2013届高三上学期英语期中考试卷本试卷分第一卷(选择题)和第二卷(非选择题)共四部分。第一卷1至10页。第二卷11至12页。满分150分。考试时间120分钟。 注意:1. 考试证号由9位数字组成,前5位统一为52013,后4位由你所在的班级数和座位号组成。如果你在1班,座位号是24,你的考试证号为:520130124;你在14班,座位号是4,你的考试证号为:520131404。2. 在答题卡上,必须写上姓名、考试证号,然后用2B铅笔填涂考试证号、科目英语和你选中的答案。第一卷(满分115分)第一部分:听力测试(共两节,满分30分)第一节 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。1. What might prevent the woman buying the table?A. Its quality. B. The price. C. Its design.2. Who planted the trees?A. The woman. B. Henry. C. Someone else.3. What happened to the woman?A. She got fired today. B. She got promoted last week. C. She was fooled by the man.4. What did the man do? A. He gave the woman the wrong information. B. He put the sugar in the black container. C. He added salt to his coffee.5. How long is a day on Mars?A. Less than 24 hours. B. 24 hours and 37 minutes. C. 37 hours.第二节 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,各个小题将给出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8题。6. What do we know about the woman’s document? A. It’s about 30,000 words long. B. It’s written in English. C. It’s a textbook.7. Which language is the most difficult according to the man?A. Arabic. B. Spanish. C. English.8. What does the woman decide to do?A. Translate the document herself. B. Hire the man to do the translation. C. Look for another translator.听第7段材料,回答第9、10题。9. Why does the woman call the man? A. To place an ad in the newspaper. B. To ask about something for sale. C. To find out about a TV program.10. When will the speakers meet this afternoon?A. At 2:00. B. At 3:00. C. At 4:00.听第8段材料,回答第11至13题。11. Why was the man disappointed?A. China lost the match. B. China did not play well. C. The other team made too many mistakes.12. What did the woman enjoy most about the match?A. The passion of the sport. B. The skills of the players. C. The close score of the game.13. What did the man say about China’s women’s team in the next Olympics? A. China will surely win a gold medal. B. China will definitely lose to good teams. C. China should hope for a bronze medal.听第9段材料,回答第14至17题。14. Where does the conversation take place?A. In the woman’s. B. In the hospital. C. In an office.15. What was the purpose of the talk? A. To find out why the woman’s recent work was poor. B. To ask about the woman’s family. C. To fire the woman.16. What happened to the woman’s mother?A. She was seriously sick. B. She had a car accident. C. She died of stomach cancer.17. What was Mr. Travers’ attitude to the woman in the end?A. He was angry. B. He was critical. C. He was kind.听第10段材料,回答第18至20题。18. Where was Brandon last seen? A. In the frozen foods section. B. In the sporting goods section. C. In the toys section.19. What is Brandon wearing? A. A white shirt and a red baseball cap. B. Blue jeans and a black baseball cap. C. A dark shirt and blue jeans.20. What should guests do if they see the boy? A. Call the security department. B. Take him to the Pizza Hut. C. Take him to the security desk
第二部分:英语知识运用(共两节, 满分45分)第一节 单项选择: 语法和词汇知识(共15小题;每小题1分,满分15分)21.—I’d like to spend my weekend in upstate NY, but I have some problems with transportation.—______ I’ll drive my mum’s car. A. What of it? B. Take your time. C. What a pity. D. It’s no big deal.22. The novels written by Mo Yan sell best now, but years ago no one could have imagined he _____ the Nobel Prize for Literature. A. was winning B. was to win C. had won D. won23. The newspaper would have to close down to get more people to it. A. had it not been able; distribute to B. was it not able; contribute toC. should it not be able; subscribe to D. were it not able; deliver to24. You can use a large plastic bottle, _____ cut off, as a pot to grow young plants in.A. the top is B. the top of which C. whose top D. with its top25. ______ to sunlight for too much time will do harm to your skin. A. Exposed B. Having exposed C. Being exposed D. After being exposed26. — Who should answer the heavy loss of 8 million yuan? — The bank manager was really ______, while he tried to pin it a clerk. A. to; to blame; on B. for; to be blamed; for C. for; to