浙江省諸暨市諸暨中學(xué)2024屆高考考前提分英語仿真卷含解析

浙江省諸暨市諸暨中學(xué)2024屆高考考前提分英語仿真卷注意事項(xiàng)1．考試結(jié)束后，請將本試卷和答題卡一并交回．2．答題前，請務(wù)必將自己的姓名、準(zhǔn)考證號用0．5毫米黑色墨水的簽字筆填寫在試卷及答題卡的規(guī)定位置．3．請認(rèn)真核對監(jiān)考員在答題卡上所粘貼的條形碼上的姓名、準(zhǔn)考證號與本人是否相符．4．作答選擇題，必須用2B鉛筆將答題卡上對應(yīng)選項(xiàng)的方框涂滿、涂黑；如需改動，請用橡皮擦干凈后，再選涂其他答案．作答非選擇題，必須用05毫米黑色墨水的簽字筆在答題卡上的指定位置作答，在其他位置作答一律無效．5．如需作圖，須用2B鉛筆繪、寫清楚，線條、符號等須加黑、加粗．第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1．Theboss_________theemployeesariseinsalaryforages,butnothinghasoccurredyet.A．promisedB．hadpromisedC．wouldpromiseD．promises2．Ifit________forhergreathelpthen,IwouldnotstudyEnglishsowellnow.A．hasn’tbeen B．wasn’tC．hadn’tbeen D．isn’t3．—Let’sgotothecinemathisSundaymorning.—I’dloveto，butI________asavolunteerinmycommunitythen.A．willwork B．haveworkedC．willbeworking D．wasworking4．--Ifeelnervouswhentakinganexam.--andyoucandoitwell.A．TakeitweasyB．TakeyourtimeC．GoodluckD．It’suptoyou5．Tomisproudand________,neveradmittingheiswrongandalwayslookingforsomeoneelsetoblame.A．strict B．stubbornC．sympathetic D．sensitive6．—Wouldyoumindgivingyouradviceonhowtoimproveourbusinessmanagement?—Ifyoumake________mostoftheequipment,therewillbe________riseinproduction.A．the;a B．/;/ C．/;a D．the;/7．—Sorry,Mum!Ifailedthejobinterviewagain.—Oh,it'stoobad.You________havemadefullpreparations.A．must B．can C．would D．should8．__________himnottodoso,hewouldn’thavemadesuchaseriousmistake.A．DidIpersuade B．IfIpersuadeC．IfIshouldpersuade D．HadIpersuaded9．Ibelievedhimtobehonestbuthisactionsshowedthathehad________.A．thetopdogB．thefeetofclayC．hiscupofteaD．theappleofhiseye10．Everyoneinthevillagehopedthathewould______afterafewdays’treatment.A．pickup B．comeup C．keepup D．makeup11．Havingpicturestocolorwillkeepchildren______forhours.A．a(chǎn)mused B．a(chǎn)musingC．a(chǎn)muse D．toamuse12．Anoldladycametothebusstoponlythebushadgone.A．torun;tofind B．running;tofind C．a(chǎn)ndran;finding D．running;finding13．Joinusandyouwilldiscoveranenvironment______youcanmakethemostofyourskillsandtalents.A．that B．whereC．how D．what14．Tohisdelight,Tomquicklyearnedthetrustofhisbossandthenofhiscolleagues.A．one B．onesC．that D．those15．Youcan’timaginehowexcitedwewere________thatourschoolmateshadwonthefirstplaceinNationalRobotCompetition.A．learning B．havinglearnedC．tobelearning D．tolearn16．—Iwanttolearntennis.Wouldyouliketohelpme?—.Butlearningtennisisnowalkinthepark.A．NokiddingB．NowonderC．NoproblemD．Noway17．Takethenoteasareminder______youforgottobuysomesweetsforthekidswhileshoppingthere.A．how B．thatC．incase D．evenif18．F/friendshipsfadeawayifthereisn’t___goodbalancebetweenthegiveandthetake．A．The;/ B．/;a C．The;a D．/;the19．Withthedevelopmentofeconomy，ourincomehasincreased________10%inlessthanayear.A．forB．byC．onD．a(chǎn)t20．Acceptanceisnotaboutlikingasituation.Itisaboutacknowledgingallthathasbeenlostand________tolivewiththatloss.A．learning B．learnedC．tolearn D．havinglearned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(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)。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）MydaughterKellyisacautiousperson.Sheneedstowarmupsituations,andishesitanttotrynewthings.Whenwithclosefriends,shebecomesaleaderwholaughsloudlyandchants.“Girlsrule,boysdrool.”Butwhenthatcomfortzoneisnotaroundher,sheisshyandnervous.Thishasbeenchallengingformeattimes.