| A．It’s a reward. | B．It’s a success. | C．It’s a problem. |
2 . Women’s sport is experiencing growth. This season, the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR) league kicked off with a campaign to transform ideas of women’s rugby. Here are the stories of four remarkable women who are powered differently — born to break the stereotypes (刻板印象).
Abbie Ward, 30, Bristol Bears
Abbie has marked a successful return to the rugby field this season playing her first match since the Rugby World Cup Final in November 2021, just four months after giving birth to her daughter, Hallie. Abbie’s journey showcases a ground-breaking shift in the sport’s approach to motherhood. Abbie is eager to integrate Hallie into her playing life, maintaining a balance between being a mother and a professional sports person.
Jodie Ounsley, 22, Exeter Chiefs
Jodie attracts audiences as a deaf athlete. As the first deaf person to be selected for the England 7s squad, she in 2020 won Young Deaf Sports Personality of the Year. Jodie detailed, “I’ve had parents messaging me saying ‘My daughter with a cochlear(耳蜗的) implant hasseen you online playing rugby, and wants to do it, too.’”
Rachel Lund, 29, Gloucester-Hartpury
Rachel is a proud member of the “dual career club”, a nickname Rachel has given to the PWR players taking other regular jobs around their training and match days. She devotes herself to a full-time role as a physiotherapist (理疗师) with her commitment to female sport extending beyond the field. According to Rachel, “Research on female health is minimal at best. I’m keen on improving female health.”
Amanda Swartz, 23, Leicester Tigers
Amanda’s journey from a professional figure skater to a professional rugby player shows the determination that defines her athletic journey. Seeking a new challenge beyond skating, she discovered rugby. The discipline and goal-oriented drive experienced during her figure skating days became invaluable in her rugby change. Amanda has accepted her new sporting path and takes pride in promoting the visibility of rugby in Sweden.
1. Who is a disabled player?| A．Abbie Ward. | B．Jodie Ounsley. | C．Rachel Lund. | D．Amanda Swartz. |
| A．She focuses on female health. | B．She was fired by the former team. |
| C．She has just given birth to a baby. | D．She was a professional figure skater. |
| A．They experience a tough life. |
| B．They have the same athletic journey to rugby. |
| C．They change people’s view of women’s rugby. |
| D．They urge women to improve their mental health. |
3 . 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival Student Art Competition
To celebrate the 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival, National Mall and Memorial Parks is hosting a youth art competition. We need your artistic help to inspire visitors to become Cherry Blossom Protectors! The blooming of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin has come to symbolize the natural beauty of our nation’s capital city. Thousands of people come every year to see the cherry trees and enjoy the festival.
ParticipantsThe contest is open to all Washington, D.C. students, K-6. One submission per student please.
ThemeArtworks should focus on the theme “Cherry Blossom Protector.” Draw or paint a picture that shows what you appreciate about the cherry blossoms, how we can take care of them, and why we should. Submissions must include the words “Cherry Blossom Protector”.
DeadlineArtworks will be accepted starting December 13, 2023. All submissions must be postmarked by February 25, 2024.
Submission requirementsA valid submission will contain the following information:
1. An original copy of the artwork. Each piece must be original, authentic (真实的), unpublished, the sole property of the entrant (参赛者), and not previously submitted in any other contest.
2. Your personal information, printed on either the back of your artwork or on a separate sheet attached to your physical artwork or provided with the e-mail for your digital entry: First and last name, grade/age.
3. A completed and signed entry form. Print out the entry form and send it to us when you send your artwork. Entries cannot be accepted without a signed entry form by a parent or guardian.
Delivery addressMailed submissions must be sent to:
National Mall and Memorial Parks
c/o 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival Student Art Competition
1100 Ohio Drive, SWWashington, DC 20242
1. Why do National Mall and Memorial Parks host the art competition?| A．To honor the national heroes. | B．To improve students’ art skills. |
| C．To protect the cherry blossom. | D．To attract more visitors to the parks. |
| A．Volunteer as a cherry blossom protector. | B．Choose your own theme for the contest. |
| C．Email all your artworks to your school. | D．Summit artworks before February 25, 2024. |
| A．Personal information. | B．A previous submitted copy. |
| C．A guardian’s recommendation. | D．An electronic application form. |
4 . The Best museums in San Francisco for History Buffs
The Cable Car Museum
This museum displays hundreds of artifacts and interactive activities related to San Francisco’s cable cars. Visitors can explore how cable cars were constructed, operated, and later restored during the 1970s, or a behind-the-scenes tour to look at how electricity is generated to power the cable cars. Admission is free and guided tours are available throughout the week, though the museum is closed every Monday.
