2023屆江西省頂級名校高考壓軸卷英語試卷含解析

2023高考英語模擬試卷注意事項1．考生要認(rèn)真填寫考場號和座位序號。2．試題所有答案必須填涂或書寫在答題卡上，在試卷上作答無效。第一部分必須用2B鉛筆作答；第二部分必須用黑色字跡的簽字筆作答。3．考試結(jié)束后，考生須將試卷和答題卡放在桌面上，待監(jiān)考員收回。第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1．Johnonceworkedinaremotemountainvillageschool,whichis______onlyonfoot.A．a(chǎn)ccessible B．a(chǎn)cceptable C．a(chǎn)vailable D．a(chǎn)ppropriate2．________enoughmoney,theyoungmanwasunabletobuyhisgirlfriendexpensivejewelry.A．Nottosave B．NotsavingC．Nothavingsaved D．Notsaved3．Sofar,onlyonemanhas________atheorythatseemstofitallthefacts.A．comeupwith B．putupwithC．linedupwith D．caughtupwith4．If________intheelevator,pleasepresstheemergencybuttonimmediately.A．trappedB．trappingC．havingtrappedD．tobetrapped5．_____whattheysayaboutme,I’mgoingtocontinuemywork.A．Intermsof B．RegardlessofC．Insteadof D．Infavorof6．Anew________busservicetoTianjinAirportstartedtooperatetwomonthsago.A．common B．usualC．regular D．ordinary7．MayIspeaktoMr.Smith？Iamafraidnot.Heisatameetingnow.It'snot_____________A．reliable B．convenientC．beneficial D．a(chǎn)vailable8．—Peopleshouldstopusingtheircarsandstartusingpublictransport.—________.Theroadsaretoocrowdedasitis.A．Allright B．ExactlyC．Goahead D．Fine9．________thedangerofdrunkdriving,manydriverspromisednevertodriveafterdrinking.A．Realizing B．TohaverealizedC．Realized D．Havingrealized10．Theroomissoclean.He________havecleanedityesterdayevening.A．will B．needC．can D．must11．He______achancetotryitagainjustnow.A．gaveB．willgiveC．isgivenD．wasgiven12．IamsorryIamverybusynow.IfItime,Iwouldcertainlygotothemovieswithyou.A．have B．hadC．havehad D．hadhad13．Sympathyfortherebels,thegovernmentclaimed,isbeginningto______becauseofmoreandmoreharmtheydidtocommonpeople.A．fade B．decline C．fail D．collapse14．Taughtinamoreprofessionalway,you_________theswimmingskillmuchbetter.A．mightmaster B．wouldhavemasteredC．canhavemastered D．couldmaster15．Someschools,includingours,willhavetomake________inagreementwiththenationalsoccerreform.A．a(chǎn)musementsB．a(chǎn)djustmentsC．a(chǎn)ppointmentsD．a(chǎn)chievements16．InmanyhomesintheUK,thefirstperson_______hastomaketeaforthefamily.A．wakingup B．towakeupC．wokeup D．wokenup17．Iftheweatherhadbeenbetter,we______apicnicyesterday.A．musthavehad B．wouldhaveC．couldhavehad D．willhave18．IamabetterreaderthisyearthanIwaslastyearbecauseI________tohundredsofnewconceptsandideas.A．haveexposedB．hadbeenexposedC．havebeenexposedD．wasexposed19．_____tomanagetimewisely,andyoucanmakethemostoutofeachday.A．LearningB．TolearnC．LearnedD．Learn20．Alargenumberofexcellentfilms______allovertheworldoverthepastdecades.A．haveproduced B．havebeenproducedC．wereproduced D．produced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）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．worried22．