2025届广东省湛江一中等“四校”高考冲刺押题（最后一卷）英语试卷含解析

2025届广东省湛江一中等“四校”高考冲刺押题（最后一卷）英语试卷注意事项1．考生要认真填写考场号和座位序号。2．试题所有答案必须填涂或书写在答题卡上，在试卷上作答无效。第一部分必须用2B铅笔作答；第二部分必须用黑色字迹的签字笔作答。3．考试结束后，考生须将试卷和答题卡放在桌面上，待监考员收回。第一部分（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）1．Afterthreeyearsofpreparationforthe2011Xi’anInternationalHorticulturalExpo(西安园博)会），thecityispresentingtheworld______manypeoplethinkisthegreenSpecialOlympics．A．that B．which C．what D．where2．_____whattheysayaboutme,I’mgoingtocontinuemywork.A．Intermsof B．RegardlessofC．Insteadof D．Infavorof3．Countrypeopledon'tpretendtohavetheseridiculousmannerswhicharenecessary_____wecallpolitesociety．A．what B．inwhatC．which D．inwhich4．Oh！Icanfeelsomething_____upmyleg！Itmustbeaninsect．A．toclimb B．climbingC．climb D．climbed5．Thankstothespecialchemical________ofthesoilinthemountainousarea,thiseconomicplantgrowswellthere.A．compositionB．competenceC．constructionD．conclusion6．Thesolutiontoaproblem，wearetold，oftencomestothinkersina"flashof________"．A．inspiration B．insightC．invitation D．innovation7．Policementhinkthatwherethereisviolence,drugswithdamagingeffectsonkidsarealways______it．A．beyond B．before C．behind D．besides8．moreabouttheplacewhereyoulive,andyouwillshouldermoreresponsibilitytoprotectitA．LearningB．TolearnC．LearnD．Learned9．Theshockingnewsmademerealize______terribleproblemswewouldface.A.that B．how C．what D．why10．WhereismyChinesebook?IrememberIputithereyesterday.You_________itinthewrongplace.A．mustput B．shouldhaveputC．mighthaveput D．mightput11．Sodifficult____ittoworkouttheproblemthatIdecidedtoaskTomforadvice.A．Ididfind B．didIfindC．Ihavefound D．haveIfound12．youcanlearntoappreciatethechallengesinlife,youwillfindinnerstrength.A．WhenB．WhileC．BeforeD．Unless13．Ifwesurroundourselveswithpeople_____ourmajorpurpose,wecangettheirsupportandencouragement.A．insympathywith B．intermsofC．inhonourof D．incontrastwith14．—WhendidyoureturnlastFriday?—Itwasnotuntilmidnight______itwasraininghard.A．when B．whichC．that D．before15．—Wouldyoumindmovingoveralittle?Ihavetopasshere.—________I’dliketohelp.A．Notintheslightest. B．Don’tmentionit.C．Nevermind. D．Atyourservice.16．Themoviecouldn’tbemoreboring.IwishI________toit.A．hadnotbeen B．havenotbeenC．didnotgo D．havenotgone17．ThefilmMeiLanfang,LiMingplaysthestarringrole,hasagaindrawntheworld’sattentiontoourtraditionalChineseart.A．what B．that C．which D．where18．Theoldwomanwho________inthedesertedhousealonefortenyearshasbeensettledinanursinghomenow.A．lived B．haslivedC．hadlived D．hasbeenliving19．Bobmadeapromisetothemanager________theworkwouldallbefinishedontime.A．that B．whatC．which D．whether20．______property,we’reamongtherichestpeopleinthiscity．A．Insearchof B．Inspiteof C．Inplaceof D．Intermsof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）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．advocatereadingbooks2、Jianggotinspiredtostarttheprojectby_________.A．HarryPorterB．WechatmomentsC．EmmaWatsonD．Razor’sEdgeBookClub3、Theunderlinedword“spontaneous”isclosestinmeaningto__________.A．unplannedB．unwiseC．firmD．thoughtful4、Jiang’sattitudetowardsthefutureoftheprojectcanbebestdescribedas___________.A．positiveB．doubtfulC．reservedD．worried22．