湖南省长沙市长郡教育集团2023-2024学年九年级上学期第三次月考英语试题

China's 3×3 basketball teams have made it into the Paris Olympics. Both the men's and women's teams from China have booked(预定) their spots(名额) in the 3×3 basketball competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the International Basketball Federation(FIBA) said on Nov.1.

As an exciting and creative variation(变化) of basketball, 3×3 basketball is played with three players on each team on a half-court(半场) with one hoop(篮筐). The game lasts for a 10-minute period and players only have 12 seconds to make their shot after getting the ball. The first team to get to 21 points through one-point and two-point field goals wins, or whichever team is leading when time is up, said the Olympics website.

From a player's point of view, 3×3 basketball focuses more on speed and smart thinking than endurance(耐力) and game plans. "It is so fast. You need to think quickly. If you want to be at a high level, you have to develop all types of skills." said three-time FIBA 3×3 World Tour winner Dusan Bulut.

In China, 3×3 basketball is developing quickly. China won the bronze medal in the women's 3×3 tournament(比赛) at the Tokyo Olympic Games. It was China's first Olympic basketball medal in 29 years since it won the silver medal in women's basketball at Barcelona 1992, reported Xinhua. China also set up a professional 3×3 basketball league(联赛) in August 2022.

Now, most of the 3×3 players come from the 5×5 clubs. "We still need 5×5 basketball to find players, but I believe, in the future, the 3×3 basketball will develop to have its own future," Yin Zhe, director of the 3×3 basketball department of the Chinese Basketball Association, told Xinhua.

At New Visions School, hip hop therapy(嘻哈疗法) has become part of the school culture. Students rap(说唱) about being stressed about grades, tests, relationships, etc. Taliesha Tliompson, 15, said she now raps whenever she feels pressure building inside her. "It has opened me up more," she said. "I was very shy and quiet. I kept everything to myself."

Hip hop therapy grew out of an after-school club. The club was started by Ian P. Levy, a teacher who was developing a model for hip hop therapy as part of his research. Mr. Levy's students recorded 20 songs expressing their feelings. "When sad events happen, it's important that students have a way to express themselves," Mr. Levy said.

This school year, Mr. Levy also started a music class at the school, called Hip Hop Lyricism. It is popular among students.

Stacey King, the school principal(校长), said hip hop helped her connect with students like Ishmel Prince. Ishmel used to miss school two to three times a week because he could not get up. Ms. King bought him an alarm clock, but he still did not show up. But that changed after Mr. Levy and 19 students were invited to rap live on a morning talk show on SiriusXM Radio. Ishmel made an agreement with Ms. King, He promised to come to school on time every day in return for being allowed to go to the show. Ishmel kept his word. He studies hard now and has better relationships with others.

"Hip hop therapy is great. It has the power to reach out to people and speak to certain people. It has helped me find out who I am," said Ishmel.

Do you know the 24 solar terms(节气)? They show the changes of nature, especially the weather. Chinese people use them to guide their planting of crops. Major Snow, the 21^st solar term of the year, begins this year on Dec 7. During Major Snow, the snow becomes heavy and begins to cover the ground. . Here are five things you should know about Major Snow.

Snowy winter

The snow in North China may last a whole day, breaking tree branches and blocking the road. In the south, snowflakes fall and the world turns white. . As the snow covers the ground, the low temperature kills the pests(害虫).

Eating lamb(羊肉)

Lamb is a favorite food for Chinese people during Major Snow. It's excellent for nourishing the body, promoting blood circulation and providing protection against the cold.

Making sausages (腊肠)

During Major Snow, people in southern China, including Nanjing, Hangzhou and so on, make sausages. .

Eating porridge

In China, it is a custom to eat red bean porridge on the first day of Major Snow and eight-treasure porridge on the eighth day of the last month of the lunar year. . 

Preventing illness

During this period, Chinese people watch for outbreaks of illness, which can be prevented by wearing a warm scarf to protect the neck and properly drinking water. . But you should not drink too much at once and don't drink cold water after exercise.

Last week we went on a school trip to a science museum. Ms. Liu, the guide, showed us around a smart home.

We started with the front door. Ms. Liu asked me to ring the door-bell. I didn't notice the tiny camera that was fixed just above it. After I pressed(按) the doorbell, the camera sent a live video(视频直播) to the home-owners. "They can electronically open the door when they are not at home," said Ms. Liu.

The other thing I couldn't see on the door was a lock. "There must be one," I thought. At this time, Ms. Liu took out a smart phone and put it against the door. And it opened. "Oh, the key is on the smart phone."

