廣西河池市校聯(lián)體2023-2024學(xué)年高二年級(jí)下冊(cè)第二次聯(lián)考英語試題（含答案）

2024年春季學(xué)期高二年級(jí)校聯(lián)體第二次聯(lián)考

英語

全卷滿分150分，考試時(shí)間120分鐘。

注意事項(xiàng)：

1.答題前，先將自己的姓名、準(zhǔn)考證號(hào)填寫在試卷和答題卡上，并將條形碼粘貼在答題卡上

的指定位置。

2.請(qǐng)按題號(hào)順序在答題卡上各題目的答題區(qū)域內(nèi)作答，寫在試卷、草稿紙和答題卡上的非

答題區(qū)域均無效。

3.選擇題用2B鉛筆在答題卡上把所選答案的標(biāo)號(hào)涂黑；非選擇題用黑色簽字筆在答題卡

上作答；字體工整，筆跡清楚。

4.考試結(jié)束后，請(qǐng)將試卷和答題卡一并上交。

5.本卷主要考查內(nèi)容：外研版選擇性必修第二冊(cè)U5?選擇性必修第三冊(cè)U2。

第一部分聽力（共兩節(jié)，滿分30分）

第一節(jié)（共5小題;每小題1.5分，滿分7.5分）

聽下面5段對(duì)話。每段對(duì)話后有一個(gè)小題,從題中所給的A、B、C三個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出最佳選

項(xiàng)。聽完每段對(duì)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(duì)話僅讀

一遍。

例：Howmuchistheshirt?

A.￡19.15.B.￡9.18.C.￡9.15.

答案是Co

1.Howwillthewomangettothestadium?

A.Bybus.B.Bytaxi.C.Bysubway.

2.Howdoesthemanfeelnow?

A.Frightened.B.Relieved.C.Happy.

3.Whywasthegirltalkinginclass?

A.Sheneededtoknowthepagenumber.

B.Sheremindedtheclasstopayattention.

C.Shewantedtomoveupclosertothefront.

4.Whatarethespeakersdoing?

A.Takingaphoto.B.Lookingatapicture.C.Havinghaircut.

5.Whereisthepostoffice?

A.OnStarStreet.B.Oppositealibrary.C.Besideabookstore.

第二節(jié)（共15小題；每小題1.5分，滿分22.5分）

聽下面5段對(duì)話或獨(dú)白。每段對(duì)話或獨(dú)白后有幾個(gè)小題，從題中所給的A、B、C三個(gè)選項(xiàng)

中選出最佳選項(xiàng)。聽每段對(duì)話或獨(dú)白前，你將有時(shí)間閱讀各個(gè)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(duì)話或獨(dú)白讀兩遍。

聽第6段材料，回答第6、7題。

6.Whydoesthemantalktothewoman?

A.Tomakeaninvitation.B.Tochangetheirplan.C.Tothankforinformation.

7.Whatdoesthewomanintendtodothisevening?

A.Seeaperformance.B.Buyticketsonline.C.Chatwithhisparents.

【高二英語第1頁（共8頁）】24573B

聽第7段材料，回答第8、9題。

8.Whatarethespeakersmainlytalkingabout?

A.Bookingahotel.B.Rentingacoach.C.Reschedulingaconference.

9.Whyisthewomanworried?

A.Thehotelisexpensive.

B.Theymightgooverbudget.

C.Theymustgetupearlyeachday.

聽第8段材料，回答第10至12題。

10.Whatistheprobablerelationshipbetweenthespeakers?

A.Friends.B.Motherandchild.C.Husbandandwife.

11.Howdoesthewomanthinkofworkingforheraunt?

A.Easy.B.Unimportant.C.Beneficial.

12.Whatdoesthemanadvisethewomantodowithherdecision?

A.Studyabroad.

B.Talktoherteacher.

C.Imaginehoweachchoicefeels.

聽第9段材料，回答第13至16題。

13.Whatdayisittoday?

A.Friday.B.Saturday.C.Sunday.

14.WhatdoesDavidthinkhelpedhimgettheletterfromHarvard?

A.Studyingtillmidnight.

B.Attendingcoursesonweekends.

C.Havinggoodlearninghabits.

15.WhydidDavidchooseHarvardUniversity?

A.Hisunclewasstudyingthere.

B.HehopestobeAndrew'sschoolmate.

