湖北省襄阳四中2026届高三下学期质量检测英语试卷（扫描版，含答案，含听力原文无音频）

襄 阳 四 中 2026 届 高 三 下 学 期 质 量 检 测 A B. Adopting a youthful mindset.
C. Developing a habit of lifelong learning.
英 语 试 题 10. How does Howard feel about his future career choice
A. Confused. B. Confident. C. Anxious.
听第 8 段材料，回答第 11 至 13 题。
11. Why does Anna come to Shanghai
A. For study. B. For sightseeing. C. For work.
12. What makes Anna a bit disappointed in Shanghai
注意事项：
1 A. The weather. B. The food. C. The language.．答题前，先将自己的姓名、准考证号填写在试题卷和答题卡上，并将准考证号条形码粘贴在答题卡
13. Where does the conversation take place
上的指定位置。
2 2B A. At the man’s house. B. At the airport. C. In an office.．选择题的作答：每小题选出答案后，用 铅笔把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。写在试题卷、
听第 9 段材料，回答第 14 至 17 题。
草稿纸和答题卡上的非答题区域均无效。
3 14. What is the hardest part for Martin to play a superhero ．非选择题的作答：用签字笔直接答在答题卡上对应的答题区域内。写在试题卷、草稿纸和答题卡上
A. Getting his body in shape.
的非答题区域均无效。
4 B. Performing in action scenes.．考试结束后，请将本试题卷和答题卡一并上交。
C. Managing his facial expressions.
第一部分 听力（共两节，满分 30 分） 15. What does Martin like best about growing up in Canada
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。 A. Having access to nature.
第一节（共5小题；每小题1.5分，满分7.5分） B. Receiving international education.
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 C. Maintaining a strong family bond.
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。每段对话读两遍。 16. How did Martin get into acting
1. What is the weather like now A. By filling in for an actor.
A. Sunny. B. Stormy. C. Cloudy. B. By working as a producer.
2. Where is the man going C. By studying acting at university.
A. Andrew Square. B. The post office. C. Jack’s restaurant. 17. What is the last question of the interview about
3. What did the man do just now A. Martin’s views on education.
A. He answered an inquiry. B. He worked on a report. C. He fixed a computer. B. Martin’s potential career choice.
4. When will the store open C. Martin’s cooperation with companies.
A. In 10 minutes. B. In 30 minutes. C. In 40 minutes. 听第 10 段材料，回答第 18 至 20 题。
5. What are the speakers mainly talking about 18. What is the aim of World Sleep Day
A. Their ways of keeping fit. B. Tips for regular gym-goers. C. Benefits of having a hobby. A. To illustrate the harm of sleep loss.
B. To tell people how to get enough sleep.
第二节（共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22.5分） C. To stress the importance of high-quality sleep.
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 19. What does the study from the University of South Australia show
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 A. Adults don’t have enough sleep on workdays.
间。每段对话或独白读两遍。 B. Sleep quality plays a decisive role in people’s health.
听第6段材料，回答第6、7题。 C. Daytime physical activities have a positive effect on sleep.
6. What does Jim value most about the apartment 20. What are most people unaware of
A. The size. B. The surroundings. C. The location. A. The risks linked with sleep disorders.
7. How much rent will the woman pay per month B. The necessity of work-life balance.
A. $300. B. $320. C. $350. C. The solutions to sleep problems.
听第 7 段材料，回答第 8 至 10 题。
8. What is the probable relationship between the speakers 第二部分 阅读（共两节，满分 50分）
A. Schoolmates. B. Parent and child. C. Teacher and student. 第一节 （共 15 小题；每小题 2.5 分，满分 37.5 分）
9. What does Howard see as an advantage of being a teacher 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. Having clear teaching targets. A
Win Theatre Tokens If you’re looking to tick off the final few names World Happiness Report for the past eight years, largely due to free education and universal health care. And the
Christmas and the New Year are a perfect on your Christmas list, you could pay it forward as Finns also find happiness in more attainable ways, such as their close relationship with nature and visiting the sauna
time to see a show. So we’re giving you the Theatre Tokens make the perfect present. They have (桑拿) daily. These activities contain similar goals: Stay present and seek a minimalist lifestyle that relies on the
chance to win a 350 Theatre Token Gift Card no end date, and they can be used at more than 270 earth.
