1 . After a long period of lockdown, now it is time to relax. Head out to find surprising holiday decorations to warm your heart and make your season bright. Come on, light shows are waiting for you.
Holiday Lights on the Boardwalk
Take a walk by the ocean and experience a holiday light display along the Long Beach Boardwalk, dusk to 9 p. m. daily and weekends through mid-January, from Long Beach to Park Avenue.
Free, 516-432-6000. You can also check the stores along Park Avenue for more holiday lights.
Town of Islip Holiday Light Show
Bring the family to see the lights from the comfort and safety of personal vehicles as you drive through the 1/8-mile light display on the grounds of historic Brookwood Hall. Decorations have been given by Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and Public Works staff.
Cheap, 516-433-6742. From 5 p. m. to 8 p. m. Dec. 22; Brookwood Hall Park.
Suffolk County Holiday Lights Show
The Suffolk County’s drive-through display features two miles of holiday-themed lights; opens from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. through Dec. 30. Closed Dec. 24-25. Tickets will be sold at the gate and payment can be made with credit cards only, no cash, $25; $22 on Dec. 30.
Monday through Friday; 631-543-6622.
Christmas House
Indoor family-friendly walk through holiday experience, highlights include a real snow room: 3 to 11 p. m. Monday-Thursday; 3 p. m. to 1 a. m. Friday; 10 a. m. to 1 a. m. Saturday; 10 a. m. to 11 p. m. Sunday through January. Guests must wear masks, maintain social distancing and purchase tickets with assigned arrival time in advance online.
$30 for adults, $25 for kids aged 10 and younger, 631-591-0455.
1. Which light show is for nothing?| A．Christmas House. |
| B．Holiday Lights on the Boardwalk. |
| C．Town of Islip Holiday Light Show. |
| D．Suffolk County Holiday Lights Show. |
| A．516432-6000. | B．516433-6742. |
| C．631-543-6622. | D．631-591-0455. |
| A．Visit the real snow room. |
| B．Take the family members. |
| C．Book tickets with credit cards. |
| D．Buy tickets ahead of time. |
2 . It’s hard to imagine the San Francisco Peninsula and the Marin Headlands connected by anything but the Golden Gate Bridge, as if its red beams (梁), constructed 75 years ago, were always part of the permanent landscape.
A delicate fireworks display recently celebrated the bridge’s 75th anniversary, but you can still celebrate on a smaller scale and catch a lot more. Try shopping for some anniversary souvenir, joining in a guided tour, or simply going for a walk across the 1.7-mile-wide bridge.
Beyond the bridge, the beloved City by the Bay is still appealing with secret San Francisco musts to keep the celebration going. Here are a few more:
Bourbon and Branch
This Prohibition-style “private” saloon requires a password to enter. Dark, intimate and decorated faithfully like the 1920s, this is the ideal spot for business dealings. Cell phones are prohibited, which only adds to the authentic atmosphere.
House of Air
A favorite among locals and tourists, this activity center has dozens of trampolines (蹦床) to jump on, trampoline walls to bounce off. Space is rented by how much time you want to bounce about, but be cautious about overdoing it; jumping around for even 10 minutes is exhausting!
Nightlife at California Academy of Science
For anyone who wished that film “Night at the Museum” could be real, every Thursday night the California Academy of Science offers a simulated (模拟的) rainforest and aquarium, all under the same roof. There’s also live music, several bars and a different theme every week.
Musee Mecanique
It may be called a museum. It’s full of wind-up toys, dancing puppets, shooting galleries and vintage arcade games. Some of the exhibits may seem frightening, but this is a unique trip back into the history of how we have fun. Bringa pocket full of coins.
1. Which event was recently held to celebrate the bridge’s birthday?| A．A fireworks display. | B．A walk across the bridge. |
| C．A guided tour around it. | D．A special offer on souvenirs. |
| A．Bourbon and Branch. | B．Musee Mecanique. |
| C．House of Air. | D．California Academy of Science. |
| A．Play with a variety of toys for free. | B．Appreciate some virtual wildlife. |
| C．Do some extreme sports with locals. | D．Make a deal with business partners. |
3 . Thanks to some of the best summer camps for gifted students we mention down below, you won’t have to worry about how to ensure your children will enjoy study while school is out.
