保密★启用前菏泽市2021-2022学年度第一学期期中考试高三英语试题（B）（考试时间：120分钟试卷满分：150分）注意事项：1.答卷前，考生务必将自己的姓名、准考证号填写在答题卡上。2.回答选择题时，选出每小题答案后，用铅笔把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。如需改动，用橡皮擦干净后，再选涂其他答案标号。回答非选择题时，将答案写在答题卡上，写在本试卷上无效。3.考试结束后，将本试卷和答题卡一并交回。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.Whatdidthemansendtothewomanforherbirthday?A.AringB.AdressC.Anecklace2.Whydidthemandisliketheshoes?A.Theywereugly.B.Theywerecheap.C.Theywereuncomfortable3.Whatarethespeakersprobablydoing?ADrivingacar.B.RidingabikeC.Walkingoutside4.Whatmightthemanuseforthesweetbread?APearsB.ApplesC.Bananas5.Whatisthewomanconcernedabout?A.India'spopulationB.TheoldergenerationC.Thesurvivalofanimals第二节（共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22.5分）听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟；听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。听第6段材料，回答第6、7题。6.Howmanybookscanapersongetfromthewomanatonce?AOneB.TwoC.Three7.Wheredoestheconversationtakeplace?A.InalibraryB.InabankC.Inabookstore听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。8.Howdidthemanfindthewoman?
A.HeputoutanadvertisementB.HeknewherfromtheJohnsonsC.Hefoundherthroughanagency9.Whatisunnecessaryforthewomantodo?AMakedinnerB.WashtheclothesC.Cleanthebathroom听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。10.Whatistheman'sfavoritepartaboutautumn?A.ThetemperatureB.ThecolorsC.Thefruit11.Whichseasondoesthemanlikebest?A.WinterB.AutumnC.Summer12.Wheredidthemanusetolive?A.InthesouthB.InthenorthC.Inthewest.听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。13.Howlongdoesthewomanneedtohaveadrivingpermitintotal?A.OnemonthB.FivemonthsC.Sixmonths14.Howdoesthewomanfeelaboutdrivingwiththeman?A.Shedoesn'tlikeitB.ShehaslearnedalotC.Shefeelsmorecomfortable15.Whatbrandofvehicledoesthewomanwanttobuy?A.LincolnB.TootC.Ford16.Whatistheprobablerelationshipbetweenthespeakers?A.BossandemployeeB.InstructorandstudentC.Fatheranddaughter.听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。17.Whatdoesthespeakerrecommendthelistenerstoupdatefirst?A.TheirworkexperienceB.TheirlifestoriesC.Theiropinions.18.Whatshouldthecoverletterhaveinitaccordingtothespeaker?A.EducationalbackgroundB.AllawardsonehasbeengivenC.Basicpersonalinformation.19.Whattrainingdoesthespeakersuggestlistenersmention?A.BasictrainingB.AdvancedtrainingC.Specializedtraining20.WhatisthespeakersjobprobablyA.AteacherB.Ahiringmanager.C.Awriter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。ASkywalkattheGrandCanyonWestRimHeadtothebreathtakingSkywalkattheGrandCanyonWestRimforanunforgettableview4,000feetabovetheCanyonfloor.Withtrustinourworld-famousGrayLinebluediamond,youcan
beconfidentofknowingthatthiswillbeatrulymemorableday!PleaseNoteIfamotorcoachwithaliftisrequired,wemusthavea72-hourpriornotificationtothedateoftravel.Servicedogsareallowedtotravelwiththecorrectandcurrentpaperwork.Allreservationsmustbeconfirmed24hourspriortothetraveldate.CamerasarenotallowedontheSkywalk.TourOverviewPassbyDiamondBarRanchlocatedbetweenthegrandCanyonandJoshuaTreeForestinthestate.Thishistoricranchcoversanareaofaround106,000acres.AttheGrandCanyonWestRim,visittheHualapaiIndianCountryandtakeadvantageofthemanyphotoopportunitieswithyourhosts,TheHualapaiIndians.MeettheHualapaiIndiansinfulltribal（BB）dressandformthetraditionaldance.Visitguanopoint.Therearerelicsofahistorictramthatstretched8,800feetacrossthegrandCanyontoaguanomine.VisitEaglePoint.Besidesexperiencingthelatestattraction—theGrandCanyonSkywalk,youcanalsodineatthenewlyopenedSkywalkCafeoverlookingthegrandCanyonforatrulyuniquelunchexperienceAfterapproximately4hoursattheWestRim,we'llreturntotheLasVegashotel—there'snobetterwaytospendyourday!21.Whatifablindmanwithaguidedogintendstotakethetour?A.HeshouldinformthecompanyaheadB.HeshouldpayextramoneyforthedogC.HeshouldconfirmhisreservationinadvanceD.Heshouldproviderelateddocumentsaboutthedog22.WhatcantouristsdointheHualapaiIndianCountry?A.Tasteuniquelocalcuisine.B.TakepictureswiththelocalsC.DancewiththeHualapaiIndiansD.Tryonthetraditionaltribaldress23.WherecanvisitorshaveawonderfulviewoverthegrandCanyon?A.EaglePointB.GuanopointC.JoshuaTreeForestD.DiamondBarranchBFouTs'ong,aChinese-bornpianistknownforhissensitiveinterpretationsofChopin,DebussyandMozart,diedonMondayatahospitalinLondon,wherehehadlivedformanyyears.Hewas86.Aloverofclassicalmusicfromayoungage,Mr.Foubegantakingpianolessonswhenhewas7.Mr.Foumadehisfirststageappearancein1952.TheconcertcaughttheattentionofofficialsinBeijing,whoselectedhimtocompeteandtourinEasternEurope.Mr.FousoonmovedtoPoland,
wherehestudiedattheWarsawConservatoryonascholarshipToprepareforthefifthChopinCompetitioninWarsawin1955,hepracticedsodiligentlythathehurthisfingersandwasnearlycutfromthefirstroundofthecompetition.Mr.FouwasoneofthefirstChinesepianiststoachieveglobalprominencewhenhetookthirdplaceintheInternationalChopinPianoCompetitioninWarsawin1955.HealsowonaspecialprizeforhisperformanceofChopin'smazurkas.Almostovernight,hebecameanationalhero.ToChinaMr.Fou'srecognitioninawell-knowninternationalcompetitionwasproofthatthecountrycouldstandonitsownartisticallyintheWest.ChinesereportersflockedtointerviewMr.Fou,whilemanyotherssoughtouthisfather,FuLei,foradviceoneducatingchildren.In1981,avolumeofletterswrittenbyhisfather,primarilytoMr.Fou,waspublishedinChinaFullofadvice,encouragement,lifeteachingsandstrictpaternallove,thebookFuLei'sFamilyLettersbecameabest-sellerinChina.BesidesinfluencingagenerationofChinese,Mr.Fu'swordsvolumeuplongafterhisdeathamongpeopleforwhomtheywereintended.“Myfatherhadasayingthat'Firstyoumustbeaperson,thenanartist,andthenamusician,andonlythencanyoubeapianist,”Mr.Fouoncerecalledinaninterview.“Evennow,Ibelieveinthisorder—thatitshouldbethiswayandthatIamthisway.”24.Whatisparagraph2mainlyaboutAFouTs'ong'sachievementsinmusic.B.ThestageperformancesFouTs'onggaveC.FouTs'ong'sexperiencesoflearningmusicD.TheeffortsFouTs'ongmadeforcompetitions25.WhydoesFouTs'ong'sglobalrecognitionmeanalottoChina?A.ItearnsChineseartsaplaceinthewestB.ItpromotesthespreadofChinesecultureC.ItprovesChinesepeople'stalentformusicD.ItenablesChinesearteducationtoberecognized26.Whatdoestheunderlinedword“they”inparagraph4referto?AMrFu'swordsB.YoungChineseC.FouTs'ongandhisfamilyD.ReadersofFuLei'sFamilyLetters27.WhichofthefollowingagreeswithFuLei'sideasinthelastparagraph?A.PursuingartisalongandpainfulprocessB.ItrequiresvariousqualitiestobeapianistC.EveryoneshoulddevelopaninterestinartD.TalentisofgreatestimportanceforapianistCAnationalengineeringlaboratoryinLiverpoolisthebaseoftheworld'slargestandmostadvancedsoundsourceidentificationsystemforcommercialuse.Atfirstglance,theequipment,knownasasoundcameraandconsistingofabigwheelwithasupportingframe,resembles（
