山东省日照市2022届高三 英语上学期开学校际联合考试试题（含听力）.doc

1、山东省日照市2022届高三英语上学期校际联合考试注意事项：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，再选涂其它答案标号。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，将答题卡交回。第一部分听力（共两节，满分30分）做题时，先将答案标在试卷上。录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案转涂到答题卡上。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

2、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. What is the man thinking about?A. Doing business with Michael.B. Going on a trip around the world.C. Writing a story based on his travels.2. What color is the speakers car?A. Blue.B. Red.C. Pink.3. Why did the woman buy the suit?A. For a wedding.B. For

3、 an interview.C. For a birthday party.4. How many people in total are coming to the party?A. 10.B. 15.C. 18.5. How often does the farmers market open?A. Every day.B. Every Friday.C. Once a month.第二节（共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分25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，

4、每小题5秒钟；听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。听第6段材料，回答第6、7题。6. Where are the speakers?A. On a bus.B. On a train.C. On a plane.7. What is the man?A. A doctor.B. A teacher.C. A nurse.听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。8. Which floor do the speakers need to go to?A. The 15th floor.B. The 17th floor.C. The 23rd floor.9. How does t

5、he woman feel about the situation?A. Positive.B. Unhappy.C. Surprised.听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。10. When will the managers meeting be held?A. In the morning.B. In the afternoon.C. In the evening.11. How many letters will Mr. Jenkins sign?A. Two.B. Three.C. Four.12. Who is Julia?A. A manager.B. A customer.C.

6、A secretary.听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。13. What is the weather like today?A. Rainy.B. Windy.C. Sunny.14. What is the probable relationship between the speakers?A. Friends.B. Co-workers.C. Husband and wife.15. Where did the kids go yesterday?A. Toa zoo.B. To a museum.C. Toa sea life center.16. What will the wo

7、man do next?A. Set off on a trip.B. Make a phone call.C. Check the Internet.听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。17. What is the main topic of the talk?A. How the speaker read classics.B. Why the speaker came to China.C. How the speaker gradually loved reading.18. How did the speaker mostly pass his time before he cam

8、e to China?A. He watched TV.B. He tended the garden.C. He listened to music.19. Which author does the speaker like most?A. Ann Patchett.B. Ian McEwan.C. Jo Nesbo.20. What does Ann Patchett usually write about?A. Daily life.B. Crimes.C. Mysteries.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

9、给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。AAs a former editor at Real Simple magazine, Ive come across many domestic products.And now Im a free writer and a mom of two amazing but messy children. Ive really put thesecleaning products to use. So Ive decided to share my top 4 products with you.Magic Silicone Dishwashing G

10、lovesThese might be one of my favorite inventions ever. BPA-free silicone gloves with built-inscrubbers(刷子) for cleaning dishes? Brilliant! They get rid of the need for a washing brushkeep my nails unharmed, and they can be thrown into the dishwasher.Shop it: Magic Silicone Dishwashing Gloves, $15,

11、Rubbermaid Reveal Power ScrubberI live in a rental apartment, and when I moved in, the ground around my bathtub was very dirty. This tool makes light work of bubble(气泡). The company says is twice as powerful as scrubbing with hand, and I have to agree. Use it on everything from taps to siding door t

12、racksyou wont want to put it down.Shop it: Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber, $20, AngryMamaMicrowave CleanerI cant count how many times tomato sauce has splattered in my microwave. This small invention uses steam to loosen all that baked-on stains(污渍). Just take off the hair, fill with water and vin

13、egar, and watch Angry Mama as she sprays hot steam all over the inside. Then wipe with a damp cloth. Shes incredibly fun to use!Shop it: Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner, $9, a discount of 50% if you buy now,Hiware Drinking Straw Brush SetIf I gave my kids only straws in their stockings for Christmas, t

14、heyd be excited. They ask for straws so often that I should buy a stock of them. And now that reusable straws are popular,these tools get more use in my house than ever.Shop it: Hiware Drinking Straw Brush Set, $1 for one, $5 for ten, 21. Which ofthe following might be most useful for a dirty house?

