山东省济南市2021届高三英语上学期期中试题（Word版附答案）

山东省济南市2021届高三英语上学期期中试题（Word版附答案）

1 山东省济南市 2021 届高三上学期期中考试 英 语 试 题 2020.11 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.How was the weather last Saturday? A. Rainy. B.Sunny. C.Cloudy. 2.What will the man probably do next? A.Return to the party. B.Go home. C.Attend a meeting. 3. What is the man doing? A.Sending a text. B.Moving the furniture. C.Painting the walls. 4.Where will the speakers meet this evening? A.Outside a bookstore. B.In a cafe. C.In a concert hall. 5.What are the speakers mainly talking about? A.A film. B.A song. C.An actor. 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、7题。 6.Where does the conversation probably take place? A.In a hospital. B.At home. C.In a restaurant. 7.What did the man do today? A. He went to the dentist's. B.He had his eyes examined. C.He made medical appointments. 听第 7段材料，回答第 8、9题。 8.What did the woman think of the program last night? 2 A.Boring. B.So-so. C.Satisfying. 9.What does the man like doing? A. Watching TV. B.Playing sports. C.Going to the movies. 听第 8段材料，回答第 10至 12 题。 10. What is the man dissatisfied with about the airport? A. The service. B. The parking lot. C.The location. 11.How does the man usually go to the airport? A. By car. B. By subway. C.By bus. 12.What does the man say about the check-in? A.It is fast. B.It is slow. C.It is uncomfortable. 听第 9段材料，回答第 13至 16 题。 13. What is the woman's problem? A.She can't connect her computer to the system. B.She can't remember her computer password. C. She can't use the system properly. 14.What has the woman done? A. She has talked with IT about her problem. B. She has sent her computer to the factory. C.She has made a phone call to IT. 15.What does the man suggest the woman do? A.Wait patiently. B.Break the meeting. C.Make long phone calls. 16. What can we learn about the woman? A.She knew about the meeting from Tom. B. She has waited for IT for three hours. C. She is unwilling to trouble others. 听第 10 段材料，回答第 17 至 20 题。 17.What is the speaker mainly discussing? A.The benefits of selling online. B.The potential risks of selling online. 3 C.The dos and don't about selling online. 18.What is the disadvantage of the big platforms? A. They don't offer insurance to the seller. B.They charge a fee for advertising. C. They can't be accessed easily. 19.What should be avoided? A.Selling things of great value online. B.Meeting the buyer at a private place. C.Using a separate e-mail for selling online. 20. How will the seller be banned from the website? A. By providing false descriptions of products. B.By selling products at a high price. C.By offering personal information. 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 Growing Green Thumbs Children's Community Garden 2200 Bowling Green Ave.,940/349-2883 www.cmga.com LEARN:Join the weekend work at the community garden,where caregivers and master gardeners help kids aged 5 or older plant and water new vegetables,and harvest from the gardens. All harvested foods are either sold at the community's farmers' market or donated to the area food bank. The instructors also lead games about nutrition,beetles and butterflies and more. Work begins in May, 10 a. m. - 5 p.m. on Saturdays. COST:Free 4 Coppell Community Garden 255 Parkway Blvd Coppell www.coppellcommunitygarden.org LEARN: Kids(aged 6 but not turning 12 before Dec. 31 this year) with a parent can volunteer at either the Helping Hands Garden, 25 Parkway Blvd. or Ground Delivery Garden, 45 S. Denton Tap Road. Children will have the opportunity to till(耕）the ground, plant vegetables, ·harvest from the garden and more. Work begins every Saturday at about 9 a. m. COST:Free Callie's Kids by Calloway Nursery Denton,940/591-8865; Flower Mound,972/691-2650 www.mytexasgarden.com.......... LEARN: Kids aged 5 to 10 years old can explore and plant in the Calloway gardens with a caregiver's supervision at 9:30 a. m. on the first or third Wednesdays from June to August. A garden expert will share tips and advice for the best gardening practices during the 45-minute session beginning on June 2. Preregistration online is required. COST:Free 21. How is Children's Community Garden different from others? A. It is based in Denton. B. Kids may take harvests home. C. It is under supervision throughout the year. D. It will cater to those who are fond of insects. 22. What is the age range required by Coppell Community Garden? 5 A. 5-8. B. 5-10. C. 6-11. D. 6-12. 