2024届黑龙江省佳木斯第一中学高三下学期第一次调研考试英语试卷
英语试题
时间: 120分钟 总分 150分
第Ⅰ卷 (共 110 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。
1. Where does the conversation take place
A. In a supermarket. B. On a farm. C. At home.
2. What does the woman want the man to do
A. Meet a client. B. Translate a document. C. Prepare meeting materials.
3. What are the speakers mainly discussing
A. A play. B. An actor. C. A case.
4. What does the woman think of Jacob
A. He's competent. B. He's experienced. C. He's bad-tempered.
5. Who is the woman probably talking to
A. A doctor. B. Her husband. C. Her son.
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、7题。
6. What is the man's attitude towards AI
A. Supportive. B. Disapproving. C. Objective.
7. What will the speakers do next
A. Go to the bank. B. Order some food. C. Return home.
听第7段材料 ，回答第8至10题。
8. When does the conversation take place
A. On December 15th. B. On December 10th. C. On December 5th.
9. What is the woman's nationality
A. Chinese. B. Japanese. C. Korean.
10. What does the man always do on his birthdays
A. Have longevity noodles.
B. Have seaweed soup.
C. Go out to sing karaoke.
听第8段材料，回答第11 至13题。
11. Why does the woman study Russian
A. She's interested in it.
B. She wants to make more friends.
C. She's going abroad.
12. What does the woman find difficult in learning Russian
A. Pronunciation. B. Vocabulary. C. Grammar.
13. What does the man advise the woman to do
A. Read Russian aloud every morning.
B. Do more grammar practice and reflect.
C. Memorize the words frequently.
听第9段材料，回答第14至17题。
14. Why will the man go to California
A. For sightseeing. B. For a wedding. C. For a meeting.
15. Where are the speakers
A. In Texas. B. In Nevada. C. In Alaska.
16. How much does the man need to pay
A.$300. B.$320. C.$340.
17. How will the man pay
A. By check. B. By bank card. C. In cash.
18. What did the study of people waiting for medical results show
A. Less than half reported a change in their emotional state.
B. Only half of the people were anxious.
C.85% of the people handled their anxiety well.
19. How many suggestions does the speaker give
A. Three. B. Four. C. Five.
20. What is the speaker's last suggestion
A. Focus on something else.
B. Pay attention to details.
C. Avoid searching for symptoms online.
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，从题中所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
Britain is arguably the great walking nation. About two-thirds of us already head out to stretch our legs once a week. The following festivals offer a wealth of organized walks, but walkers should register in advance.
Prestaty n and Clwydian Range festival
Visitors to Wales tend to move west, to either the well-worn tracks of Snowdonia or the Pembroke shire Coast Path. There are 25 walks packed into the three days, with various options available, including a half-mile Roman-themed adventure, an eight-mile walk exploring the life of18th-century Welsh naturalist and travel writer Thomas Pennant and a 21-mile Offa's Dyke challenge. All walks are free.
Denbighshire, Wales, 19-21 May
Otley walking festival
This local festival has grown from humble origins in 2000 into a busy schedule of 50short-distance walks and events celebrating the lives and landscapes of Wharfedale in West Yorkshire. One might enjoy the Five Pubs Walk, Walking With Wine, Four More Pubs or Lost Pubs of Otley. All walks are free, though there is sometimes a small charge for transport.
Otley, West Yorkshire, 24 June-3 July
Dartmoor off-roading walking festival
Dartmoor delights walkers because, while tracks are there to be followed, the lack of wire and other barriers, and the relatively small number of farm buildings on the higher ground, create a sensation of freedom. The six free wheelchair walks, starting daily at 11a. m., explore Dartmoor's industrial history, Bronze Age valuables and Victorian railway builders.
Devon, 27 August-2 September
Gower walking festival
With more superb walking options inside a single landscape than perhaps anywhere else, the Gower peninsula (半 岛) sometimes feels as if it's all coast. The further information for this nine-day festival, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Wales Coast Path (WCP), has yet to be
finalized. Half of the walks offered during the festival will be on the coastal path, 10 adults, over-sixes 6.
