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西安中学2016-2017学年度第一学期期末考试
高二英语试题（实验班）
（时间：120分钟满分：150分）命题人：
第一部分: 听力（共四节, 满分30分）
第一节 （共5小题；每小题1.5分, 满分7.5分）
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, 并标在试题卷的相应位置。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. Where does this conversation probably take place?
A. In a hospital. B. In a friend’s house. C. In the man’s house.
2. What is the woman going to buy?
A. A book on planes. B. Pictures of ships. C. A book on ships.
3. What kind of music does the man like?
A. Folk music. B. Pop music. C. Classical music.
4. Why doesn’t the woman buy the coat?
A. It is expensive. B. There isn’t her size. C. She doesn’t like the color.
5. What is the man doing?
A. Finishing his homework.
B. Doing physical exercise.
C. Smoking on the upper floor.
第二节 （共15小题；每小题1.5分, 满分22.5分）
听下面4段对话。每段对话后有几个小题, 从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项, 并标在试题卷的相应位置。听每段对话前, 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。每段对话读两遍。
听第6段材料，回答第6至8题
6. What’s the matter with Hudson’s mother?
A. She was ill, but she felt much better.
B. She was seriously ill.
C. She went to see him.
7. What kind of person is Mr. Hudson according to the dialogue?
A. A very good worker.
B. A person who often gets angry.
C. A person who cares nothing.
8. Which may be the reason why Mr. Hudson is so sad?
A. His mother’s illness.
B. Maybe his son has brought him some trouble.
C. His manager wants to fire him.
听第7段材料,回答第9至11题。
9. What are the two speakers generally talking about?
A. People served in shops.
B. Goods in various qualities.
C. Shopping in different places.
10. What is the man?
A. Salesman in a small shop.
B. A manager of a supermarket.
C. A staff of a department store.
11. What might the woman think of supermarket staff?
A. They’re unfriendly. B. They’re very nice. C. They’re well paid.
听第8段材料,回答第12至14题。
12. Why is it difficult for the woman to lose weight?
A. She enjoys delicious dishes too much.
B. She works too long.
C. She has no time for exercise.
13. Who is Michael?
A. John’s manager. B. Julia’s husband. C. Kate’s friend.
14. What does the man suggest the woman do?
A. Change her job.
B. Stop working and spend more time with her family.
C. Eat less and do more exercise.
听第9段材料,回答第l5至l7题。
15. Where does Mike work?
A. In a grocery. B. In a language school. C. In an art school.
16. What does the woman want to do for a change?
A. Learn to dance. B. Learn a new song. C. Learn to draw.
17. What is most difficult for the woman about learning Arabic?
A. Grammar. B. Pronunciation. C. Idioms.
听第10段材料,回答18至20题。
18. What kind of clothes does the speaker’s sister like?
A. Cheap clothes. B. Ordinary clothes. C. Clothes of new design.
19. What do the twin sisters have in common?
A. They enjoy loud music.
B. They enjoy friendship.
C. They want to have their children.
20. Why doesn’t the speaker like living in the same room with her twin sister?
A. The speaker likes to keep things neat while her sister doesn’t.
B. Her twin sister often brings friends home and makes too much noise.
C. They can’t agree on the color of the room.
第二部分：阅读理解（满分40分）
第一节 （共15小题；每小题2分, 满分30分）
阅读下列短文, 从每小题后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中, 选出最佳选项, 并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
A
John Blanchard was studying the crowd making their way through the station. He was looking for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn’t, the girl with the rose.
When reading a book in a Florida library a year before, John became interested not in the contents of the book, but in the notes penciled in the margin (空白处). The handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and beautiful mind. He discovered the former
owner’s name in the front of the book: Miss Hollis Maynell.
He located her address and wrote a letter introducing himself. The next day he was shipped overseas to serve in the army. During the next year, they grew to know each other through the mail and their friendship developed. John requested a photograph, but she refused, saying if he really cared, it wouldn’t matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return home, their first meeting was suggested -7:00 pm. at the Grand Central Station in New York.
She wrote, “You’ll recognize me by the red rose I wear on my coat.” So now John was in the station to meet the girl with a rose.
As a pretty and slim girl in green came over, John noticed her blue eyes like flowers in spring. He walked directly towards her, entirely forgetting she was not wearing a rose. As John came closer to her, he saw another woman with a red rose stood nearby. Well past 40, this woman had graying hair done under a worn hat. Seeing the girl in green walk quickly away, John felt as if he were split (劈开) in two. He desired to follow that girl, but longed for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned and supported him.
