浙江省外研版初中英语八年级下学期期末模拟试卷（3）

Musical Elephants

    In the town of Lampang in northern Thailand, there is an unusual group of musicians. They play many different kinds of music from traditional Thai songs to music by Beethoven. Both children and adults love this group. What makes them so popular? Is it their music? Their looks? Yes, it's both of these things, but it's also something else: they're elephants.

    These musical elephants are from the Thai Elephant Conservation (保护) Center in Lampang. The TECC protects elephants. It teaches people to understand and care for these huge, but gentle, animals. And, like many zoos around the world, the TECC encourages (鼓励) elephants to paint.

    Richard Lair works with the TECC. He knew that elephants hear better than they see. So he had an idea: if elephants are smart and they have good hearing, maybe they can play music. To test his idea, Lair and a friend started the Thai Elephant Orchestra (管弦乐队). During a show, the elephants play different instruments, including the drums. They also use their voices and trucks(象鼻) to make sounds.

    But can elephants really make music properly? Yes, says Lair. They're very creative. Humans may encourage the animals to play instruments, but the elephants make their own songs; they don't just copy other trainers or other people. There are now CDs of the group's music, which make money for the TECC. And the music these artists create is pretty amazing.

    Jean Nicole is a yard sale lover. She appears almost in every yard sale. She doesn't want to  (错过)any chance to buy good things, because they are much  (便宜的) than those in shops. She is interested in (几乎) everything, such as gloves, old coins, paintings tables and so on. Everybody 

(叫，称呼)her" Lady Yard-sale".

    Two weeks  (以前)，after Jean came back from a yard sale, she entered her store room. She was (吃惊的) to find that she had bought so many things. Jean counted them and made a list(清单). "Oh, dear! I can't believe it. There are seven bicycles, nine armchairs and fifteen  (照相机)… And they haven't been used even  (一次)." She checked the numbers  (再一次). It made her mad. "How silly I am!" she thought. "I can no longer go to yard sales,  (除非)I hold my own one to sell these things out. But will anyone buy them？"

    Rock climbing(攀岩)did not become a sport until in the late 19^th century.  

While rock climbing may still be necessary for mountain climbing, most people just climb low mountains for fun.

    If you have ever done rock climbing, you will know that it is not a very easy sport.  What most people don't know is that rock climbing is one of the sports that depend on your body and mind(意志).

    To climb successfully, one must use wonderful skills.  Another important rule is that your arms only hold you close to the rock face while your legs are pushing you up. The closer you are to the rock face, the easier it is to climb.

 Once you start to learn how to climb, you'll find more fun. People who like games such as chess playing or problem—solving may love rock climbing, because they are nearly the same in the way of thinking.  Anyone who enjoys a difficult game and loves the outdoors should think of taking rock climbing as a new hobby.

In 1990, when I (be) nine years old, I wanted very much to find pen friend. I found Ashley's address in a magazine, and decided (write) to her. I sent off my letter with a little hope. Very quickly, I received her letter. my surprise, Ashley was only one month (old) than me. I learned some new expressions from her. I (real) liked this new friend.

Letter after letter, year after year, Ashley and I continued to write to one another. A letter would be received and I'd write back right away. We would send each other birthday and festival (gift).

Eight years later, my parents decided it was time me to meet this friend. They drove me down to Mississippi for a few days. We (have)a fun time together. We did the things that teenage girls love to do.

Twenty—five years after the (one) letter, Ashley and I still have an amazing friendship. Although we don't write letters now, we communicate through mobile phones and the Internet.

提示：1）What happened?

2）What was the result?

3）Why do you think it was unforgettable(难忘的)?

要求：1）语句通顺，符合逻辑，可适当发挥;

2）不少于70词，开头已给出，不计入总词数。

    Our school went camping the day before yesterday.

    A Utah man who has been in a wheelchair for more than 30 years has created a hunt* called "Wheelchairs in the Wild" for people like him who have difficulty getting into the outdoors.