15、A. Magic Silicone Dishwashing Gloves.B. Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber.C. Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner.D. Hiware Drinking Straw Brush Set.22. Whats the least cost if you buy the four products at a time?A. $45.B. $44.5.C. $40.5.D. $40.23. Whats the authors purpose in writing the text?A. To promote

16、the sales of the products.B. To teach us how to use the products.C. Torecommend the products to readers.D. To compare the advantages of the products.BI was ateacher before I had my first daughter. As much as I enjoyed being an educator, I decidedtostay at home with our baby at least for the first fe

17、w years. I enjoyed every day wespenttogether for ayear and a half until I found myself pregnant (怀孕)with identical twin girls.Afterthe girls were born, it was the busiest time of my life. Between bottle feeding two,changingthree little ones in diapers(尿布), and getting them to sleep, Iwas a hot mess.

18、 Iwas so exhaustedthatshowering and washing my hair took too much energy, so I often skipped them. One afternoon when I sat on the couch with my three screamingchildren, an idea struck me: I had to write this down. All of it. Every experience,feeling, andchallenge from the past year andahalf. I didn

19、t know how I would find the time to write but I knew I would.AndI did. I wrote during nap times, in the evenings, and on weekends when my husbandwas home and could watch our crew. It started as scattered journal entries andincompletesentences written down in a notebook or on my laptop. Slowly over m

20、onths the words formed complete thoughts, then complete paragraphs. Soon, I had made another decision. I wanted towrite a memoir(回忆录) in hopes that: it would inspire other women in similar situations. Whenmy book was finally published and drew some attention, I realized how much I lovedwritingessays

21、 that took the reader on a transformative journey, much like my own.The old proverb says “write what you know.” In just a few short years 1 have had so muchlife experience that I have a lot to write about. My daughters are my muse. Theexperience ofhaving all three of them has given me the confidence

22、 to pursue my dream of writing.I feel I am still teaching, but now instead of through a chalkboard, my words flow throughthe pages of my books, essays and features. And the only certification I need now, is the one Ihaveas a mother.24. How does the author describe her life as a mother of three child

23、ren?A. Busy and tiring.B. Messy and annoying.C. Pleasant and interesting.D. Amazing and meaningful.25. Why did the author decide to write a memoir?A. To achieve her writing dream.B. To make a note of her past.C. To earn money for her family.D. To help more mothers like her.26. What does the underlin

24、ed word“muse” in paragraph 4 mean?A. Target.B. Inspiration.C. Audience.D. Favorite.27. What docs theauthor mainly talk about in the text?A. How she brought u her children.B. How she became a successful teacher.C. How her daughters gave her a new career,D. How her daughters made her a great mother,CT

25、here are many ways we can enjoy sportwatching it on TV or a smartphone, attending an event at a stadium or even playing the game. Bu for those who enjoy getting competitivewith their computer gaming, there are realistic-looking games to be played without leavinghome.And peoples interest in this type

26、 of sportif thats what we can call ithas gone to a new level.Initially, grabbing a controller and playing a game was individual activity. But around20years ago computers became cheaper and the Internet became faster, which made it much easierfor more people to get involved with computer gaming. This

27、 led to gamers connecting with eachother around the word, so they could go head-to-head online.It also became a spectator sport,with people watching others play. The whole experience has been given the name“esports”Electronic Sports.Now, huge esports tournaments take place all over the world in big

28、arenas(竞技场) withlarge crowds. Diehard enthusiasts, who have become first-rate players, are now well-knownsome play together in teams. Its top stars can earn millions of dollars a year, without evenbreaking into a sweat! And fans from around the world tune in to watch the action online. Theglobal aud

29、ience is now estimated at more than 200 million and growing. Annual profits fromesports, currently around 650 million dollars for events, continue to rise with billions morethrough the video games sales.Famous football clubs are now trying to get in on the action. Englands FootballAssociation for ex

30、ample launched its first esports team this year, known as the eLions. Itrecruited(招募) FIFA 19 players to represent them at the FIFA eNations Cup. Mark Bullingham,the FAs chief commercial and football development officer, said“The FA prides itself on beinga modern, innovative organization that tries

