Smart Kids Festival Events
Smart Kids is a collection of one hundred events scheduled in October. This year, it is experimenting with Pay What You Decide (PWYD). That is, you can decide to pay what you want to or can afford, after you have attended an event. You can pre-book events without paying for a ticket in advance. Here are some of the director’s picks.
Walk on the Wild Side
Not ticketed, Free
Join storyteller Sarah Law to hear science stories about animals. Along the way you’ll meet all sorts of beautiful creatures and discover life cycles and food chains. Best suited to children aged 5-9. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult.
Introduction to Waves
Pre-book, PWYD
Subjects range from sound waves to gravity waves, and from waves of light to crashing waves on the ocean. Mike Goldsmith explores the fundamental features shared by all waves in the natural world.
Science in the Field
Not ticketed, Free
This storytelling night features a scientist sharing his favourite memories of gathering first-hand data on various field trips. Come along for inspiring and informative stories straight from the scientist’s mouth. Join Mark Samuels to find out more in this fun-filled workshop.
Festival Dinner
Pre-book, £25 per person
Whether you want to explore more about food, or just fancy a talk over a meal, join us to mark the first science festival in London. Which foods should you eat to trick your brain into thinking that you are full? Find out more from Tom Crawford.
1.In which event can you decide the payment?
A. Walk on the Wild Side
B. Introduction to Waves
C. Science in the Field
D. Festival Dinner
2.Who will talk about experiences of collecting direct data?
A. Sarah Law.
B. Mike Goldsmith.
C. Mark Samuels.
D. Tom Crawford.
3.What do the four events have in common?
A. Family-based.
B. Science-themed.
C. Picked by children.
D. Filled with adventures.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
'There's no place like home. 'This English saying has much truth in it：the best place to be is surrounded by our treasured possessions and our loved ones and with a roof over our head. And for many young adults, it's the only affordable place to stay; somewhere where they can receive first-class service from mum and dad. But this comes at a price!
In some countries, it's quite traditional for people in their late teens and early 20s to live at home with their parents, but in other places, flying the nest to start their own independent life is very desirable. But there's been a growing trend, in the UK at least, for young people to return home to live-or not to leave home at all.
A survey by a price comparison website found that 18% of adult children in the UK said they were moving back home because of debt, compared with 8% last year. More young people had lost their jobs, and others couldn't afford their rent compared with the previous year. So, it's easy to see why they're increasingly becoming home birds.
The BBC's Lucy Hooker explains that many returning adult children enjoy home comforts. But for the 'hoteliers', that's mum and dad, the survey found the average cost to them has gone up sharply, and that they are sacrificing luxuries and holidays to look after their 'big kids'. Emma Craig from Money supermarket says " they're trying to look after their children more. If your child comes home and you see them struggling financially, you feel more awkward asking them for rent or to contribute. It tugs on your heartstrings more. "
With parents splashing out around ￡1, 886 on takeaway food, buying new furniture and upgrading their Wi-Fi for the benefit of their offspring, it's easy for the returning children to put their feet up and make themselves at home. That's before they learn a home truth-that one day it might be their own kids who'll be checking into the hotel of mum and dad!
1.Which proverb might present the young British's living conditions? ______
A.A lazy youth, an awful age.
B.East or west, home is best.
C.Two heads are better than one.
D.Nothing comes wrong to a hungry man.
2.Which might be the reason for the increase of home birds? ______
A.The popularity of living independently.
B.Looking after their old parents.
C.The increase of unemployment rate.
D.Their parents' financial offer.
3.What's Emma Craig's attitude towards home birds? ______
A.Doubtful. B.Uncertain.
C.Objective. D.Understandable.
4.What is the last paragraph mainly about? ______
A.Returning to live with parents comes at a price.
B.Parents are willing to receive their returning children.
C.Flying the net is becoming popular at present.
D.Home birds take it for granted to live with their parents.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Pangolins (穿山甲) are the most trafficked (非法交易) mammals in the world and are facing extinction. To draw attention to these scaly (有鳞片的), anteater-like animals, a new wildlife documentary, Eye of the Pangolin, is attempting a unique way to inspire action and conservation. Partnering with the non-profit organization Pangolin. Africa, the documentary was made available on YouTube in May 2019. The intention is to reach communities wherever the Internet is available, especially African communities, who live near the animal’s habitats.
Over two years, the documentary crew traveled to South Africa, Ghana, Central African Republic and Gabon in search of the four unique species of pangolin, which has never been achieved before. Filmmakers Bruce Young and Johan Vermeulen say that they went into the shoot knowing relatively little about pangolins, but grew to respect and appreciate the animals. Getting close to the creatures over two years was a crash course in these secretive creatures. Johan Vermeulen said, "One thing however that might seem unimportant is that they are actually quite fussy eaters. You would think they would eat any type of ant, but they all prefer a specific type ant."
