1 . Things to do this weekend in NYC: April 12-14 2024
Here are some noteworthy events to check out this week in New York City
Josh Wolf
Gramercy Theatre — 127 E. 23rd St., New York, N.Y. 10010
Sat. April 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Josh Wolf of “Chelsea Lately” will bring his brand of humor to Gramercy’s historic music venue. Josh Wolf’s comedy material is heavily inspired by his family. Wolf, 54, is also known to incorporate (融合) music into his performance, as he does when hosting his own comedy show “The Fantastical Jamboree” at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas.
Tickets start at $27.50
“Selena Brunch”
Alamo Drafthouse Staten Island — 2636 Hylan Blvd., Suite 230, Staten Island, N.Y. 10306
Sat. April 13 and Sun. April 14 at 11:30 a.m.
The 1997 Gregory Nava film that made Jennifer Lopez a Hollywood star is getting a nice revisit at Alamo Drafthouse with a “Selena Brunch” this weekend. While enjoying a special menu created for the occasion, see Jenny from the Block in her breakthrough role as the late Tejano star who was tragically murdered at 23. Dishes include a breakfast club sandwich, blueberry donut French toast bake and breakfast tacos, in addition to the regular refreshments on offer.
Though the downtown Brooklyn showings are already sold out, there are still tickets at the Staten Island location.
$12 admission. Prices range from $11.95 to $15.95 for food item
I’m Possible
New Victory Theater — 209 W 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10036
The Brooklyn-based Omnium Circus company, which prides itself in inclusivity and accessibility for both audience and performers, kicks off a two-week run of its latest show this weekend in Times Square.
“I’m Possible” lives up to its goal to make the Big Top experience accessible to audiences of all abilities with a 90-minute show featuring a gymnast who uses a wheelchair, an tennis player born without legs, and a deaf storyteller.
All performances will incorporate audio description, captioning (字幕), sensory-friendly lighting and sound, and a calm environment where movement and vocalization from audience members are welcome.
Tickets start at $28
1. Where does Josh Wolf get his inspiration for his comedy show?| A．From his favourite music. |
| B．From his own working experience. |
| C．From Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club. |
| D．From his experience with family members. |
| A．$ 15.95. | B．$ 23.95. | C．$ 27.95. | D．$ 39.9. |
| A．Entertaining. | B．Encouraging. | C．Terrifying. | D．Puzzling. |
2 . Toy kitchen is hugely popular with young children. It can be a great base for creative and imaginative role playing for children and their parents.
Solo (独自的) freestyle play is what a child plays on their own with the toy kitchen. It is a source of amusement for parents to see their children imitate (模仿) many of their sayings and phrases during this sort of play. You may discover some phrases you didn’t know you had! Children will often cook and create food for their toys to eat. Joining in freestyle play while allowing the child to take charge is fun for the child as well as adults. There are many ways to turn this type of play into something more educational. Parents can demand a certain number of vegetables on their plate and the child can use their knowledge of what’s a fruit and what’s a vegetable, as well as their counting skills to carry out this simple task.
You can also play the sorting game. Asking a child to sort out the fruit and vegetables into different piles is fun and will get easier for the child each time. Always reward children with praise when they do well, and encouragement when they don’t do quite well.
Counting is an obvious game. You can start the basics of maths in the kitchen play with adding, subtracting (减) and even dividing! Your child can use the toy food to work out sums and enjoy counting! They will be picking up good basic number skills during this type of play.
You can also bring up healthy eating subjects asking them which fruit is their favorite and asking which ones they want to try for their next snack. This type of game can continue in the supermarket and be used as a method of introducing new foods to their diet.
1. Games using a toy kitchen can develop children’s ________.| A．health and habit | B．creation and imagination |
| C．counting skills and honesty | D．number skills and good manners |
| A．it difficult for children to sort out the fruit and vegetables |
| B．it fun for children to cook and create food for themselves to eat |
| C．some words and expressions you forgot using before |
| D．children pick up good basic number skills by using the real food |
| A．enriching healthy eating | B．training working ability |
| C．counting | D．sorting |
| A．Parents. | B．Teachers. | C．Children. | D．Experts. |
3 . Paris is one of the most-visited destinations in the world. A relaxing trip to Paris takes a little bit of planning. Here are some tips for you to make your trip smooth.
Planning your trip
Have a passport for international travel. A passport costs $110 and takes 6-8weeks to arrive after you apply.
Booking Flights
The cheapest month to fly is March, especially if you can leave on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. You’ll save even more money by booking around 90 days in advance. In the summer months, tickets will be more expensive no matter when you book.
Enjoying Your Time
●Visit the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is the most recognizable symbol of Paris. To avoid the crowds, go to the Eiffel Tower early in the morning. It costs €25 to go to the top, or €10 to climb to the first 2 levels on foot.
