湖北省随州市部分高中2025-2026学年高一上学期1月期末联考英语试卷

这是一份湖北省随州市部分高中2025-2026学年高一上学期1月期末联考英语试卷，共17页。试卷主要包含了听力选择题，阅读理解，完形填空，语法填空，书信写作，书面表达等内容，欢迎下载使用。
What des the wman suggest the man d?
Have a rest.B．Walk further.C．See a dctr.
What caused the man’s sleeping prblem?
The cats.B．The babies.C．The lights.
What will the weather be like shrtly?
Cludy.B．Sunny.C．Rainy.
Hw many dgs des the wman have?
One.B．Tw.C．Three.
Why is the wman calling the man?
T change an arrangement. B．T cancel a meeting.C．T arrange an event.
听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
What is the prbable relatinship between the speakers?
C-wrkers.B．Mther and sn.C．Shp assistant and custmer.
What is Susan Strm Cape?
A．A ty.B．A cmputer.C．A schlbag.
听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
What did Simn d in bth Argentina and Suth Krea?
Wrk as a vlunteer.B．Cntinue his study.C．Teach a language.
What is the prbable relatinship between Simn and Sally?
Friends.B．Husband and wife.C．Teacher and student.
听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
What is the prbable relatinship between the speakers?
Friends.B．Strangers.C．Driver and passenger.
What d the man and wman bth want t d next?
Try Thai fd.B．Find a taxi.C．G t a restaurant.
Why des the man knw the new Thai place?
He wrks there.B．The chef there is funny.C．Its free dessert is awesme.
听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。
Hw did the wman knw abut the research?
Frm a magazine.B．Frm her grandmther.C．Frm a TV prgram.
Hw ld is the wman nw?
In her frties.B．In her fifties.C．In her eighties.
What des the man think f Jack?
He always keeps his prmise.
He is gd at playing badmintn.
He pays much attentin t exercise.
When will the speakers play badmintn?
This Friday.B．This Saturday.C．Next Mnday.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
What is Tim mainly talking abut?
The career f his and Sam.
The develpment f his musical talent.
The experiences f being twin brthers.
When was Tim brn?
In January.B．In Octber.C．In December.
What is prbably the physical difference between the twins?
The hair.B．The build.C．The vice.
What can we learn abut Tim?
He is less cnfident than Sam.
He is nt interested in ging ut.
He is ging t put ut Sul Brthers.
二、阅读理解
The Maldives, fficially the Republic f Maldives, is a trpical paradise (乐园) in Suth Asia, famus fr its cral reefs, crystal-clear waters, and luxury resrts (奢华度假村).
Baa Atll (环礁) Bisphere Reserve
A UNESCO Wrld Heritage Site, Baa Atll is a shelter fr marine life like manta rays and whale sharks. It ffers exceptinal diving and snrkeling, with lcal cmmunities prmting sustainable turism t prtect the ecsystem.
Male’
The brief capital cmbines mdernity with traditin. Highlights include the Maldives Natinal Museum and the lively fish market, ffering a glimpse int lcal culture.
Vaadh Island
Famus fr its glwing biluminescent ( 荧光) beaches, Vaadh creates a magical nighttime sight. Its riginal shres and clear waters are ideal fr relaxatin.
Ari Atll
A tp diving spt, Ari Atll basts vibrant reefs teeming with reef sharks and eagle rays. Luxury resrts here cmbine adventure with relaxatin.
With its unique marine wnders and cultural charm, the Maldives is a dream destinatin.
What makes Baa Atll Bisphere Reserve particularly suitable fr underwater activities?
Its lcatin near the capital city.B．Its rich variety f sea creatures. C．Its biluminescent beaches. D．Its histrical fish market.
What d Ari Atll and Baa Atll have in cmmn?
They bth have biluminescent planktn.B．They are bth ppular fr diving. C．They are bth UNESCO sites.D．They bth have glwing museums.
What is the main purpse f this article?
T encurage ec-friendly turism.B．T prmte water sprts in Maldives. C．T intrduce ppular travel destinatins.D．T describe the histry f Maldives.
It was a typical Mnday mrning fr Sarah, a high schl student wh lived in a smart hme pwered by the Internet f Things (IT). As her alarm clck gently wke her up at 6:30 a.m., the curtains in her rm autmatically pened, letting in the sft mrning light. The thermstat ( 恒温器) had already adjusted the temperature t a cmfrtable level, and her favrite play list started playing thrugh the smart speaker. While Sarah gt ready fr
schl, her smart fridge sent a message t her phne, reminding her that she was running lw n milk and eggs.
After breakfast, Sarah grabbed her backpack and headed t the garage. Her family’s car, equipped with IT technlgy, had already warmed up and calculated the fastest rute t schl, aviding traffic jams. On her way, Sarah used her smart watch t check her schedule fr the day and review her fitness statistics ( 数据) frm her mrning jg.
At schl, Sarah’s teacher used a smart whitebard t shw interactive lessns, and students used iPads t
cmplete assignments. During lunch, Sarah’s friend shwed her a new app that cnnected t a smart water bttle, reminding users t stay hydrated thrughut the day.
When Sarah returned hme, the smart security system recgnized her face and unlcked the dr. Inside, the lights turned n autmatically, and the air purifier had already cleaned the air while she was away. Sarah spent the evening ding hmewrk n her laptp, which was cnnected t the hme’s Wi-Fi netwrk, and later relaxed by watching a mvie n the smart TV.
Hwever, Sarah smetimes wndered abut the disadvantages f living in a smart hme. She wrried abut wh might have access t the data cllected by these devices and whether her persnal infrmatin was safe. Despite these cncerns, she culdn’t refuse t accept the cnvenience and efficiency that IT brught t her life.
What can be inferred abut Sarah’s mrning rutine based n the first tw paragraphs?
She adjusts her hme’s temperature every mrning by hand.
Her IT devices wrk tgether t create an efficient rutine.
She dislikes using technlgy t manage daily tasks.
Her smart fridge prevents her frm eating breakfast.
The wrd “hydrated” in the third paragraph is clsest in meaning t .
awakeB．relaxedC．refreshedD．cmfrtable
What cncern des Sarah have abut IT?
It is t expensive t maintain.B．It is difficult t set up. C．It is nt reliable enugh.D．It might invade her privacy.
What is the authr’s attitude tward IT in the passage?
Objective.B．Oppsed.C．Supprtive.D．Indifferent.
A marine scientist was swimming near a clrful cral reef, hping t phtgraph a rare kind f seahrse. After hurs f searching with n luck, she was abut t give up when suddenly, a bright seahrse appeared right in frnt f her. Excited, she quickly tk the picture. Later, when she checked the pht, she made an amazing discvery — just behind the seahrse, hidden in the cral, was an even rarer small ctpus! She hadn’t nticed it during her dive, but her camera had accidentally captured ne f the cean’s hardest-t-find creatures. It was a mment f pure luck.
Such happy accidents als happen in science. In the 1920s, a scientist named Alexander Fleming was studying bacteria when he frgt t cver ne f his experiment dishes. When he returned, he saw that mld (霉)
had grwn n it — but instead f thrwing it away, he nticed the bacteria near the mld had died. This lucky mistake led t the discvery f penicillin, the first antibitic (抗生素) medicine. Fleming wasn’t trying t find a cure, but his accident changed medical histry frever.
Even in daily life, luck can bring great things. My friend Tm, wh lves music, was having truble writing sng lyrics. One day, while sitting in a park, he heard tw strangers telling an interesting stry. Their wrds gave him the perfect idea fr his sng—and that sng later became his first big success!
These stries shw that while hard wrk is imprtant, smetimes the best things happen when we aren’t even lking fr them. Life’s mst wnderful surprises ften cme when we least expect them.
What is the main idea f the passage?
The imprtance f careful bservatin in marine bilgy. B．Unexpected discveries can lead t significant breakthrughs. C．The prcess f develping new medicines in the 1920s.
D．Hw t becme a successful musician thrugh luck.
What happened when Alexander Fleming left his experiment dish uncvered?
The bacteria grew faster than expected.
The mld killed the surrunding bacteria.
The dish became plluted and was thrwn away.
He had t restart his experiment frm the beginning.
What can be inferred frm the passage abut accidental discveries?
Tm deliberately listened t strangers t get sng ideas.
Fleming was initially wrried abut the mld grwing there.
The imprtance f these findings immediately became apparent. D．Imprtant discveries ften happen during unexpected mments.
Which f the fllwing sayings can best summarize what the authr thinks abut?
A．Wisdm cmes frm careful cnsideratin.
B．Success belngs t thse wh plan carefully.
C．Luck ften favrs thse wh are pen t surprises.
D．N jyful mment lasts frever.
Mental Wrkuts May Aruse Snack Cravings: Hw Exercise Can Help
A recent study reveals that intense mental tasks, like studying fr tests, can unexpectedly increase fd cravings (渴望). Scientists explain that when we cncentrate hard, ur brains burn thrugh energy reserves quickly. Since the brain can’t stre much fuel, it signals the bdy t seek calries — even when we haven’t mved much physically. This may explain why many students find themselves reaching fr snacks during lng study sessins.
Researchers frm Harvard University and Bstn Cllege designed an experiment t test whether shrt exercise breaks culd reduce these study-induced cravings. Dr. Sarah Miller, lead researcher, explains that physical activity bsts circulatin, sending mre bld sugar and xygen t the brain. “When the brain gets this energy bst thrugh exercise, it may stp sending urgent hunger signals,” she says.
The study invlved 40 university students wh first cmpleted challenging math prblems fr 30 minutes. Afterwards, half the participants rested while the ther half did 15 minutes f mixed exercises (jumping jacks, squats, and light jgging). When ffered snacks later, the exercise grup ate 25% less than the resting grup and reprted feeling mre satisfied.
Hwever, the research had sme limitatins. It nly measured immediate fd intake after ne study sessin, and didn’t track whether participants cmpensated ( 补 偿 ) by eating mre later. Als, all exercises were mderate-intensity (中等强度); the team isn’t sure if easier activities like stretching wuld have the same effect.
“While mre research is needed,” Dr. Miller ntes, “ur findings suggest that shrt activity breaks culd help students avid unnecessary snacking during cram sessins (临时抱佛脚).” The team plans t investigate whether utdr exercise prvides additinal benefits cmpared t indr wrkuts.
What is the primary cause f increased fd cravings during intense studying?
The brain cnsumes energy rapidly during fcus.
The bdy mistakes mental wrk fr physical labr.
Bld sugar drps sharply during cncentratin.
Students snack mre when feeling stressed.
Hw des exercise help reduce study-induced cravings?
It imprves bld flw t the brain.B．It reduces stress levels significantly. C．It delays hunger temprarily. D．It replaces the need fr calrie intake.
What des the passage mainly tell us?
All brain wrk leads t weight gain.
Stress causes fd cravings during tests.
Mental effrt increases hunger but exercise may help.
Students shuld exercise instead f eating snacks.
What future research directin is suggested?
Testing if stretching reduces cravings.B．Cmparing snack types during studying. C．Tracking students’ sleep patterns.D．Studying utdr vs indr exercise.
Strng, clear, interesting cmmunicatin nt nly strengthens relatinships and helps create mre harmny, but allws us, the cmmunicatrs, t feel heard. Fllw these 4 tips fr better cmmunicatin:
Listen mre. Are yu actually listening? Is yur bdy psture( 姿态) pen and welcming r clsed ff?
36 Being a gd listener nt nly ensures that yu have a better understanding f what is being said, but it als
helps yu avid assumptins by paying attentin t what is really happening rather than yur wn stry abut it. 37
Think befre yu speak. Take a mment t really think abut what yu’ re trying t say befre yu say it.
38 Getting in the habit f checking in with why yu are speaking can help keep yur cmmunicatin clear and
effective.
Allw silence. A lt is cmmunicated in the silence between wrds-gd cmmunicatin allws fr this silence rather than trying t cver it up with wrds. 39 Dn’t be afraid f the silence, and use yur natural
awareness t feel the mment and nly speak when yu have a clear reasn t.
Lead with cmpassin ( 同情). Cmpassin leads t a strnger eagerness fr harmny, which can help prevent anger and stp us frm saying things we might nt truly mean. 40
Are yu actually trying t make a certain impressin?
Asking questins can reflect what yu’ve heard and shw interest.
Are yu fully fcused r is smething else drawing yur attentin?
Gd cmmunicatrs pick up n unspken messages and react t them.
Are yur wrds reflecting yur true feelings and what yu truly want r aim? F．Mrever, listening cmfrts the speaker and encurages them t listen in return. G．By putting urselves in thers’ shes, we can better understand their intended message.
三、完形填空
I used t g t schl n an empty stmach. I had t walk t schl withut shes, each step an encunter n
41 paths, where sharp stnes pressed against my bare feet. In thse mments, l felt a mix f desperatin and
determinatin. Desperatin abut the 42, but a grwing determinatin that smeday, smehw, I wuld
43 my stry.
We were eight children at hme. Meeting basic needs was a cnstant 44 and even shes were beynd
ur reach. I 45 gt my first pair f shes when I jined Senir Secndary Schl. I 46 hard fr the
primary level and was awarded a bursary (奖学金). That 47 my parents t buy me shes. That first day I
walked in my new shes, each step felt 48 and sure beneath me. T me, they were nt just shes, but a(n)
49 that thrugh hard wrk, I culd change my 50.
The day I turned 18, I left hme and 51 the unknwn. My first jb was in cnstructin. That’s all I
culd 52 since I didn’t have any frmal qualificatins. Each day my 53 hardened. Every brick I laid,
every bag f cement (水泥) I mixed, was 54 me, nt just physically, but mentally and emtinally. Thugh
life was nt easy, I kept 55 myself, “Always remember, yur future is 100% yur respnsibility.”
41．A．steep
B．winding
C．rugh
D．narrw
42．A．present
B．future
C．unknwn
D．impssible
43．A．relate
B．believe
C．spread
D．change
44．A．reminder
B．struggle
C．interruptin
D．expectatin
45．A．finally
B．naturally
C．surprisingly
D．secretly
46．A．prayed
B．studied
C．applied
D．saved
47．A．frced
B．allwed
C．inspired
D．frbade
48．A．burdened
B．effrtless
C．relieved
D．slid
49．A．wish
B．decisin
C．prmise
D．assumptin
50．A．path
B．jb
C．mind
D．attitude
51．A．relied n
B．held nt
C．kept ff
D．stepped int
52．A．affrd
B．understand
C．manage
D．imagine
53．A．pride
B．curisity
C．reslve
D．lneliness
54．A．building
B．relaxing
C．testing
D．exhausting
55．A．cmfrting
B．reminding
C．explaining
D．cheating
四、语法填空
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。
A nine-year-ld child genius became the yungest persn t cmplete 56university degree. Laurent
Simns gained his electrical engineering bachelr’s degree(学士学位) frm Eindhven University f Technlgy, a demanding curse even fr 18-year-lds. It tk Laurent nly nine mnths t cmplete 57 shuld be a
fur-year curse. Laurent’s teacher said, “He is three times 58smart) than the best students I have met in
my lng career. He achieves a level that many adult 59(student) never reach.”
Laurent is half-Dutch and half-Belgian and .60(live) in Amsterdam. The yung talent finished the
whle primary schl study in nly 12 mnths and then tk just 18 mnths 61 (cmplete) his secndary
schl studies, effrtlessly62(pass) every test with a high scre. While Laurent cmes frm a family f
dctrs, his parents cannt ffer any63(explain) as t why their sn is s 64 (gift). His mther
jked, “I ate a lt f fish 65 I was pregnant.”
五、书信写作
假定你是李华，上周日你校组织高一学生到学校附近的公园进行了一次秋游活动。请你为校英文报写一篇报道，内容包括：
1. 活动目的；2. 活动内容：欣赏秋景、拍照、做游戏等；3. 活动反响。
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。
An Unfrgettable
Outing
六、书面表达
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。
Crss-Cuntry Race Experience
I’ve always had a thing fr running. It’s like my feet have wings when I race acrss the fields and thrugh the wds. I’ve been training hard, lking frward t the big crss-cuntry race at schl. I felt like I was ready t shw everyne hw fast I culd run.
The race was a tw-day event. On the first day, I watched the yunger kids race, trying t learn frm their strategies. I was excited but als a bit nervus abut my wn race the next day.
On the secnd day, the sun was shining, and there was a clness in the air. My race was the 5K, a run that required me t climb ver a small hill. I was cnfident, but as I lined up with the ther runners at the starting line, my stmach gt butterflies.
The race started, and we all rushed frward. The first part f the race was flat and fast. I ran amng the runners, trying t save my energy fr the tugh parts ahead. As we hit the hill, I culd see sme runners starting t slw dwn. I pushed myself t keep ging, feeling the burn in my legs as I climbed.
The sun was bright, and I culd feel the heat n my face as I ran. My breath was shrt and quick, and my heart was punding in my chest. Ahead f me, nly a few runners were in sight, with the clsest being a tall by. I think I have a really gd chance f being the final winner. Sn, I made it t the peak, and I culd see peple waving flags and cheering us up.
The dwnhill part was just as challenging as the climb. My legs were shaking, and I had t be careful nt t lse cntrl and fall. I fcused n my fting, placing ne ft carefully in frnt f the ther, as I made my way acrss the rugh grund.
注意：
续写词数应为 150 左右；
请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Suddenly, disaster
hit!
Little by little, we neared the finish line.
1．A
【原文】W: Hw far did yu walk?
M: Abut 10 miles. I meant t walk further but my ft hurts. D yu think I shuld see a dctr? W: Rest it fr a while first and see if it gets better.
2．A
【原文】M: I knw yu’re a light sleeper. Did thse cats keep yu awake last night? W: N, I slept like a baby. I didn’t even hear a thing.
M: I usually sleep well, but because f them, I culdn’t sleep at all. 3．C
【原文】M: D yu have yur umbrella with yu? It is frecast t start raining heavily in the next ten minutes.
W: Are yu jking? It is s sunny utside. I dn’t see any cluds either. I am nt carrying my umbrella with me! The weather changes s fast!
4．C
【原文】M: Thse are nice dgs. What are their names?
W: This ne is Paddy and the ther is Smudge. They have a sister called Chle, but she’s at hme tday. M: It must cst yu a lt fr dg fd.
5．A
【原文】W: Hi James. I’m running late, s culd yu cllect me at 7:30 instead f 7:00 p.m.? M: Of curse. We can g anther evening if it’s nt cnvenient.
W: N it’s OK. Thirty minutes wn’t make much difference.
6．C7．A
题号
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
答案
A
A
C
C
A
C
A
C
B
B
题号
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
答案
C
A
A
A
C
C
C
B
C
A
题号
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
答案
B
B
C
B
C
D
A
B
B
D
题号
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
答案
C
A
A
C
D
C
F
E
D
G
题号
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
答案
C
A
D
B
A
B
B
D
C
A
题号
51
52
53
54
55
答案
D
C
C
A
B
【原文】M: Hi, d yu sell children’s tys?
W: Yes, sir. They are n the furth flr, next t the schlbag sectin.
M: Great. I’m lking fr a specific ty. Will yu be able t tell me if yu have it in? W: Of curse, let me just check the cmputer. What’s the ty called?
M: I think it’s called Sue Strm Cup. W: Susan Strm Cape?
M: Yes, that’s the ne. It’s fr my granddaughter. W: Yu’re in luck. We have ne left.
M: Great, I’ll take it. Thank yu. W: Yu’re welcme.
8．C9．B
【原文】W: Simn, can yu tell me a little bit abut where yu’ve been t?
M: I’ve been t France and Argentina, and I recently returned frm Suth Krea. W: Cl. What were yu ding in France?
M: I was studying as an exchange student in France. After graduatin, I went t Argentina, where I wrked tw jbs at the same time. I wrked at a vlunteer rganizatin and taught English in a primary schl. One year later, I went t Suth Krea where I als taught English.
W: Have yu ever experienced culture shck?
M: Of curse. But I adapted t new surrundings quickly. When in Rme, d as the Rmans d. Mst imprtantly, I met the mst imprtant persn Sally in my life. We had a hneymn in Suth Krea.
10．B11．C12．A
【原文】W: Can we share this cab? M: Where are yu ging?
W: T 5th Avenue and Main Street. M: That’s where I’m ging t.
W: Great! It’s s hard t catch a cab at this time. M: I knw! Are yu ging t wrk?
W: N, I’m meeting sme friends at a restaurant. M: Is it the new Thai place?
W: Yes. Have yu been there?
M: Yeah.
W: Hw is it?
M: It’s pretty gd.
W: Oh gd. It’s my first time trying Thai fd. M: Really? Everything is freshly made.
W: That’s gd t hear. I’m a little picky abut fd. M: I hpe yu like it.
W: Thanks. Where are yu ging? M: Wrk.
W: Where d yu wrk?
M: I’m a chef at the new Thai restaurant. W: That’s awesme!
M: Let the chef knw what yu think later. If yu like it, yu may get a free dessert. W: Yu’re funny!
13．A14．A15．C16．C
【原文】W: D yu like ding exercise? I read an article in a health jurnal last Friday. It makes me understand why my grandma insists n taking a walk every day even in her eighties.
M: What did it say?
W: Research shws that the number f peple ver 50 with Alzheimer’s disease is n the rise. Mderate exercise several times a week is ne f the best ways t avid that disease. Hwever, I spend a lt f time watching TV n the sfa.
M: Yu still have a decade t g befre yu turn 55. Taking exercise at any age is wrthwhile. It can clear yur mind and reduce memry lss. My friend Jack sets a gd example fr me.
W: That makes sense. What abut playing badmintn this weekend?
M: It sunds great. But dn’t frget it’s Children’s Day this Saturday. Yu have t keep yur prmise t Jane. I heard yu talk t her in the bedrm yesterday. Why nt put it ff till next Mnday?
W: It’s a deal.
17．C18．B19．C20．A
【原文】
M: Hi there. I’m Tim Tanner. I am hnred t be here tday. I’ve appeared n lts f TV shws with my
brther Sam Tanner as the singing twin brthers. Peple ften ask us what it’s like t be twins. Well, I was brn ten minutes befre Sam s I’m the lder brther, althugh we d have a real lder brther, Ken, wh’s a year lder than us. We were brn premature — we suddenly appeared in Octber rather than January. Ken’s birthday is in December, s we’re pretty clse in age.
Sam and I aren’t cmpletely the same, but even ur dad makes mistakes smetimes, because there’s hardly any difference in ur hair, and we’re the same build. But as sn as we pen ur muths, he’ll knw which ne it is.
In character we’re mstly similar — we’ve bth always lved music, and we’ve always had a real interest in ging ut. Hwever, peple that knw us say I’m nt as cnfident as Sam is, which is prbably true.
We are ging t prmte ur new album Time Dance next week, which is quite different frm ur first ne Sul Brthers. We’ve pured ur hearts int it, and we’d be incredibly grateful fr yur supprt.
56．a 57．what 58．smarter 59．students 60．lives 61．t cmplete 62．passing
63．explanatin64．gifted65．when
66．An Unfrgettable Outing
Last Sunday, ur schl rganized an uting fr the first-year students t a nearby park t enjy the beauty f autumn. The main purpse f the activity was t appreciate the stunning fall scenery and strengthen ur class bnds.
During the uting, we admired the clrful leaves, tk many phts, and played varius games. Laughter filled the air as we tk part in team activities and shared snacks.
The respnse frm students was verwhelmingly psitive. Everyne had a wnderful time and felt mre cnnected t each ther.
67．
Suddenly, disaster hit! As I was descending the hill, my ft caught n a hidden rt, and I stumbled frward. Panic surged thrugh me as I fught t regain my balance. I managed t stay upright, but the stumble had cst me precius secnds. The tall by ahead glanced back, nticing my misstep, and tk the pprtunity t widen the gap between us. Determined nt t let this setback defeat me, I pushed harder, ignring the pain in my ankle.
My fcus sharpened, and I regained my rhythm, determined t catch up.
Little by little, we neared the finish line. The cheers frm the crwd grew luder, fueling my determinatin. I culd see the tall by just ahead, his pace steady but nt unbeatable. With every unce f strength left in me, I surged frward, clsing the distance between us. As we apprached the final stretch, I gave it everything I had,
sprinting with all my might. In the last few meters, I managed t vertake him, crssing the finish line just a step ahead. Exhausted but elated, I realized that perseverance and determinatin had led me t victry.