     8     (additional), a lot of effort was made to recreate the look and feel truly of Shanghai in the 1990s.

In typical Wong Kar-wai style, the show’s filming took three years to complete; the director is well known for     9     (be)very particular about each and every shot, often requiring actors to perform a scene 10 or more     10     (time).

3 . Advertisements are designed to persuade us, but which techniques are effective in talking us in to buy things?

    1     Normalization can lead to higher sales of junk food as people start to see these habits as normal. This is like product placement—where products are shown or mentioned in TV shows and films. Beth, an assistant professor of marketing and advertisement, tells us that product placement is most effective when it is not too obvious.     2     It seems that a subtle (不易察觉的) approach can be more persuasive.

Appealing to our emotions is another strategy advertisers use.     3     Jannet, a senior lecturer in communication studies, explains that for fear to be an effective tool, we need to believe: when fears are raised, people tend to take action to make a difference, like buying something. But when fears are exaggerated (夸大) or we feel helpless, we are likely to switch off.

Advertisements often show perfect-looking people because marketers believe that we will desire to be like them and buy the products they support.     4     The research that she mentions shows these ads can make people feel bad and put them off products. These studies say that seeing a more human side of people can lead us to believe them.     5    

So, it seems that the best technique advertisers can use to persuade people is to fully understand the people they are selling to.

4 . Welcome to the British Museum (WWW.britishmuseum.org)where you can experience cultures across the globe, from the dawn of human history to the present. Here is some information you need to notice.

Opening times

Daily: 10: 00-17:00(Fridays:20:30)

Last entry: 16:00(Fridays: 19:30)

●We’re limiting numbers of people in the Museum to ensure there’s room for you to safely enjoy your visit. You’re advised to book a free ticket to guarantee Museum entry.

●To book, simply pick the date and time you’d like to visit.

●The date or time you wish to visit has no availability. Please note that walk-up visits are available each day for those who arrive at the Museum without advance bookings. But this does depend on capacity, as walk-up entry cannot be guaranteed.

●To book tickets for exhibitions, click here. Your exhibition ticket also gives you access to the permanent collection.

●Entry to the Museum is via the Main entrance on Great Russell Street or the Montague Place entrance.

●Once you’ve gone through the Main entrance, an easy access queuing route is available for disabled visitors, visitors with pushchairs and/or children under five, Members, exhibition and general admission ticket-holders.

●All visitors must pass through a security check which involves a bag search.

We look forward to welcoming you.

7 . Dive into the classical world via the remains of an ancient merchant ship that dates all the way back to 5 BC as Greece is constructing its first underwater museum.

Some of Greece’s vast heritage of ancient shipwrecks are accessible to the public (divers and non-divers) for the first time ever in a series of underwater museums. The first opened on August 3, allowing visitors to explore the “Peristera shipwreck”, which has been at the bottom of the Aegean Sea for more than two thousand years after it sank in the 5th century BC near the northern Greek island of Alonissos. Since a fisherman discovered the ship in 1985, it has remained off-limits to the public but now visitors can explore it by sea or by virtual reality.

Researchers believe it’s the most important shipwreck from the classical era. It had been believed that a trading ship of that type didn’t exist until the Roman era some 400 years later. So when it was discovered years ago, it completely changed our understanding of shipbuilding in the ancient world.

Experts have yet to determine how or why it sank although there are some indications that a fire may have broken out. It’s believed that it was carrying 4, 000 vases of wine when it sank, most of which are still lying on the seabed, along with fishes and some little creatures who now call it home.

Greece had banned diving until 2004 or so, due to worries that undersea ancient heritage would be taken away but now the country is wholeheartedly hugging its rich underwater heritage. Access to the Peristera shipwreck is available through a new project that will create underwater museums across the Greek islands over the next two years. Divers will be able to tour the shipwreck with licensed guides and non-divers can feel like they’re underwater with virtual reality information centres on land.

“Happy Camp”, the king of all Chinese variety shows, started airing in 1997. Since then, it     1     (gain) hundreds of millions of followers. The age range of its viewers is     2     (extreme) broad, from people born in the 1970s all the way to the 2010s.

“Happy Camp” has some of the best show hosts in the country,     3     are the backbone of the entire show. Not only do they create     4     fun and exciting atmosphere for guests and audience, but they also throw in plenty of     5     (humorous).

Every episode (集) of “Happy Camp” has a different theme. Everything in the episode is centered around that theme,     6     (range) from the games the hosts and the guests play to the food     7     (serve) to them as a reward or punishment! And the trendy, fun and relatable themes appeal especially to the younger generation. Actually, young people make     8     the majority of viewers.

“Happy Camp” embraces interculturalism. When there are foreign guests on the show, they talk about their culture as well as teach them about Chinese culture. This, in return,     9     (allow) the audience to learn more about cultures around the world!

After     10     (broadcast) for more than 20 years, “Happy Camp” has survived it all. They have learned to adapt and fit the needs of the audience.

10 . Music for the Young

Stronger Than The Truth

Reba McEntire

Price: $9.49

If you are interested in country music, then this album is for you. Reba takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride. There is something for everyone on this album. As the reigning queen of country music, she has some songs with beautiful melodies and she sings them to perfection. The album also includes Freedom which is a 1990s type. The songs are amazing. This may be her best country music album to date. If you’re a fan of Reba or country music, this album is a must for you!

Golden Hour

Kacey Musgraves

Price: $10.23

Country superstar Kacey Musgraves’ fourth album, Golden Hour, sees her follow her heart, which meant experimenting new styles as well as writing some of the most honest songs of her career.

Honky Tonk Time Machine

George Strait

Price: $5.49

Honky Tonk Time Machine is a successful return for the best country singer of all time. There should be a couple more number ones on this album. Many people prefer to listen at home, so it’s reasonable enough to own the album. The album is a must for fans of George or country music.

As Long As You Are

Future Islands

Price: $12.50

Future Islands announced their sixth studio album, As Long As You Are. For. As Long As You Are, Future Islands added a fourth member, drummer Michael Lowry, to their three - piece lineup featuring Herring, William Cashion and Gerrit Welmers. On the release day for the new album, Future Islands hosted a ticketed livestream performance.