【英语】湖南省衡阳市第八中学2019-2020学年高二下学期第三次月考试题（6月）

【英语】湖南省衡阳市第八中学2019-2020学年高二下学期第三次月考试题（6月）

湖南省衡阳市第八中学2019-2020学年高二下学期 第三次月考试题（6月）‎ 命题人：肖新征 尹文倩 资晶 审题人：肖新征 时量：120分钟 总分:150分 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。‎ ‎1. What does the man think of Sue?‎ A. She is a competitive coworker.‎ B. She is too young to be promoted.‎ C. She is an experienced employee.‎ ‎2. What does the doctor advise the woman to do?‎ A. Do the first test only. B. Give up the two tests. C. Do the tests tomorrow.‎ ‎3. What is the relationship between the two speakers?‎ A. Waiter and guest. B. Colleagues. C. Neighbors.‎ ‎4. What are the speakers talking about?‎ A. Wedding dress. B. Wedding hotel. C. Wedding preparation.‎ ‎5. How far is the shop?‎ A. Two blocks away. B. Three blocks away. C. Four blocks away.‎ 第二节 (共15小题;每小题1分，满分15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. Why has the flight been canceled?‎ A. The weather of the day is awful.‎ B. Something is wrong with the plane.‎ C. The airport is closed for emergency.‎ ‎7. What does the man think of the woman's second option?‎ A. Acceptable. B. Ambiguous. C. Unreasonable.‎ 听第7段材料，回答第8至10题。‎ ‎8. Where does the conversation probably take place?‎ A. In a library. B. In a bookshop. C. In a supermarket.‎ ‎9. How can people find the books they want?‎ A. By checking the online catalogue.‎ B. By searching books on the phone.‎ C. By putting in author names online.‎ ‎10. In what situation will the man get charged?‎ A. When he borrows the books without his ID card.‎ B. When he doesn't have the membership card.‎ C. When he keeps the books without renewing them.‎ 听第8段材料，回答第11至13题。‎ ‎11. What does the man want to do?‎ A. Open a credit card account. ‎ B. Check his credit report. ‎ C. Pay off credit card debt.‎ ‎12. How many valid credit cards does the man have now?‎ A. None. B. One C. Five.‎ ‎13. What caused the man's problem?‎ A. He had unpaid debts. B. He was unable to pay. C. He failed to pay on time.‎ 听第9段材料，回答第14至16题。‎ ‎14. What might be responsible for Alice's headache?‎ A. Lack of sleep. B. Tiredness. C. Stress.‎ ‎15. What does Alice probably do?‎ A. She's a student. B. She's a housewife. C. She's an employee.‎ ‎16. What's the man's suggestion to the woman?‎ A. Changing her job. ‎ B. Forgetting her to-do-list. ‎ C. Relaxing herself with what she likes.‎ 听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。‎ ‎17. What has happened to South Howe Broch?‎ A. It has completely disappeared.‎ B. It has been falling into the sea.‎ C. It has been protected by a sea wall.‎ ‎18. Which of the following sites has been badly affected by severe weather events?‎ A. Midhowe Broch. ‎ B. The Orkney Islands. ‎ C. The University of the Highlands and Islands.‎ ‎19. Which period does the Midhowe Broch belong to? ‎ A. The Iron Age. B. Viking rule. C. The Middle Ages.‎ ‎20. What does the passage mainly talk about?‎ A. Climate has greatly changed in Scotland.‎ B. Climate change threatens Scottish historical structures.‎ C. Ancient British structures remain after severe climate change.‎ 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 My father was 44 and knew he wasn’t going to make it to 45. He wrote me a letter and hoped that something in it would help me for the rest of my life.‎ Since the day I was 12 and first read his letter, some of his words have lived in my heart. One part always stands out. “Right now, you are pretending to be a time-killer. But I know that one day, you will do something great that will set you among the very best.” Knowing that my dad believed in me gave me permission to believe in myself. “You will do something great.” He didn’t know what that would be, and neither did I, but at times in my life when I’ve felt proud of myself, I remember his words and wish he were here so I could ask. “Is this what you were talking about, Dad? Should I keep going?”‎ A long way from 12 now, I realize he would have been proud when I made any progress. Lately, though, I’ve come to believe he’d want me to move on to what comes next: to be proud of and believe in, somebody else. It’s time to start writing my own letters to my children. Our children look to us with the same unanswered question we had. Our kids don’t hold back because they’re afraid to fail. They’re only afraid of failing us. They don’t worry about being disappointed. Their fear—as mine was until my father’s letter---is of being a disappointment.Give your children permission to succeed. They’re waiting for you to believe in them.