【英语】江西省赣州市石城县石城中学2020届高三下学期第16次周考试题

【英语】江西省赣州市石城县石城中学2020届高三下学期第16次周考试题

江西省赣州市石城县石城中学2020届高三下学期 第16次周考英语试题 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小题。每段对话仅读一遍。‎ ‎1. What is the man doing?‎ A. Cooking dinner. B. Playing basketball. C. Watching a game.‎ ‎2. Where does the conversation probably take place?‎ A. At the barber's. B. At the tailor's. C. At the butcher's.‎ ‎3. How will the man come back?‎ A. By air. B. By train. C. By ship.‎ ‎4. What is the man complaining about?‎ A. The weather forecast. ‎ B. The bad weather.‎ C. The useless umbrella.‎ ‎5. What day is it today?‎ A. Thursday. B. Wednesday. C. Tuesday.‎ 第二节（共15小题;每小题1.5分，满分22.5分）‎ 请听下面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至7题。‎ ‎6. What did the man do yesterday?‎ A. He met his friends.‎ B. He bought some vases.‎ C. He sent some postcards.‎ ‎7. Who will the man send postcards to?‎ A. Himself. B. His girlfriend. C. His sister.‎ 听第7段材料，回答第8至9题。‎ ‎8. What are the two speakers talking about?‎ A. Sophia's working performance.‎ B. Sophia's new friends from work.‎ C. Sophia's relationship with the woman.‎ ‎9. How is the woman feeling now?‎ A. Ashamed. B. Disappointed. C. Excited.‎ 听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。‎ ‎10. What did the woman want to do at first?‎ A. Visit her mother. B. Refuse a job offer. C. Resign from work.‎ ‎11 。. What does the man suggest the woman do?‎ A. Take an absence leave. ‎ B. Change her job.‎ C. Hire a care worker.‎ ‎12. What's the possible relationship between the two speakers?‎ A. Doctor and patient. ‎ B. Boss and employee.‎ C. Teacher and student.‎ 听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。‎ ‎13. On which side of the road should people ride in the man's country?‎ A. Right. B. Left. c. Either.‎ ‎14. Why do people in Cambridge like riding bikes?‎ A. Cycling is safe.‎ B. Cycling is fashionable.‎ C. Cycling is convenient.‎ ‎15. What is a cyclist of 12 required to do in Cambridge?‎ A. Wear a helmet. B. Flash two lights. ' C. Pass the traffic test.‎ ‎16. What may happen to the bikes left casually?‎ A. They'll be destroyed. B. They'll be stolen. C. They'll be locked. 听第10段独白，回答第17至20题。‎ ‎17. Who is Emile Ratelbrant?‎ A. A television host. B. A legal adviser. C. A bank clerk.‎ ‎18. When was Ratelbrant actually born?‎ A. In 1989. B. In 1969. C. In 1949.‎ ‎19. Why did Ratelbrant submit such a legal demand to court?‎ A. To draw people's attention.‎ B. To be free of discrimination.‎ C. To save money for the government.‎ ‎20. How does Ratelbrant feel about the possible result of his demand?‎ A. Hopeless. B. Confident. C. Uncertain.‎ 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 While there is a slight chance that you touch down on the surface of the moon, there are some places you can visit that are tied to the Apollo 11.‎ The U.S. Space & Rocket Center; Huntsville, Alabama Creating the Saturn V rocket that drove the crew of the Apollo 11 was the responsibility of a team of engineers in Huntsville. At the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, you can explore dozens of interactive exhibits, including “Space Craze ”，a look at the public's strong interest in all things related to space through the pop culture.‎ Meteor Crater, Flagstaff, Arizona Armstrong and his fellow were trained for moon exploration at a variety of places, including Meteor Crater, one of the most perfectly preserved impact craters （陨石坑）on the planet. Today the Meteor Crater Visitor Center includes the 4-D ride “Collision Experience^ and breathtaking tours around the edge of the crater itself.‎ The Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida Every Apollo mission （任务）was started from the Kennedy Space Center, which remains an active launch （发射）site. Bus tours visit mission-critical areas of Kennedy Space Center and the Apollo/Saturn V Center, which houses a complete Saturn V rocket and a moon rock you can touch. Come during a scheduled launch, and you can purchase a special viewing package getting you a clear view of the launch.‎ Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center; Houston, Texas It's here that every aspect of the Apollo 11 mission was monitored. Now fully repaired, the control center is open to tour via the official visitor's center. Space Center Houston. View astronaut training equipment and the largest collection of moon rocks.