重庆市重点中学校2023-2024学年高三上学期入学考试
英语试题
第一部分 听力（共两节，满分30分）
做题时，请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。
1. What does the man’s wife probably like to receive
A. A pearl. B. Flowers. C. A washing machine.
2. How will the speakers probably go to Paris
A. By car. B. By train. C. By air.
3. How does the woman sound
A. Amused. B. Annoyed. C. Surprised.
4. Where are probably the speakers
A. At home. B. At a restaurant. C. At a clinic.
5. What is the woman doing
A. She is buying a coat.
B. She is asking a favor.
C. She is complaining of the weather.
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秒钟的时间阅读各个小题；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至7题。
6. How does the woman feel about Rohan’s coming exam
A. Encouraged. B. Confident. C. Worried.
7. Who is the woman
A. Rohan’s mother. B. Rohan’s teacher. C. Rohan’s classmate.
听第7段材料，回答第8至10题。
8. What does the woman ask the man to do
A. Fix a time. B. Drop her off on the way. C. Take her dress to the cleaner’s.
9. What day is it today
A. Friday. B. Saturday. C. Sunday.
10. What will the speakers do on Sunday
A. Buy tickets. B. Watch the football game. C. Attend the wedding ceremony.
听第8段材料，回答第11至13题。
11. Why does the woman choose to stay in the UK
A. It provides opportunities.
B. Her parents want her to stay there.
C. She doesn’t like her home country.
12. What will the woman do next
A. Go to a research center.
B. Study in the office.
C. Ask for advice.
13. What are the speakers talking about
A. Their parents. B. A career plan. C. Working experience.
听第9段材料，回答第14至16题。
14. Why is the woman listening to books while exercising
A. Multitasking saves time.
B. She hates listening to music.
C. It adds enjoyment to exercise.
15. What can we say about the man
A. He admires the woman.
B. He likes making fun of others.
C. He is good at time management.
16. What will the woman talk about next
A. Behaving well. B. Being efficient. C. Giving suggestions.
听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。
17. How old was Morpurgo when he started teaching
A. 24. B. 34. C. 44.
18. Why did Morpurgo set up farms
A. To get away from teaching.
B. To leave him with good memories.
C. To expose children to plants and animals.
19. What is Morpurgo good at
A. Making TV shows. B. Telling stories. C. Performing magic.
20. Which came second in the Whitebread Children’s Book Award
A. War Horse. B. The Butterfly Lion. C. My Friend Walter.
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
Frequently Asked Questions about Assessment
Does it matter if my coursework is too long or too short
The word count for each piece of coursework should be provided on the title page. IOE allows a 10% margin(差额) on the word limit set for the coursework. For example, if the word limit is 5, 000 words, you can submit an assessment of between 4, 500 and 5, 500 words. Note that if your work exceeds (超出) the 10% margin, it will automatically fail.
When is the deadline for coursework assignments
Final deadlines for coursework submissions are normally 2 calendar months after the end of term in which the module runs. Coursework deadlines will be published on your programme web-page at the start of the academic year. The deadline for reports is normally the first working day in September. Note that you MUST submit your coursework by the deadline and that failure to do so results in automatic fail.
When will I receive the grade and feedback for my coursework
Your coursework and report are independently marked by two members of staff. Once the markers have agreed a grade, you will be informed of your results by the programme administrator. We aim to complete this process within 4 weeks of the submission deadline. Feedback and grades are not guaranteed within 4 weeks for extended, delayed, or resubmitted coursework. In special circumstances, you may apply for additional time to complete your coursework but must submit the evidence proving you are impacted by unforeseen factors. The time should be not later than two weeks before the original deadline.
If you are in any doubt about the assessment, please approach the programme administrator for details.
