2026屆安徽省滁州市九校高三英語(yǔ)第一學(xué)期期末達(dá)標(biāo)檢測(cè)試題考生請(qǐng)注意：1．答題前請(qǐng)將考場(chǎng)、試室號(hào)、座位號(hào)、考生號(hào)、姓名寫(xiě)在試卷密封線(xiàn)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(xiě)在試卷指定的括號(hào)內(nèi)，第二部分非選擇題答案寫(xiě)在試卷題目指定的位置上。3．考生必須保證答題卡的整潔?？荚嚱Y(jié)束后，請(qǐng)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(mǎn)分30分）1．—Thelectureabout3Dtechnologywasveryinteresting.—It’sapity.HowIwishI________timetoattendit.A．had B．have C．hadhad D．havehad2．—Whyareyouinsuchahurry,Bob?—MothertoldmeI________behomeby9:00pm,orshewillbeworried.A．mustB．mightC．canD．may3．—I’mterriblysorry.I’mlatebecause….—That’sOK.Youarehereandthat’swhat_____.A．does B．works C．functions D．counts4．Tohisdelight,Tomquicklyearnedthetrustofhisbossandthenofhiscolleagues.A．one B．onesC．that D．those5．—That'sthethirdtimeyou'vedonethat!—Yeah,_____?A．whatofitB．what’sonC．whataboutD．whatfor6．Thenewsecretaryisandthereforethemanagerissatisfiedwithherwork.A．effective B．efficient C．specific D．sufficient7．—WhatdoyouthinkofTom?—Hehasbeenworkingveryhard.______heisanadvancedworker.A．Nowonder B．Nodoubt C．Noworry D．Noproblem8．Ellenisafantasticdancer.IwishI________aswellasher.A．dance B．willdanceC．haddanced D．danced9．Thenumberofstay-at-homefathersreachedarecordhighlastyear,newfiguresshow,_______familiessawariseinfemalebreadwinners.A．ifB．a(chǎn)sC．becauseD．though10．Duringthenegotiationtofollow,itcanbearguedthatsharesofforeigncompaniesareovervalued________thereturntheyoffer.A．intermsofB．inmemoryofC．infavorofD．inchargeof11．—Heiseagertotrysomethinghehasnevertriedbefore.—Oh,Isee.That’s_______he’sdifferentfromothers.A．whenB．whereC．howD．what12．Youcan’timaginehowexcitedwewere________thatourschoolmateshadwonthefirstplaceinNationalRobotCompetition.A．learning B．havinglearnedC．tobelearning D．tolearn13．Iwonder________theequipmentwillbeavailableintendays.A．that B．when C．whether D．where14．——Yourargumentis.Iwillnotletyoupass.--Areyoukidding?A．sound B．rationalC．liberal D．plain15．Don’trefertothedictionaryeverytimeyoucomeacrossanewwordassometimesitsmeaningmaybe_______clearlyinagivencontext.A．pickedout B．ruledout C．broughtout D．takenout16．Threedaysaftertheaircraftwentmissing,aninternationaleffort________shipsandplaneshasn'tfoundanywreckage,________growingfrustrationforthefamiliesofthe239peopleonboard.A．involved;causing B．toinvolve;causedC．involving;causing D．involving;havingcaused17．Wereallyemphasizetheimportanceofputting______safeguardstopreventchildren’sidentitiesfromfallinginwrongpeople’shands.A．inplaceB．invainC．inquestionD．inearnest18．Maryreallyhardonhisbookandthinkshe’llhavefinisheditbyFriday.A．worked B．hasbeenworkingC．hadworked D．hasworked19．Ican________Diana’sthoughtsfromthechangesinherfacialexpressions.A．readB．noticeC．countD．watch20．PleasewearyourbestclothesonMonday,asyourclassphotos______then.A．willtakeB．willbetakenC．havetakenD．