高二下学期4月半期试卷
英 语
时间120分钟 满分150分
第一部分 听力（共两节，满分30分）
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。
例：How much is the shirt
A. 19.15. B. 9.18. C. 9.15.
答案是C。
1. What drink will the man order
A. An apple juice. B. A tomato juice. C. A cold beer.
2. What do we know about Jack
A. He will work on the project. B. He is not tough enough. C. He has little patience.
3. Where does the conversation take place
A. At a subway station. B. At an airport. C. In a taxi.
4. What does the woman want to do
A. Have a rest. B. Go to the movies. C. Visit Jeff with the man.
5. What happened to the woman
A. She couldn’t find Mr. Beringer.
B. She was late for an interview.
C. She failed to get a job.
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 the man want to reserve
A. A business suite. B. Two double rooms. C. Three single rooms.
7. When will the man check in
A. On December 16th. B. On December 19th. C. On December 23rd.
听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。
8. Where do the speakers prefer to go
A. Hawaii. B. Europe. C. The Bahamas.
9. What will the speakers probably do next
A. Check the travel fees. B. Call their friends. C. Book their flight.
听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。
What does the woman dislike about the play
A. The clothes. B. The acting. C. The set.
11. Who is the man’s old classmate
A. The actress. B. The director. C. The screenwriter.
12. When does the conversation take place
A. At the beginning of a play. B. In the middle of a play. C. At the end of a play.
听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。
13. What did Landon succeed in doing
A. Managing his own business.
B. Completing a degree in Computer.
C. Getting into a college.
14. How much does Jason’s school charge per year now
A. $20,000. B. $40,000. C. $60,000.
15. What does the man think of college education
A. It costs less now. B. It isn’t necessary. C. It is meaningful.
16. What are the speakers talking about
A. What major to choose. B. Whether to go to college. C. How to pay for university.
听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。
17. What should people do to rent a Nice Ride bike
A. Show the ID card. B. Download an app. C. Get the membership card.
18. What encourage more people to choose biking
A. The short supply of gas.
B. Concerns about the environment.
C. The request of the government.
19. Which country has the largest bike-share program
A. Australia. B. The US. C. China.
20. How does the US Department of Transportation support cycling
A. Build on-street bike lanes.
B. Provide thousands of bikes.
C. Start bike-share programs.
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A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
A
Must-See Destinations in 2024
Are you ready to explore the world in 2024 Whether you dream of sailing down famous European rivers or exploring unique places, our list of must-see destinations is here to inspire your travels.
Spain
Throw yourself into the rich culture and history of Spain. From the sunny beaches of Tenerife to the Moorish architecture (建筑物) of Andalucía, there’s so much to explore in this lively country. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) city of La Laguna and become amazed at the beauty of Cordoba, Seville, and La Alhambra, or relax on a beach holiday to Majorca or Tenerife.
Montenegro
Despite its size, Montenegro has beautiful beaches, rich history, and a breathtaking channel. Experience the beauty of the Montenegrin coast — Dalmatia’s jewel (宝石) is the UNESCO World Heritage listed oasis of Dubrovnik, famously praised by Lord Bryon as The Pearl of the Adriatic.
Croatia
Discover the beauty that is Dubrovnik. Explore the 16th-century city’s defensive walls and red-roofed buildings. Sail along Croatia’s Adriatic Coast, where attractive villages and beautiful towns like Pula, Rovinj, and Pore are just waiting to be explored...
South Africa
Explore the wonders of South Africa, from the Garden Route’s nature reserves to the thrill of a Safari drive in the Kariega Game Reserve. Discover the different plants and animals while searching for the “Big Five” on an unforgettable South Africa holiday.
With over 25 years of experience creating holidays for the curious, Travel Department ensures that your journey is in good hands. Plus as a trusted Reader’s Digest Travel partner, you can get special deals when you travel with them across lots of different 2024 holidays. If you want to know more information, please click here.
21. What do Spain and Montenegro have in common
A. They are both praised by tourists. B. They both have world heritage cities.
C. They are known for their architectures. D. They both own beaches and rich history.
22. Which destination will attract people who are interested in creatures
A. Spain. B. South Africa.
C. Montenegro. D. Croatia.
23. Where is this text most likely from
A. A website. B. A guidebook.
C. A novel. D. A magazine.
B
Adding to the achievements of a remarkable year, Taylor Swift has been named Time magazine’s Person of the Year for 2023.
Already a superstar before 2023, Swift’s career has reached new heights thanks to the beginning of her Eras Tour that brought her 3.5-hour performance to 66 shows in 23 cities across North America, Argentina and Brazil. Promoted by her tour, Swift has been named the most-streamed female artist in the history of Spotify and Apple Music. According to Billboard, the tour made about $900 million (about 6.4 billion yuan) in 2023. In addition, the tour’s movie Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour became the biggest concert movie of all time, taking more than $250 million globally.
