1 . Are you interested in thrilling content? Here are four story books that take place in a museum or art set in famous art centers. These picks are full of action and uncertain result.
| Charlotte Writes Her World Writer: Ashley Murray Company: Ottawa Publishing House Charlotte, who has visited the City Museum of Art many times with her friend Alice, has a mystery to solve. The events she writes about in her English diaries are starting to come true. What’s going on? Ages: 8-12 |
| The Return of Mona Lisa Writer: Owen Duncan Company: Madison House Studio The Mona Lisa by Michelangelo is one of the most popular paintings in the world, and this fascinating nonfiction book describes how the painting was stolen from the museum in 1911 and later returned. The book tells the story of the Mona Lisa’s theft and return, which offers readers a deeper understanding of the cultural importance of this painting. Ages: 10 and up |
| Secret of the Museum Writer: Hailey Johnson Company: Aspiring Young Readers This novel is based on prize-winning 2006 film Secret of the Museum. In the book, a guard notices that art works at the Museum of Natural History come to life at night. The guard shares what he has observed with his son, who is doubtful at first and then becomes fascinated by the adventures at night. Ages: 8-12 |
| Spy School Adventure Writer: Justin Blake Company: Charlie Martin Books for Young Readers Some of this story’s best scenes occur at the City Museum of History. Nick is trying to begin an adventure which takes him back to the ancient time. The track takes him outside the museum, and maps show you where he goes. Ages: 8-12 |
1. Which book is suitable for kids who are interested in paintings?
| A．Secret of the Museum. | B．Spy School Adventure. |
| C．The Return of Mona Lisa. | D．Charlotte Writes Her World. |
| A．Both are parent-friendly novels. |
| B．Both are from the writers’ diaries. |
| C．Both are winners of national prizes. |
| D．Both are about history and adventure. |
| A．A textbook. | B．An exam paper. | C．A travel plan. | D．A magazine. |
David decided to keep a balanced diet
The amazing experiments of space exploration
Mary
8 . Have you ever heard of the classic Marshmallow (棉花糖) Test? It’s a fun experiment where kids are given a marshmallow and told that they can eat it now or wait a bit and get two marshmallows later. Some kids eat the marshmallow right away, while others struggle to wait for the two marshmallows.
Interestingly, when the researchers followed up with those kids later in life, they found that those who waited longer for the two marshmallows would perform better in school, and even have better health. This made people think that waiting is a sign of self-control.
But a new study in 2022 by scientists raised an interesting question: is this behavior really about self-control, or is it about the culture we grow up in? In the United States, people usually don’t wait for everyone to be served before they start eating. In Japan, however, there is a tradition of waiting until everyone is served. This cultural difference led researchers to wonder if Japanese kids would wait longer in the marshmallow test compared to American kids. Surprisingly, the study found that Japanese kids did wait longer — about 15 minutes on average, while American kids waited for about 5 minutes.
Then, the researchers did another follow-up experiment. They looked at a different situation: opening gifts. In the United States, gifts are often saved for special events like birthdays and Christmas, when kids have to wait to open their gifts. In Japan, gifts are given more often, and kids usually open them right away. This is a powerful result because it shows the importance of culture and habit in shaping the way how children act.
So, whether you can wait for that second marshmallow might not just be about self-control — it could be about the culture you’re part of!
1. Why do some kids wait longer in the classic Marshmallow Test?| A．They live healthier lives. |
| B．They have better self-control. |
| C．They are afraid of being punished. |
| D．They have no interest in marshmallows |
| A．Eating habits. | B．Education systems. |
| C．Body Languages. | D．Family structures. |
| A．American children are better at opening gifts. |
| B．Self-control is important for children’s growth. |
| C．Gift-giving habits influence children’s conduct. |
| D．Japanese kids are more patient than American kids. |
| A．Gift-giving Traditions in Western Countries |
| B．Marshmallows and Kids: A Fun Experiment |
| C．Marshmallows, Patience and the World around Us |
| D．Cultural Influence on Children’s Willingness to Wait |
9 . Rainwater in cities causes more troubles than wet feet. It carries away waste from rooftops and streets as it washes through cities. European scientists are now trying to work out how to deal with flooding rainwater.
In the city of Wetteren, Belgium, researchers are experimenting with seashells. Millions of shells from the nearby North Sea are used to collect and treat rainwater from a shopping-mall roof and a parking lot. The shells are laid below a surface drain (下水道) through which dirty water is carried away. With a 70% empty space that allows them to store rainwater, they’re also a natural cleaning station, which is then used to water community gardens.
The experiment is part of a project called StopUP whose goal is to prevent rainwater from carrying pollutants into lakes and rivers. The project’s focus is to make sure that such wastewater, which can include everything from plastics to heavy metals, gets treated.
Thomas Jeffery, head of the College of Environmental Engineering in Germany, said a big knowledge gap can exist between the popular perception of rainwater and its true content. “Rainwater seems to be very clean, but when it washes the streets and roofs, it becomes full of dust and other harmful pollutants,” said Thomas.
In Europe, 38% of surface waterbodies have different forms of pollutants, which run deep in the ground and damage soils, plants and animals, according to Julie Rosalie, director of the European Environment Agency. Human health depends on clean water for drinking, bathing and cooking, and now we arc at risk because plants and animals are affected by chemicals in rivers, lakes and coastal waters.
“StopUP technologies and methods could provide tools to reduce rainwater pollution.” Rosalie said. “It has a positive effect on the quality of our common environment.”
1. What are the seashells in the experiment used for?| A．Clearing the polluted rainwater. | B．Repairing a shopping mall. |
| C．Making gardens more attractive. | D．Carrying away waste in cities. |
| A．Promoting the use of seashells. | B．Reusing plastics and heavy metals. |
| C．Experimenting ways to treat rainwater. | D．Encouraging people to stop water pollution. |
| A．Understanding. | B．Custom | C．Style. | D．Tendency. |
| A．More tools are needed to reduce water pollution. |
| B．StopUP helps to improve the environmental quality. |
| C．38% of surface water in Europe is free from pollutants. |
| D．Human beings are in danger because of a lack of water. |