Glamorgan, 2-10 September
21. Which festival is friendly to the disabled
A. Prestatyn and Clwydian Range festival. B. Otley walking festival.
C. Dartmoor off-roading walking festival. D. Gower walking festival.
22. What do we know about Gower walking festival
A. It has the most superb walking options.
B. Half of the walks last for a whole week.
C. It's aimed to advocate coastal protection.
D. The final details remain to be confirmed.
23. What do the listed festivals have in common
A. They are offered free of charge. B. They require prior registration.
C. They take advantage of the coast. D. They are physically demanding.
B
I'm a grandma in my 60s. In the spring of 2020, like the rest of the world, I spent a lot of time staring at a screen and that was when I first got into the YouTube world. I discovered that onscreen offerings were truly endless. From one YouTuber I learned how to plant my own vegetable garden. Someone else shared poetry from Robert Frost, wise sayings from Confucius, and a smattering(一知半解) of other philosophical viewpoints, all of which helped me through some dark days. Down the rabbit hole I went, scrolling for hours and hours, watching other people living their lives and giving me advice on how to live mine.
As the months rolled by, YouTube turned my attention away from the hard reality of what was going on in the world. I subscribed to several channels and waited anxiously for new weekly offerings. I watched people reading poetry or painting by streams or looking out windows into snowy landscapes. I found all this calming. Such lovely scenery, such beautiful background music, such pretty clothes they were wearing!
At some point though, I got upset by these artistic and seemingly perfect lives. Who is filming them I wondered. Do they rehearse or just act on the spot Isn't it cold, stepping through snowbanks in dresses The questions kept bothering me while forcing comparisons to my own somewhat more ordinary existence. I wanted to walk in a flowing dress through hilly green field filled with wildflowers! Instead, I was marching through my neighborhood's city streets in mom jeans.
In a moment of insight, I realized that I had a full and happy life, which although it wouldn't win awards for perfection onscreen, suited me perfectly. I put my phone away and started paying attention to my own life instead of watching other people live theirs. I still like checking in once in a while. YouTube can be a rich source of entertainment and inspiration, but I've limited my exposure. I am content with the knowledge that my addiction to life onscreen has been replaced by life itself.
24. What can be learned about the author in the spring of 2020
A. She experienced some hard times. B. She taught others about gardening.
C. She developed an interest in poetry. D. She shared her philosophical views online.
25. What effect did YouTube have on the author according to paragraph 2
A. It made her more anxious. B. It improved her taste in art.
C. It taught her to accept reality. D. It brought some comfort to her.
26. How did the artistic lives presented on YouTube make the author feel
A. Desperate. B. Connected. C. Envious. D. Proud.
27. What has the author decided to do in the end
A. Seek inspiration from YouTube. B. Stop using her phone in daily life.
C. Focus on her own life instead of others’ .D. Continue watching other people's lives.
C
On October 20th comes “Killers of the Flower Moon” from the director Martin Scorsese. At nearly three and a half hours, its length is nearly double that of the average film last year. Even movie fans struggle to concentrate for that long. During the premiere(首映) at the Cannes Film Festival in May, some viewers dozed off. Afterwards there was a mad dash for the toilets. When did watching a film become such a labor
Film-makers started producing long-lasting movies at a rapid pace in the early 1960s. Cinema was booming and filmmakers wanted to distinguish their art from television. Epics surpassing the three-and-a-half-hour mark graced the silver screen. Back then, audiences enjoyed an interval while the projectionist(放映员) prepared for the next act. Runtimes of popular films experienced ups and downs over subsequent decades. But they have ballooned since 2018.
Movie series is one driver of this trend. Studios want to squeeze the most out of their costly intellectual property, but they are competing with streaming platforms for eyeballs. The hope is that a spectacular, long-drawn-out blockbuster(大片) will tempt audiences away from the small screen and into cinemas. This approach has often paid off: “Avengers: Endgame”(2019), which showcased Marvel superheroes remarkably with a runtime of three hours, achieved the highest box office earnings among all films in that year.
Anything that attracts people away from their sofas to see a film in theatres is good news for
cinemas. But lengthy runtimes also pose a “fundamental problem”, complains Clare Binns of Picture house, a British cinema group and film distributor. Long movies can mean abandoning two showings per night, which hurts ticket sales and profits.
Another explanation for longer films has to do with directors’ growing influence. Who would dare tell the likes of Mr Nolan to shorten his masterpieces Streamers, which do not have to worry as much about concision because viewers can pause whenever they like, may attract big names with deep pockets and promises of creative freedom. “Killers of the Flower Moon” will be first screened on Apple TV+ after its theatrical release.
