北京西城8中2024届高三第四次模拟考试英语试卷含解析

北京西城8中2024届高三第四次模拟考试英语试卷注意事项：1．答卷前，考生务必将自己的姓名、准考证号填写在答题卡上。2．回答选择题时，选出每小题答案后，用铅笔把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑，如需改动，用橡皮擦干净后，再选涂其它答案标号。回答非选择题时，将答案写在答题卡上，写在本试卷上无效。3．考试结束后，将本试卷和答题卡一并交回。第一部分（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）1．—I’msorryforbreakingthecup.—Oh,________.I’vegotplenty.A．helpyourself B．forgetitC．mypleasure D．pardonme2．Goingoutis__________goodmeansofrelaxation.Wouldyouliketogoto______parkwithmeintheafternoon?A．the;the B．the;a C．a;the D．/；a3．—SometimesIamevensleepyinclass.—It’sterrible.You_____aswellgotobedearlier.A．should B．willC．might D．can4．We’dbettertakeumbrellas—I’msureit________whenwearriveinLondon;it’salwayswetthereatthistimeofyear.A．willrain B．israiningC．willberaining D．wouldrain5．Inspring,thesceneonthetopofthehillissoappealingthatitis________mywords.A．aboveB．overC．beyondD．off6．—Startingaconversationisagoodwaytokilltimeonthetrain.—_______.Ialsoliketotalkwithstrangers.A．Thatistrue B．ItsoundslikefunC．Idon’tthinkso D．Youarekidding7．Iwantedsomemorecoldmeatbuttherewas_____left.A．none B．noone C．any D．some8．Onthesurfaceofthewater________,whichspoiledthebeautifulsceneryofthepark.A．somedeadleavesdidfloat B．somedeadleavesfloatedC．floatedsomedeadleaves D．didsomedeadleavesfloat9．Oursocietywouldbebetteroffbutforthefactthattheeconomy________bythecurrentglobalfinancialcrisis.A．hadbeenaffected B．wereaffectedC．shouldbeaffected D．isaffected10．We’dbettergonow,______we’llmissthetrain.A．butB．soC．otherwiseD．therefore11．Itrainedheavilyovernightandnotuntilthismorning__________.A.haditstopped B．diditstopC．stoppedit D．itstopped12．Theflatisgoodvalueformoneybecausenotonlydidtheysellittomeatacheapprice,buttheythrewinsomeoldfurniture_________.A．attheircommand B．forgoodmeasureC．beyondmyreach D．beneaththeirdignity13．Nicholaswasverykind,mercifulandgenerous.Thisis________FatherChristmasisbasedon.A．where B．how C．what D．why14．Ilikesuchhouseswithbeautifulgardensinfront,butIdon’thaveenoughmoneytobuy.A．it B．one C．that D．this15．Themedicineshouldusuallybekeptoutofthe________ofchildrenathome.A．distance B．reachC．limit D．arrival16．Itwasintheremotemountainareas______Ispentthegapyear______Ilearnedhowtoworkwithagroupofstrangersandhowtolookaftermyself.A．where;that B．when;thatC．where;when D．that;where17．Thewhyheisabsenttodayishehasgotabadheadache.A．reason;that B．reason;becauseC．cause;that D．cause;because18．Thepalaceisheavilyguarded,becauseinsideitswalls________.A．wheresittheEuropeanleaders B．theEuropeanleaderstheresitC．sittheEuropeanleaders D．thattheEuropeanleaderssit19．—Doyouknow______themeetingroomearlier?—Shehadaheadache.A．whyAnnleftB．whydidAnnleaveC．whyAnnwillleaveD．whywillAnnleave20．Ascientist’sattempttoproducetheworld’sfirstgene-editedbabies_____areimmunetoHIVhassparkedcontroversyinacademiaandthepublic.A．as B．whoC．whom D．whose第二部分阅读理解（满分40分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。21．（6分）VijayGuptaisknowntoclassicalmusicloversacrosstheUnitedStates.HeservesasfirstviolinistfortheLosAngelesPhilharmonic.Inthatjob,heoftenplaystolargecrowds,includingmanyveryrichpeople.Whenheisnotperforming,heorganizesconcertsforhomelesspeople.'TheyhaveremindedmewhyIbecameamusician,hesaid.Lastweek,GuptawasrecognizedforbeingafounderandtheartisticdirectorofStreetSymphony.Thegrouphasperformedathomelessshelters,jailsandhalfwayhousesforabouteightyears.Guptaisamongthe25winnersofthe2018MacArthurFellowship,commonlyknownasthe“geniusgrant.”Eachwinnerwillreceive$625,000overfiveyearstouseastheywish.Themoneyiscomingfromaprivategroup,theJohnD．andKatherineT.MacArthurFoundation.Itawardsgrants(补助金)topeoplewhoseworkitconsidersexceptionalandthat“inspireshopeinusall.”GuptasaidhegottheideaforStreetSymphonywhileteachingNathanielAyers,atrainedmusicianwhosementalillnessledtohomelessness.The31-year-oldgrantwinnersaidhedoesnotknowyethowhewillspendthemoney.Hehasbeenaperformersinceagesevenandtheawardwillgivehim"spacetobreathe,planandlookahead.”AnotherwinnerisRebeccaSandefur,anassociateprofessorofsociologyandlawintheUniversityofIllinois.TheAssociatedPresssaysherresearchactivelysupportsnewwaystoinvolvepoorcommunitiesintheU.S.justicesystem.47-year-oldSandefurcreatedthefirstnationalmappingofcivillegalaidproviders.Itshowswhichstateshadthefinancialresourcestoprovidesuchaidandwhichdidnot.Shealsofoundthatthecostoflegalservicesisonlyoneofthethingspreventingpoorpeoplefromgettinglawyers.Amongtheothersarefearsaboutunfairnessinthelegalsystem.Sandefurnotedthatalotofattentionhasbeenpaidtoproblemswiththecriminaljusticesystem,butmoreattentionmustbepaidtothecivilsideofthelaw,whichalsoaffectsmillionsofpeople.1、WhydidGuptawintheaward?A．Forhisachievementsinclassicalmusic.B．Forperformingforlargecrowds.C．Fororganizingagroupplayingforthehomeless.D．ForthefriendshipwithNathanielAyers.2、WhatdoweknowaboutMacArthurFellowship?A．Itisfoundedbythegovernment.B．Itoffers$625,000to25winnersin2018.C．Itallowsthewinnerstousethemoneyfreely.D．Itawardspeoplewhomakegreatcontributionstosociety.3、WhatwastheextraordinarythingthatSandefiirdid?A．Shemadeiteasiertogetlegalhelpforthepoor.B．Shemadethelegalsystemfairer.C．Shepaidmoreattentiontothecriminaljusticesystem.D．Sheofferedlegalaidstothepoorfreely.4、Whichcanbethebesttitleforthepassage?A．Grantswinners,inspiringthepoorB．Thecityhomeless,inneedofhelpC．VijayGupta,anextraordinaryviolinistD．MacArthurFoundation,awardingexceptionalwork22．（8分）Robotsmakemenervous—especiallytheoneswhichseemtothinkforthemselves.IwasembarrassedtoadmitthistillIheardthatBillGates,thefounderofMicrosoft,feltthesameway.GatessaidinaninterviewwiththesocialnetworkingandnewswebsiteReddit:“Iaminthecampthatisconcernedaboutsuperintelligence.Firstthemachineswilldoalotofjobsforusandnotbesuperintelligent．Thatshouldbepositiveifwemanagewell.Afewdecadesafterthat,though,theintelligenceisstrongenoughtobeaconcern.”Well,maybeIdon’thavetoworryaboutmycomputerandkitchenequipmentyet.AfterIusethemIcanalwayspulltheplug.Butinthefuture,machinesmightfindawaytopreventusfromswitchingthemoff.There’saterriblethought!Maybetheproblemwithcomputerstoocleverforusisnotthattheyareevillikesomewe’veseeninsci-fimovies.Whatcouldputusindangeristhattheymightbetooefficient.That’swhatphilosopherNickBostromfromOxfordUniversitybelieves.Hesaysthatmachinesareindifferenttohumansandinpursuitoftheirowngoals，thedestructionofpeoplemightbejustadditionaldamage.Bostromgivesusanexample:Amachinewhichmighthaveitsonlygoaltoproduceasmanypaperclipsaspossiblemightlookathumanbodiesasextramaterialforpaperclipsandgoafteryou.Becauseitis,well,amachine,itwouldnottakepityonyou.It’sagoodthingthatAmericanwriterIsaacAsimovthoughtabouthowfarrobotscangoandleftushisthreerulesofrobotics.Theystatethatarobotmaynothurtahumanbeingorallowthehumanbeingtocometoharm.I’mgladmymachinesathomeare“dumb”.Allmycleanerwantstotakeoveristhecarpetinmylivingroom.Let’shopetheydon’tcreateanappliancewhichwantstotakeovertheworld!1、TheauthorquotedBillGates’wordsinParagraph2inordertomakethetext________.A．better-knownB．morepersuasiveC．better-organizedD．moreinteresting2、Anintelligentpaperclipmachinewouldharmusbecause_______.A．itismuchclevererthanusB．itwouldtakeovertheworldC．ithasthestrongfeelingofdestroyingusD．itwouldseeusjustasmaterial3、HowdoestheauthorfeelaboutIsaacAsimov’srulesofrobotics?A．OptimisticB．WorriedC．DisappointedD．Regretful4、Whatdoesthetextmainlyfocuson?A．Thebenefitsoffuturerobots.B．Thenewapplicationsofrobots.C．Theconcernforsuperintelligence.D．Thepopularityofrobotsinthefuture.23．（8分）ItwasMother’sDaymorninglastyearandIwasdoingmyshoppingatourlocalsupermarketwithmyfive-year-oldson,Teayson.Aswewereleaving,wefoundthatonlyminutesearlieranelderlywomanhadfallenoverattheentranceandhadhitherbeadontheconcrete.Herhusbandwaswithher,buttherewasbloodeverywhereandthewomanwasembarrassedandclearlyinshock.Walkingtowardsthescene,Tenysonbecameveryupsetaboutwhathadhappenedtothecouple.Ilesaidtome.“Mumsit’snotmuchfunfallingoverinfrontofeveryone.”Atthefrontofthesupermarketacharitygrouphadsetupastandsellingcookedsausagesandflowerstoraisefunds.Tenysonsuggestedthatweshouldboytheladyaflower.“Itwillmakeherfeelbetter,”hesaid.Iwasamazedthathe’dcomeupsuchasweetidea.Sowewentovertotheflowersellerandaskedherifwecouldbuyaflowerfortheladytocheerherup.“Justtakeit,”shereplied.“Ican’ttakeyourmoneyforsuchawonderfulgesture.”Bynowparamedics(救援人员)hadarrived,andwereattendingtheinjuredwoman.Aswewalkeduptoher,mysonbecameintimidatedbyallthebloodandmedicalequipment.Hesaidhewasjusttooscaredtogouptoher.InsteadIgavetheflowertothewoman’shusbandandtoldhim.“Mysonwasveryupsetforyourwifeandwantedtogiveherthisflowertomakeherfeelbetter.”Atthat,theoldmanstartedcryingandsaid,“Thankyousomuch,youhaveawonderfulson,HappyMother’sDaytoyou.”Themanthenbentdownandgavehiswifetheflower,tellingherwhoitwasfrom.Thoughbadlyhurtandshaken,theoldladylookedupatTenysonwithloveinhereyesandgavehimalittlesmile.1、Whatdoestheauthorintendtotellus?A．OnecanneverbetoocarefulB．Actionsspeaklouderwords,C．Lovebeginswithalittlesmile.D．Asmallactofkindnessbringsagreatjoy.2、WhichofthefollowingisTRUEaccordingtothepassage?A．TheelderlywomanwasknockeddownbyTenyson.B．Tenyson’sideaofbuyingaflowergainedhisfather’ssupport.C．Tenyson’scarefortheelderlywomanpuzzledtheflowerseller.D．TheelderlywomanwasmovedtotearsbyTenyson’sgesture.3、Whatdoestheunderlinedword“it”inparagraph3referto?A．AcharitygroupB．AstandsellingcookedsausagesandflowersC．AflowerD．Asweetidea4、Theunderlinedword“intimidated”inthefourthparagraphprobablymeans.A．astonishedB．struckC．frightenedD．excited24．