2018-2019学年度第一学期高二期中英语测试卷
注意：本试卷分第一卷（选择题）和第二卷（非选择题）两部分。总分为120分。考试时间120分钟。
第一卷 (选择题 共80分)
第一部分:?听力(共两节，满分20分)
第一节(共5小题；每小题1分，满分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，并标在试卷的相应位置。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。
1. What will the woman be doing this afternoon?
A. Stay at home. B. Go to visit her friends. C. Go to the Olympic Games.
2. What happened to the boy today at school?
A. He fought with someone.
B. He didn't join in the fight.
C. He made a big fire.
3. Where does the conversation probably take place?
A. Inside a cinema. B. In a ticket office. C. Outside a cinema.
4. What is true about the woman?
A. She likes math now. B. She is very good at English. C. She thinks the man is funny.
5. What happened to the woman?
A. She wanted to take the 6：00 flight.
B. She misunderstood the man.
C. She changed the reservation to 7：00.
第二节(共15小题；每小题1分，满分15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. How many times has the man made dumplings?
A. Twice. B. Once. C. Never.
7. What does it need to make good dumplings according to the woman?
A. Practice. B. A secret recipe. C. Talent.
听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。
8. Why didn't the woman see all of the collections at the museum?
A. The museum is too large.
B. Only the jade exhibit was open.
C. She spent too much time at one exhibit.
9. What did the woman like the most?
A. The primitive tools of Peking Man.
B. The jade collection from the earliest time period.
C. The artistic’ works from the Qing Dynasty.
听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。
10. What did the man do last night?
A. He watched a sports program on TV.
B. He invited the woman to see a show.
C. He went to the stadium to watch an NBA game.
11. How did the woman describe basketball?
A. A very fast game. B. A dull game. C. Too complicated.
12. Why did the man ask the woman the last question?
A. He wanted to take her to a movie.
B. He wanted to take her to an NBA game.
C. He wanted to change the topic of their discussion.
听第9段材料，回答第l3至16题。
13. Why did the man stop the woman?
A. To ask her for directions B. To give her a ticket for speeding.
C. To warn her about the kids in the street.
14. What was the speed limit where the woman was driving?
A. 40 mph. B. 35 mph. C. 25 mph.
15. What will happen if the woman goes to traffic school?
A. She won't have to pay a fine.
B. She won't have to go to court.
C. Her insurance won't become more expensive.
16. What do we know about school zones?
A. They are more dangerous than other areas.
B. People are more likely to get tickets there.
C. There are sometimes children there even on weekends.
听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。
17. What is the main focus of the study?
A. How to eat chocolate without gaining weight.
B. The health benefits of eating chocolate.
C. The effects of eating chocolate on happiness.
18. Who reported the best results?
A. People who ate no chocolate at all.
B. People who ate a tot of chocolate every day.
C. People who ate a moderate amount of chocolate every day.
19. What did the researchers say about the study?
A. There is still a lot of work to be done.
B. Milk chocolate was used in the experiment.
C. Eating too much chocolate had no positive impact on health.
20. Whomight appreciate this news report most?
A. People who want to change their diet.
B. People who exercise regularly.
C. People who already eat chocolate fairly often.
第二部分:英语知识运用(共两节，满分35分)
第一节:单项填空(共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分)
21. He set up the gym last year just to improve people’s health, not to make _________.
A. bargains B. conflicts C. credits D. profits
22. The drunken driver is _______ for the traffic jam __________ yesterday.
A. to be blamed; occurred B. to be blamed; occurring
C. to blame; occurring D. to blame; occurred
23. With the new technologies introduced, the company made _________ computers as the year before last.
A. as twice many B. twice as many C. as many twice D. twice many as
24.Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the _________ of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who’ll get burnt.
A. consideration B. intention C. inspiration D. permission
25. It is only through forgiveness _________ you can forget wrongdoing and clean the memory.
A. which B. how C. that D. when
26._________ you are afraid of losing something, it means that you have no choice but to abandon it or give up on yourself.
A. When B. Unless C. As D. Where
27.Many young people, most _________ were well-educated, headed for remote regions to chase their dreams.
A. of which B. of them C. of whom D. of those
28.His energy is astonishing, and the amount of work he ____ in spite of severe illness makes his literary career as a whole seem heroic.
A. got through B. lived through C. checked through D. went through
29.The boss of the firm says that large quantities of food _______ for the coming winter.
