江蘇省南通市合作盟校2025屆高考仿真卷英語試卷含解析

江蘇省南通市合作盟校2025屆高考仿真卷英語試卷考生請注意：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．Fortunatelysomebodywhohappenedtobepassingbycalledtheemergencyaidthetrafficaccidentoccurred.A．hurriedly B．quickly C．immediately D．shortly2．Asyougothroughthisbook,you________thateachofthemillionsofpeoplewholivedthroughWorldWarIIhadadifferentexperience.A．willfind B．foundC．hadfound D．havefound3．Thesurveyshowsthatspeedatleast30percentofroadtrafficanddeaths.A．contributestoB．resultsfromC．liesinD．relieson4．-HowcanIgetintouchwiththetravelagency,Robin?-JustsurftheInternetandthencallone________thetelephonenumberisprovided.A．withwhich B．inwhich C．ofwhich D．bywhich5．Thepartylastmonthreallygavemealotoffun.Socanwehavethismonth,Mr.James?A．a(chǎn)ny B．one C．a(chǎn)nother D．theother6．—Iamjustwonderingwhichteam,ChicagoBullsorWashingtonWizards,wonthegamelastnight?—________Idon’treallylikeeitherteam.A．Don’tmentionit.B．Noproblem.C．Whocares?D．Whybother?7．I'llhaveallofthereadingsbytheendofthistermifmyplangoeswell.A．completing B．tocompleteC．completed D．beingcompleted8．Thiswinter,oneofthelargest______snowstormshitmanyareas.A．recording B．recordedC．beingrecorded D．torecord9．Muirsucceeds______otherdesignershavefailed—herclothesareOriginal,yetstylish.A．that B．what C．which D．where10．Sometimessmilesaroundtheworld___________befalse,hidingotherfeelingslikeanger,fearorworry.A．can B．wouldC．should D．must11．Shehasexpressedherhope______theforeignstudentswillspreadthegoodwillandsincerityoftheChinesepeopletootherpartsoftheworld.A．that B．whichC．whether D．what12．—Mike,it’sreallyimpossibleforustogettotherailwaystationintime!—HowIwishIcouldstopthetrain________it.A．catchB．tocatchC．catchingD．caught13．-----Goodevening.HuangshanHotel.-----Goodevening.______________?A．DoyoustillhavearoomfortonightB．Whatwouldyoulike,pleaseC．IsthereanythingIcandoforyouD．Whoisthatspeaking,please14．—You'vegotyourflatfurnished,haven'tyou?—Yes,I______someusedfurnitureanditwasarealbargain.A．willbuy B．haveboughtC．hadbought D．bought15．—Didyourfatherenjoyseeinghisoldfriendsyesterday?—Yes,hedid.Theyeachotherforages.A．didn’tseeB．wouldn’tseeC．haven’tseenD．hadn’tseen16．Therealwinnersinsportarethosewhoknowhowtopersevereandtobehavewith________—whethertheywinorloseagame.A．certaintyB．cautionC．dignityD．independence17．—Beseated,pleaseandI’llmakeyouacupoftea.—_________.Let’scometothepointfirst.A．Youneedn’tdosoB．Pleasedon’tbotherC．YouarewelcomeD．Youareindeedtoopolite.18．—Tony,youseeminhighspirits.—________Wewonthematch4-1.A．Guesswhat? B．Oh,comeon!C．Sowhat? D．Nowonder.19．ThankstoChinesepeople’shardworkandwisdom,Chinahas_____intothesecondlargesteconomy.A．evolved B．slipped C．extended D．shaped20．Ensuringeverychildequalrightstoeducationis_____thekeytotheeliminationofinequalityacrosstheworldlies.A．that B．what C．whether D．