blame; on D. for; to be blamed; on27.Given that she was the oldest in the competition, it is quite spectacular for her to _____ three gold medals. A. carry out B. carry away C. carry off D. carry on28. I feel uncomfortable each time I remember the situation _____ Mary tried to talk the matter _____ with me and we always ended in a row.A. that; over B. which; through C. where; about D. where; over29. The high building is one of the most challenging engineering projects they have ever _____. A. undergone B. overtaken C. undertaken D. experienced30. —So, how is your new roommate? —She really . She’s always going off with my things and when I remind her, she always rude remarks. A. turns me over; makes B. turns me off; makes C. turns me down; says D. turns me out; says31. —You may find the key to the math problem on Page107.—Ah, it’s so simple. I wonder why I ______ of that.A. hadn’t thought B. haven’t thought C. didn’t think D. wasn’t thinking32. The teacher spoke highly of such ______ as honesty, courage and faithfulness shown by his students. A. deeds B. characteristics C. features D. virtues33. ______ in the center of the hall ______ a sculpture and a memorial the great man. A. Standing; are; to B. Placed; is; of C. Placing; are; of D. Stood; are; to34. Students used to ______ much homework and the burden ______ them made a lot of children depressed. A. burden with; to B. be burdened with; on C. be burdened on; with D. bear the burden of; of35. He will compete ______ his old friends the first prize.A. in; in B. for; for C. with; for D. against; in第二节 完形填空(共20小题; 每小题1.5分,满分30分)阅读下列短文,掌握其大意,然后从36-55小题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项。The Manager Who Couldn't Write What launched Amy Tan’s career was not a big break, but a good reason. Before the million-copy 36 of The Joy Luck Club, The Kitchen God’s Wife and The Hundred Secret Senses, Amy Tan was a writer—a business writer. She and a partner 37 a technical-writing business with lawyer-like “billable hours”. Her 38 with customers was largely that of account management— 39 this daughter of immigrants wanted to do something more 40 with words, English words. So she decided to talk to her 41 , “I want to do more writing.” He 42 her strength was doing estimates, going after contractors(承包商)and collecting bills. “It was 43 stuff.” The very stuff Tan hated and knew she wasn’t 44 good at. But her partner 45 that writing was her weakest skill. “I thought. I can 46 him and just keep doing this or make my demands.” So she 47 and stood up for her rights. He would not give in. Shocked, Tan said, “I 48 .” And he said: “You can’t quit. You’re 49 !” And added, “You’ll never make a dime (ten cents)writing.” Tan set out to 50 him wrong, taking on as many assignments as she 51 . Sometimes she worked 90 hours a week. Of course, being on her own was rather 52 . But not letting others limit her or define her 53 made it worthwhile. And on her own, she felt 54 to try fiction. And so The Joy Luck Club, featuring the bright, lonely daughter of Chinese immigrants, was born. And the manager who couldn’t write became one of America’s bestselling, best-loved 56 . 36. A. novels B. sales C. prints D. stories37. A. cooperated B. enjoyed C. rushed D. ran 38. A. role B. position C. idea D. ability39. A. so B. though C. but D. as40. A. creative B. changeable C. stressful D. difficult41. A. friend B. partner C. boss D. father42. A. demanded B. explained C. complained D. declared43. A. wonderful B. unforgettable C. horrible D. crazy44. A. hardly B. really C. sincerely D. occasionally45. A. insisted B. suggested C. knew D. realized46. A. dismiss B. respect C. believe D. expect47. A. agreed B. cheered C. struggled D. argued48. A. dismiss B. quit C. drop D. retire49. A. fired B. astonished C. successful D. skillful50. A. keep B. remain C. prove D. turn51. A. should B. may C. must D. could52. A. satisfied B. ashamed C. tough D. easy53. A. cases B. talents C. work D. future54. A. free B. troublesome C. bitter D. grateful55. A. managers B. immigrants C. contractors