If you are currently (目前) learning English, I highly recommend you check out the apps below.
Quizlet
When learning English, you probably have to memorize a lot of words. If you want to grow your vocabulary as fast as possible, a flashcard app like Quizlet is a great shortcut. With Quizlet, you can create a set of flashcards with new English words you are trying to learn, and practice typing them out until you know them by heart. It's a simple idea, but it's highly effective.
Spotify
Spotify is not a language learning app. But chances are that you already use it or a similar app for listening to music or podcasts (播客) and one of the effective ways to study is combining something you already use into your habits. If Spotify is already on your phone, you can subscribe to (订阅) some podcasts for English learners or download playlists of songs for learning English, or make your own.
Beelinguapp
Beelinguapp makes reading in English as convenient as possible. It shows you a text in your own language with the English translation side-by-side. Texts are short enough so that you can really dig into every word. They cover topics from fairytales, to science, to the latest news articles. There's even a "karaoke" where you can read along to audio, which helps you match up the English pronunciation with the English spellings.
Tandem
Tandem is a language exchange app which connects learners from all over the world. It can help you find a native English speaker who is trying to learn your native language, so you can swap language skills. If you only have five minutes to spare, you can simply exchange messages with a native English speaker. If you have more time, you can have a longer, digital "language exchange" by sharing voice notes, or using video chat. It's a great way to test your English skills out with real people.
Nowadays mail delivery is a little different. I still get my mail from my mailbox. Nothing, but my neighbors' mail. I thought that was curious.
I proceeded to take my neighbors' mail to them. I was about to put the mail in their mailbox when a tall man came running out shouting about messing (弄乱) with his friend's mail. He snatched (夺过) the mail from my hand, opened the mailbox and pointed to the mail inside. "You were after this."
I shook my head, "No, believe me. I got this mail by mistake in my box today. I was just bringing it to them." He gave me a funny look and went back into his house.
I got the knock on the door the next morning by two very polite officers. The annoyed tall man had phoned the police and told them I was a crazy old woman going around messing up everyone's mail. Before I could finish telling them about what was going on, the officers had watched a dog run to my mailbox with mail in his mouth. He took out the mail that was in my box and put letters in. He pushed the door closed with his nose, picked up the new pile of mail he had got from my box, and repeated this all the way down the next street. We all started laughing.
The dog had belonged to a mail carrier who had died. No one thought to check (the carrier lived alone) on the man's dog. The dog had been trained to put mail in and take mail out of the boxes. When he got loose, he "shouldered" his duties.
I went by to talk to the annoyed tall man to fill him in on what had happened. He was very pleased when he realized I was not a mail thief. He did, however, adopt (领养) the little guy.
For thousands of years, humans have built cities. Some of our oldest cities have managed to remain pieces of their original characteristics while others have disappeared completely.
One of these lost cities belonged to the Anasazi people who lived in Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. They built houses along the river that ran through the valley. For nearly 300 years, the Chaco Canyon was the population center of many desert cities. Now nothing is left of this busy city but ruins. Scientists think that drought may have made the Anasazi suffer from starvation (饥荒) or that some kind of disease killed off many of the people. However, no one knows for sure what happened to the people of the Chaco Canyon.
Another lost city sits high atop the Andes Mountains in Peru: the city of Machu Picchu. It was once among the most powerful cities in South America. It was home to the Incan emperor. In 1527, its citizens packed up their belongings and moved for unknown reasons. Scientists guess that smallpox, a disease brought by European explorers, was the cause of Machu Picchu's downfall. Today, tourists from all over the world climb thousands of steep stone steps to view the ruins of this once great city.
Yet another city that is no more was called Pompeii. This was one of the wealthiest cities of ancient Italy. This beautiful seaside city was a lively center of trade. However, a storm of lava (火山岩浆), smoke, and ash from Mt. Vesuvius buried the city of Pompeii, putting an end to its prosperity (繁华). Scientists have studied the ruins of Pompeii, which led to new discoveries about ancient civilizations of Europe.
Humans have always built cities as centers for trade, business, and family life. Cities that have been lost provide information about the past, helping to inform our future. By studying lost cities, we can learn how to protect our current cities.
As the new year is around the comer, crowds around the world may be expecting fireworks to light up the sky. However, the attraction of fireworks could fizzle out with the growing use of drones (无人机) for light shows, though.
Ollie Howitt, a leader of SkyMagic, which used a team of 300 drones to create a show for London's new year celebration last year, said demand had increased a lot. "We do think it's going to be something that's ever catching on, instead of a temporary phenomenon (短暂的现象) people have suddenly got interested in. Drones are reusable and there's no remains. In that sense they're a very good, sustainable (可持续的) choice," she said.
But not everyone agrees. A spokesperson from the British Fireworks Association said drones could also lead to environmental problems. "Suggestions are that drones have less of an impact on the environment, but we have serious concerns about electrical demand and use of lithium batteries which are known not to be all that ‘green'," they said.
An RSPCA spokesperson said that while drones were a possible idea to try to reduce the impact of shows on animals, there were disadvantages. "Drones are not without their own negative issues such as frightening horses or crashing into birds, and can cause annoyance to animals and members of the public. It's therefore important for their effects to be fully considered and measures taken to reduce the chance of accidents," they said.
Some express the opinion that the use of fireworks and drones don't rule out each other. The sight, sound and gunpowder smell of fireworks will always provide its own excitement.
"We find fireworks work really well when teamed up with drones. But we don't really see it as a one-replacing-the-other at all. We feel as if it's just another tool in the chest for how you enliven the sky and what you want to do with the show you're putting on," said Howitt, noting that while fireworks give a loud, emotive, big performance, drones offer the chance to tell stories in the sky by using a series of images.
Museums are centers filled with information designed to enlighten (启蒙) and educate the curious mind. Especially for children, museums introduce them to unknown worlds, inspire their imagination (创新) and provide them with valuable learning experiences. It's generally believed that museums only help fuel school education. .
Museums offer children bigger connections and guidance to history than a traditional class. They play a huge role in impacting their historical knowledge and the innovation taking place before their eyes. Just reading out to them, encouraging them to ask questions and holding their attention is more than enough.
Humans gain values, knowledge, and skills that are not applicable to the only field but will aid them for a lifetime. A single visit to a museum near you will provide children with in-depth knowledge about different subjects that they can learn slowly, for museums let you stay as long as you want.
Museums are well enough equipped to wake up curiosity in young minds, which in turn will lead to these children asking questions. Some of them might need a great deal of thought to answer and some of them might not have any answers at all. No matter what they asked, all of these questions must be equally encouraged and children must be given the confidence to find the answers to them on their own.
Museums have the ability to leave its visitors in awe (敬畏) of the huge amount of information it holds. They provide inspiration to young children through its resources that leave them crazy about the night sky and the solar system, the skeletons that keep them thinking about life before them, the artworks that encourage the creativity, etc.
A. Parents themselves don't have to be history lovers.
B. Some of these questions may have immediate answers.
C. But in fact, they provide knowledge about all walks of life.
D. All in all, museums encourage children to dream and wonder.
E. Museums are packed with things that help form critical thinking skills.
F. Museums are a collection of resources that develop informal education.
G. To connect with the innovations, it is important that they understand where it all began.
Joriden's love with migrating raptors (迁徙的肉食鸟) started when he saw a group of strangers observing the sky with telescope on top of a hill in his village. His 1 drove him to find out what they were doing. To his joy, the strangers 2 him to take a look. With just one quick look, Joriden was 3 . "The sight is very 4 ," says Joriden. "They take away my stress. I 5 watching these mighty birds."
Joriden used to hunt birds for fun or food. But the 6 with the birdwatchers shifted his mind. Now, not only did he 7 his fellow youths or even older folk to 8 birds they've caught, but he also 9 the community members to stop cutting trees in the mountains to 10 the roosts (栖息地) of the migratory birds.
Raptors are 11 sign of the health of the environment. They sit on top of the food chain, thus their health depends on the health of the whole ecosystem they live in. Declines in their population can suggest a 12 in the specific ecosystem that raptor species depend upon or visit. Raptors, which are natural predators (食肉动物), are also 13 to human food safety and livelihoods. If their population 14 , the population of harmful insects and animals along their migrating path will increase, 15 agricultural productivity.
The China International Search and Rescue Team (CISAR) (form) in 2001 and is now made up of several hundred rescue workers and about 20 police dogs. The team brings help and hope to those lives are changed by a storm, flood, earthquake, or any other natural disasters.
The team went on (it) first international rescue tasks in 2003 when the Chinese team helped save lives after earthquakes in Algeria and Iran. It was the first time that a Chinese team (work) outside China and won high praise for (brave) and skill.
Rescue workers are trained to find people, treat wounds, and hand food, water, and other supplies. They have to be able to do work that is difficult in dangerous (situation). After a disaster, there is usually no electricity or water, and there may be diseases and other dangers. Rescue workers get to save lives, but they must also bury the (die). That means they have to be strong in body and mind.
Rescue workers must have big hearts, too. It takes a lot of love and courage (risk) one's own life to save someone else's. The members of the CISAR have plenty of both and are always ready to go wherever help is needed.
