2021重庆市八中高一下学期期中考试英语试题含答案

这是一份2021重庆市八中高一下学期期中考试英语试题含答案，共15页。
重庆八中2020-2021学年度(下)期中考试高一年级
英 语 试 题

满分：150分。考试时间：120分钟。
第一部分   听力（共两节，满分30分）
第一节 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 is the woman looking for?
A. Her keys. B. Her books. C. Her glasses.
2. What kind of weather does the man like?
A. Rainy. B. Cloudy. C. Sunny.
3. What happened to the woman?
A. She was late for work.
B. She offered bad service.
C. She was asked to leave her job.
4. Where are the speakers?
A. On a bus. B. On a plane. C. On a train.
5. What are the speakers talking about?
A. A dress. B. A sale. C. Some shoes.
第二节 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. What did the woman do this morning?
A. She prepared the fish. B. She played tennis. C. She cooked a meal.
7. What will the man put on the table?
A. Knives. B. Glasses. C. Forks.
听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。
8. Who does the man think he saw today?
A. The girl’s art teacher.
B. The girl’s history teacher.
C. The girl’s woodwork teacher.
9. What does the girl’s history teacher look like?
A. He has a beard.
B. He has no hair at all.
C. He has some hair around the sides.
听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。
10. When does the boy go to the language club every week?
A. On Thursday. B. On Tuesday. C. On Wednesday.
11. What language will the boy learn next month?
A. Japanese. B. French. C. Chinese.
12. Where do the language club members meet?
A. In Room 2. B. In Room 3. C. In Room 4.
听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。
13. What is the topic of the picture for this year’s art competition?
A. Family. B. Friends. C. The countryside.
14. Why can’t the girl take part in the art competition?
A. She is not interested in it.
B. She is over the age limit.
C. She isn’t good at drawing.
15. What may the boy’s sister use to draw in the competition?
A. Oil paints. B. Colored pencils. C. Water colors.
16. What is the prize for the winner this year?
A. A television. B. A computer. C. A camera.
听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。
17. When did the speaker and his family come back to the United States?
A. Three years ago. B. Four years ago. C. Twenty years ago.
18. Why don’t the speaker’s family return to Britain now?
A. They don’t like Britain.
B. The daughter has to continue her study.
C. They’re happier living in the United States.
19. What is the purpose of the speaker’s six-week trip in England?
A. To see his friends. B. To go sightseeing. C. To advertise his new book.
20. What does the speaker think of his six-week trip?
A. Satisfying. B. Expensive. C. Difficult.

第二部分  单项选择（共15小题，每小题1分，满分15分）
21. As long as you devote yourself to your study, you are sure to make ______ progress.
A. a B. the C. an D. /
22. You will not be ______ about your food in time of great hunger.
A. particular B. special C. concerned D. stuck
23. The ______ of the pain can be easily achieved but the disease can be hardly cured.
A. harmony B. relaxation C. relief D. ease
24. His sister left home in 1998, and ______ since.
A. had not been heard of B. has not heard of
C. has not been heard of D. was not heard of
25. ______ with new scientific farming methods, they have been able to use less farmland than in the past.
A. Being equipped B. To be equipped C. Equipped D. Having equipped
26. --I’m sorry, but I don’t quite follow you. Did you say you wanted to return on April 28?
-- Sorry, I ______ myself clear. We want to return on October 28.
A. haven’t made B. hadn’t made C. wouldn’t make D. don’t make
27. Later in this book cases will be introduced to readers ______ customer complaints have resulted in changes in the law.
A. when B. who C. which D. where
28. ______ by white peers motivates a black student to work harder to succeed.
A. Being surrounded B. Surrounding
C. Surrounded D. To surround
29. Tom came late for the meeting. That was ______ he was ill.
A. why B. because C. when D. how
30. It’s wrong for someone in such a high ______ in the government to behave too badly in public.
A. situation B. employment C. profession D. position
31. The system has been designed to give students quick and easy ______ to the digital resources of the library.
A. access B. passage C. way D. approach
32. I tried phoning her office, but I couldn’t ______.
A. get through B. get along C. get on D. get away
33. Professor Williams keeps telling his students that the future ______ to the well-educated.
A. is belonged B. belongs C. is belonging D. will be belonged
34. The great hall was crowded with many people, ______ many children ______ on their parents’ laps.
A. including; seating B. included; seated
C. included; seating D. including; seated
35. --Why did you go back to the shop?
