英语卷&183;2012届湖北省八市高三三月联考(2012.03)

2012年湖北省八市高三三月联考试卷

英 语

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 is the probable relationship between the speakers?

A. Salesgirl and customer. B. Interviewer and interviewee. C. Editor and reader.

2. What does the woman suggest the man do?

A. Read all kinds of materials. B. Speak as much as possible. C. Listen to lots of materials.

3. What does the girl think of the boy’s failure?

A. It is helpful for him in a sense. B. It is out of her expectation. C. It is a great pity.

4. What are the speakers mainly talking about?

A. The woman’s new classmates. B. The woman’s new teachers. C. The woman’s new lessons.

5. Where does the conversation take place?

A. At an airport. B. At a restaurant. C. At a hotel.

第二节（共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22.5分）

听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题。从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟；听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间，每段对话或独白读两遍。 听第6段材料，回答第6至8题.

6. What is the woman most probably?

A. A manager. B. A waitress. C. A secretary.

7. When will Mr. Smith come back?

A. After a week. B. This Sunday. C. Next Monday.

8. What do we know about Mr. Smith?

A. He is flying to Hong Kong. B. He will meet a trade delegation. C. He will have an appointment with the man.

听第7段材料，回答第9至11题。

9. What does the man think of his old car?

A. Very comfortable. B. Worth the money .C. In bad condition.

10. What did the man do with his old car?

A. He sold it at a loss. B. He had the wheels changed. C. He had the engine repaired.

11. What does the man think of his new car?

A. Small. B. Satisfactory. C. Expensive.

听第8段材料，回答第12至14题.

12. Why does the man talk to the woman?

A. To ask her for advice. B. To give her some advice. C. To invite her to go on a trip.

13. What do we know about the man?

A. He does not have enough money for the holiday. B. He does not want to hurt Celia’s feelings.

C. He does not like Miguel very much.

14. What does the woman suggest the man do?

A. Spend a holiday with Miguel. B. Tell Miguel about his plan. C. Go on a trip with Celia.

听第9段材料，回答第15至17题.

15. What do we know about Jeff?

A. He works in a telephone company. B. He’s an expert at computer. C. He is in a foreign country.

16. What is Skype?

A. It’s a substance for cleaning toilets. B. It’s a machine for summing up phone bills.

C. It’s a computer program for making phone calls.

17. Why does the woman think instant message services frustrating?

A. They are expensive. B. Jeff is a slow typist. C. They’re nothing different from phones.

听第10段材料，回答第18至20题.

18. What was the profit of Giant BP last year?

A. $40 billion. B. $40 million. C. $14 billion.

19. Why were the workers in Athens protesting?

A. The government employed some measures the workers approved.

B. Greek police stuck some of the striking workers.

C. The government used financial measures to meet the international demands.

20. The survey shows that _____________________.

A. President Obama wins among both registered voters and all Americans

B. President Obama is defeated in the election C. President Obama wouldn’t beat Mitt Romney

第二部分：词汇知识运用（共两节，满分30分）

第一节：多项选择（共10小题，每小题1分，满分共10分）

从A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

21. Kim Jong-Il, former top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi were both dead at the age of 69. Some people jokingly think that’s a(n)______.

A. accident B. consequence C. symptom D. coincidence

22. Writers mix their feelings about their trips with descriptions of their experiences, offering readers a(n) ______ for the imagination.

A. account B. principle C. feast D. landscape

23. The US’ economic situation is still ______, with its economic growth on a weak footing, its jobless rate high and still growing.

A. pessimistic B. realistic C. enthusiastic D. critic

24. In the traditional Spring Festival travel peak this year, almost all the cities adopted _________ measures to smooth the heavy traffic.

A. contemporary B. temporaryC. contradictory D. compulsory

25. The media globalization demands media staff have a nose for news and ability to criticize a news discourse. Announcers ought to grasp the news contents precisely, apply their own voices and techniques to ______ the positive news values accurately.

