1 . A tree planting initiative in Kenya has seen over 30,000 trees being planted. The Green Generation Initiative is a Kenyan charity that has been planting trees to counter climate change and the reduction in forest in the East African nation since 2016.

Founded by climate activist Elizabeth Wathuti, the initiative's primary focus is on developing young climate activists through environmental education in schools and addressing food insecurity in the region through planting fruit trees. Since its foundation, over 30,000 trees have been planted in Kenya, while thousands of school children have not just planted trees but adopted them to ensure that young people learn the importance of acting as a guardian of the health of the environment. The trees have recorded a survival rate of over 98 percent, as they continue growing from young trees to maturity.

Speaking to world leaders at the recent UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26)，Elizabeth issued a serious warning about the threat of climate change: “Over two million of Kenyans are facing climate­related starvation. In 2025, half of the world's population will be facing water shortage. By the time I'm 50, the climate crisis will displace over 80 million people in sub­Saharan Africa alone.”

Elizabeth said, “I have been doing what I can.Inspired by the great Wangari Maathai, I founded a tree growing initiative that enhances food security for young Kenyans. So far, we have grown 30，000 fruit trees, providing desperately needed nutrition for thousands of children.” “Every day we see that when we look after the trees, they look after us. We are the adults on this Earth right now, and it is our responsibility to ensure that the children have food and water, ”she added.

2 . The endangered pandas in the Qinling Mountains might face a new threat: the loss of their food — bamboo, which makes up 99% of their meals.

Adult pandas spend most of the day eating bamboo and have to take in at least 40 pounds a day to stay healthy. However, a new study published in Nature Climate Change warned that they may soon find their food gone because most of the bamboo in the Qinling Mountains might disappear by the end of the century as a result of the rising temperature worldwide.

A team made up of researchers from Michigan State University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences has studied the effects of climate change on the bamboo in the Qinling Mountains. They have found that bamboo is very sensitive to climate change. “80% to 100% of the bamboo would be gone if the average temperature increases 3.5 degrees worldwide by the end of the century,” said Liu Jianguo, one of the report's authors.

He added, “This is how much the temperature would rise by 2100 even if all countries will keep their promises in The Paris Agreement. But you know what is happening around the world.”

In recent years, China has been trying its best to protect the endangered pandas by setting up more and bigger nature reserves.

“But it is far from being enough and the endangered pandas need cooperation from the rest of the world, because their future is not just in the hands of the Chinese,”said Shirley Martin from the WWF but not a member of the team.

There are 345 wild pandas in the Qinling Mountains. That is about 18.5% of the population of China's wild pandas. In addition, about 375 pandas are living in research centers and zoos in China.

Every     1     (artist) wish is to create something     2     expresses an idea. But who or what     3     (inspire) them? Here are three artists and their sources of inspiration.

Florentjin Hofman is     4     visual artist. Rubber Duck and Floating Fish are his famous     5     (work). The sources of his inspiration are his children’s toys, Chinese folk tales     6     the experience in Wuzhen.

Tan Dun, a composer, who is known for     7     (compose) music for the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The sources of his inspiration come from a mix of Chinese     8    (music) traditions and Western influences.

Yang Liping is a dancer known     9     the “Peacock Princess” because of her Spirit of the Peacock dance. As for     10     (she), the sources of inspiration are the life in Xishuangbana, the dance style of the Dai people and the Dai people's traditional belief.

For soccer fans around the world, the FIFA World Cup is a big event that can’t     1     (miss). This year, it’s being held in Qatar. At the end of March, its     2     (office) ball was announced.

Called “AI Rihla”,     3     means “the journey” in Arabic, the ball     4     (represent) the culture of Qatar. Its design has been inspired by the county’s architecture, its flag and its iconic (标志性的) boats.

To adapt to the speeds of today’s sport, the ball is designed     5     (be) high tech. The ball has first-rank shape and air retention (气密性). On the outside, it has 20 panels (面).     6     (follow) the laws of aerodynamics (空气动力学), the panels and surface material improve the ball’s     7     (accurate) and fight stability, noted the Qatar Tribune website. On account of this design, the ball     8     (consider) the fastest and most accurate ball to date.

The design of the ball also keeps sustainability (持续性) as     9     top priority (优先) because it’s the first World Cup ball made with water-based inks and glues only.

“This is an excellent, sustainable (耐用的) and high-quality official match ball that will be enjoyed by stars     10     well as grassroots players everywhere,” Jean-Francois Pathy, FIFA’s Director of Marketing, said in a statement.

6 . The two-week Harvard Pre-College Program is an intense and exciting experience of the college life. The admission committee is now looking for mature, academically motivated students who will graduate from high school and enter college in 2022.

The Course Experience

With over 30 courses to choose from, you’re sure to find a topic that interests you. Although courses are non-credit and do not have letter grades, you need to attend the class in its entirety. When class is not in session, you can participate in creative and social activities. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a written evaluation from your instructor, as well as a transcript (成绩单).

Time

·July 24 — August 5

How to Apply

Complete an online application and provide supplemental (补充的) materials, including:

·The $75 non-refundable application fee.

·Transcripts from 9th grade to fall 2021 grades: This can include progress reports, report cards, and educational summaries from your high school

·If English is not your native language, submit scores from the TOEFL IBT or IELTS language proficiency exam along with your application.

Cost & Aid

The total fee for a Harvard Pre-College Program 2022 session is $4,950. The program fee includes tuition, room and board, and activity costs for the full two weeks. There is also a non-refundable $75 application fee and $100 health insurance.

A limited number of scholarships are available to assist students who demonstrate financial need. Awards vary based on need, and atypical award covers part of the tuition.

How to contact us

Interested in learning more about the program? Complete our request form, and a member of cur team will contact you.

Phone:(617) 495-4023

Email: precollege@summer.harvard.cn