泉州市部分中学2022-2023学年高二下学期末联考
英语
（试卷满分：150分，考试时间：120分钟）
注意事项：
1. 答题前，先将自己的姓名、准考证号填写在试卷和答题卡上，并将准考证号条形码粘贴在答题卡上的指定位置。
2. 选择题的作答：每小题选出答案后，用2B铅笔把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。写在试卷、草稿纸和答题卡上的非答题区域均无效。
3. 非选择题的作答：用黑色签字笔直接答在答题卡上对应的答题区域内。写在试卷、草稿纸和答题卡上的非答题区域均无效。
4. 请保持答题卡整洁，避免折叠。考试结束后，请将答题卡上交。
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，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。
例：How much is the shirt
A. 19.15. B. 9.18. C. 9.15.
答案是C。
1. What does the man want to be
A. A lawyer. B. A teacher. C. A reporter.
2. What is the relationship between the speakers
A. Classmates. B. Strangers. C. Neighbors.
3. What happened to the man
A. He was sick. B. He woke up late. C. He got eye problems.
4. What do the man’s class want to do this Saturday
A. Go for a picnic. B. Have a party. C. Collect the rubbish.
5. Why does James refuse Rachel’s invitation
A. He has to prepare for a game. B. He failed to win a contest.
C. He dislikes watching movies.
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 does Miyako want to do
A. Make a call. B. Send a card. C. Hold a party.
7. What is the man doing
A. Making an apology. B. Giving an explanation.
C. Sharing an experience.
听第7段材料，回答第8至10题。
8. What did David do last night
A. He played volleyball. B. He watched television.
C. He read the newspaper.
9. What time will the match on Saturday afternoon start
A. At 2:30. B. At 3:00. C. At 3:30.
10. What will Lisa do first
A. Talk with her mom. B. Give David a call. C. Take a piano lesson.
听第8段材料，回答第11至13题。
11. Where did the man most probably lose his phone
A. On the underground. B. At the workplace. C. In a restaurant.
12. What will the man do before five o’clock
A. Buy a new phone. B. Make a call to the bank.
C. Meet the woman.
13. How does the man feel in the end
A. Surprised. B. Grateful. C. Doubtful.
听第9段材料，回答第14至16题。
14. What does the man say about his office
A. His office is richly decorated. B. He has used this office for a week.
C. His office space is spacious enough.
15. Why does the man need a web camera for his computer
A. To record his trip next week. B. To communicate with overseas scholars.
C. To collect cost-effective web cameras.
16. What are the speakers mainly talking about
A. How to choose an office chair. B. How to prepare for an online meeting.
C. How to improve Professor White’s office.
听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。
17. On which day is World Sleep Day held
A. March 21. B. March 25. C. March 31.
18. What benefit is mentioned about enough sleep
A. Being stronger. B. Being cleverer. C. Being taller.
19. What percentage of adults have a full eight hours of sleep each workday
A. 21%. B. 27%. C. 80%.
20. What can we learn from the passage
A. World Sleep Day started in 2006. B. Teenagers need at least 8 hours of sleep a night.
C. 80% of people throughout the world have sleep problems.
第二部分 阅读（共两节，满分50分）
第一节（共15小题；每小题2.5分，满分37.5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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
Reading can make you feel less alone and more connected with the world at large. It can open your eyes to issues, successes and challenges that you never dreamed of, and take you to faraway places. Here are the top books all teens should read before they turn 18.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
Though this book recently became popular again due to the release of the movie version, the movie is not a substitute for this beautiful story about family and the process of becoming who you truly are through the angle of space and time exploration.
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The attractive advice given in this book is perfect for teens going off to college or beginning a new stage of independence. It is a book that can be re-read all throughout life without losing its power.
Wonder by R. J. Palacio
Auggie was born with a facial difference that kept him out of school for years. In fifth grade, he discovers what it’s like to long for normality and also how difference can be the most meaningful teacher of all.
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
The author shares beautiful poetry that will speak to tweens and teens about her experience of growing up in the South as an African-American in the 1960s and 1970s. The poems are charged with the themes of self-awareness and identity.