23. Where is this text most likely from? A. A food industry committed to charity. B. An institution offering learning programs. C. A supermarket offering voluntary programs. D. A website promoting kids' gardening facilities. B At eleven,I decided to learn to swim.There was a pool at the Y.M.C.A. offering exactly the opportunity. Mother continually warned against it,and kept fresh in my mind the details of cach drowning in the river. But the Y.M.C.A.pool was safe. I had a childhood fear of water. This started when I was three years old and father took me to the beach. The huge waves knocked me down and swept over me. The pool was quiet.I was afraid of going in all alone,so I sat on the side of the pool to wait for others. Then came a big boy.He yelled,"Hi,Skinny!How' d you like to be ducked?"With that he picked me up and threw me into the deep end.I landed in a sitting position, and swallowed water.But I was not frightened out of my wits-when my feet hit the bottom,I would make a big jump,come out of the surface.It seemed a long way down.I gathered all my strength when I landed and made what I thought was a great spring upwards. Then I opened my eyes and saw nothing but water.I tried to yell but no sound came out.I went down,down, endlessly. When I came to consciousness,I found myself lying on the bed in the hospital. 6 I never went back to the pool.I avoided water whenever I could.This misadventure stayed with me as the years rolled by.It deprived me of the joy of boating and swimming.Finally,I decided to get an instructor. Piece by piece,he built a swimmer.Several months later,the instructor was finished,but I was not. Sometimes the terror would return. This went on until July.I swam across the Lake Wentworth.Only once did the terror return.When I was in the middle of the lake,I put my face under and saw nothing but bottomless water.I laughed and said,"Well, Mr.Terror,what do you think you can do to me?" I had conquered my fear of water. 24.The author's original fear of water was caused by A.his poor skill in swimming B.his mother's warning of drowning C.an outing to the beach with his father D.an unpleasant memory of the pool 25. Why was the author not scared to death when he was thrown into the water? A.He knew how to swim in the pool. B.He felt that the Y.M.C.A.pool was safe. C.He was waiting for others to save him. D.He came up with an idea to go upwards. 26.By"but I was not"in paragraph 5,the author probably means_____________ 7 A.he was still a poor swimmer. B.he had not overcome the fear yet. C.he was not afraid of drowning any more. D. he was not satisfied with the swimming training. 27.Which of the following is the best title for the text? A.Goodbye,Mr.Terror B.Hello,Childhood Fear C.A Swimming Adventure D.My Passion for Swimming C The person who set the course of my life was a school teacher named Marjorie Hurd. When I stepped off a ship in New York Harbor in 1949, I was a nine-year-old war refugee, who had lost my mother and was coming to live with the father I did not know. My mother, Eleni Gatzoyiannis, had been imprisoned and shot for sending my sisters and me to freedom. I was thirteen years old when I entered Chandler Junior High. Shortly after I arrived, I was told to select a hobby to pursue during“club hours.” The idea of hobbies and clubs made no sense to my immigrant ears, but I decided to follow the prettiest girl in my class. She led me into the presence of Miss Hurd, the school newspaper adviser and English teacher. A tough woman with salt-and pepper hair and determined eyes, Miss Hurd had no patience with lazy bones. She drilled us in grammar, assigned stories for us to read and discuss, and eventually taught us how to put out a newspaper. Her introduction to the literary wealth of Greece gave me a new perspective on my war-torn homeland, making me proud of my origins. Her efforts inspired me to understand the logic and 8 structure of the English language. Owing to her inspiration, during my next twenty-five years, I became a, journalist by profession. Miss Hurd retired at the age of 62. By then, she had taught for a total of 41 years. Even after her retirement, she continually made a project of unwilling students in whom she spied a spark of potential. The students were mainly from the most troubled homes, yet she alternately bullied and charmed them with her own special brand of tough love, until the spark caught fire. Miss Hurd was the one who directed my grief and pain into writing. But for Miss Hurd, I wouldn't have become a reporter. She was the one who sent me into journalism and indirectly caused all the good things that came after. 28. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 most probably mean? A. Hobbies and clubs did not interest the author. B. The author turned a deaf ear to joining clubs. C. Hobbies and clubs were inaccessible to immigrants like the author. D. The author had no idea what hobbies and clubs were all about. 