“Shy”isnotawordthatIthinkhaseverbeenusedtodescribeme.Butthishasbeenyearoffirstsformygirlthathasfilledherwithanewsenseofconfidence.Thisyearshemovedtolaplaneinswimmingwhereshewaspreparingforaswimteam.Thisyearshelearnedtorideabikewithouttrainingwheels.Andthisyearshecompletedherfirstkids’triathlon（三項(xiàng)全能）.OnSaturday,withathunderstormcomingsoonandmyson’sbirthdaypartylaterintheday,weallwentoutinthedarkofthemorningforKellytoparticipateinherfirsttriathlon.Wepracticedtransitionsfromswimtobiketorunwithher,wegotalltheequipmentshe’dneed,andwekepttalkingabouttherace.Butaswewaitedthetwohoursfortheolderkidstofinishbeforeherturn,sheheldmylegalittleharderandtoldmeshelovedmeafewtoomanytimes.Shewasnervousbuttryingtokeepittogether.Andthenitwasherturn.Fromthesecondshejumpedintothewater,myheartsoared.MydaughtertransformedintothemostconfidenthumanbeingIhadeverseen.Shedominatedthatswim,crushedthatbikerideandrantothefinishwiththebiggestsmileonherface.IcanhonestlysaythatIneverfeltsoproudofsomeoneinmyentirelife.Itwasn’tbecauseshedidasportoranythinglikethat.ItwasbecauseshewasafraidofsomethingandconqueredthatfearwithconfidenceandafireIhadn’tseenbefore.AlldayIwouldfindmyselfjustlookingoveratherandsmiling.ShemightbewearingthefinalistmedalbutIfeltlikeIwonthatday.Iwonthechancetoseemygirlshine.Shineon,sweetbaby.1、Kellyisnervouswhen________.A．boysarearoundherB．shechangesintoaleaderC．sheisawayfromhermomD．situationsarenewtoher2、WecanlearnfromParagraph3that______.A．theracebeganintheearlymorningB．KellywaseagerforherturnintheraceC．thewholefamilygaveKellysupportD．herbrother’sbirthdaypartywasdelayed.3、Intheendingparagraphstheauthor“feltlikeIwonthatday”becauseKelly________.A．TookpartinthesportB．ExpressedlovetoherC．WonthegoldmedalD．Changedcompletely4、WhatkindofpersondoyouthinkKellyis?A．TimidanddeterminedB．CuteandconfidentC．FearfulandenergeticD．Sociableandbrave23．（8分）MatthewLaytonwas20minutesfromhomeinSevierville,Tennessee,onacoldNovembernightin2016whenhegotacellphonecallfromhismother.“Themountain’sonfire,”shescreamed,“andBrian’supthere!”Layton’sfamilyownedadozenrentalcabins(小屋)onShieldsMountain,andLayton’sfriendandfellowrental-cabinowner,BrianMcGee,age56,wasuptheretryingtoputthefireoutbyhimself.Layton,32,hitthegas.Helivedonthemountaintoo.Laytonturnedaroundandheadedforadirtroad.Hemadeitabouthalfwayupthesteep,windingpathbeforehisfront-wheel-drivecargaveup.HecalledMcGee,whodrovedowninhispickupsotheycouldfightthefiretogether.TheyheadedfirsttoLayton’srentalcabins.“Iwantedtomakesureourguestsweregone.Theywere,”saysLayton.Atthatpoint,hehadachoice:trytosavehiscabinsorrescuepeoplerentingothercabinsnearby.“Onthemountain,youdon’thavemanylocals.They’remostlytouristswhodon’tknowtheirwayaround,”hesays.Overthenexttwohours,thetwofriendsdrovethroughthesmokymountain,knockingondoorsandleadingpanickedpeopletosafety.“Iknowthatmountainsowell,”Laytonsays,“IcoulddriveandknowexactlywhereIamjustbytimetraveled.”Thankstotheirbraveandimmediateaction,thetwohelped14peopleoutofthedanger.FourteenpeoplediedthatnightinSevierCounty.Butthefiredidn’ttakeawayasinglelifeonShieldsMountain.Andthoughhishomeandbusinessweredestroyed,Laytonremainscalm.“Iwasn’tworriedaboutmyloss,notwhenIsawthosefamiliestrappedonthemountain,”hesays,“IknewIwasgonnahelpthem.”1、WherewasLaytonwhenthefirebrokeout?A．Visitinghismother.B．Awayfromhishome.C．Headingforthecabins.D．Drivingonadirtroad.2、WhatcanwelearnfromPara.2&3?A．Layton’scarbrokedownhalfway.B．BrianwasinchargeofLayton’scabins.C．LaytonpickedupBrianonthepath.D．