The woman looked gentle and sensible. John went to her, saying, “I’m Captain John Blanchard. You must be Miss Maynell. I am glad to meet you here. May I take you to dinner?”
She replied with a smile, “I don’t know what this is about. But the lady in green who just went by, begged me to wear this rose on my coat. She said if you asked me out to dinner, I’d tell you she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!”
21. John was eager to know the former owner of the book because ________.
A. he was very interested in the contents of the book
B. he was impressed by the notes written by the owner
C. the book offered him practical and valuable advice
D. there was address of the former owner in the book
22. What happened to John after getting in touch with Miss Hollis Maynell?
A. He began to serve the army abroad.
B. He was seriously wounded in the war.
C. He went on a business tour in Europe.
D. He asked Miss Maynell for a photo.
23. What do we know about the woman with a rose?
A. She was Miss Maynell’s close companion.
B. She was a conductor working in the station.
C. She knew nothing about John’s appointment.
D. She was paid to carry out a love test on John.
24. Which would be the best title of the text?
A. The Meeting in the Station
B. The Girl with a Rose
C. A Soldier and a Girl
D. A Meeting of the Heart
B
Ireland has had a very difficult history. The problems started in the 16th century when English rulers tried to conquer Ireland. For hundreds of years, the Irish people fought against the English. Finally, in 1921, the British government was forced to give independence to the south of Ireland. The result is that today there are two “Irelands”. Northern Ireland, in the north, is part of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland, in the south, is an independent country.
In the 1840s the main crop, potatoes, was affected by disease and about 750,000 people died of hunger. This, and a shortage of work, forced many people to leave Ireland and live in the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada. As a result of these problems, the population fell from 8.2 million in 1841 to 6.6 million in 1851.
For many years, the majority of Irish people earned their living as farmers. Today, many people still work on the land but more and more people are moving to the cities to work in factories and offices. Life in the cities is very different from life in the countryside, where things move at a quieter and slower pace.
The Irish are famous for being warm-hearted and friendly, Oscar Wilde, a famous Irish writer, once said that the Irish were “the greatest talkers since the
Greeks”, Since independence, Ireland has revived (复兴) its own culture of music, language, literature and singing. Different areas have different styles of old Irish songs which are sung without instruments. Other kinds of Irish music use many different instruments such as the violin, whistles, etc.
25. What does the author tell us in paragraph 1?
A. How the Irish fought against the English.
B. How Ireland gained independence.
C. How English rulers tried to conquer Ireland.
D. How two “Irelands” came into being.
26. We learn from the text that in Ireland ________.
A. food shortages in the 1840s led to a decline in population
B. people are moving to the cities for lack of work in the countryside
C. it is harder to make a living as a farmer than as a factory worker
D. different kinds of old Irish songs are all sung with instruments
27. The last paragraph is mainly about ________.
A. the Irish character B. Irish culture
C. Irish musical instruments D. a famous Irish writer
28.What can be the best title for the text?
A. Life in Ireland B.A Very Difficult History
C. Ireland, Past and Present D. The Independence of Ireland
C
WASHINGTON: NASA has announced evidence that Jupiter’s largest moon, Ganymede, has a saltwater ocean under its icy surface. The ocean seems to have more water than all the water on Earth’s surface, according to new Hubble observation.
New Hubble observations of Ganymede’s magnetic field strongly suggest that the moon, which is the largest in our whole solar system, is home to a subsurface ocean.
Scientists estimate the ocean is 95 kilometres thick, which is about 10 times deeper than Earth’s oceans. But unlike our salty waters, Ganymede’s ocean is buried
under 150 kilometres of ice.
While scientists have speculated (推测) since 1970s about the presence of an ocean on Ganymede - the largest moon in our solar system - until now the only observational evidence came from a brief flyby by the Galileo spacecraft, which didn’t observe the moon long enough to confirm a liquid ocean.
This discovery marks an important milestone, highlighting what only Hubble can accomplish. In its 25 years in orbit, Hubble has made many scientific discoveries in our own solar system. A deep ocean under the icy surface of Ganymede opens up further exciting possibilities for life beyond Earth.
Scientists have already confirmed the existence of an ocean on Europa, another moon orbiting Jupiter, and NASA has announced plans to send an unmanned mission there searching for the life that might come with liquid water.