As she was declared (宣布) a billionaire by Bloomberg in November, a hidden “Taylor Swift economy” also promoted sales for business owners across the US. From soaps to a cruise inspired by her different “eras”, interest in Swift-related products went way up.
Apart from her financial contributions, Swift made a significant cultural impact by taking back control of her music. In 2019, her old record label, Big Machine, sold the master tapes of her first six albums (专辑) to Scooter Braun. The sale meant that she didn’t have the rights to the albums. In response to this, Swift began re-recording her first six albums, tagging (加标签于) them “Taylor’s Version”. This move stressed her belief that artists deserve to own their work. “It’s all in how you deal with loss,” she told Time. “I respond to extreme pain by resisting.”
Heading into 2024, Swift will start the Eras Tour again in Japan and Australia. As USA Today noted, “Her current top has been a long time coming, but it may also be just beginning.”
24. What do we know about Taylor Swift
A. She broke a new record on her tour. B. She toured South America before 2023.
C. Her achievements received great recognition. D. Her performance began with the Apple Music.
25. How did Taylor Swift benefit from her Eras Tour
A. She proved herself to be an artist. B. She learned to make some products.
C. She got rich and regained album rights. D. She sold her master tapes to a company.
26. What can we learn about Taylor Swift from the last paragraph
A. She will end her music career. B. She will continue her Eras Tour.
C. She will reach her top in Japan. D. She will make a record in Australia.
27. What is the author’s attitude towards Taylor Swift
A. Admirable. B. Uncaring.
C. Doubtful. D. Critical.
C
Take a period of limited rainfall. Add heat. And you have what scientists call a ‘hot drought’ — dry conditions made more intense by the evaporative power of hotter temperatures.
A new study, published in the journal Science Advances, Wednesday, finds that hot droughts have become more common and severe across the western U.S. as a result of human-caused climate change. “The frequency of compound warm and dry summers particularly in the last 20 years is unprecedented,” said Karen King, lead author of the study and an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
For much of the last 20 years, western North America has been under the control of a huge drought that has strained crop producers, city planners and water managers. Scientists believe it to be the driest period in the region in at least 1,200 years. They reached that determination, in part, by studying the rings of trees collected from thousands of sites across the Western U.S..
Cross-sections or cores of trees, both living and dead, can offer scientists windows into climate conditions of the past. Dark scars can show where fires have burned. Pale rings can indicate insect outbreaks. “Narrow rings mean less water,” said King, a dendrochronologist, who specialized in tree ring dating. “Fatter rings, more water.” Scientists have looked at tree ring widths to understand how much water was in the soil at a given time. King and fellow researchers did something different. They wanted to investigate the density (密度) of individual rings to get a picture of historical temperatures. In hotter years, trees build thick walls to protect their water.
By combining that temperature data with another tree-ring-sourced dataset looking at soil moisture (湿度), the researchers showed that today’s hotter temperatures have made the current western huge drought different from its past ones.
It also suggests that future droughts will be worsened by higher temperatures, particularly in the Great Plains, home to one of the world’s largest aquifers, and the Colorado River Basin, the source of water for some 40 million people.
28. What led to hot droughts
A. Abundant rainfall. B. Climate change.
C. Appropriate temperatures. D. Dry summers.
29. What does the underlined word “strained” in paragraph 3 probably mean
A. Protected. B. Surprised. C. Stressed. D. Helped.
30. What do the researchers find about hot droughts
A. They will not happen in the future. B. They are affected by those tree rings.
C. They are similar in intensity to past droughts. D. They have become more frequent and severe.
31. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text
A. To entertain readers with a fictional story. B. To persuade readers to protect environment.
C. To inform readers of severity of hot droughts. D. To share personal experiences and reflections.
D
The Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week held in Ethiopia in November attracted over 5,000 visitors. Though the number is not extremely high, the continent is becoming a new global fashion leader, according to a UNESCO report.
Although most African fashion businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (企业), the report identified a growing number of high-fashion brands concentrated in key markets on the continent. What makes African fashion unique is its authenticity (真实性), according to Kenyan designer Aulga Nato. “If you check most fashion houses elsewhere in the world, they have done so much that they have less creativity in what they are putting out now. Africa, on the other hand, is rich in cloth. We are huge cotton growers, and we are rich in every single way. That’s our fashion,” she explained.
Africa is a major producer of raw materials (原材料) for the fashion industry, with 37 out of 54 African countries producing cotton and textile exports from the continent averaging $15.5 billion (about 110.2 billion yuan) a year. The continent also has a huge animal population from which it sources animal skins. However, there’s a huge shortage of chemicals to make the materials needed to treat the leather (皮革) from animals used in the clothing industry. And the continent still faces challenges related to the movement of people.
