1 . Winter vacations don’t have to be about snow. From scenic coastal journeys to wildlife watching, we have found a trip for every type of winter wanderer. Here’re some hot spots.
Road-trip down Oregon’s scenic coast
One of Oregon’s Seven Wonders, this 363-mile stretch of coastline is filled with landscapes, waves, headlands, and winter storms. There’s no shortage of stops on the scenic route from Astoria to Brookıngs. Visit coastal communities, spot sea lions at Shore Acres State Park, watch dancing lellyfish at the Oregon Coast Aquarıum, and explore 79 state parks.
Enjoy the light show in San Antonio, Texas
From late November to early January, millions of twinkling lights decorate the San Antonio River Walk in an eye-catching display. Riverboats carrying diverse mix of bell choirs, folk groups, and Latino bands fill the air with carols on evenings through late December.
Soak in New Mexico’s natural hot springs
With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, five national forests, and 17 national parks and monuments, New Mexico is a paradise(乐园) of outdoor adventure. After an active day, loosen up your muscles in comfortable mineral springs.
Celebrate New Year’s Day with the mummers in Philadelphia
On New Year’s Day, thousands of brightly costumed people take to the streets of Philadelphia for the annual Mummers Parade, the oldest continuous folk parade in the U. S. The people line the streets of the City of Brotherly Love from JFK Boulevard down Broad Street to watch the mummers (哑剧演员) flood the city in an explosion of color, music, and dance.
1. Where should visitors go if they want to explore coastal life?| A．Oregon. | B．San Antonio. | C．New Mexico. | D．Philadelphia. |
| A．October 26. | B．November 1. | C．December 16. | D．February 4. |
| A．A history book. | B．A travel brochure. | C．A course plan. | D．An art journal. |
2 . Hong Kong has the largest collection of high-rise buildings on Earth, many of which have been designed by world-famous architects.
HSBC Headquarters Building
In 1979, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation(HSBC) launched an international design competition for its new headquarters. Foster +Partners, headed by architect Sir Norman Foster, won the competition with an out-of-the-box idea. With a budget of roughly S667 million in the day’s currency, the British visionary had the modular (模块化的) pieces constructed in the US, Japan and the UK before shipping them to Hong Kong for assembly (组装).
The Henderson
Zaha Hadid Architects(ZHA) has revealed plans to replace a multi-story car park in Hong Kong’s central business district with a new 623-foot tower. Like so many of ZHA’s visionary projects, the office tower, completed in 2023,integrates technology with natural environments. For instance, there is a sky garden which is an outdoor recreational space with a running track and a planting network that acts as an effective biological air-purifying filter by consuming pollutants.
Two International Finance Centre
On a clear day, you can see straight across Hong Kong from the offices in Two International Finance Center(2IFC), completed in 2003. Designed by the late Cesar Pelli, the 1,352-foot tower was the tallest in the city upon its completion. It transformed the skyline when it opened with its breath taking height and tapered (锥形的) shape, symbolizing Hong Kong’s rise.
Bank of China Tower
The 1,205-foot tower, completed in 1990,broke records at the time and became an instant landmark as the first tower over 985 feet outside North America. A vision of urban energy, expansion and geometry, the Bank of China Tower(BOC Tower)was designed to resemble a bamboo shoot, symbolizing strength, vitality and China’s emergence as a significant player in international finance.
1. What is special about the HSBC Headquarters Building?| A．It was designed by several architect teams. | B．It was funded by countries across the world. |
| C．Its style was considered to be the most creative. | D．Its design was a winning work of a competition. |
| A．HSBC Headquarters Building. | B．The Henderson. |
| C．Two International Finance Centre. | D．Bank of China Tower. |
| A．They are known for being eco-friendly. | B．They were completed in the same century. |
| C．They used to be the tallest in Hong Kong. | D．They were designed by the same architect. |
3 . Hem an Bekele is not your typical high school student．Rather than spending his free time playing video games or staring at his phone, this 14 year-old from Fairfax, Virginia was calling professors and conducting experiments, all to create a soap that could treat skin cancer, and to make it affordable for everyone who needs it．His work won him the grand prize in this year’s 3M Young Scientist’s Challenge, a competition that encourages kids to think of unique ways to solve everyday problems.