Hubble is a telescope that orbits Earth, but because of its impressive gravitational analyses it can be used to study the inside of far distant planets. Using these same principles, scientists could theoretically detect oceans on distant planets as well.
29. What can we learn about the Ganymede from the passage?
A. It is a planet with the largest moon in our whole solar system.
B. Its ocean adds to people’s excitement about life beyond Earth.
C. It will be used by NASA as a base for the Hubble telescope.
D. Its liquid ocean was first proved by the Galileo spacecraft.
30. Which of the following best describes the writer’s attitude towards Hubble?
A. Cautious
B. Doubtful
C. Negative
D. Favourable
31. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 6 mean?
A. An underground ocean has been found in Europa.
B. The presence of an underground ocean in Europa is not possible.
C. It is now certain that there is an ocean on Europa.
D. No evidence has shown the existence of an ocean on Europa.
32. What type of writing does this passage belong to?
A. A term essay
B. A news report
C. An experiment report
D. An exploration review
D
SELF-REFLECTION OF TEACHING PRACTICES READING, WRITING, TALKING
School:
Date:
Grade(s) presently teaching:
Please do not sign your name. Mark the responses that most nearly reflect your teaching practices. This is one way to reflect your practices and how much you got out of it.
Keep one copy and give one to your tutor.
HOW OFTEN:
0=never 1=rarely 2=sometimes (1-2x/ week) 3=moderately (3x/week) 4=often (4x/week) 5=daily
DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATENESS: I provide opportunities for students to use literacy for their own purposes using previous knowledge, developmentally appropriate strategies and world experiences
0
1
2
3
4
5
EVIRONMENT: I use flexible grouping, e.g. pairs, small groups of different levels, small needs-based groups, and working alone.
0
1
2
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5
KNOWLEDGE CONSTRUCTION: I provide opportunities for students to interpret literary and informational texts before, during and after reading or listening by talking, writing, enacting, drawing, etc.
0
1
2
3
4
5
ASSESSMENT OF LEARNING: I assess students’ use of literacy strategies using this information to measure student progress and refocus my own teaching.
0
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5
DEMONSTRATION OF STRATEGIES: I read aloud to students and write in front of them, using literary and informational texts.
0
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5
READING STRATEGIES: I instruct students to read strategically, e.g. to reflect, predict, decode, question, connect, retell, summarize, map, etc.
0
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5
WRITING STRATEGIES: I provide opportunities for students to work through the writing processes alone and with others, e.g. thinking about purposes and audiences, prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing.
0
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5
SELF-SELECTION: I provide time for the self-selection of books for independent reading in the classroom, and for book sharing.
0
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5
DEVELOPING MEANING: I provide clear targets to students to develop higher levels of learning, e.g. What does it mean? Why do I need to know it? How will I use it?
0
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5
EXTENTION OF LEARNING: I provide opportunities and activities for students to learn more about topics of their choice through problem-based learning assignments, etc.
0
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5
BUILDING SUCCESS: I structure lessons/activities that provide opportunities for all students to experience success.
0
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5
33. According to the passage, who most probably mark the responses in the form?
A. Professional tutors.
B. Language teachers.
C. Personal physician.
D. Psychological therapist.
34. According to the passage, which frequency degree would you choose if you carry out the practice in the form not at all often?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 3
35. Mr. Kent bears EXTENTION OF LEARNING idea in mind; he quite often tends to ________.
A. always set groups to encourage students to work out something by putting heads together
B. prepare grade-level materials for teaching
C. develop students reading skills during pre- while-and- post-reading stage
D. provide students with extra learning materials to further their study
第二节(共5小题；每小题2分, 满分10分)
根据文章内容，从短文后的七个选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Weighing the Options
Making decisions when shopping is often a tough call. Even if you’re satisfied with the first dress you try on, would you go on looking for alternatives, comparing styles and prices, until literally dropped dead?
Psychology researchers have studied how people make decisions and concluded there are two basic styles. “Maximizers” like to take their time and weigh a wide range of options,–sometimes every possible one–before choosing. “Satisficers” would rather be fast than thorough.
36 So even if they see what would seem to meet their requirements, they can’t make a decision until after they’ve examined every option to make sure that they’re making the best possible choice. Researchers followed 548 job-seeking college seniors at 11 schools from October through their graduation in June. They found that the maximizers landed better jobs. 37
“The maximizers is kicking himself because he can’t examine every option and at some point had to just pick something,” they say. “Maximizers make best decisions and end up feeling bad about them. 38 ”
Satisficers also have high standards, but they are happier than maximizers. Maximizers tend to be more depressed and to report a lower satisfaction with life, his research found.
