特選2023年成人高考高起點(diǎn)英語真題及答案1

1、第1卷(選擇題，共125分)I. Phonetics ( 5 points)Directions:In each of the following groups of words, there are four underlined letters or letter combinations marked A, B, C and D. Compare the underlined parts and identify the one that is different from the others in pronunciation. Mark your answer by blackeni

2、ng the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.1. 請選擇出劃線局部讀音不同的選項(xiàng)( )。A. measureB. deadlineC. heatD. Feather【答案】C2. 請選擇出劃線局部讀音不同的選項(xiàng)( )。A. laughterB. enoughC. coughD.Ghost【答案】D3. 請選擇出劃線局部讀音不同的選項(xiàng)( )。A. robB. climbC. disturbD. Absorb【答案】B4. 請選擇出劃線局部讀音不同的選項(xiàng)( )。A.uncleB. productC. ruralD.ugly【答案】C5. 請選擇出

3、劃線局部讀音不同的選項(xiàng)( )。A. slowB. showerC. flowwerD. how【答案】AII. Vocabulary and Structure ( 15 points)Directions : There are 15 incomplete sentences in this section. For each sentence there are fourchoices marked A, B, C and D. Choose one answer that best completes the sentence and blacken the corresponding

4、letter on the Answer Sheet.6. Only in my thirties_ a purpose in life.A. did I findB. I did findC. I foundD. found【答案】A【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查倒裝句和動(dòng)詞的時(shí)態(tài)?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：直到到了30多歲，我才找到了生活的目的?！皁nly+介詞短語結(jié)構(gòu)置于句首時(shí)，句子要用倒裝結(jié)構(gòu)。由in my thirties可知，句子應(yīng)為一般過去時(shí)，只有A項(xiàng)符合題意，應(yīng)選A。7. _his telephone number, she didn t know how to get in touch with

5、him.A. Having forgottenB. To have forgottenC. ForgettingD. To forget【答案】A【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查非謂語動(dòng)詞?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：已經(jīng)忘記了他的電話號碼，她不知道怎么去聯(lián)系他。forget與其邏輯主語she之間為主動(dòng)關(guān)系，且forget這一動(dòng)作發(fā)生在主句動(dòng)作發(fā)生之前，應(yīng)用完成時(shí)態(tài)，A項(xiàng)符合題意，應(yīng)選A。8. These are the pictures of the hotel_ we held our annual meetings.A. whereB. whichC. thatD. When【答案】A【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查定語從句?！?/p>

6、應(yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：這些是我們舉辦年會(huì)的那個(gè)賓館的照片。where引導(dǎo)定語從句修飾先行詞hotel，且在從句中作狀語，符合題意，應(yīng)選A。9. I wonder if there is _ university in your hometown.A. theB. /C. aD. An【答案】C【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查冠詞的用法?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：我想知道你的家鄉(xiāng)有大學(xué)嗎?此處university為可數(shù)名詞，且為第一次提到，所以應(yīng)用不定冠詞，又因?yàn)閡niversity的發(fā)音以輔音開頭，應(yīng)選用a，應(yīng)選C。10. It is _ that text messaging while driving is dange

7、rous.A. significantB. obviousC. necessaryD. Sufficient【答案】B11. My secretary usually opens my post_its marked private.A. forB. asC. unlessD. If【答案】C【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查連詞詞義辨析。【應(yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：我的秘書通常會(huì)翻開我的郵件，除非郵件標(biāo)有“私人信件字樣。for為了，表示目的;as因?yàn)?，表示原?unless除非，表示否認(rèn)條件;if如果，表示假設(shè)。C項(xiàng)符合題意，應(yīng)選C。12. My aunts business has been doing poorly

8、,but shes hoping that her_will change.A. emotionB. luckC. dutyD. Fame【答案】B【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查名詞詞義辨析?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：我阿姨的生意一直不好，但她正期望著時(shí)來運(yùn)轉(zhuǎn)。emotion感情;luck命運(yùn)，運(yùn)氣;duty職責(zé);fame名聲。13. Who should be responsible_the accident?A. atB. ofC. withD. For【答案】D【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查固定搭配?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：誰應(yīng)該為這起事故負(fù)責(zé)?beresponsible for意為“對負(fù)責(zé)，符合題意。14. The old m

