3 . Four One-Day Trips in the UK
First Light Pavilion,CheshireIt's a newly-designed visitor centre at the Jodrell Bank Observatory. It is inspired by the Lovell Telescope and is designed to act like a sundial (日晷). Visitors can experience a meteor shower (流星雨),operate a radio telescope and launch a digital satellite there.
£8.50 adults/£6.50 children,jodrellbank.net
Clifford's Tower, YorkThis 800-year-old tower is all that remains of York Castle. It was a treasury (财宝库) and prison, but its inner space was damaged by fire in 1684. Now, after a £5 million project by English Heritage, the ruin is reopening. Walkways will replace the lost first floor. A new roof floor will provide views of York Minster, the city and the North York Moors beyond.
£8.10 adults/£4.80 children, english-heritage.org.uk
The Rig Climb Experience,GreenwichThe Cutty Sark, one of just two surviving tea sailing ships in the world, is launching anew experience. For the first time, visitors will be able to step from the main deck and arrive at the top platform. Visitors will hear tales of life at sea in the 19th century and the tough conditions sailors had to work in.
£21 adults/£12 children (includes general entering the ship), rmg.co.uk/cuttysark
The Intelligence Factory, BuckinghamshireA newly-restored building at Bletchley Park is opening as the site's biggest ever exhibition space. The Intelligence Factory in Block A will focus on the years 1942-1945 when9,000 staff members helped win World War II. The exhibition lasting for a long time will include objects, personal stories and interactive elements, showing how operators handled huge amounts of information. There is also a space for temporary exhibitions-the first is on data visualisation.
£21 adults/£12.50 children, bletchleypark.org.uk
1. What can visitors do at First Light Pavilion in Cheshire?A.Learn how to make a sundial. |
B.Use a telescope to observe stars. |
C.Watch the launch of a satellite. |
D.Interact with astronomers in the centre. |
A.£22.5. | B.£28. | C.£57. | D.£58.5. |
A.Recent repair work. | B.Advanced equipment. |
C.The same period of history. | D.Bird's eye view of the cities. |
4 . Enter Our Short Story Competition 2024
Welcome to our Short Story Competition 2024 to show the world your storytelling talents! Note that there are some changes to last year’s competition rules. If you have any questions or concerns, ask us before submitting your story.
RulesPlease ensure that your submissions are completely new and not previously published. Your story must have uplifting elements and be limited between 250 and 300 words in length.
Please include your name, preferred email address or postal address for possible awards in the body of the email with the story attached. Don’t put your personal information anywhere in your story.
PrizesThere are three categories—one for adults and two categories for schools: one for children aged 12-18 and one for children under 12.
In the adults category, the winner will receive £1, 000 and the runner-up will receive £250.
In the children aged 12-18 category, the winner will receive a £200 book voucher (代金券) or a branded tablet and a £100 book voucher, and the runner-up will receive a £100 book voucher.
In the children under 12 category, the winner will receive a £100 of book voucher or a branded tablet and a £100 book voucher, and the runner-up will receive a £50 book voucher.
Other ItemsPlease submit your stories by June 31, 2024 either online or by posting offline.
The judge team consisting of our editors and some professional writers will pick a shortlist (入围名单) of entries, and the three best stories in each category will be posted online at on our website on August 1, 2024.
You can vote for your favourite, and the one with the most votes will win the top prize. Voting will close on November 30, 2024 and the winning entries will be published on December 31, 2024.
1. What is a qualifying story according to the rules?A.A story which is original. | B.A story of over 300 words. |
C.A story that has won some awards. | D.A story with personal information. |
A.As much as £250. | B.A branded tablet. |
C.A £200 book voucher. | D.A £100 book voucher. |
A.Editors. | B.Voters. | C.The judge team. | D.Professional writers. |
5 . San Francisco Fire Engine Tours
San Francisco Winery TourRunning: February 1st through April 30th
This delicious tour goes through the city on its way to Treasure Island where we will stop at the famous Winery SF. Here you can enjoy 4 pours of some of the best wine San Francisco has to offer.(Included in tickets price)
Departing from the Cannery: Tour times upon request.Duration(时长): 2 hours
Price: $90
Back to the Fifties Tour
Running: August 16th through August 31st
This tour transports you back in time to one of San Francisco’s most fantastic periods, the 1950s! Enjoy fun history as we take you through San Francisco for a free taste of ice cream.