Faced with so many choices in our lives, we need to learn how not to waste time and energy on our decision-making.
39 For instance, if you’re picking a restaurant for lunch meeting, first deciding on a certain part of town or type of cuisine can narrow your options.
Once you’ve arrived at a decision, stick with it. 40 To limit the number of options you can set a time for decision-making. Say you are buying a new bag, you
could spend an amount of time studying features, price and value–but if you give yourself only five minutes to make a decision, and there are only bags you can consider, you’ll save time. You’ll be happier with your decision, too.
A. Maximizers are people who want the best.
B. First of all, decrease your range of options.
C. Comparing is often a must when you make a decision.
D. Just accept that no decision is ever completely perfect.
E. Satisficers make good decisions and end up feeling good.
F. The other is to make decisions more accurately at the beginning.
G. Their starting salaries were 20 percent higher but they felt worse about their jobs.
第三部分：英语知识运用（共两节，45分）
第一节 完形填空（共20小题；每小题 1.5分, 满分30 分）
阅读下面短文, 从短文后各题的A、B、C、D四个选项中, 选取出适合填入空白处的最佳选项, 并在答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
You are near the front line of a battle. Around you shells are exploding; people are shooting from a house behind you. What are you doing there? You aren’t a soldier. You aren’t 41 carrying a gun. You’re standing in front of a 42 and you’re telling the TV 43 what is happening.
It’s all in a day’s work for a war reporter, and it can be very 44 . In the first two years of the 45 in former Yugoslavia (前南斯拉夫) 28 reporters and photographers were killed. Hundreds more were 46 . What kind of people put themselves in danger to 47 pictures to our TV screens and 48 to our newspapers? Why do they do it?
“I think it’s every young journalist’s 49 to be a foreign reporter,” says Michael Nicholson, “that’s 50 you find the excitement. So when the first opportunity comes, you take it 51 it is a war.”
But there are moments of 52 . Jeremy Bowen says, “Yes, when you’re lying on the ground and bullets are flying 53 your ears, you think: ‘What am
I doing here? I’m not going to do this again.’ But that feeling 54 after a while and when the next war starts, you’ll be 55 .”
“None of us believes that we’re going to 56 ,” adds Michael. But he always 57 a lucky charm (护身符) with him. It was given to him by his wife for his first war. It’s a card which says “Take care of yourself.” Does he ever think about dying? “Oh, 58 , and every time it happens you look to the sky and say to God, ‘If you get me out of this, I 59 I’ll never do it again.’ You can almost hear God 60 , because you know he doesn’t believe you.”
41. A. simply B. really C. merely D. even
42. A. crowd B. house C. battlefield D. camera
43. A. producers B. viewers C. directors D. actors
44. A. dangerous B. exciting C. depressing D. disappointing
45. A. stay B. fight C. war D. life
46. A. wounded B. buried C. defeated D. saved
47. A. bring B. show C. take D. make
48. A. scenes B. passages C. stories D. contents
49. A. belief B. dream C. duty D. faith
50. A. why B. what C. how D. where
51. A. even so B. ever since C. as if D. even if
52. A. fear B. surprise C. shame D. sadness
53. A. into B. around C. past D. through
54. A. returns B. goes C. continues D. occurs
55. A. there B. away C. out D. home
56. A. leave B. escape C. die D. remain
57. A. hangs B. wears C. holds D. carries
58. A. never B. many times C. some time D. seldom
59. A. consider B. accept C. promise D. guess
60. A. whispering B. laughing C. screaming D. crying
第二节 语法填空（共10小题；每小题1分, 满分10分）
阅读下面材料, 在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
It’s easy to take your hearing for granted until it’s too late.
With the wide 61 (popular) of digital entertainment products, it is not uncommon to see people wearing headphones and listening to music 62 running in the park or using public transport. And the volume is often so 63 (loudness) that people around them can hear the music as well.
However, doctors warn that such behavior can potentially damage 64 hearing. “In noisy places, people tend 65 (turn) the volume up to get the same clarity of sound. Unfortunately, that can damage the hearing 66 people being aware of it,” said Feng Yongfeng, chief ENT physician at Beijing Tian’an Hospital.
