【英语】江苏省扬州中学2019-2020学年高二第一学期期中考试

【英语】江苏省扬州中学2019-2020学年高二第一学期期中考试

江苏省扬州中学2019-2020学年高二第一学期 期中考试英语 第I卷 选择题 (共100分)‎ 第一部分：听力 (共20题，每小题分1.5，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. Why does the man need a map?‎ A. To tour Manchester. B. To find a restaurant. C. To learn about China.‎ ‎2. What does the woman want to do for vacation?‎ A. Go to the beach. B. Travel to Colorado. C. Learn to snowboard.‎ ‎3. What will the man probably do?‎ A. Take the job. B. Refuse the offer. C. Change the working hours.‎ ‎4. What does the woman say about John?‎ A. He won’t wait for her. ‎ B. He won't come home today. ‎ C. He won’t be on time for dinner.‎ ‎5. What will the speakers probably do next?‎ A. Order some boxes. B. Go home and rest C. Continue working.‎ 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。‎ 听第6段材料，回答第6和第7题。‎ ‎6. How does the woman usually go to work? ‎ A. By car. B. By bus. C. By train.‎ ‎7. What do the speakers agree about taking the train?‎ A. It is safer. B. It is faster. C. It is cheaper. ‎ 听第7段材料，回答第8至第10题。‎ ‎8. What does the man suggest the woman do?‎ A. Save up for the car. ‎ B. Go to another car dealer. ‎ C. Ask someone to check the car.‎ ‎9. What is the salesman going to do?‎ A. Give a discount. B. Stick to a high price. C. Ask for cash payment.‎ ‎10. How will the man help the woman?‎ A. Lend money to her. B. Drive her car home. C. Take care of her car.‎ 听第8段材料，回答第11至第13题。‎ ‎11. What does the woman think of the living expenses in the city?‎ A. Fairly low. B. Just Okay. C. Very high.‎ ‎12. What does the woman spend most on? ‎ A. Meals. B. Trains. C. Clothes.‎ ‎13. What does the woman do in her free time? ‎ A. See films. B. Travel around. C. Go for a drink.‎ 听第9段材料，回答第14至16题。‎ ‎14. What will Rebecca do on June 12?‎ A. Go on a business trip. ‎ B. Organize a trade exhibition.‎ C. Meet the people from Head Office.‎ ‎15. What is John preparing for the meeting?‎ A. A report. B. A timetable. C. A speech.‎ ‎16. When do the speakers decide to have the meeting?‎ A. On June 3. B. On June 10. C. On June 17. ‎ 听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。‎ ‎17. What did the speaker decide to do after lunch that day?‎ A. Stay to help her friend. B. Walk alone to her car. C. Wait for the train to stop.‎ ‎18. What can we learn about the speaker then?‎ A. She worked at a hotel. B. She had bought a new car. C. She was having a baby soon.‎ ‎19. Where did the speaker meet the taxi passenger?‎ A. At a crossroads. B. In front of a hotel. C. Besides a car park.‎ ‎20. What does the speaker talk about?‎ A. An exciting lunch party. B. A well-known short story. C. An unforgettable experience.‎ 第二部分：阅读理解(共两节，40分)‎ 第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，共30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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。‎ A Adult Education Courses Computer Studies Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, and we rely more and more on computers for everything from cooking to organising our taxes. This six-week course will give you an understanding of computer fundamentals, including the use of software packages (Word, Excel and Powerpoint) and how to use the Internet.‎ Start: May 2,2019‎ Time: Wed 7 pm-9pm Cost:$300‎ Length:6 weeks Place: Sydney College Woodwork Learn the basics of woodworking with simple hands-on projects to build your confidence and skills. Each lesson explores a different area of woodworking that will provide you with the skills needed for any woodworking project. Flexible learning allows you to choose only the lessons that interest you.‎ Start: April 15,2019‎ Time: Mon 5 pm-7pm Cost:$30 per lesson Length:12 weeks Place: Adult Learning Centre Web Design Provides advanced training in software, design, and coding for the weB. Students must have already completed a recognised basic web design course or have at least 2 years' relevant Art This practical course is intended to help established artists take their creativity further. From sketching and colour, to composition, painting and experimenting with style, you will ‎ work experience. Students completing the course will receive the Diploma in Advanced Web Design.‎ Start: June 1,2019‎ Time: Weekdays 9 am-4pm Cost:$4,990‎ Length:40 weeks Place: University of Technology ‎ study and explore an engaging variety of creative media and subject matter.‎ Start: April 21,2019‎ Time: Thur 3 pm-6pm Cost:$750‎ Length:15 weeks Place: City Art ‎21. Which courses are suitable for beginners?‎ A. Web Design and Art. B. Computer Studies and Art.‎ C. Woodwork and Web Design. D. Computer Studies and Woodwork.‎ ‎22. Which course awards students an official certificate?‎ A. Art. B. Woodwork. C. Web Design. D. Computer Studies.‎ ‎23. How much will a student who attends only half of all the Woodwork lessons pay in total?‎ A. $30. B. $180. C. $250. D. $360.‎ B If your life were a book and you were the author, how would you want your story to go? That’s the question that changed my life forever. ‎ At the age of 19, I became a massage therapist(治疗师). For the first time in my life, I felt free, independent and completely in control of my life. That is, until my life took a detour. I was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. Over the course of two months, I lost my spleen（脾） , my kidneys , and both of my legs below the knees. ‎ One day, I went home. I crawled into bed and this is what my life looked like for the next few months: me passed out, escaping from reality, with my legs resting by my side. I was completely physically and emotionally broken. But I knew that in order to move forward, I had to let go of the old Amy and learn to embrace the new Amy. And that is when I began to realize that I didn’t have to be small any more. I could be as tall as I wanted or as short as I wanted depending on whom I was dating. And if I snowboard again, my feet aren’t going to get cold. And the best of all, I ‎ thought, I can make my feet the size of all the shoes that are on the sales shelf. And I did!‎ I started snowboarding. Then I went back to work. And then I co-founded a non-profit organization for physical disabilities so that they could get involved in action sports. And just this past February, I won two World Cup gold medals, making me the highest-ranked adaptive female snowboarder in the world.‎ Eleven years ago, when I lost my legs, I had no idea what to expect. But if you ask me today, if I would ever want to change my situation, I would have to say no, because my legs haven’t disabled me. They’ve forced me to rely on my imagination and to believe in possibilities, and that’s why I believe that our imaginations can be used as tools for breaking through borders, because in our minds, we can do anything and we can be anything. It’s belief in those dreams and facing our fears directly that allow us to live our lives beyond our limits.‎ ‎24. What can we learn from the underlined sentence in Paragraph3?‎ A. The author no longer wanted to make friends with Amy.‎ B. The author realized she had to learn to accept a new “herself” gladly.‎ C. The author wanted a new friend in her new life eagerly.‎ D. The author felt hard to choose between the old Amy and the new Amy.‎ ‎25. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?‎ A. The author didn’t like her job as a massage therapist.‎ B. The author is still very sensitive to her disabilities.‎ C. The author has learnt to see her disabilities as blessings.‎ D. The author hopes to return to her old life.‎ ‎26. What message does the author want to convey with her speech?‎ A. Roman is not built in one day. ‎ B. Failure is the mother of success C. Imagination is more important than knowledge.‎ D. It is not what happens to you but how you respond that counts.‎ ‎27. The tone of the passage is best described as _______________.‎ A. proud but stubborn B. interesting but regretful C. optimistic and inspiring D. pessimistic and doubtful C Learning, Fast and Deep Over the past five years researchers in artificial intelligence have become the rock stars of the technology world. A branch of AI known as deep learning, which uses neural(神经的) networks to scan through large volumes of data looking for patterns, has proven so useful that skilled professionals can earn high six-figure salaries to build software for Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google.‎ The standard route into these jobs has been a PhD in computer science from one of America’s top universities. Earning one takes years and requires a personality suited to academia, which is rare among more normal folk.