29. Which of the following caused the author to think of his homeland differently? A. Stepping on the American soil for the first time. B. Being exposed to Greek literary works. C. Her mother's miserable death. D. Following the prettiest girl in his class. 30. It can be inferred from Paragraph 4 that____________ A. Miss Hurd employed a unique way to handle these students. B. Miss Hurd's contribution was recognized across the nation. 9 C. Students from troubled homes preferred Miss Hurd's teaching style. D. The students Miss Hurd taught were all finally fired. 31. What is the text mainly about? A. How the author became a journalist. B. The importance of inspiration in one's life. C. The teacher who shaped the author's life. D. Factors contributing to a successful career. D Shinrin-yoku means “forest bathing”. Forest bathing doesn’t mean you take bath in the forest; rather, you simply go for a walk in the woods or a city park, where you slacken by using all your senses to experience nature. Yoshifumi Miyazaki, from Chiba University, is among a growing number of scientists who have begun studying the science behind the effects of nature on human health. In his book Shinrin-yoku: The Japanese Art of Forest Bathing, Miyazaki explains the techniques of forest bathing. Miyazaki has an interesting theory about why shinrin-yoku is so effective. He points out that for more than 99.99% of the time, humans have lived in a natural environment. In fact, in 1800, only 3% of the world’s population lived in cities, and by 2019, this figure reached 54%. This is only going to get worse; officials predict that by 2050, 66% will live in cities. This suggests we live in our modern society with bodies that are still used to the natural environment, he writes in the book, because “genes cannot change over just a few hundred years”. The science behind the research studies he presents in the book makes a convincing case that forest bathing is an effective method for reducing stress in today’s world. Now city planners are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of nature and are creating new kinds of “parks” out of empty spaces. There’re also more city gardens where people can grow vegetables. For kids, kitchen 10 gardens in schools are becoming popular. As Miyazaki stresses, you don’t have to find a formal park or garden to practice shinrin-yoku. Instead, you can enjoy the effects of nature wherever there’re plants. Better yet, he says, we can bring nature closer to where we spend most of our time. Miyazaki’s research has shown that just increasing the amount of plants in a room can affect the relaxation benefits of the room. What’s more, even when people simply look at flowers, their bodies relax and stress levels decrease. 32. What does the underlined word in Paragraph mean? A. Behave. B. Entertain. C. Predict. D. Relax. 33. How does the author mainly develop the third paragraph? A. By giving examples. B. By listing figures. C. By making remarks. D. By presenting research findings. 34. Why does forest bathing work effectively according to Miyazaki? A. Human genes can change easily. B. Nature is part of the modern society. C. Human bodies are accustomed to nature. D. People can always calm down in nature. 35. Which of the following will Miyazaki agree on forest bathing? A. It is easy to operate. B. It is meant for gardeners. C. It is unaffordable in the city. D. It is inconvenient to practice. 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。 You probably know that exercise is good for you. Studies show that it can prevent many major health conditions,including cognitive decline,diabetes, certain cancers and more. 36 ＂Our lives are completely full. We may have children,aging parents, jobs, partners,and community,"says Barbara Hannah Grufferman, author of The Best of Everything After 50. If you don't have a regular exercise plan,don't worry! There are simple things you can do to 11 get more exercise, no gym membership or hours of commitment required. Walk-and make it count Even if you're not in shape, you can likely walk. And that's good news, because many studies illustrate that it's one of the best things we can do for our bodies. Grufferman suggests getting a pedometer(计步器）， whether it's a simple mechanical one, or a FitBit or Jawbone. 37 And then,start walking faster and longer-most experts recommend walking 10,000 steps a day. Reduce sitting You've probably heard,"sitting is the new smoking."Well,this means that loads of research has shown that sitting for extended periods of time can have serious health consequences that range from obesity to diabetes and more. 38 It's also essential to take breaks from your sit-down desk. Run if you can It might seem out of reach, but if you can add some light running into your daily walk, you'll be better for it. Running can make you happier, strengthen your joints, improve heart health,and improve your memory! 39 Then,go for longer distances gradually. Make it a habit To truly make exercise-even the basics-a part of your life you'll need to make it a habit. ＂The good news is that it's never too late to start," says Grufferman. 40 A.Track your steps because it's very motivating. B.But finding time to get more exercise can be challenging. C.Make sure you are more active and have a more enjoyable life. D.Experts suggest using a standing desk at least some of the time. E. Like brushing your teeth, you have to build exercise into your life. F.Some experts suggest alternating jogging and walking to get started. G.Get the recommended amount of exercise for your age to get the most benefit. 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。 As our Earth’s temperature warms up because of climate change, it is having unexpected effects on our world’s forests. When temperatures rise, trees close their skins to 41 the loss of water, and this, in turn, 12 slows down the 42 of photosynthesis(光合作用). As a result, these trees are shorter and grow slowly, as well as have a 43 death rate. Climate change also increases the 44 of droughts and wildfires. After wildfires, it takes a while for the forest systems to 45 , and in some cases, the forests are 46 permanently. Trees that are stressed are also 47 to attacks by bacteria(细菌). In tropical forests, vines(藤蔓植物)that use the trees as 48 can often choke the trees and rob them of nutrients. Finally, humans have 49 the forest landscape through cutting down trees. When trees are replanted on the soil, they will never grow as large as the 50 trees that were cut down. As these forests disappear, species that once called them "home" are forced to change, 51 the variety of those systems. 52 , some endangered species are unable to 53 and die. Old-growth forests are disappearing in all regions of our world. When forests die, younger forests that are reestablished in the same area grow back weaker and smaller 54 poor plants. With trees dying increasingly and continuously, will future generations 55 out on the wonders of forests? 41. A. protect B. prevent C. save D. free 42. A. movement B. situation C. process D. operation 43. A. higher B. firmer C. lighter D. smaller 44. A. choice B.chance C. qualification D. measure 45 A. grow B. rescue C. recover D. decline 46. A. ignored B. left C. hurt D. lost 47. A. accessible B. enjoyable C. acceptable D. favorable 48. A. attention B. command C.support D.trust 49. A. frightened B. paid C. ruined D. wasted 50. A. common B. original C. distant D. strong 51. A. affecting B. improving C. forgetting D. reflecting 52. A. Besides B. Surprisingly C. Otherwise D. Unfortunately 53. A. devote B. adapt C.keep D. lead 54. A. due to B. in addition to C. instead of D. in spite of 55. A. pass B. miss C. break D. bring 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。 13 Have you ever wondered 56 you would do to solve math problems if you didn’t have a calculator or computer or even pencil and paper? People in China have used an ancient counting tool 57 (perform) mathematical operations. The Chinese calculator’s name is “suanpan”, but it is known 58 “abacus” in English. Invented by Liu Hong, abacus is one of the symbols of Chinese people’s wisdom 59 (date) back to the 12th century. Abacus has had a far-reaching influence on science and technology, language, literature, art, architecture and many 60 fields of China and even some areas of the world. Meanwhile, abacus has affected people’s character, such as honesty and diligence. For centuries, this simple counting device (设备) 61 (pass) down through different dynasties with its original design and purpose 62 (actual) unchanged. The calculations can be made on it immediately, with the device storing the results in “visual storage” much like a computer display. When working with an amount of 63 (number), an abacus is practically faster, since it has a 64 (good) “keyboard” than the Western calculators. Anyway, the small abacus has made an outstanding contribution in the fields of human intellectual development, just as the computer does in today’s 65 (social). 第四部分 写作（共两节，满分 40 分） 第一节（满分 15分） 66. 假如你是李华，你的英国笔友 Penny为了完成一篇题为 The meanings of colors in different cultures 的论文，写信询问你中国文化中颜色代表的含义。请你写信回复她的问题，并提供具体的例子。 注意：1.写作词数应为 80左右； 2.开头和结尾已写好，不计人总数； 3.请在答题卡的相应位置作答。 Dear Penny, How is everything going these days? ______________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ 14 ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ Yours, Li Hua 第二节（满分 25分） 67.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。 