2017-2018学年河北省邯郸市高二下学期期末考试英语试题（Word版）

2017-2018学年河北省邯郸市高二下学期期末考试英语试题（Word版）

‎2017-2018学年河北省邯郸市高二下学期期末考试英语试题 命题人： 夏金莹 审题人： 李冉冉 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 are the speakers talking about?‎ A. Having a birthday party. B. Doing some exercise. C. Getting Lydia a gift.‎ 2. What is the woman going to do?‎ A. Help the man. B. Take a bus. C. Get a camera.‎ 3. What does the woman suggest the man do?‎ A. Tell Kate to stop. B. Call Kate’s friends. C. Stay away from Kate.‎ 4. Where does the conversation probably take place?‎ A. In a wine shop. B. In a supermarket. C. In a restaurant.‎ 5. What does the woman mean?‎ A. Keep the window closed. B. Go out for fresh air. C. Turn on the fan.‎ 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至7题。‎ 6. What is the man going to do this summer?‎ A. Teach a course. B. Repair his house. C. Work at a hotel.‎ 7. How will the man use the money?‎ A. To hire a gardener. B. To buy books. C. To pay for a boat trip.‎ 听第7段材料，回答第8至9题。‎ 8. What is the probable relationship between the speakers?‎ A. Schoolmates. B. Colleagues. C. Roommates.‎ 9. What does Frank plan to do right after graduation?‎ A. Work as a programmer. B. Travel around the world. C. Start his own business.‎ 听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。‎ 10. Why does the woman make the call?‎ A. To book a hotel room. B. To ask about the room service.‎ C. To make changes to a reservation.‎ ‎11. When will the woman arrive at the hotel?‎ A. On September 15. B. On September 16. C. On September 23.‎ 12. How much will the woman pay for her room per night?‎ A. $ 179. B. $ 199. C. $ 219.‎ 听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。‎ 13. What is the woman’s plan for Saturday?‎ A. Going shopping. B. Going camping. C. Going boating.‎ 14. Where will the woman stay in Keswick?‎ A. In a country inn. B. In a five-star hotel. C. In her aunt’s home.‎ 15. What will Gordon do over the weekend?‎ A. Visit his friends. B. Watch DVDs. C. Join the woman.‎ 16. What does the woman think of Gordon’s coming weekend?‎ A. Relaxed. B. Boring. C. Busy.‎ 听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。‎ 17. Who is Wang Ming?‎ A. A student. B. An employer. C. An engineer.‎ 18. What does the speaker say about the college job market this year?‎ A. It’s unpredictable. B. It’s quite stable. C. It’s not optimistic.‎ 19. What percentage of student job seekers have found a job by now?‎ A. 20％. B. 22％. C. 50％.‎ 20. Why are engineering graduates more likely to accept a job?‎ A. They need more work experience. B. The salary is usually good. C.Their choice is limited.‎ 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 Nowadays science has made great progress in every aspect and more and more really good inventions have changed our daily lives. However, the U.S. Patent Office has issued over 7.5 million patents (专利), and not all of them are quite so celebrated. Some good, some bad, and some crazy!‎ The following lists some of the most unusual ideas that have come along.‎ Snake Leash（皮带）‎ In 2002, a patent was issued for a snake-walking leash. There are at least two major problems with this idea. 1) Dog leashes fit securely between the head and shoulders. A snake does not have shoulders; so it might slither(蜿蜒滑行)away. 2) Dogs are OK for public places because they are social animals, and people like them. Snakes are not OK for public places because they are not social,‎ and some people are terrified of them.‎ Stadium Helmet Americans are known for their love of sports. Unfortunately, good tickets to games are expensive, so some fans have to sit in the backward sections. This invention, patented in 2000, is designed for these fans. Featuring a built-in radio, binoculars (望远镜), a cooling fan, and a helmet for falling litter, this design transforms the stadium experience.‎ Bacon Alarm Clock When you think about it, waking to the dreadful, blaring noise of an alarm clock is a terrible way to start the day. However, this clock could change that. You simply put a piece of frozen bacon in the alarm clock, set the alarm, and go to sleep. The clock gently wakes you up with the mouth watering smell of bacon the next morning, just like waking up on a Sunday morning to the smell of mom cooking breakfast. Who said there’s no time to eat breakfast?