1 . England Tours
Rick Steves England tours provide the best value for your trip to Europe. Browse Rick’s best England tours and vacation packages.
Family Europe: London to Florence in 13 Days Tour
$4,485 per person
Family Europe: London to Florence in 13 Days delivers a colorful mix of must-see cities. Along the way, you will encounter some fascinating bits of art, history, and culture — as well as a couple of castles, a boat, plenty of hiking, and even a swimming pool or two. Our stress-free Europe vacation package provides great guides, central hotels, all sightseeing — and memories to last a lifetime. And on this tour, kids aged 8—19 get a $200 discount!
Best of London in 7 Days Tour
$4,495 per person
London has just what you need for a quick escape: direct flights, the best live theater scene on the planet, and an inviting pub on every corner. During your week-long stay in London, your Rick Steves guide will lead to the Tower, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s, and even take you on a train trip to Windsor Castle.
Best of England in 14 Days Tour
$4,395 per person
Our two-week tour of England offers a delightful mix of big-city thrills and village charm. Your Rick Steves guide will welcome you in the elegant Georgian town of Bath. From there you’ll be guided to King Arthur’s Glastonbury, flower-boxed Cotswold villages, and Caernarfon Castle. You’ll also be treated to the spectacular scenery of the Lake District.
Best of South England in 10 Days Tour
$4,595 per person
Starting in Canterbury and ending in Bath, our Best of South England tour brings you to the very roots of British history and culture. Your Rick Steves guide will introduce you to locals who have talents to share and stories to tell. You’ll also learn about and taste the delicious seafood and traditional Cornish pasties.
1. Which tour is probably the cheapest for a teenager?| A．Family Europe: London to Florence. | B．Best of London. |
| C．Best of England. | D．Best of South England. |
| A．Sea bathing. | B．Local school visits. |
| C．Local stories. | D．North Ireland’s history. |
| A．Direct flight. | B．Guided tour. |
| C．Village walk. | D．Delicious seafood. |
2 . Whether you are looking for an exciting way to spend weekend nights or a new hobby that would help your teen live healthily, LKA Teen Nights are a perfect solution.
Our Montessori-inspired environment empowers students to focus on what interests them most be it exploring cooking art, learning new skills, or making meaningful connections. In Teen Nights, students are motivated to promote their knowledge about nutrition, eating locally and organically, and the impact of their food choices on their minds, bodies, and the environment.
Curriculum(课程)During the sessions, our professional instructors cover diverse topics about food and nutrition that are essential for teenagers to sustain a healthy lifestyle. The curriculum mainly includes developing a moderate portion and preparing meals for various categories such as athletes, picky eaters, and people with eating disorder.
·We challenge our teens by making creative recipes with limited tools, or missing ingredients.
·Our recipes will involve trying a popular dish from a local restaurant and improving it.
·We will ask our teens to look up the price for the ingredients we are using to calculate the cost of our meals.
At the end of every session, we gather around the community table made from recycled chopsticks, where we enjoy the delicious meal teens worked so hard to create.
Targeted GroupsTeen Nights are suitable for all learning styles from traditional schooling to alternative education for exceptional learners.
Opening TimeOur LKA Teen Nights run every Friday & Saturday night from 7:30 pm to 10 pm.
View information on the location-specific page for details on the enrollment.
1. Who is the text intended for?| A．Teenagers. | B．Parents. | C．Chefs. | D．Instructors. |
| A．Improving athletic skills. | B．Raising healthy eating awareness. |
| C．Solving environmental problems. | D．Strengthening family connections. |
| A．It encourages creative cooking. | B．It promotes community service. |
| C．It focuses on home-made dishes. | D．It recommends recycled materials. |
3 . Formerly known as Virtual Field Trips, PacSci’s Digital Discovery Workshops bring unique science experiences to you on your own schedule. With a focus on real world applications and spotlighting STEM careers, they bring classroom content to life and support Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Beyond your live class, each program includes a teacher toolkit packed with additional resources such as reading lists, hands-on activity guides, and STEM videos to extend the learning experience.
WHO ARE THESE FORDigital Discovery Workshops are designed for Pre K-12 graders joining from classrooms, library programs, or other community groups. Most programs have a max of 50 students to encourage a high level of interactivity for 1-2 classes per program.
HOW THEY WORKPacSci educators send you a private Zoom link, or join a virtual platform of your choice. Meet your educator for a short tech check, then start your 40-minute live program.
