2017-2018学年江苏省常州市“12校合作联盟”高二下学期期末考试英语试题 Word版 13页

2017-2018 学年江苏省常州市“12 校合作联盟”高二下学期 期末考试英语试题 第一卷 (选择题 共 85 分) 第一部分: 听力(共两节，满分 20 分) 第一节 听下面 5 段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的 A、B、C 三个选项中 选出最佳选项。听完每段对话后，你都有 10 秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。 每段对话仅读一遍。 1. What does Miss Jamison think Ted should do? A. Drive faster. B. Leave sooner. C. Check the weather forecast. 2. How often do Janet’s parents call her? A. About twice a week. B. Around once a month. C. About twice a month. 3. Where will the man probably write his paper? A. At home. B. In a computer lab. C. At the library. 4. Where does the conversation take place? A. At the gym. B. At a movie theater. C. At school. 5. What is the conversation mainly about? A. Taking math class. B. Borrowing notes. C. Visiting the amusement park. 第二节 听下面 5 段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的 A、B、C 三个选项中选出最佳选项。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题 5 秒钟； 听完后，各小题将给出 5 秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。 听第 6 段材料，回答第 6、7 题。 6. What goes on the second line in the center? A. The sender’s district. B. The receiver’s address. C. The receiver’s name. 7. What does the woman still need to buy? A. A postage stamp. B. A proper envelope. C. Airmail insurance. 听第 7 段材料，回答第 8 至 10 题。 8. How long does it take Jenny to write her paper altogether? A. Three weeks. B. Two weeks. C. One week. 9. Which part is the most difficult for Jenny? A. Preparing an outline. B. Writing the paper. C. Doing the research. 10. What does Stan think Jenny should do? A. Borrow his outline. B. Use her outline from last semester. C. Make a plan before writing. 听第 8 段材料，回答第 11 至 13 题。 11. What field is the man probably in? A. Finance. B. Engineering. C. Medicine. 12. How does the woman travel to New York? A. By car. B. By plane. C. By train. 注意：本试卷分第一卷（选择题）和第二卷（非选择题）两部分。两部分答案都做在答 题卡上。总分为 120 分。考试时间 120 分钟。 13. What does the woman think about New York? A. She dislikes it a little bit. B. She can’t stand it. C. She feels relaxed there. 听第 9 段材料，回答第 14 至 17 题。 14. Who did the woman live with in 1940? A. By herself. B. With her husband. C. With her parents and brother. 15. Where was the woman in 1945? A. In Minnesota. B. In Washington D.C. C. In California. 16. Which job did the woman have for the longest time? A. Politician. B. Secretary. C. News reporter. 17. What is the probable relationship between the speakers? A. Neighbors. B. Teacher and student. C. Grandma and grandson. 听第 10 段材料，回答第 18 至 20 题。 18. According to the talk, what is more common in the West than in China? A. Using mobile payments. B. Using cash. C. Using credit cards. 19. How many people use Alipay or WeChat Pay? A. All people in China. B. Less than those who use PayPal. C. Nearly everyone who has a smart phone in China. 20. How are mobile payments described in the talk? A. Easy and convenient. B. Simple and free of charge. C. Popular but awkward to use. 第二部分: 英语知识运用(共两节，满分 35 分) 第一节: 单项选择 (共 15 小题; 每小题 1 分, 满分 15 分) 请认真阅读下面各题，从题中所给的 A、B、C、D 四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答 题纸卡上将该项涂黑。 21. The business school professor studies teaming, _______ people come together quickly (and often temporarily) to solve new or urgent problems. A. which B. where C. that D. how 22. ---How are you getting along with Jim now? ---Well, OK now. But he _______ until I apologized. A. didn’t forgive B. hasn’t forgiven C. hadn’t forgiven D. won’t forgive 23. ---John has just been promoted to general manager of our company. ---_______. He is always devoted to his work. A. A little bird told me. B. Mind your own business. C. Good for him. D. There’s no way to tell. 24. You _______ how angry the boss was had you been here with us. A. would see B. had seen C. would have seen D. saw 25. Some people don’t show _______ in their choice of books, reading whatever they can get. A. discrimination B. combination C. conservation D. reservation 26. He found a purse on the seat and decided to return it to the owner, _______ with the address on the electricity bill. A. started B. starting C. having started D. to start 27. If you use too much force, you’ll _______ the key, bending it out of shape. A. break B. seize C. twist D. split 28. Sometimes wrong doings will stay covered _______ we speak up. A. if B. when C. unless D. as long as 29. ---Would you like to go the football game tonight? ---Oh, sorry. I _______ to see the film So Young. A. arranged B. have arranged C. had arranged D. would arrange 30. Looking at old photographs of yourself on social websites can improve your mood, and this finding _______ previous researches, which suggested otherwise. A. conducts B. contradicts C. confuses D. condemn 31. The international situation is quite _______ at present. Any move towards a country’s own interest may cause immediate conflicts. A. stable B. violent C. delicate D. sharp 32. They have _______ a few newspapers to keep themselves informed of the hot issues of the changing time. A. subscribed to B. corresponded to C. responded to D. contributed to 33. Never for a second in our life _______ the importance of keeping our family company. A. had we forgotten B. we have forgotten C. we should forget D. should we forget 34. Just make sure you are _______ your inner voice while making these decisions. A. in tune with B. in parallel with C. in connection with D. in comparison with 35. In her talk, Lee focused on joy and _______ we can all find – and create – more of it in life. A. what B. where C. when D. how 第二节: 完形填空(共 20 小题; 每小题 1 分, 满分 20 分) 请认真阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的 A、B、C、D 四个选项中，选出最佳选项， 并在答题纸上将该项涂黑。 One morning, I walked down the path to my car and right into a huge spider web that had appeared overnight. I felt 36 for not having seen it or having 37 myself of the web tendrils（须状 物）, and went 38 my way. During the meeting with our client, I saw a look of pure 39 crossed his face. After I went to the 40 , I figured it out. The next morning, the 41 same scene occurred, and I felt even more foolish. 42 a moment, I thought I should not 43 myself. On the third day, I was 44 to look for the web – the spider had rewoven it, 45 this time off the path in the bushes. How surprising it was to 46 that the spider and I had learned the exact same 47 in the same amount of time. It is 48 for certain things in life to happen to you. There will be heartbreak, 49 , and days where you feel like you aren’t special or purposeful. You cannot let these 50 you. If you don’t 51 yourself to move past what happened and what was felt, you will 52 your future with that pair of glasses, and nothing will be able to change that 53 . As a saying 54 , “The only mistake in life is the lesson not 55 .” (Albert Einstein) 36. A. angry B. frustrated C. impatient D. foolish 37. A. removed B. rid C. reminded D. accused 38. A. in B. on C. by D. down 39. A. surprise B. excitement C. curiosity D. embarrassment 40. A. meeting room B. waiting room C. bathroom D. sitting room 41. A. funny B. single C. very D. strange 42. A. Within B. Before C. After D. For 43. A. forgive B. blame C. annoy D. comfort 44. A. worried B. due C. anxious D. careful 45. A. but B. and C. otherwise D. still 46. A. prove B. confirm C. admit D. realize 47. A. thought B. approach C. lesson D. trick 48. A. unhappy B. common C. regular D. heart-breaking 49. A. confusion B. conquer C. consensus D. calculation 50. A. disappoint B. weaken C. trap D. break 51. A. promise B. allow C. deny D. require 52. A. look at B. reflect on C. prepare for D. think about 53. A. saying B. occurrence C. future D. judgment 54. A. has B. goes C. spreads D. says 55. A. given B. taught C. learned D. addressed 第三部分: 阅读理解(共 15 小题; 每小题 2 分，满分 30 分) 请认真阅读下列短文, 从短文后各题所给的 A、B、C、D 四个选项中, 选出最佳选项, 并 在答题纸上将该项涂黑。 A London to Brighton Bike Ride The start The bike ride starts at Clapham Common tube station Ride carefully We put together as many facilities as possible to help ensure you have a trouble-free day. But we also rely on you to ride safely and with due consideration for other cyclists and road users. Although many roads are closed to oncoming traffic, this is not always the case and you should be aware of the possibility that there could be vehicles coming in the opposite direction. Please do not attempt reckless overtaking while riding---remember it is NOT a race. ______________ If you have an accident, ask a marshal for help; they are in contact with the support/emergency services. To call for help from our motorcycle marshals, give a ‘thumbs down’ signal. The marshal will do all he/she can to help, providing he/she is not already going to a more serious accident. If a motorcycle marshal slows down to help you, but you have just stopped for a rest and don’t need help, please give a ‘thumbs up’ signal and he/she will carry on. Remember---thumbs down means ‘I need help’. In case of breakdown Refer to your route map and make your way to a Mechanics Point. Mechanical assistance is free when you show your Rider Identity Card; you just pay for the parts. Refreshment stops Look out for these along the route. Most are organized by voluntary clubs and their prices give you real value for money. They are also raising