浙江省宁波三锋教研联盟2022-2023学年高二英语下学期期中联考试题（Word版附答案）

这是一份浙江省宁波三锋教研联盟2022-2023学年高二英语下学期期中联考试题（Word版附答案），共13页。试卷主要包含了考试结束后，只需上交答题纸， B等内容，欢迎下载使用。

2022学年第二学期宁波三锋教研联盟期中联考
高二年级英语学科试题
考生须知：
1.本卷共10页满分150分，考试时间120分钟。
2.答题前，在答题卷指定区域填写班级、姓名、考场号、座位号及准考证号并填涂相应数字。
3.所有答案必须写在答题纸上，写在试卷上无效。
4.考试结束后，只需上交答题纸。选择题部分
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. What does the woman tell the man to do?
A. Apply for a visa. B. Fill in a form. C. Hand in an application form.
2. Who will be absent at the party?
A. Maggie. B. Jessica. C. Rose.
3. How much does the man still need?
A. $65. B. $50. C. $35.
4. What is the woman’s opinion about the English program?
A. It was interesting. B. It was important. C. It was difficult.
5. What can we learn about the woman?
A. She used to be a teacher.
B. She dislikes living abroad.
C. She thinks teaching is boring.
第二节（共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22.5分）
听第6段材料，回答第6、7题。
6. Where was the professor when the woman arrived?
A. In the kitchen. B. In the living room. C. In the bathroom.
7. What caused the woman’s problem?
A. She didn’t know about American customs.
B. She misunderstood the professor’s words.
C. She wasn’t familiar with the professor’s wife.
听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。
8. What relation is the woman to the man?
A. His colleague. B. His wife. C. His client.
9. What is the man going to do tomorrow morning?
A. Talk with Mr. Sharpe’s secretary.
B. Have a short meeting with Mr. Sharpe.
C. Visit Mr. Sharpe’s daughter in the hospital.
听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。
10. Why does the company want to fire old staff?
A. Their salaries are too high.
B. Their working methods are old-fashioned.
C. They often have conflicts with the management.
11. What do we know about the woman?
A. She will look for a new job.
B. She has made a business plan.
C. She doesn’t care about getting fired.
12. How does the man feel about the changes?
A. Angry. B. Worried. C. Disappointed.
听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。
13. What are the speakers mainly talking about?
A. What gift to give to neighbors.
B. How to get along with neighbors.
C. How to deal with children’s problems.
14. What does the woman think of the neighbor’s son?
A. Polite. B. Annoying. C. Stupid.
15. What does the man advise the woman to do?
A. To bring her neighbors a present.
B. To telephone her neighbors to complain.
C. To introduce her children to her neighbors.
16.When does the noise stop?
A. At midnight. B. In the early morning. C. When the car is turned off.
听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。
17. What did Vernon ask the speaker to do?
A. Take care of his birds. B. Check his mailbox.
C. Look after his house.
18. What happened when the speaker arrived at Vernon’s house?
A. He couldn’t open the door.
B. He found he brought the wrong key.
C. He couldn’t find the key to the mailbox.
19. What made the speaker anxious?
A. It was getting dark. B. He might draw others’ attention.
C. He didn’t know how to face Vernon.
20. Why did the man feel like a fool?
A. He made too much noise.
B. What he did made him look like a thief.
C. He forgot to ask the policeman for help.
第二部分 阅读理解(共两节，满分 50 分)
第一节(共15小题;每小题2.5分，满分37.5分)
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
High school programs at the National Gallery of Art value depth over breadth, exploring original works of art through a single specific question or theme.
High School Studio Workshops
Single museum visit, 2.5 hours
Grades 9-12
These half-day art workshops include an in-depth examination and discussion of works of art in the galleries, followed by behind-the-scenes access to the Education Studio, where students create a related art project.
During the workshop, National Gallery of Art educators will encourage students to look carefully at works of art and then share their responses and develop theories based on their observations.
Students will have the opportunity to create a work of art in the studio inspired by what they have in the galleries. Museum Marker: Exploring Art and Museums
Grades 11-12
The Museum Makers program explains how museums operate and what they have to offer. It gives high school students the tools to experience and understand art. Participants will gain the knowledge of how an art museum works.