COSTS & BOOKING1-9 participants: $20 per person
10-49 participants: $30 per person
50+ participants: $40 per person
Qualified low-income schools will receive a 70% discount. Programs should be booked at least 2 weeks in advance.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED● One computer with a screen and speaker
● Internet connection
● Access to your selected virtual platform, such as Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet
● A webcam and microphone
● An adult must be present to help facilitate
Click on the link below and check out our Program Requirements and Pre-Program Checklist for more details.
1. Who will most probably sign up for the program?| A．A Pacsci educator. | B．A field trip guide. |
| C．A 9th grader. | D．A community librarian. |
| A．$90. | B．$180 | C．$210. | D．$300. |
| A．A mobile phone. | B．Connected Internet. |
| C．Selected teams. | D．A peer friend. |
4 . Carillon Canal National Historic Site
The Carillon Canal, built on the Ottawa River for military purposes, was opened in 1833. Located 100 kilometres from Montreal and 130 kilometres from Ottawa, it is today a pleasure boating waterway.
Things to do
The Carillon Canal is fed by the water of the Ottawa River. The Canal opens a huge gate to enable boats to sail an impressive 20-metre drop in just 40 minutes!
Have a family picnic in beautiful scenery, then visit the old barracks (营房) which are now a museum. Curious to see a huge power station up close? Visits are free of charge.
Opening hours
The national historic site is open every day of the year from sun rise to 11 p. m.
Fees
Site access is free. Otherwise, there are fees for locking and overnight mooring(停泊).
When is the Canal the busiest?
From mid-June to the end of August, and especially during the following vacation periods and holidays:
·Fete Nationale du Quebec (June 24th).
·Canada Day (July 1st).
·Summer vacations.
·Labour Day(the first Monday of September).
·Thanksgiving.
What are the best times for sailing?
To avoid waiting lines, experience the Carillon Canal during the quieter periods, i. e. before June 24th, and later in early autumn, from Labour Day to mid-October. In this way, you’ll discover these wonderful places at your own pace, without pushing through the crowd that might have had the same idea as you, and you’ll gain the peace of mind to sail in complete relaxation!
1. What do we know about the Carillon Canal?| A．It was originally for educational purposes. |
| B．It is now visited by boaters for pleasure. |
| C．It enjoys a high reputation for its 20-metre drop. |
| D．It was formed naturally on the Ottawa River. |
| A．Mooring overnight. | B．Staying overnight in old barracks. |
| C．Exploring a power station. | D．Passing through locks. |
| A．July 1st to July 24th. | B．October 24th to October 31st. |
| C．June 1st to June 24th. | D．August 24th to June 30th. |
5 . Monet: The Immersive Experience
Monet: The Immersive Experience in Liège invites you to step into the world of the French painter Claude Monet, one of the greatest artistic geniuses of the nineteenth century!
Explore some of the most breathtaking paintings by Claude Monet with the help of a digital 360-degree presentation. The unique exhibition concept is staged with state-of-the-art multimedia technology, which shows very large images of Monet’s paintings on the walls and floors of the building. It has music, the smell of flowers, and voice-over in several languages to make the paintings come alive in a way never seen before.
To fully get into the world of the French painter, visitors are guided through three experience rooms. Each room is a highlight on its own and provides visitors not only with an insight, but also with new experiences and new viewpoints on Monet’s life, his work and his masterpieces.
Practical info·Date: from March 2024
·Opening hours:
Wednesday, Thursday: 10: 00 am — 7:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am — 8:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am — 8:00 pm
Sunday: 9:00 am — 7:00 pm
Monday and Tuesday: Closed
·Duration: the visit will take around 60 to 75 minutes
·Location: Eglise Saint-Pholien, Rue Saint-Pholien, 4020 Liège
·Please consult the FAQs of this experience here
1. The visitors can explore Monet’s paintings with the aid of ______.| A．Stages with Monet’s paintings. | B．Lectures on art. |
| C．Digital technology. | D．Language services. |
| A．An exploration on French art. | B．A unique journey to Monet’s world. |
| C．An introductory tour of painters. | D．An encounter with Monet-inspired artworks. |
| A．11: 30 am（Wed, Feb 21）. | B．10: 00 am（Tue, Mar 19）. |
| C．4: 00 pm（Sun, Apr 7）. | D．7: 30 pm（Thur, Mar 28）. |
“Persist.” — Viet Thanh Nguyen
“Success is no accident.” — Chris Bohjalian
“Keep writing and it’ll get easier.” — Lisa Jewell
“Be patient with yourself.” — Min Jin Lee
These are words of advice taken from our interviews with award-winning and bestselling authors. Notice, though, not a single mention of their status, prizes, or advances—in other words, their success. And while status, literary awards, and money can be indicators of a successful writer, one must actually sit down and write for any of those things to happen. That’s what all of these pieces of advice have in common: putting words on the page.
