湖南省岳阳市平江县2021-2022学年高一英语下学期期末试卷（Word版附答案）

二〇二二年上学期期末检测卷高一英语第Ⅰ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，并标在试卷的相应位置。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--遍。1.Whatdidthemandolastnight?A.Hewatchedamovie.B.Hereadabook.C.Hewroteabook.2.Whohandedinthelockerkey?A.Tom.B.Sam.C.Mr.Brown.3.Whathappenedbecauseoftheaccident?A.Twopeopledied.B.Onepersondied.C.Threepeoplegotinjured.4.Wherearethespeakersnow?A.Atthetrainstation.B.Onaregulartrain.C.Onahighspeedtrain5.Whatarethespeakerstalkingabout?A.Theman’sfriends.B.Apicture.C.Theman’sage.第二节（共15小题；每题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。听第6段材料，回答第6、7题。6.Whatbookisthewomanwritingnow?A.HerfirstWaylon!book.B.HersecondWaylon!book.C.HerthirdWaylon!book.7.Howlongdoesitusuallytakethewomantowriteabook?A.Afewweeks.B.Abouthalfayear.C.Aboutayear.听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。8.Whatledtotheaccident?A.Badweather.B.Drunkdriving.C.Carelessdriving.9.WhatwillAdamdoafterheleaveshospital?A.GotoShanghai.B.Restathome.C.Gobacktowork.听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。10.Whatdoweknowaboutthewoman?\nA.Shehardlytalkstoothers.B.She’saforeignerinAmerica.C.ShehaslearnedEnglishformanyyears.11.WhatdidthewomanusetodotolearnEnglish?A.WatchEnglishnews.B.Listentoradioprograms.C.WatchAmericansoapoperas.12.Whatarethespeakersmainlytalkingabout?A.HowtheycanstayinAmerica.B.Whatthewomanlikesdoing.C.Howthewomanimprovesherlistening听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。13.Whatisthemoviemostprobablyabout?A.Someadultsfightingagainstadragon.B.Somekids’adventurewithadragon.C.Afamily’sadventureinaforest.14.HowdoesNataliereactwhensheseesPete?A.Interested.B.Scared.C.Cheerful.15.Howoldisthegirl?A.11.B.13.C.15.16.Whydidtheygotorock-climbinggyms?A.Tohavefun.B.Toshootthefilm.C.Toreceivetraining.听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。17.Whatdoesthespeakerthinkofthegardensincities?A.They’rebeautiful.B.Theyaretakengoodcareof.C.Theyshouldbemadebetteruseof.18.WhatdoweknowabouttheInternetprograms?A.Theycandesigndifferentgardens.B.Theyarehardtounderstand.C.Theycannotbechanged.19.Howmanyrobotshavebeensold?A.Dozensof.B.Hundredsof.C.Thousandsof.20.Whatisthetextmeanttodo?A.Tointroduceafarmingmachine.B.Toencouragevegetablegrowing.C.Torecommendanonlineprogram.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\nTheUnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization,orUNESCO,meetseachyeartochoosethelatestadditionstoitsWorldHeritageList.Here,welookatsomeoftherecentadditions:ChurchesofthePskovSchoolofArchitecture(Russia)AgroupofancientstructuresinthecityofPskovmakeupRussia’snewestUNESCOWorldHeritageSite.Thestructures,manyofwhicharechurches,allweredesignedbythePskovSchoolofArchitecture.Itwasaleadingschoolofbuildingdesigninthecountry,especiallyinthe15thand16thcenturies.SomeelementscommontoPskovarchitecturedatebacktothe11thcenturyWriting-on-Stone(Canada)Canada’sWriting-on-Stonemonument,knownalsoasAisinai’pi,hasalargenumberofprotectedrockpaintingsandrockcarvings.Someofthemare2000yearsold.ThemarkingswereleftbyBlackfootNativeAmericanswholivedinpartsofWesternCanadaandthefarnorthernUnitedStates.ThelandthatmakesupWriting-on-Stoneisfilledwithrockcolumnsthathavebeenformedbyerosion(侵蚀)into“spectacularshapes”.Babylon(Iraq)TheancientcityofBabylonisgainingWorldHeritageSitestatus.ThecitywasonceamaintouristsitebeforeIraqsufferedseveralwars.The4,300-year-oldBabyloniswheredynastieshaverisenandfallensincetheearliestdaysofsettledhumancivilization.UNESCOsaysthesite“offersalookintooneofthemostinfluentialempiresoftheancientworld”.ParatyandIlhaGrande(Brazil)ThehistoriccoastaltownofParatyandtheislandIlhaGrandearealreadypopularplacesforvisitorstoBrazil’sRiodeJaneirostate.Now,theymakeupanewlynamedUNESCOsite.ParatywasthefinalstopalongtheGoldRoute,alongwhichgoldwasshippedtoEuropeinthe1600s.Theareaisalsohometoahugenumberofanimals,someofwhicharethreatened.21.WhatdoweknowaboutthegroupofancientbuildingsinPskov?A.Theyareallchurches.B.Theyare2,000yearsold.C.Theyaresomehistoricgardens.D.Theirdesignscamefromthesameschool.22.Whichcountryhastheoldestrelicaccordingtothetext?A.Iraq.B.Brazil.C.Russia.D.Canada.23.Whichofthefollowinghasrichanimalresources?A.Babylon.B.Writing-on-Stone.C.ParatyandIlhaGrande.D.ChurchesofthePskovSchoolofArchitecture.BAlexanderTsao,akeenrockclimberforseveralyears,wasclimbingthewallsatagymnearhishomeinRedmond,Washington,whenhenoticedthattheropeswerefrequentlybeingreplacedwithnewones.Just16atthetime,Tsaowonderedwhathappenedtotheoldropes.Heaskedthegymownersandfoundouttheropeshadtobediscardedregularlyduetosafetyregulations.Hewas\nsurprisedtofindthatsomanyropesweresenttolandfills.Thisdiscoveryinspiredhimtofindasolutiontotheenvironmentalissueofclimbingropewaste.Heconsideredpossibleideasandwaystoupcyclethediscardedropes,decidingtoturnthemintoleashes(拴狗带)fordogs.Oncehehadmadehisplan,TsaocontactedalltheclimbinggymsinWashingtonState,introducinghisideaofrecyclingoldropes.Someweredoubtfulatfirstbutmanygymsagreedtodonatetheirusedropes.TsaospentmonthstestinganddesigninghisproductsandfilingdocumentstobecomeanonprofitorganizationwhichhecalledRocks2Dogs.Tomaketheleashes,Tsaoandvolunteersfirstwashanddrytheropes.Theycutthemintodifferentlengths,rangingfrom4to10feet,andthenburntheendstopreventthemfromfraying(磨损).Theyaddaclipandhandletoeachend,andcovertheleash’shardwarewithshrinktape.Becausemakingtheleashesnowisafull-timejob,Tsaohasaskedhisfriends,familyandneighborsforhelp.“Wehavemadeandsoldoverathousandleashes,whichadduptoover10,000feetofropebeingsavedfromlandfills,”saysTsao.Theleashescomeinvariouscolors.Therearealsohalfpriceleashesmadefromropeswithslightimperfections.Thesestartat$7.49whilemostotherleashesstartat$14.99.Todate,thenonprofithasraisedmorethan$35,000.Muchofthismoneyhasbeendonatedtoanimalshelters.24.WhatdidTsaodiscover?A.Landfillscauseddamagetotheenvironment.B.Thegymdidn’tobeysafetyregulations.C.Rockclimbingmightdoharmtohealth.D.Manyoldclimbingropeswenttowaste.25.WhatwasTsao’splan?A.Tosetupanenvironmentalorganization.B.Tocallonclimbinggymstodonateropes.C.Totransformretiredropesintodogleashes.D.Toupcycleoldleashessavedfromlandfills.26.Whatdoesparagraph4mainlytalkabout?A.Effortstopromotetheropes.B.Stepsformakingtheleashes.C.Waystoreusediscardedwaste.D.ReasonsforstartingRocks2Dogs.27.Whatisthelastparagraphintendedtotellus?A.Tsaosucceedsintheleashbusiness.B.MorepeoplevolunteeredtohelpTsao.C.Animalprotectiongainsmoreattention.D.Leashesarenotverypopularwithpetowners.CScientistslearnedrecentlythatfishwasthemainsourceofproteinforpeopleinsouthernScandinaviamanythousandsofyearsago.Theyalsoateotheranimalsthatliveinthewater.ThefindingscomefromLundUniversityinSweden.Scientiststheretestedancienthumanbonesfrommorethan80individuals.OneoftheresearcherswasAdamBoethius.Hesaidbystudyingthechemicalsofthebones,theylearnedthedietofthepeopletheybelongedto.Basicallyyouarewhatyoueat.Andsowhenyoustudystableisotopes(同位素),yougetaclue\ntowhatthehumanshavebeeneating.Thestudyexaminedtheimportanceofamixofproteinsourcesinthehumandietfromaround10,500to7,500yearsago.TheyfoundthatinScandinaviamostofwhatpeopleatecamefromthesea.Boethiussaidbackthen,fishmadeup50to70percentofthediet.Hesaidotherseaanimalslikesealsanddolphinsbroughtthatpercentagetoalmost100percent.Thisresearchchangedtheunderstandingofhowancientpeopleofthearealived.Earlierstudiessuggestedthesepeoplehuntedbiganimalsandmovedaroundalottofollowthem.Butthechemicalexaminationsdidnotshowproteinslinkedtodeerandelk(麋鹿)andotherlandanimalsofthetime.Boethiussaidscientistsnowbelievethesepeoplestayedinoneplaceformostoftheirlivesandatelocalfood.Thediscovery,heargued,providesevidencethatsettlementsappearedinScandinaviamuchearlierthanresearchersoncebelieved.28.Theunderlinedword“they”inParagraph2refersto______.A.foods.B.animalsC.bonesD.diet29.Whatcanbeconcludedfromtheresearch?A.InScandinaviamostpeoplelivedahappylife.B.Scandinavians’dietwasparticularlyrichinprotein.C.Scandinavians’bonesweredifferentfromthoseofothers.D.AncientScandinaviansatenearlynothingexceptseaanimals.30.Whatdidresearchersoncebelieve?A.Ancientpeopledidn’tknowhowtocook.B.AncientScandinavianslivedonlandanimals.C.MostancientScandinavianspreferredlocalfood.D.AncientScandinaviansstayedinoneplaceforalongtime.31.Whatisthetextmainlyabout?A.Anewdiscovery.B.Asciencetheory.C.Animportanthistory.D.Anancientlifestyle.DBEIJING—WangYaping,ataikonautonboardChina’sspacestationcoremodule(舱),offeredpeopleonEarthazero-gravitymusicalperformanceonTuesdayeveningtocelebratetheLanternFestival.ThespaceshowwassharedviaavideoreleasedatanannualTVgalaforthefestivalcelebration.Inthevideo,Wangwasseenfloatinginthespacemodulewhileplayingaguzheng,orChinesezither.SheplayedasegmentofthepopularChinesefolksong“JasmineFlower”.TheLanternFestivalfallsonthe15thdayofthefirstmonthoftheChineselunarcalendar.Peopleusuallyhangcolorfullanterns,playriddlegamesandexpresstheirwishesandhopesforthefuture.Thecrewmembers,whotraveledtothespacestationcoremoduleontheShenzhou-13mission,keptsomefestivetraditionsaliveastheycontinuedtorotatearoundtheEarth.CommanderZhaiZhigangwroteriddlesonredpaperscrollswithabrushpen.Hedisplayedthecalligraphytogether\nwithtaikonautYeGuangfuandextendedfestivalgreetingstotheaudience.TheyalsosentblessingstoathletesattheongoingBeijingWinterOlympics:“Wehopethatyouallachievesuccess,gainfriendshipandharvestyourbestOlympicexperience.”Thevideoofthespaceperformancewasreceivedwithmuchenthusiasmafteritwassharedonsocialmediaplatforms.Itdrewnearly2millionclicksinonehourafterseveralnationalmediaoutletsposteditontheChinesemicro-bloggingsiteSinaWeibo.TheWeiboaccountofZhurong,China’sfirstroveronMars,repostedthevideo,commenting,“Themusicwassobeautiful,anditmademehomesick