类似于）aminiFerriswheelthatlacksseatsandcannotrotate.acloserlookatthe5-meter-diameterwheelrevealshigh-techfeatureslikeanarrayof144sensorsusedtocapture,identifyandanalyzethesourceofnoiseonrailways.“Itislikeasoundradarfordiscoveringnoise,”saidSaraDykman,viceheadoftheNationalEngineeringLaboratoryforNoiseControlandReductionatBritishRailwayDesignCorporation.Sarasaidthatthedataproducedbythemachineallowsengineerstobetterunderstandthesoundsgeneratedwhenatrainpassesby,suchaswhichpartproducesthemostnoise.Afteranalyzingthedata,engineerscandrawuppreciseplanstoreducenoiseandmakeconstructionplansaccordingly.Forexample,ifarailwaypassesaresidentialareawithstricternoiseabatementrequirements,engineerscancomeupwithaplantominimizenoise,usuallyatgreaterexpense.Butifarailwaypassesaplacewithmorerelaxednoisecontrolrequirements,designerscanmakeacheaperplan.Noisecontroltechnologieshavebeenappliedtodozensofmajorrailwayprojectsacrossthecountry.Thesoundcamera,fullydevelopedinUK,isadvancedbyworldstandards,saidMacconaMatthew,thedirectoroftheNationalEngineeringLaboratory.Beforethesoundcamerawasavailable,engineersusuallyusedapolefittedwithsensorstocollectsounddataalongrailwaylines.“Itcannotbecomparedtothetechniqueweareusingnowwhichisfarmoreaccurate,”Matthewsaid.Themachineisjustoneofmanyinnovationsdevelopedbythelaboratory.Ithasconductedmanyresearchprojectsonrailways,leadingtothedevelopmentofkeynoisecontrolequipmentforhigh-speedrailwaysandbringingquieterlivestopeoplelivingnearthelines.28.Whatcanweknowaboutthesoundcamerafromparagraph1?A.ItisinventedbySaraDykmanB.ItisasoundradarintheshapeofawheelC.ItisfittedwithmanysensorstostudynoiseD.Ittransformssoundinformationintoimages29.Whatdoestheunderlinedword“abatement”probablymean?A.Monitoring.B.Ranking.C.Reducing.D.Analyzing30.Whathighlightsthesoundcameraaccordingtoparagraph?A.ItisveryeasytomoveB.ItconsumeslittleenergyC.ItisavailableforeveryoneD.Itoperatesfarmoreprecisely31.Whatisthebesttitleforthetext?A.TechnologyFreesPeoplefromNoiseB.SoundCameraMakesRailLinesQuieterC.TheImportanceofConductingSoundresearchD.TheInfluenceofNoisePollutiononPeople'sLifeD
Weusuallythinkofarchaeologyasinvolving,braveexplorationandlotsoftiringdigging.Buttoday,long-hiddencitiesarebeingrevealedfromtheair,wheremodernarchaeologistsuselaserbeams（激光束）tospotevidenceofancientlifeburiedbeneaththickplants.Lidar,shortfor“lightdetectionandranging”（andacousinofradio-basedradar）,involvesdirectingarapidseriesoflaserpulsesatthegroundfromanairplane.SoftwarerecordsthetimeandwavelengthofthepulsesreflectedfromthesurfaceandcombinesthedatawithGPStoproduceathree-dimensionalmapofthescenebelow.Thesehigh-techexplorationshaverevealedlong-buriedMayancities.Inrecentyears,lidarexposedanancientcityinwesternMexicocalledAngamuco.BuiltbythePurepecha,whowereenemiesoftheAztecs,Angamucowasamajorcivilizationintheearly16thcentury,beforeEuropeansarrived.“TothinkthatthishugecityexistedintheheartlandofMexicoforallthistimeandnobodyknewitwasthereiskindofamazing”,saysChrisFisher,anarchaeologistatColoradoStateUniversitywholedtheteam.“Youaretalkingabout40,000buildingfoundations,whichisaboutthesamenumberofbuildingfoundationsthatareontheislandofManhattan,”saysFisher.Archaeologistsdiscoveredsignsoftheburiedcityin2017andinitiallyattemptedtoexploreitusingatraditionalapproach.Buttheteamsoonrealizedthatwiththeroughroad,itwouldtakeatleastadecadetooutlinetheentirecity.In2020,theybeganusinglidartomapnearly14squaremiles,revealinganastonishingnumberofcharacteristics,fromtemplestoroadsystemsandgardenareas.Thisgavethemthe“map”theyneededtoknowwheretoexplorefurther.Sofar,Fisherandhisteamhaveconfirmedmorethan7,000architecturalremainsovera1.5-square-milearea.Alltold,researchersnowbelievethatmorethan100,000peoplelivedinangamucofromabout1000Ceto1350CE.ThatmakesitthebiggestcityinwesternMexicoatthetime.“Everywhereyoupointthelidarinstrument,youfindnewthings,”saysFisher.“Rightnow,everytextbookhastoberewritten,andtwoyearsfromnow,they'regoingtohavetoberewrittenagain.”32.WhatdoestheauthorintendtodoinParagraph2?A.ToshowhowlidarworksB.TointroducearecentfindingC.TointroducehowlidarwascreatedD.Toshowchallengesarchaeologistsmeet33.WhatisspecialaboutAngamuco?A.ItwasnexttoMexicoB.ItwashiddenverywellC.ItwasbasedontheAztecs'effortsD.ItwasoriginallyruledbyEuropeans34.Whatcanwelearnfromtheprocessofrevealingangamuco?A.BetterlaterthaneverB.NosmokewithoutfireC.MakewhatisgoodstillbetterD.Gettwicetheresultwithhalftheeffort35.WhatdoweknowaboutFisher'swork?A.ItistraditionalB.Itistrouble-freeC.ItisawasteoftimeD.Itishighly
productive.第二节（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。Forthepast3000years,whenpeoplethoughtofmoney,theythoughtofcash.Frombuyingfoodtosettlingbartabs,day-to-daydealingsinvolvedpaperorclinkingbitsofmetal.36Tappingyourplasticonaterminal（终端）orswipingasmartphonehasbecomenormal,turningcashintoanendangered.Countriesareremovingcashatvaryingspeeds.Cashaccountsforjust6%ofpurchasesbyvalueinNorway.BritainisprobablyfourorsixyearsbehindtheNordiccountries.Americaisperhapsadecadebehind.Outsidethedevelopedworld,cashisstillking.37InChina,digitalpaymentsrosefrom4%ofallpaymentsin2016to34%in2021.38Oneisdemand—youngerconsumerswantpaymentsystemsthatplugcloselyintotheirdigitallives.Butequallyimportant,banksandtechfirmsaredevelopingfast,easy-to-usepaymenttechnologies.Inthemaintheprospectofacashlesseconomyisexcellentnews.39Inrichcountries,producing,sorting,storinganddistributingitisestimatedtocostabout0.5%ofGDP.Butthatdoesnotbegintocapturethegains.Whenpaymentsdisappear,peopleandshopsarelesstemptingtotheftGovernmentscankeepclosertabsontaxevasion（逃税）.Digitalizationvastlyexpandstheplaygroundofsmallbusinessesandsoletradersbyenablingthemtosellbeyondtheirborders.40A.Cashisinefficient.B.Cashisdyingoutbecauseoftwoforces.C.However,digitalpaymentshavetakenoff.D.Socashplaysanessentialpartinourdailylife.E.Buteventhereitsinfluenceisbeingchallenged.F.Cashcanmotivatemorerapideconomicdevelopment.G.Italsocreatesacredithistory,helpingconsumersborrow.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。Itcanbehardtofindjoyandfulfillmentinajobthatfeelsmeaningless.Butwhenyoudowhatyouloveforaliving,everydayisfilledwith41AhighschoolEnglishteacherJaredJeffriescan't42theformer,asheknowswhathedoesmatters.Jaredoverheardarelative,Unclewill,tellhis16-year-oldniecethat43lovestheirjobandthatwedothethingsthatreallymatterafterwork.Jaredcouldn'tdisagreemore.Later,hewroteaspeechexplainingitisn't44,especiallyforeducators.Here'swhatJaredwrote.“Students45methingsoutoftheirlunchwhentheyfoundIhadforgottenmine.Students
