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In the house where I grew up, we had a room we called the library. It wasn't a real library, of course, it was just a small room dominated by a television set. But there were bookshelves built into all four walls, and hundreds of book — hardback books of many colors — surrounded us in that room. The books, collected by my parents and grandparents throughout their lifetimes, were a part of my childhood.

But in the 1970s, I'm noticing a worrying trend: a move away from books. American homes might soon lack dedicated spaces for libraries, and hardcover books, once symbols of enduring thought and wisdom, may become endangered.

A friend who owns a bookstore in a college town tells me he struggles to sell hardback books; paperbacks, though easier to sell, still disappoint him. Students, once seen with books, now carry music records. Reading seems to be giving way to listening. Recent observations support this shift: the University of Illinois reported that a significant portion of freshmen have reading skills no better than an average eighth grader, with many of these students having been top performers in high school.

University professors note that even college graduates struggle with reading and writing. The cultural impact of this change is evident. A successful fiction book might sell a mere 3,000 copies, while a music album by a new band, Boston, has sold millions. This reflects our passive consumption era, where listening to music or watching shows requires little active engagement, unlike reading a book, which demands effort and intent.

In the past, reading was a fundamental part of life, but now, in the era of fast information access, books are losing their significant place. Today's young Americans are more likely to read a disposable paperback than to cherish and reread a hardcover. In a society that values speed and convenience, the book for keeping and rereading is a weighty dinosaur.

When Darrell Langworthy was growing up, Thanksgiving meant 30 neighbors sharing a potluck meal in the family driveway.

"My parents worked at a golf course. They'd invite all the workers to Thanksgiving dinner. They would never turn anybody away," he says. "If there was a kid in the neighborhood who needed dinner, he got it." It has become an essential part of their family life. Today, Langworthy carries on the tradition at his restaurant in Colchester, Vermont, where a combination of barbecue and community service has made Mark BBQ a hot spot.

Colchester is a small town on the shores of Lake Champlain, just north of Burlington. Locals know Mark BBQ for its brisket burgers, pulled-pork sandwiches and Tex-Mex meatloaf.

For many, Mark BBQ is also a stop on the road to recovery. Enter: Recovery Kitchen, a programme that brings former addicts into the kitchen to build service industry skills. The effort was inspired by manager Casey DeGuise, who arrived with a troubled history and even more determination.

"He had been turned down for 35 jobs," Langworthy says. "We said ‘Let's take a chance,' and he's never let me down."

Langworthy knows that a little help can go a long way. "I had a time when I was definitely drinking too much," he recalls. Now, he offers to others the support he once needed. He keeps a cooler by Mark BBQ's front door with free food for anyone who wants it. But his favorite pastime is still watching full plates turn to dirty dishes.

"If we can pay the bills and staff, we're happy," says Langworthy. "If we can help the community, we're happier." So far, Darrell Langworthy has handed out more than 170,000 free meals.

Scotland's landscapes, history, and culture offer a great variety of experiences. This summer, join our unique ranger programs to discover Scotland like never before!

Young Clan's Highland Games (June 4 to August 22)

A delightful experience for children! Test their skills in traditional Scottish games and compare their abilities to the historical legends of Scotland. No prior experience needed. Fun and educational, this program is flexible to fit your schedule. Meet at the Highland Folk Museum.

Wild Highlands Exploration (May 25 to September 3)

Immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands. Perfect for families, this program offers guided hikes through scenic trails, wildlife spotting, and camping adventures. Learn about Scotland's native wildlife and how to responsibly enjoy the natural environment. Gather at the Glencoe Visitor Centre.

Loch Ness Legends and Lore (June 8 to September 3)

At the world-famous Loch Ness, this program combines breathtaking views with captivating stories about the Loch's history and the mysterious Nessie. Ideal for families and photography enthusiasts. Meet at the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition for this engaging talk.

Photography Workshops in the Isles (June 18 & July 11)

Enhance your photography skills in Scotland's picturesque landscapes. Join our expert photographers for hands-on workshops.

6/18—Isle of Skye Sceneries: meet at the Old Man of Storr parking area.