● See the Notre Dame Cathedral
At present, the Notre Dame Cathedral is closed to tourists due to the fire that destroyed parts of the cathedral. However, you can still visit the outside of the cathedral.
● Go to the Louvre to see world-famous art
The Louvre hosts the Mona Lisa along with 35, 000 other pieces of art. If you’re pressed for time, visit the highlights. The Louvre costs €15 at the museum or €17 in advance (to skip most of the line).
● Take a day trip to Versailles
If you have a day to spare, head to the palace of Versailles, around 14 miles southwest of the city. Take a tour to see King Louis XVI’s palace and gardens. It costs €20 to visit the palace and grounds.
1. When can we book plane tickets to save the most money?| A．In March. | B．In June. |
| C．In August. | D．In December. |
| A．You can climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower free of charge. |
| B．Visitors can pay an extra to save the queue time in visiting the Louvre. |
| C．The Notre Dame Cathedral was completely destroyed in a fire. |
| D．Visiting the palace of Versailles is the most expensive among the four attractions. |
| A．A travel brochure | B．A course plan. |
| C．A research paper. | D．An encyclopedia. |
4 . Top Theme Parks and Amusement Parks in Australia
Magic Mountain Merimbula
Located in the town of Merimbula, this small theme park is situated on the Sapphire Coast. There are multiple attractions in this place including Kiddie Splash Pool, Magic Carpet Slide and the Diamond Pyth on Roller Coaster. You can buy souvenirs from the gift shops for friends and family back home.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10 am to 4 pm
Price: $90 per person
The Big Banana Fun Park
The Big Banana Fun Park is located in the city of Coffs Harbour and it boasts a large walk-through banana. Guests can go roller skating at the ice-skating rink, enjoy water slides and play golf.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 9 am to 5 pm
Price: $25 per adult (age 13-99); $15 per child (age 1-12)
Wet Wild Gold Coast
Owned and operated by the Village Roadshow Theme Parks, this park features 17 water slides, 4 pools, and 2 children’s areas. If you are traveling during the winter season, there is nothing to worry as the pools and slides are heated according to your convenience.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
Price: $24 per person
Big Splash Waterpark
Featuring nine slides, a 50-meter (164 feet) pool, and kiddie pools, this park is a perfect spot to chill when the sun is out. Being one of the oldest theme parks in Australia, it boasts the famous Jammo Pool.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday 10 am to 6 pm
Price: $150 per adult (age 13-99); 40% discount per child (age 1-12)
Enjoy with your kids at one of the theme parks in Australia.
1. What can visitors do in The Big Banana Fun Park?| A．Ride on a roller coaster. | B．Play golf. |
| C．Buy gifts. | D．Taste big bananas. |
| A．$60. | B．$90. | C．$120. | D．$180. |
| A．Parents. | B．Children. | C．Guides. | D．Swimmers. |
5 . Learn about programs, events and much more for students of your age to get opportunities.
Youth and Non-Violent Direct Action
Time: October 18 and November 1,2023
Contact: Robert Croonquist
This interactive workshop for school groups will teach how to appeal to the government for change and how to create safe, non-violent direct action. Students will meet in small groups to discuss issues that are important to them. The fee to participate is $5 per student.
Attend a FREE Architecture and Design College Fair
Time: October 28,2023
Contact: Mary Lib Schmidt
High school students are invited to learn more about applying to architecture school. Representatives from over 30 colleges, universities, and design programs will meet with students and answer questions. The event will be held from 11am-3pm.
Seeds of Knowledge: Teen Tour and Natural Bath Bomb Making Workshop
Time: October 26,2023
Contact: Nicole Leist
Participants will look at 15th- to-17th-century printed herbals on display and learn how modern practitioners （医师） create beneficial natural products today. Teens will create bath bombs using all organic materials. This program is intended only for teens aged 13 to 18. FREE with advance registration.
FREE Saturday Leadership Program for Hispanic Youth
Time: November 2023 through March 2024
Contact: Lisa Pineda
It is a FREE Saturday program serving 100 students. It offers various leadership opportunities and resources with the goal of affirming students in cultural pride and increasing the Hispanic voice in government, community, and institutional spaces. Seats are limited.
1. What can you learn about Youth and Non-Violent Direct Action?| A．It lasts a fortnight. | B．It is free of charge. |
| C．It is organized by the government. | D．It teaches legal ways to communicate. |
| A．Robert Croonquist. | B．Mary Lib Schmidt. | C．Nicole Leist. | D．Lisa Pineda. |
| A．Youth and Non-Violent Direct Action. |
| B．Attend a FREE Architecture and Design College Fair. |
| C．Seeds of Knowledge: Teen Tour and Natural Bath Bomb Making Workshop. |
| D．FREE Saturday Leadership Program for Hispanic Youth. |
6 . Although Disneyland is the most famous amusement park in the world, it isn’t the oldest. Actually, Disneyland is fairly modern as it opened in 1955. The four parks below date back to the 18th or 19th centuries.
