1 . Successful wildlife conservation goes hand in hand with community education and engagement. Volunteers work with community leaders and schools to share their passion for conservation and the environment.

Rhino Conservation in Zimbabwe

The project is home to an internationally renowned Black Rhino Breeding and Release Programme which has supported Zimbabwe’s rhino population since the mid 1980s. To date, 20 rhinos have been born at the conservancy, with 12 rhinos successfully released back into the wild. Volunteers play a role in securing the future of this once-again endangered animal, working alongside anti-poaching rangers (反偷猎护林员), working on rhino research projects and getting involved in the daily care of both black and white rhino.

Our Rhino Conservation Programme is a unique hands-on opportunity to get behind the scenes and experience day-to-day life on a private conservancy, and be involved with the protection and conservation of Zimbabwe’s endangered black rhino.

The aim of the programme is to assist the reserve’s established Black Rhino Breeding and Release Programme, collect meaningful data and information relating to rhino and wildlife conservation and animal behaviour, and engage with the local community about wildlife conservation.

Cheetah (猎豹) Conservation

In 2021, two captive-born male cheetah were introduced to the conservancy as part of an international rewilding programme. The cheetah are now free-wandering in the reserve, and volunteers play an important role in monitoring and observing their behaviour, tracking their movements and recording their hunting rate.

Volunteer Work

Volunteers contribute to a long-term conservation project and get involved with a variety of conservation activities:

·Work alongside rhinos, cheetah and elephants

·Conservancy management

·Wildlife monitoring

·Anti-poaching patrols and snare sweeps

·Educate school-children about conservation, wildlife and the environment

·Learn about what is involved in running a conservancy

1. What can we say about Black Rhino Breeding and Release Programme?

A．Its work pays off.	B．It is limited to Zimbabwe.
C．It is home to two cheetah.	D．It has a history of 50 years.

2. What should be recorded about the cheetah?

A．Their birth rate.	B．Their hunting rate.
C．Their area of activity.	D．Their sleep schedule.

3. Who are likely to apply for the volunteer work?

A．Those who live outside Zimbabwe.

B．Those who prefer to work at home.

C．Those who like engaging with animals.

D．Those who would like to make a fortune.

2 . 4 Ice Rinks (溜冰场) In The UK

Winter Wonderland, Cardiff, Wales
Duration: 16 November 2023—2 January 2024

This r ink is see-through, allowing views of Cardiff Castle while being sheltered from the elements. For further fun on the ice, travel down the Ice Walk that extends through the grounds for 150 m with a breathtaking backdrop of the Norman Keep.

Somerset House, London, England
Duration: 15 November 2023—14 January 2024

The magical r ink is at Somerset House. This rink offers skate school classes and wheelchair sessions, so everybody has access to it. Treat yourself post-skating with the Skate Extras at the Chalet Suisse in the West Wing of Somerset House, including a hot chocolate and chocolate fondues(奶酪火锅).

Royal Pavilion Ice Rink, Brighton, England
Duration: 28 October 2023—7 January 2024

Those summer scorchers at the seaside might be a distant memory, but there’s still reason to head to the coast this Christmas. Set against the city’s Indo-Saracenic-style former royal residence, Brighton’s green-energy ice rink has special free sessions for under-5s, and warming offers at the rink side Bar &Kitchen include hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Edinburgh’s Christmas Ice Rink, Edinburgh, Scotland
Duration: 17 November 2023—6 January 2024

When you’ve had enjoyed the delicious food at the Christmas Markets along Princes Street, make your way to George Street to enjoy a glide across the ice. Fixed between Castle Street and Charlotte Square, the covered r ink makes its mark with its scenic backdrop of the City Chambers.

1. What is special about Somerset House?

A．It provides free wheelchair sessions.	B．Foods are served before skating.
C．Anyone can skate there.	D．People can travel down the Ice Walk.

2. Which ice rink can offer visitors the longest open time?

A．Royal Pavilion Ice Rink.	B．Somerset House.
C．Winter Wonderland.	D．Edinburgh’s Christmas Ice Rink.

3. Who are likely to visit these places?

A．Those who enjoy delicious foods.	B．Those who are fond of shopping.
C．Those who like to travel around.	D．Those who are keen on skating.

3 . The Summer Science Program is an independent nonprofit, the only summer program operated, governed, and largely funded by its former participants and teachers, which is proof of its impact on young people for more than six decades. Many participants call it “the educational experience of a lifetime.”

What can SSP offer?

SSP offers teens an exciting and inspiring immersion into hands-on experimental science. Working in teams of three, 36 participants and 7 teachers form a supportive “living and learning community” over 39 days. Each team completes a real research project, taking and analyzing original data. Afterward, they join a worldwide network of 2,500+ alumni of all ages.

