河南省洛阳市2022-2023学年高二下学期期末质量检测英语试题

这是一份河南省洛阳市2022-2023学年高二下学期期末质量检测英语试题，文件包含河南省洛阳市2022-2023学年下期高二质量检测英语试卷及答案docx、20236高二英语听力mp3等2份试卷配套教学资源，其中试卷共11页， 欢迎下载使用。

洛阳市2022——2023学年高二质量检测
英语试卷
注意事项：
1.答卷前，考生务必将自己的姓名、考号等填写在答题卡和试卷指定位置上。
2.回答选择题时，选出每小题答案后，用铅笔将答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。如需改动，用橡皮擦干净后，再选涂其他答案标号。回答非选择题时，将答案写在答题卡上，写在本试卷上无效。
3.考试结束后，将本试卷和答题卡一并交回。
第一部分 听力(共两节，满分３０分)
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。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 man need to do?
A. Attend a conference. B. Reserve a room. C. Reply some emails.
2. Where are they going?
A. To the cinema. B. To the car. C. To the station.
3. When will the match begin?
A. At 4:00. B. At 4:30. C. At 5:00.
4. What's Tommy like?
A. He is cute. B. He is naughty. C. He is old.
5. Why does the man refuse to go to the cafeteria now?
A. It's too early. B. The dishes are not good. C. He doesn't want to wait.
第二节(共15小题;每小题1.5分,满分22.5分)
听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟；听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。
听第6段材料，回答第6、7题。
6. What did Sara's parents do yesterday?
A. They did the Smiths a big favor.
B. They invited the Smiths to dinner.
C. They went outing with the Smiths.
7. What's Mr. Smith?
A. A mechanic B. A baker. C. A cook.
听第7段材料，回答第8至10题。
8. Where does the man work?
A. At a supermarket. B. At a radio station C. At a restaurant
9. Why did the man choose the location?
A. For less competition B. For higher price. C. For better food
10. What may the man do?
A. Change his job B. Ask Linda for help C. Sell food at a cheaper price
听第8段材料，回答第11 至13题。
11. What is the man now?
A. An accountant. B. A salesman. C. A sales manager
12. Why is the man suitable for the job according to him?
A. He works fast. B. He's good with people C. He is very careful
13. What's the relationship between the speakers?
A. Strangers. B. Colleagues. C. Boss and secretary.
听第9段材料，回答第14至17题。
14. How was the weather yesterday?
A. Sunny. B. Cold. C. Rainy
15. What does the woman think of Henry?
A. Patient. B. Clever. C. Nervous.
16. How long did the woman ski?
A. For half an hour. B. For an hour C. For an hour and a half.
17. Where does the man come from?
A. The east. B. The north. C. The south.
听第10段材料，回答第18至20题。
18. What's the man's first destination?
A. London. B. Spain. C. Paris.
19. How long did the man stay out of school?
A. For six months. B. For a year C. For two years.
20. What did the man mainly talk about?
A. His experience of learning languages.
B. His experience of dealing with people.
C. His experience of traveling in the world.
第二部分 阅读理解(共两节，满分40分)
第一节(共15小题；每小题2分，满分30分)
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
Do your kids show an interest in science and technology? Help them sign up for any of the following programs and your kids will thank you more than enough.
“Science is Beautiful” Arts Contest
Location: Canada
Project Type: Arts
Grade Level:11-12
The “Science is Beautiful” Arts Contest is open to Canadian students in grades 11-12. Both individual and group entries are accepted. But there is a limit of one submission per individual or group. There is no restriction on the type of submission —your artwork can consist of photographs, sculptures, poems, songs or any other medium that allows you to share the beauty of science!
Tomatosphere Action Project
Location: Across Canada
Project Type: Data Collection
Grade Level:10-12
Tomatosphere is a program that uses the excitement of space exploration to teach the skills and processes of scientific experimentation and inquiry. Participating classrooms compare the germination (发芽) rate of tomato seeds which have been exposed to a space-like environment with that of a control set of seeds.