21. What results in an automatic fail
A. Exceeding the word limit.
B. Not providing the word count.
C. Missing the coursework deadline.
D. Not publishing the coursework.
22. What can you do if you have doubts about the feedback you received
A. Consult the programme administrator.
B. Submit evidence to support your case.
C. Revise your approach based on details.
D. Contact the markers who provided the feedback.
23. Where is this text probably taken from
A. A textbook. B. An exam paper.
C. An academic article. D. A programme handbook.
B
Michael Faraday was an English chemist and physicist born in a working class on 22 September 1791. Faraday’s father suffered from long-term health problems that often impeded his work. As a result, Faraday’s family had little money and Faraday got a very little formal schooling. But Faraday had an active curiosity and determination to learn. While working in London as a teenager, he had access to a wide range of books and he read everything he could get his hands on. By doing a lot of reading, Faraday soon educated himself on many scientific subjects, and his life as a scientist began.
In 1812, Faraday attended four lectures at the Royal Institution given by a famous chemist named Humphrey Davy. Afterwards Faraday sent a letter to Davy, expressing a strong interest in the subjects covered in the lectures and offering his services as a lab assistant. A year later, Davy accepted Faraday as his lab assistant. Thanks to his work with Davy, Faraday got a complete scientific education.
He soon began to research and experiments with electricity. Although his time was mostly spent helping Davy, Faraday began to work on his own as a chemist and scientist of great importance. When Davy retired in 1827, Faraday took his place as the head of the chemistry department of the Royal Institute. Upon taking up the position he could focus on his own research, and Faraday’s most influential and celebrated work began in the 1830s. In 1831, he discovered electromagnetic induction(电磁感应), a breakthrough in the field of technology. In 1846 he gave a lecture that presented important ideas about the nature of electricity, and these later inspired the historical work of James Maxwell related to electromagnetic field theory.
24. What does the underlined word “impeded” in Paragraph 1 mean
A. Stopped. B. Saved. C. Changed. D. Increased.
25. What do we know about Faraday’s teenage life
A. He didn’t go to school. B. He lived a carefree life.
C. He learned science on his own. D. He got much help from his parents.
26. Why did Faraday offer his services to Davy
A. To earn more money. B. To show respect for Davy.
C. To learn more about Davy. D. To learn more about science.
27. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about
A. The help Davy gave to Faraday. B. The turning point in Faraday’s life.
C. Faraday’s academic achievement. D. Faraday’s influence on James Maxwell.
C
Women were less likely than men to support the Vietnam war, the Gulf war, or the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. They commit far fewer murders. They are less likely to favor strikes. For some scholars, these are grounds for thinking that a world run by women would be more peaceful.
But European history suggests otherwise, according to political scientists Oeindrila Dube and S. P. Harish. They studied how often European rulers went to war between 1480 and 1913, and found that states ruled by queens were 27% more likely to get involved in wars than those ruled by kings.
This was not all the queens’ fault: men, seeing them as soft targets, tended to attack them. Frederick the Great of Prussia once declared:“ No woman should ever be allowed to govern anything.” Shortly after becoming king, he attacked the newly crowned Archduchess of Austria, Maria Theresa, and seized Silesia province. Despite years of war, she never recovered it.
But perceived weakness is not the whole story. Queens, the researchers found, were more likely to gain new territory. Catherine the Great expanded her empire by some 200,000 square miles. And married queens were more aggressive than single queens or kings, whether single or married.
The authors suggest several reasons for this. First, married queens may have been able to form more military alliances(联盟), making them confident enough to pick fights. Their husbands had often served in the army before they married, and were well placed to strengthen military ties between their homelands and their wives’ states.
Second, unlike most kings, queens often gave their husbands a lot of power, putting them in charge of foreign policy or the economy. During the 1740s, Maria Theresa’s husband, Francis I, reformed the Austrian economy and raised money for the armed forces while his wife ruled much of central Europe. Prince Albert was Queen Victoria’s most trusted adviser, shaping her foreign policy until his death in1861. This division of labor, the authors suggest, freed up time for queens to pursue more aggressive policies.
The modern era, too, has witnessed female leaders in wars: Golda Meir and the Yom Kippur war, or Margaret Thatcher and the Falklands. The number of countries led by women has more than doubled since 2000, but there is plenty of room for improvement: the current level of 15 represents less than 10 % of the total. A world in which more women took power might be more equal. Whether it would be more peaceful is a different question.
