1 . Smartwatches and fitness trackers (健身追踪器) have gained popularity recently. These tools can record your daily steps, heart rates, etc.
It’s a struggle to overcome the addiction to fitness trackers.
Of course, failing to meet your daily goal can be discouraging. You might focus on your shortcoming rather than your progress. Another problem is that you might find yourself paying too much attention to the step number rather than how your body feels.
Therefore, if you’re spending too much time looking at your smartwatch, limit your daily step count to a comfortable level.
| A．How can you tell whether you’re addicted to your fitness tracker? |
| B．Actually this addiction to step count can be risky, mentally and physically. |
| C．Don’t overuse your smartwatch. |
| D．However, do you find yourself checking your steps and heart rates too often? |
| E．After all, reaching a daily step count can be so appealing. |
| F．Besides, you can find other things to do that don’t involve checking your fitness tracker. |
| G．It doesn’t covey what you’re really feeling. |
2 . Women’s Poetry Competition 2024
Welcome to Mslexia, the only magazine where every reader is a potential contributor too. Almost every part of the magazine is open to submission by any woman writer. Our competition is open to unpublished poems of any length. Your £10 entry fee allows you to submit up to three poems. The judge this year is the outstanding and award-winning writer Pascale Petit.
Prizes
1st: £2,000; 2nd: £500; 3rd: £250 (Each prize goes for one person.)
Unpublished Poetry Prize for the best poem by a previously unknown poet: £250.
The four winners, plus sixteen additional finalists will have their poems published in the May issue of Mslexia.
Results
The deadline for all entries is 23:59 GMT, 6 March, 2024
The winners and finalists will be announced on 1 April, 2024
How to enter
Add the entry fee to your basket and go to the checkout. Once the order is completed, you’ll be taken to a submit page where the entry form is located. Click the “Enter Now” button. You can submit at a later date by typing into your Mslexia online account and going to the “competitions” bill.
Visit our Entry Instructions for a more comprehensive guide on how to enter, and be sure to read our Rules before submitting your entries.
Frequently-asked questions
Have a question about formatting, eligibility(资格), or anything else?
Ready to enter? Please see our Entry Instructions. For any further information, call us at 0191 204 8860 or email competitions@mslexia.co.uk.
1. How many winners will get prize money?| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Sixteen. | D．Twenty. |
| A．Submitting two poems. | B．Visiting Entry Instructions. |
| C．Writing a poem of 120 words. | D．Mailing your entry on April 1. |
| A．In a textbook. | B．In an art magazine. | C．On a website. | D．In a local newspaper. |
3 . Supermassive black holes all over the universe are merging (合并), a fate that will eventually come for the black hole at the center of our galaxy (银河系). These magic universal structures at the heart of nearly every galaxy consume light and matter and are impossible to see with traditional telescopes. But now, for the first time, astrophysicists have gathered knowledge directly from these huge universal structures, in the form of gravitational waves that move around through space and time.
Essential to these findings is the detection of complicated gravitational waves, and understanding how they are produced. Any object with mass that is moving causes these waves—invisible bending in time and space that were first theorized by Albert Einstein in 1916 but not detected until roughly 100 years later. In 2015, scientists used the ground-based Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory to detect how short, high-frequency gravitational waves from one merger between less massive black holes move around the Earth by less than the width of a single subatomic particle (亚原子微粒).
The findings help confirm what will one day happen to the supermassive black hole at our galaxy’s center known as Sagittarius A, as it crashes into the black hole at the heart of the Andromeda galaxy. “The Milky Way galaxy is on a crash course with the Andromeda galaxy, and in about 4.5 billion years, the two galaxies are set to merge, said Joseph Simon, a member of Nanograv. That merger, he said, will eventually result in the black hole at the center of Andromeda and Sagittarius A sinking into the center of the newly combined galaxy.
“Before now, we didn’t even know if supermassive black holes merged, and now we have evidence that hundreds of thousands of them are merging, said Chiara Mingarelli, another member of Nanograv.
If scientists understand more about the history of the merging supermassive black holes, it could help know how they form in the first place, said Masha Baryakhtar, a physicist who wasn’t involved in the research.