（8分）Exercisecouldnotonlybenefityourbody,butalsoimproveyourmemory,researchersfoundrecently.IntheirpaperpublishedonMonday,researchersfromtheUniversityofCalifornia,IrvineintheUnitedStatesandtheUniversityofTsukubainJapanintroducedtheirexperimentandconclusion.Scientistsinvited36volunteerswhowereintheirearly20stodo10minutesoflightexercisebeforetakingamemorytestinwhichtheywereshownpictureslikebroccoli(西蘭花)orpicnicbasketsandaskedtorecallthemlater.Thesameexperimentwasrepeatedwiththesamegroupofvolunteerswithoutexercising."Thememorytaskwasreallyquitechallenging,saidMichaelYassa,co-authorofthestudyandaneuroscientist(神經(jīng)科學(xué)家)attheUniversityofCalifornia,Irvine."Weusedverytrickysimilaritemstoseeiftheywouldrememberwhetheritwasthisexactpicnicbasketversus(對抗)thatpicnicbasket."Researchersalsoscannedbrainsofsomeoftheparticipantsduringtheexperiment.Theyfoundstrengthenedcommunicationbetweenregionsinvolvedinthestorageandrecollectionofmemoriesinbrainsofthosewhohadexercised.Thissuggestedthatjust10minutesoflightexerciselikewalking,yogaorTaiChimightincreasememorypower.Asallthevolunteersintheexperimentwererelativelyyoung,researchersarestillworkingtolookattheeffectsoflightexerciseonolderpeople."Ourfuturegoalistotrytodevelopanexerciseprescription(處方)thatcanbeusedbyolderadultswhomighthavedisabilitiesormobilityimpairments,butcanstilladoptverysimpleexerciserulesoflifeandbeableto,perhaps,delaycognitivedeclinetemporarily,"saidYassa.1、Whatdidtheresearchersfindfromtheexperimentmentionedinthetext?A．Regularexerciseisofbenefittothememoryofallpeople.B．Justashortperiodofexercisebetteryoungpeople'smemorypower.C．Olderpeoplecanalsoimprovetheircognitivepowerbyexercisingregularly.D．AUthevolunteersintheexperimentimprovedtheirmemorythroughexercise.2、Whywasthememorytaskquitechallenging?A．Thelimetosolvethequestionswastoolimited.B．ThequestionsaskedbythescientistswereloocompHeated.C．Theitemstobedistinguishedwereextremelysimilar.D．Thepeopleintheexperimentweredisabled.3、What'sthepurposeofthetext?A．Tosolveaproblem.B．Togivepracticaladvice.C．Topresentaresearchresult.D．Totellaninterestingsotry4、Whatcanbeasuitabletitleforthetext?A．AdvantagesofExercisingRegularlyB．ExerciseIsBeneficialtoBothYoungandOldC．ExerciseCanImproveOlderPeople'sCognitivePowerD．TenMinutesofExerciseaDayMightImproveMemory23．（8分）Asagestureoffriendship,MayorYukioOzakiofTokyo,JapangaveWashington,DCagiftofmorethan3,000JapanesecherrytreesonMarch17,1912.Everyspring,thecherrytreesinWashington,DCtakebloom,beginningoneofthecountry’sloveliestcelebrations,theNationalCherryBlossomFestival(March17-April15).Bookyourtripnowtoseethisvibrantdisplayofpinkandwhiteinthiscityfullofhistory!Washington,DCCherryBlossomIn-DepthTourPrice:$45Available:Mar25-Apr15Duration:1DayHighlights:VisitWashington,DC;experiencethepeakperiodofcherryblossom(April8-12)Itinerary:GuestswouldstarttocelebratetheNationalCherryBlossomFestivalanddiscoverthebeautyofcherryblossoms.Next,wewillbeginoursightseeingcitytourincludingLincolnMemorial,WhiteHouse,USCapitol,MadameTussaudsWaxMuseum,WashingtonMonumentandInternationalSpyMuseum.ThenvisittheJeffersonMemorial,thebestlocationtoviewthecherryblossoms.Finally,guestsmayboardaPotomacRivercruisetoseethecityfromthewater.Thentourends.PriceIncludes:GroundTransportationServicefeeforthetourguide:$10/personAdmissionFees:DestinationAdultChildSeniorInternationalSpyMuseum(Optional)$21.95$14.95(3-12yrs)$19.95(Over65yrs)MadameTussaudsWaxMuseum(Optional)$23$17(3-12yrs)$20(Over65yrs)PotomacRiverCruise$26$18(3-12yrs)$23(Over65yrs)Note:Ifyouwouldliketojoinintheoptionalactivities,pleasepaythefeeincashtothetourguide.YoucannotbuytheticketsonyourownoruseCityPasses.Thetourguidewillarrangetheticketsforthegroup.1、OnMarch25,touristscanenjoy.A．