山东省淄博市2023-2024学年高二下学期期末英语试题

参照秘密級管理★启用前 2023一2024学年度第二学期高二教学质量检测 英语 注意事项： 1答卷前，考生务必将自已的姓名、考生号等填写在答题卡和试卷指定位置上， 之回答选拼顺时、选出每小题答案后，用铅笔把答概卡上对应题目的答案标号涂熟。 如腊改池、橡应城干净后，再选涂其他答案标号·回答非达择题时，将答案写在答题卡— 上。写在本试卷上无效。 3.考试结束后，将本r和答趔卡一并交回。 第一部分听力（共两节，满分30分） 做题时，先将答案标在试卷上。录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答 案转涂到答题卡上。 第一节（共5小题：每小题1.5分，满分7.5分） 中 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。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 興 段对话仅读一遍。 1.Where does the conversation probably take place? A.At the airport B.At the train station. C.At the bus stop. 2.What is the relationship between the speakers? .A.Classmates. B.Mother and son. C.Teacher and student. 3.What will the speakers.probably buy from the supermarket? A.Strawberries B.Milk C.Cookies. 4 Who is the woman probably talking to? A.Her husband. B.Achef. C.Aserver. 5.When does the man plan to check in? A.On August 3. B.On August 4. C.On August 7. 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。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.What is the probable season now? A.Spring. B.Summer. C Winter. 高二质量检测英语试题第1页（共10页） 7.What nre the spenkersimninly talking about? A.Prepnring dinncr.. B.Losing weight. C.Adjusting the schedule. 听第7段材料，回答第8至10圆。 8.At what age did the cat come to the woman's house? A.Two. B.Three. C.Five. 9.What docs the man think ofhis dog? A.It is cute. B.It is independent. C.It is energetic. 10.What-animal do the woman's kids want to gct? A.Arabbit. B.Fish. C.Another cat. 听第8段材料，回答第11至13题。 11.How would the man go to work if he took the apariment? C.By car. A.By bus. B.By subway. 12.What is in the apartment? C.A refrigerator. A.A washer. B.A microwave. 13.How does the man feel about the apartment? A.It's small. B.It's quict. C.Ir's well equipped. 听第9段材料，回答第14至17题。 14.What is Big Bear? A.Aski field. B.Acompany. C.Aclub. 15.Why is the man staying in the cabin? A.It is cheap. B.It is interesting. C.It is convenient. 16.What is the woman worried about if she can go? A.Her new job. B.The living conditions. C.The limit on the number of people. 17.What will the woman do next? A.Pack her bag. B.Check her schedule. C.Ask for leave from work. 听第10段材料，回答第18至20题。 18.What kind of seagulls will srteal food? A.Hungry ones. B.Strong ones. C.Brave ones. 19.How long would the seagulls wait on average when they were stared at? A 7seconds. B.21 seconds. C.63 seconds. 20.What are the scientists trying to tell people? A.To learn to live with seagulls. B.To help seagulls behave better. C.To give more attention to seagulls. 高二质量检测英语试题第2页（共10页） 第二部分阅读（共两节，满分60分） 第一节（共15小题：每小题2.5分，湖分37.5分） 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出及佳选项。 A These four people from around the world prove that ordinary people can have a remarkable impact on the planet. Alcssandra Korap Munduruku Alessandra Korap Munduruku organized community efforts to stop mining development by British mining company Anglo American,which formally committed itself to withdrawing 27 approved research applieations to mine inside indigenous territorics.The decision protected a critically threatened area of the Amazon from further mining and deforestation. Tero Mustonen Since April 2018,Tero Mustonen has led the restoration of 62 severely destroyed former industrial peat()mining throughout Finland and transformed them into productive, biodiverse(生物多样的)wetlands and habitats.Rich in organic matter,peatlands are cffective carbon sinks.According to the IUCN,peatlands are the largest-natural carbon stores on Earth. Diane Wilson In December 2019,Diane Wilson won a landmark case against Formosa Plastics,one of the world's largest chemical companies,for the illegal dumping ofplastic wastc on Texas'Gulf Coast. As a part of the settlement,Formosa Plastics agreed to reach"zero-discharge"of plastic waste from its Point Comfort factory,pay fines until discharges stop,and fund repair of affected local wetlands,beaches,and waterways. Delima Silalahi Delima Silalahi led a campaign to secure legal control of 17,824 acres of tropical( )forest land for six indigenous communities in North Sumatra,Indonesia.Her community's activists required a paper company to return this territory,which had been partially converted into a monoculture,non-native,industrial place. 21.What was Tero Mustonen devoted to doing? A.Repairing the damage done to peatlands. B.Promoting the industrial peat mining. C.Controlling the development/of carbon stores. D.Creating valuable carbon sinks. 22.Who was involved in a law suit? A.Alessandra Korap Munduruku. B.Tero Mustonen. C.Diane Wilson. D.Delima Silalahi 23.What can we infer about the four people? A.They are environmental defenders. B.They are zero-discharge supporters. C.They are industrial mining sponsors. D.They are deforestation opponents. 