1 . Whatever your mood, here are a few of the best fiction and non-fiction books to get you thinking about reading plans, from classic novels to fantasy stories.
Beartown
Beartown, by Fredrik Backman, is about a small forest town with a big dream. The town’s junior hookey team is about to compete in the national semi-finals — in which they actually have a shot of winning. But unexpectedly, the match is the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a town in turmoil. It’s an engrossing book about community, loyalty ( 忠诚) , and the responsibilities of friendship that’s perfect to read in winter.
The Year of Living Danishly
The Year of Living Danishly, by Helen Russell, is one of the best books to read in wintertime, about how the Danes live (and cope with winter). Danish culture is shown in the book. It makes for a more beautiful addition to your bookshelf.
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat (退避) in Difficult Times
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times is Katherine May’s bestselling memoir and guide to the power of rest and retreat in difficult times. If you’re struggling with low energy, depression, or feeling lost, this is the ideal book to read in winter.
A Winter Book: Selected Stories
A Winter Book: Selected Stories is the perfect collection to retreat into in winter. It features thirteen winter stories from Tove Jansson’s first book for adults, The Sculptors Daughter, plus seven of the beloved Finnish writer’s most cherished (珍爱的) later stories.
1. Which book will you choose if you are interested in the Danish culture?| A．Beartown. |
| B．The Year of Living Danishly. |
| C．A Winter Book: Selected Stories. |
| D．Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times. |
| A．It is a guidebook. |
| B．It is a travel diary |
| C．It is a collection of stories. |
| D．It is a new historical fiction |
| A．They are classic novels. |
| B．They are about community and loyalty. |
| C．They are ideal books for winter reading. |
| D．They are Finnish writer’s most cherished stories. |
2 . See who’s winning awards on the 2023 Academy Awards race, but nothing speaks to the 2023 Oscars race like golden statistics.
Best Picture：The Fabelmans
Steven Spielberg’s latest film, The Fabelmans, turns out to be a deeply personal look into another kind of hole: his own biography. Because it’s Spielberg, it’s all beautifully, meticulously pictured, with misty ode(歌颂)to the people who raised him. The mist burns away, though, as the movie goes on, in part because Michelle Williams gives such a superior performance.
Best Director：Sam Mendes
Empire of Light is written and directed by Sam Mendes and is set at the start of the 1980s in England. Osear winner Olivia Colman plays a cinema employee named Hilary who begins a romance with a new colleague, Stephen, played by Micheal Ward. Ward’s Stephen must settle the rising tide of racism that destroyed the U. K. at the time.
Best Actor：Brendan Fraser
Fraser returns to leading man role in the moving preview for Darren Aronofsky’s new movie, The Whale, which also stars Hong Chau, Sadie Sink, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton. Written by playwrighu(剧作家)Samuel D. Hunter as an adaptation of his 2013 stage production of the same name, The Whale is an exercise in sympathy and respect.
Best Actress：Michelle Yeoh
The legendary Malaysian star of iconic films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Crazy Rich Asians has won an award in the Toronto International Film Festival. Yeoh’s work in Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s universe–hopping Everything Everywhere All at Once has collected the best reviews of the actress’ career, with many praising her as a front-running racer for the Academy’s Best Actress.
1. Which of the following movies is based on its director’s own experiences?| A．The Fabelmans. | B．Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. |
| C．The Whale. | D．Everything Everywhere All at Once. |
| A．Steven Spielberg. | B．Sam Mendes. |
| C．Darren Aronofsky. | D．Samuel D. Hunter. |
| A．A science magazine. | B．A local newspaper. |
| C．A course plan. | D．A poetry collection. |
3 . Ticket Information
Due to extremely high demand, tickets for the three traditional end-of-year concerts of the Vienna Philharmonic are drawn exclusively on the Vienna Philharmonic website. In this way, people worldwide have an equal chance to purchase these highly desired tickets.
Application Period: February 1-28, 2023
During this period, interested persons can apply on this website for tickets to the Preview Performance, the New Year’s Eve Concert, and the New Year’s Concert. The first step toward making an application for tickets is to register for the drawing. The registration is separate from your user account for the Webshop and is specifically for the drawing. Users can enter their ticket preferences for the upcoming concerts during the application period.
Price Categories
The number of tickets for the New Year’s Concert is limited to two, and the number of tickets for the Preview Performance and New Year’s Eve Concert can be up to four. The ticket prices range between 35 € and 1200 € for the New Year’s Concert, 25 € and 860 € for the New Year’s Eve Concert, and between 20 € and 495 € for the Preview Performance. If you wish to change your application, you may only do so during the application period. In March, you will know the results of the drawing.
