2018-2019学年江苏省启东中学高一下学期期中考试英语试题+Word版含答案 20页

江苏省启东中学2018-2019学年度第二学期期中考试 ‎ 高一英语试题 ‎ ‎（考试用时：120分钟 总分：150分）‎ 注意事项：‎ ‎1. 答卷前，考生务必将自己的姓名、准考证号填写在答题卡上。‎ ‎2. 作答时，务必将答案写在答题卡上，写在本试卷及草稿纸上无效。‎ ‎3. 考试结束后，将本试卷和答题卡一并交回。‎ 第一部分 听力（共两节，满分30分）‎ 做题时，先将答案标在试卷上。录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案转涂到答题纸 (卡) 上。‎ 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，请从题中所给的 A、B、C 三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在答题卷的相应位置。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. How will the speakers probably go home?‎ A. By taxi B. By bus. C. By subway.‎ ‎2 .How much does the woman pay for the tickets?‎ A. £9. B. £10. C. £11.‎ ‎3. What was the weather like on John’s holiday?‎ A. Sunny. B. Rainy. C. Cold.‎ ‎4. What is the man?‎ A. A secretary. B. A teacher. C. A doctor.‎ ‎5. Where is the woman’s grandma now?‎ A. At home. B. In a hospital. C. In a hotel.‎ 第二节（共 15 小题；每小题 1.5 分，满分 22.5 分）‎ 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 5 秒钟时间阅读各个小题；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 is the relationship between the speakers?‎ A. Strangers. B. Old schoolmates. C. Coach and player.‎ ‎7.What does the man think of the match?‎ A. Boring. B. Exciting. C. Fair.‎ 听第 7 段材料，回答第 8 至 10 题。‎ ‎8.What does the man say about the winter in New Work City?‎ A. It’s cold and wet. B. The wind is strong. C. The air is heavy.‎ ‎9.What is the most unpleasant part of the weather in New York City?‎ A. It’s hot in the summer. B. It’s very changeable. C. It rains all the year round.‎ ‎ 10.What do we know about the man?‎ A. He speaks highly of New York City.‎ B. He doesn’t like New York City very much.‎ C. He’s leaving New York City because of the weather.‎ 听第 8 段材料，回答第 11 至 13 题。‎ ‎11.Where did the man go last year?‎ A. To Italy. B. To France. C. To Scotland.‎ ‎12.What does the woman like doing in summer?‎ A. Doing outdoor sports. B. Learning dancing. C. Visiting art galleries.‎ ‎13.What does the woman dislike about Scotland?‎ A. The hotels. B. The castles. C. The weather.‎ 听第 9 段材料，回答第 14 至 16 题。‎ ‎14.What does the woman do at the beginning of a day?‎ A. She deals with post.‎ B. She sends out photographs.‎ C. She visits artists.‎ ‎15.How often does a new exhibition take place?‎ A. About twice a week. B. About twice a month. C. About once a month.‎ ‎16.Why is the woman pleased with her job?‎ A. Her life is nice and calm.‎ B .She spends time dealing with artworks.‎ C. Her boss is easy to get along with.‎ 听第 10 段材料，回答第 17 至 20 题。‎ ‎17.How long did the speaker work a day?‎ A. For 9 hours. B. For 10 hours. C. For 12 hours.‎ ‎18.According to the speaker, what was interesting in his work?‎ A .Taking different people to restaurants.‎ B. Meeting interesting dressers.‎ C. Showing tourists the beautiful city.‎ ‎19.Which trip brought the speaker the most money?‎ A. The one to the club. B. The one to the airport. C. The one to the theatre.‎ ‎20.Why did the speaker give up the job?‎ A. He was tired. B. The traffic jams bothered him. C. Some passengers weren’t nice.‎ 第二部分 阅读理解(共两节，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，从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。‎ A Discover Nature Schools programs Becoming Bears (Kindergarten-2 grade)‎ By becoming baby bears, children learn from their “parent” to survive the seasons. Kids will find safety in the spring and learn kinds of food bears eat during the summer, and then create a cave for winter hibernation(冬眠). After learning the skills needed to survive, students will go out of the cave as an independent black bear able to care for themselves. (1.5-2 hours)‎ Whose Clues? (3-5 grade)‎ Kids will discover how plants and animals use their special structures to survive.‎ ‎ Through outdoor study of plants and animals, kids will recognize their special structures and learn how they enable species to eat, avoid their enemies and survive. Using what they have learned, kids will choose one species and tell how they survive in their living places. (3-4 hours)‎ Winged Wonders (3-5 grade)‎ Birds add color and sound to our world and play an important ecological (生态的) role. Students will learn the basics of birds, understand the role birds play in food chains and go bird watching using field guides and telescopes. Students will do hands-on activities. Students will use tools to build bird feeders, allowing them to attract birds at home.