2024届新高考I卷高三7月摸底英语试题及参考答案

年高考7月摸底试卷（新高考I卷版）英语第一部分听力（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。每段对话仅读一遍。1.HowmuchwastheTVset?A.$60. B.$120. C.$90.2.Whatdoesthemanmean?A.Tomwastalkingwiththepostman.B.Tomwasrunningaroundthecorner.C.Tomwashelpingthepostmanwithhiswork.3.Whatdoesthemanwanttodo?A.Buyafan. B.Useelectricity. C.Coolhimselfdown.4.WhydidthebosscriticizeJoseph?A.Hewaslateforwork.B.Hequarreledwiththemanspeaker.C.Hecriticizedthemanspeakertooseriously.5.WhoisFiona?A.Thewomanspeaker. B.Thompson’ssister. C.Daisy’ssister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。听第6段材料，回答第6至8题。6.Whatwastheweatherlikelastweek?A.Toowarm. B.Niceandsunny. C.Neitherhotnorcold.7.Whatseasonisitnow?A.Summer. B.Winter. C.Autumn.8.Whatdoesthemanthinktheweatherwillbelikethisweekend?A.Hethinksit’llrain. B.Hethinksit’llbecloudy.C.Hedoesn’tthinkit’llrain.听第7段材料，回答第9至11题。9.Whatcanweknowaboutthesinginggroup?A.It’smadeupof15girls.B.Itpracticesonceeveryotherweek.C.Everymembercomesontimeforeachpractice.10.Whatisthesinginggroupdoingthesedays?A.Writinganewsong. B.Practicingeightsongs. C.Practicingforaschoolshow.11.Whatcanweknowaboutthenewsong?A.ItsnameisSundays.B.It’swrittenbyafamousmusician.C.It’swrittenbyasingerofthegroup.听第8段材料，回答第12至14题。12.Whatisthefatherreadingatthebeginningoftheconversation?A.Anovel. B.Anewspaper. C.Amagazine.13.Whatkindofbookdoesthegirlwanttoread?A.Abookondolls. B.Abookaboutanimals.C.Abookaboutcandyandcookies.14.Whatdoesthegirl’steachersayaboutreading?A.Thegirlshouldreadbookseveryday.B.Thegirlcanborrowbooksfromthelibrary.C.Thegirlshouldreadatleasttenbooksanight.听第9段材料，回答第15至17题。15.Wherearetheyplanningtogointhemorning?A.Toazoo. B.Toanartmuseum. C.Totheseashore.16.Whydoesthewomanwanttogoshoppinginstead?A.Tobuysomeclothes. B.Tomeetherfriendthere.C.Tobuyagiftforherfriend.17.Whataretheytalkingabout?A.Acityguide. B.Ashoppingcenter. C.Atravelplan.听第10段材料，回答第18至20题。18.Whatisthemainideaofthispassage?A.Howyoudecidewhattobuyinasupermarket.B.Howasupermarketmakespeoplespendmore.C.Whodecideshowmuchtospendinasupermarket.19.Whydoesthefoodthateverybodymustbuyspreadalloverthestore?A.Toprovideagoodservice.B.Toleadcustomerstoallsectionsofthestore.C.Tomakeiteasyforcustomerstolocatethefood.20.Howmuchdopeoplespendaftertheyhavebeeninastorefor30minutes?A.1,500centsintotal. B.40centseachminute. C.Fivedollarseachminute.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和D四个选项中，选出最佳选项。AChangJinHuThenearlythree-hour-longhistoricalepicisagrindthroughtheblood,sweatandtearsofthereal-lifeChinesePeople'sVolunteerArmyastheyfightagainstalloddstodefeattheU.S.armyatthetitularlakeduringtheKoreanWar.Theconflict(1950-1953)isformallyknowninChinaasthe"WartoResistU.S.AggressionandAidKorea."FullRiverRedThefilmisabouttheassassinationofaJurchenenvoyinQin'scourt.Thefilm'sheroesareundercovervigilanteswhoresentQin'sbehaviourandinfiltratehiscourttoavengeYue.TheytrytorecruitayoungcommanderinQin'sarmy,SunJun,whoistornbetweenobediencetohistraitoroussuperiorsandloyaltytohispeople.Inonescene,Suncutsatattoothatsays"Servethenationwithutmostloyalty"offhisvigilanteuncle'sbackashisuncleshoutsthatSunisaflunkeyanda"runningdog"offoreigners.HomeComingThemovietellsastoryoftwounarmedChinesediplomatsdelvingintoareselforce-controlledareainafictionalwarwreckedAfricancountrytolead125Chinesecitizenssafelybackhome,andithassparkedastrongsenseofnationalprideandconfidenceamidturbulentworldexperiencingmajorchanges.21.Whatisthecommonthemeofthethreemovies?A.EntertainmentB.Country-prideC.Anti-warD.Culture-diversity22.WhatcanweinferfromthemovieChangJinHu?A.It’sarelationlastingfornearly3hoursofasplendidlegend.B.ItrepresentsthehighpossibilitiestodefeattheUSonaccountofChinese’spersistence.C.TheChinesePeople'sVolunteerArmygoestogreatlengthstowinthevictory.D.Thisfilmisnowherenearsplendidandmagnificent.23.Wheredoesthepassagecomefrom?A.aNewsreportB.anofficerdocumentC.anentertainmentwebsiteD.aliteraturenewspaperBThere'saNativeAmericanproverbthatsays,"Theonewhotellsthestoryrulestheworld."Storieshavethepotentialtobeincrediblypowerful.They'reabletochangehowwerelatetoeachother,tochangeprejudice,sothepotentialforstoriestopersuadeisstaggering.Ireadthisreally,reallygoodresearchpaperaboutthesetwobookswhichbasicallysuggested,thatifyougetpeopletoreadacoupleofchaptersofHarryPotter,they'llratethemselveshigherthanotherpeopleintheircapacitytopotentiallymovesomething,justusingthepoweroftheirmind.Thepeoplewhoreadaboutthevampires,they'llactuallybelievethattheirteethareslightlylongerthanotherpeopleinthepopulation,justasaresultofhavingreadachapterortwoofthisbook.Intermsofpsychology,there'safewthingsthatstoriesactuallydotous.Westarttoalmostfeelasifthethingsthatarehappeningtothem,arehappeningtous.Readingisnotarelaxation,youarebuildingworlds,youarehousingthoseworldswithcities,andthosecitiesyouarepopulatingwithpeople.Soalthoughtelevision,film,theatreallhavetheirplaceinthestorytellingworld,tomethatmomentofcontactwithabook,whenyoureadastoryandunlockitssecrets...nothingquitecomesclose.Ourresearchhasbeenontheinterpretationofindividualwords,ifyoureadtheword"jump"forexample,youactivatethoseareasthatyoualsoactivatewhenyoudoactuallyperformtheactionofjumping,soitwouldbeaboutheresomewhere.Theinterestingquestioninthiscaseofcourseis,Imeanifyoureadaboutsomebodyelsejumping,whyshouldyouactivatebrainareasrelatedtojumping?Theproponentsofthetheorywouldsaythatimmersingyourselfintoastoryisbasedonthemirrorneuronsystem.Iamconvincedthatmirrorneuronsarepartofthisprocess,butitcan'tbethewholestory.It'sbeenfoundthat,whenweconnectwithpeoplewhoaren'trealbutarefictionalcharacters,itformsasortofsocialsurrogateforus-it'salmostlikethey'rearealpersonwhenthey'renot.Andpsychologistssometimescallitformingaparasiticalrelationship.Andwhat'sinterestingaboutthatisitkindofmakesusfeellesslonelyanditcanalsobufferself-esteemandimproveourmood.Weknowthathavingalotoffriendshipswithotherpeoplewhenyou'reinacoupleisareallypositivethingfortheoutcomesofthatrelationship.Butwhat'sreallyinterestingistheydon'thavetoberealpeople.24.Whatcanweknowfromthefirst3paragraphs?A.Thewholeworldisinthepossessionoftheoneswhotellstories.B.Readingisaprocessofrelaxingratherthanbuildingconnectionswithinsidepeople.C.Afterreadingsomecertainstories,wemayhavethefeelingbeinglikethecharacters.D.Bookshavestrongerpowerthanfilmsandtelevisionsinthestorytellingworld.25.Accordingtothepassage,what’sthemeaningoftheunderlinedsentence?A.Theycanboostusinourcapabilitythatsomeoneelsemaynothave.B.Theycanimmerseusintheworldwhichwearereadingabout.C.Wecanenjoytheaccompanywiththelotsoffriendswhethertheyarerealorfictional.D.Wecangainadeeperinsightintothemeaningsofaunfamiliarword.26.Whichworldcanreplacetheunderlinedworld“parasitical”?A.fictionalB.dependantC.desperateD.subsequent27.Whatdoesthearticlemainlytalkabout?A.Howdostoriesaffectourmindset?B.Whethertoreadstoriesornot?C.Shouldweputupwithstories?D.Howcanwegainaparasiticalfriendship?CConfucianismisoneofthemostinfluentialreligiousphilosophiesinthehistoryChina,andithasbeearoundforover2,500years.Itisconcernedwithinnervirtue,morality,andrespectforthecommunityanditsvalues...ConfucianismisaphilosophyandbeliefsystemfromancientChina,whichlaidthefoundationformuchofChineseculture.Confuciuswasaphilosopherandteacherwholivedfrom551to479B.C.E.Histhoughtsonethics,goodbehavior,andmoralcharacterwerewrittendownbyhisdisciplesinseveralbooks,themostimportantbeingtheLunyu.Confucianismbelievesinancestorworshipandhuman-centeredvirtuesforlivingapeacefullife.ThegoldenruleofConfucianismis"Donotdountootherswhatyouwouldnotwantotherstodountoyou."ThemainideaofConfucianismistheimportanceofhavingagoodmoralcharacter,whichcanthenaffecttheworldaroundthatpersonthroughtheideaof"cosmicharmony."Iftheemperorhasmoralperfection,hisrulewillbepeacefulandbenevolent.Naturaldisastersandconflictaretheresultofstrayingfromtheancientteachings.Thismoralcharacterisachievedthroughthevirtueofren,or"humanity,"whichleadstomorevirtuousbehaviours,suchasrespect,altruism,andhumility.Confuciusbelievedintheimportanceofeducationinordertocreatethisvirtuouscharacter.Hethoughtthatpeopleareessentiallygoodyetmayhavestrayedfromtheappropriateformsofconduct.Theideaof"filialpiety"ordevotiontofamily,iskeytoConfuciusthought.Thisdevotioncantaketheformofancestorworship,submissiontoparentalauthority,ortheuseoffamilymetaphors,suchas"sonofheaven,"todescribetheemperorandhisgovernment.ThefamilywasthemostimportantgroupforConfucianethics,anddevotiontofamilycouldonlystrengthenthesocietysurroundingit.WhileConfuciusgavehisnametoConfucianism,hewasnotthefirstpersontodiscussmanyoftheimportantconceptsinConfucianism...28.WhatisConfucianism?A.It’saphilosophyoriginatedinmodernChina.B.It’satthecoreofpeople’sconductcodes.C.It’sabookfullofmoralthoughtsandprinciples.D.It’sacommunitythatstudyanancientcelebrity.29.HowcanConfucianismhavesomethingtodowithworldaroundthepeople?A.Itcanbeusedtoexplainhowthedisastrousoutcomescomeabout.B.Itshouldwarnpeoplenottoobeythenaturepowerandrules.C.Itmotivatespeopletoshowoffwhattheyhaveandhowmuchtheygain.D.Itleadstopeople’skindnaturebornasahumanintheircharacter.30.Whichquotationmaycorrespondwiththeideaof"filialpiety"?A.Jadeisgood-for-nothingifnotcarved.B.Man'snatureisgoodatbirth.C.Firstrespectfultosiblingsthensecondtrustworthy.D.Ifonerefusestoteach,one'snaturewillshift.31.Whatwillthepassagetalkaboutnext?A.TheinfluenceofConfucianism.B.ThepassingdownofConfucianism.C.TheevolutionofConfucianism.D.ThetransformationofConfucianism.DThehustle-culture（内卷文化）narrativepromotestheideathatthere'salwaysmoretostrivefor:moremoneytomake,abiggertitleorpromotiontosecureandahigherceilingtosmash.Althoughnotallentrepreneursembracethesetropes,someexpertssaysomepeoplehavestillfeltthepressurefromthedecades-longtrickle-downeffectoftotalimmersioninwork,oftentothedetrimentofotherfacetsoftheirlives.Theypointoutthismindsetstemslargelyfromtechstart-upsinSiliconValley,andhasbeenpresentonsocialmedia.Buttheyalsohighlightthatoverworkingdeliberately-andtalkingbigaboutdoingso-canhavenegativeeffectsonworkers'mentalandphysicalhealth,andconsequentlymaybelosingitslustre,especiallyamongsomeemployeesfrommarginalisedgroupsandbackgrounds.Inthepandemicera,manypeoplearere-prioritisingwhattheywantoutofworkandlife:theyarequittingtoxicworkplaces,leaningout,strengtheningboundariesandcarvingmoretimeforpersonallivesandhobbies.Plus,expertssayeconomicuncertaintyandgreaterawarenessofinequalitycanmakeboththeideasandlanguageoftherise-and-grindmentalityfeeloutdatedandoutoftouch.Expertssaytheentrepreneurialboominthe1990sandearly2000slaidthegroundworkforthehustle-culturenarrative.Theynotetheriseofventure-capitalfinancinghelpedbuildtechnologytitansinSiliconValley:companiesincludingGoogleandFacebook,whichrocketedtodominance.Thesehigh-profilesuccesses-famousfortheirintense,all-consumingworkcultures-cementedNorthernCaliforniaasaglobalhubforinnovationandentrepreneurship.Pandemiclockdownsprovidedmanyworkersthetimeandspacetoreevaluatework-lifebalance.Andbecausethattimewascoupledwiththestressoffinancialuncertainty,expertssaysomepeoplecametofindhustleculturemoreexhaustingthanempowering."SinceCovid-19,peoplehavestartedtorejecthustlecultureandpullback-they'renolongerwillingtodotheworkthatdoesn'tmatter,andthey'resettingboundariesbetweenthemselvesandtoxicnarratives,"saysBrooksEScott,aCalifornia-basedexecutivecoachandinterpersonalcommunicationsexpert."Theyseethathustlecultureisnolongerworkingasthekeytobecomingsuccessful."32.Whatcanweinferaboutthehustleculture?A.Allemployeesdon’tbelieveintheideaaltogether.B.Itspreadsthemadnessofpursuingmoreaccomplishments.C.There’snothingtobegainedfromthewrongtheory.D.Onlysocialmediaaretoblameforthenegativeoutcomes.33.Allcontributetopeople’sdisbeliefinthehustlecultureexcept.A.ThepandemiclockdownsB.EconomicuncertaintyC.AwarenessofinequalityD.Theentrepreneurialboom34.WhydoestheauthorquotewhatBrooksEScottsays?A.Togivesolidproof.B.Tobeautyhiscomposition.C.Toraiseupanothertopic.D.Tomakeacontrast.35.Whatmaybethebesttittleofthearticle?A.Hustle-culturemaybetheendoftherise-and-grindB.Thehustle-cultureisbadforthesocietyC.Noonelikesthehustle-cultureD.Weshouldembracethehustle-culture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。36Asthesunbegantoset,thearomaofsizzlingmeatfilledtheair.37Thesoundoflaughterandchatterechoedthroughthestreetsasfamiliesandfriendsgatheredaroundtablesatbarbecuerestaurants,eagerlyawaitingtheirmeals．38Somerestaurantsevenranoutofkeyingredientsasearlyas7pminthenight.Allhotelswerealsooperatingatfullcapacity.EventhebarbersinZibohavebegunasidetradeofroastingskewersfortourists.BarbecuerestaurantsinZiboareusuallysmallandcrowded,withcustomerssittingatoutdoortablesorstandingaroundthegrillingarea.Onthesmallstove,thegrilledskewerssizzleinsplatteringoil,andcustomerscantrypancake-wrappedmeatswithcrispygreenShandongonions,andahealthydrizzleofhomemadespicysaucealongwithotherdippingsaucestoenjoydifferentflavors.39Itcontainsroastlamb,greenonions,andnaanbread,which,combined,makeadrool-worthycombo.40Previously,barbecueinNortheastChinaortheXinjiangUygurAutonomousRegioninNorthwestChinaweremuchmorepopularacrossthecountry.TopromoteZibo-stylebarbecue,Zibohaslaunchedtwodozen"specialbarbecuetrains",wherelocaltourismofficialswouldservetouriststhemselves.Atthecity'strainstation,shuttlebusestransporttouriststovariousbarbecuestallsdirectly.Netizensjokethatthehigh-speedtrainsarepackedwithvisitingtouristsandtheaironboardisinfusedwithcumin.A.ThecityofZibohasneverseensomanyvisitors.B.Zibo-stylebarbecuehastheclassicthree-pieceset.C.Oneachstreet,queuesstretchedoutsiderestaurantsformorethanahundredmeters.D.TheZibobarbecueisenjoyinggreatpopularity.E.Thusitdrawsinevenmorehungrycustomers.F.ThefameofZibobarbecueusedtobelimitedtojustShandongProvince.G.However,thecityofZibogetsmoreandmorecrowded.