,too.”TheLanternFestivalalsomarksthelastdayofthelunarNewYearcelebration.Thoughfarfromhome,thefestivesentimentsinspacearethesame.TheChinaMannedSpaceAgencyreleasedavideoonsocialmediaplatformsonTuesday,showingthatthetaikonautshaddecoratedtheorbitingcoremodulewithredlanterns,Chineseknotsandpaper-cuttingdecorations.Wearingnewclothes,thetrio(三人小组)enjoyedthetraditionsofeatingdumplingsandpostingspringcoupletsonwalls.DuringtheChineseNewYearholiday,theywerealsospottedwatchingtheWinterOlympicsanddoingworkoutsinorbit.32.Howdidthemassenjoythemusicalperformanceaccordingtothetext?A.BywatchingavideocomingfromaTVgala.B.ByloggingontheInternetthroughcomputers.C.BywatchingtheLanternFestivalgalaatthescene.D.BywatchingavideopostedonlinebyWangYapingherself.33.Whatdoestheunderlinedword“rotate”meanaccordingtothecontext?A.Access.B.Circle.C.Replace.D.Launch.34.Whatcanwelearnfromthetext?A.WangYapingsharedpuzzlesonredpaperscrolls.B.ZhaiZhigangshowedthecalligraphyonhisown.C.Thevideoofthespaceperformancebecameagreathit.D.TheBeijingWinterOlympicshadcometoanendwhentheastronautssenttheirregards.35.Whichisthebesttitleofthepassage?A.Chinesefolksong“JasmineFlower”isplayedonspacestation.B.Chinamakesmajorbreakthroughsintheouterspaceexploration.C.TaikonautssendblessingstotheBeijingWinterOlympicsathletesD.TaikonautskeepLanternFestivaltraditionsaliveonspacestation.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。SymptomsofDehydration(脱水)You’rebad-tempered.\nResearcherstestedthemoodandconcentrationof25womenwhodrankhealthyamountsofwateroneday,andthenlessthenexttwodays.Whenslightlydehydrated,thewomenreportedtiredness,badtemper,headachesanddifficultyinfocusing.Inaseparatetest,menwithmilddehydrationalsohadtroublewithmentaltasks.36Scientistsarestilltryingtofigureoutwhy.Youhaveabadworkout.37Itimpactshowmuchyoucanpushyourself.Evena2to3percentfluidlossaffectsyourabilitytogetagoodworkoutandmorethan5percentdehydrationdecreasesexercisecapacitybyabout30percent.38Drivingwhileyou’redehydratedmaybejustasdangerousasgettingbehindthewheeldrunk,intermsofhowmanymistakesyoucouldmakeontheroad.Britishresearchershadparticipantstake2-hourdrivesusingasimulator(模拟器).Whentheydrankenoughwater,therewere47drivingerrors.39Youfeeldizzywhenyoustanduptoofast.Dehydrationcanmakeyoufeeldizzyorfaint,orbringonthatrushoflight-headednessafteryouquicklygetupfromsittingorlyingdown.Theexacttreatmentfordehydrationsymptomsdependsonageandhowseverelydehydratedsomeoneis.40Mostofthetime,however,peopleusesomeover-the-countersolutionsforkids,andadultscandrinkmorewater.A.Youdrivelikeyou’redrunk.B.Sometimesdehydrationcanbelife-threatening.C.Togetridofdehydrationyouhavetodrinkmuchwaterquickly.D.Inextremecases,peoplemightgotothehospitalforatreatment.E.Dehydrationreducesbloodpressureandmakestheheartworkharder.F.Butwhenitcametomoodchanges,womenchangedmuchmorethanmen.G.Butwhentheywereshortofwater,thereweremorethandoublethedrivingerrorsto101.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。Erinsufferedaseriousconcussion(脑震荡)afteracaraccident.Anditleftherwithmotionsickness,difficultyinconcentrating,andno41toreadorwatchTV.Erin,atypicallyverymotivatedandactiveperson,foundalltheperiodof42extremelychallenging.ItwasPippy,apigsheandherhusbandhad43afewmonthsbeforetheaccident,thatsavedherlife.PippyplayedanimportantroleinErin’srecovery:“SheknewIwasin44pain,evenifIwasn’tcryingoractingsadly.She45methewholetimewhenIwasstuckathome.IfIwasonthecouch,shewantedtobeinmylapor46alongsideme.PippyknewIwasdown.