(3-4 hours)‎ Exploring Your Watershed (6-8 grade)‎ We all depend on clean water. Examining how our actions shape the waterways around us. Go on a hike to see first-hand some of the challenging water quality problems in a city. Students will test the water quality to determine the health of an ecosystem.‎ ‎● Each program is taught for a class with at least 10 students.‎ ‎● All programs include plenty of time outdoors. So please prepare proper clothing, sunscreen and insect killers for children.‎ ‎● To take part in a program , please email dcprograms@mdc.mo.gov.‎ ‎21. What can kids do at Becoming Bears?‎ ‎ A. Watch bears’ performances. B. Take care of bears ‎ C. Dress up as baby bears to learn about bears. D. Learn how to survive a bear attack.‎ ‎22. Kids who are interested in plants will choose _______________.‎ ‎ A. Winged Wonders B. Exploring your Watershed ‎ C. Becoming Bears D. Whose Clues?‎ ‎23. According to the passage, all the four programs _______________.‎ ‎ A. have the same teaching hours B. have outdoor activities ‎ C. are offered during summer holidays D. are designed for primary school students ‎ ‎  ‎ B Inspired by a 9-year-old cyclist, Lauren Turner, who can only use one hand, a group of University of Guelph students has won an international award for their invention－a bike brake lever (刹车手柄) that pulls both the front brake and the back brake at the same time.‎ ‎ Lauren Tuner was able to ride her bike, but not as confidently and quickly as her friends.‎ ‎ “She couldn’t use the front brake. She only used the back brake, but the front brake makes you stop twice as fast,” says Micha Wallace, who, with Katie Bell, Anina Sakaguchi and Andrew Morries won second prize in the James Dyson Award for their single-handed bike brake lever.‎ ‎ “Lauren Turner tried the device (装置) first and she used it all last summer. She had no problems. It helped her go faster because she felt more confident in her braking abilities. She felt safer.” says Wallace.‎ ‎ The invention was the fourth-year design project for the four students. They designed, tested and created a prototype (模型) within a four-month period.‎ ‎ When Wallace heard about the James Dyson Award on the news, she and her co-inventors entered their project in the U.K.-based contest, which rewards students designers who create products that improve the way we live. The students collected the runner-up prize－£2,000 for them and £500 for their school.‎ ‎ As well, they had a chance to meet James Dyson, a U.K. famous inventor. Praising the students for their invention, Dyson says the single-handed brake lever could improve safety for all cyclists. By using both brakes at once, you could prevent the possibility of flying over the handlebars and ending up with an injury.‎ The students hope to sell it to a major company. It may be used in other devices that require two hands for operation. ‎ ‎24. According to the passage, the James Dyson Award was named after__________.‎ ‎ A. a well-known place B. a famous inventor ‎ ‎ C. a famous university D. a government leader ‎25. The underlined part “the runner-up prize” in Paragraph 6 means___________.‎ ‎ A. the second prize B. the rich prize ‎ C. the top prize D. the prize for runners. ‎ ‎26. According to the passage, we know that the brake lever___________.‎ ‎ A. has already been widely used ‎ ‎ B. can only serve the disabled cyclists ‎ C. can protect you from any injuries ‎ D. may have a wide market in the future ‎ C A scientist once said: “I have concluded that the earth is being visited by intelligently controlled vehicles from outer space.”‎ If we take this as a reasonable explanation for UFOs (unidentified flying objects), questions immediately come up.