1 . Featured August Programs in the National Portrait Gallery
Kinship: An Artist Talk with Sedrick Huckaby
Join us for an artist talk with Sedrick Huckaby, whose life-size paintings and sculptures refer to universal human connections and honor figures central to his life — his family members and those close to him. The artist will discuss the importance of community and kin (亲属) to his practice. This event will take place in Sedrick Huckaby’s Kinship gallery space from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 5.
Weekend Workshop: Mindfulness in the Museum
Join Art Educator Sean Murphy for an interactive workshop in mindfulness and art. Inspired by the exhibition, Kinship, participants will be guided through breathing exercises, and a mindfulness activity before visiting the galleries and creating their own mindfulness books. This workshop will take place in G Street Lobby from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 12.
Expressive Arts Workshop: Family Memory Box
Family memories can connect us to those important in our lives. Join us in this interactive art making workshop to create “family memory boxes” to hold special photos, items, and memories of loved ones. No previous art making experience is required. This workshop will take place in G Street Lobby from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Aug. 19.
Virtual Portrait Signs: A Tour in ASL
Join us for a virtual tour of 1898: Imperial Vision and Revisions, which is the first major Smithsonian museum exhibition to examine the War of 1898 and the legacy of this controversial chapter in history. This deaf-led presentation will include voice interpretation. This exhibition will take place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 19. The Zoom link will be emailed on the morning of the program. Questions? Please email Jonesve@si.edu.
1. Which programs share the same theme?| A．Family Memory Box and A Tour in ASL. |
| B．Mindfulness in the Museum and Family Memory Box. |
| C．An Artist Talk with Sedrick Huckaby and Family Memory Box. |
| D．An Artist Talk with Sedrick Huckaby and Mindfulness in the Museum. |
| A．It is the first major Smithsonian museum exhibition. |
| B．Its presentation will be emailed to visitors. |
| C．It is an in-gallery tour led by the deaf. |
| D．It is friendly to hearing challenged people. |
| A．To provide people with some places to visit. |
| B．To involve more people in the programs. |
| C．To train more people to become artists. |
| D．To introduce the gallery to visitors. |
2 . The following is the information of some excellent hotels at the famous resort (度假胜地) for skiers in Italy.
Hotel Ela
£550 per person
The hotel Ela lies in the center of the resort, only 100 m from the main ski lift and 300 m from the ski school meeting point. It is ideal for those who prefer a hotel which is very close to all the resort’s action.
Rooms (2-4 people): Twin rooms with cable TV, hairdryer, shower and WC. All rooms have recently been redecorated.
Hotel Sport
£540 per person
It is near shops, bars and restaurants. The hotel is a great choice for those looking for lively nightlife. The famous bar is just on the ground floor.
Rooms (2-4 people): All rooms are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors and have hairdryer, mini-safe, satellite TV, shower and WC.
Please note: This hotel doesn’t accept groups larger than 6 people.
Hotel Xalet Verdu
£559 per person
It is an attractive hotel decorated in the traditional style and offers comfortable accommodation. The atmosphere is welcoming. It is 300m from the main ski lift and the village center.
Garage: £10 a day
64 rooms: Twin or double bedrooms with shower, hairdryer, satellite TV, telephone and safe.
Villa Cary Hotel
£540 per person
The Villa Cary is a small but well located hotel with comfortable rooms for two people making it ideal for couples. You’re guaranteed a warm welcome from the English owner.
Rooms (2 people): Pleasantly furnished double bedrooms with cable TV, mini-safe and bathrooms with shower and WC.
1. What is the benefit of staying in Hotel Ela?| A．It’s the cheapest of all the hotels. |
| B．It’s the best among all the hotels. |
| C．It’s convenient for the resort’s activities. |
| D．It has rooms with cable TV and a hairdryer. |
| A．Guests can enjoy the exciting nightlife there. |
| B．All its rooms have just been redecorated. |
| C．It sometimes offers free accommodation. |
| D．It is the largest of all the hotels. |
| A．£90. | B．£70. | C．£30. | D．£10. |
| A．Hotel Ela. | B．Hotel Sport. |
| C．Villa Cary Hotel. | D．Hotel Xalet Verdu. |
| A．Hotel Ela. | B．Hotel Sport. |
| C．Villa Cary Hotel. | D．Hotel Xalet Verdu. |
3 . Intercity Sleeper Between London and Scotland
Most tickets may be used for travel by Sleeper, subject to availability; and a reservation in a two-berth cabin can be made for £25, except in the case of Solo and Special tickets, which include Sleeper reservations in the fare. The price includes early morning tea or coffee and biscuits. A continental or hot breakfast can be ordered if you wish.
