福州市2014-2015高二英语第二学期期末试题（有答案）
选修8
考试时间：120分钟 试卷满分：150分
2015.6.10
第一卷
（计分100分）
I 听力测试30分
第一节（共5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 is the man doing?
A. Working on a project. B. Practising a speech. C. Giving a presentation.
2. Why does the woman seem to know a lot of tomorrow’s test?
A. She has seen the test paper.
B. She dreamed about it.
C. She studied hard.
3. How long does it take to get to Washington by train?
A. 60 minutes. B. 80 minutes. C. 90 minutes.
4. Where was the man born?
A. In Los Angeles. B. In Manhattan. C. In Washington.
5. When will Mr Addison return?
A. On Monday afternoon. B. On Thursday night. C. On Friday morning.
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 doing?
A. Having a job interview.
B. Taking fitness training.
C. Making weekend plans.
7. What is the man’s favorite sport?
A. Running. B. Swimming. C. Football.
听第7段材料，回答第8至9题。
8. What is the man doing?
A. Preparing for a conference.
B. Eating in a restaurant.
C. Having a meeting.
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9. What does the man order in the end?
A. Cheese salads. B. Chicken salads. C. Fruit salads.
听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。
10. What are the speakers talking about?
A. How to decorate the apartment.
B. When to move into the apartment.
C. Whether to live in such kind of apartment.
11. What does the woman say about the apartment?
A. It is large.
B. It is far from the ocean.
C. It must be cool in summer.
12. What is the man’s attitude towards the apartment?
A. He is fond of it. B. He is curious about it. C. He is uninterested in it.
听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。
13. Where is the man working now?
A. In a university. B. In the National Bank. C. In a French company.
14. What language is the woman teaching now?
A. Italian. B. German. C. Spanish.
15. How many children does the man have?
A. 2. B. 3. C. 4.
16. Who will attend school in the autumn?
A. Sue. B. Billy. C. Tim.
听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。
17. Why did the man go to Britain?
A. To go to universtiy.
B. To visit his British friends.
C. To spend his summer vacation.
18. Why would British students like to take a gap year?
A. To get a period of time to relax.
B. To get good remarks from the society.
C. To get some experience and confidence.
19. What do many university teachers think of gap year students?
A. They have much more money.
B. They work harder than other students.
C. They care more about unfortunate people.
20. Which country is the most popular for gap year travel?
A. India. B. Australia. C. Canada.
II 单项填空(共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分)
21. Before the operation, the doctor had to talk to the patient in order to remove her fear________ she might die during the operation.
A. when B. that C. which D. why
22. This year many factories raised the prices of clothes to _____ the higher cost to customers.
A. pass by B. pass on C. pass for D. pass through
23. Unless______, this law will make life difficult for farmers.
A. changed B. changing C. being changed D. is changing
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24. Not all the patents________ have been recognized.
A. to be examined B. being examined
C. examined D. having been examined
25. Fever _______ sickness. You should see a doctor at once.
A. explains B. informs C. introduces D. indicates
26. Our teachers often encourage us that every minute we spend on studying will finally _______ in the near future.
A. run out B. go off C. come out D. pay off
27. —The plane is due to take off at 7:50 from the airport. ______ we fail to arrive there in time?
—Try to take another flight then.
A. As if B. Even if C. Only if D. What if
28. A chance should be given to_______has a really good voice in the programme China’s Strongest Voice.
A. whoever B. who C. whom D. whatever
29. What _______ me most in the movie was the father’s deep love for his son.
A. faded B. beat C. struck D. stuck
30. —Your uncle speaks English very fluently.
—Sure. He ______ his education in London for three years when he was a teacher ten years ago.
A. was furthering B. has furthered C. furthered D. would further
31. Overloaded with work, school teachers now get far less sleep than they_______.
A. shall B. should C. may D. can
32. Her parents objected to _______ that farmer, though he was very rich.
A. her marrying B. her to marry C. she marrying D. she married
33. —What you’ve said sounds___, but can we really solve the problem in that way?
—It is worth a try.
A. absurd B. awful C. reasonable D. passive
34. Nowhere else, as Tim’s sister said, ______ except the small garden in the backyard after school.
A. would he go B. he did go C. had he gone D. he has gone
35. It is the superior intelligence and the use of language that distinguish man______ the other animals.
A. with B. among C. between D. from
III 阅读理解：40分(共20小题；每小题2分，共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
Because I will be away for a few days after Spring Break, I am writing this during the actual holiday, when I can use time to catch up on a number of purely administrative (管理的) items.
