Worlds of Fun

    Location: Worlds of Fun is located off Highway 435 in Kansas City, Missouri.

    History: Worlds of Fun was opened on May 26, 1973, at a cost of 25 million dollars. Loosely themed around the Jules Verne book, Around the World in Eighty Days, the park was founded by Hunt Midwest Company. In 1982, Hunt Midwest bought a nearby waterpark, Oceans of Fun. In 2013, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun were combined to a one ticket admission, providing all guests with access to 235 acres of amusement and water rides.

    Hours: Worlds of Fun is open from April through Halloween.

    Tickets: Buy and print online. Always try to buy your tickets in advance, to save time when you get to the park.

    Reservations: Worlds of Fun sells “Fast Lane” cards that save riders' time by allowing them to bypass the majority of wait for most of rides and attractions including Mamba, Prowler, and Patriot. Ride as many times as you want all day long.

    Strategy: Most visitors tend to begin the day with Prowler, the hottest attraction in the park. Use that tendency to your advantage and head to the Patriot first. After that, try the Dragons. Then work your way back to the Prowler. After riding the Prowler, there is only one coaster left, Mamba. Hit it next. If the park is not very crowded, you can ride Boomerang on the way to Mamba. After riding Mamba, head back for a ride on the Wolf. By then you will have tried most of the popular rides and attractions in the shortest possible time.

    News: In 2017, Worlds of Fun is adding Steel Hawk, a ride that will take guests up 301 feet in the air and spin them at a 45-degree angle for a 60-second flight. Wait to have a try!

    Residents in the poorest counties in the U.S. face a life expectancy up to decade shorter than their counterparts in the wealthiest areas, according to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health.

    Researchers from East Tennessee State University wanted to better understand how socioeconomic status was associated with heath outcomes. To find out they divided the country's 3,141 counties into 50 new 'states' (with 2 percent of the counties in each) based on household income as opposed to geographic proximity (接近).

    The researchers broke down the data by county since they found state-level data may hide some 'impact of socioeconomic differences on both the best-off and worst-off counties.' They then examined health data from the wealthiest and poorest 'states' (top and bottom 2 percent) to see how residents differed on factors like smoking, clinical care and excessive drinking. Researchers found that there was nearly a 10-year gap in the life expectancy of men with an average of 79.3 years in the wealthy counties compared to 69.8 years in the poorest. For women, the difference was slightly less - 83 years in the wealthiest counties and 76 years in the poorest.

    The study authors caution that while they found a connection between socioeconomic status and health outcomes, they did not analyze cause and effect. But they suggest that the data shows how policy makers should not just focus on state-wide initiatives (主动性) but more targeted efforts to help those most at risk. “With limited resources, methods of pinpointing the poorest counties can assist in the allocation of resources and programs to those communities that are in the greatest need,'' the study authors wrote.

    Compared to the history of China, the history of the United States is quite short.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} In 1776, 13 colonies（殖民地）located on the eastern coast of North America declared independence and fought a revolution against the British. In 1783 the colonists won the revolution and gained their independence.

    After the revolution, the United States bought a large section of country from Napoleon of France. This purchase doubled（加倍）the size of the United States. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} If he hadn't needed that money, the United States might have stayed a small country. Texas and most of what is now the southwestern part of the United States belonged to Mexico. The people of Texas fought a revolution against Mexico. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Later, the United States and Mexico went to war. If Mexico had defeated the United States in that war, California and New Mexico would have been part of Mexico today.

    The British and the Americans both claimed the northwestern part of the country. They settled their differences with a compromise. South of the 49th parallel was the United States. North of the 49th parallel was Canada. In 1861 one half of the United States did go to war with the other half. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} President Lincoln wanted to free slaves. He was supported by the North but opposed by the South. The South wanted to separate from the rest of the country and become independent. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    Following the Civil War, the United States bought Alaska from Russia. Today it is the largest state in the country and a very important one, too.

A. This was the Civil War.

B. It was controlled by England then.

C. It began little more than 200 years ago.

D. After 4 years of war, the South was defeated.

E. Napoleon needed money for his European wars.

F. They became independent and joined the United States.

G. At that time many people didn't think Alaska was important.

What to expect at high school

    Are you super worried about what to expect at high school? Well, guess what? Everyone is! The following tips will help guide you safely through your first day!

