Come to meet our stars! The world-famous Ringling Bros Circusis building up the excitement one hour before the show begins. At the All Access Pre-Show children of all ages are invited to join our performers on the show floor. It's your chance to be right in the middle of the circus action. You can learn circus skills and get signatures from extraordinary circus stars, try on a traditional Ringmaster jacket and be part of our dance party!

Gypsy Gomes comes from Argentina where she was taught her circus skills as a child. She will leave your head spinning as she controls up t0 80 hoola hoops (呼啦圈) while balancing on a huge mirror ball. Having many hoops thrown in her direction all at once is just one of her many talents.

Emily Ryan gives thrilling performances in her German Wheel. Her beauty and courage go hand in hand with her broad talents and tricks.

With the most elegant touch, Emma Avery bravely steps out into thin air on a silver thread of wire, showing her skills not only of balance but of beautifully performed talents.

Sixth generation Swiss circus artist, Rosita Gasser performs a unique and very modern display on the Roman Rings with skill, balance and style. Her strength and control during performance has come from being a single, double and flying trapeze (空中飞人) from the young age of eight and a lifetime in the circus.

To take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, just visit ringlingbros.expapp.com from your iPhone or Android smartphone, provide your name, email and phone number to see the exciting experiences that are waiting for you!

Reserve seats on any 2017 Rick Steves tour today, and you’ll save $ 100 per person! To receive your early booking discount, you must reserve a 2017 tour by midnight on November 30, 2016. Discounts are for new bookings only and must be secured with a $400 per person deposit(订金).

See our Conditions:

   Tour price guarantee: our tour prices do not include air tickets, and may be adjusted without notice due to possible changes in currency rates and trip costs. However, your price for the tour you’ve selected will be guaranteed the moment we receive your deposit.

   Included in the price of each tour: Sightseeing tours by a Rick Steves’ Europe(RSE) guide, and local guides when appropriate, including all admission to sights seen as a group; all breakfasts and half of your dinners; accommodation each night; all transportation from the first hotel to the last hotel of the tour; all RSE guide, local guide and driver tips.

   The plans of the trip may be changed: Europe is full of surprise, and we need to be flexible enough to take advantage of whatever comes along so that we may provide you with the best possible tour.

   Tour payments: Your final tour payment must be paid at least 60 days before the departure. Missing the final payment deadline may result in your being removed from the tour! If you sign up for a tour less than 60 days before its departure, the entire tour price must be paid.

   Transferring(改签) to another tour: Up to 60 days before your departure, you can transfer to any other tour in the same calendar year with seats available, applying your existing deposit and with no transfer fee. If you transfer to a different tour, the price of that tour will be applied, effective on the date we confirm your transfer. Transfers less than 60 days before your tour’s departure may not be possible.

I have always considered myself a positive optimist, trying to find the best in every situation. Iˈve recently become aware of how two little  (1)   have had a great impact on people.

My son  (2)  to tell me about a house he was interested in.I said, "Honey, I am glad that youˈve found something you like,   (3)  …"There, I continued, "Donˈt you think,with the gas prices, you might want to buy one  (4)  to your work?" As he told me all about the possible house, I could hear the  (5)  in his voice. The moment I spoke the word, BUT, it was  (6)   I pricked a balloon with a needle（针）.I could hear him slowly deflate（泄气）. I  (7)  that if I had used the word AND—"Honey, Iˈm glad you found a house in your  (8)  range, AND Iˈm happy for you."—he wouldnˈt have been  (9)  , and weˈd have both hung up feel better.

My daughter  (10)  at my door dressed like a princess on her way to the prom. I told her how graceful looked and I was  (11)  of the young lady she has become, and I said, "Sweetheart, you  (12)  having a great time, but please donˈt drink tonight." I know she doesnˈt engage in  (13)  behavior; sheˈs responsible and sensible. She looked as though Iˈd snatched her crown. "Mom!" The tone of her voice indicated how Iˈd  (14)  her feel. How I wish Iˈd said, "I want you to have a great time, AND I   (15)  you."

My husband helps around the house. I was  (16)  he had lightened my work load. I told him how wonderful he is, and I used that naughty word again."BUT,why did you  (17)  crumbs（面包屑）all over the counter? "Why?Why?Why didnˈt I say," Thank you, AND I am  (18)  or all you do around the house."

Iˈve been doing some  (19)  . I am going to remove that naughty little word from my  (20)  and replace it with the word AND. This is a decision I intend to keep!

Cats are the most popular pets among Americans. So it is not surprising that there are many expressions about cats. Some cats like to catch small birds, like canaries (金丝雀). If someone looks very proud or satisfied with himself, we say he looks like the cat that eats the canary.