    Clint Robinson broke his neck after being thrown off a horse at a race 32 years ago. He has done his best to keep getting into the outdoors to hunt and fish, the Daily Herald in Provo reports.

    "We're trying to get new injured* people back out into the field, enjoying the outdoors and wildlife that's out there. We show them that there are other things that they can do. It's not good to sit in the house doing nothing," Robinson said.

    The youngest hunter in the hunt was 13-year -old girl Missy Cowley who couldn't walk. Her father loves to hunt but didn't know how to make her comfortable in the wheelchair. Her mother, Cindy Cowley, said it was amazing for her daughter to go hunting. "We always told her when she was little, 'you can do everything you want to do ... ' but we really didn't know how we were going to get her up there to hunt," Cindy Cowley said. Missey Cowley said it was a great experience that also allowed her to meet other people who use wheelchairs. "This is wonderful. In fact, I can do it," Missy said. "And I love being outdoors."

    Jerry Schlappi, an officer from Division of Wildlife Resources, who helped with the hunt, said Robinson is a perfect example showing other wheelchair users with disabilities* that they don't have to give up what they love.

    A woman was walking down the street when a female beggar (女乞丐) came to her and asked for some money. The lady took a 50-yuan note out of her wallet and asked, "If I give you this money, will you spend it on chocolate?

    "Don't be so crazy!" the beggar replied. "Does it look like I have nothing better to spend money on?"

    "What about shopping?" the lady asked.

    "No," the beggar said, "don't you understand I need money just to stay alive?"

    "Will you spend it on your hair?" the lady asked.

   The beggar replied furiously, "No, I just need money for food and a place to live. Please don't give me such a hard time!"

    "Well, if so," the lady said, "I would like you to eat dinner with me and my husband tonight""

    "Why?" the beggar asked.

    "Well," the lady said, "My husband always complains(抱怨). I think it's important for him to see what a lady looks like after she gives up chocolate, shopping, and hair style."

    Wang is a college student now. But he has a1 shop. Many people like shopping here. 2 from most flower shops in Beijing, Wang runs an unsupervised(无人管理的)）flower shop.

    People can buy flowers and3 for them on mobile phones through WeChat or Alipay.

    Wang loves4in his free time. He said he runs the unsupervised flower shop because he doesn't need to 5  much time on it. "People may go to flower shops at any time, "he said. "If I run a common flower shop, I 6 not read when they come. " So Wang opened the unsupervised flower shop.

    "Most young people like shopping in a7 environment, "he said, "and they don't want to be disturbed when shopping, "But what can the shoppers do if they have questions about kinds and names of flowers? They can have their questions answered8 mobile apps.

    9 there is no shopkeeper, many young people come and the shop works well.

    Some people asked Wang if he worries 10 would take away flowers without paying. Wang said he thought about the11at first. Although he does not sell flowers in the shop himself, he goes to the shop at times. "My flower shop is 12. It doesn't need too much money, and it cannot have a big problem if there is a thief, "he said. And Wang also 13 most people are good.

    Wang's shop is 14. When talking about his shop, Wang said young people have more open 15Use your head, and you'll find your way to be successful.

    British roads are the safest in the world-in 2010, only 3. 8 people out of 100, 00 died in road accidents. This number is lower than in any other country. If you go there, you should try to drive the same way British people do. This is some advice for visitors who plan to go driving in the UK.

    Drive on the left side of the road. In most countries, people drive on the right side. Many visitors have problems because they forget about this difference.

    If there is a line of cars, don't try to go past other people to get to the front. This is called "jumping the line". If you do this, other people will get angry with you.

    Stop at traffic lights. In the UK, drivers always stop when the light is red, even if there aren't any cars or people around.

    Don't use your horn(喇叭)too much. If you do, people will think you are not polite. If another driver flashes(闪光)their lights at you, then they are probably trying to tell you that they will wait for you to go first.

    If you have an accident, then don't try to bribe(贿赂) the police! If you do, you might finish your visit in prison(监狱).