1 . It’s Community Day again!
The event that Maple Estate residents are eagerly looking forward to is just around the corner! As usual, the Maple Residents’ Committee has planned a programme that is designed to promote community spirit. Maple Estate has been celebrating Community Day every month for more than a year. By now, we hope all our residents understand the importance of forming strong bonds with our neighbors. If you have just moved to our lovely estate and have not had the opportunity to know your neighbors, you can do so by joining at Community Day!
August Highlight: Maple Estate Chefs
Call all residents who are keen to practice your cooking skills and let your neighbors sample your cooking! You will be the stars of the upcoming event! Visit icuew.Maplerc.sg for more information and register for this activity. Kitchen equipment and basic ingredients will be provided. You will receive a $50 shopping voucher that you can use to purchase other ingredients from Maple Mart the day before the event. Remember to register before 21 July, 2024! We are sure everyone will enjoy the delicious dishes!
Time: From10 a. m. to 6 p. m., 6 August,2024
Place: Maple Community Club
Entry: Flash your Maple Resident Card
“My wife and I moved to Maple Estate when we got married. For a few months, we spent all our free time after work doing up our house. Even though we knew that our neighbors were friendly and would sometimes invite us for their gatherings, we were occupied with getting things ready. However, it wasn’t long before we grew curious about the Community Day celebrations. After we started attending them regularly, we met many neighbors. The first time we invited some of them over, we played games that helped us to get to know one another better!”
—Mr. Wang, a Maple Estate resident since 2022
1. What can we learn about the Community Day?| A．It is an event to boost community relationship. |
| B．It is an event launched by the local government. |
| C．It is a community event held every other month. |
| D．It is an event open to the community and beyond. |
| A．To pay a registration fee of $50． | B．To bring some basic ingredients. |
| C．To sign up before 21 July, 2024． | D．To purchase some cooking equipment. |
| A．They spent all their time on their work. | B．They were busy decorating their house. |
| C．They weren’t invited for the gatherings. | D．They lacked knowledge of the community. |
2 . 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. |
3 . 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. |
4 . The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration（ETA）supports a wide variety of programs to ensure that all youth have the skills and training they need to successfully make the switch to adulthood and careers. These programs include:
ApprenticeshipApprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation. Applicants for apprenticeship programs must be at least 16 years old and meet the program sponsor's qualifications.
YouthBuildYouthBuild programs give at-risk youth ages 16-24 the opportunity to transform their lives by earning their high school certificate of graduation or an equally state-recognized degree, learning to be community leaders, and preparing for college and other post-secondary training opportunities.
Job CorpsJob Corps is the nation's largest and most comprehensive residential, education, and job training program for at-risk youth, ages 16 through 24. Private companies, state agencies, federal agencies, and unions recruit young people to participate in Job Corps, where they can train for and be placed in jobs.
Youth ConnectionsThe Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act（WIOA）of 2014 is carrying out a comprehensive youth employment program for serving qualified youth, ages 14-24, who face barriers to education, training, and employment.
For more information about youth programs, visit ETA's Division of Youth Services page.
1. What can participants do in the YouthBuild?| A．Obtain a graduation certificate. | B．Lead the state communities. |
| C．Prepare for secondary training. | D．Study theories of skilled work. |
| A．YouthBuild. | B．Youth Connections. |
| C．Job Corps. | D．Apprenticeship. |
| A．To improve youth training. | B．To advertise for youth services. |
| C．To transform youth development. | D．To introduce ETA youth programs. |
5 . The following is part of an interview between Professor Bernard Feringa (a Nobel Price winner) and a CNN reporter.
Q: You often say that universities should be playgrounds. How can we make sure that this is a case?
A: I’m a strong believer in challenging students at all levels — to think, to discover and to go beyond the current knowledge. The universities have a special role here, because academic training and science should go beyond the current horizon. I think that we shouldn’t forget that we shouldn’t train our students for today or tomorrow; we should train them for 10 to 20 years from now. Because then they will be the innovators in our society, and they will be the persons that make a difference. Train our students for future means that they have to be able to surpass the border of our current knowledge. This is what I mean with playground. I mean that you have sufficient space to think, to discover and to be free to make mistakes, but in particular to make the next steps, be creative and not limited by what should be done. A lot of things happen by accident and suddenly you get a major breakthrough or new insight. Schools should encourage students to ask questions and be creative.
Q: What is it that you like so much about teaching?
A: I really enjoy the transfer of the beauty of knowledge: insights, questions, things that we don’t know, or the limitations of what we know. I never get tired of my job. I think that you share with your students the opportunity to transfer some knowledge, but also get a lot of things back by asking questions and discussing. Across all fields, from natural sciences to humanities, you have knowledge and insights built upon generations and decades. At the universities we have to transfer a lot of knowledge and teach students the basic skills and techniques. But it’s also our duty to go beyond that — to ask them questions about what we don’t know and what improvements we can make for the future. Doing surgery in the hospital now might be taken over by robots in the future. How are we going to deal with that? Or will we be able to make fuel for airplanes? These are challenging and tough questions but to share those with the students is really nice. Most of all, I think the beauty of knowledge and the excitement of insights and discoveries is fantastic.1. What does the professor agree to?
| A．Students are bound to surpass their present teachers. |
| B．Students are expected to be different future citizens. |
| C．Students are supposed to have more academic training. |
| D．Students should definitely be encouraged to be challenged. |
| A．An area for physical activities. | B．An area for extra-curricular experiments. |
| C．An area for bold exploration. | D．An area for academic improvements. |
| A．He who teaches learns. | B．Work makes a workman. |
| C．Never too old to learn. | D．Truth never fears investigation. |
| A．Respectable and reliable. | B．Innovative and devoted. |
| C．Generous and sharp-minded. | D．Independent and professional. |
6 . Lying in Victoria, Australia, Phillip Island Nature Park is a beautiful seaside holiday destination. Phillip Island provides a relaxing, adventurous and memorable costal holiday. Full of family attractions, friendly wildlife, sheltered swimming spots and beautiful beaches and bays, it is really hard to find a reason not to take a holiday.
Koala Conservation Centre and Churchill Island Heritage Farm
A trip to Phillip Island wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Koala Conservation Centre and Churchill Island Heritage Farm. This amazing native wildlife attraction provides the opportunity to experience wild koalas in their natural environment. You will also enjoy very impressive water views, ancient buildings and lovely gardens. Perfect for a family day out!
Penguin Parade
The Penguin Parade on Phillip Island is Australia’s most popular wildlife attraction. Every sunset, wild little penguins appear from the sea and walk across the beach to their sand holes. Here you can experience this natural view that you will find nowhere else in the world.
OPENING TIME: 10 am
CLOSING TIME Varies. Closed on Christmas Day
3 Parks Pass
This ticket gives you entry to the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island Nature Park, as well as entry to the Koala Conservation Centre and Churchill Island Heritage Farm.
All tickets will have 12 months’ validity (有效期) from time of buying.
Tickets will be delivered to your e-mail box within 60 minutes of buying. Please print out all tickets and take them along with you to the attraction.
1. What can be enjoyed in Phillip Island Nature Park?| A．Fierce wildlife. | B．Charming beaches. |
| C．Outdoor swimming spots. | D．Various modern buildings. |
| A．It opens at 10 am every day. | B．It is opened to us all year around. |
| C．It is the most popular wildlife attraction. | D．It provides the chance to see wild penguins. |
| A．You must use it within a year. | B．You must print it out in 60 minutes. |
| C．You can have it delivered to your house. | D．You can take your family along to the park. |
7 . World Literacy Conference
WHAT IS WORLD LITERACY CONFERENCE?
It’s the world’s largest gathering of international literacy experts, which focuses on the vital importance of improving reading and writing levels across the globe. It brings together leaders from 85 countries. Over 600 delegates (代表) in the scene and a further 40,000 people via webinars will watch it.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE CONFERENCE?
Anyone who is passionate about education is welcome to take part in the conference. Call for papers and content is open. You can hand in no more than two papers through the Oxford system per person before September 16, 2023. Please click Here for more information
TICKET PURCHASE:
Registration Fees l＄100 per person; 20 percent discount for per group member.
Consumption Tax l Extra 10 percent for each registration fee. Overseas delegates will be charged before attending but can be RETURNED BACK after conference closing.
Pay Channels PayPal or a credit card. (Please email us for other methods)
Refund Policy The Conference ONLY offers refunds when the British Government does not approve you visa, or you need to apply for registration transfers.
Others Accommodation expenses are not covered in the registration fees.
1. Which of the following statements is correct according to the text?| A．The live broadcasting is the only way for participation. |
| B．Delegates are allowed to submit more than two essays. |
| C．Accommodation expenses are included in the registration fees. |
| D．Purchasers can apply to gain other access to official tickets. |
| A．800. | B．880. | C．990. | D．1000. |
| A．An online website. |
| B．An educational journal. |
| C．An activity poster. |
| D．An economic newspaper. |
8 . It can be really challenging to learn a language well without living in a country full of native speakers! You have to find something captivating! Here’s the solution: TV series.
Game of Thrones
You should really start watching it. The language is beautiful and easy to follow. Drama, love and good characters mark the show and there are actors from all over the world. You won’t know what’s going to happen at the ending. This is a must-see!