28. What does the underlined “perceived weakness” in paragraph 4 mean
A. women were less likely to support wars
B. women could not recover lost territory
C. women commit far fewer crimes
D. women were soft targets
29. Why were married queens more likely to gain new territory
A. Because their military alliances picked fights for them.
B. Because they were ambitious and aggressive by nature.
C. Because their husbands were supportive in state governing.
D. Because they usually centralized all power into their own hands.
30. What is the purpose of mentioning the two female leaders in the last paragraph
A. To imply there is room for improvement in gender equality.
B. To indicate more females become leaders in modern times.
C. To illustrate female leaders cannot prevent wars in modern times.
D. To suggest female leaders have their share of wars in modern times.
31. According to the passage, what conclusion can we safely come to
A. married women are not fit to govern their states on their own
B. the division of labor allows queens to survive economic crisis
C. female leaders should be responsible for all wars throughout history
D. A more peaceful world cannot be guaranteed even if more women took power
D
The rise of satellite-enabled GPS was revolutionary for navigation, and with the rise of mobile phones, anyone can have their personal navigation. GPS navigation apps enable egocentric (自我中心的) navigation with easy-to-follow turn-by-turn directions. With these conveniences at our fingertips, we are no longer active navigators, we are passive passengers aboard the GPS.
However, multiple experiments have shown that this easy egocentric navigation also reduces spatial awareness and mental mapping when compared to more traditional forms like paper maps.
Our question is: Can we find a way to still use GPS but reduce the harmful effects of current GPS navigation on memory The challenge is to create alternative forms of GPS navigation that will remain easy enough for the general public, but also enable traditional navigation and thus be more likely to improve spatial awareness.
Our research finds that appropriately-designed audio beacons (声音指引) offer an alternative that develops a much more active form of egocentric navigation. Instead of guiding users to turn right and turn left on the way to their desired destination, we can change a location of interest to a distinctive auditory beacon via earbuds or headphones. Our auditory navigation application, known as Soundscape, has an effect that resembles a church bell, where loud ringing of the bell or calls to prayer can be heard at great distance; our would-be navigator can make way by heading toward the sound.
Auditory beacon navigation is an example of how we are entering into an era where negative effects of automation on our brain health will be at the forefront of technological development. Technology does not need to replace our evolutionary functions and distance us from our environments, but rather with appropriate design can add the sensory inputs processed by our brain. Perhaps instead of evolving into a new species of turn-by-turn zombies, we can thereby all engage more deeply with humanity, our local environment and life itself.
32. How does GPS navigation negatively affect people
A. It turns people into active navigators.
B. It makes people develop to be selfish.
C. It weakens their abilities to find their ways.
D. It encourages people form bad habits while driving.
33. What makes it difficult to reduce the harmful effects of current GPS navigation
A. Creating new apps to improve health.
B. Replacing those technological functions.
C. Making alternative forms more intelligent.
D. Combining the conveniences and traditional ways.
34. What is the possible solution mentioned in the text
A. Properly designed signal guides. B. Distinctive headphones.
C. New species of turning zombies. D. Automated brain processors.
35. What can be inferred in the last paragraph
A. Technology will distance people from the environment.
B. Technology is not necessarily connected to people’s lifestyle.
C. It’s impossible to wipe out all the negative effects of technology.
D. A good design is to develop a bond between technology and human instinct.
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能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Everyone knows about straight-A students. Many straight-A students actually put in fewer hours of homework time than their low-scoring classmates. Here are some secrets of the young study champions.
36 .
Top students bear no breaks on study time. Once the books are open or the computer is booted up, phone calls go unanswered, TV shows unwatched, and snacks ignored. Study is business; business comes before recreation.
Get organized.
Paul Melendres, a straight-A freshman from New Mexico, keeps two folders — one for the day’s assignments, another for papers completed and graded. 37 . Melendres’ methods have actually proven effective. Even students who don’t have a private study area remain organized to cut down time-wasting searches.
Clean up your act.
Neat papers are likely to get higher grades than sloppy ones. “The student who turns in a neat paper,” says Claude Olney, an Arizona State University business professor, “is already on the way to an A. It’s like being served a cheeseburger. ____38 . ”
Speak up.
