1 . Jumping Clay
Grades: K-2
Time: 3:25 pm — 4:25 pm Tuesday Jan 16, 23, 30 Feb 6, 3, 27 (No class 2/20)
Explore the Arctic and Antarctic in this creative hands-on workshop! Each student will create their own 3-D Polar display including the landscape and animals such as polar bears, penguins and whales while learning about basic shapes and color mixing. Jumping Clay is an air-drying polymer clay that is 100% safe and non-toxic and completely mess free! Beginners welcome! All materials included. Cost: $90
Vacation Destination
The ERfC Vacation Destination Center is located at Enfield Street school,1318 Enfeild Street. Vacation Destination is open from 7:00 am — 6:00 pm on the following days this school year:
December 26-29, 2020
February 20, 2021
April 9-13, 2021
June 25-29, 2021
A variety of theme-based activities are provided throughout the day and include enrichment and recreational activities such as sewing, sports & games, arts & crafts and science activities. Daily fee: $ 45
ERfC Counselors in Trainning Team for High School Students
Students in grades 9-12 who are looking to develop leadership skills are encouraged to join the ERfC CIT Team. High school students will gain experience working with children in different age groups, discover new strengths, and learn team-building skills. Training is provided and summer opportunities will be available. Contact Melissa Shea atmshea@erfc.us.
Tonight in Thompsonville
Located at St. Patrick’s Hall, 64 Pearl Street, Enfield Join us for a free family dinner and a variety of family fun activities. In addition to a family dinner, evenings include hands-on educational activities designed for parents and children to enjoy together. Community providers attend to share information about health, nutrition, physical activity,education, and other services such as SNAP, Care 4 Kids, early childhood programs and out-of-school time activities.
1. What is the main purpose of Jumping Clay?| A．To guide children to protect wild animals. |
| B．To teach children to use clay materials properly. |
| C．To encourage children to improve their creativity. |
| D．To help children learn about the Arctic and Antarctic. |
| A．December 30, 2020. | B．February 22, 2021. |
| C．April 12, 2021. | D．June 24, 2021. |
| A．Jumping Clay. | B．Vacation Destination. |
| C．ERfC CIT Team. | D．Tonight in Thompsonville. |
2 . The Lake District Attractions Guide
Lowther Castle & Gardens
Unique historic restoration project;130 acres of wild gardens dating from the 17th century to explore,and a beautiful architectural castle ruin,period summerhouses,panoramic lakeland views. and wild play areas.Restored stable courtyard cafe,gift shop and gallery.
Open:Daily from 10:00 to 17:00(16:00 in winter).
Lakeland Climbing Centre
We are one of the UK's largest indoor aerial adventure Centres offering climbing and aerial activities for all the family(5 years +).Our award-winning Centre contains Kendal Wall(tallest wall in the country),awesome bouldering rooms,CrazyClimb and Skyline Indoor Aerial Adventure. Free car parking.Pre-booking recommended.
Open:Mon to Fri 10:00-22:00. Sat,Sun& BHa:10:00-19:00(10:00-17:00 May to Aug).
Museum of Lakeland Life & Industry
This atmospheric museum takes you buck through time to explore the story of the lake District and its inhabitants. Discover the unique traditions of the region through recreated period rooms and workshops lost trades to see how rural people lived,worked and played.
Open;Monday to Saturday and Summer Sundays.
10:30-17:00 Summer.10:30-16:00 Winter.
1. When is the Lowther Castle & Gardens open in Winter?| A．10:30-16:00. | B．10:00-16:00. | C．10:30-17:00. | D．10:00-17:00. |
| A．Buy some gifts in a gift shop. |
| B．Climb the tallest wall in the world. |
| C．Go on an indoor aerial adventure. |
| D．Explore the story of the inhabitants. |
| A．Lowther Castle&Gardens. |
| B．Lakeland Climbing Centre. |
| C．Skyline Indoor Aerial Adventure. |
| D．Museum of Lakeland Life &Industry. |
3 . One rainy afternoon, I was on a crosstown bus when a young woman jumped on. She had a child with her who was about three or four years old. The bus was full, bumpy(颠簸的), and it soon got noisy, as her kid began crying — he was upset that he couldn't sit next to his mother. She looked embarrassed.