Pangolins are hunted illegally across Africa for their scales, which are used for traditional medicine, and their meat. In April 2019, Singaporean customs officials conducted two separate seizures of 24 tons of pangolin scales, which equals to the death of 69,000 pangolins.
Though the documentary focuses less on the trafficking of pangolins, and more on the animals in their natural habitat, the aim of the documentary is to inspire viewers around the world to call for action to end trafficking and protecting these unique creatures.
Filmed on location in South Africa, Ghana, Central African Republic, and Gabon, this powerful documentary is the story of two men on a mission to get all four species of African pangolin on camera for the very first time.
1.What is the purpose of the documentary?
A.To study the situation of pangolins.
B.To collect fund to protect pangolins.
C.To raise awareness of pangolin protection.
D.To propose setting up pangolin reserves.
2.What is the meaning of the underlined word “fussy” in paragraph 2?
A.Picky. B.Messy.
C.Showy. D.Heavy.
3.What’s the documentary mainly about?
A.The illegal trade of pangolins.
B.The medical function of pangolin's scales.
C.The life of pangolins in their natural habitats.
D.The efforts of Pangolin, Africa to save pangolins.
4.Where is the text most likely from?
A.A brochure. B.A diary.
C.A novel. D.A magazine.
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
As a first responder, you never know what type of situation you might walk into, or who you’ll meet along the way. That’s definitely been the case for Jeffrey Lanenberg, a 51-year-old paramedic(急救医务人员) since 1984.
Ten years into the job, Lanenberg received a call that reported that a man in his early 30s had fallen down in the Mall of America. When Lanenberg and his partner arrived at the scene, they found the young male face down on the ground. He had gone unconscious, making weak attempts to breathe. His wife stood beside him holding their small son in horror. They quickly rushed to defibrillate(除颤) and calm the man to keep him under control. After Lanenberg dropped the patient off at the neighboring hospital, he thought about the man and his family for a long time.
Lanenberg thought he had experienced everything under the sun until one random visit to Office Max three years ago, where he met a man repeatedly walk back and forth while staring at him. As it turned out, the man was the patient he had saved 20 years earlier.
＂You gave me 20 years more than I ever thought I’d have,＂ the man said. He thanked Lanenberg repeatedly and told him he had someone he wanted him to meet. He stepped around the corner and reappeared with a 20-something-year-old man. Lanenberg instantly knew that it was the son he had seen standing by his mother all those years ago.
＂That day changed my life,＂ Lanenberg said. ＂Before that, everything was about work…When I talk to my beginner-training class, I tell them you never know the impact you can have on someone’s life.＂
1.What did Lanenberg do with the young man?
A.He gave the man the first aid. B.He cured the man at the scene.
C.He only sent the man to hospital. D.He took care of the man’s wife and son.
2.What did Lanenberg think of the encounter with the man?
A.It was unbelievable. B.It was a common routine.
C.It was a matter of course. D.It was a dangerous situation.
3.Why was the man thankful to Lanenberg?
A.Lanenberg helped bring up his little son.
B.Lanenberg donated to support his family.
C.Lanenberg gave him the present happy life.
D.Lanenberg taught his son to be a new doctor.
4.How did the meeting change Lanenberg’s life?
A.He changed his attitude to his job.
B.He was rewarded with much money.
C.He got a promotion to be a team leader.
D.He took up teaching work to train newcomers.
难度: 困难查看答案及解析
The Adams family home has been taken over by origami (折纸)in all sizes and shapes. No one seems to _________ though. Those paper creations are _________ clean water projects around the world and saving lives. A messy home is a small price to pay ________
In 2011, Isabelle Adams and her sister Katherine learned that every five seconds a child died from _________ of clean water and that girls of their age couldn’t go to school _________ they were fetching water all day for their families. They _________ to do something.
“So we took something that we loved doing - folding origami, with the _________ goal to help fund a well in Ethiopia,” explains Katherine. _________ , they ended up selling out and raising far more than that to fully _________ the cost of the well.
Katherine, now 13, adds, “It just snowballed, __________ the founding of the project Paper for Water.” In eight years, this project has __________ more than 2 million for over 200 water projects in 20 different countries.
Now, the rest of the Adams family are also __________. But at the heart of it, beneath countless paper decorations sit two bold sisters hoping to __________ other girls and boys. “Kids have an incredible ability to make a real __________ to the world if they’re just given the chance,” Isabelle says, “and if people __________ them in their efforts.”