Growing up in Ethiopia, Bekele found in pity that people working outside were likely to end up getting skin cancer．Skin cancer did have cures and was treatable in most cases．However, the average price of skin cancer treatment globally was almost $40,000．Those shocking statistics really inspired him to create a more accessible solution．He started doing experiments and working on different things, and that turned into his bar of soap as a project.
A lot of his research and development started in his family’s kitchen and in his basement．But as he reached the final of the competition, he realized that he did need to do a little bit more outside of just his house．So he reached out to people at University of Virginia and people at Georgetown, and he got a lot of assistance．The number one person would be Deborah Isabelle, who helped him organize and structure his ideas during the finalist competition．Bekele said that he definitely couldn’t have done that all by himself.
Bekele’s award-winning soap is a compound based bar of soap and it’s charged with different cancer fighting chemicals．The color of the soap is a bit of a dark type of white and it has a rough surface, which could be a good exfoliant（去角质剂）．It does have a strong medicine smell and feel a bit stickier．The whole point of it is that even once you wash off the soaps, the medicinal parts will stay on your skin．It can activate the body’s immune cells to defend cancer.
Bekele won 25,000 prize money and he was going to use it to continue research．He said, “I still need a lot of resources to be able to conduct this research, so this money will definitely help me achieve it.”
1. Why did Heman Bekele start working on creating the soap?| A．Because he thought it was a fun project. |
| B．Because he wanted to win a science competition. |
| C．Because he found skin cancer treatment unaffordable. |
| D．Because he wanted to create a unique soap for everyone. |
| A．Well begun is half done. | B．Learn humbly, ask willingly. |
| C．Actions speak louder than words. | D．Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. |
| A．What features the soap has. | B．How the soap is used. |
| C．What chemicals the soap contains. | D．How the soap is produced. |
| A．Patient and talented. | B．Friendly and ambitious. |
| C．Cautious and generous. | D．Caring and devoted. |
4 . Books for children
Cyril and Pat by Emily GravettThis clever picture book shows younger readers the charming friendship between Cyril, a squirrel and Pat, who isn’t. Their friendship is powerful and shows children that it’s worth sticking up for those you care about. With vivid illustrations of life, leaves and flowers, an unexpected world is brought to life, and it’s the one that younger readers will delight in exploring every time they visit a park.
No One Is Angry Today by Toon TellegenFollowing a series of forest animal friends through their everyday lives, these stories examine why we do the things we do and how we feel about our actions. The brevity, clarity and high quality of these short stories also make them useful texts to study in literacy lessons, particularly in terms of viewpoint and writing styles.
The Midnight Panther by Poonam MistryPanther feels out of place and takes an adventure in the jungle to overcome challenges, conquer his insecurities and find out where he belongs. The Midnight Panther is an outstandingly illustrated and magical fable picture book. The atmospheric storytelling makes this book a joy to read aloud to a class and the breathtaking imagination lends itself to inspiring children’s creative writing.
Fiona the Fruit Bat by Dan RiskinFiona is the fruit bat who is afraid of the dark, afraid of the unknown and afraid to try flight. But calming and confidence-building words from her mother show her way. A good book to help children deal with new and unfamiliar situations. Reading this will not only teach them about overcoming fear, but also the science behind echolocation and lives of fruit bats.
