Festival of Light, Longleat Safari Park, Wiltshire
Longleat is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Giant lanterns take the shape of some of the park's animals, and there are also lots of characters in Beatrix Potter's book, such as Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle Duck, Squirrel Nutkin, to mark the 150th anniversary of the author's birth. There is also a 20-metre-high birthday cake.
▲£27.85, adult/£20.65, child/under-threes, free.
▲15Dec. to 2 Jan.
Christmas Glow, RHS Wisley, Surrey
The garden is glowing with giant lighted flowers. Some of the trees are brilliant, too. The glasshouse is decorated like a gingerbread house, and displays seasonal plants. There are lanterns around the lake. The cafe serves hot chocolate and apple juice.
▲£9.90, adult/£3.60, child.
▲20 Dec. to 2 Jan.
Christmas at Kew Gardens, London
Kew is a special place to visit at any time of the day or year, but the festive light show gives it a magical twist, as the mile-long trail through the garden is decorated with 60,000 lights. Some of the garden's oldest and tallest trees are also beautifully lit along the way.
▲£l6, adult/£l0, child/£48, family/under-fours, free.
▲24 Dec. to 2 Jan.
In the late 1990s, a family visited the school where I taught deaf students. They said they would be moving here and planned to send their deaf daughter to my school as a first grader. They were upset that their child's kindergarten teacher told them not to have high hopes for her academically. Based upon assessment results, the teacher painted a bleak picture for their little girl's future. Standing behind them was Katherine, a beautiful five-year-old with long hair and dark eyes. The whole time her parents were there, and she didn't make a sound or use sign language, even when her parents prompted her.
After a few weeks with Katherine, I discovered I was dealing with a very bright, very strong-willed child. Although I was able to engage her in a variety of learning activities, writing was a constant struggle. I tried all kinds of trickery to interest her in writing. Every time the pencils came out, she would shut down and refuse to write.
One day Katherine got off her bus and stood in front of the school wailing. The staff members present did not know enough sign language to ask her why she was crying. Finally they quickly took her into the office where they handed her a pen and a notepad. Katherine wrote: "PAC BAK.". Immediately the office staff realized she left her backpack on the bus. They summoned (召唤) the bus back to school and soon Katherine was reunited with her backpack.
That day Katherine discovered the power of the pen. From then on she had a new appreciation for writing. She is a young woman now and has become an excellent writer, public speaker and student leader. In the summer of 2008 I traveled to the National Association of the Deaf Conference in New Orleans and watched her perform competitively as Miss Deaf Colorado. Kathy keeps in touch and I especially treasure her e-mails with term papers attached. This young lady wields a very powerful pen!
Three minutes of looking at red light once a week may help our eyesight, new research suggests. The findings show that red light might be a cheap and easy treatment for declines in color vision as we get older.
Last year, researchers from University College London did a study on red light therapy (疗法). 24 healthy volunteers, aged between 28 and 72, were asked to look at red light for three minutes every day for two weeks. Tests later found that the eyesight of people over the age of 40 improved.
To test the possible weak points of their therapy, they did a new study this year. Instead of using the light every day, they used it once a week. The new study included 20 volunteers, aged between 34 and 70, all with healthy vision. Some received red light therapy in the morning, and others received it in the afternoon. They were then tested on their color vision up to a week later.
On the whole, those who got the treatment in the morning showed a 17% improvement in their color vision, even a week later. Those who got the treatment in the afternoon did not have any improvement.
"We've found that one single exposure (暴露) to red light in the morning can greatly improve declining vision," said lead author Glen Jeffrey.
The findings do support their earlier work, and they might make the treatment more practicable, since a once-weekly treatment is easier to stick to than a daily one. But the team's promising results are still drawn on small numbers of healthy volunteers. Larger studies would be needed to show the benefits of red light therapy.
"In the near future, a once-a-week three-minute exposure to deep red light could be done while making a coffee or listening to a song, and such a simple thing could change eye care and vision around the world," Jeffrey said.
Given its low cost (as little as $15) per device, and simplicity, the team is excited about the future of their therapy.
According to the IUCN Red List 32, 000 species are threatened with extinction. Although we might be working hard to help some species come back from the brink (边缘), we might also be eating some threatened species without even realising it.
Searching industrial fishing records, researchers identified almost 100 endangered species being sold as seafood, and this is done legally. When sold, these fish are not required to be labelled according to species, so consumers have no way of knowing what they're eating, let alone whether they're endangered or not.
The team stresses that this is only the tip of the iceberg, as they only looked at a specific section of records and excluded groups of fish such as sharks, which are commonly eaten in Australia, Europe, and some Asian countries.
To solve the mess we're creating in the ocean, the researchers have come up with some ways, one of which is to expand our idea of seafood to include jellyfish (水母). That might sound a little unusual, but it's not the first time scientists have suggested it as a food source. And with jellyfish being one of a minority of wild animals that scientists think might be actually increasing in numbers around the world, it makes a lot of sense. With jellyfish as a food source, other endangered species may be kept in the sea.
Of course, there are other ways to help keep endangered species off the menu. Carissa Klein, University of Queensland (UQ) conservation scientist, thinks that the labelling of seafood needs to be improved, so that people are more aware of what they are eating. Besides, it can be also important if the cooperation between fisheries and conservation policies can be better promoted. "We would never consider eating mountain gorillas or elephants, both of which are endangered," added Klein.
