江苏省南通市2024-2025学年高三上学期期中考试英语试题

null 2024～2025学年高三第一学期学情调研考试 英　　语 2024.11 本试卷分四个部分。满分150分，考试用时120分钟。 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。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 will the woman do tonight? A. Enjoy a concert. B. Go to the hospital. C. Look after children. (　　)2. Where does the man suggest the woman park her car? A. On College Street. B. On Jane Road. C. On Peterson Road. (　　)3. What is the woman probably doing? A. Growing a plant. B. Cooking dinner. C. Cleaning a room. (　　)4. What is the man going to do? A. Retire early. B. Quit his job. C. Take a business trip. (　　)5. Why does the man want to meet the woman? A. To arrange a lunch. B. To discuss a report. C. To introduce a customer. 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和第7两个小题。 (　　)6. What will the man do next week? A. Teach football. 　　　　B. Organize a camp. C. Look after young children. (　　)7. How much money will the man earn per hour this summer? A. ￡6. B. ￡7. C. ￡8. 听第7段材料，回答第8和第9两个小题。 (　　)8. Where do the speakers probably work? A. At a museum. B. At a shopping mall. C. At an amusement park. (　　)9. What is the man going to do in half an hour? A. See fireworks. B. Have a break. C. Set up signs. 听第8段材料，回答第10至第13四个小题。 (　　)10. What has the man just been doing? A. Sleeping. B. Studying. C. Having lunch. (　　)11. When will the speakers probably leave for Auntie Nicky's? A. At about 12：00. B. At about 1：00. C. At about 2：00. (　　)12. What does the woman ask the man to do last? A. Wash the clothes. B. Clean the shelves. C. Pick up the litter. (　　)13. Which room will the man clean? A. His bedroom. B. The bathroom. C. The living room. 听第9段材料，回答第14至第17四个小题。 (　　)14. What does the man do? A. He's an actor. B. He's a designer. C. He's a photographer. (　　)15. What did the woman do at the start of her business? A. She published a book. 　　　　B. She posted blogs online. C. She appeared in magazines. (　　)16. What were interviewees surprised by about the man? A. His age. B. His personality. C. His experience. (　　)17. Who work in production in the woman's company? A. Her parents. B. Her brothers. C. Her uncles. 听第10段材料，回答第18至第20三个小题。 (　　)18. What language does the speaker learn after school? A. French. B. German. C. Chinese. (　　)19. What will the speaker do in May? A. Join a club. B. Give a presentation. C. Prepare for a test. (　　)20. How does the speaker feel about catching up? A. Confident. B. Awkward. C. Anxious. 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 Get insights, get answers, get ahead. Connect directly with top universities at our free in­person master's events. From fairs to workshops, networking sessions to seminars—get the strongest start to your postgraduate journey. Join us—the QS Master's Fair in Manila, Philippines on Nov. 16—for an exceptional opportunity to attend two fascinating events catering to your interests: Personalized Meetings and a Graduate Fair to help you make informed decisions and achieve your academic goals! 12：00－14：30: QS Connect Master's Meetings Firstly, experience personalized meetings where we match your profile with the ideal university, enabling exclusive one­on­one or small group interactions with university representatives. Submit your English resume during the application process to receive tailored university recommendations. 15：00－17：30: QS Discover Master's Fair Following this, immerse yourself in the dynamic graduate fair, featuring seminars, panels, and the chance to engage with numerous universities. Get all your questions answered about courses, application processes, visas, scholarships, and more! WHY JOIN? •Meet representatives from the US, Canada, UK, Europe, Asia and many more. •Network with fellow students and alumni(校友) from leading universities. •Connect with expert counsellors for test prep & admission services. •Apply to QS ImpACT scholarships worth $45K in total. •Attend expert­led seminars and Q&A on higher education. •Get a free professional CV assessment by career coach Hazel Joy Sabando. •Coffee Bean e­voucher(代金券) worth 500 for the 20 lucky candidates. Discover world­leading Master's programs, personalized meetings, and a graduate fair that promises academic success! (　　)21. What is the main purpose of the QS Master's Fair in Manila? A. To raise funds for educational scholarships. B. To develop the graduates' academic interest. C. To host a cultural event exhibiting graduate programs. D. To connect graduates with top universities for further study. (　　)22. During which time period can attendees submit their resume? A. 11：00－12：00. B. 13：00－14：00. C. 14：30－15：30. D. 16：30－17：30. (　　)23. What's the benefit of attending