重庆市三峡名校联盟2022-2023学年高二英语下学期联考试题（Word版附答案）

这是一份重庆市三峡名校联盟2022-2023学年高二英语下学期联考试题（Word版附答案），共11页。试卷主要包含了5 分，满分 7等内容，欢迎下载使用。

三峡名校联盟2023年春期联考高2024届
英语试卷

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。
1. What should the man take tomorrow?
A. Some fruit. B. The ticket. C. Some money.
2. At what time does the film start?
A. 3:50. B. 4:00. C. 4:10.
3. What will the man do this weekend?
A. Buy some books. B. See a doctor. C. Go to the library.
4. Where does the conversation most probably take place?
A. In a hotel. B. In a factory. C. In a supermarket.
5. What are the speakers talking about?
A. An announcement. B. A meeting. C. An accident.
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，各小题给出 5 秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。
听第 6 段材料，回答第 6、7 题。
6. Why does the man dislike the suit made of pure wool?
A. The color is too light. B. The size is a bit too large. C. The style is out of date.
7. What color suit does the man decide to buy?
A. Brown. B. Blue. C. Yellow.
听第 7 段材料，回答第 8、9 题。
8. What does the man offer to do?
A. Call the office manager. B. Arrange a meeting. C. Sign a form.
9. What should be put in the meeting room?
A. The desks. B. The chairs. C. The computers.
听第 8 段材料，回答第 10 至 12 题。
10. What is Mr. Brown probably doing now?
A. Treating a patient. B. Having an operation. C. Attending a meeting.
11. How does the woman probably feel now?
A. Worried. B. Annoyed. C. Surprised.
12. What will the woman do next?
A. See her husband. B. Wait outside the room. C. Get some forms.
听第 9 段材料，回答第 13 至 16 题。
13. Where will the woman go this weekend if the weather is bad?
A. To the beach. B. To a store. C. To a library.
14. What will the man do if he finishes his report?
A. See some videos. B. Work out at the gym. C. Practice the guitar.
15. What would the woman do if she had lots of money?
A. Buy a huge TV. B. Live on an island. C. Open a video store.
16. What does the woman think of their wishes?
A. Realistic. B. Nice. C. Impractical.
听第 10 段材料，回答第 17 至 20 题。
17. What does the speaker say about the room?
A. It is very big. B. It is quite bright. C. It is pretty tidy.
18. What does the speaker keep doing to the room?
A. Arranging the furniture. B. Painting the walls. C. Covering the windows.
19. What does the speaker have on the walls?
A. Papers about schoolwork. B. Pictures of her family. C. Posters of pop stars.
20. Why does the speaker like the room?
A. She has many of her favorite things in it.
B. It is a good place to do her schoolwork.
C. She lives in the room all by herself.
第二部分 阅读（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A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
Four places to hear live music outdoors
For those fond of live music, head outdoors where local restaurants and bars are providing fresh air entertainment. Here are 4 places on Long Island that are popular with everyone:
PORTSIDE BAR & GRILL
On Monday nights at Portside Bar & Grill join the “Portside Pirates Patio (露台) Party” where many artists perform 30-40 minutes each from 7-10 p.m.
“Playing outdoors you get more energy from the audience,” singer Maria Rose says. “They are fully engaged in the music.”
SPOTLIGHT
There may not be music at the Paramount in Huntington but the venue’s art bar Spotlight next door is delivering live music along with burgers and craft cocktails at a dozen outdoor tables daily from 4-8 p.m.
“We restructured things when we heard outdoor dining is going to be big,” says manager James Visalli. Singer / Guitarist Brian Ripps was the first to kick off Spotlight’s grand re-opening by mixing cover songs with his originals.
KJ FARRELL’S
Live music is what KJ Farrell’s in Bellmore is known for and their backyard patio, which holds 40-50 seats, has become a hotspot showcasing artists from Tuesday-Saturday from 7-10 p.m. (reservations are made in advance).
Wonderous Stories has just returned to its regular Wednesday night spot where the audience listened to classic rock covers.
GARDEN GRILL
The patio at Garden Grill has been retooled holding 100 people. Music is offered Wednesday through Saturday from 5:30-9:30 p.m. and Sunday 1-8 p.m. in the fresh air.
