2024屆廣西全州縣二中高考臨考沖刺英語試卷含解析

2024屆廣西全州縣二中高考臨考沖刺英語試卷注意事項(xiàng):1．答題前，考生先將自己的姓名、準(zhǔn)考證號(hào)碼填寫清楚，將條形碼準(zhǔn)確粘貼在條形碼區(qū)域內(nèi)。2．答題時(shí)請(qǐng)按要求用筆。3．請(qǐng)按照題號(hào)順序在答題卡各題目的答題區(qū)域內(nèi)作答，超出答題區(qū)域書寫的答案無效；在草稿紙、試卷上答題無效。4．作圖可先使用鉛筆畫出，確定后必須用黑色字跡的簽字筆描黑。5．保持卡面清潔，不要折暴、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．Heissuchanunselfishman.Youcannothelpbut________him.A．respectB．torespectC．neglectD．toneglect2．Ifyoueveraren’tsurewhetheryouhaveboughttheverybestsmartphone,just_________“goodenough.”A．makeforB．settleforC．a(chǎn)nswerforD．a(chǎn)ccountfor3．Myunclefinallyboughthisdreamhouse______overlooksabeautifulpark.A．which B．where C．who D．what4．Hi,Mark.Howwasthemusicalevening?Excellent!AlesandAndyperformed_________andtheywonthefirsprize.A．skillfully B．commonly C．willingly D．nervously5．Thepolicerecognizedthecriminalfromhistypicalfacial________.—ascarontheforehead.A．expressionB．featureC．outlineD．gesture6．－prlfessor,doyouhavesomethingatthismoment?－No,thanks.I'llcallyouifthereisany.A．typing B．typed C．totype D．tobetyped7．MostSchoolshavebannedjunkfoodandbroughtoutnewmenus.“That’scool!”saidAndreasPetrou,11thgrader.A．/;anB．/;theC．the;aD．the;/8．—DoyouknowanythingaboutBritishhistory?—______________.Ihavenointerestinit.A．Takeiteasy!B．Pleasedon’tbother.C．It’suptoyou.D．No.It’sbeyondme.9．Peoplewhodrinkanddriveare________dangerbothtothemselvesandtoothers.Theyarein________dangeroflosingtheirlives.A．the;the B．a(chǎn);a C．a(chǎn);/ D．/;/10．Paulawaiteduntilalltheluggagewascleared,__________hersneverappeared.A．or B．so C．a(chǎn)s D．but11．IamabetterreaderthisyearthanIwaslastyearbecauseI________tohundredsofnewconceptsandideas.A．haveexposedB．hadbeenexposedC．havebeenexposedD．wasexposed12．Itisobvioustothestudents_____________theyshouldgetwellpreparedfortheirfuture.A．a(chǎn)s B．thatC．which D．whether13．Lifethelike________ocean;Only________strong-willedcanreachtheothershore.A．a(chǎn)n;the B．the;aC．the;/ D．/;a14．Bothmenhavebeen_______tolifeimprisonmentbecauseofrobbery.A．choked B．condemnedC．consisted D．convinced15．Thereisnoreasontobedisappointed.________,thiscouldberatheramusing.A．Aboveall B．AsaresultC．Apartfromthat D．Asamatteroffact16．_____theoilunderthesea,thecompanyhasraisedamplefundstodeveloppetroleumexplorationequipment.A．ExploitingB．HavingexploitedC．ToexploitD．Exploited17．Totellthetruth,Ididn’texpectthatthereweresomanypeople______theidea.A．supportedB．supportingC．tosupportD．havingsupported18．Aroundthispoint______,whichishumorousandfullofastronglocalflavor.A．thestorydevelops B．doesthestorydevelopC．developsthestory D．thestorydeveloped19．Thedocumentfilm______nextweekaimsatintroducinglocalculturestotheworld.A．released B．beingreleasedC．tobereleased D．havingbeenreleased20．－WhataboutinvitingTracytohosttheparty?－Goodidea!Sheisveryquickinmind.Oh,_______,hereshecomes.A．don’tpullmyleg B．a(chǎn)littlebirdtoldmeC．speakofthedevil D．it’sapieceofcake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）Asecond-gradeeducationhasnotstoppedgarbagecollectorJoseformbringingthegiftofreadingtothousandsofColombianchildren.Josestartedrescuingbooksfromthetrashalmost20yearsago.Hewasdrivingagarbagetruckatnightthroughthecountry'swealthierneighborhoods.Thediscardedreadingmaterialslowlypiledup,andnowthegroundfloorofhissmallhouseisamakeshiftcommunitylibrarystackedfromfloortoceilingwithsome20,000books.Theyrangefromchemistrytextbookstochildren'sclassics.Hesaysbooksareluxuriesforboysandgirlsinlow-incomeneighborhoodssuchashis,withnewreadingmaterialatbookstorestooexpensive.Thereare19publiclibrariesinBogota,acityof8.5millionpeople,.Buttheytendtobelocatedfarawayfrompoorerareas."Thisshouldbeinallneighborhoods,oneachcornerofeveryneighborhood,inallthetowns,inalldepartments,andalltheruralareas,"saysJoes."BooksareoursalvationandthatiswhatColombianeeds."The53-year-oldJosehasaloveofreadingheattributestohismother.Shealwaysreadtohimeventhoughshewastoopoortokeephiminschool."Sheusedtoreadmestorieseverynight,"saidJose.HehastraveledtobookfairsinMexicoandChiletosharehisexperienceofstartingalibrarywiththrown-awayreadingmaterial."Tome,booksarethegreatestinventionandthebestthingthatcanhappentoahumanbeing."WhileJosestillexaminetherubbishforadditionstohislibrary,hisfameasColombia's"LordoftheBooks"hasalsobroughthimthousandsofdonatedbooks.Hehassentmanytootherlibrariesaroundthecountry.Thatisbecausehedoesn'thaveroomforthemall.Hesayshedoesn'trejecttechnologythatallowsbookstobereaddigitally.Buthepreferstoreadtheprintedwordonpaper."There'snothingmorebeautifulthanhavingabookinyourpocket,inyourbagorinsideyourcar,"hesays.1、WhatdoweknowaboutJose’slibrary?A．Itcontains20,000booksorso.B．ItislocatedinthecenterofBogota.C．Itsbooksareallcollectedfromthedonation.D．Itwillberebuilttoholdmorebooks.2、WhatdoesParagraph3mainlytalkabout?.A．ThereasonwhyJosestartedalibrary.B．Thepoorlifethatthelocalchildrenlive.C．Thelocationofthepubliclibraries.D．ThedreamthechildreninBogotahave.3、.Fromthepassage,wecanknowthat______.A．Josehatedbookstobereaddigitally.B．hisdreamistobecomeabookcollector.C．Josereceivedagoodeducationathisearlyage.D．Jose’smotherdevelopedhisloveofreading.22．（8分）Getreadytofillyourdaysfulloffunandadventure.WestDorset,anareaofoutstandingnaturalbeauty,isalwaysaplacetogoandthereisalwayssomethinggoingon.Thefollowingaresomeofthestarattractions.●MappertonHouse&GardensImpressivevalleygardenssurroundedbywoodedlandscape.Gardensopen:Daily11am-5pmexceptFridays,MarchtoOctoberincluded.BookingthroughTel:(0103)959203or●BridportMuseumLocalhistorymuseumattractseveryhistorylovers.Wealsohaveayear-roundLocalHistoryCentrenearbywhereyoucancompletelocalandfamilyhistoryresearch.Open:Monday-Saturday,ApriltoOctoberincluded.BookingthroughTel:(0103)959711or●FurlelghEstateWineToursVineyardandwinery,producersoftheUK’smostoutstandingwine.Comeandseehowthe2019WinemakeroftheYearmakeswine.Openforsales:11am-4pmFridaysandSaturdays,toursat2pm.BookingthroughTel:(0103)906323orwwwjurleiehestate.uk●OldCrownCourtandCellsExperiencetwohundredyearsofshockingcrimeandpunishment.ToursofcourtroomandcellsonselectedafternoonsmidJulytoendAugust.Open:Tuesday-Sunday,MarchtoSeptemberincluded.BookingthroughForallthelatestinformationaboutattractionsincludingopeningtimes,reasonablepricesandspecialoffers，pleasegoto1、Wherecanyoulearnaboutwinemaking?A．AtMappertonHouse&Gardens. B．AtBridportMuseum.C．AtFurleighEstate. D．AtOldCrownCourtandCells.2、Whichwebsiteshouldyouvisitifyouwanttogetagoodprice?A． B．C．www.furleighestate.uk D．3、Onwhatdayoftheweekcanyouvisitallthefourplaces?A．Monday. B．Tuesday.C．Friday. D．Saturday.23．（8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．worried24．（8分）Hawkingwasperhapsthemostfamousscientistintheworldwhenhediedin2018atage76.His1988book，ABriefHistoryofTime，soldtenmillioncopiesandmadehimanunlikelysuperstareventopeoplewhosweatedthroughhighschoolscience.HumorwasalwaysabigpartofHawking’sefforttobringphysicstothemasses.Inhis2010book，TheGrandDesign，forinstance，herecountshow，in1277，theCatholicChurchdeclaredscientificlawssuchasgravitytobewrong，sincetheyseemedagainstGod'sidea.“Interestingly，”thetextaddsjokingly，“PopeJohnwaskilledbytheeffectsofthelawofgravityafewmonthslaterwhentheroofofhispalacefellinonhim.”Hawkingwasonly21whenhewasdiagnosedwiththediseaseALS.Formostpeople，theconditionwouldhavebeenadisaster.ButHawkingrolledoverhardshipasifitwerejustapebbleunderhiswheelchair.“Lifewouldbetragic，”heoncesaid，“ifitweren’tfunny.”Hekeptsmilingeventhoughhespentmorethan4yearsinawheelchair.“Helovedadventureandfun，”saysMlodinow，whooncetookHawkingonapunt-boattripdownthefiverCaminCambridge，England，despitetheobviousdangeroftheboatturningover.“YouknowaboutwhenhewentontheVomitComet?It’saplanethatfliesinaparabolic(拋物線的)pathsoyouareweightless，likeyouareinspace.Alotofpeoplevomit，buthelovedthatsortofthing.”Andhewas65atthetime.Hawking’sgreatesthit，humor-wise，wasprobablythecocktailpartyhethrewin2009.Itwasa“welcomereceptionforfuturetimetravelers，”hesaid，sonaturally，hesentouttheinvitationsthedayaftertheparty.Nooneshowedupyet.“Maybeonedaysomeonelivinginthefuturewillfindtheinformationanduseawormholetimemachinetocomebacktomyparty，provingthattimetravelwillonedaybepossible，”Hawkingexplained.Andifthathappens，don’tbesurprisedifHawkingistheretoo.Afterall，henevermissedachancetohavefun.1、WhatdoesthetextmainlytellusaboutHawking?A．Herelatedphysicstohumorclosely.B．Hemadegreatcontributionstophysics.C．Hewentthroughmanyfunnyexperiences.D．Hewasoptimisticaboutthefutureofscience.2、WhatcanwelearnaboutPopeJohn?A．HewasnotinfavorofGod.B．HewasascientistlikeHawking.C．Hewasopposedtothelawofgravity.D．Hewaskilledduetothediscoveryofgravity.3、WhatdroveHawkingtogoontheVomitComet?A．Hisfondnessofadventure.B．Theinvitationfromhisfriend.C．Therequirementsofhiswork.D．HisdesireforrecoveryfromALS.4、Whatcanbeinferredfromthelastparagraph?A．Thecocktailpartywasagreatsuccess.B．Thepossibilityoftimetravelwasnotproved.C．Hawkingwasamanwhoenjoyedholdingparties.D．Thewormholetimemachinewasusedatthattime.25．（10分）Lastyear,whenourthree-year-oldgreat-granddaughterKyliewastakentoseeSantaClaus,shemadesuretogivehimherwishlistoftoys.Aweeklater,sheranintoadifferentSantainamall.HestoppedtoaskwhatshewantedforChristmas.Kyliewassurprisedandlethimknow:“Ifyoucan’trememberwhatItoldyoulastweek,howareyougoingtorememberonChristmasEve?!”MaryPaul,Milwaukee,WisconsinAsmysonMikeandIdrovetothemall,wepassedaSalvationArmySantaringinghisbell.“Mike,”Isaid,“there’sSanta!”Heshookhishead.“That’sjustsomeguyinaSantasuit,”hesaid.ItsaddenedmetothinkthatmaybemysonnolongerbelievedinSanta,andwedrovetherestofthewayinsilence.Atthemall,wespottedanotherSantagreetingyoungbelievers.Suddenly,Miketookofftowardhim.Turningbacktome,heshouted.“Now,there’stherealSanta!”MichaelE.Fahey,Huntley,IllinoisWeimmigratedtoAmericafromChinawhenIwassix.BecauseIwasshyanddidn’tspeakEnglish,Ihadfewfriends.Mydayswerespentathomewithmybrother.Sometimeswe’dhelpourneighborMr.Muellerpullweeds.OneChristmasDay,therewasaknockatthedoor.Grandmaopenedit,andtherestoodabigfellowinredwithasnow-whitebeard,laughing,“Ho,ho,ho!”Hehandedoutpresentsandmadeuslaugh.Ihadsomuchfun.ItwasyearslaterwhenIlearnedthatourspecialSantawasourneighborMr.Mueller.JoanneTang,LitchfieldPark,Arizona1、（小題1）WhywasKyliesurprisedwhenrunningintoadifferentSanta?A．Becauseshegotwhatshewished.B．BecausesheknewwhotheSantawas.C．Becauseshewishedtogetanothertoy.D．BecauseshethoughttheywerethesameSanta.2、（小題2）WhatwouldMike’sparentfeelastoMike’sdifferentattitudestowardsSanta?A．Angry.B．Sad.C．Confused.D．Understandable.3、（小題3）WhatdidMr.MuellerdoonChristmasDay?A．Hestoodoutsideourhouse.B．HegaveoutgiftsbyactingasSanta.C．Hecontinuedtopullweeds.D．Hestayedwithusinourhome.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）閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題的A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出適合填入對(duì)應(yīng)空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)。并在答題卡上將該選項(xiàng)涂黑。Iwasaten-year-oldgirllivingwithmyparentsandfour-year-oldbrotherinMadrid,Spain.Wehad1ourcountryCubajustafewmonthsbefore.TheChristmasseasonarrived.TheCorteInglesDepartmentstorehadashinyred2thatcircledthetown,3itshorn(喇叭)ateveryturn.Myyoungerbrother,Santiago,hadneverseenit.However,4wereconsideredaluxury(奢侈)thenformyfamilyandwereveryhardto5Mybrotherfellinlovewithit.Everydayhewouldpushhisnose6theglassinthewindow.Myparents’painwas7astheylookedattheirson’s8face.ButIdidn’twantto9theinnocenceofafour-year-old.Sonexttime,Ipulledhimaside.“Santiago,youknowthatweleftourcountryandweareinastrangeland”Isaid.“10weareonlyhereinMadridforalittlewhile,Santaprobablydoesn’thaveour11”Ialsotoldhimthatoncewe12intheUnitedStates,Santawouldfindusonceagain.Muchtomysurprise,heacceptedmy13withoutquestion.Ayearlater,welivedinUnionCity,NewJersey.Bothmyparentswereworkinginfactoriestomakeendsmeet.SantiagoandIwere14anewschoolandquicklylearningEnglish.ThatChristmaswas15,butmyparentsboughtasilver-coloredChristmastree.OnChristmasDay,Iwokeupearly,andtomysurpriseand16,Ifoundseveralpresentsunderthetree.Mybrother17asquarebox.Insidewasashiny,brand-newtrain!It18theonethathadsoattractedmybrotherayearbefore.Santiago’sface19liketheChristmastree.Helookedatmyparentsandme,happyandsurprised.“Youwere20!”mybrothertoldmeeagerly,“Santafoundouraddress.”1、A．reached B．visited C．left D．missed2、A．light B．car C．bike D．train3、A．sounding B．pressing C．turning D．making4、A．clothes B．decorations C．meals D．toys5、A．find B．get C．search D．exhibit6、A．beneath B．a(chǎn)gainst C．a(chǎn)bove D．under7、A．obvious B．weak C．strange D．puzzling8、A．fearful B．hopeful C．a(chǎn)mbitious D．nervous9、A．realize B．solve C．expect D．destroy10、A．Since B．Whether C．Although D．When11、A．telephone B．names C．a(chǎn)ddress D．permission12、A．a(chǎn)llowed B．determined C．settled D．devoted13、A．directions B．instructions C．excuse D．explanation14、A．a(chǎn)pplyingfor B．a(chǎn)daptingto C．lookingfor D．waitingfor15、A．expensive B．depressing C．colorful D．simple16、A．sorrow B．worry C．care D．delight17、A．threw B．designed C．opened D．hid18、A．resembled B．meant C．recognized D．called19、A．turnedup B．cameup C．litup D．wentup20、A．surprised B．right C．wrong D．kind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）ThetrialrunofabullettrainfromChengdutoXi’antookaboutfourhoursonWednesdaymorning,1．(cut)traveltimebetweenthecitiesbyaboutsixhours.The643-kmline,China’sfirsttrialroutetorunthroughtheQinlingMountains,will2．(formal)openonNov30.Itwillrunonadailybasis,witha3．(design)speedof250kmperhour.LiLin,atravelagencymanagerinChengdu,saidtheopeningoftherailwayisexpected4．(promote)thedevelopmentoftourismindustryintheareas.Long5．thetrialrunoftherailway,quiteafewpeopleinSichuanhadtoldmetheywantedtovisitXi’an,thecapitalof13feudal（封建的）6．(dynasty),toseetheTerracottaWarriors（兵馬俑）andothersitesofhistoricalimportance.AccordingtoLi,somepeoplearealsodesiringtovisitGuangyuan,7．hastheShuPath.Thepathisoneoftheworld’soldestlandtransportsystems,with8．mostdangerousroadsandmostabundanthistoricalruins.The9．(construct)ofthepathlinkingSichuanandShaanxistartedaround316BC．It10．(build)onmountainssohighandsteepthatfamouspoetLiBai(701—762),oncewrote:“TravelingontheShuPathisasdifficultasgoinguptoheaven.”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）假如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。:Iaman18-year-oldmiddleschoolstudent.Ihavebeenbusywithmystudyandseldomhelpedmyparentsinthehousework.Feltquitesorryforthat,Ibegantothinkabouthowtodotohelp.LastSunday,whenmyparentswentoutshopping,Isuddenlygotanidea:whynottogivetheroomsathoroughcleaning?FirstlyIcollectedallthebooks,newspapersandanotherthingsscatteredintheroomsandputtheminplace.ThenIwipedthedustofallthefurnitures.Afterthat,Isweepandmoppedthefloors.Atthisverymoment,myparentscamebackandwerequitesurprisetoseealltheroomstidilyandfloorsshining.Mymothergavemehug.TiredasIwas,Ineverfeltsohappy.第二節(jié)書面表達(dá)（滿分25分）29．（25分）假如你是李明，是正在美國(guó)一所高中學(xué)習(xí)的交換生。近日你在學(xué)校網(wǎng)站上看到學(xué)?；@球體育俱樂部要招收一名成員的消息。要求如下：1.愛好并擅長(zhǎng)籃球；2.英語流利；3.有一定的比賽經(jīng)歷。請(qǐng)根據(jù)以上要點(diǎn)給俱樂部負(fù)責(zé)人Mr.Brown寫封信，表達(dá)你想加入該俱樂部的愿望。注意：1.詞數(shù)：100詞左右2.行文連貫，不可逐字翻譯。DearMr.Brown,IamlearningEnglishpaintinginourschoolasanexchangestudentfromChina.RecentlyIreadfromanoticeonourschoolwebsitethat______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________YoursLiMing

參考答案第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1、A2、B3、A4、A5、B6、D7、A8、D9、C10、D11、C12、B13、A14、B15、D16、C17、B18、C19、C20、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、1、A2、A3、D22、1、C2、D3、D23、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.Ijustshookmyheadandclos