First of all, you should have received the letter I sent out on April 2 advising of the transition (过渡) arrangements to new leadership at ISM (International School of
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Moscow). In that letter I pointed out that Dr. Paul Malone will be arriving in Moscow on Monday, May 4th, and that I will work with him during that week to ensure smooth transition. My last day at ISM will be Friday, May 8th.
Several people have asked me why I required Dr. Malone to come early. There are many problems facing ISM at the moment which have major implications (影响) for the future, and it makes sense for the new director to come aboard before the end of the school year. This will give him the chance to play a major role in the planning process for 2014—2015 and beyond. The fact that Paul Malone is able to arrive in early May is good for the school. I have been working closely with him, and will do everything possible to see that he can move in easily when I leave. From here I will go to Hong Kong for a couple of weeks to spend time in my new situation, and then I will return to the United States for a few weeks’ vacation.
In the most recent edition of the Compass(a kind of paper of ISM), I wrote briefly what I consider to be the major challenge for ISM in the future. I am sure that the new leadership of the school will be able to face those challenges in an active manner, which will ensure a strong future for the school. I shall certainly watch the progress of the school with interest. The results of the school for the past few years have been quite outstanding, and I fully expect that level of performance to continue.
36. We can infer from the text that the writer was the ________ of ISM.
A. director B. employee
C. teacher D. student
37. Why should Dr. Malone come to ISM early?
A. To work closely with the author.
B. To do everything possible for the school.
C. To move in easily when the author returns.
D. To work with the author for a few days and make a future plan.
38. From the text, we learn that ________.
A. Paul Malone is a capable man
B. the writer is a best friend of Paul Malone’s
C. Paul Malone will work with the writer for several years
D. the writer will do his best to help Paul Malone to work well at ISM
B
The 87th Academy Award nominations(提名) were announced on Jan 15, and The Grand Budapest Hotel stood out as a favorite with nine nominations, including Best Picture. Check out some other Best Picture nominees to see if you missed any of last year’s top Hollywood films.
The Imitation Game
This historical thriller is about British computer scientist, Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch), the father of artificial intelligence. At the start of World War II, Turing was asked to join a select team of mathematical geniuses to decode（解码） the system the Nazis used to send military messages. Besides the actual breaking of the code, Cumberbatch’s portrayal（扮演）of Turing’s personality, a mixture of decency（正派）and shyness, is also a highlight of the movie.
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Birdman
This dark comedy film is about how Riggan Thomson, a faded star once famous for his superhero roles, struggles to regain fame. American actor Michael Keaton, 63, who has a similar experience to Thomson’s, plays the leading role.
Selma
A stellar cast(主要演员) including talk show queen Oprah Winfrey may be one reason to see Selma. But that the film focuses on Martin Luther King Jr.’s struggle for civil rights also makes it worth viewing. Based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches, the film is a chronicle(编年史) of King’s (David Oyelowo) campaign for political rights for African-American people.
The Theory of Everything
We know English theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking for his significant scientific discoveries, especially his black hole theories. This biographical film reveals the scientist’s (played by Eddie Redmayne) secret romantic relationship with Jane Hawking (Felicity Jones), whom he meets and falls in love with at Cambridge and who later becomes his first wife.
Boyhood
American Director Richard Linklater did an experiment in this film, using the same cast for 12 years to record a boy’s growth. In two and a half hours, we see Mason, a Texas boy from a divorced family, grow from 6-year-old boy to a freshman in college.
39. How many Best Picture nominees are mentioned in the text?
A. Five B. Six C. Eight D. Nine
40. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?
A. Michael Keaton became famous overnight after starring in the movie Birdman.
B. Alan Turing is a talented and outgoing man in The Imitation Game.
C. Selma is the story of Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for voting rights for African-Americans.
D. The Theory of Everything is about how Stephen Hawking discovered his black hole theories.
41. What is Boyhood mainly about?
A. How Richard Linklater did his decade-long experiment.
B. The wonderful life of Mason.
C. The growth of a young boy.
D. How Mason spent his college years.
42. What is the main purpose of the text?
A. To analyze why these films were nominated for the 87th Academy Awards.
B. To give a brief introduction to the 87th Academy Award nominees.
C. To list some of the best nominees in the Academy Awards’ history.
D. To prove that the Academy Award nominees cover a broad range of topics.
C
Revenge is one of those things that everyone enjoys. People don’t like to talk
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about it, though. Just the same, there is nothing more satisfying or more rewarding than revenge. The purpose is not to harm your victims but to let them know that you are upset about something that they are doing to you. Careful planning can provide you with relief from annoying coworkers, gossiping friends or talkative family members.
