山东省济宁市任城区2025-2026学年高二上学期11月期中英语试题

2025~2026学年度第一学期期中教学质量检测 高二英语试题 2025.11 注意事项： 1.答卷前，考生务必将自己的姓名、考生号等填写在答题卡和试卷指定位置上 2.回答选择题时，选出每小题答案后，用铅笔把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。如需改动，用橡皮擦干净后，再选涂其他答案标号。回答非选择题时，将答案写在答题卡上、写在本试卷上无效。 3.考试结束后，将本试卷和答题卡并交回。 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。 例：How much is the shirt? A. £19.15. B. £9.18. C. £9.15. 答案是C. 1. What does the woman seem to be interested in? A. The Great Wall B. The Summer Palace. C. Hutongs. 2. What does John like doing now in his spare time? A. Doing exercise. B. Watching TV. C. Listening to music. 3. Where does the conversation probably take place? A. At home. B. In the office. C. Over the phone. 4. Why does the woman talk to the man? A. To ask him about a museum. B. To invite him to an exhibition. C. To learn about the Silk Road from him. 5. What is the probable relationship between the speakers? A. Mother and son. B. Teacher and student. C. Doctor and patient. 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；A 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 does Robert think of electric cars? A. They’re much safer. B. They’re quite expensive. C. They’re environmentally friendly. 7. What attracts Robert most about the latest Tesla electric car? A. The speed. B. The design. C. The price. 听第7段材料，回答第8至10题。 8. What is the book the man wants to buy about?） A. A historical figure. B. An adventure. C. A fantasy. 9. Why does the woman buy books today? A. To complete her paper. B. To prepare a birthday gift. C. To kill time at the weekend. 10. Which series of books will the woman take? A. Harry Potter. B. The Lord of the Rings. C. The Hunger Games. 听第8段材料，回答第11至13题。 11. How long did David stay at the party last night? A. About one hour. B. About six hours. C. About nine hours. 12. What did David like best at the party? A. The drinks. B. The music. C. The barbecue. 13. What did the police do at last? A. They attended the party. B. They fined the organizer. C. They called an end to the party. 听第9段材料，回答第14至16题。 14. What are the speakers mainly talking about? A. How to do business. B. How to handle stress. C. How to be a good mother 15. What do we know about Helen’s sleep state? A. She can sleep well. B. She is a light sleeper. C. She lacks sleep. 16. What does Helen say about eating too much chocolate? A. It has bad effects on health B. It makes her become energetic. C. It helps those who like to stay up late. 听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。 17. Where do the cicadas spend most of their life? A. Under the ground. B. In the grass. C. In tall trees. 18. What is unknown about cicadas to scientists? A. Why they live so long B. How they perceive time. C. When they come out! 19. Why do the male cicadas make loud calls? A. To relieve the discomfort. B. To warn off natural enemies. C. To catch the females’ attention 20. How do many Americans deal with cicadas now? A. They sell them for money. B. They use them as medicine. C. They regard them as food. 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 Directions and Warnings for Fix-a-Flat Directions: *Turn metal needle to 6 o’clock position and shake the can strongly for 30 seconds. *Tightly twist tube onto valve (阀门). *Remove safety label. *Hold the can upright and press yellow button down. Don’t shake the can while using *Press the button and hold until fixing glue stops flowing. *Make sure the tire rim (轮胎圈) is lifted off of the ground. If not, add tire pressure. Immediately drive 2-4 miles to allow tire pressure to increase. If needed, increase to recommended pressure. *Have the tire repaired aired by tire professionals within 3 days or 100 miles. Warning: *Contain harmful chemicals to human body. *Use only outdoors in a well-ventilated area *Wear protective eyewear during use. *DO NOT use if any part of this product is damaged. *DO NOT cut or burn container. *DO NOT expose to heat, open fire, direct sunlight or store at 49℃ or above *DO NOT store in the car casually. *Temperatures inside the car may be over 49℃.Store outside passenger area of the car or in the trunk. Note： Fix-a-Flat will not repair sidewall or severe damage, cracks (裂纹) in wheels or rim leaks. If the tire does not lift off ground after product use, have it repaired immediately. Treated tires should be repaired by a qualified tire professional as stated to ensure safety. FIRST AID： If breathed in, seek fresh air. If on skin or in eyes, wash with plenty of soap water for 15 minutes. For any severe conditions, call 1-800-255-3924 immediately. 21. What can Fix-a-Flat work as? A. A quick emergency tire repair. B. A professional tire replacement. C. A first aid for injured drivers D. A safety monitor for tire pressure. 22. Which is the recommended way to use Fix-a-Flat? A. Give it a shake during use B. Leave it in sunlight. C. Put it next to the driver’s side. D. Use it in an open field. 