1. What do we know about Cyril and Pat?| A．They are good friends. | B．They are both squirrels. |
| C．They enjoy collecting leaves. | D．They often visit remote parks. |
| A．Cyril and Pat. | B．Fiona the Fruit Bat. |
| C．No One Is Angry Today. | D．The Midnight Panther. |
| A．How to coexist with wildlife. | B．How to handle new situations. |
| C．How to get on with their mother. | D．How to develop an interest in science. |
5 . Hosting the Olympics requires large spending. But in many cases, efficiently utilizing (利用) the post-event venues to maximize ongoing economic benefits is one of the major considerations for the host country. Here are four cities that took different approaches to make full use of their structures of the Olympics.
London, Britain
The Olympic Village for the London Summer Games was transformed into 3,000 high-end apartments and has a nearly 95％ occupancy rate. The area of London, called East Village, is seeing several retailers moving in and the development of a playground, and outside exercise areas.
Beijing, China
Built for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the Water Cube is now Asia’s largest waterpark, called Happy Magic Water Cube, equipped with 13 waterslides, a wave pool and a spa. The second floor also has several restaurants, bars and a museum of Olympic history.
New York, America
The Olympic Village in Lake Placid no longer welcomes athletes now, but instead, it houses criminals as the Federal Correctional Institution. It’s not surprising, though, because having a second public purpose for new buildings was the only way to get funding from the government.
Helsinki, Finland
Originally constructed in 1937, the Tennispalatsi, or Tennis Palace was first used as a basketball venue in the 1952 Summer Olympics. Now, however, it has been transformed into a popular tourist destination as a cultural center with an art museum and a movie theatre.
1. Why do organizers try to reuse their Olympic stadiums?| A．To boost national pride. | B．To earn international reputation. |
| C．To increase financial returns. | D．To reduce environmental impacts. |
| A．Beijing. | B．London. | C．Helsinki. | D．New York. |
| A．It has been remodeled into a prison. | B．It features cultural exhibitions. |
| C．It is equipped with advanced facilities. | D．It allows commercial activities. |
6 . Head to Mozambique for your holiday? This southeast African country is filled with beautiful beaches and interesting architecture. Here are some destinations to add to your Mozambique timetable.
The City of Maputo
The capital city, south of the country, is famous for its architecture, with one of the most popular buildings being the train station. Because this country was colonized (殖民) by the Portuguese, there is an almost southern European feel to the city and its structures. Tour the open-air markets and take advantage of the unique culture and plentiful accommodations Maputo has to offer! The city is currently experiencing a period of growth and renewal, as many overseas businesses are opening up locations here.
Ponta do Ouro
With such a beautiful coastline, you can’t just visit Mozambique and stop at its beaches. Take a trip under the sea in Ponta do Ouro and get an up-close and personal take on this country’s underwater life. This town also offers dolphin watching tours, the most favored event, as well as a wonderful beach to get sunbathed.
Mt. Namuli
Most of the area surrounding this granite (花岗石) dome is dominated by heavy forests and tea plantations. The view of Mt. Namuli is breathtaking. It’s difficult to get to the mountain, but there are trails nearby that are pretty to walk. If you are determined to climb Mt. Namuli, hire a local guide who can detail local customs and act as a go-between for you.
Lake Malawi
Located near the northern border of Mozambique is Lake Malawi, which is shared with another two African countries, Malawi and Tanzania. As this is a destination for locals and international tourists, you can expect to find all the usual water sports and easy access to accommodations.
1. What kind of style does Maputo’s architecture probably have?| A．British. | B．European. | C．Polish. | D．American. |
| A．Walking under the sea. | B．Hiking along the beach. |
| C．Having a look at dolphins. | D．Taking photos underwater. |
| A．The City of Maputo. | B．Ponta do Ouro. |
| C．Mt. Namuli. | D．Lake Malawi. |
7 . Best Beaches in the USA to Visit This Summer
Summer is a season that many Americans look forward to. The season is a great opportunity to embrace a warm climate. Many tourists go to beaches so they can swim and enjoy the warm weather.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve—Hawaii
It is located on the Hawaiian Island and is a popular tourist’s destination. The nature reserve used to accommodate up to three million visitors per year, which caused suffering from overuse. It is popular for its beautiful white sand coral beach. Over 400 species of fish inhabit the bay. Tourists are not allowed to interact with the fish and only 3000 visitors are granted access into the reserve each day.
