2 . Parks around the world

Hyde Park, London, England

There are many parks in London. Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, which covers over 350 acres. There are paths for people on bicycles and there are often open - air concerts held in the park.

Park Güell, Barcelona, Spain

In this park, designed by Antony Gaudi, there are different houses in different colours. There are also things like a colourful dragon. At the top of the park is a terraced area where you can get a wonderful view of the city of Barcelona and the sea.

Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver is a city near the sea and mountains. There is beautiful Stanley Park in the city centre, covering an area of one thousand acres. It is the largest park in North America. There are First Nations totem poles (图腾柱) in the park.

Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan

Ueno Park is an old park in the city of Tokyo and there are hundreds of beautiful cherry trees. In April and May every year, the trees are pink or white.

Chapultepec Park, Mexico City, Mexico

This is the largest urban park in Latin America. It's a very important green space in this big city. Containing nine museums, a zoo, an amusement park, and a variety of green recreational spaces, Chapultepec Park is an invaluable place for the city residents and its visitors.

4 . At most schools in the U. S., it’s customary to have a cheer squad (啦啦队) to support athletics. Cheerleaders drum up excitement before games, put on jaw—dropping routines at games, and provide support on the sidelines of most events. But students who participate in performing and visual arts seldom receive the same displays of support as athletes do. A group of students at Mountain View High School in Orem, Utah, decided to change that fact by creating a cheer squad just for the arts.

Their school’s athletics cheer squad is called the Bruin Crazies, so they named their artistic cheer squad the Bruin Classies! This is a new brand with which they could create something for all of the arts, whether it is band, dance show, photography and art galleries—to give them some publicity and cheer them on.

Classies wear a “uniform” of bow ties to indicate the “sense of class”artistic efforts bring their school. They carry around signs to advertise the upcoming play, musical, or dance performance. Hoping to drum up ticket sales, they encourage their fellow students to come out to support the hard work of others. They also attend performances and displays at school to cheer their classmates on.

After years of discussion to make a cheer squad for the arts, this is the first time they’ve been able to pull it off. More than 90 students have already signed up to be a Bruin Classy! “The students have poured their time and energy into their arts, and it is worthy to be celebrated. ”Caleb Stay, the cheer squad leader, said, “If you worked really hard on something and no one showed up, it would be disappointing. We just want to make sure that no one feels that way. ”

This is such an amazing idea! We can’t believe no one has come up with it before, but hopefully these thoughtful teens have started a new trend to support the arts in other schools, too.

6 . Everyone knows that there are people who can keep secrets and people who can’t. There are people who can keep things to themselves until the day they die and people whose mouths constantly swing open like a door.

I have a granddaughter who, try as she might, just can’t keep a secret. Take my recent birthday for example.

“I know it’s going to be your birthday soon,” she said with a naughty smile. “How old are you going to be?”

“How old do you think I’m going to be?”       

“22. That’s pretty old.”

“You’re close. I’m actually going to be 23.”

“Whoa,” she said, drawing the word out to make a bigger impact (影响).

“My mom said she would take me shopping because I wanted to buy you a present myself and I did.”

And with that, it began. I knew it was just a matter of time before she ruined the surprise. Ten, nine, eight…it seemed like she was about to explode.

“Mom took me to Stein Mart!” Seven, six, five... she jumped out of her chair with excitement.     

“I don’t want to know what you bought,” I sad.

“Oh, yes you do!” My granddaughter is like a mind reader; but I can’t tell her that.

“You like turquoise (绿松石), I know you do” She was hopping (跳) from foot to foot, spinning in circles, her voice rising higher. Four, three, two...

“You don’t want to know if I got you a necklace?”

“OK, I won’t tell you.”

She sat down and began to draw. She drew a semicircle (半圆) with turquoise shapes bordering it on one side and then, smiling from ear to ear, held the drawing up to her chest.

“I think I’m going to like it?” I said.

When her mom picked her up, she immediately admitted to telling the secret. She said that her stomach had hurt because the secret needed to come out. Isn’t that how it always happens? It’s not your fault, it’s the secrets fault.

On my birthday, I unwrapped (拆开……的包装) the colorful paper inside the gift bag and pulled out a lovely turquoise necklace. It was very similar to the drawing I’d seen the day before.

