1 . We are pleased to announce the call for entries for Strokes of Genius by The Best of Drawing! Win prizes and publication by entering this exciting drawing competition, brought to you by Artists Network and Artists Magazine.
How to Enter
★You need to create a free Submittable account in order to download the forms.
★Fill out the Entry Form. This information will be reproduced exactly as submitted if you are selected as a winner.
★Upload a single digital image. Once you have uploaded your image, you will see a payment due.
There is no limit to the number of entries you may submit. You can save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date.
The Submittable platform works best on Google Chrome, Firefox and Safari. Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge are not supported.
Deadlines and Notification
Super Early Bird Deadline: May 28, 2023
Entry Fee: $15 for Artists Network Members; $20 for nonmembers
Early Bird Deadline: June 16, 2023
Entry Fee: $25 for Artists Network Members; $30 for nonmembers
Final Deadline: August 20, 2023
Entry Fee: $35 for Artists Network Members; $40 for nonmembers
The final deadline is August 20, 2023 at 11:59 p. m. EST. Winners will be informed by email on or before September 20, 2023.
Prizes & Awards
First-Place Winner: $2,000 in cash
Second-Place Winner: $1,000 in cash
Third-Place Winner: $500 in cash
10 Honorable Mentions: $50 ArtistsNetwork.com Gift Card
Award winners will receive a free Artists Network Membership for 1 year ($99.99 value). Winning entries will be published in The Best of Drawing.
1. What is necessary to participate in the contest?| A．Uploading a family photo. | B．Setting up a bank account. |
| C．Completing an entry form. | D．Registering on Internet Explorer. |
| A．By submitting entries in person. | B．By submitting entries in early May. |
| C．By submitting entries as a professional. | D．By submitting at least two entries. |
| A．Cash prize and a free magazine. | B．$50 ArtistsNetwork.com Gift Card. |
| C．One-year discounted membership. | D．The publication of the winning entry. |
2 . San Francisco Fire Engine Tours
San Francisco Winery TourRunning: February 1st through April 30th
This delicious tour goes through the city on its way to Treasure Island where we will stop at the famous Winery SF. Here you can enjoy 4 pours of some of the best wine San Francisco has to offer.(Included in tickets price)
Departing from the Cannery: Tour times upon request.Duration(时长): 2 hours
Price: $90
Back to the Fifties Tour
Running: August 16th through August 31st
This tour transports you back in time to one of San Francisco’s most fantastic periods, the 1950s! Enjoy fun history as we take you through San Francisco for a free taste of ice cream.
Departing from the Cannery: 5:00 pm and 7:30 pmDuration: 2 hours
Price: $90
Spooky Halloween Tour
Running: October 10th through October 31st
Join us for a ride through the historical Presidio district. Authentic fire gear(服装) is provided for your warmth as our entertainers take you to some of the most thrilling parts of San Francisco.
Departing from the Cannery: 6:30 pm and 8:30 pmDuration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Price: Available upon request
Holiday Lights Tour
Running: December 6th through December 23rd
This attractive tour takes you to some of San Francisco’s most cheerful holiday scenes. Authentic fire gear is provided for your warmth as you get into the holiday spirit.
Departing from the Cannery: 7:00 pm and 9:00 pmDuration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Advance reservations required.
1. Which of the tours is available in March?
| A．San Francisco Winery Tour. | B．Back to the Fifties Tour. |
| C．Spooky Hallowen Tour. | D．Holiday Lights Tour. |
| A．Go to Treasure Island. | B．Enjoy the holiday scenes. |
| C．Have free ice cream. | D．Visit the Presidio district. |
| A．Take some drinks. | B．Set off early in the morning. |
| C．Wear warm clothes. | D．Make reservations in advance. |
Whether you are a beginner or already a regular runner, these apps will come in handy for planning routes that avoid busy places on your next run
Strava
Just put in whether you’re running or cycling, how far you’d like to go and whether you’re keen to avoid hills, the app will then suggest a number of routes near you, based on where other runners have been. It is a good way to see running routes you might not have explored.
Komoot
As you plan the route, it’ll work out the distance of your run and give you the option to input your running speed, allowing the app to work out how long the route shall take you.
Map my run
Map my run gives runners the option to plan their own route, or the ability to search through popular running routes near you, which is even more helpful for beginners. The app gives you the option of saving your favourite routes and accessing them on the app if you get lost mid-run.
