The 2024 Competition for the Transmission and Promotion of the Beijing Central Axis
This year’s competition featured six tracks,
The competition, which is scheduled to run until mid-July, will include five stages of registration, review, preliminary, semifinal, and final rounds.
Entry details have been made available on the competition’s official website and WeChat account, seeking creative approaches to
2 . Students to Compete in 34th National Science Bowl
Thousands of students from middle and high schools across the country have committed themselves to extra study hours as they prepare to compete in the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s)34th National Science Bowl(NSB). These students are hard at work now to win their regional competitions, hoping to advance to the final competition.
The first regional event will take place on January 13th with high schools from the D. C. /Maryland area. Teams will face off in a fast-paced, question-and-answer format, and their knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics will be tested. Regionals will continue weekly until mid-March.
The winning team from each qualifying regional competition will be qualified to compete in the National Finals to be held in Washington, D. C. , from April 25-29, 2024, with all expenses paid by DOE. The national event consists of several days of science activities and sightseeing, along with the competitions.
In the National Finals, the top two teams will earn $5, 000 for their schools’ math and science departments. Schools ranking in the top 16 will receive $1, 000 for their science departments. But to many, the ultimate prize is simply the honor of winning the National Championship.
Today, the NSB annually draws more than 10, 000 middle and high school competitors. Since the first competition in 1991, approximately 344, 000 students have faced off in the NSB Finals. The 2024 competitors will follow in the footsteps of previous NSB contestants and will blaze a trail for students in science, math, and engineering. For more information, please visit the Office of Science website.
1. Which word can best describe the regional competitions?| A．Fair. | B．Interesting. | C．Special. | D．Challenging |
| A．The championship victory is highly valued. |
| B．The event only involves fierce competitions. |
| C．Most of the expenses will be covered by DOE. |
| D．The prize money will be awarded to individuals. |
| A．A news release. | B．A survey report. |
| C．A learning project. | D．A scientific review. |
3 . Great Places to Enjoy Books
Sinan Books，ChinaSinan Books offers a space for learning and thinking to the general public living in the city. Its door has red decoration, showing Sinan Books’ attitude of openness, and its reading space is beautifully decorated with yellow lights. The color green sets off the exhibition spaces. Spaces on the fourth floor are decorated with black and white colors to encourage readers to face themselves.
Paju Book City，South KoreaAs the name suggests, it’s a city of books. The bookstores make lots of book lovers come here. In particular, the yearly Booksori book festival attracts nearly one million visitors. At the festival, the organizers present Paju Book Awards to the great Asian writers, editors, and designers. Besides, you can give your old books in return for those books you want to read in these bookstores. The most popular bookstore is Bomulseom, which carries a quality selection (挑选) of Korean, English, and Japanese books, as well as magazines and albums.
Bonjinsha，JapanBonjinsha is a bookstore dedicated to (致力于) the teaching and learning of the Japanese language. The store in Tokyo has a wide variety of teaching materials for all levels, from beginners to advanced learners. If you are studying or living in Japan and need to improve your Japanese language skills, then Bonjinsha will be a good place to start. Not only is Bonjinsha an established bookstore, but it’s also a famous publishing house in Japan.
College Street，IndiaAlthough it is only 0.9 km long, there is a range of bookstores and publishers right on the street. Perhaps the most well-known bookstores in this neighborhood are Dasgupta & Co., the first bookstore on College Street founded in 1886 with a large number of rare books, and the Bani Library, a family-run business for five generations housing all kinds of textbooks related to all things academic.
1. What is unique about Sinan Books?| A．It’s more popular with teenagers. |
| B．It uses colors to create a better reading atmosphere. |
| C．It often introduces the latest good books to readers. |
| D．It often holds colorful reading festivals. |
| A．communicate with some famous writers |
| B．visit many bookstores with particular themes |
| C．get a special discount on books in Korean |
| D．exchange used books in the bookstores |
| A．Both have a small space. | B．Both encourage guests to buy used books. |
| C．Both have a long history. | D．Both offer rare books at affordable prices. |
4 . Language clubs are friendly and supportive places where like-minded students can learn and practice a different language.
Chinese Club
The Chinese Club offers chances for you to appreciate the most widely spoken language in the world. In the club, we not only have conversation hours to practice speaking Chinese, but also watch films and listen to music.
French Club
Russian Club
It is a club for both knowledge exchange and personal growth to students who want to learn about Russia. We offer a chance to discover Russian culture and history while making new friends.
Italian Club
It is a club for those who share a strong interest in Italian culture and language. Join our extra-curricular activities to meet native Italian speakers, make pizzas, and host opera workshops! We meet every Monday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Overseas Student Center.
Make new friends and join us today! For more information about the latest activities, please feel free to contact languageclubs2023@gmail.com.
| A．If you are interested in museum visits |
| B．Here are some clubs that you need to know |
| C．Moreover, we also celebrate traditional festivals |
| D．It is a club for those who long to learn cooking skills |
| E．Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced speaker |
| F．Besides cultural events, we also run many weekly lessons |
| G．It is a club offering group events about language and history |
5 . We’ve collected some of the greatest royal (皇家的) palaces and castles to visit in Britain. Here are our picks.
Windsor Castle, Berkshire
Windsor Castle is the oldest castle in the world. It used to be an official accommodation for Her Majesty the Queen and was the place where the wedding of Prince Hary and Meghan Markle was held. The site of Windsor Castle was chosen and built by William in around 1070 to guard the western ways to London from a possible attack.
Open all year round to the public.
Buckingham Palace, Westminster
The official accommodation of the King and Queen and one of Britain’s most recognized historic sites, Buckingham Palace is often used for national celebrations and events. It was bought in 1761 by George II for his wife Queen Charlotte.
Buckingham Palace is open to the public during the summer months and for a limited number of tours in December, January and at Easter each year.
Kew Palace, Richmond-Upon-Thames
Sitting on the banks of the River Thames in London, Kew Palace might be the smallest of the royal palaces. With the big Kew Gardens around, the palace was built in 1631 for the London silk businessman, Samuel Fortreas.
Kew Palace is open for the summer season.
Hampton Court Palace, Surrey
Set on the edge of the River Thames, Hampton Court Palace in Surrey was a Tudor palace created by Cardinal Wlosey in the early 16th century and was once home to Henry VII over the years. There are beautiful gardens nearby and the palace was opened to the public in 1838 by Queen Victoria.
Open all year round, except 24-26 December.
1. Why was Windsor Castle built?| A．To promote western culture. |
| B．To find new ways to the west. |
| C．To guard London from attacks. |
| D．To protect the roads to London. |
| A．They are very small. |
| B．They are near the River Thames. |
| C．They were built by a businessman. |
| D．They were opened to the public by a Queen. |
| A．Windsor Castle. | B．Buckingham Palace. |
| C．Kew Palace. | D．Hampton Court Palace. |
6 . Strawberry U-Pick at the Boyd Farm
Strawberry U-Pick Season is starting! For now, we are open Monday to Friday from 10 a. m. to 3: 30 p. m. and every weekend from 9 a. m. to 5: 30 p. m. !
Not only do we have our u-pick strawberry fields, we also have fresh produce, prepicked strawberries, snacks and other farm goodies for you to buy. We also have lots of fun activities for the family—hayride with the cows, horse ride, animals to pet and feed, swings, slide, sand pile, corn hole, corn pile and more!
AdmissionAdmission is $5/person (3 and under free)
Admission includes:
◆Access to u-pick fields
◆Access to swings, corn hole, sand pile, slide, corn pile and petting zoo
◆1 pound of free-to-take-home strawberries
Admission does not include:
◆Hayride with the cows—$5/person
◆Horse ride—$3/person
◆Animal feed—$2/cup
Important information
★Please don’t leave children unattended in strawberry fields and please don’t walk on the plant beds.
★We recommend bringing something to carry berries home to cut down on waste, but we will have plastic bags if needed.
★Usually strawberry season runs through April. This is entirely weather dependent, however.
★We recommend sunscreen / hat / water / closed-toed shoes!
★Pets are not allowed in the fields due to Food Safety regulations.
