武昌区2024届高三年级上学期期末质量检测
英语
本试卷共150分，考试用时120分钟。
★祝考试顺利★
注意事项：
1. 答题前，考生务必将自己的学校、班级、姓名、准考证号填写在答题卡指定位置，认真核对与准考证号条形码上的信息是否一致，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：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，如需改动，用橡皮擦干净后，再选涂其他答案标号。答在试题卷上无效。
3. 非选择题的作答：用黑色墨水的签字笔直接答在答题卡上的每题所对应的答题区域内。答在试题卷上或答题卡指定区域外无效。
4. 考试结束，监考人员将答题卡收回，考生自己保管好试题卷，评讲时带来。
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。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 mean
A. The shopkeeper can help. B. He is not interested in art. C. He knows the area very well.
2. Which part of the speech should the man improve
A. The vocabulary. B. The pronunciation. C. The logic.
3. How does the woman sound
A. Annoyed. B. Concerned. C. Confused.
4. Where are the speakers
A. In a hospital. B. In a grocery store. C. In a restaurant
5. What is the woman worried about
A. Her ring. B. The glass. C. The table.
第二节 (共15小题；每小题1. 5分，满分22. 5分)
听下面5段对话或读白，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 want to do
A. Make a reservation. B. Change his flight. C. Cancel his order.
7. When does the conversation take place
A. On January 13th. B. On January 14th. C. On January 15th.
听第7段材料，回答第8至9题。
8. What does the woman want to change
A. The time of the meeting. B. The subject of the meeting. C. The location of the meeting.
9. What is the probable relationship between the speakers
A. Classmates. B. Boss and employee. C. Teacher and student.
听第8段材料，. 回答第10至12题。
10. Why does the man call the woman
A. To confirm the bill. B. To provide room service. C. To remind her of checkout.
11. When is the woman supposed to leave
A. Before 11: 30 a. m B. Before noon. C. Before 2: 00 p. m.
12. Which word can best describe the man
A. Energetic. B. Experienced. C. Understanding.
听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。
13. What keeps the woman’s brother from swimming more often
A. Great interest in hanging out. B. High cost of swimming suits. C. Long distance from the beach.
14. Which of the following is true about the woman’s brother
A. He hates swimming. B. He likes skateboarding. C. He is practising surfing.
15. Which item will the woman pay for at last
A. A surfboard. B. A skateboard. C. A swimming suit.
16. What is the conversation mainly about
A. Doing sports. B. Having a race. C. Buying a gift.
听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。
17. What is one benefit of selling online
A. It improves income. B. It helps those in need. C. It broadens the market.
18. What can we know about the big platforms
A. They offer no insurance to the seller. B. They charge the seller for advertising.
C. They aren’t readily accessible to sellers.
19. What should be avoided
A. Using a separate E-mail address. B. Selling items of great value online.
C. Meeting the buyer at a private place.
20. How will the seller be banned from the website
A. By presenting personal information.
B. By providing false accounts of products.
C. By selling products at an unreasonable price.
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，从每题所给的四个选项 (A、B、C和D) 中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
The Self-Portrait Challenge
Have you ever done a self-portrait in an art lesson at school Today, we’re challenging you to write self-portrait poems. It’s not uncommon to feel like the way people see you on the outside doesn’t quite match up with how you feel on the inside. So creating a self-portrait can be a good opportunity to address those differences and present the realest, truest version of yourself. Your challenge is to create a self-portrait in lines, using words instead of paint. Read on for some more inspiration.
Writing Tips
●Have a go at writing a list of metaphors exploring your physical appearance, starting from your head and working your way down towards your feet.
●Instead of representing yourself directly, take on another character, such as a fictional character, a historical figure, or even a different version of yourself.
●Play around with personification, by taking on the voice of a physical object in your poem. Think about what a self-portrait from the point of view of a mirror, or a bowl of your favourite food would look like
How to enter
This challenge is for writers aged up to 25 based anywhere in the world. The deadline is 23: 59 GMT, 17 March 2024. You can send a poem, or poems, written down, or as video or audio files. We are using Submittable to accept submissions to this challenge. You will need to make a free Submittable account to submit in this way. Using Submittable helps our team to administrate and process entries more quickly. Selected poets will be published on Young Poets Network.