St. Petersburg Beach—Florida
Its beach is famous for its status as a tourist destination. The name of the beach was shortened to St. Pete Beach in 1994 to distinguish it from the city of St. Petersburg. The beach is known for the Don CeSar Resort, a world-class museum and shopping center. The beach offers ample parking and rooms for tourists and can be accessed by road. No worry.
La Jolla Shores Park—California
Its coastline ranges from foot sea cliffs and rocky reefs, to wide sandy beaches. Sea lions can be seen and the shore offers perfect views of water breaking onto the rocks. It is a popular swimming destination for families and surfers. The shore is protected and is also used for diving. The shore comes alive at night with beach fires.
Ocean City Beach—Maryland
It’s one of America’s best beaches. The ten-mile beach is a beautifully kept family-friendly beach that is free to visit. The beach is perfect for swimming, surfing, fishing, and sunbathing among other activities. It offers horseback riding and also allows pets on the beach as long as owners are responsible for removing pet waste. The beach management also provides a limited number of wheelchairs.
1. What is special about Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve?| A．Visitors can swim among fish. | B．The number of visitors is limited. |
| C．Pets are allowed on the beach. | D．Enough parking space is provided. |
| A．Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. | B．St. Petersburg Beach. |
| C．La Jolla Shores Park. | D．Ocean City Beach. |
| A．They are both free to visit. | B．They both hold night activities. |
| C．They are both family-friendly. | D．They both have sea lion shows. |
8 . The Bridport Prize Short Story Writing Competition
Rules of entry
The Prize is open to writers of any nationality writing in English aged 16. Entries must be entirely your own work. Entries must not have been published, self-published or accepted for publication in print or online, broadcast, or have won or been placed in another competition at any time.
All entries are judged anonymously (匿名地). Please do not include your name, address, etc on the document or in the file name. We disqualify entries if they are named or over the word limit. If you forget to add details, the title or word count, your entry won’t be disqualified.
Deadline
The deadline date for entries is 12 midnight (UK time) on 31st May 2022. Postal entries postmarked 31st May but received later will be accepted.
Length
Short story: 5, 000 words maximum. No minimum.
Format
Double line spaced.
Use any typeface, 12pt, black.
Do not add a cover or title page.
Add the word count to the top right of the first page.
Number the pages in the centre at the bottom of the page.
Save the file as a Microsoft Word document—. doc or. docx. We also accept file types. rtf, pdf, txt.
The maximum allowed file size is 2MB.
The file name should be the title of the story only.
Fees
£ 14 per short story. There is no limit to the number of submissions.
Results & Awards
Winners will be notified by email in September. A short film which will include the announcement of this year’s winners will be broadcast on our YouTube channel at 7pm on Thursday 28th October.
1. Which of the following will result in disqualification?| A．Writing a short story of 500 words. | B．Mailing your entry on 31st May 2022. |
| C．Including your name on the document. | D．Forgetting to add the title of your entry. |
| A．Make an attractive title page. | B．Ensure your file size is 2MB at most. |
| C．Add the word count to the left of the first page. | D．Number the pages in the bottom right-hand corner. |
| A．It charges 14 per short story. | B．It is intended for all age groups. |
| C．Its awards will be emailed in October. | D．Its winners will be interviewed on YouTube. |
9 . Classic Tuscany from £250
Tuscany’s towns, villages and terroirs have inspired generations of painters and poets, travel writers and winemakers.