or eGift to treat your family to a show this theatres including all of London’s West End. Run by I followed their lifestyle — visiting the sauna and taking a relaxing forest walk, and happiness came in waves
Winter. Society of London Theatre, a not-for-profit over the next few days. I was optimistic that I could recreate the happiest moments of this trip back home in New
Maybe you’ll see your favourite mime, a organization, Theatre Tokens are a gift that gives back. York. How hard could it be, really
West End musical or take a trip to a venue you’ve Enter now for your chance to win a 350 Theatre As it turned out, happiness was a luxury in America, though I tried hard to live exactly like the Finns. Then one
not visited before — winter is the perfect time to Tokens Gift Card or eGift whether you treat yourself or afternoon, I had a breakthrough as I rushed through Central Park and noticed a crowd of people staring at the ground.
escape the cold and make memories at the theatre. give to a loved one. A cardinal! I stopped to admire the bird’s feather before it flew away. This was a win for staying present. I’d been so
stuck trying to find the time and money for happiness that I’d missed the point: Quiet the mind, and find pleasure in
small acts and observations — like a cardinal taking flight, or talking to trees — right then and there.
As I left the park, I carried out a small but comforting ritual (仪式 ) I’d developed. I thanked the trees for
listening.
24. Why did the author speak to a tree
A. To heal the tree. B. To seek happiness.
C. To follow a tradition. D. To appreciate nature.
25. What do we know about the Finnish lifestyle
A. It requires daily sauna visits. B. It values close relationships.
C. It is easily adopted elsewhere. D. It focuses on simple pleasures.
26. Why couldn’t the author recreate happy moments back in America
A. She was busy with work. B. It was noisy in New York.
C. She failed to stay present. D. It was expensive to live there.
SIMPLY ANSWER THE QUESTION CORRECTLY TO MAKE YOU QUALIFIED TO WIN. 27. Which of the following best describes the author’s trip to Finland
Where can Theatre Tokens be used
A. At more than 270 theatres including all of London’s West End. A. Transformative. B. Challenging. C. Adventurous. D. Unexpected.
B. 10 theatres.
C. 20 theatres. C
Simply answer A, B or C on the entry form or enter online. See page 151. One morning last month, I decided to try artificial intelligence on a pressing problem: my inbox. I had
21. Which of the following is a major advantage of Theatre Tokens hundreds of messages, and though most were junk, a handful were of actual interest. So I turned to Cora, an app that
A. You can resell them. B. They have no time limit. uses AI to protect users from messages that don’t genuinely require a response. During setup, it read my latest
C. They help escape the cold. D. You can use them around London. e-mails to learn who I am.
22. Why is a Question & Answer section designed below the picture Typically, engaging with e-mail involves sorting messages into different layers of complexity. The shallowest
A. To set a bar for entry. B. To add extra information. layer includes e-mails you can confidently delete. The next contains messages that can be satisfied with a simple
C. To collect personal opinions. D. To arouse the readers’ curiosity. reply: “Got it!” or “Thanks.” The deepest layer consists of messages that are quick to read but require significant
23. What is the main purpose of the text thought.
A. To compare different shows. B. To promote theatre gift cards. Consider this e-mail: “Hi Cal! I’m John Doe’s brother... I’m working on a new tech startup... I’d love to grab
C. To encourage people to donate. D. To introduce the London theaters. coffee with you. Any particular days work best ” Before I can respond, I need to assess the social and practical
implications of the request. Is John Doe sufficiently important to me that I need to do his brother a favor If I agree,
B when and where should I suggest The task arguably bundles filtering (筛选), decoding, planning and analysis.