Today, these parks remain as popular tourist attractions for their history as well as some of the best and oldest roller coasters in the world.
Gröna Lund
Year Opened: 1883
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Total Number of Rides: 31
Roller Coasters: 7
Gröna Lund is Sweden’s oldest amusement park, with a history dating back to 1883. A few of the first rides that opened at the park in 1883, including the Circus Carousel, are still used today.
Idlewild and Soak Zone
Year Opened: 1878
Location: Ligonier, Pennsylvania, USA
Total Number of Rides: 40
Roller Coasters: 2
Idlewild and Soak Zone or Idlewild Park is the third oldest amusement park in the U.S. The park was first opened in 1878 as a public campground near the Ligonier Valley Railroad. In 1938, one of the earliest roller coasters, called the “Rollo Coaster”, built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, was opened at Idlewild — it remains open today.
Tivoli Gardens
Year Opened: 1843
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Total Number of Rides: 31
Roller Coasters: 4
The park was opened on August 15, 1843 by Georg Carstensen after receiving approval from King Christian VIII. Famous fairytale author, Hans Christian Andersen, was one of the park’s first guest — the beauty of the park’s gardens inspired Andersen to write Nightingale.
Wurstelprater (Prater)
Year Opened: 1766
Location: Leopoldstadt, Austria
Total Number of Rides: Information not available
Roller Coasters: 12
Wurstelprater, shortened to Prater, is the second oldest amusement park in the world. The park originally served as the Austrian Empire’s hunting grounds. Soon after Emperor Josef II made the grounds a public space, snack bars and restaurants began popping up, setting the foundation for today’s amusement park.
1. Why is Hans Christian Andersen mentioned in the passage?| A．To illustrate the park was very popular with novelists. |
| B．To show the park’s gardens were beautiful and inspirational. |
| C．To prove the fairytale author was a nature lover. |
| D．To introduce how the park was designed by him. |
| A．It was the oldest amusement park in the world. |
| B．It used to be a hunting site for royal families. |
| C．It had the earliest roller coasters named Rollo Coaster. |
| D．It originated from the Walt Disney Company. |
| A．They have the most scary rides in the world. | B．They are open to the public for free. |
| C．They are still in operation today. | D．They all date back to the 18th century. |
7 . Residents at Parkfield House Nursing Home celebrated the end of a £10,000 project with a showcase of their work with friends and family.
For the past year the group, known as the Parkfield Peckers, have worked closely with artists, Glebe Primary School and creative ageing charity Equal Arts as they delved into the history of the area and those who’ve lived at the 19th Century home.
Hannah Wood from charity Equal Arts said: “The exhibition at Uxbridge Civic Centre was just the icing on the cake! Going into the project, there was so much enthusiasm from the group to explore the heritage of the home, so many have their roots in the area and we were keen to capture and share their knowledge in creative ways.”
There’s been a mixture of creativity with illustration, photography, portraiture, music, story-telling and collage as the group took part in weekly artist-led workshops and linked up with schoolchildren to share ideas.
Glendeen Quow, manager of the Canford Healthcare-run home, is in no doubt about the project’s benefit to residents, staff and the home. She said: “It’s been a busy year and we have all loved every minute of it. It’s been a privilege to learn about our fascinating heritage and a joy to see our residents grow in confidence each week as they were introduced to the different workshops and artists. We have enjoyed strengthening our relationships with the local community, especially with the staff and children at Glebe Primary School.”
Clare Sheldon, who provides Pastoral Support at Glebe Primary School, said: “The children have been proud to be a part of this project and connect with the Parkfield residents. It’s been great for them to have experience in talking to and sharing with older people, it gives them a stronger sense of understanding and compassion. This project has been a great way of exploring their own emotions and identity and we look forward to continuing our friendship with Parkfield.”
1. What does the underlined sentence mean?| A．The exhibition at Uxbridge Civic Centre matters most in this project. |
| B．The exhibition can have a greatly positive influence on the project. |
| C．The exhibition has a lot of things that can convey artists’ creativity fully. |
| D．The exhibition aims to show different kinds of cakes. |
| A．Paintings | B．Statues | C．Fancy songs | D．Touching stories |
| A．It’s been promoted greatly by Glebe Primary School and Parkfield House Nursing Home. |
| B．Residents can appreciate distinct works of art in workshops monthly. |
| C．It conveys the significance of strengthening relationships with the local community. |
| D．Participants can have a better understanding of fascinating culture in their area. |
| A．Neutral | B．Skeptical | C．Indifferent | D．Affirmative |
8 . Here, our selection of Britain’s strangest museums has something for everyone.