where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）Airbags,nowfoundinalmosteveryvehicle,havesavedcountlesslivesandlargelyreducedtheseverityofinjuriesincrashes.Similartechnologycouldgreatlyreducebrokenhips(髖部)resultingfromafall,somethingmostseniorsfear.Dr.RobertBuckmanandhisstart-upcompany,ActiveProtectiveinAllentown,Pennsylvania,hasdevelopedapromisingsolution,awearableairbagthatcanprotecthipbonesintheeventofafall.TheideawastheresultofDr.Buckman’syearsasadoctoratTempleUniversity.Henoticedhowmanyelderlypeoplewerebeingbroughtintohospitalswithbrokenhipduetofalls,andhowtheyoftennevercompletelyrecoveredfromtheinjuries.Hestartedtoaskwhathecoulddoforthesepeople,andthatwaswhenhestartedtryingtofigureoutwhethertherewasawayofhelpingpeoplewhowereatthehighestriskoffallingandsufferingthesekindsofinjuries.Thedeviceiswornmuchlikearegularbelt,butontheoutsideoftheclothing,anditincludessensorsthatmonitorthemovementofhips.Ifthedevicedetectsthattheperson,isfalling,anairbagopensbeforethepersonhitstheground,cushioningthefall.Whenthewearerhitstheground,thebagreducestheforcetothehipbonesby90percent,enoughtoavoidthemajorityofhipinjuries.Withoneoutofeverythreepeopleaged65andoldersufferingseriousfallseachyear,ActiveProtectivehasabigmarketforitswearabledevice.Italsohasthepotentialtosizablyreducehip-relatedhealthcareexpenses:HipinjuriesamongtheelderlycosttheUShealthcaresystemin2012$30billion,whichdoesn’tincludethelong-termcareexpensesassociatedwiththehighpercentageofpatientsthatcannolongerliveindependently.1、WhatisthepurposeoftheActiveProtective’sairbag?A．Toavoidhipinjuriesamongseniors.B．Toprotectseniorsfromcaraccidents.C．Tohelpseniorswiththeirdailynursing.D．Tohelpdoctorsdealwithseriousinjuries.2、WhatinspiredDr.RobertBuckmantomakethedevice?A．Areportonseniors’health.B．Aseriousfallheexperienced.C．Hisworkexperiencesasadoctor.D．SuggestionsofseniorsatTempleUniversity.3、Howdoesthedevicemainlywork?A．Bypredictingroadconditions.B．Byspeedingupbonerecovery.C．Byreducingtheeffectsoffalling.D．Bypreventingpeoplefromfailing.4、WhatdoestheauthorthinkoftheActiveProtective’sairbag?A．Itstillneedsimproving.B．Ithasapromisingfuture.C．Itmayencourageseniorstodoexercise.D．ItmayincreaseAmerica’sspendonseniors.22．（8分）Mostofushavebeeninthissituation:You'reonyourwaytoyourfriend'shouse,thenyousuddenlyaskyourself,"DidIremembertoturnthelightsoff?”Forthosewith"smarthomes",however,thiswouldn’tbeaproblem.Overthelastfewyears,smarthometechnologyhasbecomemorepopular.Thankstouser-friendlyproductslikeintelligentlightingandheatingcontrollers,peoplecancontrolnearlyeveryelectricalitemintheirhomesfromanywhereintheworld.Whilesmarthomesaren'tnew,companieslikePhilips,AmazonandXiaomihavefinallybroughtautomationtoeverydaypeoplewithaffordableproductslikeartificialintelligence(AI)speakersandsensors.“Theobviousmessageisthatyoucanstopwastingenergy,”TomKerber,directorofresearchforU.S-baseddigitalcompanyParksAssociates,toldTheGuardian.Andthetechnologyalsohasmoremeaningfuluses.InNorway,forexample,onecompanyisusingsmarttechtomakelifeeasierforitselderlycustomers.Abilia'ssystemallowscarerstocheckuponpatientsthroughatabletonawallinsidetheirhome.Thedevicesendspatientsremindersabouttasks,suchaswhentheyneedtotakemedication(冥想).Itcaneventellcarersifthere'sanyunusualactivityinthehomethatcouldbelife-threatening.