重庆市万州区2021-2022学年高二英语下学期期中试题（含听力）

重庆市万州区2021-2022学年高二英语下学期期中试题

注意：本试卷共12页，满分150分，时间120分钟。

第I卷（80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，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 does the man want to buy?

A. Some books. B. Some toys. C. Some clothes.

2. What will the man do next?

A. Have a break. B. Go on working. C. Try the new restaurant.

3. Where does the conversation probably take place?

A. In a cinema. B. At home. C. In a restaurant.

4. What do we know about the woman?

A. She made a mistake.

B. She got a pay raise.

C. She might feel disappointed.

5. What are the speakers discussing?

A. A tourist attraction. B. A kind of tea. C. A picture.

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，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。

听下面一段对话，回答第6和第7两个小题。

6. How is the man feeling now?

A. Much better. B. Even worse. C. Very well.

7. What does the woman suggest the man do?

A. Have some milk. 

B. Go to the hospital. 

C. Ask Mr. Kim for leave.

听下面一段对话，回答第8和第9两个小题。

8. What is the woman probably?

A. A student. B. A coach. C. A basketball player.

9. When did the game begin?

A. 5 minutes ago. B. 7 minutes ago. C. 10 minutes ago.

听下面一段对话，回答第10至第12三个小题。

10. What’s the relationship between the speakers?

A. Bookseller and customer.

B. Reporter and guest.

C. Interviewer and applicant.

11. What does the woman think of her job?

A. Challenging. B. Enjoyable. C. Boring.

12. What will the woman talk about next?

A. Her books. B. Her hobbies. C. Her job duties.

听下面一段对话，回答第13至第16四个小题。

13. What mainly made the man hesitate to visit the White House?

A. Lack of interest. 

B. The tight security. 

C. The historical atmosphere.

14. How did the woman get the tour information?

A. From the website.

B. From the local paper.

C. From the travel guide.

15. Where are the speakers probably now?

A. In the White House. 

B. In a dining hall. 

C. At an airport.

16. What is the man like?

A. Serious. B. Humorous. C. Careful.

听下面一段独白，回答第17至第20四个小题。

17. What did Spanish merchants take to the Americans?

A. Corn. B. Wheat. C. Potatoes.

18. Why did Balboa feel surprised?

A. He saw the Pacific Ocean.

B. There were many jungles.

C. Panama was so narrow.

19. When did Francisco Pizarro leave for the Inca Empire?

A. In 1513. B. In 1524. C. In 1533.

20. What was the Inca Empire rich in?

A. Wildlife. B. Rocks. C. Gold and silver.

第二部分阅读理解（共两节;满分50分）

第一节（共15小題；每小題2.5分，满分37.5分）

阅读下列短文，从每題所给的四个选项A、B、C和D中，选出最佳选项。

A

During the time of lockdown, a great way to kill time is to read. If you don’t want to buy books, I personally use Libby (or overdrive. com) to connect to my public library’s entire ebook and audiobook database. Here is my take on a well-rounded, diverse, and boredom-curing reading list:

SALT TO THE SEA by Ruta Sepytys

This is a young-adult historical fiction about the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945. The story is from the point of view of four refugees (难民) from different countries, all keeping life-threatening secrets and struggling to escape to freedom.

AND THEN THERE WERE NONE by Agatha Christie

One of the best murder mysteries of all time. 10 strangers are invited to a remote island by a secret person and are murdered one-by-one mirroring a nursery rhyme. You absolutely won’t guess who the killer is.

EDUCATED by Tara Westover

Completely isolated from society, Westover spent her young life living in a remote mountainous area where no one would ensure the children to receive an education. But Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her and ultimately she was accepted to Harvard and Cambridge University. Her story of fulfilling transformation of life is inspiring and may be exactly what you’re looking for.

THE DIVINERS by Libba Bray

This is a young-adult fantasy that follows a group of teens with powers in 1920s New York City. When Evie stays with her uncle, a string of murders occur. We follow each character as they find their powers and find out who’s killing people. The book’s a little long, but the twists, the 1920s slang, and the diverse and layered characters make it worthwhile.

21．What is the advantage of Libby according to the author?

A．It shares some writers’ personal book lists.

C．It recommends ways to search online.

B．It provides information on boredom.

D．It helps to get access to the public library.

22．What is the book EDUCATED about?

A．A young-adult fantasy. B．A life-threatening secret story.