The boat ride from Helsinki’s city center to the island of Pihlajasaari takes only 10 minutes and drops off visitors The morning after I activated Cora, I logged in with nervousness. Instead of thirty or forty messages, I found
at beaches for sunbathing. But I had a different mission: to speak to a tree. only five requiring my attention. Boring as the moment might seem, I’m not sure that AI has ever made me more
This was meant to be a healing exercise, one championed by the Finnish biologist Adela Pajunen. Finns, she’d excited than I was then.
told me, sometimes share their worries aloud to trees or birds. On shore, I spotted a short black alder tree and began to Cora’s decisions seemed pretty good—all but two were indeed deletable (I could read the wrongly filtered
tell the tree my troubles. The leaves rustled (沙沙作响) in response, a sign I interpreted as sympathy. messages directly from the briefing webpage). The app even drafted possible replies for layer-two messages. What
I had come to Finland to see whether I could bring happiness back to America with me. Finland has topped the it didn’t try to tackle were the layer-three ones.
In The Tacit Dimension, Michael Polanyi argued that our decisions depend heavily on unstated context. “... we A. It stores light for later use. B. It works normally in the dark.
can know more than we can tell,” he wrote. AI is ignorant of this “tacit knowledge”, so it can’t reliably figure out C. It consumes little food in the dark. D. It produces food for people.
whether to say “yes” to that coffee invitation. Still, AI e-mail tools can have a profound impact. Now I’m impatient 34. What will the research focus on next
for what comes next. A. How the device will work on the roof. B. Whether the device’s size can be reduced.
28. What is the author’s main purpose in trying Cora C. Whether the device can play a bigger role. D. How the device will adapt to new environments.
A. To screen inbox e-mails. C. To erase old inbox history. 35. What is the best title for the passage
B. To study e-mail patterns. D. To block unknown senders. A. The Future of Household Electricity Supply
29. What can the “coffee” e-mail be viewed as B. Blue-Green Algae: A New Source of Food
A. A quick-reply note. B. A delete-level item. C. A Promising Bio-Battery Creates the Miracle
C. A low-priority letter. D. A layer-three message. D. An Algae-Powered Device Runs Computer for Months
30. How did the author feel after seeing only five e-mails
A. Bored. B. Doubtful. C. Excited. D. Nervous. 第二节 （共 5 小题；每小题 2.5 分，满分 12.5 分）
31. What may AI e-mail tools struggle with 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。
A. Judging context. C. Writing short replies. Glance through your WeChat Moments or TikTok feed, and you’ll see all kinds of posts: a friend strongly
B. Spotting junk mail. D. Classifying messages. recommending a “magic study method” that guarantees top grades or a video claiming “eating chocolate every day
prevents colds”. 36 The answer lies in critical thinking.
D Critical thinking doesn’t mean being negative or arguing with everyone. It simply means taking a step back,
A colorful colony of photosynthetic (光合的) cyanobacteria, known as blue-green algae (藻), has successfully asking questions, and refusing to accept information at face value. 37 We tend to believe things that fit
powered a computer microprocessor for more than six months, according to a study published in the journal Energy our existing ideas or that lots of people are talking about. But this autopilot mode can mislead us.
& Environmental Science. Imagine your teammate suggests a plan that everyone else nods along with immediately in a group discussion.
The algae-computer system was placed in the window of biochemist Paolo Bombell’s home. What he saw next A critical thinker won’t just agree to avoid conflict. They’ll ask: Do we have the resources to pull this off 38
really blew his mind: It sat there from February to August, and all the while it was working. And even after the Is there a better way to divide the work These questions don’t make you a troublemaker—they make the project
microprocessor has been disconnected, the cyanobacteria device continues to produce current. “Given the right stronger.
conditions of light, temperature and water, I cannot predict when it will stop,” said Bombelli. 39 You’ve probably heard “you’re either a math person or a language person”. A critical thinker
Cyanobacteria harvest energy from sunlight and make it into food for themselves. For this study, the would look for evidence. Research on learning styles proves while people have preferences, anyone can improve at
researchers put the power-providing microorganisms into a plastic and steel enclosure, about the size of an AA math or languages with the right method. Critical thinking turns you from a passive learner into an active one who
battery, along with an aluminum anode (铝正极). Throughout the experiment, the connected microprocessor was takes charge of their own education.
programmed to do a bunch of calculations, and then check its own work. It did this in a 45-minute period, followed Next time you’re about to hit “share” on a post or accept a “fact” as true, stop for 10 seconds. 40
by 15 minutes of standby, continuously for months with the cyanobacteria unit as its only power source. You’ll be surprised by how much better your decisions become and how much more confident you feel in your own
Even though the algae rely on a light source to feed, the bio-system continued to produce enough power to run voice. After all, the smartest students aren’t the ones who know all the answers—they’re the ones who know how to
the microprocessor in the dark. The scientists basically put down this phenomenon to leftovers. When there was ask the right questions.
light, the cyanobacteria cooked up an over-abundance of food, and when it was dark the microorganisms kept
chewing on the extras. A. Our brains love shortcuts.