‎ I always knew my parents loved me. But trust me: That belief will be more complete, that love will be more real, and their belief in themselves will be greater if you write the words on their hearts; “Don’t worry; you’ll do something great.” Not having that blessing from their parents may be the only thing holding them back.‎ ‎21. What does the author tell us in the 3rd paragraph?‎ A. Children need their parents’ letters.  ‎ B. His father’s letter removed his fear of failing his parents.‎ C. His children’s fear of failure held them back.   ‎ D. Children are afraid to be disappointed.‎ ‎22. Which of the following is true of the author?‎ A. He was sure his parents loved him.       B. He wrote back to his father at 12.‎ C. He got no access to success.    D. He once asked his father about the letter.‎ ‎23. The main purpose of the text is to _______.‎ A. describe children’s thinking               ‎ B. answer some questions children have C. advise parents to encourage their children  ‎ D. stress the importance of communication ‎ B Student loan (贷款) debt has become a worldwide problem. In America, the country's overall student debt reached a record of $1.6 trillion in 2019. The average person with student loan debt owed between $20,000 and $25,000. A recent Japanese government report says it has been lending over $9 billion yearly to students since 2010. Similar conditions exist in Africa and South America.‎ Several factors account for high student loan debt. One is that employers everywhere have increased their demands for skilled workers, making higher education a requirement for many jobs. The students, however, after graduation, often find that their country's economy is not strong enough to support their financial needs, so their ability to pay back the loan becomes a problem.‎ To solve the problem, many countries are seeking their ways. Australia has developed a system where students do not have to pay anything back until they are earning at least $40,000 a year. In America, several candidates running for president in the 2020 election have offered more extreme solutions that all or at least some of these loans will be forgiven.‎ Some professors in several universities recently studied what the effects of debt forgiveness might be. They found that, overall, sudden debt relief greatly improved the borrowers' lives. Not only did they have more money, but they were more likely to move to a new area and seek better paying work.‎ Yet the professors' research doesn't include what might happen to financial institutions or the overall economy if debt were totally forgiven. It only looks at how debt forgiveness would help the borrowers. They warn of some other possible negative effects. If a borrower knew that if he ran into any trouble he would be saved because he could get the debt relief, then he might actually become more reckless with his borrowing in the future.‎ No matter what, the professors agree that if countries do decide to approve some student debt relief the neediest students should be helped first.‎ ‎24. How does the author introduce the problem of student loan?‎ A.By making a comparison. B.By making classifications.‎ C.By setting down general rules. D.By presenting some statistics ‎25.What can we learn about student loan debt relief?‎ A.It has already been carried out in the United States.‎ B. It will surely provide some benefits to borrowers.‎ C.It aims to encourage more students to borrow money.‎ D.It will prevent a person from landing a well-paying job.‎ ‎26. What is the professors' attitude to debt forgiveness?‎ A.Uncaring. B.Positive. C.Cautious. D.Disapproving.‎ 27. What's the main idea of the text?‎ A.Growing global student debt fuels search for solutions.‎ B.Student loan debt is the most serious problem worldwide.‎ C.Student loan debt tends to pull the needy out of trouble.‎ D.People hold different opinions on debt forgiveness.