When Should I Apply?
Within the one-month application period, the actual time of application is irrelevant. An application made on February 1 has the same chances as an application made on February 28. The only way to obtain tickets for these concerts is by taking part in the online drawing! Requests submitted through the postal system, by e-mail or by any other means will not be considered!
1. Who could be most interested in this information?| A．A website designer. | B．A painting lover. |
| C．A music fan. | D．A tourist guide. |
| A．Apply one month in advance. | B．Participate in the drawing. |
| C．Send e-mails to the webshop. | D．Use the same name as the user account. |
| A．70€. | B．25€. | C．50€. | D．40€. |
4 . Welcome to the Astronomy Club of Akron (ACA) web page. The purpose of the ACA is to further an interest in and to promote the study of the subject of astronomy through the use of lectures, discussion groups, publications, programs and other activities.
The ACA will educate the general public through monthly programs. These programs, lectures and events cover the planets, solar/lunar observing, comets showers, deep sky objects. The ACA activities provide opportunities for its general club members to get together and take part in a variety of general astronomy related matters.
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in astronomy. No equipment is necessary and no knowledge is needed. There is no age limit. Club members meet on the 4th Friday of every month at 8 a.m. at the Kiwanis Hall in Portage Lakes. During the meeting, a one-hour talk will be on astronomy, space exploration or weather. The date of the meeting will change if the 4th Friday is part of a holiday weekend. Check the calendar, view the most recent newsletter, send emails or call the number listed on our home page if in doubt. The ACA publishes a monthly newsletter The Night Sky, which contains information on the coming meetings, observing sessions and articles by members.
Club dues are $30 a year for adults (18 and over), $15 for juniors (12 to 17). The family only needs $40 a year. Welcome to our club and you can call 18663399783 to find more information about us.
1. What does the ACA mainly want to do according to the passage?| A．Hold more meetings. |
| B．Organize social gatherings. |
| C．Prevent the showers and objects in space. |
| D．Get more people interested in astronomy. |
| A．Visit the manager’s office. |
| B．Refer to the latest The Night Sky. |
| C．Observe the meeting sessions. |
| D．Change the calendar and schedules. |
| A．To get more members. |
| B．To show how to do researches. |
| C．To help people choose clubs. |
| D．To introduce a space program. |
Advertising refers to the activity of promoting a product or service. In addition to making people aware of a product or service, a successful advertisement will also create a desire
Now advertising is becoming more digital and more personalized compared with that of the past, we are very likely to receive special discounts and
6 . Essex Library Services Reading Friends
What is the role about?
Reading Friends is an exciting UK-wide programme from The Reading Agency. It’s been piloted in some other parts of the country over the last few years and now is being extended to Essex.
Developed with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, Reading Friends deals with loneliness by bringing people together to read, chat and share stories. Essex Library Services is looking for volunteers to support the roll- out of the Reading Friends programme across Essex.
What will it involve?
*Chatting to people, either one to one, or in groups, using reading to get people talking. Contact will be via phone or computer initially. After restrictions are lifted, it is planned to do in-person sessions (活动时间) in libraries.
*Using reading — whether books, magazines, newspapers, or anything else — to start conversations. Nothing needs to be read before the session.
What skills and experience do you need?
*An interest in people
*Good communication and people skills
*Love of books and reading is not necessary, but would be a bonus
What will you get from volunteering?
*The satisfaction of contributing to the community and potentially preventing loneliness
*The chance to share the joy of reading
*Develop your experience and skills to enhance your resume (简历)
*A certificate of appreciation for coming along and helping out, which looks great on a resume
1. Who does the Reading Friends programme aim to help?| A．People feeling lonely. | B．People wanting to change a job. |
| C．People wanting to publish their stories. | D．People having special educational needs. |
| A．Having previous work experience. | B．Reading related books in advance. |
| C．Living in restrictions-lifted areas. | D．Being communicative. |
| A．A trip to Essex. | B．A certificate of appreciation. |
| C．A fund from the government. | D．An opportunity to work in libraries. |
Advertising, whose purpose is to promote
8 . Are you looking to make your career in science, design or engineering? Then join our community of online learners! Here are some courses.
Electronic products bring countless benefits to society, but their production and waste treatment also lead to numerous negative environmental and economic impacts. In a circular economy, products are designed to last. Recycling can help recover the value in the materials so that these can be used again to produce new products. This course supports you to explore both Design for Recycling and Designing with Recycled Plastics.