The darkness was gathering as she wobbled(颤颤巍巍）in high heels along the side of the highway. The car had come to an unexpected stop,and like a teenager she did the only thing she could think of...get out and walk. It was cold and late,and home was far away. This could be a long night. If.only someone would stop and offer her a ride. She prayed for help and dragged herself forward. 15 The lights of a truck shone from behind as it approached. “Maybe he will stop," she hoped. The brake lights flashed on as it stopped. Next instant, the cab door opened. A wordless invitation was extended and she understood. Without hesitation the girl climbed up into the cab and closed the door. Slowly the truck pulled back onto the road and disappeared into the night, never to be seen again. I woke up in a cold sweat, alarmed. Was that a dream or was it a vision? It was unbelievably real, and the girl was my daughter! I jumped from my bed and ran to her room. Her bed was empty. I stood in horror trying to think why she had not come home. As the mental fog began to lift,I remembered she was visiting her friend that evening. Perhaps she stayed there for the night. It was 1:30 a.m.,but I raced to the phone and dialed a number. “Hello?”The voice was heavy with sleep. “Hey. Sorry to wake you. Becki didn't come home tonight and I was wondering if she stayed at your place?" “No,she left here a few hours ago. She should have been home at least by midnight!” The voice on the other end began to reflect my own panic. Over the next forty-five minutes I alternated between lying in pray and pacing the floor in anxiety. At 2:15 a.m. lights appeared as a car turned up on our long driveway. I could tell immediately that it was not my daughter's car. 注意：1.续写词数应为 150左右； 2.请在答题卡的相应位置作答。 My face pressed against the window and I found it hard to breathe.___________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ 16 ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ “Mom,she gave me a ride home."Becki said.________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ 17 高 三 英 语 试 题 （参考答案） 2020.11 第一部分 听力（共两节，满分 30分） 1. A 2. B 3. B 4. A 5. A 6. B 7. A 8. C 9. B 10. C 11. C 12. A 13. A 14. C 15. B 16. C 17. C 18. B 19. B 20. A 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) 21-23DCB 24-27CDBA 28-31DBAC 32-35DBCA 第二节 (共 5小题；每小题 2. 5分，满分 12. 5分) 36-40 BADFE 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) 41-45 BCABC 46-50DACCB 51-55ADBAB 第二节 (共 10小题；每小题 1. 5分，满分 15分) 56 what 57 to perform 58 as 59 dating 60 other 61has been passed 62actually 63numbers 64better 65society 第四部分 书面表达 (共两节，满分 40分) 第一节 (满分 15分) Dear Penny, How is everything going these days? In response to your questions, I am more than delighted to introduce two of the most symbolic colors in China. Without doubt, the first one is red, a symbol of joy and celebration. Therefore, it is traditional for Chinese brides to wear a red wedding dress. In addition, white is conventionally associated with sadness, usually seen at the funerals. However, as time changes, white can also signify purity. That's why many brides wear white in their wedding ceremonies, as is often the case in your country. Hopefully my introduction to colors in China is of great value for your essay. Wish you all the best. 18 Yours, Li Hua 第二节 (满分 25分) My face pressed against the window and I found it hard to breathe. The car pulled in front of the house, and out of it emerged my precious daughter, making her way up the steps. Tears stinging(使刺痛）my eyes,I threw open the door,pulled her inside and hugged her tightly. The dream was just too real and I could hardly believe I was now having my daughter in my hug. I wondered if it was because my pray was answered. Then through my blurred vision(模糊的视野）I saw a lady stepping out of the car. “Mom, she gave me a ride home."Becki said. “My car broke down on the highway and without her help, I would never have made it home in my high heels. " she continued, exposing her blistered(起泡的）ankles. My heart shuddered(一想起就怕/担心/难受） at the thought of how painfully Becki staggered(踉跄） along the dark highway. She must be an angel for Becki! I approached the lady and invited her inside. Now,I was definitely grateful to her for extending a helping hand. 听力原文 Text 1 M: I’m going swimming in the lake on Sunday. Do you want to come? W: Isn’t it going to be cloudy? M: That doesn’t matter because it will be 25 degrees. W: OK. I went swimming last Saturday when it was raining. It was funnier than swimming on a sunny day! Text 2 M: Emma! What are you doing outside? Aren’t you enjoying the party? W: Parties aren’t really my thing. I’ll head home soon. M: I will go back too. I’ve got a meeting tomorrow morning. 