1 . The World-Famous Nine
By Ben Guterson, illustrated by Kristina Kister
Zander’s grandmother owns the most incredible department store in the world. When a string of mysterious accidents start happening at the store, Zander’s grandmother tells him that a monster called Darkbloom may have returned. The monster, which can control people, wants a magical object that disappeared from the store decades ago. Zander notices that walls on many floors contain mysterious symbols and takes them down in his notebook. Will the 11-year-old boy be able to solve the puzzle and secure the object before Darkbloom does? Packed with suspense, fascination, and a family drama, this mystery may remind you of a cross between Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Ask the Author
The Week: What inspired this book?
Ben Guterson: When I was growing up, Seattle had two big department stores. Something about these big buildings held many possibilities for mystery and discovery to me.
The Week: Why is Zander close to his grandmother?
Ben Guterson: I didn’t want Zander to be alone, so he’s got his loving grandmother there to give him some guidance and keep him safe.
The Week: Do you enjoy mysteries?
Ben Guterson: Yes, I like stories with a mysterious feel to them. I don’t think I have ever been drawn to straightforward realism.
1. What can we learn about Zander?| A．He grows up in Seattle. | B．He lives alone at a store. |
| C．He wishes to be a magician. | D．He wants to defeat Darkbloom. |
| A．A kid loving true-life stories. | B．A kid enjoying fictional works. |
| C．A kid interested in grandma’s dishes. | D．A kid drawn to online store shopping. |
| A．A writer’s profile. | B．An interview outline. |
| C．A children’s story. | D．A book recommendation. |
2 . The open-air bookstalls (书摊) that line the River Seine are as symbolic of Paris as the Louvre or the Arc de Triomphe. But most of the boxy, dark green stalls must be temporarily removed before the 2024 Summer Olympics for what officials say are security reasons.
Organizers in Paris are aiming to bring back magnificence to the Games, which begin on July 26. The opening ceremony will take place not in a stadium, but along the Seine, with thousands of Olympic athletes riding on a flotilla (船队)of 160 boats before hundreds of thousands of visitors on the river’s banks. The ceremony’s unusual format poses security headaches, for both the International Olympic committee and the Paris police, who said they had concerns that bombs could be hidden in the stalls.
The booksellers, known as “les bouquinistes”, have said they will not compromise, calling the order issued by the Paris police chief last week an affront to the French capital’s history and soul. “Paris without the bouquinistes is like Venice without the boats,” said Jean-Pierre Mathias, 76, who has had a stall along the Seine for about four decades.
Open every day from morning until dusk, the bouquinistes are both a scene along the riverside and a symbol of Paris’s literary culture, attracting curious tourists and locals looking for rare books. The tradition dates back to at least the 17th century and by the 19th century, Napoleon gave approval to the bookstalls, popular with intellectuals and writers, and they became permanent.
The city’s mayor (市长), Anne Hidalgo, initially highlighted the booksellers’ importance to the city and suggested an alternative plan that would keep the stall s in place once the police confirmed they were not a security threat. But that plan was no longer under consideration because the police declared it necessary to remove the stalls for safety, a spokeswoman for Ms. Hidalgo said on Tuesday.
1. The bookstalls must be removed before the Olympics due to ________.| A．traffic crowdedness | B．audience attention | C．potential danger | D．ceremony chaos |
| A．Doubt. | B．Shame. | C．Claim. | D．Appeal. |
| A．Objective. | B．Indifferent. | C．Approving. | D．Opposed. |
| A．Paris bookstalls, a symbol of French culture |
| B．Paris bookstalls, a welcomed tourist attraction |
| C．Paris bookstalls gaining support from citizens |
| D．Paris bookstalls facing the relocation order |
3 . Dozens of scientists are ready to delight, provoke, and shed light on global scientific issues. Hosted by different columns on New Scientist, they’re here to engage with latest discoveries. Read on for what New Scientist has offered this week.
NS Live
Why do we need more women in science? Physicist Athene Donald will be at New Scientist Live on & January to explore the disadvantages that women in science face. Her talk will erase myths (传言) about “gendered” brains and what attributes are needed to become a successful scientist. Now, more than ever, there is a moral and business case for greater diversity in research, she says.
Weekender
From black holes to Big Bang, explore the space in this getaway featuring talks from some of the brightest minds in astrophysics. Visit the Lovell Telescope at the Jodrell Bank UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plus, go stargazing with New Scientist features editor Abigail Beall. This weekender runs from 19 January to 1 February and costs £959.
Essential Guide
What drives the ageing process? What can science tell us about the stages of life? And how can we use the latest research to live healthily into old age? This Essential Guide offers some fresh insight. Available to download on the website or to purchase in print from our shop.