“Thiskindofsystemallowspeopletotakecareofthemselves,whichisthemostimportantthing,”Abilia'svicepresident,OysteinJohnsen,toldtheBBC．"Italsosavesthegovernmentmoney.InNorway,itcosts1millionkroner(about0.8millionyuan)peryeartohavesomeoneinacarehome.Thissystemcosts15,000kronerayear.”So,forthosewhohavealready"gonesmart",williteverbepossibletogobacktodothingsintheold-fashionedway?"Ithinkitwouldbedifficult.Whenwegotoafriend’shouseoronvacationwefindourselvesexpectingthehousetodothingsforusthatweshoulddo,"Poulson,35,aseniorprogrammanagerfromSeattle.,U.S.,explained.1、Whatarethefirstandsecondparagraphsusedfor?A．Introducingthetopic.B．Describingthesituation.C．Advertisingsmarthomes.D．Puttingforwardtheauthor'sopinion.2、WhatdoPhilips,AmazonandXiaomihaveincommon?A．Theyarealldesigningsmarthomes.B．TheyareallU.S-baseddigitalcompany.C．They'vealladvancedinsmarttechnology.D．They'veallreceivedaffordableproductsautomatically.3、WhatdoesAbilia'ssystemallowuserstodoinNorway?A．Totakecareofthemselves.B．Tobuyuser-friendlyproducts.C．Tocontrolheatingandcooling.D．Toswitchlightsthroughatablet.4、what'sPoulson'sattitudetosmarttechnology?A．Cautious.B．FavorableC．Ambiguous.D．Disapproving.23．（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$300billion24．（8分）WanttochooseanEnglishnoveltoenjoy?HerearefourpopularbookssoldonthewebsiteofAmazon,withformatsandeditionsofkindle,hardcover,orpaperback.TheHandsomeEnemyByEmilyWaltersASIN:B01N7L0WCADespiteherunwillingness,ReaganListerisrequiredtoworkwithGregPilster,anothergreatlawyer,toprovethatasenator’ssonisnotguiltyofamurderforherlatestcase.ThedangersintheprocessbringthetwoclosertogetherandReaganrealizesthatGreg,whoshethoughtwasherenemy,iswinningherheart.Thetruthofthecaseissomethingthatneitherofthemexpected.AndtheMountainsEchoedByKhaledHosseiniASIN:B009XIXVU6KhaledHosseini,authorofTheKiteRunnerandAThousandSplendidSuns,haswrittenanewnovelthatexploresthemanywaysinwhichbrothersandsistersnurture,would,betray,honor,andsacrificeforoneanother,andhowoftenwearesurprisedbytheactionsofthoseclosesttous,atthetimesthatmattermost.TheSecretLifeofBeesbySueMonkKiddASIN:B000W4RFBQFromtheauthorofTheInventionofWingsandsetinSouthCarolinain1964,thebestsellingnoveltellsthestoryofLilyOwens,anescapedblackgirltakeninbythreeblackbeekeepingsistersandintroducedtotheirattractiveworldofbeesandhoney.Thisisaremarkablenovelaboutgreatfemalepowerandit’sregardedinspirational.Itwasadaptedintoanaward-winningmoviein2008.JustDreamsByL.J.TaylorASIN:B00N6IRDGWJustDreamsisthefirstbookintheBrooksSistersDreamsSeries.LawyerfileKathyBrokksagreestorepresentCharlesMorganJr.inahigh-profilecaseagainstapowerfulgovernmentdefensecontractor.ButwhenCharles’hiddenagendathreatenstoexposethegovernment’sdirtylittlesecrets,whatstartedoutmaycostKathyhercareerandevenherlife.536、WhatistheASINnumberofthebookmanlytellingfamilystories?A．B01N7L0WCA B．B009XIXVU6C．B000W4RFBQ D．B00N6IRDGW1、Whoprobablyintendedhisorherbooktoencouragewomentofacechallengesbravely?A．EmilyWalters B．KhaledHosseiniC．SueMonkKidd D．L.J.Taylor2、WhichbookmightbethebestchoiceifLucyisinterestedinadventurousandromanticstories?A．TheHandsomeEnemy B．AndtheMountainsEchoedC．