‎ That is changing.‎ Last month fast.ai, a non-profit education organization based in San Francisco, kicked off the third year of its course in deep learning. Since its foundation it has attracted more than 100,000 students around the globe from India to Nigeria. The course and others like it, come with a simple idea: there is no need to spend years obtaining a PhD in order to practise deep learning. Creating software that learns can be taught as a craft, not as a high intellectual pursuit to be undertaken only in an ivory tower. Fast.ai’s course can be completed in just seven weeks.‎ To make it accessible to anyone who wants to learn how to build AI software is the aim of Jeremy Howard, who founded fast.ai with Rachel Thomas, a mathematician. He says school mathematics is sufficient. “No. Greek. Letters,” Mr. Howard says slowly and clearly, hitting the table with his fist for the punctuation marks.‎ Some experts worry that this will serve only to create a flood of unreliable AI systems which will be useless at best and dangerous at worst. In the earliest days of the Internet, only a selected few nerds, namely computerholics with specific skills, could build applications. Not many people used them. Then the invention of the World Wide Web led to an explosion of web pages, both good and bad. But it was only by opening up to all that the Internet gave birth to online shopping, ‎ instant global communications and search. If Mr. Howard and others have their way, making the development of AI software easier will bring about a new crop of fruit of a different kind.‎ ‎28. What can we learn about deep learning?‎ A. It replaces artificial intelligence. B. It attracts rock stars to practice.‎ C. It scans patterns for large companies. D. It helps technicians to create software.‎ ‎29. Fast.ai is an organization that __________________.‎ A. ensures one to obtain a PhD B. teaches craft in ivory tower C. offers a course in deep learning D. requires weeks to apply ‎30. The underlined words “No. Greek. Letters” in Paragraph 5 means doing fast.ai course is _______.‎ A. easy B. difficult C. interesting D. boring ‎31. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that _______.‎ A. it is quite reliable for anyone to grasp artificial intelligence B. the Internet has brought forth a flood of useless AI systems C. opening up to all leads to instant global search and online shopping D. simplifying software development may result in unexpected outcomes D Benefits and Problems of Genetic Engineering Plant breeding is the science of changing the characteristics of plants in order to produce desired ones. Genes in a plant are what determine what type of characteristics it will have. Plant breeders try to create a specific outcome of plants and potentially new plant varieties by changing the genes of the plants through breeding, which is making new plants from parents of different varieties or species.‎ Actually, plant breeding has been practiced for thousands of years, since near the beginning of human civilization. It is practiced worldwide by individuals such as gardeners and farmers and by professional plant breeders employed by organizations such as government institutions, universities, crop-specific industry associations or research centers. They have crossbred plants to create the new types of plants that are, for example, bigger, stronger, or more attractive.‎ Crossbreeding can take such a long time, however, and it is inaccurate. Now, we can change exact sections of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), so the process is more accurate and faster. But ‎ people all over the world are arguing about its benefits and disadvantages. Some people use the technology to produce desired characteristics of plants and animals. Other people are concerned that the genetically engineered plants may harm the environment and worried that they may be dangerous for people to eat.‎ There are many reasons for changing plants in this way. International development agencies believe that breeding new crops is important for ensuring food security by developing new varieties that are higher yielding(高产的), disease resistant, drought tolerant or regionally adapted to different environments and growing conditions. For example, some genetically engineered plants can live through frost or draught. As a result, famers can make more profit because fewer plants will die.