A. broadcast B. predict C. convey D. consult

26. It is thought by some people that E-books might ________ traditional books in some time because of various advantages of E-books over paper ones.

A. substitute B. contribute C. accumulate D. subscribe

27. The previous president has resigned and the new appointment of the new-comer ________from the very beginning to next semester.

A. takes place B. takes effect C. takes power D. takes office

28. Our efforts will _____ if the research can be applied to the development of the new technology.

A. pay up B. pay for C. pay off D. pay back

29. The heating system will operate _____so that the normal temperature will keep up.

A. illegally B. automatically C. normally D. effectively

30. ―I think he is taking an active part in social work.

―I agree with you_________.

A. in the way B. on the way C. by the way D. in a way

第二节：完形填空（共20小题，每小题1分，满分20分）

阅读下列短文，从短文后所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

A certain good woman one day said something that hurt her best friend of many years. She 31 immediately and would have done anything to have taken the words back. 32 she said hurt the friend so much that this good woman was herself hurt 33 the pain she caused. 34 to cancel what she had done, she went to an older, wiser woman in the village, explained her situation, and asked for 35 .

Listening to her, the older woman 36 the younger woman’s distress and knew she must help her. She also knew she could never 37 her pain, but she could teach. She knew the 38 would depend only on the character of the younger woman. She said, “Tonight, take your best feather pillows and put a single feather on the doorstep of each house in the town 39 the sun rises.”

The young woman hurried 40 to prepare for her chore, even though the feather pillows were very 41 to her. All night long, she labored alone in the cold. Finally the sky was getting 42 , she placed the last feather on the steps of the last house. Just as the sun rose, she returned to 43 .

“Now,” said the wise woman, “Go back and 44 your pillows with the feather you have put on the steps. Then everything will be 45 it was before.”

“You know that’s 46 ! The wind blew away each feather as fast as I placed them on the 47 !” The younger woman was surprised.

“That’s true,” said the older woman. “Never forget. Each of your 48 is like a feather in the wind. Once spoken, no amount of effort, 49 how heartfelt or sincere, they can never return to your mouth. Choose your words well and 50 them most of all in the presence of those you

love.”

31A. said B. felt C. regretted D. explained

.

32A. That B. Which C. Who D. What

.

33A. for B. as C. to D. of

.

34A. By means B. In an effort C. In addition D. On account

.

35A. question B. suggestion C. advice D. practice

.

36A. sensed B. touched C. smelt D. breathed

.

37. A. raise B. release C. relieve D. rehearse

38A. outline B. outcome C. output D. outbreak

.

39A. until B. unless C. after D. before

.

40A. home B. south C. inside D. outdoors

.

41A. heavy B. brilliant C. colorful D. dear

.

42A. light B. dark C. rainy D. sunny

.

43A. her home B. the older C. her bedroom D. the feather pillow

. woman

44A. recite B. rebuild C. refill D. recycle

.

45A.with B. just C. like D. as

.

46A. impossible B. important C. imaginable D. immoral

.

47. A. house B. doorsteps C. pillow D. bag

48A. action B. feather C. words D. behavior

.

49A. friendless B. regardless C. homeless D. hopeless

.

50A. guarantee B. secure C. maintain D. guard

.

第三部分阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40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

What I’ve noticed about some very successful business owners is that they are always learning

and growing.

For your business to be better you need to be better and, you don’t get better by doing nothing! You are the average of the five PEOPLE you hang around with most. Surround yourself with people whom you want to be like.

To do this you may have to get right out of your comfort zone and join in a coaching program, go along to seminars(专题讨论会) where you can meet other like-minded people or those playing at a higher level of business than you.

There’s no excuse not to get off your butt and learn your way to success. Regardless of where you are located，events are taking place all around the country regularly as well as online. Saying you have “no money” or “no time” is not a good enough excuse.

For many business owners they spend their whole lives using these excuses and going nowhere. Don’t focus on where you are now, but where you want to be. You’ll find the money and the time if you seriously want to change.

Your ongoing learning can take you from struggling along to soaring high in all areas of your life. It’s been nearly six months since you made those New Year decisions to make changes in your business and your life.

Are you getting the results you wanted?

Is your business more profitable?

Do you have more free time?

Is the quality of your life improving?

Is your answer “yes”, then take a look at why that is. What have you been doing to get these results? And if you’re not moving ahead, seriously look at why that is. When’s the last time you read a book, listened to a CD, got coached or attended a seminar to learn how to do things better? The people I know who are getting great results in their business and personal lives are always learning and growing.

You are the Secret to Your Success, so do everything within your power to invest in yourself.

51. The underlined phrase “get off your butt” in Paragraph 5 probably means _______.

A. leave for a place where you want to go B. do something as you like

C. shoot an object D. stop being lazy and start doing something useful

52. All the following ways can contribute to your business EXCEPT ___________.

A. not dreaming of living a comfortable life B. avoiding finding unnecessary excuses

C. deciding to change your present life D. getting in touch with successful people

53. What does the capitalized word “PEOPLE” imply in Paragraph Three?

A. It’s sometimes difficult to change a person. B. Average people are easy to get along with.

C. People are supposed to set higher goals. D. You don’t get better by doing something.

54. According to the passage, the most important thing to success is __________.

A. attending important meetings often B. making changes when necessary

C. keeping learning all the time D.making a plan ahead of time

B

John, a famous musician, took his priceless antique violin and played it in the crowded subway station. The music from the violin was delicately streaming throughout the whole station.

However, during the one-hour play, only six or seven people were truly appreciating the charming music. A three-year-old kid was so fascinated by the music that he forgot everything around. John only got 52 dollars for his work that day.

However, in normal days, when John is about to hold a concert, one ticket can be sold at more than 100 dollars and it is extremely hard to buy a ticket even at such a high price. Therefore, later, many passers-by in the station that day felt deeply regretful for not recognizing the famous musician and missing such a valuable but cheap music feast.

I have a very busy friend who had totally changed after knowing that his wife came down with incurable illness. He cooked by himself for the family and took a walk with his wife every day. Nonetheless, his wife still did not manage to conquer the illness and passed away after three months. After that, he often sighed miserably that due to his past busy life, he had missed a lot of beautiful time with his wife. But now, it is impossible to make up for it.

It is no use crying over spilt milk. We have missed a lot of precious things in our life without knowing to cherish them.

Actually, I also missed something precious before. The reason why we would have missed those precious things is less than simple: we had thought that we could still own them tomorrow.

Nevertheless, tomorrow is actually by no means reliable. There was a famous Buddhist monk saying that in many people’s lives, they have only done two things: waiting and regretting. The result is that they were always too late to cherish what they had before they lost it. We would often claim to do something when we grow up, or when we have money or when we become old, etc. However, when we reach the condition we have expected, we could no longer realize our wish, because we have lost it by then.

55. The reason why people often regret may be that___________.

A. they are too busy to notice the beautiful things B. they are too careless to cherish precious things

C. they are lazy to observe the surroundings D. they think that it’s none of their business

56. The idea the author would like to get across to us seems that________________.

A. actions speak louder than words B. a bad beginning makes a bad ending

C. the lost will never come back D. each day brings its own bread

57. What method does the author employ to support his opinion？

A. By listing data. B. By comparing the details .

C. By explaining the procedures D. By taking examples.

58. How do we understand the underlined parts waiting and regretting ?

A. Many people will not cherish what they have until they lost them.

B. Many people cannot do well until they get older.

C. Many people know what they are doing. D. Many people regret for what they don’t possess.

C

I am afraid to lose. I fear this time, and I love memories. I could not forget the sweat on the pitch with brothers, forget my close friends accompanying me crying, and forget the bright stars of every night, and those words that have touched me deeply.

