Over the past seven years, our readers have brought some very special locations to our attention in our search for the Nicest Places in America. The three finalists in 2023 are shown below. You can read about our winners in 2022 at rd.com/nicest, where we are collecting suggestions for places we should consider in 2024.
Coulterville, California
Couterville is a tiny town in Northern California, about 1000 miles from Phoenix. It was named after George Coulter, one of the first whites to come to the gold camp already populated by Chinese and Mexican miners. The Chinese first appeared in 1850, creating a small settlement at the north end of what was to be Coulterville. The entire area is a heaven for rock and mineral collectors.
Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport is a city full of originals. Pal's Sudden Service was born here, as was the recipe for the Original Long Island Iced Tea. The hand- carved carousel (旋转木马) is a beloved original too, which features 32 beautiful hand-carved wooden animals—each lovingly and painstakingly fashioned by a group of Kingsport workers. In the city of makers, more originals are soon on the way.
Buchanan, Michigan
Buchanan is a peaceful small town having a historic downtown and beautiful natural resources. When asked, "What's the best thing about Buchanan? The residents declare, Pears Mill." Pears Mill, a two-floor brick building fitted with machinery for pounding grain into flour, was constructed in 1857, listed on the Michigan Historical Register in 1987 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.
Darwin's Arch, a famed rock formation in the Galapagos Islands has taken on a new shape.
The top of the Arch collapsed this week into the Pacific Ocean due to natural forces.
"Obviously all the people from the Galapagos felt it was a shame because it's something we're familiar with since childhood, and to know that it has changed was a bit of a shock,"
Washington Tapia said, "However, from a scientific point of view, it's part of the natural process.It normally happens on our planet."
Darwin's Arch,which is made of natural stone, at one point would have been part of the island. Named after famed naturalist Charles Darwin, it is not accessible by land. But the area around the islands is a popular diving spot, particularly to observe sharks and other sea species.
"Unfortunately today, our guests of the Galapagos Aggressor III experienced a once in a lifetime event," the travel company Agressor Adventures posted on Facebook. The group added, "This morning at 11:20 am local time, the world-famous Darwin's Arch collapsed in front of their eyes. There are now only two pillars (柱子) remaining. Some in the dive & travel industry are already referring to this now as ‘The Pillars of Evolution (进化)'."
The post received nearly 200 comments including one person who wrote, "What a shame! Geologic (地质的) time is so much different from human time that we forget that it's always going on. That's why I like to spend a lot of time among the arches in Southern Utah. You never know when it could be the last time before geology does its work."
The Galapagos Islands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site that has been called a "living museum and showcase of evolution". The islands are situated about 621 miles from the coast of Ecuador. They are home to many interesting animals including giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and many types of finches.
AI, or artificial intelligence, has become increasingly popular in everyday life. Programmers code and "train" computers to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual recognition, artificial speech, and problem solving. AI algorithms(算法)work behind the scenes to customize ads and content online, and natural language processors interact and respond with users in a conversational manner. AI chatbots are now widely available and can be used for a variety of purposes .
One example of an AI that may help protect individuals is "Take It Down", a program developed by Meta to help teenagers remove unauthorized photos from the internet. While there are concerns about AI programs collecting data and invading privacy, AI automation can save time and improve efficiency in many areas, including this task that would otherwise take hours to perform manually.
The current generation of AI chatbots still face limitations in fully simulating human emotions and attending to subtle variations of language cues in human conversations. The problems result from AI developers' preference of language choices. They must continue to work on improving AI processing and linguistics for a more humanized approach.
AI may also change how we approach education and tutoring. AI tutoring programs and AI-assisted mental health services could provide 24/7 accessibility for students and personalized assessments for academic, behavioral, and mental health issues. However, concerns remain over the potential misuse of AI technology for cheating and plagiarism in academic settings.
Despite concerns about privacy and the sci-fi idea of AI robots taking over, AI will continue to open up new discoveries in all aspects of life. This technology carries both risks and benefits, but if used with care, it can bring positive developments while avoiding risks to livelihoods and privacy.
In the midst of an already record-breaking heat wave, Phoenix, Arizona, set a particularly eye-popping record: the temperature only dropped to 97 degrees Fahrenheit overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, setting an all-time record high for a nighttime low. When temperatures stay high overnight, they place a particularly heavy burden on the body, raising the risk of heat illness and death.
The U.S. —and the world—has seen a spate of extreme heat so far this year, including the planet's hottest-ever June and hottest week on record during the first week of July. Rising global temperatures from burning fossil fuels are the main driver of more frequent and more intense heat waves. And an El Niño event is also boosting global temperatures this year.
A heat dome has been in place for weeks over the U.S. Southwest and Texas, and it has fueled many heat records. Phoenix has now seen 20 days in a row with a daytime high of 110 degrees F or higher, a record that is likely to continue for several more days. A heat dome is an area of high pressure that parks over a region. High-pressure ridges, as they are also called, feature sinking air, which compresses and heats up. These ridges' typical clear skies also allow the sun's rays to beat down on the ground, further raising temperatures.
Prolonged heat extremes pose a major public health threat because heat is the number-one weather-related killer in the U.S.; it causes more human deaths than hurricanes, tornadoes and floods combined. Heat can cause dehydration, which leads the blood to thicken and makes the heart pump harder. That organ and others can be damaged by too much exposure to heat.
