Thank you！

4 . Tonight, our family was going out to play under the full moon.

My husband Todd and I first started going on full moon walks for ourselves, as we needed these little doses of moonlight to stay happy, though sometimes we had to hike through the forest to find a perfect spot. But after we became parents, we did this for our children. We wanted to show Sierra and Bryce that it was not necessary to travel far from home to have an adventure and learn something new, and that there was much magic in the natural world, available to all.

Once we arrived at our location, Sierra and I stood holding hands, waiting to cheer the full moon in its rising — a thin sliver of the moon emerged above the ridge of the mountain afar. Soon, more of the moon came out until it turned into a brilliant orange sphere (球体). Todd explained to Sierra and Bryce that the moon generates no light, but simply acts like a mirror, reflecting the sunlight back to us. “Does the moon’s face change?” Bryce asked. I told him that the moon moves around the earth, but does not spin (旋转) by itself, so the same side of the moon is always facing the earth. Sierra remarked that the moon looked larger when it was rising. I explained that it is a visual illusion (错觉) because it is so close to the horizon that the moon magically tricks our eyes into comparing it with nearby objects.

Much of the knowledge that I shared with the kids was learned from my parents. During my childhood, they would take me on educational adventures out in the woods, and as I later found, so did their parents. So every time I go for a full moon walk with my beloved family, I thank those wise educators who came before me.

To educate, sometimes all it takes is going outdoors and gazing up at the heavens.

5 . Whether you’re a thrill-seeker looking for the world’s most intense roller coasters or a family planning a vacation filled with fun for parents and kids, theme parks have something for everyone. Here are some fantastic options for you.

Tokyo DisneySea, Japan

Tokyo Disney Resort tops the must-visit list for many Disney theme park fans. Tokyo Disneyland is very similar to Magic Kingdom in Florida or Disneyland Park in California, but Tokyo DisneySea is unique with its nautical (海上的) theme, fantastical lands and beautiful sections inspired by the Mediterranean, Arabian and American coasts.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

This primarily indoor Ferrari-inspired theme park in Abu Dhabi is a must-visit for car and thrill lovers. It’s home to the world’s fastest roller coaster Formula Rossa, which reaches speeds of 149 mph. When visiting, make sure you also take advantage of the driving experiences, on which you can go around Yas Island behind the wheel of a Ferrari.

Tivoli Gardens, Denmark

One of the world’s oldest operating amusement parks, Tivoli Gardens is a must-visit attraction in the heart of Copenhagen. The park dates back to 1843, and it has rides, theaters, and restaurants spread across its charming grounds and gardens. During the holidays, the park is extra magical with its annual festival when the scene lights up with decorations.

Efteling, Netherlands

Efteling is the Netherlands’ largest and one of Europe’s most-visited amusement parks. Its imaginative rides, gardens and attractions are themed to Dutch folklore and fairy tales, including a 15-acre Fairytale Forest with more than two dozen scenes. For example, thrill-seekers can line up for a thrill ride on the Flying Dutchman water coaster.

The Chinese government recently finalized a plan to set up a Giant Panda National Park (GPNP).     1     (cover) an area about three times     2     size of Yellowstone National Park, the GPNP will be one of the first national parks in the country. The plan will extend protection to a significant number of areas that     3     (be) previously unprotected, bringing many of the existing protected areas for giant pandas under one authority     4     (increase) effectiveness and reduce inconsistencies in management.

After a three-year pilot period, the GPNP will be officially set up next year. The GPNP     5     (design) to reflect the guiding principle of “protecting the authenticity and integrity (完整性) of natural ecosystems, preserving biological diversity, protecting ecological buffer zones,     6     leaving behind precious natural assets (资产) for future generations”. The GPNP’s main goal is to improve connectivity between separate populations and     7     (home) of giant pandas, and     8    (eventual) achieve a desired level of population in the wild.

Giant pandas also serve     9     an umbrella species, bringing protection to a host of plants and animals in the southwestern and northwestern parts of China. The GPNP is intended to provide stronger protection for all the species     10     live within the Giant Panda Range and significantly improve the health of the ecosystem in the area.

7 . Listening, speaking, reading and writing are necessary to everyday life, where language is the primary ________for expression and communication. Studying how people use language—what words and phrases we unknowingly ________—can help us better understand ourselves and why we ________ the way we do.

Stanford linguists attempt to ________ what is individual and general about the language we use. They also try to find how it came into use and the ways it ________ over time. After researches, they have found that even the smallest differences in language use are ________ the speakers’ belief, according to research. One study finds that a (n) ________ harmless sentence, such as “girls are as good as boys at math,” can in some way ________ sexist stereotypes (性别刻板印象). The statement’s grammatical form suggests that being good at math is more ________ for boys than girls, the researchers said. Language can play a (n) ________ role in showing how we and others understand the world.

Studying other languages helps us have a better understanding of ________ around the world. People speak about 7,000 languages worldwide. Although there are a lot of similar things among languages, each one is ________, both in its structure and in the way it reflects the culture of the people who speak it. Dan Jurafsky, the Professor in Humanities and chair of the Department of Linguistics at Stanford, advised that we shouldn’t only ________ on our own language. Studying other languages and how they develop can help us understand what is ________ in humans’ different ways of communicating with one another.

“Understanding what different groups of people say and why is the first step in deciding how we can ________ people together,” Jurafsky said.

Yours,

Li Hua

Best regards,

Li Hua