哈尔滨市重点中学校2023-2024学年高三上学期第二次验收考试
英语 试卷
注意事项：
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. 回答选择题时，选出每小题答案后，用铅笔把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。如需改动，用橡皮擦干净后，再选涂其他答案标号。回答非选择题时，将答案写在答题卡上，写在本试卷上无效。
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，从题中给出的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间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
19.15 B. 9.15 C. 9.18
答案是B。
1. Who could have made the reservation
A. Mary. B. Burton. C. David.
2. What does the man offer to do
A. Pay for the bill. B. Do the cooking. C. Get something to eat.
3. Why doesn’t the man want to go to the beach
A. He can’t bear the hot weather.
B. He has no interest in the beach.
C. He will play in the football match.
4. What does the woman mean
A. The man is annoying. B. Her homework is too hard. C. The man is absent-minded.
5. How did the woman find out the place
A. She learned it on the Internet.
B. She found it on her way to work.
C. She knew about it from her colleague.
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。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至7题。
6. What does the man say about his uncle
A. He is famous. B. He is clever. C. He is popular.
7. When did the man’s uncle begin to do medical research
A. At the age of 10. B. At the age of 15. C. At the age of 25.
听第 7 段材料，回答第 8 至 10 题。
8. Where are the speakers
A. On the third floor. B. On the fourth floor. C. On the fifth floor.
9. Where is the children’s clothes section
A. Next to a play area. B. To the left of the lift. C. At the end of the first floor.
10. What will the woman do next
A. Visit the play area. B. Buy a child’s shirt. C. Withdraw some money.
听第 8 段材料，回答第 11 至 13 题。
11. What season is it
A. Summer. B. Autumn. C. Winter.
12. Why does the man disagree about a walk in the countryside
A. It is boring. B. It is tiring. C. The weather is bad.
13. What outdoor activity do the speakers decide on
A. Ice-skating. B. Climbing. C. Fishing.
听第 9 段材料，回答第 14 至 16 题。
14. What is the probable relationship between the speakers
A. Classmates. B. Parent and child. C. Teacher and student.
15. What does the man suggest the woman do about her report
A. Give examples. B. Make comparisons. C. Tell stories.
16. What will the speakers discuss next
A. The schoolbag. B. Computers. C. Pictures.
听第 10 段材料，回答第 17 至 20 题。
17. What did the study in the U.K. find out
A. Five people got hurt while doing DIY.
B. Half of the people planned to do DIY in the future.
C. Many people failed to complete some DIY tasks.
18. How did the speaker’s friend feel about the accident
A. She was worried. B. She was annoyed. C. She was shocked.
19. Why did the speaker think he was lucky
A. He repaired his shelves. B. He wasn’t badly hurt. C. He finished his DIY work.
20. What is the talk mainly about
A. Unexpected mistakes. B. House repairs. C. DIY troubles.
第二部分 阅读理解（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，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
A
Fall 2023 Transfer Student Orientation（迎新会）Schedule
Transfer Student Orientation is designed to offer you a vigorous introduction to the university, including informational sessions and small-group discussions that will help you navigate your academic program, campus resources, extracurricular activities, and student life on the campus. Through TSO, you’ll also have the opportunity to connect with Transfer Student Leaders (TSL), who will serve as a guide throughout your first semester.
Registration: Friday, August 18
1:00 pm - 4:30 pm Check in to receive your student ID card. If you have uploaded a photo for your ID, you’ll simply pick up your card; otherwise, staff will take your picture and print the ID card while you wait. Check in at your residence hall (if you’re to live on campus). Your ID card functions as your residence hall room key. Student Life Center Plaza
4:30 pm - 9:00 pm Get to know your Transfer Student Leader and other members of the new transfer fellows by participating in fun activities at this reception. Refreshments will be served. Student Life Center Ballroom
Orientation Day: Saturday, August 19
8:00 am - 12:00 pm Welcome & Campus Tours Get your orientation materials. Explore banking options and open a bank account. Then students and families will learn about key campus locations during campus tours which are led by Transfer Student Leaders. Student Life Center Lobby
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm Lunch & Resource Fair You and your family members are invited to enjoy lunch with Transfer Student Leaders. After lunch, you’ll learn about university resources and involvement opportunities at the Resource Fair. Working staff will be available to let you know about the resources, curriculum arrangement and support for the students. Student Dining Hall
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Student Life & Campus Safety Learn about life outside the classroom. Small groups will work together to solve your life challenges. Information about campus safety will also be shared. Student Life Center Plaza
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Announcements & Closing A representative from the Office of the Dean of Students will discuss the expectations for you as a member of the community, and address campus values. Student Life Center Meeting Room
