Do you want to see majestic lions roaring, rare rhinos running and colorful birds flying? You'll find this incredible display of nature in the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley.
First stop
Fly into Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. This great city is known for its fashion markets and beautiful art. And be sure to pick up some rich Kenyan coffee while you're there! Then head for the countryside.
Plan your trip
The largest of the three lakes in the system, Lake Nakuru, is less than 175 kilometers from Nairobi. But Lakes Bogoria and Elementaita are equally worth a visit. You can stay at one of several choices of luxurious cabins in the valley. And if you sign up for a trip, be sure to put flamingos, the white and pink birds, at the top of your list.
Paradise
The Kenya Lake System is shallow and alkaline (碱性的). That means it supports vegetation such as green algae, a food source for many waterfowl. Hundreds of species of birds flourish here, using this area as a major breeding and nesting ground. Water buffalo, leopards, monkeys and the endangered Rothschild giraffe also make this area their home.
Other sights
Wildlife isn't the only natural wonder in the Great Rift Valley. The valley marks a place where the earth is divided far below the surface. This rock separation below ground leads to noticeable features above ground. Walking around Lake Bogoria especially, you will see steam rising from hot springs.
Other activities include golfing, horseback riding and hiking. The fun doesn't stop when the sun goes down, either. The river valley is far from city lights, so many visitors gaze at the stars shining above.
If you are ready for a wildlife experience, don't hesitate!
Of late, the Chinese media have turned the spotlight on a woman named Li Ziqi, praising her for doing an excellent job of "telling China's story to the world". Li seems to have become an unofficial cultural ambassador showcasing China's history and culture.
Li, 29, lives with her grandma in a small village of Mianyang. She has been posting videos of her daily life on social media platforms since March 2016 to connect to the world.
Her popularity online can be proved from these figures: on YouTube, Li's "channel" has more than 7. 61 million subscribers, and the figure is growing daily. On Sina Weibo, one of China's most popular social media platforms, she has more than 21. 5 million fans. And each of her 104 YouTube posts has been viewed between 2 million and over 40 million times.
Technically, the fine quality of her cinematographic output is the most eye-catching feature. The stunning scenery of Li's village, her elegant yet confident way of getting jobs done, and the relaxing background music are all appealing to viewers. Culturally, what touches the heart of L's followers is the universal language of love, inner peace, caring for the family and love for nature. Many viewers find inspiration from Li's posts. Others, tired of their technology driven fast paced urban life, find comfort in her simple and tranquil life.
Ironically, Li has not been as well received at home as overseas. Some critics question whether she alone filmed and edited her early posts. A few even accuse her of showcasing the "backwardness" of China to foreigners, while some argue that her presentation of rural China is imaginary. And recently, a debate has started on whether or not Li is "exporting" Chinese culture abroad.
But the fact that Li single-handedly produced her early works has been documented and publicized and she cannot be blamed for having a small crew now that her filming and editing work has increased. As for "exporting culture", Li has never claimed the responsibility of spreading Chinese culture to the world. What she does instead is merely recording and presenting her lifestyle to make a living.
Li's popularity makes us reflect on what should be an effective way of "telling China's story" to the world and changing the stereotype image of China described in some Western media.
Chinese traditional painting and dance are two vital parts of the art world. But what about when they meet each other?
This year, a dance drama titled Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting was staged on CCTV's Spring Festival Gala and went viral.
According to CCTV, this poetic dance program was inspired by the 900-year-old Chinese painting A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains. Created by Song Dynasty painter Wang Ximeng at about 18, the painting is amazing in its sweeping size, rich coloration and the expressive details, reported CCTV. It shows a Chinese blue-green landscape: "mountains and groupings of infinite rise and fall between cloudless sky and rippling water".
When the dancers moved elegantly, audiences seemed to be looking at the moving mountains and rivers. "It brings me a pure experience of beauty. It is not only a drama but also an ‘exhibition'. Vast mountains and rivers are coming to life!" Internet user Mo Weisha wrote in a review. "More than a thousand years later, green mountains and rivers still wow people as they did long ago. "
Some people even decided to watch the dance again when it was staged in the theaters later. In fact, in recent years, more and more modern shows highlight Chinese traditional culture and have received warm welcome. As for why, it is due to people's great love for traditional culture.
"The younger generations have grown up with a more open mindset. They embrace Chinese culture and are proud of it." Yao Wei, director of Henan TV Station's Innovation Center, told China Daily.
Launched in Singapore last November, Hong Kong-based company Omnifoods has introduced a range of six plant-based sea foods to stand in for tuna, crab and whitefish. Similar to their pork substitutes, the new products are said to offer a safe and alternative source of protein while tackling environmental concerns like overfishing and worsening of the seas.
Omnifoods' expansion comes at a time when the market for plant-based products is growing. According to Enterprise Singapore, local interest in sensible consumption doubled in 2021, and flexitarians — people who primarily eat a plant-based diet but occasionally consume meat or seafood — represent the fastest growth. The ocean is another reason cited as the need for plant-based seafood. The average person here consumed 22kg of seafood last year, surpassing the global average of 20kg. The World Wide Fund for Nature(WWF) also observed that three quarters of the seafood served in Singapore is unsustainable. Besides, fish farming involves the use of chemicals to prevent disease and parasites (寄生虫) and these chemicals then accumulate in fish tissues, which becomes a serious threat to people's health.