‎ Toilet Lock In 1969, a patent was issued for a really bad idea——the toilet seat lock. First of all, fishing for your keys when you have to go seems very unpleasant. Then there is the possibility of losing the key altogether. What about guests? Just think that you would have to ask permission for the bathroom. Of course, there is the ultimate question: Why would you lock it in the first place?‎ 12. Snake Leash was designed to .‎ A. take a snake for a walk B. keep off a snake C. catch a snake D. keep dogs and snakes together 13. What can be inferred about the backward sections?‎ A. They are close to the center of a stadium.‎ B. They are for fans who have poor eyesight.‎ C. They are for fans who can’t afford to buy good tickets.‎ D. They are in the center of a stadium.‎ 14. Which of the following inventions can help to save your time?‎ A. Toilet Lock. B. Bacon Alarm Clock. C. Snake Leash. D. Stadium Helmet.‎ B I always wondered how people would react if I tried to approach a total stranger for help in a busy place like a street corner or in a noisy mall. I have always hurried past a stranger who tried to catch my attention in a busy place or when I am rushing around.‎ Yesterday, I was in a busy shopping mall buying a large piece of luggage because I just had the time to do it after many days of planning. After the purchase in one of the large shops, I picked up my phone from my pocket to call my driver waiting in the parking lot but my phone was dead.‎ I then requested the shop assistant who had just sold me the luggage to ring the ‎ number of my driver for me and she replied that it was the shop policy that they cannot use mobile phones while working in the shop.‎ I got out of the shop onto the busy street in front and approached a young mother with her two kids to make a request. As soon as I said “ Excuse me, madam”, she grabbed both her kids and ran. I felt like a kidnapper.‎ I stood there, wondering how many times I had reacted to strangers like the young mum. I stood there in the busy street with people rushing by, looking at their faces to see if there was a sign of kindness on their faces.‎ I saw a man pretty shabbily dressed. He seemed to have noticed me and I just stopped him expecting him to rush past. My request escaped the lips. He immediately called the number of my driver and waited till my car came to be sure I was picked up, and he turned around before I could thank him adequately and was gone. I was surprised by his kindness and hope I will do likewise(同样 地) to strangers who try to catch my attention from now on.‎ 12. The author turned to others for help to .‎ A. charge up his dead phone B. test their reaction to a stranger C. call his driver to pick him up D. catch their attention to him 13. Who gave the author a helping hand at last?‎ A. The shop assistant. B. The shabbily-dressed man.‎ C. The mother with two kids. D. Nobody.‎ 14. Why did the author expect the man to rush past when stopping him?‎ A. The author was hopeless after seeking help in vain.‎ B. The man may be too poor to own a phone.‎ C. The man didn’t look safe.‎ D. The author found himself mistaken for a bad person.‎ 15. What does the author learn from his experience?‎ A. Kindness can turn strangers into friends.‎ B. Helping strangers is easier said than done.‎ C. Experience is better gained through practice.‎ D. Do to others what you would like others to do to you.‎ C Next time you’re planning to go out for a relaxing walk with your MP3 player, be sure to check the weather forecast first. Summer is the prime time for lightning strikes, a fact that Jason Bunch, a teen from Castle Rock, Colo, learned in a hard way. A couple of summers ago, he was mowing（割草） grass while listening to some Metallica on his iPod.‎ ‎ Although there wasn’t any rain falling on Bunch,‎ he did hear distant thunder. Bunch was then struck by lightning, which seemed to travel through his music player, blowing out his eardrums and leaving him with burns where the device and its power lines were close to his body.‎ Devices such as MP3 players don’t attract lightning, says Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, an emergency room physician at the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago. However, they may change the pathway that lightning’s energy follows in the human body. Lightning that might have passed rather harmlessly over the skin may react differently to the metal of these devices and cause damage.