1 . Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
If you’re a high school student looking for research opportunities, it doesn’t get much better than the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program. This well-known research program has a selection rate of less than 3% and only 12 high school juniors or seniors are selected every summer to join the program.
In this post, we will dive deep into this program to help you understand the structure, the cost, location, research areas available, and reasons why you should apply for this intensive research program.
About Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
The Anson L. Clark Scholars Program was established in 1963 in honor of Anson L. Clark , a former Texas A&M student who proceeded to create a successful business career!
This program is an intensive 7-week comprehensive research program that will allow you to gain hands-on practical research under the mentorship (导师制) of Texas Tech University faculty. Apart from conducting one-on-one research with faculty, you will have additional weekly seminars, discussions and even field visits!
Time
The program is off line and is conducted every summer at Texas Tech University. The current program dates are June 16, 2024 to August 1, 2024.
Cost
There is no program or registration fee, and your on-campus meals, on-campus room and board, and weekend activities will be covered by the program!
Research Areas
While the list of research disciplines for Summer 2024 haven’t been released, some of the general areas (based on the Summer 2023 disciplines) you can expect are biology, chemistry, computer science, economics/business, finance/marketing, electrical engineering & computer engineering, history, and physics.
You can access the specific research topics in 2023 in the attachment!
Qualification
This program is open to high school juniors and seniors who will graduate in either 2024 or 2025. You will have to be at least 17 years of age by the program start date.
1. What do we know about the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program?| A．It’s an annual research program. | B．It is hard to complete the program. |
| C．It is in honor of a famous scientist. | D．It is open to all high school students. |
| A．Visit Texas Tech University. | B．Create business career. |
| C．Listen to lectures online. | D．Do practical research. |
| A．By searching on the internet. | B．By referring to 2023 disciplines. |
| C．By paying registration fee. | D．By asking the mentors in college. |
2 . Nature & Outdoor Activities — World
Below are the 2024 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Nature and Outdoor activities. Think fresh air, new heights, and even a wildlife sighting or two.
Grand Circle IslandHonolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Duration: 9h
Ages 0 — 99, 10 at most per group
Ideal tor first-time visitors, or those with limited time, this full-day tour takes you all around Oahu, making sure that you don’t miss a thing. You’ll see top attractions including Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Halona. Blowhole, the Byodo-In Temple and the surfing beaches of the North.
Ziplining Forest AdventureRotorua, New Zealand
Duration: 3h
Ages 6 — 99, 10 at most per group
This tour takes you flying through a centuries-old forest as you. switch (切换) between the six zipline cables (电缆) 72 feet above the ground. Get a bird’s-eye view as two expert guides suit you up with safety equipment and teach you about the forest environment.
Fairbanks Snowmobile AdventureNorth Pole, Alaska
Duration: 1h
Ages 7 — 85, 4 at most per group
Speed through winter scenery on this snowmobile adventure in North Pole. Follow an expert guide into the Chena Lakes Recreation area on leading you across frozen lakes and rivers, and keep an eye out for wildlife. Then, park the snowmobile and relax yourself with a warm drink, and some snacks.
Epic Canyoning MadeiraMadeira Portugal
Duration: 4.5h
Ages 16 — 63, 12 at most per group
Reach Madeira, you can’t get to any other way than canyoning (峡谷漂流) with this small group canyoning tour. Journey into the mountain of the island for hours of going down waterfalls, natural water slides, and jumping into pools for a swim.
1. Which of the following best suits the new comers?| A．Fairbanks Snowmobile Adventure. | B．Epic Canyoning Madeira. |
| C．Grand Circle Island. | D．Zipline Forest Adventure. |
| A．Meet some wild animals. | B．Take part in a dinner party. |
| C．Journey in the mountain. | D．Have a snowmobile class. |
| A．Alaska | B．Portugal | C．Hawaii | D．New Zealand |
3 . Welcome to our annual Poetry Contest! We invite poets of all ages and experiences to show their creativity and compete for the chance to be published in our magazine. Follow these guidelines to ensure your submission meets all the necessary criteria for entry. Good luck to all participants!
Submission Dates: May 1st-July 1st, 2024.
