2025屆安徽省黃山市徽州區(qū)第一中學(xué)高考沖刺英語模擬試題含解析

2025屆安徽省黃山市徽州區(qū)第一中學(xué)高考沖刺英語模擬試題考生請注意：1．答題前請將考場、試室號、座位號、考生號、姓名寫在試卷密封線內(nèi)，不得在試卷上作任何標(biāo)記。2．第一部分選擇題每小題選出答案后，需將答案寫在試卷指定的括號內(nèi)，第二部分非選擇題答案寫在試卷題目指定的位置上。3．考生必須保證答題卡的整潔。考試結(jié)束后，請將本試卷和答題卡一并交回。第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1．Jennynearlymissedtheflight_________________doingtoomuchshopping.A．a(chǎn)saresultof B．ontopofC．infrontof D．inneedof2．Manydevelopingcountriesareunwillingtopursuetheireconomicdevelopment______destroyingtheenvironmentdespitetherebeingseveralfinancialcrises.A．a(chǎn)ttheriskof B．a(chǎn)tthecostof C．a(chǎn)ttheendof D．a(chǎn)tthemercyof3．Afteralongabsence,Iwentbacktocollege,_______topickupwhereI’dleftoff.A．hoping B．hopeC．tohope D．hoped4．—Ihavegotaheadache.—Nowonder.You___infrontofthatcomputertoolong.A．work B．a(chǎn)reworkingC．havebeenworking D．worked5．—Whataconsequence!—Yes.I________himaboutit,butwithoutsuccess.A．willremindB．wouldremindC．wasremindingD．hadreminded6．Itisafoolishactto________notesduringatestasyouwillbeseverelypunished.A．stickto B．referto C．keepto D．pointto7．Thelivingroomiscleanandtidy,withadiningtablealready__________foramealtobecooked.A．laid B．layingC．tolay D．beinglaid8．—Doyoufeellikegoingtothecinematonight?—Sorry,I’msotired．I____anearlynight．A．have B．a(chǎn)mhaving C．havehad D．had9．Aftersevenhours’drive,theyreached______theythoughtwastheplacetheyhadbeendreamingof.A．that B．whatC．where D．which10．ThePalaceofVersailles,France’snationaltreasure,has________manychangesinitscentury-longhistorywhilekeepingitsbeauty.A．gonethroughB．takenonC．ledtoD．showedoff11．—Sorry,Ididn’thearthedoorbellring.—Yourbell.Perhapsitneedsrepairing.A．neverworked B．isneverworkingC．neverworks D．hadneverworked12．Contrarytopopularbelief,theants,hardworking________theyare,havetheirtimeforplay.A．because B．while C．a(chǎn)s D．where13．Heisabad-temperedfellow,buthe________bequitecharmingwhenhewishes.A．shall B．shouldC．can D．must14．Don’tletyourselfbe______intobuyingthingsyoudon’treallywant.A．a(chǎn)dvocated B．clarified C．flashed D．persuaded15．Youaresubjecttopunishmentifyoufailto________tothecustomswhencarryingtheprohibitedarticleslistedabove.A．stateB．declareC．a(chǎn)nnounceD．communicate16．.IwasembarrassedtoadmitthatyesterdayI______aseriouserror.A．a(chǎn)cted B．committed C．performed D．completed17．Iwouldn’thavemissedthetrainifI______upearlier.A．got B．hadgot C．willget D．havegot18．Ihavetorescheduletheappointmentwithyousincethereisa______inmyarrangement.A．contract B．contrast C．connection D．conflict19．Itsagoodideatogetstudentstoretellastorytheirownwords．A．of B．in C．by D．through20．Thebookisnowoutofprint,______itcaneasilybeborrowedfromlibraries.A．a(chǎn)ndB．forC．soD．but第二部分閱讀理解（滿分40分）閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)。21．（6分）NEWDELHI—InIndia’sspacecenteronthebarrierislandofSriharikota,thewhite-jacketedscientistsheldtheirbreaths.Thecountry’strustyred-and-whitesatellitelaunchvehiclehadliftedoffmomentsbeforeandblastedintoorbit.ThePolarSatelliteLaunchVehicleC-37wasabouttoperformadelicatemaneuver(操縱，任務(wù))—carefullysending104satellitesintotheheavens,thehighestnumbereverattemptedinonemission.OneIndianspaceanalystontelevisionlikenedthecomplicatedmaneuvertodroppingchildrenatdifferentbusstops.About10a.m.Wednesday,theannouncementcame:Allthesatelliteshadbeensuccessfullylaunched.Thescientistsbreathedacollectivesighofrelief,andbackslappingandapplausefollowed.