9、an, together with his neighbors,_the performance when it began to rain.A. have enjoyedB. has enjoyedC. was enjoyingD. were enjoying【答案】C【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查主謂一致和動(dòng)詞的時(shí)態(tài)?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：開始下雨時(shí)，那個(gè)老人和他的鄰居正在欣賞表演。當(dāng)主語后跟有介詞短語together with時(shí)，謂語動(dòng)詞的數(shù)與介詞短語前的主語一致。此處謂語動(dòng)詞的數(shù)應(yīng)與the old man一致，應(yīng)為單數(shù)，且此處表示過去正在進(jìn)行的動(dòng)作，應(yīng)用過去進(jìn)行時(shí)，應(yīng)選C。15. My teacher

10、recommended that I_as careful as possible when I took an exam.A. will beB. beC. amD. Were【答案】B【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查虛擬語氣?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：我的老師建議我考試時(shí)應(yīng)盡可能仔細(xì)。recommend后的賓語從句應(yīng)使用虛擬語氣，謂語動(dòng)詞用“should+動(dòng)詞原形的形式，should可以省略。16. Several novels by Mo Yan_ into English so far.A. had been translatedB. were translatedC. are translatedD. ha

11、ve been translated【答案】D【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查動(dòng)詞的時(shí)態(tài)和語態(tài)?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：到目前為止，莫言的幾本小說已經(jīng)被翻譯成英文。由SO far可知，句子的謂語動(dòng)詞應(yīng)用現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)態(tài)，且主語several novels與謂語動(dòng)詞為被動(dòng)關(guān)系，故應(yīng)用現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)態(tài)的被動(dòng)語態(tài)形式，應(yīng)選D。17. The pianist didn t_until the last minute before the concert.A. turn upB. turn outC. turn offD. turn on【答案】A【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查短語詞義辨析?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：這個(gè)鋼琴家直到音樂會(huì)開始前最后一分鐘才

12、出現(xiàn)。turn up出現(xiàn);turn out關(guān)掉;turn off關(guān)掉。完成;turn on翻開。18.-Im sorry about the misunderstanding.-You_apologize ; it wash t your fault.A. needn tB. wouldn tC. couldn tD. mustn t【答案】A【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查情態(tài)動(dòng)詞?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：關(guān)于這次誤會(huì)我感到很抱歉。你沒必要抱歉，這不是你的錯(cuò)。neednt不必，沒必要;wouldnt將不;couldnt不能;mustnt禁止，不能.19. Let s go to the airport a lit

13、tle earlier_we can choose better seats.A. now thatB. for thatC. by thatD. so that【答案】D【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查短語詞義辨析?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：我們早點(diǎn)去機(jī)場吧，這樣我們就可以選擇更好的座位。SO that意為“以便，為了，符合題意。20. Jason made sharp comments on Mary s idea, but he didn t mean_her.A. to be hurtB. to hurtC. hurtD. Hurting【答案】B【考情點(diǎn)撥】考查固定搭配?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】句意：杰森對瑪麗的觀點(diǎn)給

14、出了犀利的評價(jià)，但他并不是有意要傷害她。mean to dosth.意為“有意做某事，符合題意。mean doingsth.表示“意味著。III. Cloze ( 30 points)Directions:For each blank in the following passage, there are four choices marked A, B, Cand D. Choose the one that is most suitable and mark your answer by blackeningthe corresponding letter on the Answer Sh

15、eet.Where do cars get their energy from? For most cars,the answer is petrol. 21_some cars useelectricity. These cars have 22_motors that get their power from large batteries. In 23_, thereare even cars that have 24_an electric motor and a petrol motor. These types of cars are 25_hybrid ( 混合 ) cars.M

16、ost people tend to think of electric cars as a new 26_,but they have been around for a longtime. In the 27_19th and early 20th centuries electric cars were common because the technology for petrol engines was not very advanced. But 28_the petrol engine became easier to make and more powerful,this ty