Choose from a range of tickets to suit your journey.
| A — SuperApex Only available for travel after 9 a. m. Book at least 2 weeks ahead and travel between Edinburgh or Glasgow and London for the unbeatable price of £59 return. This ticket is non-refundable unless the service is cancelled. |  |
| B — Apex A real bargain fare. Only £69 return between Edinburgh or Glasgow and London. Great value Sleeper travel available by booking at least a week before outward travel. Ticket refundable on payment of a 25% administrative charge. | E — Solo Treat yourself and enjoy exclusive use of a Standard cabin. Solo is an inclusive return travel ticket with Sleeper reservations for one or both directions. Outward and return reservations should be made at the time of booking. The journey must include al Saturday night away. £140—160 London to Edinburgh/Glasgow return. |
C — SuperSaver Available right up to the day of travel and valid any day except these peak days: all Fridays, also 18—30 December, 31 March and 28 May. Departures between midnight and 2am count as previous day’s departures. London to Glasgow or Edinburgh £82. | F — Special Special is an inclusive return travel package for two people including sleeper reservations for one or both directions. It can mean savings for both of you. Outward and return reservations should be made at the time of booking. From £120. |
D — Saver This flexible ticket is valid every day and can be bought on the day of travel. Your ticket allows standard class travel on any train between 10 a. m. and midnight. No seat reservations available. London to Glasgow or Edinburgh £95. | G — Standard Not the cheapest option but available up to the time of travel and valid for all trains and at all times. You are advised to turn up early for travel on a Friday. |
| A．This can only be booked up to one week before departure. |
| B．This is not available if you’ re travelling out between 8 a. m. and 9 a. m. |
| C．It’s the cheapest ticket available but there is a restriction on departure time. |
| D．If you decide not to travel after you have bought the ticket, you cannot get your money back. |
| A．SuperSaver. | B．Saver. | C．Special. | D．Standard. |
| A．Tourism Bureau. | B．Transportation Bureau. |
| C．Advertising Bureau. | D．Finance Bureau. |
4 . Guan Shanyue Art Museum
Shenzhen artists are sending hope and gratitude to the Chinese CovID-19 frontline workers through 215 artworks at the “We Are Together”exhibition running until May 17. The paintings, sculptures, photographs and music videos show medical workers, delivery men, cleaners, police officers and volunteers working tirelessly during the outbreak. Meanwhile, a selection of master Quan Shanyue’s paintings featuring flowers and birds are also on display until July.
Hours: 9 a. m. -12 pm; 2 pm. 4. 30 p. m. closed Mondays.
He Xiangning Art Museum
Selected paintings by master He Xiangning are offering an in-depth review of her revolutionary and artistic career. The paintings mainly portray plum blossoms, pine trees, lions, tigers, and landscapes. Meanwhile, contemporary Chinese oil paintings produced in the past 30 years are also on display at the “As Times Go By”exhibition until May 5.
Hours: 9:30 a. m. - 4:30 p. m. , closed Mondays.
MixC Shenzhen Bay
The ”Fantastic Dali” exhibition, running until May 5, presents an unimaginable world of 200 artworks by Spanish master Salvador Dali. Another exhibition running until May 28 features painting “Along the River During the Qingming Festival” by Ming artist Qiu Ying(1494-1552)and vivid scenes for visitors to take photos.
Hours(Dali): 10 a. m. -7 p. m. (Mon. -Fri.), 10 a. m. -9 p. m. (Sat.-Sun)
Hours(Qiu Ying): 10 a. m. -9 p. m. , closed Mondays.