In 2024 we will operate six programs:

•three in Astrophysics: research in near-earth asteroid orbit determination at New Mexico State Univ., Univ. of Colorado Boulder, and University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

•two in Biochemistry: research in fungal crop pathogens at Purdue Univ. and Indiana Univ.

•one in Genomics: research in evolution of antibiotic resistance, at Indiana Univ.

Is SSP for you?

SSP is open to current high school juniors (and a few truly exceptional sophomores) who have completed the pre-requisites by summer, and will be at least 15 years old, but not yet 19, during the program.

Key Dates for 2024 Programs

Thursday, December 14, 2023 Applications open. We can remind you.	Friday, February 2, 2024 Deadline for international applicants-all non-U. S. citizens and U. S. citizens attending school outside the U. S.	Friday, March 1, 2024 Deadline for U. S. citizens and green card holders attending school in the U. S.
Mid-March, 2024 International admission decisions released	Mid-April, 2024 U. S. admission decisions released	2024 Programs will run mid June-end of July

1. In the 39-day program, participants will ______.

A．create hands-on science projects for teens	B．support a living and learning community
C．collect and study data to carry out a project	D．become part of a global alumni association

2. Which is a requirement for the applicants?

A．Attending a U. S. school.	B．Funding the program.
C．Holding a green card.	D．Finishing pre-requisites.

3. An overseas student had better submit the application before ______.

A．February

B．March

C．April

D．December

4 . Free Learning Tools for Self-learners

CCtalk

CCtalk is one of the most popular learning tools on your journey of self-growth and discovery. It offers over 4,000 free courses from various disciplines. One of the best things about the platform is that it is available in many other languages other than English. It also has a mobile app to keep your learning on the go.

Gaotu

Talking about learning on-the-go, Gaotu is also one of the most popular mobile learning apps. The app offers you the opportunity to learn a language in bite-sized units. Flashcards, multiple-choice questions and translation exercises help you pick up vocabulary and grammar.

Learning Communication

If you are the learner who likes text only, Learning Communication is a great resource. This site offers over 50 million e-books and textbooks on just about any subject you can think of. From an introduction to essay writing to the philosophy of artificial intelligence, Learning Communication offers you the full range of reading.

MOOC

MOOC offers self-learners more than 600 online courses, sets of teaching materials, and lecture series on its open education platform. This makes it one of the most valuable learning tools on the Internet. Unlike courses on other platforms, MOOC’s courses and lectures are not intended to introduce broad topics. Instead, learners can explore specific subjects in depth.

1. What do CCtalk and Gaotu have in common?

A．They both offer free courses.

B．They provide mobile learning.

C．They can provide various exercises.

D．They are only available in one language.

2. Which learning tool is suitable for those who enjoy reading text widely?

A．CCtalk.	B．Gaotu.
C．Learning Communication.	D．MOOC.

3. What does MOOC focus on?

A．Choosing online courses.	B．Processing teaching materials
C．Organizing broad-topic lectures.	D．Further studying concrete subjects.

5 . Visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

Vatican City is not only the smallest country in the world, but also a treasure house of art and history. You can admire the impressive fresco paintings (壁画) of the Sistine Chapel, and explore the Vatican Museums, which house a big collection of masterpieces from ancient to modern times.

Skip-the-line tickets:

The best-selling tickets for access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Skip (跳过) the line tickets with priority access.

Ticket	Type	Price	Reservation (预定)
Entrance	Full	€17.00/person	€4.00
Entrance	Reduced	€8.00/person	€4.00

Reduced tickets:

Reduced tickets are available to children from 6 to 18 years of age, as well as students between the ages of 18 and 25. It is necessary to present a formal document at the university for the current year. There are no reductions for the over 65s.

Free entry:

Admission is free for children under 6 years of age. It is also free for disabled visitors and their carers. As it is not possible to book in advance, they will have to go directly to the “Special Permits” and /or “Reception” counters located in the entrance hall of the Vatican Museums.

Visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with audio guide

Ticket	Type	Price	Reservation
Entrance +audio guide	Full	€24.00/person	€4.00
Entrance +audio guide	Reduced	€15.00/person	€4.00
Entrance +audio guide	Children (under age 6)	€13.00/person	€4.00

1. What does the Sistine Chapel feature?

A．Fresco paintings.	B．Collected treasures.
C．The natural scenery.	D．The style of buildings.

2. Which group can get reduced tickets?

A．Kids under age 6.	B．Students aged 6—25.
C．Adults aged over 65.	D．People with disabilities.

3. How much will a couple with their 5-year-old pay for the tickets with audio guide?

A．€48.00.

B．€61.00.

C．€63.00.

D．€75.00.