D. authors第三部分:阅读理解(共20小题;每小题2分,满分40分)AIt was the end of my first day as a waitress in a busy New York restaurant. My cap had gone away, and my feet hurt. The loaded plates I carried seemed to be heavier and heavier. Tired and discouraged, I didn’t seem able to do anything right. As I made out a check for a family with several children who had changed their ice-cream order a dozen times, I was ready to stop. Then the father smiled at me as he handed me my tip. “Well done,” he said, “you’ve looked after us really well.” Suddenly my tiredness disappeared. I smiled back, and later, when the manager asked me how I’d liked my first day, I said, “Fine!” Those few words of praise had changed everything. Praise is like sunlight to human spirit; we cannot flower and grow without it. And yet, most of us are only too ready to apply to others the cold criticism, but are unwilling to give out fellows the warm sunshine of praise. Perhaps that is why one word of praise can bring such pleasure.It’s strange how chary we are about praising. Perhaps it’s because few of us know how to accept it. It’s especially rewarding to give praise in areas in which effort generally goes unnoticed.An artist gets admired for a glorious picture,a cook for a perfect meal.But do you ever tell your laundry manager how pleased you are when the shirts are done just right? In fact,to give praise costs the giver nothing but a moment’s thought and a moment’s effort.56.Which of the following can’t describe the writer’s situation before she got her tip?A.She was tired. B.She was busy. C.She was sorry. D.She was confident.57.According to the passage,which of the following is least likely to be given praise?A.An artist. B.A cook. C.A waitress. D.A laundry manager.58.The underlined word “chary” in Paragraph 2 means_________. A.cautious B.careful C.unwilling D.greedy59.What is the best title of the passage? A.Why Do You Praise Others? B.Why do You Criticize Others? C.Be Generous to Give Others Praise! D.Don’t Criticize Others!BA few days ago I asked my son’s governess (女家庭教师) Julia to come into my study. “Be seated, Julia,” I said, “Let’s settle our accounts. I guess you most likely need some money, but maybe you’re too polite to mention it. Now then, we agree on thirty dollars a month …” “Forty.” “No, thirty. I made a note of it. I always pay our governess thirty. Well, um, you’ve been here two months, so …” “Two months and five days.” “Exactly two months. I made a special note of it. That means you have sixty dollars coming to you. Take off nine Sundays … you know you didn’t work with Tom on Sundays, you only took walks. And three holidays …” Julia was biting her finger nail nervously, her face red, but not a word. “Three holidays, therefore take off twelve dollars. Four days Tom was sick and there were no lessons, as you were occupied only with Dick. Three days you had a toothache and my wife gave you permission not to work after lunch. Twelve and seven-nineteen. Take nineteen off … that leaves … Hmm … forty one dollars. Correct?” Julia’s left eye reddened with tears. Her chin trembled; she coughed nervously and blew her nose, but still not a word. “Around New Year’s Day you broke a teacup and a saucer; take off two dollars. The cup cost more, it was a treasure of the family, but forget it. Then, due to your neglect, Tom climbed a tree and tore his jacket; take away ten. Also due to your carelessness, the maid stole Dick’s shoes. You ought to watch everything! You get paid for it. So, that means five more dollars off. The tenth of January I gave ten dollars.” “You didn’t.” Sobbed Julia. “But I made a note of it.” “Well … if you say so.” “Take twenty seven from forty one —— that leaves fourteen.” Her eyes were filled with tears. Poor girl! “Only once was I given any money,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “and that was by your wife. Three dollars, nothing more.” “Really? You see now, and I didn’t know that! Take three from fourteen —— leaves eleven. Here’s your money, my dear. Three, three, three, one and one. Here it is!” I