C.Hehaswonascholarshiptoitthisyear.

16.WhatdoesDavidplantodobeforeSeptember?

A.Travelabroad.B.Visithisuncle.C.Workpart-timeinChina.

聽第10段材料，回答第17至20題。

17.Whoisthetargetaudienceofthespeaker?

A.Localcitizens.B.TouristsinEurope.C.Europeanslivingabroad.

18.WhatwillthehightemperatureinLondonbetoday?

A.2degrees.B.7degrees.C.10degrees.

19.HowwilltheweatherbeinParisthisafternoon?

A.Snowy.B.Cloudy.C.Misty.

20.Inwhichcitywillitbesunnytomorrow?

A.London.B.Paris.C.Berlin.

第二部分閱讀（共兩節(jié)，滿分50分）

第一節(jié)（共15小題；每小題2.5分，滿分37.5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)。

A

Herearethebestsummerdestinationstotraveltoforanamazingsummervacationwith

yourfolks!Readon,toknowmoreaboutalltheseexcitingplaces.

London—GapeattheBigBenTower

Londonisworld-famousforitsnicesummerweather,strictBritishguardsthatstand

outsidethehonourableBuckinghamPalace,andthedeliciousfishandchipsthatwillkeepyou

comingbackformore!Plus?it'sattractivefestivalslikeSt.Patrick'sDay,andBeerWeek

thattakeawesomenesstoanewlevelaltogether!

SuggestedDuration：4-7days

【高二英語第2頁（共8頁）】24573B

NewZealand—ScenicLandscapesforNatureLovers

NewZealandissurelyoneofthebestsummerdestinationsintheworldowingtothefact

thatitenjoyssummeryweatherwhenitiswinterinAsia,givingusaperfectexcusetogo

theretoescapethecold.Itsalsooneofthemostscenicandbeautifuldestinationsintheworld

owingtothesplendidlandscapesthatappeartobefromanotherplanetaltogether!

SuggestedDuration：3—4days

Iceland-WatchColoursBlendBeautifully

Icelandiswhereeverytravellerneedstogoifnatureandadventureiswhattheylove.

Thisplaceoffersnotonlybreathtakingviewsbutalsorefreshingexperiencesthatareenough

toenjoyrelaxationfromthehumidity（濕度）andheat.

SuggestedDuration：6—7days

BaliHoneymooner'sParadise

Offeringpostcard-likeviewsofthesunset,Baliisalsofamousforshoppinganditsyoga

retreats.Theattractiveculture,thepicturesqueislands,andtheawesomefoodareenoughto

makeyoubelievethatit'soneofthebestsummerholidaydestinationsintheworld.

SuggestedDuration：2—3days

21.Wherewillyougobackifyoulikechipsandfish?

A.London.B.NewZealand.C.Iceland.D.Bali.

22.WhenwillyouprobablygotoNewZealandifyouareanAsian?

A.December.B.September.C.May.D.June.

23.Whatisthetextprobablytakenfrom?

A.Atextbook.B.Areport.

C.Atravelbrochure.D.Aneducationpaper.

B

IrememberedanincidentwhenIwasateenagegirlclearly.Once,Iwastravellingby

trainwithmymumandmyeldersistertovisitmygrandparentsinanothercity.Itwasaday

journeyandweenteredtheladiescompartment（車室）ofthetrain.Itwascrowdedbutwegot

seatsandsettleddown.Wekeptourluggageundertheseatsandwaitedforthetraintostart.

Ladieskeptoncominginside.Theseatswerequicklytaken.Onlyoneseatwasempty

whenawomanwithababyentered.Shewasabouttogoovertotheemptyplacewhenabig

andstrongmanenteredandwalkedtotheseatquickly,sittingdownwithathump（重?fù)袈暎?

Therefore,theladywiththechildheldontoherbagandstoodinthecorner.Iwaswatching

allthisangrily.Iexpectedthewomanstandingthereoranyoftheotherladiestospeakoutto

askthemantoleavetheladiescompartment.

However,noonespoke.Mymumandmysisterhadtheireyesshuttorest,unawareof

anythingwrong.IdecidedIcouldnotdisturbthem.IcouldhaveofferedmyplacebutIwas

alreadysquashed（擠扁）betweenmymumandmysister.

