2020高考英语三模前阅读理解专题练12（学生版）三年真题研读专练

三模前阅读理解专题练12

题组

A

RhymeRhythmReason

Herewehaveafewgigglesandchucklesfbr

ByPaulDrakeford

thosewhorememberthethreeRsandwished

www.x/.ai4

Hardback|Paperback|E-bookthereweresomethingbetter.Havefunreading

$27.59|$13.79|$4.99PaulDrakeford'sRhymeRhythmReason!

Behindtheglitzandtheglamourofthebeauty

GhostNoMore

queenmotherliesawebofsecrets.CeeCeeisa

FByCeeCeeJames

childdesperateforatouchofapproval,thelove

Paperback|KindleEditionofhermother.Herrealityishermom'sretreating

mn。o、re

$9.99|$0.00back,abandoningCeeCeeinfrontofaburning

car.

Atlantis

ShirleyAndrewsuncoversthelivinglegacyin

ByShirleyAndrews

Atlantis:InsightsfromaLostCivilization,a

-73Hardback|Paperback|E-bookcompellingnewlookatalegendarycountryonce

A-

$31.99|$20.99|$3.99situatedontheAtlanticRidge.

InbetweennessSunnieD.Kiddcoinedtheterm“Inbetweenness”.

BySunnieD.Kidd/JimKiddInbetweennessisasharedresonatingspiritual

*J.

卬卬卬jc/

fieldofmovementandvibration,whichistheroot

Hardback|Paperback|E-book

■■■■■■■ofallspiritualexperiencesandscientific

$29.99|$19.99|$3.99

investigation.

56.Astudentinterestedinpoetryandhistorymightchoose.

A.RhymeRhythmReasonandAtlantisB.GhostNoMoreandInbetweenness

C.GhostNoMoreandAtlantisD.RhymeRhythmReasonandInbetweenness

57.Howmuchdoyouhavetopayifyoureadallthe4booksintheelectronicversion?

A.$99.56.B.$91.57.C.$64.76.D.$12.97.

B

RecentsummertemperaturesinpartsofAustraliawerehighenoughtomeltasphalt.Asglobalwarmingspeeds

uptheheatandclimaticeventsincrease,manyplantsmaybeunabletocope.Butatleastonespeciesofeucalyptus

treecanresistextremeheatbycontinuingto“sweat“whenotheressentialprocessesstop,anewstudyfinds.

Asplantschangesunlightintofood,orphotosynthesize(起光合作用)，theyabsorbcarbondioxidethrough

poresontheirleaves.Theseporesalsoreleasewaterviatranspiration,whichcirculatesnutrientsthroughtheplant

andhelpscoolitbyevaporation.Butexceptionallyhightemperaturesareknowntogreatlyreduce

photosynthesis—andmostexistingplantmodelssuggestthisshouldalsodecreasetranspiration,leavingtreesin

dangeroffatallyoverheating.Becauseitisdifficultforscientiststocontrolandvarytrees'conditionsintheir

naturalenvironment,littleisknownabouthowindividualspecieshandlethissituation.

EcologistJohnDrakeoftheStateUniversityofNewYorkCollegeofEnvironmentalScienceandForestryand

hiscolleaguesgrewadozenParramattaredgumtreesinlarge,climate-controlledplasticpodsthatseparatedthe

treesfromthesurroundingforestforayearinRichmond,Australia.Sixofthetreesweregrownatnormalair

temperaturesandsixattemperaturesthreedegreesCelsiushigher.Theresearcherstookwaterawayfromthe

surfacesoilofall12treesforamonthtoimitateamilddryenvironment,theninducedafour-day“extreme”heat

wave:theyraisedthemaximumtemperaturesinhalfofthepods(threewithsurroundingtemperaturesandthreeof

thewarmerones)—to44degreesCelsius.

