Help 國中基測 試卷練習

One day after dinner, Lois went to the park for a walk. On her way there, she was stopped by a man who 23 his fingernails. “Somebody took my bag,” he said, “and I have no money to get home.” He asked Lois if she could lend him some money. Lois was afraid and said “no” to him in a polite way. The man did not listen and kept asking for money. Lois did not change her mind. The man got angry and cried out, “You 24 a cold person. I hate you!” Lois felt so bad that she ran home quickly.

Even today, Lois is still wondering whether what she 25 to that man was right or wrong.

If you cannot live without your car, Zurich might be the last city you would like to visit. In Zurich, people are welcome, but cars are not! Over the past 20 years, this city has used smart ways 37 . One is to keep the same total number of parking spaces. For example, if 50 new parking spaces are built in one part of the city, then 50 old spaces in other parts are taken away for other uses. So the total number does not change. Some are unhappy that there are never enough spaces. That is just what the city has in mind: If people find parking more difficult, they will drive less.

38 , the total number of cars in the city is counted. Over 3,500 little computers are put under Zurich roads to check the number of cars that enter the city. If the number is higher than the city can deal with, the traffic lights on the roads that enter the city will be kept red. So drivers who are traveling into Zurich have to stop and wait until there are fewer cars in the city. Now, you may wonder 39 . The answer is simple: The city wants to make more space for its people.

The idea may hit you once or twice a year. You come home on a hot summer day, hoping to have a cool bath, and find out there is no water. Then you see how important water is in your everyday life. However, in many parts of the world, water is not just about one’s everyday needs.

In countries like Tanzania, water is hard to get, and the job of collecting water falls on women’s shoulders. Girls are often kept home from school to collect water while their brothers stay at school studying. Studies show Tanzanian girls who live 15 minutes from clean water spend 12% more time at school than those who live an hour away. More time spent collecting water means less time for learning. For these girls, “Knowledge is power” is not just words; it is a sad fact in real life. With less time spent at school, their chances of getting well-paid jobs are small, and they often have no voice in important matters, like who to marry. These girls are often married into poor families. They have little money or knowledge to take care of their children, who often end up dying young. For the baby girls who are lucky enough to live, their life may still center around “water,” just like it did for their mothers.