1. When is the Boyd Farm open to the public in April?
| A．9 a. m. Monday. | B．5 p. m. Tuesday. |
| C．4p. m. Friday. | D．10 a. m. Sunday. |
| A．Hayride. | B．Horse ride. |
| C．Corn pile. | D．Feeding animals. |
| A．Bringing their pets. | B．Wearing open-toed shoes. |
| C．Playing in strawberry fields. | D．Taking their own strawberry containers. |
7 . The Bicycle Adventure Club (BAC) is a non-profit, bicycle touring club for serious cyclists with a current membership outnumbering several thousand. Members volunteer to create and lead a variety of bicycle tours. Our club goes back over 40 years to the Bicycle Touring Society. We have a large number of members who have been with the club for many years. We enjoy the fellowship of exploring the world with our cycling friends on tours developed by club members for other members.
Membership in BAC is open to experienced touring cyclists over 18 years old. The membership fee to join is $ 30 for an individual and $ 60 for a couple; renewal fees each year after that are $20 for individuals and $40 for couples and is due on the anniversary of your join date. Members that allow their membership to stop will need to rejoin the BAC at the full rate. Only BAC members can sign up for and participate in rides. New BAC members are required to have email access in order to receive club communications and to apply for club rides.
Each rider brings his/her own bicycle or rents one suitable for the ride. The bicycle should be in good condition and each rider is responsible for performing his or her own bike maintenance (维护) as necessary. It is up to each participant to determine that he or she is able to do any ride for which they sign up. However, the ride leader makes the final determination as to who is accepted for each ride.
If you’re a serious cyclist and this sounds like your type of club, please join us.
1. What can we learn about the Bicycle Adventure Club?| A．It is highly popular. | B．It is highly profitable. | C．It is newly-founded. | D．It is privately-owned. |
| A．$ 60. | B．$ 30. | C．$ 20. | D．$ 40. |
| A．To recommend a travel agency. | B．To explain an eco-friendly tour. |
| C．To encourage outdoor activities. | D．To introduce a bicycle touring club. |
8 . Using dozens of cameras set up throughout Sweden’s big forests, weeks-long live broadcasts (电视节目) of deer and other wild animals have caught Swedish audiences’ hearts. As three deer nervously come to a lake on screen, comments on the live TV program flood in. “Go on!”; “Jump in!”; “They’re beautiful!” The program Den stora älgvandringen has attracted a large community that watches and comments on the animals’ every move.
Den stora älgvandringen is another example of the so-called “slow TV”, where things are just left to happen at their own pace (节奏). Broadcast for a few weeks each spring on TV and online, the video is recorded in real time from a control room lined with screens. Teams work day and night to offer different viewpoints from 30 cameras, some of which can be controlled from a distance. “We can’t decide what happens. We don’t want everything to be perfect. I mean that this is nature and anything can happen. And we really want to show what it is like,” producer Johan Erhag said. “On all the social media, most things are very stressful. There’s a lot of music in programs. There’s a lot of speaking. But this program is the totally opposite way.”
A hunter in his spare time, Persson said he enjoys the slow and natural pace of the show. “It’s kind of calming and also interesting. It’s basically wind blowing and you are waiting for something hopefully to show up. You might think that a day spent waiting would be a day lost but it’s not. Instead, it could be an activity that is quite healthy for more people,” Persson said.
“After watching the program, I find there are many things to look at and feel about nature,” Anders Lindberg, a columnist said. “The whole idea of sitting and watching nothing happening for hours in nature is wonderful. We can practice meditation (冥想), which ] think for many people is something they lack in big cities. Nature could be a powerful tool used to bridge the gap between the mind and the body, making us feel close to the world around us.”
1. What is special about Den stora älgvandringen?| A．It features animals’ fun activities. |
| B．It follows wild animals’ life in a natural way. |
| C．It records animal experiments in natural settings. |
| D．It uses digital sound effects to impress the viewers. |
| A．It teaches him to protect animals. |
| B．It gives him a sense of achievement. |
| C．It brings him pleasure and relaxation. |
| D．It causes him to pay attention to health. |
| A．By showing humans’ role in wildlife care. |
| B．By raising their interest in outdoor activities. |
| C．By speeding up local tourism development. |
| D．By encouraging a deeper connection with nature. |
| A．Sweden calls for wildlife protection. |
| B．A realistic nature TV show attracts attention. |
| C．The beauty of Swedish forests comes into sight. |
| D．Directors show their creativity in a slow TV program. |
9 . Many libraries around the world are as amazing in their architecture and organization as they are in the huge amount of knowledge they contain. With shelves and shelves of books, various collections and amazing historical and cultural displays, there are plenty of undiscovered wonders.