Omnifoods says their products address all these concerns. Made primarily from non-genetically modified soybeans, the plant-based alternatives are free of harmful substances, absolutely safe. The company pointed out that the products share a similar look, feel and taste of the real thing. "We've done pilot taste tests with friends, family, and one sushi restaurant. Many admire the appearance and mouthfeel that our tuna product has as well as its nutritional benefits. Now we are struggling to improve our product until it's an exact match or tastes better than animal-based tuna," added David Yeung.
Besides Omnifoods, Singapore companies are also exploring the alternative seafood market. Growthwell Group recently raised US $22 million to fund its attempt into shrimp, squid and crab made using chickpea protein. "Global demand for plant-based meats is also shooting up, with the value set to reach US $ 23. 2 billion by 2024," said market research company Euromonitor.
Narcissists (自恋者) are people who are simply interested in themselves. They talk about themselves, demand admiration and recognition and believe everyone else should envy them. . When you come across a narcissistic person, your initial reaction might be shock, but in some cases the best reaction might be none at all.
Understand that narcissism is a personality disorder. . Often the person can't help himself—he actually believes his idea of being superior to others. Remember that Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is classified as a mental illness.
. A narcissist feeds off attention from others. When the person starts talking about himself excessively, the best thing to do is just walk away—leave the situation.
Have reasonable expectations about the person and his ability to stop being self-absorbed. This is not a disorder that goes away on its own—often the person will need intensive counseling (咨询) to deal with his narcissism. Suggest counseling if you are in a close relationship with the person, such as a marriage. , his condition may improve with treatment.
. A narcissist can be a burden on his friends and family and will often put others down as a way of building himself up. It is important to have high confidence yourself, so that you do not start to believe and absorb what he says as if it is the truth.
A. Stay positive and strong-minded
B. Ignore the person whenever possible
C. Give him or her a hand whenever possible
D. While he may not be able to stop the behavior completely
E. Often it is rooted in childhood issues, such as abuse or neglect
F. When you are suffering from this kind of mental disorder occasionally
G. They might even lie or exaggerate (夸大) the truth as a way to lift themselves
A tradition for my wife and me is to make holiday snacks and drive around town to deliver them to about 15 friends. We do this over two days and gain a lot of1, seeing people and wishing them well. Last night kindness had a strange2with opportunity.
First, we3to deliver treats to our 95-year-old4right before she was ready to go to sleep. Next, we delivered treats to friends who had just5dinner and were expecting something6to eat. An eighty-five-year old neighbor was talking with friends online about what Christmas7and he said that our surprise was the8example.
One friend was not at home when we called. She was cool on the phone when we9to let her know we were leaving some10for her. She told us she was on her way and asked if we would11. She said that she really needed a hug. She told us that she had just 12from the ER (急诊室). Her husband, who had been13continuous medical obstacles, had just fallen, broken his hip and needed a(n)14. We gave her hugs. From a perfect dessert after a good meal to15a friend who was worried about her husband, our sweets meant a lot to many.
Chinese weddings areas much about the happy couple as they are about the irrespective families. The weddings are(impress) affairs that focus on blessings of happiness. The date of the wedding ceremony is chosen not chance. Many couples carefully choose a favorable date (bring) success to their marriage. The ceremony can last anywhere from four hours to three days, depends on how many Chinese wedding traditions are observed.
The Chinese wedding invitation is(typical) red with a golden Double Happiness symbol, dates for the wedding and names of the bride and bridegroom(include) inside.
While Chinese wedding traditions have modernized and no longer involve a large procession, the journey to pick up the bride(be) still a lively affair. It can involve use of firecrackers, playing of drums and gongs, or even a lion dance.
Another vital tradition, the Chinese tea ceremony(Jing Cha),(perform) at Chinese weddings to show the new couple's respect, gratitude, and(appreciate) for their parents' love, support, and effort in raising them. A red tea set with a Double Happiness symbol is used for the tea ceremony.
Jenny lived in a small village. When she was a child, what she liked to do most was to watch the blue sky and enjoy birds flying freely in the sky. She always imagined that some day she could also fly in the sky like a bird.
When Jane was in the fourth grade, one day, her teacher asked them to write a report on what they wanted to be when they grew up. She poured her heart into her report and wrote that she dreamed to become an airline pilot in the future. She thought that she did a great job because she expressed her real idea successfully. However, to her surprise, her paper came back with an "F" on it. The teacher told her it was nothing but a "fairy tale", which could never become true. Jenny felt completely disappointed and sad. In her heart, she didn't want to accept that a girl couldn't become a pilot. But as the years went by, Jenny was beaten down by the discouragement again and again from people around her. "Girls can't become airline pilots; never have, never will. You're crazy." Finally, Jenny gave up her dream.
However, when Jenny studied in her senior year of high school, she met an English teacher called Marsha, who was a strict teacher with high standards but very kind. She often inspired her students to do something meaningful in the future. One day, Mrs. Marsha asked all the students to think about the question: "What will you do in the future?" At that time, Jenny hesitated for a while. She was worried that she would be laughed at again. But soon she felt a rush of the old enthusiasm, and with excitement she wrote down the very old dream of becoming a pilot right away.
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。
The next day, Marsha came into the classroom with a bright smile on her face.
……
The hurt and fear of years of discouragement disappeared.