money for their local communities and the British Heart Foundation, so please give them your support. Rain or shine---be prepared In the event of very bad weather, watch out for signs to wet weather stations en route. Good waterproofs, like a cycle cape, are essential. Our first aid staff can only supply bin liners and by the time you get one you may be very wet. However, the English summer is unpredictable---it may also be hot, so don’t forget the sun protection cream as well! If you have to drop out We will try to pick up your bike for you on the day. Call Bike Events(01225310859) no more than two weeks after the ride to arrange collection. Sorry, we cannot guarantee this service nor can we accept liability for any loss or damage to your bike. Bike Events will hold your bike for three months, after which it may be disposed of. You will be charged for all costs incurred in returning your cycle. 56. Which of the following subtitles might be suitable for the blank? A. Emergency service B. Attracting assistance C. Marshal’s job D. Contacting the marshal 57. Which of the following is WRONG about the Bike Ride? A. The weather at the time of the Bike Ride is quite changeable B. The drinks or waters along the way may be cheaper than usual C. You don’t need to pay to replace a broken part of the bike D. If you give up halfway and abandon your bike, it may be lost. B In mid-January, Cape Town officials announced that the world-class South African city of four million residents would run out of water on April 12. The date, nicknamed “Day Zero,” has since been postponed multiple times, thanks to the intense conservation efforts by locals, a sharp reduction in agricultural water usage, and a 10 billion-liter donation from the private reservoirs(水 库) of the Groenland Farmers Association. The city now has enough water to sustain the current level of usage until July 9, giving residents hope that the rainy season, which begins in June, will be more regular than has been the case lately. Four years ago, Cape Town’s water disaster would have seemed impossible given that the city’s six dam, which can hold 230 billion liters of water, were filled to the brim. However, three years of low rainfall – a third of normal levels – and the ever-increasing population, have reduced the dams to puddles. In an attempt to avoid Day Zero, the government has imposed a strict 50-liter daily limit for all households. Residents are being urged to reduce their water usage by making small changes like taking shorter showers and reusing bathing water to flush toilets. Those that use more have to pay heavy fines. When Day Zero strikes, a million homes or about 75 percent of the city will lose access to running water. Residents will instead have to wait in line at the over 200 water distribution centers established around the city to obtain 25 liters a day. Though conservation measures will help in the short run, only nature can solve the problem. If the city gets enough rainfall during its winter season from June to August, it will provide much-needed relief. However, the local officials are not sure it will happen. 58. What does the underlined word “brim” in the second paragraph probably mean? A. bottom B. top edge C. extended part D. central part 59. What effort is being made now to avoid Day Zero? A. Limiting the daily usage of water to 25 liters. B. Establishing 200 water distribution centers in the city. C. Reducing the city population as much as possible D. Restricting water usage in agriculture significantly 60. What does the last paragraph mainly want to convey? A. Tomorrow is still unknown. B. Current efforts will pay off. C. Man is at the mercy of nature. D. It’s time to make joint efforts. 61. What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage? A. To inform us of the severe situation of water shortage in Cape Town. B. To appeal to the world to come together to help people Cape Town. C. To explain the cause of the severe water shortage in Cape Town. D. To applaud the efforts by people in Cape Town to address water shortage. C University graduates Mallorie Brodie and Lauren Hasegawa, who invented a smartphone app that tracks construction defects（缺陷）for commercial builders, had a tiger by the tail. Bridgit, which they founded in 2012, launched a cloud-based communications platform that helped manage defects on construction sites, which can delay projects and result in costly repairs if left unchecked. The smartphone application lets site supervisors take photos of cracks or damaged paint, share them with employees and track the problems to solution. More