1 . Women’s Poetry Competition 2024
Welcome to Mslexia, the only magazine where every reader is a potential contributor too. Almost every part of the magazine is open to submission by any woman writer. Our competition is open to unpublished poems of any length. Your £10 entry fee allows you to submit up to three poems. The judge this year is the outstanding and award-winning writer Pascale Petit.
Prizes
1st: £2,000; 2nd: £500; 3rd: £250 (Each prize goes for one person.)
Unpublished Poetry Prize for the best poem by a previously unknown poet: £250.
The four winners, plus sixteen additional finalists will have their poems published in the May issue of Mslexia.
Results
The deadline for all entries is 23:59 GMT, 6 March, 2024
The winners and finalists will be announced on 1 April, 2024
How to enter
Add the entry fee to your basket and go to the checkout. Once the order is completed, you’ll be taken to a submit page where the entry form is located. Click the “Enter Now” button. You can submit at a later date by typing into your Mslexia online account and going to the “competitions” bill.
Visit our Entry Instructions for a more comprehensive guide on how to enter, and be sure to read our Rules before submitting your entries.
Frequently-asked questions
Have a question about formatting, eligibility(资格), or anything else?
Ready to enter? Please see our Entry Instructions. For any further information, call us at 0191 204 8860 or email competitions@mslexia.co.uk.
1. How many winners will get prize money?| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Sixteen. | D．Twenty. |
| A．Submitting two poems. | B．Visiting Entry Instructions. |
| C．Writing a poem of 120 words. | D．Mailing your entry on April 1. |
| A．In a textbook. | B．In an art magazine. | C．On a website. | D．In a local newspaper. |
2 . What’s On?
Electric Underground
7.30pm－1.00am Free at the Cyclops Theatre
Do you know who’s playing in your area? We’re bringing you an evening of live rock and pop music from the best local bands. Are you interested in becoming a musician and getting a recording contract? If so, come early to the talk at 7.30 pm by Jules Skye, a successful record producer. He’s going to talk about how you can find the right person to produce your music.
Gee Whizz
8.30pm-10.30pm Comedy (喜剧)at Kaleidoscope
Come and see Gee Whizz perform. He’s the funniest stand-up comedian on the comedy scene. This joyful show will please everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. Gee Whizz really knows how to make you laugh! Our bar is open from 7.00pm for drinks and snacks(快餐).
Simon’s Workshop
5.00pm-7.30pm Wednesdays at Victoria Stage
This is a good chance for anyone who wants to learn how to do comedy. The workshop looks at every kind of comedy, and practices many different ways of making people laugh. Simon is a comedian and actor who has 10 years’ experience of teaching comedy. His workshops are exciting and fun. An evening with Simon will give you the confidence to be funny.
Charlotte Stone
8.00pm-11.00pm Pizza World
Fine food with beautiful jazz music; this is a great evening out. Charlotte Stone will perform songs from her new best-selling CD, with James Pickering on the piano. The menu is Italian, with excellent meat and fresh fish, pizzas and pasta(面食). Book early to get a table. Our bar is open all day, and serves cocktails, coffee, beer, and white wine.
1. Who can help you if you want to have your music produced?| A．Jules Skye. | B．Gee Whizz. | C．Charlotte Stone. | D．James Pickering. |
| A．The Cyclops Theatre | B．Kaleidoscope | C．Victoria Stage | D．Pizza World |
| A．It requires membership card. | B．It lasts three hours each time. |
| C．It is run by a comedy club. | D．It is held every Wednesday. |
| A．5.00pm-7.30pm. | B．7.30pm－1.00am. | C．8.00pm-11.00pm. | D．8.30pm-10.30pm. |
3 . It can be tough to pull kids away from their computers and mobile devices these days. While they’re playing games, wouldn’t it be great if they could be learning at the same time? Good educational apps offer fun challenges that teach specific grade-level skills. Here are four that combine fun and learning.
Understanding Math($3.99; iOS)
Understanding Math goes beyond basic comprehension to gain a deeper understanding of the whys and hows of math. The app tracks your child’s progress to determine strengths and weaknesses in different skill areas, and you can customize(订制)your child’s learning experience to suit the needs.
Word Creativity Kit($2.99; iOS)
Word Creativity Kit aims not only to make creative writing fun but also build up grammar rules. The app presents a series of words from seven categories, such as space or fantasy. Kids add their own words to finish the complete thoughts that these words have inspired.