Fee: Free, but donations accepted.
Address: 1201 Mason St.
Hours: 10 AM-4 PM, closed Monday.
Alcatraz Island
You’ve probably heard of Alcatraz, the 22-acre island about one mile off the coast of San Francisco. It’s famous for serving as a prison for criminals. Today, it’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city, partially because of the fascinating museums on the island.
After taking a self-guided tour of the prison, stick around to explore the many museums and exhibits in the island’s various buildings. Exhibits range from collections of prisoner’s hand-made items and historical items to exhibitions on the history of crime in America to exhibits on the island’s Native American occupation of the 1970s.
Fee: Accessible only via cruises; prices start at $ 28 (for kids).
Address: Pier 33 Alcatraz Landing.
Hours: Changes seasonally, open daily.
Musée Mecanique
This small-but-packed museum is the best in SF for going back in time as the collection has more than 300 items. The museum started as one person’s personal collection back in the 1930s, but has since ballooned into the impressive spread visitors can see today.
Admission to the Musée Mecanique is totally free, but because it sits near Pier 45, it’s likely that you’ll end up spending some money in the area, anyway - the popcorn carts on the pier are hard to resist.
Fee: Free, but donations accepted.
Address: Taylor Street at Pier 45.
Hours: Daily, 10 AM-8 PM.
1. On which day is The Cable Car Museum not available?| A．Saturday. | B．Friday. | C．Sunday. | D．Monday. |
| A．Easy access. | B．Prison theme. | C．Free admission. | D．Excellent service. |
| A．Sweet popcorns. | B．Packed items. | C．Cable cars. | D．Large balloons. |
1. Where are the woman’s parents staying before they retire?
| A．In New York. | B．In California. | C．In Florida. |
| A．Travel around the world. |
| B．Attend university in Boston. |
| C．Take a part-time job. |
| A．Last week. | B．Yesterday. | C．Last month. |
6 . Marvelous Scenic Walks Near London
There are plenty of walking routes in London. If you fancy something a bit more rural, then the green and pleasant land has plenty to offer.
Goring Gap and the Thames PathIf you’re in the mood for a gentle rural walk, the Thames Path is far from boring. The 5-mile footpath follows the curve of the river, winding past wildflower meadows (草地).
Post-walk pub: Pangbourne’s seventeenth-century pub The Swan serves high-end dishes. Bag a table on the riverside or keep toasty by one of its open fires.
Box HillTo admire this spots rural views, first you’ve got to jump across 17 stepping stones and climb 272 steps to the top of Box Hill, where the path begins. The total distance is 6.8 miles.
Post-walk pub: The cavernous Tree on Box Hill has an attractive menu and huge beer garden, or sample a glass of Juniper Hill at Denbies Winerie.
A South Downs Ridge (山脊)If you’ve already done the classic Seven Sisters clifftop walk or can’t face all those hills, this is a long but lovely alternative. The route covering 14.3 miles snakes along a ridge and a river valley.
Post-walk pub: There are always 10 real beers at the old-school pub The Wellington.
Chess Valley in the ChilternsChess Valley in the Chiltern Hills isn’t home to any chess masters, but it used to produce a kind of water plant. This walk of 4.9 miles follows the river, winding through rolling meadows and woods.
Post-walk pub: The George & Dragon is a simple old coaching pub on the High Street with a log fire, real beers and giant burgers.
1. Which of the following walks covers the shortest distance?| A．Box Hill. |
| B．A South Downs Ridge. |
| C．Chess Valley in the Chilterns. |
| D．Goring Gap and the Thames Path. |
| A．The pubs are pretty and old-fashioned. |
| B．Visitors can relax at special pubs after walks. |
| C．There are rivers winding through the meadows. |
| D．The food served there is expensive and of high quality. |
| A．A geography book. | B．A travel brochure. |
| C．A fashion website. | D．A science magazine. |
7 . The Steinhardt School’s program in vocal (声音的) performance offers music-based training for a career in music theatre performance. Our curriculum is designed for the serious young musicians who are seeking a program that fully combines the study of voice with the study of acting.
