1 . Family-Friendly Outdoor Festivals
Here are some of the best outdoor festivals for families.Strawberry Music Festival: Groveland, CA
When: May and August
Held in Yosemite National Park, the Strawberry Music Festival, held twice a summer, is famous for its programming, swimming, and hiking at Birch Lake, superb arts and crafts, and more. The program offers activities like arts and crafts, nature programs, dance and music workshops, and storytelling. Free for kids aged 6 and under.
Lake Eden Arts Festival: Black Mountain, NCWhen: May and October
Just 20 minutes outside of Asheville, LEAF is an arts festival that’s super kid-friendly. Families can camp out, go canoeing (划独木舟) and swimming in Lake Eden, and create crafts, and enjoy music and poetry performed on seven stages. Free for kids aged 9and under.
Joshua Tree Music Festival: Joshua Tree, CAWhen: May and October
Twice a year, this kid-friendly global music festival draws thousands of families to the Mojave Desert at the gateway to Joshua Tree National Park. There are performances from dozens of musical artists from around the world, while Kidsville is filled with arts and crafts, yoga, dance parties, music workshops, and circus shows. Free for kids aged 10 and under.
Bumbershoot: Seattle: WAWhen: September
Since 1971, Bumbershoot has been one of Seattle’s premier culture and arts festivals, drawing families from all over the Pacific Northwest. The program shows the best of comedy, dance, film, literary arts, performing arts, and theater, but it’s the strong music al program of top act s that makes this festival a must. Free for kids aged 7 and under.
1. When can visitors admire Strawberry Music Festival?| A．In April. | B．In May. | C．In September. | D．In October. |
| A．Bumbershoot. | B．Strawberry Music Festival. |
| C．Lake Eden Arts Festival. | D．Joshua Tree Music Festival. |
| A．See a movie. | B．Create crafts. |
| C．Go swimming. | D．Perform comedy themselves. |
2 . What to expect in the new season of Alaskan Bush People? One year after the death of beloved patriarch (族长), Billy Brown, the Wolfpack manages their own personal lives while still trying to keep their father’s dream and legacy alive.
The all-new season of Alaskan Bush People premieres (首映) on Sunday, Oct.2, at 8P ET/PT on Discovery and streaming on Discovery+.
The family moves ahead with their biggest plans yet, which immediately face barriers. Can the strength of the Browns help them overcome new risks? Here’s an update on some of the family as they head into a new era — for more, be sure to switch over on Oct.2:
●Noah: Now settled into fatherhood, he shocks the family with big plans for a move back to Alaska. His hope is to raise his family in the same way he was brought up in the bush, but the hunt for a remote property around the islands of Southeast Alaska is ambitious and dangerous.
●Bear, Raiven, and River: Bear faces a real life “love off the grid” story as city-born wife Raiven, along with son River, decides to inhabit the mountain.
●Bird: She looks north to Alaska in hopes of gaining closure with her father’s death. However, her plans come to a sudden stop when she is faced with a major health crisis that forces her to make critical decisions about starting a family.
●Ami and Bam: They face a struggle to make the ranch (牧场) profitable in the face of Mother Nature’s anger.
●Gabe: He tries to build his growing family a home on the mountain before the severe winter arrives.
1. What will be the biggest challenge for Noah?| A．Seeking a property in Southeast Alaska. | B．Adapting to the demands of fatherhood. |
| C．Getting enough food for his big family. | D．Getting united with his family in Alaska. |
| A．Her father’s death. | B．Her family’s criticism. |
| C．Her health condition. | D．A sudden natural disaster. |
| A．A book review. | B．A TV series preview. |
| C．A news report. | D．A food advertisement. |
3 . Five weeks ago I had total hip replacement surgery (髋关节置换手术). In Canada, we have a great healthcare system. That means we get our new hips for free.
My hip had been hurting me for years before I went to the doctor. Of course, it was free. She referred me to a surgeon, but the earliest appointment was in 10 months. That is what being free gets you. Ten months later, after some free X-rays, the surgeon told me I needed surgery, which was about an 18-month wait, for some senior citizens had been on the operation list. Another 18 months! I dragged myself out of the surgeon’s office.
Walking through the hospital, I thought about the situation. As the breadwinner of a large family, I couldn’t wait that long, so I had to get to the front line. I was fully aware of what a Canadian should be like (Canadians are usually considered gentle and ca-ring), but this time I really needed to fight for myself. At that very moment, in the shop window of the hospital, I saw a sign which read, “Volunteers Needed.” Suddenly, an idea occurred to me—I would get the job. Fortunately, they signed me up immediately because the average age of the volunteers at the shop was 75. They were desperate for some young blood.