21. What does the Self-portrait Challenge encourage participants to do
A. Explore true selves. B. Convey positive emotions.
C. Illustrate personal profiles D. Compare different personalities.
22. What is suggested to better handle the challenge
A. Using simple language. B. Presenting yourself directly.
C. Taking a different point of view. D. Focusing on physical appearance
23. What is “Submittable” likely to be
A. A writing tool. B. A search engine. C. An email account. D. An online platform.
B
Growing up, Maitri Wadher, a left-hander, has struggled to cope in a world made for right-handed people. From school desks to spiral notebooks that stop the natural flow of writing, Maitri has faced tough challenges from a young age. “My mother used to tie my left hand and make me eat with my right until a doctor warned that this could significantly affect my growth and confidence,” Maitri says.
This childhood experience had gnawed (折腾) at the back of her mind, pushing her to do something to ease the lives of fellow left-handers. In September 2018, she started The Left Out Store, which makes everyday products ranging from left-handed writing tools and scissors to kitchen tools for left-handed people.
Starting The Left Out Store wasn’t in the cards for Maitri for a very long time. The idea for The Left Out Store came to Maitri in just 20 minutes during a festival at St. Joseph’s Institute of Management, where she was a post-graduate student. She presented the rough idea to judges who later became sponsors, and they enthusiastically supported it. This encouragement gave her the push to make it a market research project to test the waters and explore the potential market.
Initially, Maitri faced a few hiccups. It took her quite some time to find vendors (小贩) and make them understand how to make the products. With everything in place, Maitri went through a tough time reaching customers. The first time she made a proper sale was at an exhibition at Lalit Ashok. “People were surprised at first, but gradually more left-handed people began approaching me, and said they relate to my struggles.” Since then, she has been regularly marketing her products at exhibitions, and keeps The Left Out Store active on social media.
24. What challenge did Maitri face as a left-hander while growing up
A. Unfair judgement. B. Lack of parents’ love.
C. Limited access to education. D. Struggle with school tools.
25. How did Maitri turn her idea into a reality
A. By seeking student sponsors. B. By conducting market research.
C. By expanding the potential market. D. By carrying out her long-thought plan.
26. What does the underlined word “hiccups” probably mean
A. Barriers. B. Threats C. Complaints. D. Oppositions.
27. What might be a suitable title for the passage
A. A Left-Hander’s Struggles B. Maitri’s Marketing Strategies
C. Maitri: A Social Media Celebrity D. The Left Out Store: Maitri’s Journey
C
We’ve all done it before---dropped a box of unwanted household belongings at a flea market and driven off with a sense of accomplishment. But have you ever stopped to think about where those items actually go
Business journalist Adam Minter began considering this while cleaning out his late mother’s home. Seeking reassurance that his mother’s donated items would be put to good use rather than destroyed, he started a journey worldwide that resulted in his latest book, “Secondhand: ‘Travels in the New Global Garage Sale”. He found the industry significantly in the dark, with a disturbing lack of data on secondhand goods, despite their crucial role in clothing, furnishing and educating people worldwide.
In this book, Minter fully reveals himself as an investigative journalist. He doesn’t shy away from the commonly-accepted assumptions about the global trade in used goods. First, Minter questions the idea that shipments of secondhand clothes from developed countries to Africa have destroyed local textile industries (纺织业). That’s overly simplistic, he says. He further explains that multiple factors, such as declining cotton production in local areas and economic liberation, have influenced the situation.
Minter then explores the topic of car seats, making a statement that recycling car seats, instead of selling them secondhand, is wasteful and might compromise (危害) safety for children in developing countries. It is disturbing to say so in a society that prioritizes child safety and highlights zero risk, but when you consider the excessive caution that might endanger children’s lives elsewhere, the situation starts to look different.
Minter calls it “waste colonialism,” this idea that developed countries can apply their own safety standards onto the markets of developing countries-and it’s deeply wrong. Why label a used car seat or an old TV as unsafe if someone else, with different skills, is perfectly capable of repairing it and willing to use it, especially if they lack access to new products and other options
The book explores the huge problems of handling surplus (剩余的) items and how producers discourage repairs and promote the sales of new products. Minter calls for initiatives to enhance product repairability and increase product lifetime.