thecherryblossomsinfullbloomB．theNationalCherryBlossomFestivalC．a(chǎn)discountedtourofacityfoilofhistoryD．theanniversarycelebrationofthegiftoftrees2、Thetourcoverstouristspotswithoutadmissionfees.A．four B．fiveC．seven D．eight3、Touristsaresupposedto.A．paytheservicefeeforthetourguideB．takecareofthegroundtransportationC．showtheCityPassattheticketofficeD．chooseatleastoneoptionaldestination4、Itcostsforyouandyourgrandpa(aged67)togoonthetour,withthewaxmuseumincluded.A．$156 B．$143C．$153 D．$10824．（8分）WhenIwasabout4yearsold，IdecidedtogotoDisneyWorld.Formostyoungkids，it'sanormalrequest，butIhadcerebralpalsy(腦癱).Walkingintoanywhere，letaloneacrowdedplacelikeDisneyWorldwas，toputitlightly，atallorder.Luckily，Ihadpeopleinmycornertohelpme.Overthenextthreeyears，Iworkedwithphysicaldoctors，acquiredawalker，andpracticedwalking，standing，andbalance—allskillsthatIwouldneedtoturnmygoalintoareality.Irememberthefeelingwhenmylegswouldprotestdoinganymorework.Despitethis，everyoneelsetoldmeIcoulddoit，soIkeptitup.Itwasallbecauseofpeoplelikemyparents，brothers，teachers，anddoctorsthatIwasabletogrowsomuch，bothphysicallyandmentally.Constantlypushingmeto“walkon，”yetencouragingmewheneverIneededit.OnJune9，2008，asIstoodinthetunnelleadingintoMainStreet，MydadaskedmeifIwantedanyhelp.Iinstantlyreplied，“No!”andsituatedmyselffacingtheendofthetunnel，feetplantedfirmly，heartmostlikelybeatingoutofmychest.ThenIwent，walkingeversoslowlyatfirst，thengraduallyspeedingup.Step，step，step，step，bump.Holdingfastontothehandlebars，Igatheredupallmystrength，pickedupmywalkerandstraightenedout，pickingupmypaceonceagain.Itwasn’ttoolongbeforethecheeringincreasedbecauseIhadmadeittotheend，wheremymomwaswaitingwithtearsinhereyesandarmsopenwidereadytohughersonandtellhimhowproudshewas.Lookingbackonthatexperience，Irealizesomethingprettythoughtful.Everyonceinawhile，lifewillthrowafewbumpsintheroad.Thoughitmaysetyoubackforabit，don’tletitstopyou.Pickyourselfbackupandfinish.It’sworthit.Besides，therejustmightbesomeonetherecheeringyouonalongtheway.1、Whichofthefollowingbestexplains“atallorder”underlinedinparagraph1?A．Aneasydecision.B．Anavailableaction.C．Areasonableorder.D．Achallengingtask.2、Whydoestheauthorsayhe’slucky?A．Heeventuallyhashisbraindiseasewellcured.B．Heconstantlygetscourageandsupportfromothers.C．Heislikelytodoanykindofworkinhislaterlife.D．Heisnaturallygiftedinkeepingbalanceonhisown.3、Theauthorgivesavividpictureofhimselfinparagraph3to______.A．explainhewasterrifiedtotakethefirststepB．describehetookprideinhismotherandfriendsC．showhowhemanagedtowalkbyhimselfD．provehowheunderstoodtorespectothers4、Whatcanbethebesttitleofthetext?A．WhereDreamsComeTrueB．WhenBadFortuneFallsC．HowIValueFriendshipD．WhyILookBackMyLife25．（10分）AskpeopleintheUKwhatthewords“Sundayroast”meantothem,andthey’llprobablytakeyoubacktotheirgrandmothers’diningrooms--–maybewithafewstoriesof“thegreatestpuddings”and“thebesteversteak”.ButnowthetraditionalSundayroastseemstohavebeenleftbackintheolddays.AccordingtotheDailyMail,justonein50Britishfamiliessitsdowntothisweeklymealtogether.Therearemanyreasonswhytheroastisbecominglesspopular.Inthebusymodernworld,wherebreakfastisasliceoftoasteatenonthewaytoworkorschoolandlunchisaquicksandwichinfrontofthecomputerscreen,peoplejustdon’tseemtohavethetimeorpatiencetomakearoast.AndSundaywasonceadaywhenpeoplecouldeasilygotothekitchentocook.Nowadays,peopleareoftenoutshoppingoratthecinemauntilit’sfartoolatetostartthinkingaboutheatingtheoven(烤箱)up.However,arecentarticlefromTheTelegraphwarnedagainstbeingcarriedawaybyourtightschedules:“Itwouldbeashametoletthisfineoldtraditiondisappear.”TheGuardianfurtherexplainedthattheeatingofthebigmealisonlythehalfofit.TheSundayroastalsomakesforrelaxedmorningactivitiesinthekitchen,andthetablebecomestheperfectplacetosharegoodfoodandchatwithfamilyandfriends.“Forbusymomsanddads,evenifyoucanmanagetoturnoffyourmobilephoneandtheTVonlyonceaweekandturntheSundayroastintoarealfamilyevent,childrencanhavefuncookingthefoodandclearinguptogether.”1、Thebesttitleforthepassageisprobably_____.A．Sunday—BestTimeforFamilyB．SundayRoastDyingOutC．It’sthePerfectTimeforUsD．Let’sSitDownTogether2、WhydopeoplepaylessattentiontoSundayroast?A．Theyhaveabusylifestyle.B．Theyhavenointerestincooking.C．Theydon’tthinkitworthwhile.D．Theyarelivinginthemodernsociety.3、Whatdoestheunderlinedword“it”inthelastparagraphreferto?A．Arecentarticle.B．Atraditionalkitchen.C．Thefineoldtradition.D．Sundaymorningactivity.4、HowdoestheauthorfeeltowardsSundayroast’sdyingout?A．Doubtful.B．Positive.C．Sorry.D．Uncertain.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）“It’stimetowakeup,Emily,”mymomsingsfromthekitchen.I1toopenmyeyes.Whydidn’tthealarmonmycellphonegooff?Soon,Irealizetodayisthedayformy2:“Adaywithouttechnology.”Ididn’trealizewhatIhadgottenmyselfintountilIwasdrivingtoschoolinmycarin3.Noradiobroadcastingmyfavoritesongs.Ihadtosingtomyself.AssoonasIgottoschool,IwenttothelibrarytoprintoutmyEnglishproject.“Uh-oh,”Ithought.“Thisisn’tallowed.”TheschooldaywentonandIfinallygrew4therule.Thiswasn’tso5!Icoulddothiseveryday.Idrovehomeafterschool,andmy6eventuallywentintoafterschoolmode,7onwhatIwouldeatforsupperandwhowouldbevotedoffAmericanIdollaterthatnight.The8thingIknew,IwaschattingwithmyfriendsonFacebook,checkingemailandwatchingavideoonYouTube,allatthesametime!Mymomwalkedinandherjawdropped.“Whathappenedtono9?”Sheaskedme.Ifrozeforthesecondtimethatdayandforcedmyselftogobacktoreality.Ihad10.Thisexperiment,whichmanyteenagerswouldneverhavethecouragetoattempt,wasactually11tome.Eventhoughmyattemptatgoingaboutmydaywithouttechnologywasafailure,IrealizedthatifIreallytried,Iwouldbecompletely12withoutmyaddictiontotechnology.Hey,wemayevenfindweliketalkingtoourfamiliesinsteadofwatchingTV.Wemight13abicyclerideorawalktotheparkinsteadoflookingatpagesandpagesofFacebookpictures.Thesedevicescertainlymakemylifeeasier,andIdefinitelywouldn’t14gettingridofthemaltogether,butIdobelievethelivesoftoday’steenagerswouldbeobviously15withoutourtechnologydependence.1、A．tryB．pretendC．refuseD．decide2、A．expectationB．explorationC．experienceD．experiment3、A．doubtB．silenceC．