After entering the living room, I saw a computer on a table. By using the computer, the owners can control how much energy is used. In this way, they can manage their living cost.

One of the rooms I wanted to see most was the bedroom. To my great surprise, the bed disappeared into the floor at the touch of the smart phone. The window has a smart blind(百叶窗) It can be raised and lowered with a voice.

As I left the smart home, I looked back on what I had just seen. Scientists often say that these products are improving our life. I think the technology in the smart home may make us lazier. However, there is no doubt that it will become more popular in the homes of tomorrow.

A gentleman needed a young man to help him in his office, so he put an advertisement in a newspaper. Nearly fifty people applied for the job. He in a short time 1  one and sent the rest away.

"I should like to know," said a friend, "why did you 2 that young man, who didn't bring a recommendation(推荐信) with him?"

"You are mistaken," said the gentleman. "He had a great many."

"He wiped his feet at the door and 3 the door after him, showing that he was tidy and orderly."

"He gave up his seat immediately to that old man, indicating that he was 4 and thoughtful."

"He took off his cap when he came in and answered my questions without delay(延迟), showing that he was polite and a 5 thinker.

"He lifted up the book which I had purposely laid on the floor, and 6 it on the table, while all the rest stepped over it, or kicked it aside, showing that he was careful.

"And he waited 7 for his turn instead of pushing the others aside, indicating that he was modest(谦逊的).

"When I talked with him, I noticed that his 8 was carefully washed, his hair in nice order, and his teeth as white as milk. When he wrote his 9 , I observed that his fingernails were clean.

"Don't you call these 10 letters of recommendation? I do; and what I can tell about by using my eyes for ten minutes is worth more than all the fine letters he can bring to me."

A new study shows that 1 billion young people are at risk for hearing loss(损失). Because music, movies, phones and concerts have influence on it. It's common for young people to listen to something too loud for a long time. Maybe it's time (turn) down the volume(音量).

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that millions of people around the world have serious hearing loss, especially young people. Because they overuse listening devices(设备). For example, too much use of earphones among  (they) increases hearing loss. It may lead to tinnitus(耳鸣) for a while or long time. Besides, they often visit places with loud music. It  (report) that there are about 0.67 to 1.35 billion young people joining in unsafe listening activities,  they are also at risk for listening loss. The earlier they are in noise environment, the  (easily) they will have hearing problems.

As hearing loss is becoming worse and worse, hearing and understanding others (get) more difficult. What should you do? To prevent hearing loss, you'd better follow the (advise):

·Keep the volume at a safe level.

·Reduce the time of wearing earphones.

·Avoid  (stay) in loud spaces for a long time.

·Increase the distance(距离)  you and the source of the noise.

Some scientists say that animals in the oceans are increasingly threatened by noise pollution caused by human beings.

The noise that affects(影响) sea creatures(海洋生物) comes from a number of human activities. It is caused mainly by industrial underwater explosions, ocean drilling, and ship engines. Such noises are added to natural    sounds. These sounds include the breaking of ice fields, underwater earthquakes, and sounds made by animals themselves.

Decibels(分贝) measured(测量) in water are different from those measured on land. A noise of one hundred and twenty decibels on land causes pain to human ears. In water, a decibel level of one hundred and ninety-five would have the same effect.

Some scientists have proposed setting a noise limit of one hundred and twenty decibels in oceans. They have found that noises at that level can frighten(吓唬) whales.

A team of American and Canadian scientists discovered that louder noises can seriously injure some animals. The research team found that powerful underwater explosions were causing whales in the area to lose their hearing.鲸鱼交换信息的能力肯定受到了影响。 Some of the whales even died. The explosions had caused their ears to bleed and become infected.

Many researchers whose work depends on ocean sounds object to a limit of one hundred and twenty decibels. They say such a limit would mean an end to important industrial and scientific research. Scientists do not know how much and what kinds of noises are harmful to ocean animals. However, many scientists suspect that noise is a greater danger than they believed.他们想防止噪音伤害海洋中的生物。

内容包括：1. 研学过程中应遵守哪些规则 (如: 不允许带手机，必须穿校服，按时到校，带好必备生活用品等等)。2. 对其中一至两条规则提出改善性建议，并给出理由。

要求：1. 语气礼貌。2. 字数八十左右，开头已给出，不计入总字数。3. 参考词汇：be allowed to do; make one's decisions;

I agree / disagree; strict rules

Dear President,

My name is Tony, a student in Grade 9, and I am writing to you to share my thoughts about the rules on our study trip.

Yours,

Tony