According to Chris Howe, senior author of the study, the results suggest that the little bio-based battery B. Turn off your brain’s autopilot.
alternative could serve as a way to power small electronics without rare earth elements, which are in short supply C. Does this plan fit our deadline
and under growing demand. Plus, the system could also help bridge the electricity divide, providing another power D. Why might they share this information
supply for people in rural areas or low-income countries. E. How do you decide which of these to believe
Though the experiment’s results are promising, it’s important to keep in mind that the computer processor F. Social media is where critical thinking is most needed.
tested uses very little energy—requiring only 0.3 microwatts to run. More research is needed to know exactly how G. Critical thinking also shines in facing study misconceptions.
much the tiny AA-battery-sized device could scale up. Howe said, “Putting one on your roof isn’t going to provide
the power supply for your house at this stage. 第三部分 语言运用（共两节，满分 45分）
32. Which of the following facts about the algea-computer system surprised Bombelli 第一节 （共 15 小题；每小题 1 分，满分 15 分）
A. It can function without water. B. It can transform light into power. 阅读下面短文，从每题所给的 A、B、C 和 D 四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
C. It can work for a long time. D. It can stand high temperatures. The annual School Innovation Fair themed “Upcycling” ( 旧物改造 ) was the semester’s highlight. My
33. What can we learn about the bio-system from paragraph 4 classmates excitedly prepared their projects, focusing on 41 novelty: using 3D printers to create plastic art, or
programming robots to sort waste.
However, my project was 42 . I chose to repair an old wooden chair of my grandfather’s. He taught me 第四部分 写作（共两节，满分 40分）
how to 43 its loose leg and smooth its surface. The process was slow and required 44 . I felt a bit 第一节 （满分 15 分）
45 , wondering if my simple, hands-on work had any value compared to their modern inventions. 假定你是李华，你的外国友人 Peter 要创办“中西方文化”在线学习小组，对于如何组织写信征求你的建
At the fair, the high-tech projects were impressive. When I 46 my chair, I didn’t talk about complex 议。请给 Peter 写一封邮件，内容包括：(1) 你的建议；(2) 说明理由。
techniques. 47 , I shared its story — how it was part of our family for years, and how we gave it a new life 注意：1. 写作词数应为 80 个左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。
with 48 , respect and sustained efforts. I emphasized preserving 49 , not just changing form.
The judges were 50 and awarded my chair a special prize for “Meaningful Preservation”. One explained, Dear Peter,
“True innovation isn’t always about creating something entirely new. Sometimes, it’s about understanding the 51
of what already exists and passing it on. This chair isn’t just repaired; it’s 52 a story.” Yours,
That day, I learned a valuable lesson. While technology looks into the future, true meaning often lies in 53 Li Hua
the past. I realized that what 54 was not reinventing the old with technology, but 55 the value already
within it. 第二节 （满分 25 分）
41. A. commercial B. cultural C. educational D. technological 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。
42. A. different B. creative C. fascinating D. cooperative It was the last day before moving into the new house. Mr. and Mrs. Martin wanted to make it warm and lovely,
43. A. remove B. shorten C. fix D. check so they decided to do some decorating themselves. That morning, Mrs. Martin stood at the door, reminding her busy
44. A. courage B. discipline C. curiosity D. patience husband. “Don’t climb too high, don’t move heavy boxes, and don’t forget to rest,” she said again and again, before
45. A. under the weather B. out of place C. over the moon D. in the dark she eventually headed out to buy curtains.
46. A. adjusted B. presented C. completed D. decorated Earlier, their daughter Emily had called. She said she was tied up with her job in another city, but promised,
47. A. Instead B. Moreover C. Therefore D. Meanwhile “Don’t worry, we’ll celebrate together soon.” The couple missed her, of course, but they smiled at each other and
48. A. gratitude B. empathy C. care D. trust agreed it would be meaningful to get the new home ready, a warm welcome awaiting their daughter’s arrival.