OS Maps
Another hugely popular map-building platform, OS Maps is pretty high tech when it comes to planning a running route. You’ll need a subscription to get some of the features, but using the free app you can find local running routes. There are almost two million routes stored in the routes database, and many of them are free.
1. What is special about Strava?| A．It can be used to play music. | B．It is pretty high technology. |
| C．It can plan cycling routes. | D．It works out the running distance. |
| A．Map my run | B．Komoot |
| C．Strava | D．OS maps |
| A．To teach running skills to users. |
| B．To share running experience online |
| C．To introduce four apps about running. |
| D．To show the increasing popularity of running. |
4 . Group Swim Lessons
We do not have swimming pools of our own. We teach swim lessons at home and community pools. If you have a pool, we will meet you there and provide you with great swim lessons!
Group swim lessons are lower-cost lessons than private swim lessons. We provide the child with the same great swim instructors and a chance to learn with their friends! Group swim lessons are great for a group of friends around the same age and level as each other. This is because they push each other to be better. If a child is afraid of the water but sees a friend eager for the swim lesson, they tend to take it a little easy and want to try new things.
Group swim lessons are only for kids that are comfortable enough in the water. Kids that are crying, pushing away, or running out of the pool need to have a one-on-one swim lesson.
Here’s How Group Swim Lessons Work
1. Call (888) 617-1234 or email your name, basic swimmer information, and what days and times work for you to info@ swim.com.
2. After we get your swimmer information, we will see which of our swim instructors' schedules fit with your swim lesson availability and then call you back to confirm your first swim lesson!
3. Your swim instructor will bring all the equipment needed in your swim lessons. They will come on the reoccurring days scheduled to get the swimmers to where they need to be.
Swim Lesson Pricing
$65 for one 30-minute one-on-one private swim lesson
$55 per 30-minute group swim lesson
1. What can be known about the group swim lessons?| A．They may take place at a learner’s home. |
| B．They are intended for kids aged 7 - 12. |
| C．They are low-cost swim lessons for all. |
| D．They are better than private swim lessons. |
| A．The coaches will save a lot of effort. |
| B．The learners can inspire each other. |
| C．Parents needn’t watch their children. |
| D．All children are comfortable in the water. |
| A．suitable lesson times |
| B．personal information |
| C．a safe swimming pool |
| D．swimming equipment |
5 . Exhibitions for You!
1 A photo exhibition at the Cultural Palace of Nationalities in Beijing shows a beautiful view of the natural wonder’s in Zhangye, Gansu Province. The exhibition will celebrate Zhangye’s past and its today as an example to preserve rich ethnic traditions and protect the environment. Date: 9 am -4:30 pm, daily. July 1 -31, 2022 Add: 49 Fuxingmen Nei Dajie, Xicheng district, Beijing. Tel: 010 -8319 -5250. | 2 Olympic Fine Arts exhibition will bring together some 800 artworks, including posters, paintings, photos and sculptures in celebration of the spirit of the Olympic Games. The exhibition will show artworks from across the world. Date: August 1 -15, 2022 Add: ME Center, 27 Xi Dawanglu Road, Chaoyang district, Beijing. Tel: 010 - 6400 - 6677. |
3 New Youth, an experimental art exhibition to be held in Jingdezhen, will show the development of experimental art education in colleges and universities. Works on show are from artists who majored in experimental art while in college, examining the evolution in their creation and career development. Date: July 1 -20, 2022 Add: Ceramic Art Avenue, 720 Xinchang Xi Lu, Zhushan district, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province. Tel: 400 -915 -1221. | 4 A new exhibition on the rich ecosystem of the Yangtze River will open in Shanghai. Aimed at raising awareness of environmental protection of the county’s longest river, the exhibition will show the different aspects of the river and its interaction with people who live along it. Date : 9: 00 am - 5: 00 pm, Tuesday to Sunday, Closed on Mondays. August 1-31, 2022. Add: Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Tel: 021 -6862 -2000. |
| A．They will have the same theme. | B．They will exhibit the same photos. |
| C．They will be held at the same time. | D．They will be held in the same place. |
| A．To spread the Olympic spirit. |
| B．To introduce experimental art. |
| C．To raise people’s awareness of environmental protection. |
| D．To encourage people to take part in the Olympic Games. |
| A．010- 8319 - 5250. | B．010 - 6400 - 6677. |
| C．400-915- 1221. | D．021 - 6862 - 2000. |
1. How do the speakers advertise their products now?
| A．Through a magazine. |
| B．Through a television ad. |
| C．Through an Internet page. |
| A．It’s too expensive. | B．It’s too difficult. | C．It won’t work. |
| A．Hundreds. | B．Thousands. | C．Millions. |
| A．His boss. | B．His friend. | C．His customer. |
7 . In many ways, learning a foreign language has never been easier – online language apps and courses have flooded the market in the last decade.