handed her eleven dollars. She took them and pocketed them. “Merci (Thanks), ” she whispered. I jumped to my feet and started pacing the room. I was overcome with anger. “For what, this ‘merci’?” I asked. “For the money.” “But you know I’ve cheated you —— robbed you! I have actually stolen from you! Why this ‘merci’?” “In my other places they didn’t give me anything at all.” “They didn’t give you anything. No wonder! I played a little joke on you, a cruel lesson, just to teach you … I am going to give you all the eighty dollars! Here they are in the envelope … Is it really possible to be so spineless (懦弱)?Why didn’t you protest? Why were you silent? Is it possible in this world to be without teeth and claws —— to be such a fool?” Embarrassed, she smiled. And I could read her expression, “It is possible.” I asked her pardon for the cruel lesson and gave her the eighty dollars. She murmured her little “merci” several times and went out. I looked after her and thought, “How easy it is to crush the weak in this world!”60. While talking to Julia, the writer expected her _________.A. to make a protest B. to show gratitude C. to obey D. to give an explanation61. What kind of person was Julia according to the passage?A. She became angry in face of injustice. B. She was always ready to accept injustice.C. She was too shy to express her anger. D. She was reluctant to express herself.62. At the end of the story, the writer said “How easy it is to crush the weak in this world!” to show _________.A. his understanding of Julia’s anxiety B. his worry about Julia’s futureC. his concern on the living condition of the working-classD. his sympathy for the mental state of the weak63. From the text, we can see the writer is actually _________.A. aggressive B. strict C. kind D. greedy
CGrand OpeningBentwood Truck MuseumSaturday, November 8, at 10:00 A. M.After eighteen months of hard work by more than 100 volunteers, the Bentwood Truck Museum is ready to open. The old factory had been scheduled to be destroyed. When Roger Haygood heard about the plans to tear down the building, he bought it so that he could store his collection of old trucks there. Then he had the idea of turning the building into a truck museum. During the past year and a half, the old building has been transformed into a treasure chest of memories. Instead of a dark and dull house, the building has become a cheery, bright home for all kinds of trucks from the past. The museum now houses 68 trucks, and we hope to have even more soon. There is a 1959 school bus, a 1942 bakery truck, and a 1937 fire engine. Our oldest vehicle is a 1919 milk truck. Our newest vehicle is a 1966 tow truck. You can take a ride on a fire truck, a mail truck, or an ice-cream truck. Rides are $2.00, but you can get a ticket for a free ride at any grocery store in Bentwood. Help us celebrate our grand opening by bringing your family and friends! There is something to interest everyone who attends. The Bentwood Truck Museum is a special piece of our history. To get to Bentwood Truck Museum, take Route 29 (Kingston Highway) to Palmer Street. Go south on Palmer Street for one block and take a left onto Norman Drive. You will see the museum building and the amusement park on your left. Parking is available across the street, on your right.64. In which of the following can visitors take a ride?A. A milk truck. B. An ice-cream truck. C. A bakery truck. D. A school bus.65. Where is Bentwood Truck Museum? A. On Norman Drive. B. On Palmer Street. C. On Kingston Highway. D. On Route 29.66. What is special about this museum?A. It is built on the ruins of an old building. B. It offers visitors free rides to the museum.C. It exhibits trucks dating back to 200 years ago. D. It’s transformed from an old factory by volunteers.67. What’s the purpose of writing this passage? A. To introduce the old history of Bentwood Truck Museum. B. To persuade readers to attend the opening of the museum.C. To explain why Bentwood Truck Museum was set up. D. To call on the visitors to take a ride in old trucks.
