Canada Day

Since 1982, July 1st has been officially known as Canada Day. Canadians of all ages take part in this festival across the country.

Canada Day is the year's biggest national party. In many towns and cities, the government organizes a lot of events, often outdoors. These include parades (游行) , concerts, festivals, firework displays and ceremonies for new Canadian citizens (公民) .The celebrations often have a patriotic mood. Canada's national flag, a symbol for Canada Day, can be seen everywhere and a lot of people paint their faces red and white, which are Canada's national colors. The celebrations in Ottawa, Canada's capital city, are especially grand and exciting.

In the province of Quebec, many home rentals (租赁) start on July 1st and last for exactly one year, and many people in Quebec spend Canada Day moving from one house to another. So in Quebec, Canada Day is also known as Moving Day.

Many organizations, businesses and stores are closed this day. Only some bookstores, hospitals and gas stations may be open. Post offices are closed, too. As Canada Day falls in the Canadian summer holiday period, all schools are closed as well. In some areas, special services are provided for large events. The concerts, parades and festivals may cause some traffic jams.

    Do you know what makes lightning (闪电)? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Lightning strikes happen when ice and water in clouds rub (摩擦) together, and cause atmospheric (大气层的) changes. When this happens, it creates a static charge (静电). Lightning can strike inside the cloud, between two clouds or between a cloud and the earth. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Lightning can be very dangerous. Every year, lightning kills people because it can start big fires or because it reaches a temperature of 28,000℃. About 1,000 people are hit by lightning every year in the United States, and about 100 of them die as a result.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Scientists think that there are more than three million lightning strikes every day in the world. An American man, Roy Sullivan, who worked in a park, survived from the most lightning strikes. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}And he keeps the highest world record.

    Lightning is sure not something to play with. When lightning strikes, it's best to stay inside a large building. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Also, do not lie down on the ground, or the electricity may go through you and cause a heart problem.

Every year，Time magazine puts out its list of the year's best inventions.Some of them help us solve problems，while others make life easier or more fun.Here are three of the inventions on this year's list.Which one do you think is the best？

Life﹣like animals

At the Hologram Zoo（全息动物园） in Australia，you don't just see a giraffe.You see a group of giraffes running towards you and then over you."We show people things they have never seen before，"says the zoo's CEO.Visitors to the zoo can see life-like wonders.Thanks to hologram technology，the public can see wildlife while no animals have to be kept in cages.

Stopping fires

Alert California is a safety program in California.It uses AI to predict wildfires.The AI detector（探测器） uses more than a thousand cameras in forests across the state.It can spot smoke and other early signs of fire.In two months，the program correctly predicted 77 fires before any 911 calls came in.

Air on Mars

If astronauts land on Mars in the future，they'll need air to breathe and a way to get home.NASA's Moxie can help solve both problems.This small equipment can separate oxygen（氧气） from the atmosphere（大气） on Mars and help astronauts breathe.In addition，the oxygen can be used to provide energy for spaceships.This is important for sending astronauts home from Mars.

It's 8：00 am. A new term(学期)begins. This is the first class. 

Betty's new teacher comes into the classroom. She is a nice girl. "Good morning, boys and girls. Welcome to Class 3, Grade 7. I'm your English teacher—Helen Miller. You can call me Ms Miller or Helen. I'm from London and my phone number is 8336 001. I hope you like me. " 

"I like you, Helen，"one girl says. "My name's Kate King. I'm from Oxford. My phone number is 8975 002. " Then Kate gives a red flower to Ms Miller. 

"Helen, I love you，"one boy says. "I'm Dave Black from Cambridge. My phone number is 8790 041. "And Dave gives a red flower to Ms Miller, too. 

After that, two girls stand up and say, "We like you, too, Ms Miller. " Helen is surprised (惊讶的) to see them. They look the same. "We're twins from Liverpool，"one girl says. "I'm Lucy Brown and she is Lily Brown. Our phone number is 8790 032. " Then Ms Miller gets two red flowers again…