1. What stopped scientists from studying black holes?| A．Black holes were too far away. |
| B．There were no ways to observe them. |
| C．Black holes were too supermassive. |
| D．People did not care to know them more. |
| A．The causes of black holes’ merging. |
| B．The knowledge of gravitational waves. |
| C．The function of gravitational waves. |
| D．Two breakthroughs on black hole study. |
| A．The actual detection of gravitational waves. |
| B．Black holes consuming light and matter. |
| C．Objects moving with mass cause gravitational waves. |
| D．The merging of Andromeda and Sagittarius A. |
| A．Black Hole in Our Galaxy Is on Crash Course |
| B．Gravitational Waves Were First Detected |
| C．The End of Universe Goes to Black Holes |
| D．Black Holes Merge to Form New Worlds |
4 . Getting sunburned from the Ultraviolet rays (UV，紫外线), no matter what your age is, is a risk factor for skin cancer.
Use sunscreen
Only about 19 percent of older men and 32 percent of older women report regularly using sunscreen, according to a 2019 study. But everyone should apply it to exposed skin whenever they’ll be outside, even on cloudy days. While the best sunscreen is one that you’ll use continually, our testing has found that some products perform better than others, even if they’re both marked with the same SPF. Members can find our full ratings at CR. org/sunscreen.
Attend to tricky spots
Don’t forget your ears, the tops of your feet, the backs of your hands, and the back of your neck.
Put sunscreen on 15 minutes before you go outside. Be sure to apply enough—try to use 1 teaspoon for each exposed body part. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating.
Double your protection
Get the right sunglasses
You might find it challenging to apply sunscreen very close to your eyes, but these spots are likely to be burned, too.
| A．Apply it correctly |
| B．Apply it thoroughly |
| C．No sunscreen perfectly blocks the sun’s rays |
| D．Plus, UV rays can damage the tender parts of your eyes |
| E．You can enjoy those bright summer days without getting burned |
| F．Protecting yourself from the sun’s UV rays should be a lifelong habit |
| G．The experts recommend a broad-range, water-resistant sunscreen of at least 30 SPF |
5 . Travel the globe without leaving home—with this set of the world’s five most popular pure silver coins. Each of these coins is recognized for its breathtaking beauty, and for its stability even in unstable times, since each coin is backed by its government for weight, purity and legal tender (法定货币) value.
2023 American Silver Eagle: The Silver Eagle is the most popular coin in the world, with its iconic Adolph Weinman Walking Liberty on one side and Emily Damstra’s Eagle on the other side. Struck in 99.9% fine silver at the U.S. Mint (铸币厂).
2023 Canada Maple Leaf: A highly sought-after pure silver coin since 1988, this 2023 issue includes the first and likely only use of a transitional portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ. These are also expected to be the last Maple Leafs to bear Her Majesty’s picture. Struck in 99.99% fine silver at the Royal Canadian Mint.
2023 South African Krugerrand: The Krugerrand continues to be the best known, most respected silver coin brand in the world. 2023 is the Silver Krugerrand’s 6th year of issue. Struck in 99.9% fine silver at the South African Mint.
2023 China Silver Panda: 2023 is the 40th anniversary of the first silver Panda coin. China Pandas are noted for their heart-warming one-year-only designs. Struck in 99.9%fine silver at the China Mint.
2023 British Silver Britannia: One of the Royal Mint’s flagship coins, this 2023 issue is the first in the Silver Britannia series to carry the portrait of King Charles Ⅲ, following the passing of Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ. Struck in 99.9% fine silver.
These coins, with quite wonderful finishes and detailed designs that speak to their country of origin, are sure to hold a treasured place in your collection. Plus, they provide you with a unique way to stock up on precious silver. Here’s a legacy you and your family will cherish. Act now!
You’ll save both time and money on this world coin set with free shipping and a bonus presentation case, plus a new and informative Silver Passport!
2023 World Silver 5-Coin Set Regular Price $229—Now $199 (SAVE $30.00) & FREE SHIPPING
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1. How’s 2023 Canada Maple Leaf different from others?| A．Higher purity. | B．Highest popularity. |
| C．More portraits. | D．Most issued. |
| A．1982. | B．1983. | C．1984. | D．1985. |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
6 . How to Make Friends at a New School
Starting with a new school can be difficult. Everything seems to be different, and you don’t even know where to go for your own classes.
Remember to be nice to the people you meet at your new school. If you think that you will say something that may make them feel sad, do not say anything and just nod your head if they talk to you. Also, remember to be as helpful as possible!
Believe in yourselfA smile goes a long way. When you walk in the halls, don’t keep your eyes on the floor. Raise your head and make eye contact with other people.
You like it when people use your name, and so do other people.
| A．Be friendly to others. |
| B．Making new friends can be hard, too. |
| C．Join after-school activities like |
| D．Never change what you are to try and fit in. |
| E．If you see someone you know, smile or say “Hi”. |
| F．People may become angry if you just begin by saying ”Hey“ each time. |
| G．Don ‘t sit at the back of the classroom where other people don’t notice you! |
7 . Though trees cannot speak verbally, Evan Luchkow, a 32-year-old Canadian filmmaker, made ancient tea trees the protagonists (主角) in his latest film, The Tree Listens, allowing them to “tell” their story about interacting with the locals in Chashu Village, Southwest China’s Chongqing.
When the Canadian stepped into the village, surprises kept coming. The luxuriant local tea trees are so tall that people need ladders to pick their leaves. The harmonious coexistence of people and nature in the village also struck him. “In Canada, the preservation of nature sometimes keeps people separated from it. On our way into this village, I saw lots of houses cradled by these mountains, which was truly surprising, says Luchkow, adding that the view was just like a postcard.
Soon he was able to set the tone for the filming, which depicts a silent dialogue between trees and people. For thousands of years, from generation to generation, the tea trees have been receiving people’s care and protection. “I think if the trees could speak, they might want to deliver their gratitude to the villagers. That’s what I tried to express via the film,” says the director.
In the process of documenting the tea village’s history, Luchkow found that the well-known Canadian coffee brand Tim Hortons had extended its footprint to Chongqing. Wu Ke, one of the many young locals who choose to stay in their hometown to make tea, finds himself gradually fall in love with coffee too. While local Chinese take to coffee nowadays, Luchkow’s friends back in Canada enjoy Chinese tea a lot. “The communication between tea and coffee is like the exchanges between people,” he says.
1. What surprised Luchkow first when entering Chashu Village?| A．Chinese tea tree. | B．Nice locals. | C．Beautiful view. | D．Strange nature. |
| A．Ancient tea trees. |
| B．Striking legends about Chinese tea. |
| C．Fine relationship between tea trees and locals. |
| D．Harmonious coexistence between Chinese people and nature. |
| A．To tell the life stories of Chashu villagers. |
| B．To call on people to live harmoniously with nature. |
| C．To report how Chinese people work hard to become rich. |
| D．To convey the ancient tea trees’ gratitude to villagers. |
| A．More local people stayed to make tea. |
| B．Chinese people begin to fall in love with coffee. |
| C．Canadians are increasingly in love with Chinese tea. |
| D．More communication happens between Chinese and Canadians. |
8 . A nine-year-old boy has set a new 5km parkrun world record for his age group. Louis Robinett, a member of the Poole Runners junior athletics club, shaved 13 seconds off the previous world record, which was set in California in 2017, after he crossed the line in 17 minutes and 40 seconds.
Louis, who broke the record at the Poole parkrun in Dorset on Saturday, said, “I’m on top of the world right now. It’s a huge deal to break a world record. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family and the team at Poole Runners.”
Louis was accompanied on the parkrun by Dion Garner, a member of his athletics club, as all under-11s in the 5km event must run within arm’s length of an adult. Garner said of Louis’s achievement, “His natural talent, combined with his dedication and spirit, is mind-blowing. He loves the sports and has really practiced a lot.” A spokesman for Poole Runners said, “With his new world record, Louis has raised the bar for young athletes everywhere. This isn’t just a win for Louis, it’s a new benchmark (标准) for youth sports, inspiring children all over the world to aim higher.”
Parkrun was started by 13 friends as a weekly event in Bushy Park, southwest London, in 2004. By 2015 more than 80,000 people were gathering in parks around the world each Saturday to participate in a parkrun. Only three years later about a quarter of a million people were taking part in parkruns each week, in 1,500 events spread across 20 countries. In comparison, 48,000 runners took part in the London Marathon this year.
1. What is the previous 5km parkrun world record?| A．17 minutes and 27 seconds. | B．17 minutes and 23 seconds. |
| C．17 minutes and 40 seconds. | D．17 minutes and 53 seconds. |
| A．Surprised and thankful. | B．Modest and satisfied. |
| C．Grateful and proud. | D．Thrilled and shocked. |
| A．Effort. | B．Persistence. | C．Determination. | D．Strength. |
| A．Parkrun is ancient but increasingly popular. | B．Standards are needed to make parkrun formal. |
| C．Parkrun originates from pals’ run during the week. | D．Over 20 countries are competing to host a parkrun. |
9 . Dance Classes
Ballet
Ballet teaches grace, posture (姿势) and flexibility. Students focus on the use of proper ballet items (物品), expanding their knowledge of classical ballet techniques and improving motor skills for classical ballet practice. The class is a formal ballet class.
Age: 8 — 10
Date: September 7, 2019 — May 16, 2020
Time: 10:30 am — 12:00 am on Saturdays
Creative Movers
Students can explore creative movement, balance, focus, the development of skills, motor planning and balance. The class helps build strength, flexibility and self-confidence, and allows children to realize expression in a positive and encouraging environment. Children use their imagination to celebrate movement and have lots of fun.
Age: 3 — 5
Date: September 7, 2019 — January 18, 2020
Time: 9:00 am — 9:45 am on Saturdays
Jazz
Jazz includes movements from both classical ballet and dance techniques. This class will focus on traditional Jazz dance. Students will be introduced to jazz-style rhythms and movements. In order to ensure proper placement for your child, we invite all students to participate in a sample (示例) class. Students and parents work with program staff to meet students’ personal dance goals.
Age: 5 — 6
Date: September 7, 2019 — May 16, 2020
Time: 2:00 pm — 3:00 pm on Saturdays
Hip Hop
Students will be introduced to several different aspects of hip hop dance including Popping, Locking, Breaking and Tutting in a high-energy environment. Our hip hop instructors are highly knowledgeable and will provide students with a wonderful view of hip hop dance.
Age: 7 — 10
Date: September 7, 2019 — May 16, 2020
Time: 1:00 pm — 2:00 pm on Sundays
1. Which class is suitable for 4-year-old children?| A．Ballet. | B．Creative Movers. | C．Hip Hop. | D．Jazz. |
| A．Make use of all the ballet items. | B．Learn the long history of jazz. |
| C．Dance with famous modern jazz dancers. | D．Get to know jazz-style movements. |
| A．It is open in the afternoon. | B．It is available on Sunday. |
| C．It teaches traditional dances. | D．It has the most skilled teachers. |
10 . My dad is a car mechanic, which involves lots of heavy lifting, tightening, shaking, and banging. He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who would bake great bread, but he is and he does. The shop where Dad works is not equipped with enough workers, so there’s lots of pressure on Dad.
I’ve been feeling kind of stressed out myself since I found out I didn’t qualify for the swim team. Now I’ll have to wait a whole year to try out again; that might as well be a million years. Dad knew I was feeling pressure. Last Saturday he said it was time for me to help in the kitchen. I couldn’t imagine what help I could offer. Still, I followed right behind him.
Dad gave me an apron, got out his enormous stainless-steel mixing bowl, and told me to stir while he added the ingredients. When I had stirred the flour and milk mixture into a thick lump (块), Dad had me turn it over onto the countertop. Then he showed me how to knead (揉) the dough (生面团), which took ten minutes and a surprising amount of energy.
Next came the most difficult and surprising part — doing nothing. We waited for more than an hour for the dough to slowly swell up and double in size. After that, we punched the risen dough down to let the air out, divided it in two and waited for another hour. “It’s hard to resist putting the dough directly into the oven, but if you do, the bread will be tough. The most important lesson of all is learning to be patient,” Dad explained.
While we waited, we sat and talked. Silence is a blank space that begs to be filled. It’s like the dough — it swells up and fills a room with emptiness unless you punch it down with words. It felt good to be still and listen to each other. As the flour dust in the kitchen quietly settled, time seemed to slow down. The dough was going to rise at its own pace. As I accepted that, I stopped watching the clock and drumming my fingers on the tabletop. I started enjoying the quiet time with Dad. My father taught me how to bake bread, but I think I learned something more.
1. Why did Dad ask the author to help in the kitchen?| A．Dad himself was under huge pressure. |
| B．Dad liked baking bread with the author. |
| C．Dad wanted to help the author relax. |
| D．Dad intended to teach him a lesson. |
| A．Baking. | B．Talking. | C．Drumming. | D．Working. |
| A．It is necessary to spend time with family. |
| B．It is difficult to learn to bake bread. |
| C．It is beneficial to relax in times of stress. |
| D．It is important to learn to be patient. |
| A．Dad’s Lesson | B．Learning from Father |
| C．The Bread Lesson | D．Baking Bread |