Brianlivedinthemountainalone.3、Whycouldthetwofriendsrescuethepeople?A．Theyputoutthefirebeforeitspread.B．Theyturnedtolocalsforhelp.C．Laytonwasfamiliarwiththearea.D．Briangaveuphisowncabins.4、WhatdidLaytonmeaninthelastparagraph?A．Heblamedhimself.B．Hesufferedalot.C．Hefeltsorry.D．Hewasrelieved.24．（8分）AbooksellerinChongqinghasbeenleavingnovelsontrainsandatstationstoinspiremorecommuters(上下班往返的人)toread,afterseeingBritishactressEmmaWatsontakepartinasimilarprojectinLondon.AuthorandbookstoreownerJiangLin,29,randomlyplaced40worksalongthecity’slight-railsystemonSunday.Whoeverfindsabookcanreaditinpublicortakeithome,buttheyareencouragedtoleaveitagainonpublictransportationoncetheyhavefinishedwithit.Jiangsaid,“Iconsideredtheneedsofcommuters,"hesaid."Ihopestrangerscanfeelcomfortedbythebooksandfeelconnectedwithotherreaders."All40bookswerechosenfromJiang’sstore,Razor’sEdgeBookClub,whichheopenedinthesummer,andincludedfictionandnonfiction,withtopicsrangingfromartandsocialsciencestophilosophyandhistoryJiang’sBooksontheChongqingLightRailprojectfollowsthesamemodelasBooksontheUnderground,whichwasstartedin2012andsees“bookfairies”leaveworksonLondonTubetrainsandatstations.Readersareencouragedtosharetheirviewsonthebooks.ItwasrevealedonNov.1thatWatson,whoisbest-knownfortheHarryPottermovieseries,isabookfairy.“AfterIreadthenewsaboutherleavingbooksontheLondonTube,IwassoinspiredthatIimmediatelydecidedtodosomethingovertheweekend,”Jiangsaid.However,hisdecisionwassospontaneousthathehadnotimetomakethestickersthatareusuallyplacedoneachbooktoidentifythemaspartoftheproject.Instead,heputanoteontheflypagetointroducetheconcept.Tohissurprise,oneofhisfriendswasamongthosewhofoundhisbooksandpostedapictureonWeChatMoments,asocialmediafunctionontheinstant-messagingapp.Jiangsaidmorethan20peoplehavesincecomeonboardandarenowworkingonamoredetailedthantospreadtheloveofreading.Althoughincreasingnumbersofpeoplereadondigitaldevices,bookshavenottotallygoneoutoffashion.JiangmentionedthattheyneededthesupportfromChonqingLightRailCo.toensurethebookstostaythereandalsohopedtheprojectcouldbewelcomedacrossthecountry.1、JiangLinleftbooksontrainsoratstationsinorderto______.A．raisemoneyforpoorreadersB．openanewbookstoreC．helpsellmorebooksD．a(chǎn)dvocatereadingbooks2、Jianggotinspiredtostarttheprojectby_________.A．HarryPorterB．WechatmomentsC．EmmaWatsonD．Razor’sEdgeBookClub3、Theunderlinedword“spontaneous”isclosestinmeaningto__________.A．unplannedB．unwiseC．firmD．thoughtful4、Jiang’sattitudetowardsthefutureoftheprojectcanbebestdescribedas___________.A．positiveB．doubtfulC．reservedD．worried25．（10分）Formanyparents,raisingateenagerislikefightingalongwar,butyearsgobywithoutanyclearwinner.Likeaborderconflictbetweenneighboringcountries,theparent-teenwarisaboutboundaries:WhereisthelinebetweenwhatIcontrolandwhatyoudo?Bothsideswantpeace,butneitherfeelsithasanypowertostoptheconflict.Inpart,thisisbecauseneitheriswillingtoadmitanyresponsibilityforstartingit.Fromtheparents“pointofview,theonlycauseoftheirfightistheiradolescents”completeunreasonableness.Andofcourse,theteensseeitinexactlythesameway,exceptoppositely.Bothfeeltrapped.Inthisarticle,I’lldescribethreeno-winsituationsthatcommonlyarisebetweenteensandparentsandthensuggestsomewaysoutofthetrap.Thefirstno-winsituationisquarrelsoverunimportantthings.Examplesincludethecoloroftheteen’shair,thecleanlinessofthebedroom,thepreferredstyleofclothing,thechild’sfailuretoeatagoodbreakfastbeforeschool,orhistendencytosleepuntilnoonontheweekends.Second,blaming.Thegoalofablamingbattleistomaketheotheradmitthathisbadattitudeisthereasonwhyeverythinggoeswrong.Third,needingtoberight.Itdoesn’tmatterwhatthetopicis-politics,thelawsofphysics,ortheproperwaytobreakanegg-thepointoftheseargumentsistoprovethatyouarerightandotherpersoniswrong,forbothwishtobeconsideredanauthority-someonewhoactuallyknowssomething-andthereforetocommandrespect.Unfortunately,aslongasparentsandteenscontinuetoassumethattheyknowmorethantheother,they’llcontinuetofightthesebattlesforeverandnevermakeanyrealprogress.1、Whydoestheauthorcomparetheparent-teenwartoaborderconflict?A．bothcancontinueforgenerations.B．Bothareaboutwheretodrawtheline.C．Neitherhasanyclearwinner.D．Neithercanbeputtoanend.2、WhatdoestheunderlinedpartinParagraph2mean?A．Theteensblametheirparentsforstartingtheconflict.B．Theteensagreewiththeirparentsonthecauseoftheconflict.C．Theteenscausetheirparentsofmisleadingthem.D．Theteenstendtohaveafullunderstandingoftheirparents.3、Parentsandteenswanttoberightbecausetheywantto.A．giveorderstotheotherB．knowmorethantheotherC．gainrespectfromtheotherD．gettheothertobehaveproperly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(xiàng)中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)．26．（30分）Oneday,awomansatdownnexttoamanonabenchnearaplayground.Thewoman1alittleboyinaredcoatandsaid:“Thatismyson2ismovingsmoothlydowntheslide(滑板)”.“Whatalovelyboy!”themanreplied.Thenhewent3saying,“Thatismydaughteronthebike.Sheis4awhitedress”.Afterawhile,themanlookedathis5andcalledtothegirlinwhite,“Shallwegohome,Mary?”“Onlyfive6minutes,Dad,please?”littleMarycried.Theman7andMarywentonridingherbikehappily.Fiveminutespassedsoon.Thefather8andcalledagaintohisdaughter:“It’stime9now,Mary?”Again,Marypleaded(懇求),“Givememoreminutes,Dad.10fivemoreminutes,OK?”Themansmiledandsaid:“OK.”The11responded,“Youaresurelyapatientfather.”12inthought,themansaidnothing.However,aftera13,hesmiledandthensaid:“HerelderbrotherTomwaskilledbya14driverlastyearwhilehewasridinghisbikenearhere.Inever15muchtimewithTomandnowIwouldgiveanythingforjustfivemoreminuteswithhim.Iwouldn’tmakethesame16withMary.Shethinksshehasfivemoreminutestorideherbike.The17isthatIgetfivemoreminutestowatchherplay.Lifesometimes18toosuddenly.”Yes,lifeisallaboutmakingpriorities(優(yōu)先考慮的事),andwhatareyourpriorities?Don’talways19excusesforyournotbeingabletoaccompanyyourfamilymembersoryourfriends.Givesomeoneyouare20fivemoreminutesofyourtimetoday!1、A．pointedto B．lookedup C．shoutedat D．a(chǎn)rguedwith2、A．which B．who C．/ D．whose3、A．in B．up C．on D．out4、A．wearing B．putting C．folding D．glaring5、A．feet B．watch C．honey D．gift6、A．less B．illegal C．latter D．more7、A．nodded B．shook C．refused D．shocked8、A．putdown B．stoodup C．cutdown D．pickedup9、A．going B．gone C．went D．togo10、A．Too B．Immediately C．Clearly D．Just11、A．woman B．man C．girl D．boy12、A．Reacted B．Frightened C．Lost D．Rebuilt13、A．rank B．while C．reality D．shelter14、A．social B．drunk C．suitable D．unfair15、A．spent B．wasted C．exploded D．fed16、A．ride B．ground C．mistake D．preparations17、A．chance B．truth C．injury D．glory18、A．harvests B．ignores C．changes D．orders19、A．operate B．question C．make D．purchase20、A．proudof B．beneficialto C．worriedabout D．devotedto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）AuniversityinsoutheastChinahasanewserverin1．(it)canteenmakingnoodlesforthestudents.Thevideo2．(show)aroboticchefworkinginthekitchenandmakingnoodles3．dough(面團(tuán))atSouthChinaAgriculturalUniversity.Itwasgivenhuman-likefacialfeatures(特征)andcanbeseen4．wear)afacemask,hatandchef'suniform.Therobotwasdesigned5．(improve)thetraditionalwayofmaking“DaoXiaoMian”,6．isaspecialtyinShanxiProvinceinnorthernChina.7．traditional),achefwillholdalargepieceofdoughinonehandandaknifeintheotherbeforestartingtopeelstrips(條)offthedough.8．doughwillthenfallintothepotofboilingwaterandcookintonoodles.Astudentsaid:“I’veheardthattherearealwayslong9．(queue)attheknife-cutnoodlestallatthecanteen.”However,webusersonChinesesocialmediasaidtherobotchef10．（be）notsomethingnew.TheuseofrobotsinrestaurantsisbecomingincreasinglypopularinChinaoverthepastfewyears.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。每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僅限一詞；2.只允許修改10處，多者（從第11處起）不計分。BythetimeKenny,16,reachedhisthreeyearofhighschool,hehasbecomevicepresidentofhisschool’scookingclub.Kennysaidhedevelopedhisloveforcookingbywatchinghisgrandmother,sheownedabusiness.Andatageof5,hecookedhisfirstdish.Takeittoschoolforlunch,hewarmeditupintheschool’smicrowave,whiletheotherkidatesandwiches.“Ilovetoeat,anditstartedtobecomemuchfuntocookthantohavefoodprepareforme,”hesaid.CookingcameeasilytoKenny.Hewasveryenthusiasticaboutitthathedidn’tletanythingtostophim.第二節(jié)書面表達(dá)（滿分25分）29．（25分）假定你是李華，你從某網(wǎng)站上得知山西省博物館正在招募暑假英語講解員,請你根據(jù)以下提示,給博物館負(fù)責(zé)外國游客接待的Mr.Jason寫一封英文自薦信.內(nèi)容包括:1.表達(dá)意愿；2.自薦理由；3.懇請獲準(zhǔn)。注意:1.詞數(shù)100左右；2.可以適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié),以使行文連貫。參考詞匯:講解員interpreterDearMr.Jason,________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Yourssincerely,LiHua

參考答案第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1、A2、C3、C4、A5、B6、A7、D8、D9、B10、A11、A12、B13、B14、C15、D16、C17、C18、B19、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(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)。21、1、B2、B3、A4、D22、1、D2、C3、D4、A23、1、B2、A3、C4、D24、IhadjustmovedtoSanAntonio,Texas.Iworkedforthetourbusservicetakingtouristsonashorttourofthecity’shistoricplacesandwouldendupattheAlamo.IwasdrivingbackfrommylasttouronacoolFebruarydayonmywaybackfromtheSanFemandoCatholicchurchwithnooneonmybuswhenIsawamandressedinrags,thinkingthispersonmustbeanactororsomethingwalkingaround.Istoppedandaskedhim,“Needaride?”Withoutsayinganythinghejustwalkedonbroadandsatdowninseatbehindme.“Whereareyouheading?”Iaskedhim.Helookedupintothemirroratmeandreplied.“I’vegottogettothefort(要塞)andreporttoColonel(上校)TravisthattheMexicansarehere!”Ilaughedtomyselfthinkingthatthismanwasaseriousactor.“I’mguessingyoumeantheAlamo?”Isaidbacktohim.Ilookedupandsawhewasn’tsmilingnorlaughing.Allthroughouttheridehewasstaringinamazementatallthetoweringskyscrapersandthebuildingsalongthestreet.“Irememberwhenthistownwasnothingmorethanalittletradingvillage!”Hefinallysaidtome.“Sowhat’syourname?”Iaskedhim.“DanielCloud,yours?”“DavidZime.”IrepliedasIturnedthecornerofthestreetandlaideyesupontheAlamo.Ipulleduptothesidewalkandopenedthedoor.Cloudgotoutofhisseatandcameuptome.“Thanksfortheride.”Hesaidextendinghishand.Itookhispalmanditwasfreezingcoldlikehejuststeppedoutofthefreezer.“Notaproblem,Mr.Cloud,anddon’tworryaboutthefee.It’sonthehouse.”HenoddedhisheadingratitudelikeallusTexansdoandwalkedaway.Itwasn’tuntilthenthatInoticedthathewassoaked(浸；泡)totheboneindrippingwaterandwehadnotasingledropofrainina