than 600 subcontractors used the pilot version in many building sites before the commercial version, called Closeout, officially launched. Feedback( 反 馈 )was so good that they began to wonder: Why limit their invention to a specific industry? Why not turn it into some kind of a handy tool for consumers too? This became their dilemma. In other words, should they stay the course or look for wider applications of their app? The experts polled all agreed Bridgit should stay focused on its original goal. Ms. Hasegawa and Ms. Brodie took that advice. As more business customers signed on, it became clear that they made the right decision. Since then, the company’s growth has been rapid. Earlier this year, Bridgit launched Closeout ,which is designed so that even the least tech-savvy can use it easily. Today, the app is being used on sites across Canada and the United States and even by top general contractors(承包商). In October, Bridgit was named to the Canadian Innovation Exchange’s top 20 list of Canada’s most innovative companies working in digital media and information and communication technology . But Ms. Hasegawa and Ms. Brodie are not resting on their glories. They have also been collecting feedback on Closeout from customers, and they’ll launch a new version in the spring. It will target not only general contractors but developers and building owners, too. 62. The two graduates invented the smartphone application to _______. A. track construction sites and commercial builders B. provide a communication platform to share photos C. avoid project delay or costly repairs in construction D. enable supervisors to take and share photos of buildings 63. The underlined word in Paragraph 7 most probably means _______? A. keen on technology B. weak in technology C. addicted to technology D. good at technology 64. According to the passage, what may contribute to the graduates’ success? A. Investing in your strengths B. Serving more customers C. Innovating technology D. Simplifying technology 65. The graduates’ future plan is to _______. A. launch a new application in the spring B. collect feedbacks from customers on Closeout C. include different people in construction industry D. target more consumers from various industries D My dearest daughter, as I looked across at you sitting on the sofa watching The X Factor, I noticed that you are no longer a child, and that having just celebrated your 14th birthday, you are now a young woman starting a journey into becoming an adult woman. As I looked at you, I remembered myself at 14, and the vastly different places we are beginning this journey from. Your identity as a mixed-race young woman, with an English father and a Pakistani mother, has already influenced how you place yourself in this world. As yet, you are unaware of the personal struggles that I took at the age of 25 to marry. How it felt when my mother refused to come to my wedding. The sharp criticisms of the Asian community that such marriages do not work out and always end in divorce. The confidence I had to grow, as we chose to live in a multicultural community, as I refused to be shamed into living in the leafier white suburbs. Then, at the age of 30, I became your mum with all the joys and struggles this brought, as I refused the Asian traditions for a new baby's arrival. From your birth, your life could not have been more different from mine. I was brought up on a council estate, within a tight-knit extended Muslim family, through which poverty, racism and neglect were woven. I was never given the freedoms or the opportunity to experience new things. Now, as I hear you play your piano. I am grateful that you have these opportunities. So many doors were closed to me as a young person, and as I fought for small steps of freedom, I soon learned that it was better to do what I wanted without the knowledge of my parents, and so deceit and deception(欺骗) became woven into my life too. The pressures to obey, to be a "good Muslim" girl and keep the family honour, were choking. Behind closed doors at home, the neglect and abuse took place. It was hidden, I felt the shame, lived with the fear and suffered alongside my sister and two younger brothers. Oh, the power we thought our parents had over us! I was convinced that one day my father would indeed beat us so hard that leaving us for dead, he would, as his threats said he would, bury us in the large back garden, and tell the school he had taken us back to Pakistan for good. My sister and I longed for a different blue sky to live under. As a daughter of immigrant parents, I carried their hopes of