Barefoot World Atlas($4.99; iOS)
Barefoot World Atlas helps kids learn about geography and world cultures with a touch of the screen. Each region features a set of sub-topics, from wildlife and natural features to native people, landmarks, and architecture. These facts and illustrations are delivered in photographs, sounds, and hundreds of mini videos.
My Grades & Homework($0.99; iOS)
A combination of grades and homework tracker, My Grades & Homework can help your child stay organized and on top of the progress in school. A convenient calendar and course list format and offer a glance at your child’s assignment schedule that he or she might not normally get from standard homework planners.
1. Which app is beneficial to children’s writing skills?| A．Understanding Math. | B．Word Creativity Kit. |
| C．Barefoot World Atlas. | D．My Grades & Homework. |
| A．They need purchasing when downloaded. |
| B．They help children improve their grades. |
| C．They make studies fun because of mini videos. |
| D．They inform parents of their children’s progress. |
| A．To wish readers to bring in more similar apps for children. |
| B．To encourage parents to allow their students to play apps. |
| C．To design the educational apps to combine fun and learning. |
| D．To introduce four educational apps for readers to buy and use. |
4 . The Best Books of 2020
On Monday, the American Library Association announced the top children’s books of 2020. Here are the winners.
Devotion
Author Clare Vanderpool took home the John Newbery Medal for outstanding contribution to children’s literature for Moon over Manifest. The book is about a young girl’s magical adventures in a small Kansas town, in 1936.
Vanderpool said that she was shocked to learn that she had won. “You grow up reading legendary authors like Madeleine L’Engle, but I never expected to be put in a category with her,” Vanderpool told TFK, “It’s fabulous”.
Picture This
The picture book A Sick Day for Amos McGee won the Randolph Caldecott Medal. The book was illustrated by Ein E. Stead and written by her husband, Philip C. Stead. It tells the story of an elderly zookeeper and the animals that visit him when he’s not well enough to go to work.
“I love drawing animals and I love drawing people and I love drawing the emotional connection between animals and people,” said Stead.
More Honored Books
The Coretta Scott King award, given to an African-American author and illustrator of “outstanding books for children and young adults”, went to Rita Williams-Garcia for One Crazy Summer. Set in 1968, the novel follows three sisters from Brooklyn, New York, who visit their mother, a poet who ran away years ago and lives in California, and later learn much about family, their country and themselves.
The king prize for best-illustrated work went to Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave. The book, which was written by Laban Carrick Hill and illustrated by Bryan Collier, tells the story of a skilled potter who engraved his poems on the clay pots and jars that he made. The enslaved potter, known only as Dave, lived in South Carolina in the 1800s.
1. When she heard the news that she won the medal Vanderpool felt .| A．depressed | B．annoyed | C．amused | D．astonished |
| A．a frighting experience | B．children’s growth |
| C．an adventurous journey | D．social problems |
| A．The book Moon over Manifest tells a story of a zookeeper and his animals. |
| B．The book A Sick Day for Amos McGee is written by Erin, a famous woman writer. |
| C．A Sick Day for Amos McGee shows us that animals can interact with humans. |
| D．One Cray Summer is about a mother with her three children having a holiday in California. |
5 . Summer Teen Volunteer Opportunities
Bloomington Parks and Recreation offers an excellent opportunity for teens to get involved and make a difference in their community by volunteering within a variety of summer youth programs. Summer Teen volunteers assist with activities under the guidance of experienced staff and gain valuable leadership skills. In the summer, teens can apply to volunteer in the following programs:
Summer Adventure Playground Program Volunteer
Program Dates: June 14 — August 12
Location(s): Kelly, Poplar Bridge. Running, Smith. Sunrise and Westwood parks
Information: Help facilitate opportunities to play and lead playground participants (in grades 2 - 7) in games, sports, arts and crafts, and make new friendships.
Mini View Volunteer
Program Dates: June 14 — August 6 Location: Valley View Elementary School
Information: Help to assist with the supervision of preschoolers —1st graders in a social occasion.
The View Volunteer
Program Dates: June 14 — August 6 Location: Valley View Elementary School
Information: Help to assist with supervision of 2nd - 5th graders in a social recreational setting.
