绵阳高2023级高三（上）零诊考试
英语试题
完成时间：150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。
1. How does the man sound
A. Casual. B. Pleased. C. Concerned.
2. What is the woman likely to do
A. Watch a TV drama.
B. Drink orange juice.
C. Buy some bread.
3. When will the man hand in his application
A. This Wednesday.
B. This Thursday.
C. This Friday.
4. What is the conversation mainly about
A. Jenny's new home.
B. Weekend plans.
C. A city library.
5. Who might the woman be
A. An animal doctor.
B. A dog trainer.
C. A security guard.
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 does the woman think of naming spiders after pop songs
A. It's strange. B. It's attractive. C. It's misleading.
7. What was the deep-sea creature named after in 2019
A. A character in a novel.
B. A Chinese poet.
C. An ancient poem.
听第7段材料，回答第8至10题。
8. Why does the girl talk to the man
A. To ask for permission.
B. To make an invitation.
C. To discuss the spring-cleaning.
9. What do we know about Jim Brown
A. He lives on the same block as the speakers.
B. He added a photo in the man's notebook.
C. He provides medical service for the army.
10. Which of the man's dreams has come true
A. Being a college teacher.
B. Learning to fly a plane.
C. Travelling around Europe.
听第8段材料，回答第11至13题。
11. Why did Alisa go to the dentist last Saturday
A. To get a tooth pulled out. B. To get a tooth filled. C. To get a check-up.
12. What did Eric buy last Saturday
A. A pair of trousers. B. A T-shirt. C. A tie.
13. What did Alisa do last Sunday
A. She watched a comedy.
B. She took a cycling tour.
C. She ate Italian dishes.
听第9段材料，回答第14至 16题。
14. What does the man usually do to reduce pressure
A. Go jogging. B. Practice yoga. C. Read comic books.
15. Which of the following instruments does the woman like best
A. The guitar. B. The handpan. C. The Chinese guqin.
16. Where did the woman probably first experience sound healing
A. In a tea room.
B. In a yoga studio,
C. In a sound therapy center.
听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。
17. How many people had their library accounts unblocked according to Jason Homer
A. About 400. B. About 300. C. About 200.
18. How did the 7-year-old boy get his library card working again
A. By drawing a picture of a cat.
B. By showing a photograph of his cat.
C. By donating a magazine about cats.
19. Why did the Worcester Public Library' introduce the program March Meowness
A. To figure out the number of lost library items.
B. To catch the public's attention on cat adoption.
C. To encourage people to go back to the library.
20. What borrowed items did Julie lose
A. Books. B. DVDs. C. CDs.
第二部分 阅读(共两节，满分50分)
第一节 (共15小题;每小题2.5分,满分37.5分)
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
Here are some museums in honor of famous writers you can visit.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
William Shakespeare, perhaps the greatest playwright in English literature, is celebrated at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. You can visit his childhood home, explore exhibits about his life and works, and experience live performances in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. You can also visit Anne Hathaway’s house, where Shakespeare courted her.
Location: Stratford-upon-Avon, England
Reading suggestion: Macbeth
The Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House
Discover the literary legacy (遗产) of Louisa May Alcott, author of Little Women, at her former home, Orchard House. Explore the rooms where Alcott penned her famous novel and learn about the inspirations behind her beloved characters. There have been no major changes to the house, so the rooms look much the same.
Location: Concord, the US
Reading suggestion: Little Women
The Hans Christian Andersen Museum
Enjoy the fairy tales that have attracted generations at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum. Explore the life and imagination of the Danish author behind his short stories like The Little Mermaid. From the moment you step into the building, the exhibition takes you deeper into Andersen’s fairy tales.
Location: Odense, Denmark
Suggested reading: The Little Mermaid
The Pablo Neruda House
Bury yourself in the poetry of Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet. The Pablo Neruda House showcases his collection of art, poetry, and personal artifacts, offering a poetic journey through his life and creative expressions. I wish I knew Spanish well enough to read Neruda’s works in his native language.