21. What are you required to do on the day of registration
A. Get the student ID card. B. Take a picture and print it.
C. Open a bank account. D. Visit some campus locations.
22. When do you probably learn about university activities and optional courses
A. 9:00 am. B. 12:00 pm. C. 2:00 pm. D. 5:00 pm.
23. Which of the following is true about TSL
A. They will accompany transfer students for one year.
B. They will address campus values to transfer students.
C. They will get paid by transfer students’ parents.
D. They will help transfer students adapt to new school life well.
B
If I have a life-time goal, it’s not to be driving a Bentley. It is to give away more than $5,000,000 a year and having an influence on people’s lives. I have the success today because I always had to work for what I wanted. I grew up used to risks and disappointments, so I was accustomed to moving forward, no matter what.
In 2010, I went to New York where I tried to get hired as an agent, an analyst and a financial broker. Unfortunately, all these doors slammed in my face. The world’s economy was in a bad state, so I knew I would have to do a little spinning of my own.
Youth involves a certain innocence but also perseverance. The word “can’t” was not in my vocabulary. I partnered with a friend buying distressed multifamily properties around Chicago. Even though we were enthusiastic and backed with start-up sums, I didn’t make a deal work. My friend moved on to other projects. Alone, I put all my money into the next real-estate project. I put the time in, I dreamed it, but once again the deal fell through. Two months later, though, the deal came back around. That was when the path opened, luck changed, and I was ready to form my own company. I haven’t looked back. Only ahead.
I’m now able to give back to communities and causes. I donate about $600,000 a year, much of that going to research to cure rare diseases. We also support a lot of services for disadvantaged children in Chicago and other places.
I have always been someone who can see the big picture and have never been distracted by things that get in the way. There are lessons to be learned, and the biggest of those is to keep going. You may have to change the path, but always keep that vision in front of you.
24. What can we learn about the author
A. He changed jobs several times while in New York.
B. He donated much money to improve his company’s image.
C. He started his company with a friend.
D. He encountered difficulties in the process of growing up.
25. By saying “do a little spinning of my own” in Paragraph 2, the author probably means he would _____________.
A. start his own business B. get around for support
C. make his contributions to society D. look for a casual job instead
26. Which of the following words best describe the author
A. Determined and persistent. B. Fortunate and kind.
C. Aggressive and innocent. D. Adventurous and enthusiastic.
27. Which of the following is the best title for the text
A. Starting Your Own Business B. Never Look Back
C. Jumping over Economic Downturns D. Pursue Success in Business
C
Do you think you are guided by a celebrity in your navigation app Of course not. The voice you hear in the navigation software was actually synthesized（合成）. To find out what’s involved in the process of reproducing human voices, I approached Speech Morphing, a natural language speech synthesis company, about creating a digital double of my own voice.
Given the complexities of speech synthesis, it’s quite a shock to find out just how easy it is to order one up. For a basic conversational model, all I have to do is record myself saying a few hundreds of phrases for roughly an hour. The phrases seem very random: “That’s what Carnegie did.” “I’d like to be buried under Yan kee Stadium with JFK.” and so on.
But they aren’t as random as they appear. “We choose spoken words that will produce a wide enough variety of sounds across a range of emotions, such as sadness and anger, to feed an AI training system. It then teaches itself the specific patterns of a person’s speech,” says Speech Morphing founder Fathy Yassa.
Yassa says there are around 20 tones to choose from, and some of these can be used interchangeably, or not at all. “Not every tone is needed for every client,” he says. “The choice depends on the target application and use cases. Banking is different from reporting and broadcasting.”
The possibilities for my digital double are limitless. At a training session with Speech Morphing, I get to hear my digital voice double. The voice comes at me through a pair of speakers connected to a laptop. The laptop has software into which whatever text I want it to say is typed. The software includes tools to make adjustments to the tone, speed and other vocal features that might need to be adjusted if my digital double doesn’t come out sounding exactly right.
