浙江省新目标（Go for it）版初中英语九年级上学期期中模拟试卷（10）

    Two years ago, my family moved to a new city and I had to study in a new school. As I had few friends there, I felt lonely. Then I met Tony. The first time I saw him, he was standing in the center of a group of students, telling jokes. The children around laughed from time to time. Tony knew about my problem. He asked me to play basketball with his friends and helped me with my studies. We soon became good friends.

    About a year ago, however, Tony's father was killed in an accident. As a result, his family had to move to a small house. Tony changed into a different person. He became silent and he even lost his interest in studies. Several times, I invited him to go out and play basketball with me, but he refused. I wanted to help him, but didn't know what to do.

    Then something strange happened in my class. Two classmates lost the money in their schoolbags.

    Last Friday, just before the P. E. lesson, I went back to the classroom to get my running shoes I would use. The door was half open. I went in. To my astonishment, I saw Tony was searching one of my classmates' schoolbags. I was shocked…

    I'm sure you look into the mirror several times a day. In fact, we can't live without mirrors. Today mirrors are everywhere A from your room to your father's car. They are helpful in many ways. The mirror has a long history. But do you know who invented it and when it was invented?

    People started using mirrors a long time ago. The first mirrors used were natural mirrors such as reflection in water. The first man-made mirrors were made out of the rock. Later, people used different metals such as bronze（青铜） to make mirrors. Throughout history, different types of mirrors have been used in many different cultures at the same time.

    The first glass mirror was invented by a German named Justus Von Liebig in 1835.He used a silvering（镀银） technique to produce the glass mirror. Today aluminum is the main metal used for mirror.

    Today, mirrors come in various shapes and sizes. They are used for different reasons. We usually start our days by looking into the mirror in the bathroom. We also use them often during the day to keep ourselves tidy.

    Mirrors are important for cars too. If cars don't have mirrors, it's impossible to drive. This is because drivers can't see other cars coming. Of course, that would lead to many car accidents. It is said that breaking a mirror causes seven years of bad luck. So, look after your mirrors well.

    Six years ago, Ann graduated(毕业)from college with a degree in Art. Now she is twenty-nine and works for a large computer company. She takes classes twice after work. She is learning to use the computer program Power Point. “I enjoy the college, but my job doesn't use the information I learned at college, ” Ann says. “The course(课程)is helping me to do my job better.”

    In the past, when students graduated from college and got a job, they usually stopped studying. Today lifelong learning is becoming more common. In many countries, some people return to school in their late twenties, or even older to get a higher degree. More people are taking training courses to improve their working skills after work. People can also get degrees or training through the Internet. Ann's sixty-year-old mother and father are taking courses in Art and Music. “We love these two subjects. Learning is so much fun,” they say happily. “It's never too old to learn.”

    I used to hate my mother because she worked a lot and didn't spend much time with me. Then one Friday morning I took part in a three-day self-help program for teenagers. Whether you believe it or not, that weekend changed my life.

    About 100 other teenagers were there. During the first two days I met a lot of great people. I was glad because I made so many friends there.

On Sunday, the leader did an interesting exercise called "Chocolate or Toys". He asked a girl which she liked better, chocolate or toys. She chose chocolate. Then he asked her to choose again between chocolate and chocolate. Of course, she didn't have a choice.

This exercise told us that sometimes we don't have a choice in life, and that sometimes we have to accept something, rather than complaining(抱怨).

    A girl stood up and started talking about her mom who was a drug addict (吸毒者) and how much she hated her mother.

    "I want a new mom," she cried.

    "Unluckily, you can't have one," the leader replied.

    "You have to accept the mother that you have."

    This hit me hard. I realized that, for better or worse, my mom was my mom. I couldn't choose another mom, but I could try to make the best of the situation.

    There are many different festivals around the world. Usually we know about some traditional ones. But here are some special festivals in the world. Have you heard of them?

The Straw (稻草) Bear Festival

    It is a traditional celebration in one small UK town. It runs for three days every year in January. The festival celebrates the beginning of the agricultural year. People there enjoy watching bear dances. A few men wear straw bear costumes (演出服) and dance for others.

The Cologne Carnival (狂欢节)

    It is one of Europe's biggest street festivals. It starts at 11：11 a. m. on November 11 and lasts till February 14 next year. Local people call the time the "crazy" season. During the festival, people put on colorful clothes and play music to celebrate it in the street. The festival has gone on for 197 years. Each year, about 1.5 million people take part in it.

Day of the Dead

    It is celebrated in Mexico every year between October 31 and November 2. It's not a scary day like its name. Instead, it's a colorful holiday. People believe the spirits of their ancestors (祖先) will return to the world of the living on that day. They share food and drinks to keep the spirits alive and the spirits can be with them in this way.

    When my new neighbor moved in, I didn't dare to meet her as I was1. So I just watched her move in the hope that one day my shyness would go away and that I would be able to meet her2she seemed so nice.

    One day my3told my mom that she was having a barbecue(烧烤). My mom told me and I said I would go. When I was getting4, I started to have second thoughts about the barbecue but I reminded5that this would probably be the only chance I would have to get to meet her. So I went happily. She was6and we really had a great time although I just kept7during the barbecue.

    One day I decided to make her some jelly(果冻), but when I gave it to her, I ran back to the house because I was still a bit shy. But before I got to the8she thanked me. The jelly was really9. A week later I decided I would make her some chocolate and this time I didn't run away; instead I10there smiling.

—But she can use them well now.

要求：1）包含所有要点，不可逐字翻译，围绕要点适当发挥；

2）书写规范、工整，条理清晰；

3）文中不得出现真实人名、地名、校名等；

4）词数: 80~100，短文开头已给出，不计人总词数。

Can middle school students use mobile phones at school?

    Nowadays，more and more teenagers use mobile phones. Can middle school students use mobile phones at school? Different students have different opinions about it.