Despite these challenges, African designers are giving their best to their work and leading the world in sustainable fashion and practices. African governments have also taken measures to help designers in achieving their aims. It seems that their efforts have paid off. After checking clothing exhibits at a fashion event, Ghanaian exhibitor Solomon Dodoo noticed that every single cloth is unique and there are no two pieces of cloth that look alike.
32. What makes Africa have an unusual fashion
A. Its increasing tourism. B. Its huge cotton production.
C. A report from the UNESCO. D. The authenticity of its fashion.
33. What challenge does African fashion face
A. A great need for animal skins. B. Lack of chemicals for treating leather.
C. The development of cotton production. D. Shortage of creativity among designers.
34. Why do African designers overcome challenges successfully
A. They are supported by African governments.
B. They abandon unique and sustainable fashion.
C. They lead the world in the clothing industry.
D. They check clothing exhibits at a fashion event.
35. What is the best title for the text
A. African Fashion is Popular in the World
B. African Designers Face Difficulties in Fashion
C. African Countries Have Materials for the Fashion Industry
D. Africa’s Advantages Promote Its Fashion Industry’s Success
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。
Practical ways to improve your problem solving skills
Problem solving skills are increasingly valuable in the workplace. 36 . Here’s how to improve your strategy.
Train creativity
Problem-solving at its best requires a mixture of structured analysis and out-of-the-box thinking. To train creativity, individuals must engage in activities that stimulate their imagination and encourage new perspectives (视角). Have free-flowing brainstorming meetings that allow for the exploration of various ideas without immediate judgment. 37 .
Improve communication skills
Clear and brief communication is the key to effective problem-solving, acting as the bridge that connects various perspectives and makes individuals toward a common goal. 38 . Clearly defining the problem statement, its influences and the desired outcomes lays a solid foundation for collaborative efforts. Active listening, on the other hand, is the skill of receiving information with intent and focus. It involves not just hearing words but understanding the differences, emotions and underlying messages.
Use technology
39 . Whether it’s data analysis, artificial intelligence or project management software, putting technology into your problem-solving toolbox can simplify processes and offer innovative solutions. By embracing technology as an enabler rather than a replacement for human decision-making, individuals can use the power of innovation to address complex challenges effectively.
40
Mistakes are not failures but help you become better. Each misstep provides an opportunity for reflection, learning and refining one’s approach to challenges. Analyse what went wrong, identify areas for improvement and use this knowledge to inform your future problem-solving efforts. Creating a culture that removes mistakes within a team or organization trains an environment where individuals feel comfortable admitting errors.
A. Stay informed
B. Learn from mistakes
C. Encourage yourself to think beyond the obvious
D. They could help you achieve more in your personal life too
E. Effective communication begins with expressing yourself well
F. Using tools and technology can really help solve problems better
G. Building trust among team members contributes to problem-solving
第三部分 语言知识运用（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。
The doorbell rang one mid-December evening. I frequently had unexpected visitors in those early days after my husband’s 41 . But when my 6-year-old son opened the door, nobody was there. 42 , on the doormat was a box, tied with a silver 43 and a note that said “On the First Day of Christmas...” A mystery.
Sam had died that fall, 44 me the single parent of our two boys, 6 and 8. My sons and I had already 45 to deal with Halloween, and Thanksgiving without Daddy. Still, I was afraid of Christmas. How could December have 46 without my husband
The next night, the doorbell rang again. Another 47 came, decorated with the same silver ribbon (带子) and 48 the same card reading “On the Second Day of Christmas...”
For the next couple of nights, my boys waited near the front door to see who was leaving the gifts, but the bearer would always choose the moment they left to 49 .
I didn’t know who the secret Santa was. But there was one thing I did know. In those dark days of 50 , somebody was shining a light our way with a simple but 51 message: “You are loved.” It was such a strange feeling, to be left in darkness on the one hand and drawn so firmly toward 52 on the other. I believe hope will make a(n) 53 .
After 11 days of offerings, we weren’t sure what to 54 when we approached home on that 12th night. I trusted there would be 55 .
41. A. promotion B. death C. retirement D. operation
42. A. Otherwise B. Besides C. Instead D. Therefore
43. A. rope B. paper C. flower D. ribbon
44. A. leaving B. finding C. naming D. considering
45. A. agreed B. planned C. managed D. promised
46. A. arrived B. returned C. ended D. escaped
47. A. book B. toy C. box D. pet
48. A. designing B. including C. showing D. making
49. A. get through B. set off C. move on D. turn up
50. A. regret B. sadness C. anger D. disappointment
51. A. annoying B. funny C. urgent D. powerful
52. A. dream B. light C. future D. home
53. A. difference B. effort C. comparison D. contribution
54. A. support B. offer C. expect D. appreciate
55. A. something B. nothing C. anything D. everything
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。
Sora, a new AI model developed by OpenAI — creator of chatbot ChatGPT — 56._________ (become) a global sensation(轰动) since its being launched. Sora can generate high-quality video clips based on given text prompts, in 57._________ (compare) with ChatGPT, which is only text-to-text.
