上海市徐汇区上海中学2025-2026学年高三上学期期中考试英语试题（含答案）

上海中学2025学年第一学期期中考试英语试题I.ListeningComprehensionSectionADirections:InSectionA,youwillheartenshortconversationsbetweentwospeakers.Attheendofeachconversation,aquestionwillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Theconversationsandthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Afteryouhearaconversationandthequestionaboutit,readthefourpossibleanswersonyourpaper,anddecidewhichoneisthebestanswertothequestionyouhaveheard.1.A.Getsomesmallchange.B.Findashoppingcenter.C.Cashacheckatabank.D.Findaparkingplace.2.A.Inacottonfield.B.Atarailwaystation.C.Onafarm.D.Onatrain.3.A.Shoppingwithhisson.B.Buyingagiftforachild.C.Promotinganewproduct.D.Bargainingwithasalesgirl.4.A.Takingphotos.B.Improvingimages.C.Mendingcameras.D.Paintingpictures.5.A.Gotoschool.B.Gotoafriend’shouse.C.Gotothepostoffice.D.Gohome.6.A.Heisratherdisappointed.B.Heishighlyambitious.C.Hecan’tfacethesituation.D.Heknowshisownlimitations.7.A.Femalestudentsareunfitforstudyingphysics.B.Hecanserveasthewoman’sprivateteacher.C.Physicsisanimportantcourseatschool.D.Theprofessor’ssuggestionishelpful.8.A.Theyarenotusedtolivinginacoldplace.B.TheyfeelluckytoliveinFlorida.C.Theyaregoingtohaveaholiday.D.Theyhavenotbookedtheirairticketsyet.9.A.Lookforamoreexpensivehotel.B.Gotoanotherhotelbybus.C.Trytofindaquietplace.D.Takeawalkaroundthecity.10.A.Themanhaschangedhisdestination.B.Themanisreturninghisticket.C.ThemanisflyingtoNewYorktomorrowmorning.D.Themancan’tmanagetogotoNewYorkasplanned.SectionBDirections:InSectionB,youwillheartwoshortpassages,andyouwillbeaskedtoquestionsoneachofthepassages.Thepassageswillbereadtwice,butthequestionswillbespokenonlyonce.Whenyouhearaquestion,readthefourpossibleanswersonyourpaperariddecidewhichonewouldbethebestanswertothequestionyouhaveheard.Questions11through13arebasedonthefollowingpassage.11.A.Itwasdifficultforothercarstopass.B.Thedogcouldn’tfollowhiscar.C.Hewasdrivingattoohighaspeed.D.Thedogwaslikelytobeinjured.12.A.HerequiredRailtontopaythefine.B.HetookRailtontothepolicestation.C.HeaskedRailtontoputthedogintothecar.D.Hesenthimhomeanddirectlychargedhim.13.A.Hehadneverbrokenthetrafficrules.B.Hewasseriouslypunishedforhislaziness.C.Itwashisdailyroutinetowalkhisdogbycar.D.Hewastoooldtorunafterhisdog.Questions14through16arebasedonthefollowingnews.14.A.Anyonewhoneedstofindajob,yetlacksinformation.B.Thosewhohavemoneybutwonderhowtoinvest.C.Peoplewhowanttoachieveevenhigherlifegoals.D.Whoeveristoolazytotakeexerciseandhasanunhealthydiet.15.A.Hegivesyouadvicebye-mailonceamonth.B.Hecallstogiveyousuggestionseveryweek.C.Hecomestohaveafaceto-facetalkwithyouonceayear.D.Hewritestohelpyoujustlikeyouroldfriends.16.A.Thedifferencebetweenabasketballcoachandalifecoach.B.WhyHollywoodstarsareingreatneedoflifecoaches.C.Howpeopleusuallyachievehigherlifegoals.D.Whatalifecoachusuallydoestohelppeoplesucceed.Questions17through20arebasedonthefollowingconversation.17.A.Lookatanareaoftheentertainmentindustry.B.Designtheirproject.C.Readtheinstructions.D.Discusstheproject.18.A.Bydoingface-to-faceinterviews.B.Bydoingtelephoneinterviews.C.Bymailingoutaquestionnaire.D.Bymakingobservations.19.A.ArtB.Literature.C.Music.D.Cinema.20.A.Maleandfemale.B.Theyoungandtheold.C.Childrenandadults.D.Differentagegroups.II.GrammarandVocabularySectionA(请涂在答题卡相应位置)Directions:BeneatheachofthefollowingsentencestherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheoneanswerthatbestcompletesthesentence.1.Thesuddenchangesintheschedulemay___________theflowoftheentirepresentation.A.underlie B.tend C.disrupt D.sustain2.Theancientruinshavenowbecomeaprotected___________ofculturalheritage,attractingscholarsandtouristsalike.A.spectacle B.medium C.invention D.occasion3.Duringtheparade,spectatorslinedthestreetsand___________themselvesalongtheentireroute.A.appointed B.ranged C.stretched D.scattered4.Despitehercalmtone,theteacher’ssharpcritiqueseemedto___________asenseofurgencyamongthestudents,pushingthemtoreconsidertheirapproach.A.inspire B.mask C.chart D.inject5.Thepoet’swordscould___________emotionsinthereaderthathadlongbeenburiedbeneaththesurfaceofeverydaylife.A.spring B.furnish C.stir D.project6.Thesea,socalmjusthoursago,nowroseinwavesthatcrashedagainstthecliffswithaforcethatseemedto___________theveryfoundationsoftheoldlighthouse.A.scale B.threaten C.reverse D.enforce7.Sheopenedtheletterwithtremblinghands,hereyesscanningthewordsthat___________bothhopeandregret.A.wired B.inserted C.bore D.spun8.Theriversidetownslowlyfellintoquietdecay,seemingto___________thepassageoftimeratherthanfightit.A.amountto B.resortto C.awakento D.yieldto9.Asthefinallightofdayslippedbehindthehills,thevillage___________intoitsquietness,thechurchbellsdistant,thewindowsdarkeningonebyone.A.fared B.plugged C.dawned D.settled10.Hewatchedthestormapproachquicklyfromthehilltop,andinthatwildand___________momentherealisedthatnothingremainedunchanged.A.charged B.panting C.terminal D.uniformSectionB(请写在答题纸相应位置)Directions:Afterreadingthepassagebelow,fillintheblankstomakethepassagescoherentandgrammaticallycorrect.Fortheblankswithagivenword,fillineachblankwiththeproperformofthegivenword;fortheotherblanks,useonewordthatbestfitseachblank.GodsinGreekMythologyThegodsoftheGreekreligionwerepersonificationsofnaturalpowers.Yetthey_____11_____(shape)afterthefashionofhumanbeings,bothinbodilyformandintheirneedsandpassions.Theywereborn,grew,married,andsuffered,_____12_____deathnevercametothem.Thesebeings,likemen,onlygreaterandmorebeautiful,musthavecitiesandhomeslikethoseofmen.YettheGreeksofthemainlandrealizedthatitwasn’ttheirimmortalitythatmadethemremarkable,butthattheirveryexistenceseemed_____13_____(belong)toaworlduntouchedbytimeanddecay.SotheylookeduptotheMt.Olympusupinthesky,majestic,mysterious,eternallyenduring,andsawthere,underthearchofheaven,thegoldenhallsofthedivinecity.Itwasatruecityofthesky,structuredafterthemodeloftheGreekcity-states.AtthegatesofcloudtheHoursstoodasguardians;withinthewallsrosethepalacesofthegods.Andonthetopmostpeakwasthegreathall_____14_____themembersoftheOlympicCouncilgatheredfordeliberationorforfeasting.Ambrosiawasthefood_____15_____(serve)atthesebanquets,andnectar,pouredintothecupsbyHebe,thegoddessofyouth,nourishedtheichor(灵液)flowinginthegods’veinsinsteadofblood.Therichodorofsacrificesofferedonearth_____16_____(fill)thenosesofthefeasters.TheirearswerecharmedbythesongstheMusessang_____17_____theaccompanimentofApollo’slyre(七弦竖琴).IntheplaceofhonoursatZeusonhisgoldenthrone,andHera,hissisterandwife,satbesidehim,whileaboutthemassembledtheothertenOlympians,whoseverypresencemadeitclear_____18_____theywereallbrothers,sisters,sons,ordaughtersofthe“fatherofgodsandkingofmen.”ForafterhisvictoryovertheTitans,Zeusruledsupremeoverheavenandearth.Assky-godhedrewthecloudsoverthefaceofheaven,_____19_____(send)stormandrainupontheearth,orhespreadthemandlookeddownoverallasakindfather.Theweaponofhisangerwasthethunder;Victorystoodathisrighthand.Yethisrulewasnot______20______ofrandomviolence;hewastheauthorandpromoteroflawandorder,ofacivilizedandregulatedinteractionbetweenmen,ofhospitalityandjusttreatmentofmanbyman.SectionCDirections:Completethefollowingpassagebyusingthewordsinthebox.Eachwordcanonlybeusedonce.Notethatthereisonewordmorethanyouneed.A.representationB.intellectualC.distinctD.superficialE.appreciatedAB.lackAC.endangeredAD.extinguishedAE.stuffBC.conventionalBD.nativesDeepReadingItisobviousthatourlivesarebeingincreasinglydominatedbydigitaldevicesandinstantgratification.Asaresult,“deepreading”,asopposedtotheoftensuperficialreadingwedoontheWeb,hasbecomea(n)____21____practice,oneweoughttotakestepstopreserveaswewouldahistoricbuildingorasignificantworkofart.Itsdisappearancewouldthreatenthe____22____andemotionaldevelopmentofgenerationsgrowinguponline.Worsestill,itwouldaffecttheprotectionofacriticalpartofourculture:thenovels,poemsandotherkindsofliteraturethatcanbe____23____onlybyreaderswhosebrains,quiteliterally,havebeentrainedtocomprehendthem.Recentresearchhasdemonstratedthatdeepreadingisanexperience,differentinkindfromthemeredecodingofwords.Althoughdeepreadingdoesnot,strictlyspeaking,requirea(n)____24____book,thebuilt-inlimitsoftheprintedpageareuniquelyhelpfultothedeepreadingexperience.Abook’s____25____ofhyperlinks,forexample,freesthereaderfrommakingdecisions—ShouldIclickonthislinkornot?—allowinghertoremainfullyfocusedonthenarrative.Thatfocusissupportedbythewaythebrainhandleslanguagerichindetail,allusion(暗示)andmetaphor:bycreatingamental____26____thatdrawsonthesamebrainregionsthatwouldbeactiveifthescenewereunfoldinginreallife.Theemotionalsituationsandmoraldilemmasthatarethe____27____ofliteraturearealsovigorousexerciseforthebrain,pushingusinsidetheheadsoffictionalcharactersandeven,studiessuggest,increasingourreal-lifecapacityforsympathy.Noneofthisislikelytohappenwhenwe’rebrowsingthroughwebsite.Althoughwecalltheactivitybythesamename,thedeepreadingofbooksandtheinformation-drivenreadingwedoontheWebarevery____28____bothintheexperiencetheyproduceandinthecapacitytheydevelop.Agrowingbodyofevidencesuggeststhatonlinereadingmaybelessproductive,evenforthe“digital____29____”towhomitissofamiliar.Researchersreportedthat39%ofchildrenandteensreaddailyusingelectronicdevices,butonly28%readprintedmaterialseveryday.Thosewhoreadonlyonscreenwerethreetimeslesslikelytosaytheyfindreadingsatisfying.Evenonetenthfearthattheirdesiretoengageindeepreadinghasalreadybeen____30____bythefastpaceofmodernlife.III.ReadingComprehensionSectionADirections:ForeachblankinthefollowingpassagetherearefourwordsorphrasesmarkedA,B,CandD.Fillineachblankwiththewordorphrasethatbestfitsthecontext.Throughouttheirlifetime,individualstodayaremoreresponsiblefortheirpersonalfinancesthaneverbefore.Withlifeexpectanciesrising,pensionandsocialwelfaresystemsarestrained,andemployer-sponsoreddefinedbenefit(DB)plansarerapidly____31____privatedefinedcontribution(DC)plans,shiftingretirementresponsibilityfromemployerstoemployees.Labormarketshavealsochanged,withwages____32____betweenhigher-andlower-educatedworkers,asemployersincreasinglyrewardadvancedskillsanddigitalcompetence.Meanwhile,financialmarketsandproducts—fromstudentloanstocreditcards,mutualfunds,andannuities(年金)—havegrownmorecomplex,andfinancialtechnology(fintech)isrevolutionizingpayments,investments,andfinancialadvice.____33____,understandingfinancialliteracyanditsimpactonfinancialdecision-makingiscrucial.Financialliteracy,asdefinedbytheOECD,includesnotonlyknowledgeoffinancialconceptsandrisksbutalsotheskills,____34____,andconfidencetoproperlyandactivelyapplythisknowledgeindailylifetoimproveindividualandsocietalwell-being.Researchconsistentlyshowsthatfinancialliteracyislowworldwide,eveninadvancedeconomies.Onlyaboutonethirdofadultsgloballyarefamiliarwiththebasicconceptsunderlyingeverydayfinancialdecisions,andcertaingroups—women,theyoung,andthelesseducated—areparticularly____35____.Astandardwayto____36____financialliteracyisthe“BigThree”questions,whichinvolvetheunderstandingofinterestrates,inflation,andriskdiversification,respectively.Surveysusingthesequestions,suchastheFinancialLiteracyAroundtheWorldproject,reveal____37____results.Globally,onlyaround30%ofadultsanswerallthreecorrectly,withknowledgeofriskdiversificationconsistentlylowest.____38____emergeacrossage,gender,andeducation:youngeradultsandwomentendtohavelowerfinancialliteracy,andeventhehighlyeducatedoftenlackpracticalfinancialskills.Needlesstosay,financialliteracyprofoundlyaffectsbehavior.Thosewithhigherliteracysavemore,planforretirement,investwisely,managedebteffectively,andcopebetterwithfinancialshocks.Conversely,thelessliteraterelyonhigh-costborrowing,accumulatedebt,andare____39____emergencies.Undergraduates,forexample,oftenmisunderstandstudentloansand____40____expensivefinancialbehaviorsfacilitatedbyfintech,suchasmobilepayments.Thesetrendsunderlinethatfintechcannotsubstituteforfinancialknowledge.Therefore,effortstoimproveliteracymustbelarge-scaleand____41____.Schools,colleges,workplaces,andcommunityplatformsareidealfordeliveringtailorededucation,withafocusondisadvantagedgroupssuchasyouthandwomen.School-basedprogramsareespeciallyeffective,____42____youngpeopletoessentialconceptsbeforemajorfinancialdecisions.Workplaceinterventions,whendesignedtoberelevantandbrief,alsoimprovebehavior,while____43____initiatives—likefinancialmuseums—canreachbroaderaudiences.Thelackoffinancialliteracy,eveninwell-developedmarkets,isofurgent____44____.TheBigThreequestionshelpidentifythoseinneedandguidetailoredprogramsinschools,workplaces,andcommunities.AsDirectoroftheItalianFinancialEducationCommittee,Iaimtoapplythisresearchtopolicyinitiatives,promotingfinancialliteracyasafundamentalskill.Financialliteracyisaglobal____45____fornavigatingcomplexfinancialproducts,makingsounddecisions,andachievingpersonalandsocietaleconomicpotential.Likebasicliteracy,itisauniversalneed,essentialforthrivingintoday’sworld.31.A.takingoverfrom B.fallingbackon C.givingwayto D.leadingupto32.A.widening B.stabilising C.shifting D.peaking33.A.Inthiscontext B.Tothatend C.Intheory D.Bycontrast34.A.focus B.resources C.motivation D.opportunities35.A.dependent B.cautious C.competent D.disadvantaged36.A.predict B.measure C.assure D.promote37.A.predictable B.alarming C.long-lasting D.encouraging38.A.Initiatives B.Factors C.Patterns D.Action39.A.light-heartedabout B.over-pessimisticabout C.mis-informedof D.ill-preparedfor40.A.giveriseto B.giveinto C.comecloseto D.fallvictimto41A.targeted B.unlimited C.enlightened D.intended42.A.presenting B.linking C.subjecting D.exposing43.A.community B.network C.operation D.organisation44.A.capacity B.challenge C.concern D.basis45.A.qualification B.gateway C.permit D.passportSectionBDirections:Readthefollowingpassages.Eachpassageisfollowedbyseveralquestionsorunfinishedstatements.ForeachofthemtherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatfitsbestaccordingtotheinformationgiveninthepassageyouhavejustread.(A)America’sBaldEagles—ARemarkableStoryofSuccessWhenitcomestowildlife,mostnarrativesemphasizecatastropheandspecieslosscausedbyhumanactivity.Soitisrefreshingtoencounterexceptions,andperhapsnostoryismoreinspiringintheUnitedStatesthanthatofthebaldeagle,rescuedfromnearextinction.ItsstatusasAmerica’snationalemblem(国徽)mayhavedrawnattention,butsymbolicrespectalonecouldnotsafeguardthespecies.OriginallywidespreadacrossNorthAmerica,thebaldeaglewasanaturalchoiceforanationalsymbol,withitsimpressivewingspan,commandingpresence,anduniqueassociationwiththecontinent.Yetoverthenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturies,thespeciesfacedconstantthreats.Urbanexpansion,agriculturaldevelopment,andindiscriminatehuntinggraduallyreduceditsnumberstodangerouslylowlevels.Federalprotectionandpublicawarenesscampaignsbecameessentialtopreventcompletecollapse.Akeyfactorintheeagle’sdeclinewaswidespreadpesticideuse,particularlyDDT.Affectedfishdisruptedreproduction,aseagleslaideggswithshellstoofragiletosurvive.Awarenessoftheproblem,broughttonationalattentionbyRachelCarson’sSilentSpring,eventuallyledtothebanningofDDTandmarkedapivotalturningpointinconservationefforts.Toacceleraterecovery,theU.S.FishandWildlifeServicedevelopedacaptive-breedingprogram.Scientistsartificiallyincubated(孵化)initialgroupsofeggs,allowingeaglestoproducefollowinggroupsnaturally,whichsignificantlypromotedpopulationgrowth.Thesejointefforts,alongsidehabitatprotectionandstrictlegalsafeguards,graduallyrestoredthespecies.Today,baldeaglepopulationshavereboundedimpressively.Whilestillclassifiedas“threatened”andprotectedundermultiplefederalstatutes,thespecies’resurgenceillustratesthepowerofsustainedconservation,legislativeaction,andpublicengagement.Theirrecoverystandsasaprooftowhatcanbeachievedwhenhumanstakeresponsibilityforpreservingthenaturalworld.Thestoryofthebaldeagledemonstratesthatevenseverepopulationdeclinescanbereversedwithcarefulplanning,dedicatedeffort,andsocietalcommitment.Itisarareandcompellingexampleofhumaninterventionsuccessfullypreservingbothanationalsymbolandaspeciesonceonthebrinkofextinction.Thebaldeagle’scomebackremindsusthat,withalertnessandcooperation,itispossibletobalancehumanactivitywiththesurvivalofthewild.46.Whatistheauthor’spurposeinmentioningthebaldeaglebeingthenationalemblem?A.Toprovethatthebaldeaglewasmoreimportantthananyotheranimals.B.Toillustratethatthebaldeagle’spopularityledtoitsdecline.C.TosuggestthatitsnearextinctionwascausedbyAmerican’sneglect.D.Toemphasizethatadmirationwasinsufficienttoprotectthespecies.47.Whatdoestheunderlinedphrase“apivotalturningpoint”inpara.3mostlikelyreferto?A.Thefirstscientificdiscoveryoftheharmfuleffectsofpesticides.B.Theintroductionoflawsprotectingendangeredwildlifespecies.C.ThebanonDDTfollowingtheawarenessraisedbySilentSpring.D.ThepublicationofRachelCarson’sbookandherlaterrecognition.48.Whichmeasurecontributedmostdirectlytothepopulationrecoveryofbaldeagles?A.Thebanonpesticideuseinbaldeagles’habitats.B.Thebreedingplanandeggincubationsystem.C.Theimprovementofpublicawarenesscampaigns.D.Sciencewriters’appealtoprotectbaldeagles.49.Whatlargermessagedoestheauthorconveythroughthestoryofthebaldeagle’srevival?A.Restoringnaturerequiresadvancedtechnologyandstrictmanagement.B.Humanefforts,whenconsistentandcollective,canreversegravedamage.C.Symbolicspeciesoftenrecoverfasterbecausetheyattractmoresympathy.D.Environmentalprotectiondependsmainlyonpoliticalwillandlegislation.(B)LivingwithFire:SurvivingtheForestWildfiresofCaliforniaCaliforniawildfirescancausedevastatingdamagetopropertyandhumanlives.Butforplantspeciesthathavelivedforthousandsofyearsinthefire-proneSierraNevada,forestfiresareanexpectedpartofthenaturalenvironment.ThisinfographicintroducesfourdifferentCaliforniaplantspecies,allwithdifferentadaptationstofire.GiantSequoia·SequoiadendrongiganteumThegiantsequoiaisthetypicalexampleofafire-adaptedplantspecies.Oneofthelargesttreesintheworld,giantsequoiasgrowparticularlywellinthemineralsoilexposedbywildfire.Giantsequoiasalsohavethickbarkthatprotectsthemfromlow-severityfires.Becauseyoungertreesmaycatchfireeasily,giantsequoiatreesgrowquicklyasanotheradaptationtofire-proneenvironments.Fire-ResistantBarkMaturetreescanhavebarkupto2feetthick,although6-8inchesismorecommon.Thisspeciesgrowstoaheightof250feet-aboutthewingspanofaBoeing747.SeedGermination(发芽)Giantsequoiaseedsgerminateparticularlywellinmineralsoil—thesoillayerbelowtheneedlesanddecomposedmaterialonforestfloorthatisexposedafterfiresburn.Fireweed·ChamerionangustifoliumAfterawildfire,fireweedisoneofthefirstplantstore-growinburnedareas.Likemanyotherplantsthatgrowinopeningscreatedbyfire,fireweedseedsarespreadbywind.Thisallowstheplanttoreachnewlyburnedareas,eveniftheparentplantisfaraway.Fireweedisanimportantpost-disturbancespeciesbecauseitcanrecyclenutrientsfromburnedsoil.Infact,itwasoneofthemostabundantspeciestorecolonizeMountSt.Helensafterthe1980volcaniceruption.Wind-spreadSeedsEachfireweedplantcanproduce80,000seedsperyear.Thesesmallseedsaredispersedbywind,allowingfireweedtoquicklyestablishcoloniesinnewlydisturbedareas.PonderosaPine·PinusponderosaPonderosapinehasthickbarkplatesthatprotectthetree’sinteriorandhelpthetreesurvivemostfires.Maturetreescanwithstandhigh-severityfires,andevenyoungtreescansurvivelow-intensityfires.Thesetreesalsodroptheirlowerbranchesastheygrow.Withlessfuelneartheground,there’slesschancethatfirewillspreadfromthegroundupintothelivingcanopy(树冠)tree,destroyingthepineneedlesrequiredforphotosynthesis.Finally,ponderosapinetreeshavedeeprootsthatarelesslikelytobedamagedbyfire.Fire-ResistantBarkThebarkofmatureponderosapinetreesisthickandplated.Thisfire-resistantbarkcoversaverymoistcorethatalsohelpstogetridofheatfromwildfires.CaliforniaLilac·CeanothuscordulatusCaliforniaLilacseedsarecoveredbyanextremelyhardseedcoat.Wildfirescrackopenthiscoating,whichthenallowswatertoreachtheseedandbeginthesproutingprocess.Seedlingsseldomsproutifthereisnofiretobegintheprocessofgermination.Infact,Californialilacseedscanlieinactiveforhundredsofyearsuntilthenextwildfire,althoughtheareaswhereCalifornialilacgrowsnaturallyexperiencefireeveryoneortwodecades.BuriedSeedsCaliforniaLilacseedsburiedwithinthesoilcanwithstandfiresashotas220°F(105℃)SoilSeedBankBecauseseedsrequirefiretogerminate,droppedseedsaccumulateinsoil“seedbanks”everyyear.Insomeforests,therearealmost2millionCalifornialilacseedsperacreofsoil.50.Whichofthefollowingisacorrectmatchfortheplantanditsfeatures?A.GiantSequoia:thickbarkandquickgrowth.B.Fireweed:fastregrowthandwind-spreadbranches.C.PonderosaPine:stronglowerbranchesandbigcanopy.D.CaliforniaLilac:hardseedcoatandinactivityafterfires.51.Amountainousregionhasjustexperienceditsfirstmajorwildfireinyears.Thefireburnedextremelyhot,leavingbehinddeeplayersofashandexposedsoil.Theareaisexpectedtoremainopen,withstrongseasonalwindsblowingacrossit.Whichplantwouldmostlikelytorecolonisethisenvironment?A.GiantSequoia. B.Fireweed.C.PonderosaPine. D.CaliforniaLilac52.Wherewouldyoumostlikelyfindtheabovepieceofinformation?A.InatravelguideaboutCaliforniaforests.B.Inagardeningmagazinefocusedondomesticplants.C.InanewspaperreportonrecentCaliforniawildfires.D.Inafieldguideaboutfire-adaptedplants.(C)Forthetimebeingit’sdominant—butastheRomanscouldtellyou,nothinglastsforever.Giventhat1,500languagescoulddisappearbytheendofthiscentury,bysomeestimates,somemayfinditabsurdtoevenaskthisquestion.Englishiscertainlynotontheendangeredlist.Astheonetrulygloballanguage,itismoreoftenlabelledan“exterminator”,ahugeyetslowdinosaurthatunknowinglycrushesunfortunatesmallerlanguagesunderfoot—orundertongue.Thefactis,though,thatnolanguagehasyetprovedeternal.SubjectsoftheRomanorEgyptianempiresmightoncehaveassumedthattheirlanguageswouldlastforever,liketheirdominance,buttheywerewrong.“Englishcouldofcoursedie,justasEgyptiandied,”sayslinguistMartinHaspelmath.Themoreinterestingquestionsare:whenandhow?Predictingthefutureofanylanguageis,mostlinguistsbelieve,anexerciseinquestion.Thecodebywhichwecommunicateissubjecttosomanycomplexandinteractingforcesthatwecan’tdomuchmorethanguess.Still,mostexpertswouldagreeonafewguidingprinciples.Migrationisamajordriveroflanguagechange,asistechnology—thoughthetwocancounteractaswellaspromoteeachother.Somepredictthatinternationalmigrationwillriseastheclimatecrisisintensifies,andtechnologicalrenewalisspeedingup,buttheyaren’ttheonlyfactorsinthemix.Widespreadliteracyandschooling—bothonlyafewhundredyearsold—actasbrakesonlinguisticevolution,byimposingcommonstandards.We’reinunchartedterritory.Englishcouldcomeunderpressureasagloballinguafrancaif,forinstance,IndiadropsEnglishasanofficiallanguage.“Ahundredyearsfromnow,theworldcouldbeverydifferent,”Haspelmathsays.ButEnglishwillstillbespokeninEurope,NorthAmerica,AustraliaandNewZealand,inalllikelihood.Andwehavetodistinguishbetweentwophenomena:theresizingofEnglish’sdominion,anditsowninternalevolution.Englishexiststodayinmanyspokenvariants,justasLatindidbeforeitexplo