1 . Boston Marathon runners in recent years may have seen a smiling furry face around the two-mile mark. It’s Spencer, the therapy (治疗) dog, who became known as an unofficial mascot (吉祥物) for the marathon, He’s shown up on the sidelines every year since 2015—rain or shine.

One particularly rainy marathon catapulted Spencer’s fame, In 2018, his owner, Richard Powers, decided to put a bright yellow rain coat on the dog, making him stand out even more than he usually does. Photos of Spencer, who holds a “Boston Strong” flag in his mouth, went viral, and he became an inspiration to runners and onlookers alike, During the marathon, some runners stop in their tracks to take selfies with the dog-the line sometimes growing to 20 runners long.

But in 2020, Spencer was diagnosed with a tumor (肿瘤). His owner was worried, but Spencer is a fighter. He got the care he needed and survived. In 2021, he was back on the course and it was really kind of a miracle and that really hit home to a lot of people.

Unfortunately, Spencer caught another tumor—this one cancerous—and Spencer began chemotherapy. Powers didn’t think his beloved dog would make it out to the marathon of 2022. “Miraculously, he’s still here with us and an even bigger miracle, he was strong enough to go to the marathon,” he said.

After recovering, Spencer was back to work—not just at the marathon—but as a therapy dog, alongside his companion, Penny, who is also a golden therapy dog. Powers takes his two therapy dogs around to schools, hospitals and senior living centers.

“He’s a gift to us and we’re very lucky to have him. He’s too good so we want to share him with as many people as we possibly can. He does make a difference,” Powers said.

1. Why is Spencer referred to as a mascot for Boston Marathon?

A．He has a smiling furry face.	B．He appears at the event annually.
C．He is not recognized officially.	D．He works as a therapy dog for runners.

2. What does Spencer bring to runners?

A．Motivation.

B．Satisfaction.

C．Fantasy.

D．Barrier.

3. What did Spencer go through in 2020?

A．A failure in the marathon.

B．Caring for his owner.

C．Fighting against a disease.

D．Going viral.

4. What was Powers’ initial attitude towards Spence’s appearing at the marathon of 2022?

A．Confident,

B．Supportive.

C．Objective.

D．Negative.

2 . Competing for a Trip to Soma Bay, Egypt

Soma Bay is a perfect place for sunny relaxation. If you take a trip there, you can also take part in the competition we organize.

The Destination

Lapped by the Red Sea on three sides and with views of sandy beaches and desert mountains, Soma Bay can attract nature lovers most, Spreading across almost 2,500 acres, the Egyptian tourist attraction has an 18-hole golf course designed by Gary Player, a golfing enthusiast, as well as the largest Thalasso spa in Africa. Kiteboarding, diving and horse riding are all on offer, too.

Of Soma Bay’s five accommodation options, a five-star hotel enjoys a fantastic location on the highest point of the Soma Bay peninsula. It has a number of guest rooms and suites with private balconies, as well as four on-site restaurants, You can enjoy beach-side pizza, take afternoon tea, or stop for a drink by the 18th hole. They are all offered by the hotel.

The Prize

With the official permission of Soma Bay, the winner can enjoy a four-night stay in a classic room at the five-star hotel on a half-price basis. The prize includes return economy class flight tickets with overhead cabin luggage from the UK to Hurghada International Airport up to the value of £650 per person, with direct routes available from cities including London, Manchester and Bristol, plus return airport transfers to Soma Bay (UK transfers aren’t included).

To Enter

Answer the following question online at natgeotv,com/uk/competitions:

ON WHICH SEA IS SOMA BAY LOCATED?

Competition closes on 31 October 2023.

The winner must be a UK adult resident, aged 18 or over.

1. What does the five-star hotel offer?

A．Games on a golf course.	B．Tickets for kiteboarding.
C．Something to eat and drink.	D．Accommodation on the beach.

2. What can the winner get?

A．A free stay in the perfect hotel.	B．A return airport transfer to the UK.
C．A possible direct flight ticket from Bristol.	D．A first class flight from the UK to Hurghada

3. What do we know about the competition?

A．It welcomes children.	B．It covers multiple questions.
C．It targets at Egyptian citizens.	D．It ends on the last day of October.

3 . Thanks For Giving 4 Miler

Thurs. November 23, 2023

The Event

Sign up today for the 2023 Thanks For Giving 4 Miler and Kids Dash that will take place this Thanksgiving in New Albany! Come out and join us for a fun kick off to Thanksgiving Day festivities! As always, 100% of our net proceeds go to help those in need.

