Help 國中基測 試卷練習

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—on May 29. Since the time 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 I. 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 a 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.

John Keats is one of the greatest English poets. He was born in London in 1795 and started studying to be a doctor when he was only fifteen. But after he finished his studies, he gave up the idea of becoming a doctor and decided to be a poet. He wrote and soon became an important poet.

Keats spent the last three years of his life writing a lot of beautiful poems. But he did not have a happy life at that time. In fact, he got seriously sick, and could not get married to the girl he loved. Still, he wrote about love and beautiful things in his poems. These poems have made many sad people happy. One of his famous poems is about fall. In this poem Keats showed his love for this world even in his bad health. Keats died at the young age of twenty-five, but both the poet and his poems will always be remembered.

Hans Christian Andersen wrote more than three hundred stories in his lifetime and became Denmark's most famous writer.

He 28 on April 2, 1805. His father was a poor shoemaker and died when Andersen was 11 years old. He left home when he was only fourteen to find work in Copenhagen.

Andersen wrote many fairy tales, like “The Emperor's New Clothes,”“The Little Mermaid,” and “The Ugly Duckling.” These stories really touch our hearts and make us 29 or cry.

Andersen died on August 4, 1875. His home is now a museum and thousands of people visit it every year. Even today, his books are still read all 30 the world.

Since 1996, Wonder City has started a green plan and has been greatly successful in many ways. Places that were not used anymore, like railways, factories, and open lands, have been changed and brought to new life. They have now become parks, restaurants, museums, or shopping centers. They look fresh and clean with trees, flowers, and pieces of art. Olde River, for example, is now a pink belt in the spring with born-to-smiles on both of its sides. They are beautiful and smell great. Many people take a walk or go bicycling along the banks of the river. Because of this plan, the city has become cleaner and younger. Every year in May, a big green festival is celebrated in Wonder City. People from other cities go to the festival to learn how to make their own cities more beautiful.

Every day I go to many places and meet different people. Some of them are nice and polite. They say “Please” and “Thank you” to me. Some tell me about their family and jobs. I have made several friends and learned a lot from these people.

But I am not always so lucky. Some people leave their garbage after they eat and drink in my car. Some people are noisy, so I cannot concentrate. Some people are “back-seat drivers.” They never stop telling me “Turn right!” “Turn left!” “Stop!” “Drive faster!” Sometimes more than four people want to get into my car at a time, but it is illegal!

Heartland is a beautiful town in which cars and motorcycles are not allowed. The town is famous for its blue sky and fresh air. The weather there is nice and warm all the year, so trees and flowers grow well in all seasons.

I went to Heartland last month and stayed there for five days. Every morning I woke up to the songs of birds. Then I would take a walk or ride a bicycle along the country roads. Orchards and gardens were everywhere. Flower shops and coffee houses were also on the way. Every night from my window I could see bright stars in the sky, and I would go to sleep with the smell of grass.

The five-day holiday in Heartland gave me a lot of surprises. I hope I can go there again some day and spend more time there.