the Fair? A. Ensuring scholarships through QS ImpACT. B. Participating in a seminar led by expert alumni. C. Receiving coffee bean discount tickets worth 500. D. Obtaining a professional CV evaluation from career coach. B In her tiny Athens apartment, 93­year­old Ioanna Matsouka has knitted thousands of brightly colored scarves for children in need from Greece to Ukraine, and she has no plans to quit just yet. “Until I die, I will be knitting，” Matsouka says. Since she took up knitting in the 1990s, Matsouka has easily made over 3，000 scarves, her daughter estimates. In the hallway by the door, shopping bags filled with her latest creations await their new home. A knitted blanket is thrown over the sofa where she spends her days. Initially distributed to friends, the scarves were later contributed to children's shelters across Greece as the stock expanded. Then, through acquaintances, they reached children in Bosnia and Ukraine. The latest batch of 70 went to a refugee camp near Athens this winter via the UN refugee agency. Her daughter, Angeliki, narrates drawings and mails her mother has received over the years: “Thank you, be well, keep going. You gave joy to children, you gave joy to people.” That's her only reward: a letter, a few words. Matsouka knits one scarf a day, now with small imperfections. Her vision is impaired and she suffers from severe facial pain, a condition known as trigeminal neuralgia(三叉神经痛). Angeliki says her mother is an example of resilience and optimism. Matsouka wakes up every morning, drinks a glass of milk, puts on her pearl earrings and gets to work. She takes a break for lunch and a nap, and then painstakingly knits into the night. She may have even found the secret to a long life in it, she says. “It's the happiness I get from giving，” she says, sitting beside a big blue bag brimming with yam(纱线). “Until I die, I will be knitting，” Matsouka says. Her knitting needles click through her expert fingers, her nails painted red. “It brings me joy to share them.” (　　)24. What did the scarves begin as? A. Presents to acquaintances. B. Initiatives for fundraising. C. Donation to a refugee camp. D. Stock for children's shelters. (　　)25. What can be inferred about Matsouka from paragraph 4? A. She yields to her severely impaired vision. B. She wakes up every morning due to facial pain. C. She continues knitting despite her health challenges. D. She is only rewarded with drawings from her daughter. (　　)26. Which of the following words fail to describe Matsouka? A. Resilient and reserved. B. Optimistic and generous. C. Persevering and passionate. D. Responsible and sympathetic. (　　)27. What message does the article mainly convey? A. The eye is bigger than the belly. B. Giving is better than accepting. C. An early bird catches the worm. D. A rolling stone gathers no moss. C If autonomous cars are supposed to make life easy, then Apollo Go, the robotaxi unit of Baidu, a Chinese tech giant, still has work to do. When the journalist tested its service in the city of Wuhan, he had to find his way to an appointed pick­up location and end his journey at an appointed drop­off spot, which is more like taking a bus than a taxi. Yet Apollo Go, which was launched in Wuhan in 2022 and has since expanded to ten other Chinese cities, has been a hit. The reason why Apollo Go has gained such favor with riders is that it is astonishingly cheap. The journalist's 11­minute route costs just 9.84 yuan ($1.35). Such fares are possible thanks to the generosity of Baidu, which is covering around 60% of the cost of a ride. That is not sustainable. Drivers amount to about half of the total cost for a conventional ride­hailing(叫车) service. But a variety of other expenses associated with autonomous vehicles—from maintenance and cleaning to sensors and, most importantly, the software on which they run—have so far prevented them being a cheaper substitute. Baidu sees that changing. In May it uncovered its sixth­generation vehicle, which costs less than half the previous model, and plans to upgrade the robotaxis in Wuhan. One group that is not thrilled by Baidu's success is Wuhan's taxi drivers. When asked whether their jobs will be affected, one insists that it “is already happening”. Another driver says he admires Baidu's technological advances but worries his job will be “stolen”. About 10 million people are employed as cabbies in China, of whom about 7 million work for ride­hailing firms after losing their jobs in another industry. Elsewhere, efforts to develop robotaxis have suspended. Tesla, America's electric­vehicle giant, said it would postpone the launch of its robotaxis from August to October. China is eagerly seeking to gain an edge in emerging industries. In the future, with the continuous advancement of technology and the ongoing decrease in costs, autonomous taxis are expected to become more popular in more cities. (　　)28. What is the main problem Apollo Go faces in paragraph 1? A. Difficulty in booking a ride. B. Inflexibility in the travel routes. C. Delay in the arrival of autonomous cars. D. Lack of appointed pick­up and drop­off points. (　　)29. What contributes most to Apollo Go's success? A. Low fares. B. City expansion. C. Safety measures. D. Advanced technology. (　　)30. What is Wuhan's taxi drivers' attitude towards Apollo Go? A. Appreciative. B. Ambiguous. C. Negative. D. Skeptical. (　　)31. Which of the following might be the suitable title? A. China's robotaxis are racing ahead. B. Baidu has left western carmakers in the dust. C. Robotaxi is gradually stealing taxi drivers' jobs. D. Unemployment rate is increasing among taxi drivers. D Earth is about to gain a new “mini­moon”， but it won't stay around for long. The newly discovered asteroid(行星), named 2024 PT5, will temporarily be captured by Earth's gravity and orbit our world from September 29 to November 25, according to astronomers. Then, the space rock will return to a heliocentric orbit, which is an orbit around the sun. “The asteroid is likely about 37 feet (11 meters) in diameter(直径), but more observations and data are needed to confirm its size，” said lead study author Carlos. The space rock could be anywhere between 16 and 138 feet in diameter, potentially larger than the asteroid that entered Earth's atmosphere over Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2013. About 55 to 65 feet in size, the Chelyabinsk asteroid exploded in the air, releasing 20 to 30 times more energy than that of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, and generating brightness greater than the sun. But as a mini­moon, Asteroid 2024 PT5 isn't in any danger of colliding with Earth now or over the next few decades. The space rock will orbit about 2.6 million miles away, or about 10 times the distance between Earth and the moon. “Whether an asteroid gets captured by Earth is independent of its size or mass, it only depends on its speed and trajectory(轨迹) as it approaches the Earth­Moon system，” said Robert, a specialist on solar system bodies. “At any given time, there is approximately one mini­moon in the Earth­Moon system, roughly the size of a dishwasher, but they are so difficult to detect and most of them go undiscovered during the time when they remain bound to Earth.” Mini­moons can also be asteroids that come from the main asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter, or they may be pieces of the lunar surface launched by asteroid impacts millions of years ago. Carlos and his colleagues plan to observe 2024 PT5 to collect more data and details. “Determining where they come from could help us understand the process of crater(坑) formation and how material is forced out from the Moon's surface，” he said. (　　)32. What can we learn from 2024 PT5? A. The asteroid will be captured by gravity for long. B. The asteroid's accurate size has yet to be confirmed. C. 2024 PT5 has entered Earth's atmosphere over Russia. D. 2024 PT5 will stay around the Earth for about 3 months. (　　)33. Why does 2024 PT5 cause no harm to the Earth? A. It lacks the energy to destroy the Earth. B. It is actively monitored by the specialists. C. It is smaller than the Chelyabinsk asteroid. D. Its trajectory avoids colliding with the Earth. (　　)34. Which statement does Robert agree with? A. Many mini­moons always exist in the Earth­Moon system. B. Mini­moons are detectable due to their dish­washer size. C. Detection of mini­moons bound to Earth is challenging. D. Capture of an asteroid enjoys independence of speed. (　　)35. Why does Carlos plan to observe 2024 PT5? A. To collect pieces of the lunar surface. B. To observe mini­moons in the asteroid belt. C. To perceive the process of crater formation. D. To understand asteroid impacts on Moon's surface. 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。 Ever notice that you feel happier when you're baking? __36__ The scent of vanilla(香草) in cookies may help you relax and may contribute to your improved behaviour. You also might find the same mood­lifting effect when having your morning grapefruit. __37__ There's a reason why we suggest people stop and smell the roses: The smell of roses is uplifting, and when we smell them, our body has a positive physiological and psychological response to their fragrance. Studies conducted at Rutgers University found that when we smell floral scents, such as roses or lavender(薰衣草), it makes us happy. In fact people who smell floral scents report three times as many happy thoughts as before smelling flowers. __38__ Because it may be stimulating the brain in a similar way to how a prescribed drug would. Fragrance has been used for centuries as a way to treat the body and mind. __39__ When you breathe in these fragrances, whether it's your favorite perfume oil, a scented candle or even the rose itself, you're triggering a chain of events in the body that begins with the smell organs in your nose. __40__ The body's limbic system, the part of the brain that manages our emotions and memories, is stimulated. The brain triggers a physiological response, such as a change in serotonin or norepinephrine levels, to manage our moods. A. It's not just the fragrance of food, though. B. Or do you have the similar experience when working out? C. And the scent of lavender, for example, may make you feel calmer. D. Fragrances are often categorized as floral, fresh, woody or oriental. E. The chemicals in the scent enter your lungs and move on to your blood. F. It has a healing impact on everything from your back pain to your mood. G. Who, among us, doesn't feel our mood lift when cookies are near our nose? 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。 At around 11 p．m. last July 26, an emergency message on the Facebook page caught Clemens' eye: a tiny black puppy was __41__ hurrying across a road in the neighborhood where she lives. Afterwards, sobs were heard from inside a nearby drain(排水管), __42__ it was likely that a puppy was __43__ down there. Clemens __44__ out of bed and rushed to the scene. Once there, she heard desperate howls and whimpers from underground __45__ through the drain. She grabbed her son's toy flashlight and pulled a metal fence off the drain. “I wasn't very well __46__，” Clemens said. “I was not expecting to go into the drain.” But nobody else was around, and the puppy was trapped in there. “Somebody's got to do it.” This was not Clemens's first __47__ into a drain. Over the past nine years, she estimated she had saved at least 100 creatures __48__ danger. After lowering herself roughly 7 feet down the drain, Clemens __49__ through about 10 feet tunnel before reaching an area where she could crouch(蹲下) and search. Around __50__， staff from the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(SPCA) arrived and joined Clemens. They worked until 3 a．m. trying to __51__ down the dog. “We searched end to end, side to side，” Clemens says. Although venturing down a drain was __52__， Clemens said, “the thought of __53__ a tortured animal is something I could never tolerate.” After several hours of searching, they finally found the tiny black pup. Clemens' perseverance didn't surprise Faust, who runs another animal rescue non­profit, Houston PetSet. “Once she becomes __54__ on a rescue situation, she is unstoppable，” said Faust. “She is really a __55__．” (　　)41. A. spotted B. arrested C. seized D. alerted (　　)42. A. yet B. so C. or D. but (　　)43. A. sacrificed B. sawn C. saved D. stuck (　　)44. A. leapt B. stormed C. dropped D. spun (　　)45. A. coughing B. buzzing C. echoing D. chanting (　　)46. A. received B. equipped C. informed D. educated (　　)47. A. entry B. enquiry C. probe D. insight (　　)48. A. bathed in B. concerned with C. exposed to D. targeted at (　　)49. A. glided B. crawled C. cracked D. ferried (　　)50. A. dawn B. midday C. dusk D. midnight (　　)51. A. lay B. settle C. track D. break (　　)52. A. fascinating B. thriving C. amazing D. terrifying (　　)53. A. conquering B. boasting C. abandoning D. distracting (　　)54. A. focused B. counted C. based D. grounded (　　)55. A. mate B. bee C. success D. crystal 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。 The British Museum opened a Silk Road exhibition for a media preview on September 24, 2024, __56__(showcase) over 300 objects, including items from 29 national and international institutions. Spanning from around 500 to 1000 A．D., the exhibition explores __57__ the journeys of people, objects and ideas along the Silk Road shaped cultures and histories across continents. Luk Yu­ping, co­curator of the exhibition, stressed the __58__(relevant) of the past to the present. “In the past, China was __59__(centre) to these vast networks, influencing economic development and cultural exchange. This is mirrored today in initiatives like the Belt and Road, where China again plays a(n) __60__(replaceable) role in the global economy，” she noted. She highlighted the connections between China's Tang Dynasty and the world. “For instance, we put __61__(emphasize) on maritime routes linking China to West Asia, illustrated by artifacts from Tang China.” Sue, another co­curator, explained that the very links __62__ connect the cultures do the trick and the Silk Road has a broad geographical scope. “We're picturing it as __63__ series of overlapping networks connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. Although Northwest Europe __64__(overlook) in Silk Road discussions, our exhibition concludes with the artifacts found in Scotland that can be __65__ (basic) traced back to present­day Iran，” she said. 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，上周末你和同学去参加了某市教育局主办的全民健身项目展演活动，请你给美国朋友Michael写一封邮件分享这次经历，内容包括： 1. 参观内容； 2. 你的感想。 注意：1. 写作词数应为80左右；2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。 参考词汇：全民健身展演National Fitness Exhibition Dear Michael， ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Looking forward to your reply. Yours， Li Hua 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。 There comes a time for every family when the tables turn and the parent has to answer to the child. Mine came recently when my wife and I stayed with our elder son in Los Angeles—our first visit in several years and the longest since he moved west in 2014. A whole week under his roof! “Dad, don't leave the water running when you brush your teeth，” Nathaniel lectured on our first night. The same when I washed my hands. All right, I figured, this is California, where drought is a concern. But I also got blamed for pulling extra paper towels to wipe the kitchen counter and was instructed to use the dishcloth, which didn't seem sanitary(卫生的). More rules followed. Not to leave my clunky walking shoes sitting out, and did I even need such ugly foot­wear? Don't wear a neck warmer when walking the dogs in the morning—it will warm up when we get to the park. Why drink so much seltzer(汽水)? One pump of hand sanitizer is enough. This is how you should refold the southwest­style rug over the chair after you use it. And do you have to take a shower before we drive to Topanga? At first I wondered how I'd raised such a tyrant(暴君). Then I remembered how often I threw the golden rule of parenting at Nathaniel and his siblings when they were young. “Someday, you'll have a home of your own and can live however you want，” I'd say. “Until then, you'll have to do as we ask.” An annoying decree, but it did get the occasional juice glass in the dish­washer or sweatshirt off the floor. 注意： 1. 续写词数应为150左右； 2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。 I remembered being angry at my own father's commands. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ I began to appreciate the growth and independence of Nathaniel. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ 2024～2025学年高三第一学期学情调研考试(南通) 英语参考答案及听力材料 第一部分　听力 1～5　CAABB　6～10　CBCCA　11～15　CBABB　16～20　ACCBA 第二部分　阅读 第一节 21～23　DBD　24～27　ACAB　28～31　BACA　32～35　BDCC 第二节 36～40　GACFE 第三部分　语言运用 第一节 41～45　ABDAC　46～50　BACBD　51～55　CDCAB 第二节 56. showcasing　57. how　58. relevance　59. central　60. irreplaceable　61. emphasis　62. that 63. a　64. is overlooked　65. basically 第四部分　写作 第一节 Dear__Michael， Last weekend, I went to a National Fitness Exhibition Activity with my classmate and I'd like to share my experience with you. The exhibition provided a diverse range of fitness options available to everyone, including Tai Chi demonstrations, martial arts performances and group exercises, all highlighting the citizens' enthusiasm for a healthy lifestyle. Thoroughly enjoying such an impressive activity is a memorable experience. And it is both inspiring and motivating to see participants actively involved and attach importance to physical well­being. Looking__forward__to__your__reply. Yours， Li__Hua 第二节 I__remembered__being__angry__at__my__own__father's__commands. He would insist on certain routines and habits that seemed so unnecessary to me at that time. But now, putting myself in my father's shoes, I came to the realization that the importance of those lessons were definitely essential in shaping responsible individuals. It was his insistence on these practices that made me realize their significance. This realization was so profound that it has reshaped my perspective on parenting. I__began__to__appreciate__the__growth__and__independence__of__Nathaniel. His rules, though sometimes frustrating, were a witness to his maturity and his understanding of the world. Therefore, not only did I willingly adapt to his way of living, but also I realized the fact that it was time for us parents to let go and allow our children to stand on their own feet. The whole week's stay passed quickly and this visit would be rooted in my memory forever. 