49. A. memory B. privacy C. reputation D. stability Mr. Martin waved goodbye to his wife and went back to his decorating work, confident and full of energy at
50. A. cautious B. relieved C. touched D. generous first. But soon the living room turned into a battlefield. Boxes, nails, a hammer and screwdrivers lay everywhere.
51. A. value B. history C. secret D. concept Paint splashed onto the floor, and the wall looked like a child’ s drawing. And several photo frames were scattered
52. A. compared to B. rooted in C. reconnected with D. refocused on on the ground.
53. A. recording B. discussing C. accepting D. honoring “A spider!” Mr. Martin climbed onto a shaky stool to chase it away — his wife hated those things — but
54. A. changed B. mattered C. happened D. followed instead he slipped and broke a photo frame. “Ouch, my back!” he groaned, sweat trickling down his forehead. He
55. A. revealing B. assessing C. explaining D. continuing began to wonder whether he was really able to do this job alone.
Then came a sharp smell from the kitchen. “Oh no, my cake!” Mr. Martin dragged himself to open the oven.
第二节 （共 10 小题；每小题 1.5 分，满分 15 分） The cake, which he had planned to surprise his wife, was now nothing but a hard black rock. He stared at it, shaking
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。 his head. “Should I admit the mess Or pretend nothing happened ” he whispered. Suddenly, the door creaked
In Tijuca National Park in Rio de Janeiro, there stands a “Chinese Pavilion”. It was constructed ___56___ open. Mrs. Martin stepped inside with the new curtains in her arms.
(honour) 19th-century Chinese immigrants who boosted Brazil’s tea industry. Between 1812 and 1888, over 1,000
注意：
farmers migrated under agreements. They introduced advanced tea-processing ___57___ (technique), which laid the
1. 续写词数应为 150 左右；
foundation for Brazil’s short-lived but ___58___ (influence) tea trade. 2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The pavilion combines Chinese architecture — styled eaves, six-sided frames, and ___59___ (point) roofs —
with Brazilian materials. Nestled in the world’s ___60___ (large) urban rainforest, it overlooks Rio’s landmarks For a moment, Mrs. Martin stood frozen.
including Corcovado Mountain and Christ the Redeemer.
In 1812, the first Chinese immigrants to Brazil planted tea trees in ___61___ is now the Rio de Janeiro
Botanical Garden, ___62___ witness to the China-Brazil friendship. More than 200 years later, these tea trees have With the new curtains finally in place, the doorbell rang.
become a deep-rooted part of Brazil’s cultural heritage. In 2003, on the 100th anniversary, commemorative plaques
(牌匾) were added, ___63___ (detail) its history in Portuguese, English, and Chinese.
Today, visitors to Rio’s Tijuca National Park may encounter the elegant pavilion. This landmark serves as a
reminder of Brazil’s respect for the pioneers. ___64___ the vast distance between China and Brazil, the bridge built
through tea has brought the two nations closer than ever. The pavilion ___65___ (list) on UNESCO’s World
Heritage List in 2024, attracting visitors interested in eco-cultural tourism.
襄阳四中 2026 届高三下学期质量检测 A 英语参考答案 1. Metaphor (比喻)
听力：CBACA BCACB CABBA ABCCA A. But soon the living room turned into a . 但很快客厅就变成了战场。
阅读理解：BAB BDCA ADCA CBCD EACGB B. The cake, which he had planned to surprise his wife, was now nothing but _____________________.
完形填空：DACDB BACAC ACDBD 他本想给妻子一个惊喜的蛋糕，现在却成了一块硬邦邦的黑石头。
语法填空：56. to honour/to honor 57. techniques 58. influential 59. pointed 60. largest 2. Personification (拟人)
61. what 62. a 63. detailing 64. Despite 65. was listed Following the sharp smell, she entered kitchen. on the counter was a cake.
