2023-2024學(xué)年江蘇省無錫市高二上學(xué)期期初考英語質(zhì)量檢測模擬試題(含解析)

2023-2024學(xué)年江蘇省無錫市高二上學(xué)期期初考英語質(zhì)量檢測模擬試題第一部分 聽力（共兩節(jié)，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）第一節(jié) 聽下面5段對話。每段對話后有一個小題，從題中所給的A、B、C三個選項(xiàng)中選出最佳選項(xiàng)。聽完每段對話后，你都有10秒鐘的時(shí)間來回答有關(guān)小題和閱讀下一小題。每段對話僅讀一遍。1. Whatdoesthemanliketodobest?A.Playingbasketball. B.Readingbooks. C.Writingshortstories.2. WhereistheFriendshipHotel?A.Oppositeabank. B.Ontheleftside. C.Nearacorner.3. Whatdoesthewomanwanttodoonthevacation?A.Gototheseaside. B.Climbmountains. C.Haveagoodrest.4. WhatwillthewomandoaftershegetstoNewYork?A.Visittheman’sfamily. B.Givethemanacall. C.Lookforajob.5. Whatwillthemanprobablyeatfordinner?A.Pizza. B.Frenchfood. C.SnacksinKFC.第二節(jié) 聽下面5段對話或獨(dú)白。每段對話或獨(dú)白后有幾個小題，從題中所給的A、B、C三個選項(xiàng)中選出最佳選項(xiàng)。聽每段對話或獨(dú)白前，你將有時(shí)間閱讀各個小題，每小題5秒鐘；聽完后，各小題將給出5秒鐘的作答時(shí)間。每段對話或獨(dú)白讀兩遍。聽第6段材料回答第6、7題。6. Whatisthemandoingwhenheseesthewoman?A.Sitting. B.Running. C.Walking.7. Howdoesthemanadvisegoingtothesupermarket?A.Bytaxi. B.Bysubway. C.Onfoot.聽第7段材料，回答第8、9題。8. Whoshouldthewomanaskforasickleave?A.Herdepartmentmanager. B.Thepersonneldepartment. C.Thedirectorofthecompany.9. Howlongcanstaffstakeoffworkforasickleavewithoutaffectingthesalary?A.Oneweekatmost. B.Threedays. C.Itdependsondifferentsituations.聽第8段材料，回答第10至12題。10. Whatdidthetwospeakersdoyesterdayafternoon?A.Theyplayedfootball. B.Theywatchedafootballmatch. C.Theyhadahikingmatch.11. Howdidthewomangethurtyesterdayafternoon?A.Shefelloffherbike. B.Shewashitbythefootball. C.Shewasbeatenbysomeone.12. Whattimedidthematchbeginyesterdayafternoon?p.m.t3:00p.m. B.At3:10p.m. C.At3:20p.m.聽第9段材料，回答第13至16題。13. Whatdoesthewomanwanttobuy?A.Atravelguidebook. B.Anundergroundticket. C.Amap.14. HowmanybasstopsarethereinLondoninall?A.Over15,000. B.Over16,000. C.Over17,000.15. Whatcoloristhedistrictundergroundline?A.Yellow. B.Green. C.White.16. HowmanyinternationalairportsinLondon?A.Three. B.Four. C.Five.聽第10段材料，回答第17至20題。17. WhatwillthetemperaturebeatthebottomoftheGrandCanyonfourhourslater?A.26°C. B.41°C. C.43°C.18. Whatisthemostimportantthingtobringwhenhiking?A.Somemedicine. B.Enoughwater. C.Comfortableclothes.19. WhatisthemostcommoncauseofdeathintheGrandCanyon?A.Heatexhaustion. B.Fallingintoit. C.Gettingbittenbysnakes.20. Howmanypersonswillgohikingtogether?A.Three. B.Four. C.Five.第二部分 閱讀（共兩節(jié)，每小題2.5分，滿分50分）第一節(jié) 閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C和D四個選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)。ABritainisarguablythegreatwalkingnation.Abouttwo-thirdsofusalreadyheadouttostretchourlegsonceaweek.Thefollowingfestivalsofferawealthoforganizedwalks,butwalkersshouldregisterinadvance.PrestatynandClwydianRangefestivalVisitorstoWalestendtomovewest,toeitherthewell-worntracksofSnowdoniaorthePembrokeshireCoastPath.Thereare25walkspackedintothethreedays,withvariousoptionsavailable,includingahalf-mileRoman-themedadventure,aneight-milewalkexploringthelifeof18th-centuryWelshnaturalistandtravelwriterThomasPennantanda21-mileOffa’sDykechallenge.Allwalksarefree.Denbighshire,Wales,19-21MayOtleywalkingfestivalThislocalfestivalhasgrownfromhumbleoriginsin2000intoabusyscheduleof50short-distancewalksandeventscelebratingthelivesandlandscapesofWharfedaleinWestYorkshire.OnemightenjoytheFivePubsWalk,WalkingWithWine,FourMorePubsorLostPubsofOtley.Allwalksarefree,thoughthereissometimesasmallchargefortransport.Otley,WestYorkshire,24June-3JulyDartmooroffroadingwalkingfestivalDartmoordelights(使高興)walkersbecause,whiletracksaretheretobefollowed,thelackofwireandotherbarriers,andtherelativelysmallnumberoffarmbuildingsonthehigherground,createasensationoffreedom.Thesixfreewheelchairwalks,startingdailyat1lam,exploreDartmoor’sindustrialhistory,bronzeagevaluablesandVictorianrailwaybuilders.Devon,27August-2SeptemberGowerwalkingfestivalWithmoresuperbwalkingoptionsinsideasinglelandscapethanperhapsanywhereelse,theGowerpeninsula(半島)sometimesfeelsasifit’sallcoast.Thefurtherinformationforthisnine-dayfestival,celebratingthe10thanniversaryoftheWalesCoastPath(WCP),hasyettobefinalized.Halfofthewalksofferedduringthefestivalwillbeonthecoastalpath.￡10adults,over-sixes￡6.Glamorgan,2-10September21. Whichfestivalisfriendlytothedisabled?A.PrestatynandClwydianRangefestival. B.Otleywalkingfestival.C.Dartmooroffroadingwalkingfestival. D.Gowerwalkingfestival.22. WhatdoweknowaboutGowerwalkingfestival?A.Ithasthemostsuperbwalkingoptions. B.Halfofthewalkslastforawholeweek.C.It’saimedtoadvocatecoastalprotection. D.Thefinaldetailsremaintobeconfirmed.23. Whatdothelistedfestivalshaveincommon?A.Theyareofferedfreeofcharge. B.Theyrequirepriorregistration.C.Theytakeadvantageofthecoast. D.Theyarefavoredbyantiqueenthusiasts.BGeoffreyHinton,whohasbeencalledtheGodfatherofAl,workedpart-timeatGoogleforadecadeonthetechgiant’sAIdevelopmentandconfirmedonMondaythathelefthisroleatGoogle.“IleftsothatIcouldtalkaboutthedangersofAIwithoutconsideringhowthisimpactsGoogle,”Hintonsaidinatweet.“Googlehasactedveryresponsibly.”Hinton’sdecisiontostepbackfromthecompanycomesasagrowingnumberoflawmakers,advocacygroupsandtechinsidershaveraisedalarmsaboutthepotentialforanewcropofAI-poweredchatbotstospreadmisinformationandtaketheplaceofjobs.ThewaveofattentionaroundChatGPTlatelastyearhelpedstart,anarmsraceamongtechcompaniestodevelopandapplysimilarAItoolsintheirproducts.OpenAI,MicrosoftandGoogleareattheforefrontofthistrend,butIBM,Amazon,BaiduandTencentareworkingonsimilartechnologies.Inaninterviewlastweek,HintonexpressedconcernsaboutAI’spotentialtoreplacejobsandcreateaworldwheremanywill“notbeabletoknowwhatistrueanymore.”Healsopointedtotherapidpaceofadvancement,farbeyondwhatheandothershadanticipated.“Theideathatthisstuffcouldactuallygetsmarterthanpeople---afewpeoplebelievedthat,”Hintonsaidintheinterview.“Butmostpeoplethoughtitwaswayoff.AndIthoughtitwaswayoff.Ithoughtitwas30to50yearsorevenlongeraway.Obviously,Inolongerthinkthat.”“IbelievethattherapidprogressofAIisgoingtotransformsocietyinwayswedonotfullyunderstandandnotalloftheeffectsaregoingtobegood,”HintonsaidinanaddressattheIndian.InstituteofTechnologyBombayinMumbai.HenotedhowAIwillboosthealthcarewhilealsocreatingopportunitiesfordeadlyautonomousweapons.