1. Which course is the most popular according to the speaker?
| A．The Study Skills course. |
| B．The Application Help course. |
| C．The Advanced Testing course. |
| A．$150. | B．$200. | C．$250. |
| A．Go to the Chicago office. | B．Fill out a form online. | C．Call an advisor. |
1. What is the main feature of LearnEnglish courses?
| A．The fun. | B．The low prices. | C．The flexibility. |
| A．Help choose a course. | B．Offer extra written work. | C．Guide the learners’ habits. |
| A．As soon as you register. |
| B．After you pass a language test. |
| C．Before you take the taster lesson. |
| A．Ways of learning English. | B．Special online courses. | C．Technology and English. |
3 . Citizen science gives curious people the opportunity to become extra sets of hands, eyes and ears in real scientific research. Bringing many people together to document endangered species, monitor water quality or watch the stars makes it possible to do science on large scales and tackle bigger research questions. Here are just five of the hundreds of citizen science projects that you can participate in.
Nature’s NotebookVolunteers in this project “take the pulse of the planet” by documenting changes in plants, animals and insects to help scientists understand how ecosystems are being affected by climate change. You can join a regional campaign like Mayfly Watch or Pesky Plant Trackers, or choose from over 1, 400 species to watch in North America. Then, log your observations on the Nature’s Notebook mobile app.
Crowd the TapVolunteers test the water and pipes in their homes so researchers can map the pipe infrastructure in the United States and identify polluted water supplies. All you need is a penny and a magnet (to determine whether pipes are made of steel, copper, plastic or lead, which is not always obvious visually) . You can also share observations about your tap water like color, smell and taste. If you live near a participating library or school, you can check out a kit to test your water chemistry.
GLOBE ObserverThe NASA-sponsored GLOBE project seeks to understand our changing environment and climate through crowd-sourced observations. The project is app-based, and users can upload observations about clouds, mosquito habitat, trees or land cover to give researchers a global picture of how our planet is changing over time.
The Happiness ProjectHelp psychology researchers understand the relationship between happiness and decision-making by playing games. All you need to participate is the project’s smartphone app to access games that subtly investigate how players approach risky decisions, while periodically asking them to rate their happiness level. Game and happiness scores become data that researchers use to figure out how expectations contribute to happiness.
Exoplanet WatchExperiment time on big telescopes like Hubble is precious, so NASA needs backyard astronomers to help researchers narrow down when and where to turn their sights to find planets outside of our solar system. Every day, the project posts new exoplanet targets for volunteers to keep an eye on. If you don’t have a telescope, you can still aid the search by analyzing data from others’ observations.
1. What is the primary purpose of citizen science projects, as described in the article?| A．To provide volunteers with opportunities to learn about scientific research. |
| B．To allow scientists to rely on volunteers for data analysis. |
| C．To engage curious individuals in scientific research. |
| D．To highlight the importance of citizens’ contribution to science. |
| A．Monitor the heart rates of endangered species. |
| B．Record changes in ecosystems to assess the impact of climate change. |
| C．Observe the behavior of insects and animals. |
| D．Launch a campaign to raise awareness about climate change. |
| A．Crowd the Tap aims to raise people’s awareness about water-related diseases. |
| B．Exoplanet Watch relies only on professional astronomers to search for exoplanets. |
| C．The Happiness Project investigates the relationship between happiness and games. |
| D．GLOBE Observer collects observations about our changing environment through an app-based platform. |
4 . Family-Friendly Events in January
ZooLights: Glow Wild Jan.1-19
The Phoenix Zoo’s yearly holiday light show is on until Jan.19, allowing families one or more opportunities to enjoy the city’s zoo, with millions of lights giving an added dimension to the festivities.
Glow Wild, 455N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, phoenixzoo. org, $11. 95 members, $13. 95 general admission.
Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts Jan.4-18
The Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts features the work of established and emerging artists, including those who create woodwork, metal crafts, food items, art, photography and gifts.
On Macdonald, off of Main Street in Downtown Mesa, dtmesa fest. com, free admission.
Family Fun Winterfest Jan.4
Ody Sea Aquarium in the Desert is hosting the third annual Family Fun Winter fest in its Desert Courtyard, featuring real snow for the kids to play in. This free event features everything from bounce houses to rides, games, snowflake crafts and face painting to go with various stands set up by local sellers, with food and other offerings for sale at the event.
9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, od yseainthedesert. com, free.
Youth Fine Arts Course Jan.18-Mar.7
Mesa Arts Center is hosting an eight-week youth arts course on Saturdays to teach artistic skills and knowledge through fun and challenging art classes in a wide variety of art materials, including painting, drawing, mixed media and sculpture, ensuring mentally stimulating sessions for all.
Mesa Art Center. 1 E. Main St. Mess, mesaartscenter. com. $93.
