赤峰二中高一年级下学期第二次考试
英 语 试 卷
（考试时间 120 分钟，总分 150 分）
第一部分：听力(共两节，满分 30 分)
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。
1. What does the man do most weekends
A. He visits museums. B. He watches matches. C. He goes shopping.
2. What does the man suggest the woman do
A. Go back to look for it. B. Buy a new one. C. Report to the police.
3. What will the woman do first
A.Go to the classroom. B. Go to the teachers’ office. C. Go to the library.
4. How many languages can the woman speak up to now
A. Three. B. Four. C. Two.
5. What is the probable relationship between the two speakers
A. Manager and employee. B. Teacher and student. C. Classmates.
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，并标在试卷的相应位置。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。
6. What is the man asking the woman for
A. Help with his research.
B. Advice on the company’s products.
C. Advice on his job interview.
7. What is the woman always ready to do
A. Go shopping with the man.
B. Learn more about the company.
C.Wear casual clothes.
听第 7 段材料，回答第 8、9 题。
8. What does the woman want to borrow
A. A dictionary. B. A notebook C. Some money.
9. How long does the woman work every evening
A. For three hours. B. For two hours. C. For four hours.
听第 8 段材料，回答第 10 至 12 题。
10. How long has the man lived in this area
A. For 5 years. B. For 20 years. C. For 10 years.
11. How far is the gas station from the place where the two speakers are
A. About two and a half miles. B. About two miles. C. About half a mile.
12. What can be known about the gas station
A. It is very large. B. It has a red roof. C. It is very small.
听第 9 段材料，回答第 13 至 16 题。
13. What does the woman suggest the man do
A. Buy a sports car. B.Buy a small family car. C. Sell his family car.
14. What season is it at the moment
A. It is autumn. B. It is winter. C. It is spring.
15. What’s the possible relationship between the speakers
A. Friends. B. Father and daughter. C.Husband and wife.
16. Why doesn’t the man want to get a new car
A. Because of his feeling to the old one.
B. Because of the season.
C. Because of the high price.
听第 10 段材料，回答第 17 至 20 题。
17. Why did the lady want the pianist to sing
A. She knew he could sing well.
B. She wanted to make him famous.
C. She was tired of listening to the piano.
18. When did the pianist know he had a talent for singing
A. Long before he played the piano in the bar.
B. That night after his first singing.
C. After he became a famous pianist.
19. What happened to the pianist at last
A. He became a well-known singer in America.
B. He continued to play the piano in the bar.
C. He had his own piano bar.
20. Which of the following will the author of the passage agree on
A. Few people have real talent.
B. Everyone should make full use of his talent.
C. People will succeed if they have talent.
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
Featured August Programs in the National Portrait Gallery
Kinship: An Artist Talk with Sedrick Huckaby
Join us for an artist talk with Sedrick Huckaby, whose life-size paintings and
sculptures refer to universal human connections and memorialize figures central to his life
— his family members and those close to him. The artist will discuss the centrality of
community and kin (亲属) to his practice. This event will take place in Sedrick Huckaby’s
Kinship gallery space from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug.5.
Weekend Workshop: Mindfulness in the Museum
Join Art Educator Sean Murphy for an interactive workshop in mindfulness and art.
Inspired by the exhibition, Kinship, participants will be guided through breathing exercises,
and a mindfulness activity before visiting the galleries and creating their own mindfulness
books. This workshop will take place in G Street Lobby from 10 a.m.to 11:30 a.m. on
Aug.12.
Expressive Arts Workshop: Family Memory Box
Family memories can connect us to those important in our lives. Join us in this
interactive art making workshop to create “family memory boxes” to hold special photos,
items, and memories of loved ones. No previous art making experience is required. This
workshop will take place in G Street Lobby from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Aug.19.
Virtual Portrait Signs: A Tour in ASL
Join us for a virtual tour of 1898: Imperial Vision and Revisions, which is the first
major Smithsonian museum exhibition to examine the War of 1898 and the legacy (遗留) of
this controversial chapter in history. This deaf-led presentation will include voice
interpretation.