1.A.mind B.notice C.appreciate D.remember
2.A.decorating B.rewarding C.attracting D.funding
3.A.in exchange B.in turn C.in return D.in response
4.A.pollution B.loss C.lack D.waste
5.A.although B.because C.unless D.while
6.A.hesitated B.decided C.happened D.demanded
7.A.lifelong B.individual C.original D.critical
8.A.Obviously B.Unexpectedly C.Suddenly D.Gradually
9.A.spend B.fill C.offer D.cover
10.A.trying out B.depending on C.contributing to D.appealing to
11.A.saved B.borrowed C.earned D.collected
12.A.involved B.praised C.recognized D.employed
13.A.satisfy B.inspire C.inform D.comfort
14.A.judgment B.sense C.difference D.connection
15.A.support B.persuade C.welcome D.award
难度: 中等查看答案及解析
Many people consider “being alone” an awful thing, for they think it either means you're antisocial, or unwanted. However, being alone isn't necessarily a bad thing. 1..
When you start to enjoy being alone, you'll get in touch with your own feelings. 2.. With that knowledge, it's then easier to manage your feelings.
Being alone makes you reflect more. 3., you're burning a lot of energy. Being alone is to the contrary. It provides the perfect environment for reflection. Since you aren't spending so much time processing the thoughts and feelings of others, it's the best time to turn your focus inward.
4.. Being in the company of other people can be entertaining. However, it can also seriously affect your concentration. Without disturbance, you can just put your head down and get to work.
Being alone gives you more freedom to do what you like. When you're constantly connected by other people, you're always making compromises to find solutions that the entire group can enjoy. Unfortunately, the things you want most may not always line up with what others want. 5..
Are you alone right now? Are you the person to see a movie alone? If there's no one to go with you, but it's a movie you're longing for, please enjoy it!
A.Being alone can be more productive
B.When you are in a state of being alone
C.When you're surrounded by other people
D.A handful of benefits will appear once you learn to enjoy being alone
E.You'll create a deeper understanding of what makes you happy and upset
F.So it's easy to enjoy being alone once you realize the great benefits it brings to you
G.Once you enjoy being alone, you'll come to find you enjoy the company of others even more
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文,在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The heavy smoke from devastating Australian bushfires cloaked Auckland, 1.(turn) the city's skyline into strange, mysterious and frightening orange color 2. Sunday afternoon.
New Zealand meteorology service MetService forecast that 3. upper level jet of westerly winds was driving the smoke across the Tasman Sea towards New Zealand. The smoke 4.(expect) to arrive Sunday evening and was likely to be 5.(large) gone by the morning.
It is the second layer of smoke coming from the Australian bushfires, 6. is cloaking the North Island and upper parts of the South Island. Much of the South Island 7.(awake) to reddish-brown skies on New Year's Day before the smoke spread to the North Island.
MetService said it is possible 8. people would be able to smell and taste the smoke. However, long-lasting health 9.(effect) are not expected.
On Friday, the New Zealand government pledged twenty two 10.(many) firefighters to help fight the Australian bushfires.
难度: 简单查看答案及解析
假定你是李华，你的美国朋友Amy来信询问有关新型冠状病毒（novel coronavirus）在中国的情况。请你给Amy回信，内容包括：
1. 新型冠状病毒简况；
2. 应对措施；
3. 是否有信心战胜病毒。
注意：1.词数100左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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难度: 困难查看答案及解析
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整故事。续写的词数应为150词左右。
The big Town Hall clock was striking midnight when Frank began to cross the bridge. The dark night air was cold and a little wet, and the street lamp gave little light. Frank was anxious to get home and his footsteps rang loudly on the silent night.
When he reached the middle of the bridge, he thought he could hear someone coming near behind him. He looked back but could see no one. However , the sound continued and Frank began to walk more quickly. Then he slowed down again , thinking there was nothing to fear in a town as quiet as this.
Just then , he heard short , quick steps closely behind him. By the time he reached the other side of the bridge , he could almost feel someone at his heels. He turned round and there stood a man in a large coat. A hat was pulled down over his eyes and very little of his face could be seen.
Frank said something about the weather in an effort to be friendly. The man did not answer but asked roughly where Oakfield House was. Frank pointed to a big house in the distance and the stranger continued his way.
Then Frank wondered why the stranger had wanted to find Oakfield House at such an hour. He knew that the people who lived there were very rich. Almost without realizing what he was doing , he began following the stranger quickly.
The man was soon outside the house and Frank saw him look up at the windows. A light was still on and the man waited until it went out. When about half an hour had passed, Frank saw him climb noiselessly over the wall and heard him drop on the ground at the other side.
Paragraph 1:
Now Frank knew what the man wanted to do.
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Paragraph 2:
Frank couldn’t just stand in the dark and wait.
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难度: 中等查看答案及解析