牛津版（深圳·广州）初中英语八年级下学期期末模拟试题（1）

    Learning dances sounds interesting. But if you really want to become a dancer, read1following guide for new dancers.

    If you want to become a dancer, you should first2a dance style. There are some skills in each kind of dance. And we need to practise3a lot. And knowing which dance style you just want to learn can help you practise harder.

    Find a dance class. When you have decided4dance classes, it is important to choose your dance teacher 5. It is easy to get into some bad habits, and you may find it hard to correct (改正) them later on. And what is the6is to choose a teacher and you really love his or her dance style.

    Different styles of dance clothing are7for different styles of dances.

    8example, we need special dance shoes for most dance styles. And your dance teacher will probably have some requirements on other things. Ask him or her for more about9to wear.

    Besides, the floors of dance classrooms should be soft,10you may be injured when you dance on hard floors.

    Walt Disney began to make cartoon movies when he was a young man. But he didn't have much money then. One day a mouse ran near his desk while he was working in his small office.

    ＂Would you like to be my pet?＂ Disney decided to make a cartoon about it.

    ＂I am making a cartoon about a mouse named Mortimer,＂ he told his wife.

    ＂Mortimer Mouse? I think Mickey Mouse would be a better name,＂ she said.

    ＂You are right. It would,＂ Disney agreed and made many Mickey Mouse cartoons.

    People all over the world saw Mickey and loved it. Mickey Mouse made Disney famous. Then came Donald Duck, and Goofy Dog and others. Disney began to make long cartoons. Then he made cartoon movies for television.

    In 1955, Disney opened a wonderful land of make-believe in California. Real boats, castles, trains, mountains, rivers, all are in one beautiful park. Millions of people came to Disneyland.

    He died in 1966, but the world will not forget him. Mickey Mouse and all his cartoons will help us to remember him.

    It seems that Americans are more willing to help strangers than Chinese.

    Once I walked on the street and tried to find my way to my hotel. I found that I was lost. So I stopped, took my map out and began searching for the right way. Then a lady came to me with a friendly smile. I wondered if I was in her way. Before I was about to stand aside (到旁边), the lady asked, "Do you need any help? I can show you the way." I was very surprised. In China, most people won't give you a hand unless you ask. I said yes to her. She carefully gave the directions to me. I was touched by her selfless behaviour and warm attitude (态度).

    After experiencing many such things in the USA, I thought about the situation in China. My teacher in China told me that several years ago he travelled to another city by himself. After a whole day's hard work at a factory, he bought a pancake at a stall (货摊). But he later found that it was bad. The seller cheated (欺骗) him. Since then, he always checks the food he buys on the street. Even today we often see news that shows we don't trust strangers.

    Chinese people are more vigilant to strangers because they are afraid to get hurt. But many American people believe that if you love others first, you will be loved. I think we should learn from this attitude and rebuild the trust among people.

    A poor farmer had a friend who was famous for the wonderful apples he grew.

    One day, his friend gave the farmer a young apple tree and told him to take it home and plant it. The farmer was pleased with the gift, but when he got home, he did not know where to plant it.

    He was afraid that if he planted the tree near the road, strangers would steal the fruit. If he planted the tree in one of his fields, his neighbors would come at night and steal some of the apples. If he planted the tree near his house, his children would take the fruit.

    Finally he planted the tree in his woods where no one could see it. But without sunlight and good soil, the tree soon died.

    Later the friend asked the farmer why he had planted the tree in such a poor place. "What's the difference?" the farmer said angrily. "If I had planted the tree near the road, strangers would have stolen the fruit. If I had planted the tree in one of my fields, my neighbors would have come at night and stolen some of the apples. If I had planted it near my house, my own children would have taken the fruit."

    "Yes," said the friend, "but at least someone could have enjoyed the fruit. Now you not only have robbed (抢夺) every one of the fruit, but also you have destroyed a good apple tree!"

    I have many teachers now and I love them all, but I think I love my English teacher, Mrs. Li, best. Mrs. Li is from Fengcheng. But she loves Yichun very much. She loves Yichun food. Do you know what she likes for breakfast? Bread and milk? No, she doesn't. She also likes fruit and vegetables.

    Mrs. Li has a daughter. She is fifteen years old. She goes to Yichun Middle School. She studies hard.

    She often runs with us after school. But she can't play basketball or soccer. She watches them on TV.

    We have English from Monday to Friday. But she is always nice and happy. She helps us with English. All my classmates like her.

    Each different part of China has its own special forms of traditional art. These usually try to show the things are important in life, such as love, beauty and family. The most common things, from paper to clay to bamboo, are turned into objects of beauty.

    According to Chinese history, sky lanterns were first used by Zhuge Kongming. He sent them out (ask) for help when in trouble. Today, sky lanterns are used at festivals and other celebrations. They (make) of bamboo and covered with paper. When the lanterns are lit, they slowly rise into the air like small hot-air balloons for all to see. They are seen as bright symbols of (happy) and good wishes.

    Paper cutting (be) around for over 1, 500 years. Paper cutting sounds very easy , it can be difficult to do. The paper, usually red, is folded before it is cut with scissors. The most common pictures are flowers, animals, and things about Chinese history. During the Spring Festival, it is put on windows, doors and walls symbols of wishes for good luck and a happy new year.

    Chinese clay art is famous because the clay pieces are so small but they look very real. The pieces are usually cute children or lively characters from a Chinese fairy tale or historical story. The pieces are (careful) shaped by hand from a very special kind of clay and then allowed to air-dry. After (dry), they are fired at a very high heat. They are then polished and painted. It takes several weeks (complete) everything. These small pieces of clay art show the love that all Chinese people have for life and beauty.

注意事项：1）必须包含所提示的信息，可适当发挥，开头已给出，不计入总词数；

2）意思清楚，表达通顺，行文连贯，书写规范；

3）请勿在文中使用真实的姓名、校名及提示信息以外的地名。

参考词汇：practise Wushu练武

Dear Henry,

    I am glad that you are interested in Wushu. …

Yours,

Li Hua