高二质量检测英语试题第3页（共10页） B Housed at the Good Hope Gardens Nurscry in Cape Point-which focuses on nursing and protecting plants,flowers and trees indigenous to the Cape Floral Kingdom-Veld Sea is run by Roushanna Gray,a food artist and forager( 者)，who says it is her own curiosity about the catable land that fuels her to start thesc experiences. "My inspiration springs from a desire to share the rich biodiversity of eatable plants of South Africa and arouse awareness about sustainable living,"she cxplains,Ourxrins employ a hands-on approach.I believe that direct engagement with nature during the workshops has a dpr understanding of the relationships within theseoystems,ncouraging participants to develop a sense ofresponsibility and joy for nature." Atypical workshop sees guests arrive on nearby Scarborough Beach,where the moming is spent foraging for eatable plants.n keepmg wimn the sustainable undercurrent,certain specific plants are picked to keep the ecosystem's balance.After that,the group retum to the Veld&Sea classroom to cook and sit down toa three-course lunch,made entirely of foraged produce. Through her workshops,Gray conveys a sense of responsibility and respect for the rich biodiversity of the coastal and eatable landscapes."It's the transformative power of hands-on leaming in nature.It's not just about foraging,but also about leaming these wildly delicious ingredients,understanding their ecological roles,and appreciating the delicate balance they contribute to these ecosystems,"she adds,"In some ways,it's more than just a workshop or a meal” 24.What drove Gray to found Veld Sea? A.The thirst for running business. B.The eagerness to fuel her experiences. C.The desire to engage with nature. D.The passion for raising sustainable awareness. 25.What's paragraph 3 mainly about? A.The advantages of foraging. B.The process of foraging C.The cautions of foraging. D.The result of foraging. 26.Which of the following can best describe Gray? A.Warm-hearted and learned. B.Determined and caatious. C.Responsible and ecological. D.Considerate and reliable. 27.What's the role of the workshops according to Gray? A.Enhancing processed food research. B.Promoting tourism in Cape Point. C.Increasing the population of eatable plants. D.Creating connections and respects for nature. 高二质量检测英语试题第4页（共10页） C Have you cver found yourself tmnsported back to a particular mornent or place just by hearing a song?It's not magic-it's scicnce.To know more about this.researchers at tho University of Califomia San Francisco(UCSF)conducteda udy.What they discoveredwha music is notstasens of notes on a page butoryine that our brains create inrmnds while listening. Participants from the study volunteered to have their brains scanned while Jistening to music. They had cpilcpsy()and were already undergoing brain monitoring as part of their treatment.The researchers played them short musical snippets()called "pmases with different note patterns.Some phrases were predictablc,repeating familiar patterns,while others surprised them with unexpected notes. To track their brain activity,the researchers used a special technique called "high-density clectrocorticography"(ECoG).This involves placing many tiny electrodes()directly on the head,allowing for precise measurements of clectrical activity in different areas.It's like having many tiny microphones listening to different parts of your brain.By comparing the brain activity with the predictable and unpredictable phrases,the researchers could see which brain regions were more active when people anticipated the next note. The researchers found that while our brains use similar areas to understand both music and speech,there's a key difference.Music triggers unique "prediction zones"that speech does not.This means our brains are wired to expect wnat's coming next in a song,much more so than in a conversation. "It's obvious that exposure to music enriches our social and emotional lives and has potential to treat a broad range of physical problems,such as sleep disorders.To understand why music is able to have all these benefits,we need to answer some fundamental questions about how music works in the brain,"said study lead author Dr.Narayan Sankaran.Long-term studies following inulviduals over time could provide valuable data on how the brain handles musical expectations and how the processing of musical expectations might change with aging, experience,or cognitive decline. 28.Why was the study conducted at UCSF? A.To find a cure for epilepsy using music therapy B.To understand how epilepsy affects brain activity C.To explore how the brain understands and predicts music flow. D.To compare brain activities between patients with epilepsy and healthy people. 