Students meet for seven Saturday sessions from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Completion of the program requires attendance of all seven sessions.
Creative Writing in the Galleries
Grades 7-12, 90 minutes
Students will provide a voice for their personal responses to art through creative writing while look ingat a selection of artworks in the galleries. Using close observation, group discussion, and personal reflection, they will be guided through exercises that use different writing forms, including free-form poetry.
A maximum of 30 students (minimum of 15) will be accommodated(容纳) at each session.
21. What can students do at High School Studio Workshops?
A. Guide them how to write free-form poetry. B. Explain how museums operate.
C. develop their art theories based on their observations. D. Deliver lectures on artistic works.
22. What can students get from Museum Maker?
A. Tools to create a work of art in the studio. B. Knowledge about how museums work.
C. Experience of running a museum. D. Chances to voice their personal responses.
23. Where might this article be taken from?
A. A travel journal. B. A research report.
C. An education magazine. D. A teaching design.
B
In the August sun, it’s unbearably hot in my car. I’m in Vancouver, approaching the Knight Street Bridge as I try to get home after work. It’s 5:15 pm. Traffic is already slowing down and then it comes to a full stop. I’m stuck even before getting on the bridge.
This has become my normal work commute (上下班往返) routine. Ahead of me is a heavily jammed on-ramp (匝道). I stare at the endless rows of vehicles, depressed.
At first I think this is not how it looks. The traffic will soon start moving. Seconds pass. Minutes pass. Looking at the rows of cars and trucks glittering（闪光）in the sun, I start counting-299, 300, 301- and I give up.
Suddenly I remember I’m one of the 300 helpless drivers. But I stay alert（警觉的）. When the cars do move, I move carefully, making sure not to bump into other vehicles. Finally, I make it onto the bridge. The traffic is still crawling at a snail’s pace. Tired and hungry, I become very anxious.
Just then, I hear a weak sound in the distance. The sound gradually becomes louder, until I can identify it as an ambulance approaching from behind. What do we do? The bridge is packed. There’s no room for us to move.
But I’m wrong. Every single car quickly, yet carefully, moves to the side. Without thinking, I follow suit. The lane remains open for a few seconds during which the ambulance flashes through.
Afterward, every car moves back. We close up the emergency lane, ready to continue our patient wait. Back in my spot, I’m awestruck. I forget my tiredness and hunger. My anxiety is gone. I start reflecting upon what 300 fellow drivers and I just did.
How did we do that? Despite our exhaustion, we collectively decided to help the stranger who needed the time more desperately than we did. We drew on our sympathy and intelligence, requiring no directives.
Although I may seem alone stuck on the bridge, I’m connected to all the other drivers. Together we could make the impossible possible.
24. How does the author feel when seeing the on-ramp?
A. Annoyed. B. Discouraged. C. Calm D. Shocked.
25. What does the author think when knowing an ambulance is approaching?
A. It will be hard for it to pass through. B. Someone should direct the traffic.
C. All drivers will be willing to move. D. Whoever is inside needs immediate help.
26. What does the word “awestruck” underlined in paragraph 7 most probably mean?
A. Deeply anxious. B. Feeling amazed.
C. Extremely exhausted. D. Feeling depressed.
27. What does the author think made the miracle happen?
A. The drivers’ good driving skills. B. Instructions from a stranger.
C. People’s kindness. D. The ambulance’s rescue.
C
Of the 8,300 million tons of virgin (原始的) plastic produced up to the end of 2015, 6,300 million tons have been discarded (丢弃). Most of that plastic waste is still with us, buried in landfills or polluting the environment. Microplastics have been found in Antarctic sea ice, in the guts of animals that live in the deepest ocean trenches and in drinking water around the world.
But what if we could wave a magic wand and remove all plastics from our lives? For the sake of the planet, it would be a tempting prospect - but we’d quickly find out just how far plastic has spread to every aspect of our existence.
