It was sunny last Friday. I arrived at the railway station at three in the afternoon. I would take the train to Shanghai to see my old friend Jack. But it was two hours ________ my train left. I thought it was the perfect time and place to ________ for an act of kindness to do.

Outside the station, there was a girl selling flowers. I told her that I’d like to buy flowers for someone else, and that she could ________ who she would give the flowers to. She looked a little confused (困惑的), so I suggested that perhaps she could give the flowers to someone who looked a little ________. That was because the flowers might cheer him or her up.

“That’s a crazy idea!” said the girl. Then I explained a little more about the idea of doing something for a ________, and she understood.

“I’m leaving for Shanghai and then I’ll never know how it turns out,” I said. “But you will have a good ________ to make someone happy.” At that time, she started to be excited about it. She went to take the flowers out of the water, and I ________, “You’d better leave the flowers there before the person ________.”

I ________ for the flowers, said goodbye, and walked into the station. At that time, I thought she might be surprised and happy for meeting a customer like me.

How ________ the day was!

As Bobby was getting ready for bed, he heard a loud noise coming from the barn (仓库) outside. Bobby did not know what was making such a loud noise, and he had trouble falling asleep that night. He was scared that there might be a monster (怪物) in the barn. When Bobby woke up the next morning, he went to the barn. Bobby was nervous because he could not find out what would make such a noise. That night after dinner, Bobby got a flashlight (手电筒) and went to the barn again.

“Where are you going?” asked Bobby’s father, “I am going to find the monster in the barn. It made a loud noise last night,” replied Bobby.

“If you are going to look for a monster, you might need some help,” said Bobby’s dad, and he walked with Bobby out to the barn. Bobby shone his flashlight into the dark barn but did not see anything.

“What did that monster sound like?” asked Bobby’s dad.

“It was loud.” said Bobby, “and it was coming from the barn.” Bobby’s dad began to laugh and he took the flashlight from Bobby. Shining the flashlight up, Bobby and his dad saw a small brown owl (猫头鹰).

“It was only an owl,” said Bobby’s dad. Bobby was happy that it wasn’t a monster, and he thanked his dad as they walked back to the house. Just then they heard a loud noise and looked up to see the owl flying away into the night sky.

In the United States, 16, 18 and 21 are very important ages in a person’s life. A person can be allowed to do something at a certain age, showing that he or she is no longer a child, but rather an adult.

After turning 16 in the United States, a person can be employed (雇佣), get a driver’s license and leave home. Many high school students learn to drive and get part-time jobs soon after celebrating their 16th birthday. At 18, people in the United States can vote (投票选举) as a citizen (公民) and join the army, but they are not allowed to go into bars to buy beer or wine until they are 21.

In many Latin American countries, a young woman’s 15th birthday is important. At this age, she is no longer regarded as a girl, but a woman. To mark this special day, families with 15-year-old daughters hold a celebration called a quinceanera (成人礼). The family will have a big party and many guests are invited.

In Japan, boys and girls are thought to be adults when they turn 20. At this age, they are allowed to vote and drink beer or wine. The second Monday in January is a national holiday called the Coming-of-Age Day. On this day, 20-year-olds are invited to listen to speeches which will tell them the responsibilities (责任) and challenges of being an adult. After that, many of them celebrate late into the night to step into a new period.

Silk production has a long and colorful history unknown to most people. Scientific (科学上的) discoveries have shown that silk production began in China around 2500 BC, although it could be much older. For hundreds of years, China kept the secret of silk to itself as one of the most closely protected secrets in history. Anyone telling the secret of silkworms (蚕) or trying to take silkworm eggs out of ancient China was punished in prison (监狱).

At one time silk was served only for the Chinese emperor. Step by step, others began wearing silk. In addition to being used for clothing, silk was used to make music instruments, fishing lines, ropes and even paper. During the Han Dynasty silk became a form of money.

However, the Chinese finally lost their monopoly (垄断) on silk production. It reached Korea in around 200 BC when some Chinese people arrived there. Silk production came to India in 300 AD. In 500 AD, silk production came to Europe when travelers smuggled (偷运) out silkworms in empty pipes (管子) of bamboo. These were used to set up silk factories in Rome, although Chinese silk was still considered to be the best. Silk was brought to Rome from China by the Silk Road. There were actually two Silk Roads, one over land and one on the sea. Especially the land route had a huge effect in history. All kinds of trade goods were passed along this road. Ideas traveled the Silk Road, too. For example, the religion of Buddhism (佛教) was carried to China from India by traders on the Silk Road. The Silk Road created the first international culture, showing many people the ideas and treasures of both western and Chinese cultures.

Everyone wants to find happiness. But sometimes looking for happiness can be as hard as looking for lost treasure. Just when you think you nearly reach it, something unexpected happens. This may trouble you a lot. Here are some tips for helping you find happiness.

If you depend on one thing or one person to make you happy, it may be impossible. You need to enlarge (扩大) your circle of friends and activities.

Many people push away happiness when they think too much. Don’t keep everything in head. Try making a list of the things that seem too big to manage on your own. You may find the list isn’t as long as you thought. You can do most of the things by yourself.

Most of the things that prevent us from feeling happy are just some little things. Remember life is always going on, and whatever the little thing is, it will end.

When we go against our own thoughts, we usually feel sad. Follow your strong feeling and let it guide you toward people and things that will improve your life. Day by day, you will be happier than before.

Happiness can be hard to feel at times, so don’t think there is something wrong with you if you don’t feel it. The ways above will help you feel more of it.

We all know that music plays a very important part     71     our daily life. Do you notice music playing at any of those places when you go somewhere? Today music is     72     (play) in most stores, stations, restaurants, amusement parks and some other places. You might even hear music in     73     office or on a farm.

    74     (scientist) believe that music can change the way people behave. They think that the sound of Western classical (古典的) music can make people feel richer. When a restaurant     75     (play) classical music, people spend more money on food and drink. When the restaurant plays modern music, people spend     76     (little) money. When there is no music in the restaurant, people spend even less money.

Scientists also believe that loud, fast music can make people     77     (eat) faster. Some restaurants play fast music during their busy hours. This makes people eat faster and leave more     78     (quick). Then restaurants can make more money in this way.

Some scientists think that music can make people think and learn better. They say that music can help students feel     79     (relax) and become more active. It is true that people can learn better when they are relaxed. And     80     (listen) to music can help you relax.

Next time you hear music somewhere, be careful. It might influence the way you do things.

86. 弹指一挥间，你已经是一名九年级学生了。你还记得刚升入初中时自己的样子吗？这两年你发生了哪些变化？假如你是李华，请根据下面提示，给你的小学老师发一封电子邮件，谈谈你的变化及对未来的畅想。

提示：1.列举至少两个方面的变化，用上used to 结构；

2.列举至少两条计划。

要求：1.短文内容包含提示内容，可适当发挥；

2.语句表达准确，语法正确；

3.80词左右，开头已给出，不计入总词数。

How’s it going? I miss you very much. I’m in Grade 9 and I have changed a lot. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hope you’ll be happy every day!

Yours,

Li Hua