17、pe of engines became the most 29_. Interest in electric cars was high in the 1970s and 1980s because 30_became very expensive. Recently, electric cars have again become well-liked because people want cars that pollute 31_Electric cars are better than petrol cars 32_several ways. The biggest benefit

18、is reduced pol- lution. In areas 33_there is a high percentage of electric cars, pollution is not that serious. The second benefit of electric cars is a 34_in the dependence on foreign oil. Several countries don t want to 35_on oil from other countries. Since electric cars can run on electricity fro

19、m coal or nu- clear power stations, there is less need to import oil.21.請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. ButB. NorC. OrD. And【答案】A【考情點(diǎn)撥】理解推斷題。【應(yīng)試指導(dǎo)】此處意為：對大局部車來說，答案是汽油，但是有些車使用電。前后兩句為轉(zhuǎn)折關(guān)系，but表示轉(zhuǎn)折關(guān)系，符合題意。22. 請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. traditionalB. commonC. sameD. Special【答案】D【考情點(diǎn)撥】詞義辨析題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】traditional傳統(tǒng)的;common普通的;same同樣的;speci

20、al特殊的，特別的。此處表示“特殊的馬達(dá)，應(yīng)選D。23. 請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. summaryB. detailC. timeD. Addition【答案】D【考情點(diǎn)撥】理解推斷題。【應(yīng)試指導(dǎo)】此處意為：此外，甚至有電動(dòng)馬達(dá)和汽油馬達(dá)兩者兼具的汽車。in addition意為“此外，另外，符合題意。24. 請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. allB. bothC. eitherD. Neither【答案】B【考情點(diǎn)拔】詞義辨析題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】all表示“三者或三者以上都;both表示“兩者都;either表示“兩者中的其中一個(gè);neither表示“兩者都不。根據(jù)題意，此處應(yīng)選both。25

21、. 請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. describedB. regardedC. calledD. Known【答案】C【考情點(diǎn)撥】詞義辨析題。【應(yīng)試指導(dǎo)】此處意為：這種車被稱為混合車。describe描述;regard認(rèn)為;call叫，稱呼;know知道。26. 請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. inventionB. influenceC. instrumentD.intention【答案】A【考情點(diǎn)撥】詞義辨析題。【應(yīng)試指導(dǎo)】invention創(chuàng)造;influence影響;instrumerit工具，手段;intention意圖，目的。此處表示“大多數(shù)人認(rèn)為電車是一種新的創(chuàng)造，應(yīng)選A。27.

22、請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. lastB. beginningC. recentD. Late【答案】D【考情點(diǎn)撥】理解推斷題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】此處表示“在19世紀(jì)晚期和20世紀(jì)初期.in the late l9th century意為“19世紀(jì)晚期，符合題意。28. 請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. unlessB. afterC. beforeD. Until【答案】B【考情點(diǎn)撥】理解推斷題。【應(yīng)試指導(dǎo)】此處意為：但是當(dāng)汽油引擎變得容易制造并且動(dòng)力更強(qiáng)之后，這種引擎成為了最受歡送的一種。after意為“在之后，符合題意。29. 請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. popularB. comfortabl

23、eC. difficultD. Dangerous【答案】A【考情點(diǎn)撥】詞義辨析題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】popular流行的，受歡送的;comfortable舒服的;difficult困難的;dangerous危險(xiǎn)的。根據(jù)題意，應(yīng)選A。30. 請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. motorsB. powerC. carsD. Oil【答案】D【考情點(diǎn)撥】理解推斷題。【應(yīng)試指導(dǎo)】人們對電動(dòng)汽車越來越感興趣的原因應(yīng)該是油價(jià)越來越貴。oil意為“汽油，符合題意。31. 請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. muchB. moreC. lessD. Few【答案】C【考情點(diǎn)撥】理解推斷題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】此處表示“人們想要污染

