2026年全国高考英语真题1卷

2026年普通高等学校招生全国统一考试（全国I卷）英语第一部分阅读理解（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。ALosAngelesisfamouslyknownforitssun,surfandcelebrities,butthecity’srichhistoryinsportsisthecherryontop.Sinceitsopeningin2020,SoFiStadiumhascontinuedtosetthestandardfortheentertainmentandfanexperience.StillthenewestintheNFL,SoFiStadiumisthehomevenueforboththeLosAngelesRamsandChargers,aswellastheannualLABowlincollegefootball.AreyouplanningyourtriptoLosAngelesandhopingtostopbySoFiStadium?We’rehappytoanswerallyourburningquestions.HereiseverythingyouneedtoknowaboutSoFiStadium,includingafullscheduleofupcomingeventsthatwillbeheldatthevenue.SoFiStadiumparkingoptionsandcostThereareseveralparkingoptionsatSoFiStadium.YoucanbookparkinginadvanceviaParkWhiz,anappthatallowsyoutopurchaseparkingpassesforspecificeventsatSoFiStadium.Purchasingaparkingpassinadvancehelpstoavoidhigherparkingratesonsite.Parkinglotswillopenapproximately4to5hoursbeforethestartofRamsandChargershomegames.(SpecifictimesforothereventscanbefoundontheSoFiStadiumwebsite.)Entrygateswillopen2to3hourspriortokickoff.ParkingatSoFiStadiumcancostbetween$50and$100,dependingonthetypeofpassandwhereyoupark.Tailgatingispermittedatthefollowing“pink”lots:H,I,J,P,andQ.Ifyouarelookingtonavigateyourwaytoaspecificlot,usethesedirectionstofindyourwayaroundSoFiStadium.SoFiStadiumtransportation,rideshareandtaxioptionsTherearealsoseveralpublictransportationoptionsforfanslookingtoavoidparkingatSoFiStadiumongamedays.TheCityofInglewoodOperatedParkandRideprogramoffersoff-siteparkingwithashuttlethatrunsevery15minutestoandfromthestadium.GTrans,TorranceTransitandtheMetroCLinearealsooptionsforhands-freetransportation.Formoreinformationonservicetimesandpick-upanddrop-offlocations,visittheSoFiStadiumwebsite.HotelsnearSoFiStadiumThereareplentyofhotelsintheareasurroundingSoFiStadium.Foraprimelocation,checkoutSonderLumHotelrightacrossthestreetfromthestadium,ortheUSCHotel,whichisacoupleofmilesnorthbytheUSCcampus.OtheroptionsincludetheLAXairporthotels,liketheHamptonInn,HiltonorHolidayInnExpress.AllofthesearewithinthreemilesofSoFiStadiumandoffercomfortableaccommodationsforasimplertravelexperience.WorldCupscheduleatSoFiStadium2026BelowisalistofWorldCupmatchesbeingplayedatSoFiStadiumin2026.●Fri.,June12:USAvs.Paraguay●Mon.,June15:Iranvs.NewZealand●Thurs.,June18:Switzerlandvs.Bosnia&Herzegovina●Sun.,June21:Belgiumvs.Iran●Thurs.,June25:Turkeyvs.USA●Sun.,June28:Roundof32-Match73●Thurs.,July2:Roundof32-Match84●Fri.July10:Quarterfinals-Match9821.WhichteamwillplaythemostgamesatthestadiumthismonthA.WashingtonCommanders. B.LosAngelesRams.C.LosAngelesChargers. D.NewOrleansSaints.22.Whichhotelisthenearesttothestadium?A.SonderLumHotel. B.TheRitz-CarltonLosAngeles.C.TheHHotelLosAngeles. D.TheRenaissanceLAAirportHotel.23.Whatdoyouneedtodoifyouwanttoparkatthestadium?A.Calltheparkingstaff. B.Prepaytheparkingfee.C.Obtainaparkingpass. D.Chooseaparkingzone.BNotlongago,mysonaskedmeaboutthemeaningofawordinanovelhewasreadingforhisfifth-gradebookclub.“Lookitup,”Iresponded,myautomaticrejoinderwhenmychildrenaskmethemeaningofaword,whichisoften.