31、to engage and inspire all generations of footballfans.”But while this virtual version of football might give footballers a chance to get closer to thereal game, some might argue the lack of physical activity means it shouldnt be called a sportand the biggest winners are the companies who promote and

32、 sell esports.28. What contributed most to the popularity of esports?A. The support from the public.B. Cheaper computers and faster Internet.C. The advanced sports equipment.D. Peoples preference for individual activities.29. What can we infer about esports from paragraph 3?A. They have become a big

33、 industry.B. They make players get rich easily.C. They will replace traditional sports.D. They have a great impact onother sports.30. Why does the author mention the FA in paragraph 4?A. To explain why it has become interested in esports.B. To tell readers it is taking the lead in hosting esports.C.

34、 To state the officers are proud of its achievements in esports.D. To show famous football clubs are getting involved in esports.31. Which of the following is the best title for the text?A. The Rise of EsportsB. The Advantages of EsportsC. Esports Teams: Famous for Star PlayersD. Esports Tournaments

35、: Exciting and Fantastic EventsDArtificial intelligence (AI) still cant see the future, but a new algorithm(算法) may comeclose: using nothing but written movie summaries, the AI can consistently tell which films willplay wellor awfullyto critics and audiences. If the model can be further improved, it

36、could one day help producers predict whether a movie will be a failure at the box office, beforeits even made.To test several models, researchers used plot summaries of 42,306 movies from all over theworld, many collected from Wikipedia. The models broke the summaries by sentence andusedsomething ca

37、lled sentiment(情感) analysis to analyze each one. Sentences considered“positive”, such as“Thor loves his hammer”, would receive a rating closer to positive one. Andsentencesthat were considered“negative”, like“Thor gets in a fight” would be rated closer to negativeone.Generally, successful movies suc

38、h as 1951s Alice in Wonderlandwhichscored 80% onthe movie-rating website Rotten Tomatoeshavefrequent waves in sentiment; unsuccessful ones, such as 2009sThe Limits ofControl, vary less. Its not important whether the films beginor end happily, the researchers say. Whats important is that the sentimen

39、ts change frequently.The sentiment ratings in each summary wee then simplified into a single score to reflect how often the sentiment changed. The researchers teste three different methods of arrivingatafinal score. All three could predict fairly accurately whether a movie would be unpopular, andone

40、 method worked especially well for guessing which thrillers and comedies reviewers wouldhate.The methods were not as efficient at guessing which movies would succeed, but they stillpredicted the results more accurately than random chance. In the future, the researchers say theirmethods could be bett

41、ered to predict the amount a movie could earn at the box office and helpproducers decide which movies to invest in. The systems fair judgment might give an advantageto less well-known writers, the researchers add. It could also potentially save the public fromhaving to sit through films like Jaws: T

42、he Revenge, which online cities and audience alike rateas terrible.32. How can AI help foresee the future of movies?A. By testing plot models.B. By using sentiment analysis.C. By writing summaries.D. By consulting critics and audiences.33. What is the key factor for a successful movie according to t

43、he researchers?A. A happy ending.B. Famous movie stars.C. A well-known producer.D. Frequent sentiment changes.34. What benefit will the methods possibly bring?A. Helping producers invest wisely.B. Assessing a movies quality accurately.C. Increasing box office earnings.D. Providing written summaries

44、for critics.35. Whats the researchers attitude to the model?A. Doubtful.B. Cautious.C. Optimistic.D. Ambiguous.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。Allofus have todeal with embarrassment at certain points in our lives. While for some it isa long-lastingwound, others lea

45、rn to laugh it off and moveon.36Be willing to accept your mistake and laugh it off. Embarrassment should not be taken asafailure or inability to perform your best under certain circumstances. Everyone has such episodesin lifeand it depends on how you choose to deal with it. While some take it person

46、ally and feelashamed and frustrated(沮丧的) for days on end, others just laugh it off and move on.37 Many react in an awkward manner when they are embarrassed, which increasestheirembarrassment. This is a natural response and cannot be avoided in most cases.38 Many people make the mistake of explaining