‎ ‎“Why don’t they get in touch with us, then? Why don’t they land right on the White House lawn and declare themselves?” people asked.‎ In reply, scientists say that, while this may be what we want, it may not necessarily be what they want.‎ ‎“The most likely explanation, it seems to me,” said Dr. Mead, “is that they are simply watching what we are up to—that responsible society outside our solar system is keeping an eye on us to see that we don’t cause a chain reaction that might have unexpected effects for the outside of our solar system.”‎ Opinions from other scientists might go like this: “Why should they want to get in touch with us? We may feel we’re more important than we really are! They may want to observe us only and not interfere(干涉) with the development of our civilization. They may not care if we see them but they also may not care to say ‘hello’.”‎ Some scientists have also suggested that Earth is a kind of zoo or wildlife reserve. Just as we set aside wilderness areas and wildlife reserves to allow animals and growing things to develop naturally while we observe them, so perhaps Earth was set ‎ aside ages ago for the same purpose.‎ Are we being observed by intelligent beings from other civilizations in the universe? Are they watching our progress in space travel? Do we live in a huge “zoo” observed by our “keepers,” but having no communication with them?‎ Never before in our history have we had to face ideas bravely like these. The simple fact is that we, who have always regarded ourselves as supreme in the universe, may not be so. Now we have to recognize that, among the stars in the heavens, there may very well be worlds lived by beings who are to us as we are to ants.‎ ‎27. People who ask the question “Why don’t they get in touch with us then ?” think that ________.‎ ‎ A. there are no such things as UFOs ‎ B. UFOs are visitors from solar system ‎ C. there’s no reason for UFOs to contact us ‎ D. we are bound to see UFOs sooner or later　　‎ ‎28. According to Dr. Mead, the beings from outer space ________.‎ ‎ A. hope to keep in touch with us ‎ B. want to keep watch on us ‎ C. try to protect us from dangers ‎ D. get ready to help others ‎29. What’s the writer’s attitude towards the existence of other intelligent beings in space?‎ ‎ A. Doubtful B. Neutral C. Negative D. Positive ‎30. The passage is mostly taken from a(n) ________.‎ ‎ A. commercial advertisement B. science fiction novel ‎ ‎ C. newspaper column D. travel leaflet D Around the world, 62 million girls are not in school. The White House’s Let Girls Learn effort aims to change that.‎ At 13, Hawa Abdulai Yorke left her family’s home, in Ghana, Africa, to live with an aunt who promised to send her to school. Instead, the aunt put Yorke to work as her maid. Determined to go to school, Yorke returned home and began selling water in a nearby city to raise
money for her education. She did that for three years. What hurt most was that her father had the money to pay the school fees. But he chose to spend the money on a motorcycle.‎ Yorke’s story is familiar to girls growing up in Ghana. There, a girl’s place is in the home. Educating girls is considered a waste of money. ‎ ‎“It happens more than it should, where parents have money to send their girls to school but choose not to,” says Ryan Roach, a Peace Corps volunteer in Ghana, where nearly 55% of girls are not enrolled in secondary school. “Cultural beliefs say education is not a wise investment（投资）”‎ The White House’s Let Girls Learn is working to change this view of girls’ education, in Ghana and in countries worldwide. First Lady Michelle Obama says parents have to be persuaded that girls’ education is a better investment than marriage or household labor. A World Bank study backs that up. It shows that for every year of secondary-school education, a girl’s earning power increases by 18%.‎ Today, Let Girls Learn works in 13 countries, and there are plans to expand the program. Recently, Let Girls Learn hosted a 24-hour event at which girls in different parts of Ghana joined Peace Corps volunteers, tech experts, and university students to brainstorm creative solutions for the barriers to girls’ education. Yorke’s team came up with an idea for an app that sends a recorded message to parents’ phones from a Ghanian celebrity about the benefits of girls 
attending school. ‎ Yorke, now 22, is about to finish high school. Thanks to Let Girls Learn, she plans to attend college and study computer science. She says working alongside women college students at the Let Girls Learn event strengthened her determination. “I’m focused on my books,” says Yorke. “I know if I study hard, I, too, can go to the university and live a happy life.”‎ ‎31. What was the attitude of Yorke’s aunt towards girls attending school? ‎ ‎ A. She was against it. B. She had no idea of it. ‎ C. She was in favor of it. D. She considered it hard work ‎ 32. According to Ryan Roach, the reasons for girls not receiving education is that .‎ ‎ A. they are too busy to go to school ‎ ‎ B. their families are too poor to afford it ‎ C. there are few secondary schools for girls ‎ D. cultural beliefs prevent from attending school ‎ 33. What can we learn about Let Girls Learn?‎ A. It has spread all over the world.‎ B. It is a Ghana-based organization.‎ C. It aims to offer free education to girls.‎ D. It has got support from Michelle Obama ‎34. What’s Yorke’s next plan?‎ A. To further her studies. B. To join in Let Girls Learn.‎ C. To write some books for girls. D. To get a computer-related job.‎ ‎35. What’s the best title of the passage? ‎ A. What people need is education B. Encourage girls to attend school C. Let girls to live a happy life D. Educating girls is unnecessary 第二节 (共5小题；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。选项中有两项为多余选项。‎ ‎ Bank holidays! We all love them! ‎ ‎ A bank holiday is an English term for a public holiday. During the day banks and offices are closed and a lot of people have a day off work. In the UK, people only get eight bank holidays in one year. 36 ‎ People in Colombia are much luckier. There are twenty bank holidays for the whole country in one year! And there can be even more, depending on which region you live ‎ in. 37 As in the UK, most of the bank holidays in Colombia exist for religious reasons. ‎ ‎ 38 One such example is Independence Day on 20 July every year. This is just like Bastille Day in France on 14 July. 39 It is in memory of the day that Christopher Columbus, first reached America in the year 1492.‎ ‎ Bank holidays are very important for western people. 40 They may also choose to stay at home to relax and forget about work. ‎ A. Bank holidays are different in Colombia. ‎ B. During the holidays, they often travel with their families. ‎ C. This is because different regions have their own holidays.‎ D. And at least five of those are around Christmas time and Easter.‎ E. Every country on the continent of America celebrates Columbus Day. ‎ F. Another historical bank holiday in Colombia is Columbus Day on 12 October. ‎ G. However, some bank holidays in Colombia came into being for historical reasons.‎ 第三部分　语言知识运用(共两节，满分45分)‎ 第一节 (共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分)‎ 阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。‎ With the plaster cast(石膏绷带) on my arm for weeks, I returned the hospital to have it removed.‎ The doctor cut away my cast and asked me to 41 my arm. When moving it in every possible way, I was 42 by the fact that my elbow(肘) was actually fixed, which was all thanks to the doctor and made me more interested in the 43 of the doctor. I began to think that he had a secret 44 that only a few people in the world had, and I 45 what it was. From then on, I was sure that I would become a doctor 46 him one day. At the age of four, I was already 47 to discover the art of healing and share it with the world.‎ As my mom and I made our way out of the hospital that day I released her hand and ran away. I wanted to 48 my experience with everyone. I found an elderly man ‎ ‎ 49 from a wheelchair and ran to help him, saying, “Don’t worry, Grandpa. The doctor will fix your 50 .Look how he fixed my arm!” I then showed him my newly 51 elbow. He gave me the biggest smile. I waved goodbye to the man and felt 52 to have shared my good fortune with someone who truly 53 it.‎ Thirteen years have passed by since that day, and many things have changed. 54 , I am still determined to discover the art of healing, even though I now know it is not as 55 as I originally thought. Last summer I had a chance to volunteer in 56 medical environments where I learned how to encourage patients to eat the healthy food they 57 , and what doctors do when a child refuses a throat swab. Each of these experiences has taught me a lot, 58 most importantly they have further promoted my interest in 59 . Although I have not yet discovered the art of healing, I know that every year I get 60 to it.‎ ‎41. A. move B. touch C. hold D. remove ‎42. A. shocked B. amazed C. puzzled D. surprised ‎43. A. job B. name C. message D. nationality ‎44. A. honor B. direction C. talent D. responsibility ‎45. A. proved B. ignored C. remembered D. wondered ‎46. A. with B. like C. of D. for ‎47. A. surprised B. introduced C. d D. determined ‎48. A. share B. tell C. inform D. collect ‎49. A. hearing B. removing C. falling D. benefiting ‎50. A. arms B. legs C. wheelchair D. door ‎51. A. missed B. looked C. cured D.‎ ‎ guarded ‎52. A. curious B. confident C. brave D. proud ‎53. A. attained B. needed C. deserved D. valued ‎54. A. Besides B. Thus C. Instead D. However ‎55. A. natural B. complex C. technological D. mysterious ‎56. A. regular B. various C. cheerful D. successful ‎57. A. remain B. supply C. dislike D. study ‎58. A. or B. so C. but D. for ‎59. A. food B. chemistry C. biology D. medicine ‎60. A. closer B. easier C. better D. used ‎ ‎ 第二节 (共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分)‎ ‎ 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。‎ It is a great  61 (true) that life is difficult. Once we really understand and accept it, then life is no longer difficult.   62 , most of us do not fully see it. They just complain about their problems and difficulties as if life should be easy.‎ ‎  63 makes life difficult is that the process of facing and solving problems is a really painful one. Problems, 64 (base) on their nature, cause sadness or regret or anger or fear. These are 65 (comfort) feelings, often as painful as any kind of physical pain. It is in the whole process of solving problems 66 life has its meaning. Problems are the serious test that tells us success from failure. When we want to strengthen the growth of human spirit, we encourage the human ability 67 (solve) problems, just as in school we set problems for our ‎ children to deal with.   68 (learn)‎ from the pain of meeting and working out problems is 69 great benefit. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Those things that hurt, instruct.” For this reason, wise people learn not to fear but to welcome 70 pain of problems.‎ 第四部分：课文填空（每空1分，满分10分）‎ ‎71. An advertisement uses words and pictures to _________ people to buy a product or service, or to believe in an idea. Newspapers, magazines, the Internet, radio and television are the most common places to find them. There are two main types of advertisements —commercial advertisements and public service advertisements(PSAs). A commercial advertisement is _________ which someone has paid for to advertise a product or service. PSAs are often run for free, and are meant to educate people about health, safety, or any other problem that affects public _________.‎ ‎72. All through history, people from many different countries and cultures have lived together in Britain. The English language is made up of the grammar and _________ these people brought to Britain. That is _________ English has so many different rules that confuse people. ‎ ‎73. The Chinese language _________from Western languages in that, instead of an alphabet, it uses characters which stand _________ ideas, objects or deeds. Chinese words are formed by putting together different characters. In many cases, a single character can also make up a word. The history of the Chinese language can be examined by looking at _________these characters developed. ‎ ‎74. In 334 BC, he took his army, now with 42,000 men, into the Middle East and then Egypt, _________ every army that stood in his path. Then he turned his eyes east, and marched all the way to India, finding victory _________ he went. It seemed that nothing could stop him from taking control of the entire world. ‎ 第五部分 写作（共两节，满分25分）‎ 第一节 短文改错（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）‎ 假定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，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。‎ 增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（Λ），并在其下面写出该加的词。‎ 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。‎ Questioning can lead to searching for an answer. If we are in the habit of asking whether that we are told is true, we can find the correct answer and learn more.‎ Two years ago, our math teacher, Mr. Alex offered us an answer of a difficult math problem in class. Because the answer seemed a little strange, nobody but I doubted it. Think that his solution might be wrong, I carefully analyzed the problem and try to work it out in a different way. Half a hour later, I managed to find the correct answer. When I showed my answer to her, the teacher praised me for my independently thinking.‎ From this experience, I have been learnt that questioning can serve as a bridge that helping us to seek the truth.‎ 第二节 书面表达（满分15分）‎ ‎ 假定你是李华。你的笔友晓东是某学校一名高一学生。最近他来信说不知道如何学好高中英语，感到苦恼。请你给他写一封回信，提出你的建议。建议内容如下：‎ ‎1.尽量用英语交流，不要怕犯错误；‎ ‎2.坚持每天早晨朗读英语；‎ ‎3.多读英文报纸，看英文电影。‎ 注意：1.内容必须包括以上所有要点；‎ ‎2.可适当增加内容，以使行文连贯；‎ ‎3.词数：开头和结尾已给出，但不计入总词数。‎ Dear Li Hua,‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I hope you will find these ideas useful.‎ 参考答案 听力 ‎1-5AACCB 6-10 BAABA 11-15 BACAB 16-20 BABBA 阅读 ‎ ‎21-23 CDB 24-26 BAD 27-30ABDC 31-35ADDAB 七选五36-40 DCGFB 完形：‎ ‎41-45 ABACD 46-50 BDACB 51-55CDBDD 56-60BCCDA 语法填空 ‎61. truth 62. However 63. What 64. based 65. uncomfortable ‎ ‎66. that 67. to solve 68.Learning 69. of 70. the 课文填空 ‎71.persuade one welfare 72. vocabulary why ‎73.differs for how 74. defeating wherever ‎ 改错 ‎1. that→ what 2. of→ to 3.Because→Although/Though/While 4. Think→ Thinking 5. try→ tried ‎6.a→ an 7.her→him 8.independently→independent 9.been去掉 10. helping →helps 书面表达 One possible version：‎ Dear Li Hua,‎ I feel sorry that you are having trouble in learning English in senior high school. However, the situation is easy to change as long as you take my advice. Here are some tips to help you.‎ First of all, why not try communicating with others in English? If you do so, you will feel confident gradually. Besides, don’t be afraid of making mistakes because when you make a mistake, you are much closer to success. At the same time, you should keep on reading English aloud every morning, which helps you to expand your vocabulary. Last but not least, reading more English newspapers and watching more English movies ‎ is also a good way to broaden your horizon and improve your English. ‎ ‎ I hope you will find these ideas useful.‎ ‎【高一英语听力文稿】‎ Text 1:‎ M: This is the most wonderful party I have ever visited. Wow, it’s almost 12 o’clock. How can we get home? It’s so late and the buses and subways have all stopped running.‎ W: It looks as though we have no choice but to call a taxi. ‎ Text 2:‎ W: Two return tickets to London Road.‎ M: That’s £4.50 each, please.‎ W: Here is ten pounds. By the way, when’s the last bus back? ‎ M: 11:00. And your change.‎ Text 3:‎ W: How was your holiday, John?‎ M: We had a good time, but the weather was awful. We didn’t have one sunny day!‎ W: Oh, dear, a week in the rain, poor you.‎ M: Well, that’s the funny thing. It never actually rained. It was just freezing. We thought it might even snow.‎ Text4:‎ M： So, what seems to be the problem?‎ W: Well, I’m not feeling very well. I’ve got a really bad headache, a cough and my throat hurts. ‎ M：Ok, come and lie down over there.‎ Text5:‎ M: How is your grandma feeling these days?‎ W: Much better, thanks. She will be coming home in a few days. The operation was a success and she’ll recover soon.‎ Text6:‎ M: Hi, Amy, glad to see you here.‎ W: Oh, Hi, Steve. We haven’t seen each other for years since we left school. I remember you are a big fan of the Rockets, right?‎ M: Yeah. Well, I’m not sure they deserved to lose. It didn’t seem like a fair result to me.‎ W: I think it was the judge’s fault.‎ M: Well, I’m not really convinced he was to blame. They just didn’t have any luck today.‎ W: Let’s hope things go our way a bit more next week.‎ M: Yes. If they keep playing like that everyone’s going to go to sleep. It wasn’t exactly exciting to watch.‎ Text 7:‎ W: Tell us something, Mr. Smith, about New York City.‎ M: It is a wonderful city, without doubt the most interesting city in the world today, but I’m afraid the weather is not very good.‎ W: Is it very cold in New York, Mr. Smith?‎ M: Sometimes it’s very cold, and sometimes it’s very warm. On some days in winter it seems that there is no colder place in the world because the air, while cold, is also wet. And in summer it’s very hot. There is little wind. The air is often damp and heavy. ‎ W: Is the weather always unpleasant?‎ M: Oh, no. There are many beautiful days in New York, especially in the spring and in the autumn. The really unpleasant part is that the weather in New York changes often and so suddenly.‎ Text 8:‎ W: Finally, here comes the summer holiday. Where are you and your family going on vacation this summer?‎ M: We haven’t decided yet. Mum’s brought a few brochures home and I’ve had a look at them. But I still can’t make up my mind. Do you have some place in your mind worth a visit?‎ W: Hmm… You can go to France and visit castles.‎ M: We did that last year. And it was really boring. What do you think of this one? “Italy for art lovers. Spend two weeks in Italy. You will visit art galleries in Florence and Venice.”‎ W: I’d like to do that in winter. In summer, I prefer to do things outside. I’d like to go to a hotel with lots of tennis courts, or learn to water-ski.‎ M: I think this one’s pretty interesting. “Learn Scottish dancing in Scotland.” What do you think?‎ W: I don’t like it. Who wants to go to Scotland and sit in the rain all day?‎ Text9:‎ W: Hello.‎ M: Rachel, tell us about your day.‎ W: Well, it all starts with the huge pile of post we get. We often get artists sending in photographs of their work to see if we’d be interested in exhibiting it.‎ M: So you are busy all day.‎ W: Yes. Sometimes I spend nearly all day on the phone and about fifty percent of the time it’s artists. We have a new artist exhibiting here about every two weeks.‎ M: And the best part of the job for you?‎ W: The really rewarding thing for me is that you never know how a day is going to go. Some days it’ll be really quiet, other days it’s really busy and you don’t know what you’re going to have to deal with. Of course I find great pleasure spending my days surrounded by beautiful works of art, so I am satisfied.‎ M: Thank you Rachel, and now we’ll move on to …‎ Text10:‎ M: My name is John Croft. For three years and six months, I worked as a taxi driver for Downtown Taxi in Vancouver. I drove my cab five days a week from 3:00 in the afternoon until around 12:00 at night. There were traffic jams every afternoon, but it didn’t bother me. Most passengers were nice enough, although I can’t remember most of them. I liked to show tourists our beautiful city. A lot of tourists from Asia visited Vancouver. In the evening, I took people out to restaurants, clubs and theatres. It was interesting to see people dressed in their best clothes for parties. The most interesting customer I had was a man dressed as a bird! I can still remember the scene clearly and I think I’ll never forget it. My cab was always clean and I always tried to be friendly. The trip to the airport was usually my biggest tip. I liked my job and made a comfortable living. However, as we know, it is really a tiring job. So I don’t drive a taxi anymore. Now I have lots of free time, but sometimes I miss meeting new people.‎