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江苏省启东中学2019-2020学年度第一学期期中考试
高二英语试卷
第一部分:听力(共两节,满分30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,并标在试卷的相应位置。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. What does the woman want to eat?
A. Pork pies. B. Beef pies. C. Egg cakes.
2. When will the mall close?
A. In half an hour. B. In an hour. C. In one hour and a half.
3. How does the man feel about the family party?
A. Excited. B. Hesitant. C. Scared.
4. What is the woman looking at?
A. A painting. B. A photo. C. A mirror.
5. What crop does the woman’s uncle plant?
A. Beans. B. Cotton. C. Corn.
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,并标在试卷的相应位置。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. Where does the conversation likely take place?
A. At a movie theater. B. At the speakers’ home. C. At an electronics store.
7. How does the man plan to make his viewing experience better?
A. He’ll buy a bigger TV. B. He’ll put a screen up on the wall. C. He’ll connect a set of speakers.
听第7段材料,回答第8、9题。
8. What are the speakers mainly talking about?
A. A basketball game. B. A nature picture. C. A hunting incident.
9. Why is the man surprised?
A. The zebra jumped over the photographer. B. The lion caught the zebra.
C. The photographer wasn’t hurt.
听第8段材料,回答第10至12题。
10. What business move did the speakers make?
A. They opened an online store. B. They closed their physical store. C. They started an advertising firm.
11. What does the man probably hope will happen?
A. Younger people will appreciate their products. B. He will get some young people to work for him.
C. People his age will promote his business via social media.
12. Who are the speakers’ target customers?
A. People aged 15-30. B. People aged 45-60. C. People over 60.
听第9段材料,回答第13至16题。
13. What is the probable relationship between the speakers?
A. Teacher and student. B. Boss and worker. C. Co-workers.
14. What do we know about the new fish?
A. They are small. B. They have huge teeth. C. They are inactive.
15. What was likely in Maude’s picture?
A. A blue fish. B. The research team. C. The ocean.
16. What happens to the fish when they’re taken out of their environment?
A. They can still live well. B. They fall apart quickly. C. They stop being transparent.
听第10段材料,回答第17至20题。
17. How long was the team working on the project?
A. For 4 years. B. For 8 years. C. For 10 years.
18. Who is the team leader?
A. O’Reilly. B. Tabriz. C. Moradi.
19. Which car did the team recreate?
A. An Iranian one. B. An Italian one. C. A British one.
20. What was the engineers’ primary goal?
A. To develop a car superior to the initial model. B. To put super sports cars into mass production.
C. To learn how to make a sports car by themselves.
第二部分:阅读理解(共两节,满分40分)
第一节:阅读下列短文,从题后所给的A、B、C、D四个答案中,选出最佳选项(每题2分,满分30分)
A
The Puffing Billy Railway, located about 40km east of Melbourne, was constructed in the early 1900s to open up remote areas. The present line between Belgrave and Gembrook travels through the forests and farmlands of the magnificent Dandenong Ranges. Today, this non-profit Railway operates almost daily thanks to the tireless efforts of more than 900 dedicated volunteers.
General Information:
People with disabilities – can be accommodated on most excursion trains, including a limited number of wheelchairs. Please phone to check availability.
Easy access toilets are at Belgrave, Lakeside and Gembrook.
Refreshments and souvenirs – are available at most stations.
Railway Tracks – standing and walking on the tracks is not permitted.
Prams (婴儿车) – only folding or narrow type prams can be accommodated through the narrow carriage doors.
Smoking – is not permitted on the train or under any roofed areas.
Assistance Dogs certified by a registered authority – are the only dogs allowed on the train and must be kept on lead at all times.
Alcohol – is not permitted on trains (except as provided in dining cars).
Toilets – are located at each station. Parenting rooms are located at Belgrave, Lakeside & Gembrook.
Photographs and videos – for personal use are permitted. Wedding photography and any use, re-use or reproduction for commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission.