19 Text 3 M: Hello, Maria. W: Hi, Mike. Are you having your breakfast? M: No. I’m helping my dad move the furniture in my bedroom. Then we’re going to paint the walls. W: OK. I’ll send you a text later. Have fun painting. Text 4 M: Do you want to go to the concert this evening? W: Yeah. We could go and eat something first. M: All right. Why don’t I wait for you outside the bookstore at about six? W: OK. I’ll meet you there when I finish work. Then we can look for a café before the concert. Text 5 W: That’s the first film I’ve seen with an interval. It was hard to work out what was happening and the break even made me forget the actors’ names. M: Indeed. They kept playing the same song, but it added to the atmosphere. Text 6 W: How did your appointment go? M: Yeah, fine. They didn’t need to do anything. W : Great! So your eyes are all OK then? M: The sight test is next week, actually, Mum. I was having my teeth checked today. W: Oh, yes. Your dad made the appointments this time, so I couldn’t remember who you were 20 seeing first. He should be back from the doctor’s any minute. M: So are you making the dinner tonight? W: I am, and it’s your favorite—noodles. M: Great! Text 7 W: Ben. Did you see the program last night about the Olympic Games? It was brilliant. I learnt so much! M: Did you? I thought it was quite boring. In fact, I’m not really interested in sports programs. W: But you love sports. You play football and tennis and basketball and … M: Yes, I enjoy playing sports, but I hate watching them on TV. W: Oh, so what kind of TV programs do you like? M: To be honest, I don’t watch much TV. I prefer watching movies on my notebook computer. Text 8 W: What do you think of the airport? M: Well, it’s far from downtown and when the traffic is bad, it can take an hour and a half to get there. The city really needs to build a new airport that is closer to the city. W: Do you usually drive to the airport? M: No. I usually take the airport bus. It’s clean and comfortable, and it’s a lot cheaper than driving because you don’t have to pay for parking. But my wife prefers taking the subway. W: Is there much to do there while you wait for your flight? M: Sure. There are a couple of stores that sell souvenirs and magazines. There are also a couple of fast-food places and the service there is nice. W: How long does it take to check in? M: It doesn’t take long. They’re pretty efficient. 21 Text 9 W: Hey Jack, can I ask you something? M: Sure, what’s up? W: Is something wrong with the system? I’ve been trying to get in for the past 10 minutes but it’s been kicking me out. M: It’s all fine for me. What do you mean, “kicking you out”? W: I’m putting in my password and it tells me the system’s offline. I’ve tried every single combination I can think of but nothing works. M: That’s strange. My computer’s been fine. Have you tried calling IT? W: I did, but no one picked up the phone. M: Oh, right, they’ve got a meeting right now—but you can interrupt them if it’s an emergency. W: I know. I just didn’t want to disturb others if it’s something simple. Besides, I’ve got a couple of phone calls to make today so I can make them now while I wait. M: They’d better be long phone calls, then. From what Tom told me, their meeting’s going to last three hours. W: Three hours! What sort of meeting is this? M: It’s that planning meeting about the factory they mentioned, isn’t it? Yeah, you’d better go and interrupt them. They’re going to be in there all day. Text 10 M: Selling your things online helps you get rid of those you don’t need, and it can also be a great source of income. One thing you need to consider carefully is the platform on which you are going to advertise. Most big 22 platforms in the field are so popular with sellers, not just because they can give you access to a bigger pool of potential customers, but also because they offer insurance, both to the seller and the buyer. The disadvantage, however, is that you will need to pay some money for using the platform. You can use some platforms that either charge a smaller fee for advertising or even no fee at all — but, in that case, what you will need to keep in mind is your safety, especially if the value of the product you’re selling is high. It’s always best to meet the buyer during the day at a public place such as a coffee shop, a library, or a supermarket parking lot — anywhere monitored by security cameras is good. A few more things to keep in mind: always be accurate with your descriptions of the things you are selling. The last thing you want is to be accused of cheating and banned from the website. Moreover, be careful with your personal information: do not give out your full name and don’t give out your home address or cell phone number unless you have to, and have a separate e-mail address for selling online. Remember that a smart, prepared seller is a happy seller.