6 . Wonka

Paddington 2 has been hailed as one of the all-time great family films. Now its director, Paul King, and his co-writer, Simon Farnaby, have turned their attention to another much-loved British children’s book character, Willy Wonka from Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. In this musical prequel, the top-hatted Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) opens his first sweet shop, with the help of an Oompa-Loompa played by Hugh Grant.

Released from 6 December internationally

The Boy and the Heron

Hayao Miyazaki is the director of such landmark works as My Neighbour Totoro and Howl’s Moving Castle. Now aged 82, he has said that his latest film, The Boy and the Heron, will be his last. Beginning with the bombing of Tokyo during World War Two, the story moves first to the countryside and then to a magical realm reminiscent of Spirited Away.

Released on 8 December in the US and Canada, and 26 December in the UK and Ireland

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

Momoa is back as Arthur Curry, the king of Atlantis, alongside Patrick Wilson as his half-brother, Amber Heard as his girlfriend, Nicole Kidman as his mother, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as his arch-enemy, Manta. The film’s director, James Wan told Clark Collis at Entertainment Weekly, “The beauty of this movie, this Aquaman world, is that ... we are our own separate universe.”

Released from 20 December internationally

Leave the World Behind

A family is having a quiet holiday in a rented house when some uninvited visitors announce that the world is coming to an end. That was the premise of Leave the World Behind, another apocalyptic thriller adapted from a novel. It features Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke as the holidaying couple, and Mahershala Ali as the mystery man who turns up with his daughter, Myha’la Herrold. Can either family trust the other one? The film is “one of the year’s best and no doubt will spark massive amounts of conversation”, says Kristen Lopez in The Wrap.

Released on 8 December on Netflix internationally

1. Who is the director of Paddington 2?

A．Simon Farnaby

B．Hayao Miyazaki

C．Paul King

D．James Wan

2. When can you enjoy Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom?

A．from 8 December.	B．from 20 December.
C．from 6 December.	D．from 26 December.

3. What kind of passage is this?

A．News report

B．Argumentation

C．Exposition

D．Advertisement

7 .

WHO WE ARE

China Daily, China Daily Website, the China Daily App and the Discover Beautiful China platform are calling for submissions of photos, illustrations and videos from now until the end of December, 2023.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Photos, illustrations or short videos with four major themes:

■Special topic for the 2023 submissions could include specific experiences of culture or tourism you have enjoyed, including but not limited to:

＊ “Famous mountains I have explored in China”

＊ “Rivers in China that have left a deep memory for me”

＊ “I have climbed the Great Wall”

＊ “My stories of learning Chinese culture”

WHAT YOU CAN GET

1. We will select the works of individuals and organizations separately.

2. We offer three types of prize respectively for photos, illustrations and short videos.

3. Individual winners will receive cash prizes and certificates; and winning organizations will receive certificates for their distinguished contribution.

4. Some of the best works have a chance to be featured on the China Daily Website.

FORMAT OF WORKS

·PHOTO/ILLUSTRATION:

No more than 10 images, 5 MB maximum for each; with an introduction of up to 200 words in either English or Chinese, offering background information of the work.

·SHORT VIDEO:

Format: MP4 or MOV.

Size: 1 GB maximum, up to 4 minutes.

Caption: No more than 200 English or Chinese words to give a brief introduction.

Music: Music is optional for the video, but if included, it must have obtained international copyright from a legitimate source.

Quality: Clear and stable image.

1. Which of the following is qualified for the submissions?

A．“My Chinese friends in France”.

B．“My stories of the Grand Canal”.

C．“My growing coffee business in China”.

D．“My experiences of playing football in Shanghai”.

2. What will happen if you submit a short video as an individual?

A．You will be given money and certificates if you win.

B．You will compete with other individuals and organizations.

C．You will have your works displayed on the China Daily App.

D．You will be given certificates for your distinguished contribution.

3. What must be included in the submitted works?

A．A piece of music.	B．Copyright of photos.
C．A brief introduction.	D．The Chinese language.

8 . Career Day

Come Look at Your Future!

So Many Questions. . .

> What should I be when I grow up?

> What is it really like being a pharmacist?

> What kind of people sell real estate?

You’ll need to find answers to questions like these within the next four years. Get started at Career Day. Talk with people who work at a variety of interesting jobs. Find out which high school electives will best prepare you for your career interests.

Even More Answers

Think all construction (建筑) workers swing a hammer? Some do, but others specialize in pluming, electrical, tiling, carpet laying, or roofing. Some construction workers design buildings, issue permits, inspect work, or write building safety codes. Learn about the range of jobs in many different industries at Career Day.

