浙江省杭州市萧山区2020-2021学年九年级上学期英语12月学科竞赛质量检测

My daughter and I were driving from Los Angeles to Dallas. We were running low on gas somewhere in New Mexico and hoped to meet a gas station soon.

But that didn't happen and we realized we were not going to make it to the next town. So my daughter made up a sign that said, "Low on gas. Can you help me?" and held it outside her window hoping a driver in the next lane（车道）would notice it and stop.

There weren't too many cars passing by us at that time. It was a desolate stretch of the road and about 3:30 p. m. on a weekday. A truck was driving along in the neighboring lane ahead of us. We caught up with it in the hope that the driver would notice the sign. An elderly gentleman was driving it and after an expression of confusion (困惑) on his face, he seemed to have noticed the sign and slowed down to pull over. We pulled over right behind him.

He was friendly and was willing to help us. At first he thought we didn't have enough money to buy gas, so he offered to buy us gas at the next town Roswell that was about 10 miles away!

When we explained our trouble, he said he was a factory worker and was returning home from work. His factory was about 10 minutes away and they had gas there, so if we could give him 20 minutes, he would head back there, get a can of gas and fill up our car for us. We could not believe our good luck!

We were filled with thanks for the kindness of strangers such as this person when we waited for him to return. Sure enough, he was back with the can. He refused to take payment for the gas. Tears came down, as did our warm thanks.

What's that in the air? A bird? A plane? And why does it have your cough medicine? It's no superman. It's a delivery (投递)drone (无人机)!

On November 1st in North Carolina, UPS used a drone to send two prescription (处方) medicines from a CVS hospital to a customer's home and a far community. Although it is not UPS' first drone delivery, this is the first time drones have been used for prescription medicines. The delivery drones can lift up to five pounds and take online orders. Some drones are fit with a propeller (螺旋桨) that allows them to fly longer with less oil. Did you know that they can reach speeds of 70 mph! These drones have the customer's goods put on them by workers. Then, using a GPS, the drones can find a way to the customers. And to make sure everything goes on well, a far operator will control the drone.

Drones can avoid traffic and go to areas transportation cannot reach. This means drones are good for transporting quick medical things to crowded or far areas. They can also deliver medicine to people with disabilities. However, drone delivery still comes with disadvantages. Without proper agreement from the Federal Aviation Administration(FAA), operators cannot let drones fly during the night, or out of sight. There are also challenges in the delivery itself such as finding a place for drones to land, and preventing drones from knocking with each other in mid-air.

The expectation of widespread drone delivery is closer than ever before. More companies -- even Amazon--jump on the drone fashion. I am looking forward to having a try. If drone delivery comes to your city, what will you order?

A few weeks ago, we attended a lesson given by our classmate Wu Ruijie who talked about some of her experiences in America. It was very interesting and lively, we all listened carefully and were moved by the lesson.

  During the lesson, she shared some stories about her daily life in the United States with us and some culture shocks (文化冲突) that she experienced. I still remember the story she told which took place in the New York subway. One day, she was talking to her Chinese friend on her mobile phone while a black woman was standing beside her. She often used a Chinese word whose pronunciation was similar to the rude N-word, so the black woman started to very angrily glare at (怒视) her. This was only one of her stories.

Ms. Tang also shared a story she had experienced when she was in Australia. On a hot sunny day, while she was walking on the street holding an umbrella to protect her from the strong sunlight, suddenly a man behind her said to her, "Is it raining?" The reason is that in Australia people don't use umbrellas on sunny days, so the man thought it was strange and asked Ms. Tang.

Through the embarrassing stories, we can see many differences from country to country to decide how we should face these situations when we go abroad. Here are some suggestions: First, we should respect everyone wherever we are. Second, learn some local culture before you get there. Third, if you make some mistakes, you should explain the reasons. Finally, keep a kind heart at all times.

All in all, culture shock is not a big deal as long as we treat others kindly. Please pay attention to learning Western culture.

Changing your day-to-day life to fit a new routine is difficult. But admit it, you're bored. Sitting back and letting routine life isn't going to take you to the heights you've always dreamed of reaching. Challenging yourself, setting goals, facing the facts, accepting the reality and living your life—that will fill you up and satisfy you. It'll put you back in the driver's seat.

Your boss needs someone to take the lead on a project, and no one else is volunteering to accept it. The only question you need to ask yourself is: how do you know you won't succeed at something like this if you're too afraid to try?

Volunteer. It'll be hard work and extra stress added to your day, but it's worth it.

Like buying the $1 chocolate bar from the kid who's selling them on the subway, or donating a dollar to a beggar on the side of the street who needs something to eat. They don't know your name, where you're from or where you're going to, but your kindness is meaningful to them—and they don't forget it.

Think about where you want to be in three or even five years from now, and what you need to do in order to get there. Think about the type of person you want to be, and what you hope you'll achieve professionally by then.

You know that person you extremely want to be? Start being that person. Today, Right now. And if you want to get there, make a list of everything that you want to change about yourself—and that you can change.

You've seen Frozen. You get the point. Just let all that things that are holding you down. It's worth your time.

Ten years ago, Sean Carter was a student at university. One night, he was 1 in a car with a friend who had been drinking. They crashed and Sean was left in a wheelchair 2 a brain injury. He's been unable to walk or talk and his mom, Jenny, has been 3 him .

"What were you feeling 4you found out I had been in a car accident?" Sean asks his mom. Sean speaks by using his finger to  5 words onto an iPad. Those words are then translated into audio. "I was shocked," Jenny says. "It was just so hard seeing your child's 6 body in a bed for so long. You couldn't do anything for two years. "

Over the years, Sean has become more independent, though he says he's not yet ready to do everything alone. "It's7living with your mom when you're 32 years old," Jenny says, while Sean laughs and replies, "Hell yeah!"

Jenny, 63, then asks her son ,"If this was our last 8, what would you want to say?"

"Let me 9 you right there," Sean tells his mom. "I know you will be here for many years to come. "But I want you to know how 10 I am for what you have done for me. You gave up your life to give me a life. "

"Yeah. But it's OK," Jenny responds. "11 is really the value goods that we have, and if you can 12 time with somebody else, that's probably the most important thing you can do for someone. It's the only thing that  13. "

Sean replies, "I don't say this enough. You're the picture of unconditional14. I admire your15 to be the best mom you can be, and you do a fine job. I love you beyond the moon and back. "

Many people are ordering take-out while they are stuck at home because of the novel coronavirus. You might wonder whether the virus can be transmitted(传播) through food.

So far, there is no showing of the virus (spread) through food or food packaging. "We don't really have any showing that food or its packaging is  source for getting sick," Benjamin Chapman, a professor at North Carolina State University, US, told Live Science.

    The virus can be transmitted by people touching a contaminated (被污染的) surface and then touching one's nose, mouth or eyes.  that's not the main way for the virus to be transmitted. (virus), unlike bacteria, live a lot (short) outside the body, according to Stephen Baker, a professor from the University of Cambridge. They will die off before they can reproduce. They can also (kill) by high temperatures.

    Even if food is contaminated, it will end up in your stomach. It's the place  the coronavirus prefers to be in. Chapman said it's hard for the virus(live) in your stomach.

Still, to stay on the safe side, remember to clean packages  wet cloth and then wash your hands (proper).