‎ Some genetically engineered plants are more nutritious. They have less fat, taste better or stay fresher than non-genetically engineered plants. This will allow people to buy better-quality fruit and vegetables.‎ Some genetically engineered plants can resist natural pests such as viruses or insects. This reduces the amount of chemical needed to kill pests, which is helpful to the environment.‎ However, genetically engineered plants can cause unexpected problems. Genetically engineered plants that resist pests may pass on that characteristic to a wild relative. This may cause the wild plant to spread fast, because pests are not naturally killing it.‎ Genetically engineered plants can also harm animals. A type of corn has been developed which kills a species of insect that destroys it. The pollen (花粉) from this corn, however, can also kill monarch butterflies—the most beautiful of all butterflies, which do not harm the corn.‎ To ensure the most adapted varieties are identified, advocates of organic breeding now promote the use of direct selection for many desired characteristics.‎ Genetic engineering is a very new science and we have a lot to learn about the good it can do and the damage it can cause. The main concern is that not enough tests are being done to ensure it is safe.‎ ‎32. According to the passage, the purpose of plant breeding is to _______.‎ A. beautify the environment B. change the genes of plants C. produce new plant varieties D. assess the value of the practice ‎33. The author thinks crossbreeding inaccurate because _______.‎ A. the sections of DNA are changed B problems are sometimes caused ‎ C. manpower and resources are wasted D. animals are produced using the technology ‎34. The author’s attitude toward crossbreeding is _______.‎ A. doubtful B. disapproving C. objective D. supportive ‎35 Which of the following best shows the structure of the passage?‎ Sp：Sub-point （次要点） C：Conclusion I：Introduction Cp：Central Point P：Point A. B. ‎ C. D. ‎ 第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，共10分）‎ 根据短文内容, 从短文后的七个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 calm before the storm” is a very familiar expression. It is usually used to describe a peaceful period just before a very stressful situation or a tense argument. 36 They noted that before certain storms the seas would seem to become calm and the winds would drop.‎ But why is it often so calm before a storm? 37 According to US website HowStuffWorks, a calm period occurs because many storms, tornadoes and hurricanes draw in all the warm and damp air from the surrounding area. As this air rises into the storm clouds, it cools and acts as “fuel for the storm, like petrol in a car” .‎ Once the storm has taken all the energy it can from the air, it is pushed out from the top of the storm clouds and falls back down to ground level. 38 So once it covers an area, it causes a calm period before the storm.‎ ‎ 39 First count how many seconds there are between flash of lightning and a clap of thunder, roughly three seconds equal one kilometer. A good judgement is that if your count is below 30 seconds, you should seek shelter straight away.‎ However, due to the complexity of the storm system, calm doesn't always go first. So, your best bet is to keep yourself updated with weather reports for any predictions regarding a coming storm in your area. 40 ‎ A. Science has given us the answer.‎ B. There is no definite answer to the question.‎ C. Weather reports sometimes cannot be trusted.‎ D. British sailors coined the phrase in the late 1600s.‎ E. As the air declines, it becomes warm and dry, which is stable.‎ F. The Weather Network has a tip for working out how far away a storm is.‎ G. That's the most reliable way to predict the next display of nature’s temper.‎ 第三部分：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）‎ 阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的 A、B、C、D 四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。