A. have stored B. have been stored C. has stored D. has stored
30.I’m always _______ about what I say because careless remarks are likely to hurt others’ feelings..
A. enthusiastic B. curious C. doubtful D. cautious
31.______ his email, I decided to telephone him and ask the reason.
A. Having not received B. Not receiving C. Not having received D. Not received
32.—What do you think makes Linda so sad?
---________ by the class teacher.
A. Scolding B. She has been scolded C. Being scolded D. Because of being scolded
33.I _______ half of the English novel, and I try to finish it at the weekend.
A. am reading B. read C. will read D. have read
34.- They have told me to act ____ their house is mine and they will look after me well.
A. now that B. even if C. in case D. as though
35. ---- I failed the driving test again.
---- ______! Sarah and I have as well. so don’t worry.
A. Joined the club B. Beat it C. Be yourself D. Be my guest
第二节: 完形填空(共20 小题; 每小题1分, 满分20分)
请认真阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题纸上将该项涂黑。
Ban the Band(乐队)
Every year, our school has a dance for all the students. It’s a little funny seeing friends in clean shoes and trousers or colorful __36____,instead of the usual school uniform.
Most of us think the dance is great _37___ ---even the teachers enjoy being there.___38__,two weeks ago someone said that there would be no ___39___ band this year ---only CDs.
“I don’t __40__ it!”Amy cried out during the lunch break.
“Someone said the school couldn’t __41__ a band, and they think it’s too noisy anyway/”added Daniel.
“Well, I don’t think it’s __42__ enough without a band!” declared Angela.” and I’m going to see what can be done.”
Angela was as good as her __43__.In the afternoon she went to see the school headmaster who agreed to give the __44__ some more thought. And he suggested that one __45__for having a band was to increase the price of each ticket from $5 to $10.Angela had to ___46__ out whether the students would like to do that.
“I need all of you to help me,” she __47__to our group before school the next day.”Mr. Berry gave me a list of all the names, and suggested we ask each one their __48__ about the band and the extra cost.”
___49___ the day we asked around as Angela suggested, and wrote down people’s feelings about the band and the cost. We were amazed how much __50__ there was for the band and everyone agreed to pay the extra $5.
“I’m surprised,” smiled Mr. Berry, when we gave him the __51__.”I realty thought that only a few people __52__ their band and that the cost would be too high. OK, Angela, your next __53__is to find a good band and line them up for the dance. ”
Angela was all smiles and __54__ the news to Amy and Daniel.”You’re __55__,”smiled Daniel to Angela as he thought how close they came to having a less than perfect dance.
36. A. shapes B. dressed C. flowers D. pictures
37. A. fun B. work C. effort D. progress
38. A. Besides B. Otherwise C. However D.Therefore
39. A. new B. live C.foreign D. marching
40. A. mean B.need C. accept D.believe
41.A. lead B.serve C.afford D.form
42. A. good B. clear C.useful D.easy
43. A. look B.behavior C.mind D.word
44. A. schedule B.situation C.view D.action
45. A.possibility B.concern C.decision D.chance
46. A. call B.find C.carry D.point
47. A.admintted B.replied C.apolpgized D.announced
48. A. knowledge B.instruction C.opinion D.information
49. A. On B. For C. By D.During
50. A.trust B.money C.support D.care
51. A.results B.notices C.questions D.examples
52. A.welcomed B.wanted C.defended D.invited
53. A.task B.business C.exercise D.duty
54. A.showed B.wrote C.broke D.read
55. A.amusing B.interesting C.exciting D.amazing
第三部分: 阅读理解(共10小题; 每小题2 分，满分20分)
请认真阅读下列短文, 从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D 四个选项中, 选出最佳选项, 并在答题纸上将该项涂黑。
A
/ Second-Hand Finds
It’s hard to know what is worth buying at a garage sale. These can be of great value.
LARGE FURNITURE
The key to buying big items is to wait until the end of the day. By then, the sellers are wondering how they are going to get that huge sofa back into the house.
PLASTIC AND WOODEN TOYS
Many old-fashioned wooden toys are solid enough to be passed from generation to generation. Clean wooden and plastic toys with a mixture of bleach (漂白剂) or vinegar and hot water. But stay clear of stuffed animals, which are always hard to clean.
BICYCLES AND SCOOTERS
Bikes can be a great find, but it’s important to take them for a test drive before you buy. With scooters, if the frame is solid, you can often replace missing or worn parts (handlebar covers, brakes, wheels) for much less than the cost of new ones.