In hospitals, the loss of plastic would be devastating. “Imagine trying to run a dialysis (透析) unit with no plastic," says Sharon George, senior lecturer in environmental sustainability and green technology at Keele University in the UK. Plastic is used in gloves, tubing, blood bags, sample tubes and more.
Some everyday plastic items are also vital for protecting health. Face masks, including plastic-based surgical masks and respirators(人工呼吸器)，as well as reusable cloth masks, have helped slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. “A mask that you have for COVID is related to our safety and the safety of others," says George. “The impact of taking that away could be loss of life if you took it away on a big scale."
Our food system would also quickly come apart. We use packaging to protect food from damage in transit and preserve it long enough to reach supermarket shelves, as well as for communication and marketing. “ I cannot imagine how plastic would be replaced completely in our system," says Eleni Iacovidou, a lecturer in environmental management at Brunel University London.
Swapping out plastic packaging would have knock-on(产生连锁反应的) environmental effects. While glass has some advantages over plastic, such as being endlessly recyclable, a one-liter glass bottle can weigh as much as 800g compared to a 40g plastic one. When those heavier bottles and jars need to be transported over long distances, carbon emissions grow even more.
It’s clear that replacing one material with another won’t solve all our plastic problems.
28. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?
A To give a definition. B. To report on a study.
C. To introduce a topic. D. To describe a phenomenon.
29. What does the underlined word “devastating" in Paragraph 3 most probably mean?
A. interesting. B. practical. C. predictable. D. destructive.
30. What is Eleni Iacovidou’s attitude toward removing plastic totally in food system?
A. Doubtful. B. Supportive. C. Optimistic. D. Uninterested.
31. Which would be the best title for the text?
A What if we stopped using plastic?
B. Is plastic packaging bad for the environment?
C. More recycling won’t solve plastic pollution
D. Swapping out plastic for sustainable living
D
Despite the bad reputation of sharks, they are crucial to the health of the marine ecosystem and can even help fight climate change.
In the shallows of Shark Bay, Western Australia, seagrass is food for the sea cows, which can weigh as much as 500kg and eat roughly 40kg of seagrass a day. Sea cows are a rich source of food for tiger sharks. By keeping the sea cow population controlled, tiger sharks here help the seagrass grow sustainably. A booming seagrass meadow stores twice as much CO₂ per square mile as forests typically do on land.
But tiger shark numbers are declining. Off Australia’s northeast coast of Queensland, tiger sharks are estimated to have fallen by at least 71 percent, largely due to overfishing. A reduction in tiger sharks means more seagrass consumed by herbivores(食草动物) and less carbon stored in sea vegetation. This raised the question: What if they were absent from the Shark Bay — would the seagrass-dominated ecosystem survive?
To find out, researchers led by Rob Nowicki of Florida International University, spent time in Eastern Australia, where shark numbers were lower and sea cows ate seagrass largely undisturbed. "When uncontrolled, sea cows can rapidly destroy wide areas of seagrass," said Nowicki.
Those findings emphasized that tiger sharks were playing an important role in preventing the reduction of seagrass in Shark Bay. If their populations continue to decline, the resilience of carbon-rich ocean ecosystems will likely decrease.
When it comes to stimulating shark numbers, there have been movements toward more sustainable fishing, but a large percentage of the industry have not changed their methods, which is a reason why the population of many marine top predators(捕食者) continues to decline.
Aside from supporting sustainable fishing, Nowicki said the only way to truly protect marine life is to reduce our global greenhouse gas emissions. "Ultimately, if we are going to protect our ecosystems in the centuries to come, we are going to need to solve climate change while undertaking species protection at the same time."
32.Why are tiger sharks vital to the marine ecosystem?
A. They feed on various sea animals.
B. They can store large amounts of CO₂.
C. They can prevent the loss of seagrass.
D. They influence marine species distribution.
33.What did Rob Nowicki’s team want to find out in Eastern Australia?
A. How sea cows destroy the seagrass community.
B. How shark population influences the ocean ecosystem.
C. What was contributing to the declining number of tiger sharks.
D. What to do to recover the seagrass - dominated ecosystem.
34.What is the main reason for the population reduction of many top predators in marine ecosystems?