Building design strongly influences the quantity of heating, cooling and electricity needed during building operation. This course will enable you to understand the base principle(原理) of the energy chain: demand, supply and distribution; and how they related to design principle for sustainable and energy-efficient buildings.
Energy markets are governed by the laws of economics. But how does the “invisible hand” of economics show up in practice? This course will help you understand the functioning of energy markets as the necessary first step to promotion of the energy transition. By using the European electricity market as an example, you will obtain a deeper understanding of it a principle and effectiveness.
Electric cars are more than a novel means of mobility. If you want to explore the business opportunities this new market offers, then this is the course for you! This course explains how electric mobility can work for various businesses. The experts will provide examples of how innovations have changed conventional businesses and created new businesses altogether.
1. Which section of the website is this text probably taken from?| A．Research News | B．Campus life |
| C．Extension School. | D．Career Opportunities |
| A．Demand in Buildings |
| B．Designing Electronics for Recycling in a Circular Economy |
| C．Energy Markets of Today |
| D．Electric Cars : Business |
| A．Start time. | B．Flexible schedule. |
| C．Learning content. | D．Teaching language. |
9 . It’s hard to imagine any gifts more convenient than online flower delivery. There is no driving to the local florist shop, no waiting on hold, and no searching for a phone number for a flower delivery service in the area you need to send. You simply select the bouquet or arrangement, and enter the delivery and payment information. Besides, many offer additional gifts including gift baskets, chocolates, teddy bears and so on.
Fast Flower Delivery Online
When you buy flowers online, you can get flower delivery just as fast as if you place the order in person or over the phone. If you place your order early in the day with an Internet florist, many of the best can deliver on the same day.
Send Flowers for Less
Customers often find better prices when buying on the Internet, because online flower shops typically have lower prices and more discount deals. These shops have less overhead (运营费用) and costs, so they can pass the savings on to the customer. In addition, you usually get a much better deal, especially at busy holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Christmas, etc.
Spectacular Flower Selection
A typical local flower shop does not have a big selection to choose, and also, when you order flowers over the phone you can’t see what you’ll get. Online flower shops have pictures, and still many have a spectacular selection to choose from. Plus, if one Internet florist doesn’t have what you want, it’ll take just a few seconds to buy flowers online from another florist site.
1. What might you get on a special holiday?| A．Faster delivery. | B．Wider choices. | C．More discount. | D．Extra gifts. |
| A．You see pictures of the flowers. |
| B．You needn’t drive to the shop. |
| C．You can pay afterwards. |
| D．You have a faster service. |
| A．To show the advantages of online shopping. |
| B．To help run an online floral business. |
| C．To advertise an online flower shop. |
| D．To promote online flower delivery. |
10 . Because of the “Yunnan Elephant”, many people have developed a strong interest in elephants, and it has also aroused a heated discussion about how man and nature should share the earth and live in harmony. In this issue of “Weekend Cinema”, Yingda has brought four documentaries related to this：
The Secret Life of Elephants
The Secret Life of Elephants is a BBC nature documentary series following the lives of elephants and the work of the conservation charity Save the Elephants in Samburu National Reserve, Kenya. It was first released in the United Kingdom on BBC One in January 2009 to 4.2 million viewers. The team follow the dramatic and emotional stories of 500 plus individually known elephants.
Penguin Town
The series is filmed in Simon’s Town, South Africa, where these adorable African penguins wander close by to people, strolling down the sidewalk, passing sunbathers on the beach. The series follows various penguin couples. With great humor, their love stories are told, and you follow the adventures of these penguin couples starting families and having chicks.
Seven Worlds, One Planet
Millions of years ago incredible forces tore apart the Earth’s crust(地壳) creating seven extraordinary continents, each with its own distinct climate, its own distinct terrain(地形) and its own unique animal life. Seven Worlds, One Planet explores the natural wonders that give each of our continents its distinct character. Following the animals that have made these environments their home, it discovers amazing wildlife stories that uncover what makes each of these seven worlds unique.
Bears on Top of the World
This moving film reveals the differing fortunes of a mother polar bear, a mother bear and their newborn babies, in a rapidly changing world. This is a remarkable story of how bears, ever intelligent, are adapting to a warming world.
1. If you are interested in documentaries with funny languages, which film do you prefer?
| A．The Secret Life of Elephants | B．Penguin Town |
| C．Seven Worlds, One Planet | D．Bears on Top of the World |
| A．They are all filmed in Africa. |
| B．They explore the natural wonders with distinct character. |
| C．They share the stories of wildlife. |
| D．They focus on animals adapting to the changing world. |
| A．Sports and health | B．Entertainment and Culture |
| C．Finance and Economics | D．Technology and Science |