BABY GEAR
New parents want to get rid of out-grown baby swings, high chairs and strollers as soon as possible, making them a garage-sale staple. In case of future recalls, make sure the model number is still visible. Don’t buy: second-hand car seats (the structure could have suffered from damage) and drop-side cribs (落地式婴儿床).
56. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Sofa sellers are always confused how they can sell their items out.
B. If the frame of the bike is solid, we can often replace anything missing or worn.
C. Stuffed animals are not recommended for they are always difficult to clean.
D. Car seats and drop-side cribs are always out-of-date and unfashionable.
57. How does the writer recommend finds to buyers?
A. By introducing characteristics of items.
B. By offering detailed descriptions.
C. By telling different stories of the items.
D. By comparing items with others.
B
The clock is ticking. David Brunelli has just swallowed a huge burger. The crowd cheers excitedly as he downs fistfuls of fries.
Welcome to the world of competitive eating.
Brunelli is part of a select group who compete to eat massive quantities of food as quickly as possible. Eating contests may seem like harmless fun, but they have a dark side and some critics are saying it’s time for them to stop.
Pouring crazy amounts of food down our throats is nothing new. Gorging banquets (狼吞虎咽会）were a regular part of ancient Roman culture. In the 1800s, some New York City politicians settled bets through eating challenges. Pie-eating contests have been a Fourth of July tradition for more than a century.
For supporters like Brunelli, though, eating contests are more than a custom. They are a path to fortune.
But prize money does nothing to reduce the health risks of competitive eating. Competitive eating can even be life-threatening. In 1991，a man in Virginia suffered a stroke (中风)after eating 38 eggs in 29 seconds; In Florida, in 2012, a man died shortly after winning an eating contest leading a group of doctors to call for a ban on eating contests.
In any event, the risk to competitors is only part of the story. Nearly two-thirds of Americans are overweight, and competitive eating sets a terrible example by encouraging overeating. And in a world where 805 million people go hungry every day, downing ridiculous quantities of food for entertainment seems not just wasteful but also cruel.
For now, though，it seems eating contests are here to stay. Last year, more than three million viewers watched Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on TV. This year, Matt Stonie ate 182 pieces of bacon in 5 minutes, breaking the world record.
What record will be broken next? Do you really want to find out?
58. What does the author try to express in Paragraph 4?
A. Competitive eating is a tradition.
B. It’s great to learn from ancient people.
C. Competitive eating should be accepted.
D. It’s exciting to challenge others to eat.
59. Why does Brunelli take part in the eating contest?
A. for food. B. for fun. C. for honor. D. for money.
60. The examples given in Paragraph 6 are used to show eating contests___________.
A. use unhealthy food. B. waste too much food.
C. put competitors at risk. D. set a bad example to kids.
61. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?
A. The author hopes to break the record.
B. The author is eager to know the result.
C. The author wants readers to find out the result.
D. The author disapproves of competitive eating.
C
Eyes may be the “windows to the soul,” but depending on who’s reading them, they might tell very different stories. A new study in the UK found that women are more likely to notice something than men when determining another person’s feelings based only on their eyes and eyebrows.
In the study, the researchers surveyed a total of 2,000 men and women in the UK. They were shown pairs of eyes and eyebrows and asked to choose the correct term that describes which emotion (情绪) that person is expressing. In general, women were found to be slightly better at reading other people. Two thirds of women in the survey correctly recognized five or more emotions. Only 56 percent of men were able to do this.
The researchers also found that women were more confident in their ability to read emotions. Half of them reported that they were either “slightly better” or “much better” at doing so than their friends and family, while only 44 percent of men said the same. The survey also showed that men and women differ in their abilities to notice particular emotions.
Women were more likely to recognize “vulnerable emotions,” including someone being shocked or scared. More than three quarters of them were able to do so, but only 60 percent of men could tell that someone was scared. When it comes to recognizing a “guilty” look, women beat men by five percent.
In the survey, men were found to be better at recognizing emotions related to desire and anger. Roughly 58 percent of men could correctly discover someone was interested in something from what they saw, and 41.9 percent could recognize desire.
The researchers say the ability improves with age — until you reach 65. The best scores were seen in people aged 55-64 and 45-54. People aged 65 and over were best at determining when a person is “guilty.” On average, people scored 4.9/10 on the test. The researchers say this suggests that most people can’t recognize other people’s moods as much as they think they might.