-- I left my friend ______ there.
A. to wait B. waiting C. wait D. waits

第三部分  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，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
Dear Customers,
I love slipping into a comfortable chair for a long read—as I relax into the chair, I also relax into the author’s words, stories and ideas. The paper book is so elegant that it disappears into the background, and what remains is the author’s world.
Today, we at Amazon are excited to announce Mindle, a wireless, portable(便携的) reading device(装置) with instant access to more than 90,000 books, magazines and newspapers.
We’ve been working on Mindle for more than three years. Our top design goal was for Mindle to disappear in your hands, so you can enjoy your reading. We also wanted to go beyond the physical book. Mindle is wireless, so whether you’re lying in bed or riding a train, you can think of a book, and have it in less than 60 seconds. No computer is needed—you do your reading directly from the device.
We chose the same wireless technology used in advanced mobile phones. But unlike mobile phones, there are no monthly bills, no service or data plans, and no yearly contracts. There is no software to install(安装). We want you to get lost in your reading and not in the technology.
Mindle uses a new kind of display called electronic paper. Sharp and natural with no strong light, reading on Mindle is nothing like reading from a computer screen. Mindle weighs only 10.3 ounces—less than paperback—but can carry two hundred books.
Enjoy learning about Mindle and many thanks!
Jeff Bezos, Founder & CEO
36. This passage is probably a(n) ______.
A. device guide B. lab report C. advertisement D. letter of thanks
37. With the device, the reader is able to ______.
A. enjoy reading while driving a train B. get rid of heavy paper books
C. gain access to free software D. improve reading skills
38. Different from mobile phones, Mindle ______.
A. doesn’t need regular fees B. can work without power
B. has a much sharper screen D. is wireless and weightless
B
On a hill 600 feet above the surrounding land, we watch the lines of rain move across the scene, the moon rise over the hills, and the stars appear in the sky. The views invite a long look from a comfortable chair in front of the wooden house.
Every window in our wooden house has a view, and the forest and lakes seldom look the same as the hour before. Each look reminds us where we are.
There is space for our three boys to play outside, to shoot arrows, collect tree seeds, build earth houses and climb trees.
Our kids have learned the names of the trees, and with the names have come familiarity and appreciation. As they tell all who show even a passing interest, maple makes the best fighting sticks and white pines are the best climbing trees.
The air is clean and fresh. The water from the well has a pleasant taste, and it is perhaps the healthiest water our kids will ever drink. Though they have one glass a day of juice and the rest is water, they never say anything against that.
The seasons change just outside the door. We watch the maples turn every shade of yellow and red in the fall and note the poplars(杨树) putting out the first green leaves of spring. The Rainbow Smelt(彩虹香鱼) fills the local stream as the ice gradually disappears, and the wood frogs start to sing in pools after being frozen for the winter. A family of birds rules our skies and flies over the lake.
39. What do we learn from Para. 2?
A. The forest outside the windows is colorful.
B. The views are changeable outside the house.
C. There are a lot windows in the wooden house.
D. The views remind us that we are in a wooden house.
40. By mentioning tree names, the author wants to show that the kids ______.
A. like playing in trees B. are good at playing games
C. find trees useful learning tools D. have learned much knowledge
41. What does the underlined sentence mean?
A. The door is a good place to enjoy changing views.
B. The weather often changes outside the door.
C. The seasons remain unchanged inside.
D. The change of seasons is easily felt.
42. The main purpose of the text is to ______.
A. share the joy of living in the nature
B. show that living in the forest is healthful
C. picture the beauty of the scene about the house
D. describe her children’s happy and unforgettable childhood
C
Paula Ceely had got out of her car to open a metal gate that blocked her path when she heard the whistle sounded by the driver of a train. Her Renault Clio was parked across a railway line. Seconds later, she watched the train drag her car almost a kilometre down the railway tracks. Ceely’s near miss made the news. She blamed the accident on her GPS. She had never driven the route before. It was dark and raining heavily. Ceely was relying on her GPS, but it made no mention of the crossing. “I put my complete trust in the device and it led me right into the path of a speeding train,” she told the BBC.