21. The above information is mainly intended for _____.
A. international tourists in Australia B. potential travellers of the steam trains
C. local residents in Dandenong Ranges D. volunteers on the Puffing Billy Railway
22. People are not permitted to bring _____ onto the excursion trains.
A. prams B. guide dogs C. wheelchairs D. alcohol
23. What can be learned from the above information?
A. Taking photos is forbidden on most excursion trains.
B. Toilets for the disabled are not available at all stations.
C. Foreign visitors to Australia can also get concession fares.
D. One can get tickets at a lower price as long as he books in advance.
B
Mickey Mouse and Shrek are just a couple of the American animated (动画的) characters loved the world over. And they are examples of the evolution of animation, which has brought unique new life to the film industry.
Among the first American animated films was Light of the Moon, a silent movie produced in 1911 using silhouette (剪影) animation, where the characters are represented only as black silhouettes.
The real breakthrough for American animation came with Steamboat Willie, created by Walt Disney and released in 1928. It was the first animated film to be accompanied by sound, and its main star, Mickey Mouse, became one of the most loveable and enduring animated characters ever created. Disney also created the first American full-length animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Released in 1937, it enjoyed worldwide box-office success.
Disney’s extremely careful attention to high-quality detail in the thousands of hand-painted drawings required at that time to make an animated film elevated this film technique to the level of a
serious art form.
Clay animation is a type of stop-motion animation using forms made of clay. Clay animation films have been produced in the United States since 1908. But this form of animation only won wide popular appeal in 1955 with a short film called Gumbasia, created by Art Clokey.
Computer-generated imagery, or CGI, brought animation to a new level of artistry and realism. Used in film since the 1960s, CGI animation began to develop rapidly in the mid-1990s. Toy Story, released in 1995 and created by Pixar and Disney Studios, was the first completely computer-generated animated feature film.
In 2001, DreamWorks and Pacific Data Images released Shrek, the first computer-animated feature film to win an Oscar. Shrek returned in 2004 with his talking donkey, his princess bride Fiona and an army of fairy-tale characters in Shrek 2. Hugely popular, that film became the highest-grossing (票房最高的) animated film of all time.
In addition to strictly animated movies, animation has been mixed into films showing live actors as well. Who can forget the terrifyingly real dinosaurs thundering through Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park movies and the actors they chased? Thanks to the powerful capabilities of today’s computers and the unlimited imagination of American filmmakers, animation will be entertaining audiences worldwide for a long time to come.
24. The passage is mainly about the __________ of animation.
A. influence B. popularity C. characters D. development
25. Which film marked the beginning of the complete digital age of American animation?
A. Light of the Moon. B. Steamboat Willie. C. Toy Story. D. Shrek.
26. It can be learned from the passage that _______.
A. Jurassic Park movies involve only live actors
B. clay animation enjoys long-lasting popularity
C. computers make animated characters more lovely
D. Disney played a very important role in promoting animation
27. What can be inferred about the future of animation from the passage?
A. Animation will forever remain an essential form of entertainment.
B. Animation will be replaced by new forms of films in the near future.
C. Animation will continuously gain new life due to computers and imagination.
D. Animation will get more popular in the future for the developing film technology.
C
Disappearing because of disease and changes in the market, the Rutgers tomato may be making a comeback. Scientists have brought the tomato back to life again that mid-century Americans fell in love with and have liked ever since.
Introduced in 1934 by Lyman Schermerhorm, a plant scientist at Rutgers University in New Jersey, the Rutgers tomato was a cross between the sweet Marglobe tomato and the sour JTD. It was the perfect tomato for its time, when the fruit was still picked by hand, fresh produce wasn’t transported long distances and people didn’t expect picture-perfect tomatoes all year round. Farmers liked the plant because it produced early-season fruit and could resist disease. It was the basis for Campbell’s tomato soup. By 1947, two out of every three tomatoes grown across the United States were the Rutgers tomatoes. The newspaper called it the “super tomato”.