“Ifindthisprospectmuchmoreimmediateandmuchmorescarythantheprospectofrobotstakingover,whichIthinkisaverylongwayoff.”24. WhydidHintonquitGoogle?A.TodrivetheresearchonAI. B.TodrawourattentiontoGoogle.C.ToavoidharmingGoogle’sinterests. D.TospeakfreelyabouttherisksofAI.25. WhatfueledthecompetitionbetweencompaniesforAIdevelopment?A.Theemergingdangers. B.PublicinterestinChatGPT.C.Assistancefromtechgiants. D.Thetechnology-centeredtrend.26. WhatisimpliedinParagraph6?A.AIisalittle-studiedfield. B.AIisalong-termsolution.C.AImaydefeathumanintelligencesoon. D.AImayquicklyliveuptoourexpectations.27. WhatconcernsHintonmostnow?A.AI’spotentialtodoharmtoourlife. B.AI’sunreliableperformanceinhealthcare.C.Theapplicationofautonomousweapon. D.Thepossibilityofrobotstakingover.COtters(水獺)areknowntobeverysocialandintelligentcreatures,butanewstudybytheUniversityofExeterhasgivennewinsightintotheirintellect.Researchersgaveotters“puzzleboxes(智力訓(xùn)練箱)”,someofwhichcontainedfamiliarfood,2whileothersheldunfamiliarnaturalprey(獵物)—shorecrabandbluemussels,whichareprotectedbyhardoutershells.Forthefamiliarfood-meatballs,afavoritewiththeAsianshort-clawedottersinthestudythescientistshadfivedifferenttypesofboxes,andthemethodtoextract(提取)thefoodchangedineachversion,forexamplepullingataboropeningacap.Theunfamiliarfoodpresentedadditionalproblemsbecausetheottersdidnotknowifthecrabandmusselsweresafetoeatandhadnoexperienceofgettingthemoutoftheirshells.Inordertodecidewhetherfoodwassafeanddesirabletoeat,theotters,whichliveatNewquayzooandtheTamarOtterandWildlifeCentre,watchedintently(專注地)astheircompanionsinspectedwhatwasintheboxesandmimickedtheirbehavioriftheotherotterssampledthetreats.However,theypreferredtospendmoretimetryingtofigureouthowtoremovethemeatfromtheshellsontheirownandreliedlessontheactionsoftheircompanions.Ofthe20othersinthestudy,11managedtoextractthemeatfromallthreetypesofnaturalprey.“Muchoftheresearchintotheextractiveforaging(覓食)andlearningcapabilitiesofottershascenteredonartificialfoodpuzzles,”saidtheleadauthor,AtexSaliveros,oftheCentreforEcologyandConservationonExeter’sPenrymcampusinCormwall.“Here,wewereinterestedininvestigatingsuchskillsinthecontextofunfamiliarnaturalfood,aswellasinrelationtoartificialfoodpuzzles.”O(jiān)theranimalsemploysociallearningtodecidewhatissafetoeat:rats,forexample,prefernovelfoodtypesthattheyhavesmelledonthebreathofotherrats.Scientistshopethatunderstandinghowotterscopewithunfamiliarforagedfoodintheirnaturalenvironmentcanhelpthemtraintheanimalstosurviveinthewild.Thecaptive(圈養(yǎng)的)ottersinthisstudyinitiallystruggledwithnaturalprey,buttheyshowedtheycanlearnhowtoextractthefood,”saidSaliveros.“Ourfindingssuggestthatifyougiveoneotter’pre-releasetraining,itcanpasssomeofthatinformationontoothers.”28. WhatisParagraph2mainlyabout?A.Thepurposeoftheresearch. B.Theprocessofextractingthefood.C.Thediscoveryoftheintellect. D.Thewaysofpresentingthefood.29. Whatdoestheunderlinedword“mimicked”probablymeaninParagraph3?A.Copied. B.Influenced. C.Translated. D.Monitored.30. Whatdoesthenewstudyfocuson?A.Changesinotters’learningcapabilities.B.Otters’newresponseinartificialfoodpuzzles.C.Otters’learningskillsindifferentcircumstances.D.Relationshipsbetweenotters’variouslearningskills.31. What’sthesignificanceofthefindings?A.Theymayhelpextractthefood. B.Theyimproveotters’intelligence.C.Theycanaidconservationefforts. D.Theyjustifytheearlyreleaseofotters.DHousingofficialssaythatlatelytheyarenoticingsomethingdifferent:studentsseemtolackthewill,andtheskill,toaddressordinaryconflicts.