62. What did the researchers find in the study?
A. Men were better at noticing guilty looks.
B. Women were confident in their ability to show different emotions.
C. Men did better than women in recognizing anger and desire.
D. Women could recognize people’s emotions from their eyes and words.
63. The underlined word “vulnerable” in the fourth paragraph probably means“__________”.
A. not well behaved B. easily hurt or affected
C. prepared to fight D. hard to get along with
64. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the text?
A. People aged 65 can best notice whether a person is interested in something.
B. Men and women have the same ability to recognize particular emotions.
C. The older a person is, the better he or she can read other people’s emotions.
D. Most people can’t truly realize what a person is feeling.
65. What may be the best title for the text?
A. Eyes Are the Windows to the Soul
B. The Ability to Read Emotions Matters a Lot
C. How Well Can You Read Emotions?
D. How Can You Manage Your Emotions?
第四部分: 黑布林阅读：(共5小题; 每小题1分, 满分5分)
66.What does the sentence“Attacked by gunshot and shell, bravely we rode and well, through the valley of Death”mean?
A. Standing still and watching everyday life go by.
B. Attacking the enemy by gunshot on horseback.
C. Riding bravely through the valley of death with a gun.
D. Facing life and daily events in a heroic way.
67.All of the following can describe a lighthouse keeper’s work EXCEPT_____
A. seeing the same waves
B. polishing he lamp
C. sitting all day silently
D. staying on a small rock
68.What is the relationship between Mr. Ramsay and Mr. Bankes?
A. competitors B. friends C. partners D. college-mates
69. Who is good at mathematics？
A Andrew B Nancy C James D Roger
70. Why hadn’t Lily finished her painting?
A. She had wanted to add a little leaf pattern to it.
B. She had made no attempt at likeness.
C. She had forgotten to paint the hedge of it.
D. She had wanted to move the tree to the middle.
第二卷(非选择题，共40分)
第五部分: 单词拼写(共10小题; 每小题1分, 满分10分)
71. The bank has taken additional s___________ measures to ensure accounts are protected.
72. The road was blocked for two hours after the accident, but traffic is now f__________ smoothly again.
73. The main aims are the c____________ of material and energy in support of the sustainable development program.
74. Don’t t___________ the dog by showing her the treat if you’re not going to give it to her.
75. Although Mrs. Black often seems quite cold to others, her smiling eyes b__________ her true nature.
76. The Cutty Sark r____________ from side to side and it became impossible to steer her.
77. Although he earned enormous sums of money, he was so e__________ that he was always in debt.
78. At some d_____________ moment in the story the terrible secret becomes known and a reputation is ruined.
79. But the copy he gave him hadn’t been written out in full as usual. It was simply a b____________ sheet of paper.
80. No creature has received more praise and a______________ than the common garden snail（蜗牛）.
第六部分: 任务型阅读(共10小题; 每小题1分, 满分10分)
请认真阅读下列短文, 并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。注意: 每个空格只填1个单词。请将答案写在答题纸上相应题号的横线上。
What do you do when somebody hurts you? Do you want to hurt that person back, or do you hold it against them for the rest of your life? If you answered “yes” to these questions, know that you are like most people. To forgive is something that most people generally have difficulty with.
People don’t forgive readily, because it is easier to hate than to forgive. Some people think to forgive is a sign of weakness, but actually to forgive takes courage and effort.
Forgiveness is a gift from a generous heart. It is not a reward for good behavior. It is not based on whether the person deserves it or whether the person has asked for it.
Besides, forgiveness is an act and a process, which often takes time. The deeper your pain, the longer it usually takes to completely forgive. It is an act because it is not just the words you say, but also your actions which show if you’ve truly forgiven someone.
Forgiveness is necessary because it helps removes the burden of bitterness and hate. It takes a lot of energy to hate and to keep that hate in place. Hate puts unnecessary stress on your body. It is a well-known fact, proven by numerous studies, that bitterness and hate can actually make you sick. The moment that people forgive and let go of their hate, they will start to get well. Forgiveness brings freedom, whereas revenge (报复) is neither sweet nor satisfying.
I have personal experience of this. I used to be very cynical about life and didn’t forgive easily. At the time, I also struggled in every area of my life. Things just didn’t seem to work out for me. It is as if everything that could go wrong, always went wrong. That was until somebody told me to take a look at my attitude. And when I forgave those who wronged me and changed my attitude, everything else changed. It didn’t happen overnight. It took a while, but I could see and feel the difference.
Are things not working out in your life, despite you doing all the “right” things? Is it possible that you are holding “unforgiveness” in your heart? It is worth thinking about.
