吉林省长春市绿园区2021年中考一模英语试题

—Yes, I've done everything ________ I can to win the game.

—Thank you. They ________ by my HUAWEI mobile phone. I'm not skillful at all.

—Good idea. I'll do as you say.

—He rides his bike.

— Really? Lucky for you!

（David and John are walking home and talking after school.）

David: Hey, John, I'm sorry I can't go to the cinema with you this weekend.

John: That's OK. My mum also said no. She told me it's important to spend time with the family on weekends.

David:  She always wants me to take lessons or to go to visit my grandparents.

John: Sounds boring. When I visit my grandparents, there is nothing for me to do.

David: I used to think so, but these days my grandpa gives me painting lessons.

John: Wow, that's really interesting! By the way, I heard that arts will be included in high school entrance exams（中考）in more provinces by 2022.

David: What big news!  

John: To encourage primary and secondary schools to provide more arts classes.

David: What subjects should the classes cover?

John: They should cover subjects such as music, painting, hand-writing, dance and drama.

David: Then will these classes be good for students?

John: Of course, arts can teach us how to enjoy beauty and creative works.

David: I guess that's true. And I'm afraid students will face heavier stress.  

John: Don't worry about that. It's said the tests won't be difficult.

David: I feel stressless after hearing your words. Oh, I'm home. See you at school tomorrow.

John: Bye.

I was at a dinner in London given in honor of one of the most celebrated English army men of his time, General Scoresby. I couldn't describe my 1 when I saw this great and famous man. There he sat, the man himself, 2, all covered with medals（奖章）.

Next to me sat an old friend of mine. There was a 3 look on his face as he said to me in a very low voice—"Privately, Scoresby is a completely 4 man."

This came as a 5 to me. But I was sure that my friend always spoke the truth. So, I wanted to 6 more about our hero.

These are his exact words:

About forty years ago, I was a teacher in the military（部队的）school at Woolwich, when young Scoresby was given his first examination. I felt 7 sorry for him. Everybody answered the questions well, wisely, 8 he did not know anything. Then, the Crimean War broke out. He joined the army. To 9 the nation and him, I joined up with him.

The battle（战斗）grew 10. One mistake now would bring total failure. And what did Scoresby do this time —he just 11 his left hand for his right hand…that was all. An order came for him to fall back and support our right. 12, he moved forward and went over the hill to the left. And what happened—those surprised Russians thought it must be the whole British army. They ran away in great disorder, and we ran after them. In no time, there was the greatest 13 you ever saw. We turned failure into a sweeping and shining 14.

Scoresby became famous that day as a great military leader— 15 all over the world. That honor will never disappear while history books last.

There are many differences in the way different cultures raise kids. International visitors notice the fact that children are special in China. However, the way some Chinese people treat these very special kids may shock some foreign visitors.

When I told a Chinese mother her child was beautiful, I was nonplussed when she replied, "No, she's not；she's ugly."

Since that time I have heard many similar comments（评论）, including, "No, he's not bright; he's stupid." This is a huge cultural difference that needs to be understood when you talk about kids with your international visitors.

Someone explained it to me, "We Chinese don't want to appear too proud." I'm sure there are other people in the world who feel the same way, but most people in my country would consider you a terrible parent if you said your kid was stupid or ugly. They would think you were breaking the child's self-confidence. When we Americans say something good about our child, we don't think we are being proud because we are saying it about the child, not about ourselves. In this way, we separate the child from the parent as two different persons.

You may think I sound too proud when I freely say to another westerner: "My daughter is smart and pretty." Of course, I still have to teach her not to be proud, but I can be proud of her. It's just the way she was made, and I'm thankful for that.

So, in the US when we say something nice about our own kids, it is not considered being too proud but rather, being thankful and being a good parent.

Mike Reynolds builds houses from recycled materials. These houses are a symbol of his war against waste. Mike's houses are built using the things that other people throw away. His Earthships (as his houses are called) are beautiful buildings. They are shaped and colored to reflect the fields around them. He uses bottles to create beautiful walls full of light. There are plants everywhere, inside and outside. But the plants and the bottles, like everything else in the Earthships, are not only there for decoration (装饰).

Every single material in an Earthship is carefully chosen. Old car tires are used to build strong outside walls. The rubber protects the houses from the cold winds in winter. These walls are built at the back of the house. The walls at the front of the house are built from metal cans or glass bottles. They're held together with earth from the ground around them.

The beautiful bottle walls are built to the south to give light during the day. The larger front windows heat the house. They also create perfect conditions for growing all kinds of fruits and vegetables because the plants are protected against the bad weather. When you live in an Earthship, you don't need anything from the outside world. You grow your own food. You get electricity from the sun and wind, and you get water from the rain and snow.

Mike and some other Earthship builders use their ability and experience to help people all over the world. In 2010, they visited Haiti in the earthquake. They taught people there how to build safe, new homes quickly and cheaply from materials that they could find around them. Mike points out that waste is always there because we humans create it—but we can also learn to recycle it.

    Most people have to give a presentation(展示)at some point in their lives. But not everyone knows how to give one well.  

The art of giving a great presentation begins with planning.  This should be more than just showing facts. Maybe you want to inspire people or to persuade(说服) them of an opinion. Whatever you're trying to do, share your message in one to three points.

Once you know your presentation's goal, you can start planning it. If you are doing a slideshow(幻灯片), remember the 10-20-30 rule.  The slideshow should last no more than 20 minutes. And the slides should use 30-point font(字体)or larger. This stops you from putting too many words on slides. Your slideshow should add to, not replace, what you say aloud.

 To relax yourself, remember to breathe deeply, and imagine the presentation going well. Think of your feelings as your body's way of giving you energy to do a great job.  Remember why your topic is important and how it can help people. If you act excitedly about your presentation, your listeners will feel excited, too.

It was the old lady's eightieth birthday. She was sure Myra wouldn't forget her mother's birthday, even if she was busy. After all, eighty was a special birthday. Perhaps Myra might come. Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present. The old lady was sure of that. She was excited like a child.

Mrs. Morrison had brought a card and some flowers when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake. Johnnie, the little boy next door, was now up with her with a bag of sweets.

"I guess you'll get lots and lots of presents," he said. "I did last week when I was six."

What would she like? A pair of slippers, perhaps. A blue new sweater. Or a little clock, with clear black numbers. So many lovely things.

She sat in her wheelchair by the window, watching. The postman turned round the corner on his bicycle. Her heart beat fast. Johnnie had seen him too and ran to the gate.

"Granny, granny," Johnnie returned. "I've got your post!"

He gave her four envelopes (信封). Three were from old friends. The fourth was in Myra's writing.

"No parcel (包裹), Johnnie?"

"No, granny."

Disappointedly, she opened the fourth envelope. Folded in the card was a check. Written on the card was a message: Happy Birthday—Buy yourself something nice with the check, Myra and Harold.

The check for $1,000 fell to the floor like a bird with a broken wing. Slowly the old lady picked it up, thinking of the lovely present she wanted. With shaking fingers she tore (撕) the check into small pieces.

Dear fellow students,

Thanks for listening!