After Spring Festival, the hospital witnessed 67 slight increase in the number of teenagers coming in with hearing problems, 68 Feng attributed to them wearing headphones at home for long periods during the holiday. Feng said both in-ear and overhead headphones can harm the ears and 69 (advise) against using them for long periods. He said if you do use headphones it is worth 70 (invest) in the highest quality you can afford.
61. ___________ 62. ___________ 63. ___________ 64. ___________ 65. ___________
66. ___________ 67. ___________ 68. ___________ 69. ___________ 70. ___________
第四部分：写作（共两节，满分35分）
第一节 短文改错（共10小题；每小题1分, 满分10分）
英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文, 请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误, 每句中最多两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加: 在此处加一个漏字符号（∧）, 并在其下面写出修改的词。
删除: 把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改: 在错的词下划一横线, 并在其下面写出修改后的词。
注意: 1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处, 多者（从11处起）不计分。
Dear Abby,
How are you? I’ve got a wonderful news to tell you. I have offered a scholarship at a university in Australia for my further education. Three hundreds and twenty students took the exam for it, but only a few were chosen and I was one of them. Therefore, my parents are not happy about it. They are strong against my going there. They say it is too far that they will not see me for a whole year and they are afraid that I will feel lonely and will not be used to the climate here. They can't imagine a young girl like me live alone. They advise me to study in the capital instead. Then I’ll be able to continue living with them. How could I persuade them to accept the fact I have grown up?
Yours,
Hanna
第二节 书面表达（共1小题；满分25分）
假如你是李华，你的英国笔友John来信询问你的家乡去年以来是否遭受雾霾天气，具体情况如何。请根据所提供的信息写一封电子邮件。
1.介绍情况(发生雾霾天气的次数；引起交通事故、疾病；中小学停课等)；
2.你的感受；
3.提出为减少雾霾应当采取的相应措施(至少两项)。
注意:
1.词数100左右，电子邮件开头和结尾已给出，不计入总字数;
2.所写短文必须包括已提供的所有信息;
3.可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯;
4.参考词: 雾霾smog; 车辆限行vehicle restriction
Dear John,
Thanks for your letter. It was great to hear from you. You asked me about the weather in my hometown.
Well, …__________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
I’m looking forward to your reply.
Yours,
Li Hua
西安中学2016-2017学年度第一学期期末考试
高二英语试题（实验班）参考答案
听力（每小题1.5分，共30分）
1-5 AACBB 6-10 AABCB 11-15 ACBAB 16-20 CBCBA
阅读（每小题2分，共40分）
A篇： 21-24 BACD B篇：25-28 DABC
C篇： 29-32 BDCB D篇：32-35 BBD
七选五：AGEBD
完形填空（每小题1.5分，共30分）
DDBAC AACBD DACBA CDBCB
语法填空（每小题1.5分，共15分）
61. popularity 62. while/when/as 63. loud 64.their 65. to turn
66. without 67. a 68. which 69. advised 70. investing
短文改错 （每小题1分，共10分）
71. a去掉 72. have与offered之间加been 73. hundreds-hundred
74. Therefore-However/Nevertheless 75.strong-strongly 76. too-so
77. here-there 78.live-living 79. could-can 80. fact后加that
书面表达Sample writing （25分）
Dear John,
Thanks for your letter. It was great to hear from you. You asked me about the weather in my hometown. Well, I’d like to tell you about the smog that we’ve being suffering.
Since the winter last year, the smog has occurred several times, which has done great harm to us. Several traffic accidents have happened as a result of the heavy smog weather; there are an increasing number of people who have to go to see a doctor about the serious illnesses, especially breathing problems, caused by the smog. What’s more, primary schools and middle schools have been shut to avoid exposing students to smog.
I feel depressed and worried. However, the harm and the importance of
protecting the environment have been appreciated. We are taking measures to reduce the smog weather. More trees are being planted and vehicle restriction is adopted. Would you like to tell me some good ideas?
I’m looking forward to your reply.
Yours,
Li Hua
附：听力原文
【听力材料】
(Text 1)
M: I want to see about getting a private room as soon as possible. Also please put a “No Visitors” sign on my door.
W: I’ll take care of both things, but first put this in your mouth so that I can take your temperature.
(Text 2)
M: Are you buying that book on ships? I didn’t know you were interested in ships.
W: I’m not. I’ve just been looking at the pictures. No, this is the one I’m buying—on modern aircraft.
