2019-2020学年浙江省余姚中学高二上学期期中考试 英语 （Word版）

2019-2020学年浙江省余姚中学高二上学期期中考试 英语 （Word版）

余姚中学 ‎2019 学年度第 一 学 期 ‎‎ 高二英语期中试卷 命题人： ‎ 选择题部分 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，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。‎ 例：‎ How much is the shirt?‎ A. ￡19.15. B. ￡9.18. C. ￡9.15.‎ 答案是 C。‎ 1. What is the woman doing?‎ A. Buying a handbag.‎ B. Trying on a piece of clothing.‎ C. Drawing a picture of the countryside.‎ 2. What is the possible relationship between the speakers?‎ A. Family members. B. Classmates. C. Co-workers.‎ 3. What is the man angry about?‎ A. Telephoning while driving. B. Some women drivers. C. Traffic lights.‎ 4. What does the woman mean?‎ A. She will choose the man.‎ B. The man was late in asking.‎ C. She may run for the position.‎ 5. What does the woman want the man to do?‎ A. Set up a museum. B. Start doing exercise. C. Stop buying cameras.‎ 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、7 题。‎ 6. How will the man’s brother go to South America?‎ A. By ship. B. By plane. C. By train.‎ 7. What will the man probably buy for his brother?‎ A. A toothbrush. B. A silk tie. C. A clock.‎ 听第 7 段材料，回答第 8 至 10 题。‎ 1. Where is Rick working now?‎ A. In a travel company. B. In a hotel. C. In a law office.‎ 2. How does Rick feel about his trip?‎ A. Excited. B. Curious. C. Nervous.‎ 3. When will Rick leave?‎ A. In three days. B. In a week. C. In a month.‎ 听第 8 段材料，回答第 11 至 13 题。‎ 4. What do we know about the grandmother?‎ A. She lives by herself.‎ B. She’s as healthy as before.‎ C. She often does some cleaning.‎ 5. How long has the grandmother lived in Kentucky?‎ A. Since her husband died. B. Since she was married. C. Since her son moved away.‎ 6. What does the grandmother enjoy about her present life?‎ A. Being busy with housework.‎ B. Being with relatives.‎ C. Being with friends.‎ 听第 9 段材料，回答第 14 至 17 题。‎ 7. What was the woman talking about at the beginning of the conversation?‎ A. Her story of completing a task.‎ B. Her experience of being lost.‎ C. Her trip abroad.‎ 8. What did the man do in the bar in Germany?‎ A. Met his friends. B. Attended a lecture. C. Gave a performance.‎ 9. How did the man find his way back to the bar?‎ A. By following a man. B. By looking at a map. C. By asking an old woman.‎ 10. What do we know about the man?‎ A. He cannot stand the noise in the bar.‎ B. He doesn’t like to wear T-shirts.‎ C. He doesn’t speak German.‎ 听第 10 段材料，回答第 18 至 20 题。‎ 11. Who is the speaker?‎ A. A radio announcer. B. A police officer. C. A taxi driver.‎ 12. What makes driving a taxi a hard job in London?‎ A. Bad traffic.‎ B. Confusing street names.‎ C. Large population in London.‎ 13. What will the speaker probably do if he’s stuck on the road?‎ A. Have a map ready. B. Be understanding. C. Change directions.‎ 第二部分：阅读理解（共两节，满分 35 分）‎ 第一节（共 10 小题；每小题 2.5 分，满分 25 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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。‎ A Being the head of a high school for many years, I grew tired of budget meetings, funding cuts, and many other administrative chores (杂务). I started to dream of retirement. Sitting in traffic on a weekday morning, I would find my mind wandering. I would imagine spending time with my grandchildren, quiet evenings with my wife, traveling, or rediscovering some great books. I told myself that I wouldn’t sign myself up for any committees, any classes, or anything requiring a schedule.‎ My first day of retirement came at last! I cooked a great breakfast for my wife and me, leisurely read the paper, cleaned a bit of the house, and wrote a few letters to friends. On the second day, I cooked breakfast, read the paper… On the third day, … This is retirement? I tried to tell myself that it was just the transition ( 过 渡 ), that those golden moments were right round the corner, and that I would enjoy them soon enough. But something was missing.‎ A former colleague asked a favor. A group of students was going to Jamaica to work with children in the poorest neighborhoods. Would I interrupt my newfound “happiness” and return to the students, just this once? One trip. That’s all. My bags were packed and by the door.‎ The trip was very inspiring. I was moved not only by the poverty I saw but also by the sense of responsibility of the young people on the trip. When I returned home, I offered to work one day a week with a local youth organization. The experience was so positive that I was soon volunteering nearly full-time, working with students across North America to assist them in their voluntary work.