28. Why does Minter set out on a journey worldwide
A. To remember his late mother. B. To explore where used items end up.
C. To collect data for fashion industries. D. To advocate recycling of used goods.
29. In Minter’s opinion, the common idea about secondhand clothes trade in Africa is __________.
A. groundless B. one-sided C. conventional D. self-contradictory
30. Which action taken by developed countries might Minter describe as “waste colonialism”
A. Selling old TV sets to developing countries.
B. Denying access to used car seats domestically.
C. Banning used goods export to developing countries.
D. Prioritizing safety in new goods for developing countries.
31. What does Minter encourage producers to do in his book
A. Handle used items efficiently B. Promote sales of new products.
C. Make more sustainable products. D. Take the initiative to boost production.
D
It seems like just another group of non-player characters (NPCs) in a video game. But unlike traditional NPCs, these characters’ behavior isn’t programmed by a coder (程序员). Instead, they generate their behavior according to a short biography given to them consisting of a name, age, job, family, interests, and a few habits. What is surprising They behave in ways that are believably humanlike.
In the experiment, a team of Stanford researchers led by Joon Sung Park placed 25 generative agents within a virtual world. Each agent was assigned a unique background and participated in a two-day simulation (模拟). Various remarkable behaviors were. then observed. For example, one agent planned a party and informed friends and relatives, many of whom showed up at the correct time and place; another agent who decided to run for president set off heated discussions among the community, with different agents holding varying opinions on this candidate.
The researchers used a control group of human participants, each role-playing one of the 25 agents, and were astonished by the result: actual humans generated responses that an evaluation group of 100 individuals rated as less human-like than the generative agents.
The study has inspired interest among game designers who hope generative agents will make game play more engaging. But Park is most interested in other downstream applications, including generative agents’ potential usefulness for social science studies. “For example, researchers could explore how people in an online forum are likely to respond to a particular measure aimed at countering false information, “Park envisions.
However, Park acknowledges that generative agents also raise some potential ethical (伦理的) problems. One highlighted risk is that people will develop one-sided “fake friendships” with humanlike generative agents at the expense of relationships in real life. The researchers described the ethical concerns with some proposed solutions. “It’s always better to over-worry about ethical problems at the beginning rather than underestimate their significance and regret it later,” Park says.
32. How do the generative agents in the study differ from traditional NPCs in video games
A. They can write biographies. B. They are controlled by coders.
C. They behave in humanlike ways. D. They have unique cultural backgrounds
33. Which of the following steps is taken in the experiment
A. Having people rate the generated behavior.
B. Managing the human role-players’ response
C. Evaluating the 100 individuals’ generated response.
D. Making the characters imitate the human participants.
34. According to Park, what could be a potential use of generative agents
A. Enhancing online forum engagement. B. Making technological breakthroughs
C. Designing more absorbing video games. D. Predicting human actions in a social context.
35. What is Park’s recommended approach to the ethical issues raised by generative agents
A. Discount their significance. B. Address concerns instantly.
C. Be deeply worried throughout. D. Postpone solutions to a later time.
第二节 (共5小题；每小题25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。
Standing on a hill at Cliveden Gardens on a sunny winter day, its dark-green lake surrounded by centuries-old trees took my breath away. 36 It’s just a local park near London that I’d never heard of during my eight years living in the UK. As I admired the serene garden, it taught me a lesson about the British culture of understatement.
“The English landscape is more beautiful because its beauty is understated, “my friend Will said to me later as we walked through an exhibition at Tate Britain. He pointed to a painting of a peaceful countryside. “This is the landscape I grew up with”, he said. Unlike grand waterfalls or wild forests, this scenery doesn’t shout about its beauty. 37
I wonder if Chinese tourists will explore beyond London. 38 Indeed, Oxford and Cambridge and the beloved Lake District National Park are some iconic symbols of Britain. But it would be a pity if they miss out on the lesser-known parts of the English landscape.
39 I remember a straight-A classmate once telling me he “survived exams” and another friend from Oxford introducing himself as “studying in the countryside”. This modesty also has its mirror in Chinese culture. I remember my parents’ telling me to work hard but not to brag about my achievements. Chinese culture is full of proverbs such as “real gold will shine sooner or later”, to encourage long-term dedication to one’s chosen area of expertise.