DFor an increasing number of students at American universities, Old is suddenly in. The reason is obvious: the graying of America means jobs. Coupled with the aging of the baby-boom generation, a long life span means that the nation’s elderly population is sure to increase greatly over the next 50 years. By 2050, 25 percent of all Americans will be older than 65, up from 14 percent in 1995. The change brings big questions for government and society, of course. But it also creates career opportunities in medicine and health professions, and in law and business as well. “In addition to the doctors, we’re going to need more sociologists, biologists, urban planners and specialized lawyers,” says Professor Edward Schneider of the University of Southern California’s (USC) School of Gerontology(老年学).Lawyers can specialize in “elder law”, which covers everything from trusts and estates(个人财产) to nursing-home abuse and age discrimination. Businessmen see huge opportunities in the elder market because the baby boomers, 74 million strong, are likely to be the wealthiest group of retirees in human history. “Any student who combines an expert knowledge in gerontology with, say, an MBA or law degree will have a license to print money,” one professor says.Margarite Santos is a 21-year-old senior at USC. She began college as a biology major but found she was “really bored with bacteria”. So she took a class in gerontology and discovered that she liked it. She says, “I did volunteer work in retirement homes and it was very satisfying.”68. “… Old is suddenly in” (in Paragraph 1) most probably means ______.A. America has suddenly become a nation of old peopleB. Gerontology has suddenly become popularC. More elderly professors are found on American campusesD. American colleges have realized the need of admitting older students69. It can be seen from the passage that the expansion of America’s elderly population ______.A. will provide good job opportunities in many areasB. will put an unbearable burden on societyC. may lead to nursing-home abuse and age discriminationD. will create new fields of study in universities70. Why can businessmen make money in the elder market?A. Retirees are more generous in spending money.B. They can employ more gerontologists.C. The elderly possess a large purchasing power.D. There are more elderly people working than before.71. Who can make big money in the new century according to the passage?A. Retirees who are business-minded.B. The volunteer workers in retirement homes.C. College graduates with an MBA or law degree.D. Professionals with a good knowledge of gerontology.EScienceDaily (July 5, 2009) — Researchers from the University of Haifa-Oranim have managed to make out the "self-irrigating" mechanism(构造) of the desert rhubarb(沙漠大黄), which enables it to harvest 16 times the amount of water collected by other plants in the Negev Desert. This is the first example of a self-irrigating plant worldwide.The desert rhubarb grows in the mountains of Israel's Negev desert, where average rainfall is particularly low (75 mm per year). Unlike most of the other desert plant species, which have small leaves so as to reduce water loss, this plant is unique in that its leaves are particularly large; each plant's rosette (莲座型丛叶)of one to four leaves reaches a total diameter(直径) of up to one meter. Prof. Simcha Lev-Yadun, Prof. Gidi Ne'eman and Prof. Gadi Katzir came across this unique plant while studying the field area with students of the Department of Science Education-Biology of the University of Haifa-Oranim, and noticed that its waxy leaves are unusually large. They observed an exceptionally ridged(成脊状的) structure on each leaf. The scientists explained that these deep and wide depressions(凹陷)in the leaves create a "channeling" mountain-like system by which the rain water is channeled toward the ground surrounding the plant's deep root. Other desert plants simply absorb the rain water that goes through the ground in its immediate surroundings. The desert rhubarb is able to harvest quantities of water that are 16 times the amount of water harvested by the small-leafed plants of the Negev desert region. When the research team watered the plant artificially, they observed how the water flows along the course of the leave's depressions to the ground surrounding the plant's single root and then goes through the ground to a depth of 10 cm or more. Under the experimental conditions, water goes through the ground only as deep as 1 cm. "We know of no other plant in the deserts of the world that functions in this manner," the researchers concluded.72. The desert rhubarb’s "self-irrigating" mechanism_______. A. enables it to survive with fewer leaves