“Butmyscreentimeisoff,”hewhined.Weweresittingnexttoabookshelfthatheldatleastthreedictionaries,plusathesaurus.Ilookedpointedlyattheshelf,andmysonsigheddramatically.“Can’tyoujustuseyourphone?”heasked.Aterrifyingthoughtoccurredtome.“Doyouevenknowhowtouseadictionary?”Thiswasmysecondson,anditturnedoutthatmysurenessofhavingtaughthimsomethingwasoftenatransplantedmemoryofhavingtaughtthatverythingtomyfirstborn.“Ofcourse,”hescoffed.“Everychapterisadifferentletter.”Ilaughedoutloudatthisidea.I’dneverthoughtofthedictionaryashavingchapters,assomethingthatmightbereadsequentiallyfrombeginningtoend.WeporedoverapaperbackdictionarytogetherforafewminutesbeforeIhandedittomyson.Ittookhimafewtriestofindthewordinquestion(peripheral),andhewasoverwhelmedbytheideathattherecouldbeanentirepage—pages!—devotedtowordsthatsharethesamethreebeginningletters.Hekeptsaying:“Howcantherebethismanywords?”Heaskedthiswithalternatinghorrorandawe.Iwantedhimtolandsquarelyintheawecategory.ButIknewfromexperiencethatifIpushedtoohard,he’djustshutthebook.SoIconcentratedonmyownworkashecontinuedtobrowse.Afterafewfrustratedminutes,helookedatmewithsurprise.“Doyouknowallthesewords,Mom?”IamanEnglishprofessor,andheoftenassignsstrangefunctionstomyjob,imaginingtheclassesIteachtobeamixofbookclub,Scratchclass,andthesoul-numbingfive-paragraphessay.Irarelyexplainthatthesethingsdon’treallyexistincollege.“Idefinitelydonotknowallthesewords,”Isaid.“Butthat’swhythisisoneofmyfavoritebooks.”IwasjustabitolderthanmysonisnowwhenIdecidedthatIwantedtolearnasmanywordsasIcouldandstartedmarkingeveryentryIlookedupinthedictionarywithasmallpencileddot.Idon’tknowwhereIgotthisidea.Irememberfeelingstolenfrom,myfaceburninginthedark,whilewatchingthesceneinSayAnythingwhenDianeCourttellsLloydDoblerthatsheusedapentomarkthewordsshelookedupinherobscenelyhugedictionary.Mydictionarywasalsoobscenelyhuge,thekindwithonionskinpaperandgoldleafonthecutawaythumbtabforeachletter.Diane’sdictionarywascoveredinXs;minewasfilledwithgraphite—astrange,silveryMorsecodedottingitspages.Thedictionarywasagiftformy13thbirthday.Books,especiallynewbooks,werehallowedinmyhouse.Althoughneitherofmyparentswasabletogotocollege,theybothmadeclearthatmyeducationwasafamilypriority.ThisdictionaryseemedlikeanembodimentofwhatI’dneedtoknowtogetintocollegeoneday.AndsoItooktomeasuringmyprogress.InherbookGrit:ThePowerofPassionandPerseverance,thepsychologistAngelaDuckwortharguesthatthisinclinationtowardself-challengeisfarmoreimportantasameasureofsuccessthantalentorintelligence.IagreethatmyimpulsetosetgoalsandmytendencytoworkharderthanthenextpersonhavebeenmorehelpfulinmylifethananyscoreIeverreceivedonanIQtestortheSAT.Butmostly,ImarkedupmydictionarybecauseIenjoyedtheprocess,tookpleasureinthevisualtabulation.Ididn’tsetouttolearneveryword.Ididitfortheexperience,forthepleasureofparticipation,nottheresult,ararethinginthosedays.Icontinuedtomakethesepencilmarksforyears,andwhenIdidfinallygoofftocollege,Ipackedthatdictionaryinmysuitcase.Aftermysonfinishedhishomeworkthatevening,Ireshelvedthepaperbackdictionary.Hedidnotplaceadotbyhisword,andsincethatday,Ihaven’tseenhimtakethedictionarydownonce.Ihave,however,heardhimaskSiritodefinemanymorewords.Itrynottoletthisscareme,andyet,Iworrythatthingsaretooeasyformychildren,thataskingSiritodefinewordsinsteadofhuntingforthemontheirowninapaperdictionarywillsoftenandultimatelydulltheirbrains.Iwanttokeepthemsharp,butIdon’tknowhowtodothisintoday’sworld,whereeverysingledefinitionofeverysinglewordisonlyavoicequeryaway.Afewdayslater,mysonaskedmeaboutmydictionary,theoneImarkedup.Hewantedtoseeit.Asmallpaingrippedmychestatthememory.“Thebookisgone,”Isaid.Thedictionarywasstolenattheendofmyfreshmanyearofcollege.Ihadusedthebooktopropopenmyolddouble-hungdormwindow,andsomeonewalkingbyjustpluckeditfromthesillwhenIwasn’tlooking.“That’ssosad,”hesaid.“IwishIcouldseeallthewordsyouknow.”Ithoughtaboutthis.Whentheyweretoddlers,Iusedtowritethewordsmychildrencouldsayinchalkonourbluestonepatio.Ilovedseeingthelistgrow,extendtomoreandmoreofthepaversuntilwecouldn’tsqueezeanymorewordsin.Ithoughtaboutallofmyowndictionarywordsclimbingoutofmychildhoodbedroomanddowntothestreet,extendingintothedistance,makingabridgeofletterstomycollegedormroom.Mysonpaused,thinking,thensaid,“Butyoustillknowallthosewords,evenwithoutthebook.”Irealizedthatthiswastrue.Iimaginedmydictionarywithitslittledots,molderinginasecondhandbookshoporturningtomulchatthedump.Istillmadeitthroughthenextthreeyearsofcollege,evenwithoutmybook.Anditwasn’t,ultimately,thedictionarythatgotmethere—notreally.Irememberedthatalthoughmychildrenlovedtowatchmechalkouttheirwords,whattheylovedevenmorewashelpingspraydownthestoneswiththehoseafterward,watchingthecolordisappearuntilourpatioresembledacomputerscreengoneblank.AndIunderstoodthatalthoughmysonmaybelearningdifferently,heisstilllearning.It’snotaboutthewordsthemselvesorhowwelearnthem,butthewantingtoknowthem,thecuriosityandtheappetite.24.WhatdoesKevinusuallydotogetthemeaningofword?A.Useelectronicdevices. B.Consultapaperdictionary.C.Guessfromthecontext. D.TurntohisEnglishteacher.25.HowdidKevinfeelwhilelookingupthewordinthedictionary?A.Annoyed. B.Disappointed. C.Encouraged. D.Astonished.26.Whatcanwelearnabouttheauthor’sfirstdictionary?A.Ithelpedherthroughthecollege.B.ItwasgiventoKevinasagift.C.Itborewitnesstoherefforts.D.Itwasavaluablelimitededition.27.Whathastheauthorcometorealizeaboutlearning?A.Itisnevertoolatetostart.B.Motivationiswhatreallymatters.C.Childrenneedrolemodels.D.Dictionariesarestillausefultool.CPlantingSomeTreeSpeciesMayWorsen,NotImprove,NYCAirInlinewithlongstandinginitiativestoexpanditsgreenspaces,NewYorkCityisplantingtensofthousandsoftreeseachyear.Theyprovideshade,lowersurfacetemperaturesbyreleasingmoisture,absorbasurprisingamountofairbornecarbon,scruboutsootandotherfloatingpollutants,andprovidewildlifehabitatalongwithjustplainbeauty.Whatcouldgowrong?Actually,somethingcouldgowrong,accordingtoanewstudy.Oaksandsweetgums,whichcurrentlyaccountforamajorityofthecity’strees,producehugeamountsofvolatilecompoundscalledisoprenes.Harmlessbythemselves,isoprenesinteractrapidlywithpollutingnitrogenoxidesemittedbyvehicles,buildingsandindustrytoformground-levelozone—aprimefactorinmanyrespiratoryailments,especiallychronicbronchitisandasthma.Theresearch,carriedoutbyscientistsattheColumbiaClimateSchool’sLamont-DohertyEarthObservatoryandotherinstitutions,foundthatifthecitymaintainspastspeciespatternsinnewplantings,isopreneproductioninManhattanincomingdecadeswillgoupbyabout140%,andresultingsummerozonelevelsasmuchas30%.InQueens,whichhasthemostroomofanyboroughformoretrees,isopreneproductioncouldquadruple,withcorrespondingincreasesinpeakozone;theotherboroughsaresomewhereinbetween.ThestudywasjustpublishedinthejournalEnvironmentalScience&Technology.“We’reallforplantingmoretrees.Theybringsomanygoodthings,”saidstudycoauthorRóisinCommane,anatmosphericchemistatLamont-Doherty.“Butifwe’renotcareful,wecouldmakeairqualityworse.”“Thereisnoreasontothinkthattreesdon’tplayaroleinwhat’sintheair,”saidleadauthorDandanWei,whodidtheresearchasapostdoctoralscientistatLamont-Doherty.“Wejustdidn’thavethetoolsbeforethistounderstandthisparticularaspect.”Theleavesofsometreespeciesemitisopreneasabyproductofphotosynthesis,thoughnooneisquitesurewhy.Withoaks,emissionstendtoincreaseexponentiallywithheat,atleastuntilairtemperaturesreachthehigh90s.Somescientiststhinkthishelpskeepleaftissuesfromdroopingandlosingtheirabilitytophotosynthesizeasitgetshotter.Emissionsoftheseandothervolatilecompoundsbytreesmayalsohavesomethingtodowithattractingpollinatinginsects.Forwhateverreason,oaksandsweetgumsareespeciallyprolific;oaksemitsome800timesmoreisoprenethanlowemitterslikemaplesorLondonplanes.(Funfact:theoak-richBlueRidgeMountainsgettheirbluishtingewhenseenfromafarduetovastamountsofisopreneandothervolatilecompoundsreactingindirectlywithwatertoformtinyfloatingdroplets.)NewYorkCityisplantingtensofthousandsoftreeseachyear.Theyprovideshade,lowersurfacetemperatures,absorbairbornecarbon,andofferwildlifehabitatalongwithjustplainbeauty.Whatcouldgowrong?Actually,somethingcould,accordingtoanewstudy.Oaksandsweetgums,whichaccountforamajorityofthecity’strees,producehugeamountsofvolatilecompoundscalledisoprenes(异戊二烯).Harmlessbythemselves,isoprenesinteractrapidlywithnitrogenoxidesemittedbyvehiclestoformground-levelozone,aprimefactorinmanyrespiratoryailmentssuchasasthma.Theresearchfoundthatifthecitymaintainspastspeciespatterns,isopreneproductioninManhattanwillrisebyabout140%,andsummerozonelevelsbyasmuchas30%.“We’reallforplantingmoretrees.Theybringsomanygoodthings.”saidstudycoauthorRoisinCommane.“Butifwe’renotcareful,wecouldmakeairqualityworse.”Butisoprenefromtreesaloneisnottoblame.Ozonecannotformwithoutnitrogenoxides,emittedduringtheburningoffossilfuelsbyvehiclesandindustry.Manycitydwellersremainoblivioustothisconnection,assumingtreescanonlyevercleantheair.“Ifweloweredemissionssignificantly,treeswouldnotbeaproblem,”saidleadauthorDandanWei.“Itisthecars.”TheParksDepartmentisawareoftheissue.Likethestudyauthors,scientistNovemAuyeungsaidtreesshouldnotbeviewedastheenemy.“Wecouldplantanytreeswewant,ifwejustrethinkourcar-centriclifestyle,”shesaid.Infact,thedepartmenthasalreadyreducedtheproportionofoaksitplantsinfavorofamorediversemix,mainlytoprotectagainstpests.Oaksarekeystonespecies,providingfoodandhabitatfornativeinsectsandbirds.Importantly,northernredoakscanfunctioninhightemperatureswhenothertreesshutdown.“Therearestillwonderfulreasonstohavethemaround,”saidCommane.28.Whatdoesthenewstudyimplyregardingoaksandsweetgums?A.Theyaffectthegrowthofothertrees. B.Theyabsorblesscarbonthanexpected.C.Theyharmpeople’shealthindirectly. D.Theyraisethelocaltemperatureslowly.29.WhichofthefollowingmayCommanesuggestbasedontheirstudy?A.Cuttingdowntheisoprene-producingtrees.B.Suspendingtree-plantingforafewdecades.C.Changingthespeciesoftreesinnewplantings.D.Removingisoprenereleasedbyexistingtrees.30.Whatdoestheunderlinedphrase“obliviousto”inparagraph5mean?A.Honestabout. B.Unawareof. C.Relatedto. D.Optimisticabout.31.WhatwouldAuyeungprobablyadvocate?A.Reducingcaruseindailylife. B.Providinganimalswithnewhabitats.C.Controllingpopulationgrowth. D.Doingmoreresearchontheproblem.DPonderingartisticbeautyencourages‘bigpicture’thinkingApsychologicalexperimentconductedatKettle’sYardsuggeststhatactivelyconsideringthebeautyofartincreasesabstractthinkingand“transformative”emotion-helpingusescapethe“mentaltrappings”ofday-to-dayliving.Sincethedawnofphilosophy,thinkersfromPlatotoKanthaveconsideredhowbeautyaffectshumanexperience,andwhetherithasthepowertotransformourstateofmind.Now,anewstudyfromtheUniversityofCambridgesuggeststhatstoppingtocontemplatethebeautyofartisticobjectsinagalleryormuseumboostsourabilitytothinkinabstractwaysandconsiderthe“biggerpicture”whenitcomestoourlives.Researcherssaythefindingsofferempiricalevidencethatengagingwithartisticbeautyhelpsusescapethe“mentaltrappingsofdailylife,”suchascurrentanxietiesandto-dolists,andinduce“psychologicaldistancing”:theprocessofzoomingoutonyourthoughtstogainclarity.AteamofCambridgepsychologistsconductedanexperimentusingtheUniversity’smodernartgallery,Kettle’sYard,asa“livinglaboratory”tocomparethecognitiveeffectsofmerelyseeingartwithactivelyjudginghowbeautifulitis.Researchersfoundthatstudyparticipantswhofocusedonthebeautyofobjectsinanexhibitionofceramicsweremorelikelytoexperienceelevatedpsychologicalstatesenablingthemtothink“beyondthehereandnow”,andmorelikelytoreportfeelingenlightened,moved,ortransformed.Thiswascomparedtoparticipantswhoweresimplyaskedtolookintentlyattheartisticobjectstomatchthemwithaseriesoflinedrawings.ThefindingsarepublishedinthejournalEmpiricalStudiesoftheArts.Thestudy,amongthefirsttoexplorehowaestheticexperiencesinagalleryormuseumcanaffectcognitiveprocessing,reinforcestheimportanceofartcreationaswellasaccesstoartisticspaces,sayresearchers.“Manyphilosophersthroughouthistoryhavesuggestedthatengagingwithaestheticbeautyinvokesaspecialkindofpsychologicalstate,”saidProfSimoneSchnall,seniorauthorofthestudyandProfessorofExperimentalSocialPsychologyatCambridge.“Ourresearchindicatesthatengagingwiththebeautyofartcanenhanceabstractthinkingandpromoteadifferentmindsettooureverydaypatternsofthought,shiftingusintoamoreexpansivestateofmind.”“Thisisknownaspsychologicaldistancing,whenonesnapsoutofthementaltrappingsofdailylifeandfocusesmoreontheoverallpicture.”32.Whatwasthetaskofthe“beauty”group?A.Matchinglinedrawingswithobjects.B.Ratinghowbeautifuleachobjectwas.C.Creatingtheirownclayobjects.D.Describingtheirdailyworries.33.Accordingtothestudy,whichgroupwasmorelikelytothinkbeyonddailylife?A.Thebeautygroup,whoshowedgreaterinterestinbiggerquestions.B.Thebeautygroup,whofeltmuchhappierafterwards.C.Thecontrolgroup,whoshowedstrongerabstractthinking.D.Thecontrolgroup,whofeltmoreenlightened.34.Whydidtheresearchersaskabouttheparticipants’feelings?A.Tocomparethetwogroups’scores.B.Tojudgetheirspecificthinkingpattern.C.Tomeasurethedifficultyofthetask.D.Toidentifythetruefactorbehindtheresults.35.Whatdoesthestudyencouragepeopletodo?A.Visitgalleriesmoreoften.B.Spendlesstimeonscreens.C.Buyhandmadeceramics.D.Developtheircriticalthinking.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项。HowAreMuseumsUsingArtificialIntelligenceMuseums,oncequietplacesfilledwithhistory,arenowfullofdigitalexcitement.Everyyear,over1billionpeoplevisitmuseumsaroundtheworld.Theseinstitutionsnowfacethechallengeofpreservingartifactswhilealsoengagingatech-savvygeneration.Artificialintelligence(AI),knownforself-drivingcarsandfuturisticrobots,isbecomingakeyplayerintheculturalsector.AIismorethanjustatrend:it’stransformingthemuseumexperience.Usingmachinelearningandadvancedalgorithms,museumscreatepersonalizedvisitorjourneys,protectdelicatecollections,andrevealhiddenstories.36AI-PoweredPersonalizedExperiencesToday’smuseumvisitorswantmorethanjustawalkthroughstaticexhibits.Theywantengagement,personalization,andadeeperconnectiontothestoriesbehindtheartifacts.ArtificialIntelligence(AI)ismakingthispossible,transformingthemuseumexperienceintoadynamic,personalizedadventure.Thisnotonlydelightsvisitorsbutalsoencouragesthemtoreturnandfostersadeeperappreciationforculturalinstitutions.SmartRecommendationsWhenyouvisitamuseum,AI-poweredrecommendationenginescancreateapersonalizeditinerarybasedonyourinterests.Byanalyzingdatasuchasvisitordemographics,pastbehavior,exhibitpopularity,andcontextualinformation,thesealgorithmscansuggestexhibits,artworks,andeventsthatwillresonatewithyou.Thismakesyourvisitfeelbothpersonalandsurprising.37Thesedigitalcompanionsengagevisitorsinconversations,sharehistoricalanecdotes,andoffercontext-sensitiveinsights.Theycaneventailortheirresponsestothevisitor’sageandknowledgelevel,creatingapersonalizedlearningexperienceforeveryone.Preservation&RestorationMuseumscareforpricelessartifactsthatcandeteriorateovertime.AIhelpsbyanalyzinghigh-resolutionimagestodetectearlysignsofdecay,suchascracksordiscoloration,whichmaynotbevisibletothenakedeye.

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AIalsopredictsfuturedeteriorationpatterns,helpingmuseumstakepreventativemeasuresandoptimizepreservationstrategies.PersonalizedLearningMuseumsareimportantforchildrenandfamilies.39InteractiveexhibitspoweredbyAIcanadjusttheircontentanddifficultylevelbasedontheuser’sageandresponses.AIcanalsoanalyzevisitordatatoidentifyknowledgegapsandrecommendadditionalmaterials,ensuringeachvisitorleavesthemuseumwithadeeperunderstandingandappreciationofthesubjectmatter.EthicalConsiderationsAIbringsethicalconcerns.Algorithmscanreflectbiasesfromtheirtrainingdata,riskingthereinforcementofstereotypesorexclusionofsomeviews.MuseumsarecollaboratingwithAIethiciststodevelopfairalgorithms.

40Clearpoliciesondatahandlingareessentialtoprotectvisitors’information.There’sstillmuchmoretocome.ThefuturemaybringAI-generatedartandimmersivevirtualexhibits.WhatdoyouthinkaboutAIinmuseums?Shareyourexperiencesandpredictionsinthecommentsbelow!Let’skeeptheconversationgoingabouthowthistechnologyisreshapingourculturalinstitutions.A.Thiscapabilityallowsfortimelyinterventionandrestoration.B.Visitordatacollectionalsoraisesprivacyissues.C.Inshort,AIischangingthewayweexperienceandinteractwithmuseumsD.Ittailorslearningexperiencestodifferentagegroupsandlearningstyles.E.Museumshavealwaysbeenimportantplacesforlearning.F.Furthermore,AI-poweredchatbotsandvirtualguidesarereplacingold-fashionedaudioguides.G.AIisalsousedtodesignmoreattractiveexhibits.第二部分语言运用（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。WhenIwastwoyearsold,myfamilymovedfromCincinnatitoalittletowninnortheastOhiocalledCortland.The41thatpeopleonlyreallyknewOhioforthethreeC’s-Cleveland,Cincinnati,orColumbus(notCortland!)-camequicklywhenIdecidedtogotoschoolincentralPennsylvania.Thetruthis,Ineverconsideredmyself“Midwestern”untilIleftOhio.You’dthinkthatpeoplewouldrealizethatwewereneighboringstates,butthepeopleatmy“EastCoast”schoolthoughtofOhioasawholedifferentworld.Halfofmypeersdidn’tevenrealizeIliveda42threeandahalfhoursaway.“Doyouhavetoflyhome?Doyouliveonafarm?IsthereevenanythinginOhioworthseeing?”The43arenever-ending.Iwasaunicornintheireyes,a44.Or,onsecondthought,maybejustacountryhick.Don’tevengetmestartedonthe“pop”versus“soda”debate…AsIgrowolder,I’mmoreandmore45formysmalltownroots.Sure,myfriendsandIlovedto

46abouthowboredwewereinthemiddleofnowhere,47,asIfinishupmyjunioryearofcollege,I’mconvincedthatittook48oursmalltowntorealizehowmuchweactuallydidloveitandwhatexactlywelovedaboutit.Wegrewupamongstcornfields,spentsummersbyMosquitoLake,andlearnedtorideourbikeonthehillwiththerestofthekidsintheneighborhood.WeplayedkickballandRedRoverintheemptylotdownthestreet,caughtsnappingturtlesinthecreekandsnakesinthesharedvegetablegardenbehindthefence,andspentmanyanafternoonexploringthewoodsbehindourhouses.Wecountedthedaysuntilthecountyfair,prayedforsnowdays,we’reforcedintocornholecompetitionsbyourdads,neverviewedburntoutheadlightsasanythingotherthanpaddles,andhaveallrunaredlightatsomepointatoneofthefivestoplightsintown.Imightbeshowingmyaffinitytowardthemidwestlifestyle,butallofthesethingstaughthavetaughtmeimportantlifelessons.Forone,thepaceoflifeisn’tanxietyprovokingandpeoplereally49connectingtoeachother.Thatmeansthatyoudomorethanjusttalktoyournextdoorneighbors-inalotofcases,they’retrulyan50ofyourfamily.Somuchofthis51revolvesaroundbeingoutsideandknowingtheinsandoutsofthetown,beingpresentandmindfulofyour52isacriticalpartoftheculture.ThegiftofbeingabletogrowupslowlyisanotherinvaluabletreasurethatIwasgivenbymysmalltown.Sure,therewillalwaysbealittlebitof“keepingupwiththeJones’,”orratherthe“advanced”girls,butIneverfeltpressuretorushthroughmychildhoodortoactolderthanIwas-heck,IwasstillplayingwithAmericanGirldollsinmiddleschool!AsImovethroughmycollegeyears,I53thevisitstomylittlehometown.AhugeperkhasbeenthememoriesthatImadewiththepeoplethatIwasluckyenoughtoknow,andmaybewouldn’thaveifourschooldistrictdidn’thavejustonebuildingforeachtheelementary,middle,andhighschools.Therewerenomorethan130kidsinmypublicschoolgraduatingclassandwehadknowneachothersincekindergarten.MylifewouldbesodifferentwithoutthemidwesternfriendlinessandhospitalitythatI’vebeenexposedtothroughtheyearsandwhichhasactedasmycompassgrowingup.Iamgratefulforthe54thatIhadgrowingupandknowthatwherevermynextadventuretakesme,Ican55mysmalltownrootstoleadmeintherightdirection.41.A.fantasy B.prejudice C.realization D.expectation42.A.only B.indeed C.still D.even43.A.tests B.questions C.games D.debates44.A.success B.victim C.novelty D.problem45.A.thankful B.hopeful C.suitable D.relia