The course content
In addition to voice, acting and dance as well as courses in music theatre history, our program’s music theatre specialization training takes place through an intensive series of music theatre workshops.
The performance opportunities
Besides the work in classrooms and studios, the program offers performance opportunities in fully-staged productions under the guidance of professional directors, conductors, musical directors, and designers. Our guest artists are drawn from New York’s community of professional artists who count Broadway, regional theatre and national tours among their credit. Undergraduate and graduate students also benefit from the extraordinary opportunities available through the diverse offerings of a major university in the cultural capital of the world, New York City.
The graduation
Students specializing in music theatre make their public appearance in their final term as they are presented to New York’s agents, casting directors, directors and producers in their graduation showcase designed to evaluate the work of each student and help them make their first professional contacts in the industry.
The contact details
Telephone: 217-998-5156, 217-998-5157
Undergraduate Inquiries: Professor Dianna Heldman
Graduate Inquiries: Dr. Ana Flavia Zuim
1. Who is the program intended for?| A．University teachers. |
| B．Famous singers. |
| C．Musical students. |
| D．Professional directors. |
| A．Put on a show. |
| B．Evaluate their work. |
| C．Meet a producer. |
| D．Change their appearance. |
| A．Fashion. |
| B．Education. |
| C．Economy. |
| D．Technology. |
8 . Activities in November
Holiday Market and Bake Sale in Monkton
This festival holiday event should definitely not be missed! Head over to the Friends Methodist House, 78 Monkton Ridge anytime Saturday morning to shop for some crafts(手工艺品)that were made locally. Also enjoy homemade chocolate, cakes, and other snacks! For more information, call 802-453-2870. NOV. 20, 9 AM-2 PM.
“West Side Story” on Stage in Brandon
If you need an excuse to cry, watching “West Side Story“ live is a pretty good one. Otter Valley Union High School(OVUHS)will be hosting Walking Stick Theatre’s production of “West Side Story. ”Advanced tickets are $ 8 at the OVUHs Library. Tickets are $ 8 at the door for students and seniors, $ 10 for adults. NOV. 21, 7 PM-9 PM.
Lecture on Bali in Bristol
Join the community in hearing a lecture by Dr. Carla Osgood and Dr. David Osgood entitled “Bali: Consciousness, Culture and Community” at the Lawrence Memorial Library in Bristol. They have spent 20 years teaching in Bali, and are sure to provide an invaluable view. NOV. 21. 7 PM-8:30 PM.
Wolfing down and Digestion in Middlebury
Love listening to stories?Attend the StoryMatters meeting on Tuesday at IIsley Library. The local group will share stories all on the topic of food. There will also be a teaching session after the stories during which trainers will help with the process of storytelling. For more information, email larl7g@ myfairpoint. net. NOV. 24, 10 AM-2 PM.
1. Where can handmade snacks be bought?| A．In Monkton. |
| B．In Brandon. |
| C．In Bristol. |
| D．In Middlebury. |
| A．By calling 802-453-2870 to book it. |
| B．By emailing lar17g@myfairpoint. net. |
| C．By buying it at the OVUHS Library. |
| D．By contacting Carla Osgood or David Osgood. |
| A．Lecture on Bali. |
| B．“West Side Story” on Stage. |
| C．Wolfing down and Digestion. |
| D．Holiday Market and Bake Sale. |
9 . One fall morning a farmer waved good-bye to his family and walked to town to sell their old donkey.
“Be sure to bring back a young, frisky donkey,” his wife called after him.
“And pots of gold!” called his greedy daughter.
When he reached the market, the farmer cried out,“Hee-haw, donkey for sale! Hee-haw, donkey for sale!”
Now, the pumpkin seller wanted a donkey, but he didn’t want to pay much. “I’ll give you one silver coin!” he shouted. Oh, I will need more than that to buy a young, frisky donkey,” said the farmer.
“You're in luck!” said the pumpkin seller. “I have just what you need. This pumpkin is really a donkey egg. Take it home and keep it warm until it hatches, and you will have a new donkey.”
“A new donkey!” exclaimed the farmer. He slipped the coin into his pocket, put the pumpkin under his arm, and plodded home.
“Only one silver coin,” sobbed his greedy daughter.
“Where’s the new donkey?” wailed his wife.
