高三英语调研考试
2007-9-3
第Ⅰ卷（选择题 共三部分，满分90分）
第一部分 听力（共两节，满分20分）
第一节（共5小题；每小题1分，满分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. What does the man suggest doing?
A. Buying a new bookshelf. B. Selling their old table.
C. Making room for a bookshelf.
2. What does the woman mean?
A. Not everyone will like the meals. B. Not everyone will get a meal.
C. Not everyone will stay for lunch.
3. What will the weather be like next week?
A. Colder and windy. B. Warmer but windy. C. Rainy and snowy.
4. What does the woman say about Susan?
A. She always does her homework fast. B. She helped Jack with his homework.
C. She didn’t do her homework by herself.
5. What time was it when the conversation took place?
A. 7:00. B. 7:30. C. 8:00.
第二节（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15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。
听第6段材料，回答第6至7题。
6. What is the man doing?
A. Delivering a chair to the woman. B. Arranging the room for the woman.
C. Repairing a chair for the woman.
7. Where is the chair put at last?
听第7段材料，回答第8至10题。
8. What is the man?
A. A bus driver. B. A salesman. C. A travel agent.
9. How many places will the woman visit on the tour?
A. 2. B. 4. C. 6.
10. How long will the tour last?
A. About 7 hours. B. About 8 hours. C. About 9 hours.
听第8段材料，回答第11至13题。
11. Where did the man go?
A. To the library. B. To the post office. C. To the chemistry lab.
12. What was the money on the desk for?
A. Some English books. B. Some notebooks and bottles.
C. Some envelopes and stamps.
13. Why couldn’t the woman go there herself?
A. It was too far away. B. She was too tired. C. She was busy then.
听第9段材料，回答第14至16题。
14. How often does the woman go to her fitness class?
A. Once a week. B. Twice a week. C. Every other day.
15. How does the daily work make the man feel?
A. Tired. B. Worried. C. Confident.
16. What might the man do after the talk?
A. Complete the report as soon as possible. B. Take more care of himself while working.
C. Join the woman in the fitness class.
听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。
17. How did the speaker feel at a birthday party in America?
A. Excited. B. Confused. C. Disappointed.
18. Which birthday party will a 49-year-old American woman have?
A. 29th. B. 39th. C. 49th.
19. Why do American women hide their real ages?
A. They want to be younger. B. They want to keep healthy.
C. They want to stay beautiful.
20. What should you do if you know the age of an American woman?
A. Keep it in mind. B. Keep it among friends. C. Keep it secret.
第二部分：英语知识运用 （共两节，满分35分）
第一节：单项选择 （共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
请认真阅读下面各题，从题中所给的A、 B、 C、 D 四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
例：It is generally considered unwise to give a child______ he or she wants.
A. however B. whatever C. whichever D. whenever
答案是B。
21. —Mr. Smith, you are fined for speeding. Please sign here.
—Fined? Speeding? _______
A. Are you all right? B. You can’t be serious!
C. I’m a foreigner. D. It doesn’t matter.
22. _______ person like him won’t be satisfied with _______ little progress that he has made.
A. The; a B. The; / C. A; / D. A; the
23. Only ticket-holders were _______ to the stadium for the concert given by Jay Chou, so many of his fans were turned away.
A. allowed B. permitted C. agreed D. admitted
24. —When can I use your computer?
—Never! _______ should you touch it.
A. At no time B. In no time C. At any time D. At one time
25. _______ seems to be a strong competition in China for senior high students to enter college or university.
A. It B. There C. What D. That
26. I had wanted to help you last night but I couldn’t spare any time, for I _______ a composition which I have to hand in this morning.
A. wrote B. was writing C. had written D. have written
27. －Will you lend me some paper?
－Sorry, mine________.
A. is running out of B. has been run out C. has run out D. has run out of
28. We wonder if there is any possibility of the statistics ________ as soon as possible.
A. to be analysed B. being analysed C. analysing D. to analyse
29. How long do you think it will be ________ the computer company puts forward a new product?
A. before B. since C. until D. that
30. You can’t attend the party tonight because it is stormy. ________, you still haven’t got over your high fever.
A. Therefore B. However C. Moreover D. Somehow
31. —How did you feel when Liu Xiang won the gold medal in Osaka?
