1 . News Around the World
If you feel pressured for your work, here are four pieces of news you can scan and relax.
Across the River in Rome
A man has walked across the Tiber River in Rome. As a tightrope artist, he is skilled at walking on a tightrope. But this time the tightrope is 135 meters long and 20 meters above the river, which is the longest and highest. The man sets a new Italian record. He said this walk was difficult with wind and rain.
A new spoon for astronauts
Nikolas Grafakos makes a special spoon for astronauts, which helps astronauts eat more easily during long trips to Mars. Normal spoons are a little longer for astronauts and hard to eat with at zero gravity. The new spoon is something between a spoon and chopsticks. You hold it in your hand and press it at the end. It is easier to deliver food to our mouth, making it possible for astronauts to eat more kinds of food.
Pink Chocolate
Have you seen a kind of natural pink chocolate? Some people don't accept that, saying that the pink chocolate is rare and must cost a lot. Others say that in general, all cocoa beans turn into dark chocolate. During the process of making, they unbelievably change colour. They suppose there must be something strange about the gene of cocoa beans. Or maybe it is just white chocolate with some fruit.
Car Jumps and Rolls
A stunt driver set a Guinness World Record. This is his 21st Guinness World Record title. To jump with a car, he must get everything prepared and make exact calculations ahead of time. The car goes for 160 meters away and then; the car jumps. It flies 15.37 meters and even rolls in the air.
1. What does the man mentioned in paragraph 2 do?| A．A stunt driver. | B．A tightrope artist. |
| C．A spoon inventor. | D．A chocolate maker. |
| A．It is longer than the normal one. | B．It is helpful for astronauts to eat less. |
| C．It is hard for astronauts to use on earth. | D．It is easier for astronauts to use in outer space. |
| A．Fly 15.37 meters high. | B．Set a Guinness World Record. |
| C．Walk 20 meters above the river. | D．Drive his car for 160 meters away. |
2 . Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
The over 70-acre Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, as well as a popular tourist attraction. It is the second oldest botanic garden in Britain. Originally founded in 1670 as a garden to grow medicinal plants, its living collection consists of more than 15,000 plants.
Open daily from 10 am(except December 25 and January 31). Closed at 4 p.m.(Nov—Feb. ) 6 p.m.(Mar. and Oct.), 7 pm(Apr.—Sept. )
Entry: Free(Tel: 01315 527171)
The Dingle Garden, Wales
The Dingle Garden is set in the heart of beautiful mid-Wales. The four-acre garden is south-facing with paths that wind down the slope to a lake and small waterfall. The beds are colour-themed to look good all year round. This peaceful garden, full of wildlife, is the perfect spot for a relaxing wander at any time of year.
Open daily 9 a.m.—5 p.m. Only closed for one week at Christmas.
Entry: Adults £3, seniors £3, children free(Tel: 01938555145)
Groombridge Place, Keat
Groombridge Place in Kent, set in 200 acres of wooded parkland, has been the inspiration for books, films and television programmes. Inside the garden walls at Groombridge Place lies a hidden world. For three hundred years these gardens were unseen, except by a favoured few. The gardens were laid out in the 17th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries new plants were introduced and many trees were planted.
Late Mar.—early Nov.: Open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm(or dusk if earlier)
Entry: Adults £8.95, seniors and children £7.45(Tel: 01892861444)
Hidcote Manor Garden, Gloucestershire
Hidcote garden covers 10.5 acres of gently sloping ground. It was designed by a plant collector who sponsored and participated in plant hunting expeditions to secure rare and unusual species for this extremely pretty garden.
Open from the end of March to early November.
March 24 to July 1 and during September, open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, closed on Thursdays and Fridays. July 2 to August 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed on Thursdays. October 1 to November 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Thursdays and Fridays.
Entry: Adults £7.27, children £3,36, family £18.18（Tel: 01386 438333）
1. From the text we can learn that Royal Botanic Garden ________.| A．is the oldest botanic garden | B．has a few medicinal plants |
| C．opens daily from 10 am to 4 pm | D．is free of charge for visitors |
| A．Royal Botanic Garden. | B．Groombridge Place |
| C．The Dingle Garden. | D．Hidcote Manor Garden. |
| A．cover a large area | B．are closed during winter |
| C．display rare and unusual species | D．are crowded with visitors in summer |
3 . Skipping Stones Youth Honor Awards
The Youth Honor Awards recognize creative and artistic works by young people that promote multicultural, international and nature awareness.
Original writing (essays, interviews, poems, plays, short stories, etc.) and art( photos. paintings. Cartoons, etc.) from youth. aged 7 to 17, should be typed or neatly handwritten. Essays should be under 1,000 words and poems should be under 30 lines. Non-English writings, photo essays and art pieces (up to 8) are equally welcome.
You may also choose to stress the work of a youth organization or group project. Using the same guidelines as above, tell us how the group works to preserve nature or enrich the community, its members and the lives of others.
Entries must be e-mailed or postmarked by 25 June. Please include the following:
A cover letter telling about yourself and your works, age, address and telephone number or e-mail, which we need to contact you during August if you are a winner.
A Certificate of Originality and a Parental Permission to publish your work We reserve the right to publish your entry at our judgement.
Send a $5 entry fee. If you enter the honor awards program and also subscribe ($25/year), you can enter without the entry fee. If you are entering electronically, we can send you an online request for $7, which includes the entry fee of $5, plus an additional $2 convenience fee.
Ten winning entries will be published in the October issue. Winners will receive an Honor Award Certificate, a subscription to Skipping Stones and five books.
Send your award entries and submissions by e-mail or post to the address below,
P. o Box 3939
Eugene. OR 97403 USA.
In fo@Ski ppingStones.Org
1. Which of the following works are not accepted?| A．Works presented in May. | B．Works including 10 art pieces. |
| C．Works written in Chinese. | D．Works from youth organizations. |
| A．In June. | B．In July. | C．In August. | D．In October. |
| A．$ 2. | B．$ 3. | C．$ 5. | D．$7. |