7/11—Capturing the Aurora: meet at the Shetland Isles Observatory

A Father's Day Surprise

"Mano, do you know when Father's Day is celebrated?" Ali asked his sister.

"Yes, it is going to be celebrated on June 19 this year. Yesterday my friend and I were talking about it." Mano replied.

"Do you have any idea how we should celebrate this day and make it memorable for Dad?" Ali asked.

"Hmm... I was thinking about it too and have some ideas." Mano answered excitedly. "What are you kids talking about?" their mum asked, entering their room.

"Mum, we were wondering about how to celebrate Father's Day." Mano said.

"Oh, I am surprised you kids remembered! Well, I am thinking of cooking some favorite dishes for your father. You both should think of ways to decorate the house beautifully."Mum said.

"That would be great!"said Mano and Ali together. Both of them got up smiling, thinking of hundreds of ways to celebrate Father's Day. Mum went to the kitchen, and Mano and Ali started doing their homework. But soon Ali noticed Mano deep in thought so he asked what the matter was. "Ali, I was thinking that our parents do everything for us and in return they want nothing. Isn't it bad that we never think about them and are always concerned about our needs?" Mano replied. "Sometimes we are so busy with our lives that we don't pay proper attention to our parents. We should listen to whatever they say properly and answer them. We must also study hard to get good grades." Ali nodded.

The next day, all three of them, Mano, Ali and their mum, got busy preparing their surprise celebration for Father's Day. Mano drew a family picture with her crayons, Ali bought balloons and candles and began writing a poem which he planned to sing that day. In short, a lot of things were being planned and prepared.

注意：

1. 续写词数应为150左右；

2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。

Paragraph 1: 

Finally, when Father's day came, both Ali and Mano came home from school and started decorating the house.

Paragraph 2:

Ali and Mano cried out together, "Happy Father's Day!"

1. 活动目的；

2. 活动安排；

3. 邀请观看。

注意：

1. 写作词数应为100左右；

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

3. 参考词汇：The Ruse of the Empty City《空城计》；The Drunken Beauty《贵妃醉酒》

Dear Jim,

Yours,

Li Hua

ChatGPT is an advanced AI chat robot  (train) by OpenAI that interacts in a conversational way. The dialogue format allows ChatGPT  (answer) follow-up questions, admit mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests. The arrival of ChatGPT will push educators to focus more on teaching subjects which technology is not good at,  senior education expert said.

Andreas Schleicher, director of education, said he (actual) welcomes this development. And he also thinks a chance to make people focus less on tasks that technology can achieve equally well. "The future is not about technology versus humans but is about combining technology humans," he said. "ChatGPT pushes us to think harder of what makes us human."

"In the past the world rewarded you for what you know. , nowadays the world rewards you for what you can do with what you know, and I think ChatGPT pushes us to work harder on this." He said.

If students are only as smart as a smartphone, it means  (educate) are not doing enough, he said. People should focus on developing human skills that truly are important,  means people should develop skills like imagination and creativity. While search engines such as Google or Baidu simply extract knowledge, ChatGPT goes a step further and analyzes a search before providing people with a single answer.

As a device, ChatGPT (make) learning much more interesting and powerful in the future, but as a purpose and objective, humans need to work very hard to win that race with technology, he added.

The "Double Seven Festival" is a traditional Chinese festival. It has a longer history than the 1 of Valentine's Day in the West.

The origin of this festival is related to a cowboy and a weaving girl, whose love story has become a part of the Chinese culture. 2  there are many different versions of the story, the most popular one begins with a poor cowboy. Living with his elder and 3  brother, who treated him badly, the cowboy looked after an old cow every day. Though life was tough and boring, he put up with it in silence, without complaining.

Unluckily, even such a hard life didn't last long. His brother got rid of him and all he got was the old cow. Although they couldn't talk to each other, they 4 on each other for company. One day, miracle happened. The old cow started talking and told him that there would be seven fairies coming down to the Earth to 5 in a pond. All he should do was to 6 the dress of one of the fairies. Then that fairy would be his wife. 7 but excited, the cowboy followed the cow's advice.

