浙江省新目标（Go for it）版初中英语八年级上学期期中模拟试卷（9）

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    Karl was standing before the queen (女王). "You saved my horse," the queen said. "Now I want to give you a gift." The queen showed him two " boxes. In one box, there were lots of beautiful jewels (宝石), and in the other, there were two chickens.

    "Only one box can be yours," the queen said. "Make a wise choice (明智的选择)."

    "That's easy," Karl said. "I'll take the chickens." Some of the people around them laughed. They thought he made a foolish choice.

    "And why did you choose the chickens?" the queen asked. "Well, I don't know much about jewels," Karl answered. "But I do know about chickens. The chickens will give eggs to my family for a long time."

    The queen smiled. "The jewels you see are only colored glass (玻璃). The chickens are much more valuable ( 宝贵的)," she said. "You made a wise choice." Karl thanked the queen and got the box of chickens.

    "You are a smart man," the queen said. "I need a smart man to help take care of my horses. Would you like the job?" Karl smiled and said, "Yes. Thank you!"

    The job paid well. Now Karl's family could have a good life   all because of his choice.

    It is Oct. 24. You pick up a bottle of milk. You see "Best Before Oct.23" on it. What do you do with it? Most people just throw it away. It's a big waste.

    The United Nations says that over one third of food goes to the trash. But 795 million people on Earth don't have enough to eat. To change this, people have come up with great ideas. After all, the best place for food is our stomachs, not the trash.

    Sharing food

    People say, "There's no such thing as a free, lunch." But they are wrong. Recently, "share fridges" have come to cities like Shanghai and Quanzhou, Quick meals, milk, cookies and cakes are staying in the fridges. It is just like your fridge at home. The food comes from families and shops nearby. And it is free for every passerby to enjoy! This great idea comes from the popular "food bank" practice.

We keep our extra money in a bank. In 1967， some people in the US wanted to do the same with food. They then set up the world's free food bank.

    In many people's eyes, expired( 过期的) food becomes junk. But a company from the UK thinks differently. There is a "Best Before Date "on the food bag. Before that date, the quality(质量) is the best. But after that date, the food can be still OK to eat.

    So, the Real Junk Food Project, a British company, gets such food from supermarkets and puts it in cafes again. They don't give the food a price. You can give whatever money you like. If you don't want to spend money, you can help work there.

    What comes to your mind when you hear the word "twins"? Born on the same day? Looking almost the same? Or having the same hobbies? Well, I have a twin brother who was born on a different day from me. We do not look very much alike and we are always interested in different things.

Twelve years ago, my brother, Wayne, was born at eleven fifty-eight on the night of May 28. Five minutes later, I was born一on May 29. Since we were born, I have always been heavier and stronger than Wayne, so people usually think I am the older brother.

    But Wayne is always smarter than L He loves reading and learns many things quickly. He knows a lot about animals, although he does not spend much time with our dogs and birds. He knows e lot about bicycles, but never likes to ride bikes as much as I do.

    Though we are very different, I love my brother very much. I hope both of us can have a happy life in the future.

—No, I can't sit. I's so boring.