Weekend trips in Europe can be a truly magical experience, from the sunny beaches of Greece to the rolling hills of Italy. The following destinations are places that are easily accessible and offer incredible experiences that you'll always remember.
Hallstatt, Austria
Hallstatt, famous for its alpine houses, crystal clear lake, and snow-capped mountains, is among Earth's most picturesque destinations. Activities include exploring salt mines and ancient churches, and taking a boat trip on Lake Hallstatt or visiting the nearby Dachstein Ice Cave, promising unforgettable experiences.
Paris, France
Paris, with its iconic Eiffel Tower, winding streets, and charming cafes, is a top destination for couples seeking an unforgettable weekend. Whether exploring the City of Light or snuggling up in its gardens, Paris promises endless romance and cherished memories. For a weekend of European romance and adventure, look no further than Paris!
Zakynthos, Greece
Zakynthos, also called Zante, is famous as one of Europe's most breathtaking islands, boasting white beaches, unspoiled nature, and crystal clear blue waters. It's a top choice for a relaxing weekend break, offering activities like boat trips to the Blue Caves and exploring local pubs.
Florence, Italy
Florence's breathtaking architecture, rich history, and Mediterranean climate make it ideal for a weekend getaway in Europe. Its small size allows you to explore extensively in just two days. Don't miss the chance to learn to make gelato, pasta and pizza in a Florence cooking class, especially if you're a food enthusiast.
When the pool near Paris where he worked as a lifeguard was closed due to poor economic conditions, Guillaume Pop took jobs at various other pools that were almost empty. At one pool there was a small waterslide(水滑道), which gave the 22-year-old former competitive swimmer an idea: he would make a TikTok video in which he pretended to be a"professional waterslide tester".
Shooting down a slide in hard hat and hi-viz vest(防护衣) or smiling broadly in cool shapes to the music, Pop soon became a social media hit. He was hired to "test" slides and other facilities at water parks, swimming pools and campsites all over France. Today, he has more than half a million followers on TikTok and his own real-life waterslide-testing business. No longer working as a lifeguard, he travels the country checking the condition of waterslides, trying them out to determine how fun they are and creating amusing videos to attract customers.
"First of all, I check it without water, to make sure it's in an acceptable state," explains Pop, who must keep up-to-date on water park regulations. If he finds a waterslide needs work—for example, if there are bumpy joints, which can hurt sliders—management will bring in a specialist repairer. "After that, I test it with water," Pop says.
Then he moves on to the fun, promotional aspect. Sometimes he takes over a leisure park and invites social media influencers to enjoy it too. In 2022, he took 25 influencers to O'Gliss Park, an enormous water park on the Atlantic coast.
Pop estimates he's tested around 700 French waterslides and is now eyeing water parks abroad, such as Switzerland, Portugal and Spain, where he has been testing slides during the winter. "It's the best job in the world,"declares Pop, whose videos have received 80 million views. "I'm not behind a desk. I'm active and outside in the sun. And I build a positive relationship with customers. In fact, all the children tell me they want to be a waterslide tester!"
A recent survey in the US found that Gen Z-ers and Millennials(千禧一代) visit libraries more often than their parents or grandparents. The young love libraries because they are secure, comfortable, free and—as my 11-year-old would say—"aesthetic". This means they look good in the background of an Instagram post or TikTok video. Libraries are also a great place to meet people. If you're both young and in a library, chances are that you have similar interests.
And then, too, there are the books. Gen Z-ers are turning out to be big readers, especially of paper books. Even though they have smartphones, the most limitlessly distracting devices ever invented, in their pockets, many are deliberately choosing to pick up a piece of 15th-century technology instead. They like the fact that books are self-contained and require concentration.
There is, sometimes, a sense of nostalgic(怀旧的) cosplay in the way young people read. In New York, for example, the latest TikTok-fuelled craze is reading with strangers in bars. You have to buy a ticket in advance, and then you all gather and sit in silence for 30 minutes, reading whatever book you've brought along. Like an expensive version of going to the library, except that afterwards you all have a drink and talk about books.