M: I thought you hated flying.
W: I do, but I love watching planes.
(Text 3)
W: There’s a folk music concert tomorrow evening. Do you want to go?
M: I don’t like folk music very much.
W: What kind of music do you like then?
M: Classical music. What about you?
(Text 4)
M: Don’t you like the coat you just tried on?
W: Well, I like the color and fabric.
M: And it is really nice and reasonably priced.
W: Yes. I would have bought it right away if they had had it in my size.
(Text 5)
W: Are you ready to start working out now?
M: No. First I need to warm up for ten minutes.
W: So which part are you going to be exercising today?
M: I’ll do work on my upper body.
(Text 6)
M: I think something is wrong with Mr. Hudson. He’s not as cheerful as usual.
W: I don’t know what it could be.
M: I heard last week that his mother had been ill. I wonder if that’s the trouble.
W: I doubt that. Yesterday he told me his mother felt much better.
M: Maybe he has a problem here at work.
W: I don’t think that he has any problems with his job. It’s well known that Mr. Hudson is the best worker among us.
M: Perhaps there is some trouble in his home.
W: Well. The headmaster phoned this morning.
M: That must be the problem. He’s worried about his son.
(Text 7)
M: Hello, Louise. Have you seen my new supermarket yet?
W: Yes. I’ve heard of it actually. I suppose you must like it.
M: Yes, I mean it’s marvelous.
W: Oh, Jeff. I really can’t agree. I don’t like it at all. My shop is much better.
M: You must be mad. I think it’s really...you know...so easy to buy everything in one place.
W: Yes, it’s easy. But don’t you think the food isn’t...I mean small shops usually have much fresher food.
M: Maybe, but you pay for it. Small shops are more expensive, aren’t they?
W: Yes, I agree with you, but supermarket staff are badly paid and they are really...but you get better service in small shops. They are much more friendly.
M: No, everyone in my supermarket is very nice.
(Text 8)
W: Hi, John! Long time no see.
M: Julia! It must be over two years. The last time we met was at Kate’s birthday party, wasn’t it?
W: Oh, yes. That’s right. How is life with you?
M: Not too bad. You’re getting a little fat. Your husband must be feeding you too much.
W: Yeah. He enjoys cooking and the dishes he cooks are very delicious. But that’s not the reason. The only trouble is I have no time for exercise. Anyway I should lose weight from now on.
M: Are you still working in that factory? You ought to have taken the job at our place when the manager offered the job to you. We have a strict five day week and you’re free at weekends.
W: I ought to have. Michael often complains about my working too long. Often when I come back home from work, my children have already fallen asleep.
M: Michael is right. You should spend more time with your family. Think it over, Julia. I could ask our manager; maybe he’ll offer you a job.
(Text 9)
M: So, how long have you been living here?
W: About six months now.
M: Why did you choose Beirut?
W: Because, Mike—my husband—and I have always loved Arab culture and the language. Mike’s an English teacher and he got a job here in a language school.
M: Why did you want to take a year off?
W: Basically I wanted a break from teaching. I love teaching children but I needed a change. Also I’ve been drawing and painting since I was little but I’ve never really had the chance to study drawing. So this seemed like the perfect opportunity to have a change and learn to draw properly.
M: Well, I found a fantastic art teacher, called Omayma, and I’ve been having classes with her since October. She’ s great and she speaks English, which is lucky, because I don’ t know much Arabic yet. But I’ m learning the language as quickly as I can.
W: Is Arabic a difficult language to learn?
M: Incredibly difficult! Especially the pronunciation. You have to learn to make a lot of new sounds.
(Text 10)
Twin sisters are supposed to be very much alike, are they not? Well, my twin sister Jane and I do look alike. However, we are different in many ways. I care little about clothes. T shirts and blue jeans are my favorite clothes. My sister often dresses like a model. We have very similar characters in most ways. I don’t get angry and enjoy being with friends. In this respect, my twin sister feels the same. But she likes loud music and modern dances while I find that nightclubs give me a headache. She is always with friends, is the favorite of our teachers and never wants to have children. I prefer to be alone at times, don’t really try to please my teachers and want some day to have a family of my own. We have tried to live in the same room several times and even agreed on the color we like best and the kind of furniture we want. But I like to keep things neat and orderly while my twin sister acts as if there were a servant around to pick up all the things that get thrown on the floor. I like to go to bed early and get up early. She often goes to bed very late and then sleeps late next day.
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