"I just want a normal birthday party, " April told Mary1 they walked home from school.
Mary knew what April meant. April's parents loved the environment. And2 April happened to be born on Earth Day, all her parties had3 Earth Day theme.
Later that night, as April helping with dish washing, she said, "I'd like to plan4 own party this year. I want to have a dance party in the hall of Garden Park" "Sure, "said Mum. "Dad and l5 send you kids there. "said Mum.
April couldn't wait6 her birthday! She and her friends would have7 much fun. And it would be8 birthday she'd ever had
The following weekend, everyone got to the parking lot outside of Garden Park. "Thanks for9 , "said April. "I have been so excited about my party. No cleaning tools. No collecting recyclables.10 earthy about it. Then I got here this morning and saw this parking lot. "Aprils friends looked around and found plastic bottles, newspapers and shopping bags everywhere.
"11 a mess!" April frowned. She turned around, "How about picking up the litter first ?"Everyone agreed. In a short while, three bags of cans and newspapers were collected.
When April looked at the bags full of things that could be reused or recycled, she12 . Then she looked up at her friends. Their beautiful clothes for the birthday party were a little dirty,13 their faces shone with satisfaction. They felt it so good14 something for the earth. "Happy Earth Day, everyone, "said April. "Now we are ready for the dance party. ""Happy Birthday. April!" shouted her friends. "Wow, it's15 earthy birthday!!'m so lucky to have been born on Earth Day!" April thought to herself.
There was a woman who had two sons. She was worried about them, especially the younger one, Ben, because he was not doing1 in school. Boys in his class made jokes about him because he seemed so2 . The mother decided that she herself would have to get her sons to do3 in school. She told them to get to the public library to read a4 a week and do a report about it for her. One day, in Ben's class, the teacher held up a rock and asked if anyone5 it. Ben put up his hand and the teacher let him6 . When Ben raised his hand, the students in the class7 because he never said anything. What could he possibly say? Ben not only knew the rock, but also said a lot about it. He named other8 in its group and even knew where the teacher had found it. The teacher and the students were9. Ben had learned all this from doing one of his book reports. Gradually, Ben went to the10 of his class.
When he finished high school, he went to a famous university and later became one of the best doctors in his country. Then he learned something about his mother that he had not known as a child. She herself had never learned how to read.
Cinyee Chiu, an artist from Taiwan, is always happy to try something new. Her amazing works won lots of prizes. Among them, "24 Solar Terms(节气)" is the most popular.
Ancient Chinese divided a year into 24 parts according to the changes of the weather. It's the 24 solar terms. But not everyone knows them well. Cinyee Chiu put the 24 solar terms in pictures to help people understand them better.
Cinyee turned each solar term into an animal. But these animals are not just animals. You can also find seasonal fruits, vegetables or beautiful flowers on them.
When spring comes, water gets warm and fish start to swim around. So Cinyee chose fish as a symbol of Start of Spring. Also, she drew spring vegetables, Chinese chives on the back of the fish.
White Dew falls on about September 8. It shows the beginning of the cool autumn. There are colorful leaves and cooler nights at this time of year. As the temperature falls, white dew(露珠) is often seen on the grass and trees at night. For White Dew, Cinyee chose a raccoon(浣熊）—a small animal with thick hair. She drew white spots(小圆点) on the raccoon to show dew. And she used the dragon fruit to show the rich colors in autumn.
The young artist really gave the ancient Chinese culture a new look.
B . 
C . 
D . 
Is it a tree? Is it a panda? If a tree looks like a panda, it's a topiary (林木雕塑). A topiary is a tree or a bush that is made into a shape (造型). Growing atopiary garden is an art, taking both time and skills.
A topiary gardener should make a drawing first. The drawing shows the final shape. The gardener then plants or finds a bush for the topiary. In June of the plant's first year, the gardener looks for new leaves. When the leaves grow, the gardener begins to shape the bottom of the bush. It takes about five years. The top is not trimmed(修剪) during this time. In the fifth year, the bush grows tall enough for shaping. Then the gardener begins to shape the whole bush.
After the gardener starts a topiary, it needs care all year. In summer the gardener has to cut it many times to keep its shape. This cutting also helps the bush grow. In winter the bushes don't grow. The gardeners have to brush snow off the plants, or snow may hurt some parts of them.
Topiary gardening is an old art. People in Rome did it in the first Century. Later, in the 16th century, people in Europe liked topiaries too. By the 17th century, people in America also grew topiaries. Today it's still popular in many places of the world.
a. The gardener plants or finds a bush for the topiary.
b. The whole bush grows tall enough for shaping.
c. The gardener begins to shape the bottom of the bush.
d. The gardener draws the shape of a topiary.