23. What is mentioned in the part of “Note”? A. Where to get customer service. B. What to do if Fix-a-Flat doesn’t work. C. How to deal with complaints on Fix-a-Flat. D. When to use Fix-a-Flat instead of a tire change. B Staring at the bookcases in my study, packed with so many great books that had remained unread, I heard a loud voice in my head—“How can you leave these masterpieces unread?” The first book I picked up was Montaigne’s Essays. To my surprise, I discovered in the margins (页边空白) my own faded hand-writing. So I was actually reading it again, but what I was rereading seemed entirely new. I also found sentences underlined. Only this time I wondered: Why did I underline this sentence? It’s the next one that is important! Clearly, my view of reading had changed over the years. This raised the larger question of rereading, which comes in many forms. There’s voluntary rereading, the result of a willful decision to revisit a book one has admired, or to confirm certain details in the text. A devoted teacher might wish to refresh his understanding of a work, and thus avoid teaching through the same old written notes with soporific (让人瞌睡的) effects. Next, there’s involuntary rereading. The original reading was either forgotten or so totally absorbed that the new chance encounter with the text produced surprise and astonishment. My reaction to the renewed reading no longer felt like the original experience, and I was no longer sure that I recognized myself as the same reader. Then there are what one might call subconscious (潜意识的) rereadings, those that happen without reading —much like recalling a song without actually being heard again. This remembered connection to books stays with us for life, shaping and strengthening us. We may over the years recite to ourselves poems learnt by heart long ago, which have become part of our self-recognition. All of these ways of reading are valuable. The “new” reading, a form of revision, uncovers the change in us. The newness is not in the text. Rereading makes it possible for us to see the world around us, ourselves included, in a new light. 24. What did the author find when reading Montaigne’s Essays? A. He couldn’t understand it. B. It was his favorite work C. He had made notes in it. D. It was a brand-new copy. -25. What could be a purpose of voluntary rereading for a teacher? A. To learn from admirable characters. B. To improve the quality of teaching. C. To collect details for writing novels. D. To help make important decisions. 26. What can involuntary rereading bring about? A. Better reading skills. B. Original preference for books. C. Faster reading speed. D. Unexpected reading experience. 27. What can be learnt about subconscious rereading? A. It helps make who we are. B. It prevents memory from fading. C. It involves actual reading. D. It works best with poetry and music. C A fully soft, 3D-printed robot that operates without any electronics has been developed by engineers at the University of California, San Diego. Led by mechanical engineer Yichen Zhai, the team created an insect-inspired robot with six flexible legs that moves completely using air from a container. Remarkably, the entire robot is printed as one single piece from plastic, a process taking about two and a half days. Unlike conventional robots needing electricity, this innovation relies on air pressure. Because of this design, the robot is waterproof, as demonstrated when it successfully walked through beach shallows during testing. The six-legged design provides excellent stability on rough surfaces. When moving, three legs step while the other three remain grounded, preventing the robot from tipping over easily. Perla Maiolino, a soft robotics expert at the University of Oxford, finds the design “quite interesting”, highlighting its unique single-material, single-piece construction unlike typical multi-part constructed robots. This electronics-free approach holds significant promise for future applications. Such robots could potentially work in dangerous environments where electronics fail or pose risks, such as underwater, in mines, or even in space. They represent a step towards free-standing robots usable in tough conditions without power wires. However, the current model has limitations. Its speed is only about 4 centimeters per second—faster than a snail but slower than a turtle— and it can only operate for 80 seconds on an air container. It also moves only in a straight line and cannot yet turn or avoid barriers. Zhai’s team is actively working on a faster version and aims to develop a turning system, potentially using controlled airflow to move around like a simple self-driving device. While not yet ready for demanding tasks, Zhai emphasizes the robot’s current accessibility. “The robot is like a toy,” he says. Being cheaply and easily 3D printable means “If people love it, they can make it. That’s enough.” 28. What is a key feature of the robot? A. It requires complex tools to build. B. It is printed as a single plastic piece. C. It has electronic sensors for movement. D. It uses various materials for flexibility. 