Camp Kota Junior Counselor
Program Dates: June 14 — August 9 Location: East Bush Lake
Information: Help campers learn basic outdoor skills while meeting new friends, singing crazy songs and having tons of fun.
To apply, fill in a Parks and Recreation 2022 Summer Teen Volunteer Application. Please be sure to answer all questions and indicate all program(s) of interest. Applicants will be contacted via email with next steps after March 31, 2022. Contact us by phone (952-563-8877) or e-mail at parksiec@BloomingtonMN.gov for more information.
1. What can volunteers get from the programs?| A．Making the community different | B．Becoming an experienced staff member. |
| C．Getting opportunities for college. | D．Acquiring useful leadership skills. |
| A．Summer Adventure Playground Program Volunteer | B．Mini View volunteer. |
| C．The View Volunteer. | D．Camp Kota Junior Counselor. |
| A．Fill out an application form. |
| B．Answer questions via an interview. |
| C．Clarify your program(s) of interest by phone. |
| D．Contact the organizers on March 31. |
6 . Urban gardens are valuable assets to communities. They provide green spaces to grow sustainable food, build community cohesion（凝聚力）, make new friends, connect with the earth, and much more. So, let's check out our list of 4 inspiring urban gardens in the US.
Gotham Greens
Where: New York Chicago
What: Gotham Greens first started in Brooklyn and now has four locations in New York City and Chicago. Their flagship farm in Brooklyn produces over 100, 000 pounds of greens per year. But it doesn't just produce healthy local vegetables. It is using high-tech greenhouses with solar panels to make sure the food grown is healthy and sustainable.
Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students
Where: Baltimore, Maryland
What: The Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students （BUGS）program encourages students to get their hands dirty and plant vegetables through their after-school and summer programs. Many of these kids don't have access to green spaces, and have never had the opportunity to grow food.
ReVision Urban Farm
Where: Boston, Massachusetts
What: ReVision Urban Farm in Boston works in partnership with the ReVision Family Home—a shelter for 22 homeless parents and their kids. The farm provides these families with information on healthy eating, and access to the farm's fresh vegetables. The organization also provides job training to help families escape the cycle of poverty.
Swale
Where: New York
What: Swale, a floating food forest located on a large boat, is an innovative project meant to inspire citizens to rethink the relationship between our cities and our food. This urban garden serves as both a living art exhibit and an educational farm. Food forests are sustainable gardens that include vegetables, fruit, nut trees, bushes, herbs, and vines-each one complementing the other in a symbiotic（共生的）relationship.
1. What does the BUGS program mainly do?| A．Provide job training for students. |
| B．Use high-tech greenhouses to grow healthy food. |
| C．Create a sustainable garden on a large boat. |
| D．Offer students the opportunity to grow vegetables. |
| A．Gotham Greens. | B．Baltimore Urban Gardening with Students. |
| C．ReVision Urban Farm. | D．Swale. |
| A．Chicago. | B．Baltimore. |
| C．Boston. | D．New York. |
7 . The summer holiday is coming! Do you want to have a wonderful and meaningful vacation? If you are interested in animals and nature, come and join us!
Youth Explorer has prepared you with a Three-Day-Program! You can take part in many activities and meet with animals — lions, monkeys, tigers and so on! More information about the program is as follows:
Age: Students aged 10 to 15.
Groups: Two programs for you to choose. Each program needs at most 15 students.
| Program A Dates: 15—17 July Days: Monday to Wednesday Time: 9:30 am — 4:00 pm | Program B Dates: 6—8 August Days: Tuesday to Thursday Time: 9:30 am — 4:00 pm |
Program cost: $200 for members; $230 for non-members.
How to do: Simply come to our center to get an application form.
Send your completed form to us before July 10th.
Notes:
No free lunch is offered. You may either bring box lunch or pay for lunch at our restaurants.
Both programs will start 1 DAY later if there is a warning of rainstorms.
1. Who can join the Three Day Program?| A．Children under 6. | B．Students over 16. |
| C．Children aged 7—9. | D．Students aged 12—14. |
| A．On Sunday. | B．On Wednesday. | C．On Tuesday. | D．On Monday. |
| A．$600. | B．$630. | C．$660. | D．$700. |
8 . The editors of TIME for Kids have rounded up the best toys of this season. Here are 4 best toys taking the world by storm.