Newsletter — Wild Wild Life
In an act of companionship, an African bird called the greater honey guide may get a badger to help it break into a beehive so the two can share the honey. Michael Marshall finds that there are many surprising truths in his reports, which lie behind the fables (寓言), though these animals’ behavior seems unusual in real life.
1. What’s the purpose of NS Live?| A．To set moral and commercial rules for the study. |
| B．To encourage more women to devote to science. |
| C．To demonstrate the vital elements to be a scientist. |
| D．To reveal the existence of gender differences. |
| A．NS Live. | B．Weekender. | C．Essential Guide. | D．Newsletter — Wild Wild Life. |
| A．It exists indeed in wild world. | B．It happens only in the fables. |
| C．It is widely accepted by humans. | D．It reveals the truth behind the lie. |
1. How long has the speaker been skiing?
| A．8 years. | B．11 years. | C．16 years. |
| A．They both like snowboarding. |
| B．They both enjoy skiing more. |
| C．They both learn to ski at a young age. |
| A．He can change his direction. |
| B．There are poles as barriers. |
| C．It is more challenging for him. |
| A．His family members. | B．His childhood experience. | C．His passion for a certain sport. |
5 . Youth Week WA 2024
Youth Week WA (YWWA) 2024 will n from 5 to 12 April and aims to:
·provide young people aged 12-25 years with opportunities o express ideas and exhibit their talents and contributions;
·give the community the opportunity to listen to young people and celebrate the positive contributions they have made to the community;
·raise community awareness on issues of concern to young people.
YWWA 2024 Ambassadors (大使)
The Ambassadors are volunteers who participate on the YWWA 2024 team by:
·being a part of, and providing support and guidance to the members of the Young People’s Planning Committee;
·helping develop creative ways to involve more young people in YWWA;
·having input into events and strategies for YWWA;
·attending events during YWWA;
·being a public spokesperson for YWWA.
Meet your 2024 Youth Ambassadors!
☆ Fatima Merchant aged 19 is a member of the Amnesty International Australia Youth Advisory Group, UN Youth Australia and is a facilitator at the WA Debating League.
☆ Nathida Chalermsuk aged 22 is studying at Curtin University where she launched a new initiative Youth United, a program which facilitates cross-cultural understanding amongst young people in Australia and calls for more wildlife protection.
☆ Samuel Thomas aged 19 established Sam’s Spares, a nonprofit that saves unwanted e-waste from landfill.
☆ Izabella Brandis aged 18 held workshops for young people in the community where they were invited to come along and create artworks that advocate the ecological sustainability.
1. What is one of the goals of YWWA 2024?| A．To give financial assistance to young people. |
| B．To promote academic achievements among young people. |
| C．To raise community awareness about young people’s contributions. |
| D．To provide opportunities for teenagers to show their special talents. |
| A．Organize more events and activities. |
| B．Get more young people engaged in YWWA.. |
| C．Provide guidance to people in the community. |
| D．Assess the Young People’s Planning Committee. |
| A．Samuel Thomas and Nathida Chalermsuk. | B．Fatima Merchant and Izabella Brandis. |
| C．Fatima Merchant and Nathida Chalermsuck. | D．Samuel Thomas and Izabella Brandis. |
1. What are the speakers doing?
| A．Editing videos. | B．Practicing making up. | C．Having an interview. |
| A．She promotes products for companies. |
| B．She tells jokes the audience like. |
| C．She rates online platforms. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Forgiving. | C．Humorous. |
| A．Marriage crisis. | B．Family objection. | C．Privacy loss. |
1. Why did Maria go to Palm Street?
| A．To meet Jason. | B．To buy a ticket. | C．To do some shopping. |
| A．A comedian. | B．A street artist. | C．A salesperson. |
| A．He can act in a comedy. | B．He is invited to a show. | C．He found his lost ring. |
1. Which aspect of the hotel appeals to the woman?
| A．Its cheap price. | B．Its pet-friendly policy. | C．Its lake view rooms. |
| A．An annual fee. | B．The ID number. | C．A personal photo. |
| A．£120. | B．£324. | C．£360. |
1. Why does the woman make the phone call?
| A．To call off an order. |
| B．To complain about an order. |
| C．To change information of an order. |
| A．Mistaken address. | B．Poor quality. | C．Wrong color. |
| A．It’s being restored. | B．It is suspended. | C．It takes longer. |
| A．By returning the item. | B．By giving a gift card. | C．By resending a purchase. |
1. What does the speaker mainly talk about?
| A．Advertising benefits. | B．Consumer habits. | C．Unnecessary spend. |
| A．For more purchase. | B．For better service. | C．For higher price. |
| A．Physical cash. | B．Credit card. | C．Digital wallet. |