‎ ‎21. In which place are you required to tour in a bus?‎ A. The U.S. Space & Rocket Center. B. Meteor Crater.‎ C. Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. D. The Kennedy Space Center.‎ ‎22. What can we learn about Meteor Crater?‎ A. It houses a complete Saturn V rocket and a moon rock.‎ B. It is one of the training places for astronauts of Apollo 11.‎ C. It allows one to view the largest collection of moon rocks.‎ D. It provides doze ns of interactive exhibits for visitors to explore.‎ ‎23. What can you do in Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center?‎ A. Touch a moon rock. B. Enjoy the 4-D ride.‎ C. See astronaut training equipment. D. View a rocket launch.‎ B A few weeks ago, I picked up my 14-year-old daughter and her friend from dance class. The two girls chatted happily until I reached her friend's house. And then 1 began the drive home and my daughter, who had been talking nonstop a minute before, went completely silent. I assumed she was lost in thought.‎ When I came to a stoplight, I looked in the mirror. My daughter wasn't looking out of the window or staring into space — she was on her phone. I felt my anger rise.‎ ‎"Get off your phone. That s rude. You make me feel like an Uber driver." I shouted.‎ ‎"But I'm texting friends about biology homework!'' she said.‎ ‎“That can wait.” I was mad and she was angry.‎ Back home, she disappeared into her room, and I thought about how I was still trying to take control of my daughter's growing independence, which was fruitless.‎ The next day I was thinking about my outburst when a parenting program on TV caught my eye, in which the hosts interviewed Dr. Ken Ginsburg, the author of a famous parenting book. It completely changed my attitude.‎ Ginsburg said. "Why are our teens pushing us away? It's not because they hate us — it's because they love us so much and yet they know they have to become independent. So this is a process of figuring out how to push away the things they love the most. It is crazy to fly from a comfortable nest, so teens get ready for it by temporarily pushing their parents away."‎ I need to honor her independence and create space for both of us to face this monumental developmental challenge as teammates, not adversaries（(对手).‎ ‎24. What made the writer mad?‎ A. She served as an Uber driver.‎ B. The two girls were chatting happily.‎ C. Her daughter was playing with the phone.‎ D. Her daughter forgot her biology homework.‎ ‎25. What do we know about the daughter?‎ A. She is being under her mother's control.‎ B. She is on the way to being independent.‎ C. She enjoys making friends using social media.‎ D. She hates making conversation with her mom.‎ ‎26. Which of the following best describes the mother?‎ A. Open-minded. B. Hardworking.‎ C. Inspiring. D. weak-willed.‎ ‎27. What is the passage mainly about?‎ A. I was pushed away by my teenaged daughter.‎ B. Life of a teenager is moving at its own slow pace.‎ C. Parents completely rely on parenting experts to educate children.‎ D. My relationship with my daughter was improved by a suggestion.‎ C Over a four-year period, Swiss researchers have developed a machine that can keep human livers （肝）alive outside of the body for one week.‎ Livers are among the most commonly transplanted （移植）human organs. Current technology can only keep human livers alive for up to 24 hours. It is reported that, in 2017, about 8.000 liver transplants were performed in the U.S., of which 360 used livers from living givers In addition, about 11,500 people were registered on a waiting list to receive a liver transplant. Keeping livers alive and functioning for longer periods could greatly improve the chances of survival for patients.‎ The researchers say the purpose of their “Liver4Life" machine is to perform what they call liver perfusion （灌注）operations outside of the human body. Perfusion is the process by which blood or other liquids are pumped through organs and tissue. The machine keeps the liver at the right temperature and moves it in a way that would be natural in the body. Using a pump to fill the liver with blood acting like a human heart, the machine also provides oxygen to the organ, controls red blood cell levels and removes waste.