2025屆廣東普寧華僑中學(xué)高三第三次模擬考試英語試卷含解析

2025屆廣東普寧華僑中學(xué)高三第三次模擬考試英語試卷注意事項(xiàng)：1．答題前，考生先將自己的姓名、準(zhǔn)考證號(hào)填寫清楚，將條形碼準(zhǔn)確粘貼在考生信息條形碼粘貼區(qū)。2．選擇題必須使用2B鉛筆填涂；非選擇題必須使用0．5毫米黑色字跡的簽字筆書寫，字體工整、筆跡清楚。3．請(qǐng)按照題號(hào)順序在各題目的答題區(qū)域內(nèi)作答，超出答題區(qū)域書寫的答案無效；在草稿紙、試題卷上答題無效。4．保持卡面清潔，不要折疊，不要弄破、弄皺，不準(zhǔn)使用涂改液、修正帶、刮紙刀。第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1．Withoutourteam’sgreateffort,theartexhibitionlastweek______suchagreatsuccess.A．wouldn’tbe B．won’tbe C．wouldn’thavebeen D．won’thavebeen2．Themapletreesturnabrilliantredinautumn,addinganothertothecolorsintheharvestseason.A．theme B．versionC．category D．dimension3．You________havebookedtheticketsinadvance;therewereplentyleft.A．needn’t B．can’tC．shouldn’t D．mustn’t4．Thewitnessanimportantdetailwhendescribingtheaccident.A．broughtout B．keptoffC．leftout D．raninto5．Peterishelpingsettablesinthehall,whereJohn’sbirthdayparty________.A．isholdingB．hasheldC．isheldD．willbeheld6．—FlightMU257_______________.Imustbeoffnow.—Haveanicetrip.A．isbeingannouncedB．hasannouncedC．wasannouncingD．hadbeenannounced7．Ifyouwanttoleadahappylife,you’dbetterlearntoacceptlife______itis.A．a(chǎn)s B．thatC．which D．where8．—Doyoulikethebookyoufatherboughtyou?—Verymuch.It’sexactly______Iwanted.A．which B．thatC．what D．how9．—Whataboutgoingabroadforfurtherstudy?—Great,butIneverexpected______achanceformebefore.A．theretobeB．therebeingC．ittobeD．itbeing10．—Peter,youseeminhighspirits.—________Ihavebeenofferedapart-timejobintheKFC.A．Sowhat? B．Nowonder.C．Nodoubt. D．Guesswhat.11．Ifyouwanttogofurtherinthenewsport,thebestwayisto______andpractisemorefrequently.A．diveinB．dropoutC．catchonD．springup12．Asurveyoftheopinionsofexperts_________thatthreehoursofoutdoorexerciseaweek________goodforone’shealth.A．show;are B．shows;isC．show;is D．shows;are13．______,hisideaswasacceptedbyallthepeopleatthemeeting.A．Strangeasmightitsound B．AsitmightsoundstrangeC．Asstrangeitmightsound D．Strangeasitmightsound14．—Ineedtoadvertiseforaroommatefornextterm.—________？Maryisinterested.A．Whybother B．WhynotC．Sowhat D．Whatfor15．Theconferenceaimstodevelopbusinessandletpeoplethinkabout_______theycanhaveapositiveinfluenceontheplanet.A．whyB．thatC．whatD．how16．Friendshipcanneverbeatrade;______,itneedsthemostthoroughandunprofitableconcept.A．inaddition B．bycontrast C．inreturn D．bychance17．---It’sraininghardandwecan’tgopicnickingtoday.---Ifonlytheweather_____fine!A．is B．were C．hadbeen D．wouldbe18．Wearrangedtomeetatthecinemaat7:30,butJackfailedto______.A．breakupB．setupC．turnupD．giveup19．Ifthenewsecuritysystem______intoeffect,suchaccidentswouldneverhavehappened.A．wouldbeput B．wereput C．shouldbeput D．hadbeenput20．Mysonturnedtobookstoresandlibrariesseekinginformationaboutthebookrecommendedbyhisprofessor,but________none.A．wouldfind B．hadfoundC．found D．hasbeenfinding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(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)。21．（6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(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$300billion22．（8分）Thisyearmarksthe170thanniversaryofPaulGauguin’sbirth.Helivedforjust54yearsbuthepackedhisbrieflifewithactivity.TheFrenchpainterspenthisearlychildhoodinPerubeforereturningtoFrance.Asanadult,hecontinuedtotravelalot.Mostfamously,hespentmuchofthelastdecadeofhislifeinTahiti,anislandinsouthernPacificOcean.Indeed,GauguinisbestknownforhiscolorfulpaintingsofTahitiansandtheirculture.Therestlessnessofthisgreatpainterhasbeennormalamongmodernartistssincethemiddleofthe19thcentury.They’reneversatisfiedforlongwithacertainstyleorwayoflife.Oncesomethingbecomesconventional,it’sturneddown.TheartisticculturethatGauguindevelopedfromwasthatofImpressionism(印象派).PainterslikeClaudeMonethadwantedtopainthowtheysawtheworld,nothowtheirteacherstaughtthemitshouldbeseen.Gauguin,andsimilarartistslikehisfriendVincentvanGogh,movedevenfurtherawayfrom“respectable”artthantheImpressionists.Forthem,itwasnotsimplyamatterofseeingtheworlddifferently,butfeelingandthinkingaboutitdifferently,too.Gauguinsaw,feltandthoughtdifferentlyfrommostmembersofEuropeansociety.HethoughtthatEuropeanculturewastoofancyandnotspontaneous.Thisiswhyheturnedtothetraditionsofotherpartsoftheworld,likeAfrica,and,eventually,Tahiti.ArtistslikeGauguinusedtheword“primitive”forthesecultures,butnotasanegativeterm.Forhim,Europe,inbecomingmodem,industrialandscientific,seemedlessnaturalthanotherpartsoftheworld.Intruth,Gauguin’spaintingsmaybeunconventionalbuttheyarecertainlynot“primitive”.Theyaretheworkofapainterwithgreatawarenessofwhathewasdoing.Itwasthisawarenessthatmadehimsuchanimportantpainterforthosethatcameafter,inthe20thcentury.WhenwelookcloselyattheworksofGauguinwebegintounderstandPabloPicasso,andespeciallyHenriMatisse,alittlebetter.1、WhatcanweinferaboutGauguin’slife?A．Hehadanunhappychildhood. B．HelivedmostofhislifeinPeru.C．HeenjoyedpaintinginTahiti. D．Hepreferredatraditionallifestyle.2、What’sthemainpurposeofParagraph4?A．ToexplainwhyGauguin’sworkswerepopular.B．TopointoutwhereGauguin’sinspirationcamefrom.C．ToshowGauguin’sdifferentunderstandingofpainting.D．TocompareGauguin’spaintingstylewithVincentvanGogh’s.3、Whichofthefollowingbestexplains“spontaneous”underlinedinParagraph5?A．Natural. B．Modern. C．Industrial. D．Scientific.4、TheauthormentionsPicassoandMatisseinthelastparagraphtoshow________.A．theirstylesaredifferentfromGauguin’s B．greatartistssharemanysimilaritiesC．theyareasimportantasGauguin D．Gauguin’sinfluenceontheirworks23．（8分）ShellharbourCityLibraryprovidesarangeofLibrarySpecialNeedsServicesforpeoplewhoareunabletoaccessourlibraryserviceintheusualway.AslongasyouliveinShellharbourCity,we’llprovideafullrangeoflibraryservicesandresourcesincluding:LargeprintedandordinaryprintedbooksTalkingbooksontapeandCDDVDsandmusicCDsMagazinesReferenceandinformationrequestsYouwillbeaskedtocompletea“StatementofNeed”applicationformwhichmustbesignedbyamedicalprofessional.HomedeliveryserviceLetusknowwhatyouliketoreadandwewillchoosetheresourcesforyou.Ourstaffwilldelivertheresourcestoyourhomeforfree.Wealsoprovideaservicewherewecanchoosetheresourcesforyouorsomeoneinsteadofyouchoosingthethingsfromthelibrary.Youcanalsochoosetheresourcesyouneedpersonally.TalkingbooksandcaptionedvideosThelibrarycanprovidetalkingbooksforpeoplewhoareunabletouseprintedbooksbecauseofeyediseases.Youdon’thavetomissoutonreadinganymorewhenyoucanborrowtalkingbooksfromthelibrary.Ifyouhavelimitedhearingwhichpreventsyoufromenjoyingmovies,wecanprovidecaptionedvideosforyouatnocharge.LanguagebesidesEnglishWecanprovidebooksinarangeoflanguagesbesidesEnglish.Ifpossible,wewillrequesttheseitemsfromtheStateLibraryofNSW.Australia.HowtojoinContacttheLibrarySpecialNeedsCoordinatortoregisterordiscussifyouareeligible(合適的)foranyoftheservicesweprovide—9amto5pmonTuesday,WednesdayandThursday.Call4297-2522formoreinformation.1、LibrarySpecialNeedsServicesareprovidedfor.A．thosewhoarefondofreadingB．onlythosewhohavewalkingdisabilitiesC．peoplelivinginShellharbourCitywithanillnessordisabilityD．thosewhocan’tgetmedicalhelpinShellharbourCity2、Ifpeoplewitheyediseaseswanttolearnabouthistory,theycanchoose.A．talkingbooksB．captionedvideosC．magazinesD．largeprintedbooks3、Whatcanwelearnfromthepassage?A．Fewentertainingresourcesareofferedhere.B．Bookswithdifferentlanguagesareavailable.C．peoplewithlimitedhearinghavetopayforcaptionedvideos.D．peoplehavetochoosewhattheyneedbythemselves.4、Togethomedeliveryservice,youmust.A．onlychooseprintedbooksB．registeraheadoftimeC．paythelibraryaheadoftimeD．haveotherschoosetheresourcesforyou24．（8分）PeggyWhitson'sjobdemandsadailytwo-hourworkoutinagymwhereweighthasnomeaningandtheviewchangesat17,000milesanhour.Whitsonmakesitlookeasy.At57,sheistheoldestwomantoflyinspace,breakingtherecordlastNovemberwhenshebeganherthirdlong-termstayattheInternationalSpaceStation.AfterreturninghomeinSeptember,2017,theNASAastronautfeltmatter-of-factabouttheagemilestone(里程碑).“Itwasn’tarecordIwasseekingout,”Whitsonsaid.“Iwas42and48formyfirsttwospaceflights.IfeelluckythatIwasabletogettodoanotheroneinmy50s.Idon’tthinkpeopleshouldletagediscouragethem,evenonthosejobsthatrequiresomeamountofphysicalfitness.TheoldestmanisJohnGlenn(at77),butwe’vehadmaleastronautsintheir60sbefore,soit’sjustamatteroftimebeforewomenstartedflyinginspaceatthisage.”O(jiān)nEarth,shestaysfitbyweightlifting,biking,playingbasketballandwaterskiing.Shesharedwhatit'sliketoliveinmicro-gravity:“It’slikeyou’reinaswimmingpool,butyoudon’thavetoworryaboutbreathing.IfIpushofffromoneside,I’mgoingtofloattotheotherside.Everydirectionfeelsexactlythesame,whichisreallyhardforyourbraintograsp,butit’samazinghowfastyouadapt.It’sabigshockforthebodytocomebacktoEarth—everythingissoheavy.Wespendalotoftimegettingusedbeingbackingravityagain.Backpainwasreallythemostdramaticformethistime.Forme,cominghomeiswayharderthangoingupintospace.”1、Whatdoestheunderlinedwordprobablymeaninthepassage?A．a(chǎn)mazingB．naturalC．enthusiasticD．unbelievable2、HowmanydaysdidPeggyWhistonspendinspaceforherthirdstayintheInternationalSpaceStation?A．About300days.B．About708days.C．About107days.D．About57days.3、Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingistrue?A．PeggyWhistonistheoldestpersontoflyinspace,breakingtherecord.B．Therehadbeenfemaleastronautsintheir60sbefore.C．PeggyWhistonlikesswimmingmosttostayfitonearth.D．PeggyWhistonhadbeeninspacein2002and2008.4、WhichofthefollowingwillPeggyWhistonprobablysay?A．Youcanstillbesuccessfulanddophysicalthingswhenyougetolder.B．Ispentquitealotoftimegettingusedtothelifeinspace.C．Themomentwereachedtheearth,wefeltsorelaxed.D．IfeelluckythatIamphysicallyallrightafterthewholejourney.25．（10分）PoliceForcepresentsCommunityRoadshow2019Wanttofindoutmoreaboutpolicework?ComeandvisitusatthevariouslocationsacrossSingapore.EnjoytheperformancesbythefriendlydogsfromthePoliceK9UnitandthePoliceBand.Comewithyourfamilyandtakepartinthefunactivities.DetailsofRoadshowDate:16-17June2019Time:10am-7pmVenues:PunggolArcadeSerangoonCentreTampinesHubShuttlebusserviceswillbeavailabletoandfromthenearestMRTstations.Eachcanbepromisedafunpackwhichconsistsof:·miniaturepolicecar·keychain·notepad·penPerformances·K9Showat11amand3pm·PoliceBandat6pmActivities·RockClimbing·BouncyCastle(forchildrenbelowtheageof12years)·ArtCompetitionTotakepartintheArtCompetition,participantsmustregisteronlineatby12June2019.Thiseventissponsoredby:·ArtforUs·DallyMinlMart·RockClimbCompanyLuckyDrawTimings:1pmand5pm(daily)1stprize:$300voucher(購物券)2ndprize:$150voucher3rdprize:$100voucher10consolationprizesof$20eachWinnerswhoarenotpresentduringthedrawwillbenotifiedviaemailby19June2019.OrganizedbytheSingaporePoliceForce1、WhatshalleachparticipantgetinCommunityRoadshow2019?A．Afunpack. B．Someprize.C．SomeVoucher. D．BouncyCastle.2、HowshouldapersonsignupforArtCompetition?A．Onsite. B．Byemail.C．Byphone. D．ThroughtheInternet.3、Whichofthefollowingorganizedtheactivity?A．SerangoonCentre. B．RockClimbCompany.C．SingaporePoliceForce. D．PoliceortCompany.第三部分語言知識(shí)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(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)．26．（30分）An18-year-oldstudentatStanfordUniversitywasstrugglingtopayhisfees.Notknowingwheretoturnformoney,hecameupwithabright1.Heandafrienddecidedtohostamusicalconcertoncampusto2moneyfortheireducation.They3outtothegreatpianistIgnacyJ.Paderewski.Hismanager4aguaranteedfeeof$2,000forthepianorecital（獨(dú)奏會(huì)）.Adealwas5andtheboysbegantoworktomaketheconcerta6.Thebigdayarrived.But7,theyhadnotmanagedtosellenoughtickets.Thetotal8wasonly$1,600.Disappointed,theywenttoPaderewskiandexplainedtheirplight(困境).Theygavehimtheentire$1,600,plusa9forthebalance$400.Theypromisedtohonourthechequeatthe10possible.Paderewskitoreupthecheque,11the$1,600andtoldthetwoboystokeepthemoneytheyneededforthefees.Theboyswere12,andthankedhimheartedly.Itwasasmallactof13.ButitclearlymarkedoutPaderewski14agreathumanbeing.15shouldhehelptwopeoplehedidnotevenknow?Weall16situationsliketheseinourlives.And17ofusonlythink“IfIhelpthem,whatwillhappentome?”Thetruly18peoplethink,“IfIdon’thelpthem,whatwillhappentothem?”Theydon'tdoit19somethinginreturn.Theydoit20theyfeelit’stherightthingtodo.1、A．timeB．taskC．ideaD．decision2、A．receiveB．raiseC．borrowD．donate3、A．reachedB．turnedC．pointedD．called4、A．increasedB．coveredC．consideredD．demanded5、A．rejectedB．struckC．cancelledD．a(chǎn)ttracted6、A．successB．careerC．backgroundD．performance7、A．uncertainlyB．unbelievablyC．unfortunatelyD．undoubtedly8、A．costB．billC．collectionD．a(chǎn)llowance9、A．benefitB．profitC．chargeD．cheque10、A．soonestB．latestC．longestD．farthest11、A．tookB．countedC．depositedD．returned12、A．pleasedB．surprisedC．frightenedD．interested13、A．devotionB．kindnessC．sympathyD．teamwork14、A．likeB．forC．a(chǎn)sD．to15、A．HowB．WhereC．WhenD．Why16、A．comeacrossB．dealwithC．a(chǎn)dapttoD．thinkof17、A．bothB．fewC．noneD．most18、A．a(chǎn)bleB．richC．greatD．famous19、A．takingB．expectingC．offeringD．preparing20、A．becauseB．thoughC．beforeD．so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(gè)適當(dāng)?shù)膯卧~或括號(hào)內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。27．（15分）Ithasbeen1．(exact)oneyearsinceIreturnedfromSenegal.Volunteeringhashelpedmeunderstand2．isimportanttomeandhowtoliveahappylife.Inthepast,I3．(follow)thecommonpath:fromschooltouniversity.It'snotthatIdidn'tenjoytheseexperiences,butthatIhadbeenleddownthatpathbytheexpectationsfrommyparentsandteachersratherthanmyownambitions.Therefore,after4．(graduate)fromuniversity,Idecidedtoachievesomethingmore5．(benefit)somethingthatwouldhelpthewidercommunity.6．(apply)forInternationalCitizenService,thenIwenttoKaolack,SenegalwithYCareInternational,whereIworked7．a(chǎn)memberofateamofUKandSenegalesevolunteershelpingimprovethelivesofthelocalyoungpeople.IspenttimeworkingontheAct2LiveProjectandassistingallkindsofsimilar8．(organize)intheirworktoimprovethelivesofthepoor.Byfar,themostrewardingaspectofmyvolunteeringwassupportingtheamazingpeopleofKaolack.Workingon9．widevarietyoftasksandlivinginadifferentculturehaveapositiveeffectonmydevelopment.Thankstovolunteering,Iwasable10．(find)confidenceasayoungadult,learnnewskillsandenrichmylife.第四部分寫作（共兩節(jié)）第一節(jié)短文改錯(cuò)（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(qǐng)你修改你同桌寫的以下作文。文中共有10處語言錯(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)()，并在其下面寫出該加的詞。刪除：把多余的詞用斜線(＼)劃掉。修改：在錯(cuò)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(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。Ilikedcyclingverymuch、Atageoftwelve,myfatherboughtmeabikeasabirthdaygiftsandtaughtmehowtoride、Everytimemyfathertookhimoutforpractice,mylittlebrotherwouldcomealong、Oneday,wewerepracticingwhilesuddenlymybrotherscreamedtohelp、Whenwerushedtohim,wesawasnakewindaroundafrogtightly、Ibegmyfathertosavethefrog、Immediatehepickeditupalongstick,tryingtodrivethesnakeaway、Abouttwominuteslater,thefrogwassetloose,whatmadeussohappy、68第二節(jié)書面表達(dá)（滿分25分）29．（25分）假如你(李華)的網(wǎng)友John即將外出旅行，請(qǐng)你根據(jù)以下提示，用英語給他寫封電子郵件，向他介紹你對(duì)旅游的看法并提醒他旅行注意事項(xiàng)。1、旅游是一種非常好的活動(dòng)。欣賞美景，呼吸新鮮空氣，交朋友，放松身心，有益健康。2、旅行前的準(zhǔn)備。了解天氣，帶好衣服、相機(jī)、常用藥品等。3、旅行時(shí)注意飲食衛(wèi)生和安全，防止小偷。要求:1、行文連貫，不得逐句翻譯;2、詞數(shù):110詞左右，開頭已給出，不計(jì)入總詞數(shù)。DearJohn,I’mgladtohearthatyouaregoingtotravel.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Yoursfaithfully,LiHua

參考答案第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1、C2、D3、A4、A5、D6、A7、A8、B9、A10、D11、A12、B13、D14、A15、D16、B17、B18、C19、D20、C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(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)。21、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,watchingthewavesbr