surpriseD．excitement4、A．interestedinB．a(chǎn)nnoyedwithC．impatientwithD．usedto5、A．hardB．easyC．strangeD．comfortable6、A．ruleB．planC．mindD．role7、A．a(chǎn)greeingB．concentratingC．countingD．depending8、A．oneB．firstC．lastD．next9、A．homeworkB．controlC．pressureD．technology10、A．improvedB．startedC．failedD．finished11、A．a(chǎn)vailableB．convenientC．beneficialD．a(chǎn)voidable12、A．fineB．terribleC．creativeD．successful13、A．quitB．enjoyC．hateD．regret14、A．suggestB．mindC．practiceD．prevent15、A．boringB．complicatedC．difficultD．different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）Haveyoueverhadacase1．a(chǎn)mistakehelpedyouunderstandanideaoraskill?Forme,itwassailing.ItookasailingclasswhenIwasinhighschool.NomatterhowmanytimesIreadthe2．(explain),Icouldnotunderstandthedifferencebetweena“tack"anda“jibe”twomethodsofturningaboatonemuch

3．(safe)thantheother.Later,oneday,whenIwassailing,aheavywind4．(blow)up.Weneededtoheadback,5．Imistookthe“tack”forthe“jibe”andpushedtheboatinthewrongdirection.BeforeIrealized6．

(I)mistake,itwastoolate.Luckily,noone7．(hurt).OnlyafterthisexperiencedidI

8．

(clear)understandthesailingphrase“turningonthewind”thatI

9．(read)somanytimesinthetextbook.Ineverconfuseda“jibe”witha“tack”again!NowIoftensharethisstory

10．mystudentsaftertheyhavemademistakes.Ihopetheycanlearnsomethingfromtheirmistakesandcorrecttheminsteadof

regrettingallday.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。LiMingisafriendofmine.I'mgladhechangedgreatlyinthepasttwoyears.Iclearlyrememberhewasquitefattwoyearsbefore.Hegottiredsoeasythathecouldn'ttakeexercise,thatmadehimveryupset.Later,herealizedunlesshewentonlikethat,hewouldendupachievenothing.So,hemadeuphismindstomakeachange.Hewentrunningeverymorningandplayedthebasketballeveryafternoon.Besides,hefollowedadietofmorevegetablesorlessmeat.Graduallyhebegantoloseweight.Heisnowanenergeticboyingoodhealth.Sowhenfacedwithproblems,weshouldovercomeitwithgreatdeterminationandstrongwillpower.第二節(jié)書面表達(dá)（滿分25分）29．（25分）假如你是一名英國學(xué)生Harry,有一位中國筆友LiHua想了解一下你的家鄉(xiāng)愛丁堡，請你根據(jù)提示回復(fù)一封電子郵件。注意：開頭部分已給出，不計入總詞數(shù)。愛丁堡：蘇格蘭的首府，政治和文化中心。人口：133萬。面積：260平方公里(squarekilometers)。地理位置：蘇格蘭(Scotland)的東南部。交通：機(jī)場位于市中心，公共交通十分便利。天氣：氣候溫和(mildclimate)。旅游：最受歡迎的旅游城市；古老建筑眾多；每年吸引200多萬名游客，是理想的度假勝地。詞數(shù)：110左右。DearLiHua,Howarethingswithyou?TodayI’mwritingtotellyousomethingaboutEdinburghwhichyouaskedaboutinthelaste-mail.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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、A4、A5、B6、C7、B8、B9、D10、D11、D12、B13、A14、B15、B16、B17、C18、C19、D20、B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、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)totheboneindrippingwaterandwehadnotasingledropofraininamonthormore.Ijustshookmyheadandclosedthedoorbehindhim.WhenIturnedaround.DiscoveredamazinglyhowfastCloudhadgoneaway!AfewdayslaterIwasreadingabookabouttheBattleoftheAlamowhenIdiscoveredthemostshockingthingIhadeverdiscovered.Thenamesofthe183defendersoftheAlamowerelistedontherollofhonor,includingDanielCloud,whospottedtheMexicansbeforetheytookoverthestreetsofSanAntonioinFebruaryof1836,andhispostwasontopoftheSanFemandoChurchw