Prepare for a test
In your school, tests or quizzes maybe a part of your regular classroom work. Many teachers use tests to ensure that students have accurately learned the material that's been studied. If taking a test makes you feel worried, the good news is that there are many easy ways for you to prepare and feel better before the exam or quiz.
Be organized
Studying for a test will be easier if you organize you notes, handouts, and assignments ahead of time for each of your classes.Consider using a separate folder for each subject. You can keep them at home, at school, or in your backpack.
Make a plan
This might mean committing to studying for 30 minutes for a few afternoons the week before the test Or maybe you have more time on the weekends and want to plan extra study time then. No matter what you decide, block out the time on your calendar so you remember.
If you have learned a lot of material, such as in science class, ask your teacher what information will be on the test If your teacher hands out a study guide, use that guide to help you figure out what information you need to focus on most Next, decide how you want to review the material. Besides reviewing your notes, you could write key concepts on flash cards to test yourself.If there is some information in your notes or in the study guide that is confusing to you, highlight that part and ask your teacher for clarification when you get to class.
These strategies can help you feel confident about demonstrating your knowledge.
A. Here's how to get started.
B. Highlight the study guide
C. Focus on the right material
D. When you prepare for study, make a plan.
E. This way, the information will be there for you when you need to review it
F. Write the question on one side of the notecard and the answer on the other.
G. Once you have a test date, look at a calendar and make a plan for when you'll study.
It began in November 2016, when Hinton, then 17, got a text message from an 1 number inviting him to Thanksgiving. When he asked who it was, the person 2 : "Your grandma."
"Grandma? Can I have your 3 ?" the teenager replied. He received a photo of a woman he had never seen before. It was Dench, now 64.
Hinton wrote back, "You're not my grandma," 4 a laughing face. Still playing along, he jokingly asked: "Can I still get a 5 though?"
Dench replied: "Of course you can. That's what grandmas do... feed everyone."
Hinton soon 6 her mistaken invitation had turned genuine, and he decided to have a Thanksgiving meal with her family, including her actual grandson, whom she 7 intended to text.
Hinton 8 the conversation on social media; it quickly went viral. And it's become an annual 9 that's beloved by the families.
Last week Hinton 10 that the two would be celebrating the day together again. "We are all set for year 7!" he wrote on Twitter.
"I would have 11 a wonderful relationship," Dench said, when asked what would have happened if she hadn't invited Hinton over years ago. "I've changed my 12 so much on the younger generation."
Although Dench was 13 about the misdirected text in 2016 at first, both she and Hinton 14 it. "Family is more than 15 " Dench said. "It's the people you want to be with."
Khamisi Ally Abdi, a 25-year-old African student in Cangzhou Technical College, Hebei province, has practiced tai chi for two years. Having worshiped kung fu stars such as Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan as a child, the Tanzanian understood Chinese kung fu to be fast-paced attack and defense art before he (arrive) in China, but now he realizes tai chi is different. It is tai chi moves with balance and deep rhythmic breathing allow him to feel the charm of the exercise. It brings peace and (calm) to his mind while building his muscles.
The college, as one of International Exchange centers, (enroll) (录取) more than 300 international students from over countries since 2016, (main) countries along "the Belt and Road", providing a tai chi course for all foreign students. (practice) tai chi has led Abdi to acquire a comprehensive appreciation of this Chinese culture and ideology. He now prefers people (call) him by his Chinese name Chen Yanzhi, as the characters of Yanzhi carry the meaning of talented and virtuous. The art has inspired his understanding of China. he is longing for is teaching tai chi in his country and he expresses hope that this magical kung fu can be (benefit) to more people.
注意：1.词数80左右；2.可以适当增加内容，以使语篇连贯；
参考词汇
中国文化周：The Traditional Chinese Culture Week
Eric was a nine-year-old boy who lived with his single mother, Stacey and sister, Lily. They lived a hard life. Eric felt bad for their situation but worse for himself, especially in school.
Eric's leather boots were worn out. They didn't protect his feet from the rain, and his socks became totally wet as water went through the holes in his shoes. Stacey attempted to fix the holes but it was no use. Eric still walked to school with that pair of broken shoes. How much he wished he could also have new comfortable and expensive shoes his classmates wore!
One day, Eric returned from school and complained to Stacey, "It was raining today. Water has leaked into my shoes again. I hate my boots! Why can't you get me new ones?" Stacey was sad and helpless. "I spent our last savings on your sister's medicine. She's sick. Eric you know that. You need to act like a responsible big brother!" she answered. Tears welled up in Eric's eyes. "I hate you!" he shouted. "You only care about Lily! You don't love me!" Then he cried and ran to his room.
After preparing dinner, Stacey went to his room with his dinner plate. "I'm sorry, Eric," she whispered to comfort him. "We're going through a very tough journey recently. But I'll get you new shoes in the future." However, Eric refused to listen to her.
The next day, when Eric went to class, he took his seat quietly and hid his feet under his chair, as usual. He was embarrassed to show his boots. As the math teacher Mrs Fletcher entered the class, all the students greeted her. "Today, we have a very special friend with us," she smiled. "Everyone, please welcome Ben, your new classmate." Soon after, a boy with a pair of crutches(拐杖)entered. The new boy only had one leg. Eric was shocked. He and all his classmates thought how unlucky Ben was and that he must be very shy and sad.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右;2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1: At that moment, Mrs Fletcher asked Ben to introduce himself.
Paragraph 2: Inspired by Ben, Eric realized he should appreciate what he had.