Then another woman, a little older, stood up and moved so that the mother and child could sit together. The mum smiled as a thank-you. And then three words came out of the older woman's mouth that raised the entire energy of that bus ride: “I've been there.”
Simple, undramatic, and honest. In that moment, it seemed to unite the diverse people of the city. Why? Because almost all experiences are shared human experiences. They're universal. We forget that as we go through life, focused on our own troubles and needs — which are actually less unique than we think.
Sometimes painful past experiences prevent us from wanting to open up to others because we don't want to revisit our own history. But a wonderful way to honor your past hurt is to help comfort another's current pain.
When I was a little girl, we lived on donations from local families and clothing from the " lost and found" baskets. It was shameful for me at the time — I lived in fear of being caught in a friend' s cast-off item.
Even when it was warmer, I refused to take off a layer in the classroom for this reason. Now I don't meet people who are in this exact situation, but I do notice when someone is struggling with financial shame or feels less than other people they meet. And I'm quick to say some version of, "I've been there."
Can the essence of these three words help you make a small difference right now? It can be as simple as volunteering your seat, sharing some helpful advice, or even lightening the mood with a joke when you notice that someone's uncomfortable — because we're all in this together.
1. What influence did the older woman's words have on the people around?| A．Causing discomfort. | B．Breaking long silence. |
| C．Creating a heated debate. | D．Inspiring common feelings. |
| A．They are mostly shared experiences. | B．They don't really matter to anyone' |
| C．They will be forgotten with time. | D．They are unique to each individual. |
| A．Because she had the same sweater with others. |
| B．Because she stole the sweater from someone' |
| C．Because she liked wearing the coat in summer. |
| D．Because she felt embarrassed wearing others' clothes. |
| A．Painful Experiences Are No Big Deal | B．The Best Way to Honor Your Past Hurt |
| C．True Happiness Comes from Helping Others | D．Three Little Words That Bring Us Together |
4 . One of the most popular beliefs in parenting is the so-called Mozart effect, which says that listening to music by the Austrian composer Wolfgang Mozart can increase a child's intelligence. Some pregnant women have even gone so far as to play Mozart recordings on headphones pressed against their bellies. And it's not hard to see how Mozart's name became associated with accelerated development. He was history's greatest child genius, performing astonishing music for kings and queens at an age when many of us were content with tuneless singing "I'm a Little Teapot".
So, if you have kids or you're expecting to have them, how seriously should you take the Mozart effect? Will the child who doesn't listen to Mozart in the cradle (摇篮) be limited to an ordinary life? Are you a bad parent if your kids don't know about any works of Mozart?
Relax. There is no scientific evidence that listening to Mozart improves children's cognitive( 认 知 ) abilities. The whole idea comes from a small study done in 1993,which found that college students who listened to Mozart's Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major(K 448)showed some improvement in a test of spatial(空间的) skills.
This finding was later described as something extremely amazing by a musician, Don Campbell, in a book. Campbell's claims about the superpowers of Mozart's music were repeated endlessly in the media and fueled a craze for Mozart-based enrichment activities. In 1998.for example, the governor of Georgia in the USA requested funds to send classical-music CDs to all parents of newborns in the state.
Since then, scientists have examined the claim that Mozart increases intelligence and found no evidence for it. The original experiment with college students was reviewed in 1999,and the increase students' spatial skills was found to be insignificant. In 2007 the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research asked a team of experts to examine the scientific literature regarding Mozart development and they found no reason to believe that it increased intelligence.
1. Why do people relate Mozart to children's intelligence development?| A．Because he was a royal Austrian composer. |
| B．Because he owned extraordinary music talent. |
| C．Because he could perform music as a little child. |
| D．Because his music is suitable for pregnant women. |
| A．It added to the popularity of Mozart's music. |
| B．The finding was originally discovered by a musician. |
| C．It urged Georgia's governor to spread classical music. |
| D．Evidence was found to support Mozart effect on intelligence. |
| A．Sudden． | B．unimportant． | C．Average． | D．Steady． |
| A．New Findings: Mozart Effect to Be Proved. |
| B．Secrets Uncovered :History of Mozart Effect. |
| C．Does Listening to Mozart Make Kids Smarter? |
| D．How Does Mozart Improve Kids' Intelligence? |
5 . What do extreme marathoners, mountain hikers and professional bicycle racers all have in common? They push their bodies to unsustainable (不可持续的) extremes of physical stress.
