湘中名校2024年高考壓軸卷英語試卷含解析

湘中名校2024年高考壓軸卷英語試卷請考生注意：1．請用2B鉛筆將選擇題答案涂填在答題紙相應(yīng)位置上，請用0．5毫米及以上黑色字跡的鋼筆或簽字筆將主觀題的答案寫在答題紙相應(yīng)的答題區(qū)內(nèi)。寫在試題卷、草稿紙上均無效。2．答題前，認(rèn)真閱讀答題紙上的《注意事項(xiàng)》，按規(guī)定答題。第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1．Therearevariousthingsonsale,soyoucanchoose______interestsyou.A．whoever B．nomatterwhoC．whatever D．nomatterwhat2．Thehalloftheschoolcanonethousandpeople.A．sit B．seat C．besat D．beseated3．Inspring,thesceneonthetopofthehillissoappealingthatitis________mywords.A．a(chǎn)boveB．overC．beyondD．off4．Thecompanyandtheeffectbroughtaboutdidgreatgoodtoourbusinessinthemarket.A．it B．whichC．that D．what5．IntheofficeIneverseemtohavetimeuntilafter5:30p.m.，manypeoplehavegonehome.A．whosetime B．thatC．onwhich D．bywhichtime6．—Irene,doyoureallywanttogoout?—Itmayrain.___________,Iwillgoout;Idon’tmindtherain.A．Anyhow B．OtherwiseC．Somehow D．Therefore7．________andopentovariousinterpretations,thetermsofthenewproposalneedimprovingbasedontheinterestsofbothsides.A．AccessibleB．ApparentC．AmbiguousD．Aggressive8．TheInternationalMonetaryFundhasreceivedbothcriticismandforitseffortstopromotefinancialstability,preventcrises,facilitatetrade,andreducepoverty.A．worship B．creditC．a(chǎn)rgument D．privilege9．—Youshouldhavehelpedyourmomwashthedishes．—Imeant．Butsheisalwaystellingmetostudy．A．todo B．to C．doingso D．doing10．Wherehaveyoubeen?—I_______intheheavytraffic.OtherwiseI_______hereearlier.A．havegotstuck;wouldhavecome B．gotstuck;wasC．gotstuck;wouldhavecome D．hadstuck;wouldcome11．Christineis______aboutanythingbutherdressasshedoesn’treallycareaboutwhatshelookslikeintheeyesofothers.A．cautious B．optimisticC．particular D．curious12．---Tomhasfailedagaininthemathexam.Iamreallyletdown.---______Hehasalreadydonehisbest. A．Don’tpushhim. B．Nokidding. C．Heshouldbetoblame. D．Nowonder.13．—Ken,________,butthemusicyouareenjoyingistooloud.—Oh,I’mterriblysorry.I’llturnitdownonthespot.A．IamreallytiredofthisB．IneedyourhelpC．I’dliketotalkwithyouD．Ihatetosaythis14．Salesdirectorisaposition_______communicationabilityisjustasimportantassaleskills.A．which B．thatC．when D．where15．Thenewsecretaryisandthereforethemanagerissatisfiedwithherwork.A．effective B．efficient C．specific D．sufficient16．Itisnotonlyblindmenwhomakesuchstupidmistakes.Peoplewhocanseesometimesact__________.A．justfoolishlyB．lessfoolishlyC．a(chǎn)sfoolishlyD．sofoolishly17．We__________backinthehotelnowifyoudidn’tlosethemap．A．a(chǎn)re B．wereC．wouldbe D．willbe18．Somepeopleusehand-writtenletters______typingbecausethey’remorepersonalandrepresentyoursincerity.A．inpreferencetoB．inprocessofC．inreferencewithD．insearchof19．---________IremindyouofistoreturnthebooktoourEnglishteacher.---Iwillgiveittohim_________Iseehim.A．That;immediatelyB．What;themomentC．What;whileD．Whether;once20．I'mcallingtoenquireabouttheposition__________inyesterday'sChinaDaily.A．a(chǎn)dvertised B．tobeadvertised C．a(chǎn)dvertising D．