Coworkers who make comments about the fact that you are always fifteen minutes late for work can be taken care of very simply. All you have to do is get up extra one day. Before the sun comes up, drive to each coworker’s house. Reach under the cover of your coworker’s car and disconnect the center wire that leads to the distributor（配电盘）cap, the car will be unharmed, but it will not start, and your friends at work will all be late for work on the same day. If you’re lucky, your boss might notice that you are the only one there and will give you a raise.
Gossiping friends at school are also perfect targets for a simple act of revenge. A way to trap either male or female friends is to leave false messages on their lockers(柜子). If the friend that you want to get is male, leave a message that a certain girl would like him to stop by her house later that day. With any luck，her boyfriend will be there. The girl won’t know what’s going on, and the victim will be so embarrassed that he probably won’t leave his home for a month.
When Mom and Dad and your sisters and brothers really begin to annoy you, harmless revenge may be just the way it makes them quiet down for a while. The dinner table is a likely place. Just before the meal begins, throw a handful of raisins (葡萄干) into the food. Wait about five minutes and, after everyone has begun to eat, cover your mouth with your hand and begin to make strange noises. When they ask you what the matter is, point to a raisin and yell. “Bugs!” They’ll throw their food in the dustbin, jump into the car, and head for McDonald’s. That night you’ll have your first quiet, peaceful meal in a long time.
A well-planned revenge does not have it hurt anyone. The object is simply to let other people know that they are beginning to bother you.
43. According to the passage, a harmless revenge is ________.
A. to amuse the victim
B. to hurt nobody emotionally
C. to react to those who bother you
D. to prevent one from disturbing others
44. As a harmless revenge, you might come first and get a raise by ________.
A. pleasing your boss
B. destroying your colleagues’ cars
C. making your colleagues come late
D. getting up earlier than your colleagues
45. The family members threw their food in the dustbin because ________.
A. they wanted to eat out
B. they didn’t like the food with raisins
C. they wanted to have a peaceful meal
D. they thought their food had been ruined
46. The topic of the passage is how to ________.
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A. make a harmless revenge B. silence gossiping friends
C. avoid talkative family members D. deal with annoying coworkers
D
Picking a university is a tense period of asking yourself which institution is most relevant. That's why university rankings play such an important role in students searching for their next academic direction. Rankings are also an inescapable part of the reputation and brand image of universities. "No university website is complete without the claim to be in the top 100 for something or other," reported the BBC. The reason is simple: Rankings help them to attract students, staff and research investment.
Currently there are numbers of university rankings, and each has its own list of criteria. But the main categories are the same: academic reputation, graduates' performance and faculty(全体员工) resources.
However, experts point out the ranking process isn't entirely reliable. Mark Kantrowitz, a US financial aid researcher, said university rankings were mostly just for show. He wrote in The New York Times. "It may give your parents better bragging（吹牛）rights, but that's about it. "
Moreover, it's not difficult to see the limitations of university rankings. Many rankings focus on the number of times research work is cited(引用) by other researchers. It helps British and US universities to dominate(控制) global rankings because English is the favored language of academia, John O'Leary, a member of the QS academic advisory board, told The Gunrdian,. Also, rankings such as QS mainly focus on the qualities of the university rather than its students. "Any university ranking is likely to help students make better decisions about where to study, but the need to balance them with other more human factors is also important," said Phil Moss, an education and admissions consultant. "Advice from graduates or current students can be as valuable in providing a genuine insight into the experience or quality of a particular degree program. It can also add an element that rankings can never convey the actual emotion of a university experience. "
47. Why do universities consider rankings important?
A. Rankings make them more appealing.
B. Rankings are students' only reference.
C. Rankings can increase their academic level.
D. Rankings help them complete their websites.
48. What does the underlined "It" in paragraph 4 refer to?
A. Academic research work. B. The number of researches.
C. The way of ranking universities. D. The limitation of university ranking.
49. According to John O'Leary, what helps British and US universities rank well?
A. The wide use of English in academia.
B. Their outstanding qualities.
C. Their graduates' excellent performance.
D. The academia's favor to them.
50. Besides ranking, what does Phil Moss suggest you should refer to if you're picking
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a university?
