4 Books in 2024
A medical worker is learning about the tough times in her job's past. A news reporter is exploring the hidden, darker parts of the art world. The start of 2024 had many books that are fun to read. If you want to save a spot to read these books at the library, here are some we think you'll enjoy.
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange
The follow up to Tommy Orange's big hit There, There, Wandering Stars is a multi-generational look at the impact of the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864. These characters go through abuse, exploitation (剥削), and addiction—but if There, There is any indication, Orange is careful at not taking advantage of these hardships, but instead, pointing toward something bigger. (Pub. Feb. 27)
Legacy by Uche Blackstock
Uche Blackstock has had a long career in medicine as a doctor and as a professor of emergency medicine. Her memoir follows her growing up wanting nothing more than to be a doctor, and discovering all parts of the deep-rooted problems that lead to poorer health outcomes for Black Americans. (Pub. Jan. 23)
Get the Picture by Bianca Bosker
From the author of the best-selling book Cork Dork, Bianca Bosker dives into a new community of fans and weirdos (怪人), this time in art world. She spends time with artists, gallery owners, and power brokers and more to figure out how art moves and why art moves us.(Pub. Feb. 2)
There's Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraqib
MacArthur "Genius" Grant-winning author Hanif Abdurraqib has written thoughtful, personal, and poetic cultural analysis on music, dance, film, and more. While nominally(名义上地) his next book is about basketball—like the rest of his writing, it's also about everything else. (Pub. Mar. 26)
Thirty-three summers ago, a diverse group of passengers and I rode a bus from the residential areas, each of us wrapped in our own world, silent and serious. Among us was a small, grey man, a regular passenger who silently boarded the bus each morning, heading to the senior center. He moved with a stoop (弯腰), his face marked with sadness, unnoticed by the rest of us.
One July morning, he greeted the driver and smiled at us, a gesture met with cautious acknowledgment from the driver and silence from the rest. The following day, he boarded with renewed energy, greeting us all warmly. Shocked, some of us responded in kind, and over time, we began to acknowledge each other more.
The old man, now in a neat suit and tie, with his hair carefully combed , became a daily source of greeting. One morning, he surprised us with a bouquet of wildflowers, slightly wilted from the heat. The driver, with a smile, teased him about having a girlfriend, to which he shyly confirmed. The bus erupted in cheers and applause, and Charlie, our old man, took a bow before sitting down. From then on, Charlie brought flowers every day, and some of us started to contribute to his bouquet, shyly offering them to him. The atmosphere on the bus transformed; men began to joke, chat, and share the newspaper.
As autumn approached, Charlie missed his stop one morning, and his absence continued for several days, prompting concern. Upon reaching the senior center, we learned that he was fine but had lost a close friend and was expected back on Monday. The bus ride back was filled with a quiet silence.
The following Monday, Charlie was there, a bit more stooped, his hair a touch grayer, and without his tie. The bus was quiet, like a church, as we, who had been touched by his presence that summer, sat with tears in our eyes and wildflowers in our hands, a silent tribute to our friend Charlie.
By Global Times Published: May 13, 2024 09: 39 PM
China's popular show Chinese Poetry Conference has not only received a warm welcome from audiences for its cultural knowledge and ancient wisdom, but also become a stage and platform for cultural exchanges.
Cambodian Princess Jenna Norodom appeared on the latest episode of Chinese Poetry Conference on China Central TV on Saturday and shared her knowledge about China's ancient poems. She said that China and Cambodia have an unbreakable bond of friendship and that she has been learning Chinese and ancient Chinese poems.
She noted that she hopes to learn some poems about friendship and recite them to her Chinese friends. During the show, she recited one of her favorite poems: "I live upstream and you downstream by Yangtze Blue. Day after day of you I think, but you are not in view. Although as one we drink, the water clear of River Blue."
In her eyes, the poem written by Li Zhiyi, a poet of the Song Dynasty, expresses well the feeling of longing as Cambodia and China will always be good partners and good neighbors who "drink from the same river."
Shan Jixiang, president of the China Cultural Relics Academy, said that the 2024 season of Chinese Poetry Conference is about not only the preservation of poetry, but also refreshing and boosting China's fine traditional culture. Poems carry the emotional wisdom of the stages of past dynasties and the cultural mark of the Chinese nation. The program perfectly combines the soul of poetry for thousands of years with modern beauty and shows the rich heritage of Chinese culture to the world.
The mysterious ‘Great Attractor' is pulling the Milky Way galaxy off course. No matter what you're doing right now—sitting, standing, walking—you're moving.
Specifically, you're moving at least four different ways. First, the Earth is turning very fast while it's in space, going about 1,000 miles per hour, or 1,600 kilometers per hour. This turning makes our days and nights. Next, the Earth and the other planets are going around the sun. We move at about 67, 000 miles per hour, or 108;000 kilometers per hour. This movement makes our seasons and years. Also, the sun and everything around it is going around the middle of our galaxy(星系), the Milky Way, really fast, over 500,000 miles per hour, or 828,000 kilometers per hour. Plus, everything in the universe is always getting bigger as it spreads out.
