2 . Holidays matter. They are a chance to step away from everyday life and reconnect with the people we love; a time to relax, to be the real us, or indeed to be whoever we want to be. And once the sand has been washed from the toes, holidays can leave us with a suitcase of life-long happy memories.

Yet today in the UK at least 1.46 million families can’t afford a single day out together, let alone a holiday night away from home. Millions of British children this year won’t get to paddle (划船) in the sea, or build a sandcastle. Nothing to report when they return to school in September. No happy memories to help them improve their learning and behaviour.

That’s why the Family Holiday Association (FHA) exists. It is the only national charity that devotes itself to helping struggling families enjoy precious time together. Many are dealing with severe illness, poverty, disability, poor mental health and so on. They are referred to the Association. This work is often done by the professionals such as teachers, social workers, and doctors.

The Family Holiday Association was founded 43 years ago by Pat and Joan Laurance, who were unemployed with a young, sick child, living in a single room. A friend offered them a week in a flat on the Essex coast in return for cat-sitting. They fed the cat. They walked on the bench. They laughed and paddled.

And guess what? After a few days of enjoying fun they came home with new-found energy to face whatever life might throw at them. The Laurances determined that other struggling families should also gain the benefits of a simple holiday and the charity was born. Since then more than 120,000 parents and children have been able to enjoy a break happily, usually a few days by the British seaside.

3 . You may have heard of Niagara Falls, one of the biggest waterfalls in the world. But do you know about the Niagara Escarpment（断崖）?     1    .

Earlier this month, our school went on a hiking trip to this beautiful place. The weather was cold, cloudy and windy, so we wore many layers to stay warm. We were separated into two groups and went on different routes（路线）. The whole escarpment is 725 kilometers long.     2    .

My favorite part of the routes was the cave. The cave was formed from many different shaped rocks.     3    . We climbed down into the rocks with the help of our teachers. The rocks were steep and slippery because they were covered with wet leaves. It was fun and exciting experience for all of us.

    4    . After walking 5 km without any rest, we were hungry and tired. When our teacher finally said we could stop to have lunch, we were thrilled. After all, this route was a little different from the ones we were used to. It was more rugged, with lots of rocks on the path, which made it harder to walk. But it was great exercise.

    5    , but remember to stay warm, stay hydrated（保持体内水分）and have fun along the way!

The new site of the National Natural History Museum was unveiled (揭牌) in Beijing on June 5, 2023. It     1     ( locate) along the southern part of Beijing’s central line. It covers about 57, 700 square meters,     2     (double) the size of its original site. Formerly     3     (know) as the Beijing Museum of National History, the museum was opened to the public in January 1959. Being the first large -scale museum of natural history founded on     4     (we) own strength after the liberation, the museum bears three main functions: the specimen collection, the academic research and the science popularization of zoology, botany and anthropology. The museum today,     5     has been one of a few     6     (museum) of natural history in China, boasts its rich collections, high- -level research and ever-enlarging exhibitions. It also has been named     7       National Youth Science and Technology Education Base. It has been     8     unique attraction, receiving 1.8 million visits every year. It now holds a collection of more than 372,000 historical and contemporary artifacts. In the future, the facility will expand its collection and it will     9     (active) play an important role in     10     (science) research. I will also develop more learning programs to popularize science and deeper international communication, according to the museum.

6 . It seems that we just can’t get enough of roller coasters. Today we look at some top amusement parks and the roller coasters which have helped make them famous.

It is a family park that resists the exciting atmosphere of its competitors and instead offers a more relaxing and friendly experience. Rare in that it is privately owned and it has many features other parks can’t match. There is lots of entertainment for youngsters, and the park’s family-friendly policy offers free entry to the water park, reasonable food prices and unlimited soft drinks free of charge.

Lake Compounce, one of America’s more traditional parks, is a rare find indeed. As the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the US, it has been a popular family spot since 1846. Like many old-time parks, it witnessed the danger of being closed. Luckily, in 1977, a well-known company gave its revival with new rides appealing to many new fans.

As one of America’s favourite theme parks, Knott’s has something for everyone. For those seeking a breathtaking rush, try the roller coaster, GhostRider or the Xcelerator. GhostRider is the single largest attraction in amusement park history and one of the longest and tallest wooden roller coasters in the world. If you are after something less exciting, go visit the heart of Knott’s, Ghost Town, for a glance of life in the Wild West of the 1880s. With its cowboys, steam trains and historic buildings-many transported from mining towns-Ghost Town will let you relive a piece of the past.

In the style of Walt Disney World, Islands of Adventure is divided into themed “lands”. Unlike the sugar-coated Magic Kingdom, however, IOA features attractions promising to set the heart racing. While the Spiderman is fantastic, you haven’t truly lived until you’ve experienced The Incredible Hulk’s wild and unique uphill launch. The effect is like being trapped inside an airplane that’s flying out of control.

7 . I’d spend every summer vacation with my parents when I was a kid. They used to spend two to four weeks each year travelling. And because we couldn’t afford to stay in a hotel, camping was the only way. By the time I left home at 18, I’d visited every province in Canada. As I look back at my camping memories, the one in Battle Harbor stands out most.

It takes a long time to drive to Newfoundland from Ontario, especially when you’ve got six people packed into a minivan. When we arrived on the island, it was raining heavily every day. Therefore, we kept driving north, hoping to avoid it. We jumped onto a ferry (渡船) to Labrador and moved our way up the coast of this less-populated region.

The scenery in Labrador is sublime. You can see long white sand beaches along the Atlantic coast that look inviting, but the water is extremely cold. While standing at the top of a lighthouse, my dad said, “This will be the new Caribbean once global warming hits.”

We soon discovered Battle Harbor, a historic fishing village. In the mid-1800s it had a population of 350 and was considered the unofficial capital of Labrador. When I was there in 2003, it was more like a ghost town, with some broken fish-drying shelves left, reminding me that fishing trade was common. I clearly remember feeling the furthest from anything that I’ve ever felt. Multiple ferry rides and 600 miles separated me from the nearest major city of St. John’s, which is still considered a remote relative to the rest of Canada,

If you’re curious about Labrador, I highly recommend a 2013 film called The Grand Seduction. It’s a delightful comedy about a small fishing village called Tickle Head that’s struggling to figure out its future.