28. What can we learn from paragraph 1
A. Movie fans tend to have a dislike for long movies.
B. Movie theaters should provide adequate restrooms.
C. The average movie fan cannot focus for over three hours.
D. Long movies affect audience engagement and physical comfort.
29. What does the underlined word “ballooned” mean in paragraph 2
A. Expanded with air. B. Made great profits.
C. Enjoyed great popularity D. Increased rapidly in length.
30. Why does the author mention the movie “Avengers: Endgame”
A. To demonstrate the trend of longer movies.
B. To highlight the success of Marvel series.
C. To illustrate the strong appeal of movie series.
D. To emphasize the studio-streaming platform contest.
31. Which of the following can be the best title for the text
A. Movie Marathons: Past and Present
B. Long Movies: Impacts and Reasons
C. Film-making: Challenges and Rewards
D. Streaming Platforms: Promising and Profitable
D
Next time you're having trouble solving a tricky puzzle, consider asking a nearby bumblebee(大黄蜂).
A new study in the journal PLOS Biology finds that bumblebees can learn certain behaviors from each other, suggesting these social insects have a capacity for what we humans call “culture.”
In the past couple of decades, a growing body of evidence has shown that animals like chimps and birds show behaviors of learning. If what they learn lasts for a long time, it turns into a tradition. And culture is made up of multiple traditions. “Bumblebees, though, have some of the most complex behavioral abilities, nobody's really thought to look at culture in such insects and generally assume they're mostly driven by inborn factors instead,” says Alice Bridges, a behavioral ecologist at Anglia Ruskin University in England.
To prove them wrong, Bridges built a puzzle box, whose base held the reward: a drop of super sweet sugar water. The box was designed with a rotating(旋转) top that can be rotated by pushing either on a red tab clockwise or a blue tab anti-clockwise. Some bees were trained to push the red tab to get the sugar water while others pushed the blue one. Then, these tutor bees were placed inside different colonies(蜂群), along with the puzzle boxes.
The experiment ultimately played itself out. In colonies where the tutor bee had originally learned to push the red tab, the other bees in the colony usually pushed the red tab. In colonies where the tutor bee was trained to push the blue tab, their fellow bees also tended to do the same. In contrast, in the control groups without tutors, the bees sometimes learned how to open the boxes, but most of them would do it once or twice and then never again. “They perhaps hadn’t quite made the link between their behavior and the reward,” Bridges supposes.
“Many of us consider ourselves to be rather special because we have culture, we can learn and we're social,” Bridges says. “But now it turns out that even the bee also has culture, which is an uncomfortable truth: human culture, once thought unique, does not emerge ‘out of the blue’ but has obviously built on deep evolutionary foundations.
32. What is people's common attitude to bumblebees having culture
A. Positive. B. Indifferent. C. Interested. D. Doubtful.
33. Why does Bridges place trained bees inside different colonies
A. To test their learning capability in new settings.
B. To see if they will spread the secret of the boxes.
C. To evaluate their ruling power in various groups.
D. To observe if they will share their food with peers.
34. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about concerning the study
A. Its appeal to the public. B. Implication on cultural origins.
C. Its practical application. D. Suggestions for future directions.
35. Which of the following can be the best title for the text
A. Human Culture Is Losing Its Uniqueness
B. Bee’s Behavior Builds on Biological Factors
C. Culture May Be Present Among Bumblebees
D. Animals’ Evolution May Start From Colonies
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。选项中的两项为多余选项。
Your Brain Was Made For Walking
If a president, a legendary philosopher, and one of the bestselling authors of all time credited the same secret for their success, would you try to follow it too What if the secret was something you already knew how to do 36
Get walking! It's not just some people who made a case for it as a prime creativity booster.37 A Stanford University study found that participants were 81 percent more creative when walking as opposed to sitting. According to the study, walking outside -versus on a treadmill(跑步机) —produces the most novel and highest-quality effect in participants who walked and then sat down to do creative work.
The movement aspect of walking is obviously key. You've probably heard the phrase “Exercise your creativity”, which refers to the brain as muscle. Our creative mindset is triggered by physical movement. 38
But the scenery is almost as important as the sweat. The National Human Activity Pattern Survey reveals that Americans spend 87 percent of their time indoors. Being inside, you're more likely to come to a standstill, opposite to energy release. 39 Just by going outside, you are stepping out of your habitual surroundings and your comfort zone, which is necessary if you want to open your mind to new possibilities.
