Fall 2021 Story Contest
Our Fall Contest is open to all fiction and nonfiction writers. We're looking for short
stories, essays, memoirs, photo essays, graphic stories, all forms of literary nonfiction, and excerpts (摘录) from longer works of both fiction and nonfiction. Entries (参赛作品) must be previously unpublished, no longer than 15, 000 words, and must not have been previously chosen a8 a winner, finalist, or honorable mention in another contest,
As always, we are looking for works with a strong narrative drive, with characters we can respond to, and with effects of language, situation, and insight that are intense and total. We look for works that have the ambition of enlarging our view of ourselves and the world.
CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR WORKS.
Awards: First Prize is $ 2, 500, Second Prize is $ 1, 000, Third Prize is $ 500, and up to ten finalists will receive $ 100 each, All entries will be considered for publication.
Submission Fee: There is a $ 27 fee for each entry. With your entry, you'll receive three months of free access to Narrative Backstage.
All contest entries are qualified for the $ 4, 000 Narrative Prize and for acceptance as a Story of the Week.
Timing: The contest deadline is November 30, 2021, at midnight, Pacific standard time.
Some parents may have had trouble getting their kids away from electronics and outside this summer. But for one Virginia family, this wasn't the case. Josh and Cassie Sutton recently completed a fall-length hike of the Appalachian Trail with their son, Harvey.
At just 5 years old, Harvey, who earned the nickname "Little Man" from fellow hikers, is one of the youngest people known to have completed the roughly 2, 100-mile trail that stretches across 14 states in 209 days.
When Harvey was 2 years old, his parents began training him for hiking by going on mini walks. They slowly increased their mileage day by day- eventually making him adapt to his big adventure. "A lot of people are surprised at how well be did. They're like, 'How did you get your 5-year-old to do that while my 5-year old won't even walk half a mile without com-Paining?'" Mom Cassie Sutton said.
The Sutton s said that while the adventure of the 2, 100- mile hike was fun as a family, it did have its challenges- especially when it came to keeping Harvey entertained. "We learned that he is gifted in hiking, but as long as were playing make-believe with him all day long, then he moves quickly and hikes a lot faster than a lot of us imagine," Josh Sutton said.
While the Sutton s have plans for more hikes and family adventures ahead, the family is getting adjusted to life at home again as Harvey begins his latest adventure; kindergarten.
The number of weather -related disasters has increased by five times over the past 50years, the latest report by the World Meteorological (气象) Organization (WMO) said on September 1, However, thanks to improved early warning systems and disaster management, the number of death from these hazards (危险) has been almost three times less.
According to the WMO, from 1970 to 2019, weather, climate and water hazards account ted for 50 percent of all disasters. Among the top 10 hazards that led to the largest loss of human life during this period were droughts, storms, floods and extreme temperatures. How-ever, deaths fell from over 50, 000 in the 1970s to less than 20, 000 in the 2010s.
"Weather, climate and water extremes are increasing and will become more frequent and severe in many parts of the world as a result of climate change," says WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas,
"That means more heatwaves, drought and forest fires such as those we have observed recently in Europe and North America. We have more water vapor in the atmosphere, which is worsening extreme rainfall and deadly flooding. The warming of the oceans has affected the frequency and area of existence of the most intense tropical storms.
"Economic losses are increasing as exposure increases. But behind the statistics lies a message of hope. Improved multi-hazard early warning systems have led to a significant reduction in deaths. Quite simply, we are better than ever before at saving lives," Taalas said.
New research suggests that a gene that governs the body's biological (circadian) clock acts differently in males versus females and may protect females from heart disease. The study is the first to analyze circadian blood pressure rhythms (节奏) in female mice.
The body's circadian clock- the biological clock that organizes bodily activities over a 24-hour period一contributes to normal variations in blood pressure and heart function over the course of the day. In most healthy humans, blood pressure dips (下降) at night. People who do not experience this temporary drop, called "non-dippers"，are more likely to develop heart disease. The circadian clock is made up of four main proteins (encoded by "lock genes") that regulate close to half of all genes in the body, including those important for blood pressure regulation.