Location: Santiago, Chile
Suggested reading: Twenty Love Poems: And a Song of Despair
21. What can visitors do at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
A. Learn to write plays. B. Watch live shows.
C. Meet Anne Hathaway. D. Read drafts of Macbeth.
22. Which of the works was probably written in Spanish
A. Macbeth B. Little Women.
C. The Little Mermaid. D. Twenty Love Poems: And a Song of Despair.
23. Who is the text intended for
A. Art reviewers. B.Theatre performers.
C. Literature enthusiasts. D. Architecture designers.
B
It was a typical day and 18-year-old Lilly Baker was on her way to meet friends. She was crossing the railway when she noticed a frightening sight—an elderly woman in a wheelchair was trapped on railroad tracks. Time was running out, and Lilly knew she had to act fast.Without hesitation, Lilly ran towards the woman, her heart beating wildly against her chest. Despite falling twice, her determination remained firm. Each obstacle in her path only fueled her determination, highlighting the firm spirit of those who refuse to give up in the face of difficulty.
As the seconds ticked away, the situation developed into a desperate race against time. The sound of an approaching train's horn increased the urgency. It was a test of wills, where every second counted, and Lilly's instincts kicked in. With a blend of fear and great courage, she gathered all her strength and made a final, desperate push for survival. In a heart-stopping moment, Lilly managed to pull herself and the elderly woman to safety just moments before the train passed. They narrowly escaped tragedy, with only inches separating them from a cruel fate.
After recovering from panic, Lilly smiled with a mixture of relief and gratitude. Learning that they had narrowly avoided disaster by mere 18 inches left her shaken but very thankful. Her bravery and quick thinking had changed the course of fate, transforming her into a heroine in the eyes of all people who would hear her story.
Lily Baker's story shine bright as a symbol of hope and inspiration. Her act of kindness and bravery in Tennessee suggests that one individual can influence the lives of others. It also challenges us to recognize the kindness and bravery that live within each of us, reminding us that we, too, can change the world with one act of selflessness at a time.
24. What do we know about Lilly Baker according to paragraphs 1 and 2
A. She regretted her decision under pressure.
B. She noticed a terrible traffic accident on the spot.
C. She tried to rescue an old woman in danger immediately.
D. She felt extremely scared at the sight of the scene.
25. How did Lilly Baker feel after the urgent moment
A. Grateful and relieved. B. Brave and relaxed.
C. Desperate and scared. D. Thankful and devoted.
26. Why does the author write this article according to the last paragraph
A. To fully report Lilly Baker's touching story.
B. To bring hope and courage to more people in Tennessee.
C. To call on more people to behave like Lilly Baker.
D. To help people to realize the uncertainty and danger of the world.
27. Where is the article probably taken from
A. A fashion magazine. B. A local newspaper.
C. A science magazine. D. A tour brochure.
C
When Mammola and Ficetola went to an ecology conference in 2021, they met a scientist with an unusual complaint. Jennifer Anderson, an expert in aquatic fungi (水生真菌), said that the subject of her research was not available in emoji (表情符号) form. “If you are doing the important work of trying to save whales, you can use pictures or images to help you communicate this,” said Anderson. “If you are looking to save the aquatic fungi, you first must let people know that they exist, and then describe in words what they look like.”
Struck by their conversation with Anderson and alarmed at how unusual species were ignored, the Italian scientists set out to find out how well species were represented in the emoji library. The answer wasn't satisfactory at all: animals were well represented by available emojis but plants,fungi, microorganisms (微生物)and many other species were not. “Our findings confirm a typical prejudice in biodiversity(生物多样性) research and a feature of human psychology,” said Mammola. “We usually feel more caring and sympathetic towards animals because they are genetically closer to us.”
“A good representation of species on social media can arouse interest in unfamiliar organisms, greatly help publicize the message that biodiversity is much more than just cats, dogs, lions and pandas, and indirectly help conservation efforts,” said Mammola. “There are an impressive number of organisms, and all of them play a fundamental role on our planet, even the ones we know less about.”
Some scientists have taken steps to describe their research on their phone keyboards with images instead of words. However, according to Mammola, the number of animal species represented rose from 45 in 2015 to 92 in 2022, yet the number of plants, fungi and microorganisms represented barely increased.
Anderson said she wanted emojis for organisms like aquatic fungi as reflections of increased public awareness and indicators of their ecological value. “Having an emoji indicates that an organism is valued or important enough to be part of daily conversation,” she said.
28.What did Anderson complain about
A. Difficulty in describing aquatic fungi in words.
B. People's disinterest in studying aquatic fungi.
C. People's unwillingness to save aquatic fungi.
D. Lack of available emojis for aquatic fungi.
29.Why are animal species better represented by available emojis than other species
A. They are more common species. B. They encourage human sympathy.
C. They matter more to biodiversity. D. They help remove human prejudice.
30.What is the benefit of a good representation of species on social media
A. Facilitating communication between scientists.
B. Making biodiversity research more satisfactory.
C. Helping people grasp complex concepts of science.
D. Deepening people's understanding of biodiversity.
31.What is Mammola's attitude toward the progress of emoji biodiversity
A. Unsatisfied. B. Sympathetic. C. Neutral. D. Positive.
D
Autonomous systems like self-driving cars and robots are becoming more common, and their integration promises to transform industries by increasing efficiency and safety. However, they often fail to see and work well in different environments — like rainy days, low light, or complex backgrounds, because in these cases their sensors are affected. Interestingly, nature may have already shown how to deal with that.
Now, taking inspirations from cats, scientists have designed a new vision system for robots, enhancing object detection and recognition. The cat's eye caught their attention due to cats' excellent vision in both light and darkness. During the day, a cat's pupil(瞳孔) is a vertical slit - like (垂直狭缝状的) shape that reduces bright unpleasant lights to help focus. At night, the pupil widens to let in more light, with a surface enhancing the cat's vision by reflecting visible light back. Similarly, the new system includes a slit - like opening design that helps block out unnecessary light and single out key objects in bright conditions, and then uses a surface similar to that of cats' eyes to improve visibility in low-light conditions.
Robotic cameras often have difficulty in spotting objects in busy or complex backgrounds, especially with changing lighting. The new design successfully makes background objects blurred. It allows robots to ignore unnecessary details and focus on targets. Scientists also use a brain-like learning network to help the system better identify important objects. The vision system is more energy efficient as it relies on a specialized instrument rather than substantial computer processing.
This groundbreaking technology unlocks exciting possibilities for real-world applications, transforming robotic vision and letting autonomous systems skillfully navigate (有效应对) complex environments and undertake tasks with great accuracy. From search and rescue operations to industrial monitoring, these cutting-edge robotic eyes stand ready to complement or even replace human efforts in a variety of critical scenes.
What can be known about autonomous systems in paragraph 1
A. Their sensor plays the most vital part. B. They keep changing based on nature.
C. Their efficiency needs improvement. D. They perform poorly in bad conditions.
33. How does the new system enhance visibility at night
A. By absorbing surrounding light.
B. By adopting a reflective device.
C. By narrowing the slit-like opening.
D. By integrating computer processing.
34. What does the underlined word “blurred” in paragraph 3 mean
A. Complex. B. Notable. C. Regular. D. Unclear.
35. Which can be the best title for the text
A. Cat-inspired solution to robot vision problem.
B. Nature-based technology for nighttime use.
C. Sensor breakthrough in autonomous systems.
D. New discovery about secrets of cats' eyes.
第二节 (共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分)
阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
In modern society, getting along with others is like a delicate dance that requires skill, patience and sincerity. Harmonious relationships not only bring inner peace but also help build a society full of love and understanding. So, how can we get along well with others
Respect is the foundation of harmonious relationships. 36 . Learning to respect others’ differences and avoiding conflicts caused by prejudice or misunderstanding are key. As an old saying goes, “Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.” When we respect others, we also gain their respect.
37 . Many times, misunderstandings and conflicts arise from poor communication. Learning to listen to others’ thoughts and feelings and expressing your own views in a careful manner are important. By understanding others' positions with an open mind and expressing your needs gently, you can avoid unnecessary arguments and enhance mutual understanding.
Tolerance is the lubricant(润滑剂) of harmonious relationships. Nobody is perfect. Everyone has flaws and shortcomings. When we encounter others’ mistakes, we should not rush to blame but rather view them with a tolerant mindset. Tolerance is not indulgence(纵容) but a form of understanding and acceptance. 38 .
Sincerity is the core of harmonious relationships. Be sincere with others, avoid being fake or pretentious, and treat everyone with a true heart. 39 . Only when we treat others with sincerity can we achieve true harmony and beauty.
Getting along well with others is an art that requires continuous learning and practice in life. Through respect, communication, tolerance and sincerity, we can build good relationships with others. 40 .
It can make relationships friendlier. We should treat others like they treat us. C. Communication may cause a lot of problems. D. Everyone has their own personality, values, and ways of life. E. Communication is the bridge to resolving conflicts. F. Besides, we can create a more harmonious and beautiful world together. G. Sincerity can bring people closer and build deep trust and friendship.
第三部分 语言运用(共两节，满分30分)
第一节 (共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分)
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的 A、B、C、D 四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
Retired Roy didn’t know 2-year-old Rowland or his family, but when the 62-year-old man heard a boy had gone missing, he couldn’t resist joining the search.
After lying down to take a short 41 with her son, the mother of Rowland awoke, only to find her child was lost.
News of the missing child 42 the heart of Florida resident Roy. And the old soldier quickly 43 his plans to go fishing and began to 44 for little Rowland.
Crews had been searching for 24 hours without any 45 . And this caused increasing 46 about the boy’s well-being. About an hour after going off to search, Roy began to pray. “I prayed about 10 minutes before I 47 him,” he recalled later. 48 an open field, Roy faced two different areas of woods to search. He relied on his intuition (直觉) when 49 which area to explore in the hope of finding the boy.
Just minutes after heading down his chosen path, he heard weeping. The sounds led him straight to the little boy, who was standing barefoot with 50 in his eyes. When Roy 51 that he would take the boy back to his mom, Rowland climbed into his arms and 52 his rescuer tightly.
Roy called in to report that little Rowland was 53 and then carried the boy back to the rescue crews. “He had scratches (划痕) all over his arms and legs, but he 54 looked in good health,” Roy said.
Everyone was happy and 55 Roy for his noble efforts.
41. A. shower B. walk C. sleep D. ride
42. A. warmed B. won C. struck D. took
43. A. made B. improved C. arranged D.abandoned
44. A. search B. care C. long D. pay
45. A. aim B. progress C. reason D. support
46. A. argument B. concern C. comment D. complaint
47. A. spotted B. raised C. adopted D. chose
48. A. Missing B. Restoring C. Wandering D. Reaching
49. A. remembering B. selecting C. discovering D. recommending
50. A. light B. love C. tears D. anger
51. A. anticipated B. predicted C. imagined D. promised
52. A. caught up with B. put up with C. looked forward to D. held on to
53. A. cute B. sorry C. safe D. gone
54. A. really B. hardly C. naturally D. partly
55. A. promoted B. inspired C. accepted D. praised
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。
Located in the Nujiang River Valley, the Xinzhai village has an annual average temperature of 25 degrees centigrade and slightly acid soil, which make it 56 ideal place for growing high - quality coffee plants. As one of the 57 (early) places to produce coffee plants in China , the Xinzhai village began to plant coffee trees in 1952, 58 the Chinese people were not used to drinking coffee. Consequently, the villagers ended up growing rice and corn instead.
In the 1980s, when international brands 59 ( introduce ) to China, the villagers began to cultivate coffee plants again. Since 2007, the Xinzhai village has been upgrading their coffee industry, selecting high quality coffee plants to produce high-quality coffee professionally and cultivating 60 ( they ) own coffee brand.
Today, the coffee growing area is about 9 million square metres, with an annual output value of more than 100 million yuan.The " Baoshan Arabica Coffee" 61 (produce) here has won many international awards and is sold all over the world. 62 addition, the Xinzhai village has also been developing local tourism. When 63 ( visit ) here, you can pluck coffee beans, learn how to properly brew coffee from baristas, and taste the 64 ( fresh ) ground（磨碎的）high-quality coffee. Every year, about 120,000 65 ( tourist ) are attracted here, which further boosts the local economy.
第四部分：写作 (共两节，满分 40 分)
第一节 (满分 15 分)
为丰富学生们的课余生活，学校将开设更多课外活动，现向学生征集活动类别。假如你是李华，请代表班级给学生会主席David写信，推荐一项团体运动，并给出理由。内容包括：
1.推荐项目；
2.推荐理由。
注意: 1.词数80字左右，可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
2.开头已给出，不计入总字数。
参考词汇: 课外活动extra-curricular activities
Dear David,
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Best wishes,
Li Hua
第二节(满分25分)
阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
Writing was my passion. I had always been the best writer in my class. But then, the balance of my little universe shifted — Ethan transferred (转学) to our school.
