江西省重點中學(xué)2025屆高三第二次調(diào)研英語試卷含解析

江西省重點中學(xué)2025屆高三第二次調(diào)研英語試卷考生須知：1．全卷分選擇題和非選擇題兩部分，全部在答題紙上作答。選擇題必須用2B鉛筆填涂；非選擇題的答案必須用黑色字跡的鋼筆或答字筆寫在“答題紙”相應(yīng)位置上。2．請用黑色字跡的鋼筆或答字筆在“答題紙”上先填寫姓名和準(zhǔn)考證號。3．保持卡面清潔，不要折疊，不要弄破、弄皺，在草稿紙、試題卷上答題無效。第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1．—Iamwondering________makesyoustudysohard?—Togotomydreamuniversity.A．whatisitthat B．thatiswhatC．whatisthat D．whatitisthat2．Everyclassroominthismodernschoolis________withanewTVsetonthewallandacomputerontheteacher'sdesk.A．equippedB．decoratedC．fixedD．placed3．Weshoulddowhatwecan______people’shardworkpaysoff.A．besure B．beingsureC．makingsure D．tomakesure4．Generallyspeaking,________accordingtothedirections,themedicinehasnosideeffect.A．whentakenB．whentakingC．whentotake D．whentobetaken5．—Theterribleaccidentisunderinvestigation.—Actually,quickeraction_________thoseworkerstrappedinthemine.A．mighthavesaved B．musthavesaved C．shouldhavesaved D．couldhavesaved6．Theoldroadisindeedlessdirectandabitlonger.Wewon’ttakethenewone,_______,aswedon’tfeelsafeonit.A．somehowB．otherwiseC．thereforeD．though7．UsuallyBeijingRoastDuck_____togetherwithspecialpancakes,greenonionsandsweetsauce.A．wasservedB．willserveC．isservedD．served8．Theproblemwiththecurrentsystemallowsanyonetocommitasimilarcrimewithout.Itneedstobefixed.A．beingpunishedB．punishedC．topunishD．punishing9．Theroomissoclean.He________havecleanedityesterdayevening.A．will B．needC．can D．must10．Atthemeetingtheydiscussedthreedifferent________tothestudyofmathematics.A．a(chǎn)pproaches B．meansC．methods D．ways11．Weshouldbearinmindthatsocialdevelopmentandbalanceofnatureshouldgoin.A．company B．sympathy C．a(chǎn)ssociation D．harmony12．--Jassy,youspeakChinesesofluently!---______.Youarelying,Ihavetosay.B．Thanksalotforsayingso.C．That’snoneofyourbusiness.D．Ican’tagreemore.13．studentsEnglishwell,theteachertriestospeakEnglishinclassveryoften.A．TeachingB．TaughtC．ToteachD．Teach14．--Wheneveryouwantagoodmeal,cometomyrestaurantandeatforfree.--Believeme.Thatisan________Iwillnotrefuse.A．a(chǎn)pproach B．offerC．idea D．instruction15．––Didyouhavetodomuchforthedinnerparty?––Helen________everythingbythetimeIgothome.A．finishedB．wasfinishingC．wouldfinishD．hadfinished16．a(chǎn)singleworldcanchangethemeaningofasentence,asinglesentencecanchangethemeaningofaparagraph.A．Justas B．EventhoughC．Until D．Unless17．–Youlooksoangry.Whathappened?–_______I’drathernottalkaboutit.A．Nothing. B．Allright. C．Getaway! D．Noway!18．Itwasn'teasyhavingmyfriendstalkabouttheirfreshmanyears________Iwasn'tapartof．A．whom B．when C．that D．what19．—Youwerenotlistening；whattroubledyou?—Imycomingmathexam．A．a(chǎn)mthinkingabout B．wasthinkingabout C．hadthoughtabout D．willthinkabout20．Internetshoppingisreally________whenpeoplearesureofitssafetyandsecurity.A．takingoff B．takingupC．settingoff D．settingup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四個選項中，選出最佳選項。21．（6分）DoesFameDriveYouCrazy?Althoughbeingfamousmightsoundlikeadreamcometrue,today'sstars,feelinglikezooanimals,facepressuresthatfewofuscanimagine.Theyareatthecenterofmuchoftheworld'sattention.Paparazzi(狗仔隊)campoutsidetheirhomes,camerasready.Tabloids(小報)publishthrillingstoriesabouttheirpersonallives.Justimaginenotbeingabletodoanythingwithoutbeingphotographedorinterruptedforasignature!AccordingtopsychologistChristinaVillarreal,celebrities—famouspeople—worryconstantlyabouttheirpublicappearance.Eventually,theystarttolosetrackofwhotheyreallyare,seeingthemselvesthewaytheirfansimaginethem,notasthepeopletheywerebeforeeveryoneknewtheirnames.“Overtime，”Villarrealsays,“theyfeelseparatedandalone.”Thephenomenonoftrackingcelebritieshasbeenaroundforages.Inthe4thcenturyB．C．,paintersfollowedAlexandertheGreatintobattle,hopingtopicturehisvictoriesforhisadmirers.WhenCharlesDickensvisitedAmericainthe19thcentury,hissold-outreadingsattractedthousandsoffans,leadinghimtocomplain(抱怨)abouthislackofprivacy.Tabloidsofthe1920sand1930sranarticlesaboutfilm-starsinmuchthesamewaythatmoderntabloidsandwebsitesdo.Beingapublicfiguretoday,however,isalotmoredifficultthanitusedtobe.Superstarscannotmoveaboutwithoutworryingaboutphotographerswithmoderncameras.Whentheysaysomethingsillyordosomethingridiculous,thereisalwaystheInternettospreadthenewsinminutesandkeeptheir“story”aliveforever.Iffameissotroublesome,whyaren'tallcelebritiesrunningawayfromit?Theansweristherearestillwaystodealwithit.Somestarsstaycalmbysurroundingthemselveswithtrustedfriendsandfamilyorbyescapingtoremoteplacesawayfrombigcities.Theyfocusnotonhowfamoustheyarebutonwhattheylovetodoorwhatevermadethemfamousinthefirstplace.Sometimesafewcelebritiescangetalittlejustice.Still,evenstarswhoenjoyfulljusticeoftencomplainabouthowhardtheirlivesare.Theyaretiredofbeingfamousalready.1、Itcanbelearnedfromthepassagethatstarstoday________.A．a(chǎn)reoftenmisunderstoodbythepublicB．cannolongerhavetheirprivacyprotectedC．spendtoomuchontheirpublicappearanceD．carelittleabouthowtheyhavecomeintofame2、WhatisthemainideaofParagraph3?A．Greatheroesofthepastweregenerallyadmired.B．Theproblemfacedbycelebritieshasalonghistory.C．Well-knownactorsareusuallytargetsoftabloids.D．Worksofpopularwritersoftenhavealotofreaders.3、Whatmakesitmuchhardertobeacelebritytoday?A．Availabilityofmodernmedia.B．Inadequatesocialrecognition.C．Lackoffavorablechances.D．Hugepopulationoffans.4、Whatistheauthor'sattitudetowardmoderncelebrity?A．Sincere. B．Sceptical.C．Disapproving. D．Sympathetic.22．（8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$300billion23．（8分）GoldenGateBridgeLocatedinSanFrancisco,theGoldenGateBridgestartedintheyear1933toconnecttheSanFranciscoPeninsulawithMarinCounty.Itwasfinallythrownopentopublictrafficin1937.Itcost$25.7millionintheconstruction.Tilltheyear1957,theGoldenGateBridge,atalengthof2,737meters,wasthelongestsuspensionbridgeintheworld.BrooklynBridgeTheBrooklynBridgeislocatedinBrooklyn.ItisoneoftheoldestsuspensionbridgesintheUnitedStates,havingbeenopenedintheyear23.Thelengthofthebridgeis1,843meters.ThebridgehasbeenfeaturedinseveralHollywoodmovies.GeorgeWashingtonBridgeAlsoknownastheHudsonRiverBridgeandtheColumbusBridge,theGeorgeWashingtonBridgewhichconnectsFortLeetoManhattancameintousein1931afteraconstructionperiodofalmost4years.Itisatwolevelsuspensionbridgethatcostabout$52milliontobuild.MackinacBridgeThisisthethirdbiggestsuspensionbridgeintheworldatalengthof8,038meters.ThearchitectofthisbridgewasDr.DavidB．Steinman,whodirectedtheconstructionofthebridgewhichstartedintheyear1954andopenedtothepublicin1958.Peopleusingthisbridgearechargedacertainamountofmoney.NavajoBridgeLocatedinArizona,thisbridgecrossestheColoradoRiverandisalmost250meterslong.Theconstructionofthisbridgestartedintheyear1927,endingtwoyearslater,costing$390,000.Inthe1990s,asecondbridgewasbuiltwhichwasopenedtothepublicin1994.Thefirstbridgeisnowusedonlybypedestrians.1、WhatdoweknowabouttheGoldenGateBridge?A．Itconsistsoftwobridges.B．Itcoststheleastofthefivebridges.C．Itisthelongestsuspensionbridgeintheworld.D．Ittakesabout4yearstocompletetheconstruction.2、Whichofthefollowingbridgeswasbuilttheearliest?A．GoldenGateBridge.B．BrooklynBridge.C．GeorgeWashingtonBridge.D．NavajoBridge.3、WhatwillyoudoifyoudriveacrossMackinacBridge?A．Havetopaysomemoney.B．Usethesecondbridge.C．Covernearly250meters.D．SeethestatueofDr.DavidB．Steinman.24．（8分）Inawinforliteraryfictionamiddecliningsales,SallyRooney'snovelNormalPeoplehasbeennamedWaterstonesbookoftheyearin2018.Rooney'ssecondnovel,whichfollowstwoyoungpeoplefallinginloveinIreland,hassold41,000copiesinhardbackintheUKsinceitwasreleasedinAugust-fivetimesthehardbacksalesofher2017debut,ConversationsWithFriends.At27,Rooneyisnowtheyoungestwinneroftheaward,whichisgivenbytheUK'sbiggestbookshopchain,Waterstones.NormalPeoplereceivedalmostuniversalapplauseuponitsrelease.LonglistedfortheManBookerprize,thebookwonnoveloftheyearattheAnPostIrishbookawardsinNovemberof2018andhasalsobeenshortlistedfortheCostanoveloftheyear,announcedinJanuaryof2019.ThereaderresponsetoNormalPeoplehadbeenastonishing.Aswellastheuniversalpraise,ithasbeenahugeword-of-mouth(口頭的)hit.There'recustomersreturningtobuymultiplecopiesasgifts.NormalPeoplestrengthenedSallyRooney'sreputationasthevoiceofhergenerationandoneofthemostexcitingnovelistsaroundtoday.Itssuccessisatestamenttothehealthofliteraryfictionandindicatesthatthereisstillsignificantappetiteforexcellentstorytelling.Theaward,establishedin2012,tendstogotobooksthatarealreadybestsellersnearChristmas.IthaspreviouslybeenwonbythelateAmericanauthorJohnWilliams'sStoner,thecookbookPolpobyRussellNorman,andlastyear'schoice,PhilipPullman'sLaBelleSauvage.JamesDaunt,Waterstones'managingdirector,saidRooney'swinwasasignofthehealthystateofliteraryfiction,whichhasseensalesdecreaseoverthelastdecade."Wearedelightedtonameitourbookoftheyear,"hesaid.1、Whatdoweknowaboutthecurrentsituationofliteraryfiction?A．ItsellswellinWaterstones.B．Itdoesn'tenjoypopularity.C．Itmainlytellslovestories.D．Itisabigwinnerin2018.2、WhatcanweinferaboutNormalPeople?A．ItwasBritain'smostpopularbookin2018.B．Itwondifferentawardsinalotofcountries.C．Itreceivedpraisesoonafteritwaspublished.D．Itmadeitsauthorthevoiceofyoungpeople.3、Theunderlinedword"testament"isclosestinmeaningto"".A．examination B．evidenceC．concern D．statement4、WhatisthemainfunctionofParagraph5?A．Toattractreaders'attention.B．TointroduceotherprizewinnersC．Toserveasbackgroundinformation.D．TocompareSally'snovelwithotherbooks.25．（10分）TopSummerMusicFestivalstoTraveltoSummeristhebesttimeofayearformusiclovers,especiallyifyoulovetheoutdoorconcertscene.Festivalseasonisjustkickingoff,andthereisalottolookforwardtointheupcomingmonths.PrimaveraSoundTokickoffthesummer,there'snobetterplacethanBarcelona.Ontheconcertlineup,you'llfindbandslikeTheZombies,ArcadeFire,andBonIver.Thentakesometimetotastethelocalfoodandwine.May31-June4;Barcelona,SpainMusicType:Rock,hip-hopPrice:$86—$323GovernorsBallOneofthegreatsummerconcertsinNewYorkCityisGovernor'sBall,whichtakesplaceinearlyJuneatRandall’sIslandPark.SomeoftheplayingartistsincludeTool,Phoenix,Lorde,Flume,andtheWu-TangClan.June2-4;NewYorkCity,NewYork,USAMusicType:Rock,hip-hop,popPrice:$105—$405BonnarooBonnarooisanothersummereventthatdrawsincrowdsofaround60,000eachyear.Someofthemostwell-knownmusicianswillbeplayingthisyear,includingU2,RedHotChiliPeppers,TheWeeknd,andChancetheRapper.June8-11;Manchester,Tennessee,USAMusicType:Rock,hip-hopPrice:$210-$554FireflyMusicFestivalManypeoplehaven'tthoughtofgoingtoDelawareforasummervacation,hutmid-Juneisagreattimetoplanthistripifyoulovemusic.Headlinersforthisyear’sslowareTheWeeknd,Muse,TwentyOnePilots,ChancetheRapper,andBobDylan.June15-18;Dover,Delaware,USAMusicType:Blues,rockPrice:$179-$4991、Whichconcerthasthecheapestticket?A．Bonnaroo.B．GovernorsBall.C．PrimaveraSound.D．FireflyMusicFestival.2、WhatisspecialaboutFireflyMusicFestival?A．ItperformsBlues.B．Itispopularwithtravelers.C．Itisheldinsummer.D．Ithasmanyfamousmusicians.3、WhencanyouenjoyFlume'sperformance?A．OnMay31.B．OnJune3.C．OnJune9.D．OnJune15.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四個選項中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項．26．（30分）GeorgeSpringerhelpedhisteamHoustonAstroswintheWorldSeriesin2017.HewasawardedtheMostValuablePlayer,1hisstruggleismostlyhidden.His2isnotintryingtohitafastball,butin3it.Hestutters(口吃).GrowingupinConnecticut,Springerwasthekidwhowould4raisehishandinschool,thekid5everytimeheopenedhismouth.“Iwastheguywhodidn’ttalk,’’hesaid.“Iwould6speakingatallcosts.’’Hewasoften7.Sometimeshewasbullied(欺侮).Thephonewassufferingtohim.8wereworse.Ifhewantedadishthatheknewwouldbetoughtosay,hewould9.Ifhewaswithhisfamily,hissisterNicolewould10forhim.Heremembersacoupleofattemptsatspeechtherapy(語言治療),buthesaidhewas11withencouragingparents,anabilityto12himselfinsports,andasmallgroupoffriendswho13.“Iftherapyworksforyou,14.Butforme,Ialsodevelopedmyown15tohandleit,’’hesaid.“Besides,whenIwasaroundallmyfriends,itdidn’treallyseemto16them.IfIdidit,theywould17untilIwasdone,thenfinishtheconversation.’’Tohelpotherkids18thesameissue,Springerfrequentlyappearedininterviewsandevenagreedtowearamicrophone19duringthe2017All-StarGame.Hethenadded“Ican’tletanythinginlifeIcan’t20slowmedownorstopmefrombeingwhoIwanttobe.’’These22wordsprovedit.1、A．so B．yet C．a(chǎn)nd D．since2、A．strength B．fault C．goal D．difficulty3、A．talkingabout B．dealingwith C．thinkingabout D．playingwith4、A．even B．sometimes C．often D．never5、A．indelight B．infear C．inrelief D．introuble6、A．forbid B．prefer C．regret D．a(chǎn)void7、A．deserted B．scared C．teased D．a(chǎn)ttacked8、A．Classes B．Restaurants C．Foods D．Debates9、A．gesture B．weep C．signal D．beg10、A．take B．pay C．order D．cook11、A．blessed B．gettingalong C．provided D．fedup12、A．refresh B．relax C．enjoy D．express13、A．cared B．forgave C．understood D．a(chǎn)pproved14、A．interesting B．great C．unique D．strange15、A．ways B．interest C．habits D．taste16、A．a(chǎn)maze B．hurt C．a(chǎn)id D．bother17、A．laugh B．press C．wait D．panic18、A．raising B．facing C．confusing D．settling19、A．onfield B．inschool C．a(chǎn)thome D．onstage20、A．grasp B．possess C．control D．defend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個適當(dāng)?shù)膯卧~或括號內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。27．（15分）Clubsports—forthosejustlikesportsManycollegeshaveestablishedmanyclubsports,1．tomeetaspecialinterestorfillagap2．a(chǎn)nintercollegiate(校際的)teamisnotavailable.Someofsports,likefencing,crewandrugby,aresometimes3．(compete)forclubmembers.Theyareoftenplayedwithothercollegesandsometimeswithcommunitygroups.Theseclubsgiveyoutheopportunity4．(play)asportyouloveorlearnasportthatisnewtoyou.Theonedrawback(缺點)toclubsportsis5．collegesoftendon’tfund(提供資金)them.Inthesecases,clubmembershavetoworkhardtoorganizefund-raisersandcollectmoneytokeeptheirsports6．(go).Clubsportsarelesstime-consuming7．otherathleticitems,andyoucaneasilymissapracticeorevenacompetitionifyouracademicorworkcommitmentsare8．(particular)demandingatacertainpoint.Youcanalsoleaveaclubsportifyoufinditjustisn’tworkingout.However,it’s9．(worthy)ittostickwithaclubsportforawhile.Mostcollegeshaveafullrangeofteams,soyoucanattendsportscompetitionsyear-round.Atbiggerschools,largersports,likefootballandbasketball,mayattractfansfromalloverthearea.10．(small)sports,however,willalsoattractagroupoffans.第四部分寫作（共兩節(jié)）第一節(jié)短文改錯（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處語言錯誤,每句中最多有兩處。錯誤僅涉及一個單詞的增加、刪除或修改。增加：在缺詞處加一個漏字符號（∧）,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.每處錯誤及其修改均限一詞;2.只允許修改10處,多者（從第11處起）不計分。Oneday,whenIwasabout5or6yearsold,myparentswenttoatrip.Grandmaseemedsohappytotakecareofmewhichshemademeaspecialbreakfast.Therefore,Icomplainedaboutthefoodshecooked,Grandmaquietputdownthebowlandwentintothelivingroom.Ifollowedandsawtearinhereyes.ItwasthefirsttimethatIhaveeverseenmystronggrandmothertocry.AndIknewIwastheonewhohadcausedit.Iapologizedandaskedhertoforgiveme.ShesmiledandtoldmeIwasgoodboyevenifIdidn'tfeellikeonethen.Thatmemorywillstayinherheartforever,becauseIlearnthataskforforgivenesshelpsmetolearnandgrow.第二節(jié)書面表達(dá)（滿分25分）29．（25分）你們學(xué)?！坝⒄Z愛好者俱樂部”對“良好飲食習(xí)慣”這一話題進(jìn)行了討論。請根據(jù)下表中的內(nèi)容提示,用英語寫一篇發(fā)言稿。部分同學(xué)的飲食習(xí)慣不吃早餐,愛吃零食,偏食,飲食過量良好的飲食習(xí)慣飲食多樣化,飲食定時定量個人看法良好的飲食習(xí)慣很重要,有助于身體健康注意:1.詞數(shù)120個左右;2.開頭已為你寫好,內(nèi)容可適當(dāng)發(fā)揮,注意行文連貫;3.參考詞匯:偏食bepickyaboutfood零食snack定時定量regularlyandproperlyDearfriends,Asweallknow,wearewhatweeat.Therefore,it’simportantforustoformhealthyeatinghabits.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________AsfarasI’mconcerned,Ithinkitisimportanttokeepahealthydiet,whichcontributestobuildingupastrongbody.Onlyinthiswaycanwehaveenoughenergyforourstudy.That’sall.Thankyou.

參考答案第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1、D2、A3、D4、A5、D6、D7、C8、A9、D10、A11、D12、B13、C14、B15、D16、A17、A18、C19、B20、A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四個選項中，選出最佳選項。21、1、B2、B3、A4、D22、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,ithaswidertiresthanmyoldbik