We tend to think there’s no limit to human physical achievements. But a new study, published in Science Advances, says there is a definite limit to human endurance (耐力). Beyond that, our bodies begin to break down.
To find the limit, a US research team tracked marathon runners over a five-month period, measuring competitors’ initial basal metabolic rates (BMR, 基础新陈代谢率) – the amount of energy they expend when they rest. Then they looked at how many calories(卡路里) each runner burned per day.
The team found that the maximum amount of energy a human can expend is 2.5 times of BMR. It equals 4,000 calories of energy per day. These calories can help a trained athlete to run about 42 kilometers in a day.
But people can’t keep using this amount of calories all the time. “You can do really intense stuff for a couple of days, but if you want to last longer then you have to dial it back,” US evolutionary anthropologist Herman Pontzer told the BBC.
Pontzer explained that the problem is our guts (消化道). “There’s … a limit to how many calories our guts can effectively absorb per day,” he said in the Daily Mail. At that point, the body is burning calories more quickly than it can absorb food and convert (转化) it into energy.
These new findings could help athletes to best work underneath this ceiling. For example, they could manage their daily exercise time based on their BMR, to get enough calories and keep going.
However, Pontzer’s team can’t rule out the possibility of someone breaking this limit. “So I guess it’s a challenge to elite endurance athletes,” said Pontzer. “Science works when you’re proven wrong. Maybe someone will break through that ceiling some day and show us what we’re missing.”
1. What did the US research team find in the new study?| A．One’s endurance can be improved through exercise. |
| B．A trained athlete can do intense activities for more than a week. |
| C．The average BMR for athletes is 4,000 calories of energy per day. |
| D．The energy one can expend is no more than 2.5 times of their BMR per day. |
| A．To tell us the problem with our guts. |
| B．To show how our bodies produce energy. |
| C．To explain why there is a limit to human endurance. |
| D．To prove the importance of our guts to physical activities. |
| A．keep a more balanced diet |
| B．save time and reduce stress |
| C．arrange their training properly |
| D．improve their performance quickly |
| A．It’s possible that someone could break the endurance limit. |
| B．It’s no good trying to work above the 2.5x endurance ceiling. |
| C．Further data is needed to make the study’s results more accurate. |
| D．The 2.5x endurance ceiling is not a problem for many elite athletes. |
6 . Facts about novel corona virus: Prevention and control
l Keep distance with people when talking
The novel corona virus can be transmitted via droplets and fly 1 to 2 meters in the air before falling to the ground. Droplets can be transmitted far longer when sneezing and coughing than speaking, so apart from keeping 1 to 2 meters of distance, also remember to wear a mask when you are close to someone else.
l Washing hands can reduce risk of getting infected
Please wash your hands promptly and properly after touching elevator buttons or using cash. Do not touch your nose or mouth or rub your eyes before washing your hands. Do not use smart phones while eating.
l Receiving delivered packages at home not dangerous
Though the virus might be attached to the packaging of delivered items, the possibility of transmission through express delivery is extremely low. Before going out to take your delivery, remember to wear a mask. After removing the packaging, please wash your hands.
l Sun exposure cannot kill the virus
The temperature of sun light cannot reach 56℃, and the ultraviolet rays in sunlight cannot reach the intensity of ultraviolet lamps, so the virus can’t be killed by the sunlight. If you want to go out to get some sun, please wear a mask and take other protective measures.
l Taking a hot bath or using air conditioning cannot kill the virus
Although the virus is vulnerable to heat. It can only be inactivated after exposure to a 56°C temperature for over 30 minutes.
l Woolen fabric doesn’t retain virus longer
It is believed that the virus prefers smooth, non-porous surfaces and stays on woolen fabrics for a shorter time. At home or before going out, it is not necessary to consider which kind of material has less chance to absorb the virus—choosing comfortable clothes is enough.
After returning home, please wash your hands, sterilize the clothes and dry the clothes.