\nSheknewIwas47.”OnceErinrecovered,sheandherhusbandfoundthey48Pippysomuchthattheywantedtoadoptanotherpig.That’swhentheylearnedthatthereisahuge49forpigrescueintheUnitedStates.Mostpeoplewhoadoptpigsdon’tknowwhatthey’regettinginto,andfewerthanfivepercentofadoptedpigsendupstayingwiththeir50adopters.“Thesepooranimalsarebeing51abandoned,”saysErin.“Wewereso52andupsetbytheproblemthatafterweadoptedoursecondpig,Boris,wedecidedto53apigrescue.”Erinandherhusbandhavenow54morethan110pigs,86ofwhich55withthemattheirpigrescuecenterinDeerTrail,Colorado.41.A.weaknessB.abilityC.workD.attitude42.A.restB.journeyC.recoveryD.danger43.A.huntedB.inspectedC.appreciatedD.adopted44.A.powerfulB.slightC.accidentalD.emotional45.A.watchedoverB.aimedatC.spiedonD.cameacross46.A.growB.climbC.lieD.wander47.A.strugglingB.escapingC.survivingD.annoying48.A.affectedB.lovedC.admiredD.reserved49.A.surveyB.baseC.seriesD.need50.A.originalB.politeC.activeD.kind51.A.skillfullyB.exactlyC.generouslyD.constantly52.A.devotedB.concernedC.tiredD.determined53.A.dislikeB.startC.selectD.decorate54.A.rescuedB.desertedC.discoveredD.treated55.A.agreeB.meetC.liveD.connect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。TheInternethasthepower56(connect)peopleacrosstheworldtoasinglesharedcommunity.Wecanachievealmostanythingonline—withaccesstotheInternetcomesome57(true)life-changingadvantages.OneofthegreatestadvantagesoftheInternet58(lie)inthequickandeasyaccesstoahugeamountofinformation.TheInternethasnowbecomethefirstplace59themajorityofpeopleturntoforinformation.Meanwhile,ithasalsomadeourlivesunbelievably60(convenience),withallsortsofgoodsandservices61(provide)byelectroniccommercemorecommonlyknownase-commerce.Aboveallelse,theInternetiswidelyusedinourlife,62(help)usestablishandmaintainsocialties.However,63theInternetbringsmanyvaluableadvantages,beingconnectedhasitsproblems.Wemustbeaware64theseproblemsandbecarefultousetheInternetproperlyandresponsibly.Onlyinthiswaycanweenjoytheimmeasurable65(benefit)ofthe\nInternet.第四部分写作（共两节，满分40分）第一节（满分15分）上周末，你和班级同学去红星社区参加了一次捡垃圾志愿活动，受到了社区居民的欢迎。请你为学校英文报写一篇短文，介绍这次活动。内容包括：1.时间、地点；2.劳动过程；3.个人感受。注意：1.词数应为80左右；2.题目已为你写好。参考词汇：红星社区HongxingCommunity3.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。MyWeekend______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________第二节（满分25分）AsChristmasdecorationsappearedintown,ourparentscalledmytwoyoungerbrothersandmetogether.Atfirst,Ithoughtsomeonehaddied,becauseIhadneverseenmyparentslooksosad.MybrothersandIstoodwaitingfortheawfulnews.Momhuggedmeasshemurmured,“Christmasisgoingtobedifferentthisyear.Wewon’tbehavingatreeorpresents.Wecanbarelyaffordfood.”Dad,restingonthecouch,beckoned(招手示意)theboysintohisarms,“ThingswillchangewhenIgetbacktowork.”Myfamilywaspoorerthandirt.Dad,theonlybread-earnerinourfamily,workedinacoalmine.However,soonafterreturningtoworkattheendofalongstrike,Dadwashurtinarockfallthatbrokebonesinhisfoot.Lyingonthecouchwiththeswollenfoothighonpillows,hedidn’ttalkorsmilemuch.Therewaslittletosmileabout.Nowork,noincome.Atnineyearsold,Imotheredmyyoungerbrothers:Rodney,agedsix,andStevie,three.Wesharedasmallbedroom.Thatnight,afterourparents’announcement,wetalked.Rodneybegan,“Em,didyouseehowsadMommyandDaddylooked?IthoughMommywasgonnacry.“Me,too.Daddy’sfoot’...thisbig”whisperedStevie,holdingouthisarms.“Yeah...We’reinhardtimes.”Isaid.“ItmakesMommyandDaddysad.”“Butwedon’thavetobesad,”Iadded,hopingtobrightenthemood.“Sincetherearestillseveralweekstogo,maybewecandosomethingtocheerthemup,”Isaidwithoverdoneenthusiasm.Theboysadvised,“Wecantakethemoneyfromourpiggybank,earn\nsomemore...andsurprisethemwithgifts!”“Icanrunerrands(跑腿)forAuntEmandneighborstoearnmoney,”Ioffered.“Yeah,”Rodneyadded,“IandSteviecanreturnbottlesandsavethedepositmoney(存钱)...insteadofbuyingcandy!”HepushedSteviegentlywithhiselbow.“Yeah!”Stevieclutched(紧握)hishandstogether.Wehadaplan!Untiltheynoddedoff,Icoachedmylittlebrothers(especiallyStevie)inwaystoguardoursecret.“Don’ttalkaboutitduringtheday.”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。Weawokeinthemorning,transformingfromsadchildrentothesecretagents(特工)onanimportanttask!___________________________________________________________________________________________________OnChristmasmorning,wehurriedintothelivingroomandhandedthegiftstoMommyandDaddy.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2022年上期高一期末质量检测英语参考答案第一部分听力1—5CABAB6—10CCABB11—15BCBAB16—20CCABA第二部分阅读21—23DAC24—27DCBA28—31CDBA32—35ABCD36—40FEAGD第三部分语言运用第一节完形填空41—45BCDDA46—50CABDA51—55DBBAC第二节语法填空：56.toconnect57.truly58.lies59.that60.convenient61.provided62.helping63.while/though/although64.of65.benefits第四部分写作\n第一节应用文【参考范文】MyWeekendThisweekendwitnessedouractiveparticipationinthecommunityservice.Asscheduled,wegatheredattheschoolgateat8a.m.onSundaymorningandthenmarchedtotheHongxingCommunity,whereweweretopickuplitter.Uponarrival,weweredividedintosmallgroupsandeachwasresponsibleforaseparatearea.Wearingallnecessaryitems,includingprotectiveglovesandmasks,webegantocollectthelittervisible.Althoughhotandtired,seeingtheneighborhoodneatandclean,weweremorethandelighted.Theactivitywasgreatlypraisedbythecommunityandwealsolearnthowtosortoutdifferenttypesofwaste.Itwasarewardingday.第二节读后续写【参考范文】Weawokeinthemorning,transformingfromsadchildrentothesecretagentsonanimportanttask!Thefollowingweekssawmedashinghomefromschooleachdaydeterminedtoearnapenny.Iwasusuallygreetedbysecretwinksandgrins—onewithamissingtooth,andtheotherwithtiny,straightteeth—bothassuringmeoursecretwassafe.AfewdaysbeforeChristmas,wegleefullywentshopping.WeboughtMomanewapronandforDad,apairofleatherslippers.ThenightofChristmasEveseemedendless.Iawokeoccasionally,oroneofmybrotherswokemeasking,“Howlongtilldaylight?”OnChristmasmorning,wehurriedintothelivingroomandhandedthegiftstoMommyandDaddy.Surprisedandstunned,theyshowereduswithtonsofconfusingquestions.“Howdidyou…?”“Wheredidyou…?”“Whogaveyou?”Asweexplainedhowwe’dschemed,earnedandsavedourmoney,theirfacesrelaxedintoexpressionsofastonishment.Then,withglisteningtears,MomandDadwrappedusthreeintotheirarms.OnthisspecialChristmasmorning,withthefiveofushugging,talking,laughingandlisteningwithfreshaffectionandgratitude,Iunderstoodthatrichorpoor,wewouldkeeptogetherandbehappyinoneanother.