Previous research has shown that male mice that are missing one of the four clock genes (PER1) become non-dippers and have a higher risk for heart and kidney disease. A research team studied the circadian response and blood pressure of female mice that lack PER1 and compared them with a healthy female control group. On both low- and high-salt diets, both groups "retained an apparent circadian rhythm" of blood pressure, the researchers explained. Unlike the male mice in previous research, the females without PERI showed normal dips in blood pressure overnight,
These results suggest that the lack of PER1 acts differently in males and females. The findings are consistent with research showing that women are less likely to be non-dippers than men of the same age. "This study represents an important step in understanding sex differences in the regulation of cardiovascular (心血管) function by the circadian clock, " the researchers wrote.
Volunteering means to carry out a duty or a job without expecting payment or reward. The concept is very popular in advanced or rich countries. But in some countries, many people look at volunteering as a waste of time and effort.
One is immediately seen as selfless and helpful when one volunteer to help out someone such as a friend, teacher or parent. when you help a teacher to clean the classroom or get involved in a cleanliness campaign at the school level or other community projects. Teachers and adults would look at a young person who volunteers his or her time for certain activities as mature, responsible and deserving of respect.
In addition, volunteering with an organization such as orphanages, community centers and other nonprofit organizations l lows you to interact with society at large. In addition to helping these organizations carry out their duties, you not only gain experience but can learn a variety of skills, Even though they are not being paid, through volunteering time, effort and skills, they would learn more than what money can buy.
For example, if you volunteer your time regularly at a charity organization, you would learn how the organization works and the importance of teamwork, and other essential ideas related to the day- to day operations of the organizations.
Thus, with s0 many benefits, students, in particular, should be allowed to participate in volunteer activities.
A. You will feel you are proud
B. You will feel you are respected
C. This is especially beneficial to students
D. One should actively be involved in volunteering
E. However, one can gain many benefits from volunteering
F. They can learn useful interpersonal and organizational skills
G. Volunteering also exposes one to many interesting ideas and issues
Brave daughter Never, aged seven, and son Billy, five, saved their mum's life after calling 999 to say "mummy's dead". A proud mum was1by her young kids after she fell down the stairs and knocked herself out. Never found her phone and2called 999, while anxious Billy who3her a blanket as the mum4unconscious was saying, "My mummy is dead. "Ambulance service chiefs gave a lot of 5to the children, describing Never as "very brave".
The mum said she remembered going upstairs at her home that morning, but after that everything went6and she estimated she had been black out for half an hour. Never told the operator, "I need 7for my mummy. She's not awake. "8 ， Never was able to give the ambulance service her full9 ， and counted her mum's breaths for the10.
Rebecca, who is diabetic (糖尿病患者) and has had four 11 on her back in the last two years, said, "I've always12 them that if anything happens, this is what they have to do. She listened to everything. "Never even had the presence of13to call a friend of Rebecca's and a neighbour as the drama 14" Billy went to get a blanket, he's a very15lite boy."
The mother said it16the value of being prepared, and said paramedics (急救人员)were full of praise for Never and Billy for their incredible17to the crisis. An ambulance service spokeswoman said, "We'd like to say a very big well done to the little girl for her18thinking to help her mum! We would encourage parents and19to teach their children about 999 using our20campaign called Little Lifesaver."
The Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games sent a thank you letter to volunteer applicants who were not(previous) selected, and expressed gratitude for their support in the preparation work of the Games.
The letter says the COVID 19 pandemic has brought great challenges to many aspects of the preparation work, and the committee(adjust) requirements for volunteers in(consider) of virus control and prevention.
you were not selected as a volunteer of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, every applicant is an excellent promoter for the Olympic spirit and volunteer-ism, " the committee says in the letter,
Many applicants said they (move) by the touching letter and posted their replies online. A netizen (网民) (name) Joleen-kun said their application had been seen, which was something to be proud as they were respected by the committee.
Another netizen Xiguali commented that their enthusiasm has been respected and the committee is warm to pay attention to details, thus (send) a letter like this.
According to the Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee, more than 1 million people applied to serve as volunteers and nearly 20 , 000 were selected, most of are from colleges and ( university) in Beijing and Hebei Province.
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(^)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划-横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一 词;
2．只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Good morning, everyone! I feel honored to be stood here, sharing my opinions with the relationship between the environment and the economy.
Personal, environmental protection seems able to go hand in hand with economic development. For one thing, it's unavoidable to damage the environment that while we develop the economy. For another, environmental protection, in turn, limiting the development of our economy.
Undoubtedly, it's your duty to protect the environment while we aim for economic development. We should ensure the development strategies are followed in the environmentally friendly way. Everyone can help fight pollutions by the following golden rule: reduce, reuse and recycle. Only in this way can a balance between the environment and the economy achieved.