“Wehavestudentswhoaremadateachotherandtheytexteachotherinthesameroom,”saysateacher.“Somanyofourconflictsarebecausekidsdon’tknowhowtotackleaproblembyformaldiscussion.”Andasanypoppsychologistwilltellyou,bottledemotionsleadtosilentdiscontentthatcanboiloverintofrustrationandanger.AttheUniversityofFlorida,emotionalconflictsoccouraboutonceaweek,theuniversity’sdirectorofhousingeducationsays.“Overthepastfiveyears,roommateconflictshaveincreased.Thestudentsdon’thavetheperson-to-persondiscussionsandtheydon’tknowhowtohandlethem.”Theproblemismostdramaticamongfreshmen;housingprofessionalssaytheyseeimprovementasstudentsmovetowardgraduation,butsomeneverseemtocatchon,andtheyworryabouthowsuchstudentswilldealwithconflictsaftercollege.AdministratorsguessthatrelianceoncellphonesandtheInternetmayhavemadeiteasierforyoungpeopletoavoiduncomfortableencounters.Whyexpressangerinpersonwhenyoucanventinatext?“Thingsarepostedonsomeone’swallonlike:Oh,myroommatekeptmeupallnightstudying,”saysDanaPysz,anassistantdirectorattheUniversityofCalifornia,LosAngeles.”It’sadifferentwaytoexpresstheirconflicttoeachother,consequentlycreatingevenmoreconflictsascomplaintsgopublic.”InrecentfocusgroupsatNorthCarolinaStateUniversity,dormresidentssaidtheywouldnotevenconfrontnoisyneighborsontheirfloor.Administratorspointtoparentswhohavefixedtheirchildren’sproblemsintheirentirelives.Nowincollege,thechildrenlacktheskillstoattendtoevenmodestconflicts.Someparentscontinuetointerfereoncampus.32. Whatisthemainreasonformanyroommateconflicts?A.Studentsarenotgoodatreachinganagreementabouttheproblems.B.Studentsarenotsatisfiedwitheachother.CHousingdirectorsarenotresponsibleforthem.D.Studentsarenotstrong-willed.33. Whatdowelearnfromthesecondparagraph?A.Students,especiallyfreshmen,shouldbottleuptheirdissatisfaction.B.Allstudentsarenotabletohandleconflictsbythetimetheygraduate.C.StudentsinFloridasitdownandhaveaperson-to-persontalkonceaweek.D.Thenumberofconflictsamongroommateshasdecreasedduringthepastfiveyears.34. WhatistheattitudeofDanaPyszwhenhementionsroommatesrevealtheirconflictsinthemedia? A.Eagerness. B.Indifference. C.Empathy. D.Disapproval.35. Whatshouldparentsdoaccordingtothepassage?A.Theyshouldbeinvolvedintheirchildren’slifeoncampus.BTheyshoulddealwiththeirchildren’sproblemsintheirwholelives.C.Theyshouldconstantlycontacttheadministratorsofthecollege.D.Theyshouldteachtheirchildrentheskillstotackletheconflicts.第二節(jié) 閱讀下面短文，從短文后的選項(xiàng)中選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。選項(xiàng)中有兩項(xiàng)為多余選項(xiàng)。Today’sstudentsaresurroundedbyinformation.Theabilitytofigureoutexactlywhyauthorswrite---andnotaccepteveryopinionasfact---isakeyskill._____36_____Thefollowingstrategiesteachthemhowtofigureoutwhyauthorsreallywrite.Startwithwhy.