浙江省宁波市江北区2021年英语中考一模

Four beggars (乞丐) usually met at an old shack (小窝棚) at the end of the day. One day, they were very 1 because none of them had got much in 2 begging bowls.

"I only got this piece of 3 today," the first said. "I 4 got anything," the second said. "I just picked up these few vegetables outside the fruit and vegetable store." The 5 complained that all he had been given was a handful of herds (香草) 6 he couldn't eat on his own. The fourth beggar had not 7 much better. "I only got the handful of old, dried beans, 8 they aren't very nice!"

As they sat around the fire, one of them had a great idea. "Let's put all our bits together and boil them. 9, we can make a tasty dish and share it." They all agreed.

However, the first beggar thought, "I don't want to 10. I'll just pretend to throw my meat into the pot. They'll never know and I'll eat my meat 11." So he pretended to put the meat into the pot. Now the 12 idea had also hit the other beggars and the shack was so dark that 13 could see what the others were doing.

Finally, one of them 14 that the dish should now be ready and, in turn, each of them helped himself to a bowl. They drank the hot water in absolute (绝对) 15, learning that selfishness (自私) doesn't taste all that good.

As the COVID-19 becomes normal in our life, the medical mask is necessary for everyone. Here is a product introduction of disposable medical mask. Go to www.amazon.cn/masks for more information.

Last year on Mother's Day, someone from our community invited people to share stories about their mothers.

A policeman said his mother took him to the opera on Saturdays. He listened but he didn't understand. He grew to love opera. Now every Saturday he listens to a radio that plays opera, enjoying Italian voices and happily remembering his mom.

A woman shared that she was only 17 months old when her mother died. Her father remarried. She values the things learned from her stepmother—how to keep house, cook and care for children. She said, "If you have a mother and you've known a mother's love, don't take it for granted (理所当然)."

An entrepreneur (企业家) said that his mom let him skip school (逃学) on his birthday when he was 9. The driver said, "Why aren't you in school?"

"My mom let me skip and is taking me out to lunch for my birthday," he said.

The driver said, "Your mom loves you like nobody else. Don't you ever forget that, OK?"

Another person shared that when he moved to the US as a young man, his parents disagreed. He left anyway. He found a roommate, and every weekend they drove to the roommate's home where his mother had food prepared and waited for them. They'd pick it up and have food for the week. The roommate's mother became a stand-in (替身) mother. He missed his mom so much.

It is good to tell others what your mother, or someone who has helped fill that role, means to you. But if your mother is still living, it might also be good to tell her.

It's hard to turn down a tasty banana. They taste good and you don't have to wash them before eating them. However, British scientists say that the fruit may disappear by 2050.

One reason for this is climate change. Scientists at the University of Exeter collected numbers from 27 countries and areas that produce 86 percent of the world's bananas. They found that climate change has improved growing conditions in 21 of these countries. In the past 60 years, the production has reached 1.37 tons of bananas per hectare.

⑴ Ten of the countries, including India, the world's biggest producer of bananas, will produce fewer bananas. By 2050, the fruit may die out. ⑵ Shouldn't bananas grow more easily if it's hotter outside? ⑶ In fact, the perfect temperature for growing bananas is between 24 and 32℃. If temperatures get too high, they will stop growing. ⑷

Diseases (疾病) are another danger to bananas. Unlike other plants, the bananas we grow come from shoot cuttings (扦插) rather than seeds (种子). This means that all banana plants have the same genotype (基因型). In other words, if a disease is able to kill one plant, it could kill them all.

One serious disease is called Panama. Caused by fungus (真菌) in the soil, it spreads easily. It has spread across South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia. If one banana plantation meets the disease, it will take 30 years until it is able to grow bananas again. Scientists have yet to find a cure (治疗) for this disease.

A video clip of a blind musician has caught the attention of many in China. Xiong Linghao, 18, played a Beethoven sonata in the national finals of the 13th Shanghai International Youth Piano Competition in August. The video, published on China Daily's Sina Weibo account, has been viewed more than 7 million times. Many internet users said they were touched by Xiong's bravery and optimism. "This is the song to show the beauty of life," one comment (评论) on the post read.

Xiong lost her eyesight in her childhood because of a medical accident. Her mother discovered Xiong had a talent for music early in her childhood. At age 3, she could play children's songs on a small electric piano. At age 6, she started learning the piano. "The piano is my best friend," said Xiong, a high school student at the Chengdu Special Education School. "It brings so much pleasure into my life and empowers me with perseverance."

Unlike most pianists, who play by reading music, Xiong depended entirely on the sound of the music to guide her. "I listened to the melody repeatedly and then put what I heard to my fingers. I first practiced with my two hands separately before I could play with both hands together," said Xiong.

"Repeated practice is key because I need muscle memory to find the right keys," she explained. "I pay attention to each step in each phrase and need to be fairly precise with the angle of how I control my hands, wrists and fingers."

Xiong was honored with the Special Jury Prize in the competition. "Through her piano playing viewers could feel the vitality of life and a truly strong will," said Ding Quan, a judge in the competition. "I never cared about prizes or fame while learning music," explained Xiong. "Like Beethoven, I wanted to express hope, feelings and passion for life through the piano."

 Step 1

What is the primary topic of your magazine? Keep in mind that the most magazines are publications that target a highly-specific audience. Try to draw the title of your magazine. Note that most magazines have one or two-word titles.

 Step 2

Establishing a deadline is also necessary. You need to make sure when your magazine will be finished. Ask yourself if you're setting reasonable expectations.

Step 3

Now you need to focus on the content of your magazine. You can choose articles which related to the current event closely or provide some useful advice to readers. Short stories are also needed. These can show your personal attitude.

 Step 4

Magazines are visual medium. Great images can keep your readers interested. You should take some photos that relate to your topics. Making a photojournalism project is a good choice.

 Step 5

It's time to choose a cover. A cover of the magazine should give readers deep impression and help readers to have a tantalizing taste about the content inside. Pay attention to the color of the cover and pictures on it.

A.     B.     C.     D.     E.

The best way of learning a language is using it. The best way of learning English is talking  English as much as possible. Sometimes you'll get your words mixed up (混合) and people won't understand you. Sometimes people will say things too  and you couldn't understand them. But if you have a sense of humor, you can always have a good laugh at the mistakes. It's  for people to laugh at your mistakes than to be angry with you, because they don't understand  you are saying. The most important thing for learning English is: "Don't be afraid of  mistakes."

During my first year of high school, I was a very thin boy who weighed just 55 kg.  I dreamed of being a football star, I only played a little bit and spent most of my time on the bench. Over the summer, I found a special diet that could make me stronger. Drinking a lot of whole milk and  (lift) weights every day added another 11 kg of muscle (肌肉).

By the time football season started, I felt ready, but soon I was  (disappoint) when I saw that I was still smaller and slower  most of the other boys. I found myself on the bench again.

That was to change during one of our first  (game) of the season. We had built up a lead (领先) and the coach decided  (send) me in for a while to play halfback (前卫). I was so excited.

On the very first play, I met with challenges. I was soon hit  three of the other team's players. They kicked me hard to the ground.  (sad), I got up and walked off the field, back to the bench.

In the past few years, I  (lose) count of how many times I have dreamed of achieving something, only to find that the world had other plans. I hated this for a long time. It was  until I became a football commentator (评论员) that I finally realized that maybe the world's plans for me are better than my own.

注意：

1）短文必须包括所有要点，并适当发挥；

2）文中不得出现真实的人名和校名；

3）词数：80—100；

4）短文首句仅供参考，不计入总词数。

Cicheng is a beautiful and cultural town in Ningbo.