havingadvertised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）Wanderingaroundtheairportterminal(航站樓),afterlearningmyflighthadbeendelayedfourhours,Iheardanannouncement,“IfanyonenearGaleA-4understandsanyArabic,pleasecometothegateimmediately.”IwentthereandsawanoldwomaninfulltraditionalPalestiniandresscryingonthefloor.Ayoungmanfromtheairportstaffaskedmetotalktohertofindoutwhatwasherproblem.Hesaidshestartedtocrywhenhearingtheannouncementabouttheflight.Ikneltdown,putmyarmsaroundherandaskedherwhatwaswrong.MyArabicwasn’tgoodenoughbutImanagedtogetmymeaningacross.Shesoonstoppedcryingandtoldmeshehadthoughttheflighthadbeencanceled.SheneededtobeinElPasoforanimportantmedicaltreatmentthenextday.Isaid,“You’llbefine.You’llgettherebutonlyafewhourslate.Whoisgoingtopickyouup?Let’scallhim.”Wecalledherson.IspoketohiminEnglish.ItoldhimIwouldstaywithhismothertillweboardedtheplane.Later,IcalledmydadwhoseArabicwasbetterandaskedhimtotalktoher.Shelookedmuchmorerelaxedwhiletalkingonthephone.Latershetookoutasackofhomemadecookiesstuffedwithdatesandnutsandofferedthemtoallthewomenatthegate:thetravelerfromArgentina,themomfromCalifornia,thelovelywomanfromLaredo.Everybodysmiledandacceptedhercookiestoeat.AndmynewbestfriendandIwereholdinghands,whiletheothersaroundusweretalkingwitheachotherwithdifferentaccents.Ialmostwantedtohugallthoseotherwomentoo.Ilookedaroundthatgateandthoughttomyself,“Thisissurelytheworldwanttolivein.”1、Whydidtheoldladycryattheairportterminalgate?A．Theplanewascanceled.B．Hermedicaltreatmentwascanceled.C．Shedidn’tknowwhichflighttotake.D．Shemisunderstoodtheannouncement.2、Itcanbeinferredthat________.A．theauthorwasPalestinianB．mostpassengerswerefromAmericaC．theauthor’sfirstlanguagewasEnglishD．theoldladyhadnevertravelledabroad3、Accordingtothepassage,welearnthattheauthorwas________.A．talkativeandactiveB．warm-heartedandhelpfulC．creativeandintelligentD．enthusiasticbutaggressive22．（8分）Thompson’sChildrenAshersonCameronsitsathislaptopcompletingataskforhismathdegreecourse.AlisonThompson,afull-timemumisbusyhelpingherdaughterEmma(twoyearsyoungerthanCameron)getdressed.WhilehelphasalwaysbeenavailableforEmma,AlisonandherhusbandalsohavetofighttogetCameronthesupportheneeds."PeoplecouldseethatEmmahasspecialneedsbutbecauseCameronwasdoingsowellatschool,histeachersneverthoughttherewasaproblemwithhim,“saysAlison.IttookAlisonandherhusbandawhiletorealizetheirsonwasdifferent.Cameron'sabilitydidn’tbecomeclearuntilhebeganprimaryschool.Onceheevencorrectedtheteacherwhenshetoldtheclassthatzerowasthelowestnumber.Camerontoldhershewaswrongbecausetherewerenegativenumbers(負(fù)數(shù)).Hewasfouratthetime.Now14-year-oldCameronisatsecondaryschool,studyingforadistancelearningmathdegreewiththeOpenUniversity,havingsailedthroughhisGCSEat11andhisA-levelat12,achievingtopgrades.Bethany,anotherdaughterofAlison,isbrighttoobutnotgifted.Sheistheonewhowillremindabsent-mindedCamerontoputonhiscoat.Shealsohelpshimoutinsocialsituations.Emmaattendsaspecialistschoolandthefamilyisquicktocelebratehersuccessestoo.“Theotherdayshedidupthebuttonsonhercoat,whichwasrealprogress,”Alisonsays.LatelastyeartheThompsonstookpartinatelevisiondocumentary(紀(jì)錄片)toprovethatnotallgiftedchildrenaretheresultofextremelyambitiousparents.Giftedchildrenneedsupporttoo,buttheirlivesdon'thavetobethatdifferent.Cameronisanexample1、Whatdoesparagraph1indicate?A．CameronhelpsEmmawithhermathtasks.B．TeachersatschoolignoredEmma'sproblems.C．BothCameronandEmmaneedparentalsupport.D．