嘉兴市第五高级中学高一年级阶段性测试 英语 试题卷
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。听完每段对话后，你都有 10 秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。
1. What do we know about the speakers
A. They are at a store. B. They are traveling somewhere. C. They are on the way home.
2. Where does the conversation probably take place
A. In a library. B. In a cafe. C. In a computer room.
3.Why does old Peter need help
A. He had a cold. B. He is too old. C. He got hurt.
4.What are the speakers mainly talking about
A. Tom’s work. B. Tom’s fashion. C. Tom’s health.
5.When will the taxi arrive
A. In 10 minutes. B. Right now. C. In half an hour.
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。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5 秒钟；听完后，各小题将给出 5 秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。
听第 6 段材料，回答第 6、7 题。
6. What does the man think of the woman’s new clothes
A. They are a great deal. B. They are too expensive. C. They are fashionable.
7. What did the woman buy yesterday
A. Some shorts. B. A hat. C. Some shoes.
听第 7 段材料，回答第 8、9 题。
8. What is the matter with the woman’s computer
A. The screen is broken down. B. The screen isn’t as bright as it was. C. The keyboard is no longer reliable.
9. What does the man offer to do for the woman
A. Lend her his computer. B. Buy her a new computer. C. Repair her computer.
听第8段材料，回答第10~12小题。
10.What is the probable relationship between the speakers
A. Teacher and student. B. Parent and child. C. Friends.
11How does the man feel about working for his uncle
A. It is interesting. B. It is beneficial. C. It is unimportant.
12.What does the woman suggest the man do with his decision
A. Picture how each choice feels. B. Talk to his family later. C. Practise more.
听第9段材料，回答第13~16小题。
13.What is the woman
A. A novelist. B. An editor. C. A publisher.
14. What kind of book is the woman working on
A. A mystery novel. B. A biography. C. A science fiction.
15.Where is the emperor in the book from
A. Asia. B. Europe. C. America.
16. How long has the woman been working on the book
A. Around one month. B. About four months. C. At least eight months.
听第10段材料，回答第17~20小题。
17. What happened to boats and ships in the Bermuda Triangle
A. They caught fire without reason. B. They crashed into each other. C. They disappeared.
18.Who mentioned the Bermuda Triangle for the first time
A. A famous explorer. B. A popular writer. C. A well-known reporter.
19.When did the Bermuda Triangle become a popular story
A. In the 15th century. B. In the 20th century. C. In the 17th century.
20.What does the speaker say about the Bermuda Triangle
A. All of the reports on it are untrue.
B. It is a dangerous area in the ocean.
C. It is completely safe at the moment.
第二部分 阅读 (共两节，满分 50 分)
第一节 (共 15 小题；每小题2.5 分，满分 37.5分)
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的 A、B、C、D 四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
Harry Potter fans, get ready for the journey to Hogwarts and beyond on an official guided tour of Warner Bros. This guided experience at Warner Bros Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter is the only tour of its kind, so if you’re a fan of the magical world, it’s a must-do.
What To Expect
Upon arriving, you will be greeted by an experienced guide who reveals the wonders you’ll encounter throughout your tour of the original sets and costumes from all eight of the Harry Potter films. You will be given your own personal headset to ensure you do not miss any of the fascinating behind-the-scenes facts.
Watch a short film in the cinema before you enter the Great Hall. Visit the original Hogwarts Express locomotive(火车头) and a recreation of Platform 9 . Climb aboard the train carriage and pose with a luggage trolley as it disappears through the platform wall.
Once the tour comes to an end, you have the option to re-enter the studio at your leisure, find that perfect souvenir at the Studio Shop, or purchase a coffee at the Studio Tour Cafe.
Additional Information
Not wheelchair accessible.
Infants (婴儿) must sit on laps.
Travelers should have a medium physical fitness level.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers.
The total duration of the tour is 5 hours, comprising a 1-hour travel time to the studios, a 3-hour guided tour, and a 1-hour travel time back to London.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 3 days in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee. If you cancel within 2 days of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.
21. What can be expected throughout the tour
A. Taking photos with the actors. B. Watching Harry Potter series again.
C. Creating a new Platform 9. D. Knowing behind-the-scenes facts.
22. Who can join the tour
A. Couples with little babies. B. Adults with physical disability.
C. A group consisting of 16 members. D. Teenagers with travel sickness.
23. When will canceling the trip definitely result in financial damage
A. On the day of registration. B. On the exact day of departure.
C. 3 days ahead of the departure date. D. 4 days ahead of the departure date.
B
As a child, I was proud of my southern origin. My own voice reflected my family’s past and present-part northern Mississippi, part Tennessee, all southern. There was no sound I loved more than my grandmother’s accent: thick, sweet, warm.
While growing up, I began to realize outside of our region, southerners were often dismissed as uncultured and ignorant. I was ready to leave behind my tiny town in West Tennessee, starting a new life and jumping at big chances in some far-off cities. In that embarrassing space between “teen” and “adult”, my accent was a symbol of everything I thought I hated about my life in the rural South. I feared it would disqualify me from being a noted magazine writer. I would have to talk less “country”. So I killed a piece of myself. I’m ashamed of it, but I’m more ashamed that I tried to kill that part of someone else-change Emily’s accent.
I met Emily in college. She was determined to work for the student newspaper, which was where I spent most of my waking hours, and we became friends. She, unlike me, accepted her roots. Early in our friendship, her mother asked where I was from, assuming it was somewhere up north. Then I felt my efforts paid off and even wanted to ignore the mistake.
Emily is two years younger and she cared about my opinion. I advised her to be more like me and hide her signature---Manchester accent. I stressed that throughout our college years, often by making fun of her vowel(元音) sounds. I told myself I was helping her achieve her dream of working as a reporter. Now, I see that it was actually about justifying(为…辩解) my hiding part of myself.
Grandma Carolyn used to tell me, “Girl, don’t forget where you come from.” Now I truly understand that. Many things have faded from memory, but this sticks in my mind with uncomfortable clarity. Now that I am grown and have left the South, it’s important to me.
24. What made the author want to leave her hometown
A. Appeal of convenience in cities. B. Her dream of becoming a writer.
C. Outside prejudice against southerners. D. Her desire for the northern accent.
25. How did the author feel about the mistake of Emily’s mother
A. Upset. B. Pleased. C. Ashamed. D. Surprised.
26. Why on earth did the author try to change Emily’s accent
A. To make herself influential. B. To help Emily be a reporter.
C. To protect Emily’s self-dignity. D. To prove herself right.
27. What message does the text want to convey
A. Hold on to your dreams. B. Never do things by halves.
C. Stay true to your roots. D. Never judge a person by his accent.
C
At this very moment around the world, athletes are stepping almost naked into freezing cold rooms. Why on Earth are they doing this Because it’s supposed to help them feel better.
The treatment is called whole-body cryotherapy(冷冻疗法). Basketball star LeBron James, soccer great Cristiano Ronaldo, and boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. have all tried it. The therapy works like this. You take off everything but your underwear. Then you put on warm socks and gloves and step into a small room that looks sort of like a shower, except your head sticking 16% out the top. Once you’re locked in, air cooled to below -200°F(-129°C) fills the room. That’s way colder than Antarctica(南极洲). You stay in for two to three minutes.
Advocates believe the extremely cold air helps muscles recover faster and reduces other body pain. After his first cryotherapy sessions, Phil Mackenzie, a professional rugby player, felt noticeably better. He told Scientific American, “I felt refreshed right away. My sleep was better.” Soon, he was using it four times a week. Those who promote cryotherapy make all sorts of wild claims about its benefits. Supposedly, that extremely cold air can increase focus, improve skin tone, make you happier, burn calories, slow aging, and much more.
Is there any evidence to back up these incredible claims Nope. Several small scientific studies have looked at whether the therapy can improve muscle recovery after exercise, with encouraging results. But there just isn’t enough evidence to show that the therapy works. The benefits some people experience may just be the placebo effect. That’s when a patient’s expectation that a treatment will work leads to an improvement.
The US Food & Drug Administration has actually issued a warning about whole-body cryotherapy. It cautions that the liquid nitrogen used to cool the room may make it difficult to breathe. Frost bite is another potential risk, which is why participants wear gloves and socks.
What do you think Is it a chance for a better athletic performance worth the risk
28. What can we learn about the therapy according to the first two paragraphs
A. The whole-body cryotherapy can help athletes recover.
B. The therapy has won popularity with only great athletes.
C. People need to wear gloves and socks after cold air fills the room.
D. People need to stay in a freezing small room with almost nothing on.
29. Why does the author mention Phil Mackenzie in Paragraph 3
A. To support an idea. B. To explain a rule. C. To present a fact. D. To make a prediction.
30. Why do people feel better after receiving the therapy
A. Many celebrities have received the therapy.
B. Extremely cold air is beneficial to people’s health.
C. The therapy may have psychological benefit to them.
D. Scientific studies have proved the effect of the therapy.
31. Which of the following best describes the authorities’ attitude to the therapy
A. Favorable. B. Cautious. C. Tolerant. D. Indifferent.
D
Oliver, the CTO of a high-tech company, loved to participate in all conversations at the C-suite level, regardless of topic. He was often the first to raise his hand for a project, appeared to have infinite capacity to get high-quality work done, and offered to assist his peers and direct reports. Oliver seemed to be all-in; optimistic, energetic, supportive, and someone who constituted to everyone.
However, the more Oliver participated, the more others around him were slighted. Instead of sparking creatively in others, his ideas outshone everyone else’s. He consumed time speaking in meetings, exhausting the oxygen level in the room. Oliver felt pumped up by how many of his ideas had been deployed(利用) but frustrated by others’ lack of sufficient effort.
While the CEO appreciated Oliver’s yield, she recognized he had to change his approach to keep the rest of the team productive. In response, Oliver worked out a plan to help address his cooperation challenges using techniques many other executives had deployed.
When we over-participate, we believe that we're being helpful. However, “helpfulness” is defined by the recipient, not the giver. Instead of improving his relationships with colleagues, Oliver robbed them of fulfillment by furnishing masses of ideas. They felt discouraged, interrupted, and excluded. To fix the issue, Oliver learned the value of asking two specific questions before offering his own ideas: “What have you thought of ” and “What would be most helpful for you at this point ” Surveying others to understand what’s helpful illuminates better avenues for our contribution: directly through our ideas, through coaching colleagues to create their own, or by building on what someone else has generated.
32. What can we learn about Oliver
A. He lacks creativity. B. He favors competition. C. He works enthusiastically. D. He behaves irresponsibly.
33. What is a result of Oliver’s over-participation
A. The team generated more diverse ideas. B. Oliver’s colleagues became less productive.
C. Group meetings were more time-consuming. D. Oliver’s teammates were inspired to work harder.
34. What technique did Oliver employ to fix the issue
A. Hearing others’ voices. B. Providing specific ideas.
C. Strengthening his leadership. D. Building strong relationships.
35. Which of the following can be the best title for the text
A. When Leaders Fail to Keep the Team Productive
B. When Contributing Gets in the Way of Cooperating
C. How a Great Team Welcomes Ideas in a Discussion
D. How Active Participation Gives Rise to a Better Team
第二节（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
We’re lucky to live in an age when the sum total of human knowledge is pretty available at the click of a button. We’ve never had access to so much information. 36 . So here are a few strategies to sharpen your critical thinking.
Watch out for confirmation prejudice(偏见). 37 . In repeated experiments, psychologists have shown we’re much more likely to accept something as evidence if it confirms what we already think we know. And we’re much more likely to ignore information if it is not in line with our views, which will affect our ability to process information.
Acknowledge small differences. In life, most situations are varying and complicated. Admitting that can enrich the way that we view the world. For example, what colour is the sky Well, the obvious answer is blue. But at sunrise or sunset, it can be red. On a cold misty morning, white or gray. 38 .
Practise intellectual humility(谦逊). One approach to, well, arguing, is to let go of the idea of being “right”. Or at least seriously consider that you might actually be wrong. 39 . Really try to understand where the other person is coming from. Arguing is just to waste somebody’s time.
40 . It’s more important than ever to know where your information is coming from. That science-looking paragraph might look very convincing until you dig a little deeper and find it was just posted by someone having no qualifications. That is the case we should not overlook.
Engaging in critical thinking isn’t as fun as picking up a pitchfork, or feeling like you’re fundamentally right. But in the long run, it leads to a more curious, educated and harmonious society, which is the biggest win of all.
A．Avoid mistakes
B．Check your sources
C．We all enjoy feeling like we’re right
D．But not all of what’s out there is quite what it seems
E．So pay attention to differences in many situations
F．So don’t rush to decide, and be actively prepared to change your mind
G．Putting yourself into the other person’s shoes can have more fruitful outcomes
第三部分 语言运用（共两节，满分30分）
第一节 完形填空（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
For the past ten years, my dad and I have attended the same school — he as an administrator and I as a student. Our relationship, in and out of school, has been totally unpredictable.