29. What is Perla Maiolino’s attitude towards the robot’s design? A. Positive. B. Unconcerned. C. Doubtful. D. Careful. 30. What aspect of the robot is expected to be improved in the future research? A. Its built-in tracking system. B. Its use of electronic parts. C. Its ability to get around flexibly. D. Its data processing speed. 31. What can be the best title for the text? A. The Development of Printing B. The Prospect of Soft Robots C. A 3D-Printed Educational Toy D. A Novel Air-Powered Robot D If you’re offered a free cookie, you might say yes. But if you’re paid to eat a free cookie, would your response be the same? You might politely refuse it and walk away thinking, “Something smells fishy.” In a new study, researchers found that people tend to turn down offers of “free money” because they seem “too good to be true”. In the initial experiment, nearly 40 percent of participants ate a cookie offered freely—compared with about 20 percent of those offered an additional $2. “People typically infer hidden costs from overly generous offers. In this case, the participants may think the cookies were poisoned,” says study lead author Andrew J. Vonasch. Further experiments, involving more than 4,000 participants, used online questionnaires to present common everyday scenes. In each case, past a certain threshold value (阈值), higher potential monetary gain at no cost reduced participants’ likelihood of accepting the offer. Vonasch says the study illustrates that, contrary to the “standard economic model”, which supposes humans always seek to maximize gains, deals need to be understood as social interactions between people trying to interpret each other’s minds. If someone seems to go against accepted norms such as self-interest without a solid reason, we assume they have hidden motives and infer there will be “phantom costs (幻影成本)”. The researchers also showed how to weaken phantom costs’ effect. In one experiment, participants were given three plane tickets for the same flight, respectively costing $235, $275, and $205. Most people chose the $205 ticket. However, if the third option was $l5, hardly anyone chose the cheapest one. They rejected it because they imagined horrible phantom costs. However, when the researchers accounted for the incredibly cheap offer—very uncomfortable seats—most participants preferred the $15 flight. The scientists are about to experiment with robots and artificial intelligence interactions. “Will people act the same way when AI is perceived as overly generous to them?” Vonasch says. “AI is always programmed to appear more human-like and people tend to treat AI agents as if they have a mind, when obviously they don’t.” 32. What does the underlined part “smells fishy” in Paragraph 1 mean? A. Smells of fish. B. Becomes uneatable. C. Seems dishonest. D. Sounds very appealing. 33. Which of the following will people probably reject according to the study? A. Being charged for visiting a gallery. B. Being offered cash for taking a lift home. C. A travel package with a discount of 10%. D. A S5 reward for giving back a lost phone. 34. How can the phantom-costs effect be reduced? A. Keep prices as low as possible. B. Offer customers a variety of options. C. Give explanations for overgenerous offers. D. Adjust pricing constantly with competitors. 35. What will the follow-up study focus on? A. How AI’s responses impact humans’ expectations. B. How AI can be programmed to be more human-like. C. Whether AI can give humans overly generous offers. D. Whether the phantom-costs effect exists in human-AI interactions. 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。 There are many central goals and themes that can drive people’s travel planning, for example, “sports s tourism” centered on big athletic events and “gig tripping for concert experiences. 36 This type of travel takes a different approach that’s all about personal growth and taking some time away to develop expertise you might carry into your life back home. Although “skillcation” is not a new term, it has yet to reach widespread use. 37 Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, for example, has highlighted “skillcation packages” in the area that offer travelers an opportunity to enrich their leisure travel with skill development like cooking, swimming, painting, and acting. 38 Ben Martin, an economics practice director, gives a good explanation. “Beyond historic travel themes including sightseeing and relaxation, now guests are looking for a deeper level of participation. Expanding their skillset while exploring a new place can help travelers tap into their intellectual curiosity and creativity in ways that continue to influence their lives beyond the trip.” Keep in mind that not every vacation needs to be a “skillcation”. We all have different goals when we travel, and those skill-building activities are not always best for relaxation. “They may need a degree of hard work and commitment that travelers are not used to showing on holiday. 39 ”Martin explained. If you wish you had more time to explore new skills and hobbies in your everyday reality, you might enjoy dedicating (奉献) your journey time to pursuing these goals. 40 Research culturally relevant skills and activities in your destination if you’ve already chosen one, or use skill-building as a guiding factor in deciding which destination you want to visit. A. But would you ever try a “skillcation”? B. However, not everyone is suitable for this activity. C. Also, they can benefit from skill-building activities. D. You may wonder why people are drawn to “skillcation”. E. Just take a mindful approach to this chance for personal growth. F. Still, industry experts are noticing it as more people join in “skillcations”. G. Besides, they might require the travelers to step outside their comfort zone. 第三部分 语言运用（共三节，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。 Three months ago, I had zero knowledge about coding (编码). The thought of looking at endless lines of code on a screen felt like reading a foreign language. But I was 41 to learn. Coding is everywhere these days, from apps to websites. I realized it was a 42 anyone should learn. So, I gave myself a simple 43 : one hour a day, every day, for three months. I spent the first few weeks reading through beginner-friendly 44 and watching tutorials (辅导课). Professional terms like loops and syntax errors swam around in my head, and progress felt 45 . But here’s the thing about 46 the beginning is always the hardest. If you can 47 that initial (最初的) discomfort, you’ll surprise yourself. By month two, things started 48 . I began writing small 49 , testing out logic, and understanding how everything connected. The one hour I committed to each day stopped feeling like a 50 —it became exciting. By month three, I had 51 my first simple app to check in and check out visitors. Sure, there are plenty of visitor management software in the market, but that feeling of 52 was priceless. The process taught me something 53 : you don’t need talent or experience. All you need is time, 54 , and patience. One hour a day 55 changed the way I saw myself. I went from “I’m not a coding person” to “What else can I learn if I commit just one hour daily?” 41. A. curious B. grateful C. responsible D. nervous 42. A. concept B. business C. skill D. habit 43. A. test B. gift C. chance D. goal 44. A. questions B. guides C. drafts D. diaries 45. A. slow B. possible C. smooth D. natural 46. A. working B. planning C. learning D. thinking 47. A. step around B. push through C. believe in D. come across 48. A. clicking B. mattering C. happening D. struggling 49. A. letters B. essays C. programs D. posts 50. A. dream B. reminder C. necessity D. task 51. A. found B. copied C. chosen D. built 52. A. relief B. achievement C. responsibility D. belonging 53. A. funny B. academic C. significant D. flexible 54. A. devotion B. intelligence C. imagination D. adventure 55. A. occasionally B. completely C. originally D. suddenly 第二节（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分） 根据所给单词的汉语提示或首字母，写出空缺处单词的正确形式，每空一词。 56. Through the writing contest, he built up his confidence (逐渐地). 57. It’s important to develop the students’ (批判的) thinking ability. 58. (陪伴) by my friends, I started a routine of running in a park. 59. He sent her a message to (澄清) the misunderstanding between them. 60. We can’t base our decision on the (假定) that the world won’t change. 61. They finally arrived at a c after hours of discussion. 62. I’m afraid I’m not a now, since I am doing my homework. 63. She was ill and lost her a , eating only a piece of bread. 64. He b down and picked up the fallen book on the ground. 65. Once he made up his mind, nobody can p him to give up! 第三节（共5小题；每小题1分，满分5分） 阅读下列各句，在空白处填入1个适当单词或括号内单词的正确形式。 66. Tom passed the driving test, made his parents very happy. 67. As students, we need is to commit ourselves to studying for our motherland. 68. Yoga is a c (combine) of physical and mental exercise. 69. This time tomorrow, I (attend) an online lecture on agricultural science.al sciences. 70. (develop) good habits is important for young children’s growth. 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，为了鼓励留学生讲述自己的中国故事，你校将举办主题为“我所了解的中国（China as I know it）”的汉语演讲比赛。请你给Alex写一封电子邮件，邀请他参加，内容包括： （1）活动介绍与要求； （2）报名方式。 注意： （1）词数80个左右； （2）请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。 Dear Alex, 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。 It was a cold, snowy evening. Tommy was running as fast as he could, focusing on nothing but his destination— the shop on the street corner. Two weeks ago, he saw figurines (雕像) of Marvel superheroes on the shelves and felt he had to have one. He had been walking the neighbor’s dog ever since then to earn money to realize his little dream. He was so excited that he hardly noticed the world around him. Maybe that was why he tripped over-the legs of a homeless woman, who was sitting on the sidewalk, her back against the wall. He murmured (低语) “sorry” and moved on to his destination. Once he entered the shop, he went straight to the shelves with figurines. Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, and many more— all of his admired heroes. With his heart beating wildly, he reached for Spider-Man. “You like these, true believer?” Tommy turned around. An old man was standing behind him with a wide smile on his face. “Y-yes ... Yes, they’re awesome!” answered Tommy. “They’re strong and fast and help other people a lot ...” the boy looked at the figurines in admiration. “I wish I could be a superhero too.” “Then become one!” said the old man. “How?” Tommy asked in surprise. “I don’t have any superpowers.” “And why would you need them?” the old man smiled. Seeing the confusion on the boy’s face, he squatted (蹲下) and put his hands on Tommy’s arms. “Did you know, that shopkeeper lady over there has a disabled husband? She’s been working hard and taking care of him for years. I’ve never heard a word of complaint from her. And this person—” he pointed at a redhead man, who just entered the shop. “He’s a firefighter; he’s saved countless lives. He never gives up, no matter how dangerous the situation seems to be. The old man looked Tommy in the eyes and smiled. “You don’t need a superpower to be a hero for someone else. The path of a superhero starts not in the mind, not in the muscles, but in the heart.” 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。 Tommy dropped his head and looked at his shoes, thinking intensely. The homeless woman was right in the place where he saw her last time. 2025～2026学年度第一学期期中教学质量检测 高二英语试题答案 第一部分 听力（共两节，共30分） 1-5 CACBB 6-10 CBABC 11-15 BCABA 16-20 AABCC 第二部分 阅读 （共两节，满分50分） 21-23 ADB 24-27 CBDA 28-31 BACD 32-35 CBCD 36-40 A FDGE 第三部分 语言运用 （共三节，满分30分） 第一节（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分） 41-45 ACDBA 46-50 CBACD 51-55 DBCAB 第二节 （共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分） 56. gradually 57. critical 58. Accompanied 59. clarify 60. assumption 61. conclusion 62. available 63. appetite 64. bent 65. persuade 第三节（共5小题；每小题1分，满分5分） 66. which 67. what 68. combination 69. will be attending 70. Convincing 第四部分 写作 （共两节，满分40分） 第一节（满分15分） One possible version: Dear Alex, How is your Chinese learning going now? I have an exciting event to share with you — our school is hosting a Chinese speech contest themed “China as I know it” to encourage international students to share stories about China. I sincerely invite you to participate. The contest will be held in the school lecture hall at 2 p.m. next Friday. As for its specific arrangements, each participant is required to prepare a speech lasting 5-6 minutes in Chinese, and you can share topics about traditional festivals you’ve experienced, Chinese cultural customs you are interested in or even your insights into China’s rapid development. If you are interested, please go to the International Student Office to fill out the registration form before this Friday. Your active participation will be highly appreciated, and I’m sure your story will impress everyone. Looking forward to your reply. Yours, Li Hua 第二节 （满分25分） One possible version: Tommy dropped his head and looked at his shoes, thinking intensely. He kept replaying the old man’s words in his mind: “The path of a superhero starts in the heart.” He thought about how he’d rushed past the homeless woman without a second glance, and a wave of guilt washed over him. He glanced at the Spider-Man figurine in his hand, then at the money in his pocket — money he’d worked hard for by walking the neighbor’s dog. But now, the figurine didn’t seem as important as before. He put the figurine back on the shelf, took a deep breath, gripped his money tightly, and hurried out of the shop, determined to find the homeless woman and make things right. The homeless woman was right there, where he saw her last time. Her thin coat couldn’t keep out the cold, and she was rubbing her hands together to warm them, her eyes looking tired and helpless. Tommy’s heart ached when he saw her like this. He walked up to her slowly, took out all the money he had, and handed it to her. “I’m sorry for tripping over you and leaving in a hurry earlier,” he said softly. “You can use this money to buy something warm to eat.” The woman looked at him in surprise, then smiled warmly and thanked him. As Tommy watched her walk toward a nearby food stand, he felt a proud glow in his chest — he finally understood that he didn’t need a figurine to be a hero; helping others was enough. 