40 Engage more closely with your surroundings for the next four weeks. Turn off your phone and give yourself the chance to be present in the world, to hear conversations and natural sounds, to notice the way people move. Walk not just for exercise. Walk for wonder.
A. Without energy, you can't wonder or create.
B. Actually you might do it every day as well.
C. Exercise your mind as building your muscle.
D. So why not set a creativity goal that starts with walking
E. This is why walking with a friend or alone feeds creative thinking.
F. Disconnecting from multimedia increases problem-solving performance.
G. Researchers have also traced connections between walking and generating ideas.
第三部分 语言知识运用(共两节，满分30分)
第一节 完形填空(共15 小题；每小题1分，满分15分)
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C 和D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
When I was young, my mom used to buy vegetables from a lady vendor(小 贩) who visited our home daily. On a particular Sunday, the vendor 41 bunches of spinach (菠菜).Her 42 was one pound per bunch. My mom's counter-bid was exactly half that 43but committed to buying four bunches at that price.
The vendor 44 declared that she didn't even 45 her cost at that price, loaded the basket on her head, and walked away. After taking four steps ahead, the vendor turned back and shouted, “Make it 75 pennies a bunch.” My mom 46 her original 50 pennies, stressing the 47 of quantity discount. The vendor walked on. The two of them precisely knew each other's 48 . The vendor turned around, came back to our house, while my mom was waiting at the doorstep. The deal was finally 49 at my mom's bid. Then my mom took her time 50 each bunch by gently choosing and examining each with a51 eye for both its quality and quantity. She finally selected four bunches to her satisfaction.
52 the vendor got up, she shook due to apparent 53 . After learning she didn't have any food, mom hurried inside and came back swiftly with some food and offered it to the vendor. She hungrily and gratefully ate the food and continued her business.
Puzzled, I questioned Mom’s 54 ---tough in bargaining but 55 in offering food. My mom smiled and said, “My dear child, there is no kindness in trading and there shall never be any trading in kindness.”
41. A. brought B. purchased C. tailored D. grabbed
42. A. material B. proposal C. amount D. offer
43. A. promise B. plan C. figure D. idea
44. A. greedily B. politely C. desperately D. anxiously
45. A. consume B. promote C. double D. recover
46. A. adjusted to B. stuck to C. attended to D. referred to
47. A. lesson B. choice C. weakness D. theory
48. A. schedules B. dreams C. tasks D. strategies
49. A. constructed B. designed C. made D. arranged
50. A. checking B. inspecting C. reviewing D. counting
51. A. critical B. charming C. particular D. logical
52. A. Though B. As C. Because D. Once
53. A. anger B. excitement C. dizziness D. anxiety
54. A. gesture B. approach C. commitment D. intervention
55. A. sensitive B. humble C. kind D. mature
第二节 (共10 小题;每小题1 分,满分 10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。
The farming-themed reality show Become a Farmer has taken Chinese social media by storm, shining a spotlight on agriculture---an essential part of Chinese culture. The word "farming", however, may be entirely unfamiliar 56 many young urban Chinese.
To connect these individuals with the agricultural industry, the 50-episode variety show tackles the topic by asking 10 young men from various fields 57 (taste) farm life. During the 190days, the cast members 58 (they) engaged in diverse tasks such as sowing, fertilizing(施肥)and harvesting. They started with limited resources and gradually 59 ( build) their lives almost from nothing. The 60 (influence) show that not only entertains but also educates is an interactive reality program 61 (present) in a documentary style.
Yang Changling, chief director of the program, said the show's intention is to showcase 62practice of farming and to enhance the audience's understanding of agriculture and raise awareness of food 63 (secure) by sharing these young people's experiences and stories of personal growth.
One view er said, "The distinctive program has enlightened me on the process of cultivating a grain of rice. 64 watches the program will realize what it takes to grow grain. I won't waste food anymore." Another said, "I don't deny 65 (amaze) by the advanced modern agricultural technology and I feel sorry for the back-breaking work of farmers who establish deep roots in the land but only rely on the weather for their harvest."