（8分）ThebestbikesforthebeginnersWhenitcomestopurchasingyourfirstbike,thechoiceisendless,makingittoughtoknowwhattogofor.Herearethethebestbuysonthemarketrightnow.1.BoardmanCxCompThisisacrosscountrybike,andit’ssomultifunctionalthatyoucanhandleanyterrain(地势)onit,makingitagreatchoiceforthosewantingtotryvariouscyclingsubjects.Ifyouleaveonthethicktiresitcomeswith,itcanrideonvariouspathsandcanevenhandlesomelessdemandingmountainbikeroutes.Alternatively,putonthin,smoothtiresandtreatitasaroadbike.IthasabasketandcomeswithShimanoSoragears(变速器),whichareoutstandingforitsprice.£650,Halfords2.PlanetXRT-58v2PlanetXisbasedinYorkshire,whichmeansyou’dprobablyhavetobuythisbikewithoutseeingit.Butit’sworthit，becausethisisanexcellentmachineatalowerprice,PlanetXisahighlyratedmanufacturerandthismodelcomeswithShimanoSoragearing.£585,PlanetX3.SpecializedAllezE5Specializedisoneofthebiggestandmostpopularbrandsincycling,andthisisitshugelypopularprimaryroadbike.Itcomeswithsolidcomponentsfromfronttobackandyou’lllookgreatoutontheroad.£75,EvansCycles4.BoardmanRoadTeamCarbonIfyoucanpushyourbudgetfurtherstill,thisbikeisworththeextrainvestment.Theframeismadeentirelyfromcarbon,whichislighter,fasterandmorecomfortablethanthecompositionmetalmodelsaboveandgivesyouanallroundandmoreenjoyableride.Italsomeansthatifyougetreallyseriousaboutcycling,youdon’thavetoupgradeasquicklyasyouwouldwithacheaperbike.£800,Halfords1、WhatisspecialaboutBoardmanCXComp?A．ItsShimanoSoragears.B．Itsreasonableprice.C．Itsvariousfunctions.D．Itsfirmtires.2、WhichonehasthelowestpricebutwithShimanoSoragears?A．PlanetXRT-58v2.B．SpecializedAllezE5.C．BoardmanCXComp.D．BoardmanRoadTeamCarbon,3、Whatcanwelearnaboutthebikesmentionedinthetext?A．PlanetXRT58v2hasbeensoldoutsofar,B．BoardmanCxCompisactuallyamountainbike.C．SpecializedAllezE5isdesignedforseniorcyclists.D．BoardmanRoadTeamCarbonismadebyspecialmaterials.23．（8分）“YearsagowhenIwasattheGrandCanyon,Irememberedsomeonecominguptothecanyon’sedge,takingashotwithacameraandthenwalkingaway,like‘gotit–done’,barelyevenglancingatthemagnificentsceneinfrontofhim,”LindaHenkel,ascientistatFairfieldUniversity,UStoldLiveScience.Henkelwassurprisedbyhowobsessed(痴迷的)peoplearewithtakingpicturesthesedays-beforedinner,duringfriends’birthdayparties,onmuseumtoursandsoon.Theykeeptakingpicturesbecausetheythinkthatithelpsrecordthemoment,butasHenkel’slateststudyhasjustfoundout,thisobsessionmaypreventtheirbrainsrememberingwhatactuallyhappened,reportedTheGuardian.Inherstudy,Henkelledagroupofcollegestudentsaroundamuseumandaskedthemtosimplyobserve15objectsandphotograph15others.Thenextdaythestudents’memoryofthetourwastested,andtheresultsshowedthattheywerelessaccurateinrecognizingtheobjectsandtheyrememberedfewerdetailsaboutthemiftheyphotographedthem.‘‘Whenpeoplerelyontechnologytorememberthem—countingonthecameratorecordtheeventandthusnotneedingtoattendtoitfullythemselves,itcanhaveanegativeimpactonhowwelltheyremembertheirexperiences,”Henkelexplained.Butthereisalsoanexception:ifstudentszoomedintophotographpartofanobject,theirmemoryactuallyimproved,andthosewhofocusedthelens(镜头)onaspecificareacouldevenrecallpartsthatweren’tintheframe.Sobasically,thisstudyissayingthatconstantlytakingpicturescanharmyourmemory.Butshouldn’treviewingpictureswehavetakenhelpwakeupourmemories?Thisistrue,butonlyifwespendenoughtimedoingit.