21. What’s a theme of A Wrinkle in Time
A. Family affection. B. The value of time.
C. The beauty of stories. D. Space exploration.
22. Whose book will probably inspire a teen with a disability
A. Madeleine L’Engle. B. Don Miguel Ruiz.
C. R. J. Palacio. D. Jacqueline Woodson.
23. Which book is based on the writer’s own life story
A. A Wrinkle in Time. B. Wonder.
C. The Four Agreements. D. Brown Girl Dreaming.
B
I had a quick short stay in Detroit Airport before heading home. With 5 minutes left, I stood waiting for “Gate 3” to be called.
But then I heard the announcement, “It seems we have overbooked the flight. Would anyone volunteer to stay for the later departure in 4 hours ” And the gate attendant was anxiously waiting for someone to volunteer.
I looked around and saw businessmen needing to work, moms needing to meet their kids, kids needing to see their friends. Even though I wanted to be home just as much as anyone and had an important call scheduled for an hour after arriving home, something inside me said that I should extend some kindness to this group of strangers.
I picked up my bag, approached the desk, and told the gate attendant my decision. Smile spread on the face of her. As she was processing my ticket, I was happy to help other passengers. The attendant handed me my boarding pass for the later flight and another piece of paper, then said, “This is for your kindness.” I saw that it was a 700-dollar voucher (代金券) to fly anywhere in the world during the next year!
I got to my new gate and took a seat next to a power outlet so that my laptop would make it through the extra four hours. I rescheduled that important call. And then I got a lot of work done, which was a wonderful silver lining.
When my flight started boarding, I was surprised to discover that my new boarding pass was for a seat in first class. I thought about how grateful I was for everything that had happened, and how it was all because of the chain effects of kindness. I gave with the intention to serve others, with no thought of reward, and that kindness was returned to me with an amazing upgrade.
24. Why was the announcement made
A. To ask someone to take next flight. B. To give information about a delayed flight.
C. To inform that the flight was about to take off. D. To tell passengers the flight had been canceled.
25. What made the author offer to volunteer
A. A reward of 700 dollars. B. An offer of first-class seat.
C. The request of the attendant. D. His concern about other passengers.
26. How did the author think about his extra 4-hour stay at the airport
A. Boring but productive. B. Challenging but acceptable.
C. Satisfying and efficient. D. Relaxing and worthwhile.
27. What is the best title of the text
A. Time Is Treasure B. Kindness Gives Back
C. Every Effort Counts D. Patience Is Appreciated
C
The Australian accent developed because so many early settlers were drunk. Dean Frenkel, a communications expert at Victoria University in Melbourne, said that the first British arrivals to the country were such big drinkers that the distortion (失真) to their speech caused a verbal change that persists to this day.
Academic Mr Frenkel wrote in the Australian newspaper The Age, “Our forefathers regularly got drunk together, and through their frequent interactions added an alcoholic slur (模糊) to our national speech patterns. For the past two centuries, from generation to generation, the drunken Australian accent continues to be taught by parents to their children.”
Mr Frenkel continued, “The average Australian speaks to just two-thirds capacity — with one-third of our speaking muscles always keep still as if lying on the couch. Missing consonants can include missing ‘t’s (Impordant), ‘l’s (Austraya) and ‘s’s (yesh), while many of our vowels are lazily transformed into other vowels, especially ‘a’s to ‘e’s（stending） and ‘i’s to ‘oi’s (noight).”
The Australian accent has historically lacked regional variation because although the communities began as isolated (孤立的) settlements, there was a great deal of internal migration, particularly from Sydney where the first accent began.
The most common fear people have about the Australian accent is that it’s becoming more Americanised. But Dr Felicity Cox, an associate professor of linguistics at Macquarie University, said that accents are remarkably resistant to change from factors such as social media, and as long as people want to be known as Australian, they will keep the distinctive Australian sound. It will always remain a strong marker of national identity.
