2023學(xué)年高考英語模擬測試卷請考生注意：1．請用2B鉛筆將選擇題答案涂填在答題紙相應(yīng)位置上，請用0．5毫米及以上黑色字跡的鋼筆或簽字筆將主觀題的答案寫在答題紙相應(yīng)的答題區(qū)內(nèi)。寫在試題卷、草稿紙上均無效。2．答題前，認真閱讀答題紙上的《注意事項》，按規(guī)定答題。第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1．—Excuseme,Iwonderifyoucanhelpme?—Sure.______?A．Whathelp B．Whatisthis C．Whatisit D．Whatdoyouwant2．Withthedevelopmentofeconomy，ourincomehasincreased________10%inlessthanayear.A．forB．byC．onD．a(chǎn)t3．Manywritersaredrawntobuildingaworld,_____readersaresomewhatfamiliarwithbutalsofeeldistantfromournormallives.A．it B．one C．that D．theone4．________yourgeneroushelp,IdobelieveIhaveabetterunderstandingofyourcountryandculture.A．Butfor B．OutofC．Thanksto D．Asto5．Allenfollowedhiscustomeracrosstheyardandstoodonthestepofthehouse,twoshoppingbags.A．lifted B．havinglifted C．tolift D．lifting6．Youcanonlybesureof_____youhaveatpresent;youcannotbesureofsomething_____youmightgetinthefuture.A．that;what B．what;/ C．which;that D．/;that7．Thewaitressattherestaurantwasusuallyveryconsiderate,butonthisoccasionsheseemedto________thediners.A．ignore B．identify C．a(chǎn)pplaud D．satisfy8．TheartistissaidduringtheproductionandthusapiratedvideowassoldineverypartofKenya.A．tobecheated B．beingcheatedC．tohavebeencheated D．havingbeencheated9．IfeelIamaswell-behavedandascarefulasmydeskmate,but_______Ialwaysfallbehind?A．howabout B．howcomeC．whatif D．whatfor10．Thelackofeco-friendlyhabitsamongthepublicisthoughttobeamajor_____________ofglobalclimatechange.A．Result B．causeC．warning D．reflection11．Look,____fashionableclothesisshewearingthatalltheeyesarefixedonher!A．so B．such C．how D．what12．PresidentXiunderlinesthatitisonlywithjointeffortstokeepmaritimepeace________buildamaritimecommunitywithasharedfutureformankind.A．canwe B．wecan C．thatwecan D．thatcanwe13．—Shegotherfirstsciencefictionpublished.Itturnedouttobe________.—Whenwasthat?—Itwasin2009________shewasstillincollege.A．success;that B．a(chǎn)success;whenC．success;when D．a(chǎn)success;that14．—Mum,littleRaybrokehistoysagain!—Itdoesn'tmatter.Yousee,accidents_____happen.A．shall B．should C．must D．will15．Hehasmadelittlepreparationfortheinterview,sothechanceofhimsucceedinginitis.A．slimB．fantasticC．obviousD．gentle16．WhatdoesPM2.5mean？It'saprofessional_____________indicatingtheconditionofairpollution.A．number B．markC．term D．item17．_______moreenergytomystudyinsteadofbeingcrazyaboutcomputergames,Iwouldbesittinginacomfortableofficenow.A．IfIdevoted B．HadIdevotedC．WouldIbedevoted D．ShouldIbedevoted18．Theinnerthoughtsofthetwoyoungpersonsarerevealedinthebook,______bothofthemfailtoexpress.A．where B．whenC．who D．which19．ItwasSundaytoday,andI_______upveryearly.Soyoureallyhadagoodrest.A．didn’tneedtoget B．needn’thavegot C．needn’ttoget D．don’tneedget20．Timeisaprecious________thatisoftentakenforgrantedamongtheyoungpeople.A．commodity B．commission C．component D．constitution第二部分閱讀理解（滿分40分）閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個選項中，選出最佳選項。21．（6分）ELECTRICITYISATTHECOREOFMODERNLIFE.DESPITETHIS,THEFULLSTORYOFTHISREVOLUTIONARYFORCEHASREMAINEDUNTOLD—UNTILNOW.SimplyElectrifyingoffersthecomprehensivestoryofoneofmankind’smostimportantjourneys:fromatimewhenonlyafewcouldevenimagineaworldwithelectricitytotodaywhen,formostofus,aworldwithoutelectricitywouldbeunimaginable.Sincethebirthofthemodernscienceofelectricity265yearsago,mankindhasbuiltanimpressivestructuretoproduce,deliver,anduseelectricity,thankstoacombinationofpioneeringscience,innovativetechnology,wisebusinessstrategy,andpervasive(到處存在的)economicandenvironmentalregulation.SimplyElectrifyingbringstolifethestoriesofthepeoplethatmadeitallpossible—fromearlypathfinderslikeBenjaminFranklin,MichaelFaraday,JamesClerkMaxwell,andAlbertEinsteintoinnovatorssuchasSamuelMorse,ThomasEdison,GeorgeWestinghouse,andNikolaTesla.Inmoderntimes,businessstrategistsandeconomicandenvironmentalregulationdrivenbymany,includingPresidentFranklinD．Roosevelt,RachelCarson,andevenPresidentBarackObama,haveshapedhowweuseandunderstandelectricityincrucialways.Today,ElonMuskandothersareontheedgeofagainchangingthewaywethinkaboutandinteractwithit.SimplyElectrifyingispainstakinglyresearchedandbeautifullywritten,showingushowbothprofit-makersandpolicy-makersmustuseawide-anglelenstotrulyunderstandthepastandpredictthefuture.1、Accordingtothepassage,thebookSimplyElectrifyingiswrittentotellus.A．pioneeringscienceofelectricityB．significantjourneysofelectricityC．thepeoplewhoinventedelectricityD．theresearchwhichwasaboutelectricity2、WhyisPresidentBarackObamamentionedinthebookSimplyElectrifying?A．Becauseapolicy-makerisusuallyatopdogthatcanarousethereaders’interest.B．Becauseapolicy-makercanhelppromotethebetteruseofelectricity.C．Becausepolicy-makerscandecidethefutureoftheuseofelectricityonthemarket.D．Becausepolicy-makerscantakecontroloftheeconomythroughelectricity.22．（8分）Whileweatherforecasterscanmakefairlyaccuratepredictions,there'salwaystheriskyou'llbecaughtoutwhiledrivingintherain.ButthedaysofhavingtoquicklycloseyoursunroofcouldsoonbeathingofthepastthankstoJaguarLandRovefslatesttechnology.Thefirmisdevelopingcarsthatcanadaptautomaticallybyclosingwindowsandroofsorstartingtheheateriftheydetectbadweatherisontheway.Theweatherforecastingsystemusesasetofairpressure,humidity（濕度）andlightsensors（傳感器）tohelpitsvehiclespredictchangesinconditionsandadapttothem.Carsequippedwiththesystemcouldmakeslightchangestotheairconditioningifitfindstheweatherisgettingwarmerduringajourneyorincreasethecabintemperatureifitwillgetcolder.Theforecastmayindicatethereisapossibilityofoneormoreweatherconditions,suchasrain,withinaperiodoftime,suchasfiveminutes.Thevehiclemaythenadapttothelocalweatherconditions.Inparticular,itmaycloseoneormorewindows,orclosearoofofthevehicleinresponsetoaforecastbeingasignofrain.Similarlywindowscouldbedarkenedusingelectrochromic(電致變色的)glasstoimprovevisibilityifbrightsunshineisforecast.Althoughitsunclearwhetherthistechnologywillmakeitswaytoaproductionvehicleanytimesoon,suchasystemwouldbeadvantageousonautonomousvehicles.Sincethere'snohumandriverpresent,thesystemwillallowthevehicletomakeitcomfortableforitspassengers,basedoncurrentweatherconditions.Itcanalsomakethevehiclesaferifitknowsrainorsnowiscoming.1、HowwillJaguarLandRovefslatesttechnologybenefitdrivers?A．Vehiclescanautomaticallydrivethemselves.B．Vehiclescanfindpositionsandroutesthemselves,C．Vehiclescanactasmobileweatherforecastingstations.D．Vehiclescanopenwindowsandsunroofsautomatically.2、Whatisthefeatureoftheglassofavehiclewiththenewtechnology?A．Itcanhelpadjustthetemperature.B．Itcanstillbeclearinrainydays.C．Itistoostrongtobreakintopieces.D．Itscolourcanchangewiththesunshine.3、Whatcanweknowabouttheweatherforecastingsystemfromthetext?A．Itisintelligentenoughtostopraining.B．Itmakesthedrivermorecomfortable.C．Itcan'tpredicttheweatheraccurately.D．Itmakesautonomouscarssaferinbadweather.4、Wheremightthetextbetakenfrom?A．Abookreview. B．Asciencereport.C．Asciencefiction. D．Atravelbrochure.23．（8分）Anewphoneappusesshakingfromsmartphonestowarnpeopleaboutearthquakes.ThenewappiscalledMyShake,whichistheworkoffourresearchersattheUniversityofCalifornia.Berkeley.Smartphonesareequippedwithaccelerometers(加速器).MyShakeusesphoneaccelerometerstomeasureseismic(地震的)activity.Ithasbeenprogrammedtoknowthedifferencebetweennormalactivityandearthquakemovement.Thesoftwaredeveloperssaytheirappisright93percentofthetime.Asmartphonesendsseismicinformationtotheappdevelopers.Ifthedevelopersreceiveseveralwarningsfromonearea,itrecognizesthatanearthquakemaybetakingplaceorwilltakeplacesoon.Usinginformationsentfromtheapp,thenetworkthenjudgesthelocationandstrengthofthequakeinrealtime.MyShakecanrecord5.0earthquakeatdistancesof10kilometersorless.MyShakeusesverylittlepower,accordingtoitsdevelopers.Onlywhenseismicactivityissensedbytheappdoesitbecomeactiveandsendsdatatothenetwork.Theappworksbestwhenyourphoneisrestingonaflatsurface,likeatable.ThedevelopershopethatMyShakecanaddtoinformationcollectedbytheU.SGeologicalSurvey.ThatU.SagencyhascreatedtheEarthquakeEarlyWarningSystem,alsoknownastheEEW.TheEEWhasusedsensorsformeasuringquakesinmanyareas.Inplaceswherenosuchequipmentexists,MyShakemaybetheonlymethodofearlyquakedetection(發(fā)現(xiàn)).Theappalsoshowswaystostaysaferduringanearthquake.Thedeveloperssayitwillbecomemoreeffectiveasmorepeopleuseit.Thedeveloperssaytheyhopetoaddafeaturethatwillwarnpeopleaboutpossibletsunamiafteranearthquake.1、ThenewappA．isakindofaccelerometer.B．feelsearthquakesthroughsmartphones.C．isdevelopedbytheU.SGeologicalSurvey.D．predictspossibletsunamiafteranearthquake.2、Whatisthesecondparagraphmainlytalkingabout?A．HowMyShakeworks.B．Whatseismicactivityis.C．WhyMyShakeisdeveloped.D．Whenaccelerometersrecordearthquake.3、WecaninferthatMyShakeA．docsnotworkwhenthespartphoneisinthepocketB．sleepswhilethereisnoshakingoftheearth’ssurface.C．guidespeoplehowtosurvivewhenmanypeopleuseitatthesametime.D．recognizesanearthquakewhenitreceivetheinformationfromothersensors.4、ThenewappdevelopershopetoA．usetheinformationbytheU.SGeologicalSurveytobetterMyShake.B．unitetheU.SGeologicalSurveytocombinetheEEWandMyShake.C．helptheEEWdetectearthquakessomewhere.D．improvetheEEW.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．a(chǎn)dvocatereadingbooks2、Jianggotinspiredtostarttheprojectby_________.A．HarryPorterB．WechatmomentsC．EmmaWatsonD．Razor’sEdgeBookClub3、Theunderlinedword“spontaneous”isclosestinmeaningto__________.A．unplannedB．unwiseC．firmD．thoughtful4、Jiang’sattitudetowardsthefutureoftheprojectcanbebestdescribedas___________.A．positiveB．doubtfulC．reservedD．worried25．（10分）Haveyoueverrealizedthatthesmallestcountriesintheworldhavesomuchtooffer?Whetherit’shistoricandculturalheritageorunspoilednature,thesemicrostatesareworthavisit.GrenadaGrenadaisasmallcountryintheworld.ItislocatedonislandofCaribbean,whichisalsoknownasTheIslandofSpiceforseveralspiceslikecinnamon,gingerandrarenutmeg.Grenadareliesontourism.Itspristinebeaches,warmturquoisewaterandunspoilednaturemakeitawonderfulholidaydestination.Recentlyecotourismhasbeengrowingaswell.SanMarinoLocatedwithinItalyandsurroundedbytheApennineMountains.SanMarinoisvisitedbyapproximately2milliontouristsannually.It’sabeautifulcountry,whichalsoclaimstobetheoldestsurvivingstateintheworld!Thereforeitsculturalandhistoricheritageisundoubtedlyfascinating.Althoughverysmall,themicrostatehasalotofarchitecturalattractionsaswellastheRomagna,whichislovedbyItalians,whoareamongthemainguestshere.MaldivesMaldivesislocatedonthebankofIndianOcean.Maldiveshasarangeofdifferenthabitatsincludingdeepsea,shallowcoast,andreefecosystems,fringingmangroves,wetlandsanddrylands.VisitorstotheMaldivesdonotneedtoapplyforapre-arrivalvisa,regardlessoftheircountryoforigin,providedtheyhaveavalidpassport,proofofonwardtravel,andthemoneytobeself-sufficientwhileinthecountry.AndorraIt’sapicturesquemicrostatefoundinthePyreneesMountains,borderingSpainandFrance.Over10milliontouristsvisitAndorraeveryyear!Unliketheneighboringcountries’highprices,thecountryhasaduty-freepolicy,allowingshopperstoenjoylowercosts.Alsotherearewinterandsummerresorts,soyoucanvisitanytime.1、WhomightbeinterestedinGrenada?A．Architects. B．Spicelovers.C．Historians. D．Mountainclimbers.2、Whichofthefollowingisagoodchoiceforpeoplewholikebuildingdesign?A．Maldives. B．SanMarino.C．Andorra. D．Grenada.3、WhatisnotrequiredforatravelertoMaldives?A．Money. B．Apassport.C．Avisa. D．Areturnticket.4、WhatmeasurehasAndorratakentoattracttravelers?A．Offeringlowerprices. B．Adoptingvisa-freepolicy.C．Settingnaturalhabits. D．Developingscenicspot.第三部分語言知識運用（共兩節(jié)）第一節(jié)（每小題1.5分，滿分30分）閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的A、B、C和D四個選項中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項．26．（30分）完形填空（共20小題；每小題l分，滿分20分）WhenAndraRushstartedhertruckingcompany,allshehadwasanoldvan，twousedpick-uptrucksandthesimplecertaintyofa23-year-oldgirl.Butsheplannedtomakeherfortuneinaboutfouryearsto36hertruegoal:dealingwithpovertyonNativeAmericanreservationsacrossNorthAmerica."IthoughtIcouldretirebythetimeIwas27,"saysRush,"Atthatage,youdon'tknow37youdon'tknow."Rushis49nowand38workinghard.Hertinystart-upjustoutsideDetroithas39toa$400millionNorthAmericanbusiness.TodayRushisa(an)40notonlyforNativeAmericansbutalsoforwomeninthemale-controlledworldoftrucking.Rushwas4130milesoutsideDetroit.WhentheteenageRushvisitedthereservationforthefirsttime,shewas42bythepovertyandlackofhope."Ireallywantedto43"shesays.ShegraduatedfromtheUniversityofMichiganin1982.Shetookanursingjobwitha44payandthenpracticedatanairgoodscompany,45thespeedofpackagepickupsanddeliveriesmadealittlemorealittlemoreprofits."IthoughtIcoulddothat46,"Rushsays.Withinsixmonths,Rushhadtenemployees,andclients(客戶)47FordandGMwerepayingherto48smallpackagesfromtheairport.Fordwasthefirsttoofferherajobtruckingpartsbetweenitsplantsandsupplier.By2001,manyofRush's1,000employeeswereNativeAmericans,workingalongsidepeopleofevery49Butshefeltshehadn'tdoneenough.50shejoinedforceswithaCanadianpartsmakertodesignandgatherautocomponents.Shelocatedtheplantsnearreservations,51opportunitieswheretheywereneededmost.By2009,herautopartsbusinesswasearning$370million52.She'scomealongwayfromthe5323-year-oldwhothought"thecashwouldjustrollin."ButRushwouldn'tchangeathing:"Ilovemyjob,"shesays."I54thefactthatyoucanstarttogetsomemotivationandkeep55yourself—andthensuddenlyyouliftyourheadandit'sbeen25years"2289、A．make B．a(chǎn)ccomplish C．receive D．a(chǎn)rrive1、A．what B．which C．why D．who2、A．so B．somehow C．still D．a(chǎn)nyhow3、A．grown B．become C．got D．gone4、A．a(chǎn)blehousewife B．ordinarywoman C．rolemodel D．truckdriver5、A．brought B．lived C．risen D．raised6、A．moved B．interested C．struck D．encouraged7、Ahaveaninfluence B．makeadifference C．setanexample D．makeadecision8、A．low B．high C．cheap D．expensive9、A．which B．that C．when D．where10、A．well B．badly C．worse D．better11、A．like B．besides C．for D．except12、A．take B．fetch C．bring D．lift13、A．education B．family C．background D．city14、A．Because B．For C．But D．So15、A．seizing B．creating C．grasping D．losing16、.A．incase B．inturn C．inreturn D．inneed17、A．inexperienced B．experienced C．expert D．skilled18、A．enjoy B．hate C．doubt D．refuse19、A．fighting B．forcing C．challenging D．a(chǎn)musing第二節(jié)（每小題1.5分，滿分15分）閱讀下面材料，在空白處填入1個適當?shù)膯卧~或括號內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。27．（15分）In1608,ThomasCoryate,anEnglishman,visitedItaly.Helikedthecountryandnoteddowneveryinterestingthing1．hehadfound.Buttherewasonethinghefound2．(interesting)thantheothers.Inhisdiary,Thomaswrote,“WhentheItalianseatmeat,theyusesmallforksinsteadoftheirhands.Astheysay,peopledon’talwayshavecleanhands”Before3．(leave)forEngland,Thomasboughtafewforks.Athomehegaveadinnerpartytoshowthe4．(invent)tohisfriends.Whentheservantsbroughtthesteak,hetookoutaforkandbegantoeat5．peopledidinItaly.Everybodylookedathiminsurprise.Whenhetoldhisfriendswhatitwas,theyallwanted6．(take)agoodlookatthestrangething.TheysaidthattheItalianswereverystrangepeople,fortheforkwasnotveryconvenient.Thomastriedtoprovetheopposite.Hesaiditwasnotnicetoeatmeat7．one’sfingersbecausetheywerenotalwaysclean.Hewantedtoshowhoweasy8．wastousethefork.Butthefirstpieceofmeathetookwiththefork9．(fall)tothefloor.Hisfriendsbegantolaughandhehadtotaketheforkaway.Onlyfiftyyearslater10．peopleinEnglandbegintouseforks.第四部分寫作（共兩節(jié)）第一節(jié)短文改錯（滿分10分）28．（10分）假定英語課上老師要求同桌之間交換修改作文,請你修改你同桌寫的以下作文。文中共有10處語言錯誤,每句中最多有兩處。錯誤僅涉及一個單詞的增加、刪除或修改。增加：在缺詞處加一個漏字符號（∧）,并在其下面寫出該加的詞。刪除：把多余的詞用斜線（＼）劃掉。修改：在錯的詞下劃一橫線,并在該詞下面寫出修改后的詞。注意：1、每處錯誤及其修改均限一詞;2、只允許修改10處,多者（從第11處起）不計分。Graduatedattheageof90fromtheUniversityofBuckinghammightinvoke(引起)theexpressionof"latesaner,butsoathingistheresultofalongprocess、Ileftoutschoolat14in1935、MyhighereducationformalbeganwhenIwasinmy60s,asIhadnothadaopportunitytostudybeforemyretirement、Butlongbeforethen,firstworkingasaclerk,andthenjoiningthearmy、Iambroughttoabroaderculture、ThirstyforknowledgecanexplaintherestAsIcameLateformyformalhighereducation,IhadalwaysbeenlearningIwouldadviseothertodothesameasmeandreturnformallearningafterretirement、第二節(jié)書面表達（滿分25分）29．（25分）假設(shè)你是育才中學(xué)學(xué)生會主席(chairmanoftheStudents’Union)李華。你校將舉辦一次英語演講比賽（speechcontest），希望附近大學(xué)的外籍教師Smith女生來做評委(judge)。請你給她寫一封信。英語演講比賽的主題：人與自然時間：6月10日下午2：5：地點：501教室參賽選手：8名聯(lián)系人：李華（電話44876655）________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2023學(xué)年模擬測試卷參考答案（含詳細解析）第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1、C2、B3、B4、C5、D6、B7、A8、C9、B10、B11、B12、C13、B14、D15、A16、C17、B18、D19、A20、A第二部分閱讀理解（滿分40分）閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個選項中，選出最佳選項。21、1、B2、B22、1、C2、D3、D4、B23、1、B2、A3、B4、C24、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.”HenoddedhisheadingratitudelikeallusTexansdoa