Although visiting outer space is still a far dream for anyone who isn't an astronaut, a day trip to stars is already open for people to order!
A new company, Space Perspective, is planning tests with passengers. It has big plans to run up to 500 flightsfrom different places across the USA by 2024. If successful, reaching the outer side of space could be as easy as flying abroad in a few years' time. Spacemen and passengers will travel in Neptune, a capsule (航天舱) tied to a huge balloon.
They will move slowly upwards right to the side of space, 30 km away from the Earth. There, space tourists will be able to look back at the Earth and out to dark space and the sight of millions of stars. Because the capsule remains within the Earth's atmosphere (大气层), special clothing or training is not needed. It means that older people or those with health problems will be included.
One problem may be the method of landing back on the Earth. The balloon moves back down from space until it falls down in the sea. Passengers, spacemen, the capsule and the balloon are then sent back by ship.
Now Neptune faces competition from the Stratollite, a balloon being developed by a company called World View Enterprises, while the super-rich Richard Branson, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk are all pouring money into developing business space flying machines. The advantage of the balloon is that it will be cheaper than a space plane.
Space travel may soon be a reality, but how visitors get there is still a very open question.
Love mysteries but can't find the ones that suit you fine? Don't worry! Here are some that readers around the world highly recommend. There must be one that will win your heart!
| Book: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library Content: Mr. Lemoncello is a famous inventor in the town. Twelve kids are invited to visit his new library. However, this isn't a good place to spend the night! The kids must work together to solve the clues and escapes! Review: "It's a great book! I had my nose in it all the time! Thismust be the coolest library in the world!" —— Kate, 12 Price:¥38. 60(hardcover) / ¥31. 70(e-book） |
| Book: Fromthe Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Content: Claudia and her brother Jamie ran away from their suburban home to live in the Museum of Art in New York City. They enjoy the mystery of an angel statue that is nearly brought to the museum. Can they solve it? Review: "I have read this book twenty times! It's a must read for young fans of puzzles!" —— Alexa, 14 Price:¥48. 70(hardcover) / ¥34. 60(e-book） |
| Book: TheLondon Eye Mystery Content: Salimsuddenly disappears. No one knows where he has gone. His cousins, Ted and Kate have to follow clues around London and find him before it's too late. Can they make it? Review: "An amazing story fullof puzzles! It will make you never want to stop turning the pages!" —— Gabe, 13 Price:¥74. 70(hardcover) / ¥66. 60(e-book) |
| Book: Rebekah Girl Detective Content: Rebekah Daniels is just an ordinary spunky 9-year-old girl living in the small town of Curtis Bay. Her small town is filled with mysteries and Rebekah is sure that she, along with her best friend Mouse, will be able to solve every last one of them. Review: "I love Rebekah's personality, I think she will be an awesome detective when she grows up. "—— Luca, 12 Price: ¥169(hardcover) / ¥96. 6(e-book) |
TRAVEL
Tomorrow will be another great day in the history of space flight when the SS Marstrek makes its first journey to Mars. The spaceship will carry passengers to the red planet in just 28 hours-three days faster than any other passenger flight!The spacecraft takes off at 10 o'clock in the morning and arrives the next day at 3o'clock in the afternoon (Mars time).
Among the passengers on this exciting first flight will be singer Marion Hyde and actor Karl
Costly. To begin with, there will only be one flight a week.
FOOD
Government ministers from over 50 countries are meeting on Monday next week to discuss stopping all meat production in their countries. One minister who will be at the meeting said yesterday, "We know how much people like eating meat. But the fact is that more and more people are becoming vegetarian. And, of course, we should think about the animals themselves. "
Animal rights groups say they are going there to celebrate, while many cattle farmers also plan to be there, to ask the ministers to think again about the plans.
SCIENCE
Sleep become unnecessary by 2050, say scientists. Instead of going to bed, all a person will have to do is put their hands up against a charger and rest for about half an hour. After that, they will not feel tired any more. Doing this once a day will be enough for most people to stay awake for 24 hours. The first human to test the device will be journalist Glenn Martin.
A. We also know that meat production is very bad for the environment. B. There will be a lot of demonstrators outside the building where the meeting is held. C. They are working on a device which will make sleep a thing of the past. D. They are going to start tests next month to make sure that there are no negative side effects. B. But with tickets costing $500, 000 each, few of us will be flying on the SS Mars trek just yet! |
Jack is from America. He was bin 2000. He once lived in a small village with his parents. When he was young, his dream was to be a sand inventor. He carried a notebook with him all the time. His notebook imany drawings of different inventions.
In order to realize his dream, Jack worked very hard. He studied 12 hours a day, e at weekends. At the age of 18, he went to the best university in his country. Later, his dream came t. He also won many prizes because of his inventions.