1. What is an advantage of becoming a member of Phoenix Zoo?| A．Free admission. | B．Hosting the light show. |
| C．Getting a discounted ticket. | D．Being allowed to enjoy the zoo. |
| A．$93. | B．$186. | C．$744. | D．Free of charge. |
| A．The Phoenixzoo. | B．Downtown Mesa. |
| C．Desert Courtyard. | D．Mesa Arts Center. |
5 . Magazines make great reading materials for kids. Libraries often have a large selection of periodicals (期刊) for every age group and reading level, and for many areas of interest. And some magazines may even have issues going back years and even decades! Below is a list of some of them!
Military Kids LifeIt is about finding the bright side of life as a military kid! Inside each quarterly issue, your child will encounter inspiring stories, articles, and photographs! (8 to 16 years)
FacesWith articles, folk tales, and hands-on projects, Faces magazine takes young readers around the world for an honest and objective view of how children in other regions live. (9 to 14 years)
MakeMake magazine publishes tested projects, skill-building tutorials, in-depth reviews and inspirational stories, accessible by all ages and skill ranges. (9 to 18 years)
BrioBrio magazine for teen girls has a fresh new look that includes more pages filled with inspiring profiles, cultural insights, health & beauty tips, faith-filled features and added fun! (13 to 18 years)
Please note: Though all the magazines on this list are written for children, some issues may contain content that you may feel inappropriate for your child. As always, please review all reading materials before giving them to your child to read.
1. Which magazine can help develop kids’ international awareness?| A．Faces. | B．Make. |
| C．Brio. | D．Military Kids Life. |
| A．All the magazines are proper for children. |
| B．Magazines are usually published for children. |
| C．Some magazines have back issues in libraries. |
| D．Only magazines for kids are accessible in libraries. |
| A．To argue. | B．To inform. |
| C．To entertain. | D．To persuade. |
6 . The news industry has had a rough decade. Print readership is steadily declining, newspapers are closing, and journalists with decades of experience are being laid off. In response, major newspapers have made significant changes. They’re attempting to combat declining reader interest by shortening stories, creating clickbait (诱饵性标题), and most especially, using social media to their advantage.
With the rise of social media sites, many people have claimed that we are entering a new age in which news must be delivered in 140 characters or fewer. People’s ability to focus on long-form content and engage in deep reading has also been declining due to the endless distractions and excessive information in today’s world. This change in reading habits has led to a preference for short, easily understood news pieces that can be quickly consumed. To interest a more specific and generally younger readership, newspapers have revised content, prioritizing articles that are visually appealing instead of having depth.
But, in reality, there is still a demand for in-depth reporting. In this era of misinformation and clickbait, readers are seeking reliable sources of news that provide context, analysis, and accountability. Depth reporting explores the fundamental causes, involves multiple perspectives, and uncovers the hidden truths that shape our world, helping readers get a more comprehensive understanding of complicated matters.
While social media have changed the way we consume news, the quality of news remains essential for the public. It’s crucial for the news industry to achieve a balance between catering to changing reader preferences while also maintaining the integrity (完整性) of news. This means providing both quick updates and in-depth analysis, and using social media to promote their content, but not at the expense of accuracy or integrity. By doing so, news organizations can ensure that they remain relevant and trusted sources of information in a rapidly changing media environment.
1. What problem does traditional news industry face?| A．The decline of readership. | B．The lack of long-form stories. |
| C．The spread of unreliable information. | D．The shortage of experienced journalists. |
| A．Checking out. | B．Cutting down. |
| C．Paying no attention to. | D．Attaching importance to. |
| A．People’s need for in-depth reporting is decreasing. |
| B．Social media has played a key role in promoting hidden facts. |
| C．Clickbait greatly increases readers’ interests in exploring truths. |
| D．In-depth reporting can improve readers’ comprehension of complex issues. |
| A．providing quick updates and focusing on popular topics |
| B．stating matters in multiple perspectives and shortening articles |
| C．satisfying readers’ preferences and ensuring the quality of news |
| D．widening news sources and maintaining the accuracy of contents |
7 . Branding Events of China Daily
Since its launch in 1981, China Daily has grown to become the nation’s leading English-language newspaper. With a combined print, online and mobile readership of more than 350 million, it serves a vital role in telling the world about China, providing a valuable insight into the world’s second largest economy. A series of branding events are conducted by China Daily to improve public diplomacy and international communication.
Vision China Lectures
A series of talks are organized by China Daily in which leading political and business figures are invited to speak and interact live with domestic and foreign audiences. The Vision China lectures focus on major issues facing China and the world, explore what Chinas story means for the world, and show how Chinese wisdom can help the world.
China Watch Think Tank Forum
Elites, including opinion leaders, politicians and business people with expertise on China, discuss topics on the development and the future of China and the world in China Watch Think Tank Forum.
Asia Leadership Roundtable
Asia Leadership Roundtable provides a platform for high-level dialog and communication among leaders and social elites in the fields of politics, business and academia in Asia.
“21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition
The competition is the most famous English-speaking competition in China. It is the qualifying round for students who wish to represent China in the International Public Speaking Competition in London.
For more details, click here.