Of course, different people have different goals for learning a new language. While someone may want to learn basic conversational skills in Japanese to be able to communicate during a vacation to Tokyo, someone else might strive for fluency to communicate real-world business deals overseas. Your level of existing language skills and learning style can also be factors in determining which language app is best for you.
Whatever your goals or purposes for wanting to learn a new language, we compiled our list of recommendations with three things in mind: price point, user experience, and proficiency goals. After reviewing the features, value, and customer success stories, we believe Rosetta Stone is the best overall for most people.
Manufacturer | Rosetta Stone |
Price | $11.99 |
Specs | Number of languages: 25 IOS app: Yes Android app: Yes Free version available: No, but they offer a free trial. |
Pros | Very good selection of languages The immersive method will have you speaking the language right away. Live videos, helpful cultural highlights, and stories help you practice. |
Cons | Since the lessons aren’t in English, the grammar is unclear at times. |
How to work | They introduce new words and phrases in a spaced-out process that helps you remember them. As you progress, you will use the vocabulary you’ve already acquired in order to learn new words and phrases. The key to their process is being able to recognise speech patterns in a new language. They incorporate speech recognition and repetition into short daily lessons. |
| A．Motivation of learning. | B．Styles of learning. |
| C．Levels of existing language skills. | D．Popularity of the app. |
| A．It teaches lessons in English. | B．It offers free version for users. |
| C．It provides a repetition process. | D．It is the cheapest language app. |
| A．To tell users how to learn a new language. |
| B．To recommend people to use Rosetta Stone. |
| C．To teach people how to use e-learning resources. |
| D．To give instructions on how to use Rosetta Stone. |
8 . Here are four books online, aiming to strengthen spoken and writing skills for English- language learners.
Arnie the Doughnut
Suggested grade level: lst- 2nd
Arnie looks like an average doughnut made by one of the best bakeries in town. Still, a doughnut is just a doughnut, right? WRONG! Click to see what happens.
Themes in the story:lmagination, Humor, Friendship
Brave Irene
Suggested grade level: lst- 2nd
Brave Irene is a dressmaker's daughter. One day, Irene volunteers to send the dress made by her mum to the palace on time, in spite of the snowstorm. Click and see how she overcomes difficulties.
Themes in the story: Courage, Overcoming difficulties
The Empty Pot
Suggested grade level: lst-2nd
The Chinese Emperor announces a test to choose the country's next king. The child who raises the best flowers from a seed given by the Emperor will be the one. Ping is unable to get his seed to come out-but Ping's empty pot is the best of all. Why?
Themes in the story: Honesty, Learning from failure
Clark the Shark
Suggested grade level: Kindergarten- 2nd
Clark i,s a shark who loves life, but his enthusiasm is too much for his friends, so his teacher helps him find a way to turn it down. Finally, Clark knows how to get along with his friends.
Themes in the story:Self-Control, lVLanners, Friendship
1. What can children learn from Brave Irene?| A．How to make friends. | B．How to learn from failure. |
| C．How to face difficulties. | D．How to control themselves. |
| A．Arnie the Doughnut. | B．The Empty Pot. |
| C．Brave Irene. | D．Clark the Shark . |
| A．Its themes include friendship. | B．It teiis us how to overcome difficulties. |
| C．It aims to improve children's writing skills. | D．It is also suitable for kindergarten children. |
9 . One of the most popular street food found in China is no doubt the barbecue. A new program, called Chinese Barbecue, tells the story of this popular food cooked over hot coals on just about every street corner in cities and towns across the country. Barbecued meat is an important part of people’s nightlife.
Shown on June 20, the program has had more than 25 million clicks on the video site bilibili.com. To find the most popular barbecue stalls (摊位), the production team travelled to more than 500 locations in 30 cities across the country. Some viewers compare Chinese Barbecue to Midnight Diner, a Japanese TV program telling stories from late night informal Japanese bars.