Those people, those things, such as bursts of light rain in the lake left ring watermark four scattered to each other to melt each other's impact; just like the quiet shining star, not very

bright, but clearly made. They do not know how much to spend with me during the bright day and silent night.

In my memory, the third year is not gray, because I still remember seeing sunrise and sunset with my friends, and it’s that nice.

Youth is the eye lotus spring, third year is spring season that this eye bubbled. I, however, strongly smell in the bubble years of the Problem tests. I do not exclude these, but too much pressure does away much fun. Unfortunately, after the college entrance examination, even the pressure would become the memories, and be my third year living memory of the dead evidence. In the time before we are so powerless, the only left on just the eye springs, and we have no regrets of the promise, I hope day after day, year after year, when I return to this page, people still have remembered the beauty.

I have read one another frightening words: Some people say that once you start to like the memories of those, you will get old. I only admit mature, do not believe they have been growing old. My friends are growing up day by day, and were young and mature, how can I grow old ahead of time?

"Heaven Rain in green and so on, and I am waiting for you, the moonlight was recovered, the faint opened the outcome." Jay’s sad voice has been completely different from the business for the time sentimental(伤感的); Bard will be the years the pace of a camel carved into the blue and white porcelain in that respect.

Our future? Friends ah, I will time the other end, waiting for you.

59. From the passage we can smell that the writer __________.

A. showed his anxiety B. told us his experience

C. hoped that some memories can be remembered D. did not like the third year

60. The writer of the passage is most unlikely to be a ________________.

A. student in the third year B. teacher teaching in a senior middle school

C. colleague in a certain college D. young man studying in a middle school

61. The tune of the passage is ______________.

A. humorous B. calm C. pleasant D. light sad

62. The underlined sentence too much pressure does away much fun in Paragraph 3 means______________.

A. too many exams take away the pleasure of studies B. pressure brings in too much fun

C. pressure has something much to do with fun D. no pains, no gains

D

BEIJING, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Education experts and lawmakers have called on the government to give more financial support for the country's school bus development in order to make it safer. China issued a set of technical standards for school buses for primary school students last year, and the drafting of another standard for buses for kindergartners is also under way.

However, the newspaper said these standards are only binding for the school bus manufacturers -- not for school bus service operators, and many schools buy or rent ordinary vehicles, or even farm vehicles, to transport students.

Higher costs to run and maintain the specially-designed school buses may be one of the reasons

for the problem, the article said.

According to the report, the average price of a qualified school bus is 100,000 to 200,000 yuan (15,760 to 31,520 U.S. dollars) higher than other similar coaches, and long idle times while students are at school or on vacation also adds to the operation costs.

The student-transportation problem comes into view large in the country's rural areas, as over the past 10 years, primary schools in these areas were almost halved amid the country's efforts to improve education quality and efficiency, forcing many students to travel much farther for school. Moreover, schools in rural areas suffer more financial difficulties in providing qualified school bus services, said Ma Pingchang, a National People's Congress deputy in Shandong province.

China published a draft regulation on school bus safety management on Sunday guaranteeing that central and local governments will provide financial support for school bus service development.

However, Yang Dongping, a professor of education with the Beijing Institute of Technology, said the regulation is not specific enough to answer the question of "who should pay for the school bus services."

Although it is unrealistic for public spending to cover all the expenses, the government should not avoid its responsibility, Yang said.

"When it comes to the matter of education and school bus safety, costs should not be put at the top of the list," said Ye Qing, another national lawmaker in Hubei province.

Ye and Wang Xuming, a former Education Ministry spokesman, also suggested the slashing public spending on government cars to fund the school bus services.

The State Administration of Work Safety, China's safety watchdog, on Tuesday called on local governments to take immediate action to make school buses safer.

63. From the text we learn that ________________________.

A. China hasn’t issued any technical standard for school buses for primary school students

B. China has issued another new formal standard for buses for the kindergartners

C. now ordinary vehicles are still used to transport students in many schools

D. the standards are not only for the school bus makers but also for school bus service operators

64. The following statements are the reasons for renting ordinary vehicles to transport students in rural areas EXCEPT _______________.