‎ Rather than leaving your tunes at home, your best bet is watching out for lightning before it hits.‎ Though people have been injured while using MP3 players in storms, Cooper says, “The devices’ main task is keeping you from paying attention to thunder and the sky.” If you’re caught in a storm,‎ seek shelter.‎ 12. When does lightning happen most?‎ A. Winter. B. Fall. C. Summer. D. Spring.‎ 13. What was the effect of this lightning strike on Jason Bunch?‎ A. The lightning burned Bunch and blew out his eardrums.‎ B. The lightning passed harmlessly over Bunch’s skin.‎ C. Bunch fell to the ground and couldn’t move his upper body.‎ D. Bunch was fine, but his iPod was burned by the lightning.‎ 14. What can you conclude about the safety of using MP3 players during a storm?‎ A. MP3 players are desperately unsafe to use during a storm.‎ B. IPods are safe to use during a storm, but other MP3 players are not.‎ C. MP3 players increase your safety during a storm by directing lightning toward the ground.‎ D. MP3 players become unsafe to use if they keep you from paying attention during a storm.‎ 15. The primary purpose of this text is .‎ A. to describe the joy that Jason Bunch felt after he survived a lightning strike B. to inform the risks of wearing an MP3 player during lightning strikes C. to tell a lightning emergency Jason Bunch met with D. to show that MP3 players are so popular among teenagers D Researchers found that walking around with a forced smile and fake happiness simply leads to people feeling unhappier. So, putting a brave face on your sadness could be harmful. The research also found that women suffered more than men when ‎ pretending to be happy.‎ Dr. Brent Scott, who led the study, said employers should take note because forcing workers to smile when dealing with the public can result in bad outcomes. He said, “Smiling for the sake of smiling can lead to emotional tiredness, and that’s bad for the organization.” He also said the research showed customer-service workers who had “fake smiles” throughout the day didn’t want to work, so their productivity dropped.‎ The study is one of the first of its kind to examine emotional expressions over a period of time and compare the different effects on men and women. Dr. Scott’s team examined the effects of “surface acting”, or fake smiling, compared to “deep acting”, or making people smile by thinking of pleasant memories.‎ Dr. Scott said, “Women were harmed more by surface acting, meaning their moods worsened even more than men’s. However, they were helped more by deep acting, which means their moods improved more by thinking of pleasant memories.”‎ According to Dr. Scott women tend to suffer more when pretending to be happy because they are expected to be more emotionally expressive than men. Therefore, forcing a smile while feeling down is more likely to go against their normal behavior and cause more harmful feelings.‎ Although deep acting can improve moods a little in the short term, Dr. Scott says it’s not a long-term solution to feeling unhappy. There have been some suggestions that if you do this over a long period you start to feel unreal. You’re trying to develop positive emotions, but at the end of the day you may not feel like yourself any more.‎ 12. Dr. Scott’s findings may be important to some employers because .‎ A. their workers don’t want to work all the time B. they want more female workers than male workers C. their workers worsen their moods at the end of the day D. they tend to force their workers to smile in public 13. According to the passage, Dr. Scott’s study .‎ A. is meaningful as there haven’t been many similar ones before B. aimed to make people more productive C. examined more women than men D. is supported by some big employers 14. It is implied in the passage that deep acting .‎ A. cannot improve our moods at all B. does harm to our feelings in the long run C. makes people happy by feeling like another person D. has no effect on men 15. What is the best title for the passage?‎ A. An important suggestion for workers. B. Women shouldn’t be forced to smile.‎ C. Fake smiling makes people unhappy. D. Why people don’t want to work.‎ 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填入空白处的最佳选项并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。选项中有两项为多余选项。‎ Long, long ago people couldn’t write and they had no books. But they had stories. People learned the stories by heart and taught new ones to one another. Sometimes it was hard to remember them all.