武汉市江岸区2022-2023学年高一下学期7月期末考试
英语试题
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。每段对话仅读一遍。
例：How much is the shirt
A. 19.15. B. 9.18. C. 9.15.
1. Why is the man calling
A. He needs more information. B. He wants some good advice. C. He wants to buy an apartment.
2. Where will Janet probably go tonight
A. To Tom’s home. B. To her hometown. C. To the concert.
3. What does the woman mean
A. Jack’s performance is disappointing. B. She doesn’t agree with Jack.
C. Most people think basketball boring.
4. Where are the speakers
A. At the supermarket. B. In a hotel. C. In a restaurant.
5. What are they talking about
A. A company. B. A travel experience. C. A new job.
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至8题。
6. How much did the woman’s package post cost
A. $10.81. B. $12. C. $5.94.
7. In which way did the woman get to mail her package
A. First class. B. A cheaper way. C. An expensive way.
8. How long will it take for this package to go to New York
A. 12 days. B. 2 weeks. C. 10 days.
听第7段材料，回答第9至11题。
9. What is Miss Johnson calling Mr. Zhang for
A. Asking him to a dinner. B. Asking him to visit the factory.
C. Discussing an important business matter.
10. Where is Miss Johnson staying
A. Rose Garden Hotel. B. Rose Garden. C. Garden Hotel.
11. What can we learn from the telephone dialogue
A. Miss Johnson is a businesswoman from Canada.
B. Mr. Zhang is the manger of the factory.
C. Miss Johnson has not been to the city.
听第8段材料，回答第12至14题。
12. Who is Teddy Jones
A. A doctor. B. An actor. C. A reporter.
13. What happened to the main character
A. He suffered from cancer. B. He got married to a girl. C. He wanted to be a doctor.
14. What can we learn from the dialogue
A. TV audiences know many famous doctors.
B. Barbara played a role on the TV show.
C. Teddy liked the role he played very much.
听第9段材料，回答第15至17题。
15. What is the man famous for
A. Doing business. B. Collecting coins. C. Teaching maths.
16. How does the man get the coins for his collection
A. He trades for rare and old ones. B. His uncle often gives him some.
C. He asks for some from his friends.
17. Who is the woman
A. A teacher. B. A saleslady. C. A journalist.
听第10段材料，回答第18至20题。
18. Why are some people against seat belts
A. It may trap the driver and passengers in emergency.
B. It’s very troublesome to wear it.
C. It will make the cars on fire or sink.
19. How many car-accidents lead to fire and sinking
A. Half of them. B. More than half of them. C. Less than half of them.
20. What is the article about
A. More and more people are killed in the car-accidents.
B. Argue about seat belts.
C. Seat belts cause more people to lose their lives.
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。
A
Orientation Course Syllabus
Spring 2023 March 6—March 31, 2023
Instructor Information
Instructor Email
Julie Jones openorientation@fhi360.org
Kianna Kelleher
Pamela Lhundup
Course Overview
Description
Welcome to the Online Professional English Network (OPEN) Program!
The purpose of this course is to prepare you for online learning. In this Orientation Course, we will share online learning strategies to help you succeed in your future course. You will also learn more about the Online Professional English Network Program (OPEN), including the structure of the program and the people behind it. The Orientation Course will also introduce you to Canvas, the Learning Management System that is used by the new OPEN courses. We want to make sure you have all the tools and information you need in order to succeed in your course.
Grading
This is a pass/fail course. There are 100 points possible in this course. You must complete all course activities with a score of at least 80 in order to pass the course. Points are earned through the completion of quizzes and discussion posts. As long as you read all of the materials and correctly complete the quizzes and discussions, you will pass the course. You may need to try quizzes more than once to correctly complete them. You may also need to respond to instructor feedback on a discussion post before you can earn a grade for the assignment. Please allow 48 hours for your course instructor to grade your discussion posts. Assignments completed over the weekend will not be graded until the following Monday.