‎ The research team began their experiments with livers from pigs. After repeated testing and engineering development, they succeeded in getting the pig livers to survive for seven days with support only provided from the Liver4Life machine. They also discovered the system can work to repair damaged livers. The team is now planning its next step to transplant machine-treated organs into patients.‎ Pierre-Alain Clavien. leader of the research said in a statement. “This technology will greatly increase the number of livers available for transplant, improving the chances of survival for patients. The success of this unique machine opens the way for many new applications in transplantation and cancer medicine."‎ ‎28. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 2?‎ A. Introduce a brand new topic for discussion.‎ B. Provide some latest data about present liver transplants.‎ C. Show the urgency of tech improvement in liver transplants.‎ D. Remind readers concerned of the importance of a healthy liver.‎ ‎29. What does the underlined word "it" in paragraph 3 refer to?‎ A. The machine. B. The liver.‎ C. The temperature. D. The tissue.‎ ‎30. What can we learn about the Liver4Life machine?‎ A. It is among the most commonly used machines for liver transplants.‎ B. It is aimed to carry out liver perfusion operations in the human body.‎ C. It can perform several functions to keep the liver working normally.‎ D. It can be used to keep the pig livers alive for more than one week.‎ ‎31. Where is this text most likely from?‎ A. A biology textbook. B. A first aid brochure.‎ C. A social web page. D. A health magazine.‎ D We know them when we see them: The TV shows and movies we love, even though we just know they're bad. The worthless books we simply can't put down.‎ Yes, these are our guilty pleasures --- what some people consider the junk food in our media diets. But if we enjoy them, why should we feel guilty? As it turns out, these so-called "guilty" pleasures can actually be good for us, so long as they're enjoyed in moderation （适度）.‎ According to Robin Nabi. a professor at the University of California, a guilty pleasure is something that we enjoy, but we know we're either not supposed to like, or that liking it says something negative about us.‎ Studies suggest that guilty pleasures can bring back some psychological resources. Besides, giving ourselves permission to enjoy downtime is also an important part of self-pity, which is an effective way of fighting anxiety and sadness. Perhaps the most important value of a guilty pleasure is the bond it can create between people.‎ If that's true, why do guilty pleasures get such a bad reputation? Actually, it's not the indulgences （纵容）themselves, but the attitudes we take when talking about them. " We have the cultural value of media consumption being instructive, and that what we do should be about growing and achieving, Dr. Nabi said. "We don't focus as much on refreshment and enjoyment, and these are such important aspects of being a human being.”‎ Feeling guilty about activities we enjoy can diminish the benefits they offer us. But removing unnecessary embarrassment about our interests can enrich our social lives, which is why ‎ it's time to get rid of "guilty pleasure'1 from our vocabulary.‎ While guilty pleasures benefit us in some cases, they can also push us to indulge in behaviors we feel guilty about. Therefore, it's best to follow the age-old advice our parents taught us: Everything in moderation.‎ ‎32. Which of the following might make us feel guilty pleasure?‎ A. Eating an entire bag of chips in one sitting.‎ B. Telling an old bedtime story.‎ C. Staying up late doing your homework.‎ D. Giving up seats to the elderly.‎ ‎33. Why do people think poorly of guilty pleasures?‎ A. They take guilty pleasures too seriously.‎ B. They dislike the behaviour of indulgence.‎ C. They ignore the benefits of guilty pleasures.‎ D. They are influenced by their cultural value.‎ ‎34. What does the underlined word "diminish" in paragraph 6 mean? '‎ A. Reduce. B. Increase. C. Maximize. D. Destroy.‎ ‎35. What is the best title for the text?‎ A. Guilty pleasure? Avoid it B. Guilty pleasure? No Such Thing C. Everything in Moderation D. New Trend in Media Consumption ‎ 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。