‎ With Christmas approaching, I turned 18, my father gave me his antique Chevy Malibu convertible as a gift. What did I know about classic cars? For me, the important thing was that Karen and I could 41 around Tucson with the convertible. ‎ Karen was my best friend, a year younger but much 42 . That winter she 43 with a modeling agency, doing catalog and runway work. A month after my birthday, she and I went to the movies. On the way home, we 44 at the McDonald’s drive-through, putting the fries in the space between us to 45 . “Let’s ride around awhile,” I said. It was a clear night, hot, full moon hanging low over the desert. Taking a turning too 46 , I ran over some dirt and fishtailed. I then moved quickly through a neighbor’s landscape wall and drove into a full-grown palm tree. The front wheel came to rest halfway 47 the tree trunk.‎ There were French fries on the floor, the dashboard and my lap. An impossible amount of 48 was on Karen’s face, pieces of skin hanging around her eyes. We were taken in separate ambulances. In the emergency room, my parents spoke quietly: “Best plastic surgeon in the city…but it is more likely the 49 of her modeling career…”‎ We’d been wearing lap belts, 50 the car didn’t have shoulder belts. I’d broken my cheekbone on the steering wheel; Karen’s 51 had split wide open on the dashboard. What would I say to her?‎ When her mother, Sharon, came into my hospital room, I started to cry, preparing myself for her 52 . She sat beside me and took my hand. “I drove into the back of the car of my best friend when I was your age,” she said. “I completely 53 her car and mine.”‎ ‎“I’m so sorry,” I said. ‎ ‎“You’re both 54 ,” she said. “Everything else doesn’t matter.” I started to explain, and Sharon stopped me. “I 55 you. Karen will too.” ‎ Sharon’s forgiveness allowed Karen and me to get back in the car together that winter, to stay 56 throughout high school and college, to be in each other’s weddings. I think of her gift of forgiveness every time I tend to feel angry with someone about the 57 they do and whenever I see Karen. The scars are now 58 and no one else would notice, but in the sunlight I can still 59 the faint, shiny skin just below her hairline—for 60 , a sign of forgiveness.‎ ‎41. A. drive B. run C. wander D. march ‎ ‎42. A. stronger B. healthier C. taller D. smaller ‎43. A. competed B. chatted C. signed D. bargained ‎44. A. stopped B. ate C. aimed D. stood ‎ ‎45. A. catch B. share C. hold D. spare ‎ ‎46. A. fast B. seriously C. softly D. slow ‎ ‎47. A. across B. up C. below D. along ‎ ‎48. A. blood B. petrol C. water D. sweat ‎ ‎49. A. path B. base C. point D. end ‎ ‎50. A. and B. but C. or D. so ‎ ‎51. A. shoulders B. arms C. chest D. forehead ‎52. A. anger B. regret C. sorrow D. concern ‎53. A. attacked B. dragged C. damaged D. removed ‎54. A. alike B. relieved C. injured D. alive ‎ ‎55. A. help B. love C. understand D. forgive ‎56. A. sisters B. friends C. classmates D. colleagues ‎57. A. need B. effort C. wrong D. threat ‎ ‎58. A. left B. marked C. shown D. faded ‎59. A. touch B. see C. feel D. learn ‎ ‎60. A. them B. you C. me D. her 第II卷 非选择题 (共50分)‎ 第四部分: 短文语法填空（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）‎ 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。‎ An umbrella is what we easily forget and leave behind in our daily life. When the weather is fine, we certainly don’t think of it; only when it’s raining, we’ll carry it purposefully. But as soon as the rain stops, most likely we’ll forget 61.__________ we’ve put it. It has to wait patiently and pitifully for 62.__________ owner to claim it, otherwise it’ll remain alone as a deserted umbrella. Once I suddenly found my longtime used umbrella “disappeared”. I really 63. __________ ( regret) quite some time for my own carelessness. Several days later, out of my 64.__________ (expect), I saw it quietly stand in a corner of the house where I worked. I was extremely glad to regain it. Looking carefully at it, though it was so familiar 65.__________ me, I found for the first time that its plastic handle 66. __________ (wear) out as a result of repeated rain-wash for years. I sought for it only when I needed it. It occurred to me that I should have paid 67.__________ (much) attention to it.‎ It sets me 68.____ ______ (think). Around us there is always a person giving us support in silence just like 69.__________ old umbrella that protects us from the rain or any bad weather. Will you think of those individuals 70.