A. It costs more to run and maintain the specially-designed school buses

B.The school buses often idle a long time when students are at school or on vacation

C. Schools in rural areas lack financial support

D. The number of primary school students is increasing and there are not enough school buses

65. According to the passage, which of the following is Not true?

A. The governments should cover the whole expenses for school buses.

B. Ye Qing thinks compared with education and school bus safety, costs are less important.

C. We should cut down public spending on government cars to subsidize(补贴) the school bus services.

D. Local government should provide financial support for school bus services.

66. What is the best title of the passage?

A. The Problems about School Bus Safety

B. Experts Call for More Government Financial Support for School Bus Safety

C. How to Guarantee the Safety of School Buses

D. The Reasons for Renting Ordinary Vehicles to Transport Students in Rural Areas

E

So the little girl now walked on, her bare feet quite red and blue with the cold. She carried a small bundle of matches in her hand, and a good many more in her tattered dress. No one had bought any of them the live long day； no one had given her a single penny. Trembling with cold and hunger crept she on, the picture of sorrow: poor little child!

The snow-flakes fell on her long, fair hair, which curled in such pretty ringlets over her shoulders; but she thought not of her own beauty, or of the cold. Lights were glimmering through every window, and the savor of roast goose reached her from several houses；it was New Year's eve, and it was of this that she thought.

In a corner formed by two houses, one of which projected beyond the other. She sat down, drawing her little feet close under her, but in vain, she could not warm them. She dared not go home, she had sold no matches, earned not a single penny, and perhaps her father would beat her，besides her home was almost as cold as the street，it was an attic；and although the larger of the many chinks in the roof were stopped up with straw and rags，the wind and snow often penetrated through. Her hands were nearly dead with cold；one little match from her bundle would warm them. Perhaps, if she dared light it, she drew one out, and struck it against the wall, bravo! It was a bright, warm flame, and she held her hands over it. It was quite an illumination for that poor little girl; no, I call it rather a magic taper, for it seemed to her as though she was sitting before a large iron-stove with brass ornaments, so beautifully blazed the fire within! The child stretched out her feet to warm them also; alas, in an instant the flame had died away, the stove disappeared, the little girl sat cold and comfortless, with the burnt match in her hand.

67. The author emphasized that the story happened on New Year’s Eve in order to _____.

A. highlight the cold weather B. contrast with the girl’s sadness.

C. present the time D. describe the situation

68. Which below is NOT the reason why the little girl dared not go home?

A. She earned not a single penny. B. Her father would beat her.

C. Her home was almost as cold as the street. D. She sold out her matches.

69. The underlined sentence in the last paragraph told us ___.

A. the girl was so cold that she formed an illusion that she sat beside a stove

B. a stove did give her some warmth on such a cold night

C. the thought she had could give her warmth

D. the light the match gave out did warm the little girl

70. The little girl gave us an impression of being _________.

A. beautiful and kind B. poor but imaginable

C. poor and pitiful D. poor but lively

第四部分：书面表达（共两节，满分50分）

第一节：完成句子（共10小题，每小题2分，满分20分）

阅读下列各小题，根据汉语提示并用所给的英语单词完成句子，将答案写在答题卡上的相应题号后。

71． Every year one million tourists visit Stonehenge, which is believed _______ before the Pyramids, about 4000 years ago. (construct)

每年大约有一百万游客参观巨石阵，据说它是在四千年以前被修建，早于埃及的金字塔。

72． I am afraid you had better not call me at 3 o’clock on the afternoon of tomorrow. I ___________then. (have)

你最好不要在明天下午3点钟给我打电话。那时我在开会。

73. Greatly loved in Chinese adolescence ____________ Korean TV plays. (romantic)浪漫的韩剧极受中国青少年欢迎。

74. The iPhone functions well. I’ll buy it, ____. (cost)

这款iPhone 功能不错，无论多贵，我都要买。

75. __________________, many animals are facing the danger of dying out. (destroy)大部分森林毁掉了，很多动物面临着灭绝的危险。

76. ________________________________to the conference surprised us, since he was an important figure in this field after all. (invite)

他没有被邀请参加会议很让我们吃惊，毕竟他是这一行业的重要人物。

77. But for your timely encouragement, I ______ after going through so much difficulty. (lose) 要不是你的及时鼓励，经历这么多的困难之后我早就灰心了。

78. He is going to spend the Spring Festival in his home village, ________ his parents and some relatives.( live)

他打算到他的家乡过春节，他的父母和亲戚还生活在那里。

79. The king of Prussia ___________that his greatest gift to the Russian people would have such an amazing history. (imagine)

普鲁士的国王决不可能想到他送给俄罗斯人民的这件伟大礼物会经历这么一段惊奇的历史。

80. When the survivor came to, he was eager to know ___saved him from the burning house. (be)

当生还者醒过来后，他急切的想知道是谁把他从燃烧的房子里救出来的。

第二节：短文写作（共1题，满分30分）

有些高中生有时与同学发生这样或那样的矛盾或冲突，这些问题会给大家带来烦恼甚至影响大家的学习。请你用英语写一篇120词左右的短文，分析一下产生矛盾或冲突的原因，并谈谈应如何正确地与同学相处。

2012年湖北省八市高三三月联考试卷

英语参考答案及评分标准

听 力：1—5 BCAAC 6—10 CBBCA 11—15 BABBC 16—20 CBACA

单项选择：21—25 DCABC 26—30 ABCBD

完形填空：31—35 CDABC 36—40 ACBDA 41—45 DABCD 46—50 ABCBD

阅读理解：51—54 DACC 55—58 BCDA 59—62 CBDA 63—66 CDAB

67—70 BDAC

完成句子：

71. to have been constructed

72. will be having a meeting

73. are romantic

74. however much it costs/no matter how much it costs

75. With most forests destroyed/Because most forests are (have been) destroyed

76. His not being invited/ That he was not invited

77. would have lost heart

78. where / in which live

79. can/could never/not have imagined

80. who it was that

短文写作：

Classmate conflicts among senior middle school students are often heard on campus over recent years. These conflicts make the excitement of campus life grow grey and have bad effects on both their living and learning.

Classmate conflicts often rise from daily tiny things such as space where to store books or notes. When personalities don’t mix, the specifics can tear classmates apart and sometimes even lead to serious conflicts. Besides, the fact that classmates hold different attitudes towards certain issue is another factor causing these conflicts.

Classmate conflicts are harmful and need to be settled. Though many people think that school discipline can soften the conflicts, I believe learning to be tolerant with each other can play a more constructive role because it teaches students flexibility and the art of compromise. Meanwhile, communication contributes to the solution to this problem since many of these conflicts result from misunderstanding.

命题人: 黄石市教研室 陈建钢 鄂州市泽林高中 周学东

鄂州市教研室 邵秀萍 随州市教研室 梅小林

听力材料

Text 1

W: Good morning, Mr. Robinson. Please feel free to talk about anything you like. I want this talk to feel like a conversation.

M: OK, I’ll do my best to support your interview for your magazine.

Text 2

M: You’re so good at languages. You seem to understand anything you hear in Spanish. Any suggestions?

W: All you have to do is listen. That is more helpful than reading and speaking.

Text 3

M: I failed English last year and have to take it again this year.

W: Maybe it’s for the best. You could take this opportunity to improve your English ability. Text 4

M: Hi, Susan. Long time no see. What are your new classmates like?

W: To tell you the truth, I don’t like them.

M: Sorry to hear that. What’s wrong?

W: They make a lot of noise, even in class. I just can’t concentrate. Some teachers often scold us for that.

Text 5

W: How can I help you, sir?

M: I have a reservation. My name is Frank.

