Many English learners have difficulty deciding what kind of English accent they want to have. A US accent, perhaps imitates(模仿) a Hollywood star speaker? Or maybe you want to imitate the British accent of a BBC news reader?

    Young British people find the US accent attractive while young US people like a British accent. Especially when the person speaking is of the opposite sex(异性)! Let's listen to what they have to say.

    Stephen Yang, 17, from London, UK

    A US accent is cute, especially when a girl speaks it. Whether it's Jessia Alba speaking or the girl-next-door, the way US girls speak has a sweet tingle(感觉) that is really fashionable. A girl from Texas recently moved into our neighborhood. Her Texan twang(鼻音) had all the boys here on their knees within seconds of meeting her.

    To me, accents reflect the attitudes, characteristics(特征) and lifestyles of the people.

    Jennifer Sun, 16, from New Jersey, US

    From watching English actors like Daniel Radcliffe, my friends and I have developed a soft spot(好感) for British men. Some are attracted to the qualities of English males, while others admire their sense of style.

    Everyone, however, agrees that the most appealing aspect of an English man is his accent. For example, many American girls watch Harry Potter movies over and over again just to listen to the actors speak.

    The English accent seems almost like art.

    One morning while Officer Vogel was on his coffee break in a restaurant, a man ran in a yelled. “Officer! A little kid is driving a car down the street!"

    He ran out at once and saw a cargoing slowly--about 25 miles an hour--but it wasn't going very straight. He jumped into his police car and followed it. When the car was stopped, Officer Vogel looked inside. The driver was a little boy. His name was Rocco Morabiro and he was 5. In the back seat was his two-year-old sister. Both children were crying.

    "I want my mummy!" the boy cried. "But she can't get here. I have the car.” Then he had an idea. "Just a minute." he told Officer Vogel. "I can drive. I'll go to get her.”

    “No!" Officer Vogel said. “You stay with me!" Then he drove them to the police station and he called their mother. They had many questions for Rocco. The first question was: "Where did you get the car keys?"

    Rocco said. “From the top of the refrigerator." At seven that morning Rocco's father was at work and his mother was sleeping, Rocco saw the keys on top of the refrigerator. He climbed up on a chair, and took the keys.

    Rocco got into the car and started the engine. When Rocco's sister heard the engine, she ran to the car and cried. She wanted to go with him.

It was 7 a. m.—rush hour—so there was much traffic. Rocco drove one mile in heavy traffic. Then Officer Vogel stopped him.

    Newspapers and TV stations heard about Rocco, and a lot of reporters went to his house. One reporter asked Rocco, “What do you want to be when you grow up?"

    “A truck driver," he said, smiling.

    Amsterdam, the capital and most populous city in the Netherlands, is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, famous for its beautiful canals, top art museum, cycling culture, and Red Light District. Here are some of the key points to remember as you plan your trip to Amsterdam.

    Must-See Attractions

    Most visitors begin their Amsterdam adventure in the Old Centre, which is full of traditional architecture, shopping centers, and coffee shops. You'll also want to check out Amsterdam's Museum Quarter in the South District, which is great for shopping at the Albert Cuyp Market and having a picnic in the Vondelpark. The top museums to visit are the Rijksmusuem, the Ann Frank House, and the Van Gogh Museum. The Canal Ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally built to attract wealthy home owners and is a popular place for celebrity spotting and nightlife today.

    Transportation

    Travelers should be aware that Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of the busiest airports in the world. This airport is located about 15 kilometers southwest of city center. You can catch a train from Schiphol to Amsterdam Central Station, which has many connecting routes. It's typically not a good idea to drive a car to the city center because traffic is heavy and parking is difficult to find. Cycling is incredibly popular here, and it's easy to find cheap bike rentals around town. Amsterdam has a flat terrain (地形) and is a great city to explore on foot.

    Money Saving Tips

    Unless you really want to see the tulips (郁金香) blooming, avoid booking between mid-March and mid-May. This is when hotel and flight prices rise.

    Look for accommodations in Amsterdam's South District, where rates are generally cheaper than in the city center.

    Buy train tickets at the machine instead of the counter to save a bit of money.

    Instead of hiring a tour guide, hop on a canal boat. They're inexpensive and will give you a unique point of view of the city.

    Check out our homepage to view price comparisons for flights, hotels, and rental cars before you book.

Family Day 2024

Here are some exciting happenings at Ontario Parks this Family Day Weekend: Family Day—Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

February 19

Join park staff at Sleeping Giant this Family Day to enjoy some outdoor activities including ice skating with neighbor campfire, winter hiking or walking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. The visitor centre will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The park gate will be closed and locked at 4:40 p.m. Don't forget to reserve your vehicle permit in advance!

Family Day—Bronte Creek Provincial Park

February 17

Spend an enjoyable day exploring the park trails, barns (仓棚), and outdoor play equipment. The play barn (for children 10 years and under) will be open from 9100 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Visit the children's farm with a variety of animals, search for the park's Gnome Road, or climb to the top of the hill and enjoy the views from the canyon scenic observation deck!

Fire and Stars Hikes—Sibbald Point Provincial Park

February 16&17

Visit Sibbald Point this winter for an evening journey along the Maidenhair Fern Trail, lit only by fire and the stars.

Hike between the hours of 6:30—9:30 p.m. on your own or join in a guided hike led by Discovery staff beginning at 6:30 p.m. This journey takes 1-1.5 hours to complete dependent on your hiking pace.

Staff recommend bringing your own snowshoes, but they are optional depending on amount of snow fall. Be sure to check the Snow Report before you arrive!

Family Fishing Weekend

February 17—19

Do you know Canadians can fish licence-free from February 17 to February 19? What a great time to introduce your family to ice fishing! Find an event near you.

Safety should always be number one. Remember: Ice does not freeze at a uniform thickness. Always dress for the weather and layer up. Make sure you obey the rules and regulations of the body of water you're fishing on too!

Ways to Build Resilience (适应力)

Being resilient isn't about avoiding misfortune, but rather how we respond to it. Resilience means doing well in the face of risk or difficulty. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Being resilient can help you manage stress, lower your chances of depression, and has even been proven to make people live longer. To build resilience, the experts suggest the following：

Start with reaching out for support. Lack of social support can lead to decreased resilience. While it's easy to let go of important relationships in our busy lives, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Good relationships are a pillar (柱状物) of rock for resilience and are a source of support when the times get tough. And cultivating your sense of humor is also a plus. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Humor helps you to gain perspective during hard times. It also improves your sense of well-being through an increase in dopamine (多巴胺) levels in your brain, and can ultimately increase your overall health.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#}Having goals and dreams increases resilience. A lack of purpose and goals reduces resilience and may leave you open to being taken advantage of, manipulation (操纵), and poor life choices；it reduces your sense of control over your life, which can easily lead to depression and anxiety.

Be a person of action. Being idle can lead to less resilience, but being active and tackling your problems head-on can promote your ability to deal with tough situations. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Instead, do something about the situation.

A.it is vital to make room for them.

B.Then find a sense of purpose in life.

C.it is exciting to embrace the unknown.

D.Hard times call for looking at the lighter side.

E.Try to avoid thinking deeply about negative thoughts or ideas.

F.It is also the ability to bounce back from tough situations.

G.Ask questions until you feel like you have a firm grasp of a situation.

Signs of Healthy Friendships

Once in a while it's helpful to see if your friendship is as healthy as it can be. You might get used to a friendship over time to the point where you don't see the room for improvement. And since great friendships are priceless, you should always surround yourself with the kind of people who will lift your spirits, make you laugh, and remind (提醒) you that you are loved. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Here are characteristics (特征) that strong friendships share.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

Friends make you feel comfortable with yourself, so you don't need to act like someone you're not. Your friends know your shortcomings and love you anyway. You are perhaps the "best version" of yourself when you're with your friends.

A healthy friendship includes plenty of gentle honesty. True friends won't pretend just to avoid an argument (争论). {#blank#}3{#/blank#} As a result, you'll know where you stand with your friends and won't be afraid to share your true opinions.

They argue in a healthy way.

One of the biggest misunderstandings about good friends is that they never fight. But let's face it everyone fights. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} In fact, voicing your opinions freely will cause you to disagree from time to time and that's okay.

Healthy friendships mean you can be friends with someone else, too.

{#blank#}5{#/blank#} That's why great friends will improve your relationship yet still encourage you to meet people and try new things without them. A healthy friendship means that sometimes the two of you spend time apart, and that's okay.

A. Arguing isn't unhealthy.

B. Is your friendship as healthy as it can be?

C. Good friends dine out together from time to time.

D. Good friends are real and honest with each other.

E. With an unhealthy friendship, you know clearly that something is "off".

F. Even if you have the best friend, it doesn't hurt to expand your social circle.

G. In a positive friendship, your friends won't lie to you, and they won't hurt your feelings either.