This exhibition will take place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug.19. The Zoom link will
be emailed on the morning of the program. Questions Please email Jonesve@si.edu.
21．What is the purpose of this text
A．To provide people with some places to visit.
B．To train more people to become artists.
C．To involve more people in the programs.
D．To introduce the gallery to visitors.
22. What do you know about the exhibition A Tour in ASL
A．It is friendly to hearing challenged people.
B．Its presentation will be emailed to visitors.
C．It is an in-gallery tour led by the deaf.
D．It is the first major Smithsonian museum exhibition.
23．Which programs share a similar theme
A．Family Memory Box and A Tour in ASL.
B．Mindfulness in the Museum and Family Memory Box.
C．An Artist Talk with Sedrick Huckaby and Mindfulness in the Museum.
D．An Artist Talk with Sedrick Huckaby and Family Memory Box.
B
I had wanted to be a cellist (大提琴手) for as long as I could remember. At fifteen, I
won a scholarship to a specialist music school. I got up early, practiced at lunchtime and
returned to my cello (大提琴) after lessons.
One evening, while practicing a demanding piece, I pushed myself too far. I felt a
burning pain between my wrist and elbow. When it hadn’t got better after a day or two, I
started to panic. Days became weeks. Weeks turned into months. Opportunities for concerts
and competitions came and went.
When I wasn’t sitting with my instrument, I was punishing myself for my stupidity.
My technique had probably not been secure enough for the demands I was placing on it. But
now it was too late.
Over two years, I gradually recovered. I was able to play some early music such as
Handel and Bach, on a baroque cello, as the movements are gentler and lighter. However,
the possibility of my arm letting me down has never left me.
The turning point came, unexpectedly, during a photoshoot for an up-to-date picture.
The photographer suggested I get my cello and see what images of playing might look like. I
hesitated first, and then I sat playing snatches (片段) of Bach. At that moment, the lens
pointing at my instrument and me, I began to understand something I had only half sensed
until then. Away from my cello, my shadow was missing. Without it I felt incomplete. But
with my instrument I was protected and entirely happy in my own skin.
During that photoshoot I realized I needed to find out what the cello, and its absence,
had meant to other cellists, to understand what it meant to me. So, I planned a journey across
Europe. I encountered cellos destroyed by war and shipwreck, and I even played with a
resourceful cellist, who, having lost the use of his right thumb, ties his bow onto his hand
with a bicycle inner tube.
Over the course of my travels, I learned I was not alone. Besides, my experience
might help others. I am also beginning to look for ways to return to the repertoire (曲目) I
loved. Supported by a community of musicians in similar situations, I now celebrate every
concert as a step towards healing.
24．Why was the photoshoot experience a turning point for the author
A．Because it improved her professional image.
B．Because it deepened her connection to the cello.
C．Because it showed her constant efforts paid off.
D．Because it allowed her to meet incredible cellists.
25．What happened to the author after her injury
A．She blamed herself for practicing too hard.
B．She played Bach to impress the audience.
C．She secured the performing opportunities.
D．She tried an alternative career path.
26．What did the author learn from her travels in Europe
A．Willpower alone could heal physical injuries.
B．The cello’s symbolic value surpassed its function.
C．Her struggle was not alone and part of her identity.
D．Baroque music was the only way to regain skill.
27．What can we learn from the passage
A．Fortune favors the bold.
B．Constant dripping wears the stone.
C．When given lemons, make lemonade.
D．Good things come to those who wait.
C
Vast plains of solar panels can help nature more than clean energy: As populations of
crucial pollinators (授粉昆虫) decline, developers have been seeding the grounds of their
solar arrays (阵 列 ) with native wildflowers. Now a five-year study published in
Environmental Research Letters, confirms that this approach boosts the pollinators’
abundance and diversity -with numerous benefits for farms nearby.
From 2018 through 2022, Argonne National Laboratory landscape ecologist Leroy J.
Walston and his colleagues regularly visited two such arrays covering hectares (公顷) each
in southern Minnesota. The scientists recorded the number and kinds of pollinators the
wildflowers attracted and found populations of bees, beetles, butterflies, moths, and more
had increased on-site - even as they continued declining elsewhere in the U. S.
Humans’ pesticide use, greenhouse gas emissions and habitat destruction have caused
mass pollinator die-offs. Monarch butterfly numbers, for example, have decreased by 80
percent nationwide in the past two decades, and according to the Center for Biological
Diversity’s 2017 report, nearly one in four native bee species is endangered and at
increasing risk of extinction. Further big losses would be disastrous for ecosystems and
agriculture: 75 percent of North American plant species rely on pollinators.
The federal government’s energy goals require several million hectares for solar
energy, with more than 80 percent of the projects planned for former agricultural land;
seeding it this way could help save endangered pollinators. During their study, Walston and
his team watched goldenrod soldier beetles boom as their namesake (同 名 物 ) flower,
goldenrod (金麒麟草) bloomed around the arrays. As other flowers bloomed, a symphony
of insects appeared. Native bees saw the most stunning growth, with their population
increasing 20 times by the study’s end. Monarch butterflies also increased in number and
waved their dotted wings across the sites. Twice as many bees visited soybean fields close to
the solar sites as fields farther away, making the nearby plots’ gains comparable to those of
neighboring land enrolled in conservation programs.
The approach’s potency in other parts of the country — such as the desert
Southwest — remains to be seen. Nevertheless, as Walston says, at least in the Midwest, “if
you plant it, yeah, they’ll come.”
28．What does the 5-year research study concentrate on
A．The effect of wildflower seeding project.
B．The influence of solar panels on insects.
C．The number of pollinators.
D．The exploitation of alternative clean energy.
29．What is paragraph 3 mainly about
A．Native bee species are in danger of dying out.
B．The government is taking measures to meet the demands for solar energy.
C．Northern American agriculture falls victim to solar panels.
D．Pollinator populations are decreasing at an alarming rate.
30．What does the underlined word “potency” in paragraph 5 most probably mean
A．usefulness. B．restriction. C．attraction. D．hazard.
31．Why does the author mention goldenrod soldier beetles in paragraph 4
A．To highlight the ecological crisis.
B．To indicate the outcome of wildflower planting.
C．To illustrate a mutually beneficial relationship.
D．To prove the success of conservation programs.
D
Embodied intelligence (具身智能), a revolutionary concept in artificial intelligence
(AI), challenges the traditional view that intelligence exists purely in algorithms (算 法 ).
Unlike conventional AI systems that process data in isolation, embodied AI interacts with
the physical world through sensors and actuators, imitating how humans learn by integrating
body and mind.
Research from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
(CSAIL) reveals that robots with embodied intelligence outperform screen-bound AI in
complex tasks. For example, a robot arm learning to pour water adjusts its movements based
on tactile feedback — a process requiring continuous adaptation, which demonstrates how
physical interaction enhances cognitive (认 知 ) development in ways keyboard-based
training cannot achieve. This “learning-by-doing” approach agrees with developmental
psychology theories emphasizing the role of sensory experiences in human intelligence.
However, critics argue that embodied AI faces unique challenges. While digital AI
can be trained on massive datasets, physical robots require costly real-world trials. A 2023
study in Nature Robotics found that an embodied AI system took 40% longer to master
object recognition than its virtual counterpart, partly because environmental variables like
lighting and friction (摩 擦 ) introduced unpredictability. Hardware durability further
complicates application; saltwater exposure reduces marine exploration robots’ lifespan by
60% compared to lab models. Additionally, ethical concerns emerge as these systems gain
autonomy — should a self-driving car prioritize passenger safety or pedestrian lives in
unavoidable crashes
Despite these disadvantages, industries are embracing embodied intelligence. Medical
robots now assist surgeons by providing tactile (触觉的) feedback during operations, while
agricultural drones analyze soil quality through aerial imaging and physical sampling. As Dr.
Cynthia Breazeal, a pioneer in social robotics, observes: “True intelligence isn’t just about
dealing with numbers; it’s about understanding and navigating the messy reality we live in.”
The future of AI may depend on bridging the gap between digital and physical gaps.
Emerging technologies like neuromorphic computing, which imitates the brain’s neural
structure, could enhance embodied systems’ real-time adaptability. For tasks demanding
contextual awareness and adaptive problem-solving, embodied intelligence offers solutions
that no screen can reproduce.
32．What can we know about embodied intelligence
A．Screen-bound AI outperforms it in adaptability.
B．It processes data in isolation.
C．It prioritizes algorithmic complexity.
D．Physical interaction enhances its cognitive efficiency.
33．Why is Cynthia Breazeal mentioned in the passage
A．To prove the feature of embodied intelligence.
B．To demonstrate the popularity of robots.
C．To clarify hardware durability challenges.
D．To stress ethical concerns in AI.
34．What challenge does the 2023 study in Nature Robotics highlight for embodied
intelligence
A．Timely tactile feedback.
B．Limited dataset accessibility.
C．Unpredictable environmental factors.
D．Too much reliance on virtual training.
35．What is the attitude of the author to embodied intelligence
A．Indifferent. B．Skeptical. C．Dismissive. D．Objective.
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。选项
中有两项为多余选项。
Humans’ noses can be skilled at detecting delicate hints of apple or smoke in a glass
of whiskey. But with machine learning, computers might also be Whiskey(威士忌) Masters.
Scientists have discovered that by linking the molecular composition of 16 different
whiskies to their odor(气味) characteristics, machine learning algorithms(算法) can identify
the top five flavors in each whisky, matching the flavors recorded by a human expert team.
The bouquet of a drink is the product of dozens of gaseous molecules wafting up into
the air. In the case of whiskey, there are more than 40 compounds that create odors ranging
from vanilla to caramel to smokiness. The extensively trained human experts who can
distinguish these flavor notes are called Whiskey Masters.
Scientists have hunted for laboratory methods to supplement(补 充 ) that human
expertise. Many tools, such as mass spectrometers, can identify the molecular makeup of
whiskies. 36 Individual molecules can have different odors depending on the
medium they’re in — air, water, oil — and different odors stand up against one another in
complex ways.
Grasskamp — of the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging
IVV in Freising, Germany — studies sensory perception processes. 37 .
The test subjects were 16 previously analyzed whiskey samples, seven American and
nine Scotch. To determine the top five flavor notes from each whiskey, the researchers
combined two algorithms: one a statistical computer model that distinguishes samples based
on the detected molecules, and the other a neural network trained to predict identifiable
scents based on the detected molecules. 38 .
The team compared these automated assessments with the tasting notes from 11
Whiskey Masters, each of whom had identified the top five odors they detected in each
whiskey out of 17 pre-selected features. 39 So the researchers determined top five
odors per whiskey.
40 But however good a computer Whiskey Master might be at identifying
flavors, it still can’t tell you how much you’ll enjoy them.
A. The top five flavor notes identified by the algorithm consistently matched the top five
identified by the humans — suggesting, perhaps, greater accuracy in identifying the
strongest odors.
B．However, getting from that makeup to the subtler impression of an array of odors has
proven difficult, say data analyst Andreas Grasskamp and colleagues.
C．He and colleagues used a machine learning algorithm to test whether the molecular
composition of whiskies could be used to predict their odor.
D．Everyone didn’t come up with the same top five for each whiskey.
E．They are trying to find a more accurate way to analyze the molecular composition of
whiskies.
F．The number of compounds in whiskey is far more than that in other drinks.
G．Combined, the two algorithms then came up with the top five flavor notes in each
whiskey.
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)
Language allows us to describe actions, qualities, and relationships in both real and
imagined experiences. A key question in linguistics is how languages developed. Recent
research suggests that iconicity — the connection between form and meaning — may
have played a crucial role in the 41 .
People can’t overcome language barriers and understand each other without iconicity.
We often use our hands and bodies, 42 , to act out meanings, showing the sizes and
shapes of objects. The key to forming new symbols is the use of iconicity .
Not limited to 43 , iconicity appears in visual communication too. Traffic
signs, food packaging, and maps all use iconicity to make information easy to understand,
regardless of the 44 .
Iconicity also exists in 45 . To explore this, researchers organized a contest
where participants recorded sounds to express different meanings. These sounds could not
contain actual words or 46 expressions like “BOOM” for an explosion. Listeners
then tried to match the sounds to a set of written options, and the contestant whose sounds
were most accurately 47 won the contest.
The results were surprising — listeners successfully identified the intended 48
of the sounds. Yet, all the contestants and listeners were English speakers. Thus, it was
possible that listeners’ success relied on 49 cultural knowledge.
To test if this phenomenon existed across 50 , researchers conducted a
broader Internet survey, translating the experiment into 25 languages. Participants from
different linguistic backgrounds listened to the sounds and 51 their meanings
from six written options.
The findings showed 52 accuracy levels across different language groups.
English speakers had the highest accuracy rate at 74%, while Portuguese speakers scored
34%. Though far from perfect, these results were much higher than the expected chance rate
of 8%.
These studies show that our capacity for iconic communication has played a
fundamental role in language 53 . Iconicity enables individuals to express
meanings in ways that are not 54 dependent on specific linguistic knowledge.
Without this 55 , language may never have developed into the complex system we
have today.
41．A．description B．process C．interaction D．Style
42．A．for example B．in particular C．as a result D．in other words
43．A．gesturing B．formation C．understanding D. objects
44．A．proof B．language C．hints D．explanation
45．A．Competitions B．cultures C．labs D．sounds
46．A．carefully-chosen B．imaginary C．sound-imitating D．shocking
47．A. interpreted B．repeated C．heard D．recorded
48．A．purposes B．meanings C．volume D．speed
49．A．shared B．extensive C．traditional D．classic
50．A．situation B．generations C．careers D．cultures
51．A．guessed B．clarified C．acquired D．added
52．A．similar B．satisfactory C．varying D．experimental
53．A．ability B．evolution C．acquisition D．diversity
54．A．entirely B．routinely C．vividly D．skillfully
55．A．knowledge B．ability C．awareness D．investigation
第二节 语法填空 (共 10 小题;每小题 1.5 分，满分 15 分)
DeepSeek has recently made significant progress in AI reasoning through enhanced
learning, 56 (pioneer) a new direction for AI. By using an open-source approach,
Chinese 57 (innovate) have broken the technological barriers of global leaders like
OpenAI. This breakthrough is not only a technological leap for Chinese AI companies
58 narrows the gap in AI capabilities, removing concerns over chip limitations.
The global competition for large models has entered a critical stage. Thanks to its
diverse industries and development environments, China has 59 unique advantage
in using large models 60 (power) a new industrial revolution. The year 2025 will be
the year of AI applications, with the key to success lying in seizing the opportunities 61
(create) by DeepSeek.
Based on DeepSeek’s capabilities, breakthroughs can be achieved in many fields.
Large models will lead, without doubt, 62 “universal intelligence” for all. Given
DeepSeek’s open-source and low-cost features, individuals can now own large models and
become “super individuals”. As AI transforms smart hardware, and large models shrink in
size, AI devices — 63 smart-connected cars to personal computers and mobile
phones — will become the standard. DeepSeek’s strong inference model can help users
take advantage of professional knowledge in scientific fields for enhanced learning, 64
develops specialized scientific models. Large models, like DeepSeek, are changing how
fundamental scientific problems 65 (study) and addressing issues such as energy
development.
第四部分：写作(共两节，满分 40 分)
第一节 (满分 15 分)
假如你是李华，你的学校英文报正在组织开展 “Protect Wildlife, Preserve the Planet”
为题的征文活动。请你以此为题写一篇短文投稿：
内容包括:
1. 保护野生动物的意义；
2. 保护野生动物的建议；
3. 呼吁保护。
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。
Protect Wildlife, Preserve the Planet
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
第二节：读后续写(满分 25 分)
The final buzzer sounded, signaling the end of my high school basketball career. As I
walked off the court for the last time, the scoreboard displayed our disturbing loss: 68-72.
My heart sank as I realized I’d never wear the blue and gold jersey again.
The locker room was unusually quiet that night. No one spoke as we changed out of
our uniforms. I sat on the wooden bench, staring at the number 23 on my jersey,
remembering how proud I’d been when I first earned it three years ago. My fingers traced
the slightly worn edges where I’d pulled it on and off countless times.
“Hey, Mike,” Coach Johnson’s voice broke the silence. “Can I talk to you for a
minute ”
I followed him to his office, the weight of the loss still heavy in my chest.
“Mike,” he began, his voice softer than usual, “I know tonight didn’t go the way we
wanted, but I want you to know something.” He leaned forward, his elbows on the desk.
“You’ve been the heart of this team for three years. Your leadership, your dedication — it’s
been remarkable to watch.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up his hand.
“Basketball is about more than just winning games,” he continued. “It’s about the
lessons we learn, the character we build. And you, Mike, have grown into an exceptional
young man through this sport.”
As I left the locker room that night, I noticed a group of students waiting outside.
Among them was Emily Carter, a quiet girl from my English class who I’d partnered with
on a project last semester.
“Mike,” she said hesitantly, stepping forward. “We just wanted to say… thank you.”
I blinked, confused. “Thank me For what ”
“For always playing with heart,” she said, her voice gaining confidence. “Win or lose,
you never gave up. You inspired us to keep trying in our own lives, even when things get
tough.”
The other students nodded in agreement, and in that moment, I realized that maybe
Coach Johnson was right. Maybe basketball was about more than just the score at the end of
the game.
注意：
1．续写词数应为 150 左右;
2．请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。
I stood there, my basketball bag slung over my shoulder, completely astonished
by their words.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
When I got home, the porch light was on, and I could see my parents waiting
through the living room window.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
英 语 试 卷 答 案
听力答案：1-5 BCBAB 6-10 CABAC
11-15 ABBBC 16-20 ACBAB
21-23: CAD
24-27: B A C C
28-31: A D A B
32-35 D A C D
36-40 B C G D A
41．B 42．A 43．A 44．B 45．D
46．C 47．A 48．B 49．A 50．D
51．A 52．C 53．B 54．A 55．B
56. currently 57. has welcomed 58.setting 59. rose 60.connections
61. is demonstrated 62.Rooted 63. where 或 in which 64.on 65. to
preserve
写作：评分标准
应用文
Protect Wildlife, Preserve the Planet
Wildlife protection is of great significance for maintaining ecological balance and
biodiversity.
Every species plays a unique role in nature, so their loss can disturb the environment,
affecting human beings as well.
To protect wildlife, we should first raise people's awareness of the importance of
biodiversity. Plus it is a wise decision to avoid buying products made from endangered
animals, as this can help protect them from further harm. Lastly, reducing plastic use and
promoting sustainable practice can help preserve the natural habitats that animals rely on.
By working together, we can create a sustainable future for all living beings. Let's take
responsibility and protect our precious wildlife for the sake of our planet.
读后续写
I stood there, my basketball bag slung over my shoulder, completely astonished by their
words. My throat tightened as I struggled to find the right response. “I...I don't know what to
say," I finally managed, my voice cracking slightly. “I thought tonight was a failure, but
hearing this...it means more than any game we could have won." Emily stepped forward and
handed me a small blue and gold ribbon - our school colors. “We made these for the whole
team,” she explained. “to remind you that you're all champions to us, no matter what the
scoreboard says." As I took the ribbon, I felt a warmth spread through me, melting away the
disappointment of the loss.
When I got home, the porch light was on, and I could see my parents waiting through
the living room window. As I opened the door, my little sister came running, her eyes wide
with excitement.“Mike! Mike! Did you win ” she asked eagerly. I knelt down to her level
and showed her the ribbon.“We didn't win the game," I said, “but something even more
important happened tonight." As we sat around the kitchen table, I told them about the
students' unexpected show of support. My mom's eyes glistened with tears as she listened,
and my dad put a firm hand on my shoulder. “That,” he said, “is what true victory looks
like." That night, as I lay in bed, the ribbon pinned to my bulletin board, I realized that while
my time as a high school basketball player was over, the lessons and connections I'd made
would stay with me forever.