B. works in many other desert plants in the world C. helps it collect much more water than other plants D. prevents the plant from losing water and heat73. Which of the following helps other desert plants adapt to the dry climate? A. Thin roots. B. Small leaves.C. Deep depressions. D. The ridged structure.74. Scientists discover the desert rhubarb can irrigate itself with its_______. A. leaves B. root C. flowers D. fruit75. What is the best title for the passage?A. How plants’ “self-irrigating” mechanism worksB. How plants growing in the desert surviveC. The desert plants growing in the Negev DesertD. The world’s first “self-watering” plant discovered (友情提示:请将选择题1-75题的答案转涂到客观题答题卡上!)2013届高三上学期英语期中考试答题卷2012年11月 20日Marks 第二卷(满分35分)第四部分:第一节 短文填词(共10小题;每小题1分,满分10分)阅读下面短文,根据汉语提示、首字母提示或语境提示,在每个空格内填入一个适当的英语单词使短文意思完整,并将该词完整地写在右边相对应的横线上。所填单词要求意义准确、拼写正确。When students and parents are asked to rate subjects a to 76. ___________their importance, the arts are unavoidably at the (底部) of 77. ___________the list. Music is nice, people seem to say, but not important. Too often it is v as mere entertainment, but not 78. ___________an education priority. This view is shortsighted.In fact, music education is (有益) and important for 79. ___________all students. Music tells us who we are. It is an expression of the beings create it, and it reflects their thinking 80. ___________and values, as as the social environment it came from. 81. ___________Music provides a kind of feeling that cannot beacquired any other w . Science can explain how the 82. ___________sun and sets. The arts explore the emotive meaning 83. ___________of the phenomenon. Science does not tell us 84. ___________it means to be human. The arts do. Music is an important way we express human suffering, the meaning and valueof (和平) and love. So music education is obviously necessary. 85. ___________
第二节 书面表达(满分25分) 2013年高考在即,高三学生目前正处在紧张复习迎考的氛围中。假如你叫李华,合肥市某中学高三学生,面对目前的压力,想和父母说说心里话,请你用英文在你的博客上用书信形式表达出来。主要内容如下:心里话 感恩 关切鼓励,倾注爱心 对父母的期望 1、多交流,使自己保持良好状态2、创造条件,给自己提供适时帮助学习及生活安排 考生自拟(至少写二点)注意:1. 短文必须包括所有内容要点,可适当发挥。2. 词数:120左右。开头和结尾已给出,不计入总词数。
Dear Mom and Dad, The annual college entrance examination is around the corner. On this special occasion, how I wish I could have a heart-to-heart talk with you. ___________________________________ I am quite confident of my future life and I do wish you good health and a happy life. Yours ever, Li Hua
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76. according 77. bottom 78. viewed 79. beneficial 80. who81. well 82. way 83. rises 84. what 85. peaceWriting Sample:Dear Mom and Dad,The annual college entrance examination is around the corner. On this special occasion, how I wish I could have a heart-to-heart talk with you.Through those years of my growing up, I always feel grateful to you for your selfless help, care and love for me. Thanks to your constant encouragement, I have been making remarkable progress in my studies. It will be less than three months before I take the college entrance examination, which makes me under great pressure. I need frequent support. You know, good conditions for learning and timely help will do me a lot of good.Mom and Dad, my dream is the very one you always have. I am fully aware of the responsibilities I am bearing. I plan to make a detailed study schedule for this coming examination so that I can review lessons and practice solving problems of different subjects. It is also necessary that I do some physical training once in a while so that I can keep fit. If possible, as a family member, I will also help do some housework to make you relax a little bit.I am quite confident of my future life and I do wish you good health and a happy life. Yours ever, Li HuaTapescripts:Text 1M: I really like this table, Marie. The wood is beautiful, and it looks like it will last a hundred years.W: I agree with you, but I’m not sure we can afford it right now, Thomas.Text 2M: Did Henry plant all the trees himself?W: He planned to, but he hurt his hand when he rode a bike. So I did instead of him.Text 3W: Trent, I’ve got something to tell you. I got fired today.M: What?! You just got promoted last week! How could they do this to you?!W: April Fool’s!Text 4W: You mistook the salt for sugar? I told you the salt was in the black container and the sugar was in the white one.M: Yes, that was so silly of me. I forgot that you told me, and I couldn’t tell the difference at the time. This coffee is terrible now!Text 5M: Mars moves slower than the Earth.W: Yes. A day on Mars is 37 minutes longer than a day on the Earth.Text 6M: Good morning, Native Tongue Translations. Can I help you?W: Yes. I was wondering how much it would cost to translate a document from