“If I don’t understand what my teacher is explaining, I asked him to repeat it,” says Christopher Campbell. Class participation goes beyond merely asking questions, though. 39 . “Better academic grades come from better understanding.” says Campell. “I don’t want to memorize information for tests only.”
Test yourself.
As part of her note-taking, Domenica Roman emphasizes points that she thinks may be covered during exams. 40 . Later she gives herself a written examination before test day. “If I can’t answer the questions satisfactorily, I will go back and review.” she says.
A. Set priorities.
B. Schedule your time.
C. She designs test questions based on them.
D. It’s a matter of showing intellectual curiosity.
E. A bag or drawer keeps essential supplies together.
F. Hard work isn’t the whole story behind their academic grades.
G. You can’t believe it tastes good if it’s presented on a dirty plate.
第三部分 语言运用（共两节，满分30分）
第一节（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
阅读下面短文，从每题所给的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。
The other day, my friend Sara was telling me about a relationship with her colleague that was broken beyond repair. The two of them had been close enough and then one day, Sara had, with the best 41 , done something that her colleague had completely misunderstood and had taken 42 at.
Things went 43 and became worse. Sara didn’t know how to repair the relationship. She began to get angry at her colleague for misunderstanding her and judging her. She felt 44 in her anger. The two of them still were not really speaking and certainly weren’t working together.
It was time to do something to 45 the situation. I asked Sara what she needed. After much thought, she told me that she needed her colleague to be willing to listen to her with an open mind, to consider that she hadn’t 46 any harm by what she’d done and to apologize for taking things so 47 and making things so bad.
“Ah .….”I said to her.“You want a(n) 48 .”She looked at me and then looked away. She’d known me long enough that she knew what was 49 .“What do you think your colleague might want ”I asked.
She didn’t have to 50 . Undoubtedly, she knew what my 51 was.“Did you ever apologize ” I asked her. She shook her head.“ Do you think you might want to apologize ” I asked her. She shrugged her shoulders ... then shook her head.
Sometimes we take too long to apologize. We justify our 52 , saying it won’t really make a difference. Or they should apologize first. Or they simply misunderstood us. 53 , I’ve found and realized an apology -- a true, heartfelt apology -- can 54 wonders. It can fix the 55 .
41. A. options B. ideas C. errors D. intentions
42. A. surprise B. offense C. chance D. time
43. A. satisfactory B. sour C. mad D. cheerful
44. A. justified B. qualified C. identified D. adjusted
45. A. anticipate B. correct C. present D. attend
46. A. reflected B. caused C. settled D. meant
47. A. frequently B. seriously C. critically D. logically
48. A. reason B. explanation C. clarification D. apology
49. A. coming B. charging C. hitting D. lifting
50. A. admit B. interrupt C. answer D. guarantee
51. A. command B. point C. advice D. attempt
52. A. mistake B. unwillingness C. impression D. spirit
53. A. Therefore B. Meanwhile C. However D. Furthermore
54. A. engage B. raise C. create D. fix
55. A. unbelievable B. incomparable C. inaccessible D. unrepairable
第二节（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Since July 2019, China’s online food-delivery platform Eleme 56 (carry) out a new service of picking up garbage from its users in Shanghai.
The service comes after 57 recently-released regulation on waste management in Shanghai. Individuals that throw away their garbage 58 being sorted out can be fined up to 200 yuan, while companies and 59 (organize) can face fines up to 50,000 yuan.
The trash takeaway service requires residents to sort 60 (they) own garbage before it is picked up by workers from Eleme, 61 will definitely dispose of the waste in the correct garbage bins.
It’s obvious that this service is convenient to the old, 62 (especial) to the disabled customers. 63 , many netizens on Sina Weibo don’t think Eleme is providing a wonderful service, 64 (complain) it just wants to make money. They think 12 yuan for an order is too much. Besides, many more people doubt 65 these collectors will wash their hands after dealing with the trash.