Then, in the 1960s, a deadly new form of tomato disease, coupled with the needs of industry for fruit that was not easily damaged and could be picked by machine and shipped longer distances, spelled the end. “The Rutgers tomato may be compared to the old Ford Model T,” said a professor of the university expressing regret for it in 1962. “It did its job well, but times have changed.” The university stopped producing Rutgers seeds, but widespread use of the tomato in processed(加工) foods had shaped how Americans thought a tomato was supposed to taste.
Several years ago, Dot Hall, a former Campbell food scientist, set out to recreate the early
Rutgers, starting with seeds from its parents, the Marglobe and JTD tomatoes, which Campbell had stored. Hall turned to Rutgers University plant scientists, who did not set out to produce the same copy but “something as good or better,” said Peter Nitzsche, one of the researchers. It’s called the Rutgers 250, and the seeds now can be bought by gardeners. It’s a very good tomato, Nitzsche said, but he added that it might not live up to everyone’s expectations because “people are comparing it to a memory.”
28. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?
A. How the Rutgers tomato was created B. The popularity of the Rutgers tomato.
C. The ways of storing the Rutgers tomato D. How food companies used the Rutgers tomato.
29. People stopped planting the Rutgers tomato in the 1960s partly because_______.
A. it didn’t look good B. it often got disease C. it couldn’t be carried far D. it had limited production
30. What does Nitzsche think of the Rutgers 250?
A. It is tastier and healthier B. It could have had a better taste
C. It has become a hit in America. D. It may let some Americans down.
31. How is the text mainly developed?
A. By following the order of time B. By telling an interesting story.
C. By providing examples. D. By using numbers.
D
Academic learning is usually in the spotlight at school, but teaching elementary-age students “soft” skills like self-control and how to get along with others might help to keep at-risk kids out of criminal trouble in the future, a study finds.
Duke University researchers looked at a program called Fast Track, which was started in the
1990s for children who were identified by their teachers and parents to be at high risk for developing aggressive behavioral problems.
The students were randomized(随机分) into two groups; half took part in the intervention (干预), which included a teacher-led curriculum, parent training groups, academic tutoring and lessons in self-control and social skills. The program, which lasted from first grade through tenth grade, reduced arrests and use of health and mental health services as the students aged through adolescence and young adulthood, as researchers explained in a separate study.
In the latest study, researchers looked at the “why” behind those previous findings. In looking at the data from nearly 900 students, the researchers found that about a third of the impact on future crime outcomes was due to the social and self-regulation skills the students learned from ages 6 to 11.
The academic skills that were taught as part of Fast Track turned out to have less of an impact on crime than did the soft skills, which are associated with emotional intelligence.
“The conclusion that we would make is that these soft skills should be emphasized even more in our education system and in our system of socializing children,” says Kenneth Dodge, a professor at Duke who was a principal investigator in this study as well as in the original Fast Track project. Parents should do all they can to promote these skills with their children, Dodge says, as should education policymakers.
To Neil Bernstein, a psychologist in Washington, D.C., who specializes in child and adolescent behavior disorders, the researchers’ findings seem to match what he’s seen among the general public in working with children for more than 30 years. And while he says he agrees with the importance of teaching self-control and social skills, he would add empathy to the list, too.
“Empathy is what makes us aware of the feelings of others, and when you’re empathic, you’re much less likely to hurt someone else’s feelings,” says Bernstein, who serves on the advisory board for the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. “Being in tune with how someone else feels might also make adolescents avoid bullying and other behaviors of concern,” Bernstein says.
While Bernstein thinks the study’s findings are meaningful and could potentially serve as a
model for schools, he says that collectively getting a school system, teachers, parents and students all motivated enough to take part in an intervention like Fast Track is challenging.