Who is to blame here? Rick Stevenson, telling Ceely’s story in his book When Machines Fail Us, points his finger at the limitations of technology. We put our faith in digital devices, he says, but our digital helpers are too often not up to the job. It’s not just GPS devices; Stevenson takes us on a tour of digital disasters involving everything from mobile phones to wireless keyboards.
The problem with his argument in the book is that it’s not clear why he only focuses on digital technology, while there may be many other possible causes. A map-maker might have left the crossing off a paper map. Maybe we should blame Ceely for not paying attention. Perhaps the railway authorities are at fault for poor signaling system. But Stevenson doesn’t say. 
It’s a problem that runs through the book. In another section on cars, Stevenson describes the advanced techniques that criminals use to defeat computer-based locking systems for cars. He says once again not all new locks have proved reliable. But perhaps it’s also due to the shortage of policemen on the streets, or changing social circumstances, or some combination of these factors. 
The game between humans and their smart devices is amusing and complex. It is shaped by economics, psychology and the cultures we live in. Somewhere in the mix of those forces there may be a way for a wiser use of technology.
43. What did Paula Ceely think was the cause of her accident？
A. Her GPS device didn’t tell her about the crossing.
B. She was not familiar with the road.
C. The railway workers failed to give the signal.
D. It was dark and raining heavily then.
44. The phrase “near miss” (Paragraph 1) can best be replaced by ______.
A. serious accident B. narrow escape C. big mistake D. heavy loss
45. Which of the following would Rick Stevenson most probably agree with?
A. Modern technology is what we can’t live without.
B. GPS error is not the only cause for Ceely’s accident.
C. Digital technology often falls short of our expectation.
D. Digital devices are more reliable than they used to be.
46. The writer probably thinks Stevenson’s argument is ______.
A. reasonable B. confusing  C. one-sided D. well-based
D
If you’ve just arrived back in the UK after a fortnight’s holiday, small changes have probably surprised you—anything from a local greengrocer suddenly being replaced by a mobile-phone shop to someone in your street moving house. So how have things changed to people coming back to Britain after seven, ten or even 15 years living abroad? What changes in society can they see that the rest of us have hardly noticed or now take for granted? To find out, we asked some people who recently returned.
Debi: When we left, Cheltenham, my home town, was a town of white, middle-class families—all very conservative(传统守旧的). The town is now home to many eastern Europeans and lots of Australians, who come here mainly to work in hotels and tourism. There are even several shops only for foreigners. Having been an immigrant(移民) myself, I admire people who go overseas to find a job. Maybe if I lived in an inner city where unemployment was high, I’d think differently, but I believe foreign settlers have improved this country because they’re more open-minded and often work harder than the natives.
Christine: As we flew home over Britain, both of us remarked how green everything looked. But the differences between the place we’d left behind and the one we returned to were brought sharply into focus as soon as we landed. To see policemen with guns in the airport for the first time was frightening—in Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, they’re very relaxed—and I got pulled over by customs officers just for taking a woolen sweater with some metal-made buttons out of my case in the arrivals hall. Everyone seemed to be on guard. Even the airport car-hire firm wanted a credit card rather than cash because they said their vehicles had been used by bank robbers. But anyway, this is still a green, beautiful country. I just wish more people would appreciate what they’ve got.
47. After a short overseas holiday, people tend to ______.
A. appreciate small changes B. expect small changes
C. welcome small changes D. notice small changes
48. How does Debi look at the foreign settlers?
A. Cautiously. B. Distrustfully. C. Positively. D. Negatively.
49. When arriving at the airport in Britain, Christine was shocked by ______.
A. the bank robbers B. the tight security
C. the airport guards D. the relaxed atmosphere
50. Which may be the best title for the passage?
A. Back in Britain. B. Hometown in Memory.
C. Britain’s Future. D. Good old days in the UK.
第二节 (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能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
How to Maximize Space in a Dorm Room
Most dorm(宿舍) rooms are really small. Lack of the right way and failure to know how to maximize(最大限度地利用) space in a dorm room, you’ll have a hard time putting everything you need in your space. 51 .
●Use the storage space under your bed
Many students looking for more space to store their belongings will just put things under their beds. If you are like those students, consider getting more organized by using storage containers. They are effective in maximizing space at the same time.
● 52
If you are like most students who like to bring several pairs of shoes to college, you can get a shoe rack(架) which you can hang near your doorway. Most of those shoe racks can keep around 9 to 12 shoes at a time, saving you a lot of floor space. You can also get storage bins(储藏箱) which you can attach to your door. 53 .
●Keep things on your walls
Using a small area on the wall for a coat rack will allow for more space. 54 . If that is the case, you can use sticky hooks(钩) or sticky baskets which you can buy them from your local stores.
In conclusion, these are just some of the things you can do to maximize the space in your dorm room. If you’re still having problems putting everything into your space, go through each of your items. 55 .
A. Use the sleeping area
B. Use the dorm room door
C. Here are some great tips that really help
D. Those bins can give you enough space to store various items
E. However, most dorms won’t let students nail anything into walls
F. Put away your coats and jackets you won’t need for the season under your bed
G. Find out which of them are necessary to keep and which ones you don’t really need.

第四部分  英语知识运用（共两节，满分25分）
第一节 完形填空（共15小题，每小题1分，共15分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A, B, C和D）中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
On a hot summer afternoon in August, I sought a cool drink at a waterfront café on a Greek island. It was over a hundred degrees in  56 air. Crowded. Tempers(脾气) of both the tourists and waiters had 57  to meet the situation, making it a rather quarrelsome(好争吵的) environment.
At the table next to mine sat a well-dressed couple, waiting for    58   . They whispered and laughed. Suddenly they stood, picked their    59    and stepped together    60     the edge of where they were sitting to place the table in the sea water. The man stepped 61 for two chairs. He politely    62   his lady in the knee-deep water and then sat down himself. All people around laughed and cheered. A waiter appeared, paused(停顿) for just a second, walked into the water to    63   the table and take their   64   , and then walked back to the    65    cheers of the rest of his    66   . Minutes later he returned carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses. He went once more into the water to    67   the wine. The couple toasted(祝酒) each other, the waiter and the crowd. And the crowd    68   by cheering and throwing flowers to them. Three other tables joined in to have lunch in the water. The place was now filled with laughter.
One doesn’t step into water in one’s best summer clothes. Why not? Guests are not served in the sea. Why not? Sometimes one should consider    69    the line of convention(常规) and enjoy    70   to the fullest.
56. A. clear        B. clean           C. fresh        D. still
57. A. risen      B. expected        C. tried     D. managed
58. A. service       B. attention        C. cheers     D. meals
59. A. bottle B. table   C. chairs        D. belongings
60. A. on        B. along                C. near        D. off
61. A. outside   B. back           C. down          D. upward
62. A. treated       B. hugged            C. watched       D. seated
63. A. set       B. wash              C. remove        D. check
64. A. order      B. money              C. message          D. menu
65. A. naughty      B. loud           C. familiar      D. final
66. A. workmates  B. guests         C. fellows       D. servants
67. A. drink    B. change             C. sell          D. serve
68. A. answered   B. agreed          C. insisted        D. continued
69. A. following      B. crossing      C. limiting      D. keeping
70. A. water      B. sea              C. wine        D. life

第二节  单词拼写（共10小题，每题1分，满分10分）
71. There was a p____________ expression on his face so I repeated the question.
72. Different ethnic(民族的) groups have different cultures and c____________.
73. A medal was a____________ to the best speller in the class.
74. I live just nearby the market, and it’s very c____________ to go shopping.
75. It’s just a d____________ of 50 meters from here to the restaurant.
76. Mary ____________ (宣布) to her teammates that she was to marry a Chinese boy.
77. ____________(不知怎么地) the right chance never seemed to present itself.
78. There is a natural ____________(现象) that scientists call the “greenhouse effect”.
79. It’s time someone made him ____________(意识到) of the effects of his actions.
80. Seeing his mother return home, the boy arose from his chair ____________.(立刻)

第五部分 书面表达（共两节，满分30分）
第一节 应用文（内容15分，书写5分，满分20分）
假定你是某国际学校的学生会主席，你校的英语社团准备举办“英文歌曲周”活动。请你根据所给提示用英语写一则通知。内容包括：
1. 活动目的；
2. 参与方式；
3. 活动时间：6月1日至7日。
注意：1. 词数80左右；2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
NOTICE











第二节 读后续写（共2小题，第1小题4分，第2小题6分，满分10分）
阅读下面短文，按要求完成相关内容。
Mama and I spend mornings cleaning up the dirt that blows into our house. Mama says all the dust is due to the drought(干旱). The dirt covers everything. It covers our clothes. We have to wash the dishes before each meal. We rarely drive the truck because Papa fears the dust from the road will ruin the motor.
When my sister, Faye, and I walk to school we wear scarfs over our mouths so we don’t breathe in the dirt. On days when the air is so bad that they close the school, we stay at home and help Mama put wet sheets over the windows. But the dirt always finds a way in.
Last Sunday, there was no dirt in the air, only bright spring sunshine and a clear blue sky. After lunch, Papa headed out to the field to check on the cattle while I played with Faye in the yard. The temperature suddenly dropped. I looked to the west and saw a huge black cloud of dust. All the birds flew away. “I must warn Papa,” I thought to myself. To avoid her fear, I gently told Faye to go back inside where she would be safe, and then headed off to the field.
The storm hit so fast, and in an instant the day turned into night. By the time I entered the cow field the fine sand was whipping(抽打) across my face. I screamed for Papa, hoping my voice would lead him back. The dirt and sand stung my skin like a thousand bees. Although I was terrified, I refused to turn back. My dad was trapped and needed my help.

1. Read for the main idea. (Limit your ideas to less than 20 words.)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Write a possible ending. (Limit your ideas to around 80 words.)
Covering my face with one hand, I groped(摸索) my way toward the truck and opened the door. _________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________





重庆八中2020-2021学年度(下)期中考试高一年级
英 语 试 题 参考答案
第一部分   听力（共两节，满分30分）
1-5 CCABA 6-10 ABCBB 11-15 ABCBB 16-20 AABCA
第二部分  单项选择（共15题，满分15分）
21-25 DACCC 26-30 ADABD 31-35 AABDB
第三部分  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）
36-38 CBA 39-42 BDDA 43-46 ABCC 47-50 DCBA
第二节（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）
51-55 CBDEG
第四部分  英语知识运用（共两节，满分25分）
第一节 完形填空（共15小题，每题1分，满分15分）
56-60 DAABD 61-65 BDAAB 66-70 BDABD
第二节 单词拼写（共10小题，每题1分，满分10分）
71. puzzled 72. customs/custom 73. awarded 74. convenient
75. distance 76. announced 77. Somehow 78. phenomenon
79. aware 80. immediately
第五部分 书面表达（共两节，满分30分）
第一节 应用文（内容15分，书写5分，满分20分）One possible version
NOTICE
Aimed to make our after-school life more colorful and interesting, English Music Week will be held in our school from the first day to the seventh day of this June. It can help us improve our English pronunciation as well as learn about western cultures. What’s more, it will be a good opportunity to meet and make new friends through Music.
Now it’s time for you to recommend your favorite English songs. You can call us at 686868 or email at The Student Union@sina.com. And discussion meetings will be held to share your opinions after students listen to those songs. The deadline for recommendation is the 29th of August. Join in, and enjoy yourselves!
The Student Union
第二节 读后续写（共2小题，满分10分）
1. Reading for main idea. (4分)
A sandstorm struck when Papa was out to work. I bravely headed out, trying to help Papa out of danger. (20 words)
2. Write a possible ending. (6分)
First, I turned the truck’s lights on and off, hoping Papa would see them flashing, but the sandstorm let no light escape. Then I pushed the horn repeatedly, so Papa would hear it. I pushed until I had no more strength in my arms. Suddenly, Papa’s face appeared at the window. My heart leaped with surprise and relief. He opened the door, climbed onto the seat, and then pulled me into his arms and said, “My baby, you saved me!” (80 words)
【听力原文】
Text 1
M: Jane, what is wrong with you? Have you lost your keys again?
W: No. It’s my glasses this time. Can you hold my books for a minute? I just need to check in my bag.
Text 2
M: Oh, I hate this rain.
W: Me too! But I also hate it when it’s too hot or too cloudy.
M: Oh, I love the heat! There’s nothing better than lying on the beach in the hot sun.
Text 3
W: You wanted to see me, Mr. Gray?
M: Yes. You’ll have to start getting to work on time or your service will no longer be needed here.
Text 4
M: Excuse me, is there anyone sitting here?
W: Oh no, please.
M: Ah, thanks. Mm, it’s a long flight.
W: Yeah, eleven hours.
Text 5
M: What a lovely dress! It must be expensive.
W: Actually, I got it half price in the sale. And I bought some shoes to match it, too.
Text 6
W: Hi, Adam. What are you doing?
M: I’ve just got home from my tennis lesson. Have you had dinner yet?
W: No, not yet.
M: I’m hungry. Do you want me to help you cook?
W: No, I’ve already done it. I prepared the fish this morning and cooked it earlier this evening.
M: Great! Let’s eat. I’ll put the knives and forks on the table.
W: I’ve just done that, a minute ago. But I haven’t put any glasses on the table yet. Can you do that, please?
M: OK.
Text 7
M: Did you meet your new woodwork teacher today? I think I saw him when I was dropping you off at school.
W: Did he have a beard?
M: He had some hair around the sides of his face, but no beard.
W: You must have seen my art teacher.
M: I never noticed a man with a beard walking in. I also saw a man with no hair at all, though.
W: That’s Mr. Thomas, Dad. He teaches history.
Text 8
M: Lily, are you going to come to the language club? It’s every week after school.
W: Which day is it? I can’t come on Wednesday or on Thursday. I have dance classes then.
M: It’s on Tuesday so you could come.
W: Well, tell me more about it.
M: It sounds fun to me. You learn a little bit about a different language each month. We’ve learnt French and Chinese already. And next month we’ll learn some Japanese.
W: Wow. Where do the members meet?
M: You know Classroom 4? The big room on the second floor.
W: Yes.
M: Well, it’s in the smaller room next to it.
W: Room 3?
M: That’s right!
Text 9
M: There’s a really good art competition in Teen’s News.
W: Isn’t that the one that’s on every year--you have to paint a picture of your family or your friends?
M: This year it’s a picture of the countryside.
W: Can I enter, then?
M: Neither of us can. You’re too old at sixteen.
W: Isn’t your younger sister good at art?
M: Yes, she might like to enter.
W: What does she draw with?
M: Colored pencils mostly and sometimes oil paints. She hates using water colors though.
W: Look here; she won’t be able to use oils in this competition.
M: That’s OK. She prefers colored pencils anyway.
W: Oh, look at this. They’re giving away some great prizes: a computer, a television and a camera among other things.
M: Who gets the computer then? The winner?
W: No, the computer and camera are the second prize. Strange! I thought the computer would be the best prize.
M: Yes, but look at the size of this screen--60 inches; that’s much better than a computer.
Text 10
M: Hello, everyone. My name is Paul. I was born in the United States but I have written several travel books about England. I lived there with my wife and four children for 20 years. But for the last three years we have lived in the United States. Our children are now learning about life in the United States. I’m sure they will be happier because they have lived in two countries. I like Britain and I want to return. But my daughter is going to start college here soon, so it won’t be for another four years. I have just been to England for six weeks to work on a radio program to talk about the book I’ve just written. Most writers don’t like doing this; they don’t like traveling around the country, selling their books. I don’t mind it. I like visiting new places and meeting lots of people. It’s very different from the life I have in the United States when I’m writing. In England, people drove me around in big cars and I stayed in expensive hotels. It was good because I didn’t have to pay any bills. Everyone was kind and it was fun.