Every day the cowboy went to work 8  the fairy wove cloth at home. However, their 9  life came to an end when the Heavenly Goddess learned about it. She took the weaving girl away and drew a line in the sky that turned into the Milky Way, which 10  the cowboy meeting her wife. Due to the strong reaction from the young 11 , the Goddess finally allowed them to see each other only once a year. The day was on the seventh day of the seventh month. That is 12  the Double Seven Festival came into being.

Although the love story doesn't end up with a happy ending, it is to be told from one 13 to another. It reminds people to cherish every moment 14 with their loved ones and not to regret until we 15 them.

Our brain is a wonderful and complicated organ. 

In recent years, scientists have discovered new ways to study the brain. They can now watch the activities of different parts of our brain while it is at work. We can think of these techniques as new windows on our minds.

 It can take pictures of your brain in much the same way as an X-ray machine can take pictures of your bones. This method makes use of the fact that whenever a part of your brain becomes more active, it uses more oxygen.

If someone were to use this technique to study your brain, your head would be surrounded by a machine that includes a big magnet (磁铁).  With the help of a computer, it turns these signals into pictures. By taking pictures every few seconds, scientists can tell which parts of your brain become active when you think of something, such as multiplying ten three times.

 Without stored memories, we would not be able to remember words we have learned or find our way home.

Everything we learn must be stored as memories in our brain.  Once a change is made, it must remain, even after the effort to learn has stopped.

A. One new research method is called FMRI.

B. This device can discover tiny signals coming from oxygen.

C. Most of our memories are stored away out of our awareness.

D. Storing memories is one of the most important jobs our brain does.

E. Keeping that information in our brain means our brain changes.

F. When we need them, they can be "copied" and placed for immediate use.

G. Scientists have been working for centuries to understand how it works.

Ten years after introducing "Google Glass", Alphabet Inc. has created a new kind of smart eyeglasses. The company says the wearable computer device can translate different languages in real time.

A working model of the yet-unnamed device was presented to the public this week during the yearly Google I/O developer conference. Google did not say when the glasses might go on sale to the public.

The first Google Glass device included a wearable camera that could film what the wearers saw That caused widespread privacy concerns. The camera element also gave Google Glass a kind of science-fiction look. The latest device looks more similar to traditional glasses.

A brief demonstration of the new eyeglasses described its translation ability, but did not provide additional details. The company also did not say whether the new device would be equipped with a camera. A demonstration explained that a person, wearing the glasses and talking with someone who speaks a different language, can see the spoken words in their own language. The description showed translations involving English, Mandarin, Spanish and American Sign Language.

The new device is one of several products shared at the conference that are currently in development. The company says the products aim to better connect Google services with activities happening in the real world. This includes company offerings for searching and viewing maps, as well as other services using the latest developments in artificial intelligence.

Eddie Chung, a director of product management at Google, spoke to developers about the new eyeglasses. "What we're working on is technology that enables us to break down language barriers, taking years of research in Google Translate and bringing that to glasses," he said.

Soldiers and other military people wear uniforms with various other symbols to indicate their status. But in the business world everyone wears more or less similar suits, and you cannot tell at a glance who ranks higher or lower than another. So how do people in the business world show their superiority? 

An attempt to study this was made by two researchers using a series of silent films. They had two actors play the parts of an executive and a visitor, and switch roles each time. The scene had one man at his desk playing the part of an executive, while the other, playing the part of a visitor, knocks at the door, opens it and approaches the desk to discuss some business matter.

The audience watching the films was asked to rate the executive and the visitor in terms of status. A certain set of rules about status began to emerge from the ratings. The visitor showed the least amount of status when he stopped just inside the door to talk across the room to the seated man. He was considered to have more status when he walked halfway up to the desk, and he had the most status when he walked directly up to the desk and stood right in front of the seated executive.

Another thing that affected the status of the visitor in the eyes of the observers was the time between knocking and entering. For the seated executive, his status was also affected by the time between hearing the knock and answering. The quicker the visitor entered the room, the more status he had. The longer the executive took to answer, the more status he had.