Beinecke Rare Book Library (New Haven, Connecticut)
Yale University has one of the most beautiful college campuses in America, and one of its most interesting features is the Beinecke Rare Book Library. It is one of the largest buildings in the world devoted to rare books and manuscripts (手稿) of famous people. From 2015-16 the library building was closed for 18 months for major improvement. Inside there is a statue of its main founder that rises up high.
Vennesla Library (Vennesla, Norway)
Located near the southernmost tip of Norway, Vennesla Library is more than a collection of books—it’s a city cultural center and meeting place. The building hosts a coffee shop, open meeting spaces, classrooms for children and adult education courses, and a cinema. It is mainly built out of wood. The long, thin beams (横梁) on the inside were designed to look like the inside of a whale.
Suzzallo Library (Seattle)
Among the many beautiful features of the campus at the University of Washington, such as its cherry flowers and a light rail station, Suzzallo Library was built in the Collegiate Gothic style. Its buttresses (扶壁) are decorated with 18 statues featuring famous academics and writers such as Plato, Shakespeare, Leonardo da Vinci, Dante, Galileo, Beethoven, Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.
Library of Muyinga (Muyinga, Burundi)
A school for deaf children, the Library of Muyinga in Burundi was built with local techniques and traditions. A rope hammock (吊床) that hangs between the first and second floors of the library serves as part of the children’s reading room, a great place for indoor activities.
More information of them is just a click away.
1. Which one is suitable for people who want to appreciate statues?| A．Beinecke Rare Book Library. | B．Vennesla Library. |
| C．Suzzallo Library. | D．Library of Muyinga. |
| A．It is mainly intended for children. | B．It is built in the shape of a whale. |
| C．It is located within the campus. | D．It is a kind of culture complex. |
| A．A culture magazine | B．A travel brochure. |
| C．A website. | D．A historical book. |
10 . Many small American cities are famous for their friendliness and charm, but there are several places known for their unique history or culture.
Scottsboro, Alabama
Have you ever wondered what happens to unclaimed (无人认领的) baggage left behind on domestic (国内的) flights? This Alabama town is known as The Lost Luggage Capital of the World thanks to the Unclaimed Baggage Center, where lost items such as snow skis and instruments are for sale. In addition to the store, the city’s parks and heritage centers are popular places to visit.
Branson, Missouri
Located in the beautiful Ozark Mountains, Branson is known for its live entertainment, with shows covering a wide range of music genres. It attracts over 9 million visitors each year. When the best-selling novel, The Shepherd of the Hills, written by Harold Bell Wright, was published in 1907, many readers rushed to the Ozark Mountains to experience its famous views.
Solvang, California
This city is located in the Santa Ynez Valley. It was founded by several Danish people in the early 1900s who built dozens of structures in the Danish Provincial style and turned it into a European utopia (乌托邦). Its Danish-inspired restaurants, local shops, windmills, and a horse-drawn streetcar add to its storybook-like charm.
Ferndale, California
This Victorian town is still in good condition. It has served as a filming location for major movies such as Joe Dirt and The Majestic. It’s a registered California Historical Landmark known for its art, music and DIY culture, containing dozens of Victorian storefronts (店面) and homes. The magical charm of Ferndale is on full display during Christmas time as it features the lighting of America’s tallest living Christmas tree.
1. What can visitors do in Scottsboro?| A．Get a unique shopping experience. | B．Participate in various winter sports. |
| C．Talk with well-known musicians. | D．Explore the history of American flights. |
| A．Branson. | B．Scottsboro. | C．Solvang. | D．Ferndale. |
| A．Tourists can taste Danish specialties there. |
| B．Some historical buildings are well kept there. |
| C．It has attracted the attention of many writers. |
| D．It hosts the biggest Christmas celebration in America. |