All are welcome, including competitive runners, joggers, and walkers wanting to enjoy time with friends and loved ones. Registration ends on November 22, 2023.

The Fee

There is no official race fee. You can give as much or as little as you want. However-a $40 minimum donation is required to get our soft T-shirt. Our goal is to feed as many families in Central Ohio as we can. You can help by running our race, spreading the word, or making a donation. You may bring any donation you want, from a can of soup to cash. Let’s make a difference.

Event Day Timeline

6:30 am: Race day check-in begins.

8:00 am: Opening ceremony (仪式) begins!

8:15 am: Kids Dash begins!

8:30 am: The Thanks For Giving 4 Miler kicks off!

Awards

The top three overall male and female finishers will receive a gift certificate. The top three male and female finishers in each of the following age groups will receive a pumpkin (南瓜) pie: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 and above. Every participant of the kids race receives a finisher’s medal!

Safety

For safety, please no bicycles, skateboards, inline skates, or participation with pets.

1. What is Thanks For Giving 4 Miler and Kids Run?

A．A marathon race.	B．A charity event.
C．A kid-targeted activity.	D．A holiday get-together.

2. What will a man ranking second in his age group be sure to win?

A．A soft T-shirt.	B．A pumpkin pie.
C．A gift certificate.	D．A finisher’s medal.

3. What is required for participation?

A．Bringing a donation.

B．Reaching a certain age.

C．Registering in advance.

D．Wearing safety equipment.

4 . KLUANE CHILKAT

INTERNATIONAL BIKE RELAY

February newsletter:

Greetings riders! By now you have been chatting with friends to organize a team. Consider cross-training to get into shape-skiing snowshoeing, indoor riding, swimming…whatever you fancy, they are all great ways to stay in shape and prepare for some long-distance riding in May.

A reminder:

Online Registration opens on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at 6: 00 AM Yukon Time. Be sure to read the entire registration page before registering.

What’s changed:

4-person teams have been removed.

Solo (单人的) riders — Icycle Sport, our Partner Level Sponsor will continue to provide snacks and drinks at Checkpoints 3 and 5 but there is no longer a food/drink bag drop at the Start Line.

Team name — The registration platform will not allow duplication (重复) of team names. Yours needs to be original.

E-bikes are allowed on 8-person teams. The team does not need to consist entirely of e-bikes.

2023 Registration fees:

NEW! Early bird registration fee: (March 15 — 22, 2023) $85 per rider for a team.

Regular registration fee: (March 23 — April 12, 2023) $95 per rider for a team.

Other updates:

The itinerary (行程), Relay Information, Race Rules, and Registration are now updated and posted. Visit www.kcibr.org. Questions? Please email info@kcibr.org.

1. When will the international bike relay be held?

A．In February.

B．In March.

C．In April.

D．In May.

2. What is required of team racers?

A．They should have an original team name.	B．They should bring food themselves.
C．They should register in person.	D．They should ride e-bikes.

3. How much should a 2-person team pay if they register on March 24?

A．$85.

B．$95.

C．$170.

D．$190.

5 . The Best Writing Contests of 2023

1. What do Weekly Writing Competition and Anthology Travel Writing Competition 2023 have in common?

A．No entry fee is required.

B．Local culture is the focus.

C．There is maximum word count for entries.

D．One entry per person for each week is allowed.

2. What can be learned from Fiction Factory Flash Fiction?

A．Top prize winner will be awarded $300.

B．It is open to anyone from across the world.

C．Children’s stories on any theme are greatly appreciated.

D．Contest entries should be submitted before July 31, 2023.

3. Which contest suits you most if you are interested in climate crisis?

A．Weekly Writing Competition.	B．Anthology Travel Writing Competition.
C．Fiction Factory Flash Fiction.	D．Imagine 2200.

6 . UN FAO World Food Day Poster Contest 2023

We are aware at mytopschools.com that you are searching for Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN FAO) World Food Day Poster Contest 2023,then you are not alone.

Calling out to all children and teens around the world! If you’re between ages 5 to 19, the UN FAO wants you to use your imagination and create a poster of your favourite food hero at work and submit it for their World Food Day Poster Contest.

The world is full of food heroes, who despite various challenges, work hard to make sure that food makes its way from farms to our table. Let’s celebrate their great efforts this World Food Day. Young minds can be inspired to support these food heroes who provide the healthy diets we need, while protecting the planet.