As the U. K. and nations across the world mourn (哀悼) the death of Queen Elizabeth II, several aspects of the queen's 70-year reign have been resurfacing over the past few days. From her personal life to her colonial legacy to her beloved dog — many are attracted by the life of the monarch (君主) . According to some experts, part of people's attention towards the Royal Family not only comes from their respect for the queen but also from the trend of celebrity worshipping (名人崇拜) .

The idea of the British Royal Family taps into a collective desire for something that seems extraordinary, as opposed to the banality (平庸) of one's own life, Cheryl Thompson, an assistant professor at the School of Performance at Toronto Metropolitan University, told Global News.

Thompson said the fairytaleish aspect of the British Royal Family is what attracts people, adding that many are attracted by their luxury weddings, seemingly perfect lives and the media attention that follows. "People have grown up hearing about fairy tales with princes and kings and queens," she said. "So, you would imagine the castle has to be amazing compared to the two-bedroom apartment that you live in with your family … that whole idea of having servants upstairs, the luxuriousness of the dinner table — just brings all of that back into people's imagination."

Cele Otnes, head of the Department of Business Administration at the University of Illinois, said the Royal Family is "a complex brand" that is different from what one would normally associate with celebrities.

"They are a global brand that people love all over the world", explained Otnes.

"They're luxury", she said. People far and wide are "very interested in the drama and the tension that happens in the Royal Family."

"I think another one of the reasons the queen was so popular is that although everyone knew she was extremely wealthy, she didn't show off her wealth."

21 Days China Panorama Tour

Beijing, Xian, Lhasa, Chongqing, Yangtze Cruise, Yichang, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Guilin, Hong Kong

 The most complete tour, seeing a panoramic view of China from cities with different characters 

 Suitable for those tourists who have enough time and hope to see China as much as possible 

Best Travel Time:Suitable for the whole year, best from April to November. 

Price from $ 3972 3575

Tour Price (US$ per person) 

Price includes:

♦Domestic (国内的) flight or high-speed train as specified

♦Private transfer (换乘) between the airport or railway station, attractions, and hotels

♦Private licensed English-speaking guide and driver service

♦Hotel accommodation with daily breakfast on sharing basis

♦All attraction entrance fees as specified

♦Meals mentioned in the itinerary, Chinese local food

♦China Life Tourist Accident/Casualty Insurance

♦Tibet Permit

Price excludes:

*International Air tickets or Train Tickets to enter or leave China

*Tips to your tour guide and driver on your own discretion

*China Entry Visa Fees

*Personal expenses

*Optional tours, meals, activities and services

Remarks:

※ Prices are valid (有效的) from Mar 1, 2021 to Feb 28, 2023, except Chinese public holidays, local fairs or events. 

※ No guide on the flight and Yangtze River cruise. 

※ Recommended hotels are subject to change in actual booking

It was the day of the big cross-country run. Students from seven different primary schools in and around the small town were warming up and walking the route(路线)through thick evergreen forest. 

I looked around and finally spotted David, who was standing by himself off to the side by a fence. He was small for ten years old. His usual big toothy smile was absent today. I walked over and asked him why he wasn't with the other children. He hesitated and then said he had decided not to run.

What was wrong? He had worked so hard for this event! 

I quickly searched the crowd for the school's coach and asked him what had happened. "I was afraid that kids from other schools would laugh at him," he explained uncomfortably. "I gave him the choice to run or not, and let him decide."

I bit back my frustration(懊恼). I knew the coach meant well—he thought he was doing the right thing. After making sure that David could run if he wanted, I turned to find him coming towards me, his small body rocking from side to side as he swung his feet forward. 

David had a brain disease which prevented him from walking or running like other children, but at school his classmates thought of him as a regular kid. He always participated to the best of his ability in whatever they were doing. That was why none of the children thought it unusual that David had decided to join the cross-country team. It just took him longer—that's all. David had not missed a single practice, and although he always finished his run long after the other children, he did always finish. As a special education teacher at the school, I was familiar with the challenges David faced and was proud of his strong determination.

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. 

We sat down next to each other, but David wouldn't look at me.

I watched as David moved up to the starting line with the other runners. 