The soaring, triple-digit high daily temperatures grab the headlines, and they definitely are a concern—but when temperatures only drop into the 80s and 90s at night, the body doesn't get a chance to cool down. This is particularly a concern for those who lack air-conditioning, including unhoused populations. And heat is especially a health risk for the very young, the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions such as asthma and heart disease.
It is the beginning of a new school year, but for many, it may be their last. Many say that senior year is the best year of high school, but be careful. . Here are the things that you should not do during your final year of high school.
The first thing is procrastinating. It is a bad habit, and it is extremely harmful when you get to your senior year. Your senior year is going to be busy with schoolwork, volunteering, and college applications. . You need to plan your schedule wisely so not only can you get everything you need done, but you can also enjoy some time for yourself or with friends.
The next thing you should not do is be unhealthy. Being unhealthy in both mind and body is going to be hard to avoid during your senior year. , not to mention all the stress that this year is going to cause you. However, being healthy will help you greatly. Getting a good night's sleep, eating good food, and exercising can help your body stay healthy, which will overall benefit you and make the days easier. . You can read a book, take a warm bath, or talk to someone; just do something that will calm you down.
. While you should be careful about your schoolwork and habits, remember that this is your last year of high school, so enjoy it. Give yourself some time for yourself. That could be just staying in and watching movies with your family, or going to a party with your friends.
A. Now, many high school students procrastinate
B. That is why you cannot procrastinate during this time
C. As for your mental health, make sure you take time to relax
D. There will be all-nighters and a ton of unhealthy eating habits
E. There is something you have to watch out for in your senior year
F. The last thing you should avoid in your senior year is being too serious
G. Last, you should not be too mean to your family during your senior year
The days that make us happy make us wise.
—John Masefield
When I first read this line by England's Poet Laureate, it 1 me. What did Masefield mean?Without thinking about it much, I had always assumed that the 2 was true. But his serious assurance was3 . I was deeply attracted by it.
Slowly, I seemed to 4 his meaning and realized the wisdom that happiness makes possible lies in clear perception, not 5 by anxiety nor dimmed by despair and boredom, and without the blind 6 caused by fear.
Active happiness—not mere satisfaction or 7 —often comes suddenly, like an April shower or the unfolding of a bud. Then you discover what kind of wisdom has 8 it. Amazingly, in your eyes, the grass is greener; bird songs are sweeter; the 9 of your friends are more understandable, and more forgivable.
Happiness is like a pair of eyeglasses correcting your 10 vision.Nor are the 11 of happiness limited to what is near around you. Unhappy, with your thoughts focused on your emotional woes, your vision is cut short as though blocked by a wall. Happy, the wall12 .
Consequently, the long vision is there for the seeing. The ground at your feet, the world about you—people, thoughts, emotions, pressures—are now 13 a larger scene. Everything covers a fairer 14 . Everything around you, whether it is encouraging or frustrating, no longer seems such a big deal. And here is the beginning of 15 .
The Chengdu World University Games concluded on August 8 as the curtain (raise) for the 15th National Fitness Day. This handover highlights the importance of both (compete)sports and the general public's (pursue)of healthy lifestyles.
The Chengdu Universiade, focused on benefiting the public and sharing the competition, not just made dreams come true for athletes inspired enthusiasm for wellness and sports. The sports spirit left behind by the event is sure to continue benefiting the public for years (come).
In recent decades, people across China (participate)in a wide range of mass fitness activities to celebrate National Fitness Day. The data revealing more than 24,000 national fitness events were carried out across the country, with the number of participants (estimate) to exceed 6.5 million.
According to the National Fitness Program, the general public will enjoy more convenient physical fitness services by 2025, with full coverage of fitness facilities in counties, towns, and villages within 15-minute walk. The program is also to offer people professional advice and a science-based policy, (perfect)athletic performance with a universal standard.
1) 表示欢迎；
2) 推荐他上哪所大学；
3) 建议他做哪些准备工作。
注意：1). 词数不少于80；
2). 不要逐字逐句翻译，可适当增添细节。
NEVER STOP WALKING
When Justin was 7, he suffered from a disease that led to problems with the development of his back. Over the years, the little boy had gone through a total of five corrective surgeries. Justin could no longer walk and was limited to a wheelchair. But this did not stop him from living a normal life thanks to his mother' S love and others' help.
After entering high school, Justin got interested in playing the trumpet (小号) and joined the school's band. He served as one of the band's trumpeters and developed a strong friendship with his partner Tom. As Thanksgiving Day approached, the band intended to perform in the Thanksgiving Day Parade and every member had the chance to join in, including Justin. However, there was one obvious problem. Justin could not control his wheelchair and play the trumpet at the same time. The band director put forward an idea of one student pushing Justin during his marches. Tom immediately volunteered even though it meant he had to give up the opportunity to play his own instrument during the parade."I do it just to make sure Justin knows that he always has a place in the band, and he always will," Tom said to their director secretly. From then on, the two practiced together, one playing the instrument and the other pushing the wheelchair with the rhythm of the music.
To help Justin, Tom sacrificed (牺牲) far beyond expectation. Apart from losing the chance to perform, he needed to spare more time to take care of Justin and even missed his football training several times. All of these were seen by Justin and the burden of guilt weighed heavily on his mind."I can't meet my own needs at the sacrifice of Tom's chance. It is time to find a solution." Justin thought to himself as his mother pushed him on the way home. His mother lowered her head and said,"Justin, play me your new tune." Justin took out his trumpet and was about to play when an excellent idea came to him.
注意：
1.续写司数立カ150左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
He turned around to ask his mother for help.
Thanksgiving finally came, as did Justin and mom's performance.