‎ Have you ever frequently put off things you should do for various reasons? If so, it is procrastination （拖延）.Procrastinators often put off doing things and leave them to the very last moment. 36 Lazy people simply don't do anything and are just fine with it. Procrastinators, on the other hand, have the desire to do something but can't force themselves to start.‎ You might think procrastination is a bit annoying but fairly harmless. However, long term procrastination has bad effects on your health. Not having seen the doctor when your illness was easier to treat may shorten your life. Just thinking about what you haven't done may cause discomfort.‎ ‎37‎ Don't place too much pressure on yourself. "This project has to impress everyone; I really can't blow this opportunity," 38 Overcome this mental block by simply allowing yourself to be imperfect with the next small task. You can always improve your work later.‎ ‎39 Concentrating on the size and difficulty of a task will overcome you and promote procrastination. Any work can be broken into smaller steps. The trick is — with each step along the way — to focus on the next achievable tasks. Make sure you can easily imagine the outcome of your small task. Don't write a book; write a page.‎ Focus on starting, rather than finishing. For someone who's having a hard time starting a task, imagining a hard-to-grasp future can be depressing. The solution in this case, then, is to focus on starting. 40 We all know that if we start, we'll eventually finish the task.‎ A. Break a long project down into short tasks.‎ B. So procrastination is about managing the time.‎ C. So we should apply ourselves to overcoming it.‎ D. However, procrastination is different from laziness.‎ E. Focus on the negative effects of the procrastination.‎ F. Bring your focus from the future to what can be done right now.‎ G. Placing such high hopes on a project only adds anxiety and fear of failure. ‎ 第三部分英语知识运用（共两节，满分45分）‎ 第一节（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）‎ 阅读下面的短文，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。‎ The COVID-19 pandemic （疫情）has left many worrying about the future. However, I've found 41 in my mother's one simple self-care ritual （仪式）and I have decided not to keep 42 in a sort of uncertainty.‎ ‎1 was 43——by a single mom who had two kids, two jobs and a mile — long 44. of cleaning, cooking and bill-paying. 45,she was never seen with a hair out of 46. Every morning, she'd head to a 47，lift her chin （下巴）up slightly, a gesture of confidence, and put on lipstick （口红） 48 delivering a forced yet toothy smile. I was too young to 49 why.‎ My mother 50 her red lips until the very end. In hospital, she asked me to help walk her to ‎ the basin to brush her teeth. I stared at her from behind 51 she might fall. I was deep in sorrow and uncertainty, tears 52 down my face. Then suddenly, from behind, I sensed that 53 gesture. Chin up. Confidence. A second later I heard the click of the 54.‎ We don't know what's going to happen next. Yet one thing is 55 : When the world falls apart, we've 56 got unbelievable power to choose. I'm not suggesting we 57 what's around us but focus on what we can control to 58 getting knocked around by uncertainty. Get up and shut the door on anything 59. Just be sure to keep putting that 60 on.‎ ‎41. A. beauty B. knowledge C. strength D. evidence ‎42. A. drowning B. dreaming C. praying D. working ‎43. A. praised B. abused C. abandoned D. raised ‎44. A. roll B. pile C. list D. chain ‎45. A. Otherwise B. Therefore C. Besides D. However ‎46. A. sight B. place C. reach D. balance ‎47. A. mirror B. table C. comer D. wall ‎48. A. when B. after C. before D. till ‎49. A. ask B. realize C. doubt D. advise ‎50. A. wore B. bit C. read D. rounded ‎51. A. convinced B. relaxed C. surprised D. worried ‎52. A. streaming B. getting C. pulling D. pointing ‎53. A. different B. familiar C. proper D. strange ‎54. A. camera B. door C. lock D. cap ‎55. A. easy B. delicate C. sure D. necessary ‎56.A. even B. still C. already D. also ‎57. A. ignore B. examine C. favor D. hate ‎58. A. practice B. accept C. avoid D. finish ‎59. A. challenging B. discouraging C. amusing D. thrilling ‎60. A. power B. coat C. mask D. lipstick 第二节（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）‎ 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正 确形式。