注意：

1. 写作词数应为80左右；

2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；

3. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Midwives bring new life into the world, and these midwifery students at London's Middlesex University (learn) a new way to do this now. Sarah Chitongo is the educator in this high-tech classroom. Her students use goggles (equip) with augmented reality or AR, so trainee midwives can experience simulated birth. AR is a digital overlay atop something real. It actually allows you (engage) in that type of learning which is more visual than paper-based one.

The training helps prepare students for all the potential risks they might face during childbirth, including (handle) a situation that is very complex. Educators say students' exposure AR makes them more comfortable using it in the classroom. It's about giving the students the ability to engage with tools and things they have been used to and accustomed to, within a serious learning space, so that they get a better (understand) of it. Chitongo says it took her nearly a decade of midwifing before she (see) a breech delivery. She says with AR technology in the classroom, students can better manage happens in the real world and possibly even save a life.

Just a few months earlier, I would never have pictured myself acting in a play in front of two hundred people. If not for my teacher Mr Bricker, I might never have found that 1 .

In the first and second grade, I was extremely 2 . It just wasn't in my personality to be very outgoing. I would escape into my writing. Mr Bricker always 3 me to write more. I think he was the first person to see my inner 4 .

One day, he announced our class was going to 5 a play. "I need someone to play the lead part of Dorothy." A few 6 students raised their hands at once. I, of course, was not one of them. After school, Mr Bricker said to me, "Dallas, I was 7 you didn't raise your hands." Me, the lead? I was 8 just thinking of standing on stage in front of a lot of people.

"You're great at 9 things, so you won't worry about lines. And you have such a sweet personality. Perfect for Dorothy! I had you in 10 for Dorothy while writing the play!"

I realized it was time to 11  my shyness. After five months of 12 , we finally made the play a success. At the end of the play, when the audience stood and applauded, I knew they were 13  not just for my performance that night, but for the 14  that they knew would come in later years because of my new-found 15 .

Why Walking in Nature Makes You a Better Worker?

We're busy at work, distracted (注意力分散的) by technology and often live in urban environments far from wild spaces.. The average American, for example, spends about 90% of their life indoors. But what happens if we maketime for an hour outside each day?

. You'll have to go out for a walk, which is beneficial if most of your day involves sitting in front of a screen. Research shows short breaks can improve work enthusiasm, and a quick break in natural light will deliver a shot of vitamin D.

There are also a lot of mental benefits when you are in nature-you are happy and your brain can make sense of life. "When people are all out in nature, even in urban nature, people tend to have more positive emotion and energy than when they are indoors.," said Lisa Nisbet, associate professor at Canada's Trent University.

The idea that nature is good for us has been gaining grounds since the 1980s.. Afterwards, shinrin-yoku, the Japanese concept, which is the practice of taking a short, leisurely visit to a forest for health benefits, followed that. Researchers of shinrin yoku have since found plenty of physical and mental benefits, while global studies suggest spending time in nature can, for example, restore our ability to focus, increase our creativity, and even help us live longer.

Of course, many of us live in cities with no ready access toforests or the wilderess.. Various studies have shown that green environments in cities have beneficial effects.

A. We also don't get out much

B. But it doesn't have to be a forest

C. People can get to a forest for a hike

D. In other words, people are happier in nature

E. There are some obvious benefits when being outside

F. Green and blue spaces are better than busy city streets

G. First came the theory that humans have a basic desire to be connected with nature

Technology seems to discourage slow, immersive reading. Reading on a screen tires your eyes and makes it harder for you to keep your place. Online writing tends to be more skimmable and list-like than print. The cognitive neuroscientist Mary Walt argued recently that this "new norm" of skim reading is producing "an invisible, game -changing transformation" in how readers process words. The neuronal circuit that sustains the brain's capacity to read now favors the rapid absorption of information.

We shouldn't overplay this danger. All readers skim. From about the age of nine, our eyes start to bounce around the page, reading only about a quarter of the words properly, and filling in the gaps by inference. Nor is there anything new in these fears about declining attention spans. So far, the anxieties have proved to be false alarms. "Quite a few critics have been worried about attention spans lately and see very short stories as signs of cultural decline," the American author Selvin Brown wrote. "No one ever said that poems were evidence of short attention spans."