—I couldn’t be ________.
A. very excited B. more excited C. most excited D. less excited
32. Traditionally, Chinese people _______ the Chinese characters Double Happiness and stick them onto walls or doors for weddings.
A. cut out B. cut off C. cut up D. cut down
33. —Is that the small company you often refer to?
—Right, just the one ________ you know I used to work for years.
A. that B. which C. where D. as
34. What a pity! I _______ in Hainan two more days, but something urgent needed to be dealt with back home.
A. must have stayed B. needn’t have stayed
C. may have stayed D. could have stayed
35. _______ to their own work, most of the parents spend little time with their children.
A. Devoting B. To be devoted C. Having devoted D. Devoted
第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1分，满分20分）
请认真阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的 A、B、C、D 四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
An eight-year-old child heard her parents talking about her little brother. All she knew was that he was very sick and they had no __36__ left. When she heard her daddy say to her __37__ mother, “Only a miracle（奇迹）can save him now”, the little girl went to her bedroom and took out her piggy bank. She __38__ all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Then she __39__ her way six blocks to the local drugstore.
“And what do you want?” asked the chemist.
“It’s __40__ my little brother,” the girl answered back. “He’s really, really sick and I want to get a __41__. His name is Andrew and he has something __42__ growing inside his head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him.”
“We don’t __43__ miracles here, child. I’m sorry,” the chemist said, smiling __44__ at the little girl.
In the shop was a __45__ customer. He bent down and asked the little girl, “What kind of miracle does your brother __46__?”
“I don’t know,” she replied. “He’s really sick and mommy says he needs a(n) __47__. But my daddy can’t pay for it, so I have brought my __48__.”
“How much do you have?” asked the man.
“One dollar and eleven cents, __49__ I can try and get some more,” she answered quietly.
“Well, what a coincidence（巧合）,” smiled the man. “A dollar and eleven cents－the __50__ price of a miracle for your little brother. __51__ me to where you live. I want to see your brother and __52__ your parents.”
That well-dressed man was Dr Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon（外科医生）. The operation was completed __53__ and before long Andrew was __54__ again.
The little girl was happy. She knew exactly how much the miracle __55__ ... one dollar and eleven cents ... plus the faith of a little child.
36. A. time B. medicine C. money D. food
37. A. tearful B. hopeful C. helpful D. regretful
38. A. emptied B. pulled C. put D. poured
39. A. followed B. made C. felt D. found
40. A. with B. about C. for D. from
41. A. drink B. doctor C. tablet D. miracle
42. A. bad B. small C. extra D. new
43. A. display B. offer C. sell D. store
44. A. calmly B. sadly C. strangely D. coldly
45. A. well-dressed B. kind-hearted C. well-behaved D. good-looking
46. A. have B. need C. make D. like
47. A. companion B. surgeon C. protection D. operation
48. A. savings B. wishes C. ideas D. worries
49. A. because B. so C. though D. but
50. A. same B. exact C. proper D. reasonable
51. A. Bring B. Send C. Take D. Drive
52. A. help B. encourage C. persuade D. meet
53. A. surprisingly B. secretly C. successfully D. separately
54. A. happy B. well C. strong D. fat
55. A. meant B. covered C. measured D. cost
第三部分：阅读理解（共25小题，满分35分）
第一节：请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D 四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在题卡上将该项涂黑。（共20小题，每小题1.5分；满分30分）
A
Many cities around the world today are heavily polluted. Careless methods of production and lack of consumer demand for environment friendly products have contributed to the pollution problem. One result is that millions of tons of glass, paper, plastic, and metal containers are produced, and these are difficult to get rid of.
However, today, more and more consumers are choosing “green” and demanding that the products they buy should be safe for the environment. Before they buy a product, they ask questions like these: “Will this shampoo damage the environment?” “Can this metal container be reused or can it only be used once?”
A recent study showed that two out of five adults now consider the environmental safety of a product before they buy it. This means that companies must now change the way they make and sell their products to make sure that they are “green”, that is, friendly to the environment.