In this issue, you’ll find articles to help you succeed, no matter your goals. If it’s to figure out whether that mess of a novel you’ve got sitting in a drawer can be rescued or if you need to move on, Andromeda Romano’s article will offer questions to ask yourself. Michael La Ronn’s essay will give you an example of how an unexpected opportunity might be just the push you need. Or, if you’ve had trouble finding an agent, Ryan Van Cleave’s collection of tips and advice from 22 literary agents on every aspect of the business might change your luck. Matty Dalrymple shares ways to reach more readers and build a community with them.
Wish you success and happy new year!
1. The advice mentioned at the beginning highlights the importance of ______.| A．a big dream | B．constant practice | C．earning money | D．achieving success |
| A．Matty Dalrympl. | B．Michael La Ronn. |
| C．Ryan Van Cleave. | D．Andromeda Romano. |
| A．Writers. | B．Businessmen. | C．Booksellers. | D．Literary agents. |
7 . Small Business Saturday is a relatively new shopping holiday in Rochester University. This small and local business is home to more unique gifts than you may find at a national retail chain — and we have an abundance of Rochester craftsmen to shop from this holiday season.
The Op Shop
The Op Shop features 32 different handmade vendor (小贩), making it a great spot to find some truly unique gifts. They will be hosting their annual holiday market, Secondhand Wonderland, on Saturday Dec. 3, at the Nazareth College Field House. I went last year and found two great winter sweaters and some fun ornaments.
Parkleigh
Parkleigh is a gift-shopping place in Rochester located on Park Ave. They feature a wide variety of items from skin care, novelty socks to Rochester-themed items, and my personal favorite: Jellycat food dolls. The store features a mix of large and small businesses and is always a fun place to check out on Saturdays.
The Lucky Flea Market
I can’t write an article about shopping local and small without mentioning The Lucky Flea. This year they are hosting indoor markets throughout the colder months, featuring dozens of local vendors. Many of the vendors sell second-hand clothing but there are also jewelry makers and specialty foods. Check out their first indoor market of the season on Saturday, Nov. 20!
Central Rock Gym
Looking for an experience gift on Saturdays? Buy a gift card from Central Rock Gym for a day pass with all climbing equipment included. My friends and I went last year and it was a lot of fun learning how to rock climb and bouldering. This can also be an option for any fitness class at a local gym or specialty fitness center.
1. Where can you buy a unique handmade gift for your friend?| A．The Op Shop. | B．Parkleigh. | C．The Lucky Flea Market. | D．Central Rock Gym. |
| A．It sells food. | B．It offers clothing. | C．It opens on Saturdays. | D．It features experience gift. |
| A．A travel brochure. | B．A campus website. |
| C．An official document. | D．A market research report. |
8 . SPECIAL ENGLISH
The English language programs of the Voice of America (VOA) can be divided into two types according to the speed of broadcasting: Standard English and Special English.
Special English is a simple and standardized English radio program arranged by VOA for listeners who are beginning to learn English in non-English speaking countries around the world. It officially began broadcasting in October 1959.
The famous American lexicologist S.B. Flexmer identified three criteria for Special English, that is, what makes it “special”:
●It writes and broadcasts in short and clear sentences;●It broadcasts at a rate of 90 words per minute, or 2/3 of Standard English;
●It is a form of American English composed mainly of the 1500 basic words.
Special English programs can be divided into two categories: news programs and feature programs.
News programVOA Special English news broadcasts provide listeners with worldwide information on politics, economics, military affairs, diplomacy, international relations, religion, weather, and all kinds of important events and wonders. They are broadcast to Southeast Asia five times a day, twice in the morning and three times in the evening.