28. What makes the Australian accent special
A. Verbal patterns of native speakers.
B. Frequent interactions with foreign countries.
C. Early residents’ custom of drinking alcohol.
D. The popularity of the British education system.
29. How may Australians pronounce the word “light”
A. Loight. B. Leght. C. Lighs. D. Lighd.
30. What accounts for the lack of regional differences in Australian accents
A. Small numbers of populations. B. Isolated geographical locations.
C. Similar lifestyle among residents. D. Large migrations within the country.
31. What can we learn about the Australian accent according to Dr Felicity Cox
A. It has become more diverse than ever.
B. It is a unique symbol of Australian identity.
C. It has been greatly influenced by social media.
D. It changes a lot based on American pronunciation rules.
D
Recognizing when a friend or colleague feels sad, angry or surprised is key to getting along with others. But a new study suggests that being sensitive to people’s feelings may sometimes come with stress, challenging the popular view that emotional intelligence is uniformly beneficial to its bearer.
In the study, psychologist Myriam Bechtoldt of the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Germany asked 166 male university students a series of questions to measure their emotional intelligence. For example, they showed the students photographs of people’s faces and asked them to what extent feelings such as happiness or disgust were being expressed. The students then had to give job talks in front of judges who displayed serious facial expressions. The scientists measured concentrations of stress hormones (荷尔蒙) in the students’ saliva (唾液) before and after the talk.
In students who were rated more emotionally intelligent, the stress measures increased more during the experiment and took longer to go back to baseline. The findings suggest that some people may be too emotionally clever for their own good, says Bechtoldt, “Sometimes you can be so good at something that it causes trouble,” she notes.
Indeed, the study adds to previous research implying a dark side of emotional intelligence. A study published in 2002 in Personality and Individual Differences suggested that emotionally intelligent people might be particularly influenced by feelings of depression and hopelessness. Furthermore, several studies have implied that emotional intelligence can be used to manipulate others for personal gains.
More research is needed to see how exactly the relation between emotional intelligence and stress would play out in women and in people of different ages and education levels. Nevertheless, emotional intelligence is a useful skill to have, as long as you learn to also properly cope with emotions — both others’ and your own, says Bechtoldt. For example, some sensitive individuals may assume responsibility for other people’s sadness or anger, which ultimately stresses them out. Remember, as Bechtoldt says, “You are not responsible for how other people feel.”
32. What was the purpose of Myriam Bechtoldt’s experiment
A. To define different types of human feelings.
B. To assess the impacts of being emotionally clever.
C. To demonstrate how to distinguish different feelings.
D. To identify gender differences in emotional intelligence.
33. What does Myriam Bechtoldt’s study indicate
A. Emotional intelligence helps in job interviews.
B. Greater emotional cleverness means less trouble.
C. High emotional intelligence may cause suffering.
D. Psychological wellbeing is related to various factors.
34. What does the underlined word “manipulate” in paragraph 4 mean
A. Transform. B. Control. C. Challenge. D. Shelter.
35. What does the author suggest sensitive individuals do
A. Shake off their worries over public affairs.
B. Learn to cope with people’s negative feelings.
C. Help people to deal with their troubles in life.
D. Avoid burdening themselves with others’ feelings.
第二节（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Why do some people live to be older than others You know the standard explanations: keeping a balanced diet, engaging in regular exercise, etc. But what effect does your personality have on your longevity (长寿) 36 A new study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics society looked at this question by examining the personality characteristics of 246 children of people who had lived to be at least 100.
The study shows that those living the longest are more outgoing, more active and less neurotic (神经质的) than other people. Long-living women are also more likely to be sympathetic and cooperative than women with a normal life span. 37 Those who like to make friends and help others can gather enough resources to make it through tough times.
Interestingly, however, other characteristics that you might consider advantageous had no impact on whether study participants were likely to live longer. 38 Also, being open to new ideas had no relationship to long life, which might explain all those bad-tempered old people who are fixed in their ways.