应用文： 循着刺鼻的气味，她走进厨房。料理台上站着一个悲伤，焦黑的蛋糕。
Dear Peter, 3. Contrast（对比）
I really like your idea of launching an online study group. Here are some organizational suggestions, hoping to A. Mr. Martin waved goodbye to his wife and went back to his decorating work, ______________________ at first.
make your “Chinese and Western Cultures” online study group an enriching experience for all members. But soon the living room turned into a ______________.
First of all, I strongly recommend defining the group’s objective clearly for every session, which will create a Mr. Martin 在妻子离开后自信满满，但很快局面失控，房间变得一团糟。
B. ______________________ wasn’t the paint or the curtains, but _________ that made the house
sense of purpose among participants. Additionally, selecting a reliable video conferencing platform is the key to ______________________.
ensuring uninterrupted communication. In the meantime, to enhance overall learning experience, it is highly 真正的装饰不是油漆或窗帘，而是让真正的房子成为真正家园的爱。
advisable to establish a discussion hub for interaction outside of scheduled meetings.
Hopefully, your study group will evolve into a vibrant platform where members can sharpen their 听力原文
communication skills and deepen their appreciation of diverse cultures. Text 1W: The sky is covered with gray clouds. Is it going to be sunny this weekend
Yours, M: There’s a storm this Saturday, but it’s supposed to clear up by Sunday morning.
Li Hua Text 2
读后续写： M: Do you know how to get to the post office by subway
Possible version 1 W: Sure. Take the Grey Line at Andrew Square and get off at 83rd Street. You will see the post office across from Jack’s Restaurant.M: Got it! Thank you.
For a moment, Mrs. Martin stood frozen. Her eyes swept over the chaos, while Mr. Martin lowered his head. Text 3
“I wanted to surprise you,” he said softly,” but it seems I’ve made a bigger mess instead.” Mrs. Martin sighed, half W: Were you working on the annual report just now M: I finished that last night. I just responded to a customer inquiry a moment ago.
amused and half concerned, and quickly went over to check her husband’s back. Seeing that he was fine, she said W: OK. Lucy’s computer is acting up. Can you check it later
with a smile, “Let’s fix this together.” Side by side, the couple picked up the frames, gathered the scattered tools, Text 4
M: Hi, is your store open yet I’ve been waiting for 10 minutes.
and cleaned the floor. Finally, Mr. Martin ascended the stool (爬上凳子) as Mrs. Martin steadied it. He reached up W: No, sorry. It’s only 7:50 now. Our staff will start setting up at 8:00, and they’ll need 30 minutes before opening to customers.
to smooth each fold and secured the hooks— soft fabric settling into quiet order. Text 5
M: I need to renew my gym membership. Fitness courses are my secret to staying healthy. How about you
With the new curtains finally in place, the doorbell rang. When Mrs. Martin opened the door, their daughter W: Well, I eat a balanced diet to maintain good health. Keeping a balanced diet can meet the physical needs.
Emily stood there, a cake in hand, grinning. “I finished early,” she said, delighted by the tidy house, “and thought Text 6
I’d help you decorate before the celebration.” Mr. Martin’s tired face lit up with joy as he pulled his daughter into a W: When are you moving out of your apartment, Jim M: This Saturday, but my rent isn’t due yet. Do you know anyone who is interested
warm hug. They placed the cake on the tidy table, the sweet smell replacing the burnt one. As the three of them sat W: I am. I’ve just changed my job, and your apartment is close to my new office.
close together, eating and chatting, their laughter filled the small living room. The house, though still smelling M: Really That’d be great. You will like it, as the glass window is large enough to enjoy the scenery outside. And there are many trees in the community, providing environmental benefits to the area. That’s actually why I chose it in the first place.
faintly of paint, felt more like home than ever. W: Sounds nice. How about the rent I’m trying to stay within a $300 budget.
M: It was $320 a month, but recently the landlady has raised it by $30. Is that OK
Possible version 2 W: That’s a bit higher, but it’s worth the price.