‎ ‎36‎ The ancient Egyptians wrote their stories on something made from papyrus (纸沙草) plants.‎ People in other places wanted to learn from the Egyptians to use papyrus. 37 So, parchment ‎(羊皮纸), made from goatskin, later took its place.‎ In ancient China books looked a little different. People there used ink to write on bamboo or silk. And then they invented paper. Made of trees, paper was easier and cheaper to make than papyrus or parchment. 38 Paper-making later spread to the West, but there was a big problem with these early books. Every single one had to be copied and written by hand.‎ ‎39 They carved (雕刻) a page of words into a piece of wood or stone. They could then print the page by spreading ink on the wood or stone and putting it against paper. But it wasn’t until a German printer invented movable, metal letters that books became fast and easy to make. The letters could be used to print copy after copy, and the letters put together again and again to print different pages of words.‎ ‎40 Once a luxury (奢侈品) only the rich could buy, they soon became a treasure everyone could enjoy.‎ A. It took years to finish making just one book.‎ B. But papyrus grew mainly in Egypt.‎ C. Things grew a little easier when writing was invented.‎ D. Finally books could be printed by the thousands.‎ E. The Chinese were the first to think of a way to speed things up a little.‎ F. Books in the West didn’t change for a long time after that.‎ G. Its surface was smoother and better for writing on too.‎ 第三部分 知识运用（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。‎ As I head down the narrow hallway of my high school, my ears are filled with the sounds of complaints. The 41 around me are constantly complaining about school. These complaints fill the 42 and make it hard to breathe. I try to mention the 43 side of our current situation in high school but meet with criticism. The feeling of 44 school has become widespread among students worldwide. This can create a 45 educational environment. In my opinion, school is and should be fun.‎ I don’t 46 to enter such a negative environment. We should enjoy school! As students, we are so 47 to have the opportunity to attend school 48 millions of children around the world still do not have that opportunity. We should feel grateful that we are given the 49 to learn. School allows us to 50 some of the most interesting topics from science to foreign languages. High school allows students to find their 51 whether they are physics or European history. 52 , school has allowed me to find my love for debate, history, English and computers.‎ High school has shaped me into a person of 53 interests and ambitions, even though I must ‎54 at 6 o’clock in the morning.‎ As students, we should 55 all the wonderful opportunities we are given in school 56‎ social events, meeting new friends, and learning. I have met so many 57 people in school.‎ There is so much to be 58 in school.‎ Lighten up and find the positive aspects of school. 59 school and everything it has 60 .‎ 41. A. teachers B. students C. parents D. friends 42. A. ear B. room C. water D. air 43. A. special B. successful C. bright D. lively 44. A. hating B. improving C. replacing D. ignoring 45. A. specific B. frightening C. strange D. negative 46. A. plan B. adopt C. want D. need 47. A. lucky B. brave C. allergic D. healthy 48. A. when B. while C. because D. though 49. A. time B. reason C. money D. chance 50. A. learn B. remember C. predict D. consider 51. A. lectures B. concerns C. interests D. instructions 52. A. Instantly B. Personally C. Formally D. Basically 53. A. conventional B. perfect C. lifelong D. various 54. A. wake up B. give up C. slow down D. calm down 41. A. create B. classify C. recognize D. allow 42. A. besides B. including C. among D. regarding 43. A. honest B. abstract C. delicate D. outstanding 44. A. careful about B. curious about C. grateful for D. ready for 45. A. Protect B. Enjoy C. Respect D. Examine 46. A. offered B. promised C. gained D. possessed 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。‎ There has been many popular TV series recently, such as Nirvana in Fire (琅玡榜). Nowadays almost every family has a TV set and almost everyone is fond of binge-watching (追剧) in his spare time. TV becomes one necessity in our daily life. 61 we all know is that TV has many advantages. For example, it 62 (inform) us of the latest news that happened home and abroad.