Singer / songwriter JD Leonard recently performed his own country tune, “Just Drive” and got a standing ovation (热烈鼓掌). “Everybody seemed so happy to be out here. I know I was.” he says.
21．At which time will you most probably watch Maria Rose’s performance?
A．Saturday 10 p.m. B．Tuesday 6 p.m.
C．Monday 8 p.m. D．Wednesday 9:30 p.m.
22．What does the live music in the four places have in common?
A．performed at weekends B．country music
C．classic rock music D．held in the open air
23．What is special about KJ FARRELL’S?
A．It hosts the “Portside Pirates Patio Party”. B．It should be booked in advance.
C．It can hold an audience of 100. D．It serves craft cocktails.
B
Jamaica’s Fraser Pryce is in the form of her life. The sprint legend and new world 100m champion spoke to us about her evergreen career and the legacy she wishes to leave for young athletes.
Fraser comes from a difficult background. She grew up in Waterhouse, a neighborhood in Kingston that was marked by poverty and violence. She lived in a wooden shack with just enough room for a double bed and had to have meals with family members in a shared yard, squatting on a turned-over paint bucket.
Sport is one of the few ways to escape this misery. All children in Jamaica run races even in kindergarten; there is no other country with a similar sprinting culture. But only a few actually succeed in building a career.
Her life began to change when a woman saw her running in an international school competition in the United States. The woman learned about the circumstances in which Fraser lived, and from then on, she took over the young runner’s school fees, paid for her uniform and books, and gave her an allowance.
Fortunately, Fraser didn’t let her down. From 2008 to 2022, nine of a possible 11 gold medals in the 100-meter have gone to Jamaican women. Top among them is Fraser, who has won eight of those titles, and more beyond. She has collected 21 medals at the global level, 13 of which have been gold.
To many young athletes in her country, Fraser has become a real-life superhero and inspiration. But unlike cartoon superheroes, her secret is not in some fancy elixir or super food, but in a traditionally balanced diet, hard work and tenacity. Her life offers the possibility that it is persistence and courage in the face of struggle that build the heart of the lion.
24．For what purpose did Fraser begin sprint?
A．To show off her talent. B．To rid herself of the suffering.
C．To draw people’s attention to the poor. D．To develop the country’s sprinting culture.
25．All of the following about Fraser are mentioned except _______.
A．her family background B．her schooling experience
C．her achievements in sport D．her influence on young athletes
26．What makes Fraser a superhero according to the author?
A．Talent and hard work. B．Courage and kindness.
C．Diligence and perseverance. D．Cure-all medicine and super food.
27．Which is the most suitable title for the text?
A．Fraser, the Sprint Legend B．How to Be a Superhero
C．Fraser’s Evergreen Career D．Jamaican Women, Heart of the Lion
C
The Moon is attracting much attention these days as NASA is ready for its Artemis I launch and preparing for more to follow. The mission objectives are clear: develop a sustainable presence on its surface and pave the way to go to Mars.
And then what? What’s the next great leap in humans’ quest for the secrets of the universe? When it comes to the near future scientific exploration, there are a few areas of the solar system that will be receiving some special attention.
First off there’s Venus, a planet which was a relative paradise (天堂), with oceans and a pleasant atmosphere. Something went terribly wrong there a few billion years ago, and NASA has scheduled a series of missions to explore what exactly is going on there.
At the other end are the gas giants. Several of the satellites of Jupiter and Saturn are covered in thick sheets of ice, and underneath that ice sit oceans of liquid water. NASA has missions planned to investigate those mysterious worlds, hunting for any signs of possible life hidden deep within.
As for us humans, Mars is certainly the grand prize in the coming decades. If we have the adequate drive and funds, we can establish a semi-permanent presence on the red planet, keeping crews working and studying in person on the Martian surface. The other planets of our solar system are not so suitable for people to settle on. Mercury is too close to the Sun for comfort and too far away from the Earth.
Over the coming decades humans expect to see a rise of “space hotels”, set up for visiting tourists and scientific explorations. Naturally, turning the space rock into a habitat for humans is not very practical considering our current level of technological maturity, but in my best estimation, it’s the next easiest thing to accomplish, after the Moon and Mars, of course.
28．What does the underlined word “quest” probably mean in the second paragraph?
A．Question. B．Explanation. C．Request. D．Search.
29．Which is the least likely to be explored in the next decades according to the passage?
A．Mars. B．Mercury. C．Venus. D．Gas giants.
30．What’s the author’s attitude towards the “space hotels”?
A．Ambiguous. B．Critical.
C．Hopeful. D．Indifferent.
31．What’s the passage mainly about?
A．The launch of Artemis I.
B．The secrets of the solar system.
C．The missions of NASA．
D．The areas of the future universe exploration.
D
We often hear such statements “I spilled juice, but it wasn’t my fault.”, “I got in trouble at school, but it wasn’t my fault.” Or “I was in a car accident, but it wasn’t my fault.” That “It’s not my fault.” is a go-to response for so many people and especially teenagers.
Parents complain they are tired of the “excuse”. The reason why variations of “It’s not my fault.” are so popular is that it lets us off the hook from guilt and blame. I’m a fan of not owning responsibility for things that I can’t control. Teens who often say “It’s my fault.” when something bad happens tend to be highly self-critical, perfectionistic and much easier to be troubled by anxiety and depression.
While it is important to recognize a lack of reason to blame oneself, many teens over-rely on “It’s not my fault.” When trying to get them to take responsibility, parents usually attempt to convince their teens that something is their fault. The approach tends to be ineffective and turn into a power struggle. No one wins. A more effective approach can be to stress significant drawbacks to consistently focusing on removing our responsibility with this phrase.
Overuse of the phrase can result in feelings of lack of ability to control their own lives. This sense has been shown to cause low motivation. Besides creating feelings of lack of ability, overuse of “It’s not my fault.” focuses a teen’s attention on what is done as opposed to what needs to be done.
People may not have caused all their problems, but they have to solve them anyway. The example I frequently share with teens is the question of what one will do if he is pushed into a deep lake. One can certainly stay in water, yelling, “It’s not my fault.” However, that won’t get him out of water. He needs to swim to the shore, regardless of the fault.
If you take a proper approach to communicating with your teens, you can help them avoid over-reliance on “It’s not my fault.”.
32．What phenomenon is described in Paragraph 1?
A．The teenagers’ dislike for school life.
B．The common trouble faced by teenagers.
C．The reasons for blaming others for accidents.
D．The tendency for people not to be responsible for mess in life.
33．What type of teens tends to suffer great mental pressure according to the text?
A．Those lacking confidence and ambition.
B．Those allowing others to find excuses.
C．Those unable to get along well with others.
D．Those often blaming themselves for some incidents.
34．What’s Paragraph 4 mainly about?
A．It’s harmful to overuse “It’s not my fault.”.
B．It’s important to learn lessons from faults.
C．It’s difficult for people to admit their fault.
D．It’s absurd to often find excuses for mistakes in life.
35．What lesson is conveyed in the example often shared by the author?
A．We should try to avoid troubling others.
B．We should focus on how to address issues.
C．We should dare to point out others’ mistakes.
D．We should be self-critical as much as possible.
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。

Learn to Cite (引用) Sources
During your university education, you’ll be exposed to ideas and scientific theories of scholars and scientists. Unavoidably, your own ideas will be shaped by the ideas you come across. ___36___ That means you should go beyond what you learn in your textbooks or in the library. Your original work is the basis for your professor’s evaluation of your performance. Thus, academic honesty is fundamental in your university education. It demands that you cite the source materials you base your own work on. ___37___
Correctly citing your sources helps you distinguish your own ideas from those of other scholars. On the readers’ side, it permits a reader to determine the depth of your research. ___38___ On the contrary, lack of citing will only raise your reader’s doubt.
So you need to learn when to cite and how to provide an adequate or accurate reference list. If you fail to cite your sources, whether deliberately or carelessly, you will be found responsible for plagiarism (抄袭) . ___39___ If you are not sure, ask your professor for guidance before submitting the paper or report. Keep in mind this general rule: when in doubt, cite!
___40___ For example, students from East Asia may think that copying directly from sources is the proper way to do research. Students in France, preparing for the final examination, may be encouraged to memorize whole passages and copy them into papers. Those cultural differences can lead to false assumptions about academic expectations in the country you study in.
A．Some university students may cheat in different ways.
B．These include other scholars’ ideas, figures, graphs and so on.
C．The academic challenge you face is to make something original.
D．Often, students want to use others’ opinions to support their own essays.
E．It also allows a reader to appreciate your original contribution to the research.
F．For international students, it is important to know local academic expectations.
G．Not knowing academic regulations is an unacceptable excuse for such behavior.
第三部分　语言运用(共两节， 满分30分)
第一节　(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。
It has been five years. No one’s quite sure how Sasha, the 6­year­old black cat， 41 it from Portland to New Mexico after five years. But apparently it isn’t uncommon for cats — who are known for their 42 character — to go hitchhiking(搭便车)．
“It’s like he never left. He’s so 43 ,” said its owner Usov.“I guess he was on a great American 44 .”
When Sasha disappeared in 2014, Usov thought the cat might have 45 wolves. But not every cat that disappears meets a(n) 46 end. It’s very common for a cat to 47 on a train or the back of a truck, but for a cat to travel 1,200 miles and then go back to its owner? That 48 happens.
Sasha’s fur was matted(乱成一团的) when he was found 49 the streets by workers of the Santa Fe Animal Shelter this month. They set out to find his owner.“Sasha didn’t miss a meal,” Kirdar, a worker at the shelter, said.
The shelter reunites families with their 50 pets every day, 51 this is the first time Kirdar has done an in­person delivery. Sasha’s 52 would not have been possible if he had not been microchipped (植入微芯片)．
“The microchip is the best form of 53 ,” said Kirdar. However, just getting your pet microchipped isn’t enough. It’s important to 54 the microchip’s producer if there is a 55 in your contact information.
41．A.hated B．made C．received D．learnt
42．A.complex B．popular C．independent D．weak
43．A.happy B．annoying C．pitiful D．helpful
44．A.adventure B．farm C．island D．holiday
45．A.teamed with B．fallen victim to C．made friends with D．fought against
46．A.good B．lucky C．bad D．expected
47．A.bite B．live C．sleep D．jump
48．A.actually B．rarely C．normally D．hopefully
49．A.clearing B．blocking C．wandering D．checking
50．A.thrilled B．unlucky C．missing D．crazy
51．A.and B．but C．because D．though
52．A.return B．illness C．disappearance D．movement
53．A.technology B．civilization C．identification D．explanation
54．A.download B．record C．copy D．update
55．A.fact B．number C．name D．change
第二节　(共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分)
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
More than 1,250 lit stalls(货摊) brighten the center of Thailand’s capital city, 56 (provide) a multicolored sight. The shelter, 57 is designed for the thousands of traders at Bangkok’s night market 58 (sell) their goods ，has become an 59 (attract) itself.
The market，which 60 (call) Train Night Market Ratchada in English，was opened in January 2015 and has become 61 popular spot for locals and tourists. Software engineer Prasad Ambati visited the market and took the landscape photographs from a nearby car park. “ Those 62 (color) tents and people shopping, eating at stalls and the flashing lights were great. The tents made me think of a giant painting.”
This is 63 (primary) a market that sells yesteryear(旧时) goods，old­fashioned collections of clothes, motorbikes, and second­hand toys. There are also plenty of general market things for sale, 64 cheap clothes，shoes，bags，and other fashion items. But above all it’s one of the best places for street food, open­air bars with live music frequently 65 (perform) all over.
第四部分　写作(共两节，满分40分)
第一节　(满分15分)
假设你是李华，得知你校外籍老师Peter计划不久回英国，他想给母亲一份有中国文化特色的礼物。请给他写封邮件，内容包括：
1.推荐礼物；2.推荐原因；3.表达祝愿。
注意：
1． 词数80左右；
2． 可适当添加细节使行文更流畅。
第二节　(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。
A few years ago, my wife Sue had some fairly serious health problems. She had suffered surgery after surgery and had also put on weight for several years. Diets had not helped her.
One day we sat down and drew up a "wish list" of the things we wanted most out of life. One of Sue's items was to run in a marathon. Given her history and physical limitations, I thought her goal was completely unrealistic, but Sue became committed to it.
She began by running very slowly around. Every day she ran just a little farther than she had the day before just one driveway more. "When will I ever be able to run a mile?" Sue asked one day. Soon she was running three. Then five. "We can change ourselves for the better and cause ourselves to pursue our most precious desires with almost total success," Sue said and registered to run in the St. George Marathon in southern Utah.
I drove the mountainous road from Cedar City to St. George. When the marathon began, I parked the car near the finish line and waited for Sue to come in. Five hours later, it was raining Steadily and the wind was cold. Several cold and injured runners had been transported past me, and I began to panic. The image of Sue, alone and cold, off the road somewhere, made me sick with worry. The fast and strong competitors had finished long ago, and runners were becoming fewer and fewer. Now I could not see anyone in either direction.
Almost all of the cars along the marathon route had left, and some normal traffic was beginning. I was able to drive directly up the race route. There were still no runners in view after driving almost two miles. Then I went around a bend in the road and spotted two runners running up ahead.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右：
2. 每一段的提示语已经给出。要求根据汉语提示写出英语。

It was Sue in the company of a girl runner, struggling._________________________________

At the finish line, the girl hugged Sue, "You made me believe we could do it."_____________
___________________________________________________________________________





三峡名校联盟2023年春期联考高2024届
英语（参考答案）

(Text 1)
M: What should I take tomorrow?
W: You won’t need any money for the bus or the ticket to the museum, because that’s already paid for. But the only food or drink allowed on the bus is fruit. Bring some with you.
(Text 2)
M: Oh, it’s ten to four now. We must hurry up. The film starts in 20 minutes. And we need 10 minutes to walk to the cinema.
W: Let’s go. Don’t forget to take the tickets.
(Text 3)
W: Would you like to go to the library with me this weekend? There is a book fair there.
M: I’d love to, but there is something wrong with my eyes and I’ll have them examined.
(Text 4)
W: Excuse me. Are you looking for something?
M: Yes, I’m looking for dish-washing machines. Which department are they in?
(Text 5)
W: Do you hear the announcement that Flight 307 to New Haven has been canceled?
M: What? Why?
W: Due to an electrical failure.
M: What should we do? We need to be on time for the meeting.
(Text 6)
W: Can I help you, sir?
M: I’d like to see a suit for the autumn.
W: How do you like this, sir?
M: It’s much too light in color for the autumn.
W: What about this then? It’s made of pure wool, very soft.
M: I like this style, but it’s loose at the waist. And it’s a bit too large.
W: What about this one? We have this model in several sizes and colors, dark brown, light green, light yellow, and dark blue.
M: Let me see the brown one. All right, it just suits me. I’ll take it.
(Text 7)
W: Mr. Jennings, the delivery has arrived. The chairs, desks, and computers are all there, but someone needs to sign for them. Shall I ask Mrs. Kilne?
M: She’s not in today. I’m the accounting manager, so I can sign the form for you.
W: Great, thanks. Where should I put the goods?
M: The desks and chairs can go against the wall, and the computers should go in the meeting room. Call more people to help so all these can be settled sooner.
W: OK, Mr. Jennings.
(Text 8)
M: Mrs. Brown, would you mind waiting outside the room? I’ll call you as soon as the doctor finishes the operation and you can see your husband for a few minutes.
W: How is he?
M: I don’t know yet. The doctor will tell you how his condition is, after he has finished treating your husband.
W: How long may I see him when you’re finished with him?
M: You’d better ask the doctor that. At the same time, would you mind filling out all the forms that are necessary?
W: Of course not. Where can I get them?
M: Just go down to the main hall. The girl at the front desk will help you.
W: OK, I’ll go there now.
(Text 9)
M: So, what are you doing this weekend?
W: It depends. If the weather is good, I think I’ll go to the beach.
M: And if it isn’t?
W: Then I’ll do some shopping. What about you?
M: If I finish my report in the library, I’ll rent a few videos to watch at home. But I don’t think I’ll finish it. Do you ever wish you had more time, for everything?
W: Of course. There’s never enough. So what would you do if you had more time?
M: I guess I’d practice the guitar and work out at the gym more. How about you?
W: I’ll go to concerts or do more shopping. But that takes money, too. And I really wish I had more money.
M: So what would you do if you had lots of money?
W: I’d live on an island.
M: Sounds nice. I’d buy a huge TV and open a video store.
W: Well, I guess we should be realistic. Without hard work, our wishes may never come true.
(Text 10)
W: I’m very lucky — there’s a spare room up in the roof of our house away from my parents, that I’m allowed to hang out in. It isn’t very big. I’ve painted the walls purple. My mother doesn’t like the color, but I’m not changing it now. It has huge windows, so I sit by them to do my schoolwork. I cover the windows if I sleep there — otherwise they let in too much sunshine, like all our rooms.
Not everyone would like the room. There are too many things in it so it looks kind of untidy. They’re all my favorite things. I keep arranging the furniture to make more space. And I put my precious magazines away to save space. But it doesn’t work. As for the walls, I’m always adding or removing pictures I’ve taken; some are of school events. There are also posters of pop stars I’ve been crazy about since I was twelve.
The room isn’t just for me — my elder sister shares it when she’s at home, and that’s fine. I love the place because at school I work on things I’m not always interested in, but here I’m surrounded by things I really care about.

1. A 2. C 3. B 4. C 5. A 6. B 7. A 8. C 9. C 10. B
11. A 12. C 13. B 14. A 15. B 16. C 17. B 18. A 19. C 20. A
21．C 22．D 23．B 24．B 25．B 26．C 27．A 28．D 29．B 30．C 31．D 32. D 33．D 34．A 35．B
36．C 37．B 38．E 39．G 40．F
41-55: BCAAB CDBCC BACDD
56. providing 57.which 58. to sell 59.attraction 60.is called 61. a 62. colorful 63.primarily 64. like 65. performed

参考范文
Dear Peter，
Knowing that you’d like to select a Chinese gift for your mother before returning to England soon, I’m happy to recommend you a silk dress as a gift.
As is known, Chinese silk industry has the longest history with the famous Silk Road as an indication. Besides, with strong Chinese cultural characteristiscs, Chinese silk dresses are comfortable and elegant to wear. They are a favourite choice for ladies of your mother’s age. I’m sure your mother will definitely like one.
Best wishes to your family.
Yours,
Li Hua
Version 1
It was Sue in the company of a girl runner, struggling. I could evenhear the sound of their labored breathing from a distance. As I got closer, I noticed that their pants were soaked. A gust of cold wind blew, and even I, sitting in the car, shivered. “Why don’t you stop?” I asked with concern. But all I heard was a resolute “no” from them. I turned around and continued to follow them from behind. After what felt like forever, Sue and the girl runner finally made it to the finish line, and everyone cheered. It was a heartfelt moment of admiration.

At the finish line, the girl hugged Sue, “You made me believe we could do it.” Sue was sobbing, “I never knew I could make it to the finish line. I told myself to keep going until I couldn't anymore. I waited for this day for so long.” The girl held her hand and said, “This is the meaning of a marathon, pushing yourself to the limit.” I was overwhelmed with emotions, seeing Sue still smiling despite all the difficulties she had been through. I watched her silently in tears. My wife Sue had finally emerged from her cocoon.


Version 2
It was Sue in the company of a girl runner, struggling. As I approached them, I noticed the pair dragging their feet and running forward awkwardly with their shoes wet. I pulled off and called, “Are you okay?” “Oh, yes!” Sue said, almost out of breath. The girl also nodded and kept moving. I had wanted to offer them a ride in, but the resolve in their eyes made me swallow back the words. I turned around and followed. Inch by inch, they were getting closer to the finish line. Eventually, the real winners in my heart ran past the finish line.

At the finish line, the girl hugged Sue, “You made me believe we could do it.” She added, “Sue described so vividly how it would be to finish that I knew I could do it.” Sue smiled back, “I’ve been dreaming about this day for two years and I shall not be denied”. Greatly moved, the girl promised she would never quit anything easily without total success. At that moment, I looked at Sue and found she was carrying herself differently. It was not as if she had become someone new; it was more as if she had discovered a real self she had not known before. She truly liked her newly discovered self. So did I.