a better education for their children--my own veins(血管) pulsing with the hard- work ethic(道德) and need to be grateful for the opportunity of a free education. And it was education that provided me with the strength to find my own blue sky. I fought to leave home to go to university at the age of 18, and never returned to live with my parents again. Now as you explore your mixed-race heritage, which I hope we have supported you to do with visits to Pakistan and ensuring you go to multi-cultural schools, I want you to take the very best of all that is Asian with you as you become a woman. I want you to know that although your journey has been vastly different. I am excited as I watch you standing on the threshold of becoming a woman for all the adventures and possibilities the future holds for you. May you fly your blue sky with grace, confidence and hope as you find your place in this beautiful and crazy world. Loving you now and always. Mommy 66. Mommy's mother refused to attend her wedding party because _________. A. she struggled to break away from the family before it B. her marriage was against the tradition of the community C. she would leave the family to settle in the white suburbs D. she refused the Asian tradition for a new baby’s arrival 67. What can be inferred from mommy's Muslim family life? A. She was forced to drop out of school. B. She behaved like a good Muslim girl. C. She fought against her Muslim identity. D. She suffered much abuse in the family. 68. From the fourth paragraph, we can see that Mommy was very _________. A. determined B. realistic C. ambitious D. tolerant 69. Mommy sends her daughter to multicultural schools to _________. A. prepare the daughter for different adventures in future B. ensure the daughter more opportunities to visit Pakistan C. increase the daughter’s exposure to different cultures D. encourage the daughter to grow up to be a better woman 70. We can learn from the passage that Mommy _________. A. is regretful for giving her daughter the mixed-race identity B. encourages her daughter to explore her origin and pursue her dream C. won’t forgive her parents for the sufferings she had during childhood D. criticizes the social traditions and prejudice in her community 第二卷(非选择题，共两大题，35 分) 第四部分: 任务型阅读(共 10 小题; 每小题 1 分, 满分 10 分) 请认真阅读下列短文, 并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单 词。注意: 每个空格只填 1 个单词。请将答案写在答题纸上相应题号的横线上。 What do you do when somebody hurts you? Do you want to hurt that person back, or do you hold it against them for the rest of your life? If you answered “yes” to these questions, know that you are like most people. To forgive is something that most people generally have difficulty with. People don’t forgive readily, because it is easier to hate than to forgive. Some people think to forgive is a sign of weakness, but actually to forgive takes courage and effort. Forgiveness is a gift from a generous heart. It is not a reward for good behavior. It is not based on whether the person deserves it or whether the person has asked for it. Besides, forgiveness is an act and a process, which often takes time. The deeper your pain, the longer it usually takes to completely forgive. It is an act because it is not just the words you say, but also your actions which show if you’ve truly forgiven someone. Forgiveness is necessary because it helps removes the burden of bitterness and hate. It takes a lot of energy to hate and to keep that hate in place. Hate puts unnecessary stress on your body. It is a well-known fact, proven by numerous studies, that bitterness and hate can actually make you sick. The moment that people forgive and let go of their hate, they will start to get well. Forgiveness brings freedom, whereas revenge (报复) is neither sweet nor satisfying. I have personal experience of this. I used to be very cynical about life and didn’t forgive easily. At the time, I also struggled in every area of my life. Things just didn’t seem to work out for me. It is as if everything that could go wrong, always went wrong. That was until somebody told me to take a look at my attitude. And when I forgave those who wronged me and changed my attitude, everything else changed. It didn’t happen overnight. It took a while, but I could see and feel the difference. Are things not working out in your life, despite you doing all the “right” things? Is it possible that you are holding “unforgiveness” in your heart? It is worth thinking about. Introduction It is common that people find it difficult to forgive those 71 them. Myth of forgiveness To forgive is a sign of weakness. Truth of forgiveness To forgive is in fact a sign of 72 To forgive shows you have a generous heart, not that someone has done something good that is 73 your forgiveness.. The time it takes to forgive someone is decided by the 74 of the pain. It is your action rather than words that really 75 . Reasons for forgiveness To hate requires much energy, thus 76 unnecessary stress on the body. Forgiveness 77 you from bitterness and burden. Author’s experience Everything seemed to go wrong until I was 78 of my own attitude towards things happening to me. Everything changed in 79 to my changed attitude. Conclusion When you find everything going wrong 80 your effort, think about your attitude toward forgiveness. 