Every Friday morning, I was at the shop. While seeing the hospital staff, I’d casually be asked, What do you do? Then I'd tell them, Well, I'm getting my hip replaced—in 18 months. It’s going to be so great when the pain stops. Soon, all the staff got to know me. Naturally, in my next appointment, the surgeon recognized me. Moments later, I had a surgery date just weeks away.
I had to say it was actually my volunteering that got me to the front of the line. And I’m not ashamed of it, for I intend to stick with the volunteering. Also, even when I cheated the system, I did it in a way that benefits society.
1. What can we infer from the second paragraph?| A．She felt rather disappointed. |
| B．She couldn’t walk because of the pain. |
| C．She was too scared to have the surgery. |
| D．She didn’t believe what the surgeon said. |
| A．To donate blood to the hospital. |
| B．To get her new hip free of charge. |
| C．To receive some tiny gifts from others. |
| D．To approach the doctor for early surgery. |
| A．How I Got My New Hip |
| B．The Doctor Who Saved My Life |
| C．How to Be a Volunteer in Hospital |
| D．The Problem of Canada’s Healthcare System |
4 . 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival Student Art Competition
To celebrate the 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival, National Mall and Memorial Parks is hosting a youth art competition. We need your artistic help to inspire visitors to become Cherry Blossom Protectors! The blooming of the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin has come to symbolize the natural beauty of our nation’s capital city. Thousands of people come every year to see the cherry trees and enjoy the festival.
ParticipantsThe contest is open to all Washington, D.C. students, K-6. One submission per student please.
ThemeArtworks should focus on the theme “Cherry Blossom Protector.” Draw or paint a picture that shows what you appreciate about the cherry blossoms, how we can take care of them, and why we should. Submissions must include the words “Cherry Blossom Protector”.
DeadlineArtworks will be accepted starting December 13, 2023. All submissions must be postmarked by February 25, 2024.
Submission requirementsA valid submission will contain the following information:
1. An original copy of the artwork. Each piece must be original, authentic (真实的), unpublished, the sole property of the entrant (参赛者), and not previously submitted in any other contest.
2. Your personal information, printed on either the back of your artwork or on a separate sheet attached to your physical artwork or provided with the e-mail for your digital entry: First and last name, grade/age.
3. A completed and signed entry form. Print out the entry form and send it to us when you send your artwork. Entries cannot be accepted without a signed entry form by a parent or guardian.
Delivery addressMailed submissions must be sent to:
National Mall and Memorial Parks
c/o 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival Student Art Competition
1100 Ohio Drive, SWWashington, DC 20242
1. Why do National Mall and Memorial Parks host the art competition?| A．To honor the national heroes. | B．To improve students’ art skills. |
| C．To protect the cherry blossom. | D．To attract more visitors to the parks. |
| A．Volunteer as a cherry blossom protector. | B．Choose your own theme for the contest. |
| C．Email all your artworks to your school. | D．Summit artworks before February 25, 2024. |
| A．Personal information. | B．A previous submitted copy. |
| C．A guardian’s recommendation. | D．An electronic application form. |
5 . OPENINGS AND PREVIEWS
Animals Out of PaperYolo! Productions and the Great Griffon present the play by Rajiv Joseph, in which an origami(折纸术) artist invites a teenage talent and his teacher into her studio. Merri Milwe directs. In previews. Opens Feb. 12. (West Park Presbyterian Church, 165 W. 86th St. 212-868-4444.)
The AudienceHelen Mirren stars in the play by Peter Morgan, about Queen Elizabeth II of the UK and her private meetings with twelve Prime Ministers in the course of sixty years. Stephen Daldry directs. Also starring Dylan Baker and Judith Ivey. Previews begin Feb. 14.(Schoenfeld, 236 W. 45th St. 212-239-6200.)
HamiltonLin-Manuel Miranda wrote this musical about Alexander Hamilton, in which the birth of America is presented as an immigrant story. Thomas Kail directs. In previews. Opens Feb. 17.(Public, 425 Lafayette St. 212-967-7555.)
On the Twentieth CenturyKristin Chenoweth and Peter Gallagher star in the musical comedy by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, about a Broadway producer who tries to win a movie star’s love during a cross-country train journey. Scott Ellis directs, for Roundabout Theatre Company. Previews begin Feb. 12.(American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St. 212-719-1300.)
1. What is the play by Rajiv Joseph probably about?| A．A type of art. |
| B．A teenager’s studio. |
| C．A great teacher. |
| D．A group of animals. |
| A．Helen Mirren. |
| B．Peter Morgan. |
| C．Dylan Baker. |
| D．Stephen Daldry. |
6 . Emerald Coast Science Center Field Trips
Bring your group or class to explore our hands-on Science Center now which provides wonderful learning opportunities for students all along the Emerald Coast!
| Hands-on fun Every field trip includes a Makerspace activity and a 30-minute close encounter with our animals under the guidance of an educator. Lessons for all agesLessons can be changed to suit the needs of most grade levels and include knowledge of different areas. But remember: such lessons charge an additional fee and must be planned in advance. For a list of the types of field trip lessons we currently offer, please click here to download our Education Program Guide. | Pricing information ●$12 per student;1 free guardian every 10 students, additional guardians $6 each; teachers are always free. ●Minimum fee of $120 per field trip. ●Same-day field trips are limited to up to 105 students. ●The group for field trips that does not arrive within 30 minutes past their scheduled arrival time will be charged a $100 service fee to accommodate scheduling issues. ●No Show/No Call bookings are charged a $100 cancellation fee. ●Okaloosa County only: Up to 6 free economically disadvantaged students per booking. |
To book a field trip, please call Lisa at 850-664-1261. Please choose your preferred date and two alternate dates you would like to book before calling. We will email you a confirmation of your booking.
1. What do the Science Center field trips offer?| A．Tailored lessons. | B．Animal training. |
| C．Trips to the Emerald Coast. | D．A half-hour Makerspace activity. |
| A．$108. | B．$114. | C．$120. | D．$126. |
| A．A museum guide. | B．An online ad. |
| C．A commercial report. | D．An activity review. |
7 . At age 10, McCullough got a glimpse of her dream job. It sparkled in the eyes of the Packard Children’s nurses who cared for her brother Matthew, who had brain cancer. As a child, McCullough spent hours at her brother’s bedside. “I looked up to the nurses. I found their unconditional commitment to my brother’s care remarkable," McCullough says.
As a young girl, McCullough practiced nursing by caring for her brother, a desire born out of her intense love for him. She would rub his back, bring him drinks, and even help adjust his lines. She was a natural. Her parents said that she was very caring and always put people first from a young age.
When Matthew passed away, McCullough became even more committed to becoming a nurse. She took steps through the years to make her dream come true. In high school, she volunteered at cancer centers and hospitals. “My becoming a nurse is 100% in honor of Matt. I felt the need to channel my grief and turn that tragic moment into something positive," McCullough says.
Over time, McCullough realized that she didn’t just want to be a nurse. She wanted to be a pediatric oncology (儿科肿瘤) nurse at Packard Children’s. McCullough wanted to give back to the hospital that had done so much for her brother.
Despite feeling like school never came easy, McCullough persisted and got into a respected nursing school. She feels like she worked 10 times harder than other nursing students at the university. She traded going out and spending time with friends for the library.
In college, each step brought McCullough closer to her dream. She worked as a nursing assistant at Stanford Health Care for adults with cancer. Then, she transferred to Packard Children’s and worked as a nursing assistant in the Pediatric Transplant Center.
Today, She’s a nurse on the same unit that cared for her brother years ago. She is one of those nurses she admired so much as a child. She finds the time, even on very busy days, to truly be there for patients and families to make them feel loved and welcomed.
1. What makes McCullough want to become a nurse?| A．Her love for her brother. | B．The pain of cancer patients. |
| C．Her natural ability of nursing. | D．The volunteering experience. |
| A．She volunteered at cancer centers. |
| B．She worked harder than at high school. |
| C．She acted as a nursing assistant for children. |
| D．She spent much time with friends in the library. |
| A．Changeable and respectable. |
| B．Hardworking and demanding. |
| C．Professional and adventurous. |
| D．Considerate and persistent. |
| A．God helps those who help themselves. |
| B．Where there is a will there is a way. |
| C．Behind bad luck comes good luck. |
| D．He who laughs last laughs best. |
8 . We journalists live in a new age of storytelling, with many new multimedia tools. Many young people don’t even realize it’s new. For them, it’s just normal.
This hit home for me as I was sitting with my 2-year-old grandson on a sofa over the Spring Festival holiday. I had brought a children’s book to read. It had simple words and colorful pictures — a perfect match for his age.
Picture this: my grandson sitting on my lap as I hold the book in front so he can see the pictures. As I read, he reaches out and pokes (戳) the page with his finger.
What’s up with that? He just likes the pictures, I thought. Then I turned the page and continued. He poked the page even harder. I nearly dropped the book. I was confused: Is there something wrong with this kid?
Then I realized what was happening. He was actually a stranger to books. His father frequently amused the boy with a tablet computer which was loaded with colorful pictures that come alive when you poke them. He thought my storybook was like that.
Sorry, kid. This book is not part of your high-tech world. It’s an outdated, lifeless thing. An antique, like your grandfather. Well, I may be old, but I’m not hopelessly challenged, digitally speaking. I edit video and produce audio. I use mobile payment. I’ve even built websites.
There’s one notable gap in my new-media experience, however: I’ve spent little time in front of a camera, since I have a face made for radio. But that didn’t stop China Daily from asking me last week to share a personal story for a video project about the integration of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province.
Anyway, grandpa is now an internet star — two minutes of fame! I promise not to let it go to my head. But I will make sure my 2-year-old grandson sees it on his tablet.
1. What does the author think of himself?| A．Socially ambitious. |
| B．Physically attractive. |
| C．Financially independent. |
| D．Digitally competent. |
| A．He lacks experience in his job. |
| B．He seldom appears on television. |
| C．He manages a video department. |
| D．He often interviews internet stars. |
9 . The holidays can be a difficult time to stay on track with your fitness goals.
Planning is the best way to make sure you don’t lose track of your goals. Plan your workouts for the week and mark them in your schedule to assure they are a part of your day.
Exercise early.
Keep moving.
Research shows that getting up for just five minutes every 30 to 60 minutes and performing light activities reduces the risk of heart disease risk factors. Small efforts to get moving can help your overall health during the holidays. In addition to staying active, try to avoid sitting for long periods of time, such as when watching football games or eating.
Think out of the box.
The holidays are busy, but do your best to avoid the “all or nothing” mentality when it comes to physical activity.
| A．Plan ahead |
| B．Plan out your route before you go |
| C．Exercising in the morning is one of the biggest tips |
| D．Remember: too much sitting is harmful to your health |
| E．Your schedule will be filled with family gatherings and celebrations |
| F．Get creative with exercise and make physical activity a family affair |
| G．Rather than skipping the gym altogether, make time for a quick workout |
10 . From Milan to Riyadh, these culture-packed cities offer creative experiences, whether through interesting street arts, innovative exhibitions or award-winning architectures.
Milan
Milan’s fashion heritage dates back to its days as an important trading center, when rich businessmen would bring luxurious clothes to the city and improve their bartering (以物易物) skills in its streets. The area’s fashion-forward reputation was later strengthened by design masters such as Giorgio Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace, all of whom grew their brands here.
Shanghai
Shanghai has a long history in the fields of art and architecture, and has long attracted creative professionals both domestically and internationally. But today, the integration of traditional temples into the surrounding modern metropolis (大都市) continues to attract tourists. Begin with a wander through the streets of the original Old City, taking in the 600-year-old City God Temple and the nine-bend Jiu Qu Qiao. Then, make for the Shanghai Museum, where more than a million artifacts — including ancient sculptures, china and calligraphy — are on display.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen’s architecture has been awarded many honors over the years, including UNESCO World Capital of Architecture 2023. Today, many of the city’s most popular tour routes centre on these eye-catching aspects. The harbour-front Copenhagen Opera House presents a neo-futuristic style while the Black Diamond Royal Library and the Bicycle Bridge dot the skyline with their distinctive designs.
Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s largest city Riyadh has actively positioned itself as a global destination for creative travellers and to this end, it has established the Riyadh Art initiative. The first public art project of its kind in the country, Riyadh Art aims to transform the city into a “gallery without walls” through public art installations, festivals and workshops.
1. What is Milan famous for?| A．Its festivals. | B．Its fashion products. | C．Its architecture. | D．Its modern art. |
| A．Copenhagen. | B．Shanghai. | C．Milan. | D．Riyadh. |
| A．It is Saudi Arabia’s second largest city. | B．It has a lot of galleries without walls. |
| C．It aims to attract creative visitors. | D．It plans to set up the Riyadh Art initiative. |
