Rave-on!
How about learning new skills on the guitar, drums and keyboard by video? Follow the touch-screen instructions to find lessons on each instrument, or search for a song to practice playing along to. Try our Professional Selection, with video clips of band members who will explain the techniques that make their recordings so individual.
Show-in-a-day!
Be a star singer or dancer for the day in a one-time-only special performance! Experts in international music and dance styles will train you, and costumes provided for the performance help create a really special, individual show. Get your friends and family to come and see you perform, as no videoing or photography is allowed.
Archived-Images
Want to find out about a new band, or just want more information about an old favourite? Visit our collection to find out facts and figures, or see the actual possessions of famous bands and musicians you are interested in. You can actually get to touch things worn on stage at major rock and pop events, and there are plenty of other concert souvenirs.
Rhythm-studio
Get your body moving in the studio and learn to move to rhythms (节奏) and sounds from the past to now, including Soul and Disco. Learn your steps from our professional onscreen dance instructor, then watch your performance and become the star in your own video recording which you can take away!
At 12, my father decided to take me on a trip to France. I had never been out of the country before, so I was very excited. My aunt, my father and I went around with my father showing us all the unbelievable sites in Paris. None of us spoke much French but we loved the city.
We had taken the subway all over the city and were congratulating ourselves on our mastering what is honestly an excellent subway design that is pretty easy to follow. We decided to visit Versailles by train. We chatted happily along the way until my father realized we were far into the French countryside and no one around spoke English.
We reached the end of the line and felt afraid when everyone finally left the train. An old man and his grandchild noticed us and came to help. He spoke no English, so in broken French we tried to explain. When he finally understood, this great man settled his grandson and showed us to the correct train and then boarded with us.
Later we knew the truth that there was a train transfer (转乘) and he didn't want us to miss it. This kind man rode a train for an hour and a half out of his way to make sure that three Americans got where they wanted to be. He refused to let us pay for his ticket. He did it all with a gentle smile and patted our hands gently at the stop. Then in his quiet way, he boarded the train to return the way he had come.
What impressed me most was the man and his kindness during the amazing trip. Some Americans think the French are rude for some reason, but I always try to persuade them to change their minds with this very story.
Fresh fruit juice has become increasingly popular in many diets - especially among those consumers who are pressed for time and concerned about their health. Fruit juice has also been linked to beliefs that it can help people lose weight. But is juicing really as healthy as we think?
A recent study reveals hard truths about fruit juice.
All fruits contain sugars and don't seem to have harmful effects unless they contribute to extra daily calories. This is because the fiber (纤维) which is found in whole fruit is undamaged, and the sugar is contained within the fruit's cells. It takes our digestive system a while to break these cells down and for sugar to enter the bloodstream.
This is not the case with fruit juice. Different from whole fruit, the natural sugar in fruit juice counts as "free sugars", just like honey and added sugars. With the fiber removed, fruit juice's sugar is absorbed more quickly. A sudden rise of blood sugar causes the pancreas (胰腺) to release insulin (胰岛素) to bring it back down to a normal level. Over time, this system can wear out, increasing the risk of developing type-2 diabetes (糖尿病).
In 2013, after analysing the health data of 100,000 people collected between 1986 and 2009, researchers found that fruit juice consumption was linked with increased risk of type-2 diabetes. They've concluded that even when fruit juice is similar in the nutrition (营养) to whole fruit, fruit juice leads to faster and larger changes in insulin levels since liquids pass through the stomach faster than solids.
"Although fruit juice is better than no fruit at all, there are lots of limits," said Dr.Amy Smith, professor of medicine at the University of Virginia. "It particularly comes with risks when we consume more than 150 ml of free sugars per day, or when it puts us over our recommended calorie intake. It provides us with vitamins - but fruit juice is far from a quick fix."
The success of Blue Origin's space tourism flights has caused concerns among the public. Many say it is a rich person's game that is unnecessary when Earth badly needs help.
For Jane Smith, co-founder of Space View, the industry is not preventing Earth from help, but helping its residents better understand their world.
"Space exploration has played an important role in forming our understanding of our planet," Smith said in an interview. "The most downloaded image in history is Earthrise that was taken in 1968 by Apollo astronauts as they circled the moon. Taking the photo was not on their schedule of activities but they were so struck by the scene that they rushed to record it. That one photograph helped humanity see Earth as a planet in space, and inspired an environmental movement."
Space View, founded in 2019, is a firm using a giant balloon to send humans into the stratosphere (平流层). It is designing a luxurious capsule (豪华太空舱) that fits six passengers, who can relax in seats or enjoy a snack while flying 20 miles above Earth.
Smith explained that eventually, millions of people will have exciting space experience. Tickets for a ride through Space View currently run $125,000 a seat, but Smith said the "long-term vision is to bring the price down significantly". "A ticket price of, say, $30,000—$840,000 would make the space trip affordable to many millions of people," she added.