ThecoupleoftenhavefightsbecauseofCameron.2、Thereareatleast__________peopleinMrs.Thompson’sfamily.A．threeB．fourC．fiveD．six3、Whatcanbeknownfromthepassage?A．Emmahaslearnedtotakegoodcareofherself.B．Cameronshowedhisgiftbeforeprimaryschool.C．Thechildrenofthefamilyarebrightandgifted.D．Giftedkidsarenotsodifferentaspeopleexpect.23．（8分）YoungpeopleintheUnitedStatesdonothaveastrongunderstandingoftheworldandtheirplaceinit.TwoUS-basedgroups,theCouncilonForeignRelationsandtheNationalGeographicSociety,conductedanonlinesurveylastyear.TheywantedtoknowwhatyoungpeopleinAmericancollegesknewaboutgeography,U.S.foreignpolicy,recentinternationalevents,andeconomics.Thesurveywasgiventoover1,200Americansbetweentheagesof18and26,allofthempresentlyattending,orhavingpreviouslygraduatedfrom.a2-or4-yearcollegeoruniversity.Theaveragetestscore,outof75totalpossibleanswers,was55percent.Thestudyidentifiesafewimportantproblems.Forexample,only30percentknewthattheonlypartoftheU.S.governmentthatcandeclarewarisCongress.Only60%ofthosetakingthesurveycouldidentifyBrazilonaworldmap.“Partoftheproblem,”arguetheorganizersofthesurvey,“istheInternet.”Theysayitisbecominghardertofindhigh-qualityinformationaboutworldeventsamongallthefakenewsandtrivia(瑣事)whichswamp(淹沒)theweb.Forty-threepercentofthosequestionedsaidtheyreadaboutthenewsonFacebook.Anotherproblemisthatmostcollegecoursesdonotrequirestudentstolearnaboutinternationalissues.Ifsuchinformationisnotrequired,RichardHaassfromtheCouncilonForeignRelationssaid,thentheUnitedStatescouldhaveleaderslikeGaryJohnson.HewasarecentpresidentialcandidatewhodidnotknowabouttheSyriancityofAleppowhenareporteraskedhimaboutit.Thesurveyresultswerenotallbad.Theyoungpeoplealsodemonstratedagoodunderstandingofclimatechangeandrenewableenergy.Andthemajorityofthemsaidthatinternationalissueswerebecomingmoreimportanttothem.Haasssaysthesefindingssuggesttheneedtofindwaystogetgoodinformationforstudents,bothinschoolandonline.Tohelp,theCouncilonForeignRelationsiscreatinganewprogramcalledCFRCampus,designedtohelpbuildknowledgeaboutglobalissues.1、Whatdoweknowaboutthesurvey?A．Theparticipantswereallrecentuniversitygraduates.B．ItwasanonlinesurveyconductedbytwoUSuniversities.C．Itwasgiventoover1,200Americanpeopleagedfrom18to26.D．ItaimedtofindoutwhattheyoungpeopleknowaboutAmerica.2、What’sonereasontheorganizersofthesurveygiveforyoungpeople’slackofknowledge?A．ThepoorqualityoftheUSuniversitysystem.B．Youngpeople’sunwillingnesstotravelabroad.C．ThesourcesfromwhichtheygeltheirinformationD．Theirlackofinterestinknowingmoreabouttheworld.3、WhattopicdidtheyoungAmericansunderstandbestaccordingtothesurvey?A．Governmentorganizations.B．Geographicinformation.C．Foreignrelations.D．Environmentalmatters.4、Inwhichpartofanewspapercouldwefindthisarticle?A．Economics. B．Education.C．NationalPolitics. D．Entertainment.24．