湖北省宜昌市葛洲坝中学2014-2015学年高二英语下学期期中试题

宜昌市葛洲坝中学2014-2015学年第二学期高二年级期中考试试卷英语试题考试时间：2015年4月第一部分：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个小题。

每段对话仅读一遍。

1. What do we know about the woman?A. She wants a job.B. She’ll move house.C. She’s a student.2. What will the speakers do next?A. Break the door.B. Find a torch.C. Unlock the door.3. What does the man mean?A. He left his watch in the theatre.B. He arrived at the theatre late.C. He didn’t enjoy the production.4. Where are the speakers probably going?A. To the park.B. To the movies.C. To a restaurant.5. What does the man suggest the woman do?A. Talk to the dorm monitor.B. Explain to his roommate.C. Show no cheerfulness.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，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，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。

每段对话或独白读两遍。

请听第六段材料，回答第6、7题。

6. What are the speakers mainly talking about?A. How to persuade parents.B. Where to go for vacation.C. When to ask parents for help.7. What do the speakers decide to do first?A. Plan the trip themselves.B. Talk to their parents.C. Call a travel agency.请听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。

8. What is the No. 4 order?A. The starter.B. The vegetables.C. The main course.9. How will the man pay?A. With a check.B. With cash.C. By credit card.请听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。

10. What does the man like about the curtains?A. It has a nice design.B. It looks comfortable.C. It has a nice color.11. What can we learn about the carpet?A. It has been cleaned.B. It is newly bought.C. It is made in China.12. Where did the woman get the rug?A. In Canada.B. In China.C. In the US.请听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。

13. What was Jimmy very interested in?A. Virginia City.B. The Grand Canyon.C. The old Ghost Town.14. What was the result of Jimmy’s sickness?A. They didn’t see the Grand Canyon.B. They went on the wrong way.C. They missed Indian Falls.15. Which highway did the family take from Denver?A. Highway 90.B. Highway 14.C. Highway 19.16. What occurred in Phoenix, Arizona?A. They ran into the wife’s cousin.B. The man went fishing with his wife.C. Something was wrong with their car.请听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。

17. What are the speakers mainly talking about?A. Famous historic sites.B. Big historic events.C. Famous historic cities.18. Who was the Column built to the memory of?A. Churchill.B. Nelson.C. Boudicca.19. What do we know about Queen Elizabeth I?A. She fought the Roman invaders bravely.B. She changed British society in the 1980s.C. She built a strong British navy.20. What can we learn about London Tower?A. It used to be a prison.B. Thatcher used to live there.C. It was built by the Romans.第二部分：阅读理解（共两节，满分40分）第一节（共15小题；每小题2分，满分30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。

AWhether it’s joining a school club, going to a friend’s birthday party, or traveling by train, we can meet new people anywhere and anytime in our lives. However, many of us feel awkward when meeting people for the first time, especially when we’re not quite sure what to say. The situation feels cold, even icy.“Breaking the ice” is a term widely used in English-speaking countries to describe a “small talk” techniqu e that can help rescue a conversation from certain failure.So where do you even begin? Well, a good start is to accept that it is perfectlynormal to feel a little nervous when talking to someone for the first time. They might look grumpy or scary, bu t they could turn out to be the nicest person you’ve ever met.You might think that breaking the ice is difficult. But sometimes just a simple “hello”, followed by a three-second smile, can make all the difference.Complimenting someone on their outfit or accessories (饰品) is also a great, easy way to break the ice. You might say: “I love your jacket. Where did you buy it from?” Being in an uncomfortable or unpleasant situation with someone new might feel terrible, but it can actually be one of the best icebreakers. By focusing on the situation, you come together to fight the common enemy: the long bathroom queue, for example, or the overcrowded bus.You can make observations, too. “What kind of drink is that?” “That’s a lovely name. What does it mean?” “Do you study here too?” There are opportunities all around you to ask questions that don’t seem weird, as long as you have some follow-up questions in mind.If you’re feeling extra bold, make a joke. Jokes can be difficult to master but if you get them right, they show the likeable, witty side of your character. “What’s your name?” “Well, people usually call me Mike, but you can call me tonight!”21. What is the article mainly about?A. How to start a conversation with a stranger.B. How to develop a friendship with a stranger.C. How to become a successful public speaker.D. How to make yourself popular among a group of people.22. What does the author think is a good start to “break the ice” between strangers?A. Starting your conversation with a joke.B. Fighting the same enemy as them.C. Complimenting someone on their outfit or accessories.D. Realizing that it’s normal to feel nervous in front of astranger.23. The underlined word “grumpy” in the third paragraph probably means ________.A. pessimisticB. gentleC. easily annoyedD. easy to get along withBMost Americans receive at least two or three credit card applications in the mail every month. Why have credit cards become so popular? For a merchant, the answer is obvious. By putting charge slips (授权单) in a bank, the merchant can change credit card sales into cash. In return for processing the merchant’s credit card transactions, the bank charges a fee that ranges between 1.5 and 5 percent.The easiest way to establish credit is to open checking and savings accounts at your local bank. Then apply for a gasoline or store credit card. These cards are fairly easy to get because retailers want you to buy their goods and services. The third step, and the most dangerous one, is obtaining a major credit card like Visa, MasterCard, or American Express.It is important to choose a credit card carefully because terms and conditionsvary widely. Annual fees range from $15 to $75 a year, but some credit card companies charge no annual fee at all. If you will be one of the growing number of people who don’t pay off their credit card debts in full each month, look for the card with the lowest interest rate. Interest rates generally range from 12 to 18 percent, though it is possible to find cards with lower rates.A credit card can be your friend because it can get you through unexpected emergencies. And if there is a problem with the products or service you purchase with your credit card, you have an opportunity to hold back payment by asking the credit card company to “charge back” to the retailer until the argument is settled. Monthly credit card statements can also help you keep your records in order. Finally, if you make payments on time, the card helps you to establish a good credit history.A credit card can be your enemy because it is an invitation to purchase items you really do not need. The credit card companies’ continuous offers of minimum payments, cash advances, and even months without payments may seem like a way to skate through a money crisis. In reality, your finance charges and fees only increase, and you go deeper into debt.If you do find yourself in trouble, do not ignore the bills. Contact your creditors to explain your problem and express your desire to pay down your card balance. If that fails, a nonprofit organization like Consumer Credit Counseling Service can assist you in getting back on your financial feet.24. How does the merchant change credit card sales into cash?A. With the help of Consumer Credit Counseling Service．B. By opening a checking and savings account at the local bank．C. By giving the bank the authority to charge．D. By mailing the customer’s credit card to the bank．