1. What’s the main purpose of launching China Daily?| A．To hold various branding events. |
| B．To promote interpersonal communication. |
| C．To combine the print, online and mobile readership. |
| D．To help people around the globe know China better. |
| A．They involve politicians and business people. |
| B．They focus on major issues facing China and the world. |
| C．They provide a platform for celebrities to compete against each other. |
| D．They discuss topics on the development and the future of China and the world. |
| A．A newspaper. | B．A textbook. | C．A website. | D．A magazine. |
8 . We have house rules to make LearnEnglish a fun and safe place to improve your English, so please make sure you follow these rules.
The age requirementWe welcome learners from around the world who are at least 18 years old. If you are 12 or younger, please use LearnEnglish Kids; if you are 13—17, please use LearnEnglish teens.
...What is the purpose of these rules?
| A．To create a good English-learning environment. |
| B．To encourage everyone to learn English. |
| C．Keep in line with Internet laws. |
| D．To respect users of the website. |
9 . The more you meditate and achieve mindfulness, the better you’ll feel. There are many free meditation apps. that offer guided sessions and calming playlists.
The Mindfulness
Meditation beginners and experts alike will find lots of options with The Mindfulness. A 5-day guided practice and introduction to mindfulness can help you get started, and silent meditations from 3 to 30 minutes can suit a busy lifestyle. The app also offers personalized meditation options, reminders to keep you mindful throughout the day, and statistics to track in your meditation journal. This app offers free contents. Premium access (高级会员) costs about $10 per month or $ 60 per year.
Insight Timer
The app offers a multitude (众多) of meditation bells and calming musical notes during self-guided meditations. Featuring a variety of professional instructors and courses, Insight Timer also offers more contents for free users than other apps. Although the free option is extensive, the premium version offers courses, downloadable meditations, night mode, and daily insights.
Smiling Mind
It is an evidence-based, not-for-profit mindfulness app with over 300 totally free meditations and mindfulness programs for both adults and children. Its mission is simple: “To provide accessible, life-long tools to support healthy minds” in schools, at home, and in the workplace. Smiling Mind is extremely beginner-friendly, and you can start from scratch, learning about what mindfulness means, how it works, the research behind it, and primer meditation sessions.
Breethe: Meditation Sleep
A nice feature about Breethe is the calming background music that plays while the app is open. even without opening a meditation or music. Breethe offers a lot of sleep contents, including visualizations and bedtime stories. The app does offer a few 7-day courses for free, but the majority (1.000 -plus meditations) is locked behind the paywall.
1. Which app is completely free of charge?| A．The Mindfulness | B．Insight Timer. |
| C．Smiling Mind. | D．Breethe: Meditation Sleep. |
| A．It provides courses for beginners. | B．It provides calming music. |
| C．It has a special section intended for kids. | D．It keeps records of your meditation practice. |
| A．They have a night mode set. |
| B．They provide contents on sleep. |
| C．They have calming background music. |
| D．They offer free contents for advanced learners. |
10 . Every year, young, talented, and ambitious nature conservationists (自然环境保护主义者) from all over the world participate in the presentation of the Future For Nature (FFN) Award, an honorable international award.
The Future For Nature aims to:
·Reward and fund individuals for their outstanding efforts in the protection of species of wildlife
·Encourage winners to sustain their dedicated work.
·Help winners to raise their profiles, extend their professional network and strengthen their funding basis.
Benefits
·The winners each receive 50, 000 euros and may make their own decision to spend the money in the service of nature conservation.
·FFN offers the winners a platform and brings their stories to the attention of conservationists, financiers and a wide audience, allowing them to increase their impact and gain more access to funds.
·FFN is building a growing family of winners, dedicated people who form a community of people with the same interest. FFN offers them the opportunity to meet each other and continue to learn with each other in order to continue their fight for nature as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Qualifications
The candidate (候选人) :
·Must be born on or after the 31st May 1988 and before the 28th of August 2005.
·Is able to explain his/her conservation work in fluent English (written and spoken)
·Has achieved substantial and long-term benefits to the conservation status of one or more animal or plant species.
·Must be determined to continue his/her conservation work, as the Award aims to stimulate (激励) the winner’s future work. It is not an “end of career” prize.
Additional Remarks
For the 2024 Future For Future Awards, we are again searching for natural leaders, who have proven that they can make a difference in species’ survival.
From all applications, 6 to 10 nominees (被提名者) will be selected. These applicants will be asked to provide additional information, which will be used to select the final Awardees. Ultimately, three inspiring wildlife heroes are selected as the winners.
Application Process: Apply online through the Apply Now link
Application Deadline: 28th August, 2023
1. Which is one of the aims of the Future For Nature?| A．To help more green groups. | B．To fund academic education. |
| C．To inspire conservation efforts. | D．To raise environmental awareness. |
| A．ask experts for advice | B．meet those with same interest |
| C．benefit the local community | D．promote self-created platforms |
| A．meet the age requirement | B．apply via mail by the deadline |
| C．hand in the application in English | D．provide additional personal information |