‎ Besides, it can broaden our eyes, enlarge our knowledge and also help 63 (we) to see more about the world.‎ However, it also has some 64 (advantage). People waste too much time in watching TV,‎ so their normal life and work 65 (affect). What’s worse, to those children 66 spend too much time in watching TV, it can be 67 (harm) to their eyesight and health. As a result, they may become short-sighted or they will find 68 difficult to concentrate on their school work.‎ As far as I am concerned, we should take advantage of the TV and control our time of 69‎ ‎(watch) TV. In addition, we should choose helpful and instructive TV programs instead 70 soap operas（肥皂剧）to watch.‎ 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）‎ 请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误,每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。‎ 增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧),并在其下面写出该加的词。‎ 删除:把多余的词用斜线()划掉。‎ 修改:在错的词下画一横线,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。‎ As it is known to us, fewer and fewer students do sports regular, which makes them weak and easily tired.‎ There have many reasons for this. First of all, some of the students complain that they have too many homework, result in less time to take exercise. Beside, some of them think that ‎ it is very difficult for them to keep doing exercise, because it is very hard thing.‎ For lack of physical activities, many students were in poor health. I suggest that our school must take measures to encourage more students to take part in sports. For us students, no matter what busy we are, it is necessary to spare some time to do exercise.‎ 第二节 书面表达（满分25分）‎ 假定你是李华，昨天你有一次不愉快的就餐经历，对餐厅的服务员态度非常不满意，于是你给该餐厅老板写一封投诉信。要点如下：‎ ‎1. 问题：牛肉面(beef noodles)里有苍蝇(fly)，服务员态度粗鲁。2. 要求：餐厅赔礼道歉。‎ ‎3. 希望能改进服务。‎ 注意：1. 词数：100左右； 2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。‎ Dear Sir / Madam，‎ ‎ ‎ Yours,‎ Li Hua ‎2017-2018学年高二期末联考英语参考答案 听力 (共20小题；每小题1.5分,满分30分)‎ ‎1-5 CBACA 6-10 CBAAC 11-15 BBCAB 16-20 BACAB 阅读理解 (共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分)‎ ‎21-23 ACB 24-27 CBAD 28-31 CADB 32-35 DABC 36-40 CBGED 完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）‎ ‎41-45 BDCAD 46-50 CABDA 51-55 CBDAC 56-60 BDCBA ‎ 语法填空 (共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分)‎ 61. What 62. informs 63. us 64. disadvantages 65. are affected ‎66. who/that 67. harmful 68. it 69. watching 70. of 短文改错（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）‎ As it is known to us, fewer and fewer students do sports regular, which makes them weak and easily regularly tired.‎ There have many reasons for this. First of all, some of the students complain that they have too many ‎ ‎ are much homework, result in less time to take exercise. Beside, some of them think that it is very difficult for them ‎ ‎ resulting Besides to keep doing exercise, because it is∧ very hard thing.‎ ‎ a ‎ For lack of physical activities, many students were in poor health. I suggest that our school must take ‎ ‎ are should或删掉must measures to encourage more students to take part in sports. For us students, no matter what busy we are, it ‎ ‎ how is necessary to spare some time to do exercise.‎ 书面表达（满分25分）‎ One possible version:‎ Dear Sir/ Madam, ‎ I am Li Hua, a frequent customer in your restaurant. I have been pleased with your excellent service for years but now I’m writing to express my dissatisfaction about the poor service of your waiters. ‎ Yesterday, I went to your restaurant to have lunch but I had an awful experience. When having beef noodles, I suddenly found there were two flies in them, which disgusted me a lot. So I asked the waiter to change another dish. Out of my expectation, he didn’t change it but said in a rude manner that he was too busy to solve the problem. Needless to say, the way of treating customers was really bad. It’s my sincere hope that you can investigate the matter seriously and make a formal apology to me. ‎ I look forward to your better service next time.‎ Yours, ‎ ‎ Li Hua 听力原文：‎ Text 1‎ W: What are we going to get for Lydia’s birthday?‎ M: How about a pair of running shoes?‎ W: You know she hates doing exercise.‎ M: Then I guess we can buy her a birthday cake.‎ Text 2‎ M: Excuse me. Do you have time to help take a picture of us?