“We can already make you sound sad. We can also make you act like you’re reporting and broadcasting now,” Yassa says. “We can make you sound like acting in the theatre, eventually, though we’re not yet there. It is too advanced.”
28. What does the second paragraph mainly talk about
A. The steps of data processing. B. The goal of the experiment.
C. The process of data collecting. D. The complexities of the speech.
29. What is the requirement for the collected voice
A. It must cover different kinds of daily topics.
B. The sounds can express a wide range of feelings.
C. Every person needs to produce around 20 tones.
D. It has to be collected according to strict guidelines.
30. Which of the following plays a key role in generating a digital double
A. A typing software. B. A pair of loudspeakers.
C. A recording machine. D. An AI training system.
31. Which of the following is true according to the text
A. Speech synthesis products are easy to order but complicated to create.
B. We must teach the AI training system patterns of people’s speech.
C. The digital double can’t be adjusted once made.
D. The current technology can make you sound like performing in a theater.
D
With visitor numbers around the world increasing towards pre-pandemic levels, the issue of overtourism is once again rearing its head. When locals in the charming Austrian lakeside village of Hallstatt staged a blockade（封锁）of the main access tunnel, asking visitors to ‘think of the children’, it highlighted what can happen when places start to feel overrun by tourists.
The term “overtourism” is relatively new, having been invented over a decade ago to highlight the increasing numbers of visitors taking a toll on cities, landmarks and landscapes. In essence, it is too many people in one place at any given time. There are the wide-reaching effects, such as climate change. Coral reefs, like the Great Barrier Reef and Maya Bay, Thailand are being degraded from visitors diving and touching the corals. More localized issues are affecting locals, too. Renters are being driven out by landlords in favour of turning properties into holiday lets, and house prices are escalating as a result. As visitors and rental properties outnumber local residents, communities are being lost.
Overcrowding is an issue for both locals and tourists. It can ruin the experience of sightseeing for those trapped in long queues, unable to visit museums, galleries and sites without advance booking, rising costs for basics like food, drink and hotels, and faced with the inability to experience the wonder of a place in relative solitude. Justin Francis, co-founder and CEO of Responsible Travel, a tour operator that focuses on more sustainable travel, says “Social media has concentrated tourism in hotspots and worsened the problem, and tourist numbers globally are increasing while destinations have a finite capacity. Until local people are properly consulted about what they want and don’t want from tourism, we’ll see more protests.”
Of the 800 residents in the UNESCO-listed village of Hallstatt, around 100 turned out in August to show their displeasure and to push for a limit on daily visitors and a curfew（宵禁）on tour coach arrivals. Elsewhere, residents in Venice fought long and hard for a ban on cruise ships, with protest flags often hanging from windows. In Rome, sitting at popular sites, such as the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, has been restricted by the authorities.
There are ways to better manage tourism by promoting more off-season travel, limiting numbers where possible and having greater regulation within the industry. Encouraging more sustainable travel and finding solutions to reduce friction between residents and tourists could also have positive impacts. Promoting alternative, less-visited spots to redirect travelers may also offer some benefits.
What is the function of the first paragraph
A. An introduction to the main topic.
B. A tale to attract readers’ attention.
C. The background information of a story.
D. The explanation of the term “overtourism”
33. Which of the following is not affected negatively by overtourism
A. The environment. B. The local communities.
C. The landowners. D. The renters.
34. What can be inferred form Paragraph 3 and 4
A. Overcrowding merely causes trouble for the locals.
B. Social media contributes to overtourism in a sense.
C. Scenic spots can receive infinite tourists as long as locals don’t protest.
D. Tourists are banned to stay at the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps.
35. What’s the text mainly about
A. Some wonderful tourist destinations around the world.
B. Comparison of tourism before and after the pandemic.
C. The harm to locals’ life caused by overcrowding.
D. The damage and possible solutions of overtourism.
第二节（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5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。
For the first twenty-two years or so of our lives, our main “job” is learning. And then, once we graduate, we feel like the education phase of our lives is done. But just because you’ve finished your formal education, it doesn’t mean that your education is over.