__________ have helped you get through difficulty when you are leading a comfortable life?‎ 第五部分: 教材词汇检测（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）‎ 根据首字母提示及句意，在句中空白处填入适当的单词。‎ ‎71.Good n_________ is essential if patients are to make a quick recovery. ‎ ‎72.This is the o_________ painting, and the others are copies. ‎ ‎73.In some countries, witnesses in court have to s_________ on the Bible. ‎ ‎74.Those who i________ hunt rare and endangered wild animals are to be sentenced to prison. ‎ ‎75.Great efforts have been made in ecological c_______ and environmental protection in ‎ recent years.‎ ‎76.As long as we are united, there will be no difficulty that cannot be o________. ‎ ‎77.Only when applied on a global scale can the achievements of science and technology play a m________ role and better benefit humankind. ‎ ‎78. A________ by cheerful music, people began to dance on the large square. ‎ ‎79.Over the years, overseas Chinese have enthusiastically supported and p________ in China's economic construction in various ways. ‎ ‎80.The research shows the urban air quality this year remains unchanged, compared with the p_______ year. ‎ 第六部分: 书面表达（满分25分）‎ 一家美国酒店邀请近期的住店客人写信给他们就酒店服务提些意见，假如你叫季晨，一个月前曾入住该店，现请你用英文给旅馆经理写一封150左右的建议信，书信须包括：‎ ‎1. 书信开头和结尾的补全内容 ‎2. 简单自我介绍； ‎ ‎3. 酒店服务中你觉得好的方面； ‎ ‎4. 酒店服务中你觉得需要改进的方面。‎ 注意：信的部分开头结尾已经给出，不计入总词数。‎ Dear Manager,‎ I’m writing in response to your invitation to guests who_____________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________‎ I would be happy to know if _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________‎ Yours faithfully,‎ Ji Chen ‎【参考答案】‎ 第I卷 选择题 (共100分)‎ 第一部分：听力 (共20题，每小题分1.5，满分30分)‎ ‎1-5. BAACB  6-10.ABCAB  11-15. CBACA 16-20. CBCAC 第二部分：阅读理解(共两节，40分)‎ 第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，共30分）‎ ‎21-23. DCB 24-27.BCDC 28-31.DCAD 32-35.CBCA 第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，共10分）‎ ‎36-40. DAEFG 第三部分：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）‎ ‎41-45.ACCAB 46-50.ABADB 51-55.DACDD 56-60.BCDBC 第II卷 非选择题 (共50分)‎ 第四部分: 短文语法填空（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）‎ ‎61. where 62. its/the 63. regretted 64.expectation 65. to ‎ ‎66. had (been) worn 67. more 68. thinking 69. an 70. who/that 第五部分: 教材词汇检测（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）‎ ‎71. nutrition 72. original 73. swear 74. illegally 75. conservation 76. overcome 77. maximum 78. Accompanied 79. participated 80. previous 第六部分：书面表达（满分25分）‎ One possible version,‎ Dear Manager,‎ I’m writing in response to your invitation to guests who have recently stayed at your hotel to suggest ways in which you could further improve your service.‎ I was a guest at your hotel last month and I found that the level of customer service was excellent. Indeed, every member of your staff, from the manager to the room-cleaning maid, was, without exception, extremely polite and helpful. The standard of the rooms was far beyond what I had expected.‎ However, I found that the hotel restaurant stopped serving breakfast at 8:30am. As I was on holiday, I would have liked to take my breakfast at around 9:30, thus I was unable to do so. I also ‎ spoke to several other guests who expressed the same disappointment. ‎ In addition, I feel that if you could supply newspapers in Chinese, the quality of stay for Chinese speakers, of whom the number has been on a steady rise in the past few years, would be considerably enhanced.‎ I would be happy to know if my suggestions can turn out to be useful in the constant improvement of your overall service. ‎ Yours faithfully,‎ Ji Chen 听力原文录音稿：‎ Text 1‎ M: Jane, do you have a map of Manchester? I want to find a good place to eat.‎ W: Why not try Chinatown? There are plenty of good Chinese restaurants there, and it's near here.‎ Text 2‎ M: Let's do something different for vacation this year. Oh, let's go to Colorado. I want to learn to snowboard.‎ W: Oh, Paul, you know I don't like cold weather. Can't we go someplace warm, like the beach?‎ Text 3‎ W: This job is for three days a week: Monday, Friday, and Saturday. Are you Okay with that?‎ M: Mmm... I was hoping to have Saturday free. But I need the job, so... can you tell me what exactly I will do?