（8分）PengLiyuan,wifeofPresidentXiJinping,hasdrawnextensiveattentionfrompeoplebothathomeandabroadforhercharismaandgrace.Accompanyingherhusbandonhisfirstoverseastripafterbecomingpresident,PengLiyuanexhibitedgracefuldemeanor,apleasantpersonalityandwell-chosendress,promptingpeopletocointheterm“Liyuanstyle”.PengLiyuan,asoneofChina’sbest-knownsingers,waspopularamongChinesepeoplelongbeforeherhusbandbecamethepresident.Lovedbyherfans,shehasbeenintouchwiththepeopleforyears.“Liyuanstyle”isnotonlyrepresentativeofafashionidol,butalsooverpassculturalanddiplomaticbarriers.ThebeautifulhandbagsPenghascarried,andtheplainbutelegantanddelicatedressesshehaswornhavebecomepopular.Herchoiceofclothing,made-in-Chinainsteadofluxuriousforeignbrands,showsherbeliefindomesticdressdesigns.But“Liyuanstyle”isnotonlyaboutclothingandawoman’sparaphernalia.ItisalsoaboutdiplomacyandpromotingChina’ssoftpower.InMoscow,Pengvisitedaboardingschoolfororphansandchildrenestranged(疏远)fromtheirparents,encouragingthemtostriveforabetterlife,whichbroughtoutthematernalsideofhercharacter.InTanzania,shedonatedsewingmachinesandschoolbagstowomenandchildren.AndasaWorldHealthOrganizationambassadorinthefightagainstAIDS,Pengisdevotedtomanypubliccauses,includingthoserelatingtocharityandhealthcare.SomeobservershavealreadystartedsayingthatPeng*sactivitieshavebecomepartofpublicdiplomacyinChina.Also,“Liyuanstyle”hasboostedtheconfidenceoftheChinesepeople.Modembutnotflashy,elegantbutnotarrogant,PenghasallthevirtuesofaChinesewomanandcarriesthemtotheinternationalstage.Sincethe18thPartyCongressandtheannualsessionsoftheNPCandCPPCC,thecountry’snewleadershiphasvowedtoadoptadown-to-earthworkstyletoconnectwiththepeople.Peng’splainbutelegantstyleshowsthatthriftinessandanearthystyleneednotbedrabandboring.SoitcanbesaidthatPeng’sfirstappearanceontheinternationalstagehaskickedoffwell.1、Whatsthemeaningoftheunderlinedword“paraphernalia”?A．Herattitudestowardslife B．ThingsshecarriedwithC．Herdiplomaticmeasures D．Hersupporttoherhusband2、Thispassageismainlyabout.A．PresidentXi’swifeandhisfamilyB．PengLiyuan’scharmingcharacterC．theachievementsofPengoncharityandhealthcare.D．aculturalphenomenonnamedas“Liyuanstyle”3、WhichofthefollowingstatementsisTRUR?A．“Liyuanstyle”isonlyafashionidol.B．PengLiyuan,asthewifeofPresidentXi,admireslotsofluxuriousbrands.C．PengLiyuaniswillingtofightagainstAIDSandbecomeananambassadorofWHO.D．Pengfirstlyappearsinthepublicasthe“FirstLady”inMoscow.25．（10分）Inordertoknowaforeignlanguagethoroughly(完全地),fourthingsarenecessary.First,wemustunderstandthelanguagewhenwehearitspoken.Secondly,wemustbeabletospeakitourselves,correctlywithconfidence(自信)andwithouthesitation(犹豫).Thirdly,wemustbeabletowriteit.Wemustbeabletomakesentencesthatarecorrectingrammar.Thereisnoshortwaytosucceedinlanguagelearning.Agoodmemoryisagreathelp,butitisnotenoughonlytomemorizetherulesfromagrammarbook.Itisnomuchuselearningbyheartlonglistsofwordsandtheirmeanings,studyingthedictionaryandsoon.Wemustlearnbyusingthelanguage.Ifwearepleasedwithafewruleswehavememorized,wearenotreallylearningthelanguage.Wemust"Learnthroughuse".Practiceisimportant.Wemustpracticespeakingandwritingthelanguagewheneverwecan.1、Themostimportantthingstolearnaforeignlanguageare______.A．understandingandspeaking B．hearing,speaking,readingandwritingC．writingandunderstanding D．memorizingandlistening2、Whichofthefollowingisthemostimportantinleaningaforeignlanguage?A．Agoodmemory B．SpeakingC．Practice D．Writing3、“Learnthroughuse”means_________.A．weusealanguageinordertolearnitB．welearnforeignlanguageinordertouseitC．wecanlearnalanguagewellwhileweareusingitD．bothBandC第三部分语言知识运用（共两节）第一节（每小题1.5分，满分30分）阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项．26．（30分）阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从文后所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出一个可以填入空白处的最佳答案。MyfriendMichelleisblind,butyou’dneverknowit.Shemakessuchgooduseofherother1,includingher“sixthsense”,thatsherarelygivestheimpressionthatshe's2anything.Michellelooksafterherchildrenprettymuchliketherestofus,3thatshedoesn'tpushtoohardonthem,4reallybenefitalotfromherrelaxedattitude.Sheknowswhentocleanthehouse,andshemovesaroundsofastthat5oftendon'trealizeshe'sblind.I6thisthefirsttimeaftermysix-year-olddaughter,Kayla,wenttoplaythere.WhenKaylacamehome,shewasvery7aboutherday.Shetoldmetheyhadbakedcookies,playedgamesanddoneartprojects.Butshewas8excitedaboutherfinger-paintingproject.“Mom,guesswhat?”saidKayla,allsmiles.“Ilearnedhowto9colorstoday!Blueandredmakepurple,andyellowandbluemakegreen!AndMichelle10withus”.Tomygreat11,mychildhadlearnedaboutcolorfromablindfriend!ThenKaylacontinued,“Michelletoldmemy12showedjoy,prideandasenseofaccomplishment.Shereally13whatIwasdoing!”Kaylasaidshehadneverknownhowgoodfingerpaintsfelt14Michelleshowedherhowtopaintwithoutlookingatherpaper.IrealizedKayladidn'tknowthatMichellewasblind.Ithadjustnever15inconversation.WhenItoldmydaughterthatMichellewasblind,shewas16foramoment.Atfirst,shedidn'tbelieveme.“ButMommy,Michelleknewexactlywhatwasinmypicture!”Kayla17.AndIknewmychildwas18becauseMichellehadlistenedtoKayladescribeherartwork.MichellehadalsoheardKayla's19inherwork.Weweresilentforaminute.ThenKaylasaidslowly,“Youknow,Mommy,Michellereallydid‘see’mypicture.Shejustusedmy20”Indeed,sheusesaspecialtypeof“vision”thatallmothershave.1、A．senses B．means C．methods D．ways2、A．enjoyed B．found C．missed D．lost3、A．instead B．except C．since D．but4、A．who B．it C．she D．which5、A．guests B．family C．children D．friends6、A．realized B．heard C．recognized D．witnessed7、A．sad B．satisfied C．excited D．enjoyed8、A．especially B．notso C．alittle D．notatall9、A．paint B．draw C．create D．mix10、A．stayed B．painted C．talked D．played11、A．excitement B．surprise C．delight D．encouragement12、A．attitude B．color C．picture D．paper13、A．touched B．distinguished C．saw D．understood14、A．after B．before C．until D．when15、A．turnedout B．comeup C．referredto D．talkedabout16、A．curious B．quiet C．puzzled D．worried17、A．cried B．insisted C．complained D．informed18、A．right B．wrong C．worried D．uncertain19、A．shortcomings B．difficulties C．pride D．description20、A．paper B．eyes C．hands D．pens第二节（每小题1.5分，满分15分）阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。27．（15分）Formostofherlife,AnnaMaryRobertsworkedveryhardmakingalivingonafarm.Shebegantopaint1．herseventies.Shedisplayedherartworksinhertownatageeighty.Thepaintings2．(notice)byanartcollector,3．recognizedAnna'sremarkabletalent.Heboughtallthepaintingsondisplay.Later,threeofherpaintingswereexhibitedinawell-knownartmuseuminNewYorkCity.Soon,peoplearoundtheworld4．(hear)ofAnnaandherdelightfulartworks.Peoplelovedlookingattheold-fashionedscenesthatAnnahadcreated.第四部分写作（共两节）第一节短文改错（满分10分）28．（10分）IhaveanauntworkinLondon、Ithasbeenfiveyearsthatwemeteachother、LastsummervacationmyparentandItookatripthere、Ididn’texpectliveinacityinEnglandcouldbemuchexpensivethaninmyhomecountryineasternEurope、WewenttoCambridgeontheotherday、Theyweremanykindsofdeliciousfood,sowegotourselvessomethingtoeat、IeatCoriandercrisps,whichwereextremetasty、AlthoughIwastiredthatday,Ireallyhadwonderfultime、第二节书面表达（满分25分）29．（25分）假定你是李华。你班将邀请一位老艺人在4月21日上午8:00至10:00来班里推广剪纸艺术，你打算邀请你们学校酷爱中国文化的英国交换生Peter参加。请你写封E-mail，邀请他参加，并告诉他活动安排。注意：1.词数100左右；2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。参考词汇：手艺人craftsman；剪纸艺术paper-cutart。______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

参考答案第一部分（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）1、B2、C3、C4、C5、C6、A7、A8、C9、D10、C11、B12、B13、C14、B15、B16、B17、A18、C19、A20、B第二部分阅读理解（满分40分）阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。21、1、C2、C3、A4、A22、1、B2、D3、A4、C23、1、D2、B3、C4、C24、Mymomonlyhadoneeye.Ihatedher...shewassuchanembarrassment.Mymomranasmallshopatafleamarket.Shecollectedlittleweedsandsuchtosell...anythingforthemoneyweneededshewassuchanembarrassment.Therewasthisonedayduringelementaryschool.Irememberthatitwasfieldday,andmymomcame.Iwassoembarrassed.Howcouldshedothistome?Ithrewherahatefullookandranout.Thenextdayatschool...“Yourmomonlyhasoneeye?!”andtheytauntedme.IwishedthatmymomwouldjustdisappearfromthisworldsoIsaidtomymom.“Whydon’tyoujustdie?”Mymomdidnotrespond.IguessIfeltalittlebad,butatthesametime,itfeltgoodtothinkthatIhadsaidwhatI’dwantedtosayallthistime.Maybeitwasbecausemymomhadn’tpunishedme,butIdidn’tthinkthatIhadhurtherfeelingsverybadly.Thatnight...Iwokeup,andwenttothekitchentogetaglassofwater.Mymomwascryingthere,soquietly,asifshewasafraidthatshemightwakeme.Ihatedmymotherwhowascryingoutofheroneeye.SoItoldmyselfthatIwouldgrowupandbecomesuccessful,becauseIhatedmyone-eyedmomandourdesperatepoverty.ThenIstudiedreallyhard.IleftmymotherandcametoSeoulandstudied,andgotacceptedintheSeoulUniversitywithalltheconfidenceIhad.Then,Igotmarried.Iboughtahouseofmyown.ThenIhadkids,too.NowI’mlivinghappilyasasuccessfulman.Ilikeitherebecauseit’saplacethatdoesn’tremindmeofmymom.Thishappinesswasgettingbiggerandbigger,whensomeoneunexpectedcametoseeme“What?!Who’sthis?!”Itwasmymother...Stillwitheroneeye.Itfeltasifthewholeskywasfallingapartonme.Mylittlegirlranaway,scaredofmymom’seye.AndIaskedher,“Whoareyou?Idon’tknowyou!!”asifItriedtomakethatreal.Iscreamedather“Howdareyoucometomyhouseandscaremydaughter!Getoutofherenow!!”Andtothis,mymotherquietlyanswered,“oh,I’msosorry.Imayhavegottenthewrongaddress,”andshedisappeared.Thankgoodness...shedoesn’trecognizeme.Iwasquiterelieved.ItoldmyselfthatIwasn’tgoingtocare,orthinkaboutthisfortherestofmylife.Thenawaveofreliefcameuponme...oneday,aletterregardingaschoolreunioncametomyhouse.IliedtomywifesayingthatIwasgoingonabusinesstrip.Afterthereunion,Iwentdowntotheoldshack,thatIusedtocallahouse,justoutofcuriositythere,Ifoundmymotherfallenonthecoldground.Shehadapieceofpaperinherhand.Itwasalettertome.Shewrote:Myson,Ithinkmylifehasbeenlongenoughnow.Foryou...I’msorrythatIonlyhaveoneeye,andIwasanembarrassmentforyou.Yousee,whenyouwereverylittle,yougotintoanaccident,andlostyoureye.Asamot