Promote a growth mindset. To become an effective lifelong learner you need to adopt a mindset that is in line with how your brains really work. People have one of two “mindsets”— fixed or growth. Individuals with a fixed mindset believe that their intelligence and talents are innate（天生的）and fixed. ___36___ Folks with a growth mindset believe that they can improve themselves through work and practice.
Change your idea of learning. Learning doesn’t have to be in a formal classroom setting. In fact, most of the useful stuff you know was probably picked up informally from family, friends, and good old trial and error. To become a lifelong learner, get rid of the idea that you need to sign up for a class to actually learn something. ___37___ Remember that learning isn’t limited to what’s found in books — acquiring practical skill sets is a big part of it too.
Ask questions. ___38___ You can’t just passively consume information. While you’re reading and talking to experts, ask questions. Don’t know what to ask Check out the great post we published last year on how to ask questions. Don’t worry about looking or sounding like an idiot. Swallow your pride.
Practice, practice, practice. Don’t just read or listen your way to knowledge. ___39___ If you’re learning about art, visit a museum and try to identify which paintings belong to the Romantic period. If you’re learning about wilderness survival, get out into the wild every month and put those skills to use.
Teach what you’re learning. To truly learn something you need to teach it. When we teach, we become truly motivated to learn the material because we want to ensure proper instruction. ___40___ The clarity and insight produced during the process are what we lack.
Learning is a long course.
They don’t think they can improve with work and effort.
Find a way to put that knowledge to work.
Learning opportunities are all around you.
Effective learning requires active participation.
Teaching also forces us to look at a concept with a beginner’s mind
Every mindset will affect your learning course and your aim.
第三部分 语言运用（共两节，满分30分）
第一节 完型填空（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。
UPS deliveryman Ryan Arens was making his rounds near a pond, when he heard a strange sound. It was December, and about 15 feet from the frozen bank was the ___41___ of that sound — a brown-and-white wire-haired hound（猎犬）had fallen through the thin layer of ice. An elderly man was already on the ___42___, determined to save her. He was trying to ___43___ the pond and was striking the ice with a rock to create a(n) ___44___ to the dog, but seemed to be struggling.
Arens, 44, thought he ___45___ a better chance. “Animals are my weakness,” he said, explaining ___46___ he chose to take off his overcoat, even though the temperature was minus 15 and ___47___ the rescue task.
After breaking the ice using the man’s rock, Arens jumped into the icy water. He surfaced in time to see the dog going under. Arens swam about five feet toward the dog, grabbed hold of her collar, and ___48___ her out of the water and onto the ice. He then put the dog into the boat and slid it back to the bank, where ___49___ bystanders carried the dog to the home of the rowboat’s owner, a retired vet. ___50___ in the house himself, Arens jumped into a warm shower with the dog. A few more minutes in the pond, the vet told Arens, and the dog would have likely ___51___.
The next day, Arens was again making his ___52___ in the neighborhood when the dog’s owner came ___53___ to thank him for saving Sadie. “Would you like to meet her ” he asked. Then he opened the door of his pickup, and Sadie jumped out. She went ___54___ toward Arens, leaping around him and kissing him. Arens said that special delivery was the ___55___ of his UPS career.
41. A. speed B. source C. cause D. volume
42. A. scene B. way C. road D. air
43. A. bridged B. emptied C. entered D. crossed
44. A. solution B. approach C. path D. entrance
45. A. deserved B. took C. enhanced D. stood
46. A. why B. when C. how D. whether
47. A. broke in B. took over C. brought about D. drew upon
48. A. threw B. passed C. shipped D. pulled
49. A. dynamic B. indifferent C. anxious D. curious
50. A. Unless B. Once C. Since D. Until
51. A. fled B. returned C. survived D. died
52. A. living B. rounds C. trip D. activities
53. A. over B. across C. off D. about
54. A. directly B. abruptly C. casually D. friendly
55. A. exception B. caution C. highlight D. advance
第二节 单句语法填空（共10小题; 每小题1.5分, 满分15分）
阅读下面句子，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Simple __________ (direct) for assembling the model are printed on the box.
I was impressed by the __________ (efficient) with which she handled the crisis.
It is illegal for public officials to ask for gifts or money in exchange ______ favors.
The book is an __________ (expand) of a series of lectures given last year.
Scientists have many theories about how the universe first came into __________ (exist).