Experiencing both cultures, I’ve realized that the English and Chinese both express achievements with understatement. 40 It reflects the unspoken charm in both British and Chinese traditions. And it’s an off-the-beaten-path attraction well worth exploration
A. Cliveden isn’t a famous holiday place
B. Rather, its beauty is reserved for the locals only.
C. I’ve been impressed by British humor all the time.
D. They tend to prefer places with a strong reputation.
E. But the more I looked, the more I saw its quiet elegance.
F. Over the years, I’ve become familiar with British modesty.
G. This mix makes me appreciate the unusual beauty of Cliveden.
第三部分：语言运用 (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，从短文后所给各题的四个选项。 (A、B、C和D) 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。
Years ago, my mother passed away from her illness. My father, having long been her only care-taker, was left with two options: give up on life or 41 himself. Worried how he would 42 without my mother, I wanted to make sure he picked the latter.
One thing could 43 my mind. In his teenage years, my father had been declared a (an) 44 by his art teacher. Some of his paintings, though lacking perfect skills. were exhibited and admired in galleries. However, his creative life was put 45 when my mother fell ill. One time, during a visit to my doctor, I heard a patient 46 a nurse of “micro-managing’’ (微观管理) him. As a freelance writer (自由撰稿人), I had an odd thought: Do one-celled organisms under the microscope protest about being “micro micromanaged” Drawing 47 from this, I decided to propose 48 to my father, asking if he would create a cartoon for my idea.
His 49 response was silence. I asked again the following day. Still no definite answer. Recognizing his emotional 50 of losing my mother, I had to drop the idea. A week later, however, my father emailed me the micro-micromanaging cartoon exactly as I had 51 it to him.
With his teenage 52 revived, our partnership has advanced up to now. Sometimes our creativity seems to 53 and we might quarrel over a bad cartoon, but our 54 has grown stronger because we need each other for this to work-live a 55 life in the absence of my mother.
41. A. represent B. replace C. restore D. reveal
42. A. manage B. behave C. decide D. forgive
43. A. blow B. ease C. change D. slip
44. A. master B. genius C. authority D. researcher
45. A. on hold B. in place C. at risk D. to test
46. A. reminding B. warning C. accusing D. suspecting
47. A. support B. guidance C. courage D. inspiration
48. A. contracts B. solutions C. interaction D. cooperation
49. A. rapid B. initial C. appropriate D. specific
50. A. need B. abuse C. weight D. awareness
51. A. repeated B. announced C. presented D. described
52. A. enthusiasm B. addiction C. occupation D. curiosity
53. A. take over B. dry up C. come out D. fall apart
54. A. commitment B. competence C. bond D. belief
55. A. purposeful B. harmonious C. respectable D. peaceful
第二节 (共10题：每小题1. 5分，满分15分)
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容 (1个单词) 或括号内单词的正确形式。
Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park in Gansu is the best representative of China’s colorful Danxia landform. With a wide ____________ (56) (various) of landforms, this enormous park covers ____________ (57) area of 510 square kilometres. ____________ (58) (extend) along the northern part of Qilian Mountain in west China, it was said to be part of The Great Silk Road. At one time, Marco Polo arrived in China through this area. ____________ (59) (former) a provincial park and scenic area, it ____________ (60) (become) a national geopark in November 2011.
The site is characterized by amazing landforms, including ____________ (61) (drama) natural towers, deep valleys and impressive waterfalls. These landscapes have helped to conserve broad-leaved evergreen forests, and host many flowers and plants, about 400 of ____________ (62) are considered to be rare or ____________ (63) (threaten).
The most representative spots in the park such as the Seven-color Screen and the Colorful Sunset look like a rainbow hanging in the distance. However, scenes are totally different on the edge of the hills. The colors there turn into yellow and grey like shells in the sun. Scenes are even more breathtaking ____________ (64) sunrise and sunset when lights and shadows ____________ (65) (cast) on the hills paint this region with unique beauty.