第五部分: 书面表达(满分 25 分) 请认真阅读下面文字，并按照要求用英语写一篇 150 词左右的文章。 Should parents leave all of their money to children and let them live a carefree life without even the necessity of earning money to support themselves? Here are two pieces of news about two celebrities: Bill Gates: Bill Gates has promised to give all of his $ 58 billion fortune to charity he has set up with his wife, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which funds health and education projects around the world. He wanted to make a positive contribution to the world. Zuckerberg: We will give 99% of our Facebook shares during our lives to advance human potential and promote equality. We know this is a small contribution compared to all the resources and talents of those already working on these issues. But we want to do what we can, working alongside many others. Many world-famous wealthy businessmen choose to donate almost all of their possessions to the charity instead of leaving their fortune to their children. In their opinion, it is better to develop the quality of independence of their children, making them possess the competence of living by themselves. 【写作内容】 1. 以约 30 个词概括上述材料的主要内容。 2. 以约 120 个词谈谈你对以上材料的看法，内容包括： ⑴ 你是否赞同这些名人的做法以及你的理由； ⑵ 请你就父母如何培养孩子的独立性方面，谈谈你的看法(两到三点)。 【写作要求】 1. 写作过程中不能直接引用原文语句; 2. 作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称; 3. 不必写标题。 【评分标准】 内容完整, 语言规范，语篇连贯, 词数适当。 2019 届 12 校联盟 2017 学年下学期期末高二英语试题参考答案 听力： 1—5 BCBCB 6—10 BAABC 11—15 BCACB16—20 AACCA 单选 21-25 BACCA 26-30 BCCBB 31-35 CADAD 完形：36-40. DBBAC 41-45. CDADA 46-50. DCBAC 51-55. BADBC 阅读：56-57. BC 58-61. BDAA 62-65. CDAC 66-70. BDACB 任务型：71. hurting 72. strength / courage / effort(s) 73. worth 74. depth 75. counts / matters 76. putting 77 releases / frees. 78. reminded 79. response 80. despite 书面表达： Some celebrities choose to donate almost all their money to the charity so that they can educate their children to be independent and learn to support themselves. I am in complete agreement with those celebrities’ decision. A child without the competence to support himself will at length/ ultimately consume all the money left for him and live in poverty, let alone supporting his family. What’s more, the ever-changing world means you need to learn new things almost at any moment and anyone totally dependent on others will find it hard to survive. From my perspective, many measures can be taken by parents to improve their children’s independence. First and foremost, parents can teach children to do what they can at an early age, thus making them know they should get what they want through their own efforts. What’s more， they sometimes need to put children through trials to give them opportunities to learn to deal with difficult situations independently. Only by learning to tackle various difficult situations by themselves can they become mature individuals. 听力原稿 Text 1 W: Late again, Ted? This is getting to be a habit. I’d be surprised if you were on time. M: Sorry, Miss Jamison. Did you see the fog on the weather report? It was dangerous to drive too fast. W: Maybe you should leave home earlier… (1) Text 2 M: How often do you call your parents, Janet? I call mine every Saturday and every Sunday. W: I call my parents once a month. But they call me every two weeks. (2) Text 3 M: Oh, no! My computer is not working! I have a paper due tomorrow morning, and the library is already closed. W: Why don’t you use the computer lab on campus? They’re open until midnight. M: Really? OK. I’d better run. Thanks for the tip! (3) Text 4 M: I’ve got two more classes today. I’ll call you after classes. W: Cool! I have to go to the gym out of school anyway, (4) so let’s just meet at the biggest movie theater of our city. M: That sounds perfect. See you again later! Text 5 M: Did you take notes in math class? If so, can I borrow them? (5) I wasn’t there because I was at an amusement park. W: I do have some notes, but I am reading