Most kids grow up learning they cannot draw on the walls. But it might be time to unlearn that training — this summer, a group of culture addicts, artists and community organizers are inviting New Yorkers to write all over the walls of an old house on Governor’s Island.
The project is called Writing On It All, and it’s a participatory writing project and artistic experiment that has happened on Governor’s Island every summer since 2013.
“Most of the participants are people who are just walking by or are on the island for other reasons, or they just kind of happen to be there,” Alexandra Chasin, artistic director of Writing On It All, tells Smithsonian.com.
The 2016 season runs through June 26 and features sessions facilitated by everyone from dancers to domestic workers. Each session has a theme, and participants are given a variety of materials and prompts and asked to cover surfaces with their thoughts and art. This year, the programs range from one that turns the house into a collaborative essay to one that explores the meaning of exile (流放).
Governor’s Island is a national historic landmark district long used for military purposes. Now known as “New York’s shared space for art and play,” the island, which lies between Manhattan and Brooklyn in Upper New York Bay, is closed to cars but open to summer tourists who flock for festivals, picnics, adventures, as well as these “legal graffiti (涂鸦)” sessions.
The notes and art scribbled (涂画) on the walls are an experiment in self-expression. So far, participants have ranged in age from 2 to 85. Though Chasin says the focus of the work is on the activity of writing, rather than the text that ends up getting written, some of the work that comes out of the sessions has stuck with her.
“One of the sessions that moved me the most was state violence on black women and black girls,” says Chasin, explaining that in one room, people wrote down the names of those killed because of it. “People do beautiful work and leave beautiful messages.”
1.What does the project Writing On It All invite people to do?
A.Unlearn their training in drawing.
B.Participate in a state graffiti show.
C.Cover the walls of an old house with graffiti.
D.Exhibit their artistic creations in an old house.
2.What did the project participants do during the 2016 season?
A.They were free to scribble on the walls whatever came to their mind.
B.They expressed their thoughts in graffiti on the theme of each session.
C.They learned the techniques of collaborative writing.
D.They were required to cooperate with other creators.
3.What kind of place is Governor’s Island?
A.It is a historic site that attracts tourists and artists.
B.It is an area now accessible only to tourist vehicles.
C.It is a place in Upper New York Bay formerly used for exiles.
D.It is an open area for tourists to enjoy themselves year round.
4.What does Chasin say about the project?
A.It just focused on the sufferings of black females.
B.It helped expand the influence of graffiti art.
C.It has started the career of many creative artists.
D.It has created some meaningful artistic works.
Jenny was a bright-eyed, pretty five-year-old girl. One day when she and her mother were checking out at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $2.50. How she wanted that necklace! When she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother said, “Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. I’ll tell you what. I’ll buy you the necklace, and when we get home we can make up a list of housework that you can do to pay for the necklace. And don’t forget that for your birthday, Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?” Jenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her.
Jenny worked on her housework very hard every day, and sure enough, her grandma gave her a brand-new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon Jenny had paid off the pearls. How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere to kindergarten, bed and when she went out with her mother to run errands (跑腿). The only time she didn’t wear them was in the shower. Her mother had told her that they would turn her neck green!
Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair every night and read Jenny her favorite story.
One night when he finished the story, he said, “Jenny, do you love me?”
“Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you,” the little girl said.
“Well, then, give me your pearls.”
“Oh! Daddy, not my pearls!” Jenny said. “But you can have Rosy, my favorite doll. Remember her? You gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?”
“Oh no, darling, that’s okay.” Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. “Good night, little one.”
A week later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story.
“Do you love me?”
“Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you.”
“Well, then, give me your pearls.”
“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? She’s my favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if you want her, Daddy,” the little girl said to her father.
“No, that’s okay,” her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. “God bless you, little one. Sweet dreams.”
Several days later, when Jenny’s father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her lip was trembling. “Here, Daddy,” she said, and held out her hand. She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her father’s hand.
With one hand her father held the plastic pearls and the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box. Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls. He had had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so that he could give her the real thing.