Only a few years ago, it was impossible to find green products in supermarkets, but now there are hundreds. Some supermarket products carry labels to show that the product is green. Some companies have made the manufacturing (生产) of clean and safe products their main selling point and emphasize it in their advertising.
The concern for a safer and cleaner environment is making companies rethink how they do business. No longer will the public accept the old attitude of “Buy it, use it, throw it away, and forget it”. The public pressure is on, and gradually business is cleaning up its act.
56. It is clear from the text that the driving force (动力) behind green products is____.
A. public caring for the environment B. rapid development of companies
C. new ways of doing business D. rapid growth of supermarkets
57. The underlined word “it” in Paragraph 4 refers to_________.
A. the selling point B. the company’s product
C. a great demand for healthful goods D. the manufacturing of green products
58. What would be the best title for the text?
A. Business and people B. Shopping Habits Are Changing
C. Business Goes Green D. Supermarkets and Green Products
B
There are some special traditions in Hawaii. People are very friendly and always welcome visitors. They give visitors a lei, a long necklace（项链）of beautiful fresh flowers. Men wear bright flowered shirts, and women often wear long flowered dresses. There are traditional Chinese, Japanese and Philippines holidays and all the holidays from the United States. They call Hawaii the Aloha State. Aloha means both hello and goodbye. It also means I love you.
Usually when people from different countries, races and traditions live together, there are serious problems. There are a few problems in Hawaii, but, in general, people have learned to live together in peace.
Hawaiians get most of their money from visitors, and most of the visitors come from the mainland and from Japan. There are so many people living in Hawaii now that there are residential (居住的) areas where there used to be farms. Some of the big sugar and apple companies have moved to the Philippines, where they do not have to pay workers as much money. The families of the first people who came from the U.S. mainland own the important banks and companies. Japanese are also buying or starting business.
59. A lei is _______.
A. a group of flowers B. a bright flowered shirt
C. a way to say hello and goodbye D. a necklace of flowers
60. _______ plays an important part in the development of Hawaii.
A. Industry B. Agriculture C. Business D. Tourism
61. The author wants to show that ______.
A. we should all go to Hawaii
B. it is possible to learn to live together in peace
C. Hawaii is too small for big companies to develop
D. Hawaii is the only place where there is peace
62. A good title for this article might be ______.
A. Hawaii—the Aloha State B. Living in Peace Together
C. The Flower of Hawaii D. The Problems of Hawaii
C
Help Wanted
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63. If you are interested in working in a hotel, call ______.
A. 435-9201 B. 534-7618 C. 324-9817 D. 357-2897
64. If you want to get a job as a maths teacher, send your resume to ______.
A. 237 Rockledge St. Syracuse, NY. 13224
B. 404 Snow Road, Syracuse, NY. 13224
C. 500 Park Drive, DeWitt, NY. 13214
D. 19 South 8th St. NY. 13214
65. If you dislike working on Sundays, being a ______ should be your best choice.
A. cook B. secretary C. salesperson D. veterinarian assistant
66. If you want to get a job at ______, you must have office skills.
A. Martin’s Apparel B. East Side Management
C. Wales Charter School D. Johnson-Marks Animal Hospital
67. Which of the following statements is true according to the ads?
A. The pay you get from being a painter is higher than that from a front desk clerk.
B. Your parents can’t help you with the application for a veterinarian assistant.
C. You can’t apply for the nurses’ assistant if you are a nursing school student.
D. Once you have a BS degree, you can work as a maths teacher in a private school.
D
My husband and children think they are very lucky that they are living and that it’s Christmas again. They can’t see that we live on a dirty street in a dirty house among people who aren’t very good. But Johnny and children can’t see this. What a pity it is that our neighbours have to make happiness out of all this dirt. I decided that my children must get out of this. The money that we’ve saved isn’t nearly enough.
The McGaritys have money but they are so proud. They look down upon the poor. The McGarity girl just yesterday stood out there in the street eating from a bag of candy while a ring of hungry children watched her. I saw those children looking at her and crying in their hearts; and when she couldn’t eat any more she threw the rest down the sewer (下水道). Why, is it only because they have money? There is more to happiness than money in the world, isn’t there?