‎ For those who have never tried it, scuba diving （水肺潜水）has the reputation for being 61 extreme sport, but this couldn't be 62（far） from the truth. Scuba diving, with all the deep breathing 63 goes with it, is almost like underwater yoga（瑜伽）). it offers people a chance to ‎ forget about trouble and focus on the here and now, thus 64（provide） a sense of calmness that is hard to find on land.‎ While scuba diving, you won't be looking at your phone. Nor will you have to make a mental effort 65（get） away from the real world because physically, you already have! The underwater scenery provides the perfect place to calm your mind with 66（peace） surroundings to admire.‎ Yoga lays stress on the control of breathing in and out, as breathing 67（consider） the fundamental connection 68 body and mind. The number one rule of scuba diving is to breathe 69 （constant） and never hold your breath. A diver who is relaxed in body, breath, and mind becomes one with the water. It's the supreme form of 70（relax） when all you can hear is bubbles and the sound of your own breathing.‎ 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）‎ 假定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（∧），并在其下面写岀该加的词。‎ 删除:把多余的词用斜线（）划掉。‎ 修改:在错的词下画一横线，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。‎ We were considering making an English magazine, and without hands-on experience we didn’t know how to start it. To get profession instructions, we left for Beijing to visit a chief editor of Beijing Review,the famous English journal. Busy as he was, he showed me around, explaining us the amazing history of the journal and its production process. Beside, he offered us lots of tip, which were practical and valuable. What make us especially happy was that when he promised to give us continuous guidance.Filling with confidence, we are now beginning to handle our magazine.‎ 第二节书面表达（满分25分）‎ 假定你是李华，你校将要举办风筝节。请给你的英国朋友Harry 写封邮件邀请他参加。内容包括：‎ ‎1. 活动的时间、地点；‎ ‎2. 活动内容。‎ 注意：‎ ‎1. 词数100词左右；‎ ‎2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行为连贯。‎ ‎【参考答案】‎ 第一部分 听力 ‎1. C 2. A 3. B 4. A 5. C 6. B 7. A 8. C 9. B 10. C ‎11. A 12. B 13. A 14. C 15. A 16. B 17. A 18. C 19. B 20. C 第二部分 阅读理解 ‎21. D 22. B 23. C 24. C 25. B 26. A 27. D 28. C 29. B 30. C ‎31. D 32. A 33. D 34. A 35. B 36. D 37. C 38. G 39. A 40. F 第三部分 语言知识运用 第一节 ‎41. C 42. A 43. D 44. C 45. D 46. B 47.A 48. C 49. B 50. A ‎51. D 52. A 53. B 54. D 55. C 56. B 57. A 58. C 59. B 60. D 第二节 61. an 62. further/farther 63. that 64. providing 65. to get 66. peaceful 67. is considered 68. between 69. constantly 70. relaxation 第四部分 写作 第一节 We were considering making an English magazine, and without hands-on experience we didn’t ‎ but know how to start it. To get profession instructions, we left for Beijing to visit a chief editor∧‎ ‎ professional of ‎ Beijing Review, the famous English journal. Busy as he was, he showed me around, explaining∧‎ ‎ a us to ‎ us the amazing history of the journal and its production process. Beside, he offered us lots of ‎ Besides ‎ tip, which were practical and valuable. What make us especially happy was that when tips made ‎ he promised to give us continuous guidance. Filling with confidence, we are now beginning Filled ‎ to handle our magazine.‎ 第二节 One possible version Dear Harry,‎ I’m writing to invite you to celebrate the Kite Festival on our school playground, which will be a feast for your eyes. ‎ The festival lasts two days, from April 11 to 12, during which time a wide variety of kites will be on display. Besides, some kite experts will make kites on the spot, so you can get hands-on experience and know about the theory of kite flying. The most exciting moment should be when you are flying kites. Seeing the flying kites in the sky will relax your eyes and clear your mind. ‎ ‎ Looking forward to your early reply.‎ Yours,‎ Li Hua 听力原文 第一节 Text 1‎ W: Honey, could you take the garbage out while I am preparing the dinner?‎ M: OK, I’ll do it right after the live basketball game.‎ Text 2‎ M: How would you want me to cut it?‎ W: I’d like to try a new hair style. Could you show me some pictures of hair styles?