A. Climate change. B. Water pollution.
C. Loss of seagrass. D. Unsustainable fishing approaches.
35. What’s the main idea of the text?
A. We should protect our environment.
B. The number of tiger sharks is decreasing .
C. Climate change causes the loss of seagrass.
D. Tiger sharks are vital to the health of the marine ecosystem .
第三节(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可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
You’ve probably heard countless times how exercise is "good for you." But did you know that it can improve your mood too? 36.____________________.
Exercising regularly can help prevent weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Exercises like jumping or lifting weights can help keep your bones strong. Also, when you exercise, your body makes chemicals that help you feel good. Exercise lowers your chances of depression and decreases feelings of anxiety. 37. ____________________.
Considering all the health benefits of being physically active, it’s easy to see why doing exercise is wise. And the great thing is that it’s never too late to start. 38. ____________________- like taking a short bike ride, walking the dog or raking(用耙子拢) leaves.
However, sometimes you may find it hard to keep exercising regularly. 39. ____________________. If what you’re doing isn’t fun, it’s hard to keep it up. But there are many different sports and activities you can try and see which one inspires you. If you need a little more motivation, take a class, join a team or find an exercise buddy to help keep you on track.
40. ____________________, even those with disabilities or medical problems. But if you have a health problem or other concerns, talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise plan.
A. Sports and activities that encourage flexibility are easy to find
B. Actually, exercise benefits every part of the body, including the mind
C. One of the biggest reasons people drop an exercise program is a lack of interest
D. Strengthening the heart, muscles and bones isn’t the only important goal of exercise
E. Even small things can count as exercise
F. Everyone can benefit from moving more and sitting less
G. Plus, exercise can give you a sense of accomplishment after you achieve a goal
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、和D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
Aged 25, I’d been 41 home when my wheels hit a puddle and I lost control. The car flew through the air, and when it landed, my body was soaked in blood.
42 , a driver stopped to help me and I was cut out of my vehicle. Looking up in the ambulance, I saw a
43 face, “You lectured us not long ago,” I said to Dr Stephen Rashford, my former teacher . Before he could reply, I began to 44 : How would I become a doctor now? Seeing the fear in my eyes, he tried to 45 me. “Everything will be okay,” he said. “If you want to get back to medicine after this, you’ll find a way.”
When I was alone in hospital, I 46 completely. “I’m crippled(痛)!” I cried, noting the many tubes coming out of me.
After eight months in hospital, I went back home, having 47 some upper limb(上肢)function and the ability to sit up again. 48 I had no movement in my fingers and legs. Despite all the misfortunes, over time, I began to 49 what had happened to me and I could still enjoy life.
As time passed, academics at university 50 me. “If you want to come back, now is the time you told me." However, returning to study after five years away was a 51 .
In 2016, I passed my exams in university and was eventually 52 a scholarship at Gold Coast University Hospital. I can do everything from ultrasounds(超声波)to inserting cannulas (插管)，but I know the most
53 part of being a good doctor is having a heart. The patients never showed any 54 about having me, a person with walking disability, as their doctor. In fact, a man in a wheelchair even expressed his confidence in me. “You understand what I’m 55 ” he said.
41. A. driving B. walking C. running D. skipping
42. A. Apparently B. Luckily C. Accidentally D. Actually
43. A. ordinary B. normal C. strange D. familiar
44. A. panic B. hesitate C. regret D. froze
45. A. cheat B. remind C. comfort D. persuade
46. A. broke up B. broke down C. broke through D. broke out
47. A. eased B. regained C. performed D. improved
48. A. But B. Besides C. With D. Addition
49. A. realize B. value C. forget D. accept
50. A. mentioned B. questioned C. called D. absorbed
51. A. chance B. reward C. reputation D. challenge
52. A. ranked B. enrolled C. grabbed D. offered
53. A. useful B. important C. demanding D. relevant
54. A. distrust B. impatience C. disrespect D. impoliteness
55. A. doing B. seeking C. experiencing D. expecting
非选择题部分
第三部分 语言运用(共两节，满分30分)
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。
Social media is a platform 56 people from all over the world can connect and interact with each other. It has become one of the biggest platforms ever in history and 57 (change)so many things in our life. Students are also using social media in a number of 58 (way).
Social media provides a platform for students 59 (learn) and communicate. Learning has gone beyond classrooms, and social learning is involved in almost all the e-learning websites. Students can also take advantage
60 live video that is a part of so many social networking sites to take classes.
Social media also offers students 61 tool to express themselves. Many students are scared of the thought of what will happen if they express themselves . And social media helps them to share their thoughts without any fear, 62 (make) it more likely for them to come out of the box and explore their talents. When students
63 (active) take part in social media, they may come to a global level. For instance, they can even learn about the different courses 64 (present) by universities from all around the world, which is 65 (benefit) for them to improve their knowledge of foreign cultures.
第四部分 写作(共两节，满分40分)
第一节应用文写作(满分15分)
假定你是李华，你校最近新成立的乒乓球俱乐部正在招募会员。请你写封邮件告知一直想学乒乓球的交换生好友John。内容包括：1.俱乐部简介；2.鼓励加入；3.申请方式。
注意：1.词数80左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
提示词：recruit 招募
Dear John,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
第二节读后续写(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. Wherever she went, she was in the spotlight, with a bunch of kids following her and doing everything she did.
Her deskmate, 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(反复吟唱),"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, and nor did she ever talk to her. She liked being popular.
One weekend, Catherine went to her grandfather’s house 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 strange 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 picked the frightened chicken up in her arms, whose heart was beating fast in the bony little body. 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 told the cool kids about the chicken. "It looks healthy," she said proudly. "It’s fatter and its feathers are growing. Even the cat likes it. She carries it around the garden, and..." Everyone was entertained by Catherine’s story of her lovely chicken, laughter lingering around(萦绕) the classroom.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式作答
Then Catherine spotted Landy sitting by herself in a corner. __________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
But Catherine walked directly toward Landy, regardless of what they said. _______________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________


2022学年第二学期宁波三锋教研联盟期中联考
高二年级英语学科参考答案
第一部分 听力
1-5 BCACB 6-10 CAABB 11-15 CABBA 16-20 CAACB
第二部分 阅读
21-23 CBC 24-27 BABC 28-31 CDAA 32-35 CBDD 36-40 BGECF
第三部分 语言运用
第一节
41-45 ABDAC 46-50 BBADC 51-55 DDBAC
第二节
56. where 57. has changed 58. ways 59. to learn 60. of
61. a 62. making 63. actively 64. presented 65. beneficial
第四部分 写作
第一节 one possible version:
Dear John,
I’m writing to tell you a good news that a table tennis club is now recruiting new members, which I think might interest you.
Aimed to enrich students’ after-school life, the club has been set up in our school recently. Not only will it organize training on weekends, but also it will offer the members chances to play matches. As you like the sport, I think it’s a good opportunity for you to join the club, where you will surely learn much.
If you are interested, please email at TT Club@qq.com to make an application before next Wednesday. It won’t let you down!
Yours,
Li Hua
第二节 One possible version:
Then Catherine spotted Landy sitting by herself in a corner. She kept her head down with her eyes fixed on the floor as usual. It hit Catherine that the pecking order worked in school, too. Landy was just like the poor little chicken, being teased and ignored by her classmates, merely due to her special height. “It’s time for me to make an apology to Landy," Catherine thought to herself. No sooner had she made up her mind than she announced it to the cool kids surrounding her. 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 us?" Catherine thought Landy might just walk away. But Landy lifted her misty eyes and nodded yes. Catherine wiped
Landy’s 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.
听力原文
(Text1)
M: Excuse me, how long does it usually take me to get a visa?
W: From three days to one week.
M: Now, could you tell me what I should do?
W: Fill out an application and wait.
(Text2)
W: Peter, I’d like to invite you and your wife to my birthday party tomorrow evening. I’m also going to invite Rose, Maggie, Jessica and her boyfriend.
M: But I heard Rose had gone to the Netherlands on a business trip.
