1 . What’s on

Bluedot

Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire, 21-24 July

Bluedot returns for four days of music, art and space science. Among the treats are talks by physicist Jim AI-Khalili, astronaut Tim Peake, space scientist Monica Grady and BBC Sky at Night’s Chris Lintott, alongside a bill of stand-up comedy, art and music by the likes of Bjork and Groove Armada. Day tickets ￡35/visitor, weekend tickets ￡179/visitor.

Late Night Explorer

Kielder Observatory, Northumberland, weekends, 11:30 pm

Wonder at the Moon, planets and galaxies under the guidance of expert astronomers, and use the observatory’s high-quality telescopes. Also enjoy a log-burning stove (炉子) and a hot chocolate. ￡46/visitor.

Herschel to Hawkwind

Observatory Science Centre, Herstmonceux, 2 July, 7:30 pm

Rock guitarist and astronomer William gives an entertaining talk that explores the connection between music and the sky, including live music and a singalong. ￡16/adult; ￡13/child.

Craig Telescope Talk

Bredhurst Village Hall, Gillingham, 29 July, 8 pm

Greg Smye-Rumsby brings to life the story of the Craig telescope, for a brief time in the mid-19th century the largest refracting telescope (折射望远镜) in the world. Was this strange instrument just an expensive folly? ￡18/visitor; ￡24 with food.

1. What might Bjork do for visitors during 21-24 July?

A．Serve them a hot chocolate.	B．Entertain them with music.
C．Give a lecture on the universe.	D．Discuss how music relates to the sky.

2. How much should a young couple pay for William’s talk?

A．￡13.

B．￡16.

C．￡26.

D．￡32.

3. Where should visitors go if they’d like to learn about the Craig telescope?

A．Observatory Science Centre.	B．Jodrell Bank Observatory.
C．Bredhurst Village Hall.	D．Kielder Observatory.

2 . ENJOY THE OUTDOORS

       Adventure Camp at Ohio Dreams is the perfect way to enjoy traditional summer camp. Campers will be able to learn about multiple sports and outdoor adventures. We provide the equipment (设备) and the schedule so you can start from scratch and learn from the best, and even the new comer who may lack experience can make up for it with the spirit for adventure.
       Athletics, Creativity, Science, Knowledge and Social Skills are the backbone of our camp. We offer a wide variety of activities for campers that are full of energy and curiosity.
       ▪Learn Skateboarding: Learn the basics of skating from balancing, dropping in and even a few tricks.
       ▪Learn Mountain Biking: Try one of our mountain bikes and take a few laps on our five-mile track across the countryside or learn the basics of jumping on our Freeride courses.
       ▪Hiking: Pack a snack and hike to beautiful waterfalls and caves while learning how to identify plant species and many different wildlife animals.
       ▪Beach Volleyball: Everybody should know how to jump in a game of pick-up volleyball at the beach. Learn about where to be and how to pass, set, and hit the ball to win.
       ▪Swimming Lessons: If you aren’t the best at swimming, this week-long program will help you to find your sea legs (and arms) so you will have more confidence when swimming.
       Click here for deals, news and early registration discounts.
1. What is an advantage of Adventure Camp?

A．It has the best equipment.	B．It is suitable for the inexperienced.
C．It offers both indoor and outdoor activities.	D．It is the first traditional summer camp in Ohio

2. Which of the following is included in Adventure Camp?

A．Overcoming the fear of swimming.	B．Collecting plants species in the open air.
C．Learning volleyball in professional stadiums.	D．Riding mountain bikes to waterfalls and caves.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A travel brochure.

B．A news report.

C．A book review.

D．An online website.

3 . Central Park Picnic Experiences

Having a picnic with family, friends or colleagues at the Pool with iconic views of the NYC backdrop would give you good feelings. We handle all aspects of your event from beginning to end, so you can just show up and have a great time! Fresh baked service! — You can now add games to any picnic experience (details below).

Family-Style Picnic

Serves a minimum of 15 people

Our family-style picnic experience is perfect for big groups! Includes set up & clean up, plus fruits and food. Also includes coolers with ice, blankets, pillows and parasols (遮阳伞). $60.00 per adult, $30.00 per child. Includes a 2-hour picnic with set up and clean up. $50 per add 1 hour.

Social Picnic Party

Serves 10 to 12 people

Comes complete with an entire picnic set up including extra space, blankets, pillows, parasols. The meal is a sampling of sandwiches, roast chicken, potato salad, seasonal greens, local cheese platter, lemonade, water and something sweet for dessert. Perfect for meeting new friends.