Departing from the Cannery: 5:00 pm and 7:30 pmDuration: 2 hours
Price: $90
Spooky Halloween Tour
Running: October 10th through October 31st
Join us for a ride through the historical Presidio district. Authentic fire gear(服装) is provided for your warmth as our entertainers take you to some of the most thrilling parts of San Francisco.
Departing from the Cannery: 6:30 pm and 8:30 pmDuration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Price: Available upon request
Holiday Lights Tour
Running: December 6th through December 23rd
This attractive tour takes you to some of San Francisco’s most cheerful holiday scenes. Authentic fire gear is provided for your warmth as you get into the holiday spirit.
Departing from the Cannery: 7:00 pm and 9:00 pmDuration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Advance reservations required.
1. Which of the tours is available in March?
A.San Francisco Winery Tour. | B.Back to the Fifties Tour. |
C.Spooky Hallowen Tour. | D.Holiday Lights Tour. |
A.Go to Treasure Island. | B.Enjoy the holiday scenes. |
C.Have free ice cream. | D.Visit the Presidio district. |
A.Take some drinks. | B.Set off early in the morning. |
C.Wear warm clothes. | D.Make reservations in advance. |
6 . How Can I Fight Laziness?
Lazy people will never gain anything in life. However, laziness can be defeated once a few changes have been made in your mind.
Another way to fight laziness is to change your mind from passive to active. Some people treat their lives as if they were pushed from task to task. Others take a more positive approach, viewing each task as a challenge they must overcome alone.
Some people fight laziness removing the temptations that surround them. A television in the living room may provide entertainment, but watching too much TV often contributes to laziness.
Laziness can also be a lasting problem at home. Couples and children may all have different energy levels, but laziness can be spread if not deal with immediately.
A.To fight family laziness, set an example. |
B.Knowing how to fight laziness is important. |
C.One way to fight laziness is to get enough sleep. |
D.Finally, taking exercise regularly can help you fight laziness. |
E.With strong determination, you will be able to achieve your goal. |
F.Create a reward system for yourself, just as parents do for a child. |
G.Laziness appears when you no longer feel in charge of your own mind. |
7 . Sharon, Aged 22
The most important thing to keep in mind when going into high school is to be yourself. Besides, I don’t know what your middle school was like, but high school teachers will not care about things such as how much homework you already have in one night. It’s best to just learn to deal with things and manage your time wisely so you can achieve everything you need.
Frank, Aged 21
I think almost every kid feels both nervous and excited before their first day. You will probably love it. I know I did. You should join in some sports or activities that will make your high school experience more enjoyable. Good luck!
Eddie, Aged 20
When I started high school I was really nervous too, especially since I had been home-schooled all through middle school and didn’t really know anyone, I suppose the best advice would be to just relax. The first couple of days can be a little bit hard, but things will become easier after you know it.
David, Aged 19
I’m not going to lie. The first day is kind of frightening. But you’ll get used to it. Don’t be afraid of anyone; upperclassmen will pick on you more if you let them know you’re afraid. Just take it easy. Making some friends and staying with them will greatly help you get used to high school quickly. After the first week it’s really not bad at all. Don’t worry.
1. What can we infer from Sharon about high school?A.Teachers are quite strict. |
B.Students often stay up at night. |
C.Teachers provide little care for students. |
D.Students should make good use of their time. |
A.Excited | B.Bored. | C.Worried. | D.Relaxed. |
A.Frank. | B.David. | C.Sharon. | D.Eddie. |
8 . In summer of this year, we have options for your young artiste (专业演员) to learn a new creative art or develop an existing talent around the sound. Here are just 4 of a dozen highly unique activities being offered by us in Seattle.
Broadway Bound
Broadway Bound will be offering 12 weeks of in-person musical theater camps this summer. Campers will work together to learn acting, singing and dancing, and then put on a performance at the end of the week.