Introduction
It is common that people find it difficult to forgive those 81 them.
Myth of forgiveness
To forgive is a sign of weakness.
Truth of forgiveness
To forgive is in fact a sign of 82
To forgive shows you have a generous heart, not that someone has done something good that is 83 your forgiveness..
The time it takes to forgive someone is decided by the 84 of the pain.
It is your action rather than words that really 85 .
Reasons for forgiveness
To hate requires much energy, thus 86 unnecessary stress on the body.
Forgiveness 87 you from bitterness and burden.
Author’s experience
Everything seemed to go wrong until I was 88 of my own attitude towards things happening to me.
Everything changed in 89 to my changed attitude.
Conclusion
When you find everything going wrong 90 your effort, think about your attitude toward forgiveness.
第七部分：书面表达（满分20分）
请阅读下面短文，并按照要求用英语写一篇150词左右的文章。
It was 7：30in the morning．As usual I was on the subway to school．It was so crowded with people that it felt like the air conditioner wasn't working．I was standing there looking around．Then，I saw an old lady get on the subway with a 7﹣year﹣old child who seemed to be her grandson．
A warm﹣hearted gentleman generously offered his seat to the old lady．Instead of sitting down herself，however，the old lady called her grandson over and told him to sit．
Sooner or later，children mature and step into the complicated（复杂的） world．Love is necessary in the early development of children，yet，to the disappointment of many，too much love definitely prevents children from learning the rules of the real world．Teaching the child about the rules of society within the family helps the child to achieve success later．By giving up seats to their children，grandparents may destroy kids’ best chance for character development．
【写作内容】
（1）以约30个词概括上文的主要内容．
（2）以约120个词谈谈你对长辈溺爱孩子的看法，内容包括：
①描述长辈溺爱孩子的表现；
②溺爱孩子的后果；
③你对长辈溺爱孩子的看法．
【写作要求】
（1）作文中可以使用亲身经历或虚构的故事．
（2）不得直接引用短文中的句子．
（3）作文中不能出现真实姓名和学校名称．
2018-2019高二英语期中答案（总分120分）
第一部分:?听力(共20题，每题1分，满分20分)
1—5 AACAB 6—10 BACBA 11—15 BCBCC 16—20 CBCAC
第二部分:英语知识运用(共两节，满分35分)
第一节:单项填空(共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分)
21-25 DCBBC 26-30 ACABD 31-35CCDDA
第二节: 完形填空(共20 小题; 每小题1分, 满分20分)
36-40 BACBD 41-45 CADBA 46-50 BDCDC 51-55 ABACD
第三部分: 阅读理解(共10小题; 每小题2 分，满分20分)
56-57 CA 58-61 ADCD 62-65 CBDC
第四部分: 黑布林阅读：(共5小题; 每小题1分, 满分5分)
黑布林：66-70:DCBCD
第五部分: 单词拼写(共10小题; 每小题1分, 满分10分)
71.security 72.flowing 73.conservation 74.tease 75.betray
76.rolled 77.extravagant 78.dramatic 79.blank 80.abuse
第六部分: 任务型阅读(共10小题; 每小题1分, 满分10分)
81. hurting 82. strength / courage / effort(s) 83. worth 84. depth 85. counts / matters 86. putting 87 releases / frees. 88. reminded 89. response 90. despite
第七部分：书面表达（满分20分）
This passage mainly talks about the importance of character development of children by giving an example of an old lady who gives up the seat offered by a gentleman to her grandchild．
It's common in our country that parents or grandparents often spoil the kids．For example，parents or grandparents will buy shoes of famous brands to satisfy their needs，no matter how expensive they are．What's worse，they provide kids with whatever they want and ask them to do nothing in return．
When these spoiled children grow up，many of them may greatly disappoint their parents．Some of them even commit crimes．If it happens，who is to blame？I think parents or grandparents are not supposed to spoil kids．Kids should go through hardships and do what they can to help their parents or other people．Only by doing so can they be independent and responsible．
听力原文
Text 1
M: You promised to go to the Olympic Games with me this afternoon. Are you ready to go now?
W: Oh, yes, I did say that. But, as you can see, I have some unexpected visitors now, so I am afraid I can't go anymore.
Text 2
W: How was school today？Your teacher called me this afternoon.
M: The same as always, Mom. Oh, there was one thing. I got in a big fight.
Text 3
M: I'm afraid you can't get into the cinema because you do not have a ticket.
