广西柳州市柳江中学2026-2027学年高二上学期10月阶段检测英语试题

柳江中学2028届高二10月检测（英语） （时间：150分钟 总分：150分） 一、听力（每小题1.5分，满分30分） 第一节 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。每段对话读两遍。 1. What does the woman mean? A. John doesn’t like dreaming. B. John doesn’t have enough good ideas. C. John doesn’t put his ideas into practice. 2. What is the man doing? A. Asking for directions. B. Planning a journey. C. Buying a train ticket. 3. What will the speakers find a person to do? A. Check the office. B. Download the file. C. Handle the Internet problem. 4. When did the man leave for home? A. At ten. B. At eleven. C. At ten thirty. 5. How soon will the meeting begin? A. In 20 minutes. B. In 30 minutes. C. In 40 minutes. 第二节 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。 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。 6. What is the probable relationship between the speakers? A. Husband and wife. B. Hostess and guest. C. Chef and customer. 7. What is the man most likely to have for dinner? A. French fries. B. Ham sandwiches. C. Fish and vegetables. 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。 8. How does the man probably feel? A. Excited. B. Nervous. C. Regretful. 9. What will the man do next? A. Talk to Samantha. B. Dance with the woman. C. Attend a graduation ceremony. 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。 10. How does the man want his hair cut? A. All off the back. B. All off the sides. C. A little off the top and sides. 11. What did the man complain about? A. The woman cut his hair too short. B. The woman cut his ear accidentally. C. The towel was too dirty. 12. Why can’t the man complain directly to the manager? A. The manager is on vacation. B. The manager is out to lunch. C. The manager is dealing with another customer. 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。 13. What is the probable relationship between the speakers? A. Friends. B. Schoolmates. C. Workmates. 14. How does the woman feel about the change? A. Satisfied. B. Disappointed. C. Confused. 15. What does the man suggest the woman do? A. Go to art galleries. B. Attend concerts. C. Visit science museums. 16. What kind of music does the man like most? A. Classical. B. Jazz. C. Country. 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。 17. When does the speaker probably give the talk? A. On December 18. B. On December 24. C. On December 25. 18. Why does the speaker mention “Happy Birthday”? A. To show the difference between “merry” and “happy”. B. To explain why “merry” is widely used. C. To say that “merry” is special. 19. What can we learn from the talk? A. “Happy Christmas” has disappeared completely. B. Charles Dickens defined many Christmas traditions. C. “Merry Christmas” has been used since at least 1534. 20. What will the speaker do probably? A. Play some videos. B. Teach some common phrases. C. Read stories by Charles Dickens. 二、阅读（每小题2.5分，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 ready to pack your bags! Once again, Vienna has been named the world’s most livable city, and we’re suddenly craving Sachertorte and a cup of coffee. In its newly released Global Liveability Index for 2022, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) looked at 172 cities worldwide, assessing 30 livability factors across five categories: stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure (基础设施). Vienna, which ended up with an index rating of 99.1, topped the list, followed by Copenhagen (98.0) and Zurich (96.3) “Stability and good infrastructure are Vienna’s main charms for its inhabitants (居民), supported by good healthcare and plenty of opportunities for culture and entertainment,” the EIU wrote in its report. The City of Music has plenty to offer to keep its residents occupied. Music lovers will want to spend their evenings at the State Opera, while art enthusiasts and history buffs will enjoy diving into the city’s 100-plus museums. And when you need to take it slow, Vienna’s cozy coffeehouses provide the perfect setting for catching up with friends. Vienna, which ranked first in 2018 and 2019, dropped down to 12th place in 2021 due to pandemic-related museum and restaurant closures. “For the past two years, EIU’s global liveability rankings have been largely driven by the pandemic, with lockdowns and social distancing measures affecting scores for culture, education, and healthcare in cities across the world,” said the report. “However, in our most recent survey, the index has normalized, as restrictions have been lifted in many countries.” Want more information about other liveable cities? Click our website. 21. What significantly appeals to the locals in Vienna by the EIU report in 2022? A. Stability and environment. B. Education and Health care. C. Health care and culture. D. Basic facilities and stability. 22. What can the residents in Vienna easily enjoy according to the text? A. Gaining free health care. B. Performing at the State Opera. C. Sharing coffee with friends leisurely. D. Displaying works at the museum. 23. What does the author intend to do? A. Introduce the most livable city. B. Announce global liveability rankings. C. Compare the most livable cities. D. Highlight Global Liveability Index. B You won’t be surprised to hear that sweet treats such as cakes and biscuits contain sugar. But do you know that it occurs naturally in most foods apart from meat and fish? Sugar is in all kinds of food but where does it come from? Humans started growing sugar cane (甘蔗) around 10,000 years ago on the island of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean. Before that, honey and juice from fruit were almost the only sweeteners people had. Over thousands of years, knowledge of how to grow sugar cane spread to China, Southeast Asia and India. Slowly, the love of sugar travelled west. In the 11th century, soldiers who fought in the wars in the Middle East brought sugar back to Britain. It took a long time for it to become popular there, partly because it was very expensive. It was used economically as a spice and a medicine for coughs and stomach problems. For hundreds of years, sugar was a luxury reserved for royalty and nobles — but the market grew steadily. By the 17th century, the industries growing sugar in the Caribbean couldn’t keep up with demand. More industries to grow more sugar cane needed more people to work for them. To feed this need, Europeans enslaved men, women and children from Africa and transported them to the Caribbean and Central and South America. There they were forced to work in terrible conditions. Britain’s craving for sugar helped drive this trade in enslaved people. Nowadays, most companies try to make sure that the farmers and workers who produce their sugar are treated fairly. The most common type of sugar in the UK is white granulated (白砂糖). Icing sugar is the same thing but ground into a fine powder. Brown sugars, on the other hand, have a slight caramel taste. This comes from a dark syrup called molasses (糖浆). Most molasses comes from sugar cane and it is a “by-product” (something less important created during a process) of sugar-making. Brown sugars are basically white sugar with a bit of molasses put back in. Experts say that sugar is fine when eaten in small amounts — the trouble comes when people eat too much of it. Doctors warn that sugar is bad for your health and dentists agree sugar attacks the hard layer of enamel that protects your teeth. Enjoy sugar as an occasional treat, say experts, and brush your teeth twice a day. 24. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about? A. How sugar spread to Britain. B. How people started growing sugar. C. How sugar was made from sugar cane. D. What sweeteners people had in ancient times. 25. Why did sugar take a long time to be widely accepted in Britain? A. Because it was difficult to grow there. B. Because it was only known to have medical uses. C. Because it couldn’t be afforded by ordinary people. D. Because British people preferred honey and fruit juice. 26. The underlined word “craving” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to ________. A. Access B. Desire C. Dislike D. Concern 27. Which of the following statements would the experts most likely agree with? A. Eating sugar does no good to your health. B. White sugar is much healthier than brown sugar. C. Sugar is not harmful in small amounts to the body. D. Eating sugar is essential for maintaining a balanced diet. C The stars were always within reach for Katherine Johnson. Using her mathematics skills, she helped NASA send astronauts to the moon and return them safely home. Johnson was born in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, in 1918. Math came easy to her. She started high school when she was just 10 years old and college when she was 15. After graduating with honors at 18, Johnson taught black students math. Later she continued to study math at West Virginia University but left early to raise a family and return to teaching. In 1952, when she was 34 years old, she learned about jobs for black women with mathematics and computing skills at the Langley Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (航空学), which would later become NASA. She and the other women worked as “human computers,” figuring out the difficult calculations (计算) needed for spaceflight. During her time there, she broke racial (种族的) barriers, like using the bathroom that was supposed to be for white women only. One of her biggest achievements at NASA was helping calculate the path of the country’s first human spaceflight in 1961, making sure astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr. had a safe trip. A year later she helped figure out John Glenn’s orbit of the planet, another American first. In 1969, she calculated the path of Neil Armstrong’s historic mission to the moon on Apollo 11. Yet unlike the white male astronauts she helped launch into space, no one knew of the groundbreaking work Johnson and many other black women did for NASA and space exploration. It wasn’t until the 2016 launch of the movie Hidden Figures that these women received widespread recognition. Johnson died in 2020, at the age of 101. In her honor, NASA built the Katherine G. Johnson Computational Research Facility at the Langley Research Center to celebrate the hard work she did. 28. What can be inferred about Johnson? A. She hesitated before raising a family. B. She showed extraordinary talent in math. C. She struggled with teaching black students. D. She received many honors during her teaching career. 29. What did Johnson do at NASA? A. She studied racial barriers. B. She calculated spaceflight paths. C. She led physical training programs. D. She designed astronauts’ bathrooms. 30. What is paragraph 4 mainly about? A. The variety of spaceflight projects. B. The courage of American astronauts. C. The desire of NASA’s administrators (管理人员). D. The significance of Johnson’s achievements. 31. What helped Johnson win the public’s attention? A. Her public speech. B. Her story in a movie. C. Support from black women. D. Recommendations by scientists. D Locals who frequent a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospital in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, are often surprised when they are treated by a German doctor specializing in TCM with fluent Henan dialect. He is Joel Mikael Walker, a master’s student nearing graduation in the Henan University of Chinese Medicine. He skillfully performs techniques such as acupuncture (针灸), pulse diagnosis, and cupping therapy. Walker came to Henan Province in 2015 when he was 20, because it is widely considered to be an important center for medical practice, education and research for traditional Chinese medicine. Now, he has fully adopted the lifestyle in Henan. On Chinese social media platforms, Walker is committed to promoting traditional Chinese medicine. His expertise in TCM fascinates Chinese netizens and he often uses ancient Chinese medical texts, for example, Huangdi Neijing, one of Chinese great medical works, to explain the philosophy behind the treatments. Other Chinese classics, such as Yijing, Zhuangzi, and Lunyu, which have long been foundation of Chinese philosophy, are also on Walker’s reading list. He takes pleasure in absorbing ancient wisdom because he finds many ideas deeply intertwined (交织) with TCM practices. One fundamental worldview of TCM highlights the balance, from which Walker himself benefited. In the past, he experienced significant emotional ups and downs, and tended to be somewhat pigheaded, often viewing things from his own perspective. Now he has become more tolerant and approached issues from multiple angles with a more inclusive (包容的) perspective. In other words, his personality has also become more balanced. According to Walker, the unique wisdom rooted in Chinese culture can not only benefit physical well-being but can also extend beyond medicine and offer excellent guidance for the whole world. He stressed, “If more people could understand the TCM wisdom, the world would become more peaceful.” 32. What do we know about Walker? A. He is surprised at the locals’ dialect. B. He is a German good at traditional Chinese medicine. C. He has great skills of making acupuncture needles. D. He has gained a master’s degree in Henan. 33. Why did Walker come to Henan Province? A. He intended to be popular online. B. He desired to learn about its lifestyles. C. Henan Province is a centre for TCM. D. Henan Province has rich natural resources. 34. The underlined word “pigheaded” in the fourth paragraph probably means __________. A. flexible B. piggy C. tolerant D. stubborn 35. Which of the following best describes Walker? A. Devoted and professional. B. Courageous and calm. C. Cooperative and generous. D. Enthusiastic and kind. 第二节（共5小题：每小题2.5分，满分12.5分） 根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。 