第四部分：写作 (共两节；满分40分)
第一节 (满分15分)
假定你是校英文社长李华，上周外教James参加了你社举办的”城市漫步” (Citywalk) 活动，徒步游览了湖边绿道 (lakeside greenway) , 请给他写一封邮件邀请他对这次活动做出反馈，内容包括：
1. 活动感受：
2. 改进建议。
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 James,
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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，使之成为一篇完整的短文。
Philip found himself at a crossroads. Although Mrs. Ford, his head teacher, appreciated his stories, the label of. “nerd” (呆子) from his classmates cast a shadow over his passion for writing. Discouraged and feeling that his writing served no purpose in the eyes of others, he thought about giving it up.
One day, during recess (课间), as Philip was absentmindedly taking down some random events of the day, he heard an anxious voice calling out for help. He put down his pen, glanced out the window, and saw a gathering of people near the playground fence. With concern, he walked over and joined the crowd.
In the centre of the crowd was Robin, a sporty boy in the class, who was injured on the knee and bleeding heavily. Robin was playing kickball when the ball unexpectedly shot over the playground fence, landing in the old park next to the school. As he ran to get the ball, he tripped over the overgrown weeds, his left knee crashing into a broken bench. Robin’s face paled, perhaps from both pain of the bleeding knee and his panic. Concerned classmates surrounded him, and Mrs. Ford hurried to the scene, providing some initial care before sending him to see the doctor.
Amidst the lively discussion of the crowd, Philip absorbed the information that the park had been abandoned for ages. Turning his attention to the park, he was astonished at its awful state. Overrun with weeds, broken benches, rusty sports facilities, and scattered rubbish, the park was practically a dangerous place for students.
Philip was probably a nerd when involved in reading or writing, but he was never ignorant of the world around him. He felt a strong desire to do something, and the only way he could think of was to pick up his pen.
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。
The next day witnessed Philip getting down to work. _____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
As the article spread, offers of help poured in. __________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
武昌区2024届高三年级上学期期末质量检测
英语 参考答案
第一部分 听力 (共20小题，每小题1. 5分满分30分)
1-5 ACABC 6-10 BAACC 11-15 BCABA 16-20 CABCB
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)
21-23 ACDB 24-27 DBAD 28-31 BBCC 32-35 CADB
第二节 (共5小题：每小题2. 5分，满分12. 5分)
36-40 AEDFG
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)
41-45 CABBA 46-50 CDDBC 51-55 DABCA
第二节英语知识运用 (共10小题：每小题1. 5分，满分15分)
56. variety 57. an 58. Extending 59. Formerly 60. became
61. dramatic 62. which 63. threatened 64. at 65. cast
第四部分 写作 (共两节，满分40分)
第一节 (满分15分)
Dear James,
I hope you enjoyed the citywalk event organized by our English Club last week, where we explored the lakeside greenway. We would be grateful if you could share your thoughts on the following aspects.
First, we are eager to know about your overall experience during the walk. Please feel free to share any positive highlights or memorable moments from the excursion. More importantly, as we strive to enhance our events, we kindly request your suggestions on how to make our citywalks more organized and enjoyable. It would be wonderful if you could recommend some fun activities.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Yours,
Li Hua
第二节： (满分25分)
The next day witnessed Philip getting down to work. With a heavy heart, he wrote an article about the terrible condition of the park and the unfortunate incident involving Robin. Pouring his heart into the words, he appealed to the community to help restore the old park. Never before had he felt that words could be so powerful. Later that day, Philip handed the article to Mrs. Ford, who appreciated his deep concern for the park and managed to put the article on local news.
As the article spread, offers of help poured in. People went out of their way to donate materials and help fix the broken facilities. Philip’s classmates were impressed by the changes taking place in the park, astonished that his effort could make such a significant difference. Once labeled a “nerd”, Philip was now admired as a source of inspiration. Seeing the old park transformed into an inviting place, Philip was glad he hadn’t quit writing. It turned out that writing could be put to practical use.
听力稿
Text 1:
M: Excuse me. Where is the nearest subway station I want to visit the art gallery in town.
W: Sorry, I’m afraid I can’t help. I’m not a native here. I suggest that you ask the shopkeeper in the clothing store across the street.
M: Thanks.
Text 2
M: Helen, what do you think of my speech
W: Well, you used the right words, and your pronunciation was quite all right. But you made some statements that didn’t make any sense.
M: I see. I will work on that part next time.
Text 3:
W: Come on. Let’s move to another table.