“Thisisagreatmomentforeachandeveryoneofus.Todaywehavemadehistory,”projectmanagerB．Jayakumarsaidafterward.Thetotalnumberofsatellitesfaroutstripped(超過)thepreviousrecord—37atthesametimesentintospacebyRussiain2014.Wednesday’slaunchwasanothersuccessfortheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO),whichisrapidlygainingareputationgloballyforitseffectiveyetlow-costmissions.Indiahadalreadysentupdozensofsatellites,including20inonelaunchlastyear.In2014,IndiabecamethefirstAsiannationtosendaprobe(探測器)intoorbitaroundMars,a$74millioneffortthat,asPrimeMinisterNarendraModinotedatthetime,costlessthanwhatittooktomaketheHollywoodspacemovie“Gravity”.ThefiercenationalpridethatresultedafterthatsuccesssenttheMarsproberocketingontothefaceofthecountry’snew2,000rupee($30)currencynote(鈔票)inNovember.“NowIndiaisshowingitscompetitivenessinthe$300billionglobalspacemarket,”saidRajeswariPillaiRajagopalan,headoftheNuclearandSpacePolicyInitiativeattheObserverRearchFoundationinNewDelhi.1、Whatdoestheunderlinedword“l(fā)ikened”meaninthe3rdparagraph?A．contributedB．comparedC．preferredD．tied2、WhatdoesIndia’sPrimeMinisterModiimplyaccordingtothe8thparagraph?A．The104-satellitemaneuvercostlessmoneythanthefilm“Gravity”did.B．Shootingafilmisalwaysmoreexpensivethanlaunchingarocket.C．TheMarsproberocketingischaracteristicofbeinglowincost.D．Allrealexplorationsarecheaperthanvirtualones.3、ThewayIndiaadoptedtoshowthesignificanceoftheMarsproberocketingisequaltothewayChinesegovernmentuse________inChina.A．ChairmanMaoZedong’sportraitB．a(chǎn)pictureoftheLong-marchrocketC．a(chǎn)pictureoftheThree-gorges(峽谷)projectD．PresidentXiJinping’sportrait4、Itcanbeinferredthatafterthesuccessinthe104-satellitelaunch,Indiawill________.A．becomeNo.1intheglobalspacemarketB．takeupalargermarketshareinthefutureC．showitsabilityamonglocalcompetitorsD．haveanorderof$300billion22．（8分）Thinkoftheemptycitiesinzombie(僵尸)movies.Thestreets,theshopsandtheschoolsstilltherejustliketheywouldbeonanormalday,excepttherearenopeopletobeseen.Itistheemptinessthatscaresyou.Nowareal-life"ghostcity"isbeingbuiltintheUS.Butfortunately,ithasnothingtodowithzombies-itisgoingtobeaplacetotestthetechnologyofthefutureCalledCITE-theCenterforInnovation(創(chuàng)新),TestingandEvaluation(測評)-thecityistheideaoftechnologycompanyPegasusGlobalHoldings.Coveringanareaof15squaremiles(39squarekilometers),itisthesizeofasmallUScityandsitsinthemiddleoftheNewMexicodesert.Butwhydoweneedanemptycitythatnobodywillcallhome?Thereasonisthatwecan'taffordtotestthelatesttechnologiesinthecitiesthatwelivein-theymightnotbereadyandcouldcauseproblemsanddangerinoureverydaylives."Itwillbeatruelaboratorywithouttheproblemsandsafetyissuesthatcomewithpeoplelivingthere.Hereyoucanbreakthingsandrunintothings,andgetusedtohowtheywork,beforetakingthemoutintothemarket,PegasusmanagingdirectorRobertBrumleytoldtechnologymagazineWired.Infact,withoutworryingabouthurtingpeople,anybodywithanewideacanasktotestitinthiscity.Justthinkaboutthepossibilities-driverlesscarscanmovefreelyonthestreets,homeswithrobotscanbedesignedandenergysourceslikenuclearpowercanalsobeputtothetest.Asgoodastheideamayseem,however,therearestilldoubtsaboutCITE."Oneofthemostdifficultthingstodowhendevelopingthesenewtechnologiesistohavethemsafelymovearoundpeople,whocansuddenlyjumpoutinfrontofsomething,"ReeseJones,afounderofSingularityUniversity,US,toldFortunemagazine.Jonesisworriedthat,evenifatechnologyworksperfectlywellinCITE,introducingittoarealcitywillstillbeawholedifferentstorybecausetherewillbepeoplelivinginthecity.Butnomatterwhat,perhapsweshouldwaituntilCITEisfinishedin2018.Maybeitwillturnouttoworkjustfine.1、Theemptycityisbeingbuilt_____.A．sopeoplecanexperiencethetechnologyofthefutureB．totrydriverlesscarsandrobotsinC．totestnewtechnologyinD．a(chǎn)saplacefullofthelatesttechnology2、WhichofthefollowingstatementsisTRUEaboutCITE?A．ItislocatedbesidetheNewMexicodesert.B．ItwasstartedbySingularityUniversity.C．Thingsinthecitycaneasilybebrokendownandbuiltagain.D．Anyonecanasktotryouttheirnewdesignsthere.3、AccordingtoJones,_______.A．CITEoffersgreatpossibilitiesforfuturetechnologyB．newtechnologieswillworkperfectlywellwiththehelpofCITEC．settingsinCITEshouldberealinordertocreatethebestresultsD．testingresultsinCITEmaynotprovetoworkinarealcity4、Whatisthemainpurposeofthisarticle?A．ToexplainwhyCITEcouldbeveryhelpful.B．ToshowthatCITEhasabrightfuture.C．ToexplainCITEandproblemsitmayhave.D．Toofferagoodsolutionthatwillhelptodevelopfuturetechnologies.23．（8分）VancouverToursVancouverStanleyParkTourIfyouwanttoseethemajorsightsinVancouverandcomehomewithamazingphotographs,this3-hourphotographytouristhewaytogo.WalkthroughVancouver’stopsightseeinglocations;getguidanceonphotographybasicsandfindthebestspotstophotographthecity.FromStanleyPark’stotempolesandold-growthtreestothemostpopularbeachesanddiningspots,youleavewithbeautifulmementosofthecity.HistoricalChinatownWalkingTourExplorethecolorfulpastofCanada’soldestChinatown,inVictoria,BritishColumbia.Thisguidedwalkingtourwillleadyouthroughthestreetsandstoriedalliesofthehistoricneighborhood,asyourguidetellsyoutheinteresting,sometimessadtalesofthepeoplewhohelpedbuildthecityandshapeCanadaaswellasmodemChina.SmallGroupSeatoSkyTourTheSeatoSkyHighwayisoneoftheworld’smostbeautifulandcelebratedroadways.Youdon’thavetotakeyoureyesoffthesceneryonthissmallgrouptourbecausesomeoneelseisdoingthedriving.TourstopsincludeashorthiketoimpressiveShannonFalls,thegorgeousSeatoSkygondola,andaward-winningBritanniaMineMuseum.EagleViewingRiverFloatTourDresswarmlyunderablanketwithacupofhotchocolateforawinterfloatontheriver.Theareaisthewinterhabitatofbaldeagles,andthistripgivesyoutheopportunitytolearnaboutthebirdsasyoufloatthroughtheirarea.Aftertheboatride,returntodrylandjustintimeforafree,heartymealbeforeheadingbacktoVancouver.1、Inwhichtourwillyougetinstructioninphoto-taking?A．SmallGroupSeatoSkyTour.B．VancouverStanleyParkTour.C．EagleViewingRiverFloatTour.D．HistoricalChinatownWalkingTour.2、WhatwillyoudoontheChinatownWalkingTour?A．BuildmodernChina. B．Tellinterestingstories.C．Learnaboutitshistory. D．Enjoyboatsightseeing.3、WhichofthefollowingdoestheEagleViewingRiverFloatTourprovide?A．Afreeeaglehunt. B．Afreeandheartymeal.C．Ahikeinthewoods. D．Acupofblackcoffee.24．（8分）ThereareanunbelievablenumberofreasonstogotoGreece;justlikethereareanunbelievablenumberofthingstodoonceatravelerarrivesthere.HereisalookatjustsomeofthegreathistoricalthingstoseewhenvacationinginAthens,Greece.AgoraAgoraliesinruinsnow,butduringitsglorydaysitwasalivelyandactiveopenmarketplacewhereGreekscametobuy,sell,andexchangetheirgoodsandservices.AgorahastiestocommonpeopleofancientGreece.Guidedtoursareavailableandthereisalsoasmallmuseumwithmanyartifactsfromthisareaondisplay.ParthenonOneofthemostfamouslandmarksinAthensisthelegendaryParthenon.Thisbuildingisstilltodayadmiredbyarchitectswhoareappreciativeofthedecorativedesign,aswellastheengineeringinvolvedinitsconstruction.Thoseinterestedinhistorywillbeimpressedbeyondbeliefwiththeopportunitytoseethishistoricstructureupcloseandpersonal.TempleofOlympianZeusOneofthemostimpressivemonumentstoseeupcloseistheTempleofOlympianZeus.Manypeopleseethismonumentfromfaraway,orevenfromthewindowofataxi,andneverstopforafirsthandlookthemselves.Thisisahugemistakeasthesizeofitcannottrulybeappreciatedwithoutvisitingitupclose.OdeumofHerodesAtticusBuiltintothehillsideandprovidinganiceviewofAthensistheOdeumofHerodesAtticus.Thistheaterwasconstructedinthesecondcenturyandwasanimportantgatheringplaceforboththeupperandlowerclasses.Itholdsalittleover5,000people,islocatedjustbelowtheAcropolis,andisstillusedforperformancestothisday.1、WhatdidtheancientGreeksdoinAgora?A．Theydidbusiness.B．Theytouredaround.C．Theyvisitedmuseums.D．Theyprayedforblessings.2、WhowillshowthemostinterestinParthenon?A．Electricalengineers.B．Buildingdesigners.C．Ordinaryvisitors.D．Religiouspeople.3、HowcanvisitorsfullyappreciatetheTempleofOlympianZeus?A．Byapproachingit.B．Bylookinginthedistance.C．Bytakingabird’s-eyeview.D．Byseeingthroughataxiwindow.4、InwhatwayisOdeumofHerodesAtticusdifferentfromtheothers?A．Ithasgreathistoricalvalue.B．Ithastiestocommonpeople.C．Itisfamousforitsarchitecture.D．Itstillservesitsoriginalpurpose.25．（10分）SouthAyrshireCouncilholidayclubshaveajam-packed,excitingandfun-filledprogramofactivitiesandoutingsforyourchildtoparticipatein.Theholidayclubsoperateatthefollowinglocations：MossblownCareClub,MauchlineRoad,Mossblown.Tel*079-7112-0465DundonaldCareClub,CastleDrive,Dundonald.Tel*077-7294^-225TheholidayclubsareoperatedbyqualifiedstaffandregisteredwiththeScottishCareInspectorate.InformationOpen：MondaytoFriday8-00am—6-00pm,fromMonday14toMonday21October(inclusive)Costs：￡18perday(8-00am—6:00pm)￡10perhalfday(8*00am—1:00pmor1:00pm—6:00pm)￡80fullweekPleasenotethatbookingsMUSTbemade2weeksinadvanceandpaidiflFULL.InformationisavailableinyourlocalCareClubbyemailfromChildcareServices@south-ayrshire.gov,ukoralternativelybycontactingtheChildcareServicesTeam.Call012-9261-2029,ifyouwishabookingformtobemailedtoyou.HolidayChildcareProgramDundonaldCareClub(availableatDundonaldonly)DateTypeofbookingActivityamActivitypmMonday14OctoberFulldayEglingtonPark,IrvineTuesday15OctoberFulldayWestFMStudioTourWednesday16OctoberHalfdayorFulldayAthleticsandBadmintonDundonaldCastleThursday17OctoberFulldayRoukenGlenCountryParkFriday18OctoberHalfdayorFulldayHalloweenCraftsColdbaking—somesweettreatsMonday21OctoberFulldaySpookystorytelling,HalloweendecorationsthenHalloweenpartyincludingcookingforapplesPleasechecktheprogramonwhetherafullorhalfdaybookingisavailable.Weathernotpermitting.asuitablealternativeactivitymaybeprovided.1、IfyougototheDundonaldCareClubonMondayandFriday,youatleastpay.A．￡36 B．￡28C．￡98 D．￡902、Whatwillvisitorsdoat8:00am—1*00pm,16October?A．MakeHalloweencrafts. B．Dosomesportsactivities.C．Preparesomesweettreats. D．HaveaWestFMStudioTour.3、Whatinformationcanwelearnfromthepassage?A．Therearenoactivitiesatweekends.B．Outingsarethecenteroftheprogram.C．Theactivitywillbecancelledinbadweather.D．Thebookingisavailablefrom14to21October.第三部分語言知識運(yùn)用（共兩節(jié)）第一節(jié)（每小題1.5分，滿分30分）閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的A、B、C和D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)．26．（30分）Isn’titamazinghowyouneverhavetowateryourweedsornurture(培育)themandtheystillgiveyouanunwantedcrop?Icanrememberasayoungboymygrandfathershowedmehowto1thisannoyingweedcalledBermudagrass.Itwas2stuffanditwouldreally3ifyoudidn’tgetitoutbythe4.WhenmywifeandIboughtourfirsthomeabout8yearsago,whatIhadtodealwiththisisthiscertainpartweeds5totheBermudagrass,whichwouldalsospreadwildly.Aftergettingtheinsideofourhome6,itwastimetoworkontheoutside.OnmyhandsandkneesI7—attackedtheweedswithasmallhandspadegettingeachone8bytheroots.JustthisSpringIrealizedthatoneparticularweedwasnolonger9butanotheronewasinfull10.Soagain,Igotdownonmyhandsandkneesandgottowork11themfrommyyard.WhenIwas12,myyardwasbetteroff.Sometimesourlifecanbesosimilar.Weallhaveweedsinourlife.Theseweedscanbechallenges,setbacks,or13beliefs,andthelistcanbe14.Whendealingwiththeseweedsof15,the16istogettotherootofthemandremovethemonebyoneoutandeventuallyyouwill17thisround.Andwhenanothercropofweeds18,dealwiththemdirectly19theyspread,becausenowthatyouknowwhattodowiththembygettingtotherootofit,itwillgiveyoumorecourageand20thenexttimeaproblemarisesup.1、A．eatupB．digupC．breakupD．putup2、A．powerfulB．poisonousC．sensitiveD．terrible3、A．spreadB．succeedC．withdrawD．compromise4、A．leavesB．handsC．spadesD．roots5、A．a(chǎn)ttractiveB．similarC．fundamentalD．unknown6、A．countedB．mendedC．a(chǎn)ppreciatedD．settled7、A．energeticallyB．unsuccessfullyC．curiouslyD．thankfully8、A．insideB．outC．offD．a(chǎn)cross9、A．usefulB．dynamicC．differentD．common10、A．forceB．lengthC．detailD．vain11、A．collectingB．a(chǎn)ttendingC．riddingD．distinguishing12、A．worn-outB．a(chǎn)ccustomedC．finishedD．introduced13、A．familiarB．religiousC．pastD．negative14、A．reasonableB．endlessC．normalD．uncertain15、A．lifeB．schoolC．houseD．factory16、A．progressB．solutionC．disadvantageD．permission17、A．interruptB．memorizeC．conquerD．recognize18、A．showsupB．showsoffC．takesupD．takes19、A．unlessB．evenifC．beforeD．sothat20、A．impressionB．motivationC．wisdomD．satisfaction第二節(jié)（每小題1.5分，滿分15分）閱讀下面材料，在空白處填入1個(gè)適當(dāng)?shù)膯卧~或括號內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。27．（15分）OscarPistoriuswasbornintoHenkeandSheilaPistoriusinJohannesburg,SouthAfricaonNovember22,1986,withfibularhemimelia(腓側(cè)半肢畸形)inbothlegs.Whenhewas11monthsold,hislegswereamputated(截肢)halfway1．hiskneesandankles.Inmosthomes,thatwouldbringyearsofsadness.Notsoin2．.“Igrewupinahomewheredisabilitywasnot3．issue，”Pistoriussays.“Myparentsmademecherish4．Ihad.”Pistoriusstartedrunningin2004,andbecamemoreandmoresuccessful.5．(know)as“theBladeRunner”and“theFastestManonNoLegs”，Pistoriustookpartinthe2004SummerParalympics(殘奧會)inAthensand6．(come)thirdoverallintheT44(onelegamputatedbelowtheknee)100-metreevent.Atthe2012SummerOlympicsonAugust4,Pistoriusbecamethefirstamputeerunner7．(compete)atanOlympicGames.Inthe400metresrace,hetooksecondplaceinthefirstheatoffive8．(run),finishingwithatimeof45.449．(second)toadvancetothesemi-finalsonAugust5.Heraninthesecondsemi-final,wherehefinishedeighthwithatimeof46.54seconds.Inthe200metrescompetitionhesetanewworldrecordof21.30secondsinhisheatonAugust29,10．wasdefeatedinthefinalbyAlanOliveiraofBrazilandtooksilver.第四部分寫作（共兩節(jié)）第一節(jié)短文改錯(cuò)（滿分10分）28．（10分）假定英語課上老師要求同桌之間交換修改作文，請你修改你同桌寫的以下作文。文中共有10處語言錯(cuò)誤，每句中最多有兩處。每處錯(cuò)誤僅涉及一個(gè)單詞的增加、刪除或修改。增加：在缺詞處加一個(gè)漏字符號（∧），并在其下面寫出該加的詞。刪除：把多余的詞用斜線（\）劃掉。修改：在錯(cuò)的詞下劃一橫線，并在該詞下面寫出修改后的詞。注意：1、每處錯(cuò)誤及其修改均僅限一詞；2、只允許修改10處，多者（從第11處起）不計(jì)分。WhenIstartedlearningEnglish,Ifounditverydifficulty、NomatterwhathardItried,Ijustcouldnotunderstandthegrammar、Thenoneday,mysisteraskedmewhyIwassoconfusingbyEnglishandItoldherthatIwasafraidofit、ThensheaskedmetowatchingEnglishmoviesandlistentosomeEnglishsongs、Ifellinthelovewiththesesongs、IlearnedtosingthemandfindIcouldremembermoreandmoreword、Ialsofeltveryinterestedthemovies,becauseIcouldlearneverydaywordsfromthem、Havebecomeinterested,I’vestartedtomakegreatlyprogress、Now,I’mnotafraidofEnglishanymore、第二節(jié)書面表達(dá)（滿分25分）29．（25分）我校近期組織了一次社會實(shí)踐活動(dòng)。假設(shè)你是我校英語報(bào)小記者，請寫一篇短文，報(bào)道此次活動(dòng)。內(nèi)容包括：1、時(shí)間地點(diǎn)：6月8日，富興農(nóng)場；2、活動(dòng)內(nèi)容：學(xué)習(xí)種菜和除草、聽科學(xué)種田的報(bào)告、與專家座談?dòng)袡C(jī)農(nóng)業(yè)等；3、簡短評論。注意：1.詞數(shù)100左右；2.可適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié)，以使行文連貫。3.參考詞匯：除草dotheweeding____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________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參考答案第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1、A2、B3、A4、C5、D6、B7、A8、B9、B10、A11、C12、C13、C14、D15、B16、C17、B18、D19、B20、D第二部分閱讀理解（滿分40分）閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)。21、Maybenooneforgetstheirfirstbikeandthereisnoexceptiontoawomanlikeme.MinewasaSchwinncoasterbike,second-hand,paintedredandyellowbyitspreviousowner.IrememberridingtoofastdownthebighillonSpringfieldAvenue.Iknewatoncethattheworldwasminetoexplore.Acoupleofyearslater,whenIwas11,mygrandmothervisitedfromEngland,bringingmeabike.Itwasadarkgreenone,withthreegears(齒輪)andhandbrakes.AstheownerofthefirstEnglishbikemyfriendshadeverseen,Iwasalmostfamous.Unlikemycoasterbike,itwaslight—ridingitfeltlikeflying.Irodepastbigstonehouseswiththeirhugeyardsandtrees.Irodepastbrickrowhouses.Irodealoneandwithgroupsoffriends.Thatbelovedbikewentwithmetocollege,carryingmetothelibraryandtoclasses.Beyondtransport,itwasoftenaprop(道具):PushingitalongasIwalkedthecollegepathsmademefeellessself-conscious.Somehow,conversationflowedmoreeasilyoneithersideofabike.Aftercollege,Ilivedabroadforawhile.ReturningfromLondon,Idiscoveredtomyhorrorthatmyparentshadsoldmybike.Foryearsafterthat,Ididn'thaveabikethatwasreallymine.TeachinginaNewEnglandprepschool(學(xué)校),Isimplyrodewhateverbikesitsgraduateshadleftbehind.Irodearoundthelittletownonbikeswithgearsandbrakesthatoftenfailed.IdidnottakeanyofthosebikeswithmewhenImovedsouthtothecoastaltownwhereInowlive.ButafterawhileImissedriding.Finally,onafallday,Iboughtabike.Calledacomfortbike,ithaswidertiresthanmyoldbikeandsevengears.Butitisgreen—abrightergreenbike.Still,Iwasabitworried;Iwasalotolder.Ibroughtthebikehomeandputonmyhelmet—I'dneverwornahelmetbefore.ThenIgotonthebike.Afteradifficultstart,IfeltexactlyasIwasonthatlong-agodayonSpringfieldAvenue:free.SoonIwasridingalong,wa