‎ Text 3‎ W: We’d like to send you to a ship company in Shanghai on a business trip this weekend. You’ll get on the train tonight at 7 pm.‎ M: The train? Will I be flying back then?‎ W: But we’ve bought the return ticket for you.‎ Text 4‎ M: I hate carrying that umbrella around. The weatherman said there was a twenty-percent chance of rain. But it didn’t rain a drop.‎ W: Twenty percent means zero percent.‎ M: But last week they said twenty percent and it actually rained all day.‎ Text 5‎ M: We are going to have a general cleaning after school. ‎ W: Oh, but we usually do it every Wednesday, so why don’t we do it tomorrow just as usual? ‎ Text 6 ‎ M: Hello, do you remember me? I bought some vases from you yesterday.‎ W: Yes, you said you wanted to send them to your girlfriend, right?‎ M: That’s right. I’ve come back to buy some more souvenirs for myself.‎ W: What do you have in mind?‎ M: Well, my sister used to send postcards to herself wherever she went. I want to do that, too.‎ Text 7‎ M: You haven’t spent much time with Sophia lately. What’s up?‎ W: We’ve not been that close for a while.‎ M: But you two used to do everything together. I thought you really enjoyed each other’s company.‎ W: We did, but that was before she started her new job, and now all she does is hang out with her new friends from work.‎ M: It can’t be that bad. She was always a really good friend to you. She’s probably just excited about her new job. You should give her some time.‎ W: But I think she shows no interest in our friendship any more. I just have to accept the fact that it’s time for us to go our separate ways.‎ Text 8‎ W: Do you have a minute, Mr. Johnson? M: Sure, what would you like to discuss? W: I’ve made a tough decision to resign, sir. M: Well, I have to tell you that I’m quite surprised. Is there any possible way to change your mind? W: I’m afraid not, sir. I’ve made up my mind. It’s something I have to do. ‎ M: Can I ask why? Were you unhappy working for us or have you been given a better offer? ‎ W: Oh, no. It’s my mother. She’s sick and needs someone to take care of her. I’m the only one who ‎ can do it. M: I’m sorry to hear that, but why don’t you just take a leave of absence? We can hold the job for ‎ you until your mother gets better.‎ W: Really? M: Sure, I’d be crazy to lose a good worker like you. ‎ Text 9‎ M: Hi, Ellen! Is this your new bike?‎ W: Yes, I bought it yesterday.‎ M: It’s cool! May I have a try?‎ W: Of course. Remember to ride on the left.‎ M: Oh, I think it’ll take me some time to get used to it. You know, in my country, we should drive, ride and walk on the right.‎ W: Well, it could be dangerous if you break the rules.‎ M: OK, I see. By the way, why do so many people travel by bike in Cambridge?‎ W: You see, Cambridge City is small and flat. Besides, the colleges of Cambridge University spread around every corner of the city. Riding a bike between lectures is convenient.‎ M: And it is also environmentally friendly.‎ W: That’s right. Since riding a bike is the most common way, there are a lot of riding regulations.‎ M: For example?‎ W: People under 18 or above 60 should wear a helmet when they ride, and a bike should be equipped with two lights. A little troublesome, but it’s safe.‎ M: I agree. I have noticed that people just leave their bikes casually.‎ W: Yes. That’s why many bikes have been stolen.‎ M: Then you should remember to lock your bike. ‎ W: I will. ‎ Text 10‎ I’m Emile Ratelband, a television host in the city of Arnhem, Holland. Now my age is having a bad effect on both my work and life. So I went to court to get my birth year legally changed from 1949 to 1969 and I self-identified as 20 years younger. The reason why I did so is that I want to avoid age discrimination. When I asked to borrow money from a bank or change my job, I was told it was almost impossible because of my age. I firmly believe that with the freedom of choosing my name, I want to choose my own age. I want to control myself. Besides, the Dutch ‎ government could benefit if it were to accept my demand. I would be happy to give up my monthly pension of around $1,370. That would be a savings of $343,000 over 20 years for the government. The city court is expected to give an official decision in about four weeks. And I’m waiting for that, but I’m not quite sure about their approval. ‎