1. What are you suggested to do when taking delivered packages?| A．Wear a mask. |
| B．Take a hot bath. |
| C．Open packages. |
| D．Dry the clothes. |
| A．the virus is vulnerable to heat |
| B．the virus can be transmitted via droplets |
| C．the virus prefers smooth, non-porous surfaces |
| D． the virus cannot be killed by the ultraviolet rays |
| A．a textbook |
| B．an advertisement |
| C．a travel brochure |
| D．a science magazine |
7 . China’s war on garbage is as digital as the country itself. Think QR codes attached to trash bags that allow the government to trace exactly where its trash comes from.
On July 1, Shanghai began a compulsory garbage sorting program. Households and companies must classify their wastes into four categories and dump them in appointed places at certain times. The strict program became a headache for some residents. Not even the most environmentally conscious person can get all the answers right. Like, which bin does the newspaper you just used to pick up dog poop (粪便)belong to?
Gratefully, China’s tech startups are here to help. For instance, China’s biggest internet companies responded with new search features that help people identify what wastes are “wet”, “dry”, “toxic”, or “recyclable”. Simply pull up a mini app on WeChat, Baidu or Alipay and enter the keyword. The tech firms will give you the answer and why.
Alipay, Alibaba’s electronics payment company, claims its garbage sorting mini app added one million users under just three days. The mini app has so far indexed (编索引) more than 4,000 types of rubbish. Its database is still growing, and soon it will save people from typing by using image recognition to classify trash when they snap a photo of it. If people are too busy or lazy to hit the collection schedule, well, startups are offering trash service at the doorstep. A third-party developer helped Alipay build a recycling mini app and is now collecting garbage from 8,000 apartment complexes across 11 cities. To date, two million people have sold recyclable materials through its platform.
Besides helping households out, companies are also building software to make property managers, life easier. Some residential complexes in Shanghai began using QR codes to trace the origin of garbage. This way, regulators in the region know exactly which family has produced the trash and fine violators.
1. What are some residents confused about?| A．Environmental knowledge. | B．Bin for dog poop. |
| C．Some waste classification. | D．Time for dumping. |
| A．It provides time flexibility. | B．It reduces household waste. |
| C．It saves people from typing. | D．It classifies rubbish properly. |
| A．Third-party developers. | B．Company managers. |
| C．Community administrators. | D．Rubbish collectors. |
| A．People need recycling apps badly. |
| B．People should classify their rubbish. |
| C．How regulators benefit from the tech. |
| D．How China uses tech to sort waste. |
8 . In 2011, the old style Malta buses were taken off the road and replaced by modern vehicles. Most of the old buses were deserted, a few were sold, and about 100 of them were put into storage in the hope of showing them in a museum at some stage.
A pre-2011 visit to Malta wouldn’t have been complete without a ride on one of the colorful buses. Until 1973 you could tell the destination of the bus just by looking at its color — Sliema was green and white, Zabbar was red and white with a blue stripe(条纹)etc. . Later, the buses all had numbers. For a while, they were all painted green and white before the ‘final’ orange, yellow and white.
In their prime, walking around the Triton fountain at the Valletta bus station, you would have found it very difficult to see two buses of exactly the same design. Most of them had locally built bodies. On the front of the buses carried names like Dodge, Leyland, Bedford etc. . You were equally likely to find football pennants(锦旗)and the like decorating the cabs. Real bus experts would have recognized that these were there mainly for decorative reasons, and were seldom an accurate reflection of the vehicle’s origins.
Nowadays much more modern buses are to be found at the Floriana bus station. They are more environmentally friendly and possibly even more comfortable than the older types. However, I miss the old buses. I remember, when you boarded your bus, you had to prepare the correct change to pay the usually bad-tempered driver as you got on. If you were seated anywhere near the front, you would have noticed that most drivers sat well to the right of their steering wheel. The reason for this, as any Maltese would tell you, was to leave space for their pet to sit alongside them. I wonder where the pet sits these days.