‎ Now, it seems, the tables have turned. Some days I am the teacher, other days I am the student. These young people have reawakened my commitment (责任感) to social justice issues by challenging me to learn more about the situation in the world today, where people are still poor and suffer because of greed, corruption and war. Most important, they have given me the opportunity to continue to participate in helping to find solutions. In return, I help them do their charitable projects overseas. I’ve gone from running one school to helping oversee the construction of schools in twenty-one countries!‎ 1. What did the writer expect to do after he retired?‎ A. To write some great books. B. To stay away from busy schedules.‎ C. To teach his grandchildren. D. To plan for his future.‎ 2. Why did the writer decide to go to Jamaica?‎ A. He wasn’t satisfied with his retired life. B. He couldn’t refuse his colleague’s favor.‎ C. He was concerned about the people there. D. He missed his students in that country.‎ 3. What does the writer think of his retired life now?‎ A. Relaxing. B. Troublesome. C. Meaningful. D. Disappointing.‎ B People travel for a lot of reasons. Some tourists go to see battlefields or religious shrines ( 宗教 圣 殿 ). Others are looking for culture, or simply want to have their pictures taken in front of famous places. But most European tourists are looking for a sunny beach to lie on.‎ Northern Europeans are willing to pay a lot of money and put up with a lot of inconveniences for the sun because they have so little of it. Residents (居民) of cities like London, Copenhagen,‎ and Amsterdam spend a lot of their winter in the dark because the days are so short, and much of the rest of the year in the rain. This is the reason the Mediterranean has always attracted them. Every summer, more than 25 million people travel to Mediterranean resorts and beaches for their vacation. They all come for the same reason: sun!‎ The huge crowds mean lots of money for the economies of Mediterranean countries. Italy’s 30,000 hotels are booked solid (全部客满) every summer. And 13 million people camp out on French beaches, parks, and roadsides. Spain’s long sandy coastline attracts more people than anywhere else. 37 million tourists visit yearly, or one tourist for every person living in Spain.‎ But there are signs that the area is getting more tourism than it can handle. The Mediterranean is already one of the most polluted seas on earth. And with increased tourism, it’s getting worse. The French can’t figure out what to do with all the garbage left by campers around St. Tropez. And in many places, swimming is dangerous because of pollution.‎ None of this, however, is spoiling anyone’s fun. The Mediterranean gets more popular every year with tourists. Obviously, they don’t go there for clean water and solitude (清净自在). They tolerate traffic jams and seem to like crowded beaches. They don’t even mind the pollution. No matter how dirty the water is, the coastline still looks beautiful. And as long as the sun shines, it’s still better than sitting in the cold rain in Berlin, London, or Oslo.‎ 1. The writer seems to imply that Europeans travel mostly for the reason that .‎ A. they want to see historic remains or religious spots B. they are interested in different cultural traditions and social customs C. they wish to escape from the cold, dark and rainy days back at home D. they would like to take pictures in front of famous sites 2. In paragraph 2, cities like London, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam are mentioned .‎ A. to show that they are not good cities in terms of geography and climate B. to tell us how wealthy their residents are C. to suggest that these cities lack places of historic interest and scenic beauty D. to prove that they have got more tourism than they can handle 3. According to the passage, which of the following factors might spoil the tourists’ fun at Mediterranean resorts and beaches?‎ A. Polluted water. B. Crowded buses. C. Traffic jams. D. Rainy weather.‎ C The bicycling craze came in when we were just about at the right age to enjoy it. At first even “safety” bicycles were too dangerous and improper for ladies to ride, and they had to have tricycles. My mother had (I believe) the first female tricycle in Cambridge; and I had a little one, and we used to go out for family rides, all together; my father in front on a bicycle, and my poor brother Charles standing miserable on the bar behind my mother. I found it very hard work, pounding (轰隆隆行进) away on my hard tyres; a glorious, but not a pleasurable pastime.‎ Then, one day at lunch, my father said he had just seen a new kind of tyre, filled up with air,‎ and he thought it might be a success. And soon after that everyone had bicycles, ladies and all; and bicycling became the smart thing, and the lords and ladies had their pictures in the papers, riding along in the park, in straw boater hats (硬草帽).‎ My mother must have fallen off her bicycle pretty often, for I remember seeing the most appalling cuts and bruises ( 青 肿 ) on her legs. But she never complained, and always kept these mishaps (灾祸) to herself. However, the great Mrs. Phillips, our cook, always knew all about them; as indeed she knew practically everything that ever happened. She used to draw us into the servants’ hall to tell us privately: “Her Ladyship had a nasty fall yesterday; she cut both her knees and sprained her wrist. But don’t let her know I told you.” So we never dared say anything. Similar little accidents used to occur when, at the age of nearly seventy, she insisted on learning to drive a car. She never mastered the art of reversing ( 倒 车 ), and was in every way an unconventional and terrifying driver. Mrs. Phillips used then to tell us: “Her Ladyship ran into the back of a milk-cart yesterday; but it wasn’t much hurt”; or “A policeman stopped her Ladyship because she was on the wrong side of the road; but she said she didn’t know what the white line on the road meant, so he explained and let her go on.” Mrs. Phillips must have had an excellent Intelligence Service at her command, for the stories were always true enough.‎ 1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?‎ A. Bicycling demanded too much hard work for women.‎ B. Bicycling was considered unsafe and unladylike then.‎ C. Women preferred to ride tricycles because tricycles could carry young children as well.‎ D. Tricycles were more convenient for women to ride.‎ 2. What made it possible for bicycling to become popular among women?‎ A. The writer’s father popularised it. B. Air-filled tyres began to be used.‎ C. Noble people started enjoying it. D. Newspapers had pictures of cyclists.‎ 3. What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph imply?‎ A. Mrs. Phillips served as a spy as well as a cook.‎ B. Mrs. Phillips was in command of all the servants as an Intelligence Service.‎ C. Mrs. Phillips was the most knowledgeable cook they had ever met.‎ D. Mrs. Phillips had an outstanding ability to gather information.‎ 4. The writer’s mother was stopped by a policeman one day because .‎ A. she failed to follow the road system B. she was too old as a driver then C. she could not control the car D. she behaved too proudly 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。‎ In the north of Scotland there is a lake called Loch Ness. It is the biggest lake in Britain. It is over thirty kilometers long and in places nearly 300 metres deep. It is cold and dark and not many people went there until after 1930. Then a road was made around the lake. 31 ‎ Someone said that he had seen a monster ( 怪 物 ) in the lake. He said it was twelve metres long. It had a long neck and a small head. Then someone else said he had seen it. Others said the same thing and in 1933 a London doctor took a photo. It looked like a monster with a long neck and a thick body but the photo was not clear. 32 ‎ Then the argument began. Some people, however, were certain there was something living in the lake. Others said there was nothing there.‎ ‎ 33 Several times people thought they saw something but after ten years there was still no real proof.‎ Later underwater television cameras were used, but no one found any real proof. However, they did find something interesting: a huge underwater cave. It was big enough to be home of a monster, but of course, this was not a proof.‎ ‎ 34 They used an underwater camera. It took pictures every seventy seconds. Some of the pictures seemed to show a red-brown creature. Its body was about four metres long and had a very ugly head on the end of a four-metre neck. Many people then began to believe in the monster. 35 ‎ A. But even today we cannot be sure.‎ B. In the 21st century, everything is likely to happen.‎ C. Holidays makers began to use the road, and this was when the stories began.‎ D. In 1975, however, some American scientists formed a search group.‎ E. The newspapers printed the picture and called it the Loch Ness monster, or “Nessie”.‎ F. In 1961, a lot of people joined together to make a real effort to see and photograph the monster if there was one!‎ G. There have been many attempts, both light-hearted and serious, to locate the Loch Ness Monster.‎ 第三部分：语言运用（共两节，满分 45 分）‎ 第一节：完形填空（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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。‎ My First Job I was six when I joined my father and two elder brothers at sunrise in the fields of Eufaula, Okla. 36 the time I was eight I was helping Dad fix up old furniture. He gave me a cent for every nail I 37 out of old boards.‎ I got my first 38 job, at JM’s Restaurant in town, when I was 12. My main responsibilities were 39 tables and washing dishes, 40 sometimes I helped cook.‎ Every day after school I would 41 to JM’s and work until ten. Even on Saturdays I 42 from two until eleven. At that age it was difficult going to work and 43 my friends run off to swim or play. I didn’t necessarily like work, but I loved what working 44 me to have. Because of my 45 I was always the one buying when my friends and I went to the local Tastee Freez. This made me 46 .‎ Word that I was trustworthy and hard-working 47 around town. A local clothing store offered me credit 48 I was only in seventh grade. I immediately 49 a $68 sports coat and a $22 pair of shoes. I was 50 only 65 cents an hour, and I already owed the storekeeper ‎$90! So I learned 51 the danger of easy credit. I paid it 52 as soon as I could.‎ My first job taught me self-control, responsibility and brought me a 53 of personal satisfaction few of my friends had experienced. As my father, 54 worked three jobs, once told me, “If you 55 sacrifice ( 奉 献 ) and responsibility, there are not many things in life you can’t have.” How right he was.‎ ‎36. A. Before B. Within C. From D. By ‎37. A. pulled B. put C. picked D. pressed ‎38. A. usual B. real C. main D. particular ‎39. A. sweeping B. packing C. clearing D. emptying ‎40. A. or B. so C. but D. even 41. A. head 42. A. studied 43. A. helping 44. A. asked B. turn B. worked B. having B. told C. change C. played C. watching C. promised D. move D. slept D. letting D. allowed ‎45. A. study B. power C. age D. job ‎46. A. proud B. friendly C. lucky D. hopeful ‎47. A. ran B. got C. flew D. carried ‎48. A. although B. while C. if D. since ‎49. A. sold B. borrowed C. charged D. wore ‎50. A. keeping B. making C. paying D. taking ‎51. A. gradually B. greatly C. hardly D. early ‎52. A. out B. over C. away D. off ‎53. A. point B. level C. part D. sign ‎54. A. he B. that C. who D. whoever ‎55. A. understand B. demand C. offer D. fear 非选择题部分 第三部分：语言运用（共两节，满分 45 分）‎ 第二节（共 10 小题；每小题 1.5 分，满分 15 分）‎ 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1 个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。‎ Now I’d like to tell you something about my hometown. I live in Brighton, 56 is in the south of England. Of course it isn’t as interesting as London. But there is little pollution and the air is 57 (true) clean. Every year many travelers visit here. There are about 300 shops and it will take you about three days to go around all of 58 (they). Here you can enjoy the best food in England with the least money. If you go to a small hotel, you 59 (find) the local beer has a special taste. There are a few 60 (factory) in Brighton, but not many, 61 it isn’t easy to find a job there. My father used to work in a steel plant. 62 plant shut down a year ago and my father lost his job. 63 (see) there are so many travelers, my father has decided 64 (open) a small gift shop and he regards it as the best approach 65 making money now.‎ 第四部分：写作（共两节，满分 40 分）‎ 第一节：应用文写作（满分 15 分）‎ Molly 信箱是一个报刊栏目，主持人 Molly 回答读者提出的各种问题。近日她收到一封署名为“Unhappy”的读者的来信，信件内容如下：‎ Dear Molly,‎ I have a new roommate named Louis. He is a good friend of mine, but he is driving me crazy because he is very untidy. He leaves his dirty clothes everywhere, and he never makes his bed. I am extremely neat. What can I do?‎ Unhappy 假定你是 Molly，请给 Unhappy 写一封英文回信，向他提出若干建议以帮助他解决生活中遇到的这个烦恼。词数 80 左右，可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。‎ Dear Unhappy,‎ Molly 第二节：概要写作（满分 25 分）‎ 阅读下面短文，根据其内容写一篇 60 词左右的内容概要。‎ These days there is so much tempting technology to look at: smartphones, tablets, computer games and TV screens. Much of our children’s entertainment and education comes from using them, so it’s no wonder children spend so much time staring at them. But even if the saying that looking at a screen for too long gives you square eyes isn’t true, there is still some concern that it can affect their eyesight. So, should we be worried? Certainly for children who spend hours glued to a screen there is a concern that their health might be at risk, and their eyesight is worsening too. Although there’s not much evidence to prove this yet, recent findings have opened our eyes to the issue.