“Whydidtheauthorwritethispiece?”isthekeyquestionaskedtoidentifyauthor’spurpose.Tohelpstudentsexpandtheirunderstandingof“why,”postvarioustypesofnonfiction(anadvertisement,opinionarticle,newsarticle,etc.)aroundyourclassroomandhavestudentsquicklyidentifyapurposeforeach._____37_____Talkaboutstructure.Authorsusedifferentstructuresfordifferentpurposes.Forexample,oneauthormayusetimeordertoexplainanevent,whileanotherauthorusescompareandcontrasttoputthateventintocontext._____38_____Oftenwhenauthorswrite,they’retryingtogetreaderstofeelacertainway.Perhapstheauthorofanarticleaboutwhaleconservationwantsreaderstofeelsadaboutthedifficultsituationofwhales.Ortheauthorofalettermaywanttomaketherecipientfeelbetteraboutasituation.Afterstudentsreadatext,stopandaskHowdoyoufeel?Andhowdidtheauthorgetyoutofeelthisway?Connectittostudents’ownwriting.Itdoesn’thavetobesaidthatwritingandreadinggohandinhand._____39_____Whenstudentsareaskedtowriteaboutatopicthattheythinkeveryoneshouldknowabout,toexplainaprocedureortoshareapersonalmemory,they’llbecomemoreconsciousofhowauthorsapproachwriting.Observehowpurposechangeswithinatext.Author’spurposeisoftenstudiedthroughthetextasawhole,butauthorshavedifferentreasonsforwritingwithintextsaswell._____40_____Then,theymaylaunchintoalistoffactsthatmakethereaderfeeldiscouragedaboutthesituation.Andfinally,theymayconcludewithanappeal.Takeashortarticleandbreakitapart,identifyingthedifferentpurposessothatstudentsseehowauthor’spurposechangesastheyread.AGettotheheart.B.Identifythetopic.C.Thereadersmaygetmoreadvancedintheirworkwithinformationaltext.D.Forexample,anauthormayincludeafunnyanecdote(軼事)todrawthereaderin.E.Inparticular,they’llneedtofigureoutauthor’spurposeanddrawtheirownconclusions.F.Expandstudents’awarenessofwhypeoplewritebyhavingthemwritefordifferentpurposes.G.OrkeeparunningAuthor’sPurposeboardwithalistofthevariousreasonsthatauthorswrite.第三部分 語言運(yùn)用（共四節(jié)，滿分45分）第一節(jié) 閱讀短文，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個選項(xiàng)中選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。(共10題；每小題1分，滿分10分)I’dlovetohavebeenajournalist,butIwasn’t__41__enough.Iwasalwaysabletowriteagoodletter---Ijustcouldn’tstareatablanksheetofpaperand__42__astory.ButIwentintoadvertisingafteruniversityand__43__fellinlovewithit.Ialwayshadthe__44__ofspeech.Iwasschooledatthedimmertable.Myfatherusedto__45__arguments,sayingweneededtolearnhowtoexpressouropinion.Itcouldgetpretty__46__.AtschoolIendedupbeingcaptainoflotsofthingsnotbecauseIwasthebestplayerbutbecauseIcould__47__peopletodothings.Ilearntthatyoudon’thavetobethemostacademically__48__,oreventhemostoriginalthinker__49__isabigpartofthebattle.NowonderIfeltathomeinadvertising.People__50__tostayinonecompanyalmostforlife;Iwasalwayslookingforthenext__51__tolearn.IgotintotheadvertisingindustryatOgilvy,thenwenttoGreyto__52__experienceintheProcterGambleaccount,andtoY&Rtogetcreativeexperience.It__53__menew-businessdirector.LaterIstartedmyownbusiness,HHCLwhichwasanamazing__54__.Mynextmovewillbeto__55__allmyskillsinpioneeringwork.Iknowthereisnoendtolearning.Iwillliveandlearn.41. A.brave B.serious C.creative D.humble42. A.listento B.referto C.putupwith D.comeupwith43. A.blindly B.merely C.immediately D.hardly44. A.gift B.habit C.secret D.style45. A.start B.avoid C.evaluate D.support46. A.funny B.heated C.simple D.boring47. A.get B.beg C.force D.allow48. A.outgoing B.dependent C.careful D.intelligent49. A.ambition B.responsibility C.honesty D.communication50. A.failed B.tended C.learned D.refused51. A.turn B.reason C.method D.chance52. A.gain B.share C.present D.exchange53. A.showed B.made C.offered D.brought54. A.solution B.discovery C.success D.schedule55. A.quit B.reflect C.employ D.change第二節(jié) 閱讀下面短文，在空白處填1個適當(dāng)?shù)膯卧~或括號內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。