In an age of rapidly growing urbanization, rooftop farming has emerged as a sustainable response     1     the challenge of creating green space in cities. This innovative practice transforms rooftops into mini farms, where vegetables, fruits, and even flowers     2     (plant), providing local residents with fresh produce and adding a touch of nature to urban environments.

Rooftop farming, also     3     (refer) to as vertical agriculture, is more than just a trend; it’s a step towards environmental conservation. Green roofs with vegetation help to absorb sunlight and release moisture, cooling the air and reducing the demand for air conditioning,     4     in turn lessens energy     5     (consume) and carbon emission. Meanwhile, rooftop farms serve as educational platforms,     6     (teach) city dwellers about sustainable agriculture practices and the importance of locally     7     (source) food.

As urban populations continue to grow, rooftop farming fosters community engagement     8     promotes healthier lifestyles by providing access to fresh and organic produce. When we look towards     9     future where environmental consciousness and sustainable practices become increasingly vital, rooftop farming stands as a testament to our ability to cultivate more than just food—we cultivate hope for a     10     (green) and more resilient world.

2 . Ross Mathematics Program

The Ross Program is a summer experience designed for pre-college students.

Mission Statement

※At Ross. we provide students with a focused and supportive environment for mathematical exploration. We encourage mathematical cooperation and community building, instead of direct competition between students.

※At Ross, we want to create an environment that allows students to explore their relationships with mathematics, and we try to create an experience that allows students to explore mathematics deeply, to experience mathematics for themselves, and to share this exploration and joy with others.

Ross Staff

We have excellent counselors (辅导员) who are responsible for teaching mathematics, providing social and emotional support for students, and monitoring student safety. They are also responsible for being role models for students, and for developing a welcoming camp culture among the participants.

Program Dates

There will be two sites for the Ross Program:

※At Otterbein University in Columbus, OH. June 9 through July 19, 2024

※At Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana, June 16 through July 26, 2024

All participants typically live with a roommate in a campus dormitory.

Applying

※Pre-college students who are interested in mathematics are invited to apply. First-year students range in age from 15 to 18 years old, but in unique cases, younger or older students are accepted. We expect about 60 first-year students at each site.

Admission decisions are based on school performance, teacher recommendations, essays about the applicant’s interests and goals, and the applicant’s work on some challenging math problems.

The fee for attending the program is $7,000, though we’re able to provide financial aid for students who need financial assistance to attend the program. The student fee covers tuition, housing and meals.

Please feel free to email us at ross arossprogram. org!

3 . Ahmed was a middle-class businessman and used to go to his office in a car that he had bought seven years ago. Despite being _________ stronger than most of his co-workers, he was _________. Ahmed always wanted more than he had. Whenever he got into his car, he would start finding _________ with it, and drown in self-pity for being so poor.

One weekday, Ahmed left his home to go to his office. It was raining heavily. Ahmed drove _________, for he had to be careful with his _________ car. Then, a man on a motorbike grabbed his _________. The man was _________to keep the bike steady in the thunderstorm. Ahmed was _________ the fact that he was travelling safe and dry in his car. He said to himself, “I’m travelling _________ without getting affected by the rain, while this person is in serious difficulty. I am more __________ than him.”

The day passed quickly. When Ahmed drove back home, the rain had stopped. He saw a homeless man sleeping on the wet sidewalk.

Ahmed remained __________ that night, lost in deep thought. Happiness was around him, yet he always ________ about his life. Neither his car, his house nor status was depressing; what was saddening him was his __________. He knew he had to __________ his thoughts. That day, he __________ an important lesson — happiness comes from optimism!

6 . Smartphones allow us to do some great things.     1     The apps allow us to do even more with our phones. One app that encourages creativity among its users is TikTok, also known as Douyin.

TikTok is an app used for making music videos that can be shared with others. It provides some parts of popular songs. People can use the   songs as background music in their videos.     2     People record themselves doing dance moves, lip-syncing (对口型) with the music and just having fun. Some users like to make videos when they travel.     3     And of course, videos of cute animals moving in time with the music are always popular. Users can edit (编辑) their videos with different tools. The end results can be quite impressive (令人赞叹的).

Users can communicate with each other by leaving comments (评论) or giving “likes” on a video.     4     They are like stars with other users waiting for their next video to come out.

The app doesn’t just help make its users more popular.     5     One example is singer Christine Welch, who wrote A Million Possibilities. This song was very popular among Chinese users of the app. Because of that, Christine was invited to sing at a 2019 New Year’s concert in Beijing!

TikTok is a form of social media (媒体). It is fun for anyone who likes to be creative or enjoys the creativity of others.

Chinese poetry, an ancient art form,     1     (date) back thousands of years. It expresses the thoughts and feelings of poets through beautiful images and rhymes. Poets often use natural elements like mountains, rivers, and flowers     2     symbols of various emotions.

The earliest form of Chinese poetry can be traced back to the Book of Songs,     3     collected various poems from different regions and periods. Over time, poetry evolved into various forms, which allowed poets to express their feelings more freely.

One of the most notable     4     (feature) of Chinese poetry is its use of imagery and symbolism. Poets often use     5     (nature) scenery, flowers, birds, and the moon to convey their emotions and ideas. For example, in the famous poem “Quiet Night Thoughts” by Li Bai, he compares the brightness of the moonlight to the frost on the ground,     6     (create) a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

In addition to imagery, Chinese poetry also places great emphasis on rhyme.     7     (combine) with the beauty of the language, these elements contribute to the charm and harmony of the poems. Many Chinese poems are     8     (wide) recited and appreciated for their musical quality.

In conclusion, Chinese poetry is     9     unique and precious cultural treasure. It not only conveys deep emotions and thoughts but also reflects the     10     (wise) and spirit of the Chinese nation.

During the recent Spring Festival holiday, China witnessed a remarkable increase in domestic     1     (tour), with record-high expenditure (开销) spent     2     domestic travel. Liu Jieyi, an official spokesman, emphasized at a news conference on Sunday that the increase reflects the     3     (significance) consumption potential of the Chinese people, driven by a desire     4     (enhance) their quality of life, and is bound to become a strong driver of economic development. The increase in tourism     5     (occur) with increased demand to visit museums during the holiday, leading to challenges for many     6     (individual) in securing tickets. Museums have become a widely discussed topic,     7     (remarkable) featured during the provincial two sessions in many regions. Last year, statistics from the National Cultural Heritage Administration revealed     8     museums in China welcomed 1.24 billion visits, surpassing (超过) the 2019 pre-pandemic figure of 1.23 billion. “The     9     (popular) of museums has not only recovered to the state before the pandemic, but also surpassed it,” said Pan Shouyong,     10     museum expert at Shanghai University.