Certificate
Participants who complete all Orientation Course activities with a grade of 80% or higher will receive a certificate of participation.
21. Where is this text probably taken from
A. A textbook. B. An exam paper. C. A course plan. D. An academic article.
22. What can you do if you get 48 points in one quiz
A. You can read all the materials again. B. You can respond to instructor feedback.
C. You can ask for the instructor to grade again. D. You can try again until getting at least 80 points.
23. How many parts is the final grade made up of
A. Two. B. Three. C. Four. D. Five.
B
David Warren, born in 1925, had great interest in science and engineering from childhood, and was studying for his amateur radio license when a World War II ban on hobby radio forced him to redirect his efforts to chemistry sets. He went on to earn a B.S. from the University of Sydney and a Ph.D. in chemistry from Imperial College London. He then spent three years as a science officer at the Woomera Rocket Range, before joining the Aeronautical Research Laboratories (ARL).
In 1953, the ARL assigned him to a panel investigating two crashed of airplanes. Warren found his mind wandering to a device he had seen at a trade fair: the Minifon, A German device that was marketed as the first pocket recorder. The device was intended for businessmen, but Warren began thinking how useful it would be for airplanes.
But when Warren described his new idea to his boss, he showed no enthusiasm. In 1955, he got a new boss named Tom Keeble, to whom he promoted the idea again. Keeble told Warren to outline specifications for a prototype (样机). The ARL contracted with Theon “Tych” Mirfield, a Melbourne-based instrument maker, to build the first working prototype, which was completed in 1958.
The response to the prototype was depressing. According to a 1998 account by Warren, civil authorities said that “Dr. Warren’s instrument has little immediate direct use in airplanes.” That critical reception might have affected the flight recorder. But Robert Hardingham, Secretary of the U.K. Air Registration Board, happened to see the prototype on an informal visit to the ARL, and he was so impressed that he arranged for Warren to fly to England to demonstrate it.
Back in Australia, the ARL assigned Warren a team to update the prototype. The ARL system itself was never patented and never went into production, but the British firm of S. Davall & Sons approached the ARL for the production rights. The Davall “red egg” accident recorder eventually won a large share of the flight data recording market.
24. What did Warren do according to paragraph 1
A. He gained a Ph.D. from the University of Sydney.
B. He showed interest in chemistry during childhood.
C. He gave up his hobby due to a war-time ban.
D. He worked as a science officer at the ARL.
25. What inspired Warren to develop his flight recorder
A. A German-designed machine for businessmen. B. A battery-powered device for airplanes.
C. The two crashes of airplanes. D. The science fair of the ARL.
26. What was civil authorities’ attitude toward Warren’s flight recorder
A. Positive B. Unfavorable C. Contradictory D. Unclear
27. What do we know about Warren’s prototype
A. It was patented by the ARL in 1958. B. It was designed by Theon “Tych” Mirfield.
C. It was updated by Robert Hardingham. D. It was mass-produced by a British company.
C
A US man has become the first person in the world to receive a heart transplant from a genetically modified pig.
Surgeons say the experimental procedures was the only available option for the patient David Bennett, a 57-year-old from Maryland in the US, who was living with heart disease.
Bennett is currently being carefully monitored while specialists at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where the procedure was carried out, determine whether the transplant can keep him alive in the long term. “It was either to die, or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it’s a shot in the dark, but it’s my last choice,” said Bennett. “I look forward to getting out of bed after I recover.”
While full heart transplants are more controversial, pig heart valves (瓣膜) have been successfully used for replacements in humans for years.
“This was a breakthrough surgery and brings us one step closer to solving the organ shortage crisis. There are simply not enough donor human hearts available to meet the long list of potential recipients,” said Bartley Griffith, the heart surgeon who performed the operation. “We are doing cautiously, but we are also optimistic that this first-in-the-world surgery will provide an important new option for patients in the future.”
In the donor pig, three genes that would have led to the repaid rejection of the pig’s heart were knocked out. Six human genes responsible for immune acceptance of the pig heart were then inserted into the genome. Finally, one gene in the pig was removed to prevent excessive growth of the heart tissue once it had been implanted.