“Here is our new donkey,” cried the farmer, holding up the pumpkin. “All we have to do is keep this donkey egg warm until it hatches.” At night they wrapped the pumpkin in a blanket. In the daytime they sat on the donkey egg to keep it warm.
The first week the farmer’s wife perched on the pumpkin. She sewed new dresses from cloth bought with the silver coin.
Every evening they put their ears against the pumpkin.
“Do you hear any long ears flapping?” they asked one another.
“Not yet,” they answered.
The second week his daughter sat on the pumpkin. She spread her skirt wide to keep the pumpkin warm and read tales about handsome princes.
Every evening they put their ears against the pumpkin.
“Do you hear any hooves tapping?” they asked one another.
“Not yet,” they answered.
The third week the farmer sat on the pumpkin. He drew pictures of a cart hitched to his new donkey.
Every evening they put their ears against the pumpkin.
“Do you hear a faraway hee-haw?” They asked one another.
But they heard no hooves tapping, no long ears flapping, and no faraway “hee-haw.”
Suddenly, the farmer grabbed the pumpkin. “This donkey egg is no good!” he cried.
The farmer ran from the house and threw the pumpkin down a hill. The pumpkin crashed into bushes at the bottom.
The crash woke a long-eared rabbit. The frightened rabbit jumped out of the bushes and hopped away.
The farmer watched the rabbit and wailed, “Oh no! If only we had sat on the donkey egg longer! That little animal would have grown into a beautiful big donkey with giant ears and a long tail!”
Then the farmer went down the hill and picked pumpkin seeds out of the broken pumpkin and carried them home.
“I’ll plant these seeds and grow more donkey eggs,” he told his wife and daughter.
Hee-haw!
1. What did the farmer’s wife and daughter want to get from the donkey?| A．One silver coin and a pumpkin. | B．A pumpkin and a donkey egg. |
| C．A young donkey and pots of gold. | D．One silver coin and a young donkey. |
| A．Put their ears against the pumpkin and listened. |
| B．Sewed new dresses. |
| C．Read tales about handsome princes. |
| D．Drew pictures of a cart. |
| A．Hooves tapping. | B．Long ears flapping. |
| C．Faraway “hee-haw”. | D．None. |
| A．Catch the rabbit. | B．Go home angrily. |
| C．Argue with the pumpkin. | D．Plant the pumpkin seeds. |
10 . Five Must-See Attractions Across the USA
Whether you’re planning a trip or looking at a map for the first time to decide where to go, you can find out plenty of nice attractions across the country. We’ve found five must-see attractions for you．
Alaska:Denali National Park
Dog-sled teams are a symbol of the region and an important part of the area’s history, and still used in Alaska. You can learn about the sled dogs at the Denali Kennels during the summer or winter. The ken-nels are located inside the Denali National Park, which charges $ 10 for adults．
Indiana:Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Racing enthusiasts shouldn’t miss their chance to visit the home of the Indianapolis 500 and the Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Admission is $ 10 and a gate fee of $ 10 to $ 40, depending on the race.
Delaware:Hagley Museum and Library
The Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington has something for everyone. History lovers can learn about the development of the DuPont Company while nature lovers will enjoy a tour of the estate(庄园).Entrance for children aged 6 to 14 is $ 6, adults pay $ 15, and students and the old pay $ 11.
Missouri:The Nelson-Atkins Art Museum
In the Missouri side of Kansas City, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is free for all visitors, which al-so offers free guided tours．There’s an outdoor sculpture garden, visiting exhibits, and a permanent collec-tion with works of art from around the world and throughout history．
Pennsylvania:Gettysburg Military Park
Visit the battlefield and learn about a sad time in American history at the Gettysburg Military Park. The park is free to enter, but admission to the museum is $ 10 for children and $ 15 for adults,
1. At which place can you watch racing games？| A．Pennsylvania:Gettysburg Military Park. |
| B．Indiana:Indianapolis Motor Speedway. |
| C．Alaska:Denali National Park and Dog Sledding. |
| D．Missouri:The Nelson-Atkins Art Museum. |
| A．Study the history of DuPont Company. |
| B．Watch the show of the sled dogs. |
| C．Learn about the history of the Civil Rights. |
| D．Enjoy various outdoor sculptures. |
| A．They are open only in summer and winter． |
| B．Visitors must pay $ 10 to enter the parks． |
| C．Free guided tours are provided． |
| D．They are both popular for history lovers． |