M: What’s wrong, Beatrice It’s inconvenient for us to move our bags, books and pens.
W: You’re right. But look, the man next to us is smoking here in the library. I can’t stand it. I will find someone in charge.
Text 4:
W: If you don’t need anything else, we will go to the checkout there. Honey.
M: I still want some oranges. They look so fresh.
W: Sure, the weather is dry these days. Your dad often coughs in the morning. Oranges may be helpful.
Text 5
W: Oh, no. I told you not to put your cups directly on the table. That leaves a ring on the wood. Use one of those covers over there.
M: We should just get a glass table. And we wouldn’t need covers.
W: No way. This is an antique.
Text 6:
W: Reservation Center. What can I do for you
M: Yes. It’s about my plane ticket.
W: May I have your name, please
M: My name is Zhang Rui. In fact, I have a reservation on Flight No. 125 for Zhenjiang, leaving Beijing at 2: 00 p. m. tomorrow. Now I’d like to make a change of my travel schedule.
W: When do you plan to make it
M: Is it possible to change my booking to the day after tomorrow
W: Yes. You are reconfirmed on Flight No. 125 for Zhenjiang, leaving Beijing at 2: 00 p. m. on January 15th.
M: Thanks a lot.
Text 7:
W: Oh, Philip, we were supposed to meet earlier this morning to discuss your schoolwork, weren’t we
M: Yes, that’s right.
W: I’m sorry I couldn’t be at my office. I had to sort out a problem in a canteen. Could we meet this afternoon
M: I don’t think I can. I have double physics and then maths this afternoon.
W: Okay, how about lunchtime That’s fine. It won’t take long. I just want to go through your progress so far. I don’t think there are any problems with your work, are there
M: No, everything’s fine as far as I’m concerned.
W: Well, still come along to my office when you’re ready.
Text 8:
M: Hello, Ms. Lee
W: Yes, speaking.
M: I’m just calling to remind you that you must check out by noon.
W: Oh, my goodness, it’s already 11: 30 a. m.
M: There is a 30 dollar extra fee for late checkout.
W: Do you think you could give me a break I had an awful night yesterday.
M: What happened, Ms. Lee
W: Just lay in bed almost sleepless until 6 a. m.
M: I’m sorry to hear that.
W: So I was wondering if I could check out a little later.
M: I think I can make an exception this time. Do you think you will be able to check out by 2: 00 p. m.
W: No problem. Thank you very much
Text 9:
W: Hi. I’m looking for a present for my little brother’s birthday, but I’m not sure what to get him.
M: Well, we’re in the skateboard section, so is it a skateboard that you’re thinking of getting him
W: I’m not sure. He’s been skateboarding since he was 5 years old.
M: I see if he already had a skateboard, how about something a bit different Does he like swimming
W: He loves it, but he’s always out with his friends, so he never gets to swim that much. It’s a shame because our home is only 5 minutes from the beach.
M: How about getting him a surfboard If he’s keen on skateboarding, he’s going to love surfing.
W: What a great idea. He’s never done it before, but I think it’s perfect. However, I’m thinking this may get a bit expensive if he needs a swimming suit, too.
M: It’s your lucky day because we are doing a deal at the moment. If you buy a surfboard, the swimming suit comes free.
W: Excellent. My brother is going to love this
Text 10:
M: Selling your things online helps you get rid of those you don’t need, and it can also be a great source of income. One thing you need to consider carefully is the platform on which you are going to advertise. Most big platforms in the field are so popular with sellers, not just because they can give you access to a bigger pool of potential customers, but also because they offer insurance, both to the seller and the buyer. The disadvantage, however, is that you will need to pay some money for using the platform. You can use some platforms that either charge a smaller fee for advertising or even no fee at all-but, in that case, what you will need to keep in mind is your safety, especially if the value of the product you’re selling is high. It’s always best to meet the buyer during the day at a public place such as a coffee shop, a library, or a supermarket parking lot anywhere monitored by security cameras is good. A few more things to keep in mind: always be accurate with your descriptions of the things you are selling. The last thing you want is to be accused of cheating and banned from the website. Moreover, be careful with your personal information: do not give away your full name, home address or cell phone number unless you have to, and have a separate e-mail address for selling online. Remember that a smart, prepared seller is a happy seller.