32. Fast Track is aimed to _________.
A. improve children’s academic skills B. help the children with behavior disorders
C. identify the problematic children D. classify children into different groups
33. Neil Bernstein thinks that _________.
A. empathic children are more likely to have higher emotional intelligence
B. the findings of the studies disagree with what he has found in his work
C. empathy is equally essential in educating and socializing children
D. self-control and social skills are not as important as empathy
34. What can be learned from the passage?
A. It’s hard to involve everyone concerned in applying the findings.
B. Soft skills were not part of the education system in the past.
C. The findings are meaningless unless guided by Fast Track.
D. Adolescence is the most critical stage in a person’s life.
35. What does the passage mainly tell us?
A. Academic skills are paid too much attention at schools.
B. Academic skills have no influence on children’s behaviors.
C. Soft skills are much harder to develop than academic skills.
D. Soft skills play a significant role in preventing future crimes.
第二节:七选五(每小题2分,满分10分)
根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项维多余项。
Environmental pollution kills 1.7 million children under the age of five every year worldwide. This is according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO warns that child deaths will increase greatly if pollution continues to worsen.
The most common causes of death among children aged one month to five years are diarrhea, malaria and pneumonia. This is according to the WHO. (36) _________. This means providing access to safe water and sanitation, limiting exposure to dangerous chemicals, and improving waste management.
(37) _________ The WHO estimates that air pollution is responsible for about 6. 5 million premature, or early, deaths every year. That number includes nearly 600, 000 deaths of children under age five. Most of these deaths take place in developing countries.
Air pollution is a leveler between rich and poor, according to WHO environment and health chief Maria Neira. (38) ________ And one of the most important ways to reduce air pollution is to produce cleaner fuels for cooking and heating. “Almost half of the world population is using dirty fuels for cooking, heating, and lighting at home. And, this is affecting very much mothers who are staying and cooking at home, but the children who are around mothers -- they are exposed as well. ” Early exposure to harmful pollutants can lead to increased risk of chronic respiratory disease, asthma, heart disease, stroke and cancer later in life.
Cleaning up how the world cooks, heats and lights homes and other buildings is a big- picture goal. The WHO is advising government departments and industries such as construction and the health sector to work together to clean up their environment.
(39) _________. The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency has the following suggestions:
• Avoid walking where there is a high volume of vehicle traffic.
• (40)__________
• Limit your time outside if you live in an area that issues warnings about air quality.
• Wear high-grade, rated face masks tightly to the face when air quality is poor.
• Remove your clothes and wash immediately after entering your house if you live or commute in a very
polluted area.
A. However, of all the environmental pollutants, air pollution is being called the most dangerous.
B. But what can individuals do to limit our family's exposure to air pollution?
C. Therefore, the WHO stresses that governments around the world need to take the lead on ensuring that children grow up in a clean environment.
D. The organization also says reducing environmental risks can prevent such deaths.
E. A polluted environment is a deadly one—particularly for young children.
F. Everybody, she says, needs to breathe.
G. Equip homes with air filters and air conditioning units.
第三部分:语言知识运用(共三节,满分40分)
第一节:完形填空:阅读下列短文,从题后所给的A、B、C、D四个答案中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项(共20小题,每题1.5分,满分30分)
We have all heard how time is more valuable than money, but is it 41 to have too much?
I 42 back in high school I spent most of my day at school since I also 43 a team sport. By the time I got home, I only had a few hours to do my homework, and I had to do it _44_
When I got into college, things _45_. I suddenly found myself out of class before noon time. Because of all this _46_ there was no sense of _47_ to do my school work immediately. I was performing this action of waiting until it later became 48 .Once that happened, I just kept 49
my studying further and further back in my day. Then I got to the point where I was 50 really late at night to get my work alone.
One day I 51 a former classmate of mine who was 52 a lot of money running a sideline(副业).Since his regular job was 53 , I asked him why he just didn't do his sideline full-time. He said without the job, he would _54 have too much time and would just do what I did back in 55 . He said that if he 56 the job, he would lose his 57_ to work and succeed.
So, try 58 your time with other work. This is why there is a 59 that if you want something done, ask a _60 person to do it.
41.A. true B. fair C. strange D. possible
42.A. remember B. admit C. understand D. expect
43.A. watched B. loved. C. Coached D. played
44.A. at last B. right away C. of course D. mattered
45.A. happened B. repeated C. changed D. mattered
46.A. extra B. difficult. C. valuable D. limited
47.A. duty B. achievement C. urgency D. direction
48.A. burden B. relief C. risk D. habit
49. A. pushing B. taking C. setting D. calling
50. A. hanging out B. staying up C. jogging round D. showing off
51. A. met B. helped C. treated D. hired
52. A. raising B. wasting C. demanding D. making
53. A. safe B. important C. boring D. rewarding
54.A. luckily B. hardly C. hopefully D. simply
55.A. childhood B. college C. town D. business
56.A. quit B. found C. accepted D. kept
57. A. heart B. chance C. drive D. way
58.A. saving B. filling up C. giving up D. trading
59. A. message B. story C. saying D. fact
60. A. careful B. busy C. reliable D. kind
第二节:短文填空:阅读下面短文,在空白处填入一个适当的词或括号内词的正确形式。(满分10分)
Apart from the mental relief of people’s mind, another major aspect of Taoist influence on Chinese culture 61 ________ (be) its influence on martial arts.
Wudang martial arts 62 _________ (create) by a Taoist named Zhang Sanfeng in the early years of the Ming Dynasty 63 __________ (base) on the Taoist ideology. Wudang martial arts are a great contribution 64____________ Wudang Taoism, which is 65____________ famous branch of Chinese Taoism. Taoism holds that there are basic, everlasting and supernatural principles in the earth 66 __________ are called “Tao”, suggesting softness, 67____________ (quiet), emptiness and harmony. All these can be presented by tai chi, yin and yang, the five elements and the eight diagrams tactics(八卦图). Under the direction of these philosophical 68 __________ (theory), this kung fu style gains good effects in the boxing and sword skills.
Despite its mighty skills, 69 ___________ (advocate) peace is the essence of Wudang martial arts. The Taoist ideology teaches that war is immoral and 70 ____________ (fair). Accordingly, Taoism believes that kung fu is learned for protection but not destruction.
第三节:动词填空:在下列句子的空格上填上所给动词的正确形式(10分)
71. When I got back home I saw a message pinned to the doctor _______(say), “Sorry to miss y
ou; will call later.”
72. A computer does only what thinking people have it _____________(do).
73. — Do you have any letters ___________ (post) today?
— My son posted it for me this morning. Thank you anyway.
74. — How did you know the surprising news? — I happened _____________ (cover) the event then.
75. The road ____________(repair) now will be open next month.
76. The Smiths are sitting at the dinner table, _____________(prepare) to have supper.
77. He worked all day long, only __________(stop) to have a cup of water.
78. No one would have imagined there still ____________(be) in the sunken ship.
79. ____________(laugh) at in front of a crowd of people is an embarrassed experience.
80. ____________(give) the general condition of his health, I think he is not suitable for long distance travel.
第四部分:写作(共2节,满分30分)
第一节:短文改错:阅读下面短文,文中共有10处错误,每句中最多有两处。错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。(满分10分)
增加:在缺词处加一个漏词符号(∧),并在此符号下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线()划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线,并在该词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(从第11处起)不计分。
My first stay at home alone was very memory. One day when I was twelve, both my mother
and father were away on the business, and I had to be all with myself for two days. My parents left early the first day, I got up soon after they left. The first evening I was a little scare, so I turned on all the lights. I actually keep the light on in my bedroom the whole night, that finally put me at ease. For fear of get up late the next morning, I put three alarm clocks near my bed and set the alarm respectively at 6:00, 6:10, and 6:15. In order to prove that I could take care of me, I washed my own clothes the next day, though I could wait for Mum to do it. I really felt proudly of myself and thought I had grown up.