29.How did the researchers conduct the study? A By putting electrodes in-the head. B.By tracking brain activity using ECoG C.By recognizing different brain regions D.By comparing predictable and unpredictable phrases. 30.What does the author assume for future research? A.Examining how the brain processes expectations. B.Investigating the impact of music on physical health. C.Analyzing the role of music in social bonding. D.Studying the effects of music on sleep disorders. 高二质量检测英语试题第5页（共10页） 31.What does the text mainly talk about? A.Music engages key areas for cmotionm impact. B.Music can stimulate predication areas in the brain. (Music is beneficial to physical and mental health. D.Music has more predictable patterns than specch. D Researchers at the University of Washington are studying a concept called "marine cloud brightening,"which aims to slow climate change by spraying clouds with sea salt.Salt particles()help clouds form tiny,shiny water droplets,which reflect sunlight away from the earth before it can heat the planet. The white tops of certain clouds act like a natural sunscrcen for the planct;the water droplets and ice crystals within reflect 30 to 60 percent of sunlight that hits them,according to NASA. Geoengineering researchers believe they can make clouds brighter and increase their cooling effect by increasing the number of droplets they contain.Some scicntists hope it could buy humanity more tme to cut carbon emissions. In April,University of Washington scientists started testing a saltwater spraying machine on the deck of the USS Homnet,a retired aircraft carricr in Alameda.The city paused the experiment in May,citing health and environmental concems,but outside consultants hired by the city later concluded the test doesn't pose "a measurable health risk to the surrounding community”. The Alameda experiment isn't meant to "alter clouds or any aspect of the local weather or climate,"according to Sarah Doherty,an atmospheric scientist who runs the university's marine cloud brightening program.The scientists are only testing whether their salt spray machine works and studying how salt particles move through the air. This highlights the strong opposition scientists face when they research anything related to geoengineering,a broad category of techniques that aim to manipulate()the climate.Some environmentalists argue that these ideas could have dangerous,unpredictable side effects and are a distraction from cutting carbon emissions,the most surefire way to avoid climate change.It may give polluters an excuse to keep pumping carbon into the atmosphere."Geoengineering experiments,like the Marine Cloud Brightening project in the Bay Area,risk legitimizing( a harmful technology,"wrote Mary Church,who works for an American and Swiss environmental nonprofit. 32.How does"marine cloud brightening"slow climate change? A.By injecting clouds with sea salt to decrease sunlight reflection. B.By spraying clouds with sea salt to prevent the formation of water droplets. C.By increasing the number of shiny water droplets in clouds to reflect sunlight D.By reducing the number of droplets in clouds to increase sunlight absorption. 33.Why was the experiment put on hold in May? A.Environmental reasons. B.Insurficiency of funds C.Poor project assessment. D.Lack of community support. 高二质量检测英语试题第6页（共10页） 34.What is"gcoengineering"according to the text? A.Study of the side ettects of climate change. B.A distraction from cutting carbon emissions. C.Methods of controlling the climate to cope with global warmning. D.Technologies and their potential applications for people's health. 35.What is a major concem about"marine cloud brightening"? A.It is too costly to be widely applied. B.It keeps pumping carbon into the atmosphcre. C.It could result in over-dependence on harmful technologies. D.It may lead to unintended environmental consequences. 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。 Stop Trying to Keep Up With the Joneses It is so casy to get caught up in a never-ending circle of comparing yourself to others and yet this seldom is beneficial.You may have heard the expression,"6'"To me,this rings true as Ihaxe found it is quite difficult to compare myself to others and techoy at the same time. :.Typically,comparison leads to regarding others as superior to you in some way and feeling inadequate or inferior."I am not as successful,capable and attractive as they are." Why don't I have what they have?"We use comparison as an avenuc for self-criticism,"What's wrong with me?I must be an inadequate loser."38 We often tell ourselves we are acceptable only if we meet certain standards,and we evaluate how we measure up by looking at others.The tendency is to cenclude that we are not measuring up,particularly if we have a low sense of self-worth.We don't just ask ourselves, "What's wrong with me?"We worry what others will think:"What's wrong with them?"The fear of rejection creates uneasiness and anxiety. Comparison could be deceptive..This may be temporarily true,yet,a comparison is an intemal process that is ultimately based on our thoughts and sense of self,not extemal circumstances.We can always find something else to compare,another expectation we tell ourselves we are not meeting. To stop comparing ourselves to others,we have to recognize that the comparison game is unwinnable and exhausting and stop playing. A.This blocks self-acceptance. B.Comparison is the thief of joy. C.Values are a solution to comparison. D.This can solidify your sense of self-acceptance. H.Comparison robs us of joy and fuels self-criticism. F.It tells us meeting expectations will make us happier. G.And we worry others will judge our assumed failures. 高二质量检测英语试题第7页（共10页） 第三部分语言运用（共两节，满分30分） 第一节（供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准 选项。 On Junc 16,Hislop,105,walked the stage at Stanford University.She 14to finish what she started and receive her master's 42,83 years after leaving the campus. When she rose from her seat,_43_in cap and gown(长抱)，everyone on the-4 shouted and jumped for joy.She greeted the president on the stage and was handed her diploma. She smiled for the cameras.Her grandkids and great-grandkids waved and4. Hislop won her bachelor's in education in 1940 from Stanford with the plan ofdoa master's degree so she could begin teaching.47,due to World War II,she left Stanford after completing her coursework but beforet8 her graduation paper. This did not pause heto caucation.She has served for 30 years in many schools and universities.She has 50 a lot to the local school system and helped broaden it out. Theretore,was51 as"a ficrce advocate for justice and the opportunity tolea." "Ifelt that all the kids should have an opportunity to develop their5as best they could,and that everybody should have a5 at higher education if they wanted,"Hislop said. Nowadays,Hislop is still a 54 reader.She spends most of her time doing community work,reading,socializing and working in her garden-a she says has kept her sharp Just as a saying says,no moss grows under her feet. 41.A.promised B.returned C.tried D.approached 42.A.scholarship B.prize C.degree D.course 43.A.mixed up B.covered up C.folded up D.dressed up 44.A.scene B.place C.scenery D.sight 45.A.cheered B.watched C gestured D.laughed 46.A.reaching B.holding C.accepting D.earning 47.A.Besides B.Otherwise C.However D.Therefore 48.A.handing out B.handing in C.giving away D.giving up 49.A.assessment B.commitment C.encouragement D.adjustment 50.A.contributed B.expressed C.introduced D.donated 51.A.discovered B.analyzed C.described D.created 52.A.patience B.practice C.presence D.potential 53.A.picture B.chance C.sense D.message 54.A.doubtful B.lonely C.worried D.hungry 55.A.routine B.lesson C.process D.project 高二质量检测英语试题第8页 (共10页) 第二节（供10小题：每小题15分，满分15分） 阅读下而短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。 The Chinese fan dance isbeautiful compoChhistoryRooted inancent tradition,it is more than just a danceit isuniquefom of storyteling that ombins art,music,and movement. (traditional).the fan dance was performed to show elegance,often associated with the qualities thatconsider)to be typical of women.The fans are not merely prop )but extensions of the dancers'bodies,(use)to emphasize their movements and expressions.The fluttering (fans create a tantastic visual sight,symbolizing beauty, delicacy,6trength. In the modem context,the fan dance is no longer limited2 traditional music and costumes,but has absorbed 6z (element)of contemporary dance and fashion.This fusion (of old and new has given the fan dance a fresh appeal,making it morecess) to younger generations. Moreover,the fan dance is not just a performance,but also a form of exercise.It involves a series of coordinated movements that require balance,64 (flexible),and rhythm,making it a fun and engaging way to keep fit. Undeniably,the Chinese fan dance is a representative of China's cultural adaptability and certainly it has stood the test of time,continually reinventing itself while 65 (stay)true to its roots. 第四部分写作（共两节，满分40分） 第一节（满分1巧分） 假定你是李华，你把交换生Jy的书弄丢了，请你给他写一封电子邮件表示款意， 内容包括： 1.说明具体情况： 2.提出解决方案。 注意： 1.写作词数应为80个左右： 2.请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。 Dear Jerry, Yours, Li Hua 高二质量检测语试题第9页（共10页） 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，使之构成一个完整的故水， It was a freezing November nighfor high school football.The harvestmoson bright,illuminating the stadium as our team prepared forthsemifinal round of the Championship Our g was to reach the State Championship game n Dcmber. As theteam apain,I felt the weight of the game on my shoulders.Playing inthe championship mwas omting my daddidsighsomakeit happen wasa far drcam of mine.Iwanted todomthing my dad had one,but better. The game was ficrely twith both tams leaving their all nthe fiedteam tookancaly ead,butthquicklyo Ina desperate ttempt atatwnt oversion with threesnds lef,we failed.nd the final sorsd at 19-1Theodf the whistlehongouthe stadiumwerlizodramnghefnals asv Ihad my and blw it.Icomplty msscd it uplknew where my parents sat and hid myathirsts.1coud'tbear the disappointment in the cyes of the crowd.I coultthe thought of what my dad was thiriking I feltumb,mentally and physically xdidn'twant to speak toanyone.cherleaders,snot my teammates, and especially nofmy dad.I feared how the conversation would go. With my gear(比赛用具)in hand,,Imade my way off the field.Ilooked upinto.the stands where my parents once saf.All ofthe seats were empty.guessed they had decided to leave early. Was itmy failure that drove them away?I didn't blame them;I was disappointd too. It is funny how the air can be cold,your body hot and your emotions frozen as a familiar soud falls on your ringingars.It was a whistle().A familiar whistle. 注意： (1)续写词数应为150个左右： (2)请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。 Among thousands of cheers,I recognized that whistle. Then Dad said something I'll never forget for the rest of my life. 高二质量检测英语试题第10页（共10页）null 1 2023—2024 学年度第二学期高二质量检测 英语学科参考答案（202407） 第一部分 听力 (共两节，满分 30 分) 1-5 ABBCA 6-10 ABACB 11-15 CCAAC 16-20 CBCBA 第二部分 阅读 (共两节，满分 50 分) 21-23 ACA 24-27 DBCD 28-31 CBAB 32-35 CACD 36-40 BEAGF 第一节 (共 15 小题；每小题 1 分，满分 15 分) 41-45 BCDAA 46-50 DCBBA 51-55 CDBDA 第二节 (共 10 小题；每小题 1. 5 分，满分 15 分) 56. a 57. Traditionally 58. are considered 59. used 60. and 61. to 62. elements 63. accessible 64. flexibility 65. staying 第四部分 写作 (共两节，满分 40 分) 第一节 (满分 15 分) 【参考范文 1】 Dear Jerry, I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to extend my sincere apologies regarding your book that I have unfortunately lost. Recently, while I was moving some things, I misplaced the book you lent me. I have searched everywhere but haven’t been able to locate it. I understand how inconvenient and disappointing this must be for you, and I deeply regret my carelessness. To make up for what I did, I am more than willing to replace the lost book with a new copy or compensate you for its cost, whichever you want. Kindly inform me of your preference so that I may take immediate actions to address the issue. Once again, I apologize for any inconvenience I have caused. I look forward to your response. Yours, Li Hua 【参考范文 2】 Dear Jerry, How are you going? I am writing to apologize for losing the book I borrowed from you. I have searched everywhere for it, but unfortunately, I cannot find it. I understand what this book means to you, and I feel extremely terrible for losing it. To make up for my mistake, I would like to offer to buy you a new copy of the book. If you could let me know where I can purchase it or if you have a preferred edition, I will make sure to get it for you as soon as possible. Once again, I am truly sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you. I hope you can forgive me and that we can find a solution that works for both of us. Yours, Li Hua 第二节（满分 25 分） 【参考范文】 Among thousands of cheers, I recognized that whistle. It came from the sideline. There he stood in his game clothing: red hat, red shirt with my number on his left breast pocket. It was my dad’s whistle. Why did he come to the sideline? What could he say? What news couldn’t wait until 2 I got home? Why was it so important to remind me of the disappointment I had become? Head hanging down, I walked towards him. Our eyes met, both red from heartache. I stared at him awaiting the criticism. He didn’t say, “Good game,” or “You should have done better.” No expression fell over his face. Then Dad said something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. He extended his muscular arm, raised a thumb-up, and uttered, “I love you, son.” He loves me? Even after I messed it up? Even though the weight of the game rested on my shoulders, I missed it. He loves me? Exactly. He does! All of those negative thoughts left my head. I didn’t have a father whose love was dependent on my successes or failures. He accepted me, not just for the championship. I have a father who loves me because I am his child and he is my dad. Thank you, Dad. Thank you for showing me the perfect picture of my heavenly father’s love. 