    Understand that you'll be moving a lot.

    Depending on the school you're at, there could be more subjects and you'll have more classrooms! {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Be ready to move around and remember what classrooms they are in.

    Understand the newness of high school.

    There are usually more strict teachers and more classrooms! Don't worry. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} More friends and more freedom (hopefully)! There will be a lot of differences, so go along with it and don't feel nervous about the change.

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    Stay away from students who have higher grades than you! They're older and you will be an easy target (目标), so watch your back! If they do try to threaten (恐吓) you or anything, tell your parents or teachers to help you with it.

    Be prepared for the dining room.

    Make sure you have friends to sit with, or you'll look lonely and feel lonely. Make some new friends to sit with. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Remember to stay good in school.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} You don't need an “A” for everything, but an “F” on everything is not good! Spend enough time on study and take notes during class.

A. One for every subject.

B. Put your books in order.

C. Know who to watch out for.

D. There are some advantages!

E. Try to eat healthily on your first day.

F. Try to make a good impression on the teachers.

G. Do your homework and make sure you study hard!

    Planning before buying something is a good idea. For example, you are going to buy a pet dog, you still have to consider a few things and plan them well before you welcome it in the house. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} You will also have to train it well so that it does not misbehave in front of people. You should realize that it is a big responsibility.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}Think about whether your pocket can manage the purchase, as well as different items for keeping the dog. If something goes wrong with the health of your pet, you will have to spend some extra money on it.

    The next thing you need to consider is your home, {#blank#}3{#/blank#}You will also have to consider the family members. If your living place is already too crowded with people, getting a dog as an additional member of the house will not be a good idea.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}Make sure nobody is allergic(过敏的) to the fur of the dog. Also make sure that you can easily find time to train the dog. Ensure that your family is welcoming to this idea.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} When you are bringing this best friend in your house you must make sure everything is right for it. You should make life easier for it, as well as others who are living in your house.

A. Looking after your dog doesn't only mean taking it for a walk or playing with it.

B. A dog is supposed to be man s best friend.

C. Before you think about getting a dog, think about the afford ability(经济承受力).

D. The training should start as soon as the dog is in your care.

E. Once the dog has learned how to sit, you may teach him to shake hands.

F. You will also have to think about any health problems related to your family.

G. A small apartment will not be fit to house a large dog.

    Secure your home with these expert-advised home safety tips that turn burglars into losers.

    Store valuables carefully

    Thieves already know you're storing valuables, so upgrade your secret hiding places to ones that are harder to detect. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Thieves often search drawers in the master bedroom but tend to leave kids' rooms untouched. Just make sure it's a place your child can't easily access, like on a high closet shelf.

    Install your security system in the right spot

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}, but they also make it easy for burglars to see inside your home. Install your security keypad in a spot that is not visible from the doorstep so no one can see if your alarm is set.

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    Knowing your house is completely unattended can make your vacation unnecessarily stressful. Whether you're going away for two weeks or just a long weekend, ask a neighbor to check daily for flyers stuck in your front door. Foxy criminals have been known to leave pizza ads in doors to see how long it takes for residents to remove them. Stopping newspapers and mail delivery for the duration of your trip is a sure way to prevent mail from piling up at your doorstep.

    Pay attention to bathroom windows

    Burglars are often people you've seen before, like a serviceman working on your house. If a yard worker or unknown visitor uses the bathroom, he may open the window so he can gain entry later.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Join in a community-wide crime prevention program

    Cops are getting creative when it comes to catching criminals, and there are lots of opportunities for you to do your part to keep your community safe. Operation Identification is a nationwide project that encourages people to mark their property to fight against burglary and theft.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}. Also look into groups like Neighborhood Watch to see how you can get involved.

A. Let your neighbors be your eyes

B. Lower the volume of your telephone finger

C. Be sure to double-check that lock after this seemingly innocent person leaves

D.A simple solution is keeping important documents and objects in your child's room

E. Decorative glass or large windows may be important for your front entrance feng shui

F. If you suspect that someone is trying to break into your home, press the “Panic” button

G. In some cities, burglary rates for the system are much lower than those of non-Participants