39 Another recent study looked at nearly 28,000 Norwegian mothers and found that those moms who were more anxious, depressed and angry were more likely to feed their kids unhealthy diets. Patterns of childhood eating can be hard to break when we’re adults, which may mean that kids of depressed moms end up dying younger.
Personality isn’t destiny (命运). 40 But both studies show that long life isn’t just a matter of your physical health but of your mental health.
A. These findings match the evolutionary theory.
B. Is health in large part related to one’s lifestyle
C. Do some kinds of personalities lead to longer lives
D. And everyone knows that individuals can learn to change.
E. Your mother’s personality may also help determine your longevity.
F. Children’s personality characteristics are determined by their mothers.
G. Self-disciplined people, for instance, were no more likely to live to be very old.
第三部分 英语知识运用（共两节，满分30分）
第一节 完形填空（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
After ten years of work, I determined to go beyond a nine-to-five job. Scanning advertisements, I learned a financial company was to 41 more consultants. With great excitement, I made an appointment with a branch president. That day, it went so well that I was 42 he would hire me on the spot. 43 , he told me to come back for 12 more 44 with his top salespeople!
Over the next five months, every one of them kept telling me, “You are better off in a safe nine-to-five job.” “Eighty percent of newcomers 45 within their first year.” The more they attacked my dream, the more I believed I would have to “fake it till I make it”.
46 , the last interview with the president came. ‘You’ve got the job!” he announced, and then added, “On one 47 that you must resign your current job, participate in our training and take a(an) 48 . It’s 250 questions long and you must pass it without one point lost on the first 49 !”
I nearly choked at the prospect of taking a huge step of faith into the 50 . However, attracted by this great risk and with the 51 I had never had, I said, “I’ll take it.” When the scores were displayed, I let out a loud sigh of 52 .
My experience 53 the truth of Thoreau’s words: If one advances 54 in the direction of his dreams and 55 to live the life which he had imagined, he will meet success unexpected in common hours.
41. A. instruct B. employ C. identify D. support
42. A. skeptical B. glad C. nervous D. positive
43. A. Thus B. Moreover C. Instead D. Then
44. A. discussions B. celebrations C. bargains D. interviews
45. A. fail B. insist C. hesitate D. progress
46. A. Gradually B. Eventually C. Surprisingly D. Interestingly
47. A. operation B. condition C. position D. occasion
48. A. exam B. path C. break D. approach
49. A. choice B. page C. day D. try
50. A. unfit B. unnecessary C. unknown D. unpleasant
51. A. joy B. patience C. courage D. fortune
52. A. belief B. relief C. sorrow D. regret
53. A. recognized B. tested C. dismissed D. confirmed
54. A. confidently B. freely C. randomly D. lonely
55. A. threatens B. agrees C. attempts D. promises
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。
Yingge Dance, a traditional folk art combining dancing, Chinese martial arts, and Chinese opera, is popular in the Chaoshan area of Guangdong province in South China. Yingge, 56 (write) with the characters for “hero” and “song”, means heroic song in Chinese and Yingge dancers, as their name implies, are the avatars of 57 (hero). The dancers each hold a pair of short sticks and strike the sticks with force 58 (create) strong beats — an artistic display of masculinity (男子气概). In 2006, the Puning Yingge Dance 59 (list) among the first batch of national intangible cultural heritages in China.
However, as young people move out of the villages, 60 are local folk arts gradually disappearing all around China. In Puning, Yingge is still danced during holidays such as the Lunar New Year and 61 (it) performers are generally amateurs — farmers 62 have put down their tools and put on costumes. Some of the parts are passed 63 in the family, from father to son, and so far some villages have started giving performers a basic salary.
Dressed in colorful clothes and 64 (wear) heavy makeup, ordinary villagers have created a song of cultural confidence. The performance, 65 must-watch for the local people, graces the village square one more time.