Miss Jackson who teaches at the Settlement House isn’t rich, but she knows things. She understands people. Her eyes look straight into yours when she talks with you. She can read your mind. I’d like to see the children be like Miss Jackson when they grow up.
68. We can learn from the passage that the writer _______.
A. is easy to get along with
B. is unhappy with their life
C. is good at observing and understanding
D. is never pleased with her neighbors
69. What do you think of McGarity girl?
A. She is proud and helpful. B. She is selfish and cruel.
C. She is lonely and unhappy. D. She is kind and polite.
70. The writer tries to tell us that _______.
A. money is the key to everything
B. the more money you have, the less happy you’ll be
C. there is something more important than money
D. when talking to people we should look into their eyes
71. Which of the following does NOT show the writer’s view on money?
A. Why, is it only because they have money?
B. There is more to happiness than money.
C. Miss Jackson isn’t rich, but she knows things.
D. The money we saved isn’t nearly enough.
E
My father and I were very close. I loved pleasing him, and he was always proud of my success. If I won a spelling contest at school, he was on top of the world. Later in life whenever I got a promotion, I’d call my father right away and he’d rush out to tell all his friends. In 1970, when I was named President of the Ford Motor Company, I don’t know which of us was more excited. Like many native Italians, my parents were very open with their feelings and their love—not only at home, but also in public. Most of my friends would never hug their fathers. But I hugged and kissed my dad at every opportunity—nothing could have felt more natural. He was a curious man who was always trying new things. He was the first person in Allentown to buy a motorcycle. Unfortunately, my father and his motorcycle didn’t get along too well. He fell off it so often that he got rid of it just a month after buying it. As a result, he never again trusted any vehicle with less than four wheels. Because of that motorcycle, I wasn’t allowed to have a bicycle when I was growing up. Whenever I wanted to ride a bike, I had to borrow one from a friend. On the other hand, my father let me drive a car as soon as I turned sixteen.
72. When I won a contest at school, my father would _______.
A. tell all his friends about it B. feel most happy over it
C. get very surprised at it D. be more excited than I
73. Which of the following statements shows that my father was a curious man?
A. I wasn’t allowed to have a car when I was growing up.
B. He was the first person in town to buy a motorcycle.
C. He was always proud of my success in everything.
D. He was very open with his feelings and his love.
74. My father trusted no vehicle with less than four wheels because ______.
A. he did not like the way I borrowed bicycles from friends
B. he thought that cars were faster than motorcycles
C. he liked every new model made by my company
D. he once had trouble in riding his motorcycle
75. Which of the following statements is wrong?
A. It was quite natural for the author to kiss and hug his father.
B. When the author reached 16 he was allowed to drive a car.
C. Both of the author’s parents were not open with their feelings.
D. Anytime the author got a promotion, he would inform his father.
第二节：阅读表达（共5小题；每小题1分，满分5分）
阅读下面的短文，在短文下面标有题号的横线上，写出短文的标题或段落的主题句。
Sports and physical training play an important part in our life. Sports are not only amusement, but they are also things of great value to one’s body and mind. So, all the people in the world can enjoy them. Sports can not only build our bodies and keep us healthy, but also can train our characters and adjust our mental states.
Table tennis gives us valuable practice in helping the eyes, brain and muscles to work together. The eyes see the ball coming, judge its speed and direction, and pass the information on to the brain. The brain has to decide what to do, and sends its orders to the muscles of the arms, legs and so on. All this must happen rapidly and only those who have had a lot of practice at table tennis can do this successfully.
Jogging has become more and more popular in the world. It has become ordinary to see people of all ages running along city streets and in parks. Jogging is the most useful sort of exercise that develops the heart, lungs and circulatory system. It trains our heart and lungs to deliver oxygen more efficiently to all parts of our body. Jogging is a cheap, quick and efficient way to maintain physical fitness.
Sports are also very useful for character training. In sports and games, people learn to play fair, cooperate with other team members, go all out to win the match, and think of the honor of the group. The sports ideal is to win without pride and to lose with grace.
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第II卷（共两部分，满分30分）
第三部分：
第二节：阅读表达
76. ___________________________________________________________________________
77. ___________________________________________________________________________
78. ___________________________________________________________________________
79. ___________________________________________________________________________
80. ___________________________________________________________________________
第四部分：写作（共两节，满分35分）
第一节：对话填空（共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分）
请认真阅读下面对话，并根据各题所给首字母的提示，在答题卡上标有标号的横线上，写出一个英语单词的完整、正确形式，使对话通顺。
A：Excuse me, sir, but I’m writing a report on what people prefer to
do on holiday. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?
B：No, not at all. Please go (81)a_______.
A：What do you prefer to do when you are on holiday?
B：Well, I don’t usually visit my family. We live quite(82) c_____
and I can see them any time. But I do like to visit museums,
(83)e_________ if there is a special exhibition on. I don’t
like to stay at home, though my parents do. (84)I________,
I prefer to get away from the city and just (85)e________
the peace of the country, sitting under a tree, listening to
the birds in the morning, or maybe walking over the hills.
A：Have you ever (86)t________ abroad?
B：No, I haven’t. It’s too (87)e________ for me. But my wife
loves to visit the coast, so if the (88)w_________ is good
we often go swimming in the sea, or maybe just lie on the
(89)b________ and bathe in the sun.
A：OK. Well, thank you very much for your time.
B：You are (90)w_________.
第二节： 书面表达（满分20分）
假如你是王平，代表六班同学给你们学校新来的外籍教师Mathew写一封电子邮件，告诉他大家对他第一周教学的感受，内容包括：
1．大家对他总体评价较高；
2．具有独特的、使课堂生动活泼的方法；
3．知识渊博，且对学生很耐心；
4．就如何帮助英语基础薄弱的学生，向Mathew提一些建议（内容自拟）。
注意： 1．电子邮件必须包括以上内容，可以适当增加细节。
2．词数：120左右。（开头已经给出，不计入总词数）
Dear Mathew,
On behalf of the students of Class 6, I e-mail you telling you how we feel about your first-week teaching in our class. ____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Some of us are still poor at English and need your help. We hope ___________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Wang Ping
参考答案
I．听力
1-5 CBACA 6-10 ABCBA 11-15 ACCBA 16-20 CBBAC
II．单选
21-25 BDDAB 26-30 BCBAC 31-35 BACDD
III．完形
36-40 CADBC 41-45 DACBA 46-50 BDADB 51-55 CACBD
IV．阅读
56-58 ADC 59-62 DDBA 63-67 DDCBB 68-71 BBCD 72-75 BBDC
V．阅读表达
76. Sports and physical training
77. Sports and physical training play an important part in our life.
78. Table Tennis gives us valuable practice in helping the eyes, brain and muscles to work together.
79. Jogging is a cheap, quick and efficient way to maintain physical fitness.
80. Sports are also very useful for character training.
VI．对话填空
81. ahead 82. close 83. especially 84. Instead 85. enjoy
86. travelled 87. expensive 88. weather 89. beach 90. welcome
VII．书面表达
Dear Mathew,
On behalf of the students of Class 6, I e-mail you telling you how we feel about your first-week teaching in our class. All of us students think highly of your way of teaching, as you can always make your class lively and interesting. In addition, you are such a learned man that we can learn a lot from you and most important of all, you are patient with us. Frankly, you have built up our confidence in learning English well.
Some of us are still poor at English and need your help. We hope you will speak a little bit slowly so that we can understand you better. Besides, would you please spend more time with us, joining in our after-school activities so that we have more chances to practice our oral English?
If you have any difficulties in your life here, just tell us. We are ready to offer you any help.
Yours,
Wang Ping
附听力原文：
Text 1
W: We do need another bookshelf in our study. But the problem is the space for it.
M: How about moving the old table to the kitchen?
Text 2
W: How many meals did you order?
M: Fifteen.
W: Do you think that will be OK? There may be twenty people this afternoon.
Text 3
W: It’s been freezing cold the past two days.