World Scholars Academy
Headquartered in Hawaii, the World Scholars Academy offers a number of summer courses specifically designed for gifted high school students. Students here will learn advanced study skills, will have an opportunity to develop a deeper conceptual understanding of complex subjects, and will have a unique opportunity to create relationships with other students that can serve them well for years and years to come.
Summer Institute for the Gifted
With locations in a variety of famous universities throughout the United States, these programs vary wildly from year to year but are always designed to give gifted young people enough opportunity to develop new skills, knowledge, and a wealth of experiences that will help set them up for success.
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
Hosted at 25 different locations on both the East Coast and the West Coast of the US-as well as in Hong Kong-these three-week programs cover a wide variety of studies, including humanities, math, science, writing, and much more. Some of them can even be used towards high school credits.
Northwestern Center for Talented Development
Each one of the summer camps provided by Northwestern University is situated on the Northwestern campus in northern Illinois. Gifted youth in grades 10th through 12th are invited to attend the three-week residential programs each summer. These programs prepare them for life after high school, and provide them college credits at the conclusion of the course.
1. Who would be most interested in the text?| A．Parents. | B．Tourists. |
| C．College students. | D．Scientific researchers. |
| A．The skills of writing. | B．The secret to success. |
| C．Adaptation to complex life. | D．Advanced courses to better themselves. |
| A．World Scholars Academy. |
| B．Summer Institute for the Gifted. |
| C．Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. |
| D．Northwestern Center for Talented Development. |
4 . If you want to understand the soul of Russia, read Fyodor Dostoyevsky, since he is “the archetype(原型) of the Russian nation”.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of thfamous Russian writer. Commemorative(纪念的) events including meetings and exhibitions have been held throughout this year in Russia, and around the world.
Born in Moscow in 1821, Dostoyevsky was introduced to literature at an early age through fairy tales and legends, and through books by Russian and foreign authors. In 1846 when he was 25, Dostoyevsky published his first novel, .
But four years later he was put in prison for being in a literary club that discussed banned books critical of the authorities. Then Dostoyevsky spent the next 4 years in a prison camp and another 6 years doing compulsory military service, according to The Moscow Times.
Surrounded by hardship, Dostoyevsky created extremely contradictory but profound works, exploring psychology in the political, social and spiritual turmoil(动荡) of 19th -century Russia. His most famous masterpieces include, Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov, The Idiot, and Notes from the Underground.
Dostoyevsky’s works have had a strong influence on the world of literature and have inspired many literary figures.
“Dostoyevsky’s novels are seething whirlpools(沸腾的漩涡) that boil and suck us in. They are composed purely and wholly of the stuff of the soul. Against our wills we are drawn in,suffocated(窒息的), and at the same time filled with a giddy rapture(疯狂的喜悦),”wrote UK writer Virginia Woolf.
US writer William Faulkner once said the Russian writer was one of his main literary inspirations, alongside the Bible and Shakespeare. The book influenced him the most and Faulkner reread the book often.
“Like Dostoyevsky, Faulkner was interested in studying the crisis of a personality who found himself amidst crisis in society,” wrote Faulkner expert Robert Hamblin.
To celebrate the influential writer, UNESCO has declared 2021 the Year of Dostoyevsky.
1. What can be inferred about Dostoyevsky according to this passage?| A．Dostoyevsky read classics of world literature when he was very young. |
| B．It is known that Dostoyevsky is “the archetype of the Russian nation. |
| C．Dostoyevsky was put into prison for writing a book critical of the authorities. |
| D．Dostoyevsky is an influential psychologist of 19th-century Russia. |
| A．Because Dostoyevsky’s novels are different from other authors’ works. |
| B．Because Dostoyevsky’s novels are fascinating and bring him inspiration. |
| C．Because Virginia Woolf also studies the crisis of a personality like Dostoyevsky. |
| D．Because he thinks that Dostoyevsky is “the archetype of the Russian nation”. |
| A．Curious. | B．Indifferent. | C．Critical. | D．Supportive. |
| A．To encourage readers to get started with literary classics. |
| B．To get across Russian values by exploring Dostoyevsky. |
| C．To introduce and memorize a great literary giant. |
| D．To promote several excellent novels by Dostoyevsky. |
Qingdao International Beer Festival has become a major event in the calendar of the beautiful city. The first festival took place back in 1991. It is now usually held once a year from the end of July to the end of August, and lasts for about one month. Qingdao is the largest beer production base in China and the festival provides a great opportunity to show off the city’s unique characteristics.
Qingdao International Beer Town (No. 195, Hong Kong East Road) is the Festival’s primary location. The area also contains a number of shops and restaurants, catering for a variety of tastes.The festival begins with the opening ceremony in this town, followed by 16 days of beer tasting, evening entertainment and drinking competitions, concluding with the final ceremony from the second weekend of August.
2021 Qingdao International Beer Festival
It is held in four venues respectively in Laoshan District, Huangdao District, Licang World Expo Park, and Jiaozhou City. Among them, the one at Golden Sand Beach Beer Square in Huangdao serves as the main venue, where a grand carnival is held during the beer festival from July 16 to August 8, 2021. Besides, visitors can enjoy the light show, art parade, and visit Qingdao Beer Museum for free.
How to reach Huangdao Venue
From City Center: Take Tunnel Bus 5, 6, 7, 8 or Tour Bus L3 and get off at Haiyun Jiayuan Station.
From Huangdao District: Take Beer Festival Special Line 6, 7 or bus 18 operated in Qingdao Economic and Technological Development Zone, and get off at Golden Sand Beach Station.
1. You can enjoy a variety of exciting activities during the festival except _______.| A．eating competitions | B．beer tasting | C．the light show | D．art parade |
| A．the Beer Town’s Center | B．Laoshan District |
| C．Licang World Expo Park | D．Golden Sand Beach Beer Square |
| A．Sports | B．Economy | C．Travel | D．Culture |
6 . The second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. American children of all ages give their mothers something special. Children, young and old, try to show their love to mothers on the day. However, do you know that Mother’s Day celebration is no recent thing?
England was the first country to set a day for mothers. In the United States, Mother’s Day became an official holiday in 1910. An American girl, Anna, asked their governor to set a festival for mothers that they loved. Therefore, they set the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day and a year later all the other states celebrated it.
In the morning of Mother’s Day, some American children serve their mothers breakfast in bed. Other children will give their mothers presents which they made themselves or bought in stores. Adults give their mothers red carnations (康乃馨)，the official Mother’s Day flower. If their mothers left the world, they may bring white carnations their grave sites (墓地)，This is the busiest day of the year for American restaurants. On this special day, family members do not want their mother to cook dinner!
1. In America, who asked the government to set a festival for their loved mothers?| A．Mike. | B．Alice. | C．Tom. | D．Anna. |
| A．On the second Sunday in May. | B．On the first Sunday in April. |
| C．On the second Sunday in July. | D．On the fourth Sunday in September. |
| A．Blue carnations. | B．White carnations. |
| C．Red carnations. | D．Green carnations. |
7 . In the long history of about 5,000 years, numerous Chinese traditional festivals were celebrated in memory of gods or some significant days, some of which are passed down from generation to generation.
Qingming Festival
Qingming Festival is on the 15th day after Spring Equinox, round April 4 or April 5 every year. People will go to worship their ancestors.
Double Ninth Festival
Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice is on around December 22 or 23 of solar calendar each year. From Winter Solstice on, the daytime will be longer and longer. That day people in different regions eat different food. In the northern region, people eat dumplings and wonton (馄饨), while in the southern region rice balls.
In China, this festival is in late January or early February, the last day of the Lunar year. People celebrate it by having a family reunion dinner, setting off fireworks and staying up late.
| A．New Year’s Eve |
| B．Mid-Autumn Festival |
| C．People always practice special traditional activities in each festival |
| D．People always visit their friends and relatives |
| E．They remove the weeds growing on the ancestors’ tombs to make them clean |
| F．Breaking the dishes and bowls is a thing all the people scare |
| G．It is celebrated on Sept. 9th of the Lunar Calendar, around October |
8 . Ways to Have a Joyful Chinese New Year
In many cultures, January 1st marks the beginning of a new year.
Usually, the Chinese New Year celebration lasts for three weeks, starting from the 23rd day of the previous year’s 12th month of the lunar calendar until the 15th day of the New Year.
Here are some centuries-old traditions shared by the Chinese community in order to promote blessings of health and wealth in the New Year.
·Spring cleaning.
·Setting off fireworks. In fairy tales, people managed to scare away a monster named Year by setting off fireworks.
Lucky money. Seniors give kids lucky money in red envelopes (信封), in the hope of making their future much brighter.
·Eating dumplings. The shape of a dumpling looks somewhat like a kind of money that was used in ancient times.
| A．Making decorations. |
| B．Having preparations in advance. |
| C．The new year has two wonderful festivals. |
| D．Every family will clean the house one week ahead of the New Year. |
| E．In reality, the sound of fireworks can increase the festival atmosphere. |
| F．People believe the more dumplings you eat, the more wealth you will get during the new year. |
| G．But in the eyes of Chinese people, the traditional time of the new beginning is the Spring Festival. |
9 . The best festivals in August
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world. In 2018, the festival lasted 25 days, including 55,000 performances of 3,548 shows in 317 places. The festival started in 1947 . For around three weeks in August, the city of Edinburgh welcomes a large number of artists and performers around the globe. Anyone can join in with the performance of their choice.
Wilderness Festival
Wilderness Festival takes place in one of the oldest woods in England. Taking place four days in nature, people will experience music, comedy, theatre, and dance from Sadler's Wells. All the campsites(野营地) are made to order for different needs, including family camping.
Notting Hill Carnival
Notting Hill Carnival takes place on the streets of Notting Hill in London, England in each August lasting over two days. Attracting around one million people each year, it's one of the biggest street festivals in the world. Happening since 1966, Notting Hill Carnival is an essential cultural experience in London.
La Tomatina
Each year, the Valencian town of Bunol gets changed into a red mess as locals and tourists take to the streets and throw tomatoes at each other, all for fun. This tomato festival has been happening since 1945 and is held on the last Wednesday of August each year.
1. Which festival lasts the longest?| A．Wilderness Festival. | B．Notting Hill Carnival. |
| C．La Tomatina. | D．Edinburgh Festival Fringe. |
| A．Buy handmade tents. |
| B．Dance with famous stars. |
| C．Experience wilderness adventures. |
| D．Choose specially offered campsites. |
| A．It is held for tourists. |
| B．It is a food fight festival. |
| C．It takes place on the streets. |
| D．It limits the color of clothes. |
10 . In summer of this year, we have options for your young artiste (专业演员) to learn a new creative art or develop an existing talent around the sound. Here are just 4 of a dozen highly unique activities being offered by us in Seattle.
Broadway Bound
Broadway Bound will be offering 12 weeks of in-person musical theater camps this summer. Campers will work together to learn acting, singing and dancing, and then put on a performance at the end of the week.
Dates: June 13-Sept. 2
Ages:5-14
Cost: $ 400
Stone Soup Theatre
Stone Soup will hold its Summer Stage day camps outside at two parks: Meridian Playfield in North Seattle and Jefferson Park in South Seattle. Camps run 9 a. m.—3 p. m, with early-arrival care and aftercare free of charge. Kids can act their hearts out.
Dates: June 13-Aug. 22
Ages: 6-14
Cost: $ 395
School of Rock
Join a band this summer! At School of Rock, kids can spend a week learning and making music at fun day camps. No experience is needed for some camps, such as Rookies Camp, though some require some experience. Most camps come to an end with a live performance.
Dates: June 20-Aug. 26
Ages: 5-17
Cost: $ 495
Gage Academy of Art (Seattle, online)
Gage Academy’s full-day and in-person camps and half-day online camps offer practical art instruction in drawing, painting, sculpting and digital design. The curriculum encourages students to explore new materials and techniques, develop problem-solving skills and celebrate self-expression.
Dates: June 27-Aug. 26
Ages:6-18
Cost: Varies by programs, before-/after-care provided for an additional fee
1. What will campers do at the Broadway Bound?| A．Visit a theater. |
| B．Give a performance. |
| C．Meet a famous star. |
| D．Work for dancers. |
| A．It offers free aftercare. |
| B．It will be held in summer. |
| C．It encourages early arrival. |
| D．It is about kids’ performance. |
| A．Broadway Bound. |
| B．Stone Soup Theatre. |
| C．School of Rock. |
| D．Gage Academy of Art. |