“Inordertoremember,wehavetoaccessandinteractwiththephotos,ratherthanjustcollectthem,”HenkeltoldTheTelegraph.However,previousresearchhasshownthatmostpeoplenevertakethetimetolookovertheirdigitalpicturessimplybecausetherearetoomanyofthemandtheyaren’tusuallyveryorganizedontheircomputers.1、WhydidtheauthormentionHenkel’striptotheGrandCanyonatthebeginning?A．Tocomplainaboutsometourists’badhabits.B．Togivesuggestionsonhowtoenjoyone’stour.C．Topointoutpeople’sobsessionwithtakingpictures.D．TodescribethebeautifulviewoftheGrandCanyon.2、WhatcanwelearnfromHenkel’sstudy?A．Reviewingpicturesalwayshelpspeoplebringbackmemorieseasily.B．Takingpicturesinamuseumtourhelpsstudentsrecognizeobjectsbetter.C．Peopleshouldspendmoretimetakingpicturesthanstudyingrealobjects.D．Picturesfocusingonthedetailsofobjectsprobablyimprovepeople’smemories.3、Theunderlinedword“it”inParagraph5probablyrefersto“________”.A．thecameraB．technologyC．theeventD．anobject4、Whatisthearticlemainlyabout?A．People’sobsessionwithtakingpicturesanditsinfluence.B．Possiblewaysofusingpicturestoimproveone’smemory.C．Greatharmtomemorycausedbytakingpicturesconstantly.D．Abelievablestudyintothenegativeimpactofliningcamerasoften.24．（8分）“Don’tanswerit,”IsaidtoSam.Ourdoorintheinnercityisconstantlyknockedon;ourpreviousdoorinthesuburbsrarelyso.Samhasafull-timejobandcannotspendhisdaysansweringrequeststofixleakingbathsorcarrycashtothebank.SamopenedthedooranditwasMervin.“There’sabirdonthesecondfloor,”hesaid.“It’sintrouble.”SamfollowedMervinupstairs.MervinpointedandturnedtoletSamlook.Itwasapigeon,themostcommonofallbirds,thebirdmostlikelytofoul(弄脏)yournewlywashedcar.Anditwasn’tflyingaway.Itwasstampingincircles.AsSambenttolook,Mervincoughed,“Numbertwo.”Samaskedhimtorepeatthat.“Numbertwo,”Mervinsaid."Thepigeonhasbeensittinginhisownnumbertwo,andnowit’sstucktohisfoot.”Ithadrainedforfivedays,andthebirdwasyoung.Itcouldhavebeenshelteringinawetnestofitsownwaste,whichhadthendriedonitsfoot,preventingitfromflyingaway.Thepigeonmovedinafewmorecircles.Sambenttotakeanotherlook.Mervinsaid,“Allright,then.”andwalkedaway.“Whydoeseveryonethinkyoumustsolvetheproblemsaroundhere?”IsaidtoSamwhenhereturnedwithhisstory.“It’sabird.Justleaveitonthestairs,andletnaturetakeitscourse.”Samdidn’tagree.Thenhewenttothegarageandemptiedthecardboardboxcontainingourimportedcampingmats.Hereturnedwiththegraypigeoninthebox.Heshowedthebirdtoourchildrenandtheydecidedtokeepit.Theyputitsfootinthewarmwaterbathandgotridofitswaste.Immediatelythepigeoneruptedinabomboffeathersandbeganflying.1、Howdidtheauthorfeelabouttheknocks?A．Shefeltbored. B．Shewasfrightened.C．Shegotexcited. D．Shewassurprised.2、Whywasthepigeonmovingincircles?A．Itwaslearningtofly.B．Itwasbadlyinjured.C．Itgotcaughtintherain.D．Itwastrappedbyitswaste.3、WhatdidSamusethecardboardboxtodo?A．Shelterfromrain.B．GiveittoMervin.C．Washcampingmats.D．Makeanestforthebird.4、WhatcanwelearnaboutSamfromthetext?A．Hewasbrave. B．Hewasclever.C．Hewaswarm-hearted. D．Hewaseasy-going.25．