北京九中2025届高考英语五模试卷含解析

北京九中2025届高考英语五模试卷注意事项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．—That'sthethirdtimeyou'vedonethat!—Yeah,_____?A．whatofitB．what’sonC．whataboutD．whatfor2．ItisalmostfiveyearssinceJimmytaughthighschoolstudentsandhe_____asaninterpreterinaforeignenterprise.A．servedB．hadservedC．isservingD．wouldserve3．Wearrangedtomeetatthecinemaat7:30,butJackfailedto______.A．breakupB．setupC．turnupD．giveup4．Thenewmeansoftransport________inthiscity,sowhetheritwillworkoutremainstobeseen.A．havenevertriedB．hasnevertriedC．haveneverbeentriedD．hasneverbeentried5．Thebusinessmanstudiedthemarketinhishometowntofindthe____forinvestment.A．potential B．reservation C．criterion D．allowance6．Itgivesusgreatdelight______Chinesesciencefictionsarebecomingincreasinglypopular.A．how B．whatC．that D．why7．Thetwogirlsaregettingonverywellandshare_______witheachother.A．little B．much C．some D．none8．Itwasjustatthetimethebellranghefinishedthelastwordinhiscomposition. A．when;which B．that;when C．when;that D．that;which9．—Wouldyoumindmovingoveralittle?Ihavetopasshere.—________I’dliketohelp.A．Notintheslightest. B．Don’tmentionit.C．Nevermind. D．Atyourservice.10．Theeventthat_________inmymemoryhappenedonemorningin1983whenIwas14yearsold.Ithasneverescaped.A．stoodoutB．standsoutC．wouldstandoutD．hasstoodout11．—Bettergetdowntoyourwork,Tom.—_________.A．It’smypleasure B．Don’tmentionit C．MindyourownbusinessD．You’rewelcome12．Janeestablishedaprogram,____youngpeopletotakepartinactivities____promotegreaterconcernfortheenvironment．A．toencourage;where B．havingencouraged;whereC．encouraging;that D．encouraged;which13．ltwasinDecember,2018________ChairmanXiandPresidentTrumpmetinArgentina.A．when B．thatC．before D．since14．ThoughProfessorLiu____inNewYorkforsevenyears,hehasneverregrettedmovingbacktoShanghai,hishometown.A．lived B．haslived C．hadlived D．wasliving15．Ifyouseethingsinanegativelight,youwillfindfaultseverywhereandproblemswheretherearereally________．A．noneB．someC．manyD．nothing16．Thedoctor’streatmenthasworkedmarvels:thepatienthascompletely．A．repeated B．returned C．recovered D．reminded17．Ifyou___________tomyadvicecarefully,youwouldn’thavemadesuchaterriblemistake.A．listened B．havelistenedC．wouldlisten D．hadlistened18．Anoldladycametothebusstoponlythebushadgone.A．torun;tofind B．running;tofind C．andran;finding D．running;finding19．.HowdidyouFrench?IlivedinParisfortwoyearsbeforeIcametoEngland,soIgotlotsofpractice.A．gothrough B．pickup C．setup D．turnup20．“________Iwentthroughupsanddownsinlife，”Gordonsaid,“Ineverfoundtheimportanceofbeingself­disciplinedaswellasthesignificanceoflife.”A．IfB．SinceC．UntilD．Unless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）AgroupofscientistsisgatheringtodayintheU.K.todiscussathickpieceoficethat’scrackinginAntarctica,whichisofthesizeofDelaware.TheiceshelfiscalledLarsenC,anditnowhasa90-milecrackrunningthroughit.Thebigrift(裂缝)isslicingtheiceshelffromtoptobottom.Butthisisnotjustanothersadclimatechangestory.It’smorecomplicated.“Alotofthingsaregoingondeepinsidetheice,”saysAdrianLuckman,aglaciologist.Luckmansaysclimatechangeiscertainlyinfluencingthisregion.LarsenCusedtohavetwoneighborstothenorth,LarsenAandLarsenB．