47、 too much about the incident, making a fool ofthemselves in front of others. If you plan to explain your actions, keep it simple.39 This attitude can be very harmful to your mental health and can affect your workand personal relationships as well. It is important to train your mind in such a way tha

48、t you mustbe able to forget and move on.At times, mood changes may accompany embarrassment and frustrations. 40 Occupy your mind with other things.A. Change your view of embarrassment.B. But it helps if you can keep your reaction simple.C. There are some ways to deal with embarrassment.D. Both attit

49、udes can help if you face up to your mistake.E. Using humor to deal with embarrassment is the best way to get over it.F. Minimize bad mood and never think about the incident for more than a day.G. Some think about the embarrassing incident for several days and get frustrated.第三部分语言运用（共两节，满分30分）第一节（共

50、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 coronavirus pandemic first hit, Stacy Mason recognized that some of hercolleagues were struggling.The Virginia41, who works at Mary Washington Hospitals Intensive Care Unit (ICU)in Fredericksburg, saw that some employees couldnt find

51、the42 they needed to care fortheir families. To make matters43 , a lot of hospital employees were becoming the only44 for their families because their loved ones lost jobs due to the pandemic.45 by the hospital, Mason established a“Team Cupboard” in May that allowed herICU colleaguesto46 or grab ite

52、ms they might need, like clothes, wipes or food items. She 47 donation tables, and had flyers(传单) made by the hospitals marketing department. Byword of mouth it gradually48 .Though Mason, who continued working full-time in the ICU, was the49 personcontributing to the cupboard, its now become a group

53、 50 . In additionto 51 fromemployees themselves, several of Masons friends and family have helped, as well as some localbusinesses.Because of Masons pursuit, the cupboard has 52 far beyond just the ICU. Apart fromthe 53 at her hospital, theres now another one at their sister facility, Stafford Hospi

54、tal, aswell as the Mary Washington Healthcare corporate office. But Mason isnt 54 down yet;she hopes the cupboard will continue on through the pandemic and 55 become apermanent fixture.41. A. chefB. cleanerC. engineerD. nurse42, A. itemsB. medicineC. assistanceD. materials43. A. clearerB. easierC. w

55、orseD. less44. A. earnersB. protectorsC. witnessesD. volunteers45. A. InfluencedB. SupportedC. UrgedD. Invited46. A. purchaseB. rentC. donateD. deliver47. A. picked upB. took upC. brought upD. setup48. A. grewB. survivedC. occurredD. existed49. A. lastB. initialC. rightD. unique50. A. prideB. achiev

56、ementC. effortD. study51. A. contributionsB. sacrificesC. thanksD. rewards52. A. improvedB. expandedC. sweptD. competed53. A. locationB. branchC. planD. example54. A. breakingB. calmingC. slowingD. looking55. A. simplyB. stillC. actuallyD. even第二节（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

57、One of my strongest childhood56(memory) is sitting in the back of the car with amap. On long journeys,57 was my job to trace our route with my finger and call outdirections even though my parents knew exactly58 we were going. Icanrememberthatmagical feeling of power and59 (responsible), as if someho

58、w I was the oneincontrol.Understanding a map creates a new sort of relationship with the outdoors.Ifyou canlearn to do that 60 an early age, it will carry through the rest of yourlife. Studies have shownthat if you can get someone 61 (interest) in outdoor activities before the age of14,it will stay

59、with them. For me, a map is a passport to getting outside.Running your finger along the placenames on a map 62 (be) a journey through history as well as geography. Map reading can also be a brilliant way 63 (entertain) children and build their confidence. Naturally, they 64 (strike) by the relations

60、hipbetween the world and them. I 65 (sincere) hope many of us will be taking with usanewfound love of getting out and about in the countryside.第四部分写作（共两节，满分40分）第一节（满分15分）你校将为交换生开设中国文化研习班（workshop），请你写一则通知，内容包括：1. 开设目的；2. 时间：每周日下午3:005:00；3. 内容：了解中国习俗，学习书法、乐器等。注意：1. 词数80左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。Notice

61、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。Every once in a while, as FedEx driver Aubrey made her regular delivery slops in aneighborhood in rural southeastern Indiana, shed come across a young boy playing basketball with a broken hoop (球筐).The boy was so joyful playing basketball, which stuck w

62、ith Aubrey and reminded her of the past days as a kid, when the sport was her safe harbor. She was bullied (欺负) for years in school, so basketball was a shelter away from her life as a kid. She had a neighbor install (安装) a basketball hoop for her across the street because he knew how much she loved

63、 it.Aubrey just wouldnt stop thinking about it and she really wanted to get the boy a hoop. Months later, Aubrey decided to get the 11-year-old boy, Elijah, a new hoop and had the hoopinstalled while the family wasnt home. With her surprising gift she left a note:“Just want you tohave the best hoop

64、that will grow with you and all your friends,” she wrote, signing it as“justone of the FedEx drivers in the area.”After installing the hoop and leaving the note, Aubrey didnt return to the neighborhood forweeks. She thought the family wouldnt realize it was her, but she was more than satisfied tokno

65、w in her heart she probably“made the kids day.” It turned out she did a lot more than that.Elijahs mother read the note, and the moment she realized who it was from, she justimmediately started to cry. Elijahs family had gone through a difficult year, with the deaths offour family members and his fa

66、ther suffering a serious injury. Her gift changed their lives.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。When Elijah came home and his mother showed it to him, he got really emotional.Weeks later, Aubrey came again, and Elijah was there waiting.英语试题参考答案第一部分听力（共20小题；每题1.5分，满分30分）15 BABBC610 CACAB1115 BCA

67、CB1620 BCCAA第二部分阅读理解（共20小题；每题2.5分，满分50分）2123 BCC2427 ADBC2831 BADA3235 BDAC3640 CEBGF第三部分英语知识运用（共两节，满分30分）第一节（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）4145 DACAB4650 CDABC5135 ABBCD第二节（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）56. memories57. it58. where59. responsibility60. at/from61. interested62. is63. to entertain64. are struck/stricken65.

68、 sincerely第四部分写作（满分40分）NoticeAiming to help foreign students have a better understanding of Chinese culture and adapt to the life in China,our school is going to organize a workshop for you. As scheduled, the workshop is supposed to be launched everySunday afternoon, from 3pm to 5pm. During this per

69、iod, youll learn about the background knowledge of Chinesecustoms, which will give you deeper understanding about our country and people. Youll also have the chance toattend lessons on Chinese calligraphy as well as playing traditional Chinese musical instruments, which will be ofgreat interest to y

70、ou. Your participation will surely make much difference.第二节（满分25分）When Elijah came home and his mother showed it to him, he got really emotional. He stood there for severalminutes staring at the hoop. The little boy was really shocked when he learned Aubrey got him a new hoop, whichreally touched hi

71、m. He got teary-eyed but hes an 11-year-old boy so he really didnt want to admit he wascrying. Elijah couldnt wait to test out his new hoop. He couldnt describe how much he loved the new hoop.Weeks later, Aubrey came again, and Elijah was there waiting. Elijah ran to her and hugged her. “I amgratefu

72、l you would do this for us. This has been a huge, huge thing for our family.” After giving her a card hemade for her, Elijah invited Aubrey to play basketball. The two played basketball for nearly an hour until Aubreyhad to go back to work. It was an act of kindness that led to a friendship and memo

73、ries that will last a lifetime.听力原文Text 1M: Im thinking of travelling around the world, but I dont know where to start.W: You should ask Michael. Hes been everywhere, so he always has a travel story.Text 2W: Did you see? The blue car was on the wrong side of the road.M: That car is red.Are you confu

74、sing your reds, blues and pinks?W: I dont mean the one youre pointing at, but the one next to it. Its the same color as ours.Text 3W: You look great. Do you think I should have bought a new suit for the wedding?M: No, I love that suit. You looked wonderful for your interview.W: I must have picked th

75、e right clothes. I got the job. But Im not sure if its right for a party.Text 4M: If 10 of my friends come to our party, will the group be too big?W: That works for me. Plus, five of my friends can come. Will your three brothers also come?M: Oh, they cant make it.Text 5M: Where is the best place to