‎ C ‎“Nomophobia”, NO Mobile Phone phobia(恐惧) is a 21st-century term for the fear of not being able to use your smartphone. Smartphone addiction is on the rise, surveys show, and a new study released adds to a growing body of evidence that smartphone addiction is harming our minds literally.‎ Smartphone addiction affects many people from all across the globe. Over 1.8 billion people own smartphones and the average owners check their screens 150 times a day. Considering those numbers, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when 44% of people (compared with 20% in 2011) admit feeling anxious when they can’t have access to their phones.‎ Researchers from Harvard University used brain imaging to study the brains of 19 teenage boys who were diagnosed with smartphone addiction. Compared with 19 teenagers who were not addicted, the brains of the addicted boys had significantly higher levels of GABA, which decelerates neurons (神经元)， than levels of glutamate-glutamine, which energizes brain signals. That results in poorer attention and control, which you don’t want to have, because you want to stay focused. So that means you are easier to get distracted.‎ ‎“Addicted teenagers in the study also had significantly higher scores in anxiety, depression and levels of impulsiveness (冲动) ,” said Dr. Leslie Perlow, who led the study.‎ If you seem to have the symptoms of smart device addiction, experts have some suggestions in addition to mindfulness training. First, turn off your phone at certain times of the day, such as in meetings, when having dinner, playing with your kids, and of course, driving. Remove social media apps, like Facebook and Twitter from your phone, and only check-in from your laptop. Try to stop yourself to 15-minute intervals at set times of the day when it won’t affect work or family life. Don’t bring your cellphone and its harmful blue light to bed, and use an old-fashioned alarm to wake you. And last, try to replace your smart device time with healthier activities such as meditating or actually interacting with real people.‎ ‎28．Where can you find the data that best supports smartphone addiction is on the rise?‎ A．In Paragraph 2. B．In Paragraph 3.‎ C．In Paragraph 4. D．In Paragraph 5.‎ ‎29．What can be concluded from the research?‎ A．Smartphone addiction leads to distraction.‎ B．Smartphone addiction easily causes anger.‎ C．Smartphone addiction is harmful to the mind.‎ D．Smartphone addiction brings about anxiety and depression.‎ ‎30．Which of the following can replace the underlined word “decelerates” in Paragraph 3?‎ A．Speeds up. B. Cuts down C．Adds to. D．Slows down.‎ ‎31．Which of the suggestions is encouraged according to the text?‎ A．To use an old-fashion cellphone. B．To stop fifteen-minute intervals.‎ C．To participate in more social activities. D．To turn off the blue light on bed.‎ D More often than not, we think the taste of food is largely to do with the way it's cooked. However, according to a new study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, sitting and standing also affect the taste.‎ Lead author Dipayan Biswas, a professor from the University of South Florida in the US, looked specifically at how the vestibular（前庭的）sense, which is responsible for balance, posture（姿势）and location awareness, works with our sense of taste.‎ He found that standing for even a few minutes causes people to feel physical stress. Gravity pushes blood to the lower parts of the body, causing the heart to work harder. This increases the heart rate and leads to increased stress hormones. All of these reduce sensory sensitivity, which affects taste. Our mouths fail to taste or feel temperature as well when this happens. When people experience discomfort, foods that normally taste good aren't as pleasing, says Science Daily.‎ Biswas gave 350 participants each a piece of biscuit and had them rate its tastiness. Those who stood while eating gave it a lower rating than those who sat in comfortable chairs. Next, Biswas and his team gave participants bite-sized cookies from a well-known local restaurant. These cookies are widely considered to be very tasty. Those who sat down to eat rated them highly. However, when the baker added extra salt, the results were opposite. Participants who ‎ stood up to eat the cookies didn't notice that the cookies tasted saltier, while those who were seated found the cookies weren't so tasty.