Dates: June 13-Sept. 2
Ages:5-14
Cost: $ 400
Stone Soup Theatre
Stone Soup will hold its Summer Stage day camps outside at two parks: Meridian Playfield in North Seattle and Jefferson Park in South Seattle. Camps run 9 a. m.—3 p. m, with early-arrival care and aftercare free of charge. Kids can act their hearts out.
Dates: June 13-Aug. 22
Ages: 6-14
Cost: $ 395
School of Rock
Join a band this summer! At School of Rock, kids can spend a week learning and making music at fun day camps. No experience is needed for some camps, such as Rookies Camp, though some require some experience. Most camps come to an end with a live performance.
Dates: June 20-Aug. 26
Ages: 5-17
Cost: $ 495
Gage Academy of Art (Seattle, online)
Gage Academy’s full-day and in-person camps and half-day online camps offer practical art instruction in drawing, painting, sculpting and digital design. The curriculum encourages students to explore new materials and techniques, develop problem-solving skills and celebrate self-expression.
Dates: June 27-Aug. 26
Ages:6-18
Cost: Varies by programs, before-/after-care provided for an additional fee
1. What will campers do at the Broadway Bound?A.Visit a theater. |
B.Give a performance. |
C.Meet a famous star. |
D.Work for dancers. |
A.It offers free aftercare. |
B.It will be held in summer. |
C.It encourages early arrival. |
D.It is about kids’ performance. |
A.Broadway Bound. |
B.Stone Soup Theatre. |
C.School of Rock. |
D.Gage Academy of Art. |
9 . Would you like to do something to help make our city a better place to live in? Why not take part in “Clean & Green weekend”? Join us, and you can make new friends and help protect the environment at the same time.
Park Life
Do you like playing and relaxing in the park with your friends? If so, why not take the chance to come with us and tidy up the park when you go? To add some fun, there is a gift for the person who collects the most rubbish! Meet us at the south entrance to Taohe Park at 9 a. m. next Saturday if you want to join in.
The Air You Breathe
A great way to make the air we breathe cleaner is by planting lots of trees! It is a fact that trees slowly filter (过滤) a lot of pollutants (污染物) from the air. So come and help us plant some new ones in Fenhe Park at 2 p. m. next Sunday.
War on Graffiti (涂鸦)
Some people think graffiti is cool. Well, it is not! The best way to stop buildings from becoming totally covered in ugly graffiti is to fix it as soon as possible. And that is exactly what we are going to do. We are repainting the school walls from 1 p. m. on Saturday. You don’t have to bring any tools, just remember to wear some old clothes!
1. The main purpose of “Clean & Green Weekend” is to ________.A.make our city more beautiful | B.offer the chance to have fun |
C.help students meet old friends | D.have a nice weekend |
A.By tidying the park. | B.By planting trees. |
C.By repainting the school walls. | D.By protecting the environment. |
A.draw pictures well | B.bring some tools with us |
C.wear some old clothes | D.wear some new clothes |
10 . We achieve our goals one step at a time, doing a little each day. So, starting your day on the right foot is most important.
■ Get up an hour early.
People who get up early in the morning have a jump on the day. In American English, we like to say, “The early bird gets the worm.”
■ Don’t answer e-mail or jump into social media as soon as you get up.
We’ve all done it. You see a Facebook post from a friend you haven’t seen for a long time. He is angry about some political issue and the heated discussion pulls you in.
■ Exercise.
Physical fitness experts and trainers often suggest some form of exercise in the morning because the middle of the day is a busy time for most people. By the day’s end, you may not have the time or energy to exercise.
■ Think about your day at night.
Take time at the end of the day to think back on all the things that have happened.
A.Before you know it, an hour has passed. |
B.Here, if you’re a bird, the worm is the reward. |
C.And spend a little time to think about tomorrow. |
D.Here are four ideas on how to start your day off right. |
E.Avoid jumping into social media as soon as you get up. |
F.Exercising in the morning prevents that from happening. |
G.In fact, the morning may be the most productive part of your day. |