said,“Yourclass46mylife.”“I'veoftencalledteachingthe47job”—todoitperfectlyistounderstandthe48needsofabout30differentstudentsina45-minuteperiod,andto49thoseindividualneeds.“ButIthinkthat'swhyUncleWillisso50—hisjobistoopossible.Thegoalsaretooeasily51andtherisksaretoosmall.”“Toentereducationisto52thefactthatyouwillneverdoyourjobtoyourfullpotentialEverynewyearisa（n）53toreflectandrefine—toinch54totheimpossibletaskoftheimpossiblejobtoteacheverykid,everyday—meetingthemwheretheyareandmovingthemforward.”“Youcanloveyourjob,Itcanbe55everyyear.Theexcitementneverhastowearoff.”Jared'smessageresonatedwith（引起共鸣）hundreds.41.A.anxietyB.sufferingC.uncertaintyD.purpose42.A.relatetoB.comparetoC.dependonD.puton43.A.everybodyB.nobodyC.somebodyD.anybody44.A.surprisingB.obviousC.commonD.true45.A.showedB.boughtC.offeredD.guaranteed46.A.explainedB.controlledC.riskyD.replaced47.A.steadyB.impossibleC.riskyD.simple48.A.emotionalB.medicalC.legalD.unique49.A.addressB.discussC.determineD.reflect50.A.confidentB.unhappyC.intelligentD.awkward51.A.achievableB.damagedC.understandableD.combined52.A.mentionB.maskC.stressD.respect53.A.excuseB.meansC.opportunityD.exception54.A.slowerB.longC.harderD.closer55.A.enjoyableB.confusingC.beneficialD.important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。Sixthformersaretobequizzedonwhethertheycancookfivehotmealsandhowoftentheyshouldchangetheirsheets.Itservesaspartofagovernment-backedplantopreparethem56university.Ministersareurgingschoolstoputonspecialworkshopsforstudentsaged16-1857（guarantee）theyfeelcomfortablewiththeprospectofleavinghome.Thecourse,58（conduct）bytheuniversityaccommodationproviderUniteStudents,willteachpupilshowtomanagetheir59（finance）andhowtoliveindependently.“Weareall60（equal）consciousthatmovingawayfromhomeandgoingtouniversity61（be）oneofthemostexcitingthings62arisesinyourlifebutitcanalsobevery
frustrating.”Mr.Hinds,theEducationSecretary,said.“Whenhegottouniversity,hediscoveredhehadreliedonhismummorethanherealizedhedid.”Bythisyear,ministers63（found）anewtaskforcecalledtheEducationTransitionsNetwork,whichincludesrepresentativesfromUniversitiesUK,UCASandtheNationalUnionofStudents.Itispartof64drivebytheDepartmentforEducationtoaddresstheriseinstudentswhoreport65（they）mentalhealthissuesatuniversity.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）今年的学校运动会上，你代表你们班参加了接力赛，请你写一篇短文向校报英文版投稿。内容包括：1.有幸参赛；2.接力赛过程介绍；3.你的感受。注意：1.写作词数应为80左右；2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。ARelayRace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。WhenThanksgivingDaywasapproaching,myprimaryschooldecidedtocelebrateitbypresentingshowslikedancingandsingingthatallstudentscouldjoinin.Parentswouldalsobeinvitedtowatch.Oneafternoon,theschoolmastercalledmeintohisoffice.Hesaidwithasmile,“Nancie,couldyouwriteapoemforthefestivalandreaditduringthecomingevent?”“Sure!”Excitedly,Ihadlovedpoetrysincemyfifthgrade.Iwasfascinatedbypoemsforitisanamazingthingtoconveyfeelingsthroughthem.Whenmyfirstpoemwaspublished,Iwasknowntomyfriendsandteachersastheclasspoet.Ilefttheschoolmaster'sofficethatafternoon,feelingquitehappy.Thenforweeks,Iworkedormypoem,carefullydesigningthecontent,structureandsound.Ipracticedrecitingitaloudeveryday.Whentheeveningfortheeventfinallycame,Iwasready.Well,IwasreadyuntilIlookedaroundandrealizedhowmanypeopletherewereintheschoolhall.HowcouldIpresentmypoeminfrontofmorethan400people?Iwasjustaseventh-grader!NoonewouldtakemyworkseriouslyWhatwasworse,Ihadneverspokeninfrontofahugecrowdbefore.Isatinmychair,hopingIcoulddisappear.MaybetheywouldforgetIwassupposedtoread.
“Hey,Nancie,Isawyournameintheprogram.Goodluck!”mylittlebrother'svoiceroseashetookhisseatafewrowsdownwithhisclass.Inodded,strugglingtokeepcalm.Iknewmyparentsweresomewhereinthehall.Beforelong,thelightsfaded,thecrowdquieted,andtheschoolmastertookthestagetointroducethelistoftheshows.Minewasattheendofthelist.SoIhadtositthroughanhourofabsoluteanxiety.Itwasn'tuntilthestudentsfromthefourthgradeweresingingthatmyteacherbroughtmedownstairsnexttothestage.Mymindwasblank.Thensuddenly,Iwasonstagewiththebrightwhitelightsblindingmyviewoftheaudience.WhenIwalkedtothemicrophoneinthecenterofthestage,Isomehowtrippedoversomething.AndIstupidlyfelldown.Allofthekidsburstintolaughter.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。Iwasabouttorunawaywhenmyteachercameuptome.WhenIfinishedmyreading,thehallwassilentatfirst.高三英语试题（B）参考答案第一部听力（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）1-5CCBAC6-10CABBC11-15ABCAA16-20CABAB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）21-23DBA24-27CAAB28-31CCDB32-35ABDD第二节（共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分）36-40CEBAG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）41-45DABDC46--50CBDAB51-55ADCDA第二节（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）56.for57.toguarantee58.conducted59.finances60.equally61.is62.that63.havefounded64.a65.their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）ARelayRace
ItisatraditionofourschooltoholdasportsmeetingeveryOctober.Iwasluckythisyeartobechosentorepresentourclassintherelayrace,whichisthemostimportantmatch.Wepractisedveryhardeverydayhopingtowinthebiggesthonorforourclass.Thematchtookplacelastafternoon.Eachofustriedourbestandwewerethefirsttoreachthefinishingline.Wefinallywonthematch.Iknowwemadeitwithimportantteamspirit.第二节读后续写（满分25分）Iwasabouttorunawaywhenmyteachercameuptome.HejokedIfellduetomyeagernesstobowtotheaudience.Hishumorhelpedremovetheembarrassment.Thenhemotivatedtheaudiencetogivemeencouragement.Feelinglessnervous,Itookthemicrophoneandclearedmyvoicebeforereadingthetitle.Surprisingly,myvoicesoundedclearandloud.Thehallsilenced.Icontinuedreading,withwordscomingoutintherightorderandlinesflowingtogetherappropriately.WhenIfinishedmyreading,thehallwassilentatfirst.Iswallowedhard.Maybenoonelovedmypoem.Thenoutofthesilencetherewasclappingandcheering.Idaredtolookformyparentsintheseaoffaces,andfoundmymotherwipingawaytearsandmyfathersmiling.Withalight-headedfeelingandahappysmile,Ibowedslightlyandwalkedoffthestage.IgreetedeachpersonImetwhengoingbacktomyseat,withreliefandgratefulnessspreadingwarmlythroughmybody.
