2026年河南省郑州市高三二模英语试题 (含答案和音频)

郑州市2026年高中毕业年级第二次质量预测英语试题卷注意事项：本试卷分四部分，考试时间120分钟，满分150分（听力成绩算作参考分）。考生应首先阅读答题卡上的文字信息，然后在答题卡上作答，在试题卷上作答无效。第一部分听力（共两节，满分30分）做题时，先将答案标在试卷上。录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案转涂到答题卡上。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。每段对话读两遍。WhenwillTonypickupHarriet?A.At7:30. B.At8:00. C.At8:30.WhatisMarypleasedwith?A.Gettingtheman’sblessing.B.Havingherbookpublished.C.Beingthebestwriteroftheyear.WhatisDanieldoingnow?A.Planningatour.B.Sharinghisexperiences.C.GivingAnneasuggestion.Wheredoestheconversationprobablytakeplace?A.Overthephone.B.Atthepolicestation.C.IntheLostandFound.Whatarethespeakersmainlytalkingabout?A.Apain. B.Acolleague. C.Amistake.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。Whatbringstroubletotheboy?A.Hisshoes. B.Hisbike. C.Thelake.Whatistheprobablerelationshipbetweenthespeakers?A.Classmates. B.Teacherandstudent. C.Brotherandsister.听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。WhatdidSusan’sgrandmotherwriteabout?A.Italianhistory. B.Dailylife. C.Hiddentreasures.WhatisSusangoingtodowiththediary?A.Hideit. B.Readit. C.Copyit.听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。Whydoesthemanmakethecall?A.Tomakeachange.B.Toreservearoom.C.Toconfirmhisbooking.Whenwillthemancheckout?A.OnJune19. B.OnJune21. C.OnJune23.Whatshouldthemanpay180yuanfor?A.Thepickupservice. B.Theroomrate. C.Thereservationchange.听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。Whatisthewomandoingnow?A.Doinganinterview.B.Takingtheman’sinformation.C.Introducingsomedoctorstotheman.Howmanypeoplearethereintheman’sfamily?A.Two. B.Three. C.Four.Whichdoctorwillthemanregisterwith?A.Dr.JohnWhite.B.Dr.LindaWilliams.C.Dr.JamesNicholson.Whatcanwelearnabouttheman?A.Hehasadaughter.B.Hehasjustmovedhouse.C.Hehaschosenawomandoctor.听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。Whatisthespeaker’sattitudetowardnewtechnology?A.Optimistic. B.Concerned. C.Uncertain.Whathasthespeakerusedforsixyears?A.TheInternet. B.Amobilephone. C.Acomputer.Whatisthefirstindustrythespeakerwouldliketochange?A.Traveling.B.Globaleducation.C.Environmentalprotection.Whatchangewouldthespeakertrytomakeinthefuture?A.Morefoodbeingproduced.B.Airpollutionbeingreduced.C.Technologyproductsbeingcheaper.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。AWordsatYourFingertipsTheLongJourneyofEnglishThisbooktakesusonajourneythroughthehistoryofEnglishtoshowhowitgrewtobetheglobalphenomenonthatweknowtoday.Overtenshortchapterstheauthorexplainsitsglobalspread,startingwiththeoriginofEnglishandfinishingwithanoverviewofhowthelanguagelookstoday,includingitsuseinanincreasinglydigitalworld.PurrietiesofLanguageAfterrulingtheInternet,catsarenowtakingonlinguistics(语言学)!Throughcat-inspiredvarietiesoflanguage,wehavedevelopedarangeofcat-inspiredvocabulary-wetaketheiridentitiesaswepost,write,talk,andchatonsocialmedia.Thisbookprovideslinguisticanalysisoftheonline“Cativerse”.Eachchapterexploresadifferentsociolinguisticphenomenon,drawingonfunandengagingexamplesacrossvariousplatforms.LanguageScienceThisaccessibleguideofferspracticaladviceonhowtotalkaboutlanguagetoarangeofnon-professionals.Itdrawsonthelinguisticsbehindeffectivecommunicationtohelphavecooperativeconversations.Itisillustratedwithawealthofinterestingreal-lifeexamplesenablingyoutomakeyourowninterestinglanguagescienceactivitiestosharewithothers.TheBabelLexiconofLanguageThisbookisanenjoyableintroductiontothekeytermsinvolvedinthestudyoflanguage.Itdefinesover500termsandusespresent-daylanguageexamplestoexplaindifficultissuesinaneasy-to-understandmanner.AuthoredbytheexperteditorialteambehindBabel,thepopularlanguagemagazine,andassumingnoknowledgeoflinguistics,thisbookisaninvaluableresourceforstudents,teachersandanyonewithaninterestinlanguage.WhatisTheLongJourneyofEnglishcenteredon?A.TheEnglishwordusage. B.TherootsofEnglish.C.DifferentformsofEnglish. D.ThedevelopmentofEnglish.WhatdoPurrietiesofLanguageandLanguageSciencehaveincommon?A.Theyprovidefunlanguageexamples.B.Theyanalyzeonlinelanguagetrends.C.Theyoffertipsonlanguagestrategies.D.Theyintroducetheoriesincommunication.WhatisspecialaboutTheBabelLexiconofLanguage?A.Itiswrittenbynativespeakers.B.Itdealswithlanguageexamples.C.Itisintendedforadvancedlearners.D.Itmakesdifficultissuesaccessible.BEstherKimani,apioneerinagritech,ischangingthelivesoffarmersacrossAfrica.AsthefounderofFarmerLifelineTechnologies(FLT),shehasappliedartificialintelligence(AI)tofightagainstcroppests(害虫)anddiseases,significantlyreducinglossesforruralfarmers.Kimani’sjourneybeganinasmallKenyanvillageontheAberdareMountains.Witnessingfirst-handthesevereimpactofpestsanddiseasesontheircrops—andconsequently,theirincome—sheunderstoodearlyhowagriculturallossescouldmeanunmetbasicneedslikeschoolfeesandhealthcare.Despitethesechallenges,Kimanibecamethefirstgirlfromhervillagetoattenduniversity,studyingcomputerscience.Itwastherethatsherecognizedthepotentialoftechnologytosolveruralfarmers’struggles,andthat’showFLTwasborn.InKenyaalone,7.5millionsmallholderfarmersloseupto50%oftheiryields(产量)topestsanddiseasesannually—lossesthatcouldfeedmillions.Traditionalsolutionslikehiringagriculturalconsultantsorusingdrones(无人机)aretooexpensive.Tosolvethiscriticalissue,shedevelopedanAI-poweredcamera,whichissetuponfarmsatnoupfrontcost.ItscanscropscontinuouslyandwarnsfarmersthroughShortMessageService(SMS)whenpestsordiseasesaredetected.AkeyfocusforKimaniissupportingwomenfarmers,whomakeup43%oftheagriculturallaborforceindevelopingnations,butwhooftenlackaccesstotechnology.“Meninruralcommunitiestendtohavesmartphones,whilewomenrelyonbasicfeaturephones,”shenotes.“ThroughSMS,weensurewomenaren’tleftbehind.”Kimani’sinnovationhasalreadyimpactedthousandsoffarmers,78%ofwhomhavereportedayieldincreaseofover36%.Herteamaimstoreach200thousandfarmsacrossthecountrywithin5years.ForKimani,successin2030meansseeing200thousandsmallholderfarmerslivingwithdignity—affordingeducation,healthcare,andfinancialstabilitythroughimprovedyields.Kimaniisnotjustbuildingacompany;she’sreshapingthefutureofAfricanagriculture.WhydidKimaniestablishFLT?A.Tofundruralfarmers. B.ToexpandAIindustry.C.Todecreasecroplosses. D.Toresearchcropvarieties.HowdoestheAIcameraassistfarmers?A.BylinkingthemtoconsultantsB.Bysendingthemearlywarnings.C.Byusingdronestomonitorcrops.D.Bydrivingpestsawayautomatically.WhatisanadvantageofKimani’sinnovation?A.Equalaccessibility. B.Easymaintenance.C.Enormousfoodstorage. D.Personalizedservice.Whatcanbeinferredfromthelastparagraph?A.Financialplansaffectagriculture.B.Kimaniwillaffordfurthereducation.C.Africanagriculturewillemergeasaleader.D.Kimani’screativityfuelsapromisingfuture.CBeingself-employed,Ioftencheckmybankbalance,feelingreliefwhenpaymentsarereceivedandanxietywhenbillsemptymyaccount.Money’supsanddownsstronglyaffectmymood,especiallyduringtheholidays,wheneveryfestivalactivityseemstocomewithapricetag.Despitemyfinancialstability—owningahomewithmywife,lowcosts,andsavings—moneyoftenfeelslikeanemotionalburden.ElizabethHusserl,authorofThePowerofEnough:FindingJoyinYourRelationshipwithMoney,explainsthatmoneyisdeeplypersonal.“Thesameamountmeansdifferentthingsbasedonlifestylesandchoices,”shesays.Risingexpensescancauseanxietyandleadpeopletofocustoomuchonmakingorsavingmoney,takingattentionawayfromotherimportantaspectsoflife.Thispursuitcanharmmentalhealth,creatingalifewheremoneybecomesbothascapegoat(替罪羊)andadistractionfromunmetemotionalneeds.Husserlhighlightsthatwhilefinancialsecurityformsabaseline,moneyalonecannotbringsatisfaction.Somepeoplespendtheirlivessavingwithoutenjoyingthefruitsoftheirlabor,whileothersturntoemotionalspending,likeshopping,todealwithstress,coveringdeeperissueslikelonelinessoralackofpurpose.Truewealth,sheargues,comesfromrecognizingtheseemotionaldrivesandmatchingfinanceswithlifepriorities.Tobuildahealthierrelationshipwithmoney,Husserlrecommendsunderstandingtheemotionalreasonsbehindspending,settingclearpriorities,andredefiningwealth.Practicalstepsincludejournalingaboutfeelingstowardmoneyandtakingthetimetoevaluatethevalueofpurchases.Broadeningthedefinitionofwealthtoincluderelationships,health,andpurposehelpsbalancefinancialgoalswithpersonalwell-being.TalkingtoHusserlshiftedmyview.Whileholidayspendingremainsaconcern,I’vebeguntoseeitastypicalfortheseasonandfeelmoreconfidentinrecoveringfinancially.Thoughmybankappdoesn’talwaysbringjoy,it’sareminderofwhattrulymakesmefeelrich.Whydoesthewritermentioncheckinghisbankbalanceregularly?A.Totrackhissavingsprogress.B.Tomanagehisholidayspending.C.Torelievehisstressaboutfinances.D.Toshowmoney’semotionaleffectonhim.Whatdoesfocusingtoomuchonmoneyleadto?A.Satisfiedlife. B.Emotionalburden.C.Increasedsavings. D.Financialinsecurity.WhatdoesHusserlthinkofemotionalspending?A.It’sastrategyfordealingwithstress.B.It’sanapproachtofinancialpriorities.C.It’satemporaryreliefwithoutresolution.D.It’sawaytomanageemotionalwell-being.Whatisthesecrettobuildingahealthyrelationshipwithmoney?A.Balancingwealthwithpersonalhappiness.B.Settingclearprioritiesforfinancialsecurity.C.Identifyingtheemotionalcausesofspending.D.Focusingonsavingandthevalueofpurchases.DWithgrowingglobalenergydemandsandmountingconcernsoverpollutionandclimatechange,theshifttocleanenergysourcesisimportant.Whilenuclear,wind,andsolarenergyhaveplayedsignificantrolesasalternativestofossilfuels,hydrogenenergyisemergingasakeyplayerinachievingcarbonneutrality(碳中和).AccordingtoProfessorLiuLifeng,hydrogenhasthepotentialtodecarbonizeenergy-intensiveindustries,thuscontributingtonet-zeroemission(排放)goals.However,traditionalhydrogenproductionmethodsareinfamousfortheirsignificantenvironmentalimpact.Acleanerandmoresustainableapproachinvolvesproducinghydrogenfromwaterthroughelectrolysis(电解).Renewableenergy-poweredelectrolysisisapromisingmethodforproducing“green”hydrogen,butfreshwatershortagemaystoplarge-scaleexpansion.Toaddressthischallenge,Liu’steamhaspioneeredawaytoproducehydrogenfromseawater.Seawaterelectrolysis,however,facesproblemsduetothepresenceofmixtures,whichincreaseenergyconsumptionandcausesidereactions.Toovercomethesebarriers,theteamproposedaratheringeniousstrategyinvolvingtheadditionofhydrazine(肼)toseawatertoenhanceefficiency.Additionally,theychoseplatinum-telluriumfoil,ahighlyeffectivecatalyst(催化剂)thatimprovestheprocesswithoutcausingharmfulchemicalsideeffects.Theirinnovativedevicehasproducedpromisingresults.Thismeansthathydrogencanbeproducedfromseawaterwithoutrequiringexternalelectricity,henceloweringproductioncostsandimprovingflexibilityinreal-worldapplications.Despitethissignificantbreakthrough,challengesremain.Platinum,thoughaneffectivecatalyst,isbothcostlyandenvironmentallydamagingtomine.Theteamisactivelyworkingtodevelopnon-platinumcatalyststhatarebothefficientandsustainable.Furthermore,hydrazine,althougheffectiveinreducingenergyconsumption,ishighlyharmfultohumanhealth.Futureresearchwillfocusonidentifyingsaferalternativestohydrazineandfurthermakinguseofthetechnologytoensurecleanandsustainablehydrogenproduction.Whyishydrogenenergyunique?A.Itisrareontheearth.B.Itcostslesstoproduce.C.Itreducescarbonemission.D.Itneedsnotechadvancement.Whatdoestheunderlinedword“ingenious”probablymeaninparagraph3?A.Long-term. B.Brilliant. C.Complicated. D.Conventional.Whatcanwelearnaboutseawaterelectrolysis?A.Hydrazineissafeenoughforwidespreaduse.B.Ithascompletelysolvedthefreshwatershortage.C.Itcanoperateonitsownwithoutneedingenergy.D.Thecurrentcatalystiscostlyandbadfortheenvironment.Whatisthetextmainlyabout?A.Thecombinedimpactsofvariousenergysources.B.Abreakthroughinhydrogenproductionfromseawater.C.Thewaystocutthecostofseawaterhydrogenproduction.D.Thewideapplicationofrenewableenergy-poweredelectrolysis.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。Pothos(绿萝)plantsaretheperfecthouseplants.Theygrowwellwithlittlecare,althoughsomecarewillhelpthemgrowbest.Usethefollowingmethodstoturnyourplantsintofullandthickones.Thefirststepinencouragingyourpothosplantstogrowfasteristoprovidethemwithalargerhome.36Youcanstartbyremovingyourplantsfromtheircontainers.Prepareanewcontainerbyplacingfreshsoilinthebottom.Setyourplantsontop,andbackfillthesoilsoitcoverstheroots.Waterwell.Boom!Yourplantshaveanewhome.Aftertransplanting,checkthevines(藤蔓)andlookforlongoneswithfewleaves.Cuttingthembackgivesyounewpiecestogrowmoreplants.Startbyremovingthelowerleavesfromeachcutting,leavingoneortwoleavesonthestems(茎).37Thishouseplantgrowswellineither.Whilelargechangeslikecuttingandtransplantinghelppothosgrowthickerandfuller,sodosmallpracticeslikewatering.38Keepawateringroutine,anduseyourfingertocheckhowwetthesoilisbeforeaddingmorewater.Ifitfeelsdryaboutaninchortwodeep,it’stimetowater;ifit’sstillslightlywet,waitalittlelongertoavoidoverwatering,whichcanharmtherootsandslowgrowth.39Pothosvinesappreciatebrightindirectlightindoorstopromotehealthygrowth.Ifyourwindowlacksbrightindirectsunlight,tryusinggrowlightstohelptheplantsgrowindarkrooms.Fertilizing(施肥)alsobenefitsthesevines.Besuretoaddfertilizertoyourpothosfollowingtheinstructionscarefully,astherightamountcanhelppromotehealthygrowth.40Yourplantswillthankyouwithbrightgreenandshinyleavesthatstayonthevinesforalongtime.A.Placethelowerpartsinsoilorwater.B.Then,positiontheplantsclosertolight.C.Dosotwiceayearduringthegrowingseason.D.Repottingallowsthemtohavemorespaceandnutrients.E.Yelloworbrownleavesanddrysoilindicateathirstyplant.F.Nevertheless,theystillappreciatebrightlighttogrowtheirbest.G.Trytokeepthestemsunhurt,butdonotworryifanypartsfalloff.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四个选项中选出最佳选项。 Ilookatthenotebooksinfrontofme,whosecoversholdpagesofslightlydifferentshadesofwhite.Theywerefilledwithscribbles(潦草的字)ofinformational __41__andshortstoriesinChinese.ItstartedwithtextbooksmailedtousbyacousininChina,filledwithlittlenotesthatofferedaquicklookintoschoollifethere—alifeso__42__,yetsodifferentfrommyAmericanexperience.Thesebooksbecamemy__43__inreadingandwritingChinese.Hourafterhourthroughoutmostofmychildhood,Icopiedtextsoverandover.Theybecamethebuildingblocksthat__44__myproficiency(熟练)farabovemyclassmates’.Thecostwasthepaininmyfingers,whichturnedintoalasting__45__ofthecharactersinstead.NowInolongercopytextbooks.Imaintainmyproficiencyinthelanguagebybeing__46__intheexcitingworldofonlinenovels.ManyofmyChineseAmericanfriendsdon’tsharethesame__47__inreading.It’sabitheartbreakingthatIcan’tfullysharethebeautyandcomplexityofChinesewithmyfriends.ButwestillhavefunspeakingMandarin(普通话)sometimes.There’ssomethingespeciallyamusingabouthearinghighschoolerswhocan__48__polishedEnglishessaysusingsimple,childishMandarinphrases.Andit’s__49__,too,asmallescapefromthestressofschool,inalanguagethatremindsusofour__50__.PeopleoftendescribeNewYorkasameltingpotofcultures,butit’s__51__toknowthatinthisbusycity,there’salsoaplaceformeandthelanguageI__52__inside.WalkingthroughChinatown,IcanseebeyondtheEnglishtranslationsofshopsignsandunderstandthemeaninghiddenbeneath.Itfeelslikebeingletinonaspecialsecret,awayto__53__aclose-knitcommunityandfindamomentof__54__.WhenI’mridingbackonthebusafteralongtrip,thesightofbrightsignswritteninfamiliarcharacterstellsmemorethanwhat’sforsale-ittellsmeI’m__55__.A.clues B.texts C.drawings D.signsA.attractive B.simple C.unique D.similarA.teachers B.goals C.guidelines D.partnersA.witnessed B.demonstrated C.boosted D.accessedA.memory B.secret C.desire D.experienceA.trapped B.included C.absorbed D.occupiedA.passion B.practice C.patience D.tasteA.study B.write C.improve D.publishA.unimaginable B.influential C.impressive D.heartwarmingA.roots B.textbooks C.characters D.responsibilitiesA.appealing B.necessary C.comforting D.possibleA.develop B.speak C.carry D.hideA.connectwith B.integrateinto C.contributeto D.careforA.calm B.excitement C.relief D.successA.abroad B.somewhere C.alone D.home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。Yiwu:TheWorld’sSupermarketYiwu,widely56(know)as“theWorld’sSupermarket”,islocatedintheheartofZhejiangprovince.Overthepastfourdecades,it57(become)alivelyglobaltradecenter,illustratingChina’srapideconomicgrowthandopening-up.AtitscoreliesthesoulofYiwu—YiwuInternationalTradeCity,theworld’slargestwholesalemarketforsmallgoods,58vastcomplexstretchesover6.4millionsquaremetersandhousesmorethan75,000stands.Here,itoffersmorethan2.1millioncategoriesofproducts,rangingfromcommondailyneedsandfashionaccessories(配饰)59thelatestfestivedecorationsandelectronicdevices.It60(estimate)thatnearly80%oftheworld’sfestivesuppliescomefromthismarket.Yiwu’sreachistrulyglobal.Itmaintainsclosetradetieswithover230countriesandregions.Eachyear,itattractsmorethan560,000overseasmerchants.Around18,000foreignbusinesspeoplelivepermanentlyinthecity,makingita61(high)internationalcommunity.Itstotalimportsandexportskeephittingnewhighs,withcross-bordere-commerceanddigitaltradedrivingrapidgrowth.Furthermore,theYiwu-EuropeRailwayExpressservesasavitallogistics(物流)link,whichoffersregulargoodsservicestodozensofcountriesacrossAsiaandEurope,thus62(establish)efficientandcost-effectivetraderoutes.WhattrulysetsYiwuapartisitsspiritofconstantinnovationand63(open).Itsjourneystartedwiththetraditionalexchangeoflocalresourceslikefeathersforsugar.Today,ithasdevelopedintoamodern,digitalizedtradinggiantthatconnectsmillionsofChinesemakerswithinternationalmarkets.Morethanjustamajortradingcity,YiwuoffersaclearviewofChina’sgrowingprivateeconomy64therealresultsofitsreformandopening-uppolicy.Lookingahead,Yiwucontinuestobuild65(strong)tiesaroundtheworld,creatingmorenewopportunitiesforChinaanditstradingpartnerstogrowandbenefittogether.第四部分写作（共两节，满分40分）第一节（满分15分）你校英文报“Sports&Health”专栏正在征集题为“Sportshavebenefitedmealot”的稿件，请用英语写一篇短文投稿，内容包括：你坚持的一项体育运动；该运动给你带来的益处；向同学们发出运动倡议。注意：写作词数应为80个左右；请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。Sportshavebenefitedmealot第二节（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。MynameisHelen,amiddle-agedBritishwoman.Ihadgonethroughseveraldifficultmonthsandendedupfeelingterriblylow.Therefore,themomentIsawanadvertisementfortrialflyinglessonswhilepassingtheairfield,Iwentaheadandbookedonewithoutdelay.ItwassomethingIhadalwaysdreamedoftrying,andIhopeditmightliftmyspiritsalittlebit.Ithoroughlyenjoyedmytriallesson—evenmorethanIhadexpected—andsoonbookedmore.Likemanybeforeme,Ifoundflyinganairplanetobeaddictive.Ittookmymindoffmytroubles.Bytheendofthatsummer,Ihadsecuredmyprivatepilot’slicenseandbegantakinglocalflightsjustforfun.ThenIdecidedtogivehelicopters(直升机)atry,onlytofindIenjoyedthemevenmore.So,despitehavingpromisedallmyfriendsthatIwouldn’tpursueitfurther,Iendedupearningmyprivatepilot’slicenseforhelicoptersaswell.Beforelong,Iwasrentingsmallhelicoptersandtakingfriendsforrides.ButhelicopterflyinginBritainisveryexpensive,andIknewIcouldn’tkeepitupforeverasjustahobby.Iwasawarethatmanypeopleatourlocalairfieldweretakingcommercialflyingexams—someaimingtobecomecommercialpilots,andothershopingtobecomeinstructors.Thatgavemeanidea:maybe,justmaybe,Icouldbecomeahelicopterinstructormyself.Thatway,Icouldflyforfreeandevengetpaidforit.Iwentaheadwithmyplanprettyquickly,butIwasn’tpreparedforsomeofthereactionsIgot.Myfriendscouldn’tbelieveIwasserious.Mybossatworksaid,“Oh,don’tbesilly,Helen!Youcan’tpossiblybecomeacommercialhelicopterpilot.”Thatwasclearlywhatotherswerethinkingtoo—theywerejusttoopolitetosayitoutloud.Atfirst,Ithoughtitwasbecauseofmyage.Afterall,Iwaswellover40,whichisn’tthetypicaltimeto