1 . San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum’s Imagination area encourages creativity, language development, emotional skills, and artistic expression. Get into the rhythm with percussion instruments or become a storyteller in the Puppet Theater.
Money SenseExplore San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum’s new Money Sense exhibit supported by PNC Foundation! Step into the world of financing and banking to introduce your little one to mathematics and finances!
Puppet TheaterThe Puppet Theater is the ideal place for children to develop speaking and listening skills. Communicating with puppets gives children the confidence to express their ideas and feelings through the roles they take on. Parents let their kids take the lead and showcase their creation.
Thank you to Imagination area supporters: The Stanford Family, Price Philanthropies Foundation, The Linden Root Dickenson Foundation, KPBS, and the Jordan Ressler Charitable Fund.
Visit Us320 North Broadway, Escondido, CA 92025
Museum HoursMonday: CLOSED
Tuesday — Saturday: 9:30 am — 4:30 pm
Sunday: 12:30 pm — 4:30 pm
AdmissionMembers (and children under the age of one): Free
Children & Adults: $11.50 per person
Group Rate (10 or more people): $10.00 per person. Must book ahead.
1. What is the purpose of the Money Sense exhibit?| A．To teach history. | B．To introduce finances. |
| C．To improve kids’ physical health. | D．To help kids learn about animals. |
| A．Learning about nature. | B．Enhancing sports skills. |
| C．Understanding technology. | D．Developing speaking skills. |
| A．$100. | B．$115. | C．$120. | D．$138. |
2 . Luisa Yu, a 79-year-old woman from Miami, dreamed about traveling as a young girl. Now she completed visiting every UN nation in the world, all 193, in November 2023.
“When I went to the movies, I saw this beautiful background about the scenery, the nature, the rivers, the mountains, and that fascinated me,” Yu said. “That’s why I always thought someday I will go to these places and travel.
At 23, as an exchange student studying medical technologies in the US, Yu decided that she wanted to visit all of the countries in the world, but visa restrictions didn’t allow her to travel outside of the country. She decided to explore the US via Greyhound buses. She saved her vacation time from working at Miami, Florida hospitals and was able to take long trips across the US. There are only two states that Yu has yet to visit — Kentucky and Oklahoma.
It took Yu 15 years to get her green card that would allow her to travel internationally and there were times that she worked three jobs to save money to travel. The Miami resident eventually took a part-time job as a travel agent, which gave her many more opportunities to travel to new places around the globe.
In the past 50 years, Yu has been visiting countries across the world, even some that are very tough to get into. She has tried several kinds of meat when she visited North Korea, explored the beaches of Somalia, and even skydived in Dubai when she was 73.
Yu’s advice to people who are fond of traveling is to just do it. She said, “Don’t wait for anybody. If I keep on waiting, it will never happen, because the opportunity sometimes comes only once.”
1. What inspired Luisa Yu to travel?| A．Reading books. | B．Watching movies. |
| C．Friends’ suggestions. | D．Work experience. |
| A．Because of visa limits. | B．Because of tight finances. |
| C．Because of short holidays. | D．Because of safety problems. |
| A．Dubai. | B．Miami. | C．Somalia. | D．North Korea. |
| A．Apply for the travel visa in advance. |
| B．Try various jobs to get colorful experiences. |
| C．Look for friends with shared interest in travel. |
| D．Catch every chance to do what they want to do. |
3 . Museums feature eye-catching spotlights and masses of collections in noisy downtown areas. However, many museums showing the unique local culture can now be found in the villages.
Located near a wide piece of cornfields in Xinjia Village is a museum about Mahu Opera, a traditional art of the Northeast China. Developed on a site formerly used as a primary school, this museum has five exhibition rooms with nearly 2,000 objects on show, including masks, costumes, instruments and books, most of which were donated by a local inheritor（继承者） of intangible cultural heritage. “By exhibiting them in the village, I hope to let more people know about the ancient form of art originating in the region,” said the inheritor.
In Xinjia village, with a population of only about 2,800, there are now five museums built near local houses. The museums are helping them know more about the past and record local history and encouraging tourists from cities to visit such regions. Villagers hope to promote the development of cultural tourism in the village and deliver a better living environment and also higher incomes to them.
Museums serve as cultural centers for villagers in rural regions. Besides a museum about cultural artworks related to Mahu Opera, there are other museums reflecting the history of this village situated in Shuangyang district in the city of Changchun, Northeast China. Shuangyang District, with more than 300 years of history in the field of deer breeding, has a “sika deer museum”. Wandering through the 7,200-square-meter building, people can learn in detail about this local history and tradition of raising deer, and its industry development process.
“We intend to preserve the cultural roots of Shuangyang and let people know about its civilization. People here have gone through hardships in developing the deer industry , and we need to pass on the qualities of hard work to our future generations through the museum.” said a founder of the museum.
1. What can we learn about the museum built in a former primary school?| A．The objects focus on a local traditional art. |
| B．The tourists are mainly from local villages. |
| C．The museum covers an area of 7,200 square meters. |
| D．The exhibitions were all donated by a cultural inheritor. |
| A．The high grain production. | B．The high income from tourism. |
| C．The spread of their traditions. | D．The protection of the environment. |
| A．To teach villagers to raise deer. | B．To display artworks of local villagers. |
| C．To show the development of raising deer. | D．To inspire future generations to protect deer. |
| A．Tourism. | B．Culture. | C．Philosophy. | D．Environment. |
4 . Danube River Rhapsody: A European Tapestry
Your adventure starts in Munich, Germany, where a guided city tour introduces the city’s rich heritage. Sail (航行) through charming towns like Emmersdorf, Austria, where you’ll taste local wines. You will see the artistic and music al beauty of Vienna. As the ship travels towards Linz, prepare for an unforgettable evening at the Captain’s Gala Dinner.
Discovering the Wonders of the Nile: An Egyptian Odyssey
You will start your adventure in Cairo, where a city tour introduces you to the famous Egyptian Museum. Sail past ancient temples, hidden cities, and breathtaking landscapes. Your journey ends in the beach of Hurghada, where you can see the sun on the golden sands of the Red Sea coast.
Discovering the Beauty of the Mekong: A Journey Through Vietnam and Cambodia
Board a seven-night Mekong River ship, where you’ll find floating villages and markets, endless rice paddies (稻田), and breathtaking scenery. You will see the beauty of Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and experience one of the most unforgettable sunsets you’ll ever see.
Yangtze River Ship: A Voyage Through China’s Heart
The journey allows you to see the country’s ancient traditions with its modern wonders. Your exploration begins in Beijing. Continue your journey to Xi’an, where you will see the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, and the Giant Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu. Conclude your unforgettable adventure in Shanghai, experiencing the city’s energy and modern skyline.
If you’re interested in learning more about a river cruise, click here to our website to see what you can receive when you set sail.
1. Where does Danube River Rhapsody begin?| A．Munich. | B．Emmersdorf. | C．Vienna. | D．Linz. |
| A．Yangtze River Ship. | B．Danube River Rhapsody. |
| C．Discovering the Wonders of the Nile. | D．Discovering the Beauty of the Mekong. |
| A．By sending a mail. | B．By making a phone call. |
| C．By visiting the website. | D．By asking the journeys’ guides in person. |
5 . Scientists have confirmed the presence of a gray whale off New England in North America recently. The large sea animal disappeared from the Atlantic Ocean two centuries ago. Researchers with the New England Aquarium (水族馆) in Boston found the gray whale on March 1. The whale, which can weigh over 27,000 kilograms, was likely the same animal observed off the coast of Florida last year. Though the gray whale disappeared from the Atlantic Ocean by the 18th century, there have been five observations of the animal in the last 15 years.
They can be identified by the lack of a part of a body often seen on other whales: a back fin. Also, they can be identified by the look which is different from the humpback (座头鲸) and other whales. Gray whales can also be identified by the unusual sounds they make. The researchers said they were not sure at first. But after circling the area for 45 minutes, they were able to take photographs that confirmed it was a gray whale.
Scientists said they were thrilled to see the animal, but its presence probably has to do with the warming of the planet. The Northwest Passage, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Arctic Ocean in Canada, has lacked ice in the summer in recent years. That means gray whales can travel through the passage in the summer when normally they would have been blocked. So the animal’s arrival off New England exemplifies the effect of climate change.
Gray whales were almost completely killed off by hunting during the years of commercial whaling. Today, the whales have recovered to the point where they are considered a species of “least concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. However, the western whales that live off the coast of Asia still belong to the endangered species.
1. How can researchers identify the gray whale?| A．By tracking its travelling route. | B．By studying the collected data. |
| C．By the typical appearance and sounds. | D．By comparing its photos with the previous ones. |
| A．Congratulates. | B．Reflects. | C．Threatens. | D．Targets. |
| A．They still need to be preserved. | B．Their population has been recovered greatly. |
| C．They were extinct due to commercial hunting. | D．They have been removed from the endangered list. |
| A．Scientists Were Worried to Find a Gray Whale |
| B．A Gray Whale Was Found off North America |
| C．Gray Whales Disappeared From the Atlantic Ocean |
| D．The Climate Warming Changes Gray Whale’s Habitats |
6 . A couple of days ago, I was walking in a park when a gentleman, named Sam, sitting on a bench called me, “Sir, can you help me with this report?” I stopped and looked at it and it was his health report. I told him I am not a doctor but I can explain the contents of the report.
I told him the report showed he was diabetic (患糖尿病的). He said: “Sir, my doctor has given me some medicine and I have been taking it for a month and half. But why am I still diabetic?” I answered: “Please follow the diet given by your doctor and exercise regularly. Be positive and stay patient. You will see better results over the next couple of months.”
As I was about to leave, a friend of his sitting next to him stopped me and said, “Sir, he did not tell you one more thing. He used to be an alcoholic (酒鬼) for a long time. But now, since he knew the disease, he has reduced it to once a week from daily drinking.”
I smiled and gently told Sam: “It is great you have reduced your drinking to once a week. Can you now reduce it to once a month and then once in 3 months please? I will meet you right here in 3 months.” He smiled and agreed to do as I told him and meet me with a better health report. It seemed that he got the courage to quit drinking alcohol.
I felt maybe I could prepare a gift for the next meeting.
1. Why did Sam stop the author?| A．To have a chat with the author. | B．To read a report to the author. |
| C．To ask the author to give a hand. | D．To seek some advice from the author. |
| A．Puzzled. | B．Relieved. | C．Satisfied. | D．Excited. |
| A．He was sick for a month. | B．He worked out once a week. |
| C．He needed encouragement. | D．He was addicted to alcohol. |
| A．See a doctor. | B．Quit smoking. |
| C．Prepare a gift. | D．Follow the author’s advice. |
7 . Before children can learn to read, they need to have a good understanding of basic words and what they mean.
If you are looking for a great place to start building your preschooler’s vocabulary and early reading skills, look no further than your local library. Research shows a strong correlation between library use and literacy-building skills in young children.
When it comes to increasıng your child’s vocabulary, more is better. The more words that your child hears, the more he or she will learn. For example, when describing a fabric pattern, try using words such as unusual, relaxing, or creative. These words may be beyond a kid’s understanding right now.
If you want your preschoolers to learn more words, then make it easy.
Besides being a wonderful way to spend quality time with your preschooler, reading aloud is a great way to expose your preschooler to new words. Choose books that are of interest to your preschooler but that use words that are slightly above their understanding. Together you can work through what they mean, by using context—the other words on the page and any pictures that might be on the page as well.
| A．Reading aloud together |
| B．Spending time together |
| C．While that may sound a bit difficult |
| D．In addition to saying them often, show them too |
| E．If you aren’t sure what to do when you get there |
| F．But by using them in the proper context, you’ll make them understandable |
| G．The more parents help children overcome challenges, the better they’ll be for kindergarten |
8 . Yu Zeling, an award-winning master of paper cutting, fills her studio with cutouts of animals, people, and scenes that are so vivid that they seem to leap from the walls. Her art covers village life in Ansai, a rural district in Shaanxi Province.
Ms. Yu came to paper cutting in the late 1970s as naturally as she breathed the earthy air. “We were very poor, and when it was time to celebrate the New Year, we all put paper-cuts on the windows to decorate our houses,” she says, recalling the holiday at her childhood home. Ms. Yu and others are working to keep the folk art alive, even as it evolves away from its roots as adornment for farmhouses.
The art originated in China in the centuries after paper was invented in A. D. 105. Full of auspicious(吉利的) symbols from daily life, the decorations represented good weather, many offspring, long life, wealth, and happiness.
Using newspaper, Ms. Yu first practiced cutting the image of a Chinese national flag that she saw in a school textbook. She cut it 100 times before she was satisfied. Then her aunt took over, introducing her to increasingly complicated traditional themes.
Ms. Yu was later invited to train in the Ansai’s Cultural Center. After years of training, Ms. Yu became a master in her own right, winning one award after another. Her works are on display in museums. But she’s humble about her achievements. “I was, and still am, a farmer,” she says with a smile.
Hoping to carry on and grow the folk art, Ms. Yu volunteers to teach at free community training sessions. Paper cutting is also taught in Ansai’s public schools. Ms. Yu is aware of the need to go beyond protecting traditions and embrace new paper-cut experiments.
1. What does the underlined word “adornment” in paragraph 2 mean?| A．Celebration. | B．Symbol. | C．Invention. | D．Decoratıon. |
| A．It has cultural value. | B．It features animals. |
| C．It attracts the young. | D．It remains in fashion. |
| A．Talkative. | B．Curious. | C．Devoted. | D．Competitive. |
| A．A brief history of paper cutting. |
| B．A new approach to paper cutting. |
| C．An introduction to a paper cutting master. |
| D．The direction of a traditional paper cutting. |
9 . Welcome to the Virtual Broadcom MASTERS!
Major Activities for the Finalists
◆Participate in a private judging process with a group of top scientists from 10: 30 am to 11 am on October 20.
◆Engage in team challenges where the finalists will be judged on their mastery of critical thinking, communication, creativity and cooperation in each area from 11 am to 11: 30 am on October 20.
◆Respond to questions at their booths (展示台) from 2 pm to 4 pm on October 20.
Time for Virtual Exhibition
It will open at 10 am on October 20 and will be available to the public through November 4.
More about Virtual Exhibition
◆The Broadcom MASTERS is taking place virtually for the first time to keep finalists and their family safe during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
◆The Society will be providing educational materials for educators who are interested in bringing students to the exhibition for a digital field trip.
◆Visitors to the exhibition will also have an opportunity to visit the STEM Experiential Hall where you can get access to interactive and immersive (沉浸式的) STEM experiences.
◆Please plan on watching the Winners Award Ceremony on October 21 at 7 pm and see who will bring home the prize.
1. What will the finalists do on the afternoon of October 20?| A．Cooperate with other participants at the booths. |
| B．Participate in the question-and-answer session. |
| C．Show their abilities in team challenges. |
| D．Communicate with top scientists. |
| A．For about a week. | B．For about half a month. |
| C．For about a month. | D．For about two months. |
| A．It helps make the exhibition more acceptable. |
| B．It announces the winners on October 20. |
| C．It benefits educators and students. |
| D．It offers a field trip to the winners. |
10 . Thanks to artificial intelligence, education is more accessible and efficient than ever. To give you an overview of the industry, we round up some AI technology applied in education.
Duolingo
Duolingo provides listening, reading and speaking exercises in dozens of global languages, all the while providing aspects of gamification to keep users coming back. By applying AI, Duolingo’s lessons are paced and leveled specifically for each student according to their performance. It also uses data and machine learning to make course improvements, taking into consideration the differences of various languages.
Amira Learning
Amira Learning is a virtual learning application created to accelerate young students’ reading comprehension. Using AI technology, Amira has students read stories aloud and can assess oral reading fluency as well as identify areas for improvement. For teachers and parents, Amira also provides services such as student progress reports and dyslexia (阅读障碍) risk screening.
Blippar
Blippar’s products combine computer vision intelligence technology and augmented reality to enhance the way students learn in the classroom. The interactive materials bring subjects like geography, biology and physics to a visual space. For example, instead of reading about a volcanic eruption, the system shows students a virtual 3D model of the eruption process.
Nuance
Nuance makes speech-to-text software used by students and faculty to transcribe (转成) up to 160 words per minute. The technology is especially helpful for students who struggle with writing or have limited mobility. It also enhances spelling ability and word identification. Instructors use the software to dictate lectures for later use or quicken repetitive tasks like document and email creation.
1. Which platform uses gamification to engage users in language learning?| A．Amira Learning. | B．Blippar. |
| C．Nuance. | D．Duolingo. |
| A．Speech-to-text software. |
| B．Reading comprehension. |
| C．Computer vision intelligence technology. |
| D．Personalized language learning with gamification. |
| A．They focus on language learning. |
| B．They specialize in science subjects. |
| C．They use technology to aid learning. |
| D．They offer computer programming courses. |