For a moment, Mrs. Martin stood frozen. Her eyes swept across the chaotic living room, the broken frame, Text 7M: Are you going to the career fair at school tomorrow
her husband’s guilty face and the sharp smell. Then, her gaze fell upon the blackened cake on the kitchen counter. A W: Yes. I can’t decide what career to follow. I thought about nursing, maybe even becoming a doctor if my grades are good enough,
wave of understanding washed over her. Instead of anger, a soft smile touched her lips. “Well,” she said gently, “it but the thing that appeals to me most is teaching.M: Really You surprise me. I do admire that teachers can broaden their knowledge and adopt a mindset of continuous learning, but
seems you’ve been busy fighting dragons in here. I see you even defeated a cake monster.” Mr. Martin’s anxiety they have to meet lots of targets and deal with difficult students, which I wouldn’t like.
melted into a relieved chuckle. He told her the incident about the spider and confessed his attempts to surprise her, W: It depends on your character. What job would you like to do after graduation, Howard
M: I thought of becoming a photographer. They seem to travel a lot.
and she simply hugged him, whispering that his effort was the sweetest surprise. Then, they fix the mess together W: That’s a good idea, but it might be hard to succeed in it. Everyone takes pictures with their phones these days.
and hung the curtain. The process went smooth with their joint efforts. M: Yeah, but you have to be very good to be a professional, and I think I could manage it.
Text 8
With the new curtains finally in place, the doorbell rang. The couple exchanged a look of surprise. When Mr. W: It was very nice of you to see me off.
Martin opened the door, there stood Emily, beaming with her suitcase. “I finished early! I couldn’t wait to see our M: It’s my pleasure, Anna. I know you must be excited to go home after such a long business trip. You’ll keep in touch with me, won’t
new home and decorate it with you!” she exclaimed. As she stepped in, she didn’t notice the slight paint mark or the you W: Of course. And I will miss you, and miss the tasty food and the friendly workmates who helped me pick up a lot of Chinese. It
tidied-up mess. Her eyes shone as she looked around. “It’s perfect! It feels so warm and full of love!” she said, would have been perfect except for the days of continuous rain in Shanghai. By the way, please let me know if your daughter needs any
hugging them both. The Martins knew she was right. The real decoration wasn’t the paint or the curtains, but the help while she’s studying in London.M: Will do. Thanks a lot. Oh, I’d like to give you something to take home. Let me show you.
love that made the house a true home. W: This is beautiful. Chinese paper cutting! What do these characters mean
Read and imitate the language M: They mean “All the Best”! And the tea is for your parents.
W: Thank you. Oh, it sounds like they’re boarding now. I have to go.
M: Have a good trip, Anna. Bye!
Text 9
W: Welcome to our interview! Martin, how do you like playing a superhero
M: Overall, it makes me proud, but it really bothers me to stay fit, and keeping the superhero face on is quite tiring too. Yet, those
challenges don’t even come close to the difficulty of chasing and fighting. You have to make great efforts to achieve the desired
effects.
W: I heard you grew up in Canada. How was that
M: I have many family members there. I went to an international school, but the best thing was the fantastic countryside near my home.
I spent most weekends camping in the forest, which was really great.
W: So how did you get into acting
M: Well, at university, I studied literature but never acted in any drama. After graduating, I worked as an assistant for a producer,
working on a musical comedy. One night an actor was ill, and I was asked to play his part, and it just went from there.
W: Here is the last question. What would you have done if you hadn’t become an actor
M: Well, both my parents devote themselves to educational careers. Even so, it hardly interested me. My older brother owns a
company, and he said that I could have a job in his office. I guess that’s what I’d probably have done.
Text 10
M: World Sleep Day is held on March 21st every year. It aims to highlight the importance of good sleep and raise awareness of how
sleep determines our everyday lives. Now, a world-first study from the University of South Australia shows that increased physical
activity during the day improves sleep quality and reduces tiredness, emphasizing the importance of exercise for a good night’s rest.
The study found that children and adults with higher levels of physical activity have better sleep quality. In general, adults are thought
to need at least eight hours of sleep a night, but a recent survey found that on workdays, only 21% of them really get a full eight hours
of sleep. For teenagers, a healthy amount is about eight to nine hours per night. However, 27% of people throughout the world have
sleep problems. Now there are over 80 kinds of sleep disorders, and most people know little about their dangers. So, for our good life
and work, it’s necessary for us to realize the importance of sleep and try to have a good sleep.