‎ So if you really want to enjoy your meal, try to find yourself a comfortable seat. But if you're trying to lose weight, eating while standing could be helpful because people tend to eat less while standing.‎ ‎32．What's the common belief about the taste of the food in the text?‎ A．It is mainly determined by how food is cooked.‎ B．It is largely to do with how people sit or stand.‎ C．It has little to do with the way people eat food.‎ D．It seems associated with people's preferences.‎ ‎33．Why do people who stand less enjoy food?‎ A．Their mental health declines. B．Their hearts work more slowly.‎ C．They have no sensory sensitivity. D．They are less sensitive to taste.‎ ‎34．How did Dipayan Biswas get his conclusions in paragraph 4?‎ A．By doing experiments. B．By classifying examples.‎ C．By studying previous theories. D．By analyzing abundant data.‎ ‎35．What's the best title of the text?‎ A．Sitting Has Various Effects On Eating.‎ B．Posture Affects How People Enjoy Food C．Eating While Standing Helps To Lose Weight D．Sitting And Standing Are Common Postures 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。‎ Having a shy style isn’t necessarily a problem. It’s OK to take time to warm up to new people and situations. 36．Some people want to feel less shy so they can enjoy socializing and being themselves around others. Here are some tips on overcoming shy feelings.‎ ‎● 37． Practice social behaviors like eye contact, confident body language, introductions, small talk, asking questions, and invitations with people you feel most comfortable around. Smile and build your confidence.‎ ‎● Think of some conversation starters. Often the hardest part of talking to someone new is getting started. Think of conversation openers, like introducing yourself, giving a compliment, or asking a question. 38．‎ ‎● Rehearse (排练) what to say. When you are ready to try something you’ve been avoiding because of shyness — like a phone call or a conversation, write down what you want to say. Read it out loud in front of a mirror. Then just do your social activities.39．Few of the things that more confident people do are perfect, either.‎ ‎● Give yourself a chance. 40． Practice socializing with these new people and get to know them slowly. People who are shy often worry about failing or how others will judge them. Don’t let these worries and feelings keep you from trying.‎ A. Start small with people you know.‎ B. Then you can start smiling and saying “hello” in real life.‎ C. One of the best ways to get over shyness is to believe in yourself.‎ D. Find group activities where you can be with people who share your interests.‎ E. Being ready with a conversation starter makes it easier to approach someone.‎ F. Don’t worry if they’re not exactly like you have practiced or they’re not perfect.‎ G. But shyness prevents some people from being as comfortable as they’d like to be.‎ 第三部分 语言运用 (共两节，满分30分)‎ 第一节 (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。‎ There I stood with tears in my eyes. I looked at a face which was so 41 that I might mistake it for my own. I stared at her in 42 . It felt like a dream. I hugged her; she was real.‎ Adopted at a very young age, I 43 surrounded by people I loved as family. 44 , the faces weren’t like mine. They were people that loved me. As I got older, the curiosity to learn more about myself took hold and didn’t 45 .Who was I? Where did I come from?‎ At the age of 21, I was given the chance to 46 it out thanks to my adoptive parent’s the process of 47 .They accompanied me to the adoption agency. Then the staff 48 the process of finding my birth mother. But the process was 49 and I didn’t expect there would ‎ be many complex procedures. And the agency also had caution to move the procedures to ensure both parties’ privacy especially 50 my birth mother didn’t choose to meet me.‎ Months later the agency told me that my birth mother was found and that she 51 to meet me. We were excited. My parents said my birth mother made great sacrifice as she gave me away, 52 allowed them to support the family. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been possible on their own. I was 53 what my birth mother might be doing and what she might look like. I created a(n) 54 in my head.