1.Why did the mother tell Jenny the plastic pearl necklace “cost an awful lot of money”?
A.She was discouraging Jenny from buying it.
B.She was telling Jenny to ask her grandma for help.
C.She was reminding Jenny of its true value.
D.She was encouraging Jenny to get it by her hard work.
2.Which of the following was NOT related to the fact that Jenny could get the plastic pearl necklace?
A.She promised to work on the housework hard.
B.She was lucky to have her birthday coming near.
C.She went out with her mother to run errands.
D.She got supported from her grandma with a dollar bill.
3.The last time the father came in to read Jenny a story, why was her lip trembling?
A.She was disappointed that her father always asked for her necklace.
B.She was pleased to give the necklace to her father.
C.She was struggling in her mind about the decision to make.
D.She was unwilling to exchange her necklace for the real one.
4.Which of the following is the most suitable for the title of the story?
A.The Real Pearl Necklace B.The Parental Hidden Love
C.The Decision of Honesty D.The Choice of Luck
Here are some tips from experts for writing that all-important application essay, which can often mean the difference between getting accepted — or rejected — by the school of your choice.
The essay is your loudspeaker — your view of the world and your ambitions. It’s not just a resume or a regurgitation of everything you’ve done. It needs to tell a story with passion, using personal, entertaining anecdotes that showcase your character, your interests, your values, your life experiences, your views of the world, your ambitions and even your sense of humor.
Emphasize volunteer work or other ways you’ve helped people or made your community a better place. It helps if the activity is related to the subject you want to study. For example, Christopher Rim of Command Education Group, which coaches students, remembers that one student who wanted to become a dentist, set up a nonprofit and held fund-raisers to distribute toothbrushes, toothpaste and other dental products to homeless shelters. Admissions staff members want to know how your presence will make the college a better place.
Mention internships, summer courses, extracurricular activities or lab work that show steps you’ve taken to learn and understand your field of interest. That will help show you know the field you’ve chosen to study and are passionate about it.
Explain with knowledge and passion why you want to study at this particular college rather than at others. Tell why the school’s size, curriculum, social atmosphere, location, professors or history influenced your choice.
Correct spelling, grammar and punctuation are critical. Use grammar, syntax and writing with a level of sophistication that shows you’re ready for college. Never use text-style abbreviations or rude or profane language. After the essay is submitted, check your email and voice mail daily to make sure you see and respond promptly to messages from admissions staff members. Many students check only texts and sometimes miss emails asking follow-up questions or requesting an interview.
Hafeez Lakhani of Lakhani Coaching summed up the essay this way: “Every college is like a dinner table. What will make you the most interesting contributor to that dinner table conversation? What will make you help everyone else have a more interesting experience?” A good essay, rich with anecdotes and personality, will answer those questions and stand out from the pile.
1.What should be covered in an application essay?
A.Your community, summer courses, and extracurricular activities.
B.Your passion, sense of humor and your resume.
C.Your college, views of the world, and interest.
D.Your volunteer work, internships, and lab work.
2.What does the underlined word “anecdotes” mean?
A.documents B.stories
C.descriptions D.jokes
3.How to persuade the admissions staff members to accept you?
A.Your life experiences are rich enough to learn the courses well.
B.You are kind to the homeless and eager to donate daily necessities
C.Your being present at the college will make it a better one.
D.You want to study at the school due to its popularity.
4.Which of the following is appropriate according to the author?
A.Apply grammar and sentences which is not that simple.
B.Write the application in a style of text abbreviation.
C.Use vulgar language to show you really care.
D.Employ correct spelling and pronunciation.
Do you know the toys below? They were once among the most popular toys.
1960 – Etch A Sketch
French electrician Andre Cassagnes had the idea of a drawing toy with a joy stick, glass screen, and aluminum (铝) powder. Using that idea, the Ohio Art Co. launched (推出) the Magic Screen in1960, and you could erase the picture with a shake of your hands. You can still find the toy today.
1964 – SuperBall
What happens when you accidentally create a plastic ball that jumps? The toy company, Wham-O Inc., buys your idea and it ends up selling millions. That’s exactly what happened to Norman Stingley, a chemical engineer who came upon SuperBall. At one time, Wham-O had to produce over 170,000 balls a day to keep up with the demand. Unbelievably, the National Football Game named the Super Bowl game (an well-known American football game) after this jumping ball.
1964 – G.I. Joe
In 1964, Hasbro toy company created G.I. Joe, a line of action figures designed to represent the 4 branches of the US Armed Forces – Action Soldier (Army), Action Sailor (Navy), Action Pilot (Air Force), and the Action Marine (Marine Corps). G.I. Joe was imagined as an excellent military unit devoted to defending citizens’ freedom against the evil persons. It has attracted the imagination of boys around the world.
1965 – Operation
An unsteady hand is your downfall (败落的原因) in the game of Operation, which was invented by John Spinello, a student at the University of Illinois. Later, Spinello sold his right to the toy to a well-known toy designer Marvin Glass for a sum of $500. Operation is currently made by Hasbro, with estimated sales of $40 million.
1.Which toy has a relationship with the sports event?
A.Etch A Sketch. B.SuperBall .
C.G.I. Joe. D.Operation.
2.Who probably are most interested in G.I. Joe?
A.Those fond of arts. B.Those fond of construction.
C.Those fond of brave soldiers. D.Those fond of kind doctors.
3.If you want to play with Operation successfully, you should ________.
A.keep your hand stable B.have better teamwork
C.get Norman Stingley’s guidance D.have a joy stick and a glass screen
假设你是高三学生李津，毕业后想去香港大学。请你给该校领导写一封电子邮件， 询问一些相关事宜。
1.对该校的法学院感兴趣，如何才能被相关专业录取；
2.是否需要参加英语考试；
3.该校的奖学金、学费、食宿安排和生活费用等情况。
注意：
1.邮件须包含以上所有内容，可适当增加细节；
2.开头已给出，不计入总词数，不少于100词。
参考词汇：香港大学 University of Hong Kong 法学院 Faculty of Law
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Li Hua,_____________________________________________________________________
阅读短文，并按题目要求用英语回答问题。
I received a private message on Facebook。 It began harmlessly enough: "Hey, girl. Wanted to invite you to join my next challenge group ——we'll be focusing on fitting in 30 minutes of exercise and balanced nutrition.”
It was all becoming too much. Facebook was running my life, not me.
But what killed Facebook for me was when I posted a photo, and five minutes later my son asked me how many "likes" it had got. His question was a wake-up call.
"Likes" arc signs of acceptance and approval. I had forgotten that acceptance and approval need to come from within and had unknowingly set him a bad example.
Before Facebook, surfing the internet was an occasional distraction and I spent a lot more time reading books and magazines. I checked in with friends through texts, emails and phone calls.
To recreate the simplicity of those days and set a healthier example for my son, I deactivated my Facebook account.
I'd been in the habit of checking Facebook many times a day, so I had to come up with some new habits. I carried a novel and a crossword puzzle book around with me. I rediscovered knitting（针织）. I started taking yoga classes.
I started to remember a few things. My body is fine just the way it is. I have friends who will help me out when I'm in trouble, and I will help them out. I do my best to be a good mother, and our son is happy and healthy. We are very lucky to be able to afford two vacations a year.
I stopped looking at the world through my cellphone. I felt pleasant at the moment.
The break left me feeling better about myself, my family, my home and my life.
After a few weeks, I returned to Facebook. Now I look at the photos of my friends, kids growing up and treasure how social media allows me to keep in touch with family for and wide. I look in on a daily basis, but no longer with the desire constantly to post updates.
It is not an addiction any more.
1.When the author's son asked her how many “likes" it had got, what's the author's reaction to the question? （no more than 10 words）
2.The underlined word “deactivate" in Paragraph 6 mean in English? (I word)
3.What did the author do to change her life?（no more than 5 words）
4.What did the author think of the break from Facebook? (no more than 15 words)
5.What do you think is the best way to use social media? Please explain.(no more than 25 words)