附：听力原文 Text 1 M: Shall we visit the Summer Palace or climb the Great Wall tomorrow? W: But I prefer to learn how common people live in Beijing, so let’s visit some hutongs. It’s said that they formed the heart of Old Beijing. M: Anything you say, darling. Text 2 W: John, do you like listening to music in your leisure time? M: Not really. I used to lie on the sofa watching TV, and I gained weight easily. Now when I have some time of my own, I like shooting some hoops. It is good exercise and gives me some time out of the house. Text 3 M: Hello, honey. It’s me. I’m calling to tell you I’ve got to work overtime in the office tonight. W: In that case, I don’t have to cook dinner tonight. I’ll eat out with some friends instead. Text 4 W: Mike, are you interested in learning about the Silk Road? M: Certainly. I heard it was the most important pre-modern Eurasian trade route. W: You’re right. There’s an exhibition about it in Museum of Chinese in America. What about going there this afternoon? Text 5 W: Steven, I expected to see your homework this morning. M: I’m sorry, Miss White. Can I hand it in this afternoon? I didn’t feel well last night, so my mom took me to the hospital. Text 6 W: Robert, you’re a car lover, so you must know something about electric cars. M: Yes. Now it’s quite common to drive electric cars. That means less air pollution. Tesla is making a new kind of electric car this year. W: Is there anything special about it? M: Yes. It can drive much farther than most electric cars. W: It must be expensive. M: Actually, it will be their least expensive car. Besides, many people, myself included, are crazy about its design. Its top is all glass! Text 7 W: Wow, it’s really a big bookstore. What kind of book do you want to buy today? M: I’d like to get a book about Abraham Lincoln’s life. I’m really interested in learning more about the great man. W: It must be helpful for you to complete your paper. M: You’re right. And you? W: I’m looking for some fantasy books. M: You must love this kind of book very much. W: Not really. Adventure stories are my favorite. Actually I need books for my younger brother. He is turning fourteen this weekend. M: How about buying the Harry Potter series for him? W: He read those books two years ago, but he hasn’t read The Lord of the Rings and The Hunger Games yet. M: Will you buy both of the series for him? W: No. Just the latter. I don’t have so much money today. Text 8 W: David, I called you at 9:00 this morning, but your mother said you were still sleeping. Did you stay up late last night? M: Yes. There was a block party in my neighborhood last night. It began at 7:00 pm and didn’t end until about 1:00 am. I stayed there from the very beginning till the end of it. W: You must have had a great time there. M: Absolutely. There was a DJ playing music. We could dance to the music. There were also a lot of drinks to choose from. But what I loved most was cooking different kinds of meat on the grills in the open air. W: It sounds like it was really wild. M: You bet. And there was quite a lot of noise. Around midnight, some police came. W: Did they ask you all to go back home? M: At first I feared that, but it turned out that they were invited by the organizers to join in the fun. Text 9 M: Helen, you’re always busy with your business, and you’re a wife and you’re a mother of two little girls. I’m wondering how you manage stress. When there is just too much going on, what do you do? W: I usually get some exercise, even if it’s only 18 minutes. Sometimes I may take my babies on a fast 18-minute walk with the dog. M: So, you use exercise as one of the ways. How do you find enough time to sleep? You’ve got to do certain things. How do you get enough rest and relaxation? W: I think, that’s a good point. One of the by-products from exercising regularly is that I can sleep throughout the entire night, 7.5 to 8 hours. M: How about eating habits? Do you think eating probably has something to do with stress? W: Of course, it does. I love to have a piece of dark chocolate but not too much. Many people will overeat when they are stressed out. They stay up and eat all those cookies without thinking about it. That’s going to make things even worse. Instead of changing something, it may be harmful to our health. M: You said it! Thank you, Helen. Text 10 W: Insects that have been underground for 17 years are coming out in great numbers. The insects are cicadas. Adult cicadas are an inch or two long. Most insects have fairly short life spans. That’s also true for some kinds of cicadas, which only live for a year. But the cicadas coming out now aren’t just any cicadas. They spend a period of 13 to 17 years underground, and then they come out for just a few weeks before dying. They’re only found in North America. The cicadas are known as Brood X. Scientists still don’t know how they keep track of time. But somehow, after 17 years, the cicadas all come out of the ground at about the same time. Male cicadas make loud calls to attract the females. In just a few weeks, the adults will have reached the end of their long lives. But six to ten weeks after the eggs were laid, young cicadas begin to come out, and the cycle begins again. They fall to the ground and begin digging down underground, where they’ll spend the next 17 years. Long ago, native Americans used to count on cicadas for a healthy meal. Now, a number of people around the US are also interested in trying them as food. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $