安徽省部分校联考2025-2026学年高二英语下学期3月开学考试

注意事项：

1.答题前，务必将自己的个人信息填写在答题卡上，并将条形码粘贴在答题卡上的指定位置。

2.回答选择题时，选出每小题答案后，用铅笔把答题卡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。

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2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。

例：Howmuchistheshirt?

A.£19.15.B.£9.18.C.£9.15.

答案是C。

1.Howmuchisthedresstoday?

A.$80.B.$100.C.$120.

2.Whatdayisittoday?

A.Saturday.B.Friday.C.Thursday.

3.Wheredoestheconversationprobablytakeplace?

A.Inacar.B.Intheman’shouse.C.Inanoffice.

4.Howdoesthewomansound?

A.Proud.B.Impatient.C.Pleased.

5.Whatisthemanprobablydoingnow?

A.Schedulinganappointment.

B.Makingacomplaint.

C.Orderingaproduct.

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.Whatrequiresmoreattentionaccordingtothespeakers?

A.Mentalhealth.B.Professionalskills.C.Teamattitudes.

7.Howhasthewomanimprovedherhealth?

A.Byfollowingdoctors’advice.

第1页/共24页

B.Bydoingmoreexercise.

C.Bychangingthediet.

听第7段材料，回答第8至10题。

8.Wherearethespeakersprobably?

A.Inahospital.B.Athome.C.Inarestaurant.

9.Whatwillthemando?

A.Takeadayoff.B.Drinksomewater.C.Makeacall.

10.Whatwasthewoman’soriginalplanfortoday?

A.Todosomeshopping.

B.TohavedinnerwithBob.

C.TohelpAbbywithherwork.

听第8段材料，回答第11至14题。

11.Whatarethespeakersdoing?

A.Exploringatown.B.Planningaproject.C.Discussingareport.

12.Whowillberesponsibleforthelocaldocuments?

A.Sharon.B.Ben.C.Vivian.

13.Whatdoesthemanoffertodo?

A.Findalibrarian.

B.Helpcontactorganizations.

C.Decideonalistofinterviewees.

14.Wherewillthespeakersgotogettheoldmapsofthetown?

A.Thepubliclibrary.B.Thecommunitycenter.C.Therecordsoffice.

听第9段材料，回答第15至17题。

15.Whatistherelationshipbetweenthespeakers?

A.Guideandtourist.

B.Bossandemployee.

C.Interviewerandinterviewee.

16.Whatdoesthemandecidetodo?

A.Learnaboutfirstaid.B.Setoffonedayearlier.C.Cycletothecompany.

17.Whichisamustfortheman’stalk?

A.Notes.B.Slides.C.Advancedequipment.

听第10段材料，回答第18至20题。

18.Whatisthespeakertryingtodo?

A.Introducenewstudentstothecampus.

B.Provideinformationforvisitingresearchers.

C.Advertiseacollegeinthelocalcommunity.

19.Whichdepartmenthasthelargestnumberofstudents?

第2页/共24页

A.TheFrenchdepartment.B.TheRussiandepartment.C.TheEnglishdepartment

20.Whyarethelistenerspreventedfromtouringthereadingroomsnow?

A.Tolimitthenumberofvisitors.

B.Toavoidaffectingthereaders.

C.Toensurethesafetyofthem.

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，并在答题卡上将该

项涂黑。

A

VirginiaTechisinvitingsecond-andfifth-gradestudentstoparticipateinanewchild-

developmentstudy

organizedbytheHumanDevelopmentandFamilyScienceDepartment.Theprojectfocusesonhow

children

developliteracy(读写能力),math,self-regulation,andexecutive-function(执行功能)skills.

Researchersare

especiallyinterestedinhowdailyexperiencesshapetheseskills,soteachersandparentscan

betterhelpkidswith

theirlearning.

Tohelpfamiliesplantheirparticipation,thestudyteamprovidesthefollowingactivityschedule:

DateTimeActivityLocation

10:00—

2026/3/06ReadingVTBlacksburgCampusLab

11:00

13:00—

2026/3/13Legobuilding&mathVTRoanokeEarlyLearningLab

14:00

10:00—

2026/3/20TheiPadlearninggamesChildren’sHome(on-sitevisit)

11:00

15:00—

2026/3/23Executive-functiontestsVTLearningLabAnnex

16:00

Familieswhowishtoparticipateareaskedtocompleteanonlineformavailableatbit.

ly/VTLearningStudy.

com.Registration(注册)isopenonarollingbasis,andconfirmationwillbesentbyemailwithin

threeworking

days.Thisregistrationstepisneededforschedulingthesession(环节).

Duringtheproject,eachchildwillcompleteone60-minutevideo-recordedsession.During

thesession,

childrenwillbuildwithLego,readshortpassages,solvemathproblems,playiPadlearninggames,

andtakepartin

第3页/共24页

theHead-Toes-Knees-Shouldersactivity.Parentswillalsofinishtwo15-minutesurveysabout

theirchild’s

backgroundanddailyroutines.Participantswillreceivea$20electronicgiftcardafterthis

project.Foradditional

questions,pleasecontactIsabelValdiviaatlearnlab@vt.edu.

1.Whatisthepurposeofthestudy?

A.Toratechildren’sliteracy.

B.Tocomparestudents’learningabilities.

C.Tomeasuretheinfluenceofhands-onactivities.

D.Toexploretheeffectdailyexperienceshaveonchildren.

2.WhichactivitywilltakeplaceatChildren’sHome?

A.Reading.B.Legobuildingmath.

C.TheiPadlearninggames.D.Executive-functiontests.

3.Whataretheparticipantsrequiredtodo?

A.Makeapayment.

B.Registeronthegivenwebsite.

C.Filmtheirdailyroutinesinadvance.

D.Finishasurveyaftertheproject.

【答案】1.D2.C3.B

B

Lastspring,JacobParkertoldhisfriendsapieceofunexpectednews.Hismom,IllanaZauderer,

wouldbea

studentoncampusinthefall.“Thatwasfine,”theytoldhim.“Wethinkofthesecondyearof

collegeasourSeason

2—withherplayingtheroleofthegueststar.”

Beforeenteringtheone-yearmaster’sprograminpolicy,organization,andleadershipstudiesin

theGraduate

SchoolofEducation,Zauderertaughtmathandvocalmusicandrananeducationconsultingbusiness.

Butbefore

that,shewasanactorandsinger,appearinginStanford’s1991studentproductionofIntothe

Woods.Parkertried

outforthesamemusicalthroughthemusicdepartmentlastspring.Fortunately,forsomereason,

themusical’s

casting(选角)didn’tstartuntilsummer,andhesawanopportunityforhismom.

AndthatwashowZaudererandParkertooktheirrarestatusasparentandchildperforming

togetherinthe

samemusicalthatparentstarredin34yearsbeforeandthatchildwatchedrepeatedlyonVHS.In

threeJanuary

shows,ParkerplayedtheNarrator.Zauderer,whoplayedtheWitchwhenshewasincollege,played

theover40

rolesthistime,includingGrannyandCinderella’sMother.

Outsideoffallquarterrehearsals(排练),thetwosaweachotheraboutonceaweek—

sometimesfor

scheduledcatch-upsovercoffeeandothertimesbychance.Theytookturnsbeingtheresident

Stanfordexpert.

ParkerreviewedZauderer’sapplicationessayandhelpedherwithonlinecoursesign-up.Zauderer

contributedher

superiorknowledgeofthecampus.“Well,mostly,IhadtoshowherwhereLathropLibraryis,”Parker

says.“There’

snoLathrop!”Zaudereronceinsisted.

“We’vehadoursharedexperiences,andwe’vebeenabletogiveeachotheratasteof

ourindividual

experiences,”Parkersays.“It’sbeenreallyfuntointroduceMomtoalotofthesmaller

communitiesthatarejust

sotight-knit,”Parkersays,asZauderertearsup.

4.HowdidParker’sfriendsreacttoZauderer’sreturningtothecampus?

A.Theyconsidereditanexcitingaddition.

B.Theywereworriedaboutitsinfluence.

C.Theyshowedlittleinterestinit.

D.Theyfeltdoubtfulaboutit.

5.WhatmadeitpossibleforZauderertojointhemusicalagain?

A.Shewasanexperiencedsinger.

BThemusicalneededolderactors.

C.Thecastingwasputoffunexpectedly.

D.Hersondesiredtoperformwithher.

6.WhatcanwelearnaboutParkerandZauderer?

A.Theystruggledtokeepawork-studybalance.

B.Theymetonceaweekforcoffeeduringtherehearsal.

C.Zaudererplayedagrannyinthemusical34yearsearlier.

D.ParkerassistedZaudererwithhercollegeapplicationmatters.

7.Whydoestheauthorwritethetext?

A.Tocomparetwogenerationsofstudents.

BTodescribeauniquemother-sonexperience.

C.ToexplainhowtojoinamusicalatStanford.

D.Todiscussthechallengesofreturningtostudy.

【答案】4.A5.C6.D7.B

C

Nearly90%ofU.S.statesarefailingtoproperlyaddressplasticpollution,indicatingclearly

asystemfailure

inanewreportbytheOceanConservancy.TheU.S.generates40millionmetrictonsofplasticwaste

everyyear,

orabout287poundsperperson.Andeveryyear,thatmountainofwastegrowsbyanother11

milliontons

worldwide.

Wedon’tlackawarenessoftheissue.Instead,we’veemployedstrategiesthatdon’twork.

Whileplasticshave

changedmodernlifewiththeirvarioususes,ourwastemanagementsystemshaveneverdevelopedto

dealwith

them.Theresult:blockedrivers,growinglandfills,andalotofineffectivestatepolicies.

TakeMississippi—withalmostnolawsaddressingplasticwaste.TheMississippiRiver,the

largestwatershed

intheU.S.,hasbecomeamajorpipelineforpollutiontogointotheGulfofMexico.Meanwhile,

Californiahas

invested(投资)heavilyinlawsandbans,butatahigheconomiccostandwithlimitednationwide

impact.

Recycling,oftenadvertisedasthebasisofcircularity(循环),isfailingus.Aroundthe

world,only9%of

plasticisactuallyrecycled.That’sbecausethecurrentsystemdependsonunrealisticlevels

ofsortingatthe

householdlevel.Ifanyitemispollutedwithleftoverfoodorthelastdropsofabeautyproduct,it

islikelytoendup

inthelandfill.EveninEurope,withmoreadvancedinfrastructure(基础建设),thevastmajorityof

plasticwasteis

stillabandoned.

Fornearlythreeyears,negotiations(协商)havebeenunderwayfortheGlobalPlasticsTreatyto

addressplastic

wastebyupliftingcirculareconomies.Nodealhasbeenagreeduponyet,butwearewatchingclosely

toseewhat

willhappenafterthenegotiationsfinishnextweek.Eveniftheyaresuccessful,it’smanifestthat

policyalonewon’

tsolvethisproblem.Whatweneedistechnologythatworkssmoothlywithexistingconsumerbehavior

andmarket

forces.

Ratherthanhopeconsumerschangetheirhabitsorwaitforgovernmentstoact,weneedto

upgrade

innovationsthatprocessallwaste,includingtheunsortedandorganic,andchangeitintoaproduct

that’sactually

useful.That’swhatweneed:notmoreclean-upcampaigns,butrealcircularsolutions.

8.Howdoestheauthorpresenttheissueinparagraph1?

A.Bypresentingfigures.B.Byexplainingaconcept.

C.Bygivingexamples.D.Bystatingcauseandeffect.

9.WhatdoestheauthortrytoshowbymentioningCalifornia?

A.Theimportanceofplasticrecycling.

B.Theineffectivenessofsomestrategies.

C.Thenecessityofmakinglaws.

D.Theharmofplasticpollution.

10.Whatdoestheunderlinedword“manifest”inparagraph5probablymean?

A.Clear.B.Necessary.C.Fitting.D.Surprising.

11.Whatistheauthor’ssuggestionforsolvingplasticpollution?

A.Guideconsumerstodevelopwaste-sortinghabits.

B.Carryoutclean-upmovementswithrecyclingorganizations.

C.Improveinnovationstoturnthewasteintousefulproducts.

D.Pushgovernmentstoinvestinwastetreatmenttechnology.

【答案】8.A9.B10.A11.C

D

Soda,extremelysweetandnutritionallyempty,issubjecttotaxation(征税)inan

increasingnumberof

regions.Nowadays,morethan35countriesand7citiesintheUnitedStateshavecarriedoutatax

onsodaand

othersugar-sweetenedbeverages(饮料),apolicydrivenbymountingpublichealthanxietiesover

diet-related

diseases.

IntheUnitedStates,nearly40percentofadultsareobese(肥胖的),whichadds$147billion

tothenation’s

yearlyhealthcarespending,accordingtotheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.Theproblem

iscomplex,

butthewidespreadintakeoffoodspackedwithaddedsugarthataddscalorieswhileproviding

noessential

nutrientsplaysamajorrole,withbeveragesaccountingfornearlyhalftheaddedsugarinthe

Americandiet.

Publichealthresearchersregardsodataxasalow-hangingfruitinthebattleagainsthealth

problemssuchas

obesity.Theseresearchersarguethatunlikeotherpublichealthpoliciesthatrequirelong-term

educationand

gradualbehaviorchange,sodataxcandirectlyinfluencepeople’sspendingdecisionsby

increasingthecostof

unhealthybeverages.

BehavioralscientistChristinaRobertofromUPennnotestaxesareamongthemosteffective

policiesto

changeunhealthyeatinghabitsassuchtaxationhaslongbeenproventohavecutpublichealthrisks

fromalcohol

andtobaccouse.Yetsodataxmayfallshortofadvocates’goals.Currenttaxratesareoftentoo

insignificantto

reachthepricelevelneededtochangepurchasingbehavior.Consumersmayreplacesugarybeverages

withother

calorie-richbutnutrient-poorfoods,orsimplycrosscityborderstobuyuntaxedsodainneighboring

areas.

Whilebeveragetaxcancutdownonsugarybeverageconsumption,healthgainswon’tcomeeasy

andwill

taketime.Drawingontheexperienceoftobaccoandalcoholtaxes—oncefacedwithopposition

fromthe

industries—expertssuggestthatsodataxshouldbepairedwithculturalchanges,likehow

anti-smokinglaws

eventuallydecreasedtobaccointake.Onlybycombiningpolicieswithgrowingpublicperceptions(理

解)canwe

makesodataxtrulyeffective.

12WhatistheprimarydriverofthehighobesityrateintheUnitedStates?

A.Theinsufficiencyofdiseaseprevention.

B.Thelackofimportantnutrientintake.

C.Theincapabilityofhealthcaresupport.

D.Theoverconsumptionofsugaryfoods.

13.Whatdoesparagraph3mainlyfocuson?

A.Theseverityofhealthproblems.

B.Thepracticabilityofsodatax.

C.Theexistingpoliciestofightobesity.

D.Theresearchers’differentattitudestosodatax.

14.Whymaysodataxfailtoachieveitsexpectedeffect?

A.Peoplecan’taffordthetaxpayments.

B.Peopleknowwellaboutsoda’sharm.

C.Itisunabletochangepeople’schoices.

D.Sugarybeveragesareonlysoldinsomeareas.

15.Whatcanbedonetomakesodataxeffective?

A.Makinglong-termhealthcarestrategies.

B.Joininghandswithcertainindustries.

C.Cuttingdownsugarybeveragesupplies.

D.Attachingimportancetosocialawareness.

【答案】12.D13.B14.C15.D

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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

选项中有两项为多余选项。

Itissaidthatthemostimportantrelationshipyouhaveistheonewithyourself.Your

thoughtsandactions

haveapowerfuleffectonyourinner(内心的)emotionalstate.____16____Followingthemand

stickingtoyour

values,youcanlearntobeyourownbestfriend.

Whiletherearemanywaystoshowyourselflove,youcanstartoffbyconsideringyourhealth

first.Thatcan

determinehowyouexperiencelifeitself.Practiceself-pityandmakesureyourinnervoiceisa

kindoneaswell.

Talktoyourselfasifyouwouldspeaktoafriend.____17____

Anotherpositivestepyoucantakeislisteningtoyourneedsanddesires(欲望).Inlife,you

maymeetpeople

withdifferentgoalsandneeds.____18____Byvaluingyourneeds,youprovideyourselfwithyourown

recognition,

insteadoflookingforothers’recognition.Rememberingthisisthekeytofindingproperpartners,

friends,careers,

andlifestylesbecauseyourvaluesanddesiresmatter.

____19____Soworktowardaprojectthatlightsyouup,ratherthansearchingonsocialmedia,and

makesure

torestinsteadofsaying“yes”toeveryinvitation.Thinkabouthowyouwouldwanttospendyour

timeifyouhad

moreofit,andcreatemomentstodojustthat.

Makesuretoalsosurroundyourselfwithpeoplewhoencourageyou.Healthyrelationshipsarelike

sunlightto

aplant—theyhelpyougrowintherightdirection.____20____Atthesametime,it’simportant

toletgoofties

thatnolongerhelpyou.Anddon’tholdontorelationshipsoutofguilt(内疚).

A.Youareabletodorightthings.

B.Respectingyourtimeequallymatters.

C.Yetthatdoesn’tmakeyoursanylessimportant.

D.Changeharmfulself-talkwithencouragingwords.

E.Practiceself-loveandchangeyourlifebysomesimplesteps.

F.Giveyourenergytothosewhobringyoupeace,support,andlove.

G.Bycaringaboutwhatothersthinkofyou,youcanmakeyourselfmorepopular.

【答案】16.E17.D18.C19.B20.F

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，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

Inmostteachers’eyes,Tomwasa“troublemaker”.Hisworkbookswerealways____21____,andin

class,he

oftenpassednotestostudentssittingattheback.Whenteacherstalkedabouthim,theywould

showgreat

____22____.Tomwasusedtothat____23____.Hetriedtocausetroubleonpurposebecauseheassumed

noone

____24____him.

However,something____25____whenhewasinGradeEight.Onemorning,Ms.Su,anewteacher,

asked

everyonetoreadthetext.WhenitwasTom’s____26____,theclassroombecamequiet

immediately.Some

studentsheldbacktheirlaughter,____27____toseeTommakeafoolofhimself—everyoneknew

Tomcould

____28____knowthe26Englishletters.Tomhunghisheadandwouldnotspeak.Ms.Sudidn’t

____29____him.

Instead,shepushedthetextbooktohim____30____,andsaid,“I’llreaditonce,andyou

____31____me,okay?”

Hervoicewasquietandsoft,freeofteasing(取笑),justfullof____32____.

After____33____foralongtime,Tomfinallyopenedhismouth.Hethoughtitsoundedterrible,

buttohis

surprise,Ms.Sunoddedwithasmile.Atthatmoment,thetoughshellwascrackedopenalittle.

Tombegantopayattentiontohis____34____.Hewouldhelpclassmateswhentheywerein

troubleand

workedhard.Yearslater,Tomwasadmittedtohisdreamuniversityandevenbecameavolunteerto

helpthosein

need.Hefinally____35____thattruekindnessislikewhatMs.Sudid:breakingdownprejudice

(偏见)with

gentlenessandawakeningcouragewithtrust.

21.A.orderlyB.unavoidableC.unfinishedD.old

22.A.curiosityB.disappointmentC.reliefD.imbalance

23.A.reputationB.excuseC.awardD.schedule

24.A.commentedonB.gaveupC.lookedforD.caredabout

25.A.changedB.returnedC.failedD.continued

26.A.choiceB.turnC.promiseD.plan

27.A.regrettingB.offeringC.waitingD.fearing

28.A.skillfullyB.possiblyC.surelyD.hardly

29.A.rushB.stopC.refuseD.guide

30.A.carelesslyB.silentlyC.impatientlyD.nervously

31.A.correctB.scoreC.helpD.follow

32.A.encouragementB.prideC.confidenceD.gratitude

33.A.comparingB.hesitatingC.researchingD.arguing

34.A.goalB.dutyC.behaviorD.ability

35.A.imaginedB.expectedC.explainedD.understood

【答案】21.C22.B23.A24.D25.A26.B27.C28.D29.A30.

B

31.D32.A33.B34.C35.D

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，并将答案填写在答题卡上。

Underthetheme“FashionTransformation:CoexistenceinDiversity”,the2025GlobalFashion

Conference

____36____(hold)inDongguaninSouthChina’sGuangdongProvinceonNovember16.Theevent

gathered

designers,scholarsandbusinessrepresentativesfrom25countriesandregions,includingItaly,the

UK,andSpain,

inanattempt____37____(explore)pathsforindustrysymbiosis(共生)inatimewhenuncertaintyis

____38____

(global)experienced.

JuanPares,presidentoftheInternationalTextileManufacturersFederation,highlighted

challengessuchas

weakdemandandasloweconomic____39____(recover)causedbymarketvolatility(波动性)and

information

overload.Hestressedthatstrategiccooperation,sustainabledevelopment,greensupplychains

____40____digital

applicationswereessentialforbuildingindustryadaptability.ThepresidentoftheChina

NationalTextileand

ApparelCouncilpointedoutthattheglobalapparelindustryplayedakeyroleinemployment,growth

andcultural

exchange,while____41____(face)greatchangesthatweredrivenbytradebarriers,AIand

theriseof

sustainabilityasacorevalue.

Duringtheconference,design____42____(pioneer)fromChina,Italy,theUKandFrancediscussed

cultural

diversity,branduniquenessanddesigninclusivity.Theirdiscussion,____43____reachedbeyond

styletrendsto

callforareturntothecorevalueofdesign,formedalongexchange.Diverseviewswerepresented,

comparedand

integratedacrossmultipleculturalbackgrounds,____44____theaimoffiguringouthowdesign

couldguidethe

industrytowardcreativity_____45_____(ground)inrespectandopencommunication.

【答案】36.washeld

37.toexplore

38.globally

39.recovery

40.and41.facing

42.pioneers

43.which44.with

45.grounded

第四部分写作（共两节，满分40分）

第一节（满分15分）

46.假定你是李华，你的英国网友George对你校开设的劳动课程很感兴趣。请给他写封邮件，内容包括：

1.课程介绍；

2.你的看法。

注意：1.写作词数应为80个左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

DearGeorge,

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________

Yours,

LiHua

【答案】DearGeorge,

I’mgladyou’reinterestedinourschool’slaborcourse.Itcoverspracticalskillslike

plantingvegetables,doing

housework,andmakinghandcrafts.Wehaveittwiceaweek,whichhelpsuslearntotakeresponsibility.

Inmyopinion,thiscourseisverymeaningful.Itnotonlyenrichesourschoollifebutalso

teachesususeful

lifeskillsthatwecan’tlearnfrombooks.Forexample,I’velearnedtocooksimpledishesand

growplants,which

givesmeasenseofachievement.Itrulybenefitalotfromit.

Yours,

LiHua

第二节（满分25分）

47.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。

MiaandIwerealwaystogetherfromthethirdgrade.Wewereliketwohalvesofasinglesoul,

connectedby

secretsweshared,sleepingateachother’shouseatnight,andbothlovingthesunsetsbytheold

oaktreenearthe

stream.Afterherfamilymovedthreeblocksawayinmiddleschool,westillwalkedtoschoolevery

morning,our

schoolbagsswingingtogether.Onweekends,wetookcareofthevegetablesweplantedinherbackyard.

Whenmy

momdecidedtokeepSpunk,thethinlittledogwefoundoutsidethefoodstore,Miawasthefirst

personItold.

Twoyearslater,IhelpedhernameherdogTanka,afterherlittlebrother’sbaseballname.Our

livesweresoclose

thatIneverthoughtwewouldstoptalkingtoeachother.

That