‎ After a long process,the moment finally came―we reunited.‎ She said she had made a(n) 55 decision,when watching me leave with only the hope that another family could provide what she couldn’t. She said she hesitated for long but knew she was right. I knew she loved me very much.‎ ‎41．A．familiar B．ugly C．old D．unclear ‎42．A．anger B．panic C．disbelief D．sorrow ‎43．A．stood up B．came up C．warmed up D．grew up ‎44．A．However B．Meanwhile C．Therefore D．Instead ‎45．A．help B．stop C．increase D．arrive ‎46．A．figure B．pick C．turn D．sort ‎47．A．request B．appreciation C．support D．forgiveness ‎48．A．delayed B．updated C．refused D．explained ‎49．A．important B．discouraging C．different D．abstract ‎50．A．now that B．in case C．even though D．only if ‎51．A．continued B．managed C．agreed D．happened ‎52．A．what B．that C．who D．which ‎53．A．wondering B．consulting C．guaranteeing D．anticipating ‎54．A．schedule B．picture C．dream D．error ‎55．A．necessary B．quick C．impossible D．tough 第二节 (共10小题: 每小题1.5分，满分15分)‎ 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。‎ Tao Yong, a young and senior ophthalmologist(眼科医生) at Chaoyang Hospital, 56 (injure) seriously on Jan 20, when a patient attacked him with a knife. Ironically, Tao had saved ‎ the patient from turning blind, but the latter was still 57 ( satisfy) with the treatment. After undergoing treatment for months, Tao returned to his job recently but he has lost all feeling in his left hand, 58. means he may never again be able to carry out eye surgeries. ‎ Anyone who is aware of Tao's credentials (文凭,证书) will know what the 59 (lose)means. His area of specialization is uveitis (眼色素层炎), 60. disease that causes inflammation(发炎,炎症) to the colored portion of the eye. It is difficult 61. (cure) and is being researched by very few doctors. The knife attack harmed not just Tao 62. thousands of his patients who were awaiting treatment. Many people feel Tao's career is ruined, but Tao himself believes he can still do a lot for his patients. Before the attack on him, Tao 63. (share) his experiences on social networking platforms, 64. (earn) millions of followers. He is concentrating more 65. these online activities now and through his livestreaming, he shares tips on how to keep eyes healthy by answering audience questions and doubts, inspiring more people to study ophthalmology.‎ 第四部分 写作 (共两节，满分40分)‎ 第一节 (满分15分)‎ 假定你是李华，你的英国朋友Robert看了BBC纪录片《杜甫》后，发来一封邮件，询问中国人对杜甫的看法。请你回复邮件，内容包括:‎ ‎1.最伟大的诗人；‎ ‎2.著述颇丰；‎ ‎3.心怀百姓。‎ 注意:‎ ‎1.词数80左右；‎ ‎2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。‎ ‎______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________‎ 第二节 (满分25分)‎ 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。续写的词数应为150左右。‎ It was a rainy November morning. Overcome with anger I knew if I didn't leave the house soon I would lose my temper with my husband, Joe. As rain came down in sheets, Joe offered to take me to work. I struggled into my jacket, seized my bag and teaching plans and ignored him.‎ He insisted and reached for his boots. I looked at the piles of newspapers and the dirty dishes still on the table. “Don’t you have enough to do? I can take care of myself.” I stormed out，not even kissing him good-bye. Joe shouted after me not to take the shortcut(快捷的小道, 捷径).‎ Joe and I had been eagerly looking forward to our retirement when a heart attack that past spring forced him to leave his job earlier than we had planned. As the medical bills mounted, we realized I would have to continue working full-time while Joe stayed home and took over the housework.‎ The new arrangement was a disaster. Exhausted after a day of full work, all I wanted was a hot home cooked meal and a good night's sleep. However, what greeted me at the table was a microwave package. Sometimes he would serve oatmeal(燕麦 )for several nights in a row. One night when I dragged myself to bed, I was terrified to discover Joe had turned our white sheets blue. He told me he had found out how to save on water, soap and electricity. He patted his blue trousers and announced proudly washing everything together was just the secret.