辽宁省大连市2024-2025学年高一下学期期末考试英语试卷

大连市2024～2025学年度第二学期期末考试 高一英语 注意率项： 1. 答卷前，考生务必将自己的名字、准考证号填写在答题卡上。 2. 作答时，务必将答案写在答题卡上。写在本试卷及草稿纸上无效。 第一部分 听力(共两节，满分30分) 第一节(共5小题;每小题1.5分，满分7.5分) 听下面5段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。 例：How much is the shirt? A. £19.15. B. £9.18. C. £9.15. 答案是C。 1. When will the woman see the man at the airport? A. At 11:00 am. B. At 11:20 am. C. At 1:00 pm. 2. What does the woman use apps for? A. Playing games. B. Travelling around. C. Editing her photos. 3. Where does the conversation take place? A. At home. B. In a market. C. In a coffee shop. 4. What does the woman mean? A. The man can buy tickets online. B. The man should go to see the movie. C. The man ought to work on his paper. 5. What will the man do next? A. Clear his desk. B. Adjust his chair. C. Move his keyboard. 第二节(共15小题;每小题1.5分，满分22.5分) 听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟;听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。 听第6材料，回答第6、7题。 6. Why does the man think Charlie is the worst roommate? A. Charlie is untidy and noisy. B. Charlie often argues with him. C. Charlie seldom talks with him. 7. What does the woman advise the man to do? A. Keep silent. B. Chat with Charlie. C. Turn to someone for help. 听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。 8. What do we know about the woman? A. She’s always late. B. She’s angry with the man. C. She’s been waiting too long. 9. What does the woman want the man to do? A. Take her home. B. Pay for the tickets. C. Go back for her wallet. 听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。 10. Where was Linda born? A. In Switzerland. B. In the UK. C. In France. 11. What does Linda like best about Weybridge? A. Its sights. B. Its weather. C. Its facilities. 12. What is the man? A. He is a host. B. He is a guide. C. He is a reporter. 听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。 13. Who does the woman send things to? A. Gary. B. Sid. C. Jane. 14. When does the woman usually volunteer? A. On Wednesdays. B. On Thursdays. C. On Fridays. 15. What do Gary and Jane often do? A. They help out animals. B. They organize projects. C. They provide fund support. 16. How does the man feel about his life now? A. Lonely. B. Busy. C. Bored. 听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。 17. What is Emily mainly talking about? A. Her decision about choosing the job. B. Her preference for sitting in an office. C. Her feeling about being a college teacher. 18. Where did the course information come from? A. A book. B. A website. C. A course list. 19. What appeals to Emily? A. A law course. B. A nursing course. C. A sign language course. 20. What did Emily think of the final lesson? A. Boring but necessary. B. Interesting but useless. C. Difficult but beneficial. 第二部分 阅读理解(共两节，满分50分) 第一节：(共15小题，每小题2.5分，满分37.5分) 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。 A Destinations for Art Fans Known as the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is famous for its long history of art. If you’re a big fan of art, you’d better not miss these must-visit places in Florence. Gallery Uffizi You will have an encounter with great western art. It is famous worldwide for its outstanding collections of paintings, from the Middle Ages to the Modern period. Opening hours: From 8:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.. Closed on Mondays. Admission: €25. Children under 18 are free. Pitti Palace It is a palace for three dynasties and you can appreciate costumes and fashion through the centuries. Opening hours: From 8:15 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.. Closed on Mondays. Admission: €16. Children under 18 are free. Combined Pitti+Boboli: €22. Boboli Gardens Directly behind Pitti Palace are the incredible Boboli Gardens. The vast green place is a real outdoor museum full of statues (雕塑). Open-air performances are often held on summer nights. Opening hours: From Monday to Sunday, 8:15 a.m. to10:30 p.m.. Admission: €10. Children under 18 are free. Combined Pitti+Boboli: €22. Vasari Corridor About 750 meters long, it was built in 1565. The Medici family used it to reach Palazzo Vecchio from Pitti Palace without risking their safety. Opening hours: From Tuesday to Sunday, 10:15 a.m. to 4:35 p.m.. Admission: Uffizi+Vasari Corridor: €43, Children under 18 are free. If you want to register an annual pass, click https://www.uffizi.it/en/the-uffizi. 1. Where should visitors go if they want to appreciate western pictures? A. Gallery Uffizi. B. Pitti Palace. C. Boboli Gardens. D. Vasari Corridor. 2. What can visitors do at Boboli Gardens? A. Attend an evening show. B. Appreciate the statues indoors. C. Enjoy the extraordinary paintings. D. Learn the history of Medici family. 3. What is the lowest admission of all places for a couple with a child under 18? A. €90. B. €130. C. €180. D. €188. B At the age of five, Toni was diagnosed (诊断) with a rare visual disease, which would eventually steal his sight. There was no known timeline or cure. His parents chose to keep it from him so that he would grow up believing he could overcome every challenge. At primary school, Toni tried everything from athletics to academics, from building models to working as a rubbish collector. Particularly, he fell in love with running and ran himself into the top spot at his school’s mile-long running race. When Toni got into middle school, school life was tough for him. Bad eyesight made him a laughing stock, so he discovered early how best to read the moods and behaviour of others. It was a matter of survival in the school yard. Before graduating from college at age 23, driven by his love for medicine, he always developed coping strategies. Realizing reading text books was slow going, identifying chemicals in the lab was difficult and performing operations was impractical, he turned to psychiatry (精神病学), which was something he could manage with his eyes shut. Additionally, he traced hospital walls to locate wards (病房) and chatted with patients frequently so as to make them feel relaxed. In the 1980s, fishing emerged as a great pleasure for him. Toni claims mastering a fly rod (飞钓竿) while blind has been no trouble either, and likes to tell people it’s the fish that do the work because they have to grab the hook (钩子). Today, at age 80, Toni continues to travel four hours north to his favourite fishing ground. The former doctor always says, “Get out and do what you love. Life’s beauty lies not in sight but in embracing each challenge as proof that limitations exist only to be redefined by passion.” 4. Why didn’t Toni’s parents tell him the truth? A. Because he had already lost his sight. B. Because they hoped him to be confident. C. Because the disease could be cured one day. D. Because there was no exact time for recovery. 5. How is the text mainly developed? A. By listing data. B. By analyzing causes. C. By making comparisons. D. By following time order. 6. Which of the following can best describe Toni? A. Dependent and sensitive. B. Irresponsible and. rude. C. Enthusiastic and brilliant. D. Generous and humorous. 7. What can we know from this passage? A. One kind act can make a big difference. B. One can overcome limitations with passion. C. Looking on the bright side helps us feel happy. D. Life is full of ups and downs that we can’t change. C Most people can point to an experience in their lives where personal relationships have caused them emotional harm. However, does building better relationships with others have to involve the risk of getting hurt? One popular theory is the hedgehog’s dilemma, also called the porcupine’s dilemma. It has its roots in the thinking of German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, who proposed that, even with the best of intentions, humans harm each other when they attempt to have intimate and friendly relationships. It goes like this. One cold winter night, a group of porcupines gathered to keep warm, but they hurt each other with their quills, forcing them to move apart. When feeling cold, they moved closer, only to be hurt again. Repeatedly, they eventually found the ideal distance. So the theory ends with the advice: Keep your distance. However, keeping distance is not enough. If you’ve been hurt before, it might be that your quills are up, and you’ve fallen into defence(防御) mode. Hilary, a psychologist, points to some examples of common defence mode such as going blank and regarding the present reaction as criticism. Most of these defensive reactions originate from early experiences of hurt. “In treatments, if people can be helped to recognize the defences by tracking back through the personal experiences, they can be encouraged to be understanding. Then they, have a chance to change and not just repeat old behaviors,” Hilary suggests. “Defences need to be respected and not knocked down in one step. Removing one brick at a time from the wall is very important.” Unlike hedgehogs, humans don’t come with the quills built in. So, when we learn to lower our defences for safe, loving people, there’s a chance we actually can have it all. 8. Why does the author raise a question in the first paragraph? A. To give examples. B. To lead to a story. C. To inspire reflection. D. To express concern. 9 What does the underlined word “intimate” in paragraph 2 mean? A. Permanent. B. Detailed. C. Independent. D. Close. 10. What does Hilary advise people to do when bringing down defences? A. Address problems with patience. B. Avoid discussing past experiences. C. Immediately remove self-protection. D. Accept the behaviour without changing 11. Where is the text most probably taken from? A. Psychology Today. B. Wildlife Focus. C. Technology Review. D. Runner’s World. D Novelists have different ways of describing laughter. Characters can wear a big smile, be all smiles, crack a smile, grin from ear to ear, break into a smile and so on. The richness of language may suggest that laughter has limitless diversity (多样性). However, it may be wrong. A new study led by Dr Roza Kamiloglu, provides evidence that there are just two main types of laughter: one generated when people find something funny and one that can be caused only through the physical act of tickling (挠痒痒). Dr Kamiloglu instructed assistants to collect 887 videos that were then classified (分类), ranging from tickle attacks to laughing for other factors. About 70% of these videos were used to train a machine-learning algorithm (算法) to classify laughter by reasons. The algorithm was then asked to classify the remaining 30% and correctly identified laughter produced by tickling 62.5% of the time. All other forms of laughter, whether they came from viewing stand-up comedy or practical jokes, were difficult to tell apart. This suggested there was something unique about the tickling laughter. When Dr Kamiloglu ran the experiment again, asking human observers to classify the laughter, a similar result showed: Human observers correctly identified tickling laughter 61.2% of the time. The findings made scientists reflect on the roots of laughter. After all, humans are not the only animals that can laugh and tickle. This points to the fact that laughter from tickling evolved (演变) over 10 million years ago. This early sort of laughter probably evolved to help primates (灵长目动物) build friendly relations. As for other forms of laughter, they probably evolved millions of years after tickling, when human brain became complex enough to understand deeper meanings. 12. What does the underline word “it” in paragraph 1 refer to? A. The richness of human language. B. The approach to describing laughter. C. The idea of countless kinds of laughter. D. The complexity of classifying laughter. 13. What is paragraph 3 mainly about? A. The contents of the videos. B. The process of the research. C. The methods of generating laughter. D. The working principle of the algorithm. 14. What can we learn from the research findings? A. Tickling laughter evolved much later than others. B. All the forms of laughter are difficult to tell apart. C. Primates use tickling to build pleasant relationships. D. Humans’ laughter is far more complex than primates’. 15. What might be the best title for the text? A. The Origin of Laughter: All Starts from Tickling. B. Laughter in Animals: How do Primates Build Relations? C. The Language of Laughter: How do Writers Describe Joy? D. Types of Laughter: Humans Laugh in Two Different Ways. 第二节(共5小题;每小题2.5分，满分12.5分) 根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。 Ice climbing is a lot like rock climbing, but it’s done on ice using special tools. For years, ice climbing was just another part of rock climbing and other mountaineering activities. Whenever climbers reached an icy area on the mountain, they had to move across the ice in order to continue upward. ____16____ Due to the conditions in which ice climbing typically takes place, it is considered an extreme sport. Ice climbers have to be outdoors in sub-zero temperatures for long periods of time. ____17____ However, such risks only add to the delight of climbing on ice. ____18____ There’s something special in climbing sports, which is impermanent and unique. When the temperature drops and the climbing routes come into season, climbers are filled with excitement. They get their best equipment and go. When everything comes together, the results are magical. There are many barriers that would-be ice climbers face when they get into the adventure. For a start, there’s the equipment and clothing to consider, all of which aren’t cheap. ____19____ You’re lucky if you live in an area with regular snowfall, while if you live in Florida, you’ve got a long journey if you want to get into ice climbing. The best way to begin your ice-climbing journey is to book a day or two with a qualified instructor to show you techniques. ____20____ This will allow you to experience ice climbing without costing too much. You’ll also likely have to bring your own warm clothing, like a quality down jacket, to protect yourself from the cold. A. Then, the locations matter. B. Ice climbers typically work together. C. You might be able to rent some tools. D. Besides, they may encounter extreme weather. E. The short existence of ice makes it more appealing. F. Ice climbing keeps all the main features of rock climbing. G. Slowly, the growing interest and excitement made ice climbing popular. 第三部分 英语知识运用(共两节，满分30分) 第一节 完形填空(共15小题，每小题1分，满分5分) 阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。 In my hometown, spring brings the threat of tornadoes (龙卷风). That spring, our family welcomed a cute puppy. I named her Muff because her ears looked like earmuffs (耳套). One afternoon, Muff didn’t come back. Since tornadoes can gather great ____21____ in the course of an afternoon, I was worried. I searched the town, but there was no ____22____ of her. She was nowhere to be found. Seeing me in a bad ____23____, my husband gently said, “Dogs can always find their way back home.” It was difficult to stay positive, though. With a heavy heart we took ____24____ in a room underground during the tornado. Even down there, I could hear the wind howling outside. All I thought was Muff. After the tornado passed, it ____25____ me how fortunate my family was. The destruction was severe, all in ruins. I kept on ____26____ myself to see the good side of things. Maybe she was rescued by a(an) ____27____ stranger and I still ____28____ hope. Six years later, I ____29____ to see a dog’s photo on a local rescue website. The dog’s ears looked just like Muff’s, so my family decided to _____30_____ it out. When we reached the animal shelter, I saw a dog with earmuff-like ears. I called out, “Muff? Without _____31_____, she barked delightedly and showed clear signs of excitement. I held her head, crying, “It’s a(an) _____32_____ to find you back, Muff.” Later we knew she was _____33_____ just days after the tornado. _____34_____, she survived and so did I. Deep down both of us knew that hope is the light that _____35_____ us through darkness. 21. A. temperature B. strength C. information D. depth 22. A. sign B. signal C. sigh D. symbol 23. A. light B. pace C. mood D. concern 24. A. shelter B. action C. spot D. hide 25. A. turned to B. belonged to C. referred to D. occurred to 26. A. allowing B. reminding C. ordering D. expecting 27. A. warm-hearted B. open-minded C. strong-willed D. well-informed 28. A. helped out B. let down C. held out D. told off 29. A. intended B. failed C. attempted D. happened 30. A. pick B. work C. check D. carry 31. A. permission B. declaration C. interaction D. hesitation 32. A. strategy B. blessing C. duty D. outcome 33. A. claimed B. rescued C. attached D. removed 34. A. Frequently B. Entirely C. Fortunately D. Immediately 35. A. shoots B. flashes C. greets D. guides 第二节(共10小题，每小题1.5分，满分15分) 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式。 Foreigners are growing more aware that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has scientific basis. The increasing global interest in using TCM ____36____ (address) health concerns is helping remove its “mysterious” (神秘的) image and establish it as an effective medical practice. One of ____37____ most striking examples of this change occurred when a foreigner shared his live acupuncture (针灸) and bone-setting treatment in China. Initially, many foreigners viewed TCM as a tradition-based practice ____38____ (lack) scientific backing. However, direct experiences are ____39____ (gradual) changing this belief. Overseas visitors often report positive results, and their stories are increasingly driving the modern wave of TCM’s global popularity. ____40____ instance, a moxibustion clinic (艾灸馆) has gained a devoted international following based on word-of-mouth recommendations about their effectiveness. Meanwhile, a hospital hosts “Diplomatic Experience Days,” introducing TCM to, foreign diplomats through hands-on activities, ____41____ breaks cultural barriers. Despite this progress, TCM faces communication challenges abroad. To share its cultural depth with global audiences, various strategies ____42____ (use) so far. For example, the animated film Ne Zha 2 features a scene where General Li Jing lists medicinal herbs, raising public ____43____ (aware) of TCM. TCM’s historical records proved ____44____ (it) effectiveness in ancient times, and it remains a valuable role in modern healthcare. With _____45_____ (far) development, its full potential may be unlocked, bridging cultural gaps and improving global wellness. 第四部分：写作(共两节，满分40分) 第一节(满分15分) 46. 假定你是李华，上周五你校上了一堂特别的美术课——通过虚拟现实技术云游知名美术馆。请你给英国朋友Tom写一封邮件分享这次经历，内容包括： 1. 你印象最深刻的画作； 2. 这次线上参观的感想。 注意： 1. 写作词数应为80个左右； 2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。 Dear Tom, I’m writing to share with you a special art class I had last Friday. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Yours sincerely, Li Hua 第二节(满分25分) 47. 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。 The band room rang with Ms. Reed’s sharp voice. “Kevin, the soloist (独奏演员) broke his arm. You’ll do the solo in the school hall that day.” My throat tightened. I stared at her for a while. The band director was looking right at me. So was everyone else. Saying no to Ms. Reed was like trying to stop an avalanche (雪崩). “OK!” I said unwillingly, trying to hide my hopelessness. In fact, stage fright wasn’t just a fear; it was a storm I couldn’t escape. Kelly, the violin star, passed me and made fun of me. “You’ve never done a solo, right? Don’t mess up! By the way, the Youth Symphony’s (青年交响乐团的) director is coming. I’m sure he’ll love your nerves.” Her words felt like a knife, I’d dreamed of playing in the Youth Symphony for a long time. However, I could only play great in the basement (地下室) of my home. It’s comfortable down there — just me, my sax (萨克斯), my music stand and a couple of spiders(蜘蛛) as my audience. I like to practice at night, and no one can hear me in the basement. When I got home, I began to think about the performance piece. I grabbed a sheet of music, “Summertime.” I spent hours practicing and perfecting it. But doubt washed over me. “What if I freeze?” I was in low spirits for several days. “You’re not alone,” Jill, my best friend, said in a low voice one day after school and came along with me to my basement. “Imagine the crowd is a group of spiders (蜘蛛),” she suggested. Her thought felt funny, but her support relieved my anxiety a little. “It’s no use. I just felt comfortable here,” I replied. “If I could do my solo here, it’d be no problem.” “Why can’t the school hall feel like your basement?” Jill shouted excitedly. “Will it work if you see a photo of your basement?” 注意： 1. 续写词数应为150左右； 2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。 Hearing her words, I suddenly had an idea. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ When Ms. Reed signaled to me, I stood up with a photo taped on my sax. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 大连市2024～2025学年度第二学期期末考试 高一英语 注意率项： 1. 答卷前，考生务必将自己的名字、准考证号填写在答题卡上。 2. 作答时，务必将答案写在答题卡上。写在本试卷及草稿纸上无效。 第一部分 听力(共两节，满分30分) 第一节(共5小题;每小题1.5分，满分7.5分) 听下面5段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。 例：How much is the shirt? A. £19.15. B. £9.18. C. £9.15. 答案是C。 1. When will the woman see the man at the airport? A. At 11:00 am. B. At 11:20 am. C. At 1:00 pm. 2. What does the woman use apps for? A. Playing games. B. Travelling around. C. Editing her photos. 3. Where does the conversation take place? A. At home. B. In a market. C. In a coffee shop. 4. What does the woman mean? A. The man can buy tickets online. B. The man should go to see the movie. C. The man ought to work on his paper. 5. What will the man do next? A. Clear his desk. B. Adjust his chair. C. Move his keyboard. 第二节(共15小题;每小题1.5分，满分22.5分) 听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟;听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。 听第6材料，回答第6、7题。 