“This is truly a historic, monumental step forward. While we have long been at the forefront of research driving progress toward the promise of xenotransplantation (异种器官移植) as a practical solution to the organ crisis, many believed this breakthrough would be well into the future,” said Bert O’Malley, president and CEO of the University of Maryland Medical Center.
28. Why did David Bennett have heart transplant surgery
A. Because it is the last way for him to survive. B. Because he is the volunteer of the experiment.
C. Because the genetically modified pig needs him. D. Because getting out of bed is what he expects.
29. What can we know about the pig’s full heart transplant surgery
A. It has been successful for decades. B. It is an optional method to help the pig.
C. It can cause the heart patient to stay in bed. D. It makes an advance in dealing with organ crisis.
30. Which of the following can replace the underlined phrase
A. a definite failure B. a desperate attempt C. a great hope D. a wise option
31. What is paragraph 6 mainly about
A. The result of the operation. B. The effect of the operation.
C. The process of the operation. D. The method of the operation.
D
If you were to throw, say, a banana peel out of your car while driving along the motorway, that would be a completely harmless action, due to the fact that it’s part of a fruit—right Actually, no. A banana peel can take up two years to decompose (分解), and with a third of motorists admitting to littering while driving, that’s a whole lot of waste banana peels, or much worse. An orange peel and a cigarette butt has a similar biodegrading (生物降解) term to that of a banana, but tin and aluminum cans last up to 100 years; and plastic bottles last forever, as do glass bottles and plastic bags.
Despite the fact that longer-lasting materials will serve to damage the environment, we can’t only measure the severity (严重) of a certain type of rubbish by its lifetime. For example, despite having a fairly short biodegrading span, more than 120 tons of cigarette-related litter is thrown in the UK every day. Similarly, our regular littering here and there has caused the UK’s mouse population to increase by 60 million. This suddenly isn’t so mysterious when you consider that since the 1960s our annual littering has increased by an astonishing 500 per cent.
It’s not a cheap habit either: UK taxpayers spent 500 million on keeping the streets clean. So, it’s not surprising that if caught fly-tipping, you could face a 20,000 fine. Regardless of how severe the punishment might seem, however, among the reported cases only 2,000 were punished out of 825,000, so we still have some way to go in making sure people obey the rules.
To take back our beautiful cities, we need to do more than simply not leaving rubbish where it ought not to be. We need to care more about the world around us.
32. Which of the following is the easiest to decompose in the passage
A. A glass bottle. B. An orange peel. C. An aluminum can. D. A plastic bag.
33. What can we know from paragraph 2
A. Annual littering has increased a little in the U.K. since the 1960s.
B. Shorter-lasting materials will be less harmful to the environment.
C. Cigarette-related littering is a severe environmental problem in the UK.
D. Regular littering has caused the UK’s mouse population to reach 60 million.
34. Which of the following can best describe the UK’s punishment on littering
A. Every little helps. B. More haste, less speed.
C. No pain, no gain. D. A drop in the bucket.
35. What is the best title of the passage
A. Littering, a Surprisingly Big Issue B. Environment Issues, a Big Concern
C. Rubbish Collection, an Urgent Task D. Long-lasting Material, a Hidden Danger
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。
What are Learning Styles
When we say, “learning styles”, we mean different methods by which students absorb knowledge. There are many different learning styles, but five of these are represented in online learning:
1. Reading and Writing
36 If so you may be a learner whose style is Reading and Writing. Ideal assignments for you include reading assignments, extensive note taking, and essays. 37
2. Visual
Maybe you prefer to watch a video lecture. If so, you may be a Visual learner. Visual learners prefer to see how an activity is done before attempting it themselves. 38 Videos are great ways in which online learning engages visual learners.
3. Listening
If you learn best by Listening, you may prefer lectures and podcasts to videos. You might prefer to hear the information, instead of reading it or seeing it displayed by a graph. Many online courses off audio lessons as podcasts, and video lessons also include sound, which is good for listening learners.
4. Interacting
If you learn best by cooperating and discussing with others, then online education has a lot to offer! Many students believe that since a course is online, they won’t have the typical classroom experience. 39 But in fact, online learning has many methods, from discussion boards and forums to group exercises. There are many methods to engage interactive learners.
5. Hands-on
40 Project-based assignments, where they design, create, or build out products like lesson plans appeal to these learners. Virtual classroom exercises are also appealing, and an example of one of the many ways hands-on learning can be involved into an online environment.
A. Maybe you’re hands-on learners.
B. Hands-on learners learn by doing.
C. They also prefer graphics over text in lessons.
D. Do you prefer to reading material and take notes
E. Reading books and writing reviews is what you like.
F. Discussion forums that require lots of writing are also a method.
G. For learner who learn best through interaction, this can be a downside.
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四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
I am Russian, but for the last five years, I’ve lived in Kansas. What 41 me to this country was my American husband, John. I work in a department store, where my coworkers 42 my Russian name so sweetly. Every time I hear it, I feel as though my mom is 43 me.
In my 44 country, people believe that Americans always keep big smiles on their faces even if they don’t have a real 45 to do so. The American smile, the Russians have 46 , is not genuine.
Last year, John encouraged me to go see my mom 47 in Russia. My 48 even gave me a month off for the trip. I bought a plane ticket and 49 my suitcase. Then came viruses. My 50 became gray as I realized I couldn’t go see my mom. Then, my coworker, Miss Donna, put on a big American smile and said, “Well, you can 51 and see my mom!”
Oh, my Lord! Imagine, a mom for 52 ! I honestly don’t know whether I would 53 the same to someone in 54 of a mother’s warmth, but my 55 people sure would do it for me. We can still hug someone’s heart. Yes, believe me, the American smile is genuine.
41. A. appointed B. brought C. impressed D. forced
42. A. pronounce B. create C. respond D. announce
43. A. observing B. approaching C. teaching D. hugging
44. A. beautiful B. energetic C. native D. historical
45. A. reason B. resource C. opinion D. opportunity
46. A. identified B. owned C. decided D. explored
47. A. back B. off C. out D. through
48. A. mom B. husband C. coworker D. manager
49. A. selected B. packed C. tailored D. decorated
50. A. hair B. mood C. sky D. leave
51. A. pull up B. set off C. come over D. go back
52. A. love B. gift C. song D. loan
53. A. pay B. owe C. send D. offer
54. A. aid B. memory C. need D. case
55. A. new B. sweet C. kind D. lucky
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。
China will launch two crews to work on it—Tiangong space station this year, according to the China 56 (man) Space Agency.
Both crews 57 (consist) of three astronauts and be launched into space by Long March 2F carrier rockets from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center 58 northwestern China. They are scheduled 59 (work) at the Tiangong station for six months, 60 they will conduct spacewalks, scientific and technological tasks, 61 educational lectures, according to the agency.
In addition, the Tiangong 6 robotic cargo spaceship will dock with Tiangong in May to transport 62 (necessity) for the crew.
Pang Zhihao, 63 expert on space exploration technology and a renowned writer on human space-flight, said 64 (start) from the Shenzhou XV mission, Chinese astronauts will spend more time on scientific experiments and technological tests, which 65 (be) the main tasks for Tiangong.
第四部分 写作 (共两节，满分40分）
第一节 (满分15分)
假定你是校英文报记者李华，上周你校组织开展了为期一周的“劳动周”活动。请你写一篇报道，内容包括：
1.活动目的；
2.活动内容；
3.你的收获。
注意：
1.写作词数应为80左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Labour Week ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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。
I sat at the breakfast table with my four-year-old son, Andy, trying to ignore the ache in my stomach. “Mama, want to play ” “Not today, baby.” I shook my head. These days I could barely get out of bed. I was still recovering from an operation. I hoped for strength and happiness. But the future seemed so hopeless.
Suddenly Andy jumped up from his spot on the kitchen floor. “Bird!” he shouted, rushing to our courtyard. Sure enough, there was a white dove seated in a tree. It sat there for a few moments, and then flew away. Strange, I’d never seen one in our neighborhood before.
When I dragged myself to the kitchen the next morning, the dove was back. This time it was with a mate carrying sticks, “Look, Andy,” I said, pointing to the tree. “They are going to make a nest.” The doves flew in and out of the courtyard all week, building on top of the tree.
Andy could hardly contain his excitement. Every morning, he’d run into the kitchen and take his spot by the door, talking to the birds while they worked. His happiness was influential. As much as I was sad, I couldn’t help but look forward to the doves’ visit too.
Then it all went wrong. The courtyard was a safe enough spot for a nest, but the tree is broad, thin leaves were far from stable. One night, a strong wind blew, throwing the doves’ nest to the ground. I heard the twigs (细枝) break apart.
I examined the damage. Nothing good ever lasted. I wouldn’t blame the doves if it never came back. But they returned. They started again from the beginning. Again, though, the wind destroyed all their hard work. The next day, and the next, they started again, as if nothing had happened.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I knew I had to do something. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ “It works! The birds are back!” Andy announced. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
武汉市江岸区2022-2023学年高一下学期7月期末考试
英语试题参考答案
第一部分 听力 (共两节，满分30分)
听力原文
Text 1
M: Hello, I’m calling about the apartment you advertised. Could you tell me more about it
W: Well, there are three rooms and a bath.
Text 2
M: Would you like to come over and study tonight, Janet
W: Oh, I’m sorry, Tom. I forget to tell you that my parents are in town and they want to take me to the concert tonight.
Text 3
M: Jack seems to think that this year’s basketball season will be disappointing.
W: That’s his opinion. Most others think differently.
Text 4
M: Good morning. My name is Max. I believe you have a room reserved for me.
W: Just a minute. Mr. Max. Let’s see—Max—yes, Mr. Max, Room 101. Would you just fill in this form, please
Text 5
W: Look, it sounds they want a junior sales manager and it seems like it’s a big company. That’d be good, so you might have to travel a lot.
M: Do they say anything about experience
Text 6
W: I’d like to mail this package to New York.
M: How would you like to send it
W: First class, please.
M: OK, let’s see. It’s twelve pounds, so that will be ten dollars and eighty-one cents.
W: Ten dollars and eighty-one cents
M: Yes. That’s a pretty heavy package you’ve got here.
W: Oh, I suppose it is. Tell me, is there a cheaper way to mail it
M: Sure, it can be sent by package post, but it will take longer to get there.
W. How long will it take
M: Let me see. To New York from here it will take about twelve days.
W: How much will it cost
M: Let’s see now. Twelve pounds, package post... that will cost five dollars and ninety-four cents.
W: OK, I think I’ll send it by package post.
Text 7
W: May I speak to Mr. Zhang, please
M: Speaking. Who is calling
W: Miss Johnson of Dell Computer.
M: Oh, Miss Johnson. How are you
W: I’m fine, thank you, and you
M: I’m OK. When did you arrive here
W: Just this morning, about two hours ago.
M: Where are you staying
W: The usual place, Rose Garden Hotel. It is so quiet and beautiful. And its service is nice.
M: How long are you going to stay this time
W: Just a day or two. I’ll have a look at the factory and have another business to discuss with you. Could you come over to have lunch with me today at one o’clock
M: OK. I’ll see you at one o’clock then. Goodbye!
W: Bye, see you!
Text 8
W: Welcome to TV Talk. Today’s guest is Teddy Jones. Hi, Teddy!
M: Hi, Barbara.
W: Teddy, you play the lead role on Inner-City Doctors, the popular new TV show. How do you like it
M: Well, it’s great, Berbara, just great. When I first read the story, I knew I couldn’t miss out on this special show.
W: And now TV audiences are popular with these doctors’ stories.
M: Right. And the show deals with some big topics. Well, I’ll tell you what. We’ll have a sad event soon. My character is told that he gets a cancer.
W: Oh, no. And just after he gets engaged
M: Yes. My character learns that life and something people take for granted is very precious.
W: A good lesson for a doctor! Well, we’re out of time. Thanks!
M: Bye!
Text 9
W: Professor Jones, you’re well-known in town as a professor of mathematics at the City College. We’re writing about what professional people do in their spare time for our paper. May I ask you a few questions about your favorite hobby
M: Sure, I love discussing my hobby with people. I’m a coin collector.
W: How long have you been collecting coins
M: Since I was 12 years old. My uncle gave me a book with spaces to put coins into.
W: How did your interest grow
M: I filled that book and continued to look at the coins that passed through my hands, searching for rare and old ones.
W: Where do you find the coins for your collection
M: Sometimes in my pocket change, but usually I buy them from other collectors or trade for others.
W: What does your collection consist of now
M: I have over 5,000 valuable coins which have doubled in value.
W: You seem very business like in your hobby.
M: Well, do you think so But my hobby is mainly based on interest.
W: Thank you for the answers, Professor Jones. I think people will like to read about your hobby.
Text 10
In many countries now the drivers and front passengers are told to wear seat belts. Most doctors believe that seat belts save people from being seriously hurt in an accident. But there are some people who still think that it is more dangerous to wear a seat belt than not to wear one. They say that a seat belt may trap one in a car that is burning, or that has fallen into a river or the sea and is sinking.
But less than half of car accidents lead to fire or sinking, and in any case, a seat belt may easily save a person from being killed. He or she is able to undo the seat belt immediately and get out of the car that is on fire or sinking.
Some people who are against seat belts also sometimes say that without one, one may be thrown right out of a car if an accident happens. But doctors will tell you that that is the last thing one wants to happen: if one is thrown out of a car, one hits something, usually the road, and usually hard and at a high speed. So it is better to remain inside in the case of an accident.
Now, I hope you can see why it is necessary to wear a seat belt.
答案：1-5 ACBBC 6-10 CBAAA 11-15 BBACC 16-20 ACACB
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)
21-23 CDA 24-27 CABD 28-31 ADBC 32-35 BCDA
第二节 (共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分)
36-40 DFCGB
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)
41-45 BADCA 46-50 CADBB 51-55 CDDCA
第二节 (共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分)
56. Manned 57. will consist 58. in 59. to work 60. where
61. and 62. necessities 63. an 64. starting 65. are
第四部分 写作 (共两节，满分40分)
第一节 (满分15分)
Labour Week
Last week our school carried out a Labour Week activity, aiming to raise the students’ awareness of the significance of labour and arouse our passion for labour.
The activity lasted for one week. Firstly, our school organized us students to work in the nearby farm. The tasks involved planting trees, weeding, and watering vegetables. What’s more, we were asked to participate in some voluntary work after class, such as helping the elderly do the cleaning. Besides, we shared housework with our parents, relieving their burden.
Through this activity, we have not only realized the value of labour but also learned to respect all labourers. Meanwhile, our physical health has been greatly improved.
第二节 (满分25分)
I knew I had to do something. The doves provided brightness during my dark days. Now it was time to help them in return. I cut a piece of hardware cloth, forming it into the shape of a nest and then fixing the ends. I then hammered it into the wall next to the tree. After I finished all the work, there was only an hour before the doves usually made its visit. Andy and I stood by the door, waiting and hoping.
“It works. The birds are back!” Andy announced. Hearing his excited voice, I looked up. There they were, circling near the nest, trying to add some twigs to their new home. A few weeks later, three babies broke free from their shells. “Chirp, chirp,” Andy sang. I held one of the baby bird in my arms and kissed it, enjoying the happiness of the moment. Hearing them chirp, I felt the grayness within my heart disappear, replaced by the strength of life.