“I’m happy to hear this comparison because Midnight Diner is a good program, and we share the same topic― night food,” Chinese Barbecue’s director Chen Yingjie said. “However, they are quite different.” He said that Midnight Diner focused more on food itself, though there was some conversation while people were eating. However, the night food scene of Chinese people means joy and a more lively atmosphere. People eating these barbecue snacks develop a feeling of connection, which can be a cure for loneliness.
The barbecue, regarded as the most ordinary and common night street snack, is different from home-made food by mothers as that is a symbol of family and kinship. The barbecue is where you go to become connected to people in society. And unlike official business lunches, during which people are rather polite, the barbecue lets people relax with old friends and new friends, leaving a lasting impression of friendship.
The world, as a whole, holds deep-rooted good feelings toward the barbecue, either for the taste or the warmth produced by fire. “What we should do is to present the Chinese barbecue just the way it is because with its special ingredients(食材)，ways of cooking and more importantly, the special environment and people, the world will recognize it and might fall in love with it just as we do.” said Chen.
1. What do we know about Chinese Barbecue?| A．It has been becoming very popular on the Internet. |
| B．It is thought highly of by most of the foreign tourists. |
| C．It mainly talks about the most famous Chinese food. |
| D．It shows the colorful nightlife in large cities of China. |
| A．It showed more kinds of food. | B．It focused more on the diners. |
| C．It showed the eating habits. | D．It was less popular than Midnight Diner. |
| A．The importance of the barbecue to family. | B．The influence of the barbecue on people’s manners. |
| C．The influence of the barbecue on people’s lifestyle. | D．The role of the barbecue in people’s relationship. |
| A．To show the feature of Chinese food. | B．To research a special way of cooking. |
| C．To help the world understand China. | D．To introduce the history of the barbecue. |
10 . History Fair Competition
Understanding history is vital to understanding ourselves as a people and as a nation.
History is much more than the study of dusty old objects and events long past. It is an essential part of who we are today and who we will become. Thornton Middle School History Fair Competition makes understanding history exciting, engaging, and fun!
This Year's Theme
All participants must address how communication or transportation technology has promoted the quality of life for Americans throughout history. To many people, technology means computers, hand-held devices, or vehicles that travel to distant planets. However, technology is also the application of scientific knowledge to solve a problem, touching lives in countless ways.
Individuals or groups may enter one of the following categories:
Performance
Documentary（纪实作品）
Essay Writing
Category Requirements
Performance: A dramatic presentation of the topic no more than 10 minutes long. If special clothes are used, they should truly represent a given period.
Documentary: A visual presentation (such as a video, slide show, or computer project) no more than 10 minutes long . A desktop computer, screen, projector, and loudspeakers will be available. Students must provide their presentations on CDs before Friday, March 23.
Essay Writing: An academic paper of 2,000 to 2,500 words. No illustrations are allowed. Please do not include covers. A list of references must be included.
Important Dates
January 5 Submit（提交）a topic proposal to your history teacher. The teacher may require a second proposal if the first is off-topic or unclear.
February 5 Submit a first draft of your essay, performance script（剧本）, or documentary highlights.
February 19 A committee of teachers will evaluate materials and give opinions. Students then have an opportunity to improve their products.
March 9 Submit a final draft of your essay.
March 15 Performance and documentary committee preview
March 24 Thornton Middle School History Fair Competition
7:00 A.M. -- 9:00 A.M. Participants signing in at the gym
10:00 A.M. -- 6:00 P.M. Competition and judges' review
7:00 P.M. Awards ceremony and picnic
1. What is the theme of this year's competition?
| A．Technology advances science. |
| B．Science interacts with technology. |
| C．Science has made the study of history easy. |
| D．Technology has improved the life of Americans.. |
| A．special clothes and a screen | B．a desktop computer and a CD |
| C．a projector and special clothes | D．a desktop computer and loudspeakers |
| A．Include more information in the essay. | B．Remove the references. |
| C．Provide a cover for the essay. | D．Explain the details with illustrations. |
| A．Preview performances and documentaries. |
| B．Make comments on the materials. |
| C．Improve the participant's first draft. |
| D．Collect a second proposal from the participant. |