24、較小的車，less意為“較少的，較小的，符合題意。32. 請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. byB. inC. atD. On【答案】B【考情點(diǎn)撥】理解推斷題。【應(yīng)試指導(dǎo)】此處意為：電動(dòng)汽車在幾個(gè)方面比燃油汽車更好。in意為“在方面，符合題意。33. 請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. whenB. whereC. whatD. Which【答案】B【考情點(diǎn)撥】理解推斷題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】where引導(dǎo)定語從句，修飾先行詞areas，且在從句中作狀語，符合題意。34. 請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. startB. needC. reductionD. Rise【答案】C【考情點(diǎn)撥】詞義辨析題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】此

25、處意為：電車的第二個(gè)好處是可以減少對外國石油的依賴。start開始;need需要;reduction減少，下降;rise提高。根據(jù)題意，應(yīng)選C。35. 請選擇最正確選項(xiàng)( )。A. putB. holdC. relyD. Keep【答案】C【考情點(diǎn)撥】固定搭配題。【應(yīng)試指導(dǎo)】此處意為：有些國家不想依賴來自其他國家的石油。rely on意為“依靠，依賴，符合題意。IV. Reading Comprehension ( 60 points )Directions:There are five reading passages in this part. Each passage is follow

26、ed by four questions. For each question there are four suggested answers marked A, B, C and D.Choose the best answer and blacken the corresponding letter on the Answer Sheet.Passage OneAs we recently discovered, there is a Stepmother s Day, though it is not on any official holiday calendar. So,it wo

27、uld be safe to assume that there is a similar day for stepdads, too. Right? Well, it depends on what you read. A Google search brought up posts that say, for example, It s on father s day-father s day is for fathers, step-fathers and people who are like fathers to you-it s a day for making father fi

28、gures feel special. Further searching found a Stepfather s Day Facebook page that says, The unofficial Stepfather s Day is the fourth Sunday of June. Unfortunately, as of the publishing of this article,only 30 people have liked the page. Considering that studies show 3.3 million men, or 11.1% of U.

29、S. fathers, live with at least one stepchild,thats only a drop in the ocean.Its interesting to note that there is a National Grandparents Day. President Jimmy Carter signed it into law in 1978. Law ! While grandparents are undoubtedly special people in our children s lives,they are often seen as the

30、 most loving family members. But what about the stepparents? The stepparents are the ones who are often the outsiders,the ones who have to endure the hurtful Youre not my dad! or Youre not my mom! And yet they never give up. They do their best to over- come theinherentchallenges of stepparents and b

31、e role models for their stepchildren. These unsung( 未被頌揚(yáng)的 ) family heroes deserve official days of honor. Perhaps if we are loud enough, Presi- dent Obama, who had a stepfather himself, will sign into law National Stepmother s Day and National Stepfather s Day.Are you with me? Follow me and get your

32、 voice heard. How cool it would be if we could makethis happen !36. What does the underlined word that in Paragraph 1 refer to?A. 11.1% of U. S. fathers who live with at least one stepchild in the U. S.B. 3.3 million men who live with at least one stepchild in the world.C. Father figures who are equ

33、ally honored in the U. S.D. 30 people who support Stepfather s Day on the Facebook page.【答案】D【考情點(diǎn)撥】推理判斷題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】根據(jù)題意可知，that指的是前一句所說內(nèi)容，即在臉書上只有30個(gè)人支持繼父節(jié)，與330萬繼父相比。這30個(gè)人只是滄海一粟。37. What did President Jimmy Carter sign into law in 1978?A. The National Stepchildrens Day.B. The National Stepparents Day.C. T

34、he National Grandparents Day.D. The National Grandchildrens Day.【答案】C【考情點(diǎn)撥】事實(shí)細(xì)節(jié)題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】由第二段前兩句可知，Jimmy Carter總統(tǒng)在1978年簽署通過了祖父母節(jié)。38. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word inherent in Paragraph 2?A. Inevitable.B. Lasting.C. Unbelievable.D. Tough.【答案】A【考情點(diǎn)撥】詞語理解題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】inevitable不可防止的

35、;lastin9持續(xù)的;unbelievable令人難以相信的;tough困難的。此處表示作為繼父母固有的挑戰(zhàn)，inherent表示“固有的，不可防止的。與A項(xiàng)意思最接近。39. What is the reason for setting an official holiday for stepparents?A. Because they are often seen as the most loving family members.B. Because they deserve respect and honor as family members.C. Because they lo

36、ve their role as stepparents.D. Because they are often treated as heroes in the family.【答案】B【考情點(diǎn)撥】事實(shí)細(xì)節(jié)題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】由第二段倒數(shù)第二句“31aese unsun9deserveofficialdays of honor.可知，B項(xiàng)符合題意.應(yīng)選B。Passage TwoMost students choose Homestay accommodation when they study abroad; others select Home- stay even if they are not

37、 on a study visit. Statistics show that it s a form of accommodation gaining in popularity all the time.But what is Homestay? And what makes it so popular?Homestav means hying with a family, or host family as we say. There are three ways of doingit:* choose to learn English in a language school near

38、 to your Homestay location;* have your English classes in the house with a member of the family who is a qualified teacher;* select not to have classes at all when you visit-a popular choice if you want to do the tourist thing for example.Even in their busy summer period the organizations that arran

39、ge the Homestays will always try to place you with the most suitable host family to match your requirements. Placement (安置) organinations think about location, interests, language level, eating requirements, allergies (過敏) and other requests you may have.Though prices vary according to your needs, g

40、ood quality Homestay accommodation can be rela- tively economical -and although you may be charged an extra amount of money if you want your Homestay in or near the city centre. Even if you stay further out, you can expect your journey into the centre not to exceed 30 minutes.Not only does Homestay

41、accommodation represent value for money, it also gives you an excellent opportunity to practise English with your host family. This is a very important extra for students who like to speak as much English as possible. But if you plan to learn English, why not have your English classes in your host f

42、amily? There s no better way to learn English than this-the perfect combination of learning and accommodation combined with the cultural experience!40.Homestay is an ideal choice for students who . A. want to learn statisticsB. plan to study overseasC. plan to visit relativesD. want to stay at home【

43、答案】B【考情點(diǎn)撥】事實(shí)細(xì)節(jié)題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】由第一段可知，大多數(shù)在國外留學(xué)的學(xué)生會(huì)選擇Homestay這種住宿方式，而且根據(jù)全文最后一句可知，Homestay對打算在國外學(xué)習(xí)英語的人來說是最理想的選擇。B項(xiàng)符合題意，應(yīng)選B。41.Who will consider students requirements before their Homestay starts?A. The language school.B. The host family.C. The English teacher.D. The placement organization.【答案】D【考情點(diǎn)撥】事實(shí)細(xì)節(jié)題。【應(yīng)試指

44、導(dǎo)】由倒數(shù)第三段最后一句“Placementorganizations think about location.other requests youmay have.可知，D項(xiàng)符合題意，應(yīng)選D。42. Which of the following is a key factor affecting the price of Homestay?A. Students specific needs.B. Students language level.C. Nationality of the host family.D. Eating habits of the host family.【答案

45、】A【考情點(diǎn)撥】推理判斷題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】由倒數(shù)第二段第一句“Though pricesvary according to your needs.you may be charged anextra amount of money if you want可知，影響Homestay價(jià)格的關(guān)鍵因素是學(xué)生的特殊要求。43. What can be inferred from the passage?A. The author finds Homestay accommodation expensive.B. The author finds Homestay arrangement complicat

46、ed.C. The author is in favor of Homestay accommodation.D. The author is doubtful about the safety of Homestay.【答案】C【考情點(diǎn)撥】推理判斷題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】從全文特別是從最后一句“ThereSno better way可看出，作者對Homestay這種住宿方式是持支持態(tài)度的，應(yīng)選C。Passage ThreeUsing less energy around the home is easier than you might think, saving your money while

47、creating a healthier, more comfortable living space for you and your family. Changing a few old habits can make an impact on your energy bill, your comfort and the environment. Here are some handy tips to make your house more energy-efficient.Lower the heatIf your home has adjustable central heating

48、, lowering the room temperature even slightly can make a difference. You may not feel it, but your wallet will. It is even more advisable to control temperatures at different times of the day.Hang clothes out to dryIf the weather allows it, head outside and dry your laundry on a clothesline. The sun

49、light will help eliminate bacteria and dust. While clothes dryers get the job done faster,they also use up energy.By hanging your clothes out you ll be cutting greenhouse gases by about three kilograms per load.Take advantage of natural lightInstalling large windows on the northern side of your hous

50、e can help you make use of sunlight s natural warmth. To stay cool indoors on hot summer days, install blinds (百葉窗) to block the heavy sun. Put your desk near the window ,then you dont need a lamp in the daytime.Wrap (裹) your pipesBe sure your hot-water pipes are properly wrapped. In an average home

51、, heating water accounts for more than one-quarter of the energy bill. Why let warmth go to waste before it reaches you?Choose the right size for appliances (家用電器)When the time comes to replace appliances, select those that are both energy-efficient and of theappropriate size for your needs. Don t b

52、uy bigger ones just because you can.44. What benefit may using less energy at home bring about?A. Enlarging your living space.B. Keeping old habits unchanged.C. Having a healthier living environment.D. Improving your work efficiency.【答案】C【考情點(diǎn)撥】事實(shí)細(xì)節(jié)題。【應(yīng)試指導(dǎo)】由第一段第一句可知，在家里節(jié)省能源不僅可以節(jié)約開支，還能創(chuàng)造一個(gè)更健康、更舒適的居住空間

53、。應(yīng)選C。45. Which of the following is one of the advantages of hanging clothes out to dry?A. It gets clothes dry much faster than clothes dryers.B. It uses half the energy that clothes dryers do.C. It may help to build a greenhouse.D. It helps remove bacteria in clothes.【答案】D【考情點(diǎn)撥】事實(shí)細(xì)節(jié)題。【應(yīng)試指導(dǎo)】由第三段前兩句可知

54、，把衣服掛在戶外晾干，陽光可以去除細(xì)菌和灰塵，應(yīng)選D。46. What can be installed on the northern side of your house to make better use of natural light?A. Shades.B. Windows.C. Blinds.D. Curtains.【答案】B【考情點(diǎn)撥】事實(shí)細(xì)節(jié)題。【應(yīng)試指導(dǎo)】由倒數(shù)第三段第一句“Installing largewindows on the northern side of your house Call helpyou make use of sunlights natura

55、l warmth.可知.B項(xiàng)符合題意，應(yīng)選B。47. Besides energy-efficiency ,what else should be considered when replacing appliances?A. Proper size.B. Good quality.C. Replacing time.D. Reasonable price.【答案】A【考情點(diǎn)撥】事實(shí)細(xì)節(jié)題?！緫?yīng)試指導(dǎo)】由最后一段第一句可知，更換家電時(shí)，要選擇節(jié)能的，同時(shí)要選擇大小適宜的。A項(xiàng)符合題意，應(yīng)選A。Passage FourI talk to strangers for a living and lo

56、ve the challenge of getting their stories published in news- papers. I ve been married for years, but until six months ago, I could be a typical absent-minded husband. Often I was just nodding when I was supposed to. When my wife asked, Did you even hear what I just said? I would defensively say,Of

57、course I did.In January, I began to lose my voice. Doctors told me I needed surgery, or my throat would bepermanently damaged. Total silence would be required for the first few weeks of my recovery.Two hours after the surgery, my eyes filled with tears as my two-year-old son looked puzzled because I

58、 wouldn tanswer his questions. I wanted to talk but couldn t. Luckily, I d recorded myself reading some of his favorite books. That would come in handy the next couple of weeks.When I got home, I noticed a side effect : as my wife talked to me to keep up my spirits, I wasnt just hearing her; I was l

59、istening to her. Over the next few weeks, I didnt want to miss a word she said. I began to hear sweetness in her voice. It had never left. I d just stopped noticing. I found myself understanding her better on topics I d previously dismissed as things I just don t get as a guy. I also realized my son

60、 wasn t just talking nonstop but that he often had thoughtful things to say. Even while walking my dog in the woods near our home, I began hearing pleasant patterns in birdsongs. Before my surgery, I d have spent those walks on my phone.After several weeks, I was fully recovered. Conversation in our