听力材料 Text 1 M: Are you going to the concert tonight? W: No, I promised to take care of my neighbors' children while they go to the hospital. Text 2 W: I parked my car on Peterson Road this morning, but there is no parking there between the hours of 2 to 4. So I need to step out for a moment and park on Jane Road. M: Why don't you park on College Street? It's free, and it's not too far to walk here from there. Text 3 M: May I watch what you're doing? W: Sure. You dig a hole, put it in the soil, cover it with dirt, and then water it. Text 4 W: I can't believe that you are leaving us. It is sad to see you go，but I wish you the best in the new business you are starting up. I am sure that you are going to be successful. M: Thanks. I've been waiting a long time to do this. Text 5 M: Jane, can you spare an hour this afternoon? I really need you to explain some of the parts I don't understand in the report. W: OK, Jack. I'll drop by your office right after having lunch with a very important customer. Text 6 W: I hear you've got a really good job for this summer. M: Yes, I'm starting next week. I'll be working at a football camp. I won't coach young children. Instead, I applied for the childcare job. W: What's the pay like? M: Well, their standard hourly rate is ￡6, but they've offered me an extra pound an hour because I've already got some experience of this kind of work. And if I go back and work for them again next year, the pay will goup to ￡8 per hour. W: That's great! Text 7 M: Do you know why we're shutting down rides an hour early tonight? W: There will be fireworks in the main square this evening. This month, there's a special event each week. The schedule is posted in the staff break room. M: Oh, odd. I never saw that throughout the week. W: Well, it's in there. OK, we'd better get back to work. Don't forget to place closing signs near the ride entrances in 30 minutes. M: OK. Text 8 W: Wakey, wakey, sleepy head! M: Huh? W: I know it's the weekend, but it's noon, and your room is a complete mess. We haven't got too long before we're off to Auntie Nicky's this afternoon for a BBQ. I need you to get up and start sorting it out. M: OK, Mom. How long have I got? W: About two hours. If you get started right away, that'll be plenty of time. M: Honestly, Mom, I don't know where to start. W: There's stuff in every corner, so the best plan would be to start by putting the clothes wherever they need to go.Then you need to pick up all the litter and empty the bins. Once you've done that, remember to dust the shelves. M: I hate tidying up, Mom. It's so boring and tiring. W: I know, but you'll love it when everything is nice and clean afterwards. M: That's right. I don't like living in a dirty room. W: Go to the bathroom to wash up first and then you can start tidying and cleaning. Text 9 W: Hi there. My name's Elle Galleano. M: Hi. You're the girl who started her own food business at the age of 13, aren't you? W: That's right. And you are the guy who's got his own fashion line. M: That's me. W: I love your designs. I've seen photos in magazines of actors wearing your designs. But you don't like giving interviews, do you? M: No. I prefer to hide behind my clothes. You don't seem to mind, though. W: I started by writing blogs about my products online, so it's not a problem. I've just read your book. I thought the section on presenting yourself for job interviews was really helpful. M: Thanks! My company now has over fifty people and I've interviewed most of them. They were very surprised to find a teenager interviewing them. Do you interview job applicants? W: No, actually. My business is still pretty small and we've kept it in the family—Dad manages the money, Mum does the office work and two brothers of my dad work in production. We love working together. Text 10 My friends say I have a good ear for languages. It may be true because I learn new words easily and I really enjoy speaking foreign languages. At school we all study French and German. Believe it or not, some of my classmates and I are also learning Chinese. We belong to the after­school Chinese club. We meet up with our teacher Mr Lee twice a week. Chinese isn't easy but we study hard and we've made a lot of progress. In May, I'm planning to take part in a language competition for primary schools and I will give a presentation on teenagers in China, of course in Chinese. I began my preparation in January. Well ... Now I have fallen slightly behind due to being ill for two weeks, causing me to miss four Chinese lessons. But I'm sure that I will be back on track soon. ( 1 ) 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$