Cuble
Keep your hands busy with Cubles. The toys are made from 100%recyclable paperboard. To create a Cuble, pop out shapes from the paperboard and follow color-coded instructional labels. Pieces fit together to make a 3D toy. Cubles become a variety of creatures, including dinosaurs, dragons, and monkeys, which requires your mind. They also turn into characters from popular children's book series. Cubles are small and don't use scissors or glue, which makes them the perfect toy for holiday road trips.
GibGab
When playing GibGab, thinking and speaking faster than your opponent is the key. Face an opponent across the electronic game board. Choose a category from one of the cards. Say a word that matches the category and press your button. When you do, your lights begin to move toward your opponent as they think fast, say a word, and press their button. The one whose lights reach the other end of the gameboard first wins. GibGab is great as a two-player game. You can gather friends for tournament-style play.
Candy Claw(爪子) Machine
Candy Claw Machine is created based on the classic game. This do-it-yourself kit lets you build and engineer your own claw machine. Use different parts of the machine such as belts to make it work. Then add your favorite treats and practice reaching for prizes. The set also comes with three interchangeable claw types you can use and score.
VTech KidiZoom Print Cam
This is no ordinary camera that takes pictures. The VTech KidiZoom PrintCam also lets you add special effects, borders, and digital stickers to your pictures. When you take a self-shot, hit the print button and instantly a black-and-white version turns out from the front of the camera. Use it to create comic books or turn your pictures into coloring pages. There's also a video-record function and games built in.
1. What makes Cubles the perfect toy for holiday road trips?| A．They're convenient to carry. |
| B．They can be folded into 3D toys. |
| C．They stimulate kids' imagination. |
| D．They're made of recycled materials. |
| A．An adventure game. | B．A role-playing game. |
| C．A quick-response game. | D．A real-time strategy game. |
| A．Cuble. | B．GibGab. |
| C．Candy Claw Machine. | D．VTech Kidi Zoom PrintCam. |
9 . London’s four wonderful hotels
Here’s a pick of four wonderful hotels, each different in terms of size, style and location, but all performing to an exceptional standard.
The Goring Hotel
Since first opening in 1910, it is London’s oldest family-owned luxury hotel with the second-largest privately-owned garden in London after Buckingham Palace. The rooms of this hotel are smaller than those of many other London’s top hotels. There are 12 interconnecting rooms, which are ideal for families.
The Beaumont Hotel
This 1926 building, formerly a parking garage, has been transformed into one of London’s hottest hotels. Its art collection, personal service, elegant rooms and hot restaurant make it a favorite on our London list. There’s also an impressive 2. 5 staff to every person and a 24-hour doorkeeper to make sure that guests’ needs are met around the clock.
The Bulgari Hotel
This hotel has some of the largest accommodations in the capital. It’s very modern and huge with six floors below and nine above ground. It feels big, but there are only 85 rooms and suites spread over six floors, indicating how spacious (宽敞的) they are. The Bulgari Hotel has many child-friendly rooms and activities to keep the kids busy：a swimming pool, a cinema, PlayStations, Xbox and lots of other games. The Bulgari spa is spread over two stories. And the doorkeeper can also arrange babysitting.
The Rosewood Hotel
Rosewood is within walking distance of many of the city’s main attractions. From the outside, the building is large and impressive with an elegant courtyard designed for horse-drawn carriages (四轮马车). There is also a great spa and fitness center. As for activities for kids, there are food activities, art and wildlife. The doorkeeper can arrange trips to the London Zoo.
1. Which of the following does the Goring Hotel provide?| A．Spacious rooms. | B．Babysitting service. |
| C．A large private garden. | D．A spa and fitness center. |
| A．Enjoy games. | B．Watch wildlife. |
| C．Take part in food activities. | D．Take a horse-drawn carriage. |
| A．The Goring Hotel. | B．The Bulgari Hotel. |
| C．The Beaumont Hotel. | D．The Rosewood Hotel. |
1. What is the speaker trying to do?
| A．Attract customers. | B．Give directions. | C．Offer advice. |
| A．Next to a park. |
| B．In a small building. |
| C．Downtown on Third Street. |
| A．Women. | B．Children. | C．Men. |
| A．There is a big sale. |
| B．There are free shorts. |
| C．There are nice new shoes. |