The kid may never have a career in espionage (间谍行为), but she surely has a future in art .

7 . National Parks Recreational Vehicle Trips

Trip 1: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands&Capitol Reef

Visit the five Utah’s national parks. Activities include going boating on the Colorado River, and hiking Angels Landing for an impressive view of Zion Canyon. One thing is guaranteed：you’ll see the Milky Way, the pale white band of stars across the sky at night, like never before in this beautiful area of the country.

Available: Apr. 1 to Oct. 23; Duration: 8 to 13 nights

Price（for up to 4 guests): $4, 990-9, 840

Trip 2: Banff&Jasper

Travel along the Icefields Parkway which connects the parks and towns of Banff in Alberta, Canada, Lake Louise and Jasper Lake. Book a ride in a big snowcoach（雪车）onto the Athabasca

Glacier, and take a flight-seeing tour over the huge icefields that cover the area of the Rocky Mountains.

Available: Jun. 15 to Sept. 15; Duration: 8 to 13 nights

Price (for up to 4 guests): S5, 260-6, 080

Trip 3: Mount Rushmore & Colorado

This trip is perfect for anyone interested in America’s history, from forts to huge rock carvings of historical figures. Starting in Denver, your journey will take you through Colorado and into Wyoming.

Available: Start as early as Feb. 1 to Oct. 10; Duration: 8 to 13 nights

Price（for up to 4 guests): $5, 124-7, 880

Trip 4: Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon

Start your journey in the Bay Area and then head cast to Yosemite with its impressive waterfalls, and towering cliffs（悬崖）. Combine your visit to Yosemite with stops at Sequoia National Park to see the five largest sequoia trees in the world, and Kings Canyon.

Available: May 19 to Oct 8; Duration: 8 to 13 nights

Price（for up to 4 guests): $5, 224-9, 540

8 . The COVID-19 epidemic(新冠疫情)is sill spreading rapidly throughout the world. Luckily, it is under control in China with the efforts of our government and all the people. However, we should still be careful in our daily life. There’re some rules for us to follow.

1. Get vaccinated (打疫苗)

Since there’s still no special medicine to cure(治愈) COVID-19,     1    The government is providing available vaccine(疫苗)for everyone in our country. If you’re over 18 years old and in good health, you can get vaccinated near your community.     2    

2. Wear masks(口罩)

People have been used to wearing masks since the epidemic broke out. It is summer now, maybe wearing masks in hot weather makes you feel uncomfortable. However,     3    

So whenever you go out, don’t forget to put on your mask. You may look cooler with a mask on!

3. Wash your hands

    4     Especially when you get home from school or work, or return from any other public places, the first thing you should do is to turn on the tap(水龙头), pick up the soap and wash your hands completely.

4. Keep safe social distance(距离)

You’d better not go to crowded places. The summer vacation is beginning. If you have to go to the stores, movies, parties, supermarkets, etc, besides wearing masks, remember to keep social distance.     5    

Anyway, take good care of yourself and live a safe and happy life!

9 . Below is a list of the most worthwhile writing competitions available.

TALF Flash Fiction Competition

The theme of this contest from Theme Arts and Literature Festival is "The Prime of Lile" in recognition of the l5th anniversary of the death of Muriel Spark. You can deal with this theme in any genre (体裁) and in any way you choose, although you are limited to 500 words.

Prizes : £200, £100, £50.

Entry Fee : £8.

Wild Nature Poetry Award 2022

Here we have a new contest from Indigo Dreams Publishing. It is for poems of up to 48 lines on the subject of cruel sports, wildlife in general, the natural world, or the environment.

Prizes: £200, £100, £75.

Entry Fee: £5.

SPM Poetry Book Competition

This international contest from Sentinel Poetry Movement is for full-length poetry collections on any theme and in any style. To enter, you submit up to 20 pages initially. If shortlisted (入围), you have to submit the full collection before December 31 .

Prizes: £500, £250, £100.

Entry Fee: £25.

Poetry Space Competition 2022

Here's a new contest from Poetry Space, an online platform for modern poetry from around the world, which requires poems of up to 40 lines on any subject. You have to be over 16 to enter. The judge is Rosie Jackson, a poet and creative writing tutor.

Prizes: £300, £200, £100.

Entry Fee: £5.