Astheairandwaterwarmed,thoseiceshelvesstartedmeltingandthendisappearedin1995and2002.ButthecrackinLarsenCseemstohavehappenedonitsown,fordifferentreasons.LarsenChasmanycracks.Alliceshelvesdo.Thisparticularcrackhasbeenaroundsinceatleastthe1960s.Theunusualpartisthatin2014,thiscrack—andonlythiscrack—startedgrowingquickly.Why?“Well,thatisalittlebitofamysteryandthat'swhyitdrewitselftoourattention,”saysLuckman.Onepuzzlingaspectishowitmanagedtocutthroughareasofsoftericethatbind(连接)theicefromneighboringglaciersintoonegiantsheet.Startingin2014,thatsofticedidverylittletoslowdownthisrift.Scientistsaresplitonhowimportantthiscrackisforthestabilityofthewholeiceshelf.Somesayifthisgiantsectionbreaksoff,itwon’tmakeadifference.Othersdisagree.“IceshelvesarethegatesofAntarcticainaway,andthegatekeepersofAntarctica.Theiceshelvesarealreadyfloating,soiftheyfallapartitdoesnotimmediatelyaffectsealevels.It’swhattheyholdback-waterfromalltheinlandglaciers—thatcouldbeproblematic.Ifallthewaterpackedinthoseglaciersmadetheirwaytothesea,itcouldsignificantlyraiseglobalsealevels,”saysAlaKhazendar,ageophysicist.1、LarsenC’stwoneighborsdisappearedmainlybecauseof________.A．climatechange B．humanbehaviorC．thecrackinLarsenC D．someunknownreasons2、WhyisLarsenCspecial?A．Becauseitstillexists.B．Becauseithasmanycracks.C．Becauseoneofitscracksisgrowingrapidly.D．Becauseitisgettingbiggerandbiggerquickly.3、Whichoneistrueofsoftice?A．Itiseasytocutthrough.B．Itsformingisstillamystery.C．Itcanpreventcrackingtoadegree.D．Itexistsmainlyinsmallpiecesofice.4、HowdoesAlaKhazendarfeelabouttheinfluenceofthecrack?A．Heisverycurious. B．Heisunconcerned.C．Heisprettyoptimistic. D．Heiscautiouslyworried.22．（8分）TheChildrenandFamilyResearchCenter,locatedinIllinois,isanindependentresearchorganizationtopromotepublicchildwelfareresearchactivities.Thefollowingareour2018researchbriefs.TheChildEndangermentRiskAssessmentProtocol（CERAP）TamaraL.FullerCERAPisasafetyassessmentprotocol（协议）usedinchildprotectioninvestigationsandchildservicesinIllinois.Itisdesignedtoevaluatethepotentialharmtoachildandtakequickactiontoprotectchildren.Workersusetheprotocoltohelpfocustheirdecision-makingtodeterminewhetherachildissafewiththeirfamily,anddecidewhatactiontotaketoassurethechild’ssafety.10ThingstoKnowaboutChildWelfareSystemCatherine,Michael,andSteveInMarch2018,researchersMichaelandStevepartneredwithprofessorCatherinetopresentawebinar（在线研讨会）titled10ThingstoKnowaboutChildWelfareSystem,focusedonexplainingthechildwelfaresystem.Topicsincludedprocessofmakingahotlinecall,waystosupportfamilieswhohaveexperiencedchildhoodsufferings.HighlightsfromtheChildDeathReviewTeamAnnualReportSteveandTamaraThisresearchbrieffocusesonthefindingsfromthemostrecentCDRTannualreportonchilddeathsinIllinoisin2016,presentingsummaryinformationaboutchilddeathsinIllinoisbyage,mannerofdeath,andcategoryofdeath,aswellasrecommendationstopreventchilddeaths.PromotingWidespreadImprovementinPracticeTedCrossandIritThisarticlebyCFRC’spsychologist（心理学家）TedCrossandDr.Iritexploresthecontributionofpsychologytochildprotectionandsuggestsopportunitiesforpsychologytocontributemore,choosing3selectedareas.Acrosstheseareas,psychologyhascontributedbothtotheknowledgebaseandtoavailableassessmentandintervention（干预）methods.1、Whicheventaimsatdeterminingthesafetyofchildrenwithinthefamily?A．PromotingWidespreadImprovementinPracticeB．10ThingstoKnowaboutChildWelfareSystemC．TheChildEndangermentRiskAssessmentProtocolD．HighlightsfromtheChildDeathReviewTeamAnnualReport2、Whowroteareportaboutpreventionofchilddeaths?A．SteveandTamara.B．Catherine,Michael,andSteve.C．TamaraL.Fuller.D．TedCrossandIrit.3、Whichofthefollowingdealswithchildprotectioninapsychologicalway?A．HighlightsfromtheChildDeathReviewTeamAnnualReportB．10ThingstoKnowaboutChildWelfareSystemC．TheChildEndangermentRiskAssessmentProtocolD．PromotingWidespreadImprovementinPractice23．（8分）StephenHawking’sfinalfearwasthatDNAmanipulationwouldleadtoamasterraceofsuperhumans.Thephysicist,whodiedaged76inMarch,2018,thoughtthedevelopmentcoulddestroytherestofhumanbeings.HislastpredictionisrevealedinanewbookofhiscollectedarticlesandessayscalledBriefAnswerstoBigQuestions.Hawkingfearedrichpeoplewouldsoonbeabletoedittheirchildren’sDNAtoimproveattributeslikememoryanddiseaseimmunity.Andhesaidthatwouldposeacrisisfortherestoftheworldevenifpoliticianstriedtoillegalizethepractice.Inanextract(摘录)publishedbyTheSundayTimes,hewrote:“Iamsurethatduringthiscenturypeoplewilldiscoverhowtomodifybothintelligenceandinstinctssuchasaggression.“Lawswillprobablybepassedagainstgeneticengineeringwithhumans.Butsomepeoplewon’tbeabletoresistthetemptationtoimprovehumancharacteristics,suchasmemory,resistancetodiseaseandlengthoflife.”Andhesaidthatwouldcausehugeproblemsforhumanswhohavenotundergonethesameprocess,leavingthemunabletocompete.Theprofessorevenwarneditcouldleadtotheextinctionofhumanityasweknowit.Hesaidofnormalhumans:“Presumablytheywilldieout,orbecomeunimportant.Instead,therewillbearaceofself-designingbeingswhoareimprovingatanever-increasingrate.”TheBriefHistoryofTimeauthoralsoreferstotechniqueslikeCrispr,whichenablesscientiststomodifyharmfulgenesandaddinothers.Andalthoughsuchprocedurescouldbeaboostformedicalscience,somecriticsareworriedthattheycouldcauseaeugenics-style(优生方式)movement,wheretheweakareweededoutofsociety.Thenewbook,publishedbyHodder&StoughtononTuesday,alsocollectshiswritingsonwhathethoughtwerethebigquestionsfacingscienceandwidersociety.Init,heexamineswhetheraliensexist,colonizespaceandwhetherhumanswillevergobeyondourSolarSystem.1、StephenHawking’sviewsdon’tinclude_________.A．DNAmanipulationcouldleadtotheextinctionofhumanbeings.B．Thereexisttechniquestomodifyharmfulgenesandaddingoodgenes.C．Peoplecannotresistthetemptationtoimprovehumancharacteristics.D．Humanswhohaven’tundergonegeneticengineeringmaydieout.2、WhichoneisthehookpublishedbyHodder&Stoughton?A．BriefAnswerstoQuestions. B．TheSundayTimes.C．TheBriefHistoryofTime. D．SolarSystem.3、What’sStephenHawking’sattitudetowardshumangeneticengineering?A．Supportive. B．Impartial. C．Favorable. D．Concerned.4、Whatdoesthetextmainlywanttotellus?A．Crisprcanenablescientiststogetharmfulgeneschanged.B．DNAmanipulationwillcreateamasterraceofsuperhumans.C．HumanswillcolonizespaceandgobeyondourSolarSystem.D．DNAmanipulationmayleadtotheextinctionofhumanbeings.24．（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．advocatereadingbooks2、Jianggotinspiredtostarttheprojectby_________.A．HarryPorterB．WechatmomentsC．EmmaWatsonD．Razor’sEdgeBookClub3、Theunderlinedword“spontaneous”isclosestinmeaningto__________.A．unplannedB．unwiseC．firmD．thoughtful4、Jiang’sattitudetowardsthefutureoftheprojectcanbebestdescribedas___________.A．positiveB．doubtfulC．reservedD．worried25．（10分）Ithurtstokeepsecrets.Secrecy(保密)isassociatedwithlowerwell-being,worsehealth,andlesssatisfyingrelationships.Researchhaslinkedsecrecytoincreasedanxiety,depression,symptomsofpoorhealth,andeventhemorerapidprogressionofdisease.Thereisaseeminglyobviousexplanationfortheseharms:hidingsecretsishardwork.Youhavetowatchwhatyousay.Newresearch,however,suggeststhattheharmofsecretsdoesn’treallycomefromthehidingafterall.Therealproblemwithkeepingasecretisnotthatyouhavetohideit,butthatyouhavetolivewithit,andthinkaboutit.Tobetterunderstandtheharmsofsecrecy,researchersfirstsetouttounderstandwhatsecretspeoplekeep,andhowoftentheykeepthem.Theyfoundthat97%ofpeoplehaveatleastonesecretatanygivenmoment,andpeoplehave,onaverage,13secrets.Acrossseveralstudies,researchersaskedparticipantstoestimatehowfrequentlytheyhidtheirsecretduringconversationswithothers,andalsohowfrequentlytheythoughtaboutthesecretoutsideofsocialinteractions.Theyfoundthatthemorefrequentlypeoplesimplythoughtabouttheirsecrets,thelowertheirwell-being.Followingupthisresearch,anewpaperrevealswhythinkingaboutsecretsissoharmful.Turningthequestionaround,theconsequencesoftellingsecretsareexamined.Researchersfoundthatwhenapersonrevealsasecrettoathirdparty,itdoesnotreducehowoftentheyhavetohidethesecretfromotherswhoarestillkeptinthedark.Rather,itreduceshowoftentheirmindwanderstowardthesecretinirrelevantmoments.Therefore,ifyouchoosetostillkeepsomethingsecret,talkingtoanotherpersoncanmaketheworldofdifference.Secretsdon’thavetohurtasmuchastheydo.1、Whichisnotoneoftheharmsofkeepingsecrets?A．Beingphysicallysick. B．Mentalproblems.C．Harmedrelationships. D．Hidingsomewhere.2、Whyiskeepingsecretssoharmful?A．Becauseyoumusthidethem.B．Becauseyouoftenthinkaboutthem.C．Becauseit’sdifficulttokeepsecrets.D．Becauseyoumustwatchwhattosay.3、Howcanpeoplereducetheharmofkeepingsecrets?A．Byworkinghard. B．Bykeeping13secrets.C．Bythinkingaboutthesecrets. D．Bytellingsecretstoathirdperson.4、Whichisthetextprobablytakenfrom?A．Anadvertisement B．AresearchreportC．Abiologytextbook. D．Atravelbrochure.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）Mr.Bardisthemanagerathisfamily'sshoecompany.Hereally1competenceinhisworkers.Healwaystellsthe2andhard-workingemployeesthatheis3ofthem.ButMr.Barddoesnotonlyshowhisappreciationthroughwords.Themostcompetentworkersarealsopaid4.Mr.Bardthinkswhenan5worksharderandproduceshigherqualityshoes,thecompanyearnsmoremoney.6,theemployeeshouldalsoearnmore.Butmanyofthelesscompetentworkers7.“Weareequal,”theyprotest（抗议）.“Wedothesamejob,soweshouldgetthe8pay!”Heisakindman,butheisalso9.Ifhekeepshiringthelesscompetentworkers,thewholecompanywill10,andperhapsallemployeeswilllosetheirjobs.Itwillalsobebadforhisfamilyandforthecompanyis11.To12thesituation,Mr.Bardcreateseveningworkshops（工作坊）tohelp13theemployeeswhoarenotworkingatcompany14.Theywatchthemostcompetentworkers,whoreceiveaspecialbonusfor15theirco-workers,andmakelotsofnotes.Theyinspecttheproductionline,asklotsofquestions,and16untiltheyareskilledand17.Productionatthecompany18,andthecustomersarehappierwiththehigh19shoes!Assalesincrease,Mr.Bardisabletopayhisworkersbetter.And20thecompany’ssmartpaysystem,themostcompetentworkerscanbehighlyrewarded.1、A．appreciatesB．describesC．absorbsD．agrees2、A．excitedB．skilledC．bornD．considerate3、A．worriedB．confusedC．proudD．painful4、A．worseB．lessC．degreeD．more5、A．employerB．employeeC．degreeD．guarantee6、A．HoweverB．OnthecontraryC．InotherwordsD．Therefore7、A．disagreedB．dislikedC．disappearedD．discouraged8、A．highB．sameC．lowD．distant9、A．sillyB．likelyC．wiseD．simple10、A．selectB．shakeC．sufferD．scold11、A．driversB．teachersC．cooksD．customers12、A．improveB．putupC．postponeD．comeup13、A．forgetB．sellC．trainD．harm14、A．standardsB．limitsC．bordersD．patience15、A．pickingB．teachingC．toleratingD．weighing16、A．warnB．sneezeC．sobD．practice17、A．productiveB．affectedC．strictD．straight18、A．goesdownB．goesawayC．goesagainstD．goesup19、A．quantityB．abilityC．qualityD．equality20、A．regardlessofB．thankstoC．insteadofD．inspiteof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）AtestofvalueslearnedMygirlfriendandIwereatthegrocerystorerecently,andherwallet1．(steal)fromourcart.Ofcourse,wewerebothveryupsetatthetime,forsheworkedinapizzashop2．Ihaddroppedmostofmysavingsintobuyingourownhouse.Afew3．(hour)afterwegotbackhome,thegrocerystore4．(manage)calledandtoldusthatthewallethadbeenturnedin.Hercashwasofcoursenotthere.AtleasttheyleftherSocialSecuritycardandlicense.Aboutfivedays5．(late).Iwasdeliveringtoagrocerystoreformyjob.IhappenedtoglanceoveracartbesidewhereIparkedmytruck.Andtheresatawoman’swalletinthebackofit.Ipickeditup,ofcourse6．(think)ofwhathadhappenedtomygirlfriend’swallet.Aquickthoughtofjusttaking7．thingflewacrossmymind.Myparent’sandgrandparent’svoicespopped（出现）inmyheadandtoldmeotherwise.Infact,thewalletbelonged8．asinglemotherwhocamebackinthegrocerystorelookingforit.I’mnottellingthisstorytopraisemyself.Iwouldjustlikeotherparents9．(know)thattheexamplesyousetforchildrencan10．(real)makeadifference.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。错误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(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。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。DearMr、Brown,I’mverythankfultoyouforinvitemetostaywithyouinLondoninthecomingvacation、IhavebeendreamedofseeingyouagainsothatIcangetmorehelpfromyouinmineEnglishlearning、AndI’mafraidIcan’tgotoyourplaceinthissummer、BecauseIhavepromisedmygrandmother,shelivesinthecountry,tospendthesummerwithher、ShemissesmetoomuchthatIfindthatdifficulttorefuseherrequest、I’mbusynowpreparingforseveralexaminations、Iplantovisityouinwinterifitconvenienttoyou、Bestwishes、LiMing第二节书面表达（满分25分）29．（25分）假如你是李华，你校英语校报就“时间管理”这一话题举办了一次征文活动。请你根据以下要点，写一篇英语短文投稿。1.时间管理的重要性2.举出管理时间的措施和建议。要求：1.词数100左右；2.可以适当增加细节，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、A2、C3、C4、Ｄ5、A6、C7、B8、C9、A10、B11、C12、C13、B14、A15、A16、C17、D18、B19、B20、C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、A2、C3、C4、D22、1、C2、A3、D23、1、C2、A3、D4、D24、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.”Henoddedhisheadingratitud