A. Investment in education. B. Guidance from professors.
C. Information on websites. D. Suggestions from students.
E
第二节 七选五填空（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。（注意：若你选择的答案为E，请在机读卡上填涂AB；答案为F，填涂AC；答案为G，填涂AD，多涂或少涂均不得分
We all face quantities of stresses in day-to-day living, whether at work, in the home, or anywhere in between. 51 Here's how stress can help us on an everyday basis.
◆ Sharpen your memory.
Did you ever notice that sometimes when you are stressed, your memory seems to improve? Remember that test you passed where the answers seemed to come out of nowhere? 52 It's because of stress hormones（荷尔蒙）that increase your alertness(机敏) when it's most needed.
◆ 53
Successful employees turn stress into motivation. Have you ever noticed that you get the least amount of work done when you have the fewest deadlines? Too little stress can affect how much you actually get done. When you take risks and choose to get over the difficulty, it improves your mental toughness and self-confidence.
◆Helping you resist the attack of illness.
54 Believe it or not, the right kind of stress can help your body's defenses
against illness. When you get sick, stress causes you to make hormones that battle threats to your health. That burst of stress is helpful to your immune system when your body faces a threat.
◆Making your life more interesting.
Think about some stressful situations that we consciously put ourselves in to make life more interesting and enjoyable, like asking someone out on a first date, conquering a known fear, or learning something new. These may not immediately come to mind when you think of stress because of the positive outcomes. 55
A. Helping you get an advantage at work.
B. Helping you get through difficult times.
C. This will happen whenever you are stressed.
D. That's one way your brain responds to stress.
E. You need a healthy immune system to help fight off diseases.
F. But they're the types that can help you achieve fulfillment and happiness.
G. But handled properly, stress can have many benefits for the body and mind.
IV.根据所提供语境，用方框中所给短语的适当形式填空。（每题1.5分，共15分）
call … up make one’s acquaintance with set about by means of
in vain hesitate for a moment in terms of get through occur to
have a great impact on
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1. It was in New York that I first _________ Professor Smith.
2. Though she _________, she finally went in and asked to try on a dress that was expensive.
3. ________weather, here is a good place for the tour.
4. The picture _____ him ______ the time when he was brought up in the village.
5. One afternoon she ____ riding without an umbrella and was caught in a storm at last.
6. She told her husband that she couldn’t _____ the rest of the housework without his help.
7. After the quarrel, I tried my best to fix the misunderstanding between us, but all my efforts seemed_________.
8. What the teachers have done _______ their students in the future.
9. Our teachers are trying to improve our English _______ listening, reading, writing and speaking.
10. It _____ me that I had left my suitcase in the taxi, in which I came home yesterday.
第二卷
（计分:50分）
注意：本卷完型填空题答案一律填涂在机答卡上，其余试题一律写在答题纸上，请看清题号作答。
V. 完形填空 (共20小题；每小题1分，共20分)
The day for the great balloon competition finally arrived. Every insect in the garden had been 56 hard, and now they were preparing to begin their routines. The balloon competitions were always something really special.
Each time, the flying insects were favourite 57 to win, because they could seize the balloon strings and fly off in all directions, creating all sorts of 58 in the air. 59 , on this occasion there were some rather unusual insects taking part: a group of ants. Of course, 60 expected that they could do anything special. They were so light that no ant had ever 61 to take part, but it was quite impressive to see all the ants all 62 organized and prepared.
So the competition began, and the 63 insects took their turns, performing beautiful movements with the balloons. As always, the butterflies left everyone 64 with their twist and turns, and their wonderful colours. When it was time for the ants to perform, it seemed like the competition had already been decided.
For the 65 time in living memory, the ants shared just one balloon between them, and one by one they climbed up the balloon string, 66 a thin black thread of ants. When all the string was covered, the last ant climbed 67 his teammates to reach the balloon. 68 he got there, he climbed onto the top of the balloon.
This strange 69 attracted everyone's curiosity, and they were just about to witness the most important 70 : the ant opened his jaws as wide as he could. . . and then he made a violent movement at the balloon with all his strength!
The result was powerful! The balloon began blowing out its air, flying 71 about, here and there, doing a thousand turns and spins, while the ants made all kinds
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of beautiful shapes out of the string.
Of course, that acrobatic(杂技般的) flight 72 with quite a hard landing, but it didn't 73 . The creativity and teamwork of the ant performance was so 74 that the crowd didn't even have to vote for there to be a winner.
From then on, in that garden, everyone understood how much could be achieved by working 75 . In the years to come, the balloon competitions were full of displays carried out by teams, and they put on some wonderful routines; something those individual insects could never have achieved on their own.
56. A. fighting B. training C. functioning D. living
57. A. speakers B. organizers C. candidates D. producers
58. A. patterns B. numbers C. drawings D. sounds
59. A. Besides B. Thus C. Instead D. However
60. A. anybody B. somebody C. everybody D. nobody
61. A. bothered B. hesitated C. refused D. promised
62. A. quickly B. terribly C. perfectly D. strangely
63. A. special B. different C. familiar D. similar
64. A. amazed B. disappointed C. bored D. blessed
65. A. first B. second C. last D. next
66. A. cutting B. forming C. using D. passing
67. A. with B. over C. around D. through
68. A. Once B. If C. Though D. Until
69. A. idea B. attitude C. behavior D. experience
70. A. effect B. case C. condition D. moment
71. A. weakly B. madly C. peacefully D. carefully
72. A. ended B. started C. continued D. broke
73. A. help B. work C. matter D. tell
74. A. necessary B. impressive C. natural D. important
75. A. alone B. behind C. out D. together
VI. 语法填空（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）
阅读下面短文。按照句子结构的语法性和上下文连贯的要求，在空格处填入一个适当的词或使用括号中词语的正确形式。（不多于3个单词）填空，并将答案填写在答题卡得相应位置上。
You may like reading novels for fun. But you need to get 1 （organize） if you are reading a novel for school. Here 2 (be) some tips.
First, pay attention to characters. What do they do in the novel? What do they want? Everything— 3 is about a character can help us to understand him, from his 4 （appear） to the kind of food he eats.
Besides, the order of the story and the plot are 5 （equal） important. Make sure that as you read, you make 6 quick note of what happens in each chapter. This will help you bring the things you have noticed about the character, setting, language and so on together. It's also an enormous help for you to retell the story after you have read it.
Next, themes. They are ideas that a novel explores. 7 is a must to get the hang of the theme if you want to fully appreciate the novel. Perhaps love is a major
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theme, or justice, or 8 （survive）.
Furthermore, novels are made up 9 language. Writers use language in a special way 10 (make) their novels work. They may use metaphors(比喻), invent symbols, or show different characters' personalities through their speech styles.
VII. 书面表达 （满分20分）
近来,电子红包在中国正成为一种时尚。假定你是李华,请给你的美国朋友Peter写一封信，介绍有关情况。要点包括：
1. 红包特点
2. 发放时间与途径
3. 参与人群
4. 你的看法
注意：1. 词数120-150左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
3. 参考词汇：电子红包e-hongbao
Dear Peter,
I'm writing to tell you something about e-hongbao, which is becoming popular in China. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Best wishes.
Yours
Li Hua
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福州八中2014—2015学年第二学期期末考试
高二英语 选修8 试卷参考答案及评分标准
第一卷
I.听力1—5 ACBAB 6—10 ABACC 11—15:ACBCB 16—20 ACCBB
II.单选 21—25 BBACD 26—30 DDACC 31—35 BACAD
III.阅读36—38 ADD 39-42 BCCB 43—46 CCDA 47—50 ACAD 51—55 GDAEF
IV. 选词组填空 (因字母大小写造成的错误暂不扣分)
1.made my acquaintance with 2. hesitated for a moment 3. In terms of 4. called up
5. set about 6. get through 7. in vain 8. has a great impact on 9. by means of 10. occurred to
第二卷
V.完型 56-60 BCADD 61-65 ACBAA 66-70 BBACD 71-75 BACBD
VI.语法填空
1.organized 2. are 3.that 4.appearance 5.equally 6. a 7.It
8.survival 9. of 10. to make
VII. Writing sample:
Dear Peter,
I’m writing to tell you something about e-hongbao, which is becoming popular in China.
E-hongbao is actually a kind of lucky money from and to relatives and friends during festivals or on special occasions. For many young people, grabbing e-hongbao on their mobile phones is a fairly common and exciting activity. Unlike the tradition of elders giving lucky money to children, over half of the people sending e-hongbao are in their 20s. It’s just for fun or giving best wishes, while the sum of money matters little. In a word, e-hongbao is bringing new color to the old tradition.