第四部分 写作（共两节，满分40分）
第一节 应用文（满分15分）
假定你是高中生李华，你校成立了一个名为Quanzhou Culture的俱乐部，致力于用英文介绍和推广泉州文化。请你给该俱乐部负责人写一封邮件，申请加入，内容包括：
1. 写信目的；
2. 申请理由；
3. 个人优势。
注意：1. 写作词数应为80左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Dear Sir/Madam, Yours, Li Hua
第二节 读后续写（满分25分）
阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。
I looked out at the smiling faces in the school hall. Flashes from cameras lit up in all directions. The applause filled my ears. I had done it. I had really done it.
Just a few months earlier, I would never have pictured myself acting in a play in front of two hundred people. “Not for a million dollars,” I would have said. But when the time came, I got up on stage and faced one of my greatest fears and discovered I could do more than I ever gave myself credit for.
If not for my teacher, Mrs Sather, I might never have made it.
In the first and second grade, I was extremely shy. I had friends, but it just wasn’t in my personality to be very outgoing, even when I knew someone well. I was afraid I would do or say something wrong, so usually I just smiled and listened to other people’s conversations. I did well in school and I loved to write. However, I would escape into my writing, where I could be myself and never had to worry about what other people thought of me. In my stories, I was never shy.
My teacher, Mrs Sather, always encouraged me to write more. She told our class to go after our dreams and dig in with both hands. One day, she announced that our class was going to perform a play she had written. “I’ll begin to cast everyone tomorrow,” she said. “I need someone who is not afraid to be on stage in front of a lot of people to play the lead part of Dorothy. Anybody want to try ” A few excited hands shot up — mine, of course, was not one of them — and Mrs Sather smiled. “We’ll talk more about it tomorrow,” she said. Then the bell rang and my classmates slowly left the classroom.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
When I was loading up my backpack, Mrs Sather asked me to go to her. Hearing Mrs Sather’s words, I realized it was time to make a change.
英语参考答案
录音文稿
Text 1
W: Are you going to be a teacher or a lawyer
M: Neither. In fact, I’m considering working as a journalist. I find it interesting and I would love the challenge.
Text 2
W: Did you hear that there’s a meeting this afternoon
M: Yes, I did. Do you know what it’s about
W: I think it’s about electing the new monitor.
Text 3
W: Bill, what’s the matter with you You look so tired and your eyes look dull.
M: I didn’t sleep well last night, for I always woke up with a sore throat and a cough.
Text 4
M: Hi, Maria. Our class are going to the park this Saturday. Would you like to come together
W: The park But it’s March, too rainy and early to have a party there!
M: The plan is to clean up the park. We hope people will feel pleasant while they are there.
Text 5
W: James, would you like to watch a film with me tonight
M: Rachel, I’m not in the mood for this.
W: Why What’s going on
M: I’ve lost the tennis game yesterday.
Text 6
W: Oh no. I don’t have Amanda’s phone number.
M: What’s wrong, Miyako
W: Amanda said we should get together again and that I should call her. But I don’t have her phone number.
M: I see... Well, don’t worry about it. For Americans, that’s usually a friendly way to say goodbye. It’s like when Americans say “Hello, how are you ’. but they don’t want you to tell them how you are. It’s just a friendly greeting.
W: So saying “Let’s get together sometime" is similar to that
M: Yeah, that’s right.
Text 7
W: David, have you heard the news Our school team is in the finals.
M: I know. I watched the match on TV last night.
W: Do you think they were good
M: They certainly were. A group of us have decided to go and support them in the finals. Will you come along, too
W: I’m not sure. When is it
M: It’s on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 and we’ll get at the school gate at 3:00. So, are you coming
W: No. I don’t think so. I’ve got piano lessons at 2:30 every Saturday.
M: Can’t you have it on another day
W: But my mother really likes it.
M: Come on, Lisa. This is the finals. Our school team has been working hard and they need our support.
W: Well, let me talk with my mom first, okay
M: Once you have made a decision, just give me a call.
Text 8
M: This is William Brown, what can I do for you
W: Mr Brown, I may have your mobile phone.
M: Oh, yes. I thought I had lost it somewhere on the underground this morning.
W: Actually I found it under a table at a restaurant and I thought I should call the work number I found in its directory.
M: Thank you so much. I appreciate you calling me. I just thought I need to buy a new one as soon as possible.