But a long time ago, in the 1970s, space experts saw that something was different about the galaxies close to us, called the Local Group. These galaxies were being pulled away from their normal path really fast, towards something we couldn't see. They named this place the Great Attractor, but it's hard to learn more about it because we can't see it well.
"The Milky Way has so many stars and dust, which hides the information we want to see in that direction. So our galaxy is hiding the Great Attractor," says Jorge Moreno, a space expert at a college. This place we can't see is called the Zone of Avoidance by people who study space. We still don't know everything about why the Milky Way and the other galaxies are being pulled off course, but there have been some ideas. The newest idea is a very big group of galaxies called Laniakea, which means "big sky" in Hawaiian. Want to know more about space secrets? Send us an email at shortwave@ npr. org.
Tips for Teenage Years
During the teenage years, rapid growth will bring about a lot of changes that might seem sudden and challenging to deal with. You will deal successfully with them through the following tips! You are a young adult now!
As you take on greater responsibilities, you will have more freedom to decide for yourself. It is crucial to be knowledgeable and thoughtful in your decision-making process. In this way you can make healthy balanced decisions. They will help shape the future. You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what you want to do. Work hard and the right opportunity will present itself to you.
In your late teens and early twenties, you will have more freedom to make your own decisions and you may have the desire to be on your own. You should learn to think of them, even though you are old enough to look after yourself.
During this period, it is completely normal for you to prioritize spending time with your friends over your family. A true friend will stand by you no matter what happens.
As a young adult, the decisions you make will shape your future and no one else can make them for you. Your life is in your hands and the choices you make will be yours alone. Make the most of your life by living it wisely.
A. Both situations are fine!
B. Please remain calm and don't worry.
C. Be selective in choosing your friends.
D. But try to keep your family involved in your life.
E. You may appreciate what you have in your own life.
F. So making the right choices will be important to you.
G. Your family has been with you since you came into this world.
On a warm summer day, I decided to take a break at a cozy 1 shop after a long day of running errands (琐事). I 2 a newspaper and some chocolate and 3 down at a small table near the window. As I sipped on my coffee and read the news, I noticed a young girl sitting at the table next to me.
She was 4 in a colorful outfit and had a bright smile on her face. I couldn't help but5 her carefree attitude. I also couldn't help but notice the delicious-looking chocolate she had on her plate. I was not able to resist and 6 over to grab a piece of mine.
To my surprise, she 7 her eyes on me as I took a bite of my chocolate. Nodding politely, I took a second piece, enjoying the rich 8 . As I reached for a 9 piece,
the girl burst out laughing. She 10 to a plate on the table behind me, where a similar plate sat untouched. 11 , I realized my mistake. I had been eating her chocolate the whole time!
I quickly apologized to the girl, who couldn't stop laughing at the 12 . We ended up sharing a good 13 and exchanging stories about our day. It was a 14 and unexpected moment that I would always remember as a lesson in paying more attention to 15 .
Living in Yunnan is like living in nature. This is a place where you can feel the growth of all things. ( locate) in the northwest of Yunnan, Gaoligong Mountain is a (true) special place that showcases the diverse natural beauty.
Reaching across over 900 kilometers from the bottom of the Red River Valley the Kawagarbo(卡瓦格博峰) Peak, Yunnan is home to a wide range of natural environments that are waiting (explore).
Every year in March and April, Gaoligong Mountain (come) alive with the breathtaking beauty. The mountain is covered in snow at top while the middle slopes are painted red autumn color. As you make your way through the foothills, you'll be greeted by fields of golden flowers. It is often said great birds appear from deep mountains, and Gaoligong Mountain is undoubtedly the (good) choice for bird watching. When you
step outdoors, you can observe different birds happily singing and playing on the branches, searching for food in the forest.
Gaoligong Mountain offers (visit) the opportunity to witness the earliest signs of spring. Its beauty remains largely undiscovered, making it the perfect destination for those looking to involve (they) in the heart of nature.
This is an unforgettable experience which impressed me most. I'd name it " A Taxi Ride I'll Never Forget". Here comes the story.
About ten years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night I went to pick up a passenger at2: 30 am, when I arrived to collect, the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Often, many drivers would just honk (按喇叭) once or twice, wait a short minute, then drive away.
But I had seen too many needy people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a real danger, I always went to the door to collect the passenger. It might be someone who needed my assistance. Would I not want a driver to do the same if my father or mother had called for a taxi?
So I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute", answered a weak and elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long wait, the door opened. A small woman in her 80's stood before me. Wearing a long dress and a black hat, she looked like somebody out of a 1940s movie.
By her side was a small suitcase. "Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to the taxi, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the taxi.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. "It's nothing", I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated."
"Oh, you're such a good man," she said. When we got in the taxi, she gave me an address, and then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"
"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.
"Oh, I don't mind," she said, "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice (临终医院)."
I looked in the rear-view mirror (后视镜). Her eyes were shining with tears. "I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very long." I quietly reached over and shut off the meter (里程器). "What route would you like me to take?" I asked.
注意：1）写作词数应为150 左右;
2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
For the next two hours, we drove through the city.
"How much do I owe you?" she asked , reaching into her purse.