havebeentaken第二部分閱讀理解（滿(mǎn)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）Iattendedawriter’sgrouptogetfeedbackonmybook.Butthereweresomanypeopletherethatthediscussionwaslimited.Aftergettinghome,my13-year-oldsonaskedmetoreadonechaptertohim.SoIreadthechapteraboutspendingmypocketmoneyasanine-year-oldchild.Thestorytookplaceatalunchcounter,whereIdreamedoforderingabananasplit.Colorfulballoonswerehungabovethecounterandasignsaid“Popaballoonandpay1centto63centsforabananasplit!”AsIwasgivenonly50centsforcleaningthedoghouse,Ididn’tdaretoaskmyparentsforanymorepocketmoneywithoutdoingmoreworkorriskaskinganyoneelse.SoIkeptmywishtomyself.Frankielistenedcarefully,asIreadthefinalsentencesofthechapter,“Iwatchedasothersselectedaballoontopopanddreamedabouttheopportunitytotakemychance.Butitneverhappened.”Thenextmorning,Frankieledmetothekitchen.Icouldn’tbelievemyeyes.Thetablewascoveredinapileofballoons.Frankiehandedme50centsandafork.“Popone!”heurged.Withtearsinmyeyes,Ibrokeone.Apieceofpaperfelloutoftheballoon.“Whatdoesitsay?”Frankieasked.“Fiftycents,”Iwhispered,toomovedtospeakloudly.Frankieasked,“Well,doyouhave50cents?”Ihandedhimthemoney.“OK!”ThenFrankiepulledoutabananasplitfromtherefrigerator.IhuggedFrankiehard.WetookturnspoppingtheotherballoonsuntilIfinallygotthe1-centballoon.Itwasalong-timecoming,butworththewait.Ithitmethatthefirststepinmakinganywishcometrueisgivingitavoice.1、TheauthorreadthechaptertoFrankiebecause.A．shewantedtogetfeedbackfromFrankieB．FrankieaskedtheauthortoreadittohimC．shewasusedtotellingabedtimestorytohimD．Frankiehadastrongdesireforknowledge2、Whatcanweinferabouttheauthorfromthesecondparagraph?A．Shespentmoneywiselywhenshewasakid.B．Shehadenoughmoneytodowhateversheliked.C．Sheearnedherpocketmoneybydoinghousework.D．Shehadnoclosefriendstosharehersecretwish.3、SeeingwhatFrankiedidforher,theauthorfelt.A．comfortableandhappy B．puzzledandexcitedC．a(chǎn)wkwardandsatisfied D．surprisedandgrateful4、Theauthorlearnedthat.A．itisimportanttoexpressone’swishesB．itiscomfortingtohaveakidaroundC．experiencesinchildhoodaffectuslaterinlifeD．wishescancometruebyjustvoicingthem22．（8分）KidsConnectisacampspecificallyforchildrenwithphysicalandmildintelligencedisabilitiesaged9-16(Singleconsiderationgiventothoseovertheageof16).ItisheldinBlockhouseBay,Auckland.Occasionallywerequiremeetingachildbeforecamptoensureweareabletomeettheirneedsduringthecamp.Acceptanceisnotautomatic,butatthedecisionofthecampdirector.Ourcampsareconductedbyexperiencedstaff.Wetakeeveryefforttogiveyourchildrenasafeandenjoyableweekend.Ouraimisthateverychildcomesawaywithlastingmemoriesofwhattheyhaveexperienced,exploredandenjoyedatourcamp.Wefocusonbuildingstrong,healthyrelationshipswithotherchildren(withandwithoutphysicaldisabilities)andwithgroupleaders.Wehaveaweekendpackedfullofactivities,actionandfun.●Teamgamesandcompetitions,songs●Cross-countryraceonawheelchairaccessibletrack●Motorcycling●Processdesign●Discussions,greatfoodandloadsoffun!Thecampfeeisapproximately$135(subjecttochange).WealsoacceptpaymentbywayofMinistryofHealthcarersupportforms.Dayvisitsandratescanbeorganizedonapersonalbasisifafullweekendstayisunsuitable.Foraregistrationformorformoreinformation,pleaseemailinfo@cbm.org.nzorphone096305271KidsConnectBox8774,SymondsStreetAuckland1150Website:www.cbm.org.nz1、Whoisthetextmainlywrittenfor?A．Outdoorenthusiasts. B．Internationaltravelers.C．Teenagers. D．Parents.2、Whatcanchildrendoatthecamp?A．Learntocook. B．Enjoyoutdooractivities.C．Practicefavoritehobbies. D．Carryoutresearchactivities.3、Whatisthemainpurposeofthetext?A．Toattractchildrentothecamp. B．Toexplaintheaimofthecamp.C．Totalkaboutcampingexperiences. D．Todescribetheprogramsofthecamp23．（8分）Wehavesomefriendswhoseemasiftheyunderstandandappreciateyou,butreallytheymightnot.AgirlnamedNevaehwasabouttofindafriendthatshethoughtunderstoodher,butsheactuallydidn't.WhenNevaehwasinkindergartenshedidn'thavefriends.Everytimeshewantedtomakesometheywouldjustwalkaway.ThathappeneduntilshewenttothethirdgradewhenagirlnamedBrookesaidhellotoher.Nevaeh,ashygirl,didn’tanswer.SinceNevaehhadnofriendstotalkto,hermouthwouldcloseup.AfterknowingNevaehwasshyandneededfriends,Brookewouldn'tleaveNevaehssideandalwaystalkedtoher.Nevaehstartedtalkingmoreandwaslessshy.OnceBrooketookhertoherfriends.Therewereonlythreegirls,Karla,Mariana,andIsela,butNevaehwasfinewithit.Atleastshehadfriends.Theygotalongverywellandhadafewthingsincommon.Whentheywerefinallyinmiddleschool,BrookeandNevaehbecamebestfriends,butastheygotolder,theychanged.WhenNevaehchangedthewayshelookedandacted,Brookedidn'tlikeit.Brookestartledtojudgeher,andmakeherwearstuffthatshedidn’tlike.TheyhadargumentsaboutthewavNevaehwantedtolook,andhowBrookedidn'tlikewhatshewore.Nevaehwasn’tsureifshecouldreallytrustBrookeanymore.ThatwasuntilshemetSusanwhounderstoodNevaehanddidn’tjudgeherbyherlooks,buthadthesameinterestsasNevaeh.Theylikedtodressinthesamekindsofthingsandhadsimilarhobbies.NevaehreallylikedSusanbecausesheneverjudgedher.Whentheyweretalkingabouttheirinterestsitwasliketheyhadknowneachotherforalonglime.Nevaehwasstillfriendswiththeothergirls,andwashappythatshefinallyhadsomeonethatunderstoodherandappreciatedher.1、Whatdoestheunderlinedword"she”inthefirstparagraphreferto?A．Susan.B．Karla.C．Brooke.D．Nevaeh.2、WhydidNevaehhavenofriendsinkindergarten?A．Shedidn'twantfriendsB．Shewasn’tacceptedbyothers.3、HowdidNevaehreacttoBrooke'sjudgmentonher?A．Sherejectedit.B．Shetoleratedit.C．Shecorrectedit.D．Sheappreciatedit.4、WhatwasSusanlikeaccordingtothetext?A．Braveandhelpful.B．Smartandhumorous.C．Sincereandsupportive.D．Cleverandhard-working.24．（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(guò))thepreviousrecord—37atthesametimesentintospacebyRussiain2014.Wednesday’slaunchwasanothersuccessfortheIndianSpaceResearchOrganization(ISRO),whichisrapidlygainingareputationgloballyforitseffectiveyetlow-costmissions.Indiahadalreadysentupdozensofsatellites,including20inonelaunchlastyear.In2014,IndiabecamethefirstAsiannationtosendaprobe(探測(cè)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$300billion25．（10分）You’veprobablyheardaboutsportscoaches,fitnesscoaches,vocalmusicteachers,careercounselors，psychiatrists(精神病醫(yī)師)andotherspecialistswhoteachskillsandhelpuscopewithdailylife.Butthere’sarapidlygrowingkindofprofessionalwhodoesalittlebitofeverything.Sheorheiscalleda“l(fā)ifecoach”.Peoplewhoareatcrossroadsintheirlivesandcorporationsthatwanttogivecertainemployeesacareerboostareturningtothemforhelp.Theideathatoneperson’ssuccessstorycanchangeotherpeople’slivesforthebettergoesbackatleasttothe1930s.DaleCarnegie’sfamousself-improvementprogram“HowtoWinFriendsandInfluencePeople”camealongsoonthereafter.Butthisnewstyleoflifecoachesincludesmorethanenthusiasticspeakersorwriters.Theyusetheirownexperiencesinbusiness,sports,militaryservice,orpsychotherapy(心理療法)tohelpothersmakecriticallifedecisions.Theyoftengivetheirapproachaslogan,suchas“energycoaching”or“fearlessliving”or“workingyourselfhappy”.DaveLakhaniinBoise,Idaho,forinstance,workswithsalespeopletodevelopwhathecallsa“roadmap”.Hesaysanongoingrelationshipwithacoachislikehavingapersonalfitnesstrainerforone’scareerandlifeoutsidework.Lakhani’sBoldApproachcoachingfirmalsodonatessomeofitstimetohelppeoplewhoareanythingbutsuccessful—includingbatteredwomenandstrugglingsinglemothers.Butothersintheso-called“helpingprofessions”arenotthrilledaboutthelife-coachingmovement.Theysaythatanyone,trainedoruntrained,cancallhimselforherselfalifecoach,andthatslick(華而不實(shí)的)promoterswhomesswithpeople’slivescandomoreharmthangood.1、Whichofthefollowingisthebesttitleforthepassage?A．WorkingYourselfHappyB．LifeCoachesHelpwithToughDecisionsC．HowtoCopewithDailyLifewithLifeCoachesD．TheLife-CoachingMovement2、Theunderlinedphrase“l(fā)ifecoach”inParagraph2means“”.A．thecareercounselorwhoteachesskillsB．thepsychiatristwhohelpsuscopewithdailylifeC．thefitnesscoachwhoteachesuslessonsD．thespecialistwhohelpsusmakeimportantlifedecisions3、Thelastparagraphismainlyabout.A．theintroductionsoflifecoachB．thedisagreementsoflifecoachC．theeffectsoflifecoachD．theexperiencesoflifecoach4、Whatistheauthor’sattitudetowardslifecoaches?A．Cautious. B．Approving.C．Casual. D．Disapproving.第三部分語(yǔ)言知識(shí)運(yùn)用（共兩節(jié)）第一節(jié)（每小題1.5分，滿(mǎn)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）Mother’sDay,2017wasthelasttimethatallmythreekidswouldbekidsathome.Iwas1aMother’sDaytoremember.Thatmorning,Igotupearlyandleftfor2.TheboysandIweregoing3,notunusual,soIexpectedthetimeI’dhavewiththethreeofthemsurroundingmeduringbreak.Ienteredtheofficeaftermyclass,4thecrowdfortheirfaces.Ididn’tfindtheboys,butwasn’ttooworried5theirclassesoftenranlate.Ifoundarowwithplentyofroomforallthefourofus,6spotsformyhandsomeyoungmen.ThelongerIsatthere,themore7andangryIgot.Howcouldthey8theirmotheronthisofalldays?Icouldn’t9mywork,onlyonhowI’dbeenwronged.10thetimethelastmorningclassended,Icouldhardlywaittogethomeandgivethemapieceofmymind.Arrivinghome,Inoticedapileofrosesontheground.Ilookedcloserandsawtheywerethe11ofatrackmadefromfreshflowers,whichledtoourroom.AsI12theflowers,thedoorgotopenedandthree13facesgreetedme.Theyletmeseewhatthey’dbeenworkingonall14.15theentirefloorwerethewords,HappyMother’sDay,WeLoveYou.Theywerespelledoutwith16.Thespacewas17withthesweetnessofrosesandotherflowers.They’daskedforaleaveandworkedallmorning,gatheringthefreshflowersand18themintoasurprisingmessage.IimmediatelyrealizedI’dbeenhurryinginmy19ofthesituation.WhileIhadbeenfeelingunloved,theyhadspenttheirtimewritinga20toshowhowmuchtheyreallycared.1、A．a(chǎn)llowingB．realizingC．expectingD．declaring2、A．churchB．hospitalC．shoppingD．work.3、A．completelyB．separatelyC．a(chǎn)ctuallyD．sincerely4、A．a(chǎn)skingB．leavingC．callingD．searching5、A．becauseB．thoughtC．untilD．once6、A．changingB．savingC．choosingD．marking7、A．hurtB．a(chǎn)bsurdC．guiltyD．confident8、A．cheatB．consumeC．ignoreD．frighten9、A．focusonB．throwawayC．cutdownD．figureout10、A．SinceB．ForC．inD．By11、A．introductionB．beginningC．requirementD．ending12、A．followedB．selectedC．smelledD．picked13、A．shoutingB．smilingC．flyingD．running14、A．dayB．nightC．a(chǎn)fternoonD．morning15、A．DiscoveringB．TransformingC．CoveringD．Replacing16、A．booksB．flowersC．hardshipD．effort17、A．eye-catchingB．tastyC．preciousD．a(chǎn)live18、A．pushingB．trickingC．a(chǎn)rrangingD．urging19、A．changeB．improvementC．judgmentD．explanation20、A．messageB．wordC．letterD．promise第二節(jié)（每小題1.5分，滿(mǎn)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(hào)內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。27．（15分）Nothingcancomparetothewarmhugofaperson,butwhenthereisnooneelsearound,thislittleJapanese1．(invent)candothejobquitewell.It2．(call)the"tranquilitychair",3．backisshapedlikegianthumandollwitha4．(friend)faceandlongarmsthatcanwraparoundyouinanaffectionatehug.ThechairistheproductofaJapanesecompany."Itmakesyoufeelsafe,"said5．spokesmaninthatcompany."6．itisspeciallydesignedfortheold,anyonecanuseit."GiventhataquarterofJapan'spopulationis7．(current)overtheageof65,andthenumberisexpectedtorise8．40%inthecomingdecades,thetranquilitychairisreallyquitesuitablefortheJapanesemarket.Thecompanyhasalsocomeupwithasimilarproductlike"LifeRhythmDolls",whichareprogrammed9．(remind)theuserstotaketheirmedicineontime.Meanwhile,thespokesmanexplainedthatthehuggingchairisalsodesignedtohelpdementia(癡呆)patientsaswellaspeople10．(suffer)fromanxiety,fearoruncontrollableanger.第四部分寫(xiě)作（共兩節(jié)）第一節(jié)短文改錯(cuò)（滿(mǎn)分10分）28．（10分）假定英語(yǔ)課上老師要求同桌之間交換修改作文，請(qǐng)你修改你同桌寫(xiě)的以下作文。文中共有10處語(yǔ)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(hào)（∧），并在其下面寫(xiě)出該加的詞。刪除：把多余的詞用斜線(xiàn)（\）劃掉。修改：在錯(cuò)的詞下劃一橫線(xiàn)，并在該詞下面寫(xiě)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。Whenholidaysdrawnearly,peopleusuallygreetedeachotherinavarietyofways、Somepeopleoftengoonthelineandsende-mailsorelectroniccardstotheirfriends,relativesandteachersthatothersprefertomakephonecallsorsendshortmessagesbymobilephone、Inaword,peoplechoosedifferentlytoexchangetheirbestwishduringourholidays、Astome,I’dlikesende-mailsorelectroniccards、First,itcostslittleandnomoney、What’smore,alotofpaperissaving,whichisenvironmentallyfriendly、第二節(jié)書(shū)面表達(dá)（滿(mǎn)分25分）29．（25分）假如你是李華，你發(fā)現(xiàn)共享單車(chē)，共享汽車(chē)，共享雨傘……越來(lái)越多的共享商品進(jìn)入我們的生活。共享經(jīng)濟(jì)給生活帶來(lái)了很多便利的同時(shí)，許多問(wèn)題也隨之而來(lái)：缺乏監(jiān)管（supervisionn.）的市場(chǎng)，誠(chéng)信不夠的商家，惡意毀壞物品的用戶(hù)等等。請(qǐng)你給校報(bào)寫(xiě)封信，發(fā)表你對(duì)于共享經(jīng)濟(jì)的看法。注意：1.詞數(shù)100左右，信的開(kāi)頭己經(jīng)給出，不計(jì)入總詞數(shù)。2.可以適當(dāng)增加細(xì)節(jié)，使行文連貫。___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

參考答案第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿(mǎn)分30分）1、C2、A3、D4、C5、A6、B7、B8、D9、B10、A11、B12、D13、C14、D15、C16、C17、A18、B19、A20、B第二部分閱讀理解（滿(mǎn)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、B2、C3、D4、A22、1、D2、B3、A23、1、C2、B3、A4、C24、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,watchingthewavesbreak.ItseemedthateveryoneIpassedsmiled.AndIknewtheyallrememberedtheirfirst