6. Why does the man think Charlie is the worst roommate? A Charlie is untidy and noisy. B. Charlie often argues with him. C. Charlie seldom talks with him. 7. What does the woman advise the man to do? A. Keep silent. B. Chat with Charlie. C. Turn to someone for help. 听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。 8. What do we know about the woman? A She’s always late. B. She’s angry with the man. C. She’s been waiting too long. 9. What does the woman want the man to do? A. Take her home. B. Pay for the tickets. C. Go back for her wallet. 听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。 10. Where was Linda born? A. In Switzerland. B. In the UK. C. In France. 11. What does Linda like best about Weybridge? A. Its sights. B. Its weather. C. Its facilities. 12. What is the man? A. He is a host. B. He is a guide. C. He is a reporter. 听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。 13. Who does the woman send things to? A. Gary. B. Sid. C. Jane. 14. When does the woman usually volunteer? A. On Wednesdays. B. On Thursdays. C. On Fridays. 15 What do Gary and Jane often do? A. They help out animals. B. They organize projects. C. They provide fund support. 16. How does the man feel about his life now? A. Lonely. B. Busy. C. Bored. 听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。 17. What is Emily mainly talking about? A. Her decision about choosing the job. B. Her preference for sitting in an office. C. Her feeling about being a college teacher. 18. Where did the course information come from? A. A book. B. A website. C. A course list. 19. What appeals to Emily? A. A law course. B. A nursing course. C. A sign language course. 20. What did Emily think of the final lesson? A. Boring but necessary. B. Interesting but useless. C. Difficult but beneficial. 第二部分 阅读理解(共两节，满分50分) 第一节：(共15小题，每小题2.5分，满分37.5分) 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。 A 【1~3题答案】 【答案】1. A 2. A 3. B B 【4~7题答案】 【答案】4. B 5. D 6. C 7. B C 【8~11题答案】 【答案】8. C 9. D 10. A 11. A D 【12~15题答案】 【答案】12. C 13. B 14. C 15. D 第二节(共5小题;每小题2.5分，满分12.5分) 根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。 【16~20题答案】 【答案】16. G 17. D 18. E 19. A 20. C 第三部分 英语知识运用(共两节，满分30分) 第一节 完形填空(共15小题，每小题1分，满分5分) 阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。 【21~35题答案】 【答案】21. B 22. A 23. C 24. A 25. D 26. B 27. A 28. C 29. D 30. C 31. D 32. B 33. B 34. C 35. D 第二节(共10小题，每小题1.5分，满分15分) 【36~45题答案】 【答案】36. to address 37. the 38. lacking 39. gradually 40. For 41. which 42. have been used 43. awareness 44. its 45. further 第四部分：写作(共两节，满分40分) 第一节(满分15分) 【46题答案】 【答案】One possible version: Dear Tom, I’m writing to share with you a special art class I had last Friday. We used virtual reality technology to visit famous art galleries online. The most impressive painting for me was Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Seeing it up close, with swirling colors and vivid brushstrokes, felt magical. I could almost imagine him painting it. The VR experience made art come alive in a way I’d never imagined. It was amazing to explore world-class galleries without leaving school. I felt both inspired and deeply connected to the beauty of art. Yours sincerely, Li Hua 第二节(满分25分) 【47题答案】 【答案】One possible version: Hearing her words, I suddenly had an idea. I took out my phone and snapped a few pictures of my basement — the dusty floor, the old chair, even the corner where the spiders lived. I printed one and taped it to my sax. Every day until the performance, I practiced in front of the photo. Slowly, the fear that once choked me began to loosen its grip. Jill came every evening to listen and cheer me on. Her presence made me believe that maybe, just maybe, I could do this. I told myself the school hall would be just another room, and the audience — just another group of spiders. When Ms. Reed signaled to me, I stood up with a photo taped on my sax. My heart was pounding, but I took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage. The hall was full, and the Youth Symphony’s director sat in the front row. I looked down at the photo on my sax and smiled slightly. Then I began to play “Summertime.” The notes flowed smoothly, just like in my basement. As I played, I forgot the crowd, forgot Kelly, and even forgot myself. The music carried me away. When I finished, silence filled the hall for a second — then loud applause. I did it. 第1页/共1页 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $$