江苏省海安高级中学2022-2023学年高一下学期期中考试英语试题

这是一份江苏省海安高级中学2022-2023学年高一下学期期中考试英语试题，文件包含江苏省海安高级中学2022-2023学年高一下学期期中考试英语试题docx、高一期中听力mp3等2份试卷配套教学资源，其中试卷共12页， 欢迎下载使用。

2022—2023学年度第二学期高一年级期中考试
英语试卷
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。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 does the man want to do?
A. Reserve a cheap hotel. B. Go to Mexico on business.
C. Relax and enjoy himself
2. What will the woman get?
A. Carpet cleaner. B. A paper towel. C. A glass of wine.
3. Who is the woman?
A. She’s a teacher. B. She’s a student. C. She’s an assistant.
4. Where are the speakers headed?
A. To a swimming pool. B. To the beach. C. To a restaurant.
5. Why is the museum of great significance?
A. It’s a museum for old art. B. It will be built on a small island.
C. It’s the first of its kind in Indonesia.
第二节 （共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22.5分）
听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟；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 6—7 小题。
6. How much does an entrance ticket cost?
A. Two dollars. B. Five dollars. C. Seven dollars.
7. How does the woman pay?
A. In cash. B. By cheque. C. By credit card.
听第7段材料，回答第8至9题。
8. Where did the tomato sauce come from?
A. A local farm. B. A store only five miles away. C. The man’s own tomatoes
9. What does the woman think of cooking?
A. She enjoys it. B. It makes her feel creative. C. She doesn’t have the patience for it.
听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。
10. What is the relationship between the speakers?
A. Interviewer and interviewee. B. Husband and wife. C. Neighbors.
11. Where did the man go to college?
A. In Washington. B. In Texas. C. In Nebraska.
12. What is the woman’s job?
A. She is a computer programmer. B. She is a banker. C. She is an artist.
听第 9 段材料，回答第 13 至 16 题。
13. What did Fitbit say about the recent study?
A. It was false. B. It hurt their business. C. They had no comment.
14. When does the man use his Fitbit?
A. Only when he’s exercising. B. During the daytime. C. All the time.
15. What does the man think of his Fitbit?
A. It’s sometimes uncomfortable to wear. B. It’s of good value.
C. It’s of little use.
16. How does the woman sound?
A. Interested. B. Bored. C. Upset.
听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。
17. What is the speaker mainly talking about?
A. A search engine. B. A language program. C. A free lesson website for teachers.
18. How many people use Duolingo currently?
A. Over one hundred million. B. A few hundred thousand. C. Several thousand.
19. Where is Luis von Ahn from?
A. Switzerland. B. Guatemala. C. Costa Rica.
20. How was Duolingo originally funded?
A. By big websites. B. By an actor. C. By school.
第二部分 阅读 （共两节, 满分50分）
第一节 阅读理解（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 和 D 四个选项中，选出最佳选项。
A
Family: Poems—by Mr. Keith Keenan
·Kindle $0.00, Hardcover $12.50, Paperback $7.00
The poet describes personal thoughts and feelings in a lyrical journey to understand and celebrate his family. “Family” looks at living honestly in places, not illusions. Figurative language, a love of metaphor and sharp images all make the poems work.
Time to Heal—by Alexandra Vasiliu
·Kindle $9.99, Hardcover $21.94, Paperback $12.64
From the bestselling author comes an inspirational poetry book about love, healing, and growth. It is a reminder to strive to change for the better. Featuring more than 130 uplifting poems and black-and-white illustrations, it's a great companion when you need to embrace self-love and personal transformation.
Seeds from a Birch Tree —by Clark Strand
·Kindle $9.99, Hardcover $26.80, Paperback $16.95
Seeds From a Birch Tree makes nature into a spiritual path. Its message was simple: Haiku teaches us to return to nature by following the seasons—seventeen syllables at a time. With its mix of poetry and memoir(回忆录), the book guides us to the joy hidden in plain sight, leading us to get into a good state of body and mind.
A Poem for Every Day—by Allie Esiri
·Kindle $9.99, Hardcover $28.05, Audio CD $18.05
This audio book is a collection of 366 poems which link to events on key dates—funny for April Fool's Day, festive for Christmas. This is the perfect gift for poetry lovers of all ages. These poems are informative, peaceful, and energetic!
There are a large number of poetry collections on Amazon. More information, please click here.
21. How much will you pay if you are to buy a hardcover edition of haiku?
A. $12.50. B. $21.94. C. $26.80. D. $28.05.
22. According to the text, what can we learn about the books?
A. Family: Poems features plain language.
B. Time to Heal features colorful illustrations.
C. Seeds from a Birch Tree focuses on human nature.
D. A Poem for Every Day focuses on festive celebrations.
23. Where is this text probably taken from?
A. A website. B. A magazine. C. A book review. D. A travel brochure.
B
There is an old Chinese proverb that states “One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade,” and this is how it should be with mothers and daughters. The relationship between a mother and a daughter is sometimes confusing. The relationship can be similar to friendship. However, the mother and daughter relationship has unique characteristics that distinguish it from a friendship. These characteristics include a hierarchy(等级) of responsibilities and unconditional love, which preclude mothers and daughters from being best friends.
Marina, 27 years old, said, “I love spending time with my mom, but I wouldn’t consider her my best friend. Best friends don’t pay for your wedding. Best friends don’t remind you how they carried you in their body and gave you life! Best friend: don’t tell you how wise they are because they have been alive at least 20 years longer than you.” This doesn’t mean that the mother and daughter relationship can’t be very close and satisfying.
While some adult relationships are still troubled, many find them to be extremely rewarding. This generation of mothers and adult daughters has a lot in common, which increases the likelihood of shared companionship. Mothers and daughters have always shared the common experience of being homemakers, responsible for maintaining and passing on family values and traditions. Today contemporary mothers and daughters also share the experience of the workforce and technology, which may bring them even closer together.
Best friends may or may not continue to be best friends, but for better or worse, the mother and daughter relationship is permanent, even if for some unfortunate reason they aren’t speaking. The mother and child relationship is closer than any other. There is not an equal relationship. Daughters should not feel responsible for their mother’s emotional well-being. It isn’t that they don’t care deeply about their mothers. It’s just that they shouldn’t be burdened with their mother’s well-being.
The mother and daughter relationship is a relationship that is not replaceable by any other. Mothers never stop being mothers, which includes frequently wanting to protect their daughters and often feeling responsible for their happiness. Mothers always “trump (胜过)” friends.
24. What does the underlined word “preclude” in paragraph 1 probably mean?
A. differ B. prevent C. benefit D. change
25. What do we know from the text?
A. The mother and daughter relationship can be replaced by a best friend.
B.A mother’s love brings her and her daughter a close friendship.
C. The mother and daughter relationship goes beyond best friends’ friendship.
D. Marina has a troubled relationship with her mother.
26. How does the author mainly prove his statements?
A. By listing data. B. By giving explanations. C. By quoting sayings. D. By giving examples.
27. What is the best title for the text?
A. How to Be a Good Mother and Daughter?
B. Who Is a Mother’s Best Friend?
C. Mothers or Friends?
D. Can a Mother Be a Daughter’s Best Friend?
C
The power of modern electronic media-the net, mobile phones and video games to capture the attention of the human mind particularly the young mind and then distract it, has lately become a subject of concern. We are, say the worriers, losing the ability to apply ourselves properly to a single task, like reading a book in its entirety or mastering a piece of music on an instrument with the result that our thinking is becoming shallower
Nicholas Carr, the American writer, has explored this theme for his new book The Shallows, in which he argues that new media are not just changing our habits but our brain too. It turns out that the mature human brain is not an immutable seat of personality and intellect but a changeable thing, subject to “neuroplasticity” (神经可塑性). When our activities alter so does the architecture of our brain “I'm not thinking the way I used to think,” writes Carr. “I feel it most strongly when I'm reading.” Years of internet use have, he suspects, dented his ability to read deeply to absorb himself in books: “My brain wasn't just drifting. It was hungry. It was demanding to be fed the way the net fed it.” He describes getting fidgety when faced with a long text: “When we go online, we enter an environment that promotes cursory reading, hurried and distracted thinking, and superficial learning.”
Carr cites research by Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA, who concluded that constant exposure to modern media strengthens new neural pathways while weakening older ones. Just five hours of internet use is enough to awaken previously dormant parts of the brain's prefrontal cortex (前额叶皮层), concluded Small. For Carr, this is proof that the net can rewire the mind. He sees dangers. Deep thought, the ability to immerse oneself in an area of study, to follow a narrative, to understand an argument and develop a critique, is giving way to skimming. Young users of the Internet are good at drawing together information for a school project, for example, but that does not mean they have digested it.
28. The underlined word “dented” in paragraph 2 means .
A. strengthened B. exhausted C. stimulated D. damaged
29. In his new book, The Shallows, Nicholas Carr believes that .
A. five hours of net use can rewire the mind
B. modern electronic media help focus users attention on the task
C. electronic media have affected his fulfillment of reading books
D. our brain evolves when fed with information and knowledge from the net
30. What can we learn from the passage?
A. The sharper the attention, the sharper the memory.
B. Nicholas Carr's book on the subject is a bestseller.
C. Superficial thinking and learning are associated with the new media.
D. Years of internet use do harm to people's management over multi-tasking.
31. What is the overall danger of the Internet that Carr pointed out in the last paragraph?
A. Young users cannot digest information from the Internet.
B. Using the Internet will cause damage to our prefrontal cortex.
C. Constant internet use will impair our intensive reading ability
D. The Internet can waste young users' time to an alarming extent
D
I was 29 when my brother-in-law said to me, “It would be nice if one day you could make use of your education.” I had a bachelor's degree and an MA (Master of Arts) in creative writing which, as far as I was concerned, I used every day—reading novels, trying to write novels, arguing about politics, interpreting the meanings in French films, and generally leading an examined life. But my brother-in-law, who left school at 18, didn't understand why, as a journalist, I was bringing home less than half the salary he earned in the hospitality(服务) industry.
I thought of my brother-in-law's comment this week when the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) released figures showing that, on average, male arts graduates earn less at the age of 29 than their non-graduate peers. Graduates of the same age overall are only earning 6% more than non-graduates. For women, the figure is 26%, but earnings growth for women overall is lower, so the benefits from going to university are greater.
The IFS figures drew a predictable response from Sam Gyimah, who listed some courses of arts degrees in certain universities that are not delivering the financial outcomes for students and threatened to punish institutions that don't improve students' earning prospects. This attack on arts degrees raises fundamental questions about what we want from education and, indeed, from life.
No one can deny that arts degrees give students the skills to speak and' work out what they want to say and how to say it. Studying Sigmund Freud, or reading James Joyce or Toni Morrison for the first time, introduces students to ideas that challenge their intellectual prejudices, as well as the consensus(共识) of the society around them. The value of an arts degree in life is incalculable.
32. What did the author think of his major according to Paragraph 1?
A. Hopeless. B. Unrealistic. C. Ordinary. D. Meaningful.
33. What do the IFS figures indicate?
A. Men graduates earn less than non-graduate peers.
B. Women graduates earn less than non-graduates.
C. The income increase rate for women is much higher.
D. Women benefit more from getting college education
34. How did Sam Gyimah respond to the IFS figures?
A. He put pressure on some institutions. B. He punished some institutions.
C. He bettered students' earning prospects. D. He accused colleges of giving false hope.
35. What does the text suggest people do about degrees?
A. Challenge their intellectual prejudices. B. Consider what they expect of life.
C. Work out what they want to say. D. Think if they can make money.
第二节 七选五 （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。
I’ve thought long and hard about individual books that have changed my life. 36 . But considering
books in the broader sense, that’s a different matter; books, by themselves, have most definitely changed my life.
I still have books from my childhood, treasured and kept safe in a wooden box. I suppose you could say I had favorite authors from a very young age: Richard Scarry was the first. I loved “The Supermarket Mystery” most, which gave me great pleasure. Even then I knew books mattered and as soon as I could write my name correctly, I would claim ownership (所有权) of books. 37 .
The next milestone on my journey with books probably came when I discovered Enid Blyton. 38 . I read every single one of the ‘Famous Five’, ‘Secret Seven’ and ‘Adventurous Four’ books, but it was her boarding school books that thrilled me as a young girl and sparked a love of escapist fiction.
That love of escapist fiction has never left me. I never read non-fiction, and my pattern of finding an author I love and then reading every book he or she wrote continues, through Agatha Christie in my teens, to Lee Child as an adult. 39 . When real life gets too much, what better place to seek shelter than the pages of a detective book that takes you away to another place?
40 . I studied for a degree in English Literature, and three years spent analyzing texts which I would otherwise not have chosen to read, greatly took the shine off reading. It took me a long time to find my way back to books. J.K. Rowling, I have to say, was a godsend in that respect.
A. That’s why I love the books
B. My spelling has improved since then
C. Her books turned me into a devoted reader
D. My favorite type is definitely detective fiction
E. The honest answer is that there really aren’t any
F. My passion for reading has benefited me a lot in a long run
G. But my relationship with books hasn’t always been an easy one
第三部分 语言运用（共两节，满分30分）
第一节 完形填空 （共15小题：每小题1分，满分15分）
请认真阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的 A、B、C、D 四个选择中，选出最佳选项。
When I was 16, I wanted to buy an album （专辑） from my favorite band, but I could 41 pay for it. My parents were not the type of people to give money to me 42 , or even for work done at home.
This led me to search for work opportunities in my neighborhood, and I was 43 to Mrs. Hudson, the oldest person in the community. At over eighty years old, Mrs. Hudson could no longer 44 her garden, and I offered to help her out.
My first job was to 45 weeds in her front yard and backyard. After this 46 task, I mowed (修剪) her lawn. With the $10 earned from my first day of work, I bought that 47 . Listening to music, I felt a cool 48 running through my heart, which made me realize all the efforts I had made were worthwhile.
However, my desire for material possessions did not end there. I later set my 49 on a Gameboy, which was very fashionable at the time. I started to work for multiple clients, in order to earn enough money to purchase this 50 possession.
After many days of working, I 51 enough money. But just after one day of playing on it, I realized that it was not as fun as I had thought. I 52 in the hot sun for hours doing yard work to buy something I did not 53 . So, the next day, I returned it for a full refund (退款).
Ever since that day, I have come to 54 the value of money, realizing that the sweat and dedication that 55 earning it are truly invaluable assets that cannot be taken away from us.
41. A. slightly B. barely C. roughly D. nearly
42. A. out of nowhere B. out of condition C. out of question D. out of work
43. A. assigned B. directed C. ordered D. referred
44. A. decorate B. guard C. tend D. water
45. A. pull out B. rule out C. sort out D. take out
46. A. awesome B. creative C. tiresome D. urgent
47. A. band B. collection C. edition D. patent
48. A. breeze B. current C. spring D. wind
49. A. ambition B. curiosity C. sights D. tastes
50. A. personal B. prized C. previous D. practical
51. A. charged B. gathered C. invested D. withdrew
52. A. dug B. struggled C. sweated D. wandered
53. A. lack B. lose C. want D. deserve
54. A. accept B. appreciate C. evaluate D. enjoy
55. A. come into B. fall into C. go into D. put into
第二节 单句填空 （共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
56. For a native of the UK it might be the classic fish and chips, (serve) hot, salty and sour.
57. In this article, we will talk about a particular type of comfort food power mainly lies in the associations it calls to mind.
58. It is our responsibility as scientists, (know) the great progress that is the fruit of freedom of thought, to declare the value of this freedom.
59. I had to ask myself, “Is there some evil (involve) in science?”
60. Perhaps the next generation of scientists, drawing on the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine, will indeed discover more medicine (benefit) to global health care.
61. The trials on patients were likely (postpone) because they didn’t have sufficient safety data.
62. With eyes no longer (fix) on our phones, we had a chance to really enjoy each other’s company.
63. When you wish to go on holiday, you can make all your travel (arrange) just in front of the computer.
64. This fire moved and changed in color with every moment: now it was wildly bright, now of a pale and dying red, and now again it burnt with an/a (bear) light!
65. The boats of the fishermen moved rapidly all directions.
66. Only 5 students suffered slight (injure), despite the current figures of 7 killed in the disaster area at large.
67. It immediately (occur) to her that these were signs of an approaching tsunami.
68. People tend to connect factories with pictures of clouds of dirty smoke and irresponsible businessmen eager to make huge (profitable).
69. the 390000 plant species known to us, more than 40000 can be found in the Amazon.
70. When a jaguar dies, a tiny army of microorganisms helps break down its body and return the (nutritious) to the earth.
第四部分 写作 （共两节；满分40分）
第一节 应用文（满分15分）
71. 假定你是李华。你的新西兰朋友 David 将要参加他的学校举办的中国诗歌朗诵比赛（the Chinese Poetry
Recitation Competition），特发邮件向你咨询一些备赛方面的建议。请你回复邮件，内容包括：
1.表示支持；
2.提出相关建议；
3.表达希望和祝愿。
注意：1.写作词数应为 80 左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear David, ____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________ Yours, Li Hua
第二节 读后续写（满分25分）
72.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。续写词数应为150左右。
On a train to Smithville, a man happened to sit down next to a young man no more than 17 years old. Because the boy was tense, the man wondered what could be worrying him. Whatever it was, the boy’s tension was clear.
The boy kept slaring out of the window, paying no attention to anyone else on the train. The man opened up a book and started reading. Now and then, he would look up and see the boy’s face pressed against the window. He sensed that the boy was fighting to keep from crying.
Finally, the boy asked the man, “Do you know what time it is? And do you know when we are to arrive at Smithville?” The man gave the boy the time. Then the boy told the man the whole story of his life. “Four years ago,” he said, “I did something bad hurting my dad, so bad that I had to run away from home. I couldn’t face my father. So I left without even saying goodbye to him. Since then, I have worked here and there. I never stayed very long in one place. I’ve been pretty lonely. Until finally, I decided that I want to go back to my father and apologized to him.”
The man went on to ask, “Does your father know you’re coming?” And the boy responded, “He knows I’m coming, but I don’t know if he will be there. I sent him a letter. I didn’t know if he would still want me back. I wasn’t sure if he would forgive me. So in my letter, I told him that if he wanted me to come home, he could put a sign on a tree which is a few hundred yards before the railroad station in Smithville. I told him that I would look for a yellow ribbon（丝带）on one of the branches of that tree as the train passes. If there is a yellow ribbon on the tree, then I’ll get off. If not, then I’ll just keep on riding to wherever this train goes.” The two of them were now waiting for Smithville.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式作答。
Now involved, the man stopped reading and also stared at the window.


A few moments later, the conductor came along and called out, “Next stop-Smithville.”


高一英语参考答案
听力: 1—5 CBABC 6—10 BACCC 11—15 ABACB 16—20 ABABA
阅读：21—23. CDA 24—27. BCBD 28—31. DCCC 32—35. DDAB 36—40. EBCDG
完形：41—45 BABCA 46—50 CBCCB 51—55 BCCBC
单句：56. served 57. whose 58.knowing 59. involved 60. beneficial
61. to be postponed 62. fixed 63.arrangements 64.unbearable 65.in
66. injuries 67.occurred 68.profits 69.Of 70.nutrients
应用文：
Dear David,
I was glad to hear that you will participate in the Chinese Poetry Recitation Competition at your school. It’s a wonderful opportunity for you to showcase your talent and share your passion for Chinese culture.
As for your preparation, I suggest that you first choose a piece of poetry that speaks to you. Pay attention to your pronunciation and intonation, and try to convey the emotions and ideas within the poem. Besides, I recommend that you research the background and meaning of the poem, which will enhance your understanding and interpretation of the work.
I hope these tips will be helpful to you and I wish you the best of luck in the competition.
Best regards
Li Hua
续写：
Paragraph 1:
Now involved, the man stopped reading and also stared at the window. However, after a while, the boy’s face turned pale, seemingly feeling like sitting on pins and needles. The man noticed that and tried to comfort the boy. He said gently, “Don’t worry. Whatever happens, please remember that there is always light behind the clouds.” After hearing his words, the boy turned his head and looked at him. The man added, “I’m a father, too. Parents are always there and never let go of their children.” The boy nodded, eyes full of hope.
Paragraph 2:
A few moments later, the conductor came along and called out, “Next stop — Smithville.” The boy could not move. The man, however, looked as hard as he could. And then he saw it! He shouted so loud that all the people in the train turned around. “It’s there! Look! The tree is covered with yellow ribbons! Not just one there’s a whole bunch!” The father had every reason not to put up a yellow ribbon and yet he did. Only a father whose love is real could blanket the tree with yellow ribbons, each one of them proclaiming reconciliation.
听力材料
（Text 1）M: I need a vacation. I haven’t had a day off in eight months. It’s about time I did something fun.
W: I agree. You’ve been working hard lately. Why don’t we go to Mexico? I can get us a good deal
（Text 2）W: I just spilled red wine on the carpet. Do you have any carpet cleaner?
M: No I just ran out. Get a paper towel and try to get the stain out with water and some salt. Hurry!
（Text3）W: Mark, please be quiet. We’re in the middle of a test. If you need something, our teaching assistant Brittany is here to help you.
M: Sorry, Mrs. Smith. Susie asked to borrow a pen, and I was just telling her I don’t have an extra one.
（Text 4）M: If you grab the towels, I’ll get the sunglasses.
W: Okay. Do you have everything else you need? A bathing suit? Your surfboard?
M: Yes, everything’s in the car already. I also packed some sandwiches in case we’re hungry later.
（Text 5）M: Indonesia is opening its first international modern art museum in 2017. It’s going to be called the Museum MACAN, which is short for Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara.
W: What does the word “nusantara” mean?
M: It’s an Indonesian term for a group of islands.
（Text 6）W: I’d like a ticket to the fair, please.
M: OK. This is an entrance ticket only. If you’d like to go to the petting zoo or the horse ride, there will be an extra fee. W: How much do those cost?
M: The petting zoo is $2, and the horse ride is $3. W: I’ll buy a ticket to the petting zoo as well, please.
M: Your total comes to $7. W: Do you take credit cards?
M: No, we take cash only. W: Okay, here you go.
（Text 7）M: I made us a pizza for tonight’s dinner. I baked apple pie, made the tomato sauce from our tomatoes in the backyard, and I bought the cheese from a local farm about five miles away.
W: Yum! I can’t wait to eat it. You’ve been cooking a lot lately. Why the change?
M: I’ve gotten really into watching cooking shows. I’ve been interested in cooking for a long time, but I just decided to give it a try recently. W: I’m an okay cook, but I don’t enjoy it very much. It takes a lot of patience, which I don’t have.
（Text 8）W: Hello. My name is Christina. I’m just stopping by to bring you some cookies and to introduce myself.
M: Hi, Christina. I’m Bryce. It’s very nice to meet you. Please come in.
W: Sure. M: Thank you for the cookies. Would you like something to drink?
W: Water is fine. Thank you. M: Here you go. Take a seat. So, where were you living before?
W: My husband and I were living in Nebraska, but he got a job out here, so that’s why we moved. I’ve never been to the West Coast before. I love Washington so far.
M: I’ve been in Washington for ten years now. I was born in Texas and came out here for college. I’ve stayed ever since. W: What do you do for work?
M: I’m a computer programmer. It’s a good job, but my real passion in life is making furniture.
W: That’s interesting. I do a lot of painting in my spare time, although I’m a banker during the day.
（Text 9）W: What are you wearing?
M: A Fitbit. It’s a watch that helps me keep track of my health.
W: How accurate do you think it actually is?
M: I’m not sure. I read a study recently that said the Fitbit’s heart rate monitor doesn’t do a great job at measuring your heartbeat during physical activity. It gives a higher reading than it should.
W: Oh, I thought it would have been the other way around.
M: Me too. Of course, Fitbit was very upset by the study and said it wasn’t true.
W: Well, a study like that will probably really hurt its business.
M: Well, their products are very popular, so people will still most likely buy them. W: Do you wear your Fitbit often, or just when you’re exercising?
M: I wear it all day, every day. I even wear it when I’m sleeping.
W: Wow, that’s impressive. Isn’t it uncomfortable?
M: No, not at all. W: Maybe I should get one.
M: You should. I really like mine. There are many different kinds you can choose from. They’re expensive, but I think they’re worth the money.
（Text10）Duolingo is a free language-learning website and app. It offers ad-free courses for those who want to learn a new language. As of 2016, Duolingo has fifty-nine different language courses for twenty-three languages. Over 120 million people are registered with the program. Duolingo was created in 2011 by Professor Luis von Ahn and his graduate student Severin Hacker, who was born in Switzerland. Prof. Luis von Ahn was born in Guatemala, and he was upset by how expensive it was for people in his town to learn English. He wanted to create a program that offered free education to anyone in the world. Because most of the services are available free of charge, Duolingo originally used a special business model to make money. Members of the public were able to translate content and vote on correct translations. The content came from large websites such as BuzzFeed and CNN.com, which paid Duolingo to translate their webpages. Many private investors have given money to the company, including actor Ashton Kutcher’s firm. Duolingo has also been used in public schools in Costa Rica and Guatemala.