W: It was just the right thing to do. I work in TC Bank on Roosevelt Street and I leave at about five, so please come to pick it up before then.
M: OK. See you then and thanks again.
Text 9
W: Hi, professor White.
M: Hi, Maggie.
W: It’s been a week since you arrived at the city. Do you like your office
M: Yeah, it’s great to have so much room and I love the sea view.
W: Glad to hear that. Do you need any equipment or supplies
M: Well, I’ll give a presentation at an online conference next week. Is it possible to get a web camera for the computer
W: No problem. It’s already at the top of our agenda. We encourage using technology to communicate with overseas scholars rather than expensive traveling.
M: Exactly. It’s so much easier and cheaper to do things that way.
W: Anything else
M: Well, I hope I’m not asking too much, but can I get a new chair This one is really uncomfortable.
W: I think that’s an old chair. Sorry about that. Is there a specific kind you want, like a folding chair or a rocking one
M: I just like one that rises up and down and has arms.
W: Sure, I got it.
M: Thanks.
Text 10
W: World Sleep Day, organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Association of Sleep Medicine since 2008, is held on March 21 every year. The aim is to celebrate the benefits of good and healthy sleep.
Researchers say that if we always get enough sleep, we can be smarter and thinner. Also we’re to have better skin, better memories and longer lives. When you lose even one hour of sleep for any reason, it will influence your performance the next day.
In general, adults are thought to need at least eight hours of sleep a night, but a recent survey found that, on workdays, only 21% of them really get a full eight hours of sleep. For teenagers, a healthy amount is about eight to nine hours per night. However, about 80% of high school students don’t get enough sleep because of schoolwork or bad habits.
27% of people worldwide have sleep problems. Now there are over 80 kinds of sleep disorders, and most people know little about their danger. It’s necessary to realize the importance of sleep and try to have a good sleep.
英语试题参考答案及评分标准
第一部分 听力（共两节，满分30分）
1~5 CAACB 6~10 ABBCA 11~15 CCBCB 16~20 CABAB
第二部分 阅读（共两节，满分50分）
第一节（共15小题；每小题2.5分，满分37.5分）
21~25ACDAD 26~30 CBCAD 31~35 BBCBD
第二节（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）
36~40 CAGED
第三部分 英语知识运用（共两节，满分30分）
第一节 完形填空（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
41~45BDCDA 46~50BBADC 51~55 CBDAC
第二节（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）
56. written 57. heroes 58. to create 59. was listed 60. so61. its 62. who/that 63. down 64. wearing 65. A
第四部分 写作（共两节，满分40分）
第一节 应用文（满分15分）
【作答示例】
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am Li Hua, writing to apply to be a member of your club.
I really appreciate the efforts Quanzhou Culture has made to introduce Quanzhou culture to the world. As a student with keen interest in cross-cultural communication, I hope I can have a chance to do my own part for this vital cause. I have read many books on Quanzhou traditions and take great pride in my spoken English, which makes it possible for me to do a good job in the club.
I would be grateful if you could take my application into consideration. Looking forward to your early reply.
Yours,
Li Hua
第二节 读后续写（满分25分）
【作答示例】
When I was loading up my backpack, Mrs Sather asked me to go to her. With doubt, I came up to her. Giving me a meaningful look, she asked gently, “Why didn’t you raise your hand ” Hanging my head and staring at the ground, I did not know how to respond. Mrs Sather continued, “I know your inner strength clearly by reading the stories you wrote about. I would love you to give this a try.” I was so shocked that I raised my head, eyes wide open. She smiled heartily. “Just make yourself fully prepared.”
Hearing Mrs Sather’s words, I realized it was time to make a change. After getting home, I read the play carefully several times, and the figure of Dorothy gradually appeared in my mind. The next day, when Mrs Sather cast the characters, I lifted up my hand quickly and firmly. After we presented the ideas and lines, she announced that I would be the one to play the lead part. Overwhelmed with joy, I got involved in rehearsal in no time. And the following was what you read in the beginning.
