Working Out (锻炼) through Online Videos
Physical exercise is good for our mind, body and spirit. Today, working out through online videos is becoming very popular. Since the Internet is widely used, it’s very easy for us to do so. That means we can work out anytime anywhere.
One of my friends, Lin Fei, followed short workout videos to do daily exercise. “With live programs, I feel like working out with my friends, which encourages (鼓励) me to hold on to the last minute.” she said. Another friend of mine, Michael, told me that workout videos let him feel so comfortable. “I have a fear of working out at the gym (健身房) because I don’t like being watched by others. Working out at home is much more enjoyable.” he said.
With their examples, I decided to give it a try. When I told my plan to my elder sister, a P.E. teacher, she reminded (提醒) me that workout videos could be helpful but might still carry some problems.
“Without being with someone in person, you will be less willing (愿意的) to work out to your best. Working out at the gym allows you to have advice in real time and get pushed harder,” my sister said to me. “Well, if you really want to have a try. First, choose proper programs or videos. That’s very important. And then ask your friends for advice. Their experiences can give you a good sight into what you can expect. Anyway, don’t be addicted (沉迷的) to it.You should try different ways to work out to be healthy.”
At her advice, I finally followed an online workout program with personalized (个性化的) help that is held for three months. After the first period of training, I felt it very practical and helpful when I put in the right amount (量) of work along with a strong will. Compared (对比) with going to the gym, using online videos to work out is a much cheaper and time-saving choice. But it can be difficult sometimes when I’m too lazy or too busy to stick to it.
1. Why is working out through online videos popular according to the passage?2. Does Lin Fei like working out with his friends? Why?
3. What are the problems of workout videos according to the writer’s sister?
4. Which do you like better, working out through online videos or going to the gym? Why?
I used to be lazy, but now I am hard-working. Washing dishes, cooking and making the bed…all of these tasks have become part of my daily life.
This big change is the result of a new program at my school. Starting from last term, Huaxi No.1 Middle School has made housework part of its students’ homework in order to improve our life skills. At the beginning of each month, every student gets a list of housework to do every weekend. Some of the tasks are quite specific (具体的), such as cleaning out closets (衣柜), washing cups and cooking food.
My best friend Wan Li, a 14-year-old girl, also learned some life skills through the program. “I used to be afraid of fire,” she said. But she managed to overcome her fear and complete her cooking tasks. At the same time, she has also realized how tired her mother gets after doing housework every day.
On April 27, 2023, No.17 Middle School in Yunnan held a housework competition. Students had to complete many tasks, including cooking and folding clothes, They showed their skills and proved (证明) that they are growing up. The winner of the competition, Zhou Min said, “I learn how to be an independent person by doing housework.”
1. Why does the writer become hard-working now?2. What do the students get at the start of each month?
3. Please translate (翻译) the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 into Chinese?
4. What did Zhou Min learn by doing housework?
Mark is a thirteen-year-old boy. He does a lot of things at home to help his mom.
In the morning, he makes his lunch and puts it in his lunchbox. After school he takes Max, his dog for a walk first. Max is Mark’s pet. It’s also his good friend. Mark often tells Max stories about his school and Max likes them. Mark also cleans his room every day—usually in the evening and sometimes in the morning. Mark does his homework after dinner. After that he helps his mom wash the dishes.
Mark’s parents are very proud (自豪的) of him. Every week they give Mark five dollars. Mark usually buys school things with it, and he also saves some every week. Now Mark has about 50 dollars. He has a big plan (计划)—his friend Jeff wears very old shoes. Jeff and his mother have a very difficult life. His mom can’t buy him a pair of new shoes. Mark knows that Jeff’s birthday is coming, and Mark wants to give him a surprise (惊喜).
1. What does Mark do first after school?（回答不少于7个单词）2. When does Mark usually clean his room?（回答不少于3个单词）
3. How much money do Mark’s parents give him every week?（回答不少于2个单词）
4. Are Mark and Jeff brothers?（回答不少于3个单词）
5. What may (可能) be Mark’s surprise for Jeff?（回答不少于5个单词）
4 . When my daughter was in primary school, she brought home four small roots (根) from school to plant. None of them looked very strong, but with hope for the future, I planted them in our garden with enough sunlight. Over the years, because of the poor soil (土壤), three of them died. Only one survived (存活).
It grew crooked (弯弯曲曲的) and very slowly. It looked more like a fat bush（灌木从) than a tree. Later, I noticed that it was starting to die. The lower branches (树枝) were becoming bare (光秃秃的). Only the top third of the tree was still green. I did my best to save it. I fed it a lot of fertilizer (肥料), but it didn’t work.
Later one morning, I went out and looked at it again. I thought maybe I should just cut it down. It would make the garden look cleaner. As I take a closer look at it, however, I saw something in the leaves. A bird built a nest (巢) in the topmost branches. I smiled when I looked at it. I thought maybe this old tree was still useful. It might not be healthy or pretty, but it gave a bird a home.
This tree told me all of our lives have a purpose (目的). Young and strong or old and sick, we have things to do, love to give, and joy to share. We can help to make this world a better and more beautiful place.