them right now. Maybe you should ask another one for help. Text 6 W: I’m sending a letter to my friend by airmail. It’s not insured or anything, but how do I address it, again? M: Well, obviously you have to write the name of the person or business in the center of the envelope. W: Okay. What next? M: On the second line, you write the address you are sending it to. (6) Good, like that. W: I got it now. On the last line, I write the city it’s going to and the district, right? M: Don’t forget to write the return address in the upper-left corner in the same manner as the sending address. W: Now I just need to get a proper postage stamp. (7) Text 7 W: Stan, you’ve already finished your essay? I’ve been working on mine for two weeks, and I’ll need another week before it’s finished. (8) M: I know, Jenny, (9) it’s a huge project — researching, thinking of an argument and then finding details that show the argument is true. W: That part only took me one week. But writing and rewriting, and then deleting and writing again…that’s killing me! (9) M: That part didn’t bother me. W: What’s your secret? (10) M: I write an outline: a basic plan of what I’m going to say. (10) And then I fill it in with topics for each paragraph. After that, I put notes about what details to include. W: That sounds hard. M: It’s easier than you think, and when it’s time to write, everything goes really smoothly. (10) I have an outline from last semester that I could show you, if you’re interested. Text 8 W: Are you packing for another trip? M: Yeah. On Saturday, I’m flying to Toronto. W: Is this another engineering conference for work? (11) M: No. I’m meeting with friends. But I earned so many miles by traveling for work that the ticket was free. W: That’s impressive. You fly a lot. I’ve only been on a plane a few times. M: Really? Don’t you travel with your dad? W: No. He travels a lot because he is a banker, and he has an office in Japan. When he’s working in New York, we take the train to visit him. (12) M: Oh, I thought you drove. W: No, my mom dislikes driving in the city. Besides, the train is super relaxing. M: What does your mom do for work? W: She’s a nurse. But she gets the weekends off. M: I see. Does she like New York? (13) W: Actually, neither of us likes it that much. (13) But we love spending time with my dad there. Text 9 M: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Mrs. Rogers. My teacher wants me to interview someone who lived during the 1940s. W: Of course, Joey. What’s your first question? M: Well, where were you living in 1940? (14) W: In Minneapolis, Minnesota, where I was born and raised. (14) M: Did you live with your family? (14) W: Yes, with my parents and my younger brother. (14) In 1943, I moved to Washington D.C. by myself. I got a job as a typist for a newspaper. M: What was D.C. like? W: It was an exciting time to be living there. I got my interest in politics from being in the nation’s capital. When I moved to California, I went straight to Sacramento and got a job working for a state lawmaker. M: Were you in California when the war ended? W: No, I was still in D.C. I met my husband there, and we moved the following year, in 1946. (15) M: How long did you work for the lawmaker? W: Well, I was a secretary for that politician for two years. Then I had my two girls and stayed home for a few years. But as soon as they were old enough, I ran for office myself. (16) M: Really? Did you win? W: I did. I spent the next 20 years as a local politician. (16) M: Wow. I’ve lived next door for years, (17) and I didn’t even know that! Text 10 Ten years ago, everyone in China carried around a lot of cash with them. Credit cards were still not common, and most sellers did not have machines to accept bank cards. Nowadays, credit cards are still not as common as they are in the West, (18) but China has advanced past the Western world in one respect: nearly everyone who has a smart phone in China also has an account with Alibaba.com or WeChat. (19) Alibaba.com and WeChat are two of China’s largest and most successful Internet companies. Alipay and WeChat Pay can be linked to a bank account. (19) (20) Sending and receiving money is as simple as a few touches on a phone. (20) And China is rapidly becoming a cashless society. Using your phone as your wallet is much safer than carrying a lot of cash with you, and it’s easier to keep track of how much you spend. (20) It is only a matter of time before WeChat Pay and Alipay begin to challenge the American company PayPal for customers outside China. At least for now, China is setting a pretty good example.