Ethan was quiet. He seemed lost in his own world, and the other students didn't know how to approach him. He was often alone, and it was clear that he felt out of place. I didn't pay much attention at first. But then came the day that changed everything.
It was a writing class like any other, until our teacher assigned us a creative essay. I dove into my work, confident as always. When it was time to share, I listened politely as my classmates read their essays, but my mind was already racing ahead to the praise I knew would come my way. Then, Ethan's turn arrived. He stood up, his voice soft but steady, and began to read. His words painted a picture of an old, forgotten library, where time stood still and the pages of ancient books whispered stories of forgotten worlds.
When he finished, the room fell silent. Then, thunderous applause spread across the class. Our teacher's eyes shone with delight. “Ethan,” she said, “you have a rare gift. With your talent, you're bound to win the upcoming writing competition.”
The words hung in the air like a challenge. I had always been the star of our literary world, but now, it seemed, a new light had appeared —— one that threatened to outshine mine.
That evening, I had a talk with my father. When I finished, he sighed softly and said, “Jealousy is a thief that steals our joy. It's easy to see Ethan as a rival (对手), but perhaps he's just a fellow traveler on the same journey. Instead of pushing him away, why not reach out You might discover that his light doesn't dim (使黯淡) yours —— it only makes the world brighter.” At that moment, I seemed to realize something.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150个左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The next day, I approached Ethan during lunch. ______________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ From that day forward, Ethan and I met regularly to write and discuss our work._____________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2023级零诊考试英语试卷答案
听力：
1-5 CBBAC 6-10 BAACA 11-15 CCBAC 16-20 BAACB
阅读：
21-23 BDC 24-27 CACB 28-31 DBDA 32-35 CBDA 36-40 DEAGF
完形：
41-45. CCDAB 46-50. BADBC 51.-55 DDCAD
语法填空：
56 an 57 earliest 58when 59 were introduced 60 their
61produced 62 In 63 visiting 64 freshly 65 tourists
应用文写作：
Dear David,
I’m Lihua, from Class 2 Grade Three. Hearing that more extra-curricular activities are to be organized, I’m writing to recommend football.
Playing football enjoys much popularity among us. Physically demanding as it is, it can help us keep fit and improve our mental thinking such as strategic thinking and decision-making. Additionally, it requires us to work together as a team, which promotes sportsmanship like fair play, discipline and cooperation among team members.
To conclude, it’s a great way to improve our health and sportsmanship. Hope my suggestions will be considered.
Yours,
Li Hua
读后续写：
The next day, I approached Ethan during lunch. I took a deep breath and walked towards the table where he sat alone, his nose buried in a book. “Hi, Ethan,” I said, trying to sound casual. “I really loved your essay in class. It was amazing.” He looked up, surprise flashing across his face. A small smile played on his lips as he thanked me. I then invited him to join me in preparing for the upcoming writing competition. To my relief, he agreed.
From that day forward, Ethan and I met regularly to write and discuss our work. We shared our ideas, gave each other honest feedback, and encouraged one another. His unique perspective broadened my horizons, and I found my own writing improving. When the day of the competition arrived, we walked in side by side, full of confidence. In the end, we both won awards. It was a moment of pure joy. Father was right: Ethan’s light didn’t dim mine — actually, it made mine shine brighter.
听力原文
Text 1
W: Dad, look! I can climb the stairs now!
M: Oh my God, sweetheart! Be careful not to trip on the steps. Your legs haven’t fully recovered yet. And the doctor advised you to avoid unnecessary movements.
Text 2
M: You’ve come back just in time. The TV drama is about to start.
W: I don’t feel like watching TV. I’m dying of thirst.
M: There happens to be some fresh orange juice in the fridge. When you go to get it, please bring some bread for me.
Text 3
W: Are you going to apply to lead the new project The application deadline is this Friday.
M: I’m still hesitating.
W: It’s already Wednesday. Remember, he who hesitates is lost. If you haven’t applied by Friday, you’ll miss the chance.
M: You’re right. I’ll hand in my application tomorrow.
Text 4
M: Jenny, I heard you moved house last weekend. What kind of place are you living in now
W: It’s just a little flat, right next to the City Library. I really love the kitchen.
M: Oh, that area is nice and quiet.
Text 5
W: Excuse me, sir, your dog isn’t on a lead. It’s against the rules of our park.