第三部分语言知识运用（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，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。Attheageof19,thedayafterIgraduatedhighschool,ImovedtoaplacewhereitsnowedandIbecameamassagetherapist(按摩师).WiththisjoballIneededweremy41andmymassagetablebymysideandIcouldgoanywhere.Forthefirsttimeinmylife,Ifeltfree,independentandcompletelyincontrolofmylife.Thatis,untilmylifetooka42.IwenthomefromworkearlyonedaywithwhatIthoughtwastheflu,andlessthan24hourslaterIwasinthehospitalonlifesupportwithlessthanatwopercent43ofliving.Itwasn’tuntildayslaterasIlayinacomathatthedoctors44mewithbacterialmeningitis,avaccine-preventablebloodinfection.Overthe45oftwoandahalfmonthsIlostmyspleen,mykidneys,thehearinginmyleftearandbothofmylegsbelowtheknee.WhenmyparentswheeledmeoutofthehospitalIfeltlikeIhadbeen46togetherlikeapatchworkdoll.Ithoughtthe47wasoveruntilweekslaterwhenIsawmynewlegsforthefirsttime.Thecalveswerebulkyblocksofmetalwithpipesboltedtogetherfortheanklesandayellowrubberfootwitharaisedrubberlinefromthetoetotheankletolooklikeavein.Ididn’tknowwhattoexpect,butIwasn’texpectingthat.Withmymombymysideandtearsstreamingdownourfaces,IstrappedonthesechunkylegsandIstoodup.Theyweresopainfulandsoconfining48allIcouldthinkwas,howamIevergoingtotraveltheworldinthesethings?ButIknewthatinorderto49,IhadtoletgooftheoldAmyandlearnto50thenewAmy.Andthatiswhenit51methatIdidn'thavetobefive-foot-fiveanymore.IcouldbeastallasIwanted!OrasshortasIwanted,dependingonwhoIwasdating.AndifIsnowboardedagain,myfeetaren'tgoingtogetcold.Andbestofall,Ithought,Icanmakemyfeetthesizeofalltheshoesthatareonthesalesrack.AndIdid!Sotherewerebenefitshere.Elevenyearsago,whenIlostmylegs,Ihadnoideawhattoexpect.Butifyouaskmetoday,ifIwouldeverwanttochangemy52,Iwouldhavetosayno.Becausemylegshaven't53me,ifanythingthey'veenabledme.They'veforcedmetorelyonmyimaginationandtobelieveinthepossibilities,andthat'swhyIbelievethatourimaginationscanbeusedastoolsforbreakingthrough54,becauseinourminds,wecandoanythingandwecanbeanything.It'sbelievinginthosedreamsandfacingourfears55thatallowsustoliveourlivesbeyondourlimits.Andalthoughtodayisaboutinnovationwithoutborders,Ihavetosaythatinmylife,innovationhasonlybeenpossiblebecauseofmyborders.I'velearnedthatbordersarewheretheactualends,butalsowheretheimaginationandthestorybegins．41.A.legsB.handsC.feetD.minds42.A.twistB.jokeC.trickD.burden43.A.oddsB.prejudiceC.strengthD.responsibility44.A.madeB.appointedC.submittedD.diagnosed45.A.durationB.missionC.courseD.dash46.A.comprisedofB.piecedbackC.furnishedwithD.equippedwith47.A.lastB.worstC.bestD.least48.A.whichB.thatC.andD.when49.A.putforwardB.settledownC.setapartD.moveforward50.A.missB.receiveC.embraceD.enlighten51.A.flashedthroughB.slidintoC.dawnedonD.litup52.A.situationB.fortuneC.reflectionD.direction53.A.disabledB.affectedC.ridD.entitled54.A.recordsB.hardshipsC.bordersD.results55.A.withjoyB.neverquittingC.indetailD.headon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。Adomesticviolencecaserecently56(cause)afierceonlinedebate.Thehusband,surnamedDeng,struckhiswife,surnamedZhou,morethan20timeswithaknife,and57(sentence)tofouryearsinprison.Somepeoplesaythepunishmentisnotheavyenough,58(assume)thattheinjurieswereserious,whileotherssayitisinaccordancewiththelawgiventheactualseverityoftheattack.ThediscussionbecameheatedafterthebroadcastofYourHonor,a10-episodedocumentaryabouttheworkofjudges,especiallyinrelationtocourttrialsand59executionofjudgment,whichairedrecentlyonstreamingplatformTencentVideo.Thedocumentaryillustratesdozensofcasestriedbythepeople’scourtofTianxindistrictinChangshacity,Hunanprovince.Theychosedozensofcasesfromthethousandtheyfilmed,accordingtoLiZhiyu,thegeneraldirectoroftheproduction.60manyothers,Liviewedjudgesasseriouspeople,butfilmingthisdocumentarychangedhermind.Shebegantorealizethattheseriousnessisafeaturetheirjobbestowsuponthem."Ihopetheproductioncanbecomeabridge61(help)thepubliclearnaboutjudges,andinturn,theirunderstandingandattentioncanhelpjudgesto62(good)carryouttheirresponsibilities,"saysLi.Speakingabouttheheatedonlinediscussiononthe63(judge)ofsomecases,Lisaysthatshe,too,haddoubtsatfirst,butaftercommunicatingwiththejudges,shenotonlyunderstoodtheirdecisionsmoreclearly,butrealizedthereisadifferencebetweenlawandreason."Law-makingneedstoconsiderthemajority,insteadofsomeindividuals,butwe,as64(bystander),often65(sympathy)withindividualswithoutconsideringotherfacets,sowemayfeelthatsomejudgmentsfailus,"saysLi.第四部分写作（共两节，满分40分）第一节（满分15分）假如你是李华，你的父母希望你高中毕业后留在本国读书，而你想出国留学。请你给父母写一封信，表达你的看法。内容如下：1.谈谈你对出国留学的看法；2.表达希望。要求：1.词数80左右，可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；2.开头和结尾不计入总词数。DearMomandDad，DearMomandDad，Yourssincerely，LiHua第二节（满分25分）阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。Itisstilllightout,anddadisn’thomeyet.Heworksalldaycleaningpools.InSouthPort,Florida,thatmeansalotofpools.Momtellsusweneedtowaitfordinnersoallofuscaneattogether.EvenwhenDaddoesn’tgethomeuntilaftereightoreightthirty,usuallyondayswhenhehastocleanthemunicipalpool,Idon'tmind.IfDad'slate,itmeansIcanspendmoretimeoutsideplayingbasketballwithmybrother.Afewyearsago,whentherewasmoremoneytospendandlifewasnormal,beforeCovidandsomeofDad'scustomerswhohadlosttheirjobstoldhimtheycouldn'taffordtopayDadtocleantheirpoolsanymore,Dadboughtusabackboardandhoopandpaidsomeonetoinstallatallmetalpoleonthesideofthedrivewaysowecouldhaveourownbasketballcourt.Itwasacourtmadeofdirtandpebblesandbrokenshells,butstill,wecouldimagineitasabasketballcourt.MybrotherandIwouldshootbasketsfrommorningtonightifMomletus,butshesayshomeworkalwayscomesfirst.Still,duringthesummermonths,betweenpart-timejobsdeliveringnewspapers,cuttinglawns,andhelpingDadcleanpools,wecomeprettyclosetospendingasmuchofthedayaswecanonthecourt.Wepracticeallsortsofshots-hookshots,fade-awayjumpers,foulshots,layups,shotsfromthecorner-andtrytosharpenourdribblingskillsbycuttingaroundeachother,sendingtheballthrougheachother'slegs,passingitbehindourbacks,learningtodribblewithoutlookingattheball.Idon'tknowwhatitisaboutholdingaballandsendingitintotheairandwaitingforittodropintothebasket,butitfeelslikemagic-alltheproblemsoftheworldseemtofadeaway-andIfeellikeI'mthemagicianmakingthemagichappeneachtimeIarctheballtowardthebasketandwatchitflytowarditsdestination.EachtimetheballleavesmyhandsfeelslikeI'vejustdiscoveredthesecretofflight.Yesterdayhecamehomeandtoldushe'dlostmorecustomerstoCovid,tojoblosses.Icantellhe'sworriedwhenhecomeshomeeachnight.Hemightthinkofhimselfasamagicianwithwater,buthecan'tmaketheworrylinesonhisforeheadorthenewcreasesaroundhiseyesdisappear.MybrotherandIstepoffthedrivewayontothegrassasDadsteersthepickup,withitsfadeddecalonthedoorthatsays"Mike'sPoolService"andwithdozensofyellowplasticjugsofchlorineintheback,towardthegarage,andwewaitforhimtoturnof