They landed safely on the island in the Pacific. Everything went on better than previously __________ (expect).
Teaching is fun and challenging. It is a job _____ you are doing something serious but interesting.
The news reporters hurried to the airport, only__________ (tell) the sports stars had left.
He couldn’t make out why it was __________ she refused to admit there was a problem in her plan.
Generous husband __________ he might be, he was more than angry with his wife — she spent all their savings on a diamond necklace.
第四部分 写作（共两节，满分40分）
第一节（满分15分）
假定你是李华，上周你学校邀请了几位专家来校做职业生涯规划的讲座，你校英国交换生John当时正休病假。请你给John发一封邮件，介绍相关情况，内容包括：
讲座的目的；
2. 讲座的主要内容；
3. 同学们的体会。
注意：
写作词数应为80左右；
请按如下格式作答；
参考词汇：生涯规划career planning
Dear John,
How are you feeling today __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
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。
The telephone rang. Jack answered the call from his mother, “Mr. Richard died last night. The funeral is Wednesday.” Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel（新闻影片）as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son.
“Jack, did you hear me ”
“Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It’s been so long since I thought of him.” Jack said.
“Well, he didn’t forget you. Every time I saw him he’d ask how you were doing. He’d reminisced（追忆）about the many days you spent over ‘his side of the fence’ as he put it,” Mom told him.
After Jack’s father died, Mr. Richard stepped in to make sure Jack had a man’s influence in his life and it was Mr. Richard who taught Jack many things. Jack wouldn’t have been in this business if it hadn’t been for Mr. Richard.
Busy as he was, he returned home and attended the funeral, which was small and uneventful. Mr. Richard had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before Jack had to return home, he and his mother stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the middle of the room, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture... Jack stopped suddenly.
“What’s wrong, Jack ” Mom asked.
“Where is the watch, the thing he valued most ” he seemed to ask himself.
注意:
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。
“It was a gold pocket watch that he used to wear every day,” he told his mom. One day Jack received a package on his desk.哈尔滨市重点中学校2023-2024学年高三上学期第二次验收考试
英语 答案
听力：1-5 ACBAC 6-10 ABBAC 11-15 CCACB 16-20ACABC
阅读：21-23 ACD 24-27 DAAB 28-31 CBDA 32-35 ACBD 36-40 BDECF
完形填空： 41-45 BACCD 46-50 ABDCB 51-55 DBAAC
单句语法填空：
56. directions 57. efficiency 58. for 59. expansion 60. existence
61. expected 62. where 63. to be told 64. that 65. as / though
书面表达：
第一节：
Dear John,
How are you feeling today In the hope of helping us students explore ourselves and get an overall idea of how to choose a suitable career, three experts were invited to lecture on career planning last Friday, which was a huge success.
In the lecture, the experts laid significance on our strengths, for we are more likely to succeed in what we are good at. Meanwhile, we need to determine how we can combine our hobbies with our strengths. After all, only if we do things out of interest, can we devote ourselves fully. Above all, they expect us to build character and promote well-rounded abilities to better fit in society.
All the students have learned a lot through the lecture, and are determined to study hard, carefully plan career and live up to expectations.
Yours,
Li Hua
第二节：
“It was a gold pocket watch that he used to wear every day,” he told his mom. And then he continued,“I must have asked him hundreds of times to let me play with the shiny watch. He always refused and all he had ever told me was that the pocket watch was what he valued most.” Now that it was gone, Jack would never know why Mr. Richard treasured it so much. Jack believed Mr. Richard had gone to heaven with his pocket watch. Good memories with Mr. Richard let him soon forget about the sorrow as well as the watch.
One day Jack received a package on his desk. It was posted from Mr. Richard two weeks ago. Jack carefully opened the package, inside which was Mr. Richard’s gold pocket watch. Jack’s hands shook as he held the watch. He lifted the lid and found these words carved inside: “Jack. Thanks for your time! Harold Richard.” Tears misted his eyes. “He sent what he valued most to me before he died…” Jack stared at the watch for a few minutes, and then called his assistant to clear his appointments for the next two days. He needed some time to spend with his family.
听力原文：
(Text 1)
M: Hello. This is David Maynard. I’m calling to confirm my reservation for tonight.
W: I’m sorry Mr. Maynard, but I don’t have a room reserved here in your name.