(Text3)
M: Could you lend me some money? I need 100 dollars.
W: I don’t have that much with me. I can let you have 35 dollars.
(Text 4)
M: That was such an interesting English program. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
W: I must tell you the truth that I fell asleep after the first few minutes, as I couldn’t understand many of the words in the program.
(Text5)
M: Why didn’t you accept the teaching position in Peru?
W: I didn’t want to live outside this country. I got a good job offer here. I earn a lot, but I feel bored.
(Text6)
W: I heard you just got back from Brazil. Did you enjoy yourself?
M: Yes. I had a wonderful time.
W: Really? Well, speaking of time, actually, I had a time problem here in the U.S. I was invited to my professor’s house. He said to come at 7:00. I arrived at about 7:10, but I guess it was a little early.
M: Why? What did your professor say?
W: He didn’t say anything. He was still in the shower. His wife opened the door.
M: So they were still getting ready? Well, Americans usually show up at a party about twenty or thirty minutes late. But you weren’t too early.
(Text7)
W: George, could I have a word with you, please?
M: Yes, certainly.
W: It’s about your meeting with Mr. Sharpe tomorrow morning. I’ve just spoken to his secretary on the phone. She’s a friend of mine and she told me that his daughter’s in hospital and she’s going to have an operation tomorrow afternoon.
M: Nothing serious, I hope.
W: I’m not sure but I don’t think it’s routine. Obviously, he’ll be rather worried, so it might be best if you made it a short meeting. He’s a good client, so bear in mind his situation, please.
M: Yes, I’ll do that.
W: By the way, don’t say anything unless he mentions it because we’re not supposed to know.
M: Fine. You can count on me.
(Text8)
M: I heard the company is making changes.
W: Yes. I got wind of their plans from a colleague, They want to hire younger staff, so they’re thinking of ways to ease out old employees.
M: How come?
W: The management wants to get some fresh blood into the place. They think that we’ve become too old and outdated in our approach.
M: Do you plan to stay on?
W: I would, but I think they’ll want to get rid of me. However, I don’t mind being asked to leave. I’ve decided that from this time on, I’m going to build my own business.
M: Have you started making a business plan?
W: No, not yet. But I’ll definitely make a start on it soon. What about you? What are you going to do if they ask you to leave?
M: If they ask me to leave, I’m going to tell them to go to hell!
(Text9)
M: How are your new neighbors, Susan?
W: They seem nice enough, but their son is driving me crazy.
M: What do you mean?
W: He comes home every night around 10:00 with his car radio on loudly. It stops as soon as he turns the car off. But by then my babies are wide awake.
M: Oh, no. That must be awful!
W: Oh, yes. Sometimes it takes us till mid-night just to get them to settle down again.
M: Have you tried talking to them?
W: We haven’t really met them yet except to say a quick hello.
M: You are not going to like them when you do meet them, are you?
W: I know, but I feel stupid complaining.
M: You said it was driving you crazy.
W: Well, I’m just not getting enough sleep and neither are the kids.
M: Maybe you could just go over sometime with a little gift, like a plant for the yard or something. Then you could talk about your trouble with them. Remember, the longer you wait, the harder it’ll be to do it politely.
W: Well, I guess you’re right. I’ll have a try.
(Text 10)
M: My friend, Vernon Davis kept birds. One day he phoned and told me he was going away for a week. He asked me to feed the birds for him and said that be would leave the key to his front door in my mailbox. Unfortunately, I forgot all about the birds until the night before Vernon was going to return. What was worse, it was already dark when I arrived at his house. I soon found the key Vernon left for me could not unlock either the front door or the back door. I was getting anxious and disappointed. I kept thinking of what Vernon would say when he came back. I was just going to give up when I noticed that one bedroom window was slightly open. I found a thick stick and pushed it under the window. I made a lot of noise. But in the end, I managed to climb up and open the window. I actually had one leg inside the bedroom when I suddenly realized that someone was shining a flashlight at me. I looked down and saw a policeman and an old lady, one of Vernon’s neighbors. I felt like a complete fool at that time.