北京市海淀区高三年级第二学期期中练习英语

英语卷·北京市海淀区高三年级第二学期期中练习

本试卷分第Ⅰ卷（选择题）和第Ⅱ卷（非选择题）两部分。共150分。考试时间

120分钟。

第I 卷（选择题，共115分）

第一部分：听力理解（共两节，满分30分）

第一节 （共5小题；每小题1.5分，满分7.5分）

听下面5段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的A 、B 、C 三个选项中选

出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。

1．Where does the conversation take place?

A ．At home.

B ．At a hotel.

C ．In a street.

2．When can the woman get the computer?

A ．On Thursday.

B ．On Wednesday.

C ．On Tuesday.

3．What happened to the man?

A ．He broke his leg.

B ．He hurt his arms.

C ．He had a car accident.

4．Does the woman suggest baking the cakes for another ten minutes?

A ．Maybe.

B ．No.

C ．Certainly.

5．What is the woman doing?

A ．Offering to do a favor.

B ．Asking for permission.

C ．Asking for help.

第二节 （共15小题；每题1.5分，满分22.5分）

听下面6段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A ，B ，C

三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟；听完后，每小题将给出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 the man do?

A ．He decorates rooms.

B ．He designs chairs.

C ．He delivers furniture.

7．Where will the man put the chair?

听第7段材料，回答8至9题。

8．What do we learn about the woman ’

s apartment?

A．It has two bedrooms.

B．It’s far from school.

C．It’s available in August.

9．How much will the woman pay?

A．$5 B．$15 C．$45

听第8段材料，回答10至11题。

10．What was wrong with the video recorder?

A．It was damaged.

B．It destroyed tapes.

C．It was dropped.

11．What does the woman want?

A．To get a new video recorder.

B．To change for new tapes.

C．To have her money back.

听第9段材料，回答12至14题。

12．What is the woman doing at the shop?

A．Buying a bike. B．Helping her father. C．Meeting a friend. 13．Why does the man want a bike?

A．To take a tour. B．To join a club. C．To go to work. 14．What will the man probably buy?

A．A used bike. B．A touring bike. C．A racer bike.

听第10段材料，回答第15至17题。

15．Who will get help from the new program?

A．High school students.

B．College students.

C．Foreign students.

16．How many hours will the volunteers have to work a week?

A．One hour. B．Two hours. C．Four hours. 17．What does professor Gordon do in the program?

A．He writes lesson plans.

B．He does research.

C．He gives advice.

听第11段材料，回答18至20题。

18．What did the man enjoy doing when he was a child?

A．Talking to his friends.

B．Paying with cars.

C．Writing stories.

19．What makes the man more relaxed now?

A．He does wring as a full – time job.

B．He has his own car and house.

C．He can write in the evening.

20．What does he miss about being a taxi driver?

A．Driving around London.

B．Meeting different people.

C．Visiting lots of places.

第二部分：知识运用（共两节, 满分45分）

第一节：单项填空（共15小题，每小题1分，满分15分）

从A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。并在答题卡上该

项涂黑。

21．The New York Times started new text messaging service that delivers latest news to mobile phones.

A．a; the B．the ; the C．/;/ D．the; a

22．Why not come over at the weekend? The children seeing you again.

A．enjoyed B．will enjoy C．would enjoy D．have enjoyed 23．Kevin consulted his teacher about he should study abroad after graduation.

A．whether B．where C．when D．that

24．The Amazon valley is very important to the natural balance of the earth.

Forty percent of the world’s oxygen there.

A．produces B．has produced C．id produced D．has been

produced

25． these suggestions will help you become more cooperative and achieve more.

A．Followed B．Following C．To follow D．Being

followed

26．There changes will cost quite a lot, they will save us money in the long run.

A．so B．and C．but D．for

27．—Can I have the document right now?

—Of course. Wait a minute and I’ll have my secretary it for you.

A．to print B．printing C．printed D．print

28．Last week, we watched Beijing Opera, style was unfamiliar to most of us.

A．what B．which C．where D．whose

29．With the speed-up of the railway, now you can get to your destination by train.

A．fast B．faster C．fastest D．the fastest 30．Susan was expecting her favorite singers, but to her disappointment, appeared.

A．some B．none C．everyone D．no one

31．America’s car industry will continue to break down some progress is made to close the gap.

A．since B．because C．unless D．though

32．—Where are you going for your holidays?

—I have n’t decided yet. I go to England.

A．can B．may C．must D．ought to 33．Mr. Green was out of town last week. He a medical conference.

A．will attend B．had attended

C．was attending D．would attend

34．Don’t interrupt while another student is speaking, ?

A．will you B．won’t you C．do you D．don’t you 35．The brochure guides you the whole process of buying a house.

A．through B．across C．over D．past

第二节完型填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36—55各题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并要答题卡上将该项涂黑。

It was 4 o’clock in the morning, when I received the phone call.

“This is the emergency room calling and your son was just 36 in with severe burns on his face, neck and arms. We have called for a (n) 37 and are going to fly him to the burn unit in Seattle.”Seattle was 350 miles from his college, so we knew immediately this was 38 .

The doctor described the 39 , which caused the burns. At 6 am, our son and his friends decided to barbecue hamburgers in the courtyard of their apartment. When they 40 the charcoal （木炭）, it burst into flames because they had sprayed too much gasoline(petrol). The flames 41 my son’s shirt tail and shot from his waist to well over his head.

42 , one of the boys was quick-minded, grasped my son, and 43 him on the grass. While it saved his life, it was not in 44 to save him from severe burns and the terrible scars（伤疤）.

After he 45 from the treatments, the doctors told him they would not so plastic surgery（整容）for 6 months 46 it takes that long for the skin to stop shrinking and wrinkling. So, he had to return to college with scars typical of severe burns.

When I was a child, my mother told my sister, who had a 10-inch, very 47 scar on her arm. “Nancy, if you ignore the scar, other people will ignore it. It does not mean they will not 48 it, but it means it will not matter to them if it doesn’t matter to you .”

I 49 this wisdom on to my son. He took my advice to 50 and returned to school with is head held high-glad he was alive.

By the end of the six-month waiting period, he decided that the scars did not 51 , so he made the 52 to give up any plastic surgery.

We all have “scars” that we believe 53 people to keep away from us. And we spend a lot of time thinking that if only we looked differently, or dressed differently, people would like us better.

But you see, people will only judge you by your looks, or your clothes, of you are judging yourself by these same 54 standards. Put your

imperfections out of your mind and concentrate on what you value 55 yourself, and your beauty will shine through.

36．A．brought B．given C．turned D．showed 37．A．doctor B．hospital C．aircraft D．ambulance 38．A．serious B．terrible C．dangerous D．important 39．A．event B．process C．reason D．accident 40．A．got B．lit C．burned D．moved 41．A．took B．held C．caught D．attracted 42．A．Fortunately B．Surprisingly C．Happily D．Slowly 43．A．pushed B．threw C．dropped D．rolled 44．A．shape B．place C．fact D．time 45．A．benefited B．recovered C．suffered D．relaxed 46．A． if B．while C．because D．although 47．A．normal B．violent C．obvious D．popular 48．A．mention B．notice C．laugh D．hide 49．A．sent B．kept C．handed D．passed 50．A．heart B．life C．practice D．consideration 51．A．grow B．matter C．exist D．appear 52．A．mistake B．effort C．decision D．request 53．A．invite B．cause C．allow D．remind 54．A．false B．strict C．moral D．general 55．A．by B．over C．beyond D．within

第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题，每题2分，满分40分）

阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项,并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

A

The Writers’ Strike: Making the Best of the Worst

By now you are probably feeling the effects of the TV writers’strike-the decision of television writers to stop working. With few new TV shows. I present to you a list of shows available on DVD worth your viewing time to keep you going during this painful period.

Arrested Development is one of the funniest and most clever shows ever to have appeared on net work TV. With a most perfect cast, the show sets out to cover the daily happenings of the Bluth family, a group of selfish staff who manage to still put family first.

For more comedy goodness, I recommend one of the sharpest comedies to have ever aired, 30 Rock. Starring Tina Fey and

Alec Baldwin, two stars with impressive comic timing, the

show gives you a glimpse into the making of a sketch show

（幽默短剧）， similar to Saturday Night Live, from the funny

writers to the self-centered cast all the way up to the boss.