Poem Pattern
Type your poem single-spaced in at 10-point font（字体）. Double-space between stanzas（节）. Creatively title your poem using whatever font and font size you like. Print two copies of your poem. If your poem takes two pages, please do not print double-sided and do not attach together. You may submit 3 different poems at most.
How to Enter
Entering is as easy as 1-2-3! Fill out the Entry Form online to be given an Entry ID number. Fill out an online Entry Form for each poem, which you do not need to print. You may also download and print an Entry Form to mail in with your poem instead of entering online. In this case, do not write any Entry ID number on your poem. On both copies of your poem, type or write your Entry ID number on the top right corner and your Age Group number on the top left corner.
Where the Contest Profits Go
All contest profits go to our charitable arm, the Home School Foundation, which uses them to provide low-income homeschooling families with access to educational and legal resources to help them pursue homeschooling.
Entry Fee
To participate in our Poetry Contest, each entry requires a fee of $15. This fee supports the administrative costs of the contest and contributes to our charitable efforts. Foreign checks are not accepted. Mail your poem and entry fee, payable to Poetry Foundation. Remember to include an entry fee for each poem—they may be combined onto one check.
Judging and Other Information
Poems will be judged by a group of judges chosen by Poetry Foundation. Poems will be judged on originality of thought, writing style, artistic use of poetic techniques, and the theme and form requirements. Poetry judging is relatively subjective, but it is our goal through a wide group of judges to select winning poems that show excellence in all these areas. The decision of the judges is final.
All contest participants will be told the results by email one month after the deadline for submissions before they are published on the website. The prize-winning poetry will be published in the magazine.
1. What must you do to participate in the annual Poetry Contest?| A．Keep your poems shorter than two pages. | B．Present your poems before May 1st 2024. |
| C．Use whatever font size to type your poems. | D．Submit no more than three different poems. |
| A．By submitting the Entry Form and poem online only. |
| B．By making a registration call to the contest organizers. |
| C．By mailing the poem via email without an Entry Form. |
| D．By entering online or mailing the Entry Form with the poem. |
| A．Combining onto one check and submitting online. | B．Paying in cash upon personal submission. |
| C．Sending the entry fee via foreign checks. | D．Mailing a check to Poetry Foundation. |
| A．Judges evaluate on multiple criteria. | B．Winning poems published online. |
| C．Participants also judge poems. | D．High rewards for winners. |
| A．In July 2024. | B．In August 2024. | C．In May 2024. | D．In June 2024. |
James Warren, a frequent public bus rider in Denver, noticed a significant problem: many bus stops lacked seating. Particularly on a cold morning in January, Warren observed a woman waiting for a bus, with no seating available at the stop and no sidewalk, forcing her to sit in the dirt. Motivated by this sight, Warren took scrap (废料；废品) wood from construction waste bins and set out to construct a bench.
This singular act of kindness evolved into a larger mission when he realized that one bench was far from enough. In the Denver metro area alone, there are more than 9, 000 bus stops, many of which lack seating or shelter. To add a personal touch and spread a message of compassion, he carved “Be kind” into each bench, symbolizing the spirit of the project.
Warren’s initiative resonated with the community, especially among those who benefited daily from the benches. “I met some ladies the other day who talked about how they used the benches every day. It fills me up. It’s air in my tires.” Warren recalled. His enthusiasm increased as more people joined his bench-making efforts. “I’ve had a lot of people reach out to me on Twitter,” he mentioned. “Some people have wanted to come and help me.” Inspired by Warren’s work, others in the local news audience decided to contribute as well, with many donating supplies. “That puts me over the moon,” Warren expressed.
Nica Cave, a 26-year-old mobility advocate (改善交通运输系统的倡导者) from Denver, emphasized the wider impact of the initiative. “The absence of proper infrastructure, shelter, and seating at transit stops, such as bus stops and train stations, disadvantages those who rely on public transportation. People like Warren are encouraging, showing how individuals are willing to use their own time and resources to provide these much-needed services.”
Warren envisions extending his project beyond simply providing benches. He plans to create a bench-building workshop to foster community engagement and support. His ultimate goal is to enhance the quality of life in his community and inspire similar actions elsewhere, emphasizing that small acts of kindness and effort can load to significant improvements in daily experiences.
1. What are Warren’s benches at the bus stops made from? (no more than 6 words)2. How do you understand the underlined part in Paragraph 3? (no more than 10 words)
3. Why did Warren feel happy? (no more than 15 words)
4. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about? (no more than 10 words)
5. What can you learn from the story? Please explain in your own words. (no more than 20 words)
5 . Floating Markets in Bangkok, Thailand
One might feel as though they are entering a different world upon visiting a Thai floating market. While some countries in Asia have their own floating markets, none compare to Thailand’s, and the special experience is one you cannot miss while visiting the country.
Long-tail boats, ancient and traditional houses, and shouting vendors (商贩) are the major elements of floating markets in Bangkok. They are excellent options for experiencing the unusual culture and life of Thailand. Here are the top 8 floating markets in Bangkok, where you can experience the chaotic and charming atmosphere.
| Name | Distance from Downtown Bangkok | Open Times | Features |
| Damnoen Saduak | 80 km (50 mi) | Every day from 7 a. m. to 5 p. m | Long-tail boat cruises, remote villages, plantations |
| Amphawa | 90 km (55mi) | 11 a. m. to 9.30 p. m., Friday to Sunday | Thai food, little wooden houses, temples |
| Wat Sai | 23 km (14 mi) | 8 a. m.— 6 p. m., Tuesday— Saturday | A mixture of Chinese culture and Thai culture |
| Taling Chan | 12 km (7 mi) | 8 a. m.— 6 p. m., Saturday— Sunday | Temples, massages (按摩) on boats, foot massages under trees |
| Bangkhla | 100km (60 mi) | 8 a. m.— 6 p. m., Saturday— Sunday | Remote countryside, charm, biking |
| Bang Nam Pheung | 20 km (12 mi) | 8: 30 a. m.— 5 p. m., Saturday— Sunday | Fruit, food, a nature sanctuary (避难所) |
| Bang Phli | 38 km (24 mi) | 11 a. m.— 5:30 p. m., Tuesday— Saturday | Oldest, historical buildings, temples |
| Khlong Lat Mayom | 21 km (13 mi) | 7 a. m.— 5 p. m., Saturday — Sunday | Food, fruit, boat noodles |
1. Which floating market only opens on weekends with the shortest opening hours?
| A．Taling Chan. | B．Bang Phli. |
| C．Bang Nam Pheung. | D．Khlong Lat Mayom. |
| A．Delicious Thai food. | B．Numerous temple buildings. |
| C．Various massage services. | D．The traditional countryside life. |
| A．It is influenced by Chinese cultural elements. |
| B．Its number of open days in a week is the largest. |
| C．It is the centre of cultural exchange around the world. |
| D．It is a must-see tourist destination for Chinese tourists. |
6 . Uplifting words
When you see your friends or loved ones feeling down or being met with some setbacks at school or work, you might want to offer them a pep talk. A pep talk is usually a brief, intense and emotional talk designed to influence or encourage an audience.
The column offers the following steps towards an effective pep talk.
● Step one is to listen.
Don’t jump right in and insist: “you will be fine.” Show your friend that you understand how they feel and empathize.
● Express care and support.
Show your friend that you believe in them.
● Talk about hope.
You can’t guarantee success.
● Be there.
Make sure they know that you will be there for them, follow up with them after the pep talk.
●
Don’t argue if the person disagrees with what you are saying or tells you: “You don’t understand; this time is different.” Tell them: “I’m Sorry, you are having such a hard time.” Then back off.
| A．Know when to stop. |
| B．Be sincere and specific. |
| C．Carefully choose your words. |
| D．But giving a good pep talk isn’t easy. |
| E．Some problems might be out of anyone’s control. |
| F．Tell them they have what it takes to get through this hard time. |
| G．Repeat the person’s concerns so he or she feels that they have been heard. |
7 . Baleen whales play a vital role in ecosystems. To communicate across vast distances and find each other, baleen whales depend critically on the production of sounds that travels far in dark oceans. However, since whale songs were first discovered more than 50 years ago, it remained unknown how baleen whales produce their complex vocalizations (发音).
A new study in the journal Nature reports that baleen whales developed unique structures in their larynx (喉) that enable their low-frequency vocalizations, but also limit their communication range. The study was led by voice scientists Professor Coen Elemans and Professor Tecumseh Fitch. “The toothed whales and baleen whales were initially land animals that had a larynx serving two functions: protecting the airways and sound production. However, their switching to living in the water placed new and strict demands on the larynx to prevent choking underwater,” says Tecumseh Fitch.
The study shows that baleen whales nevertheless can still produce sound with their larynx, but they have developed new structures to do so, which only exists in baleen whales. “This is probably to keep a rigid open airway when they have to move huge amounts of air in and out during explosive surface breathing,” states Fitch. “We found that this U-shaped structure pushes against a big fatty cushion (垫) on the inside of the larynx. When the whales push air from their lungs past this cushion, it starts to shake and this generates very low frequency underwater sounds,” says Elemans.
To understand how muscle activity could change the calls, the researchers built a computational model of the entire whale larynx. The model predicted the natural vocalizations of the whales very well. However, these newly discovered features that allowed whales to successfully communicate in the vast oceans also poses huge physiological (生理的) limits for many baleen whales. Combining experiments and models, the researchers provide the first evidence that baleen whales are physiologically incapable of escaping noise caused by humans, because it covers up their voices, and thus limits their communication range. “Unfortunately, the main frequency and depth of man-made noise caused by shipping traffic cover the frequency range and maximum communication depth of 100 meters that we predicted,” Elemans says.
The first voice recordings of a certain whale song by Roger and Katy Payne in 1970 attracted global interest in sea conservation efforts. The Payne’s made people aware how quiet the seas were before humans started the widespread use of machine ships. Elemans adds: “Compared to the seventies, our oceans are now even more filled with human-made noise, which affects the whales, because they are dependent on sound for communication. Now we show that despite their amazing physiology, they literally cannot escape the noise humans make in the oceans.”
1. What can we know about baleen whales’ vocalization system?| A．Their airways are closed during explosive surface breath. |
| B．Their larynx has difficulty preventing choking underwater. |
| C．Their vocalization system changed when they were land animals. |
| D．Their fatty cushion shakes to make low frequency underwater sounds. |
| A．baleen whales are incapable of recognizing humans’ noise |
| B．the muscle activity is related to the vocalizations of the whales |
| C．human-made noises disturb baleen whales’ communication range |
| D．the bodily features in baleen whales limit their communication depth |
| A．Sea conservation efforts used to be better than now. |
| B．The special structure protects Baleen whales from noises. |
| C．Actions should be taken to regulate human activities at sea. |
| D．The application of technology contributes to sea conservation. |
8 . Ready to step into the magical world of castles? Here are some of the most beautiful and famous castles around the globe to add to your bucket list.
Chateau de Chambord, Loire Valley, France
Located in the heart of the Loire Valley in France, the Chateau de Chambord and UNESCO World Heritage Site reflects the Renaissance era through and through. It’s home to the famous double helix (螺旋)staircase, designed by the great Leonardo Da Vinci.
Windsor Castle, Berkshire, United Kingdom
Escape from the crowded streets of London with a trip to Windsor Castle, located just 20minutes away by train from Paddington Station. This gothic-style castle is an ancient wonder—it is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.
Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
Sitting on Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle in Scotland is a historic fortress (堡垒) with a commanding presence over the city. Set against clear, expansive skies, its ancient beauty and attraction are best enjoyed at sunrise or sunset. If you’re traveling with kids, consider an interactive Harry Potter-themed walking tour that includes Edinburgh Castle as one of its stops.
Schloss Neuschwanstein, Bavaria, Germany
Set in the peaceful countryside of Bavaria, Germany, Neuschwanstein Castle is the very castle that inspired the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Located nearby is the equally impressive Hohenschwangau, where the late King Ludwig II spent his childhood. Both castles require admission tickets.
Traveler tip: Join a skip-the-line tour with stopovers at both.
1. Which castle best suits a family with little kids?| A．Chateau de Chambord. | B．Windsor Castle. |
| C．Edinburgh Castle. | D．Schloss Neuschwanstein. |
| A．Skip the line at will. | B．Take a tour for free. |
| C．Get some inspiration. | D．Visit two castles at a time. |
| A．Nature adventurers. | B．Travel lovers. |
| C．Extreme sports players. | D．Professional philosophers. |
9 . Though shark attacks can be a rare occurrence, there have been 46 publicly reported shark attacks so far this year. Then why do sharks attack humans? Here's everything we know.
Shark attacks are often put into different categories: provoked (被挑衅) and unprovoked. “Unprovoked bites” are defined as incidents in which a bite on a human occurs in the shark's natural habitat with no human provocation of the shark. “Provoked bites” occur when a human starts interacting with a shark in some way. For instance, when divers are bitten after attacking or trying to touch sharks.
Roger Tabor, a biologist and naturalist, says, “There is no evidence that sharks specifically hunt people.” Nowadays, a theory called the Mistaken Identity Hypothesis (假说) explains shark bites on surfers, swimmers and divers as “mistakes,” which typically means that sharks might confuse humans with their typical prey (猎物). Mr. Tabor says surfing has previously been linked to shark attacks because the sudden movement, similar to an animal suddenly moving back, or bright parts of wetsuits reflecting looking like a fish, can cause a response in the visually oriented (导向的) great white".
In a paper published by Eric Clua, a marine biologist and Carl Meyer, a biologist at the University of Hawaii, in the Brill Journal, they look at the MIH theory. The paper says that although MlH may now be “widely” accepted by the general public and the scientific community, there are still some unknown gaps. “This hypothesis ignores the important role of other senses (e.g. hearing) in discriminating potential prey,” the paper says. The authors also note that shark bites which occur in clear water cannot always be explained by MIH. It adds," To put it simply, sharks don't make ‘mistakes’ but instead continually explore their environments and routinely investigate novel objects as potential prey by biting them.”
Climate change may be another reason for seeing an increase in shark attacks. Mr. Tabor says," Global warming and habitat damage can move marine species including seals and sharks. That can bring larger sharks more into contact with beaches, with people.”
1. What can we learn about sharks from paragraph 2?| A．They tend to bite humans purposely. |
| B．They are frequently targeted at divers. |
| C．They are potentially risky to interact with. |
| D．They don't attack people unless disturbed. |
| A．Bright wetsuits damage sharks' vision. |
| B．Sharks have quite a poor sense of sight. |
| C．Sharks merely take people for their prey. |
| D．Global warming results in their violence. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Carefree. | D．Tolerant. |
| A．Desire to seek new food sources. |
| B．Lack of underwater creatures as prey. |
| C．Constant transformation of the environment. |
| D．Incompetence of distinguishing novel objects. |
10 . Alien Clay by Adrian Tchaikovsky
On the distant world of Kiln lie the ruins of an alien civilization. A great mystery awaits humans: who were the builders and where are they now? These questions become realfor Professor Arton Daghdev, exiled (流放) from Earth to Kiln’s off-world labour camp due to his mistake. Facing the planet’s dangerous ecosystem ,Arton fights for survival.
Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
A sci-fi classic in a brand-new edition. From a high Babylonian tower that connects a flat Earth to the sky above, to an alien language that challenges our very sense of time and reality, Chiang’s unique imagination invites readers to question their understanding of the universe and their place in it.
War Bodies by Neal Asher
In a world ruled by robots, the Cyberat face a rebellion (叛乱) when the human Polity arrives.Piper, raised as a weapon, seeks help from the Polity after his parents are caught by enemies. As war worsens,Piper must face the puzzling technology implanted in his own body. It could either end their fight or cause serious consequences. The future of civilization hangs in the balance as the battle unfolds.
In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
In a strange little home built into the branches of a forest live three robots.Vic Lawson,a human, lives there too.The day Vic repairs an unfamiliar android labelled“HAP”, he learns of a shared criminal past between the robots — a past spent in hunting humans. The robots, once hidden and safe, are now exposed.
1. Which book explores the relations between humans and the universe?| A．Alien Clay. | B．In the Lives of Puppets. |
| C．War Bodies. | D．Stories of Your Life and Others. |
| A．Adrian Tchaikovsky’s. | B．Ted Chiang’s. |
| C．Neal Asher’s. | D．TJ Klune’s. |
| A．Book reviewers. | B．Sci-fi lovers. |
| C．Universe researchers. | D．Robot developers. |