‎ Ten minutes later, ignoring Joe’s warning I turned off the main route. I thought it hadn’t rained enough to flood the road, but as I rounded the corner water rushed across my path. After a few feet, the car got stuck. I opened the door and water poured in. I hurriedly closed the door. I couldn’t risk walking in this. Almost 20 minutes passed. The car began to shake. I got frightened to death when I heard three long honks (喇叭声).‎ Paragraph 1: Looking over my shoulder, I stared into the flashing lights of a truck. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ‎ Paragraph 2: I screamed that I couldn’t make it. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________‎ ‎【参考答案】‎ ‎1-5 BCBCB 6-10 BAAAC 11-15 AACCC 16-20 CBBAB ‎21-25 BACDB 26-30 CAAAD 31-35 CADAB 36-40 GAEFD ‎41-45 ACDAB 46-50 ACDBB 51-55 CDABD ‎ ‎56. was injured 57. unsatisfied 58. which 59. loss 60. a ‎61. to cure 62. but 63.had been sharing 64. earning 65. on ‎66.应用文写作：‎ Dear Robert,‎ How's everything going? I'm glad to hear that BBC is introducing Chinese culture in UK. ‎ Du Fu is regarded as the greatest poet in Chinese history. He was quite productive, leaving about 1,500 poems behind, most of which are still popular today. We love him not only because ‎ he wrote many great poems，but because he loved us common people. In most of his poems, he described the life of ordinary people and the extreme hardship they were facing as well as criticizing the governors who didn't care about the common people. ‎ I'm delighted that you have an interest in Chinese Culture. If you would learn Chinese language, then you'll find more about China. Wish you all the best.‎ Yours,‎ Li Hua ‎67.读后续写：‎ Paragraph 1: Looking over my shoulder, I stared into the flashing lights of a truck. A gleam of hope glinted in my mind and I began to shout for help. Off got a man. It was Joe! I couldn’t help bursting into tears. He struggled through the rushing water and stumbled towards my car. Upon arrival, he yelled, “Don’t be afraid, honey. Open the door and jump out!” Clenching my teeth, I pulled the handle of the door but the door didn’t move under the weight of the strong current.‎ Paragraph 2: I screamed that I couldn’t make it. Joe, however, remained calm! He took out a hammer and knocked on the corners of the window with force. Finally, the glass broke into pieces and the current poured in. Without delay, Joe grabbed me by the arm and pulled me out of the car. Holding hands tightly, we moved forward slowly and cautiously. Thank God, I was saved, safe and sound! There are lees to every wine but rescuing me tooth and nail in the shortcut makes Joe my perfect husband despite his clumsiness with housework.‎ 附件：听力原文 Text 1‎ W: Have you heard Sue’s got a promotion?‎ M: Really? She is too young, and has only worked here for no more than half a year.‎ W: Yes, but she is really very capable and outstanding.‎ Text 2‎ W: Good afternoon, Doctor. I’ve come here for some blood tests.‎ M: Let me have a look. The first test is no problem, but the second one has to be done on an empty stomach. So I suggest you come back tomorrow morning.‎ Text 3‎ W: The service at our company’s staff canteen is just excellent! Don’t you think so, Jim?‎ M: Are you kidding me, Cathy? I waited for 20 minutes before I got a coffee. ‎ Text 4‎ M: How are your wedding plans going?‎ W: I’ve prepared the church, transport, hotel, honeymoon… everything. The only thing that isn’t ready yet is my wedding dress.‎ Text 5‎ W: I know a place on the Fifth Street where you can get your camera repaired.‎ M: How far is it?  ‎ W: Keep on walking ahead about two blocks, and you’ll see a bank. Go ahead and continue for another block. The shop is right there at the corner.‎ Text 6‎ W: I’m sorry, sir. This flight has been canceled due to some mechanical problems. ‎ M: Canceled? Oh, what a day! What should I do then? ‎ W: We apologize for any inconvenience that may be caused by this. If your flight is urgent, I can put you on a waiting list for another flight this evening, but it’s on a first come first served basis, so there is no guarantee that you will be able to take that flight.‎ M: Can I have some other options? ‎ W: You can. If you are willing to wait until tomorrow, we will put you up in a hotel for today and you can take scheduled flight for tomorrow morning. ‎ M: That’s fine. I’ll do that then. ‎ W: Thank you for your understanding, sir. I will book your flight now. ‎ Text 7‎ M: Wow! Look! So many books! I bet I can definitely find my book here!