DNA Barcoding at the Toronto Zoo
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Project Type: Student Science Club
Grade Level:7-12
DNA technology is in use right now to preserve and catalogue life's biodiversity through a Canadian invention: the DNA barcode of life. This colourful barcode is already being used to fight the greatest crime of our lifetime —the loss of biodiversity. By adding information to a few exhibits at the zoo, high school students can witness the power of biotechnology in solving global issues.
Dandelion Project
Location: Ontario
Project Type: Data Collection
Grade Level:11
This dynamic and hands-on program focuses on studying evolution of a species available all around us:the dandelion. Students will actively make observations, generate predictions, design experiments, collect and analyze the data and communicate their findings.
21. What's the limit of “Science is Beautiful” Arts Contest?
A、The type of the artwork submitted.
B、The number of the group members.
C. The number of the artwork submission.
D. The ability to express the beauty of science.
22. Which program accepts both senior and junior high school students?
A. Dandelion Project.
B. Tomatosphere Action Project.
C. “Science is Beautiful” Arts Contest.
D、DNA Barcoding at the Toronto Zoo.
23. How do students study evolution in the Dandelion Project?
A. By doing some practical activities in person.
B. By learning about the history of dandelions.
C. By asking the experts about dandelions' details.
D、By referring to previous studies on dandelions.
B
Elevators existed as far back as ancient Rome; Archimedes was building them in 236 B. C. Those early “elevators” were simple platforms, typically used to perform tasks such as raising up water for irrigation or lifting heavy building materials. They were powered by animals, people or even water wheels.
The first modern passenger elevator was built for King Louis XV in 1743 and was called “The Flying Chair”. Installed on the outside of the king’s palace at Versailles, his elevator went from the first to the second floor. The king entered it from his balcony, and then the men stationed inside a chimney raised and lowered the elevator through the use of ropes and pulleys(滑轮). By the 1850s, elevators were powered by water pressure or steam, but they still weren't very common. At that time, elevators that operated on a cable system were considered treacherous, because if the ropes broke, the elevator would fall fast and things on it could be damaged; more importantly, passengers would be killed by the fall.
In 1852, Elisha Otis and his sons came up with an elevator design that employed a safety device. A wooden frame at the top of the platform would snap out against the sides of the elevator well if the ropes broke, essentially functioning as a brake. Otis remarkably demonstrated (展示) this design at the 1854 New York World's Fair. He rode the platform high into the air and then had the rope cut, but, thanks to the brake, it only fell a few inches before stopping. Ot's founded an elevator company, called Otis Brothers &Co., which set up the first public elevator in a five-story New York department store in 1874. More electric elevators came up in the 1880s.
Two years before Elisha Otis, Otis Tufts patented an elevator design that had benches inside an enclosed car, with doors that opened and closed automatically. While Tufts' design was very safe, it was also expensive and impractical—especially for very tall buildings. Thus, it didn't have good market prospects. Otis Brothers &Co., today known as the Otis Elevator Company, continued to improve elevators' safety and efficiency. Today it is the world's largest manufacturer of elevators and escalators.
24、What cam we know about the first modern passenger elevator?
A、It was invented in 1852.
B. It was operated by hand.
C. It was originally built by a king.
D. It was powered by water pressure.
25. What does the underlined word “treacherous” in Paragraph 2 mean most probably?
A. Unnecessary. B、Old-fashioned. C. Mysterious. D. Insecure.
26、What did Elisha Otis do at the 1854 New York World's Fair?
A. He came up with the idea of an elevator brake.
B. He compared his invention with that of Otis Tufts'.
C. He demonstrated the working principle of his invention.
D、He witnessed the use of his elevator in a five-story building.
27. What does the passage mainly talk about?
A、The development of elevators.
B. How elevators influence our life.
C. The varieties of elevators in our life.
D、When the first elevator was invented.
C
When you encounter animals, do you wonder what they're thinking? Seeing a newborn lamb or a cute puppy might stir up (激起) happy emotions in us, but does the look on their face and how they behave indicate how they're feeling —or are they feeling nothing at all?