M: Oh, my secretary Mary might have used the company name. Is there anything for Burton Electronics
W: Oh, yes.
(Text 2)
M: OK. It’s almost one o’clock. I’m going out to get a sandwich. I can get one for you too, if you like.
W: That’s very kind of you. Could you get me a ham and cheese
M: OK.
W: Thanks. Wait a minute and I’ll give you the money.
(Text 3)
W: The weather forecast says it will be sunny and hot this Saturday. How about going to the beach
M: Sorry. The beach never appeals to me. I prefer staying at home and watching the football all day.
(Text 4)
M: What are you thinking right now, Lucy
W: Can’t you see I’m thinking that if you were quiet, I could get my homework done. But it is difficult for me to concentrate on it since you are always talking.
(Text 5)
M: Did you read about us online
W: No. I work on Albert Street, not far away.
M: So you saw our sign
W: Actually I didn’t notice it until this evening. A woman at work comes here and swims every lunchtime. So I’m hoping to join her.
(Text 6)
W: Does your father have any sister or brother
M: Oh, yes, I have an uncle, and my uncle Charles’s pretty famous, actually.
W: What does he do
M: Medical research. A lot of his research has been published in medical journals. And he’s also famous for his young age when he started. He’s been doing medical research for ten years and he’s only 25.
W: Wow, sounds amazing! Clever man!
(Text 7)
W: Excuse me. I want to buy a tie for my husband. Where can I find men’s clothes section
M: Well, go up to the fifth floor and they’re to the left of the lift.
W: I also want a shirt for my son. So where are children’s clothes
M: Go down to the third floor and turn right. Go straight until you reach the end. There’s a small play area beside it.
W: I see. Thank you very much. Oh, by the way, is there an ATM inside here I need to get some money first.
M: Yeah. There’re two on both sides of the entrance on the first floor.
(Text 8)
W: Our nieces Melinda and Lucy will arrive next week. What could they do
M: They could stay inside by the fire. But I think that’s very boring.
W: Yes. Maybe we can bring them to the countryside for a walk. What do you think
M: That sounds fun, but it might be wet and dirty there since there is so much rain and even snow recently. What about doing something indoors, like visiting a museum It’s nice and warm in there.
W: You’re right. But I think we can still have a few outdoor activities. Of course fishing isn’t very good. It’s much too cold.
M: Yeah. Nor is climbing. That will be too tiring. Then what about going ice-skating
W: That’s a good idea. Maybe they can borrow some skating shoes.
M: Yes. It’ll be really fun.
(Text 9)
M: Hello, Kelly. What can I do for you
W: Hello, Mr. Lee. I’d like to talk to you about my report about schooling in the past. It’s hard to get started.
M: Don’t worry. To make it interesting, you can compare the past and the present. So, you can think of any differences between schools now, and those in the past.
W: Umm … well, they used to use blackboards … and we use blackboards and whiteboards … oh dear … computers! We use computers a lot today, but they didn’t have them!
M: What about books, Kelly Have you ever seen a really old book
W: Erm, once. It didn’t have many pictures. And the pictures weren’t in color. I suppose it was expensive to print color pictures in the past.
M: Yes. What else can we think about Hmm … what’s that thing you’re carrying on your shoulder
W: My backpack
M: Yes. Let’s go on with that.
(Text 10)
M: Spring is nearly here and many people will turn their attention to DIY. But a recent study has found that over 50% of people in the U.K. admit they have at least one unfinished job to do in their home, while one in five say they have damaged their home while trying to “Do It Yourself”. Here, I will share my embarrassing experiences with you.
Once, a friend of mine asked me to paint some rooms in her house. I was painting one wall, standing at the top of a ladder. For some reason, at one point, I forgot I was in a ladder and stepped back. I lost balance and fell off. Unfortunately, her carpet was damaged by the paint. My friend was more worried about me than annoyed. But in the end she had to buy a new carpet. What impressed me most was quite a simple task — putting up some shelves in my basement. I was standing on a wooden table, putting a nail into the wall and suddenly all the lights went out. I realized that there were wires in the wall where I was putting the nail in. I thought I was lucky — I could have got an electric shock and have been badly hurt. But it wasn’t all good luck — I had to have some repairs done and it wasn’t cheap.