录音文稿 Text 1 M: Excuse me, my flight will stop in Chicago. Do I need to pick up my luggage there? W: No, it’ll go straight through to Los Angeles. Here are your boarding passes. Our flight leaves from gate 15A and it’ll begin boarding at 3:20. Text 2 M: Jack invited me to go fishing this Saturday. Can I go with him? W: I’ll have to confirm with your father first. I think he wants to take you and your sister hiking on Saturday. Text 3 W: I am making a grocery list. What do you need from the supermarket? M: Let me see. We already have some strawberries but we are out of milk. I am tired of eating cookies. Don’t add those to the list. Text 4 W: Hi, this is our first time here. Do you have any recommendations? M: Certainly. Tonight our special is steak with mashed potatoes. Text 5 W: Good morning. Room Reservations. May I help you? M: I would like to reserve a room. I will arrive on August 3 and leave on August 7. W: OK. The reservation will be kept for 24 hours after August 3. Now I’ll need your credit card information to reserve the room for you. Text 6 W: I put on some weight over the winter. M: Let me guess, now you want to lose weight before summer? W: Yep, what should I do? M: Well, first, you need to stop eating fast food and try to eat more vegetables. W: But I can’t stop eating fast food because I always have a full schedule. M: Okay, but cut out the candy at least. W: I also heard that sleeping early can help. M: That’s right. It helps keep you healthy as well. Text 7 W: Your dog is so cute. I hope my cat likes people as much as your dog does. M: Cats are more independent than dogs. How old is your cat? 3 W: It’s five years old. It came to our house when it was two years old. Your dog is three, isn’t it? M: Yes, it is so energetic. We take it out every morning and evening. I think it would be happy to stay outside all day long. W: I’m sure it would. M: Have you ever thought of getting another pet? W: The kids want the fish. I don’t think fish would be a good idea. That might be too attractive for our cat. A rabbit may be a better choice. Text 8 W: Hey, Adam, what do you think about the apartment you looked at this morning? M: Well, there is not even a subway near the place. W: Couldn’t you take the bus? M: It isn’t on the bus route that goes to my office. It would take 2 hours to get to work by car. And besides, there aren’t any appliances except for a refrigerator. The building has a laundry room on the first floor, but I really want one in the apartment. And I can’t believe it doesn’t have a microwave! W: You could rent appliances or even buy some secondhand. M: I guess so. But anyway, it has only one bedroom. We have three kids, so that’s just not enough space. W: Well, keep trying. I am sure you’ll find your dream apartment soon. Text 9 W: Do you have any plans for a break? M: I am planning a snowboarding trip. You should come if you are not too busy working at your new job. W: That sounds fun! Where are you going? M: We are planning to go to Big Bear. I hear there are pretty good conditions for skiing. W: Yes, that is what I heard as well. Where are you staying? Did you rent a cabin? M: No, we did not. My cousin owns a cabin there, and he said it is okay for us to stay at his place. The cabin is not far away from the ski field, so it should be convenient. W: Would it be okay with your cousin if I come along as well? I am not sure whether I can go. However, I might as well ask now just in case my schedule permits. M: I am sure that it will be fine. He did not tell me there was a limit on the number of people I could bring. W: Awesome! I will check my schedule, and I will give you an update tomorrow. Text 10 No trip to the beach would be complete without a group of hungry seagulls. But don’t get distracted. Because some of those seagulls may soon steal your food. However, scientists have found that only the bravest seagulls will take your food. And another interesting experiment about these brave seagulls went like this: A researcher sat near a seagull, then set out a bag of cookies. Some brave seagulls started to approach. The researcher either stared straight at the seagulls or simply looked away. And it turned out, staring at the seagulls made them hesitate 21 seconds on average before approaching the cookies. Seagulls aren’t the only ones that behave better when being watched. A research was done 2 years ago. An image of watching eyes was put at an unattended honor-system coffee bar. And people paid three times as much for their drinks as before. As for the seagulls, scientists point out that we need to learn to live with them. Because they are the only wildlife species in these coastal areas. So don’t turn your back on seagulls. Protect both them and your food.