       Sometimes, a cat likes to play with a small animal it catches. So if you play cat and mouse with someone, you change between different kinds of behavior when dealing with another person. For example, a child might offer something sweet to his little brother and then take it away when he reaches for it.

       You may have known that cats spend most of their time sleeping. Sometimes people sleep for a short time during the day. This is called a cat nap.

       If you tell about something that was supposed to be a secret, we say you let the cat out of the bag. If you are not able to speak or answer a question, someone might ask if the cat has got your tongue.

       Have you ever watched children in classroom when their teacher leaves for a few minutes? “When the cat’s away, the mice will play” will best describe that situation.

       You may have heard this expression: curiosity killed the cat. This means being too concerned about things that are not your business might cause problems.

If your home is very small, you might say there is not enough room to swing a cat. But you probably should not try this at home!

The Masai are a people who are constantly trying to preserve their own ways in an increasingly modem world. They live along the border of Kenya and Tanzania, moving their homes from time to time to follow their cattle, the source of their living.

The Masai have become known as a people of fighters, protecting their cattle against lions and other enemies. Only men are fighters. They wear long hair, which is colored red with clay. They can have more than one wife. Women build and take care of the home, fixing food and making clothing. Women and children keep their heads shaved. Women can also become elders, once they have given birth to four healthy children.

The Masai depend on their cattle for many parts of their life. They drink cow's milk and blood as a sacred drink. They use the cows' waste to cover and seal their homes. They don't kill their cattle for food, but if a cow is killed, then the horns (角) are used for containers; the hides are used to make shoes, clothing, ropes and bed coverings; and the bones are made into decorations.

The more cattle a man owns, the richer he is considered to be. A man who owns 50 or fewer cattle is considered poor. A "rich" man has a thousand or more. The cattle, though owned by the man, are considered to belong to the man's entire family. The family names the cattle and can recognize each animal's unique voice.

Masai houses are made from sticks and grass, but they are meant to be temporary, since the move of their cattle means that the Masai move as well.

The ability to make small talk is highly valued. In fact, many English students are more interested in making effective small talk than knowing correct grammar structures --- and rightly so ! Small talk gets friendships started and breaks the ice before important business meetings and other events.

However, making small talk is difficult not only for English learners, but also for many native speakers of English. Small talk can be especially difficult for some learners because making small talk means talking about almost anything --- and that means having a wide vocabulary that can cover most topics. Most English learners have an excellent vocabulary in specific areas, but may have difficulty in discussing topics they are unfamiliar with because of a lack of appropriate vocabulary.

This lack of vocabulary leads to some students “blocking”. They slow down or stop speaking completely because of a lack of self-confidence.

As common as it is, scratching to relieve an itch has long been considered a biological mystery: Are cells at the surface of the skin somehow tired in need of outside stimulation? Or is the relief of the stimulation centered in the brain?

Perhaps neither one, a new study suggests. Neuroscientists report that specialized cells in the spinal cord appear to be critically involved in producing the feeling of an itch and the feeling of relief after the application of fingernails, at least in healthy individuals.

“It’s a very important study; itching is a major problem for millions of patients,” said Dr. Gil Yosipovitch.

Dr. Yosipoviteh cautioned that the findings may not apply to chronic itches. “But this is the kind of work that should help open this area up to more research.”

The researchers isolated in monkeys cellular(细胞的) connections that run from the surface of the foot to the spinal cord and then to the part for feelings in the brain. They caused the feeling of itchiness by injecting something under the skin. They chose some cells at the base of the spinal cord. Most are sensitive to pain and some to both pain and itchiness. And when the researchers scratched the itchy skin on the monkeys’ feet, it quieted the cell’s activity.

Scientists argue that itching is most likely related to grooming(动物的梳毛), and evolved to protect animals against poisonous plants. But the biology of the itch has been a mystery and ignored for years by researchers who have been far more focused on pain.

It is suggested that itch, like pain, may be a “gated” system where signals from other nerve cells can interfere with the feeling. Scratching the skin near, but not directly on the spot, it often provides relief, just as rubbing an aching arm can reduce pain.

As with some kinds of pain, small reminders of an itching feeling can get people scratching, often without being entirely aware of it. “I give lectures about itching.” Dr. Giesler said, “and I’ll stand up there in front of a whole roomful of people, show a few slides and pretty soon I’ll look out and 90 percent of the audience is scratching.”

Dr. Yosipovitch said there was a long way to go before doctors could expect treatments. For one thing the miserable, chronic itch common in many medical problems most likely involves other mechanisms. “But I feel excited about this finding,” he said. “It’s a sign that this field is really evolving,”