Photosynthesisgroundtoanearhaltinthetreesfacingtheartificialheatwave.Buttotheresearchers9surprise,

thesetreescontinuedtotranspireatclose-to-normallevels,effectivelycoolingthemselvesandtheirsurroundings.

Thetreesgrowninwarmerconditionscopedjustaswellastheothers,andphotosynthesisratesbouncedbackto

normalaftertheheatwavepassed,DrakeandhiscolleaguesreportedonlineinGlobalChangeBiology.

TheresearchersthinktheParramattaredgumswereabletoeffectivelysweat-evenwithout

photosynthesis-becausetheyareparticularlygoodattappingintowaterdeepinthesoil."Butifaheatwaveanda

severedroughtweretohitatthesametimeandthegroundwaterwasdepleted,thetreesmaynotbesolucky,

Drakesays.

Otherscientistscallthefindingencouraging."It'sdefinitelygoodnews,“saysTrevorKeenan,anecologistat

LawrenceBerkeleyNationalLaboratory,whowasnotpartofthestudy.uItwouldbeveryinterestingtoknowhow

thistranslatestootherspecies,headds.DrakehopestoconductsimilarexperimentswithtreescommoninNorth

America.

58.Whatcanwelearnfromthesecondparagraph?

A.It'seasytocontrolaplant'sconditionsinitsnaturalenvironment.

B.Hightemperaturesleadtomuchmorephotosynthesisbyplants.

C.Plants9transpirationmainlyreleaseswaterratherthancirculatesnutrients.

D.Mostplantsareindangeriftheysufferseriousoverheating.

59.TheexperimentonParramattaredgumtreesshowsthat.

A.athighertemperaturesthetreescompletelystopthephotosynthesis

B.waterdeepinthesoilsavesthetreesinahigh-temperatureenvironment

C.hightemperatureshavelittleeffectonthetrees'photosynthesis

D.hightemperaturesgreatlyincreasethetrees'transpiration

60.Whatdoestheunderlinedword“depleted“inthefifthparagraphmean?

A.Takenin.B.Cutoff.C.Usedup.D.Madeuseof.

C

Wehumanbeingsneedtostayintouchwithnature-manystudiesshowhowmuchbetterpeoplefeelwhenin

sightoftrees.Yetevenmoreimportantly,natureitselfneedsustostayintouch.Manypoliticiansandscientists

havetoldusthatwecan“conquer“nature,butinrealitynaturewillalwaysbebeyondourcontrol—wedohavethe

powertodestroyit.Thefateofalltheanimalsandtheirhabitatsdependslargelyonourattitudetowardsthem.

Whetherornotweourselvessurvivedependsonhowwellwelookaftertherest.Foroursakeaswellastheirs,we

needtoconsideritseriously.

Buthowcanwecareatallifwespendourlivesindoors?BorninSouthLondonattheendoftheSecond

WorldWar,atleastIknewwhatasparrowwas(they'rerarenow)andyoucouldn'tputaspadeintoourtinygarden

withoutcuttingaworminhalf.Weknew,too,thatmilkcomesfromcowsandthatoldmencangrowamazing

carrotsonpoorland.Ultra-urban(极度城市化)aswemayhavebeen,atleastwewereintouch.

“Nowwehaveagenerationwhofranklyarenotintouch.^^Sohowcantheycareifthecountrysideissoldoff

tothehighestbidders,andusedtoparkhelicopters,andourcropscomefreefromMonsantoandourlivestocklive

infactories?Theywillknownootherway.

Butifwesettlefortheultra-urbanlife,ifweallowallwildernesstobecompromisedandhandourfarming

overtoindustrialchemiststhen,quitesimply,theworldwillfallapart-asithasbeendoingalready.Wehaveto

rethinkwhatagricultureisreallyfor,andwhyconservationmatterstous,aswellastoothercreatures.Changesof

strategiesbeginwithattitudeandattitudebeginswithawareness.

61.Whichofthefollowingopinionswilltheauthorbefor?

A.Technologywillhelphumanscontrolnaturecompletely.

B.Conqueringnatureisthepolicyofhumansociety.

C.Humanshavetofindawaytoliveinharmonywithnature.

D.Wewilllosecontrolofnaturewiththedevelopmentofsociety.

62.Thesecondparagraphisintendedtotellusthatcitypeopleinthepas.

A.wereinclosetouchwithnatureB.managedtosurviveinthewar

C.killedthewormsintheearthcruellyD.hadahealthierdietthanus

63.Thenewgenerationshownoconcernabouttheultra-urbanpatternjustbecause.

A.modemagriculturedoesn'tneedhardworkB.highprofitscanbemadebysellingcityland

C.theyarecutofffromnatureD.livestocklivinginfactoriesaretastier

64.FromthepassagewecanguessthatMonsantoislikelytobe.

A.achemicalfertilizerplantB.ascientistgoodatfarming

C.aconstructioncorporationD.abigagriculturalcompany

D

Theconceptofa“bomleader^^seemssofancifulthatitbelongsonthecoverofabadbusinessbook.Butit

turnsoutthatbomleadersarereal,andresearchershavediscoveredakeyfactor,whichisn'tgenes,parents,or

peers,butbirthorder.

First-bornchildrenare30percentmorelikelytobeCEOsorpoliticians,accordingtoanewpaperbyseveral

economists,SandraE.BlackattheUniversityofTexas-Austin,andBjornOckertandErikGronqvistatSweden's

InstituteforEvaluationofLaborMarketandEducationPolicy.Thepaper,whichonlylookedatboys,foundthat

first-bornsstayinschoollonger,makemoremoney,haveahigherIQ,andevenspendmoretimeonhomework

thanontelevision.

Theideathatbirthordermightshapepersonalitygoesbackatleasttothe1920s,whenAlfredAdlertheorized

thatfirst-bornchildrendevelopa“tasteforpower"atayoungage,sincetheycandominatetheiryoungersiblings.

Hewentontosayyoungchildrenarespoiledandbecomedependentontheirparents(the“babyofthefamily^^

effect),whilemiddlechildren,beingofteninawarfbrtheirparents'attention,arestatus-consciousandnaturally

competitive.

Obtainingpersonalityfrombirthmaystrikeyou.ButAdler'shypotheses(假说)haveheldupinnumerous

studies.Ina2013paper,StrategicParenting,BirthOrderandSchoolPerformance,V.JosephHotz,aprofessorof

economicsatDukeUniversity,andJuanPantano,aprofessorofeconomicsatWashingtonUniversityinSt.Louis,

usedAmericandatatoshowthatschoolperformancedeclineswithbirthorder.

Theresearcherschalkedtheirfindingsuptowhattheycalledthe"reputationalmodelofstrategicparenting”.

Putsimply,parentsinvestalotoftimeinestablishingrulesfortheirfirstchild,buildingareputationfortoughness

thattheyhopewillpassdowntolaterchildren.Asaresult,first-bomsaredoublyblessed—havingtoomuchof

theirparents9attention,andthenentrustedtoactastherulesenforcerofthefamily,whichhelpsthembuild

intelligence,discipline,andleadershipqualities.Inthesurvey,parentsreportthattheyconsidertheirolderchildren

moresuccessful,andtheyarelesslikelytodisciplinetheirlater-bornchildrenforimproperbehaviors,suchas

actingupornotdoinghomework.

ThisnewstudyreliesonSwedishdata,anditcomestoasimilarconclusion.First-bomsaren^justhealthieror

smarter,butalsotheyscorehigheron“emotionalstability,persistence,socialoutgoingness,willingnesstoassume

responsibilityandabilitytotaketheinitiative”.Itsresearchersruledoutgeneticfactors;infact,theyuncovered

evidencethatlater-bomchildrenmightbehealthierthanfirst-borns.

Instead,thedifferencesamongsiblingshadeverythingtodowithfamilydynamicsinthechildren'searlyyears.

First,havingmorechildrenmeansparentscanspendlesstimeoneachchild,andastheparentalinvestment

declines,somayIQ.

Second,themostimportanteffect,theresearcherssaid,mightnotbethe"strategicparenting^^butsomething

morelike"strategicbrothering^^.Assiblingscompetefortheirparents9love(oricecream,ortoys),theyoccupy

certainpositions-oldersiblingsdemonstratetheircompetenceandpower,whileyoungersiblingsdevelopmore

creativestrategiestogetattention.Thiseffectseemsparticularlystrongamonglater-bornboyswitholderbrothers.

Youngerbrothersaremuchmorelikelytoenterttcreative^^occupations—likearchitect,writer,actor,singer,or

photographer—iftheyhaveolderbrothers,ratherthanoldersisters.Inotherwords,amongyoungbrothers,

specializationwithinthefamilyforecastsspecializationintheworkforce.

Thereisaconsiderableimplicationinthisideathatfamilydynamicsduringchildhoodcanshapeadult

personality.Youngchildrenarehighlysensitivetotheirenvironment,inwaysthatoftenhavelastingeffects.

65.First-bornchildrenaremorelikelytobeCEOsorpoliticiansbecause.

A.theyarebomtohaveleadershipqualities

B.teachersandparentsinvestmoretimeineducatingthem

C.later-bornchildrenneedthemtosetgoodexamples

D.theyhavealotofpracticeinbossingaroundtheiryoungersiblings

66.WhatcanwelearnaboutAlfredAdler?

A.HisresearchwasbasedonAmericandata.

B.Hishypotheseswereappliedinmanystudies.

C.Heheldtheideathatfirst-bomchildrenshouldbeindependent.

D.Hethoughtthatchildren'spersonalitywasaffectedbybirthorder.

67.Accordingtothe2013paper,ifachilddoesnotbehaveaswellashiselderbrotheratschool,itmaybedueto

thefactthathe.

A.hasalowerIQandEQB.isbadlytreatedbyschoolteachers

C.receiveslessattentionfromhisparentsD.isspoiledtoomuchbyotherfamilymembers

68.Whatarethefindingsofthenewstudybasedon?

A.Swedishdataonboys.

B.Controlledexperimentsonchildren.

C.Differencesbetweenfirst-bornsandlater-borns.

D.Theobservationofchildren'sdevelopmentacrossSweden.

69.Thenewstudyhasfoundthatlater-bornchildren.

A.feeldisappointedattheirparents9attitudetothem

B.arealwaysinaprocessofself-discovery

C.maybemoretrustworthyandcreative

D.mightbephysicallystrong

70.Accordingtotheauthor,.

A.parentsshouldcreateagoodfamilyenvironmentfortheirchildren

B.childrenshouldbegivenequalattentionbytheirparents

C.girls'developmentisseldomaffectedbybirthorder

D.boysshouldbeforbiddentoorderothersaround

题组二

A

IllustratedTalksatLondonMuseum

Illustratedtalksareheldat7:30p.m.,onthefirstThursdayofeachmonthexceptAugust.Admissiontotalks

andmuseumischargedattheusualmuseumadmissioncharges.

3rdSeptember：

ProtectingOurWaterwayHeritagebyNigelCrowe.NigelistheConservationAdvisortotheCanalandRiver

Trust（运河信托公司）.Heundertookacomprehensivesurveyoftheheritageofthewaterwayswhenfirstappointed,

andnowadvisestheCRTonitsprotection.

1stOctober：

TheCanalandRiverTrustbyJohnDodwell.Foundingtrusteeandlongstandingwaterwaysenthusiast（狂热者）

JohnDodwellwilldetailtheTrusfsprogresstodate.Hewillexplaintheissuestheyfaceandthelimitsunder

whichtheywork.

5thNovember：

TheWorkoftheThamesIronworksHeritageTrustbyGavinRedknap.Gavinwasoneofthefoundersofthe

TrustthatisworkingtosaveandrestoresomeofthefewsurvivingcraftsbuiltattheThamesIronworksYardatthe

mouthofBowCreek.TheTrustplanstousethefleetofrestoredone-hundred-year-oldlifeboatsforcommunity

projectsontheLowerLee.

3rdDecember：

TheRiverThamesSocietyandtheRiverThamesbyPeterFinch.Peter,whoisChairmanoftheRiverThames

Society,willexplaintheroleandfunctionofthesocietyandthengoontotalkaboutLondon'sriverandsomeof

theissuesitfaces.

56.Amaninterestedinancientartcraftsmightattendthetalkon.

A.3rdSeptemberB.1stOctoberC.5thNovemberD.3rdDecember

57.Ifyouwanttoknowhowasocietywhichaimstoprotectriversfunctions,youmightattend.

A.TheCanalandRiverTrust

B.ProtectingOurWaterwayHeritage

C.TheWorkoftheThamesIronworksHeritageTrust

D.TheRiverThamesSocietyandtheRiverThames

B

WhilefamousforeignarchitectsareinvitedtoleadthedesignsoflandmarkbuildingsinChinasuchasthenew

CCTVtowerandtheNationalCenterforthePerformingArts,manyexcellentChinesearchitectsaremakinggreat

effortstotakethecenterstage.

Theireffortshavebeenprovenfruitful.WangShu,a49-year-oldChinesearchitect,wonthe2012Pritzker

ArchitecturePrize——whichisoftenreferredtoastheNobelPrizeinarchitecture-onFebruary28.Heisthefirst

Chinesecitizentowinthisaward.

WangservesasheadoftheArchitectureDepartmentattheChinaAcademyofArt（CAA）.Hisofficeislocated

attheXiangshancampusoftheuniversityinHangzhou,ZhejiangProvince.Manybuildingsonthecampusarehis

originalcreations.

ThestyleofthecampusisquitedifferentfromthatofmostChineseuniversities.Manyvisitorswereamazed

bythecomplexarchitecturalspaceandabundantbuildingtypes.Thecurves（曲线）ofthebuildingsperfectlymatch

theriseandfallofhills,fbiTningauniqueview.

Wangcollectedmorethan7millionabandonedbricksofdifferentages.Heaskedtheworkerstouse

traditionaltechniquestomakethebricksintowalls,roofsandcorridors.Thiscreationattractedalotofattention

thankstoitsmixtureofmodernandtraditionalChineseelements.

Wang'sworksshowadeepunderstandingofmodemarchitectureandagoodknowledgeoftraditions.

Throughsuchabalance,hehadcreatedanewtypeofChinesearchitecture,saidTadaoAndo,thewinnerofthe

1995PritzkerPrize.

Wangbelievestraditionsshouldnotbesealedinglassboxesatmuseums."Thatisonlyevidencethattraditions

onceexisted,hesaid.

“ManyChinesepeoplehaveamisunderstandingoftraditions.Theythinktraditionmeansoldthingsfromthe

past.Infact,traditionalsoreferstothethingsthathavebeendevelopingandthatarestillbeingcreated,hesaid.

“Today,manyChinesepeoplearelearningWesternstylesandtheoriesratherthanfocusingonChinese

traditions.ManypeopletendtotalkabouttraditionswithoutknowingwhattheyreallyareJsaidWang.

Thestudyoftraditionsshouldbecombinedwithpractice.Otherwise,therecreationoftraditionswouldbe

artificialandempty,hesaid.

58.WhatimpressedvisitorstotheCAAXiangshancampusmost?

A.Itshillyenvironment.B.Itslargesize.C.Itsuniquestyle.D.Itsdiversefunctions.

59.WhatmadeWang'sarchitecturaldesignasuccess?

A.Themixtureofdifferentshapes.B.ThebalanceofEastandWest.

C.Theuseofpopulartechniques.D.Theharmonyofoldandnew.

60.WhatshouldwedoaboutChinesetraditionsaccordingtoWang?

A.Spreadthemtotheworld.B.Preservethematmuseums.

C.Teachtheminuniversities.D.Recreatetheminpractice.

C

TheaveragewageearnedinAmericahasbeenstagnating（停滞）forfourdecades,accordingtothePew

ResearchCenter.Ifsashockingfinding.Thankfully,therearetworeasonstobelessfrightenedbyitthananinitial

glancewouldsuggest.

Thefirstreasonwhythisnewsshouldbelessdisturbingthanitappearsisthatcompensationincludesbenefits,

notjustwages,andtheproportionofbenefitstowageshasbeengoingup.Averagecompensationmusttherefore

haverisenfasterthanaveragewageshave.DrewDeSilver'swrite-upofthefindingfromPewmentionsthisissue

prominently,andislinkedtoaBureauofLaborStatisticscompendiumthatshowshowmuchdifferencenon-wage

compensationcanmake.From2001through2018,theaveragecivilianwagegrewby5.3percent;average

compensationgrewby10.4percent,almosttwiceasmuch.

ThesecondreasonfbrcheeristhatevenwagesalonehavealmostcertainlyrisenmorethanPewindicates.

Whenlookingatchangesinlivingstandards,it'srighttoadjustwagesforinflation（通货膨胀）.ButPewhas

overestimatedit,andasaresultit'snotseeingactualimprovementsinpurchasingpower.Pewappearstobeusinga

measureofinflationcalledCPI-U,whichisproducedbytheBureauofLaborStatisticsandusedbymanyother

researchers.ButasScottWinship,thenananalystattheManhattanInstituteforPolicyResearch,detailedafew

yearsago,thatmeasureoverratesinflation-andvastlyoverratesitsaccumulativeinfluenceovertime.

Tomymind,theideathatmostpeoplehavemadenoeconomicprogressinfourdecadesjustfeelswrong—it

contradictsthegrowingmaterialabundancethatIthinknearlyanyoneinoursocietyoughttobeabletosee.Yet

manypeopleseemtofindthepictureoflong-runningstagnationplausible.Meanwhile,theyfinditridiculouswhat

thebestreadingoftheevidencesuggestsaboutpoverty：Materialshortagehassharplydeclinedoverthelastfew

decades,too.

Icanthinkofafewtheoriesaboutwhypeoplemightbuyafalsestoryofeconomicstagnation.Whileliving

standardshavekeptimproving,therateofimprovementhasfallen.Peoplemayhavegottenusedtothehigher

growthratesofthepast.Familiesarelessstablethantheyusedtobe：Peoplemightthereforeseethegoodlifeas

lessattainable,whichthencolorstheirperceptionsoftheeconomy.

61.Howdoestheauthorfindcompensationandwages?

A.Theunchangedwagesarefrightening.B.Compensationhasrisenfasterthanwages.

C.Averagecompensationhasrisendisturbingly.D.Benefitshavegrowntwiceasmuchascompensation.

62.WhathascontributedtoPew'soverestimatinginflation?

A.Theunreliablemeasure.B.Theinaccuratestatistics.

C.Thecarelessprocedure.D.Thesubjectivejudgment.

63.Whatdoestheunderlinedword“plausible“inParagraph4probablymean?

A.Pleasant.B.Sensitive.C.Incredible.D.Reasonable.

64.Whatisthebesttitleforthetext?

A.CompensationConsistsofNotJustWagesB.EconomicStagnationIsAlarminglySerious

C.StagnatingWagesDon'tTelltheWholeStoryD.TheEconomyMadeNoProgressinFourDecades

D

Kathie,IrememberthefirstdaywhenImetyou.Irememberthelookonyourfaceasyourushedoutfrom

yourdormandslammeddirectlyintome.Youknockedmeover,bothmetaphorically（比喻地）andphysically.You

weredressedinasportsbraandtightlittleshortsandIwassuddenlyfeelingalittlebitterinthatIwaspickingyour

roommateupfordinner,notyou.

No,itcan'tstartthatway.

Whostartsaspeechwithamemoryaboutwhatbrasomeonewaswearing?Howaboutthis?

IrememberstaringattheprojectorimageofstarsinAstronomyandthinkingonlyofyoureyes.Ionlysigned

upforAstronomybecauseyousaidyouweretakingit.Youhadn'tsaidittome,ofcourse,buttooneofyour

girlfriends.IwasbehindyouinthesandwichlineatthestudentcenterandIheardyouaskthatredhead

girl——JessicaRandolph,Ithinkhernamewas.Well,ifsJohnson,now;she'smarriedwithababyontheway.I

heardyouaskJessicaifshethoughttheprofessorwouldtalkaboutthepossibilityofaliens.Thatwasallittook.I

signedupforAstronomyalmostimmediately.

ThatsoundslikeI'mahugestalker（£艮踪狂）.Iwon'tsharethatstory.Noonewantstohearaboutaliensand

aboutthestarsinyoureyes.NoonewantstohearaboutJessicaJohnson.Jessicaandherhusbandwillbethere

today.She'llcry.Tmcertainthatshe'llcry.Alotofpeoplewill,I'dassume.

WillI?

Ican'tthinkaboutthat.Idon'twanttomessthingsupinfrontofeveryone.Allofourfamilyandfriendswill

bethere,watching,andI'veneverbeengoodatpublicspeaking.

IremembersittingnexttoyouonthecouchwhileIwaitedforyourroommatetogetreadyfordinner.Shetook

solongtodoherhairandmakeup.Itwasintentional,Ithink.Shethoughtitwasclassytomakemewait.Younever

did.

Anyway,Iwaswaitingforyourroommatetobereadyforourdate.AllIwantedtodowasputmyhandover

yoursasyouchangedthechannels.Somethingfunnywouldhappenonthetelevisionandyou'dlaughsohardthat

you'dsnort.Ilovedyoueventhen,Ithink.

Ican'ttalkaboutthat.PeoplewillthinkI'macheat.Ihavenevercheatedonyou.Iwassetupwithyour

roommateonablinddate.Itwasyou,you,alwaysyoufromthemomentIsawyouuntiltoday.Ibrokeupwithher

thatnight,Iremember.Weneverevenmadeitoutoftheparkinglot.Idon'tknowwhatmademedoit;Ijustknew

thatwheneverIclosedmyeyesIcouldn'tpictureanythingbutyourface.

Todayissoimportant,socritical.Ican'tmessup.Notwhenyou'llbethere,sopeacefulandlovely.

Another,then.

WhataboutthedayIproposed?Ihadplanneditoutsocarefullybutnothingwentright.Theflowerorderwas

wrong.Iburnedmynewshirtwiththeiron.ThesweaterIhadorderedforyourstupiddog—theonethatread,"Will

youmarrymydaddy?”—aiTivedinthemailjustthatmorningandwastoosmall.Isqueezedhimintoitanyway,

anditsomehowmadehisalreadygiantheadlookevenbigger.Maybethafswhyyoucouldn'tstoplaughingwhen

yousawhim.Youwerelaughing-loudly-yourdresshalfonandyournailshalfpainlcd.Ihadcometogetyoufor

ourdatetooearly.Icouldn'thelpit.Iwassweatingthroughmyburntshirtandholdingwiltedflowers,kneeling

likeafbol.Youdidn'tsayyesorno,butthestarsinyoureyeswereconfirmation.

Icansharethat.Tveshareditahundredt