第三节 单词拼写 (共10小题；每小题0.5分，满分5分)
注意： 答题卡的顺序是竖排！
66. b 促进, 推动 v 71. a 与… 有关 v
67. a 喜爱，钟爱n 72. c 线索，提示n
68. w 智慧 n 73. e 舒适, 悠闲 n
69. i 坚称，坚决认为 v 74. p 纯洁;洁净 n
70. p 珍惜的, 贵重的 adj 75. a 评价,评定 v
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，你的英国朋友Jim发来邮件，对佳一中即将为高三学生举办成人礼仪式(the coming-of-age ceremony)感兴趣, 请用英语回复他, 内容包括:
1.成人礼的意义； 2.对未来的期许。
2.注意：1.词数80左右；2.可以适当增加细节， 以使行文连贯。
Dear Jim,
Yours
Lihua
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。
Catherine was the coolest kid in her class. Whenever she went, she was in the spotlight, with a bunch of kids following her and doing everything she did.
Her desk mate, Landy, however, was not in the cool kids’ group. Being the tallest kid in her class, she was teased by her classmates, who were always chanting “Landy, Landy, long as spaghetti(意大利面)”. Every time Landy heard those silly chants, she could feel her face burst into flames. God knew how she wished the ground to crack and swallow her!
Catherine didn't really like it when the kids chanted “Landy, Landy, long as spaghetti”. But she never told them to stop either, and nor did she ever talk to her. She liked being popular.
One weekend, Catherine went over to her grandfather for Thanksgiving. Her grandfather lives on a farm at the opposite end of town, where he keeps chickens. While helping to feed the chickens, Catherine noticed a peculiar one. Curling in the corner, it looked smaller than the others and was almost half-bare!
“What's the matter with it ” She asked her grandfather, with a puzzled frown on her face. Her grandfather told her how chickens could act.’ “They have a pecking(啄) order,” he explained, wrinkles of concern spreading around his forehead. “If one chicken is different, the others will push it away and keep pecking it. Sometimes they peck it so much that it dies.”
“Oh, what a poor little thing!” Catherine let out a sigh as she scooped(捧起) the frightened chicken up in her arms, whose heart was beating fast in the bony little body.
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。
Suddenly, she thought of Landy, the girl being ” pecked “by her classmates.
But Catherine walked directly toward Landy, regardless of what they said.2024届黑龙江省佳木斯第一中学高三下学期第一次调研考试英语试卷参考答案版
英语试题
听力 1—5 CBBAA 6—10 CBCAB 11—15 ACBCB 16—20 ACABC
阅读理解
21. C 22. D 23. B
24. A 25. D 26. C 27. C
28.. D 29. D 30. C 31. B
32. D 33. B 34. B 35. C
七选五36. B 37. G 38. E 39. A 40. D
完型 ADCBD BDDCA ABCBC
56. to 57. to taste 58. themselves 59. built 60. influential
61. presented 62. the 63. security 64. Whoever 65. being amazed
单词拼写 boost; affection, wisdom, insist, precious, associate, clue, ease, purity, assess
小作文
【答案】Dear Jim,
Time has wings! Exceedingly delighted that you are interested in our coming-of-age ceremony, I will tell you something regarding this momentous occasion.
The coming-of-age ceremony holds great significance as it marks our transition from adolescence to adulthood. It is the beginning of a new chapter that symbolizes our readiness to take on greater responsibilities and face the challenges that come with maturity. This ceremony serves as a reminder of the values and virtues we should uphold as we step into the next phase of our lives.
As we embark on this new journey, I hope that we will continue to demonstrate resilience, compassion, and integrity. I am confident that with the knowledge and wisdom we have gained, we will rise to the challenges that lie ahead and emerge as responsible, empathetic, and successful individuals.
Yours
Lihua
大作文
【答案】Suddenly,she thought of Landy,the girl being “pecked” by her classmates.“ I’m going to take it home and take good care of it,”she said with a determined look.Back in school,Catherine spotted Landy sitting by herself in a corner. She kept her head down with her eyes fixed on the floor as usual. Catherine thought Landy was just like the poor little chicken,being teased and ignored by her classmates, merely due to her special height. She told other kids,“It’s time for me to make an apology to Landy.” Astonished at what she said, all the kids burst out screaming,“Talking to the long spaghetti Are you crazy ”
But Catherine walked directly toward Landy,regardless of what they said.“Hi,Landy. I’m sorry about the spaghetti thing.” Catherine murmured an apology, her face reddening.“I know it hurts you. Can you forgive me " She figured Landy might just walk away. But she lifted her misty eyes and nodded yes. Catherine wiped away her tears,giving her a warm hug. Moved by the scene, the other kids also came to offer their sincere apologies to Landy. From that day on, no one made up silly chants about Landy, and Catherine also gained an important life lesson that everyone should be treated equally no matter how special he or she was.
录音原文
Text 1
W: I just bought some strawberries from the supermarket. The salesperson said they were fresh from the farm.
M: I’ll go to the kitchen and wash them.
Text 2
W: Bill, I’m busy preparing meeting materials. I was wondering if you could help me translate this file.
M: Is that urgent I need to meet a client later.
W: Yes. In that case, I’ll ask someone else for help.
Text 3
M: I like this actor. His acting is excellent. He once played a carpenter in a play.
W: I like his role as a policeman who solves many tough cases. He really inspires me. I want to be like him when I graduate.
Text 4
M: I heard that Jacob had a quarrel with our boss. He is not experienced in work and has a bad temper.
W: But I think Jacob is quite capable of doing much work.
Text 5
W: My son has been sneezing a lot this morning. Can you examine him
M: Oh, let me see. How old is he
W: Three years old.
M: He just has a cold. I will prescribe him something for that.
Text 6
W: ⑥Now artificial intelligence (AI) is used in all aspects. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has used AI to help many missing children return home.
M: ⑥That’s a good thing. However, you can’t ignore that AI can also be harmful to humans. For instance, AI is bound to have access to many users’ private data, and it sometimes cannot protect privacy well.
W: But it’s really convenient. And a lot of processes can be automated when you’re at the bank.
M: Yeah. ⑦Let’s order first and talk over dinner, okay
W: ⑦OK.
Text 7
W: ⑧My birthday is only 10 days away, and I plan to spend it with my parents.
M: ⑧Is that on December 15th
W: ⑧Yeah.
M: What do you usually do to celebrate your birthday
W: I usually have longevity noodles and go out to sing karaoke.
M: ⑨Are you from China
W: ⑨Yes, but I work in Japan now.
M: I see. ⑩In Korea, we always have seaweed soup on our birthdays.
W: I know, because I often see that in Korean dramas.
Text 8
W: I’m having difficulty in learning Russian.
M: I didn’t know you were learning Russian. Are you going abroad
W: No. I’m just fascinated by Russian itself. I have asked many friends for advice. I remember you are a Russian major, right
M: Yeah. Do you have trouble with pronunciation, or anything else
W: In fact, I listen to tapes and read Russian aloud every morning, so I think my pronunciation is not bad. Besides, I’m good at memorizing the words, so my vocabulary is also good. The problem is that I really don’t understand the use of grammar.
M: It is essential for beginners to lay a solid foundation. You should do more grammar exercises and give yourself time for reflection. Practice makes perfect.
W: I see. Thank you.
Text 9
W: Thrifty Car Rental. Can I help you
M: Yeah. My friend recommended your company to me. She rented your car and went to Texas for sightseeing last month. I’m going to California for a conference this weekend and it’s a short drive from Nevada to get there, so I have to rent a car for two days.
W: Okay. What size do you have in mind
M: A mid-sized car is perfect.
W: How about that black car $170 a day including tax and insurance.
M: Can you make it a little cheaper
W: How about $10 off
M: Come on. My sister is getting married in Alaska next month. If I’m satisfied with your company this time, I’ll definitely come back again next month.
W: Well, in that case, I would ask $150 a day.
M: Deal.
W: How would you like to pay, by check or bank card
M: I’m sorry I only carry some cash on me.
W: Okay. And remember to return the car with a full tank of gas.
Text 10
W: Not so long ago, I had a couple of physical checkups, which—thankfully—turned out to be nothing serious. But for those ten long days while I was waiting for the results, I was a nervous wreck. Frankly, I could have handled it better.
Don’t Be Hard on Yourself
We all cope differently in times of stress. A 2017 US study of people waiting for medical results found that just under half reported a “change in emotional state”—and 85 percent of this group said they were anxious.
Check the Small Stuff
If you’re expecting a phone call, check which number you’ll be called on and at approximately what time. If you have an in-person appointment, plan your journey in advance. It sounds obvious, but it’s these all-important details that tend to slip through the net, particularly when we’re under stress.
Try to Distract Yourself
Sticking to your normal routine is usually the best option. Being physically active gives your brain something else to focus on, which helps lower stress and anxiety levels.
Don’t Consult “Dr. Google”
Every time a scary new thought pops into your head, it’s all too easy to start googling symptoms and potential outcomes. But remember, whatever information you find online won’t be specific to your situation and could well be inaccurate or misleading.