Industries Represented

●Education

●Biotechnology

●Medicine

●Journalism

●Law Enforcement

●Accounting

●Sportscasting

●Agriculture

●Computer Technology

●Construction

●Real Estate

●Hospitality

1. What is the purpose of this flier?

A．To help students get prepared for future tests in different jobs

B．To encourage students to come to explore their possible work

C．To learn about the differences of a variety of industries

D．To get advice on learning strategies from the Counseling Office

2. What can students do at Career Day?

A．Talk with people offering jobs	B．Learn about stories of construction workers
C．Experience interesting industries	D．Discover the most suitable optional courses

3. Which industry is not included in the flier?

A．Advertising.

B．Building.

C．Medicine.

D．Agriculture.

9 . By our very rough calculations, Reader’s Digest has published some 35,000 articles in nearly 1,200 issues. These small pages have held some very big names, including U.S. presidents, world leaders, sports legends, and, indeed, the biggest contributors of all, everyday Americans with a story to tell. These are some of our proudest moments.

How to Keep Young Mentally by Mary B. Mullett

This first article in the first issue highlighted inventor Alexander Graham Bell and his belief in lifelong learning: “The first essential of any real education is to observe. Observe! Remember! Compare!” It was an appropriate beginning. reflecting our self-educated founder’s endless curiosity.

I’ve Come to Clean Your Shoes by Madge Harrah

The morning of a family funeral, an acquaintance shows up unannounced and says, “I’ve come to clean your shoes.” He spends the day quietly shining every pair in the house. The writer ends with: “Now, whenever I hear of an acquaintance who has lost a loved one. I try to think of one specific task suiting that person’s need. And if the person says, ‘How did you know I needed that done?’ I reply, ‘it’s because a man once cleaned my shoes.’”

Strange Encounter on Coho Creek by Morris Homer Erwin

A miner spends days camping in the Alaskan wilderness, working hard to earn the trust of a mother wolf stuck in a trap before she and her four pups starve to death. Eventually, he is able to free her. Four years later, he encounters a wolf in the same meadow. Yes, the same wolf. When we shared this classic on rd.com in 2019, it went viral and it has now been read by many millions online and in print.

How Honest Are We by Ralph Kinney Bennett

Our famous “wallet drop” set up the ultimate test of honesty: If we left wallets in cities around the country, how many would be returned? Well over half, it turned out—67 percent. The most honest city? Seattle, whose upstanding residents returned nine out of ten wallets.

1. What do we know about the acquaintance in the story I’ve Come to Clean Your Shoes?

A．He shows concern by cleaning shoes.

B．He cleans shoes at the owner’s request.

C．He comforts the owner by telling his own story.

D．He visits the house where the owner is severely sick.

2. Which article gained significant popularity online?

A．How to Keep Young Mentally.	B．I’ve Come to Clean Your Shoes.
C．Strange Encounter on Coho Creek.	D．How Honest Are We.

3. Where can the text be found?

A．In a history book.

B．In a magazine.

C．In a novel.

D．In a brochure.

10 . Here is a guide of what to watch in 2023.
Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One

Mission: Impossible film series has become one of the most popular action films. Even people with a limited appetite for action or Tom Cruise are often swept away by these films. The seventh chapter of the series, Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One, features even bigger stunts (特技表演) than ever before. Writer-director Christopher McQuarrie of the sixth film Mission: Impossible — Fallout is back for Dead Reckoning, which will arrive in two parts, this summer and next.

When: July 12
Elemental

If Pixar Animation Studios’ digitizers could bring emotions to vivid life in Inside Out, imagine what they can do for more physical substances like Air, Earth, Fire and Water. And if a friendship should blossom where co-existence appears a little tricky, what better way to make a case for folks learning to get along.

When: Aug. 19
The Last Voyage of the Demeter

Even if you think the story of Dracula has been done to death — or undeath, technically — the makers of this film found a new way in by cutting down the thinnest slice of Bram Stoker’s novel, namely, the chapter that takes place on the ship that, unknown to its crew, is transporting Dracula to England. Things don’t go well. Put it that way: This high-seas horror, directed by André Øvredal, has a lot of fun with different creatures.

When: Aug. 11
Being Mary Tyler Moore

With her sunny smile, humor and modest style, Mary Tyler Moore became a situation comedy queen with a 60-year career in TV, stage and film. HBO’s film reflects the reality of her life, including struggles against diseases. At times, the narrative is a bit too careful, content to only indicate the darker side of a performer.

When: May 26
1. What can we know about Dead Reckoning Part One?

A．It is an action film as well as a horror.

B．Its second part will be filmed this summer.

C．It records Tom Cruise’s life on a ship to England.

D．It shares the same director with Mission: Impossible — Fallout.

2. Which film is most suitable for children to watch?

A．Elemental.

B．Being Mary Tyler Moore.

C．The Last Voyage of the Demeter.

D．Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One.

3. What makes Being Mary Tyler Moore special?

A．It was produced 60 years ago.	B．It tells of a true person's life.
C．It reveals the dark side of society.	D．It was directed by Mary Tyler Moore.