(共10題；每小題1分，滿分10分)Artsandcraftshaveawayofreinventingthemselves.Takeembroidery(刺繡)forinstance,itwaswithinthelastfiveyears_____56_____ithasexplodedthankstotalentedmakersthatinspirepeopleonsocialmedia.Paperquilling(衍紙紙藝)hashad_____57_____similarrise.Thelastseveralyears_____58_____(see)artistsreturningtothecraftdatingbacktocenturiesago.Likemanyformsofcraft,paperquillingcantrace_____59_____(it)originsbackhundredsofyearstoatleastthe15thcentury.FrenchandItaliannunsarebelieved_____60_____(create)it.Inadditiontoembroidery,it_____61_____(consider)“properpastime”foryoungwomenandwastaughtinboardingschools.Quillingistheartofhandmakingandarrangingsmallstripsofpaperintodetaileddesigns._____62_____(depend)onthedesiredshapeandappearanceitcanberolled,looped,twisted,andcurled.Glueisusedtosecurethepaperstripsintoplace.Paperquillingisadecorativeartandisknown_____63_____workslikefancyflourishesandflorals.Becauseofthisreputation,it’s_____64_____(common)usedonthingslikegreetingcards,boxes,jewelry,andmore.Butwithitsrecentsurgein_____65_____(popular),it’salsoseeninadvertisingcampaignsandpiecesyoumightfindinanartgallery.第三節(jié) 根據(jù)提示用所給詞的適當(dāng)形式填空（共10題；每小題1分，滿分10分）66. Themeetings____________tobeheldthisweekendhasbeendelayedforunexpectedreasons.67. Themuseumisopendailyt____________theyear,soyoumaygothereatyourconvenienceanyday.68. Thestudysuggestedthatthewideuseofc____________inagriculturehadcausedwaterpollutioninthisarea.69. Awonderfulideao____________tohimwhenhewaswalkingaimlesslyinthestreet.70. ____________(addict)tovideogames,hedidn’trealizethedangerisdrawingnear.71. Thebelli____________theendoftheclassrang,stoppingourheateddiscussion.72. Itisreportedthattheearthquakethats____________thecityyesterdaydestroyedthesystemofelectricitysupply.73. Youngpeoplemayriskgoingdeafife____________toveryloudmusiceveryday.74. Improvedconsumerconfidenceisimportanttoan____________(經(jīng)濟(jì)的)recovery.75. Thenewproductwhichwillcomeoutnextmonthisa____________(combine)oftraditionalmethodsandartificialintelligence.第四節(jié) 根據(jù)要求翻譯句子（共5題：每小題2分，滿分10分）76. 不管走到哪里，我們都努力去適應(yīng)當(dāng)?shù)氐娘L(fēng)俗習(xí)慣。(adaptto)77. 當(dāng)他還是個孩子的時(shí)候，每當(dāng)他母親試圖讀書時(shí)，他總是妨礙她。(intheway)78. 我們不應(yīng)該理所當(dāng)然地認(rèn)為在高考之前我們?nèi)杂泻芏鄷r(shí)間。(takeitforgranted)79. 毫無疑問，這位候選人的優(yōu)勢在于他能用英語與外國人交流。(liein)80. 由于許多野生動物逐漸滅絕，當(dāng)前形勢值得注意。(with復(fù)合結(jié)構(gòu)；deserve)第四部分書面表達(dá)（滿分25分）閱讀下面材料，根據(jù)其內(nèi)容和所給段落開頭續(xù)寫兩段，使之構(gòu)成一篇完整的短文。Iwassureeveryoneinmyjunior-highdramaclasssawthepaperinmyhandsshakingwhenIstooduptoaudition(試演)foralearoleintheannualChristmasplay.Iwasthere,notbychoice,butbecauseteacherAlicewantedeachofustotryoutforapart. Asa“good”student,IdidwhatIwasasked,evenifitwasscary.Iwassmallformyage,woresecondhandclothesandcriedeasily.Atschool,Iwasoftentheobjectofjokesandlaughterandhadfewfriends.Iwanteddesperatelytoshrinkbackintomyseatandbeinvisible.ButthereIwas,onstage.Readingwas,atleast,somethingIloved.So,Iread. Ifinishedreadingandrushedbacktomyseat.Thespellwas