It’s easy to spend a lot of money in Tuscany. A couple of nights at the Villa Cora or St Regis in Florence and some Michelin-star food, and a couple can eat their way through £1,000 in a weekend. But Tuscany is not huge and there are good trains and buses between towns. Outside the historic centers you’ll find two- and three-star hotels that are very serviceable, and locals know how to eat very well indeed without being highly charged.
Top tip
State-run museums and archaeological sites are free on the first Sunday of the month. If you are on an art-heavy tour, pick up a Firenze Card. It costs £72 and covers the major museums, including the Uffizi and Accademia. You can jump queues and don’t need a reservation.
When to go
Any time except high summer is good. Museums and galleries, as well as hotels and trains, see major demand in July and August. If your main interests are cultural, consider a winter holiday. It will be cool, but even in January and February snow is so rare in the hills as to be positively exciting.
Do it yourself
Fly from Gatwick to Florence from £91 return in October. The best route goes by train from Florence to Siena (1.5 hours, £8), Siena to Empoli (1 hour, £6), Empoli to Pisa (30 mins, £5) and back to Florence (50 mins, £7.30).
Book via trenitalia.com. Plushotels (plushotels.com/en/florence) has rooms in Florence from £23 per night. In Siena and Pisa you can get B&B for around £40 and in Empoli for around £30.
1. What does the text suggest to save money according to Paragraph 2?| A．Dining in Michelin-star restaurants. |
| B．Spending a couple of nights at the Vila Cora or St Regis. |
| C．Staying a bit far away from historic centers for the night. |
| D．Avoiding public transportation service. |
| A．Most museums are free of charge. |
| B．There are more visitors in summer. |
| C．A reservation is highly recommended. |
| D．You need queue up to visit the museum. |
| A．£26.3. | B．£52.6. | C．£91. | D．£133. |
10 . The domestic film market hard-hit from the pandemic for almost three years is handing in an impressive report card. Here are some top films at the box office in 2022.
The Battle at Lake ChangjinⅡ
Release date: Feb l
Box office: $607.20 million
Retelling a lesser-known yet extremely brutal mission that almost changed history during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea(1950—1953), the sequel acted by Wujing, Yiyangqianxi and soon recounts how Chinese People’s Volunteer Soldiers sacrificed to destroy the bridge near the Funchilin Pass to cut US force’s withdrawal to the 38th Parallel.
Moon Man
Release date: July 29
Box office: $463.28 million
Dugu Yue, a spacecraft maintenance man, is unintentionally left on the moon after the evacuation of the crew of Lunar Shield. Witnessing the catastrophic hit from the moon, Dugu believes the Earth is completely destroyed and he’s the last human in the universe. However, what he doesn’t know is that the surviving people are all watching his every move from the Earth.
Too Cool To Kill
Release date: Feb l
Box office: $392.66 million
Wei Cheng gong, a nameless extra actor, believes it’s finally his turn to shine when he was “given the opportunity to play the role” of the male protagonist (主角), Carl the killer. Little does he know that he has become a killer in real life accidentally. What will he encounter in the course of his “performance”?
Lighting Up The Stars
Release date: June 24
Box office: $255.30 million
Funeral home worker Mo Sanmei meets orphan Wu Xiaowen at a funeral shortly after his release from prison. The appearance of Xiaowen unexpectedly changes Mo Sanmei’s attitude toward his career and life.
1. Which film seems to be a science fiction?| A．Too Cool to Kill. | B．Lighting Up The Stars. |
| C．The Balt leat Lake Chang jinⅡ. | D．Moon Man. |
| A．Too Cool To Kill &.The Battle at Lake ChangjinⅡ. |
| B．Moon Man &.Lighting Up The Stars. |
| C．Lighting Up The Stars &.Too Cool To Kill. |
| D．The Battle at Lake ChangjinⅡ&.MoonMan. |
| A．They maybe all related to a certain mission. |
| B．Their themes are all about romantic love. |
| C．They are all box office successes. |
| D．All of them are tragedies. |