We Love This Formal Picnic!

Serves 4 to 10 people

Looking for something more formal? This is special and for you! Includes set up with a set low-rise table for business talk, a great selection of delicious food, flowers, and clean up! Tips not included — and should go direct to your picnic expert.

Birthday Party Picnic

Serves 2 to 18 people

Besides our signature birthday party cake, we also offer a local cheese platter (拼盘), seasonal salad, chips, lemonade and water, plus cookies & brownies for dessert! When you arrive at your picnic spot, one of our picnic experts will have everything set up, ready and waiting for you when you arrive! Includes a 2-hour picnic for 2 with set up and clean up. Add up to 16 additional guests. $50 per add 1 hour. $50 per add 1 guest. Max 18 guests.

Contact us with questions!
1. What is a new service for the picnic experiences?

A．New spots with wonderful views.	B．Whole-process service.
C．Allowing for adding games.	D．Offering freshly-made bread.

2. How much to pay if families with 12 adults plus 10 kids have a 2-hour picnic?

A．$720.

B．$1,020.

C．$1,070.

D．$1,150.

3. What is the most likely basis for setting up these types of picnics?

A．Expense of picnic.	B．Number of people.
C．Age of the group.	D．Purpose of the activity.

4 . The Central Museum in the Netherlands launched a unique project this month, titled “The Blind Spot,” in a push to enhance accessibility and enjoyment for the visually impaired. This exhibit goes beyond traditional art experiences by recreating well-known paintings with additional dimensions, integrating elements like sound and smell—including the fragrance of ripe cheese. Unlike typical museum rules, visitors are encouraged to touch the artworks.

The project involves the copies of famous paintings, with the addition of representative elements that can be heard or smelled. Visitors, including those with visual impairments, can truly engage with the art, as touchable elements have been integrated. Sighted visitors are even encouraged to wear blindfolds to fully immerse themselves in the experience of works like “Stil life with fruits, nuts, and cheese” by Floris Claesz van Dijck from 1610 and “Stil life (Bowl with apples)” by Bart van der Leck.

The art experience was the brainchild of artist Jasper Cate and designer Jeroen Prins. The inspiration struck when the two were serving food alongside artwork at a food performance event. It took root when a blind woman attending the event expressed being profoundly moved by the experience. “That moment became the starting point,” said Cate.

Visitor Farid El Manssouri clearly enjoyed his experience. A smile lit up his face as he explored the touching elements of cheese, grapes, and bread, all part of the representation of the famous 1610 painting by Floris van Dyck. Sharing his impressions, El Manssouri remarked, “The first thing that struck me was the smell. I could truly sense the scent of the cheese, and I even touched it.” El Manssouri wondered how the food items managed to stay in their seemingly unbalanced positions. “It was incredible. I suppose it was securely attached,” he wowed.

Steffie Maas, the museum’s director, stated that Blind Spot was just one trial on the path to further improvements, emphasizing that improved accessibility and facilities are equally crucial as the exhibition itself.

1. What do we know about the Blind Spot exhibition?

A．It offered visitors ripe cheese to taste.

B．It challenges conventional museum practices.

C．It encouraged deaf visitors to wear blindfolds.

D．It only accepted blind and partially sighted visitors.

2. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．The inspiration for the art experience.	B．The brainchild of the director.
C．The food performance event.	D．Food alongside artwork.

3. What caught Manssouri’s interest?

A．The sense of touch.	B．The smell of the grapes.
C．The firm attachment of the food items.	D．The creation procedure of the paintings.

4. Which topic is most likely to deal with in the following paragraph?

A．Comparison with other museum exhibitions.

B．More efforts to improve visitors’ experience.

C．Detailed analysis of the artworks in Blind Spot.

D．Challenges faced during the exhibition preparation.

5 . Visit America’s National Parks for Free on These Six Days in 2024

It’s time to plan a visit to your dream national park destination. For a few days each year, every national park in America is free to visit — including hundreds of national monuments, seashores, historic sites and more.

Less than a quarter of them have entry fees, but those that do charge up to $20 per person or up to $35 per vehicle. Revenue (收入) from these fees stays in the National Park Service to cover visitor services, including improving accessibility, restoring wildlife habitat and more.

“National parks are places that awaken senses, inspire curiosity, encourage reflection, and promote joy,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in a statement. “The entrance fee-free days expand opportunities for people to visit their national parks and experience the beauty and history of our country.”