‎ Chris Hammond, consultant ophthalmic(眼科的) surgeon at St Thomas’ Hospital, said, “We know that short-sightedness, is becoming more common. It has spread greatly in East Asia, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, where approaching 90% of 18-year-olds are now short-sighted.” Annegret, expert at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London says lack of natural light seems to be the key issue. She’s suggested that children in East Asia study a lot, using computers, smartphones or tablets, and they go outside less, which could be a cause of short-sightedness and an increase in their weight. Wearing glasses is one solution, but it’s not ideal(理想的).‎ This leads to a dilemma(两难境地): achieving short-term academic success or protecting your long-term eyesight. It’s always going to be a challenge to drag children away from their screens and it’s likely that more and more studying will be done online, through a screen.‎ But despite that, Professor Hammond says, “In countries like urban China, where 10% of children in each class per year are becoming short-sighted from about the age of six, there’s an argument for saying we should be trying to prevent it.” It’s evidence we can’t turn a blind eye to. So, maybe it’s time to hit the ‘off’ button and get our children outside.‎ ‎2019学年度 第 一 学 期 余姚中学 高二英语期中试卷答案 第一部分：听力（共两节，20个小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）‎ ‎1—5 BCABC 6—10 BACAB 11—15 ABCBC 16—20 ACAAB 第二部分：阅读理解（共两节，满分35分）‎ 第一节（共10个小题；每小题2.5分，满分25分）‎ ‎21—23 BAC 24—26 CAD 27—30 BBDA 第二节（共5个小题；每小题2分，满分10分）‎ ‎31—35 CEFDA 第三部分：语言运用（共两节，满分45分）‎ 第一节：完形填空（共20个小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）‎ ‎36—40 DABCC 41—45 ABCDD 46—50 ABACB 51—55 DDBCA 第二节：（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）‎ ‎56. which 57. truly 58. them 59. will/may/can find 60. factories 61. so 62. The 63. Seeing/Having seen 64. to open 65. to 第四部分：写作（共两节，满分40分）‎ 第一节：应用文写作（满分15分）‎ One possible version Dear Unhappy,‎ I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble getting along with your roommate. It’s really annoying to have a roommate who is untidy in most ways, especially when you always keep everything neat and in order.‎ As I see it, you have three choices. You can find a new flat for yourself, make him find a new one, or have a talk with him and see if you could both be a little less extreme in your attitudes towards housekeeping. I would suggest you start with the third.‎ I sincerely hope that you can solve this problem eventually.‎ ‎ Molly 第二节：概要写作（满分25分）‎ Nowadays, children spend much time looking at various electronic screens, which has raised people’s concern about their health, especially their eyesight.（要点1）Some experts think doing heavy school work through a screen and lack of natural light can cause children’s short-sightedness.（要点2）However, that leads to a dilemma between protecting eyesight and studying online.（要点3）The increasing number of short-sighted children at early age warns us not to ignore the problem.（要点4）‎ 附：听力原文材料 Text 1‎ W: How do I look?‎ M: Not bad. Does it fit all right?‎ W: Uh, a bit tight around here.‎ M: I really like the color. It matches your handbag.‎ Text 2‎ W: We haven’t seen much of you lately in the company. Have you been away on business?‎ M: No, I’ve been away on holiday. I’ve got a cousin in Edinburgh.‎ Text 3‎ M: It drives me mad when people use their cell phones at the wheel.‎ W: Hmm. What happened?‎ M: I nearly had an accident because the woman was talking on her cell phone while driving and didn’t see the traffic lights turn red. She nearly killed me!‎ Text 4‎ M: Sarah, I’m prepared to run for class monitor, and I’m wondering if I, er…if I can count on your support.‎ W: Oh, maybe if you had asked me sooner, but my roommate’s running, too, and I’ve already promised her that she had my support.‎ Text 5‎ W: Have you bought a new camera again? You’re turning my flat into a camera museum!‎ M: I’ll stop. I’ll try. But I probably can’t. I see a new model and my knees go weak!‎ Text 6‎ W: May I help you, sir?‎ M: Yes, please. I want to buy a personal gift for my brother. He’s taking a trip to South America.‎ W: Is he going by ship or plane? ‎ M: He’s flying. My gift will have to be something light in weight. What can you suggest?‎ W: What about this tie? It’s made of pure silk.‎ M: My sister already gave him one. I’d like something unusual. Let me look around…oh, that clock looks nice, but…‎ W: Hey, here is a gift for the man who has everything.‎ M: Oh, a folding toothbrush! That’s a wonderful idea! I’ll take it.