If you are looking for something more serious, or perhaps more juicy, Friday Night Lights might be more to your liking. If you are a fan of football, this show is probably for you. If you are a fan of great drama, both soapy and

serious, this show is probably for you. If you are a fan of good-looking people, this show is definitely for you .If those shows were not enough for you, might I recommend a show with a more heart – pounding excitement?

The Amazing Race, after twelve seasons, still remains one of the most exciting shows on TV. Teams of two travel the globe with little to no money and experience far out adventures in an attempt to remain the last team standing.

56．If you are fond of soapy TV shows, you will probably choose to watch .

A．Friday Night Lights B．30 Rock

C．the Amazing Race D．Saturday Night Live

57．From the DVD shows listed above, we can learn that .

A．two learns won the amazing race

B．football fans enjoy the Amazing Race

C．the Bluths care about their family though selfish

D．30 Rock and Saturday Night Live have nothing in common

58．The author writes the passage to tell us that .

A．the effects of the TV writers’ strike are great

B．the strike puts TV shows in the worst situation

C．watching DVD is a good choice during the strike

D．we should choose DVD shows according to our tastes

59．The passage is most probably taken from .

A．a book review B．a newspaper C．a film poster D．a DVD menu

B

When a dirty and untidy orange cat showed up in the prison yard, I was one of the first to go out there and pet it. I hadn’t touched a cat or a dog in over 20 years. I spent at least 20 minutes, knelt down behind the kitchen as the cat rolled around, relaxed. What he was expressing outwardly, I was feeling inwardly. It was an amazing bit of grace to feel him under my hand and note that I was reaching a life or another creature with something as simple as my care.

Over the next few days, there were other prisoners responding to the eat. Every yard period, a group of prisoners gathered there. They stood around talking and taking turns petting the cat. These were guys you wouldn’t usually find talking to each other. Several times I saw an officer in the group, not chasing people away, but just watching and seeming to enjoy along with the prisoners. Bowls of milk and water appeared along with bread, wisely placed under the edge of the dustbin to keep the birds from getting it.

The cat was obviously homeless and in pretty bad shape. People said that the cat came to right place. He’s getting treated like a king. This was true, but as I watched I was also thinking about what the cat was doing for us. There was a lot of talk about what’s wrong with prisons in America. We need more programs. We need more psychologists or treatment of various kinds. Some may even talk about making prisons more kind. But I think what we really need is a chance to practice our own kindness. Not receive it, but give it. After more than two decades here, I know kindness is not a value that’s encouraged. It’s often seem as a weakness. Instead, the culture encourages keeping your head down, minding your own business, and never letting yourself be weak.

The cat did my heart good to see the effect he had on me and the men here. By simply saying, “I need some help here”, he did something important for us. He needed us. And we needed to be needed. I believe we all do. 60．From the passage we can learn that the author was .

A．an animal protector B．the owner of the cat

C．a prison officer D．a prisoner 61．Which of the following statements is true?

A．The cat was dirty because it was kept in prison.

B．The officer in the prison enjoyed petting the cat.

C．The prisoners prepared food for both the cat and birds.

D．The author realized the importance of practicing kindness.

62．We can infer from the third paragraph that .

A．showing love to others can make prisoners strong

B．the American prison culture will be improved

C．the author is not content with the prison culture

D．caring for others is encouraged in American prisons

63．What is the best title for the passage?

A．Caring Makes us Human B．Prison Culture is Important

C．Animals Need Care D．Everyone Needs to be Cared for

C

ARLANDA, Sweden (Reuters Life!) – Many people hate the

idea of having to sleep on a plane. But Swedish entrepreneur Oscar

Dios thinks they can be persuaded otherwise and he has created a

new kind of hostel to prove it.

Dios says it is the world’s first jumbo jet hostel, an actual jet- plane at Sweden’s main airport outside Stockholm which has

been changed into a 25- room guesthouse that sleeps as many as 72 people.

“I learned about this plane that was standing deserted at Arlanda airport and I’ve been trying the concept of hostels in many different houses and buildings,” he told Reuters. “I thought, ‘Why not a plane?’Jumbo Hostels opened for business on Thursday, giving customers the chance to check in and sleep in a room that can best be described as comfortable.”

“The most challenging part with this project is trying to build something

inside a metal hull – it’s just really, really tight.”

The jet, which was originally produced for Singapore Airlines, was taken out of service in 2002. It is held on a concrete foundation with the landing gear secured in steel cradles.

One feature of the hostel is its price – a room starts at 350 Swedish crowns (about $ 41), which is a lot less than hotel rooms outside of major airports.

Another feature is that customers can get married on the wing of the plane and stay in the plane’s more luxurious honeymoon suite (套房).

Instead of walking down the aisle in the church, lovebirds can take what Jumbo Hostels calls the “wing walk,” where they can be joined in great happiness at the wing tip. The hostel has some -one ready to perform the ceremony.

But in some respects this hostel remains a plane – most customers have to share the jet’s nine bathrooms and the staff only wear air host and hostess outfits. The only room that has its own bath -room is the honeymoon suite. 64．One of the features of the plane hostel is that .

A．customers can sleep in comfortable rooms

B．air hostesses can offer good service

C．the staff can have a “wing walk”

D．a wedding ceremony can be held on the wing

65．We can learn from the text that .

A．the hostel lies at Arlanda airport in Stockholm

B．the jet plane was out of use for over six years

C．every hostel room is $ 41 per night

D．the hostel provides nine bathrooms for customers

66．The underlined word “tight” means .

A．crowded B．tense C．small D．full 67．The purpose of the passage is to .

A．introduce a new kind of hostel

B．prove people can sleep on a plane

C．describe a wonderful place for weddings

D．call on people to make use of the deserted things

D

Three years ago I listened to a lecture on cognition (认知) that changed the way I think about intelligence. There are two types of cognition. The first is normal cognition; the ability to regain knowledge from memory. The second type of cognition is metacognition; the ability to know whether or not you know.

Does this affect intelligence? In traditional education, intelligence is

measured by cognitive ability. Some people can easily produce everything they know on a test. But others are awarded with poor grades and considered inferior. But does this inability make them any less intelligent? If the question came up on a task, they could refer to a book or a quick Google search. In reality they’re just as effective as the people that ace a test. They just can’t prove it as easily.

Metacognition is more important to success than cognition. A person with poor cognitive ability, but great metacognitive ability might do poorly in school, but when faced with a challenge, they understand their abilities and take the best course of action. For example, when faced with a question, a person with strong metacognitive ability will deal with it like this. If he knows the answer, but can’t come up with it, he can always do a bit of research. If he knows for sure that he doesn’t know, then he can start educating himself. Because he’s aware of his ignorance, he doesn’t act with foolish confidence. These people might not seem intelligent at first glance, but because they know what they know, they make better decisions and learn the most important things.

However, people with great cognitive ability but poor metacognitive ability may be considered excellent at a young age for acing every test and getting great SAT scores. Unfortunately, they’ve been ruined by poor metacognition; they think they know everything but they really don’t. They are arrogant (overconfident), fail to learn from mistakes, and don’t understand the slight differences of

Personal relationships, showing disregard for persons with lower cognitive ability. They may make the worst decisions.

The most important mental power is the ability to know what you don’t know. The recognition of a fault is the first step to improvement. Don’t try to hide a lack of knowledge. For intelligent people this is the toughest lesson to learn.

68．People with great cognitive ability lend to .

A．do well in tests B．be considered inferior

C．be more effective than others D．do research when faced with a task 69．The underlined phrase “take the best course of action”probably means .

A．starting educating himself B．taking action during the course C．making the right decision D．coming up with many ideas 70．People with poor metcognition may not succeed because they .

A．lack basic moral values B．have improper self evaluation C．fail to communicate with others D．show little respect for others 71．The author probably supports the idea that .

A．intelligence is measured by cognitive ability

B．cognition is the most important mental power

C．the toughest lesson is to distinguish the two types of cognition

D．the awareness of one’s ignorance contributes to one’s improvement

E

Who’s in control of your life? Who’s pulling your strings? For the majority of us, it’s other people—society, colleagues, friends, family or our religious community. We learned this way of operating when we were very young, of course. We were brainwashed. We discovered that feeling important and feeling accepted was nice experience and so we learned to do everything we could to make other people like us. As Oscar Wilde puts it, “Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.”

So when people tell us how wonderful we are, it makes us feel good. We long for this good feeling like a drug – we are addicted to it and seek it out wherever we can. Therefore, we are so eager for the approval（赞同）of others that we live unhappy and limited lives, failing to do the things we really want to. Just as drug addicts and alcoholics live worsened lives to keep getting their fix（一剂毒品）, we worsen our own existence to get our own constant fix of approval.

But, just as with any drug, there is a price to pay. The price of the approval drug is freedom – the freedom to be ourselves. The truth is that we cannot control what other people think. People have their own agenda, and they come with their own baggage and ,in the end, they’re more interested in themselves than in you. Furthermore, if we try to live by the opinions of others, we will build our life on sinking sand. Everyone has a different way of thinking, and people change their opinions all the time. The person who tries to please everyone will only end up getting exhausted and probably pleasing no one in the process.

So how can we take back control? I think there’s only one way – make a conscious decision to stop caring what other people think. We should guide ourselves by means of a set of values – not values imposed from the outside by others, but innate values which come from within. If we are driven by these values and not by the changing opinions and value systems of other, we will live a more authentic, effective, purposeful and happy life.

72．What Oscar Wilde says implies that .

A．we have thoughts similar to those of others

B．most people have a variety of thoughts

C．other people’s thoughts are more important

D．most people’s thoughts are controlled by others

73．What does the author try to argue in the third paragraph?

A．Changing opinions may cost us our freedom.

B．We may lost ourselves to please others.

C．We need to pay for what we want to get.

D．The price of taking the drug is freedom.

74．It can be concluded from the passage that .

A．it’s better to do what we like

B．we shouldn’t care what others think

C．we shouldn’t change our own opinions

D．it’s important to accept other s’ opinions

75．The author tries to persuade the readers to accept his arguments mainly by .

A．analyzing causes and effects

B．providing examples and facts

C．discussing questions

D．making suggestions

第II卷（共35分）

第四部分：书面表达（共两节，35分）

第一节情景作文（20分）

假设你是红星中学高三一班的学生李华，上周你们班组织了一次感谢恩师的活动。请根据下面图示，为学校网站写一篇英文稿件，叙述这次活动从准备到结束的完整过程。

注意：词数不少于60。

第二节开放作文（15分）

请根据下面提示，写一篇短文。词数不少于50。

In an English speech competition, you are asked to describe the following picture and explain to the judges how you understand it.

参考答案

一、选择

1—75 BCABB CCABB CBCAA CCCAB ABACB CDDBB CBCAA ACADB CADDB CCBDA BCBAD ACCBD DCADB CAACB DDBBA

书面表达

第一节情景作文（20分）

One possible version：

Last week our class organized an activity to thank our teachers before graduation. On Thursday we had a class meeting to discuss what to do. We came up with many good ideas. Then we decided to send them gifts and do some good deeds.

The next day we carried out our plan. Some of us cleaned the teachers’office and decorated it with pots of flowers, making it more comfortable for the teachers to work in. Others helped wash the cars or bikes. And still others gave well-prepared gifts to the teachers, who were very pleased and expressed their best wishes to us.

We all felt happy about what we had done for our teachers.

第二节开放作文（15分）

As can be seen in the picture, a tree is broken by the strong wind, while the grass still stays as it is .Weak and small as the grass is, it can stand the strong wind.

It is the same with human beings. Some people look very strong, but they are easily defeated by difficulties. Weak as some people may seem, they are actually strong in mind, just like the grass in the picture. This kind of people

can adapt easily to changing situations and achieve more. They are ready to face challenges and never give up in time of difficulty. So a person’s inner strength is much more powerful than physical strength.

附：听力材料

Text 1

M：I’d like to have a double room with bath for four nights.

W：Sorry, sir. We’re full. Can I recommend the Park Hotel to you? It’s close by,

Text 2

W：Now, can we get the computers before Wednesday?

M：Well, it depends. Where is your office?

M：Just around the corner.

M: In this case, we can deliver them on Tuesday.

Text 3

W：What happened to you? Were you in a car accident?

M：No, I broke my leg while skating during my vacation.

W：Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.

Text 4

M：Do you think I should bake the cakes for another ten minutes?

W：They look overdone. Do you like them burnt like that?

Text 5

W：Mr. Johnson, I wonder if I could possible ask for leave tomorrow morning. My father is coming tomorrow and he hopes that I can meet him at the station. M：Well, you can take the day off.

W：Thanks very much. I’ll make up the work as soon as I return.

Text 6

M：Where would you like me to put this chair?