Nevertheless, I’m concerned about the safety of on-line payment. So rules and regulations need to be improved regarding the e-hongbao system to guarantee its operation. (110 words)
Best wishes.
Yours
Li Hua
听力材料
Text 1
W: Why are you working in the office so late?
M: I have to complete my project before the presentation is due.
Text 2
M: You seem to know all the materials for tomorrow’s maths test. Don’t tell me you dreamed about it again.
W: Well, I studied for it the entire week.
Text 3
W: What time is the next train to Washington?
M: That’s 9:30 on Track 4.
W: When does it get there?
M: It’s scheduled to arrive at 10:50.
Text 4
M: I’m from America, just the same as you.
W: Really? Which part?
M: I lived in Washington before I moved to Manhattan, but I was born in Los Angeles.
Text 5
W: Good morning.
M: Good morning. I’m here to see Mr. Addison.
W: Mr. Addison went to Washington on Monday afternoon for an exhibition, and won’t be back until Thursday night. If you like, you can come again on Friday morning.
Text 6
W: Right, thank you for coming. First of all, what sports do you like?
M: Most sports really. I play a lot of football at the weekend and go running every morning. I especially like swimming.
W: That’s good. And do you have any qualifications in fitness training?
M: No, but I can teach swimming.
W: That’s good. Thank you for coming. We’ll give you a call if we make the final
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decision.
Text 7
W: Good morning. How can I help you?
M: Hi, it’s Tariq here, from the university. Well, there’s a conference at the university next week and I’d like to order some food for the conference lunch. Have you got any tomato soup? We’d like 50 cans, please. And 50 chicken salads, please.
W: I’m sorry. I’m afraid we haven’t got any chicken salads at the moment. We can provide cheese salads.
M: Ok, can we have 50 fruit salads then?
W: Sure, no problem. Anything else?
M: No, thank you. That’s everything.
Text 8
W: Isn’t this apartment good?
M: Well, I don’t know… I mean, it’s OK.
W: It’s so big. So much room. I feel so… free here.
M: It must be cold in winter. Our place is so comfortable and warm.
W: Oh, John! And the view! Look at the view of the ocean from this window! I feel so relaxed.
M: Oh, god. It makes me seasick. Our place is so much more down to earth.
W: Look at this furniture.
M: You do? I feel like I’m in a museum. It’s uncomfortable. Are you supposed to sit in these chairs?
W: Oh, John, don’t you wish we could live in a place like this?
M: What’s wrong with our place?
Text 9
W: Hi, John Brown. How are you? I haven’t seen you for a long time. Are you still working for the French company?
M: No, I quit my job about three months ago. Then I went to New York to visit my sister and stayed there for two months. I’m with the National Bank now. For me, the best thing about working here is that I live close to the office. I can go home for lunch, and I don’t have to worry about the traffic. How about you?
W: I’m still teaching at the university. But I changed from the German department to the Spanish department.
M: Wow! All I’ve ever managed to learn is a little Italian.
W: Well, how is your family? Are the children all in school now?
M: No, Tom is in the third grade and Jane’s in the second, but Billy is still at home.
W Our two children haven’t started school yet either. But Sue will go in the fall. Oh, my, I forget I was in a hurry to pick up Tim. I have to leave now, John.
M: It’s nice seeing you again, Mary.
Text 10
M: Well, you know I spent my summer vacation in Britain for two months. And I’m very glad to share what I saw and heard there. Three days after I arrived in London I got to know several British high school students. They told me a lot about their school life, but what interested me most is the gap year.
At one time in Britain young people used to go straight from school to university. However, nowadays more and more students are choosing to take what is called a gap year. They have decided to do something completely different for a year before starting their university studies. Why are gap years so popular? Well, in the past everybody believed it was better for students to complete their studied without a break. These days, students know that if they take a gap year they will get experience and confidence. What’s more, many university teachers and employers think it’s a good idea too. Gap year students often study harder at university.
The most popular thing to do is travel. Many students like to visit America, Canada, Japan, China and India, but the most popular country to visit is Australia. However, gap year travel is no holiday. Students usually have to find work to earn money to live on. Some students do voluntary work. Others find a job to get work experience and to earn a salary that helps to pay for their first year at university.
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