The very thought of it makes me suffer, but that's because I'm a child of the 1970s and 1980s. To me, reading is a private pleasure, while screens—TV or cinema—are social. I did once, in a fit of ambitious parenting, introduce a"family reading hour", during which my husband and children were pressed to join me at the fireside for some silent reading. It could not have felt more performative if we had dressed up in top hats and crinolines(旧时的裙衬).But still, I applaud these young readers—for knowing what is good for them, for seeking out human connection, for finding the beauty and pleasure in old institutions, and for bringing new life to the library.
Today, poetry and science are often considered to be completely separate career paths. However, that wasn't always the case. The mathematician Ada Lovelace and the physicist James Clerk Maxwell were both accomplished poets. Similarly, the poet John Keats was also a licensed surgeon. The combination of these disciplines fell out of favor in the 1800s. Recently, however, there has been a reappearance of interest among scientists in expressing their research through poetry, such as lyrics and haiku, as alternative ways to inspire others with their findings.
"Poetry is a great tool for questioning the world," says Sam Illingworth, a poet and a geoscientist who works at the University of Western Australia. Through workshops and a new science-poetry journal, called Consilience, Illingworth is helping scientists to translate their latest results into poems that can attract appreciation from those outside of their immediate scientific field.
Stephany Mazon, a scientist from the University of Helsinki, participated in one of Illingworth's workshops where she and fellow scientists were tasked with writing haikus that highlighted water, a common theme in their research. "It was a lot of fun, and surprisingly easy to write the poem," Mazon says. She plans to continue writing. "We do harm ourselves to think that scientists can't be artistic and that art can't be used to communicate scientific ideas," Mazon says.
That viewpoint is echoed by Illingworth, who thinks science communication initiatives are too often dominated by public lectures with their hands-off PowerPoint slides. "Actually, when science communication involves writing and sharing poems, it invites a two-way dialogue between experts and nonexperts," he says. Scientist-poet Manjula Silva, an educator at Imperial College London, agrees, noting that poetry simplifies complex scientific concepts into language that everyone can understand.
Scientists and poets are both trying to understand the world and communicate that understanding with others. The distinction between scientists and poets is less than people might think. We're all just people with hopefully really interesting things to say and to share.
The Path of Diligence(勤奋)
Undoubtedly, diligence is one of the key factors in achieving success. While students are often encouraged to work hard at their academics, they may lack the right methods and a positive mindset..
Set clear goals
To succeed academically, it's crucial to set clear goals. . Clear goals stimulate motivation, enabling you to organize your time more effectively. Moreover, setting short-term and long-term goals provides a clear sense of direction in your academic journey.
Create plans and schedules
. Break tasks into manageable steps, establish achievable daily plans, ensure adequate rest time, and avoid overexertion(用力过度). Properly planning your time to balance study and relaxation contributes to learning efficiency.
Foster self-discipline
Learning to control yourself and maintaining discipline are keys to cultivating diligence. Establishing regular sleep patterns, minimizing irrelevant social activities, and concentrating on academic tasks are essential components of self-discipline. Consistently practicing these habits allows you to effectively tackle academic challenges.
Challenges are unavoidable during the learning process. Diligent students seek assistance from teachers, peers, or professional tutors when needed. Additionally, accepting feedback (反馈) and continuously refining your study methods and skills are crucial.
Maintain a positive mindset
Maintaining a positive mindset is crucial when facing difficulties and challenges. Believe in your abilities, view problems as opportunities, and approach academic challenges with optimism. .