第四部分 写作（共两节，满分40分）
第一节（满分15分）
假如你是红星中学高三学生李华。你的英国朋友Jim在给你的邮件中提到他对中国家庭的家风家训很感兴趣，并请你介绍相关内容。请你给Jim回信，内容包括：
1. 家训对于一个家庭的意义；
2. 你家的一条家训；
3. 该家训对你的影响。
Dear Jim,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
第二节（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。
Younger cried. Her mum was to provide medical treatment in Pakistan for a whole year. She couldn’t imagine how she would get by without her mother’s company. Mum cooked her dinner every night, and Mum took good care of her. Mum was her best friend. They talked together, they spent their leisure time together, and except for school and work, they were never apart. So Younger was unhappy about her mother’s leaving without even asking for her input.
“Why now I will have college entrance exam this year!” Younger complained. Her face fell. Mum smelled a tense atmosphere hovering in the air. She carefully picked each explanatory word. But Younger had built a wall between them. Only several words like POOR, DISABILITIES, RESPONSIBILITY, SAVE…were lucky enough to float over it and into her ears. Feeling heartbroken and abandoned, she stormed into her room, banging the door shut. She threw herself onto the bed and cried like a baby. Mum knocked and knocked. But Younger just wanted to be left alone.
Younger overestimated her ability to stop Mum, to whom Pakistan was a magnet(磁铁). Two days later, Mum left for Pakistan. It seemed they went their separate ways. Younger cried a lot. Her eyes were always red, so red that her head teacher suggested she should not stay up too late attacking math problems. Her classmates also offered their ways of studying math. Only her father knew the secret.
Mum called her after settling in Pakistan for one week. The voice instantly brought a sparkle into Younger’s eyes. They excitedly filled each other in on what happened recently. Mum giggled when she heard the story of Younger’s red eyes. And the daughter found her mother was speaking English with a Pakistani accent.
Time wore on quickly and it was October when students had a short holiday. Younger couldn’t wait to visit her Mum. Dad booked air tickets. After some preparations, they boarded the plane bound for Pakistan.
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。
Paragraph 1:
After arrival, Younger was told her mother was out for a medical task.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
Back at school, she was determined to study harder and follow Mum’s lead.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________重庆市重点中学校2023-2024学年高三上学期入学考试
参考答案
听力
CABCB CBCAC ACBAA BACBA
阅读
CAD ACDC DCDD CDAD
36-40 AEGDC
完型填空
41-55 DBBAB DBDAC BBCCD
语法填空
56. has carried 57.a 58．without 59．organizations 60．their 61．who 62. especially 63．However 64．complaining 65．whether/if
应用文
Dear Jim,
Rejoiced at receiving your inquiry about Chinese family mottoes, I cannot wait to compose this letter to brief you on its profound significance and the motto applied in my family.
Firstly, a family motto is to family members what a compass to a voyager. When someone in the family struggles through tough time, certain philosophical verses may be employed to refresh the mind and fuel the soul. Carrying the family’s core values, the thought-provoking phrase is passed down from one generation to another.
A contented mind is a perpetual feast. That is my family motto, which means if happy and satisfied, one will not strive to acquire more. So demanding a girl was I that I always complained to my parents about what I didn’t possess. Once I reframed my priorities in accordance with the motto, broad-minded become I.
Hope my introduction can offer you an insight.
Yours,
Li Hua
读后续写
After arrival, Younger was told her mother was out for a medical task. Slightly discouraged but overwhelmingly eager to reunite with Mum, Younger jumped to the decision to visit her at work. Scarcely had Younger arrived at Mum’s working place when she captured a slim figure, working assiduously beside a humble medical tent, apparently exhausted but still focused on the task at hand. Malnutritional patients in rags waiting in line, the devoted soul diagnosing and prescribing, it dawned on Younger that magnet-like Pakistan did mean those four floated words said by Mum. Time ticked by quickly, and it was time to return. Younger’s mum said firmly: “I’m sure you can take care of yourself at home, my dear, and you can be independent!”
Back at school, she was determined to study harder and follow Mum’s lead. Independently completing various tasks assigned by teachers, diligently drilling each math exercise and actively helping those peers who are academically challenged, Younger applied herself to the preparation of college entrance exam. In life’s regard, it was Mum’s words that enlightened Younger to manage to cook dinner for herself and do the laundry on her own, even though Mum wasn’t around. From a crying baby girl to an independent and obliging individual, Younger changed. This is the power of love.
