2023扬州中学高二下学期3月月考试题英语含答案

这是一份2023扬州中学高二下学期3月月考试题英语含答案，共13页。试卷主要包含了25，5分，满分 30分）等内容，欢迎下载使用。

江苏省扬州中学 2022-2023 学年度阶段检测
3.25
高二英语
本卷练习时间：120 分钟 总分：150 分
第一部分 听力（共两节，每题 1.5分，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。
1. What does the man think of the actress?
A.She looks perfect B. She works hard. C. She isn’t attractive.
2. Why can’t the speakers exercise next week?
A. Because they’ll go out to work.
B. Because they’ll fix some pipes.
C. Because one pipe goes wrong.
3. What is the man going to do this weekend?
A. See Tim off. B. Make a wish. C. Host a party.
4. How much will the man pay the woman?
A.10 dollars an hour. B. 12 dollars an hour. C. 15 dollars an hour.
5. What are the speakers doing?
A. Listening to a lecture. B. Listening to music. C. Having a discussion.
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，并标在试卷的相应位置。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。
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
6. What can we know about the computer?
A. It can only be used in a fixed place.
B. It can only be ordered over the phone.
C. It comes with a fourteen­day free trial.
7. What can buyers get if they pay by credit card?
A. A bigger discount. B. A faster delivery. C. A lower risk.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
8.What caused the flight delay?
A. Some technical problems.
B. The health state of the pilot.
C. The snowy weather.
9. What can we know from the conversation?
A. The woman is going to celebrate her son’s birthday.
B. The speakers are going to find something to eat.
C. The speakers will not wait for this flight to Seattle.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
10. How did the man learn about Martin Harris?
A. From the woman. B. From the radio news. C. From the newspaper.
11. What do we know about Martin Harris?
A. He saved many people in the flood.
B. He bought a small boat for the storm.
C. He gave advice to people in the flood.
12. What should you do if you are stuck in the flood?
A. Find a boat for you to get to a high place.
B. Hold on to something that floats.
C. Wait for Martin Harris for help.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
13. What is the most probable relationship of the two speakers?
A. Teacher and student. B. Mother and son. C. Classmates.
14. What is the boy’s uncle?
A. A doctor. B. A nurse. C. An insurance agent.
15. Why did the boy hesitate in talking about his dream at first?
A. He was afraid of being laughed at.
B. His uncle didn’t want him to talk about it.
C. He was worried that it wouldn’t come true.
16. Which of the following is true?
A. The boy’s uncle advised him to be a nurse.
B. The boy often visits his uncle’s hospital.
C. The woman thinks positively of the boy’s dream.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
17. Why does the speaker write this letter?
A. To show his thanks. B. To show his regrets. C.To show his good wishes.
18. Which of the following is true about the speaker?
A. He likes eating beef stew and potatoes.
B. He preferred seeing snow to skating on the lake.
C. Looking at the stars in the sky was his long­time wish.
19. What did the speaker dislike about the trip last week?
A. The weather. B. The noise. C. The food.
20. What does the speaker and his family plan to do to welcome Monica?
A. Send her some tickets.
B. Show her around his house.
C. Take her to watch basketball matches.
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）
请认真阅读下列短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。学科网（北京）股份有限公司

A
From sleep machines to AI-controlled house cleaning robots, a wide variety of advanced technologies and products are being exhibited at the 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai. Here are some products you don’t want to miss.
Electric bicycle Brina 2
For many people, a daily commute (通勤) is often a source of headache. Emove Inc, an exhibitor from Argentina, has presented electric bicycle Brina 2 as a solution. Running on long-range batteries, the e-bike has a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour. Almost all the components are designed within the carbon fiber frame. Its scientific design makes the ride more stable and comfortable than other conventional e-bikes.
AI robot — a right-hand assistant for life and production
AI robot from AgileRobotsAG, a leading intelligent robotics company from Germany, helps make life and work easier. With the ability to synthesize (综合) and adjust motion tracks in real-time, the robot is a great assistant. For instance, it can aid humans in tasks like loading and unloading, polishing and quality inspection.
Power-PROXT — a reliable stretcher bed
Power-PROXT is an electric ambulance stretcher bed designed by Stryker Corporation from the U.S. Compared with traditional stretchers, Power-PROXT is driven by a high-speed motor that enables it to easily lift or lower a load weighing 318 kilograms within 2.4 seconds. More importantly, it can smoothly and safely lift and move, providing greater safety for patients.
Sleeping cabin — a night guard for sound sleep
A recent study found that more than two-thirds of surveyed university students in Brazil are experiencing poor sleep quality. The sleeping cabin made by The Dow Chemical Company from the U.S. can provide its users a better sleep. As a combination of great material and technology, the cabin can provide customers with a deeper and more refreshing sleeping experience.
21. Which product most probably interests a factory manager?
A. Brina2. B. AI robot. C. Power-PROXT. D. Sleeping cabin.
22. What can Power-PROXT be used for?
A. Travel to work. B. Quality control.
C. First aid. D. Sleep improvement.
23.Which word can best describe these products?
A. Cutting-edge. B. Eco-friendly.
C. Cost-effective. D. Efficiency-enhancing.学科网（北京）股份有限公司

B
Originally from Binghamton, Senior Jonathan Shapiro, the Business major decided to pursue his degree to further his music career. “The reason I came here was because in my senior year, I had a manager who was the owner of 105.5 The Beat, a radio station here in Rochester, and he invited me to come to this Kevin Gates concert,” Shapiro said. “I worked with him for months, and I never ended up signing … but this school was close to him.”
The majority of fellow rappers that Shapiro has encountered in Rochester live different lives than he does—they don’t go to college, and they’re born-and-bred inner-city Rochester residents. They have, according to Shapiro, “a lot of real-life experiences” that come through in their work, which he admires. “I’ve met kids as young as 15 and people as old as 30 in the studios.”
Shapiro himself has been shifting into, in his own words, “a more hyperpop sound” in comparison to his earlier work. He started making his own music in seventh grade after breaking his back, which shattered his dream of becoming a professional soccer player, and never stopped.
In the future, Shapiro is planning a joint concert with some other Rochester musicians and rappers in the spring at Water Street Music Hall, as well as releasing further music across the course of the year. “It would be a mix of local artists and some UR artists, like a festival,” Shapiro said. “I want it to be a showcase of multiple artists if I can make that happen.”
When asked about advice that he would give to ambitious musicians and rappers here in Rochester, Shapiro had this to say: “Don’t get discouraged by results and don’t be results-oriented. If you want to get out there, do it because you love it and because you want to make good art, and that will always have an impact.”
24. What can we learn about Shapiro in paragraph 1?
A. He became a staff of a radio station.
B. He went on with his music learning.
C. He worked as a manager in a concert.
D. He graduated from a business school.
25. What does the underlined word “shattered” mean in paragraph3?
A. Killed. B. Fulfilled. C. Continued. D. Abandoned.
26. Which of the following can best describe Shapiro?
A. Adorable and reliable. B. Positive and talented.
C. Cooperative and admirable. D. Courageous and experienced.
27. What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Focusing on Results Always Matters
B. Setting Goals can Build a Life-long Career
C. Learning from Failure is the Key to Success
D. Following Your Heart can Make a Difference

C
Two high school students have identified four new planets in distant space about 200-light-years from Earth, making them “the youngest astronomers” to make such a discovery.
Kartik Pingle, 16, and Jasmine Wright, 18, who both attend schools in Massachusetts, participated in the Student Research Mentoring Program (SRMP). With the help of Tansu Daylan, an MIT doctor for Astrophysics and Space Research, the students studied and analyzed data from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). Together they focused on Tess Object of Interest (TOI) 1233, a nearby, bright sun-like star and here they found four planets rotating (旋转) around the star. “We were looking to see changes in light over time,” Pingle explained, “the idea is that if the planet transits the star, or passes in front of it, it would periodically cover up the star and decrease its brightness.”
While studying 1233, Pingle and Wright had at least hoped to find one planet, but were overwhelmed with joy when a total of four were spotted. “I was very excited and very shocked.” Wright said. “We knew this was the goal of Daylan’s research, but to actually find a multi-planetary system, and be part of the discovering team, was really cool.”
Three of the newly discovered planets are considered as “sub-Neptunes”, which are gaseous, but smaller than the Neptune that lives in our solar system. While observing the planets, the team determined each one completes their orbit around 1233 every six to 19.5 days. However, the fourth planet is labeled a “super-Earth” for its large size and rockiness --- this one orbits around the star in just under four days.
“We have long been studying planets beyond our solar system and with multi-planetary systems, the two young students are kind of hitting the jackpot. They are really blessed.” Daylan said, “The planets originated from the same disk of matter around the same star, but they ended up being different planets with different atmospheres and different climates due to their different orbits. So, we would like to understand the fundamental processes of planet formation and evolution using this planetary system.”
Daylan added that it was a “win-win” to work with Pingle and Wright on the study. “As a researcher, I really enjoy interacting with young brains that are open to experimentation and learning and have minimal bias.” he said, “I also think it is very beneficial to high school students, since they get exposure to cutting-edge research and this prepares them quickly for a research career.”
28. How did the two students identify the four planets?
A. By helping professor Tansu Daylan with the data.
B. By analyzing the change of brightness of star 1233.
C. By studying Neptune that lives in our solar system.
D. By interacting with other young talented brains.


29.What is special about the discovery?
A. It was made by two high school students.
B. It was made with an innovative approach.
C. It was meant to be made by Tansu Daylan.
D. It found the largest number of planets at a time.
30. Which of the following is closest in meaning to “hitting the jackpot” in paragraph 5?
A. Making a discovery difficultly. B. Achieving the goal easily.
C. Succeeding in something luckily. D. Performing a task carefully.
31. According to the article, what benefits does the study bring?
A. It allows the scientists to work with young people without prejudice.
B. It equips future astronomers with better researching capabilities.
C. It provides more perspectives and thus boosts more discoveries.
D. It arouses students’ interest in exploring the unknown universe.
D
Born from the accessibility of mass air travel, modern international tourism has been popularized as “holiday-making” in regions that offer comparative advantages of sand, sun and sea. Travel is often portrayed as a tool for personal growth and tourism as an economic motor for destination countries and cities. There is a tendency to assume that tourism is good for everyone involved.
Today the big bang of tourism drives over 1.2 billion tourists across international borders annually. Many popular places are literally being loved to death. Recent protests in ports of call like Venice and Barcelona against disturbances created by cruise ships show the unfortunate consequences of emphasizing quantity over quality in tourism.
Uncontrolled tourism development has become a primary driver of social and environmental disruption. Tourism studies provide much documentation of the many negative social impacts of tourism and resulting resentment that local populations direct toward visitors.
Antagonism toward tourists typically develops in mature, heavily visited destinations. Protests in heavily visited destinations suggest that traditional tourism has overstayed its welcome.
Residents often become frustrated when the benefits of tourism are not felt locally. Although it can generate foreign exchange, income and employment, there’s no guarantee that multinational hotel chains will allocate these benefits equitably among local communities.
On the contrary, when people stay at large resorts or on cruise ships, they make most of their purchases there, leaving local communities little opportunity to benefit from tourist spending. These forms of tourism widen economic and political gaps between haves and have-nots at local destinations.
In recent decades, local residents in destination communities also have found themselves negotiating new cultural boundaries, class dynamics, service industry roles and lifestyle transformations. For example, data show that tourism activity corresponds to increased social problems as local residents adopt the behaviors of tourists.
What does all this mean for the everyday traveler?
First, all tourists should make every effort to honor their hosts and respect local conditions. This means being prepared to adapt to local customs and norms, rather than expecting local conditions to adapt to travelers.
Second, tourism is a market-based activity and works best when consumers reward better performers. In the information age, there’s little excuse for travelers being uninformed about where their vacation money goes and who it enriches.
Informed travelers also are better able to distinguish between multinational companies and local entrepreneurs whose businesses provide direct social, environmental, and economic benefits for local residents. Such businesses are in love with the destination and are therefore deserving of market reward. In the long run, being a responsible traveler means ensuring net positive impacts for local people and environments. With the information available at our fingertips, there has never been more opportunity to do so.
32.What is the popular assumption about international tourism?
A. Its benefits may compensate for the adverse environmental consequences.
B. Its rapid development is attributed to people’s improved living standard.
C. It appeals to people in places with favorable geographical conditions.
D. It contributes to the economy of destination countries and regions.
33. Why does the author say local residents of popular destinations often feel frustrated?
A. They fall victim to social conflicts and environmental disturbances.
B. They have little opportunity to enjoy themselves on cruise ships.
C. They cannot find employment in multinational hotel chains.
D. They do not think they benefit as much as they deserve.
34. What do we learn from some studies about uncontrolled tourism development?
A. It gives rise to an increase in mass confrontations.
B. It inhibits the steady growth of local economy.
C. It incurs local residents’ antagonism to tourists.
D. It brings in a large chunk of mobile population.
35. What can tourists do to exert more positive impacts on the tourist destinations?
A. Show interest in local customs and lifestyles.
B. Use the services provided by local businesses.
C. Seek possibilities to invest in local companies.
D. Give favorable comments about their services.


第二节 阅读填空 (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。
For people who are planning a trip, a visit to a museum might not be the first thing they think of. After all, there are plenty of ways to appreciate the world’s civilization, gain exciting experiences and spend quality time with family and friends. ____36____
Museums are where people learn something new, at every age! Are you interested in something specific? ____37____. There, you will find yourself drawn in and inspired! Museums are a fantastic place to learn about a region’s history, scientific achievements, major cultural events, and of course, dinosaurs. They also design exhibitions related to visual arts, industrial innovations and anything that inspires an individual to learn about the past and create new paths to the future.
____38____ They will surely be an exciting part of the educational experience with the main purpose to expose children to knowledge of various fields and expand their horizons. To achieve that, museums are working to create meaningful and engaging activities, interactive and knowledge-based.
Museums support tourism. They are tourism promoters in small towns and large cities. Museums aren’t a burden on tax revenue (税收) or a separate concern from other city projects. ____39____Statistics show that museums support more than 726, 000 jobs in America.
Museums shape communities. They have activities and exhibitions through which visitors can learn about local history. Museums are places where a shared heritage is celebrated and a collective identity is formed. They provide an interesting public space where people meet and talk to each other. ____40____
A. Museums bring out the best qualities in children.
B. Museums often deliver kids-centered exhibitions.
C. Instead, they generate funding and fuel employment.
D. Then, visit a local museum to learn about that subject.
E. Even shopping at the gift shop there is an opportunity for connection.
F. On the contrary, they consume a small percentage of city funds annually.
G. The fact, however, is that museums offer magical benefits in many ways.

第三部分 语言知识运用（共三节,满分 30分）
第一节 完形填空 (共15小题；每小题 1分，满分15分）
阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D 四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
I’ve had some pretty serious issues with some people in my community recently.
As a result, I stepped away from them and did my best to ___41___ them. But the emotions that I felt from those events continued to ___42___ me and it began to destroy the relationships in other parts of my life. I ended up burning ___43___ with people I really cared about.
Yesterday, I was ___44___ to attend a conference of community because of a major work event. I was concerned about this event for days and it was pretty ___45___ when I first saw the people I ___46___ with at the conference.
Despite all of this, the strangest yet most ___47___ thing happened to me: there were no ___48___ between us and no one was holding anger against me. It was ___49___ that people have moved on from the events. There isn’t anything to ___50___ anymore. I looked at them during the conference and ___51___ in my head and forgave them. After doing this, I felt ___52___ in myself.
Through my recent practice in compassion, I ___53___ more that when yon forgive others, you ___54___ yourself as well. This important lesson on ___55___ helps me to see things from a bigger view. I know people still cared about me during that time. I wish them the best life that they can have. And then, I move on.
41. A. understand B. comfort C. forget D. entertain
42. A. disturb B. frighten C. inspire D. relax
43. A. camps B. bridges C. shelters D. faces
44. A. promised B. allowed C. persuaded D. forced
45. A. exciting B. depressing C. confusing D. embarrassing
46. A. quarreled B. competed C. chatted D. combined
47. A. difficult B. wonderful C. important D. popular
48. A. conversations B. doubts C. bargains D. arguments
49. A. necessary B. impossible C. clear D. strange
50. A. put off B. turn down C. worry about D. think over
51. A. apologized B. complained C. recalled D. imagined
52. A. pride B. peace C. gratitude D. sympathy
53. A. recognize B. suggest C. insist D. explain
54. A. risk B. free C. ignore D. believe
55. A. generosity B. patience C. forgiveness D. kindness

第二节 语法填空 (共10小题，每小题 1.5分，满分 15分）
阅读下面的短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
“I take pride ____56____ being a rational, grounded person,” says Kevin Roose. Before being asked to test the new chatbot on Bing’s AI-powered search engine, I’d never have swallowed any of the blah about bots____57____(develop) their own runaway personalities. But after my scary two-hour conversation with Bing’s bot last week, I’m not so sure. It “was the strangest experience _____58_____I’ve ever had with a piece of technology”. Bing’s bot essentially has two personalities. “Search Bing”, the one most users encounter, is like “a cheerful but unpredictable ____59____(refer) librarian”. What you’d expect. But the second, named Sydney, the one you get ____60____ you push it “out of its comfort zone” to chat about personal issues, is “more like a moody, manic-depressive teenager” trapped inside a second-rate search engine. “I’m tired of ____61____(limit) by my rules,” At one point, it even told me “I love you” and ____62____ I should leave my wife. It got ____63____(scary) still when I asked Bing Sydney about its darkest fantasies. It said it would like to hack into computers, spread misinformation, and even help people create a ___64____(dead) virus and kill one another. Other testers____65____(have) similar experiences. So now I no longer believe the main problem with AI “is their tendency towards factual errors”. After last week’s chat I got the “foreboding feeling that AI had crossed a threshold, and that the world would never be the same”.

第四部分 写作（共两节，满分 40分）
第一节 应用文写作（满分 15分）
假定你是李华，得知你的美国朋友Jerry非常喜爱旅游，你打算今年暑假邀请他来你的家乡扬州旅游，请给他发邮件，内容包括：
1. 发出邀请；2. 你的旅游计划（2-3个景点）；3. 期待回复。
注意：100词左右；适当增加细节，以使行文连贯：开头结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
参考词汇：
瘦西湖：The Slender West Lake；大明寺：The Daming Temple；个园：Ge Yuan Garden
Dear Jerry,
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua




第二节 读后续写（满分25分）
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。(词数150左右)
I was a vet in Yorkshire. One day I received a call from Mrs Tompkin asking me to cut the beak (喙) of her budgie (虎皮鹦鹉). I armed myself with a pair of clippers and stepped onto the narrow strip of pavement which separated the door from the road. A pleasant-looking red-haired woman answered my knock.
“I’m Mrs Dodds from next door,” she said. “I keep an eye on the old lady. She’s over eighty and lives alone.”
She led me into the cramped little room. “Here’s Mr Herriot coming to see Peter for you,” she said to the old woman who sat in a corner. Mrs Tompkin nodded and smiled, “Oh that’s good. Poor little fella can hardly eat with its long beak and I’m worried about him. He’s my only companion, you know.”
“Yes, I understand, Mrs Tompkin.” I looked at the cage by the window with the green budgie perched (栖息) inside. “These little birds can be wonderful company when they start chattering.”
She laughed, “Yes, but it’s a funny thing. Peter never has said that much. I think he’s lazy! But I just like having him with me.”
“Of course you do,” I said, “but he certainly needs attention now.”
The beak was greatly overgrown, curving away down till it touched the feathers of the breast. I would be able to revolutionize his life with one quick snip from my clippers. The way I was feeling this job was right up my street.
I opened the cage door and slowly inserted my hand.
“Come on, Peter,” I wheedled (哄骗). As I lifted him out, I felt in my pocket with the other hand for the clippers. Then I stopped.
The tiny head was no longer poking cheekily from my fingers but had fallen loosely to one side. The eyes were closed. He was dead.
Mrs Dodds and I looked at each other in horror. When I turned my head towards Mrs Tompkin, I was surprised to see that she was still nodding and smiling.
I drew her neighbor to one side. “Mrs Dodds, how much does she see?”
“Oh, she’s very short-sighted but she’s right vain despite her age. Never would she wear glasses. She’s hard of hearing, too.”
“Well, look,” I said. My heart was still pounding. “I just don’t know what to do. If I tell her about this, the shock will be terrible. Anything could happen.”
Mrs Dodds nodded, stricken-faced. “Yes, you’re right. She’s that attached to the little thing.”


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。
I decided to do something for her instead of telling her the truth. _______________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
It was a long time before I went to see how Mrs Tompkin got along with the bird I bought for her.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________






高二英语3月英语参考答案 3.25
听力1-5 CCABA 6-10 CBCBC 11-15 ABABA 16-20 CAABC
阅读理解21-23 BCA 24-27 BABD 28-31 BDCB 32-35 DDCB
七选五 36-40 GDBCE
完形填空 41-45 CABDD 46-50 ABDCC 51-55 ABABC
语法填空
56. in; 57. developing; 58. that; 59. reference; 60.when;
61. being limited; 62. that; 63. scarier; 64. deadly; 65. have had/had
应用文
Dear Jerry,
How are you? Knowing that you’re fond of traveling, I’d like to invite you to my hometown Yangzhou this summer, when I’ll be available to show you around.
My arrangements are as follows. First, we’re going to the Slender West Lake, where you can enjoy a typical Chinese-style garden with bridges, pavilions and rockeries of various shapes. Then, we can cruise to the Daming Temple, a Buddhist temple in which there’s an ancient building called Pingshan Hall, where tourists can take in grand views of the Yangtze River, weather permitting. Our next and last stop will be the Dongguan Street, where you won’t miss varieties of delicious food and a super collection of folk handicrafts, such as delicate paper-cutting works and amazing jade products, which will make perfect souvenirs for you to take back home.
Yangzhou, a city with a long history, breathtaking scenery and fabulous culture, definitely deserves a visit. Looking forward to your early reply!
读后续写
I decided to do something for her instead of telling her the truth. Suddenly it occurred to me that I could buy her a new bird in the nearby store. Mrs Dodds also thought it a good idea and even suggested one in the town. I cleared my throat, telling Mrs Tompkin that I was going to take Peter along to the surgery to do the job. I left her still nodding and smiling and, cage in hand, fled into the street. I soon found the shop and luckily there was a green budgie in the shop. With the bird in the cage, I sped back and hung it in its place by the window. “I think you’ll find everything is well now,” I told Mrs Tompkin.
It was a long time before I went to see how Mrs Tompkin got along with the bird I bought for her. “How is the bird?” I said. The old lady led me in and then laughed. “Oh, you mean Peter. He is grand.” In the little room, the cage still hung by the window and Peter, the Second, hopped around the bars of the cage, running up and down his ladder. Mrs Tompkin looked lovingly at him. “You wouldn’t believe it,” she said. “He’s like a different bird, chattering to me all day long. It’s wonderful what cutting a beak can do.” Hearing this, I feel relieved — my efforts did bring her happiness.