Sometimes in our lives, we face this problem: both loved ones and strangers can annoy us. At home, we’ve had to put up with children screaming during online meetings and family members being on the computer all the time. 36 Kindness seems like a distant memory. The ability to live peacefully with annoying housemates or neighbors seems more difficult than ever. 37 If we treat kindness as a skill and make it a daily practice, it will come more easily over time. 38 Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM), which traces its roots back to early Buddhism, helps us find compassion for one another even during trying times. This meditation asks us to send thoughts of loving-kindness to our loved ones, then to acquaintances (people you don’t know very well), and finally to difficult people. Over time, our unkind thoughts are replaced with more open, accepting ones. Anger is replaced with love, or at least kindness. Donald Altman, a psychotherapist from Portland, Oregon, says LKM helps us recognize that we are all vulnerable and have been hurt. 39 So how do we practice it? To begin with, Altman suggests finding a quiet place to sit. He says to then imagine a favorite family member or friend sending you the words: “May you be well, happy, and at peace.” After a few minutes, direct the words at yourself: “May I be well, happy, and at peace.” 40 Replace the “I” with the name of a teacher or coach, then a family member or friend, then an acquaintance, and finally an unfriendly person in your life. End the meditation by spreading the blessings to all living beings. Indeed, we should find our own way to practice LKM-but only if we are prepared to embrace its benefits and extend them to anyone who may need them. A. The good news is that it isn’t lost B. Luckily, we can look to ancient disciplines for guidance C. Then, extend the blessing to other people, in order of decreasing fondness. D. At work, we have had to take the pressure these demanding crate. E. For that reason, we could all benefit from love’s warm and comforting blessing F. You can combine the words with breathing, repeating a phrase of love for yourself G. Outside, we have encountered drivers speeding on busy roads and passengers talking loudly on the subway 三、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。 When the avalanche (雪崩) hit Mount Jade, 18-year-old climber Zhang Lei found himself completely 41 under three meters of snow. His left leg was numb from the cold, and the oxygen mask hung 42 around his neck, its strap (绑带) torn by the avalanche’s force. Through the howling wind, he could 43 hear his teammate Wang Feng’s faint cries for help. With trembling hands, Zhang 44 his emergency shovel. Struggling to free his legs, he dug up ward inch by inch. After two exhausting hours, he finally 45 daylight filtering (滤透) through the thinning snow layer. But the real challenge was finding Wang in the 46 white landscape. Suddenly, a glint of red fabric caught his eye — Wang’s red 47 , one of his mountaineering equipment! Rushing over, Zhang found his friend unconscious with a 48 head wound. He immediately 49 first-aid techniques learned in training: applying pressure to stop the bleeding, 50 Wang’s body temperature with his own coat. “Hold on, buddy,” Zhang whispered, though his throat burned 51 lack of water. When the rescue helicopter arrived 8 hours later, the medic stared in 52 : “Most people would have given up in such conditions.” At the award ceremony, reporters asked Zhang about his bravery. He replied quietly: “Courage isn’t about being unafraid. It’s about 53 hope even when every cell in your body 54 to stop.” Years later, Wang often jokes: “That avalanche didn’t bury us — it 55 our friendship in ice, making it unbreakable.” 41. A. dug B. buried C. sheltered D. hidden 42. A. loosely B. tightly C. carefully D. quickly 43. A. hardly B. clearly C. faintly D. easily 44. A. put away B. took out C. looked for D. threw away 45. A. heard B. saw C. touched D. reached 46. A. endless B. colorful C. beautiful D. small 47. A. cup B. shoe C. glove D. stick 48. A. slight B. serious C. minor D. common 49. A. forgot B. remembered C. applied D. learned 50. A. increasing B. decreasing C. maintaining D. measuring 51. A. because of B. instead of C. in case of D. in spite of 52. A. anger B. surprise C. sadness D. disappointment 53. A. losing B. giving up C. holding onto D. letting go 54. A. wants B. refuses C. decides D. hopes 55. A. destroyed B. damaged C. melted D. froze 四、语法填空（每小题1.5分，满分15分） 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。 China is the home of kites. It is said that the kite 56 (invent) by Lu Ban in the Spring and Autumn period. Now, kites are both toys 57 a form of art. When they were invented, however, kites were first used for military purpose. They 58 (gradual) became used as a toy at some point after the Tang Dynasty. At first, 59 (fly) kites was a game for the children of the rich only. In the Northern Song Dynasty, when paper was used for making kites, the cost was greatly reduced, 60 made it possible for kites to become a popular toy rather than 61 toy for the rich only. Weifang, Shandong Province, 62 (be) the birthplace of Chinese kite culture. The International Kite Festival, as well as many other smaller kite 63 (festival), is regularly held there. As the largest kite 64 (produce) and distribution (分销) center in Chinese history, it is also known 65 the “World Kite Capital”. Chinese kites are becoming more and more popular with people all over the world. 五、书面表达（满分40分） 66．（15分）你们学校的英语俱乐部开展了一期主题为“太空是否值得探索”的征文活动。请你用标题Is space exploration worthwhile?写一篇短文谈谈自己的看法。要求：写出你的观点（值得还是不值得），再写出你的理由（3-4条）。 注意：1．词数80左右；2．可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 67．（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。 For Liam, swimming was more than a sport; it was a fundamental part of his being. Each morning before school, he found comfort in the silence of the pool. This daily discipline had built not just his body but also his spirit, giving him a quiet confidence and a deep understanding of the water’s power and peace. This inner calm was matched by a desire to help others. In school, he was the patient tutor who could explain complex maths in simple terms, and in his neighborhood, he was the reliable one who’d help carry groceries or fix a flat tire without a second thought. For Liam, assistance wasn’t a conscious choice but an instinctive (本能的) reaction, a response as natural as taking a breath. He never sought thanks; the simple act of making things right was its own reward. Liam had always felt a connection to Crystal Lake. Ever since he was a child, its deep, cool waters had been his escape from the world. Now, at sixteen, he was a familiar sight, swimming laps with a steady rhythm almost every afternoon. He found a peculiar peace in the weightless silence beneath the surface, a world away from the noise onshore. It was a perfect summer afternoon at Crystal Lake. The water was cool and inviting, reflecting the clear blue sky. Liam was enjoying a swim, moving effortlessly away from the crowded beach towards the quieter, deeper waters. He was a strong swimmer, proud of his swimming skill. As he treaded water, catching his breath, a sudden splash and a choked cry shattered the peace. A younger boy, who had been playing on an inflatable raft (充气筏), had fallen off and was now flailing (挥动) wildly. The boy’s panic was obvious; he was gasping for air, swallowing water instead. 注意： 1．续写词数应为150左右； 2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。 Without hesitation, Liam swam to the boy quickly. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sam’s family rushed to Liam and Sam as they collapsed on the sand, gasping for air. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $ 《柳江中学2028届高二10月检测（英语）》参考答案 题号 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 答案 C A C A B A C B A C 题号 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 答案 A A C A A B A C C A 题号 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 答案 D C A B C B C B B D 题号 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 答案 B B C D A G A B E C 题号 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 答案 B A C B B A C B C C 题号 51 52 53 54 55 答案 A B C A D 56. was invented 57. and 58. gradually 59. flying 60. which 61. a 62. is 63. festivals 64. production 65. as 66．范文 Is exploring space worthwhile? Ever since space research began, it has been criticized as a huge waste of money and other resources. In my opinion, despite the disadvantages and potential dangers, the advantages are far greater. Exploring space has already made a difference in the fight against world hunger. The scientists have discovered a new agricultural model, Space Farm, to grow crops, which can improve the output and quality of crops. What’s more, sending astronauts into space has helped people to think about the world’s current problems and even to find ways to solve them. In closing, exploring space contributes not only to the improvement of quality of human life, but also to our understanding of all the creatures. 67．【参考范文】 Without hesitation, Liam swam to the boy quickly. Approaching from behind, he secured the struggling child with a firm grip, keeping both their heads above water. The boy, later known as Sam, flailed his arms frantically, pushing against Liam and dragging them both under. Liam remained calm. He kicked his legs hard, pushing through the water, and spoke in a low, steady voice, “Easy now, I’ve got you.” Each stroke was a battle against the boy’s panic and the water’s resistance. Gradually, his reassuring presence and strong technique eased Sam’s terror, allowing them to move steadily toward safety. As they neared the shore, alert bystanders splashed out to meet them, helping guide the exhausted pair onto the beach. Sam’s family rushed to Liam and Sam as they collapsed on the sand, gasping for air. Sam’s mother knelt and gathered her son into a tearful embrace. Then, with her eyes full of gratitude, she turned and clasped Liam’s hands tightly. Sam’s father placed a steadying hand on Liam’s shoulder, his voice thick with emotion as he simply said, “Thank you.” For Liam, the exhaustion that weighed down his limbs was already fading, replaced by a familiar, quiet warmth. Seeing Sam safe and feeling the family’s profound relief, he understood this was why he swam — not just for the peace it gave him, but for the strength it allowed him to share with others. Helping had always been his instinct, and today, that instinct had found its deepest meaning. 听力原文 1. 【原文】M: John is called a daydreamer. However, I think he has come up with a lot of good ideas. W: Anyhow, good ideas need practising. 2. 【原文】M: Excuse me, could you tell me the way to the station? W: Go up the road, turn right, and then take the second left — you’ll see the station building in front of you. M: Many thanks! 3. 【原文】W: The Internet speed in the office was really bad. I spent a lot of time and eventually downloaded the file. M: Maybe we should look for a person to see where the problem lies. 4. 【原文】W: How was the party last weekend? M: It was too crowded and the food was gone before I got there. W: What time did you get home? M: It was pretty boring so I left at ten and got home before eleven. 5. 【原文】W: It’s already six o’clock, the meeting will begin in ten minutes. How can we get there in time? M: Don’t worry. I put the clock twenty minutes forward. 6. 7. 【原文】M: I’m starving. What are we having for dinner tonight, Jane? W: I’m not sure. Something will come to mind once I start. M: I feel like eating French fries, or maybe ham sandwiches. How about you? W: Actually, I was thinking of making something healthy, say… fish and vegetables. M: Well, in that case, I’ll have whatever you make. 8. 9. 【原文】W: Hey, I think Samantha just came in. M: Uh… really? W: Yes. She is here! You should go to talk to her. M: Ah… no, I wouldn’t know what to say. W: Oh, come on. Everyone knows you like her. Go and ask her to dance. M: Um… maybe later. W: You have been saying that for years! We just graduated! This is your last chance. M: You are right. Fine, I’ll do it. 10. 11. 12. 【原文】M: Hi! I’d like to get my hair cut. W: Well, maybe you’ll be interested in today’s special. We’ll cut and style your hair for one unbelievable low price of $12. M: Okay, but I just want to get my hair cut a little bit. A little off the top and sides. That’s all. W: No problem. Okay, here we go. So, what do you do for a living? M: I’m a lawyer, and I’m in town for a job interview, and… W: Oops. M: What do you mean by saying “oops”? Hey, can I see a mirror? W: Nothing to worry about, sir. Relax. M: Ouch. That really hurt! What are you doing anyway? Oh, look at all my hair on the floor. How much are you really cutting off? W: Relax. M: Oh, gosh, you cut my hair too short. I want to talk to the manager… now! W: I’m sorry, but he’s on vacation. M: Ugh! 13. 14. 15. 16. 【原文】M: Hi. You must be the new person. W: Yeah, that’s right. I just started on Monday. M: So, how do you like it here? W: It’s great. Everybody’s been so nice to me. It’s a nice change from my last job. M: Oh? Where did you work before? W: I worked at Delta Communications. It’s in a small town, close to Chicago. M: Are you from Chicago originally? W: Yes, I am. My family still lives there, in the country. Have you ever been to Chicago? M: No, I haven’t. But I’ve heard there are some great museums there. W: Yes, there are. The art museums are wonderful. I used to go all the time. M: Well, there are some great art galleries here. You should visit them when you have a chance. W: Great! I definitely will. Are you interested in art, too? M: Yes, I like going to museums. But I’m even more interested in music, especially jazz. I love going to concerts. W: Really? So do I! I love classical music, too. How about you? M: Well, just so-so. 17. 18. 19. 20. 【原文】W: We are now just one week away from December 25th and you are probably about to express your Merry Christmas wishes to everyone in your life, including family and friends. After all, in a country where Happy Easter and Happy birthday are common, that merry part of merry Christmas is pretty unique. It’s important to note that Happy Christmas hasn’t disappeared completely. It’s still widely used in England. This is because happy takes on a higher class meaning than merry. But Merry Christmas has been used since at least 1534. The English song We Wish You A Merry Christmas, which was introduced in the 1,500 also uses the popular phrase. As both words developed and changed meanings over time, people slowly stopped using merry as its own individual word during the 18th and 19th centuries. It stuck around in common phrases like the more, the merrier, as well as in things like Christmas songs and stories. Largely due to the influence of Charles Dickens, the Victorian Christmas went on to define many of today’s Christmas traditions. Now let’s learn about some Christmas traditions through videos. 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $