1 . 假定你是李华，得知美国著名杂志《国家地理》正从全球评选十大旅游胜地，请给该杂志写封信推荐一个中国的著名旅游地。内容包括：
1.写信目的；
2.推荐理由；
3.欢迎来访。
注意：
1.词数l00左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Sir or Madam,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

2 . The term "bird brain" is frequently used to describe a person's lack of intelligence and good decision-making ability. However, some scientists believe it should be considered a praise, given that many birds can perform human tasks like producing and using tools, solving problems, and planning for future needs. Now, Griffin, an African Grey parrot, has proved that birds may even possess better visual memories than human adults and children.

The study, led by Hrag Pailian, a researcher at Harvard University, had the parrot compete in the game against twenty-one undergraduate students and twenty-one 6 to 8-year-old children. The popular challenge involves hiding a small object under one of three or more upside-down cups, which are moved around. Participants are required to accurately identify the cup under which the object lies. To make the task more challenging, the researchers required participants to track two, three, and four objects at the same time.

An analysis of the results showed that Griffin outperformed the 6 to 8-year-olds across all levels on average. Even more impressive, the "bird brain" performed as well as, or slightly better than, the 21 Harvard students on 12 of the 14 trials! It was only in the final two tests, which had the most objects and most movement, that the parrot fell behind the adults. However, Griffin's performance was never below that of the children.

Griffin was the candidate of choice because the scientists needed an animal that had a brain functionality similar to that of humans. "The fact that the smart parrot loves to show off his brain power in exchange for a few cashews (腰果) did not hurt either", said Irene Pepperberg, a Harvard lecturer, who has trained Griffin and several other African Grey parrots, has been studying the species for over four decades and is considered a pioneer in the study of bird intelligence.

1. What were the participants required to do in the study?

A．Identify different kinds of objects.	B．Tell where the hidden object lies.
C．Track other participants' performance.	D．Move around upside-down cups.

2. What did the results of the study indicate?

A．6 to 8-year-olds did better than Griffin.

B．Parrots have a better memory than other birds.

C．Harvard students have a better visual memory.

D．Griffin outsmarted Harvard students in some trials.

3. Why was Griffin chosen for the experiment?

A．It was good at making decisions.

B．It was specially trained for experiments.

C．It had similar brain functions to human beings.

D．It loved to show off his language power for some treats.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．"Bird brain" becomes a term for a stupid person.

B．Harvard lecturer pioneers in bird intelligence study.

C．Parrot outsmarted Harvard students in visual memory test.

D．Researchers made new discoveries about human intelligence.

3 . Do you always concern yourself with your kid’s play dates? Do you send them upstairs to get changed?     1     Put that red pen back in your purse, because micromanaging your kids is likely to do more harm than good.

Micromanaging or over-parenting comes in many forms. However it presents itself, it can give children the impression that parents don’t have confidence in them, and this can lead to problems. Kids who are micromanaged could also grow used to an unearned level of success, which may do harm to their attitude towards work and life. Parents who micromanage their kids sometimes struggle with a sense of control.     2    

So what should parents do? For modern parents, it can be a balance between healthy involvement in your kid's life and micromanaging. It can be especially difficult to know where the line is when it comes to the internet. We live in a digital age.     3     To help you walk that fine line, parents should be frank about it. If they're hiding their phone or acting secretively, a slightly different conversation about the health of their online activity might be needed.

Breaking a micromanaging habit isn't easy.     4     You could relax your grip in fairly inconsequential areas, like letting your child decide what clothes to wear. The plus side is that if you back off about little things, your words might carry more weight when it comes to the big things.     5     Therefore, you can let your children succeed, fail, and figure out life on their own.

A．But like any bad habit, start small.

B．Do you like talking with your kids?

C．Micromanaging can be a sign of anxiety in them.

D．Do you stay with them while they're doing homework?

E．You can also form a healthier relationship with your kids.

F．Keep your eyes open for the changes in your kids' behavior.

G．It's important for parents to care about their kids' activity online.

4 . It has been four years since the Flashfood App was set to hit Canadian grocery stores and make it easier for shoppers to buy soon-to-expiry (保质期) food at a discount. Much to my delight, I heard it advertised recently on a radio station and figured it’s time for an update, especially since people became more aware of food waste’s role in the climate crisis.

The first thing I did was download the App. I hadn’t done it before because it was limited to a few locations, but now it’s all over Canada. I could see immediately that many brands of yogurt are all marked down 50 percent. Users pay for the food using the App, and then pick it up at a marked location in the store. There is no need for you to worry about them actually being bad.

It makes sense for retailers to get behind this App because it offers a win-win situation for everyone involved. Flashfood sells 75% of the products made available through its App while saving consumers an average of 50% on those grocery items, and it has 300,000 active users right now. That number is expected to grow naturally as Flashfood partners with more grocers.

“As a food retailer, we are in the business of providing food, not wasting it. The Flashfood program allows us to provide our customers with a convenient and environmentally sustainable (可持续的) way to purchase food. Loblaw sells 77% of the items it puts on Flashfood, moving an average of ＄800 to ＄1,000 worth of goods weekly at each of its largest stores,” said Gord Chem, senior VP with Loblaw’s Real Canadian Superstores.

I love looking for discount deals at the grocery store and always keep an eye out for the hot pink clearance stickers. But it’s always random, and I never know what I’m going to get from week to week. The appeal of Flashfood is that I can see what’s available, pre-purchase it, and leave it off my shopping list.

1. What can we know about the food on the Flashfood?

A．It’s delivered directly to the customers.	B．Much of it is charged at half the price.
C．Users can pay for it in the marked store.	D．It’ll be a month away before it goes bad.

2. According to Gord Chem, the Flashfood is ________.

A．beneficial

B．popular

C．creative

D．reliable

3. How is the advantage of Flashfood introduced in the last paragraph?

A．By listing some examples.	B．By making a comparison.
C．By explaining the cause.	D．By introducing the result.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Customers can buy much cheaper food on a recent app.

B．A win-win situation has been set for Canadians involved.

C．Canadians have a smart approach to reducing food waste.

D．Canadians adopt a new way of protecting the environment.

5 . Dance is one of the most wonderful forms of human communication. In many cultures, dance has both historic and cultural significance, which is communicated through learned gestures and expressions. Here are a bit more details about three of the world’s most beautiful dances.

Kathakali

Kathakali is a storytelling dance, during which performers use a variety of gestures, and eyes and facial expressions to communicate meanings. Costumes, hair styles, makeup and face paint, and jewelry also all hold specific meanings in the performance of kathakali. There are nine facial expressions used to express emotions ranging from sadness and anger to curiosity. Through their expressions, it should be completely clear to the viewer what the performer is intending to convey.

Tango

The dance has its roots in an African slave dance called candombe, which is also a type of music. One key factor of a candombe performance is a partnered dance, which has over time developed into the modern tango. If you can keep your eyes on one part of the tango, just focus on the dancers’ legs and feet. The tango is typically performed low to the ground, with both performers’ step-work often taking place at the same time. It’s complex and communicative.

Flamenco

One of the most interesting facts about the flamenco is that it began as a song. Over time, flamenco developed to include its now-famous passionate accompanying dance. One of the key factors of flamenco is palmas. It may look like simple, rhythmic clapping, but palmas are performed at different speeds, and strengths, and it is essential that the flamenco dancer understands how to make use of his or her hands as part of the performance.

1. What is special about kathakali?

A．It is intended to convey a romantic story.

B．It involves many expressions to attract viewers.

C．It’s a dance to tell a story and express many feelings.

D．It is a dance where people can learn how to exchange feelings.

2. What should you pay attention to in a tango?

A．The dancers’ arms and hands.	B．The dancers’ legs and feet.
C．The dancers’ facial expressions.	D．The dancers’ eyes and hands.

3. In which dance does dancers’ clapping play an important role?

A．Kathakali.

B．Flamenco.

C．Tango.

D．Candombe

6 . 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.

2. When can a child take part in science activities?

A．December 30, 2020.	B．February 22, 2021.
C．April 12, 2021.	D．June 24, 2021.

3. Which program suits a student who wants to run for monitor next term?

A．Jumping Clay.	B．Vacation Destination.
C．ERfC CIT Team.	D．Tonight in Thompsonville.

