广东省广州市2019届中考英语模拟试卷（十二）

    There once was a farmer who lost his watch in his barn (谷仓). The watch was only cheap but was very 1to him because it was a gift from his father.

    After 2the barn for a long time, he gave up and asked for 3 from a group of children playing nearby.

    He 4 them that the person who found the watch would be rewarded.

    Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn 5. They searched everywhere but still could not find the 6. Just when the farmer was going to give up, a little boy went up to him and asked to be given another 7.

    The farmer looked at him and thought," Why not? After all, this kid looks honest."

    So the farmer 8 the little boy back into the barn. After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his hand! The surprised farmer asked the boy how he 9 where the rest had failed.

    The boy replied," I did nothing but sit quietly and listen for the sound of the watch."

    This shows us that sometimes a 10 mind can think better than an excited one."

    Long long ago there was a poor farmer 1 Fred. Fred and his wife, Doris lived 2 together in 3 small old house. One winter night, the Luck Fairy 4 them.

    "Fred, you're 5 good farmer. I'd like 6 you a wish," said the Luck Fairy.

    Fred and Doris smiled at 7. Then Fred said, "Thank you, Luck Fairy. We're very healthy and happy."

    "We're old, 8 we can still work 9 the field every day." said Doris.

    "You work very 10, but you make a little money. Would you like some gold coins?"

    "Oh, no, my dear Luck Fairy. We're poor. But we have enough to eat." replied Fred.

    "You can use the gold coins 11 some clothes. The winter 12very cold." said the Luck Fairy.

    "13 we don't have many clothes, we've got enough." said Doris.

    "You're quite different 14 other people," "I wish you happiness and luck forever." Then the Luck Fairy 15 and never came back.

    We surveyed 300 young people on what they like to do at weekends. One hundred people are from the ages of 11-18, one hundred people are from the age of 19-26 and one hundred people are from the age of 27-35. The following shows their answers:

    Favourite things to do (by age)

    Number of people

    Here are some tips on how to talk with your parents.

    Try to start your talk with something fun. This will make talking easier. For example, ask your parents questions about their day. How's work? They love this!

    Make it clear what you want to tell your parents. If they have an opinion, let them finish and don't disturb. Ask them to do the same for you.

    Show them respect by listening to them carefully. Look at their eyes sincerely. Be honest. Honesty builds trust. Life is good when your parents trust you.

    If your parents don't understand, it doesn't mean they don't love you or they are not trying. Sometimes you have to explain things to them again or in a different way.

    When you finish the talk, thank them for listening. Say something like,' Thanks! That helped!' it will let them know this is important to you, and make them want to do it more often.

    If you feel there are still things to talk about, set up a time with them to talk about it another day.

    We are often asked to make a speech in life. Most of us are afraid of it and don't do a good job. Here are some simple steps to make your speech a successful one. First of all, find out everything you can about your subject and at the same time find out as much as you can about your audience. Who are they? What do they know about your subject? Put yourself in their shoes as you prepare your speech. Then try to arrange your material so that your speech is clear and easy to follow. Use as many examples as possible.

    Never forget your audience. Don't talk over their heads or talk down to them. When you are giving your speech, speak slowly and clearly, look at your audience and pause for a few seconds from time to time to give your audience chances to think over what you've said.

    Just remember: be prepared, know your subject and your audience, say what you have to say and be yourself so that your ideas will bring you and your audience together.

    Long, long ago people made fires from lightening(闪电). But they had to keep the fire burning, for they couldn't start it again if there was no lightening. Later, they found out hitting two pieces of stones together could make a spark(火花). The spark could fire dry leaves. In this way they could make the fire again if it went out. Then people also learned to make a fire by rubbing (摩擦). They make a hole on a piece of wood and put a smaller stick into the hole. They turned the stick again and again. Afte4r a few minutes they got a fire.

    Years went by, people learned other ways to make a fire. Sometimes they used the heat from the sun. They held a piece of glass in the right way and make a piece of paper on fire.

    About two centuries ago, people began to make matches. Matches brought people a quick and easy way to make fires. Today matches are still being used, but people have more new ways to make fires. One of them is to use and electric fire starter. Of course all electric fire starter is much more expensive than a box of matches. But it is very useful.

    We have always been interested in the Moon. 2,000 years ago, people already knew it moves around the Earth and where it would be in the sky at different times of the year.

    When scientists could use telescopes to study the Moon more closely, their ideas began to change. They could see the Moon was made of rocks.  And they believed the Moon had once been a planet. It was caught in Earth's gravity millions of years ago.

    In 1969, Moon rocks were finally brought to the Earth by astronauts.  To their surprise, scientists found that the Moon and the Earth are made of the same things except for water.

    After years of study, some scientists think that the Moon was once part of the Earth. They believe maybe 4 million years ago, something hit the Earth. These rocks slowly joined together and after many years became the Moon.

    In the future, even though our ideas about the Moon may change again, we will still be interested in it.