‎ Text 4‎ M: Do you know if John's coming home for dinner?‎ W: He'll be late. He said not to wait for him.‎ Text 5‎ W: I'm really tired from packing all these boxes for three hours. It's about time to call it a day.‎ M: I know. Maybe we could do it first thing tomorrow morning.‎ W: Why not? These orders are not urgent.‎ Text 6‎ M: Lisa? Hi!‎ W: Hi, Ned.‎ M: Don't you usually drive to work?‎ W: Usually, but not in bad weather.‎ M: Why is that?‎ W: The traffic gets a lot worse when it rains or snows.‎ M: I always take the train. It's a lot faster for me than driving.‎ W: It's faster for me, too, but the time isn't always convenient.‎ M: Yeah, but think of all the things you can do on the train---read a book or the newspaper...‎ W: Or answer my email... No thanks! My workday is long enough already.‎ Text 7‎ W: I think the car we saw yesterday would be a good deal. What do you think?‎ M: Yes, but I think you should ask someone to take a look at it just to be sure.‎ W: My friend Jack knows cars, and he helped me do the check this morning.‎ M: It was smart of you to think ahead. Have you and the salesman agreed on a price?‎ W: Yes, he finally agreed to accept the discounted price I asked.‎ M: Then have you thought about how to pay?‎ W: Well, I've saved up enough money to pay cash for this car.‎ M: Good. Let me go with you to make the payment and drive the car home for you.‎ W: Thank you. That would make it much easier for me.‎ M: You're welcome. Let's go take care of that right now.‎ Text 8‎ M: Being away from home for college can be stressful. Besides all the pressures of study, there's the pressure on your pocket. Today, let's go to a university to find out. Excuse me. Can I ask you a few questions?‎ W: Well, Okay.‎ M: How do you find the cost of living in the city?‎ W: Everything is expensive, including clothing, housing, and traveling.‎ M: So, what do you spend most on?‎ W: Transport, I think. For food, if I cook myself, it's not expensive at all. For clothing, I bring my clothes here from my home country, where they're nice and cheap. But every week, I have to spend more than 100 pounds on the trains.‎ M: Then what's the social life like?‎ W: I'm a very social person. I love hanging out with my friends and meeting new people. Thankfully, I don't drink nor smoke, so the only expense is maybe tickets to the cinemas, club, and so on.‎ Text 9‎ W: Can you fix a time for the next meeting, Alex? How about June 12th? That's after the trade exhibition.‎ M: I thought something was happening on that day, Rebecca.‎ W: Oh, yes. You're right. The people from Head Office are coming.‎ M: What time does their plane arrive? Can we have the meeting in the morning?‎ W: No, it's all arranged. I'm meeting them at half past ten, so I won't be available at all that day.‎ M: Well, let's have the meeting earlier in June, then. The trade exhibition finishes on the third, doesn't it?‎ W: Yes, but we need John's sales report for the meeting. How's it going?‎ M: I'm afraid John hasn't started yet. The figures won't be in place till next week.‎ W: Will it be ready early in June?‎ M: Well, not really. He told me that he will finish them by June 10th.‎ W: So, we're looking at the week starting the 17th. How about two o'clock on that day?‎ M: I think that's Okay. Let's meet here again then.‎ Text 10‎ W: Hello, everyone. In today's program, I'd like to share a true story of mine. One day, my friends and I had just finished lunch at a hotel when it started to rain heavily. When it became lighter, I decided to brave the train to get car and go home. It was parked three blocks away. My friends argued I shouldn't go because at that time, I was due to give birth in three months. I ‎ promised I'd be very careful. One of them wanted to come with me, but I insisted she stay with another friend who needed help with her baby. When I walked to the first crossroads, a taxi stopped and a passenger came out with an umbrella. Before I knew what was happening, he walked right beside me and told me he would walk with me to where I would go. I refused, but he insisted. During our walk, he kept telling me to walk slowly. When we got to the car park, I thanked him, and we parted ways. I did not get his name and may not even recognize him now. Did he purposely stop for me? I'll never know.‎