‎ W: Shhh! Please keep your voice down. There are people reading and studying here. ‎ M: Oh, I’m sorry. Are you the librarian? Maybe you can help me. I am looking for some books. ‎ W: No problem. You can check our online catalogue to search the book you want based on the title. If you know the author, I can point you towards the right direction.‎ M: I am looking for books written by Charles Dickens. ‎ W: That would be in our literature section. The bookshelf there on the right. ‎ M: OK, found them finally. I’d like to check out these books. ‎ W: Do you have a library card? ‎ M: Oh, no. How can I get one? ‎ W: Just show me your ID card or driving license. ‎ M: Wait a minute. Here you go. ‎ W: So you are all set. You can have these books for two weeks. If you need to have them longer, you can bring them here to renew them. If you don’t, you will get charged ten cents a day for each book. ‎ M: OK, I see. Thank you!‎ Text 8‎ M: This is the second time I’ve been turned down for a credit card in a month. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. ‎ W: Have you checked your credit report recently? Maybe you have a bad credit record.‎ M: I have a full-time job with a good income; they can easily confirm it. And I don’t have any unpaid debt. So what could be the problem? ‎ W: Have you ever had a credit card? ‎ M: Yeah. ‎ W: Did you always make your payments on time? ‎ M: Well, no. ‎ W: Then that may be the problem. It makes a big difference if you miss payments or are late.‎ M: You mean if I were late a few times, I wouldn’t be able to get another credit card? ‎ W: A few times? How many times? ‎ M: Well, five actually. ‎ W: Why do you need another credit card now that you’ve already had one? ‎ M: I had one, but it was canceled by the bank.‎ W: Ah ha! I think we’ve just found the answer to the problem. ‎ Text 9‎ M: Alice, what’s wrong? You don’t look so good today. Are you alright?‎ W: No. I’ve had a headache for three days. It just won’t go away!‎ M: Sorry to hear that. But have you tried any medicine for it?‎ W: I visited the doctor and he gave me some painkillers. But those pills make me really sick and I even have a stomachache now.‎ M: Are you feeling tired?‎ W: Not really. I’ve been getting seven or eight hours of sleep every night, so I don’t think it’s sleep-related. ‎ M: Are you feeling stressed? Stress can also cause headaches. ‎ W: Maybe a little bit. You know I’m in an online education program. I’m working full time. I live away from my family. I’ve been sick most of the year. So yes, stressed! But what can I do about that?‎ M: Basically, when I feel stressed, I review my to-do-list. I only focus on the things that need to be done first, rather than move blindly from one task to another. And I only do things I enjoy, say walking, reading or listening to music.‎ Text 10‎ Historians are warning that some ancient British structures are being threatened by climate change.‎ One of the most affected places is around the Orkney Islands, which are off the northern coast of Scotland. The area is home to more than 3,000 historical places. But, the islands have been seriously affected by severe weather events in recent years. Some structures on the islands were built during the Iron Age, Viking rule and the Middle Ages.‎ Experts say that about 1,000 historical sites are under threat. One of them is the Iron Age building South Howe Broch on the island of Rousay. Now, its main wall has started falling into the sea. Julie Gibson is with the University of the Highlands and Islands. She fears the whole structure will one day completely disappear. ‎ A few hundred meters away from South Howe Broch is Midhowe Broch. This Iron Age building is still in good condition because it has been protected by a sea wall built in the 1930s. But experts say even this site faces risks if climate conditions continue to worsen.‎ It is reported that the average rainfall has risen 27 percent in Scotland since the early 1960s. This increases the chances of water entering deeply into structures and causing damage. Over ‎ time, such damage can cause structural collapse. ‎