Feature ProgramFrom the perspective of time, Special English feature programs can be divided into two categories: one is every five minutes, and the other is every fifteen minutes. The latter consists of seven different sub-features, which are repeated four times a day on a weekly cycle, but the two features on Sunday and Saturday are broadcast only three times a night, each lasting about 10 minutes, followed by each five-minute feature.
1. Which is one of the criteria for Special English?| A．It’s a basic English radio program. | B．It relies on a mere 1500 basic words. |
| C．It plays at a speed of 90 words per minute. | D．It’s aimed at those starting to learn English. |
| A．Both of them are broadcast repeatedly. |
| B．They are broadcast almost at the same time. |
| C．Listeners can listen to news program in the afternoon. |
| D．Each five-minute program consists of seven sub-features. |
| A．Radio program enthusiasts. | B．Western culture lovers. |
| C．Language learners. | D．English beginners. |
9 . In today’s classroom, homework is completed not only with the pen and paper, but also with computers and cell phones. How to make the best use of such digital products is an important question for teachers and students. The following top digital portfolio platforms (作品集平台) offer a broad range of functions. Most importantly, they provide a way to share students’ work with pride.
Google SitesCreating a digital portfolio could not be any easier than Google Sites makes it. It lets students quickly put in contents, such as text, images, videos, maps, and much more. Use one of the provided six themes or create a custom one, and then publish it as a public or restricted-view (限制浏览的) site.
Seesaw for SchoolsDesigned for education, Seesaw for Schools provides a platform through which students complete and share school projects. By recording the process of gradually improving their schoolwork, kids gain a sense of master y and pride, so it is popular among them. Plus, parents can be involved too—just download the Seesaw Family app.
ArtsoniaArtsonia is like a dream come true for art-minded students: a free, safe, educational space through which students show their digital creativity. Friends and family can view, comment on and buy objects. The site also provides a complete teachers’ guide. Just celebrate the artistic skills with Artsonia!
EdublogsOne of the oldest and best-known web platforms for education, Edublogs makes it easy for teachers and students to start building a free WordPress platform. The free plan offers 1 GB of storage space, class management tools, and no advertising. A set of educator guides and community participation is another big plus for Edublogs.
1. What is special about Google Sites?| A．It lets students learn from others’ work. |
| B．It is controlled by educators for safety. |
| C．It offers students online publishing rights for free. |
| D．It allows students to create contents in different forms. |
| A．It helps check their school work. |
| B．It can track their progress. |
| C．It requires teamwork with parents. |
| D．It protects their personal information well. |
| A．They offer professional advice. |
| B．They require support from teachers and parents. |
| C．They remind students to hand in homework on time. |
| D．They can store large amounts of information. |
10 . Plan your vacation. The following four places are your fantastic destinations. You can enjoy a completely different experience.
Israel
If you’re looking for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, National Geographic Travel says visitors should head to Jerusalem to celebrate Easter with thousands of pilgrims (朝圣者). If the crowds get too huge, visitors are told to take a boat ride to King Herod’s 2,000-year-old Masada fortress (要塞) or set off on a peaceful morning boat ride across the sea of Galilee.
Panama
Costa Rica and the Caribbean often enjoy much more popularity than Panama, but visitors should consider the centre American country if they want a “less-crowded paradise”. The travel site states, “Here, horses are still the primary means of transportation and local fishermen serve fresh seafood and fruit from their home kitchens for roughly $ 6 a plate.”
Svalbard
If you’re a fan of winter activities, but are in need of some sun, then perhaps a trip to Svalbard is a good choice. National Geographic Travel notes, “The Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard is located about 620 miles south of the North Pole. In late spring, the sun never falls below the horizon—meaning you can take in all the Vitamin D you desire.” Popular activities in the area include hiking and wildlife spotting.
Namibia
During spring, Namibia is regarded as the perfect destination with reduced travel costs on cooler evenings. In late May, National Geographic Travel says that the watering holes start to dry up again, which attracts giraffes and black rhino from their hiding spots. If you’re fond of adventurous exploration, head to the Namibia Desert for a spot of sand boarding.
1. What can visitors do in Israel?| A．Taste fresh seafood. | B．Hike in the mountains. |
| C．Ride a boat across the sea. | D．Enjoy full-day sunshine. |
| A．They allow visitors to play in the sand. | B．They offer the chance to watch animals. |
| C．They help visitors to save more money. | D．They mainly focus on adventurous travels. |
| A．Expense. | B．Popularity. | C．Visitors. | D．Transportation. |