（8分）What’ssmall,buzzeshereandthereandvisitsflowers?Ifyousaidbeesorhummingbirds,yougotit.Youwouldn’tbethefirstifyoumixedthetwoup.Nowagroupofresearchersevensayweshouldembraceourhistoryofconsideringthetwotogetherinthesamegroup.Thewayscientistsstudybeescouldhelpthemstudyhummingbirdbehavior,too.Scientistsfirstcomparedthetwobackinthe1970swhenstudyinghowanimalssearchforfood.Theideaisthatanimalsuseakindofmathtomakechoicesinordertominimizetheworkittakestoearnmaximumrewards.Researchersatthetimefocusedonmovementrules,liketheorderinwhichtheyvisitedflowers,andwhereflowerswerelocatedrelativetoothers.Itwas“almostlikeanalgorithm(算法)”forefficientsearching,saidDavidPritchard,abiologistattheUniversityofSt.AndrewsinScotland.Hummingbirdsandbeeshadsimilarsolutions.Asthefieldofanimalcognition(認(rèn)知)appeared,hummingbirdandbeeresearchparted.Neuroscientistsandbehavioralecologistsdevelopedwaystostudybeebehaviorinnaturalisticsettings.Hummingbirdresearcherscomparedhummingbirdstootherbirdsandborrowedmethodsfrompsychologytostudytheirabilitytolearninthelab.Tobefair,hummingbirdsandbeesdiffer.Forexample,hummingbirdshavemoreadvancedeyesandbrainsthanbees.Honeybeesandbumblebeesaresocial;hummingbirdstypicallyaren’t.Buthowevertheyperceive(感知)orprocessinformation,theybothexperiencesimilarinformation,Dr.Pritchardsaid.Inday-to-daysearchingforfood,forexample,hummingbirdsmayrelyonmoreofabee’s-eyeviewthanabird’s-eyeview.Likeotherbirds,theyrelyonlandmarks,distancesanddirectionstomakemapswhentravellinglongdistances,buttheydon’tusethesecuestofindflowers.Moveaflowerjustaninchorsoawayfromwhereahummingbirdthoughtitwasanditwillhoverovertheflower’soriginallocation.Dr.Pritchardisinvestigatingif,likebees,hummingbirdsengageinviewmatching—hovering,scanningsnapshotsofaplacetoitsmemoryandusingthoseasreferenceslater.1、Whatisthecenterofresearchonhummingbirdsandbeesinthe1970s?A．Memory.B．Movementrules.C．Rewardcalculating.D．Informationprocessing.2、Whichsubject’sresearchmethodswereadoptedtostudythelearningabilityofHummingbirds?A．Math.B．Biology.C．Ecology.D．Psychology.3、Howdoresearchersfindoutthathummingbirdsarenotlikebirds?A．Bysettingthemfree.B．Bymovingflowers.C．Bymatchingview.D．Bymakingmaps.4、Whichofthefollowingcanbethebesttitleforthetext?A．HummingbirdsandBeesB．HummingbirdsintheLabC．NewTrendsinStudyingBeesD．ThinkingofHummingbirdsasBees25．（10分）Findingamountaingoatrestinghighonacliff(懸崖)mightthrillmanyofthemillionsoftouristswhovisitWyoming’sGrandTetonNationalParkeveryyear,butparkofficialssayitmightbetimeforthebeardedanimalstogo.Theproblem,accordingtothepark,isthatGrandTeton’s100orsomountaingoatsthreatenabout80bighornsheep.Thebighornsheepnumberedasmanyas125justafewyearsago.Thestronggoatsspreaddiseaseandcompetewithbighornsheepforfood.Unlikesmall-sizedbighornsheep,GrandTeton’smountaingoatsaren’tnativetothepark.Theywereintroducedtotheparkinthe1960s.GrandTetonspokeswomanDeniseGermannsaid,“We’vegotamanagementresponsibilitytoprotectthenativespecies.Afterhearingfromthepublicontheproposal(建議)inJanuary,parkofficialsexpecttodecideassoonasmid-Februaryonwhattodoaboutthemountaingoats.”Thegoatsarereproducingrapidly.Nowmightbethebesttimetoreducetheanimalsbeforethey’retoomanytobringundercontrol,accordingtotheParkService.Onewildlifebiologistwhostudiesbighornsheeppraisedtheproposal.Mountaingoats’originalhabitatisnowhereclosetowherethey’vebeenintroducedintheU.S.toprovidehuntingopportunities,saidRobRoyRameyII,withNederland,Colorado-basedWildlifeScienceInternational,Inc.WildlifemanagersshouldgetridofmountaingoatsnotonlyinGrandTetonbutelsewheretohelpstrugglingbighornsheep,Rameysaid.“Unfortunately,statewildlifeagenciessellnonnativewildlifeviewingopportunitiestothepublic,”Rameysaid.“Thisisnotazoointhewilderness.Itshouldreallybefornativewildlife.”1、Whatcanbelearntaboutthebighornsheepinthepark?A．Theirsizeishuge. B．Theirnumberisdecreasing.C．Theyarrivedinthe1960s. D．Theythreatenlocalspecies.2、Howdidthepublichelpparkofficialsprotectthebighornsheep?A．Byprovidingsuggestions. B．Bydrivingawaymountaingoats.C．Byvolunteeringinthepark. D．BytakingoverGrandTetonNationalPark.3、WhatisGermann’sattitudetowardsthebighornsheep?A．Curious. B．Proud.C．Surprised. D．Concerned.4、Whatwasthepurposeofbringinginmountaingoatsinthebeginning?A．Toofferhuntingchances.B．Tosellnonnativewildlife.C．Tosatisfywildlifemanagers.D．Toincreasediversitiesofsheep.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）Igotanewpairofeyeglassesrecently.Becausestigmatism（去像散性）hadstartedto1withmynearsightedness，makingthingsalittlebit2Ithastakenmeseveraldaystogetusedtothenew3，Whileitwasgreatseeingclearlyata4againandwonderfulbeingableto5abookwithoutitbeinganinchfrommyface，thecombinationlenses（組合鏡片）werea（n）6forme.TheproblemwasthatwheneverIwas7somethingfaraway，Ihadtokeepmyeyesup，8Iwouldgetawaveofblurriness（模糊）whenI9lookedthroughthereadingpartofthelenses.Iam10thatmyeyesarenowgettingusedtothenewglasses.Itisno11livinginanunclearworld.Ireally12thehelpofthenewglasses.Iamgratefulforthisnewpairofglassesforanotherreasontoo.Theyhavetaughtmea（n）13thatIwillholdclosetomyheartforever:Wheneveryou14toseetheroadaheadclearly，lookup！TooofteninmylifeIhavekepttheeyesofmysoullooking15totheground.WhenI16，theworldseemedlikeascary，unclear，anddepressingplace.WhenIraisedthoseeyes，though，my17alwaysbecameclear.IsawthatlifeisgoodandwhenIhelpothers，Imakeiteven18.Isawthatnomatterwhateachdaymaythrowatme，Ican19itwithalovingheartandajoyfulspirit.Wheneveryourlifeseems20oroverwhelming，justlookup！1、A．battle B．compare C．deal D．mix2、A．unusual B．impractical C．unclear D．impossible3、A．culture B．pair C．temperature D．house.4、A．distance B．length C．speed D．rate5、A．pick B．print C．translate D．read6、A．experiment B．force C．challenge D．choice7、A．listeningto B．talkingabout C．thinkingof D．lookingat8、A．otherwise B．however C．therefore D．meanwhile9、A．eventually B．a(chǎn)ccidentally. C．unfortunately D．gradually10、A．glad B．a(chǎn)ware C．certain D．proud11、A．use B．fun C．doubt D．wonder12、A．want B．offer C．a(chǎn)ppreciate D．refuse13、A．truth B．way C．effect D．language14、A．regret B．manage C．a(chǎn)gree D．need15、A．forward B．a(chǎn)round C．down D．back16、A．did B．a(chǎn)dmittedto C．finished D．left17、A．interest B．view C．prejudice D．a(chǎn)bility18、A．slower B．safer C．easier D．better19、A．lose B．push C．face D．remember20、A．exciting B．frightening C．meaningful D．peaceful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）WhenwetalkedaboutNBA,manypeoplewillthinkofYaoMing.ThereisnodoubtthatYaoMingisaChinesehero.OnOctober16,2013,YaoMingannouncedhe1．opentheNBAYaoSchool.Thiswasreally2．（excite）news!3．（look）atthenameoftheschool,manypeoplewouldthinkthattheschoolisgoingtotrainNBA4．（talent）.Butthetruthisnotlike5．theyexpected.TheNBAYaoSchoolprovidesafter-schoolbasketballtrainingandhealthprograms.Itsstudentsincludeboysandgirlsover16yearsold6．a(chǎn)reverygoodatplayingbasketball.Theschoolaims7．（teach）theimportanceofteamwork,leadership(領(lǐng)導(dǎo)素養(yǎng))andcommunicationinafunbasketballenvironment.Yaoisquitegladtobeapartoftheschool,becauseithasalwaysbeenhisdreamto8．（positive）influenceyoungpeople’slifethroughsports.Now,basketballfansinChinaarelookingforwardtogettingbasketballtraining,andtheNBAYaoSchoolisagreatchoice.Intheschool,studentshavechancestomeetNBAstars.Thestarscanoffer9．（suggest）onhow10．（play）basketballwell.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。Therearemanywaysyoucanshowrespecttoothers.Insomecases,whatyoushoulddoislistenpatientwhensomeoneisspeaking,evenifyouhaveanythingimportanttosay.Someotherwaysyoucanshowrespectincludesthefollowingones.Takeacareofborrowedthings.Whenyouborrowsomethingbuttakegoodcareofit,thepersonyouborroweditwillsurelyappreciateit.Bepolite,followtherules,andpracticinggoodmanner.Cleanupthemessyouhavemade.Ifyoudon'tcleanupbyyourselfwhenyoumakeamess,someoneelsewillhaveto.Thiscanmakepeoplefrustrating.第二節(jié)書面表達(dá)（滿分25分）29．（25分）假如你是李華，是一名英語專業(yè)的學(xué)生，即將大學(xué)畢業(yè)。你從報(bào)紙上看到某出版社正在招聘英語編輯，你有意應(yīng)聘。請寫一封100詞左右的求職信，內(nèi)容如下：1．你的個(gè)人簡歷；2．你選擇這份工作的理由；3．你應(yīng)聘成功后的決心。注意：1.可適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié)，以使行文連貫；2．信的開頭和結(jié)尾已經(jīng)給出，不計(jì)入總詞數(shù)。DearSir/Madam，IhavelearnedfromthenewspaperthatsomeEnglisheditorsareneededinyourcompany._____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Yours，LiHua

參考答案第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1、C2、B3、C4、A5、D6、A7、C8、B9、B10、C11、C12、A13、D14、D15、B16、C17、C18、A19、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(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)。21、1、D2、C3、B22、1、C2、C3、D23、Youcan’tmakeacallorsendatextonyourmobilephoneintheUStownofGreenBank,WestVirginia.WirelessInternetisoutlawed,asisBluetooth.Asyouapproachthetinytownonatwo-laneroadthatsnakesthroughthemountains,yourmobilephonesignaldropsout,andyourradiostopsworking.Therustedpayphoneonthenorthsideoftownistheonlywayforavisitortoreachtherestoftheworld.It’sapre-modernplacebydesign,lackingofthelatesttechnologiesthatdefinelifetoday.Thereasonforthetown’semptyairwavesisapparentthemomentyouarrive.It’stheRobertC．Byrdtelescope,alsoknownastheGBT,ashinywhite,147-metre-tallsatellitedish.It’sthelargestofitskindintheworldandoneofnineinGreenBank,allofthemgovernmentownedandoperatedbytheNationalRadioAstronomyObservatory(NRAO).Youdon’tlookthroughthesekindsoftelescopes.They’reradiotelescopes,soinsteadoflookingfordistantstars,theylistenforthem.There’salonglineofastronomersallovertheworldwhowanttousethetelescopewhichissosensitivethatitcouldhearasinglesnowflakehittingtheground1,000milesaway.Suchasensitivelisteningtoolneedstotaltechnologicalsilencetooperate,soin1958theUSgovernmentcreatedaNationalRadioQuietZone,a33,000km2areacoveringGreenBankwhere,tothisday,electronicandradiosignalsareforbiddeneveryhourofeveryday.Peoplewholivewithina15kmoftheGreenBanktelescopeareallowedtouselandlinetelephones,wiredInternetandcabletelevisions,butmicrowaveovens,wirelessInternetandradiosareforbidden.Youcanhaveamobilephone,butyouwon’tge