M: Oh, sorry. I wanted to train my dog to catch the frisbee.
W: I understand, but dogs without a lead can be a threat to the safety of visitors.
Text 6
W: ⑥It’s said that a researcher named 16 newly discovered spiders after some pop songs.
M: Really Naming spiders after pop songs seems strange.
W: I disagree. ⑥I think it’s an appealing way of naming spiders. It can draw public attention to science. In fact, combining science with culture and art is a trend among researchers, especially younger ones. For example, ⑦in 2019, a deep-sea creature was named after the character Dorotea from the novel Don Quixote.
M: I know a new insect species was named after the Chinese poet Su Shi in 2024. But I think such names might cause misunderstandings.
Text 7
W: Uncle Ian, ⑧Grandma and I found this old notebook during the spring-cleaning. She said it was yours. Can I open it
M: Sure, it’s my high school classmate-record-book. It contains my classmates’ contact information, photos, messages, etc.
W: Sounds fun! ⑧Can we go through it together
M: Of course.
W: Good! ⑨The first page is about Jim Brown. He wrote so many messages!
M: Yes. ⑨He was my deskmate. Now he’s an army medical doctor.
W: That’s cool! Let’s move on to the next page. This one is about Anna Smith. She even added a photo of herself. She looks so familiar. I think I’ve seen her somewhere.
M: You might have, because she lives on the same block as us.
W: No wonder! ⑩She wrote, “I hope you achieve your three wishes: to become a college teacher, to learn to fly a plane, and to travel around Europe.”
M: ⑩So far, I’ve only achieved the first one.
W: There’s always time for the other two wishes.
Text 8
M: Alisa, how was your weekend
W: Eric and I had a busy weekend. At noon on Saturday, we had Italian dishes with Eric’s family at the restaurant you recommended.
M: That restaurant really has some great dishes.
W: Yes, it does. In the late afternoon, I went to the dentist.
M: Why did you go to the dentist again To have a tooth pulled out or get a filling
W: Neither, I just had a check-up this time. One of my teeth on the right side ached when I drank cold water. I got an X-ray, and the doctor said the tooth was just sensitive and there wasn’t a big problem.
M: That’s good to hear. What did you do on Saturday night
W: We went to see a stand-up comedy. After that, we went shopping. Eric bought a tie, and I tried on some T-shirts and trousers, but I didn’t find anything I liked.
M: What did you do the next day
W: We spent a whole day going on a bike trip in the countryside.
Text 9
W: What do you usually do when you feel stressed
M: I usually jog five kilometers. I think jogging is an escape from the pressure of my life.
W: I tried doing yoga and reading comic books to reduce stress before, but they didn’t help much. Fortunately, I discovered a very effective way to reduce stress—sound healing.
M: Sound healing Can you be more specific
W: Simply speaking, it’s healing through sound. A sound therapist uses instruments to produce sounds from nature to relax people.
M: What kind of instruments are usually used
W: There are guitars, the Chinese guqin, gongs and handpans. Among them, I enjoy the Chinese guqin the most.
M: Where can you experience sound healing
W: I currently go to a sound therapy center. In addition, some yoga studios and tea rooms also offer sound healing. I first experienced sound healing during a yoga class.
Text 10
W: The Worcester Public Library announced that through the end of March, people who have lost or damaged a book or other borrowed items can bring a photograph, drawing or magazine clipping of a cat, and make their library cards work again without paying fines. The library called the program March Meowness, a way to forgive people who lost or damaged borrowed items by accident. Jason Homer, the executive director of the library, said in an interview on Monday that about 400 people had their library accounts unblocked and could borrow books again after bringing in their pictures or drawings of cats. In one case, a cat-less 7-year-old boy, who lost the book Captain Underpants, had his library card work again after the staff gave him paper and a pencil to draw a cat.
Like many public libraries in the United States, the Worcester Public Library is trying to encourage people to return there after the pandemic. The library had previously tried to raise the number of visitors with canned food drives. The library staff held meetings for several months to come up with different creative ways to get people back through the library doors. After these meetings, the Meowness program took shape. While the library had previously stopped charging fines for late returns, many people who faced fees for lost items simply stayed away. One woman named Julie, who had lost library DVDs by accident, regained access to her account with a photograph of a cat.