Glasgow Riverside Transport Museum
The museum houses steam engines, motorbikes, Glasgow buses and just about anything else that has a set of wheels, wings or sails. One of the last tall ships in existence is moored (停泊) outside, and you can take a boat there from Govan. For those not in love with transport, there’s a copy of a 19th-century Glasgow street with traditional shops and an old subway station.
Entrance is free.
The Natural History Museum, Hertfordshire
The Victorians were mad about collecting, and this is essentially the personal collection of just one home-educated boy, which began when he was five years old. But as a member of the Rothschild family, Walter took 40 years to do it. There’s just about every stuffed animal you could ever imagine, and quite a few you couldn’t: a polar bear; George, a mandrill (山魑) from London Zoo; a four-ton elephant seal; and some 80 kinds of dogs.
Entrance is free.
The Pencil Museum, Cumbria
It is a museum all about the history of the everyday pencil. There are free daily artists’ demonstrations and workshops, so you can enter from one end of the museum and go out with a drawing from another end. The lovely District location adds to the experience and the wonderful shop is especially enjoyable for stationery (文具) lovers.
Entrance: adults £4.25, children £3.25.
The Time Machine Museum of Science Fiction, Hertfordshire
This is the result of 30 years of crazy collecting by Andy Glazzard. There are artworks from sci-fi classics, but most of the museum artworks center on Doctor Who.
Entrance: adults £8, children £6.
1. Which museum will you visit if your child is interested in sailing history?| A．The Pencil Museum, Cumbria |
| B．Glasgow Riverside Transport Museum |
| C．The Natural History Museum, Hertfordshire |
| D．The Time Machine Museum of Science Fiction, Hertfordshire |
| A．They were both rich. | B．They were both fond of nature. |
| C．They both liked collecting things. | D．They both liked to have demonstrations. |
| A．A news report. | B．A novel website. |
| C．A magazine on Nature. | D．A travel guide book. |
9 . What do you do when you have a few minutes to spare? If you’re like many people, you seize the opportunity to do puzzles on your phone.
Word puzzles
One of the most popular word puzzles — the crossword — has been around for nearly 110 years. Crosswords can be done with paper and pencil or online. Sometimes word puzzles involve finding new words within a large group of letters. This type of word puzzle is called a word search. Word puzzles usually test your vocabulary.
Mechanical puzzles
Mechanical puzzles have pieces that must be arranged in some way. The world’s best-selling puzzle, the Rubik’s Cube, is a mechanical puzzle. As of 2020, over 450 million Rubik’s Cubes had been sold.
Jigsaw puzzles also fall into this type.
Logic puzzles
Math puzzles
Math puzzles involve numbers, words or objects and the use of math. Surprisingly, the ever–popular Candy Crush is classified as a math puzzle.
There are many other kinds of puzzles. But no matter which you prefer, puzzles are a great way to spend your time.
| A．People have been interested in puzzles for many reasons. |
| B．They typically involve putting pieces in the right place to form a picture. |
| C．Additionally, they have something in common: they test your skills or knowledge. |
| D．Knowing the language that the game is designed in is required for success, however. |
| E．Figuring out the solution to such a puzzle requires careful thought rather than guessing. |
| F．Calculation skills are required for players to successfully move and match colored candies. |
| G．There are thousands of puzzles to choose from that can be worked on at your convenience. |
10 . A Few Top Reasons to Get Your Child Play Golf
One such sport that usually does not come to your mind, but has several benefits in the long run for your child is golf.
Reasons why you must introduce your child to golf are as follows.
Golf is for anyone and everyone. Golf is one such sport that can be played by anyone. It does not matter if your child is short or tall, skinny or a little overweight, slow or fast. Golf is for everyone, irrespective of sizes and shapes. Also, golf can be played at any age.
Golf has less risk of injuries. Unlike sports, such as football, baseball, cricket or soccer, golf is a safe game with a minimal to almost negligible risk of injury.
Golf helps create lifelong friends.
And above all, the most important sport lesson that golf provides, is that of having fun and enjoying oneself.
| A．Golf can teach a lot about life. |
| B．He can start if he is 5 or 6 years or onwards. |
| C．Golf helps develop positive attitude towards life. |
| D．The friendships established on the golf course usually last forever. |
| E．There are many practical reasons to motivate your child to play golf. |
| F．Golf as a sport does not involve any physical contact and thus has no risk of getting serious injuries. |
| G．Golf is a game in which people hit small hard white balls into holes in the ground, involving skills and patience. |