第二节:书面表达: (20分)
假定你是李华,你的美国笔友Ann给你发来了电子邮件,说她在新学校与朋友相处遇到了一些问题。因此向你求助。请你根据以下提示给她回一封e-mail:
1. 表示理解 2. 提出建议 3. 表达祝愿
注:1、字数120字左右,开头和结尾已给不计字数;
2、可以适当增加细节,使行文连贯。
Dear Ann,
I am sorry to hear that _____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours truly,
Li Hua
高二英语参考答案
听 力:1-5 CABAB 6-10 BCBCA 10-15 CBCAA 16-20 BACBC
阅读理解:21-40: BDB, DCAC, BCDA, BCAD, DAFBG
完形填空:41-45 DADBC 46-50 ACDAB 51-55 ADCDB 56-60 ACBCB
短文填空:61.is 62. were created/created 63. based/were based 64. to 65. a
66.which 67. quietness 68. theories 69.advocating 70. unfair
动词填空:1. saying 2. do 3. to be posted 4. to be covering 5. being repaired
6. prepared 7. stopping 8. being 9. Being laughed 10. Given
短文改错:
My first stay at home alone was very memory(memorable). One day when I was twelve, both my mother and father were away on business, and I had to be all with(by) myself for two days. My parents left early the first day, (补and) I got up soon after they left. The first evening I was a little scare(scared), so I turned on all the lights. I actually keep(kept) the light on in my bedroom the whole night, that(which) finally put me at ease. For fear of get(getting)up late the next morning, I put three alarm clocks near my bed and set the alarm(alarms) respectively at 6:00, 6:10, and 6:15. In order to prove that I could take care of me(myself), I washed my own clothes the next day, though I could wait for Mum to do it. I really felt proudly(proud) of myself and thought I had grown up.
书面表达
Dear Ann,
I am sorry to hear that you’re having trouble getting along with your friends in your new school. There is no need to be too anxious, because many teenagers may find they are faced with the same situation when in a new environment. Such a problem is easy to solve if you take my advice.
To begin with, being a good listener is very important, as it makes the speaker feel that you are sincere. Next, try your best to communicate with your classmates more often and participate in discussions held in your class, which is an effective way to get on good terms with your friends. Furthermore, it will be a good idea to help others when necessary, for it will enable you to develop a close bond with them.
I hope my suggestions will work well with you.
Yours,
Li Hua
听力原文:
Text 1
M: There’s a new bakery on the next street. Should we get some pork pies or beef pies this morning?
W: I want something sweet. The egg cake lady just opened her doors. Let’s go stand in line. (1)
Text 2
M: The shopping mall closes at 10:00 p.m. It’s 9:30 now. (2) Hurry up, or I won’t be able to buy a shirt for my interview tomorrow!
W: Oh, I wish we had gotten here at 9:00!
Text 3
W: Are you ready for the family party this weekend?
M: It’s been 10 years since we last got together. I’m afraid they might not recognize me. I’m not sure if I will go. (3)
Text 4
W: I like all the colors you’ve used in your picture, Bobby. Why don’t you try putting a little more detail in it? (4)[来源:Zxxk.Com]
M: OK, Mrs. White. I just need to go to the bathroom and wash out my brush first.
Text 5
W: Have you ever been to a cotton farm like this before? My uncle switched over to it because he could make more money there. (5) He used to grow corn and beans.
M: I’ve never actually been to a farm, so I have no idea how farmers make a living!
Text 6
M: Now we have our own home theater! Look! The screen is as big as our wall! (6)
W: Hey, how did you do that?
M: I just bought a piece of equipment that connects to the computer or TV…or even a smart phone! I can play anything I want, like a movie or a TV show. Then, this equipment makes the images present on the wall, just like when you go to the movies.
W: Well, it’s not the same quality.
M: You’re right. But it isn’t bad, and when I set up my new speaker system… (7)
W: Umm, you bought speakers, too? (7)
M: Of course! I want the full effect. (7) Don’t worry. You’re going to love it!
Text 7 (第8题为总结题)
W: What a great shot!
M: Who’s playing tonight?
W: Playing? I’m watching a TV documentary about nature photography.
M: What does that have to do with basketball?
W: It doesn’t. I was commenting on the picture. It’s a photo of a lion jumping.
M: OK, I like lions, but what’s so impressive about that?
W: Well, the photographer was in the path of a running lion when it rushed out of the bushes. The photographer dropped to the ground on his back, and the lion jumped right over him. It was chasing a zebra, and the photographer…
M: Shot the lion with a gun?
W: No! He took a picture really quickly as the lion jumped over. That’s what I meant by “great shot”.
M: I’m surprised the guy wasn’t attacked! (9)
W: He was twice lucky — for being alive, and for taking the photo of the year!
Text 8
M: We’re in business! I can’t believe we waited so long to open our own store. (10) This is great, isn’t it? I hope we get a lot of customers.
W: I still think we should hire someone to advertise for us.
M: I’ve been considering what to do about that, Laura. There should be an easier and cheaper way. I don’t like traditional advertising, anyway. Since our store is online, (10) the first thing we could do is send an email to all of our friends and family. We’ll include the link to our website. They can share information about our new store on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. (11)
W: That’s a great idea! The more young people we tell, the better. People between 15 and 30 years old usually have a large network of friends.
M: Yeah, but I’ve noticed that our age group uses social media a lot, too. (11) And our store mainly sells things that people from 45 to 60 would use, (12) like products to keep people looking younger.
W: True. Maybe we should send some emails to our old school friends, then. By now, many of them should have a lot of business associates and friends.
Text 9
W: Did you hear the news? A research team from our Ocean Institute just discovered a new fish.
M: Unbelievable! They haven’t discovered anything in a long time. They must feel proud!
W: Yes, and very relieved. You know, the university was just about to cut their budgets. If that happened in our department, I think you and I would soon be out of work! (13)
M: I agree. The discovery was just in time! So, what is this new animal?
W: Actually, it’s called the Atacama Snailfish. There are three colors of them — the pink, the blue, and the purple Atacama Snailfish.
M: Cool! Just from the name, I know where they were found — in one of the deepest parts of the ocean, west of the South American continent. Is there anything special about this fish?
W: Yes! It isn’t like many other deep-ocean fish, which usually have huge teeth and are much bigger, because the pressure is very great at the bottom of the sea. Instead, the new fish are small. (14) They’re a little bit transparent, too, and seem very active.
M: Did the team catch any?
W: They did catch a blue one. I saw a picture of it this morning from Maude, one of the leaders. (15) She told me that when these fish are taken from their natural environment, they are very delicate and disappear quickly. (16) They’re just made to survive in that extreme pressure and cold environment.
Text 10
This is Britain’s Daily News at 10:00. I’m Mark O’Reilly, and we’re starting off the night with a story from Iran. A team of engineers there have created an exact copy of a Lamborghini. For the past four years, the leader and designer Masoud Moradi has led his creative group through the research, design, modeling, and making stages of the project. (17) (18) The final product is a perfect copy of the Italian expensive car. (19) At a presentation in the Iranian city of Tabriz on October 8th, the audience was treated to the sight of the flashy yellow race car. In Moradi’s speech, he explained that his team had chosen a unique model of a superior brand. In building the car, they tried to recreate the main features and even the simplest details of the initial model. They did it and he said, “We believe that our team can produce one of the best cars in the world…” The main goal was to gain the technical knowledge and methods for making super sports cars. (20) Since
they have accomplished this, the next step is to produce Iranian-made expensive sports cars. It may take a while for mass production of such cars — but if the enthusiasm of the crowd is any indication, there will certainly be enough buyers!