W: Just a moment, Mr. Frank. Ah, yes, Mr. Frank. Suite number three. This way, please. Where is your luggage, sir?

M: I don’t have any luggage.

Text 6

M: May I speak to the manager, please?

W: I’m sorry. Mr. Smith’s just gone to Hong Kong. He will be attending a conference this week and won’t be back until Sunday. Would you like to leave a message?

M: No, thanks. I think I will wait until next Monday. Will he be available then?

W: Hold on a moment, please. I’ll check his timetable for you…Yes, here…A trade delegation from Germany will be arriving at 10:00 on Monday morning and Mr. Smith is to meet them at the airport.

M: So I’ll have to call him up early in the morning.

W: Well ,you may get him if you’re lucky, but he’s a very busy man, you know.

M: Thanks for telling me. If I don’t get him the first time, I’ll keep on ringing — If you don’t mind.

W: Certainly not. Bye.

Text 7

W: Why did you sell the car?

M: It gave me too much trouble. I was spending too much money on it. I was …er …spending more money than it was worth. Unfortunately, of course, when you actually sell the car, you’ve already spent the money on it, so you lose both ways.

W: Well, what was the trouble with your old car?

M: The engine needed a lot of repairs and the wheels were giving me trouble now and then. When I set off on a journey, it gave me a sort of feeling that I might not get to the other end, so I decided to change it.

W: Is the new car good?

M: Yes, it’s newer, more comfortable, and it hasn’t given me much trouble at all. When I set off, I’m quite sure that I’ll be able to get to the other end safely.

Text 8

M: Sue, there you are. Have you got time for a little chat?

W: Of course. What is it, Mike? Is something wrong?

M: No, not really. Well, you remember Miguel who stayed with us last summer?

W: No. But I remember you telling me about him. He was fond of sightseeing, wasn’t he?

M：That’s right. Well, I got a letter from him this morning and he invited me to spend a holiday with his family this year. They get a big house on the river, and they’ve got a boat. You know how crazy I am about boats.

W: Mike, that’s great. What a wonderful chance for you!

M: Yes, but it’s not that simple.

W: What’s the problem?

M: It’s Celia. You see, we’ve both been saving to go on a trip together this year.

W: Ah, I see. You don’t want to disappoint her, of course.

M: That’s right. She’d be so upset. She’s really been doing all sorts of jobs in her free time. She’s really been expecting a holiday. It seems so unfair.

W: Look, Mike. First, you must tell Celia about the invitation. She’ll understand your problem. But why don’t you tell Miguel about the plan you have already made with Celia? He might even suggest a good way to settle the problem.

Text 9

M: Hi, Bella. Have you heard from Jeff since he went abroad?

W: Yes, I have. We’ve been keeping in touch regularly, and the long-distance phone bills are killing me.

M: Have you tried using Skype?

W: Skype? That sounds like the substance I use to clean my toilet?

M: No, no. Skype has nothing to do with toilets. It’s a computer program that you can use to make free calls over the Internet.

W: Thanks, Tod, but I’ve tried instant message services and they really frustrate me. Jeff is a really slow typist.

M: There’s no typing involved. It works kind of like a telephone.

W: How much do I have to pay to subscribe?

M: As I said, PC to PC, it’s free.

W: That’s so good that it can’t be true.

Text 10

Here’s ABC News.

British oil giant BP says it made nearly $40 billion in profits last year ,even as it prepares for the opening of a massive trial later this month about damages that resulted from the company's 2010 oil well explosion off the southern U.S. coastline.

Greek police crashed Tuesday with some of the thousands of striking workers in Athens .The workers are protesting the latest financial measures the government is seeking to impose to meet the demands of the country's international creditors.

A new poll indicates U.S. President Barack Obama would beat Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney in an imagined election matchup. The ABC News-Washington Post survey shows President Obama ahead 51 percent to 45 percent among registered voters, and 52 percent to 43 percent among all Americans.

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