25. If you don’t pay off the credit card debts in full ea ch month, the best way tosave money is to _________.A. stop using the credit cardB. apply for a card with the lowest interest rateC. apply for more credit cardsD. explain your problems to your creditors26. What is the author’s attitud e towards credit cards?A. Critical.B. Pessimistic.C. Objective.D. Optimistic.27. What is the disadvantage of a credit card?A. The bank charges annual fees for credit cards.B. The interest rate for credit cards is rather high.C. Credit cards cause argument among holders and banks.D. Credit cards tend to lead card holder into debt.CWho is more likely to lie and cheat一the poor person or the rich one? It's easier to think that the wealthier you are，the more likely you are to act fairly and think about what others may need. But research suggests the opposite is true：as people climb the social ladder, their compassionate（有同情心的）feelings towards other people decline.Berkeley psychologists Paul Piff and Dacher Keltner ran several studies looking at whether social class，as measured by wealth，occupation，and education，influences how much people care about the feelings of others. In one study，Piff and his colleagues carefully observed the behavior of drivers at a busy four-way intersection(岔路口). They found that luxury(奢侈的) car drivers were more likely to cut off other motorists instead of waiting for their turn at the intersection. This was true for both men and women upper-class drivers，regardless of the time of day or the amount of traffic at the intersection. In a different study they found that luxury car drivers were also more likely to speed past a pedestrian trying to use a crosswalk，even after making eye contact with the pedestrian.In order to figure out whether selfishness leads to wealth rather than vice versa，Piff and his colleagues ran a study where they managed to control people's class feelings. The researchers asked participants to spend a few minutes comparing themselves either to people better off or worse off than themselves financially. Afterwards，participants were shown a jar of candy and told that they could take home as much as they wanted. They were also told that the leftover candy would be given to children in a nearby laboratory. Those participants who had spent time thinking about how much better off they were compared to others ended up taking significantly more candy for themselves一leaving less behind for the children.But why would wealth and status decrease the feelings of compassion for others? Piff and his colleagues suspect that the answer may have something to do with how wealth give people a sense of independence from others. The less they have to rely on others，the less they may care about others' feelings. This leads them towards being more self-focused. Another reason is their attitudes towards greed. Upper-class people may be more likely to agree with the idea that “greed is good.” Although greed is universal human emotion, it may have the strongest pull over those of who already have the most.28. lt's generally viewed that rich people are more likely to _______.A. lie and cheatB. care about othersC. ignore others' feelingsD. behave differently from others29. What does the passage mainly tell us?A. Rich people have less compassion.B. Rich people prefer to drive against traffic rules.C. Rich people's selfishness leads to more wealthD. Rich people influence social compassionate feelings.30．How did the psychologists get the research result?A. By asking questions.B. By making comparisons.C. By running studies.D. By presenting ideas31. Which aspect does the last paragraph discuss?A. Reasons for being less compassionate.B. Relationship between wealth and selfishness.C. Responsibilities of wealthy people.D. Attitudes towards greed.DPlease Touch Museum, PennsylvaniaIt is divided into six themed interactive(互动的) exhibit zones. For example, City Capers is a “neighborhood”within the museum featuring buildings from Philadelphia’s skyline(轮廓线), a mock(模拟的) supermarket, medical center, and construction zone, each with many interactive features. Wonderland takes kids down the rabbit hole of Alice in Wonderland. There are also many live shows including story time in a castle and the Please Touch Playhouse. The museum was founded in 1976 to honor the nation’s bicentennial(二百周年纪念).Brooklyn Children’s Museum, New YorkFounded in 1899, it is the world’s first museum for children—and with a major expansion in 2008, it is still one of the best. That effort doubled its size to over 100,000 square feet and additional expansions are being planned now. One important exhibit is Neighbourhood Nature, which allows kids to explore the varied natural habitats found in the nation’s largest city, from woodland fields to ocean tide pools.Center of Science and Industry, OhioThis huge children’s museum is one of the nation’s largest and one of the few that can also keep adults fully involved. It features more than 320,000 square feet of exhibit space, including “little kidspace”, a 10,000-square-foot area for kids. The main part of the museum consists of 10 permanent exhibits exploring space, the oceans, our bodies, minds and spirits, and much more, which help children learn while having fun. One unique part is the daily live shows, including rat basketball and the hair-raising Electrostatic Generator show.Children’s Museum of Houston, TexasIt was already one of the nation’s best, but this high-tech museum recently doubled in size to 90,000 square feet of exhibit space, most of it interactive. It has several outdoor exhibit galleries including Weather Station, Eco Station, and the watery Flow Station, while indoor offerings range from a hands-on Science Lab to “How Does It Work?” A separate Tot Spot area is for children from birth to age 3, while most exhibits are aimed at children 2-12 with only one exhibit, the 3-story climbing structure, limited to those 5 and up.32. What can kids do at the Please Touch Museum?A. Watch live shows.B. Give performances.C. Buy food in a supermarket.D. See the movie Alice in Wonderland.33. If a child is interested in knowing our minds and spirits, he probably will visit___________.A. Please Touch MuseumB. Brooklyn Children’s MuseumC. Center of Science and IndustryD. Children’s Museum of Houston34. In the Children’s Museum of Houston, __________.A. the Tot Spot area is aimed at kids 2-12B. kids can learn science by doing thingsC. kids aged 4 can use the 3-story climbing structureD. kids can see the indoor exhibit gallery of Eco Station35. Where does this text probably come from?A. A news report.B. A tourist map.C. A museum guide.D. A science textbook.第二节（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10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。