Humans have a complex range of emotions, but it's hard to tell what's going on inside the heads of animals, mainly because they can't verbalize (说出) their feelings. Perhaps it's pets we think we understand most —as they are the animals we spend a lot of time with and therefore get to know best. Some of us own dogs because they are good companions, are loyal and seem to connect with us. We might even think they love us, although love could just be a human emotion. Professor Kim Bard, from the University of Portsmouth, told the BBC, “We have a few studies now that actually show, scientifically ... that (some) dogs will respond with empathetic concern when their owner—but not a stranger pretends to cry.” The empathetic ability of cats, however, is harder to work out.
Other non-domesticated animals might have feelings too. Giraffes and whales, for example, are known lo experience sadness when someone in their group dies. Farm animals we often eat, such as cows and chickens, are also believed to experience pain, joy and other emotions. Their well-being is now taken into consideration more. Research is beginning to show even tiny creatures like insects experience a wide range of feelings. Writing for BBC Future website, Zaria Gorvett says “They can be optimistic, cynical, or frightened, and respond to pain just like any mammal (哺乳动物) would.”
Dr. Barbara J King, Emerita Professor of Anthropology at the College of William and Mary, told the BBC, “If we understand the profound depths of emotions animals can feel, this should make us question the existence of zoos and slaughterhouses(屠宰场) around the world, and rethink those systems.” It does seem all creatures feel emotion, but what is not clear is: do they feel the same way as us?
28. Why does the author mention dogs?
A. Dogs are understood most. B. Dogs show certain emotions.
C. Dogs are loyal to humans. D. Dogs can make strangers cry.
29. What's the author's purpose in writing Paragraph 3?
A. To prove animals have feelings.
B. To indicale animals are friends.
C. To show animals can live harmoniously.
D. To tell animals can respond to mankind.
30. Which of the following is consistent with Dr. Barbara J King's idea?
A. Insects may have the same feelings as whales.
B. Zoos and slaughterhouses ought to be banned.
C. Humans should transform treatment of animals.
D. The existing systems have raised many doubts.
31. How is the passage mainly developed?
A. By making a comparison. B. By listing figures.
C. By reasoning. D. By giving examples.
D
The city of Rotterdam is planning to take apart a famous old bridge so that the world's largest sailboat can be brought through the city once it's completed. However, not everyone is happy about the plan.
Rotterdam's Koningshaven Bridge, which local people call“De Hef”, is no longer in use. It's an old bridge that was damaged by bombing during World War II. But it's still important to many people in Rotterdam. When the city planned to take the bridge down in the 1990s, many people complained. Instead, the city fixed the bridge up and left it in place as a monument.
That's a problem for the boat building company Oceanco. The company is building a huge sailboat, and the boat is too big to fit under the bridge. When the boat is finished, it's expected to cost more than $500 million. It will be the world's largest sailboat. Large sailboats are often called yachts but this is a super yacht. It will be 417 feet (127 meters.) long. When it's finished , it will also be taller than the bridge. So Oceanco has asked the city to take the central part of the bridge down to allow the boat to pass through. The city has agreed and the government plans to rebuild the bridge afterward. Oceanco will have to pay for all the work done for the bridge. The work is expected to take a few weeks some time this summer.
The locals are upset about the plan of taking a historic monument apart. Despite the public’s protest against the plan, the city appeared to agree to the arrangement. Last week, a person speaking for the mayor said that the Koningshaven River is the only path the sailboat can take to the sea. The mayor's office also pointed out the arrangement has economic efficiency, including providing a lot of jobs for the well-being of local people.
32. What happened to Rotterdam's Koningshaven Bridge?
A. It was taken down in the 1990s.
B. It was damaged in World War II.
C. It was destroyed and then deserted.
D. It was fixed and returned to normal.
33. What's the major problem for Oceanco ?
A. To pay for the work done to the bridge
B、To complete the sailboat in a few weeks.
C、To get the bridge pulled down for the boat.
B、To make the sailboat long and tall month.
34. What's the locals' attitude towards the plan of taking down the bridge?
A. Supportive. B. Excited C. Opposed. D. Optimistic
35. For what reason does the government agree to the arrangement?
A. National pride. B. Economic benefits
C、Tourism development. D. Local industries.
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。
Complaining seems to be a part of everyday life. Whether it's at school, in the workplace.during travel or at home, it's hard to go twenty-four hours without hearing someone make negative comment, Although people often do it, it doesn't mean they like to do it. 36
Avoid doing things that give you negative feelings, For example, if you're unhappy at your current job, try finding one that will leave you in high spirits. 37 You' ll find small changes could make a big difference.
You can also try to surround yourself with positive people. If you're around people that often complain, then you may find it encourages you to do it, too. 38 When you' re around people who are positive, finding yourself behaving in the same way may not be far off.
Another way to stop complaining is to be more patient. Many of the daily complaints result from a lack of patience in certain situations. 39 Calm yourself down and tell yourself that it's not so bad and that eventually it'll be over.
40 For example, when you' re behind a very slow person at the supermarket, think about how fortunate you`re to have enough money to make the purchase. If you start having a more positive mindset, you may stop complaining without even knowing it.
A. So try to teach them.
B. So consider staying away from them.
C. It takes great effort to stop complaining.
D. Here are some ideas to help you stop complaining.
E. When getting into situations such as traffic jams, take a deep breath.
F. When negative thoughts come, try to switch to a more positive mindset.
G. If you're unhappy about taking a certain way home, try taking alternative routes.
第三部分 语言知识运用(共两节，满分45分)
第一节(共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30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。
Holidays are not necessity for fun or rest. Doing something meaningful can also 41 special pressure. When the final bell rang , the students were 42 that there was no school on Monday the Labor Day. “Enjoy your holiday.” said the teacher to her class.
An extra day of fun 43 Kayla very well. She loved a break. She wanted to go out to play with her friends. When the school bus 44 Kayla off, she can ran into the 45 happily. Kayla told her mother she was 46 about no school on Monday
However, in the morning , her dad 47 her. He told Kayla that 48 Labor Day, the family would clean the house. Kayla couldn't believe it . It was a holiday, when she was 49 to be enjoying freshly squeezed lemonade while playing in her tree house As Kayla 50 her eyes, she began to wonder if this was just a bad 51 .” Kayin, we have a lot of work to do today. Working hard today would make you know why we 52 Labor Day in the first place. Let’s go on,” said kayla’s mom .Kayla felt 53. She was eager to go out to play with her 54 ! She was against the 55 plan from the bottom of her heart, but she had no choice. First, Kayla was 56 to wash the breakfast dishes. Then, she was asked to give their puppy a bath. The work was hard and needed a lot of 57 . She began the work with great 58.、
But things began to 59 as Kayla was doing the chores. When brushing the puppy, she found it interesting. Then she helped to pick up sticks in the yard. She worked 60 . Kayla felt proud to see how much better the yard looked. The lemonade tasted great after a hard day of work.
41. A、affect B、cause C. gain D、detect
42、A、proposed B、assigned C、requested D、reminded
43. A、bothered B、suited C. recognized D、remembered
44、A、regulated B、kicked C. dropped D、turned
45、A. house B、classroom C. canteen D、square
46、A、satisfied B. thrilled C. disturbed D、concerned
47、A、awakened B. urged C、admitted D. perceived
48. A. in spite of B. in need of C. in search of D、in honor of
49. A. intended B. supposed C. used D. worried
50. A. recovered B. cleaned C. wiped D. closed
51. A、goal B、dream C. occasion D、chance
52. A. analyzed B. understood C. learned D、observed
53. A. disappointed B. surprised C. pleased D、amused
54、A、families B、classmates C、fellows D、relatives
55、A. surprising B. embarrassing C、disgusting D、annoying
56. A. required B. informed C. banned D、ordered
57. A、patience B、competence C. confidence D. importance
58. A. intolerance B. unawareness C. inconvenience D、unwillingness
59. A. continue B. appear C. change D、cease
60. A. jointly B. joyfully C、efficiently D、humbly
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。
The word “ robot ” 61 ( create) in 1920 by the Czech playwright Katel Capek. For most of their history, however, robots have been mechanical devices sitting out of sight in factories
Things are starting to change, however. Robots have benefited 62 rapid innovations in smartphones, 63 brought cheap cameras and sensors(传感器), fast wireless communications and powerful, smaller computer chips(芯片). More recent 64 ( improve) in machine has added software to make robots better 65 ( inform) about their surroundings and equipped them with wiser devices. Robots are leaving carefully industrial settings for everyday life and, in the coming years, will increasingly work in supermarkets, clinics, social care and much more.