When I was younger, all that my dad said was doctrine (信条) and anything he did I, ____41____, copied. We played games together, and stayed up late reading bedtime stories. I could ____42____ my dad taking me to school, running into him regularly during the day and riding home with him every afternoon.
As I grew older, we were not as ____43____ as we used to be. He wasn't cool any more. He wore his socks too high, listened to horrible country music and laughed too loudly in front of my friends. He became a total embarrassment.
However, the ____44____ that occurred in school were even worse. The worst one happened in seventh grade. My dad came to our New Year party, dressed up as Donald Duck, guitar in hand, singing silly songs. Just kill me! I wanted to run away.
This ____45____ continued into high school but we somehow began to find a balance. Things started to ___46____ around the time of my 10th-grade physics project. The ____47____ was to build a wood bridge with the best strength-to-weight ratio(比率). All the students and physics teachers ____48____. So did my dad, the only administrator! Embarrassed as usual, I ____49____ the scene. However, later when I learned from my friends that my dad _____50_____ all competitors and won everyone's admiration, I found that mixed in with my _____51_____ was a touch of pride.
I had needed someone else to show me what I _____52_____ in my dad. It wasn't the fact that he'd won, it was more than that. I began to _____53_____ that we have many of the same values and sometimes the same opinions. No matter how much I had tried to _____54_____ him, he still influenced me.
I feel fortunate to have such an unusual father. The _____55_____ I have developed with my dad over the years has enabled me to look back and see how I've grown.
41. A. accurately B. naturally C. originally D. passively
42. A. apply to B. see off C. count on D. pick out
43. A. close B. reliable C. generous D. confident
44. A. discriminations B. failures C. competitions D. disasters
45. A. debate B. instance C. progress D. struggle
46. A. differ B. extend C. change D. grow
47. A. issue B. task C. lesson D. procedure
48. A. participated B. hesitated C. committed D. explored
49. A. witnessed B. investigated C. pictured D. fled
50. A. persuaded B. defeated C. ignored D. evaluated
51. A. confusion B. encouragement C. embarrassment D. fascination
52. A. recommended B. absorbed C. doubted D. appreciated
53. A. recognize B. demand C. argue D. estimate
54. A. approach B. resist C. limit D. believe
55. A. strategy B. conclusion C. relationship D. potential
第二节 语法填空（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。
Since Japan began releasing nuclear-contaminated(核污染) wastewater into the Pacific Ocean on last Thursday despite strong opposition and (56)____________(criticize) from the international community, Chinese netizens have expressed their anger and concern, with a large number of them (57)____________(say) that they would no longer go to Japanese restaurants.
According to the spokesperson, the actions of the Japanese government are (58)___________ (contradict) to international conventions(公约) and experts say that the influence of Japan's release of wastewater (59)__________ the safety of people throughout the world is unpredictable. As a consequence, many domestic Japanese restaurants say that they will adjust their product lines, and seafood will be selected from domestic sources or (60)____________(import) from other coastal countries. Some even say that they will seek (61)_____________(develop) other new cuisines(菜肴).
“The Chinese government will take necessary measures to firmly protect the marine environment (62)____________ Japan is determined to go on with its discharge(排放) plan.” said a majority of Chinese, among (63)____________ are those living and studying in Japan now. In a poll conducted on Sina Weibo, more than 200,000 netizens urge Japan to cancel its wrong decision and address the wastewater in (64)___________ responsible manner. “We don’t want August 24, 2023 to be a disaster day for marine environment and we hope that the issue (65)___________(give) priority to and dealt with as soon as possible. If Japan does not change course, it must bear the historic responsibility for this decision.”
第四部分　写作(共两节，满分40分)
第一节 句子翻译（共5小题；每小题3分，满分15分）
66. 我正期待着下周的学校旅行。( look forward to )
_________________________________________________________________________________
67. 她觉得这本书很有趣。( find + 宾语 + 宾语补足语 )
_________________________________________________________________________________
68. 他沉迷于手机游戏。( be addicted to )
_________________________________________________________________________________
69. 我喜欢茶胜过咖啡。( prefer---to--- )
_________________________________________________________________________________
70. 她努力学习，以便能够通过考试。( so that )
_________________________________________________________________________________
第二节　应用文写作(满分25分)
71. 假定你是李华，你的英国朋友Peter来信向你咨询如何才能学好中文。请你根据下列要点写封建议信。
(1) 参加中文学习班； (2) 看中文书刊、电视；
(3) 学唱中文歌曲； (4) 交中国朋友。
注意：1. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
2. 字数80词左右，开头结尾语已给出，不计入总次数。
Dear Peter，
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
Yours，
Lihua嘉兴市第五高级中学高一年级阶段性测试
英语参考答案
听力测试：(共 20 小题；每小题 1.5 分，满分 30 分)
1-5 BACCA 6-10 BACAC 11-15 BABBA 16-20 CCABB
阅读理解：(共 15 小题；每小题2.5 分，满分 37.5分)
21-23 DAB 24-27 CBDC 28-31DACB 32-35 CBAB
七 选 五：（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）
36-40 DCEGB
完形填空：（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
41-45 BCADD 46-50 CBADB 51-55 CDABC
语法填空：（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）
56. criticism 57. saying 58. contradictory 59. on 60. imported
61. to develop 62. if 63. whom 64. a 65. will be given
翻译句子：（共5小题；每小题3分，满分15分）
66. 我正期待着下周的学校旅行。(look forward to)
I am looking forward to our school trip next week.
67. 她觉得这本书很有趣。(find + 宾语 + 宾语补足语)
She found the book interesting.
68. 他沉迷于手机游戏。(be addicted to)
He is addicted to mobile games
69. 我喜欢茶胜过咖啡。(prefer---to---)
I prefer tea to coffee.
70. 她努力学习，以便能够通过考试。(so that)
She studied hard so that she could pass the exam.
应用文写作(满分25分)
Possible version
Dear Peter,
I’m glad to receive your letter asking for my advice on how to learn Chinese well. Here are some suggestions which I hope will be of some help to you.
To begin with, it is a good idea to take a Chinese course, where you can follow the teacher and get help from your classmates. Next, reading some Chinese books and magazines will help you to improve your reading ability. You can also watch some Chinese programs on TV, which will improve your listening ability. To make sure that learning Chinese isn’t too dull, it would be a good idea to learn to sing some Chinese songs. Last but not least, if possible, make some Chinese friends, so that you can learn languages from each other.
I hope you will find my suggestions beneficial and make great progress in Chinese. Looking forward to receiving your letter written in Chinese.
Yours，
Li Hua
讲解用拆分翻译：
1. 很高兴收到你的来信，要求我就如何学好汉语提出建议。
2. 以下是一些建议，希望对你有所帮助。
3. 首先，上一门中文课是个好主意，你可以跟着老师，从同学那里得到帮助。
4. 接下来，阅读一些中文书籍和杂志将有助于提高你的阅读能力。
5. 看一些电视节目也能提高你的汉语听力。
6. 为了确保学中文不太枯燥，学唱中文歌是个好主意。
7. 最后，如果可能的话，结交一些中国朋友，这样你们可以互相学习语言。
8. 我希望你会发现我的建议是有益的，并在中文方面取得很大的进步。
9. 期待收到你的中文信。
参考答案
1. 很高兴收到你的来信，要求我就如何学好汉语提出建议。
I’m glad to receive your letter asking for my advice on how to learn Chinese well.
2. 以下是一些建议，希望对你有所帮助。
Here are some suggestions which I hope will be of some help to you.
3. 首先，上一门中文课是个好主意，你可以跟着老师，从同学那里得到帮助。
To begin with, it is a good idea to take a Chinese course, where you can follow the teacher and get help from your classmates.
4. 接下来，阅读一些中文书籍和杂志将有助于提高你的阅读能力。
Next, reading some Chinese books and magazines will help you to improve your reading ability.
5. 看一些电视节目也能提高你的汉语听力。
You can also watch some Chinese programs on TV, which will improve your listening ability.
6. 为了确保学中文不太枯燥，学唱中文歌是个好主意。
To make sure that learning Chinese isn’t too dull, it would be a good idea to learn to sing some Chinese songs.
7. 最后，如果可能的话，结交一些中国朋友，这样你们可以互相学习语言。
Last but not least, if possible, make some Chinese friends, so that you can learn languages from each other.
8. 我希望你会发现我的建议是有益的，并在中文方面取得很大的进步。
I hope you will find my suggestions beneficial and make great progress in Chinese.
9. 期待收到你的中文信。
Looking forward to receiving your letter written in Chinese.
听力原文
Text 1. W: I forgot my toothpaste at home. Can we find a store on the way to the hotel
M: Why not just use the toothpaste that the hotel provides
W: Theirs always have bad flavor and it makes me feel unclean. I just use a certain brand.