English into Arabic.M: Well, it depends on the kind of document, how long it is, and when you need it returned.W: It’s a cookbook about 20,000 words long. It is not urgent, so you can take your time.M: Well, Madam, Arabic is one of the most difficult languages in the world, and there aren’t very many translators compared to, say, Spanish. In other words, the charge for Arabic translation will be higher than for most other languages.W: I understand. Could you give me an estimate?M: For this project, we would charge between five and ten cents per word.W: OK. Thanks for your time. I think I’ll keep looking.Text 7M: Hello?W: Hi, my name is Kelsey Adams. I’m calling about the TV.M: Oh, hi! So you saw my ad in the newspaper?W: That’s right. My old TV just stopped working, so I think this might be great for both of us!M: I hope so. It’s a 50-inch Sony flat screen TV, and it’s only 6 months old. I’m asking for 500 bucks, but I’d be willing to negotiate.W: It sounds like a decent deal, but I would have to see it first, of course.M: Absolutely. When can you come over to take a look at it?W: How about 3:00 p.m. this afternoon?M: Hmm, I’ve got a meeting at 2:00 p.m. and it might run a little late. How does 4:00 p.m. sound?W: Perfect. Just tell me your address.Text 8M: Hey, did you see China’s women’s volleyball team on television last night?W: Yes, the game was so exciting! I usually watch basketball, but that was great last night!M: Definitely a good effort! If anything, I was disappointed that the other team didn’t put up much of a fight. They made a lot of bad mistakes, and they always seemed to be hitting the ball out of bounds.W: I just enjoyed how China celebrated after every point they won. Volleyball seems so much more passionate compared to other sports.M: Well, their victory means they will compete in the Olympics next year, which was their goal. I just hope they can pick up at least a bronze medal.W: Bronze? You mean gold, right?M: Well, that would be great, but there are a couple of very strong teams that beat China in a recent competition.W: I saw those matches — they were extremely close! China can beat them next year for sure!M: We’ll see. I hope you’re right. But you never know what will happen in sports.W: Exactly! They might surprise you! Then what will you say?M: Ha ha, OK, let’s just wait and see.Text 9M: Ms. Robertson, for the past three weeks, I have been getting complaints about your work.W: Uh, what do you mean? What kind of complaints?M: Well, your supervisor told me you’re turning your reports in 2 to 3 days late, you’re often absent from staff meetings, and you haven’t been getting along with your colleagues.W: Look, Mr. Travers, I can explain...M: Ms. Robertson, I know you have been with us for a while now, but this business is changing fast. We need people who can keep up and work as a team.W: Mr. Travers, my mother was just diagnosed with stomach cancer. I’ve been spending all my time outside of work at the hospital with her, and I even had to leave work early because she went into emergency surgery and I had to sign some papers. I’ve been so exhausted, and then Morrison from accounting made a joke the other day about cancer victims losing their hair and...M: Oh... I had no idea, Ms. Robertson.W: I know my work has suffered these past few weeks, but I promise I will make up for it!M: Listen, why don’t you take a couple of days off? It’s much more important that you be with your mother while she is recovering.W: Really, sir? Thank you so much!M: My pleasure. And I’ll have a word with Morrison. That kind of talk has no place in this office!Text 10Good afternoon, shoppers! This is a special request from the security department here at Wal-Mart. We hope you are finding everything you are looking for, but right now, we need your help. We are looking for a 10-year-old boy named Brandon McSorley. Brandon, if you can hear this, please go to the security desk located at the front of the store near the Pizza Hut. Your mom is looking for you. All other guests, please take a moment to help us find Brandon. His mother Sally was last with him in the frozen foods section about 10 minutes ago, and she thinks he is still somewhere in the store, possibly in the toys section or the sporting goods section. Brandon is wearing a red shirt, blue jeans, white shoes, and a black baseball cap. He is about 5 feet 2 inches tall with dark hair and blue eyes. If you see Brandon, please help him to get to the security desk located at the front of the store. You can also approach any of our staff members if you see Brandon or have any other information about where he might be. Thank you very much for your help, and enjoy the rest of your day here at Wal-Mart.