听力录音材料
Text 1
W: Traditionally, a couple give each other flowers or fruit.
M: But my wife prefers appliances to make home more efficient.
W: She must be quite reasonable and good at freeing up time.
Text 2
M: Let’s take the fast train to Paris, even though it’s more expensive than flying.
W: But I prefer to drive a car.
M: It’s up to you.
Text 3
W: I have told you many times. If everyone littered like you, the earth wouldn’t be livable! We should recycle everything for our own good!
M: All right, I’ll do my best!
Text 4
M: How long have you felt like this
W: Nearly two days. I started throwing up just after having the take-out my boyfriend ordered.
M: Don’t worry. I’ll give you a check-up.
Text 5
W: It’s freezing in here! Peter, you’re nearest to the window. Would you mind closing it
M: If I were you, I would put on a warm coat.
Text 6
W: Hello, Rohan. Have you started preparing for the exam
M: No. I will start tomorrow.
W: The exam is too near, Rohan. Do you remember your marks in the last exam Why are you still saying tomorrow
M: Actually, math is too tough for me. I think I have to improve my basics. Otherwise, I can’t study well alone.
W: Why you haven’t told me this I would have helped e to the office at 4 o’clock after class.
M: Oh, thank you so much.
Text 7
W: Would you drop this dress off at the dry cleaner’s for me
M: Okay, but it’s a little out of my way. Can I do it on Saturday
W: No. If you take it today, I’ll be able to pick it up on Saturday morning. Dry cleaning usually takes one day. I’d like to have it in time for the wedding.
M: Wedding What wedding
W: Don’t you remember Your niece Sylvia is going to get married on Sunday.
M: Oh, no! That’s the day of the championship football game. I bought tickets a month in advance.
W: That’s too bad, but surely you can see the wedding is more important.
M: Of course. My friend will be happy to have my ticket.
Text 8
M: Hi, Susan. How are you You don’t look very happy.
W: I”m alright really. But it's my parents. They want me to go back to Thailand after I graduate.
M: Why don’t you want to go back
W: I want to pursue a career in computer engineering. I don’t think I can do that in my home country.
M: Do you think you can easily land your first job here in the UK
W: With many opportunities available, I believe it will be easier for me to build my career here.
M: What position do you actually want for your future career
W: I want to work full-time as a research scientist specializing in computer engineering.
M: Awesome! Have you consulted the career advisor at the career center office
W: No, not yet. It never crossed my mind. Will you go with me now
M: Of course.
Text 9
M: Hi, Meg. Are you listening to music
W: No. I’m listening to sound books. This way, I can listen to books and exercise in the gym at the same time.
M: Cool! You can do two things at once.
W: Actually, for me, I do enjoy the sound of pages turning. I used to borrow paper books from the City Library, although it is far from my house. But my schedule is tight, you know!
M: Sounds like you’re good at multitasking.
W: Yes. I can even watch television while responding to work emails.
M: Would you email one person while talking with another or text a message while driving
W: No! It’s impolite or illegal.
M: I was just joking! But how I wish I could balance things at the same time. Will you please give me some suggestions on how to become as efficient as you
W: No problem!
Text 10
Michael Morpurgo, born in St. Albans in 1943, is the author of many well-known books for children, five of which have been made into films. After a brief and unsuccessful period in the army, he took up teaching in 1967, when he found his true interest in writing. He left teaching after ten years in order to set up a charity “Farms for City Children” with his wife. He thought what children needed most were wonderful and memorable experiences that would help them find more about the world and themselves. They have three farms in Devon, Wales and Gloucestershire, open to inner city school children who come to stay and work with the plants and animals. He is also a father and grandfather. Children have always played a large part in his life.
Morpurgo has a gift for magical storytelling. His most popular books include War Horse, which was a runner-up for the Whitbread Children’s Book Award in 1982 and became an enormous success on stage and on screen; My Friend Walter, which was adapted for television. The Butterfly Lion draws on the author’s own unhappy experiences at boarding school. He was awarded an Order of the British Empire in 2006 for services to literature.