And yet the Internet has certainly changed the way we read. For a start, it means that there is more to read, because more people than ever are writing. And digital writing is meant for rapid release and response. This mode of writing and reading can be interactive and fun. But often it treats other people's words as something to be quickly harvested as fodder (素材) to say something else. Everyone talks over the top of everyone else, desperate to be heard.

Perhaps we should slow down. Reading is constantly promoted as a social good and source of personal achievement. But this advocacy often emphasizes "enthusiastic" "passionate" or "eager" reading, none of which adjectives suggest slow, quiet absorption. To a slow reader, a piece of writing can only be fully understood by immersing oneself in the words and their slow comprehension of a line of thought.

The human need for this kind of deep reading is too tenacious for any new technology to destroy. We often assume that technological change can't be stopped and happens in one direction, so that older media like "dead-tree" books are kicked out by newer, more virtual forms. In practice, older technologies can coexist with new ones. The Kindle has not killed off the printed book any more than the car killed off the bicycle. We still want to enjoy slowly. formed ideas and carefully-chosen words. Even in a fast-moving age, there is time for slow reading.

On Dec 9, 2021, astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu held their first open class aboard the Tianhe core module of the Chinese space station for pupils. 

In the 50-minute online class, the three astronauts explained daily life in space, how to walk in a microgravity environment and showed the children how to recycle water, oxygen and carbon dioxide in their environment. Applause broke out among the 1,420-strong audience at the CSTM when one of the three astronauts poured out water, which formed into a perfect ball. Applause broke out again when they put an effervescent tablet (泡腾片) into the water, which sparked into bubbles (气泡). But the bubbles did not burst and instead stayed complete. 

The open science lesson was broadcast live to the nation. On domestic video-sharing website Bilibili alone, the open course was watched at least 6 million times, with more views on other platforms and TV channels. 

For Shi Hao, a space specialist at China Acrospace Science and Technology Corporation, the growing desire of school pupils to pursue knowledge about space reflects the growing potential of China in exploring the universe in the future. 

"I still remember how impressed I was by the launch of Shenzhou VI in September 2005. From then on, I have carved out the dream of pursuing my career in astronautics from the bottom of my heart." Shi said. "For many people like me, this is not only a job, but a lifelong addiction and commitment. It is of vital importance to let Chinese youths touch astronautics during their childhood so as to sustain the building of talents."

He was echoed (回应) by Zhou, who places high hopes on the future of China's space industry. "We have a population of 1.4 billion, of which more than 200 million are pupils at school. By inspiring their enthusiasm, China will get an abundant supply of talents for the national space research team." "Chinese people will step further in the universe and the hope lies in our children," he added.

ART GALLERY GUIDES

Martin Lawrence Galleries

Distinguished as the largest contemporary collection in New York, the gallery contains works by Rembrandt, Picasso, Chagall, Keith Haring, Sam Francis, Takashi Murakami and others. Located in a two-floor space in the heart of SoHo, this gallery provides a great fine art buying experience for all ages.

Location: 457 West Broadway, New York, NY, telephone: 212-995-8865.

Email:soho@martinlawrence.com

BertaArt Studio Gallery

BertaArt Studio Gallery is the working studio and exhibition space for International award-winning artist Clara Berta. Her highly abstract paintings have been shown in the United States and collected worldwide.

Location: 816 South Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014, telephone: 818-692-0465.

Website: https://bertaart.com

Bill Lowe Gallery

For over three decades, Bill Lowe Gallery has served as a gate to global visual culture for art enthusiasts around the world. Our unique juxtaposition (并列) of style is expressed in exhibitions with great visual drama. This has earned the gallery recognition as a place for the cross-cultural point of beauty and meaning.

Location: 764 Miami Circle, NE, Suite 210, Atlanta, GA 30324, telephone: 404-352-8114.

Website: https://lowegallery.com

Baterbys Art Auction Gallery

Our art collection features limited pieces by 20th Century Masters like Picasso, Chagall, Modigliani, Matisse and Degas among others. We offer specialized services such as art renting and fine art home delivery.

Located: Orlando, FL, telephone: 888-682-9995.

Website: www.Baterbys.com