1. What are on exhibition in Guan Shanyue Art Museum?| A．Artworks by a Spanish master. | B．Paintings featuring landscapes. |
| C．Music videos showing lions. | D．Artworks honoring COVID-19 fighters. |
| A．“Fantastic Dali”. |
| B．“We Are Together”. |
| C．“As Times Go By”. |
| D．“Along the River During the Qingming Festival”. |
| A．A travel journal. | B．An art website |
| C．A painting album. | D．A comic book. |
NYC Parks offers a variety of events, programs and activities made with kids especially in mind. Children will have plenty to keep them active throughout the year no matter what their interests are.
Jr. Knicks Basketball Clinic (培训班)
8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.
Instructor: Jonathan Ogeleza
Location: Sorrentino Recreation Center
This instructional basketball clinic will provide an opportunity for youth, regardless of skill, to have a positive basketball experience. Children will have the opportunity to learn and practice their basketball skills through a series of training. This specific clinic is for youth ages 10-12.
Fort Tryon Kids Art: Winter Craft Workshop
11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Ages 5-12
Location: J. Hood Wright Recreation Center
Identify the year-round birds found in Fort Tryon Park and find out which evergreen plants support them in the park. Then, create bird feeders for your home with local artist Jessica Maffia to help birds during the cold winter months!
TEEN Word Game Hour
4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Instructor: Sidikha Ashraf
Location: Al Oerter Recreation Center
Do you love word games? Welcome to Word Game Hour! Play a variety of word games outside of the classics and build that already impressive vocabulary of yours. If you've never played a word game before, then we want you to come even more. This isn't just for professionals. This is for fun!
Share, Grow and Give on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Location: Randall's Island Park
In 1958, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Harlem for the signing of his book, Stride Toward Freedom. Join us on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Randall's Island Park. We will create a community collage (拼贴画) centered around excerpts (节选) from Dr. King's book. Keeping with the essence of Martin Luther King Jr. Day being a day of service, there will also be an opportunity to keep our park clean and beautiful.
1. What do we know about the program instructed by Jonathan Ogeleza?| A．It asks children to protect birds. |
| B．B. It is held at Randall's Island Park. |
| C．It is designed for children ages 5 to 10. |
| D．It helps kids to develop their basketball skills. |
| A．4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. | B．1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. |
| C．8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. | D．11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. |
| A．TEEN Word Game Hour. |
| B．Jr. Knicks Basketball Clinic. |
| C．Fort Tryon Kids Art: Winter Craft Workshop. |
| D．Share, Grow and Give on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. |
6 . It’s Thanksgiving, which means a lot of family time. Here are some movies that will be fun for the whole family.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 – Since the book series is so popular, and so is Jennifer Lawrence, you’re likely to have someone in the family who wants to go to the theaters to finish the games. This one tests the limits of PG-13 (适合13岁以上的电影) in its intensity, though, so be careful of that if you’re taking some little ones.
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences (镜头) of violence and action, and for some thematic material
Availability: In theaters everywhere
The Good Dinosaur – Another great choice for adults and kids alike, Pixar’s latest offering goes back millions of years when dinosaurs weren’t destroyed by a small planet that hit Earth. We follow a little dinosaur named Arlo who must learn to face his fears when he gets separated from his family. It’s a touching story for the whole family, so make sure you bring some tissues (纸巾) for the tears that will eventually come out of your face.
Rating: PG for peril (危险), action and thematic clements
Availability: In theaters everywhere
Love the Coopers – Olivia Wilde stars in what is this year’s family Christmas comedy that deals with the trials (考验) and sufferings of not being able to choose your relatives. This one doesn’t have a great Rotten Tomatoes score at 21%, but I’ve heard that it’s pretty charming nonetheless thanks to Wilde.
Rating: PG-13 for thematic elements, language and some sexuality
Availability: In theaters cverywhere
Inside Out – Pixar’s summer release is a funny, beautiful tale of growing up and dealing with the complicated emotions inside your head. After seeing this one a couple of times, it quickly rose up to be my second favorite Pixar movie of all-time (behind The Incredibles). Honestly, it’s better than The Good Dinosaur. If you don’t feel like heading to the theaters, just pick this one up to watch at home.
Rating: PG for mild thematic elements and some action
Availability: Blu-Ray, DVD and VOD
Note: PG stands for parental guidance, which suggested some material may not be suitable for children.
1. The most touching movie is about how to ________.| A．finish one’s games | B．face one’s fears |
| C．choose one’s relatives | D．handle complicated emotions |
| A．They are all suitable for family entertainment. |
| B．They all have a good Rotten Tomatoes score. |
| C．They are all on show in every theater. |
| D．They all star famous actors and actresses. |
| A．Inside Out>The Good Dinosaur>The Incredibles |
| B．The Good Dinosaur>The Incredibles> Love the Coopers |
| C．The Incredibles>Inside Out>The Good Dinosaur |
| D．Love the Coopers>Inside Out>The Good Dinosaur |
7 . In southwestern France’s sunny “pink city” —Toulouse, the cuisine is both rich and tasty. Here, we single out three must-tastes of Toulouse.
Toulouse sausage
Sign up for Jessica’s brilliant Taste of Toulouse tours and you’ll get to eat your way around the city’s best food market, Marché Victor Hugo. One of the stands to dash directly to is Maison Garcia, which specializes in saucisse de Toulouse, the city’s famous black peppery (胡椒味的) sausage sold in a large spiral and ideal for grilling or barbecuing. You can also try or buy the dried version, saucisse sèche, which is wonderful for picnics.
Cassoulet
If there’s one dish every meat lover must try when visiting this southwestern corner of France, it’s the region’s signature dish. Made with Toulouse sausage, white beans, pork rind and trotter, confit duck and local garlic, Cassoulet gets its name from the cassole clay pot in which it’s cooked. While this dish is centuries old, Toulouse has only recently formed its own Brotherhood of the Toulouse Cassoulet, which will promote it, alongside the other two cities—Carcassonne and Castelnaudary—who also claim it as their signature dish. In Toulouse, chefs add lamb to make it their own, but each has their preferred method.
Violets
Toulouse may be known as the pink city, but its signature flavour is violet. The flowers became a popular crop in the city in the 19th century as they thrived in winter. While cheaper versions taste soapy, the best quality violet flavour lends a gentle perfume (香味，香水) to ice cream, macarons (马卡龙), and some French cakes. A fragrant port is La Maison de la Violette, which is set in a small boat moored (停泊) on the side of the Canal du Midi in central Toulouse and offers a selection of delicious violet treats, from crystallized petals to tasty violet-shell chocolate almonds.
1. Which is Toulouse sausage NOT ideal for according to the passage?| A．Picnics. | B．Violet treats. | C．Barbecuing. | D．Cassoulet. |
| A．Chefs there add lamb to Cassoulet. |
| B．They claim Cassoulet as their signature dish. |
| C．They are located in the southwestern of France. |
| D．Chefs there make famous black peppery sausage. |
| A．Taking a boat tour in Toulouse. | B．Wearing violet flavor perfumes. |
| C．Learning the origin of Toulouse. | D．Enjoying various tasty violet foods. |
8 . The British Museum is filled with some of the world’s most famous historical items. If you love history, it’s a good place to visit. It is said to be the top museum in London. The museum has millions of objects, making you worry about your first visit.
Advice on your visit
If you need help in exploring the museum’s displays, about 80,000 objects from a total collection of 8 million items, try joining a guided tour. There are various free tours. You can also rent audio guides.
Ticket information
Entry to the museum is free, but access to some exhibitions will charge you. The museum limits the number 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 the entry. Self-led groups of 10 or more people will need to book a group ticket. School groups should contact the box office to book their visit to the museum.
Opening times
Daily: from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (Fridays: 8:30 pm)
Last entry: 4:00 pm (Fridays: 7:30 pm)
The museum is closed from 24 December to 26 December.
Cafes and restaurants
Court Cafés: from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Great Court Restaurant: from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm
Transport
Bicycle racks are available inside the gates of the main entrance on Great Russell Street. If you’re planning to visit by car, please be aware that the museum doesn’t offer parking facilities. There is a taxi rank on Great Russell Street at the museum’s main gates. Going to the museum by bus or subway is very convenient, which can be your first choice.