1. What makes a pre-2011 visit to Malta special according to Paragraph 2?| A．Traveling in colorful buses. |
| B．Using buses with stripes. |
| C．Painting buses bright colors. |
| D．Telling destinations by different colors. |
| A．Painful time. | B．Exciting time. |
| C．Moment of fantasy. | D．Moment of glory. |
| A．They were of the same pattern. |
| B．The decorations reflected their origin. |
| C．Most were uniquely designed. |
| D．Only football pennants decorated the cabs. |
| A．Comfortable. | B．Environment-friendly. |
| C．Safe. | D．Memorable. |
9 . Fredric Roi Marquez joined a program to serve food to people at Greenspring Retirement Community, a center operated by the company Erickson Living. By doing so, the high school student hoped to earn a scholarship for college. But the program gave him more than he expected, he learned to pay attention, be patient and move fast.
Roy and Lynn O'Connor moved to the Greenspring center 12 years ago. Many students keep residents updated about their lives. They talk about school projects, exams and even family issues, share their hopes and seek advice from the residents. “It's a great atmosphere to have your dinner being served at night by those enthusiastic polite and considerate young people.” he said.
Lynn O'Connor said the students truly care about the people in the community. She recalled a day when one of the young people spent much extra time explaining the menu to one of the residents. “We're like grandparents to them，” she said.
Marquez also began building special relationships with the residents. “I get to call so many residents I got close to ‘grandma’ and ‘grandpa’. ”
“Greenspring is one of many senior living communities in America that are getting residents to socialize more with young people. About 4,500 students have taken part in the program at three Erickson Living Centers in the Washington, 
area.” Courtney Benhoff, a spokesperson for the company, said the program starting 20 years ago offers students the chance to gain scholarships.
Thirtyone students will receive scholarships this year. Each one will receive $10,000 in scholarship money during the four years of college. Residents help raise the money for the program. The residents also choose the students who receive scholarships. In return, the students learn valuable lessons in life.
1. What does Fredric Roi Marquez mainly do at the center?| A．Serve food to the senior. | B．Socialize with the residents. |
| C．Explain menu to the residents. | D．Earn a scholarship for college. |
| A．They keep the senior's life updated. | B．They are considerate to the residents. |
| C．They can learn a lot from the senior. | D．They deserve to win the scholarships. |
| A．It gives students the opportunity to earn scholarships. |
| B．It was set up thirty years ago by Courtney Benhoff. |
| C．It is supported by the government. |
| D．It enables residents to communicate with more young people. |
| A．Being Treated Like Family Members | B．Building Relationship with Seniors |
| C．Grandparentstudent Relationship | D．Scholarship Program Bridges Generations |
10 . Summer holidays are back on as the government has released a list of quarantine-exempt（隔离豁 免）countries Britons can travel to from July 10 without needing to self — isolate on their return.
France
Requirements include strict social distancing at bars, cafes and restaurants and face masks worn when walking inside. Beaches have reopened Masks are compulsory on public transports
Plane: Returns from £ 30 in August.
Drive： Eurotunnel Le Shuttle has resumed its Folkestone to Calais service and allows passengers to order food, drink and groceries to their car. From £ 72 per car one-way.
Ferry: Brittany Ferries has resumed its Portsmouth-Caen route from £ 42pp one-way.
Italy
British tourists can travel freely within the country, with the exception of Sardinia , Sicily, Apulia and Calabria. Beaches have reopened, with 1.5-metre social distancing. Most museums are open.
Plane: Returns from £ 17 in August.
Drive： Catch the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, or a ferry, to France and drive to Italy.
Spain
A royal law to wear lace masks has been issued for hotels, restaurants, museums and shops. Failure to obey will result in a £ 100 fine.
Plane: Returns from £ 25 in August.
Ferry: Brittany Ferries' service has resumed. From £ 350 per car.
Croatia
British tourists are welcome but need to fill out a form at enter Croatia before arrival. Restaurants ,hotels and beaches are open. Masks are required by law on public transport.
Plane: Returns from £ 35.
1. What can we learn about British tourists driving to Italy?| A．They can arrive before July 10. | B．It is cheaper than taking a plane. |
| C．They have to get to France first. | D．It is free to get food and groceries. |
| A．To travel the country freely. | B．Not to wear a mask in hotels. |
| C．To stand less than 1.5 meters away. | D．Not to obey self-isolation after arrival. |
| A．France. | B．Italy. | C．Spain. | D．Croatia. |