76、buy food in the city? The supermarket in my neighborhood often does not have freshfood.W: If you want fish, there is a fishermans market down by the river every day. Theres also a farmers market onthe last Friday of the month.Text 6M: I feel guilty about traveling this way.W: I know what you mean, b

77、ut how else can we get quickly from one country to another?M: Yes, its a pity that buses and trains are so slow compared with flying.W:Air travel creates so much pollution.And when we travel this way, we are part of the problem.M: This is why we need people to study science to find ways to help the

78、environment. Im glad you have chosen itas a subject.W: Why didnt you choose it?M: I became a doctor to help people, and thats why Mom became a nurse.Text 7W: Looks like the elevator is broken again.M: Maybe theyll fix it soon. I can ask the front desk.W: But we will have to do our presentation in 15

79、 minutes. We dont have much time to spare. Which floor do weneed to go to?M: Let me check Oh no, its on the 23rd floor.W: Lets take the stairs. At least well get some exercise. Come on, its not that high.M: If I wanted to do this, I could have just become a mountain climber.W: When I lived on the 17

80、th floor of my apartment, I used to walk up every day. Even though I worked in anoffice all day long, I was in surprisingly great shape.M: OK, fine. Lets just get this over with. Hopefully, I wont be too sweaty for the meeting.Text 8M: Julia, do I have any meetings this morning?W: If you remember, y

81、ou canceled the managersmeeting. Do you want me to rearrange it?M: Yes. Ill see them immediately after lunch and Ill be attending the Business Awards this evening. Couldyou call my wife and tell her Ill be late home?W: Yes, Mr. Jenkins.Also, I typed the letters you said. Do you want to sign them now

82、?M: Do you mean the ones to Wilson Incorporated and Bluespeed International?W: Yes, plus the one to the Inland Revenue.M: Oh, I forgot about that one. Yes, thats very important. Thanks for reminding me, Julia. Ill sign them rightaway.W: Ill bring them in for you. Would you like a cup of tea?M: That

83、would be nice. I rushed out of the house without breakfast today.W: I can pop out to the shop and get you something if you like.M: No, thats OK. Thank you. I might wander out myself later.Text 9W: Where shall we go today? I thought the weather here was always supposed to be sunny.M: Yeah. Its very u

84、nusual for it to be so wet.W: Did you hear the wind last night? I thought it was going to blow the roof off.M: Yes.At least we dont have that today.W: So, we cant go to the beach and I dont think a boat trip would be a good idea.M: No, definitely not. We need to do something indoors.W: I dont think

85、the kids will want to go to another museum.M: They did enjoy the one yesterday, but I think youre right. What about the zoo?W: But that is mainly outdoors as well. There is a sea life center, though.M: Ah, good idea. But today is Sunday. Will it be open?W: It doesnt say on their website, but I think

86、 I read on a poster that they open seven days a week.M: Wed better make sure before we set off.W: Yes. I have their number here. Ill ask them now.M: Ask them how much it costs to get in. There might be a special rate for families.W: Will do.Text 10M: Working in China is a great opportunity for a Wes

87、terner, but sometimes living alone in a foreign countrycan be lonely. The nights with no company can pass slowly. Before I had time to make friends in the country, Idecided to pass my spare time by catching up on my reading. Before moving to China, I didnt have much sparetime. And when I did, I fill

88、ed it by tending the garden and watching TV, but mainly listening to music. In China, Ifirst started reading books about people I was interested in pop stars, actors and film stars. I got through mybooks quite fast one every week. When I ran out of celebrity books, I moved on to novels and this was

89、whenI really began to love reading. I read some classics recommended by others and eventually I found some modernauthors I really liked, such as Ian McEwan, Jo Nesbo and, my favorite, Ann Patchett. If you ask me what I likeabout Ann Patchetts books, I might find it difficult to explain. They arent c

90、rime stories or mysteries. In some ofthem, nothing much happens at all. But she has a talent for making the reader interested in her characters. You justwant to know what they will do next in their quite normal lives. I am so glad that being lonely gave me theopportunity to discover the magic of books.