Thetrainstarted.Thewomanstandingbesidethemanwasswayingtoandfrowiththe

train,withthescreamingchildinherarms.However,themanner-lessmanhadnoreaction.

Iwasveryangrywiththemanforhisbadbehaviour.Icouldnolongerbearit,soIdecidedto

helpthewomaninsomeway.Igotupandwalkedcalmlyovertotheman.Iaskedhimifhe

couldread.Hemadeabadfaceandsaidhecould.Next,Iaskedhimtoreadwhatwaswritten

onthebackofhisseat.Hedidsoandsaw“Ladies"onit.Hegotthepointandleftthe

compartmentinabighurry,almostfalling.

24.Whydidtheauthortakethetrainjourney?

A.Tovisithergrandparents.B.Tomovetoanothercity.

C.Tosurveyanincident.D.Tospendhersummerholiday.

【高二英語第3頁（共8頁）】24573B

25.Whatmadethewomanwithababyhavetostandinthecorner?

A.Thelastseatwasbroken.

B.Thebabywasunwillingtobeseated.

C.Astrongmantookthelastemptyseat.

D.Shewasfrightenedbyathump.

26.Whatdoestheunderlinedword“swaying“meaninParagraph4?

A.Swinging.B.Standing.C.Shouting.D.Walking.

27.Howdidtheauthormakethemanawareofhismistake?

A.Sheaskedhimtoleaveatonce.

B.Shefoughtwiththemanbravely.

C.Sheblamedhimforhismeanbehaviour.

D.Sheremindedhimtoreadthewordonthebackofhisseat.

C

Forbetterorworse,wemightbeintheAgeoftheGroupChat.Inarecentsurvey,most

peoplesaidtheyfeltstressedoutbygroupmessages,whichcanfeellikeapart-timejob.

Connectioniswonderful.Grexts,shortforgrouptexts,havethefeatureofimitating（模

仿）thecasualback-and-forthofadialogue,andtheresultcanbemoredynamicandfunthana

two-personthread.Havingachatgoingalsomeansyouhaveaspacetoshareyourupdates

throughouttheday,areminderthatyou'repartofsomething.

Someresearcherscallthis“ambient（周圍的）virtualpresence"：Evenwhenyou'realone,

you'renotalone.Oneresearchercomparesthisphenomenontoecholocation（回聲定位），the

processthatsomeanimals,suchasbatsanddolphins,usetolocateobjects：Theyproducea

continuoussoundandusetheresultingechotosensetheirsurroundings.Humansmightuse

technologiessuchasgroupchatsinasimilarway—asacall-and-response,takingin

informationabouttheirsocialnetworksandlocatingthemselveswithinthosewebs.

Buttakingintoomanysignalscanbeoverwhelming.ProfessorBayerarguedthatgroup

chatscancreatea“waterfalltypeofeffect”,wheremessageskeepfloodinginandaddingup.

Eventually,you'reunderwater.Anotherresearchersuggestedthatdifferentchatmembersall

bringtheirownpersonalities,communicationstyles,andexpectationsforgroupnorms.

Withoutastandardetiquette（禮儀），peoplehavevariedopinionsaboutwhatdegreeof

responsivenessisrequired一whichcancauserealtension.

Grextanxietyishardtoresolvebecauseitisn'tjustaboutthegroup-chatorevenmobile

technologyingeneral；it'saboutthetensionbetweenbeingourownpersonandbeing

responsibletoothers.Ultimately,mostofusdowantconnection,evenifitinvolvessome

duties.Ageneraladviceistogiveupgrextsthatdontreallyinterestyou.

28.WhatisthefeatureofGrexts?

A.Beingmorewonderfulthanadialogue.

B.Keepingasfunasatwo-personthread.

C.Sharingyourupdatesthroughouttheday.

D.Imitatingthecasualback-and-forthofcommunication.

29.Howmighthumansusegroupchatslikeecholocation?

A.Byproducingacontinuoussound.

B.Bydetectingsomebatsanddolphins.

C.Byusingtheresultingechotosensetheirsurroundings.

D.Bytakingininformationaboutsocialnetworksandlocatingthemselves.

30.WhatisParagraph4mainlyabout?

A.Problemscausedbygroupchats.

B.Importanceofastandardetiquette.

C.Messageskeepingfloodinginandaddingup.

D.Whatdegreeofresponsivenessisrequired.

【高二英語第4頁（共8頁）】24573B

31.Whatcanweinferaboutgroupchatfromthetext?

A.Itisapart-timejob.

B.Itisjustawaytokeeprelationship.

C.Itbringsusmorefrightthanpleasure.

D.Ithelpsusfindtruefriends.

D

Thefirstapesevolved20millionyearsagointheforestswheretheywouldgoupatreeto

gettheirfood,andthencomebackdowntomoveontothenexttree.Gettingoutofatree

presentsallkindsofnewchallenges.Bigapescan'taffordtofallbecauseitcouldkillorbadly

injurethem.Naturalselectionwouldhavefavouredthosewithbodystructuresthatallowed

themtodescend（下來）safely.

DartmouthresearchersreportinthejournalRoyalSocietyOpenSciencethatapes

probablyevolvedfree-movingshouldersandflexibleelbowstoslowtheirdescentfromtreesas

gravitypulledontheirheavierbodies.Theseflexiblebodypartspassedonfromancestralapes

wouldhaveallowedearlyhumanstoclimbtreesatnightforsafetyandcomedowninthe

daylightunhurt.Whenearlyhumanstransitionedfromforeststoopensavannas（熱帶稀樹草

原），flexibleshouldersandelbowswerecrucialforgatheringfoodandusingtoolsforhunting

anddefense.

Theresearchersusedsportsanalysisandstatisticalsoftwaretostudyhowprimates（靈長

目動(dòng)物）likechimpanzeesandsmallmonkeyscalledmangabeysclimbedinthewild.They

foundthatchimpsandmangabeysscaled（攀爬）treessimilarly,withshouldersandelbows

mostlybentclosetothebody.Whendescending,however,chimpanzeesextendedtheirarms

abovetheirheadstoholdontobranches,muchlikeapersonusingaladder,tocounteract（抵

消）theirheavierweightpullingthemdownward.

LukeFannin,theleadauthorofthestudy,emphasizedthattheirfindingshighlightthe

importanceof“downclimbing“intheevolutionofapesandearlyhumans.Heexplained,

“Ourresearchintroducestheideathatdownclimbingplayedasignificantroleinshapingthe

structuraldifferencesbetweenmonkeysandapes,whicheventuallyshowedinhumans.”

“Ourfieldhasthoughtaboutapesclimbinguptreesforalongtimebutwe'vebeen

ignoringthesecondhalfofthisbehaviour,,,saidProfessorJeremyDeSilva.Thefindingsare

amongthefirsttoidentifythesignificanceof“downclimbing,,intheevolutionofapesand

earlyhumans.

32.Whyshouldbigapesprotectthemselvesfromfallingoffatreeaccordingtothetext?

A.Toavoidbeinghurtorkilled.

B.Toavoidbeinghuntedbyhumans.

C.Toavoidbeingcaughtbyotheranimals.

D.Toavoidbeinglaughedbyotherapes.

33.Whatdoresearchersusetostudyhowprimatesclimbedinthewild?

A.Aladder.B.Sportssoftware.

C.Statisticalanalysis.D.Sportsanalysisandstatisticalsoftware.

34.WhatcanbelearnedfromLukeFannin'swords?

A.Apesbecamehumansbecauseofdownclimbing.

B.Thesecondhalfofclimbinguptreeshaven'tbeenignoredbefore.

C.Downclimbingwasessentialindevelopingthedifferencesbetweenmonkeysandapes.

D.Scientistshasthoughtaboutapesclimbinguptreesforashorttime.

35.Whatcanbeasuitabletitleforthetext?

A.MonkeysandChimpanzees：StudiesinNature

B.MangabeysandMankind：ACommonStudyofClimbing

C.Apes5ClimbingMethods：HowtoDescendSafely

D.ShouldersandElbows：EvolvedasBrakes（殺U車）forDownClimbingApes

【高二英語第5頁（共8頁）】24573B

第二節(jié)（共5小題;每小題2.5分，滿分12.5分）

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)。

Navigating（航行）theTransitiontoAdulthood

Theteenageyearsareatransformativeperiodoflife,atimewhenyoustartthejourney

fromchildhoodtoadulthood.It'saperiodfilledwithself-discovery,challenges,andpersonal

growth.

36:Oneoftheinitialchallengesduringadolescenceiswrestlingwithyouridentity.

Questionsaboutwhoyouareandwhatyoustandforarecommon.Theseinquiriesofself-

discoverycanleadtochangesinfriendships,interests,andevenyourgoals.

AcademicandLifeSkills：Ashighschoolstudents,you'redealingwithacademic

pressures,extracurricularactivities,andsocialrelationships.37.Butit'sanopportunity

todevelopessentiallifeskills.

TheRoleofFriendships：Friendshipsplayasignificantroleinyourteenageyears.

38.It'sessentialtorecognizethevalueofhealthyrelationships.Surroundyourselfwith

friendswhoupliftandrespectyou,andbeasupportivefriendinreturn.

Decision-MakingChallenges：Decision-makingbecomesmorecrucialduringthisperiodof

life.Fromacademicchoicestopersonalvalues,yourdecisionsshapeyourfuture.39.

Self-CareandMentalHealth：Self-careandmentalhealtharevitalforteenagegrowth.

Duringthisperiod,adolescencebringssignificantpressure.Maketimeforactivitiesthatbring

youjoyandrelaxation.

Thepathtoadulthoodiswinding,withbothsuccessesandfailures.Embraceeach

moment,savorthejourney,andrecognizethatgrowthoftencomesfromfacingand

overcomingchallenges.Asyounavigateyourteenageyears,rememberthatyouhavethe

strengthtothriveanddiscoveryouruniqueplaceintheworld.40.

A.Yourjourneyisjustbeginning,anditholdsincrediblepotential

B.You'restrugglingwithanxietyorotherchallenges

C.IdentityExploration

D.Don'tbeafraidtoseekguidancefromtrustedadultswhenfacedwithtoughchoices

E.Balancingtheseaspectsoflifecanbechallenging

F.Theycanoffersupportandsharedexperiences

G.Getthechancetodevelopyourinterest

第三部分語言運(yùn)用（共兩節(jié)，滿分30分）

第一節(jié)（共15小題；每小題1分，滿分15分）

閱讀下面短文，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。

Iwokeupwithonlyonethingonmymind：whattowear.Abillion41racedthrough

mybrainaswoodenhangersmovedbackandforth.Itwasmyfirstdayofhighschoolinanew

state；firstimpressionareeverything,anditwasnecessaryto42thepeoplewhoI'd

spendthenextfouryearswith.

Itwasn'tinsecuritythatdrovemeto43butthefactthatthiswasmythirdtimebeing

the44kid.Frequentmovingdoessomethingtoachild'sdevelopment.Istruggledfinding

reliable45.ButthistimeDad'scompanyensuredmystartingandfinishinghighschoolin

the46place.Thistimemattered,whichmademenervous.

Iemerged47inapatterneddressafterriding（掃蕩）mycloset.Ifeltjustas

confidentas148thebus.ButmyjawdroppedtothefloorwhenIfoundMrs.Hutfilz,

myEnglishteacher,49theexactsamedressasIdid.Ikeptmyheaddownandtiptoedto

myseat,butthefirstday50introductionsinfrontoftheclass,andsoonenoughitwas

my51.Imadeitthroughmyminutespeech,untilHutfilzstoodup,jokingly52she

【高二英語第6頁（共8頁）】24573B

likedmystyle.Alltheanxietythathadaccumulated(積累)throughoutthemorning

surprisingly53.ThestudentsraisedheadsasIsharedmystory.My54grewasI

giggled(咯咯地笑)withmyclassmates.Afterclass,Istayedbehind,sharingwithMrs.

Hutfilzmypreviousunderstandingaboutcomingintoanewschoolandstate.Iwas55to

makeahumorousandgenuineconnectionwithmyfirstteacherinthecomingdays.

41.A.insightsB.thoughtsC.ambitionsD.motivations

42.A.impressB.experienceC.expectD.criticize

43.A.astonishmentB.confusionC.amusementD.madness

44.A.uncomplicatedB.occasionalC.newD.regular

45.A.friendsB.relativesC.celebritiesD.roommates

46.A.preciousB.sameC.novelD.faraway

47.A.doubtfullyB.nervouslyC.proudlyD.sincerely

48.A.proceededtoB.participatedinC.engagedinD.steppedoff

49.A.designingB.restoringC.bringingD.wearing

50.A.performedB.meantC.debatedD.dominated

51.A.turnB.fashionC.factD.wonder

52.A.discussingB.rememberingC.addingD.replying

53.A.explodedB.multipliedC.formedD.disappeared

54.A.virtueB.visionC.greedD.smile

55.A.disappointedB.relievedC.disheartenedD.frightened

第二節(jié)(共10小題;每小題1.5分，滿分15分)

閱讀下面短文，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。

ThePalaceMuseum'sclockcollection,morethan1,500innumber,isarguablyoneof

56mostbreathtakingclockpreservationworldwide.Betweenthe18thcenturyandthe

20thcentury,some57(make)inBritain,FranceandSwitzerland,somewerefromthe

ClockWorshipoftheQingPalace,andtheotherswereamixtureofboththeEast58the

West.

ThemajorityofBritishclocksfeaturebronzecasesinlaid(鑲嵌)withsplendidly59

(colour)jewels.Theyarediverseinform,recreatingallkindsofarchitectureandnatural

sights,andoftenincludeautomaticdecorationssuchasfountains?moving60(figure),

boatsandbirds.TheseclocksrepresentthehighestlevelofcraftsmanshipinBritain.

MostoftheFrenchclocksherearetheproductsoftheearly20thcentury.Whether

61termsofthemeordecorativestyle,theFrenchclocksinthecollectionhaveaunique

style,anddeserve62(they)placeinhistory.

TheSwisstimepiecesmostlycomprisesmall,unconventionallyshapeddeskclocksand

delicatepocketwatches.Theywere63(special)craftedtosuitthetastesofChinese

customers.

Clocksmayturnbackintime,buthumansmayneverdreamof64(do)so.Today,

thePalaceMuseumaims65(carry)onthistouchingtaleof"time"asguardiansofthis

traditionalcraftsmanship.

第四部分寫作(共兩節(jié)，滿分40分)

第一節(jié)(滿分15分)

假定你是李華。上周六，你校的“愛心”社團(tuán)(LoveClub)組織了一場(chǎng)關(guān)愛流浪貓的志愿者

活動(dòng)。請(qǐng)你為校英文報(bào)寫一篇報(bào)道，內(nèi)容包括：

1.活動(dòng)目的；

2.具體行動(dòng)；

3.活動(dòng)收獲。

參考詞匯：流浪貓straycats

【高二英語第7頁（共8頁）】24573B

注意：

L寫作詞數(shù)應(yīng)為80左右；

2.請(qǐng)按如下格式在答題卡的相應(yīng)位置作答。

LookingAfterStrayCats

第二節(jié)（滿分25分）

閱讀下面材料，根據(jù)其內(nèi)容和所給段落開頭語續(xù)寫兩段，使之構(gòu)成一篇完整的短文。

Itseighto'clockonChristmasmorning,andmydadsayshewantstolistentothenews.

My11-year-oldselfiswonderingwhyonEarthgrown-upswouldbeinterestedinthenews

whenthereareimportantthingstobedone,suchashandingoutpresents.Andthen,whileI

amonlyhalf-listening,somethingstrangehappens：thenewsreaderbeginstalkingabouta

Christmasmessage.Hadntweheardthatreportearlier?

Myolderbrother,Colin,figuresoutwhat'shappening."Pete,Pete,it'sataperecorder!

We'vegotourtaperecorder!

Itfinallydawnsonme：mydadrecordedthenewsandisplayingitbacknow.

ColinandIhadbothbeenblindfrombirth.AtthespecialschoolthatColinandI

attended,arecorderofyourownwastheheightofdesire.However,realisticaboutfamily

finances,wehadnorealexpectationsofgettingone.

Thetaperecordermydadboughtuswouldhavecostmorethanfourtimeshisweekly

wage.Hecouldonlyafforditbyborrowingthemoney.Iknowmymumanddadwouldhave

thoughtlongandhardbeforebeinginthedebt.

ThenewtoycontrolledtherestoftheChristmasholidays.Oncewehadmasteredthe

controls,werecordedanythingandeverything：eachother,ourparents?themilkman,the

dog...andweveryquicklylearnedhowmuchfunwecouldhavewithit.

Itwasn'tthefirsttimeIhadbeenattractedbyataperecorder.Ivividlyremember

walkingintoaroomwhenIwasfourandhearingachild'stunelesssinging.Istoppeddead.

“It'syou,“Dadsaid.

Itturnedoutthathehadborrowedataperecorder.So