When asked about the public comments, Smith answered, "When people visit space and experience our Earth from that fantastic point, they connect deeply with our planet and the singular human family that inhabits it. It broadens their perspective (视角) and they return with a deepened understanding of social and environmental causes."
Many people think of sharks as dangerous monsters. But human beings cause a far greater danger to them than they do to us. Although shark attacks do occur, they are quite rare. According to one estimate, however, humans kill 100 million sharks every year.
Why should we save the sharks?
Sharks take up the top position on the food chain in the ocean. As sharks die off, the population of the animals that sharks consume will increase. This, in turn, means that the number of the creatures those animals eat will drop. Fish that eat algae (藻类) are also included. This can cause algae to spread so much that it damages coral reefs.
The ocean not only produces more oxygen than all the rainforests on Earth combined, but also removes half of the man-made greenhouse gas from the atmosphere. Once sharks die off, the global ecosystem will be upset, affecting all creatures including human beings.
Don't use shark products
First, vitamin energy drinks and leather goods can be made from shark parts. In addition, shark meat is sold around the world, sometimes under misleading names such as rock salmon or whitefish.
Shark fin soup is a popular dish. However, the process of getting fins is cruel. Fishermen cut the shark's fins off and then throw the shark back into the water, still alive. Sharks breathe by swimming, so a shark that can't swim will die.
A. It is time for children to learn about sharks.
B. Shark oil is also used in many popular beauty products.
C. Then the shark dies slowly, sometimes over several days.
D. Actually, the killing of sharks will affect the whole planet.
E. People in some countries are especially keen on shark products.
F. Among them are some sea fish that humans consume every day.
G. This number is a warning that many kinds of sharks may die out.
As a writer on an adventure sports magazine, I'd always refuse to do the adventurous stuff myself. I preferred to observe others and 1 their experiences to readers. Thus, when I was challenged to 2 a mountain in aid of charity — and to write about it afterwards—I was 3.
Then it was 4 that I had a brilliant coach called Keith, who gave me knowledge about everything from building muscle groups to how to5tiredness. It quickly became obvious that the techniques of climbing were more 6than I had imagined. Aware of the challenge, I forced myself to 7 a detailed action plan Keith made, working out 8 at the gym. My self-belief 9 alongside my muscle power, and I became confident about finishing the climb.
All too soon I was on a plane to my destination. That day, when I looked up at the mountain, I thought of 10it. But then I remembered all the11I'd made and how upset Keith would be if I gave up — not to mention the sense of 12I'd experience myself. With a deep breath fear13courage, I headed into the sunshine to meet the rest of the group.
And as I am sitting here now, tapping on my laptop, I'm amazed at all the details I can recall: the burning 14and the tiredness. Could I have been better prepared? Possibly. Would I be back for another go? Thankfully not. The feeling of being excited when standing on top of the world is definitely a 15experience but one I will cherish forever.
|
A. ecosystem B. extinct C. individual D. various E. endangered F. resources |
Mother earth is a place where species can coexist. Unfortunately, wild animals have no place in the 21st century. Some people think that protecting these wild animals is a waste of . But an increasing number of people come to realize that the disappearance of animals will result in a serious threat to . It is hard to imagine what our world would be like without animals. There are enough farm animals providing us with sufficient and nutritious meat. Therefore, we don't need to make use of wild animals, especially the ones. To protect animals is to protect our living environment. So great efforts should be made by every to keep the diversity of animals.
|
A. grateful B. intention C. decorate D. measures E. benefited F. significant |
Last month, our school launched a campaign whose was to promote environmental protection. The campaign lasted for one week. Firstly, there was a photo display to show the serious pollution caused by human activities. Secondly, there was a lecture on many that we could take in our daily life to protect the environment. For example, taking the bus or using the bike-sharing system would be a way. Last but not least, we students were encouraged to our classrooms with recycled materials. Through the campaign, we a lot. We realize that it is our responsibility to leave a better, cleaner and healthier planet for future generations.
Jing Xiu handicraft, a major school of (tradition) Chinese embroidery (刺绣), has been listed as works of China's own Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is at the risk of disappearing.
Jing Xiu, also called Gongting Xiu or Gong Xiu, was (original) made for the royal household. Jing (name) after Yanjing (now Beijing) in ancient China. In Chinese, Xiu means embroidery while Gong refers to the royal palace(conquer) by the imperial (皇帝的) families.
The history of Jing Xiu (date) back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907) when special workshops were established (produce) embroidery items for the imperial household. In the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, style of Jing Xiu took shape in terms of materials, hand-craftsmanship, and embroidery patterns.
Jing Xiu, is well-known for the rigid standard of counted stitch (针脚) and symbolic patterns, took the lead of the Four Minor Embroidery Schools of Qing, along the embroideries of Lu Xiu from Shandong Province, Bian Xiu from Henan Province, and Ou Xiu from Zhejiang Province. Jing Xiu stands out by (it) strong influence on the style from the imperial qualities, a feature that is rare in Chinese embroidery arts.