And yet many people fear that robots will destroy jobs. 66 paper in 2013 by economists at Oxford University was 67 ( wide) misinterpreted. In fact, concerns about mass unemployment 68 ( be) overblown. For example, checkout staff who are educated to help customers pick items from aisles (走廊) may well find that dealing with people in need is more 69 ( reward) than spending all day swiping barcodes in front of lasers. As jobs change, workers should be helped to acquire new 70 ( skill), including how to work with and manage the robots that will increasingly be their colleagues.
第四部分 写作(共两节，满分３５分)
第一节 短文改错(共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分
假如英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文、请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有１０处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号( ∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改：在错的词下面划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
There are many people who are devoted to us and even makes sacrifices for us. To express your heartfelt gratitude, we think we can to do something. First of all, think of a person you were thankful to and the reason that you want to thank him/her. Then, choose a proper way to express our gratitude, like a smile to our friends, listening attentive in class or giving our parents a hug, which are all thank we offer with a grateful heart. Being grateful is not only a responsibility, also a moral beauty. Let's learn to express our appreciate to people, such as start with the simple “Thank you!”.
第二节 书面表达(满分25分)
假定你是李华，在英语论坛上，你班就该不该在抖音(TikTok)上播放零食的广告展开了讨论。请给你的英语老师Mr. Brown 写封邮件，介绍讨论的情况。内容包括：
1.支持方的观点；
2、反对方的观点；
3.你的观点。
注意:1.词数100左右;
2.开头和结尾已给出。
Dear Mr. Brown,
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
洛阳市2022——2023 学年高二质量检测
英语试卷参考答案
第一部分：(共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分)
1. B 2. A 3. C 4. A 5. C 6. B 7. B 8. C 9. A 10. B
11. C 12. B 13. A 14. B 15. A 16. B 17. C 18. C 19. B 20. A
第二部分：(共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分)
21. C 22. D 23. A 24. B 25. D 26. C 27. A 28. B 29. A 30. C
31 . D 32. B 33. C 34. C 35. B 36. D 37. G 38. B 39. E 40. F
第三部分：(共30小题；每小题1.5分，满分45分)
41 . C 42. D 43. B 44. C 45. A 46. B 47. A 48. D 49. B 50. C
51. B 52. D 53. A 54. C 55. D 56. A 57. A 58. D 59. C 60. B
61. was created 62. from 63. which 64. Improvement 65. Informed
66. A 67. Widely 68. Are 69. Rewarding 70. skills
第四部分：
第一节 (共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分)
1. makes 改为make 2. your 改为our 3.去掉can 后的to
4. were 改为are 5. that 改为why 6. attentive改为attentively
7. thank 改为thanks 8. also 前加but 9. appreciate 改为appreciation
10. start 改为starting
第二节 (满分25分)(略)
洛阳市2022——2023学年高二质量检测
英语听力录音稿
Text 1
M: I need to reserve a conference room this afternoon for the conference next week.
W: Didn't you reserve one this morning?
M: No. I was busy replying emails all morning.
Text 2
W: How shall we go to the cinema tonight?
M: I planned to use my dad's car. But he has to meet a client tonight. So we'll have to go there either by bus or by subway.
W: I prefer the latter.
M: OK.
Text 3
M: Oh, my god! It's already half past four but I haven't finished my homework yet. The football match will begin in just half an hour.
W: Don't worry. The clock is half an hour fast.
Text 4
W: Peter, could you help look after Tommy this afternoon?
M: I'd like to, Kate. But I'm not sure if I can do that. Last time I looked after Lucy's son, he cried for the whole morning.
W: Don't worry. Tommy is much older than Andrew. He is a cute boy.
M: That's great.
Text 5
W: Oh, look. It's already noon. Time to eat. What about going to the cafeteria now?
M: The cafeteria is short of hands these days. I don't want to wait long in line. You can go first if you don't mind waiting.
Text 6
M: What's in your hand, Sara?
W: It's a thank-you note from the Smiths. They wanted to thank you and Mom for inviting them over to dinner yesterday. Dad, why did you and Mom invite them to dinner yesterday?
M: Mr. Smith did us a favor the other day, so we wanted to thank him.
W: What did he do for us?
M: Our washing machine didn't function well. Mr. Smith knew how to repair it. So he helped fix it.
W: He's really awesome.
M: Yes. He once worked as a repairman. Though he now bakes bread full time, he sometimes helps others repair things.
Text 7
W: Hi, Harry. How is the business at your restaurant?
M: Not so good. I think I've picked the wrong location.
W: Why?
M: While I picked that place, I thought I would have no competition since there was no restaurant there. But now I realized having no restaurant also means not having enough regular customers.
W: How about offering better food at a cheaper price?
M: I don't think it'll work. And if I charge an even lower price, I'll have no money to pay my staff. I'm afraid I have to close it.
W: I'm sorry to hear that. Then what's your future plan?
M: I won't give up. I'll try somewhere else.
W: Then I suggest you ask Linda for help. After all, she has such a famous store in town.
M: Good idea!
Text 8
W: Please be seated, Mr. Pitt.
M: Thanks.
W: So could you tell me why you want to join us?
M: Well, your company is one of the best in this field nationwide.
W: That's good to hear. So you work as a sales manager now, right?
M: Yes. Though the pay is good, the work is no longer challenging for me. I like challenges.
W: Then why do you think this position is suitable for you?
M: I love dealing with various people and I'm good at it. I know it won't be easy for me at first, but I'm sure I will learn fast. As I've already said, I love challenges. So I don't fear them.
W: Good. Do you have any questions about our company?
M: Not really. I've already read everything in your ad carefully.
W: OK. Now you're free to go. I'll discuss your application with my colleagues first. You'll be informed of the result the day after tomorrow.
M: OK.
Text 9
W: Although the rain has stopped for a few days, it's still cold even today.
M: Yes. I heard you went skiing yesterday. Wasn't it cold in the mountain?
W: It wasn't as cold as today. There was no wind yesterday.
M: Right. So did you have fun skiing in the mountain?
W: Yes. But I was really nervous at first. It was my first time to ski after all. But Henry encouraged me and taught me how to do it. He was very patient. With his instructions, I was no longer nervous and finally started trying by myself.
M: How long did you ski there?
W: Henry skied with me for about half an hour. After that I tried skiing by myself for another half an hour.
M: Did you finally learn to ski?
W: Yes. They have runs for different kinds of skiers. I skied on the easiest run. It wasn't steep at all. So have you ever skied?
M: No. I grew up in the south and it seldom snows there.
W: Then you can try skiing here.
M: That sounds good. I think it'll be an unforgettable outdoor experience for me.
W: Certainly!
Text 10
Back in 2000,I had just finished my first year at music college when I applied to take a year off from college. I wanted to experience new cultures, so I bought a one-way ticket to Paris. At that point, I spoke no French, or any other foreign languages. I spent six months overall in Paris, working at night in a youth hotel. I started to learn and improve my French quickly, mostly because I had to. I was dealing with customers every day after all. During the long nights at the hotel I met travelers from all over the world and knew then and there that I wanted to be able to communicate with people in their own language. The following year I went back to college in London. I started hanging around and playing music with a lot of Spanish people who were always fun. I couldn't speak much Spanish, but I was up for learning. After learning French, it wasn't all that hard to learn Spanish. I became close friends with one guy in particular and in the next two years, I spoke more Spanish than English from day to day. And a few years later, I also learned Portuguese.