Text 2. W: I need to find a good place to read. I thought the library would be better than a cafe, but it’s too noisy here.
M: Try the computer room. There are some comfortable chairs, and no one talks because they’re working on projects.
Text 3. M: Old Peter next door fell on the last step of the stair yesterday. You should go over and ask if we can get his groceries every week.
W: I’ll call after I pack up this soup for him. It will help him get better.
Text 4. W: Tom has been feeling down lately because his hair has started to become thinner.
M: I know. I saw him yesterday and he couldn’t stop trying to style it during the dinner.
W: I think he just needs to relax...
Text 5. M: Did you call a taxi You have to order them in advance. The last time I tried to get one, it took 30 minutes.
W: I just did. It will pick us up in 10 minutes. So, hurry up and get ready!
Text 6. W: What do you think of my new clothes Everything was on sale at the store yesterday, so I got a great deal.
M: You look really good. Did you pay a lot for them
W: They were about $300 in total. It was worth it.
M: That’s too much money for just a top and some shorts. Did the hat and shoes add to that price as well
W: No. I bought the hat and shoes a long time ago.
M: I never spend that much on clothes. My most expensive piece of clothing is a jacket that I got on sale.
Text 7. W: My laptop is causing trouble for me, Mark. I think I need a new one.
M: Are you still using that Microsoft Surface I’m surprised it has lasted for three years! At least you didn’t buy an Apple. So, have you finally broken the screen
W: No. I don’t drop it anymore. I always use it on a table.
M: Well, is the screen losing its brightness I heard that could be a problem with those thin computers.
W: No. The keyboard doesn’t work half of the time. I think it’s a software problem, but I don’t know how to fix it. I can’t take it to be repaired for free, either.
M: You can use my laptop. I hardly touch it, and the keyboard doesn’t come apart from the screen like yours does. Besides, IBM makes better computers, in my experience.
Text 8. M: Hey, Laura. What do you think I should do over summer holiday I have so many choices. I could work for my uncle, make a study tour to improve my Spanish, or practice the guitar for hours a day.
W: I heard you playing the other day. You do need more practice. But how do you feel about each of those
M: I don’t know. They all have their good points and bad points. The work is boring, but helping family and gaining work experience are important. The study tour would take me to places I haven’t been. Maybe I’ll figure out if I want to study abroad later. As for guitar, well, you said it all already.
W: When I have many choices, I usually imagine what would happen if I said yes to each one. Start with one, and really imagine how you would feel if you did that. Then take a few deep breaths, and repeat that for the other choices.
M: OK, I’ll try that right after I play the guitar tonight.
Text 9. M: What have you been so busy with lately, Maria I never see you anymore.
W: My publisher just gave me a huge assignment. I have to have this new work finished by the end of this month.
M: I didn’t know you were a writer. What kind of book are you writing
W: I don’t technically write it. I just review the written material and make changes to it so there aren’t any errors.
M: I see. That sounds like it takes a long time.
W: Sometimes. This one is hard because it is non-fiction. It is the life story of an eastern emperor that lived hundreds of years ago. The fact checking is what takes up all the time.
M: I can imagine.
W: Not only that, but there are different histories about the man from European and North American scholars. It isn’t easy to figure out what is true, and what is just someone’s opinion.
M: How long has it already taken you
W: I can usually finish books like these in four months, but this one has taken me twice as long. There is a lot of information in it, and it is a very important work, so I want to do a good job.
M: Well, let me know when you are done. I’d love to read it.
Text 10. There are plenty of mysteries of this planet. One of them that have been explained, however, is the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. The Bermuda Triangle is an area between three points in the Atlantic Ocean that create a triangle. It has been said that throughout history, many ships and boats have gone missing there, never to be found again. It was first mentioned by a famous explorer in the 1400s, who said he saw a “great ball of fire” in the ocean. It was again referred to by the famous writer Shakespeare in the 1600s, in one of his books. But it didn’t become a popular story until 1918, when an American ship disappeared in the area with 300 men on board. So why have there been all these reports of missing planes and ships Luckily, today we know the real answer. First, the area is well-known for stormy waters and bad weather. Second, many inexperienced sailors have gotten lost because of poor sailing equipment and the lack of fuel. And finally, accidents are common in the sea. In fact, there are just as many accidents in other parts of the ocean as there are in the Bermuda Triangle. So, if you are planning to take a boat ride through the area, just make sure to be safe!