1. What would be the best title for the passage?| A．A Bird’s Nest. | B．Every Root Grows into a Home. |
| C．A Tree in My Garden. | D．Sharing joy. |
3. What did the writer do to save the tree that started to die?
4. Why didn’t the writer cut the tree down?
5. What do you learn from this passage?
| Activities | Days a year |
| Read books | 365 |
| Play basketball | 210 |
| Eat junk food | 95 |
| Use the Internet for over 3 hours | 90 |
| Stay up late | 60 |
| Do housework | 0 |
| Good Habits | Bad Habits |
e.g. I run every day, so I exercise more than Anna.
British people don’t like to say “no”, because they think it is rude. But this can be a problem for people from other countries. When you learn English, you learn to say things like “Yes, please.” and “No, thank you.” when somebody asks you if you want something. But real life is not always so easy.
When you give something to British people, they often say, “I’m all right, thanks.” When they say this, they mean that they already have everything they need, so it is a way to say no. Unluckily, saying “all right” is also a way to say yes. The same phrase (短语) can be used in different ways to mean both yes and no!
Manjit works in a tourist shop. “British people are difficult customers (顾客),” he said. “If you give something to them, they say, ‘Maybe later’ even when they plan never to buy it.”
Saying yes is not much better, said Manjit. “When they want to buy something, they sometimes don’t say yes. They say, ‘Sure!’ or ‘Why not?’ It’s so confusing (令人困惑的)!”
1. Do British people like to say “no”? Why or why not?2. What do British people usually say when they don’t want something?
3. What might a British man mean by saying “Maybe later” to a seller?
In July, 2021, China introduced the “Double Reduction” policy (双减政策). It hopes to reduce students’ learning burden(负担). How do students feel about this new policy? Does the policy really influence (影响) their life and study?
“Our homework is clearly less than before”, said 13-year-old Shen Yuzhe from Beijing. “The exercises are mainly from the textbook(课本).” According to Shen, teachers now teach at a much slower speed (速度). “Our teachers are also giving us more chances to try out and learn from real life.” said Shen.
For a 13-year-old boy, Zhang Hangming from Tianjin, the best thing about “double reduction” is the increased(增长的) time in after-school activities. “We can now spend more time taking part in clubs and activities, such as dancing, volleyball and instruments. I can learn all kinds of skills more than schoolwork.” Said Zhang.
Zhang also pointed out that self-discipline (自律) becomes more important now. “Some students now spend more time having fun when homework is finished early. But if you use all the free time to relax, you might fall behind other students.” He said.
1. What good things does the “Double Reduction” policy bring to Shen Yuzhe?List (列举) at least 2 of them.
2. What does Zhang Hangming think of the policy? Why?
3. What does Zhang Hangming mainly want to tell us in the last paragraph?
4. Do you like the “Double Reduction” policy? What changes（变化）does it bring to your study or life?
My name is Nancy. I’m a student. I’m twelve. My parents are teachers. John is my brother. We are all in Beijing, China. The man in a black coat is my father. The woman in a red sweater is my mother. The boy behind the tree is John. We are very happy here. We love Beijing.
1. How old is Nancy?2. What does Nancy’s father do?
3. Who is Nancy’s brother?
4. Where are they now?
5. How many（多少） people in Nancy’s family?
My daughter, Cindy, used to be shy but now she’s kind of active and outgoing. And I think that’s because of love.
I still remember one thing. One day last month, Cindy got an upset stomach, so I took her to see a doctor. When we waited in line outside the waiting room, we saw a lady beside us. She looked very upset. Then Cindy gave a smile card to the lady, saying, “I hope everything goes well” The lady hugged(拥抱) Cindy and said nothing. Later, Cindy gave out five more smile cards that day.
Last Monday, I went shopping with Cindy in a supermarket. After shopping, we went to the cash desk(收银台). Terribly, I couldn’t find my wallet and I didn’t know what to do. At that time, a lady came to us and paid the bill for us. She was just the lady who was at the doctor’s that day. I said “thank you” to her. She said, “I was moved by your daughter’s kindness.” Then I returned the money to her the next day.
Now all my family have always enjoyed helping others. And giving out smile cards is a good way to help. It helps us change, too.
1. What did Cindy use to be like?2. What did Cindy give the lady?
3. What did the lady do for the writer in the supermarket?
4. What can we learn from the story?
10 . 亲爱的同学们，初中的英语课堂学习需要你们的充分参与，英语学习需要你们与老师合作、与同学交流。经过半个学期的学习，你是否对一些常用的英语课堂用语熟悉了呢？请将下面的图片与之对应的英语课堂用语进行匹配，再写出另外两句你所知道的英语课堂用语。
根据图片，在图片下写出与之相匹配的课堂用语。
| A. Take out your book, please. | B. Don’t talk. |
| C. Sit down, please. | D. Please open your book. |
| E. Listen to the teacher carefully. | F. Now, please work in groups. |
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7. 你所知道的另外两句课堂用语。