The model understands 58._________ the user has asked for in the prompt and how those things exist in the physical world.
Liu Xingliang, director of the Data Center of China Internet, said Sora is 59._________ (undoubted) a major breakthrough for AI. “It demonstrates AI’s 60._________ (advance) ability to understand and create complex visual content and brings about unprecedented opportunities and challenges for content creation, entertainment and film and television production industries. The video-generation model will help creators turn their ideas 61._________ reality at a faster speed and at a lower cost,” Liu said, 62._________ (add) that AI is expected to play a more important role in the future.
Still, it does not necessarily mean the end of traditional industries, and more effort is needed 63._________ (explore) new artistic forms and expression methods by integrating AI technology. Meanwhile, experts say using text-to-video AI models raises a lot of 64._________ (concern) about ethics, copyright protection, personal privacy leakage and data security. Ensuring the authenticity and transparency of the content has become 65._________ important issue, and we need to set up rules to ensure the healthy development of such technology.
第四部分 写作（共两节，满分40分）
第一节 （满分15分）
你校英文报正在开展题为“记一次家务劳动”的征文活动，请你写一篇短文投稿，内容包括：
1. 劳动的内容和过程；
2. 你的感受与收获。
注意：
1. 词数80左右；
2. 题目已为你写好。
An experience of doing housework
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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。
A lesson from my sister
My elder sister was different. She was socially awkward. She could not look at people in the eye. She would mumble (嘟哝) to herself and repeat the words she had just said. The child psychologist had termed it as “Asperger Syndrome”.
She, however, was academically capable. Therefore, we attended the same primary school. Despite this, I never, ever admitted in public that she was my sister. There was one incident, however, that changed how I viewed my sister. It was the incident that changed me.
Being in primary six, about to graduate, the school had made it a must for everyone to perform. Due to my sister’s inability to work together with others, she had to do it individually.
“I’ll sing,” my sister told my parents confidently. Hearing that, I was completely shocked. How could my sister, who was socially awkward, sing in front of the school I knew so well that if this happened, she would surely embarrass me.
Silently I prayed I would not have to watch my sister disgrace herself. It is fine. No one knows she is your sister. I remember telling myself these exact lines as I sat in the hall, waiting for the performances to start.
The lights dimmed and the curtains parted to reveal the only solo — my sister. It took about a whole minute for her to speak out her name and class and by that time, whispers were heard in the audience. “Why is she taking so long ” People around me asked. I sat nervously in my seat, wishing I were somewhere else.
注意：
1. 所续写短文的总词数应为120左右；
2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好。
Paragraph 1:Finally my sister started to sing. ___________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:Guilt (内疚) and shame filled my heart as I listened to my sister’s wonderful singing. _______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
高二英语4月考试
参考答案及评分标准
第一部分 听力（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
1-5 ACCAB 6-10 BABAB 11-15 ABABC 16-20 BCBCA
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：DBA 24～27：CCBA 28～31：BCDC 32～35：DBAD
第二节 （共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）
36～40：DCEFB
第三部分 语言知识运用（共两节，满分30分）
第一节 （共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
41～45：BCDAC 46～50：ACBDB 51～55：DBACA
第二节 （共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）
56. has become parison 58. what 59. undoubtedly 60. advanced
61. into 62. adding 63. to explore 64. concerns 65. an
评分标准：有任何错误，包括用词错误、单词拼写错误（含大小写）或语法形式错误，均不给分。
第四部分 写作（共两节，满分40分）
第一节 （满分15分）
参考范文 略
第二节 （满分25分）
参考范文
Paragraph 1
Finally my sister started to sing. I was prepared for the worst. She opened her mouth, and I was shocked — she sang effortlessly and melodiously. Her voice rang naturally through the hall, beautiful in its power. I listened ever so carefully to the lyrics that she had composed all by herself and wondered — how did I not know that my sister could sing like an angel
Paragraph 2
Guilt (内疚) and shame filled my heart as I listened to my sister’s wonderful singing. I realized that I had been so wrong. She was socially awkward yet so gifted. How could I have doubted my sister’s abilities She taught me a lesson that I should not judge a person from just one perspective. Although she knew that I was embarrassed by her and was unwilling to attend her concert, she had never taken it to heart. It was then that I was determined to love her unconditionally and tell everybody that she was my sister.
