山东省临沂市费县2023-2024学年八年级上学期11月期中...

Not long ago，Alice did a survey(调查) on"Parents'ideas about children's summer holidays". And here are the results.

Young people enjoy different kinds of drinks，though they know drinks are bad for their health. What about you? What will happen to you if you only drink water?

Chris Bailey , a popular blogger (博客作者)， tried this out. Here is what he has found. First ，you lose weight(体重) faster. Yeah，you do! You don't have to exercise but just keep away from drinks for 9 days. It is the same as running for 8 kilometers a day! So write down your resolution(决心) on a piece of paper and put it on the wall. And you will see the result soon. 

Sometimes when you have to stay up late for a test, a cup of tea or coffee is usually put at the side of your desk. But do you know 75 to 85 percent of your brain(大脑) is water? Nothing else! Just by drinking water, your brain can work efficiently(有效地). You may remember things quickly and well. 

What's more，water washes out something bad in your body. So drinking enough water can stop you from getting old quickly. If you want to look young and beautiful as long as possible，drink a glass of water right now! Keep on doing it for longer，and you will be surprised to touch your soft and clean skin（皮肤). 

Lastly, you save money! How much money do coffee and juice cost you every week? The price of water is much lower than that of other drinks. Drink 5 glasses of water every day or visit doctors? Think about it !

So, what are you waiting for?

Do you like watching movies in a cinema? Many people enjoy watching movies there. They think the cinema has a better atmosphere(气氛) to enjoy the movie. However, I think people are happier and freer when watching movies at home. 

Watching movies at home is more comfortable. To watch movies in a cinema，you have to buy the ticket before you go there for a better seat. However, there is no need for people at home to worry about the ticket. They can enjoy movies at any time they like and with the most comfortable seat. What's more，people watching movies at home don't have to face any traffic(交通) problem. 

It is free to watch movies at home. In the cinema, we'd better not go outside and do something else，because the movie can't wait for us. Sometimes, if we miss part of the movie, we can't follow the story. At home，we can pause at any time and go back to watch any part. 

All in all , a cinema is a good place to watch movies，but it isn't the best place to enjoy the movies. I think watching movies at home is better. 

Andrew was smart when he was young. He liked doing things in a way that he thought to be clever. 

One day，his father gave him ten dollars and asked him to buy some goldfish. When he got to the market，he found that the killifish(鲋鱼) looked like goldfish and that they were much cheaper. 

When he got home，his father realized what Andrew did at once. He put the fish in the tank(鱼缸) without saying anything at first. The next day he said to his son，" Andrew ，do you know what you bought yesterday? Are they goldfish?" His father continued(继续)，"I'm glad that you know how to save money. I also know you are good at watching things around you. But it's not right to be dishonest(不诚实). "From then on，Andrew's father often asked him to do some housework ，like buying daily things and helping his uncle in the shop.

Several years later，Andrew became a successful trader. When talking about the key to success, he said, " He helps me get to know myself well and makes me get better in a right way. "

One afternoon, my son Adam asked me, "Are all people the same although they are different colors?"

It was a question. I thought for a while， and then said, "I'll explain it soon. Let's go to a fruit shop. I have interesting to show you. "

At the fruit shop, we bought some apples in different colors—red, green and yellow ones. After we home, l told Adam, " I's time to answer your question now." l put one apple of each kind color on the table. Adam watched carefully. He curious(好奇的).

"People are like apples. They come in all different colors，shapes and sizes. On the outside, some of the apples may not even look as delicious the others. "While I was talking，Adam was checking each one . Then, l took each of the apples and peeled(剥皮) them， placing them back on the table，but in different places.

"Okay，Adam，tell me which is which. "He said, " I can't tell. They all now. "

"Take a bite (一口) of each one. Sec if that helps you which is which. "

He took big bites，and then a huge smile came across his face，"People are like apples! They are all different，but once you take off the outside，they're much the same on the inside. "

Danny isn't strong or tall. He is the  ( thin) kid of all the boys around. So his friends call him Bones. He talks more and laughs louder than anyone else，but he is  ( true)unhappy, because he is not good at sports. 

One day，Danny  ( watch) the men's marathon on TV. The runners needn't go fast and they ran on and on. They didn't have big muscles(肌肉). They were more like Danny. He decided ( have) a try. "Boy，it's better to do a little bit each day. " said his mother. The next day, Danny started his practice，and he kept on training in the park every morning. 

When race day came，there were 109 runners and they were all  ( heavy) than Danny. They all started to run. Danny tried to catch up with them，he couldn't. Halfway someone got tired. Danny passed  big runner with muscles. Suddenly, he felt he was a switch(开关) that had been turned on. He passed another one，then a  ( three) one. All the runners looked tired except Danny. He didn't see the crowds(观众)until he heard their cheers. In the end，Danny  ( win) the marathon. He raised his two arms as he crossed the ending line. 

Zhang Li, a 12-year-old boy, from Sichuan, was lazy before. He hardly ever did any housework. But now，things have changed. Washing dishes，cooking and making the bed…all of these have become important parts of his daily life. 

This big change is the result of a new program at his school. Starting from last term, his school asked all the students to do housework. It wanted to help students to improve their life skills(技能). 

At the beginning of each month，every student gets a list of housework to do every weekend. Their parents help keep an eye on their performance. They can do housework, such as cleaning out closets（壁橱)，washing cups and cooking food. On holidays like Mother's Day，students should prepare （准备） gifts for their mothers. 

Wang Dan, 13， has learned several life skills through the program. "I was afraid of fire, "she said. But she tried to overcome(克服) her fear and finish her cooking tasks. At the same time， she also learned how tired her mother is after doing housework every day. On Mother's Day ， she made a cake for her mother to show her thanks. "I've begun to know better about my parents and want to help them more." she said.

Other schools in Sichuan are also developing(发展)programs to teach their students life skills. On May 2, another middle school held a life skill competition. Students had to finish many tasks, such as cooking and washing clothes. They showed their skills and proved （证明) that they are growing up. 

Jack and his friend are talking about their free time activities. 

A:Hello，Jack ! Do you like watching TV?

B: Yes，I do. My parents and I all like watching TV. 

A: ?

B:I like talent shows best. They are interesting. 

A: ?

B: I watch them once a week. What about you?

A: I like watching movies. The weekend is coming. Let's go to a movie. 

B:Good idea. There are a few cinemas in our city. ?

A:I think Town Cinema is the best one. It has the most comfortable seats and the cheapest tickets. 

B: ?

A: A student ticket is 20 yuan. 

B:OK. Let's buy tickets this afternoon. 

要求:1. 词数70左右, 开头和结尾已经写好, 不计入总词数;2. 语言通顺, 条理清楚, 书写规范。3. 文中不要出现任何真实人名、校名及其它相关信息，否则不予评分。