Sherlock
A British masterpiece. Is there any language learner who has not heard of Sherlock Holmes and his friend John Watson? The writers placed the stories into London in the 21st century, so it’s basically a modern version of the original stories. Here you have everything that an English language leaner could wish for. British accents, good acting, long and interesting conversations with a sense of British humour.
Friends
Everybody knows Friends, which couldn’t be missed off of this list. With many different accents to be heard and a variety of dialects, this is the perfect show for English learners. The plot is relatively simple to understand. Six friends battle with tough jobs, complicated relationships and life in Manhattan, New York. In parts of the show there are also British accents to listen to and learn.
How I Met Your Mother
It is one of the most successful situation comedies in the United States, attracting the audience all over the world. It’s about the life of five friends that live in New York, focusing on their work and their favourite leisure time activity: sitting in their favourite bar. You get to know many modern American expressions and can enjoy various dialects that make the show even more engaging.
1. Which of the following has an unexpected ending?| A．Game of Thrones. | B．Sherlock. |
| C．Friends. | D．How I Met Your Mother. |
| A．American dialects. | B．American humour. |
| C．British accents. | D．Complicated acting. |
| A．It is about five American students’ daily life. |
| B．There are many formal expressions in the show. |
| C．It’s the most successful situation comedy in the US. |
| D．It enjoys popularity among audience around the world. |
9 . Four YouTube channels you need to watch
Yes Theory 6.57m subscribersDriven by the motto (格言) “Seek Discomfort”, Yes Theory aims to spread a message of fearlessness through carrying out projects that help people step outside their comfort zones. There is no doubt that many of us may feel too scared to work towards challenging goals, which is why Yes Theory takes on some adventures to show people that discomfort helps achieve a great life.
Nas Daily 2.45m subscribersBeing a graduate from Harvard, Nuseir Yassin makes an effort to provide a YouTube channel that highlights the most incredible humans on Earth. His videos often feature individuals who are creating changes in the world, and he also covers some of the most important topics of discussion like climate change.
TED-Ed 13.7m subscribersTED-Ed is one of the most famous YouTube channels when it comes to learning and inspiration. The channel has no specific video producer as it features presentations from people all around the world. These videos feature a wide variety of topics, and there is no specific subject that the channel focuses on. Instead, it provides insight into anything that can benefit the viewers.
Be Inspired 7.4m subscribersBe Inspired is a YouTube channel that provides videos to help people improve their overall well-being. These videos include a wide variety of topics such as sleep, stress, jobs, and creating plans. The channel also includes short and inspirational videos that help people realize the mistakes they are making and ways to solve them.
1. Which channel is the most popular?| A．Yes Theory. | B．Nas Daily. | C．TED-Ed. | D．Be Inspired. |
| A．Learning the latest news. |
| B．Meeting incredible humans. |
| C．Having access to job opportunities. |
| D．Improving general health and happiness. |
| A．They are inspirational. |
| B．They are favored by students. |
| C．They encourage viewers to challenge themselves. |
| D．They have one specific video producer. |
10 . If you’re an English learner or an English speaker looking to widen your vocabulary, a good dictionary app is a must.
Dictionary. comIf you’re looking for a reliable and user-friendly dictionary app, Dictionary. com has one for you. It provides instant access to a vast collection of definitions, synonyms and even works offline. Additionally, it provides daily word quizzes, articles and trending word lists to keep users engaged and expand their vocabulary.
Merriam-WebsterMerriam-Webster is a well-known and highly trusted dictionary. The app provides quality definitions, audio pronunciations and usage examples in an on-the-go format available offline. It lets you save favorites, has a word of the day and keeps track of your recent searches. The app also provides access to a thesaurus, word puzzles and quizzes to enhance your vocabulary skills. The app even lets you search for words by speaking them!
FluentUFluentU takes real-world videos-like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks-and turns them into personalized language learning lessons. FluentU makes it really easy to watch English videos. The best part is that FluentU keeps track of the vocabulary that you’re learning and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It even reminds you when its time to review! Every learner has a truly personalized experience, even if they’re learning with the same video.
Dict BoxDiet Box is a comprehensive offline dictionary and translator app for over 50 languages, all in one place. Each word comes with a detailed definition, synonyms and example sentences. With a registered account, you get access to their urban dictionary for slang words, a picture dictionary for visual learners, the ability to back up and update word lists across devices and an ad-free experience in the app.
1. Which app allows users to play a word game?| A．Dictionary.com. | B．Merriam-Webster. |
| C．FluentU. | D．Dict Box. |
| A．Presenting English videos. |
| B．Providing scheduled courses. |
| C．Tracing the learning process. |
| D．Transforming videos into lessons. |
| A．It provides word tests. |
| B．It has no advertisement. |
| C．It can be used without Internet. |
| D．It offers members extra resources. |