There’s a new addition to the entrance fee-free days in 2024: Juneteenth, which became recognized as a national holiday on June 17, 2021.

National park free entry days for 2024:

●Jan. 15 — Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

●April 20 — First day of National Park Week

●June 19 — Juneteenth

●Aug. 4 — Great American Outdoors Day

●Sept. 28 — National Public Lands Day

●Nov. 11 — Veterans Day

Fees for certain activities like camping and fishing will still be in place. Additionally, parks operated in partnership with outside parties may charge other types of fees. For instance, Waco Mammoth charges an access fee for its dig shelter. That park is run by the Park Service, together with the City of Waco, Texas, and Baylor University. Visitors can find site-specific details on park websites.

1. What are some national parks’ entrance fees mainly used for?

A．Popularizing the country’s history.	B．Paying for visitor services.
C．Financing visitors during their stay.	D．Boosting local economies.

2. When is the national park free entry day for the new addition in 2024?

A．April 20.

B．June 17.

C．June 19.

D．Sept. 28.

3. What can be learned about Waco Mammoth?

A．It is cooperatively managed.	B．It hosts some outdoor parties.
C．It features camping and fishing.	D．It is free of charge all year round.

7 . One great way to spend time outdoors is to garden. Here are some benefits you can get from gardening.

    1    

Studies have found evidence that being in nature is linked with less anxiety, less depression and many other positive effects. The nice thing about a garden is that it can be right in your yard.     2    , you’re much more likely to be outside when the work of a garden requires it.

Eat healthfully

A garden can make the freshest and healthiest foods available. And the types of foods can have a great impact on your mental health.     3    .

Practice acceptance

Most suffering comes from trying to control things that you can’t. The more you can accept the limits of your control in your life, the more peace of mind you can find — and gardening is a great way to practice.     4    . You just bring your best efforts to what you can control, and let go of the rest.

Develop a growth mindset (思维模式)

Psychologist Carol Dweck developed the difference between “fixed” and “growth” mindsets, and gardening is a great opportunity to develop the latter.     5    . When something doesn’t work out the way you hoped, you view it as a learning opportunity rather than as a failure.

A．If you like healthy food

B．Spend more time in nature

C．While you spend time sitting in your yard

D．With a growth mindset, we’re constantly learning

E．Acceptance in the garden or elsewhere doesn’t mean giving up

F．Studies shows that diet changes can be helpful for depression

G．There’s the added benefit of knowing you played a role in growing the food

10 . Fun Summer Camps in Bangkok for High School Students

With the school year coming to an end, high school students are eagerly anticipating their long summer break. Parents are looking for summer camps in Bangkok to keep their teenagers entertained and productive. Click here for the four fantastic summer camps for them in Bangkok that have gained a good reputation.

Bangkok Science Camp

Dates: July 15-25, 2023

Highlights: Hands-on workshops, lectures, and experiments in physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Opportunity to collaborate with (合作) experienced scientists and go into advanced research.

Bangkok Cultural Exchange Camp

Dates: August 1-10, 2023

Highlights: Immersive experience in Thai culture and history through visits to historic sites, cultural activities, and interactions with local students. Gain insights into Thai traditions and daily life.

Bangkok Volunteer Camp

Dates: August 5-15, 2023

Highlights: Engage in community service projects, such as teaching English to children, participating in conservation efforts, and collaborating with local charities. Make a positive impact on the local community.

Bangkok Entrepreneurship Camp

Dates: August 5-15, 2023

Highlights: Explore entrepreneurship (创业) and innovation through learning business concepts, developing entrepreneurial skills, and working on a group project. Learn from successful entrepreneurs in Bangkok.

1. Who would be a good fit for Bangkok Science Camp?

A．A parent who is crazy about science.

B．A historian who is interested in Thailand.

C．A 12th grader who loves chemistry experiments.

D．An elementary school student who likes science.

2. Which camp should you attend if you want to help others?

A．Bangkok Science Camp.	B．Bangkok Volunteer Camp.
C．Bangkok Entrepreneurship Camp.	D．Bangkok Cultural Exchange Camp.

3. What do the four camps have in common?

A．They are intended for students.	B．They are very expensive.
C．They happen in August.	D．They only accept Thai speakers.

4. Where can you probably find this text?

A．On a website.

B．In a textbook.

C．In a magazine.

D．In a newspaper.