7 . 假定你是李华，请根据下列表格中的内容提示，为校报的英语园地写一篇英语短文，介绍你最崇拜的一位中国科学家。

姓名	梁建英	出生年份	1972年
职务	高铁设计师
主要经历	（1）1995年大学毕业后开始从事高铁研究工作 （2）研制出时速300~350千米的高速动车组 （3）2015年获奖

注意：1.词数80左右；2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：高速动车组high-speed EMU

8 . 阅读下面短文,在空白处填人1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Cambridge University researchers have developed a“no-touch touchscreen"that uses artificial intelligence to predict a user's    1    (intend)before their hand reaches the display.The screen was    2    (original)designed for use in cars,but the engineers    3    built it claim it could also have widespread applications during a pandemic(瘟疫).

The“predictive touch"technology can    4     (use)to prevent the spread of pathogens(病原体)on touchscreens at supermarket check-outs,ATMs and ticket terminals at railway stations.The technology works by predicting where a user wants    5    (touch)the screen as they begin the hand movement towards the screen.A combination of Al and sensors(传感器)     6    (determine)what the user wants in real time by also tracking contextual information like the user's profile，environmental conditions and an eye-gaze tracker.Other touch-free technologies include gesture control.which can be found on    7    latest generation of Google and Samsung smartphones，as well as some smart TVs.

The technology has many advantages over more basic mid-air interaction techniques or    8    (tradition)gesture recognition,because it supports intuitive interactions(直观互动)with conventional interface designs and doesn't require    9     (learn)on the part of the user.It fundamentally relies    10    the system to predict what the user intends and can be incorporated into both new and existing touchscreens and other interactive display technologies.

9 . 假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
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：在错的词下画一横线，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。

In the past three years, many activities had been organized by our school. What impressed me mostly was an activity calling “Learning to Farm”. In an autumn afternoon, we went to a farm, where we learned knowledge and had many fun. Having been in the city for such a long time, we were more than happy to go to a countryside. After we arrived, we divided into three groups. Some students learned how to raise pigs, some worked in the garden, and the other helped the farmers with the work in the fishpond. It was not until it was totally dark when we stopped working. Though we were tired out but we felt pleased on our way back home.

10 . About a year ago, I had to spend a week in a hospital, because of the deadly food poisoning. There I met an elderly woman, who _______ to be a professional musician. That time when I met her, the idea of learning to sing didn't _______ my mind. I thought it was something _______ and not meant for me, like being an airplane pilot.

And only recently, I suddenly decided to learn singing.1 was _______ my dog early in the morning. I sang _______ to myself and it made me feel so wonderful. At that moment I _______ I had known more good songs and how to control my _________ better. And then I thought, why didn't I take some singing lessons? Of course, it was not a (n) _________ skill that I could use at work, but not everything in this life is about actual _______ and income.

It was easy to find that woman. I remembered her name and there was only one ______________ college in our city. I was ______________ she would reject me because l was a terrible ______________. But she took my request very ______________. She understood how important music was ______________ one's soul. In my first lesson, she sat at the gorgeous big piano and ______________ some rising notes that I had to repeat. At first I was terrified to       ______________ because I feared being judged and criticized. But my teacher was kind and professional.________________, she was strict when she knew I could do better.

Learning to sing was like learning to walk. It was like ________________ that all your life you had some superpower but were not aware of its ______________. Singing taught me more than just being able to take some high or low ______________. Most importantly, it taught me to be braver about expressing myself and my opinions.

1.

A．turned out

B．ran out

C．went out

D．called on

2.

A．lose

B．cross

C．change

D．slip

3.

A．realistic

B．fashionable

C．unavailable

D．worthless

4.

A．sorting

B．owning

C．evolving

D．walking

5.

A．jokingly

B．painfully

C．lightly

D．properly

6.

A．planned

B．wished

C．heard

D．regretted

7.

A．sound

B．hope

C．talk

D．voice

8.

A．practical

B．different

C．interesting

D．accurate

9.

A．benefit

B．damage

C．habits

D．dates

10.

A．literary

B．architectural

C．medical

D．musical

11.

A．angry

B．afraid

C．surprised

D．pleased

12.

A．citizen

B．patient

C．amateur

D．friend

13.

A．casually

B．seriously

C．rudely

D．uniquely

14.

A．from

B．under

C．for

D．during

15.

A．wrote

B．left

C．played

D．kept

16.

A．make a sound

B．take a walk

C．write the song

D．tell the truth

17.

A．Instead

B．Therefore

C．Moreover

D．However

18.

A．giving out

B．admitting to

C．belonging to

D．finding out

19.

A．existence

B．contents

C．purpose

D．forms

20.

A．words

B．notes

C．noises

D．spirits