W: Oh, I must have lost it, but I can find a person who can prove that I did have a ticket. Is that all right?
Text 4
W: What was your favorite subject in high school, Henry?
M: I used to love math, but now I can't stand it. I'm much more into English now.
W: That's so funny! I am just the opposite.
Text 5
M: Did you make a reservation on the 7: 00 flight?
W: I thought you wanted to take the 6: 00 flight. It's too late to change it now.
Text 6
W: Have you ever made dumplings before?
M: There was a party my first year in China where someone came and tried to teach us how to make dumplings. I didn't do very well.
W: I'll let you in on a secret. No one makes really good dumplings his or her first time!
M: Well, I'm not sure that I'll do better the second time.
W: Of course you will. Practice makes perfect! Come on, I'll teach you.
M: Hmm, I suppose it couldn't hurt. Who knows? Maybe they'll be edible this time!
W: Mine always taste good! But you can't eat any of mine if you don't at least try to make some yourself.
M: All right. So, what kind shall we make? How about pork with green onions?
Text 7
W: Have you been to the National Museum since it reopened?
M: No, have you?
W: Yes, I went yesterday with some friends who were visiting from out of town. It was wonderful! We were only able to see a few of the exhibits because we spent so much time looking at the jade exhibit. It was amazing. The jade was simply amazing. The collection includes pieces from around the time of Peking Man through the Qing Dynasty. Although the artistry of the later pieces is superb, I think I enjoyed the early ones best. The stones were so beautiful, the carved patterns were simple yet elegant, and they were all done with such primitive tools—truly astonishing!
M: That sounds like it's worth a visit. My wife would probably enjoy it, too. How much is the entrance fee?
W: That's the best part. Like most museums in Beijing, admission is free!
Text 8
M: Did you watch the NBA game last night?
W: No, I didn't see it. In fact, I almost never watch NBA games.
M: What? You've got to be kidding! Basketball is the best thing on TV.
W: All it is a bunch of men in shorts running around with a ball. What's so great about that?
M: What's so great about it? Why, it's the greatest sport ever, that's what! To play basketball professionally requires a lot of athletic ability, physical determination, and speed. It's a very fast game, and it's very exciting to watch.
W: Well, I think it's silly. All the players do is bounce the ball, throw the ball, run around trying to take the ball from each other… I just don't understand it. I'd much rather watch a movie, a talk show, or even a game show than a basketball game!
M: Well, I can see that we are never going to agree on this. Let's change the subject. So, what do you want to do this weekend?
Text 9
M: Madam, do you know how fast you were going just now?
W: Uh, well, no, I didn't think I was going that fast…
M: This is a 25 mph zone, Madam. You see that school over there? You were going 35 mph.
W: But today is Sunday, sir. There is no school today.
M: That doesn't matter, Madam. There are signs that say what the speed limit is. Besides, children often come to school on the weekends to play sports. You see all those kids over there? What if you hit one of them by accident?
W: I'm sorry, officer, I won't do it again. Could you please let me off with a warning?
M: I'm afraid I can't do that, Madam. In school zones, I'm required to give tickets to all drivers who break the rules. It's the law in this county.
W: Oh, dear! What is this going to cost me?
M: I don't know, Madam. Usually, these things can be taken care of for less than $100. Now please sign here at the bottom.
W: OK… is that all?
M: One more thing, if you go to traffic school, your insurance won't go up. Have you been to traffic school before, Madam?
W: No, I haven't.
M: There are many cheap options online. It's definitely better than paying more for insurance.
W: OK, thank you.
M: My pleasure.
Text 10
And now for today's health news. A new study conducted at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that eating chocolate every day might actually be good for you. Researchers gave people different amounts of chocolate, from none at all to several servings, every day for six weeks and measured their blood pressure, body fat, and emotional condition. What they found may surprise you. It turns out that eating a small amount of chocolate every day is better than eating none at all! People who ate a small amount of chocolate regularly had lower blood pressure and reported feeling happier than people who didn't eat any chocolate. Eating a lot of chocolate every day resulted in increased weight gain and higher blood pressure, but it actually had a positive impact on mood. The scientists were quick to point out that the chocolate under investigation was dark chocolate, which has less fat, less sugar, and fewer calories than milk chocolate. They also said that adding chocolate to one's diet should be combined with a balanced diet and plenty of exercise. Although the researchers said that there is still a lot of work to be done in this field, the initial findings are no doubt great news for all you chocolate lovers out there!