Requirements

·Only one entry should be submitted per person. Multiple entries from one person will result in disqualification.

·Poster entries may be drawn, painted or sketched using pens, pencils, crayons or using oil, or watercolour paint. Digitally created artwork is also permitted. No photographs are allowed.

·All poster entries must be original and should not include photographic images of the Contestant or other personal information.

·Submissions must be made through the online form provided – please do not send in physical posters. The deadline is November 6.

Prizes：

·Three winning poster designs will be selected as finalists by a jury in each category.

·Winners will also receive a Certificate of Recognition and a surprise gift bag.

·When winning posters are published, only the first initial, full family name and country of origin will be published. No other personal information about the Contestants will be published or shared.

1. What is the Poster Contest intended for?

A．Protecting the planet.	B．Providing healthy diets.
C．Honoring food heroes.	D．Developing farms.

2. Which of the following will result in disqualification?

A．Only drawn entries.	B．A copied entry.
C．Two entries from a kid.	D．A physical poster.

3. What will a poster winner get?

A．A school certificate.	B．An amazing present bag.
C．A creative artwork.	D．A watercolour painting.

7 . Show Your Money Smarts Contest 2023

Show Your Money Smarts Contest aims to give the youth a jump start by equipping them with the power of knowledge to make sound financial choices.

Why Participate:

Learn how to use credit wisely in this year’s fifth annual contest. Compete with other youths across the state of Michigan in this 30-question online challenge during the month of May and win prizes. Start developing a good credit score and history at a young age and learn how to make your credit work for you!

Teachers, librarians and other youth development professionals also can win a $25 gift card if a non-related youth you referred to the contest wins. One gift card per referring adult.

Who Should Participate:

Any youth 13-19 across the state of Michigan.

When:

Register by May 13, 2023, by 11:59 pm. ET. Complete the contest by May 31, 2023, 11:59 pm. ET.

How to Participate:

● You must sign up to be qualified for prizes. If a non-related teacher, librarian or other youth development professional referred you to this contest, you will want to include their names and emails for their chances to win a prize too!

● Learn about credit by attending an in-person class, a Zoom class, reading articles, or completing the Nearpod class here and/or exploring other credit education resources found on the Michigan 4-H website.

● On May 14, you will receive an e-mail with the game code (代码) for Quizizz. The game will be available for two weeks.

● Go to quizizz. com/join on a phone or tablet and enter the code using the same name when you register.

● High scoring youth will be entered for a prize drawing to win a $25 gift card. A maximum of 10 youth winners will be selected. Winners will be notified by June 8, 2023.

1. What knowledge is involved in the contest?

A．Game knowledge.

B．Library knowledge.

C．Computer knowledge.

D．Financial knowledge.

2. What is a must to win the prize?

A．Being a member.

B．Having a referrer.

C．Registering in advance.

D．Taking training courses.

3. What can we learn about the contest?

A．It is an online contest.	B．It charges low entry fees.
C．It is held every five months.	D．Any teenager can take part.

8 . Many people head to the Takhini Hot Springs in Yukon, Canada to take part in the International Hair Freezing Contest(比赛) in winter. The event usually runs for the whole month of February which is traditionally the coldest time of the year in Yukon. It is below 4℉(-20℃). The purpose of the contest is to create the most creative frozen hairstyle possible.

After checking in, you are led to the natural hot springs, which has a temperature of 104℉(40℃). Thanks to the cold air, only putting the head into the water is enough to freeze hair.

You can also sit in the hot springs and allow the steam to gradually get on your head while the cold air freezes your hair. After the hair is frozen and molded(成型)(when possible), you take pictures. The hot springs officials collect all the pictures during the contest and in mid to late March the top three pictures are chosen.

People must agree to give all rights of their pictures to the hot springs officials. The contest also offers some great prizes.

1st place: $750 and a free 30-time soak(浸泡) membership at the hot springs.

2nd place: $200 and a free 12-time soak pass.

3rd place: $100 and a free 3-day pass.

The contest started in 2011. Now it has become popular and draws lots of people from all over the world.

1. Who will be the winner of the contest?

A．Tom, who swims fastest in the water.

B．Sam, who stays in the cold air for the longest time.

C．Jim, who freezes his hair in the most creative shape.

D．Tim, who takes the strangest photo of the hot springs.

2. Which of the following describes the right order?
a. Put the head into the hot springs.
b. Hand over the photos to the contest.
c. Check in.
d. Make the hair frozen and molded.

A．a—c—b—d	B．c—a—d—b
C．d—b—a—c	D．d—c—a—b

3. According to the text, which of the following is TRUE?

A．The contest started in 2011 to raise money.

B．Now the contest is less popular than before.

C．The third-place winner will go home with $200.

D．The hot springs officials can put the pictures online.

4. What's the best title for the text?

A．The Coolest Hairstyle in the World

B．The Top Three Pictures of the Contest

C．The Most Famous Hot Springs of Canada

D．The International Hair Freezing Contest in Canada

9 . A series of outdoor basketball games in southwest China’s Guizhou province attracted more than 50 million online viewers in only four days. This is the second time that Guizhou bas held the “Gorgeous Countryside” basketball tournament, which is an amateur inter-village basketball tournament.

The final of this year’s tournament took place in Taipan Town, Taijiang County on Tuesday night. Over 10,000 people came here to watch it. For the winning team, the prize was only a cow weighing 650 kilograms, and for the team in second place, two goats.

Started across the province in 2021, the “Gorgeous Countryside” tournament grew rapidly with more local sports fields built. And across Guizhou province, almost every town has a basketball field. “We used to play on dirt ground, and made baskets by ourselves. With the development of sports facilities in the countryside, we now have a true basketball field in our village and can train better,” said Wang Shenglong, a member of the Taijiang County team. Since April, more than 4,200 basketball games have been organized in Guizhou, none of which would have happened if it weren’t for the fact that more basketball fields were built for the public.

In 2018, the basketball games were included in the Chi Xin Festival, which celebrates harvest on the sixth of June on the lunar calendar. Since then, thanks to the introduction of the “Gorgeous Countryside” tournament, Taipan Town has attracted many not only from nearby, but some who need to drive all the way from Guiyang, the provincial capital more than 200 kilometers away, to experience the unique atmosphere in Taipan.

The tournament is an example of local development, and will promote local development further. The games are liked by the locals more than ever, and will hopefully encourage them to build a brighter future.

1. What do we know about the tournament?

A．About 10,000 people watched it online.	B．It was held in Guizhou for the first time.
C．It was popular but lasted only four days.	D．The participants were not professional players.

2. Why did the tournament grow rapidly?

A．More basketball fields were built.	B．The prize was attractive to the villagers.
C．The locals paid more attention to health.	D．Villagers had more free time than before.

3. How will the tournament benefit the locals according to the last paragraph?

A．They are inspired to work harder.	B．They will have a different lifestyle.
C．They can make more money from it	D．They can learn to play basketball for free.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Health.

B．Education.

C．Sports.

D．Science.

10 . Beautiful Britain Photo Competition

What represents the beauty of Britain for you? Is it rolling green hills and hidden valleys of the countryside? Here’s your chance to capture it in a photo! The competition will be judged by professional photographer James Eckersley. The judge’s decision is final and winners will be informed by email or post.

How to Enter Take a high-resolution photo with either a phone or digital camera. Ensure that pictures are original, not previously published and taken specically for this competition. Email your photos to photocomps@readersdigest.co.uk by 5pm, May 12, 2023. Make sure you include your full name, location and contact number.

The Prizes We will select three winners who will be awarded the following prizes: First place £ 400 Amazon voucher (代金券) and a Royal Photographic Society membership. Second place £ 250 Camera World voucher. Third place An Experience or Workshop & Course voucher from Jessops.

You must own the rights to the photograph you submit for entry. You must be able to supply a high-resolution copy of the photograph suitable for print publication. Competition is open to residents of the UK, aged 18 or over, except Reader’s Digest employees and any associated partners or attached companies. There is no cash alternative and prizes are not transferable. Multiple entries will be accepted. Winners must agree to publication of their winning photograph, along with their name. The winning entries will be published in our July issue, with the top winner gracing the back cover. Contributions become world copyright of Vivat Direct Ltd (t/a Reader’s Digest). Your information will only be used in accordance with our privacy policy. Entry implies acceptance of these rules. For more details, tips and guides, visit readersdigest.co.uk/inspire/photo-competition

1. Which of the following will lead to disqualification?

A．Living in the UK.	B．Sending a published photo.
C．Providing more than one photo.	D．Emailing the entries on May 11, 2023.

2. What can the winners do after the competition?

A．Use the photos freely.	B．Change the prize for money.
C．Buy a camera at a discount.	D．Become one member of a photo club.

3. Where will the winning photos be published?

A．In Reader’s Digest.	B．In a travel brochure.
C．On a textbook cover.	D．On the Amazon website.