W：Ah, my new chair! Let’s see. I pictured it over there.

M：On the opposite side of the cupboard?

W：I think so.

M：OK.

W：Wait, wait! Maybe it would be better in front of the TV set, where the other chair is.

M：It’s up to you. I could just leave it here and you can move it when you make up your mind.

W：Uh…put it near the window so that I can easily get a view over the park. M：You’re sure, now?

W：Positive. Thanks.

Text 7

（Ring…ring…Sound of phone being picked up.）

M：Hello, Boxhill Student Post, advertising department, This is Mark speaking. W：I’m calling to place an ad.

M：Sure. Under what classification?

W：Well, I want one in the “Roommate Wanted” section.

M：All right. And how would you like it to read?

W：OK, it should read “Female roommate wanted for pleasant, sunny two-bedroom apartment on Ellinwood Avenues, three blocks from campus. Share rent and other equipment. Available September 1. Call between 5 and 9 p.m. and ask for Cecilia. ”

M：Fine. Uh – huh. You’ll want your phone number on this, right?

W：Oh sure. Thanks for reminding me – it’s 555-6972.

M：And how long do you want the ad to run?

W：For a week, I suppose. How much would that be?

M：It’s five dollars a week per line. Your ad will take up three lines, so that’s $15.

Text 8

W：This is Jessica Johnson. May I speak to your manager?

M： This is Mark White, the manager. Is there anything I can do for you? W：Well, the video recorder I bought from you has seriously damaged two quite valuable tapes of mine. And you guaranteed this machine is the best. I hope you understand a simple repair is not just enough. I demand a repayment for the lost tapes as well.

M：I’m sorry, that’s all very unfortunate.

W：I don’t care how sorry or apologetic you are. I just want my money back, M：I’m sure something can be done. I think we can repair it for you. Is that OK?

W：Well, it’s sure not enough. What about my tapes?

M：I’m sorry, but we can’t do anything about the tapes. Then how about changing it for a new video recorder?

W：I just want my money back.

M：Well, in that case, I suggest you come tomorrow, when we’ll find a way to solve the problem.

W：Well, OK. See you then.

Text 9

W：Hi, John.

M：Oh, hi, Laura, what are you doing here?

W：Uh, I’m usually here on weekends. It’s my dad’s shop. So you are looking for a bike?

M：Yeah. Now that the weather is warming up, I think I should get some exercise instead of taking the bus all the time.

W：Well, you came to the right place. Do you know what you would like? M：I don’t want a racer bike or a touring bike or anything. Mostly I will just be using it to get me back and forth from work. Oh, maybe I should tell you that I’ve only got $150.

W：Well, you are not going to get anything top of the line. And we do have

a few second-hand bikes that are in good condition.

M：That sounds good.

W：OK. Follow me and I’ll show you what we’ve got.

Text 10

Hello, everyone. In our university, community service is an important part of education. All students are encouraged to volunteer for at least one community activity before they graduate. A new program called “One on One”helps high school students who’ve fallen behind. Students majoring in chemistry or math are badly needed. You’d have to volunteer four hours a week for one term and choose to help a child with math, chemistry or both. You could do an hour for each subject two days a week. Professor Gordon will be available to help you with lesson plans or to offer suggestions for activities. He has office hours every Monday and Wednesday morning. You can sign up for the program with him and begin the work the next week. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the community service and gain valuable experience at the same time. If you have any questions, stop by Professor Gordon’s office this week.

Text 11

W：Richard, can you tell us how you became a writer?

M：Well, actually, writing always interested me. Even when I was a child, I used to spend a lot of my time writing stories. I remember reading my stories to friends at school.

W：But you haven’t always been a writer, have you? What did you use to do? M：My first job was driving a taxi. I really enjoyed doing that. I got to know London very well. In those days I used to write in my spare time.

W：How has this success changed your life?

M：I don’t know where to begin. My life is completely different. For a start,

I didn’t use to have my own car or house – now I’ve got both. I think

also I’m more relaxed now. I used to think about my writing while I was driving around London. When I got home, I used to write down my ideas, Now I write for eight hours a day and then relax.

W：I there anything you miss about your past life?

M：Yes, there is, actually. I used to meet lots of interesting people. Now I meet hardly anyone at all. Writing is a very lonely occupation – but I’m certainly happier than I used to be.