（10分）Researcherssaytheyhavedevelopedtechnologythatcouldpredictheartattacksyearsbeforetheyhappen.TheyreportusingmathematicalsystemstoexamineCTimagesofapatient’sheart.ACTscanusesX-raysandacomputertomakedetailedpicturesofbones,organsandothertissueinsidethebody.ThenewmethodwasdevelopedbyresearchersattheUniversityofOxfordinEngland.AreportontheirstudywaspublishedinthemedicaljournalTheLancet.AlsotakingpartinthestudywereteamsfromGermanyandtheUS.Mostheartattacksresultfromabuild-upoffattytissueinsidearteries（动脉）thatcarrybloodfromthehearttootherareasofthebody,thusblockingthisflowofbloodandcausingaheartattack.Currently,doctorsuseCTscanstolearnwhenastickysubstancecalledplaquehasalreadybuiltupinsideanartery.Thenewtechnologyisdesignedtopredictwhicharteriesareatriskforfuturebuildup.TheresearchersreportedusingcomputerstoexamineCTscanstomeasurehowmuchfatispresentaroundheartarteries.Thatfatchangeswhenanarterybecomesaffected,servingasanearlywarningsystemforheartattacks.Charalambos,aprofessoratOxfordUniversity,saidhebelievestheresearchshowsthismethodcouldbeveryeffectiveingettingpatientstotakeearlystepstopreventfutureproblems,addingthatresearchershadyettoestimateexactlyhowmanyheartattackscouldbeprevented.Buthesaidhebelievesthetechniquecouldhelpidentifybetween20to30percentofpeopleatriskofhavingone.HeaddedthatthenewtechnologywillmakesuchpredictionseasierbecauseitworkstogetherwithexistingCTtechnology.Theresearchwasbasedontwolarge,independentstudiesof4,000patientsinGermany,andtheUS.AcompanywithtiestoOxfordUniversityisdevelopingaservicetoexamineCTscansofpatientsaroundtheworld,Reutersreported.1、What’stheaimofthenewtechnology?A．Topredictwaystoblockfattyissuesinheartarteries.B．Toprovidedetailedpicturesofhowarterieswork.C．Tobuildcomputermodelsoftheimageofaheart.D．Todecidewhicharteriesarelikelytohavefatbuiltup.2、Whendoesaheartattackgenerallyhappenaccordingtothetext?A．WhentheCTscanaffectstheflowofbloodintheheart.B．Whenfataroundheartarteriesblockstheflowofblood.C．Whenastickymaterialflowsintoanarteryneartheheart.D．Whenbonesandorgansofthebodybegintobeweak.3、Whatisanearlywarningforheartattacks?A．Achangeoffathappeningaroundheartarteries.B．Thefindingofastickymaterialintheblood.C．Thepresenceoffataroundthebonesandorgans.D．Theagingandfailureofarteriesneartheheart.4、What’sthemainideaofthetext?A．Theharmoffatbuild-uptoheartarteries.B．TheuseofCTscanstopreventofheartattacks.C．Researchintotheearlywarningofheartattacks.D．Thewarningthebodygivesaboutheartattacks.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）“Don’ttalktostrangers...”Thatisprobablyoneofthe1piecesofadvicehandeddownfromourparents.Yeah,they2well.Sincetherearebadpeopleoutthere,itseemstobeagoodideainordertohelp3us.Andovertheyearswe’velearnedhowtokeepoureyes4.Weareusedtomakingnoeyecontactwithstrangers.5,thepricethatwepayforthis6isthatwegrowupsuspicious(表示怀疑的)ofothersandtheirmotives.Wetendtohavea(n)7ofstrangers,whichisneithernecessarynor8aswegrowolder.Mostpeopleouttherearenotsociopaths（反社会者).9,mostpeoplearequite10.Whatonceprotectedusfrombadpeopleisnowpreventingusfromestablishingrelationshipswith11people!Ingeneral,youknowthattherandomstrangerstandingnexttoyouisvery12tokidnap(绑架)you,yettheemotionoffearis13associatedwithtalkingtothem.Soyou14doit.Butyoumissoutonalotbyclosingyourselfofftonewpeoplelikethis.Instead,youshouldactively15thatpeopleingeneralarefriendly.Why?Becausetheyare.Mostpeopleactuallyarenice.Weare16creatures,andwewelcomeinteractionswithothers.Thinkaboutit:whenastrangerstartsa(n)17withyou,howdoyouusually18?Besides,youneverknowwhoyoumight19.Thepersonstandingbehindyouinalinecouldonedaybeyourbestfriend.It20.Butevenifit'snotthatextreme,youneverknowifthatpersonhasajobopportunityforyou,orisjustacoolpersonwhoyouwouldenjoyhavingabriefconversationwith.1、A．shortestB．worstC．longestD．best2、A．meantB．plannedC．spokeD．worked3、A．inspireB．instructC．changeD．protect4、A．upB．openC．downD．shut5、A．EspeciallyB．ThankfullyC．UnfortunatelyD．Uncertainly6、A．safetyB．healthC．powerD．delight7、A．angerB．painC．shameD．fear8、A．importantB．obviousC．humorousD．reasonable9、A．IncaseB．InfactC．AttimesD．Atfirst10、A．braveB．friendlyC．smartD．patient11、A．badB．famousC．goodD．common12、A．readyB．UnlikelC．eagerD．unwilling13、A．stillB．neverC．onlyD．even14、A．alwaysB．oftenC．sometimesD．seldom15、A．doubtB．assumeC．guessD．decide16、A．livingB．complexC．uniqueD．social17、A．meetingB．experimentC．argumentD．conversation18、A．listenB．connectC．reactD．devote19、A．hurtB．forgetC．meetD．benefit20、A．happensB．dependsC．affectsD．fails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）WoodblockprintingfirstappearedintheearlyTangperiod.DuringtheSongdynasty,thetechniqueofblockprintingwasveryadvanced.Bookswere1．(beautiful)printed.Eventodaythebooks2．(print)atthetimearevaluableandtreasuredbylibrariesandbookcollectors.However,blockprinting3．(be)notveryconvenient.Everytwopagesofabookhadtobecarvedonawoodblock,andabigbookwouldrequiremanyblocks.Besides,therehadtobelargeplacesforstoringthebooks.4．(overcome)theseshortcomings,BiShenginventedthemovabletypeduringtheyearsbetween1041and1048.Onewordwascarvedononepieceofclay,5．washardenedwithfire.Thenclaycharacterswereseton6．ironplateaccordingtothetextofabook.Theninkwasappliedtothemand7．(sheet)ofpaperspreadoverthem,andtheprintingwasdone.BiSheng’sinventionmadeprintingfasterand8．(easy)thanbefore.Later,movabletypeofmetalandwoodwasmadeandwidelyused.ThetechniqueofprintingwasgraduallyknowntootherAsiancountriesandEurope.Thegreatinfluenceprintinghad9．theadvanceofcivilizationistoocleartoneedany10．(explain).第四部分写作（共两节）第一节短文改错（满分10分）28．（10分）假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（︿），并在下面写出该加的词。删除：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉。修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。注意：1、每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；2、只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。MynameisLiMing,astudentstudiedinGanzhouNo、18MiddleSchool、IameagerbecomeavolunteerinyourgroupandIcanworktillmynexttermbegins、Ihavearealtalentonsinging、Igetthefirstprizeinthesingingcompetitioninourschoollastyear、However,Icanteachchildrenhowtosingsongs、Besides,Iplaythepianoverywell,thatwillhelpalotinmywork、Iamwarm-heartedandalwaysbereadytohelp、Helpingotherpeoplemakesmyselfhappy、IbelieveIcanmakefriendwiththechildren、IhopeIamfortunatelyenoughtobeamemberofyourgroup、81第二节书面表达（满分25分）29．（25分）假定你是李华，你在报纸上看到你市电视台今年七月将举办外国人"学做中餐，乐享中国菜"才艺大赛．你的外教Peter非常喜欢中国厨艺，你建议他去试一试．请按以下要点给他写信告知此事，并表示可以提供帮助．1．比赛时间：7月15日；2．报名时间：截止到6月30日；3．报名地点：市电视台．注意：1．词数100左右；2．可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯．____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

参考答案第一部分（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）1、C2、B3、B4、B5、A6、B7、C8、C9、C10、C11、B12、A13、A14、A15、A16、A17、D18、A19、A20、D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、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.”HenoddedhisheadingratitudelikeallusTexansdoandwalked