A．Seek help and feedback
B．Look for help and lend a hand
C．It could be a goal you desire to achieve or your friend suggests
D．Here are suggestions to help you build habits and succeed academically
E．To maintain diligence, creating reasonable study plans and schedules is vital
F．These could be weekly study goals, semester-end targets, or long-term academic goals
G．A positive mindset reduces academic stress and boosts confidence in overcoming difficulties
In my role as a clown(小丑) doctor, I am dressed in my white coat with a curly rainbow wig(假发), a big red nose and my name badge "Doctor Larry Laugh-Out-Loud". As I enter the waiting area, I see the familiar atmosphere of 1 and tension: people sitting 2 on plastic chairs, looking through worn-out magazines, and anxious parents trying to 3 their crying children.
In the middle of this particular scene, I 4 a small girl Lara, with a swollen ankle. The on-duty nurse tells me that Lara's parents 5 her to the hospital after a bicycle accident. I understand that while the medical staff will treat her physical injury, my role is to 6 her spirits. Being a clown doctor means I can help people by 7 them.
I perform magic tricks, sing songs, tell stories and share silly jokes. Some children, though, don't feel like laughing, especially if they're in pain. So I work closely with doctors and nurses to 8 our approach sensitively to each patient's needs.
And my magic medicine does indeed seem to 9 . While the doctor 10 examining Lara's ankle, I get her 11 by doing a magic trick. Her 12 smile soon turns into hearty laughter as I"magically"produce her sock from my pocket. Seeing their daughter so much happier has in turn made Lara's parents more relaxed.
As I leave the hospital,13 my wig and red nose, I carry with me a broad smile, knowing that today I make a difference. While there may be more 14 ahead for Lara and others, I hope that my presence as a clown doctor continues to make the hospital a 15 place to visit. After all, as the saying goes,"Laughter is the best medicine."
Native Shanghainese Shi Yue, a junior art director at McCann Worldgroup Italy who has been living in Milan for 10 years, is always amazed by the similarities (share) between her hometown and the Italian city she currently stays.
Open, inclusive, developed, international, and trendy... These are the words that she used (describe) the two cities, both of which serve global hubs for many industries, in particular, fashion and design.
"The two cities are alike," Shi exclaimed. Her (observe) is echoed(附和) by two Italians now living in Shanghai: Gabriele Fezia, an Italian artist and curator, and Aldo Cibie, an Italian architect and designer.
"Everybody agrees that Milan and Shanghai have special connection and there are many similarities—especially in the way society and people act and think," said Fezia, who comes from Alessandria near Milan and (move) to Shanghai in 2000.
Since 1979, Shanghai and Milan (be) the first pair of sister cities between China and Italy. The friendship has been (particular) enhanced through joint efforts such as hosting the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai and the 2015 World Expo in Milan, facilitated by cooperative (agreement) between their organizing committees.
On a cold, snowy evening, Jack was at the corner shop, with his sole focus on the Marvel (漫威) superhero figurines(小雕像). Since then, he had diligently walked a neighbor's dog and weeded his neighbors' gardens to earn money for one figurine. Finally he had enough money for one and raced towards the corner shop. Lost in excitement, he accidentally tripped over a homeless old man seated against a wall in the cold, quickly murmuring an apology before continuing on his way.
Inside the shop, Jack glanced at the shelves displaying Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, and other beloved heroes. His heart raced as he reached for the Spiderman.
"You're a fan, right?"a friendly voice appeared behind him.
Jack turned to see the shopkeeper, an elderly man with a warm smile. "Yes, they're amazing!" Jack said. "They're strong, and they help so many people. They have super power. I wish I could be a superhero too."
"You can be," the shopkeeper encouraged.
Surprised, Jack asked, "But how? I don't have any super power."
Smiling softly, the shopkeeper bent down, placing his hands on Jack's arms. "Why would you need them?"he replied kindly. "See that woman over there? She needs to take care of three children. However, she still actively helps the elderly in the community. And do you know Jimmy? He is a firefighter who has saved countless lives. Being a hero isn't about super power; it's about what's in your heart."
Locking eyes with Jack, the shopkeeper smiled. "You don't need super power to be a hero. It starts with your heart."
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。
Hearing what the shopkeeper said, Jack was lost in thought. With relief, Jack found the homeless old man still sitting against the wall. |