C．A historical event. D．An inspiring life story.

23．Which books will attract the readers who are into stories of murder?

A．SALT TO THE SEA & THE DIVINERS.

B．SALT TO THE SEA & EDUCATED．

C．AND THEN THERE WERE NONE & THE DIVINERS.

D．AND THEN THERE WERE NONE & EDUCATED．

B

It can be easy to brush off certain events as small matters that don’t require attention— but when the safety of dozens of airplane passengers was on the line, this NASA engineer decided to speak up.

Rumaasha Maasha was preparing to fly from Huntsville to Colorado back in January when he spotted a liquid leak from his window seat on the wing.

“Normally, if it’s a wet day, you’ll see vortices (旋涡) off the wing. About 1,000 feet off the ground, I started seeing something white and thought, ‘maybe we’re just hitting some humidity (湿气).’ Well, after a while it was still doing it, and that’s when I knew something was up. I looked closer and immediately realized that we were losing fuel.” Maasha also knew that as the plane increased in altitude, the situation would got worse.

“I gestured the flight attendant to come over and fortunately she was very attentive,” he said. “She called the crew and the key thing is that she did this as we were still climbing out. Within a minute or two, they reduced speed and leveled off. The fuel leak diminishedimmediately when they slowed down.”

Much to the anger of the passengers, the plane returned to the Huntsville airport, but upon finding out the reason for the return—and the hero behind it—some of the passengers made friends with Maasha.

Maasha’s experience with NASA wasn’t the only thing that came in handy that day, the engineer first fell in love with aviation (航空) as a teenager growing up near an airport in Monrovia, Liberia. “Looking back, I guess I had the perfect sets of circumstances to recognize the issue that day,” he said. “Since I was a kid, I’ve always tried to sit in a window seat near the wing, and as I grew up, I am determined to run after my dream during my university years. That’s not the first time I’ve noticed something. I’m sure it won’t be the last.”

24．When did Maasha realize something went wrong?

A．When the white thing continued to leak.

B．When he first noticed the liquid.

C．After he settled on his window seat.

D．Before the plane started to fly.

25．What does the underlined word “diminished” mean in paragraph 4?

A．decreased. B．worsened C．continued. D． occurred.

26．What played a major role in Maasha’s brave action?

A．His university years and honesty.

B．His birth place and home location.

C．His working experience and personal interest.

D．His childhood education and seat choice.

27．What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Fluid Leaking Happened to a Jet

B．A Childhood Dream Has Come True

C．Passengers Feel Grateful to an Engineer

D．A NASA Engineer Saved Passengers

C

It's believed that after a poor night's sleep, a strong coffee is the kick-start that many people need in the morning, but a new research suggests that it might be best to have a bite to eat first.

A study has found that drinking coffee first can have a negative effect on blood sugar control a risk factor for diabetes (糖尿病)and heart disease.

“We know that nearly half of us will wake in the morning and, before doing anything else, drink coffee—subjectively the more tired we feel, the stronger the coffee,” said Professor James Betts, at the University of Bath in the UK.

For their study, researchers at the University of Bath got 29 healthy men and women to take part in three different overnight experiments, with at least a week between them.

In one, the participants had a normal night's sleep, roughly from 11 p. m. to 7 a. m. , and were asked to consume a sugary drink on waking in the morning. They then experienced an interrupted night's sleep, where the researchers woke them every hour for five minutes by sending them text messages to which they had to respond—and upon waking were given the same sugary drink.

On another night, participants experienced the same sleep interruption, but this time, were first given a strong black coffee 30 minutes before consuming the sugary drink.

They found that one night of interrupted sleep did not worsen the participants' blood sugar and insulin (胰岛素)responses when compared to the normal night's sleep—although previous research suggested that losing many hours of sleep or many nights of poor sleep could have a negative effect. However, strong black coffee consumed before breakfast actually increased the blood sugar response by around 50%—suggesting that relying on coffee after a bad night to stop feeling sleepy could limit your body's ability to tolerate the sugar in your breakfast.

28．What does the underlined word "kick-start" in paragraph 1 refer to?

A．A kind of drink.                  B．A kind of power.   

C．A kind of medicine.               D．A kind of habit. 

29．What was unchanged in the three experiments?

A．The intake of coffee.     

B．The sugary drink.

C．The blood sugar response.   

D．The duration of sleep. 

30．What increased the participants' blood sugar response most before breakfast?

A．A normal sugary drink.   B．An interrupted night's sleep. 

C．A cup of strong black coffee.   D．A normal night's sleep. 

31．How did researchers draw the conclusion?

A．By observing the process.   

B．By listing some examples. 

C．By explaining a phenomenon.   

D．By comparing the results.

D

Researchers at MIT and in China developed a simple, solar-powered water desalination (脱盐) system. They have made a breakthrough in getting fresh drinking water from sea water by using sunlight.

As the research paper published in Energy & Environmental Science explains, equipment applied in this system includes several layers of flat evaporators (蒸发器) that turn water sources into fresh water through solar energy, as well as condensers (冷凝器) that cool the gas into the liquid. The authors of the paper are MIT students Lenan Zhang and Lin Zhao, Professor Evelyn Wang, and nine other researchers at MIT and at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China.

How the system uses each of the multiple stages to remove salt from the water is critical to its efficiency. The heat released per stage will be used by the next stage. In this way, the team’s device can convert the energy of sunlight into the energy of water evaporation with an efficiency of 385 percent.

The device can be considered as a multilayer solar still. The heat is absorbed by its flat panels and then transferred to make water evaporate. The vapor then cools down and turns into liquid water on the next panel. As the water is collected, the released heat is transferred to the next layer.

The team’s 10-stage system produces pure water. Its quality is above the city drinking water standards. It also has the highest yield compared to other similar systems, at a rate of nearly six cubic decimeter per hour for every square meter of the solar collecting area. The system is distinguished from some others by the fact that there is no accumulated salt to be got rid of. Most materials of the demonstration unit don’t cost much and are easy to get.

Further experiments will be carried out on the device to optimize (优化) the choices of materials and test its durability under realistic conditions. Researchers will also work on the design of the device to make it more consumer-friendly. It is expected that the system could finally help developing regions that are short of electricity supplies but rich in sea water and sunlight handle water crises.

32．What contributes most to the high efficiency of the device?

A．The recycling of released heat. 

B．The choice of materials.

C．The use of multilayer equipment. 

D．The simplicity of the structure.

33．What is the main idea of Paragraph 4?

A．What the device is for. 

B．How solar energy is collected.

C．How the device works. 

D．What makes the device.

34．What makes the device different from other systems?

A．The quality of water it produces. 

B．Its zero accumulation of salt.

C．Its stable and high production level. 

D．The low cost of the materials. 

35．Why will researchers carry out further experiments on the device?

A．To make it suitable for use by consumers. 

B．To make it environment-friendly.

C．To check its performance in labs. 

D．To reduce its cost.

第二节（共5小题：每小题2分，满分10分）

根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。

The carbon footprint shows how much carbon dioxide a person emits in everyday life. It measures the amount of fossil fuels and electricity someone uses up as well as the carbon footprint of the products they buy. When we use our cars or heat our homes with carbon dioxide，various other gases are set free.    36   

You can measure your carbon footprint by using a calculator that you can find on various websites.     37    In America for example，every citizen produces about 28 tons of carbon dioxide and other dangerous gases a year；in Great Britain the amount is about 10 tons.

    38    The way we travel，for example，has a major effect on our environment. Use your bike or walk for short distances. Public transport is a way of getting to places without putting a burden on the environment. ___39___ Many environmental experts，however，argue that it often saves energy to buy food that is produced naturally in faraway places than consuming food grown locally in greenhouses. In your home you can contribute to saving energy by turning off lights if you don’t need them or by avoiding the use of air conditioners. Recycling plastic glass and paper can also reduce your carbon footprint dramatically.

    40   Only if we concentrate on reducing carbon emissions together can we hope to make our environment better.

A．Many people travel between cities and suburbs every day.

B．There are many actions you can take to reduce your carbon footprint.

C．It is also vital to persuade others to take the same steps that you do.

D．These emissions lead to a thicker atmosphere and global warming.

E．The carbon footprint is usually measured in tons of CO2 per year.

F．Buying local food is another way of restricting emission into the atmosphere.

G．The websites also provide carbon storage tools and methods for individuals.

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，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选岀可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

You feel proud of yourself as a person who is not terribly attached to possessions, and then you have to part with something and feel your heart tighten.

Our oldest daughter Alice is having 41letting go of a red couch. If you saw the couch you'd say, "That way to the42  !"As 43  as the memories, she's having difficulty letting go of it. It was their first sofa. Ithas been44  and unload onto the moving trucks seven times. The kids have sat onit, dripped on it and jumped on it. It's so45   that the only way you could sell it easily would be in the dark, which is 46   why it's in thebasement.

Yet she's having a hard time letting go and asked if I thought thatwas47  .

" Completely not," I said. " You get it from me. "

When we were ready to get 48   of our baby things, I sold our crib(婴儿床) at the neighborhood garage sale. A young woman said she wanted to buy it. My throat tightened and the49   began to well. She pulled out cash but I   50   the price on purpose.

By the time I sold the pieces of the crib, I was all out   51."Have you considered that maybe you’re not   52   to sell it? the woman asked. " No-o-o-o," I wailed. More sobbing. “It’s fine, really.” I cried.“Take it”. My   53  was so cloudy by tears that I nearly hit her with one of the side rails.

Let the couch go," I told my daughter. It   54   its purpose. You can get a new one. " Give the kids some crackers and juice boxes and it will be like the   55   one in six weeks.

41. A. fun B. trouble C.doubt D. time

42. A. garbage      B. container    C. home       D. land

43. A. much     B. few         C.  little        D. many

44. A. bought   B. sold      C. replaced          D. loaded

45. A. weak    B. boring        C. blank D. worn

46. A. rarely  B. probably C. nearly D. extremely

47. A.strange B. happy C. great   D. normal

48. A.fond B. rid C. tired D. short

49. A. heart B. eyes C. tears D. head

50. A. offered B.criticized C. reduced D. raised

51. A. screaming B. crying C. laughing D. singing

52. A. brave B.ready C. regretful D. hesitant

53. A. vision B. impression C. thought D. memory

54. A. showed B. meant C. played D. served

55. A.small B. huge C. old  D. new

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个恰当的单词或者括号内单词的正确形式。

The Qinling Mountains are one of the most biodiverse mountain ranges. According to an announcement from the Shaanxi government, local authorities ____56____ (shut) over 200 mines and hydropower (水力发电) plants down in key areas of the Qinling Mountains since an official rule____57____(design) to protect the rich ecosystem went into effect.

The Qinling Mountains____58____(think) to be home to several organisms found only in China. The scenery is amazing there, ____59_____(vary) with the season and geography.

Wang Fang, a conservation biologist at Fudan University, said ____60____ would be affected by the mine and hydropower projects are not only animals but also the region’s climate patterns in the long run. He added such constructions may help the local economy, but it shouldn’t come ____61____ the cost of the environment.

Before the ____62____ (prohibit) of mining started, a series of activities had damaged its ecosystem. However, Wang was optimistic that the damage could be repaired. Referring to how forest areas ____63____(severe) damaged by unregulated logging in the 1990s recovered, he believed stricter laws could prove ____64____ (benefit) this time, too. “The species at the Qinling Mountains are quite tough, so maybe we’ll see _____65_____ (they) recovery in 20 or 30 years.” he said.

第四部分写作（共两节;满分40分）

第一节（满分15分）

假如你是李华,你校即将在5月12日举办一场以中国诗歌为主题的朗诵比赛，请给你的英国笔友友人Brian 写一封信，邀请他参加。内容包括：

1.活动时间

2.活动的目的；

3. 参赛意义

注意：1. 词数80左右；

2. 可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯；

参考词汇：

Dear Brian,

I am writing to invite you to take part in a Chinese Poetry recitation contest. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

第二节（满分25分）

Shanti wanted the wooden doll in Ramu’s toy shop and told her best friend, Jodi about it. Jodi wondered if she could afford it.

Shanti smiled. “I asked my mom if I could make jasmine garlands（花环） and sell them at my aunt’s stand in the market.” Jodi thought it was a good idea.

Early the next morning, the girls met at the jasmine bushes outside Shanti’s house. Delicate white flowers surrounded them with fresh scent. They picked blossoms with their fingers and then sat under a mango tree, tying up the flowers into garlands. Shanti could already see herself hugging that beautiful doll.

“If we sell enough garlands, we can each get a doll.” said Shanti.

Jodi shook her head. Her family was low on money that week. She had to use her money to pay for Kiran’s medicine. Kiran was Jodi’s little brother. Then Jodi picked up her garlands. “My mother is expecting me. I’ll meet you at the market.”

Shanti spent the afternoon selling garlands alone. By early evening, Shanti had sold all her flowers.

On the way home, Shanti saw Jodi heading to the market with her garlands. She was late because she had to watch Kiran while her mother was away.

“Why didn’t you take him with you?” Shanti said.

Jodi shook her head. “He’s too sick to go out. He coughs and coughs.”

Shanti knew Jodi wouldn’t make enough money for the medicine now.The market would be closing soon.

Shanti looked at the purse tightly held in her hand. It was supposed to be for the beautiful doll she’d been dreaming of for long. Then she looked at her friend’s tired face. “Here. Keep this for the medicine.”

That night Shanti cried, thinking about the doll. What if someone bought it before she’d saved up enough again?

注意：

1.续写词数应为150左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

The next week, while Shanti and Jodi gathered blossoms, Kiran came, too.

_________________________________________________________________________

Mom comforted Shanti with hugs, and then handed her a filled package wrapped in paper.

_________________________________________________________________________

参考答案

第一部分 听力

1—5 ABBCC  6—10 BBABC  11—15 BBACB  16—20 BBABC

第二部分 阅读理解

21-23 DDC    24-27 AACD    28-31 BBCD     32-35ACBA     35-40 DEBFC

第三部分 完形填空

41-45 BAADD   46-50 BABCD    51-55 BBADC

56. have shut  57. designed  58. are thought  59. varying  60. what

61. at    62. prohibition  63. severely   64. beneficial   65. their

第四部分 写作

Dear Brian ,

I am writing to invite you to take part in a Chinese poetry recitation contest.

The contest, which is meant to arouse students' enthusiasm for ancient Chinese literature, is scheduled to be held on May 12th in our school. It is certainly a good chance for you to display your talent since you are so devoted to Chinese culture. From the contest, I think you can not only learn a lot about Chinese poetry but also make friends with those who share the same interest as you.

I'm looking forward to your participation.

Yours ,

Li Hua

参考范文：

The next week, while Shanti and Jodi gathered blossoms, Kiran came, too. The medicine had cured his cough, and he helped them sell out all the garlands. When parting, Jodi said, “Shanti, we have prepared something for you.” But Shanti was so anxious that she didn’t seem to have time to hear them out. She quickly ran to Ramu’s shop, only to find the doll had been sold.Broken-hearted, she ran back home and told Mom everything, tears flowing down in flood.

Mom comforted Shanti with hugs, and then handed her a filled package wrapped in paper. “Jodi dropped this off for you, dear.” Shanti was surprised and unwrapped it. It was the doll! Also, she found a note on the back of the doll: For our dearest friend, Shanti. Nothing can express our deepest gratitude for your purest heart. Your sincere friendship will be the most invaluable treasure for our family. ---From Jodi and Kiran. Shanti smiled. Hugging the doll, she felt so blessed about everything that happened.

【分析】

本文以人物为线索展开，讲述了Shanti很喜欢Ramu商店的一个玩具娃娃，决定和朋友Jodi一起编茉莉花环赚钱，Jodi家庭经济拮据，她要把赚的钱给生病的弟弟Kiran买药。但是Jodi因为在家照顾生病的弟弟错过了时间，无法卖掉她的花环，Shandi便把自己赚的钱给了Jodi。

【详解】

1.段落续写：

①由第一段首句内容“第二个星期，当Shanti和Jodi在采花时，Kiran也来了。”可知，第一段可描写Kiran病好了来帮助她们卖掉花环，Jodi打算送东西给Shandi，但是Shandi急着赶往商店买玩具娃娃，结果却发现娃娃被卖掉了，Shandi很伤心。

②由第二段首句内容“妈妈给了Shanti一个拥抱来安慰她，然后递给她一个用纸包着的包裹。”可知，第二段可描写Shandi收到了Jodi的礼物，打开后看到竟然是玩具娃娃，Shandi感到很幸福。

2.续写线索：

Jodi准备东西给Shandi——Shandi很焦虑，没有听完Jodi说的话——Shandi匆忙赶往商店——玩具娃娃被卖掉了——Shandi感到很伤心——Shandi打开包裹——感到惊讶——Jodi表达感激

3.词汇激活

行为类

准备：prepare/make preparations for

听完：hear sb. out/listen to the end

匆忙赶往：quickly run to/hurry to

卖掉：sell out/sell off

表达感激：express one’s gratitude/show appreciation

打开：unwrap/open up

情绪类

焦虑的：anxious/restless

伤心的：broken-hearted/sad

惊讶的：surprised/amazed

[高分句型1]

She quickly ran to Ramu’s shop, only to find the doll had been sold.

（动词不定式to find作结果状语）

[高分句型2]

she ran back home and told Mom everything, tears flowing down in flood.

（tears flowing down in flood.为独立主格结构作状语）

听力材料

Text 1

M: Hi, madam. I’m looking for something a school girl of 6 or 7 would love to read.

W: Well, I’d like to recommend this set. They are popular with children.

Text 2

W: Just have a rest, man. You have been working here for two hours.

M: I’d like to, but I’m busy making a plan for the new restaurant. I have to hand it in to our boss today.

Text 3

M: Kate, how about eating out this evening since there’s nothing left in the fridge?

W: Good idea! Then after that we can go to the cinema. You know we haven’t been there for a long time.

Text 4

M: I heard that you got a pay raise. Congratulations!

W: Oh, you must have mistaken me for Jenny. She got a pay raise, though I was supposed to get one, too.

Text 5

W: Ah, this is really not my cup of tea, though the style is enjoyable.

M: Don’t you see the colors and the…

W: Yes, but I’m very fond of paintings of natural scenery and lovely people.

Text 6

W: Hello, Jim, this is Maria speaking.

M: Hi, Maria. How nice it is to get your calling!

W: I was told you got ill. Are you OK now?

M: No, I’m feeling worse this morning. I had some milk for breakfast, but I threw it up later.

W: You must go and see a doctor.

M: Yes, but I need to ask Mr. Kim for leave first. You know, he is a strict boss.

Text 7

W: Wow, this is fantastic!

M: So no more regret now?

W: Don’t remind me of that. This would be the last time I cut my classes for a basketball game.

M: Come on. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Enjoy your life.

W: I just can’t help it. Oh, look at Clive, he is really a big hit. They are definitely going to win.

M: It’s only seven minutes into the game. Too early to cheer up.

W: Come on, 10 points already. They are never going to catch up.

M: Who knows! Look! That is a really nice shot!

Text 8

M: Good morning. May I have a look at your résumé?

W: Yeah. Here you are.

M: Could you tell me your full name please?

W: Sarah Burton.

M: All right, Sarah. In this first part I am going to ask you some questions about yourself. Let’s talk about your work. Where do you work?

W: I work part-time at a bookstore.

M: Do you enjoy your work?

W: Yes, very much.

M: What kinds of tasks do you have to do at work?

W: I have to deal with the public and thousands of books and sometimes I have to place orders for books that we don’t have.

M: Why do you want to change your job?

W: Well, I’d like to work in a more competitive environment.

M: OK, I’d like to move on now to talk about your hobbies.

Text 9

W: Honey, today I feel like seeing the White House.

M: I don’t think so. The Capitol Building is the most famous as the local paper and the website say. But it’s OK if you want to. I’m afraid it will be boring.

W: Boring? How come?

M: It’s the White House. They won’t let us see most of it. Probably we can only see a couple of rooms.

W: No, that’s not true. There are many historical exhibits there. I read about it in the guide.

M: Hmm. If that’s true, then the security there must be very tight because it’s strange to think they will let people look around in the White House.

W: Right. They will check like at the airport.

M: So I can’t take my gun then.

W: Don’t always joke like that. You could get arrested!

M: What? Someone will arrest me for making a joke here at the breakfast table?

W: No, but if you say something like that in the White House, they may take it seriously. Sometimes, you joke too much.

M: I’ll be careful.

Text 10

M: During the early 1500s Spanish explorers traveled across most of Central and South America. They brought settlers to the New World. They also made the native Indians work for them. The Spanish merchants brought new products to the Americans, like wheat, horses, cattle and sheep. In exchange, they grew plants that were not known in Europe, like corn and potatoes and brought them back to the Old Continent.

In 1513 the Spanish explorer Balboa landed in Panama, the part of Central America that is very narrow. With his men, he fought his way through 50 miles of jungles (丛林地带) and was surprised to see a new sea, the Pacific Ocean.

Balboa’s friend Francisco Pizarro wasn’t content with (满足) living a peaceful lifestyle in Panama City. In 1524 he set out to discover the Inca Empire. In 1532 and 1533 Francisco Pizarro got control of the Incas by fighting. The Incas had great riches, vast (巨大的) amounts of gold and silver. When the Spanish got there they took all of it away from the Incas.