For more information, visit the British Museum’s website.
1. What may trouble you when initially visiting the museum?| A．Free access. | B．Abundant collection. |
| C．Beautiful architecture. | D．Breathtaking sculpture. |
| A．4:00 pm. | B．5:00 pm. | C．8:30 pm. | D．10:00 pm. |
| A．The bike. | B．The bus. | C．The subway. | D．The car. |
9 . TED Ed Hi Katherine!
This December, the TED-Ed team will host a series of 4 calls for students to learn about climate change, as part of our larger TED Countdown Initiative (方案).
Details about call series:
Each week during the month of December, we’ll meet at the same time on Zoom (an online meeting APP). Students should join in the calls on their own. We’d like students to be able to attend at least 3 of the 4 calls.
Register your students’ interest:
As we plan the time when we will meet with students, we’d love to see how many students are interested in this opportunity. Please share this interest with your students so they can register their interest before the Countdown Summit. In this form we’ll ask them for their parent’s email address for permission.
Share this interest form with your students:
https://airtable. com/shr4U7DICbrdHuaGM
More about TED Countdown:
On January 25, we’re hosting the Countdown Summit in Scotland— the first TED conference focusing on climate solutions. In April, TED hosted an online meeting and announced our plan to help the planet. And as always, education plays an important role in this mission (使命). That’s why we have chosen talks for students to do together virtually for a deeper understanding of this global issue and solutions.
We hope your students join us!
Please note that this event is only for students aged 3-19, in high school and below!
1. How many call should students attend at least in December?| A．3 | B．4. | C．7 | D．12 |
| A．The time we meet at each week is different. |
| B．We meet on an online meeting. |
| C．Students should join on their own. |
| D．Students are able to attend at least 3 calls. |
| A．Work out plans for the team. |
| B．Attend online calls with their parents. |
| C．Register their interest in an online form. |
| D．Download the application form. |
| A．Education mission. | B．Virtual reality. |
| C．Climate solutions. | D．Events organizing. |
| A．A baby of 2 years old | B．A university graduate |
| C．A worker of 30 years old | D．A high school student of 17 years old |
10 . Top 4 Writing Contests of 2023
The Betty Award
As one of the few competitions for elementary and middle school students, The Betty Award grants (授了) cash prizes for written pieces below 1,000 words. The Betty Award has both a Spring &. Fall contest.
Top prize: $ 300
Entry fee: S 20
Deadline: April 30, 2023
100-Word Writing Contest
100 words or less per entry is a must. Submit as many entries as you’d like. All ages, genders, nationalities and writers are welcome. The theme is using humor as healing (治愈)。
Top prize: $ 800
Entry fee: $ 10
Deadline: May 13, 2023
Teen Writing Contest
The Ann Arbor District Library is excited to host its 30th annual Teen Writing Contest in Winter 2023! Young adult authors take part as judges each year, who then read and select the winning stories. Stories are judged in three different categories: Grades 6—8, Grades 98.10, and Grades 11812.
Top prize: $ 250
Additional prizes: 2nd/ $ 150; 3rd/ $75
Entry fee: FREE
Deadline: August 15, 2023
Bennington Young Writers Awards
Bennington College has a unique literary legacy (遗产), including 12 Pulitzer Prize winners, countless New York Times bestsellers, and two of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. In celebration of this legacy， Bennington launched the Young Writers Awards to promote excellence in writing at the high school level.
Top prize: $ 1,000
Additional prizes: 2nd/ $ 500; 3rd/ S 250
Entry fee: FREE
Deadline: September 10，2023
1. When can participants submit their entries for The Betty Award?| A．On April 28. | B．On May 13. | C．On August 15. | D．On September 10. |
| A．It is free of charge. | B．It is open to all ages. |
| C．It partners with a library. | D．It requires 1000-word entries. |
| A．The Betty Award. | B．Teen Writing Contest. |
| C．100 Word Writing Contest. | D．Bennington Young Writers Awards. |