M: We haven’t seen the worst of it yet. More snow is forecast for next week accompanied by strong winds.
Text 4
M: It’s hard to believe that Susan has already finished her homework.
M: Well, she copied Jack’s homework and made a few changes.
Text 5
M: I’ll be at the university and pick you up in half an hour. Is that all right?
W: Good. That means you’ll be here at half past seven, won’t you?
Text 6
M: Where would you like me to put this?
W: Oh, great! My new leather chair! Let’s see. I pictured it over there.
M: In front of the fireplace?
W: I think so.
M: Fine.
W: No, wait! Maybe it would be better over there, in front of the bookcase where the other chair is.
M: It’s up to you.
W: Oh, on the other hand, it could easily go over there by the TV.
M: I could just leave it here and you can move it when you make up your mind.
W: I could never lift that. Uh…let’s see. Just put it over here in the corner.
M: You’re sure, now?
W: Positive. Great. Thanks.
Text 7
M: May I help you?
W: Yes, I’d like to take a one-day sightseeing tour around town.
M: We have several. Would you tell me where you want to go?
W: I particularly want to visit the British Museum and the Tower of London. Do you have any tours that include both of them?
M: Yes, this one does. You visit the Tower and Westminster Abbey in the morning. Right after lunch, the tour makes a stop at St. Paul’s. The rest of the afternoon is spent at the museum.
W: How long does the tour take?
M: About 7 hours. Well, where are you staying?
W: At the Hyde Park Hotel.
M: Let’s see. The bus stops there at 9:50. You should be back by 5:30 in the afternoon.
W: What is the cost of the tour?
M: It’s 15 pounds, including lunch.
Text 8
W: Hi, Fred. Where have you been?
M: I’ve been to the library and borrowed some English books. What’s wrong?
W: I thought you’d been to the post office. Did you notice the money I left on the desk?
M: Yes, $10 altogether. But I didn’t know what it was for.
W: Didn’t you see the note I left you with the money?
M: Note? What note? I didn’t see any note.
W: Really? I left the money with a note saying I wanted you to go to the post office and get some envelopes and stamps for me. I also put the ink bottle on them in case they might not draw your attention.
M: I see now. Why can’t you go and get them yourself? The post office is only about 30 minutes’ walk from here. We often walk there after supper.
W: Of course I know how far it is form school. I can’t go there myself because I’m very busy doing some chemistry experiments in the lab. And what’s more, I have to prepare for my English exam. You know I failed the last one. If I can’t pass this time, a hard time will be waiting for me.
Text 9
M: So when are we going to get together to finish off our report?
W: Well, I’m free most of the week. Tuesdays and Thursdays I have my fitness class, though.
M: Fitness class? How do you find the energy? After a day in here, I’m too tired to do anything but dinner and TV.
W: But I find that doing physical exercise a couple of times a week makes me feel more energetic. You should try it.
M: What kind of class is it?
W: Aerobics—it’s fun, a lot of kicks and dance-type steps.
M: Dance? I’ve got two left feet—I can’t dance. My poor heart will beat like crazy and I’ll be out of breath pretty soon.
W: Don’t worry about it. When I first started, I was also breathing hard and couldn’t follow, but everybody was too busy jumping and stepping to notice anyone else. One has to take care of oneself. Why don’t you come and try out my class?
M: I don’t know about that. Where is the class anyway?
W: It’s at the community center at the crossing of Bay and Baine streets. You can come after work.
M: I suppose I might have a try. But it’ll probably kill me.
Text 10
I attended a strange birthday party last year. My teacher was then 58 years old. But her fellow teacher said that we were celebrating her 39th birthday! We were all surprised and puzzled.
After the party I was told by the fellow teacher that American women have a special saying about birthdays. If a woman is over 40, even if she is 80, her birthday will always be the 39th. If she is in her thirties, her birthday will be the 29th. And in her twenties, it is the 19th. They usually have their “real” birthday when they are below 20.
This shows that American women, especially older women, are very sensitive about their ages. My teacher always says, “We want to be younger.” So about the age of western women, my advice is that if you don’t know it, don’t ask about it; if you really know it, don’t mention it.