‎ Text 7‎ W: Have you heard that the boss of the law office where Rick works wants him to fly to Brazil and do a month’s work there?‎ M: That’s nice. He will love it because everything will be paid for, such as air travel, meals, hotel…and this is his first time to get out of the States.‎ W: Indeed. You won’t believe how much he is looking forward to it, and how much his little sister admires him! He’s going to enjoy lying on the beaches when work is done, and he promised to buy his sister gifts.‎ M: Who else is going besides him?‎ W: He’s going alone.‎ M: When will he be leaving?‎ W: He was told about it three days ago, and I think he’ll leave in a week.‎ Text 8‎ M: Oh, who is the beautiful old woman in front of the house?‎ W: That’s my grandmother.‎ M: Oh, then that must be your house in the background. Where is it?‎ W: No, that’s my grandmother’s house. She lives in Kentucky. We live in Boston, about two-and-a-half hours away by plane.‎ M: Then, does she live with your uncle or aunt?‎ W: No. Since her husband died, she has lived alone.‎ M: Alone? But she is so old! Who takes care of her?‎ W: She takes care of herself, though she is 81 this year and is beginning to slow down a little. She has a cleaning lady who comes for a few hours a week to clean house and help with the shopping.‎ M: But isn’t she lonely without family?‎ W: Of course not. She has lived in the same neighborhood since she was first married, so she knows all the neighbors, young and old, and she has lots of friends.‎ M: Why doesn’t she live with you? Don’t you miss her?‎ W: Well, actually, we talk to her on the phone every week and visit her at least once a year, but we are busy with our lives and so is she. We love to have her visit, but we all know that if she lived with us, we might not get along so well.‎ Text 9‎ W: And I realized we were completely lost, but at least we got there in the end.‎ M: Funny you should say that because, er, a similar thing happened to me one time when I was abroad. We were actually doing a concert in this bar in Germany. ‎ W: Really?‎ M: I was actually about to appear on stage, you know, with the band, and I just thought, “I’ll just go out for a little walk and get some fresh air,” ‘cause I had about a half an hour before we had to go on.‎ W: Uh-huh.‎ M: And I went outside, you know, had a look around, walked around for a bit…and then I decided to go back and, uh, I couldn’t find it! It was about two minutes before we were supposed to start.‎ W: No, you’re joking!‎ M: Yeah! I thought, “Ah! What am I gonna do?”‎ W: Could you ask for directions?‎ M: Well, I tried. I asked this old woman, but she didn’t speak English, and I don’t speak German…‎ W: Don’t you? Oh, right.‎ M: And then, I realized I couldn’t remember the name of the bar, or the street it was on or anything. So, you know, I was in the middle of a town I didn’t know, not knowing the language…and luckily, I saw someone wearing one of our T-shirts. He was obviously going to the concert, so I sort of followed him back to the bar.‎ W: Wow, that was lucky! Thank goodness!‎ M: And when I got there, the guys were like, “Where have you been? We thought you’d run out on us!” Anyway, we managed.‎ Text 10‎ M: Hello. I’m Callum Robertson, and this is London Life. In the program today, let me ask you a question first: What do you think would be the hardest job in Britain? A police officer? Perhaps a deep-sea fisherman? Well, no, according to recent research, being a London taxi driver takes that prize. It’s really a hard job, really difficult. One reason is the traffic. It’s getting worse and worse in London. For most of us, if we have to sit in a traffic jam for a few minutes, we get anxious. But imagine if you had to do that all day, every day as your job. What’s more, passengers get into the taxi and want to get from A to B as quickly as possible. They’re in a hurry, and that makes things worse for the drivers. To prepare for the test, would-be drivers have to remember ways and places of interest around Central London. This is an area which has about 25,000 streets. They need to be able to take passengers from A to B without having to look at a map and without having to ask for directions. It usually takes nearly three years to pass the test, so it is also found in the research that parts of the brains of taxi drivers are actually larger than those in the general population. It seems as if learning all the streets and ways makes a part of the brain grow. Well, anyway, this is a most tiring job. Next time you’re stuck in a traffic jam and feel mad, spare a thought for the taxi drivers, who have to spend most of their working life in them.‎