‎ W: Oh, I’m sorry. I’ve got to catch a bus. ‎ M: That’s OK.‎ Text 3‎ M: It really annoys me when Kate calls her friends during office hours. ‎ W: If I were you, I would tell her to stop.‎ M: Maybe you’re right. I will talk to her sometime.‎ Text 4‎ M: Here’s the menu, Madame. Would you like something to drink?‎ W: Yes, please. May I see the wine list?‎ M: Certainly. Here you are.‎ Text 5‎ M: We need to have some fresh air. Do you mind my opening the window?‎ W: As a matter of fact, I’m feeling a bit cold. ‎ Text 6‎ M: Guess what I’ll be doing this summer?‎ W: What?‎ M: I’m going to work at the Riverside Hotel.‎ W: What exactly will you be doing?‎ M: Let’s see. I’ll be doing some small repairs inside and outside the hotel. I’ll be cutting grass and taking care of the flowers.‎ W: Sounds interesting. What’s the pay?‎ M: Well, uh…about fifteen dollars an hour, five hours a day, and Sunday free. ‎ W: That’s good money. What are you going to do with it?‎ M: I’ll pay for the textbooks for next term. ‎ Text 7‎ M: Hi, Sue. How’s it going?‎ W: Oh, hi, Frank, just fine. How are your classes?‎ M: Pretty good. I’m glad this is my last term here, though.‎ W: Why is that? I thought you were enjoying school.‎ M: I was. But now I’m getting tired of it. I’m ready for the real world.‎ W: What are you planning to do when you graduate?‎ M: First, I want to get a job as a computer programmer, and then after five years or so, I’d like to start my own business.‎ W: Sounds good. I still have three terms to go until I’m done.‎ M: You’ll make it for sure. Well, see you later.‎ W: Bye!‎ Text 8‎ M: Hello, Milton Hotel Reservations. How may I assist you?‎ W: Hi, I’m calling to make some changes to an existing reservation. ‎ M: Certainly. Do you have the reservation number?‎ W: Sure, it’s 219.‎ M: That’s a reservation for Sally Menkel. Is that right?‎ W: Yes, that’s right. I’d like to change the check-in date from September 15 to September 16. ‎ M: Certainly. I can make that change for you. Is that the only change?‎ W: No, the check-out date will also change from the 23rd to the 24th.‎ M: No problem.We have you arriving on the 16th of September and leaving the 24th of September — altogether, eight nights. Will there be anything else?‎ W: Yes. Instead of a courtyard room, I’d like a room with a view, preferably on an upper floor. ‎ M: I can certainly change that for you, but there will be a change in the room rate. The new rate is $199 per night, instead of the original $179. ‎ W: That’s OK. These are all the changes. Thank you very much.‎ M: You’re welcome. Have a nice day!‎ Text 9‎ W: Gordon, I’m going to Keswick in the Lake District this weekend. ‎ M: Really?‎ W: Yeah, five of us. Why don’t you join us? We’re getting to Keswick on Friday. Then we’re going boating on Saturday. And on Sunday, we’re going to do some shopping. Then I will take some time to visit my aunt Lucy. ‎ M: You’re not going to camp, are you? Isn’t it a bit cold?‎ W: No, we’re not. It is a bit cold. We’re staying in a country inn. It’s not like five-star hotels or anything. But it’s really comfortable.‎ M: Hmm, sounds interesting. You know, it’s the boating that I don’t like.‎ W: Well, what are you up to?‎ M: Sit on my sofa all weekend and watch the DVDs I’ve just bought. And that will be a busy weekend. I may finish watching Friends.‎ W: I don’t know how you can do that all weekend, Gordon. I’d get bored.‎ M: I know, I know. But that’s really what I want to do. ‎ Text 10‎ Hello. Welcome to the program. In America, May and June are the traditional months for graduations. A listener in China, Wang Ming, who is about to get an engineering degree, wants to know how American college graduates find jobs. Right now, the answer is: not very easily. A latest study on the college job market showed that employers wanted to hire 22% fewer graduates this year than last. The study also showed that just 20% of those who looked for jobs before graduation have found one by now. This is compared to half of students who had looked for a job by this time two years ago. But one difference: fewer of this year’s graduates have started to search for jobs. Engineering graduates were more likely to have started their job ‎ search already, and to have accepted a job. This is among the best-paid professions for people with just a college degree. On average, engineering majors expect to start at about $62,000 a year.‎