TheInventionofWings D．TheSecretLifeofBees3、WhatdoweknowaboutJustDreams?A．Theheroinedefendsthegovernmentbravelyinthecasebutisfacedwithdanger.B．ThisbookisoneoftheseriesofAThousandSplendidSuns.C．Thefilmadaptedfromthebookisverysuccessful.D．Itmaybethrillingtoreadthebook.25．（10分）Theworld’sinsectsaregoingdownthepathofextinction，threateninga“catastrophiccollapseofnature’secosystems”，accordingtothefirstglobalscientificreview．Morethan40％ofinsectspeciesaredecliningandthirdareendangered，theanalysisfound．Therateofextinctioniseighttimesfasterthanthatofmammals，birdsandreptiles．“Itshouldbeofhugeconcerntoallofus，forinsectsareattheheartofeveryfoodweb．Theypollinate(授粉)thelargemajorityofplantspecies，keepthesoilhealthy，recyclenutrients，controlpests，andmuchmore．Lovethemor1oathethem，wehumanscannotsurvivewithoutinsects，”saidProfDaveGoulsonattheUniversityofSussexintheUK．Theanalysis，publishedinthejournalBiologicalConservation，saysintensive(集約型)agricultureisthemaindriverofthedeclines，particularlytheheavyuseofpesticides．Urbanisationandclimatechangearealsosignificantfactors．“Ifinsectspecieslossescannotbestopped，thiswillhavecatastrophicconsequencesforboththeplanet’secosystemsandforthesurvivalofmankind．Itisveryrapid．In10yearsyouwillhaveaquarterless，in50yearsonlyhalfleftandin100yearsyouwillhavenone，”saidreviewauthorFranciscoSánchez-Bayo，attheUniversityofSydney，Australia．Oneofthebiggestimpactsofinsectlossisonmanybirds，reptiles，amphibiansandfishthateatinsects．“Ifthisfoodsourceistakenaway，alltheseanimalsstarvetodeath，”hesaid．SucheffectshavealreadybeenseeninPuertoRico，wherearecentstudyrevealeda98％fallingroundinsectsover2years．MattShardlow，attheconservationcharityBuglife，said：“Itisthoughtfultoseethisevidencethatshowsthepitifulstateoftheworld’sinsectpopulations．Itisincreasinglyobviousthattheplanet’secologyisbreakingandthereisaneedforastrongandglobalefforttopreventandchangetheseterribletrends．”1、Whyarepeopleworriedabouttheinsectdecline?A．Theyarevitaltoecosystems． B．Theyprovidefoodforpests．C．Theypollinateallplants． D．Theyenrichthesoil．2、Whatisthemaincauseofinsectlosses?A．Moreandmoretrees． B．Restrictionsonpesticides．C．Upgradingagriculture． D．Friendlyenvironment．3、Wherecanyoufindtheexacttimeofinsectlosses?A．Inparagraph1． B．Inparagraph2．C．Inparagraph3． D．Inparagraph4．4、Whatcanbeasuitabletitleforthetext?A．HumanscansurvivethepunishmentofnatureB．Insectdecliningisbreakingnature’secosystemsC．Nature’secosystemsareinfluencedbyhumansD．InsectsandanimalsaredyingoutinPuertoRico第三部分語言知識運用（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）Compassion(同情心)isadesirewithinustohelpothers.Witheffort,wecantranslatecompassioninto1.Anexperiencelastweekendshowedmethisis2.Iworkpart-timeinasupermarket20metersawayfromabuildingfortheelderly.Theseoldpeopleareourmain3,andit’seasytolose4overtheirslowness.ButlastSunday,one5gentlemanappearedtoteachmeavaluablelesson.This6manwalkeduptomyregister(收款機(jī))withaboxofbiscuits.Hesaidhewas7cash,hadjustmovedintohisroom,andhad8inhiscupboards.Heaskedifwecouldlethimhavethefoodontrust.He9torepaymethenextday.Icouldn’thelp10whatkindofpersonhehadbeentenortwentyyearsbefore,andwhathewouldbelikeifhehadbeenlucky.Ihada11inmyheartforthiskindofhumansoul,allaloneintheworld.I12himthatIwassorry,andstorerulesdidn’tallowmetodoso.Ifeltstupidand13sayingthis,butI14myjob.Justthen,anotherman,standingbehindthefirst,spokeup.Helookedmore15.Hesaidtome,“Letme16thebiscuitsforhim,please.”WhatIhadbeen17waspity.Pityissoftandsafeandeasy.Compassion,ontheotherhand,is18inaction.Ithankedthesecondmanbuttoldhimthatwasnotallowed,either.ThenI19mypocketandpaidforthebiscuitsmyself.Ididsobecausethesetwomenhadreachedintomyheartand20mecompassion.1、A．workB．a(chǎn)ctionC．jobD．character2、A．rightB．wrongC．trueD．false3、A．workersB．customersC．employersD．passengers4、A．heartB．patienceC．courageD．soul5、A．a(chǎn)gedB．disabledC．sickD．weak6、A．well-dressedB．smartly-dressedC．poorly-dressedD．neatly-dressed7、A．inneedofB．a(chǎn)tlossofC．outofD．lackof8、A．a(chǎn)nythingB．everythingC．somethingD．nothing9、A．beggedB．promisedC．hopedD．suggested10、A．wonderingB．realizingC．a(chǎn)skingD．questioning11、A．hurtB．kindnessC．warmthD．injury12、A．warnedB．suggestedC．toldD．reminded13、A．unnecessaryB．carelessC．impatientD．unkind14、A．lostB．valuedC．dislikedD．gained15、A．happyB．seriousC．contentD．pitiful16、A．payB．chargeC．spendD．cost17、A．talkingB．feelingC．sayingD．thinking18、A．movingB．thinkingC．caringD．touching19、A．reachedintoB．openedupC．searchedforD．lookedfor20、A．gaveB．movedC．feltD．taught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）Springiscoming.Everythingiswakingfromitswintersleep.Thefields1．(dress)inafreshrobeofgreen.Thewildflowersbegintopeepforth(隱隱露出).Birdssingamongthetrees,andbegintogettheirnestsready2．summer.Menarenowsowingseedsinthefields.Thedaysare3．(warm),forbrightersunshinehascomeagain.Everythingisfulloflifeandjoy.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短文。短文中共有10處錯誤，每句中最多有兩處。錯誤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（∧），并在此符號下面寫出該加的詞。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。DearMr.Zhang,Wehaveheldadiscussionwhetheritisgoodornotforatopstudenttoshareadeskwithaslowerstudent.Somearefortheidea.Itiswellknownthateveryonehadstrengthsaswellasweaknesses.Althoughslowerstudentsarenotgoodatlessons,theymightdogoodinanotherfields.Inaddition,topstudentscanhelpsloweroneswiththeirlessons,whichbenefitthemtoo.However,othersdon'tholdthesameview.Theythinksomesloweronesarealwaysmakingthetrouble,suchasbreakschoolrules.Besides,slowerstudentsoftenasktopstudentsquestion,whichaffectsourstudies.Inmyopinion,Isupporttheideasowecanmakeprogresstogether.Yours,LiHua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踐活動。假設(shè)你是我校英語報小記者，請寫一篇短文，報道此次活動。內(nèi)容包括：1、時間地點：6月8日，富興農(nóng)場；2、活動內(nèi)容：學(xué)習(xí)種菜和除草、聽科學(xué)種田的報告、與專家座談有機(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____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

參考答案第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1、C2、A3、A4、C5、C6、C7、C8、B9、D10、A11、A12、B13、A14、D15、D16、C17、B18、A19、A20、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四個選項中，選出最佳選項。21、1、A2、C3、C4、B22、1、A2、C3、A4、B23、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.Ibrough