2007年高考英语模拟试卷
YCY
第一卷（共三部分，共115分）
第一部分：听力部分
第一节：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，并标在试卷的相应位置。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 How old is the woman's bicycle?
A. Three years old. B. Four years old. C. Five years old.
2 When did Peter set a new world record?
A. In 1989. B. In 1998. C. In 1992.
3 Does the man often call home?
A. No, he doesn't. B. Not very often . C. Yes, he does.
4 Will Mike stay for dinner?
A. Yes, though he is not hungry.
B. No, he will go home.
C. Yes , he will , because he is very hungry.
5 Which man is the thief?
A. A middle-aged man with short brown hair.
B. A middle-aged man with long black hair.
C. A middle-aged man with long brown hair.
第二节：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秒钟的做答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。
听第6段材料，回答第6至第8题。
6 Who did Eric go to the concert with last night?
A. His sisters. B. His friends. C. His parents.
7 What was the concert held for?
A. To sing some good songs for children.
B. To show the singers’ love to the children.
C. To collect money for the poor children in Africa.
8 What is the woman's opinion?
A. Not only the singers, but all people should do something.
B. It is more important for all the governments to do something.
C. It isn't necessary to hold such a concert.
听第7段材料，回答第9至第11题。每空不超过三个单词。
How to Decide Your Reading Speed
| READING THINGS | READING SPEED |
| Arithmetic problems | 9)＿＿＿＿ |
| Items | l0)＿＿＿＿ |
| Books | 11)＿＿＿＿ |
听第8段材料，回答第12至第14题。
12 Where does the dialogue probably take place?
A. In a restaurant. B. In the lady's house. C. In the man’s apartment.
13 What's the lady likely to be?
A. A. teacher B. A writer. C. A saleswoman.
14 What can we infer from the dialogue?
A. The man wants to read the woman's books.
B. The man doesn't like writing.
C. The man is likely out of work now.
听第9段材料，回答第15至第17题。
15. For what does the man call
A. To check the time. B. To get a taxi. C. To ask somebody to carry his bag.
16 When will the man leave his home?
A. At 1:00 B. At 1:30 C. At 2:30
17 What does the man want the driver to do extra?
A. Save his time. B. To be kind. C. Help him carry his bags.
听第10段材料，回答第18至第20题。
18 Why did Henry ask the man what time it was?
A. He had forgotten to put on his watch.
B. His watch doesn't work.
C. He wants to set his watch.
19. Why did the man NOT want to tell Henry the time?
A. He disliked Henry.
B. He did not have a watch.
C. He did not want to speak to Henry.
20 What is the story really about?
A. Being impolite to people.
B. Not speaking to strangers.
C. One thing leading to another.
第二部分：英语知识运用(共两节，满分45分)
第一节 语法和词汇知识(共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分)从A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出可以填人空白处的最佳选项。
21 —What should I wear to attend his wedding party?
—Dress you like.
A．what B．how C．whatever D．however
22 Don’t be too rude to your father. Never in his life in that way.
A．has he spoken to B．he has spoken to
C．has he been spoken to D．he has been spoken to
23．Have you ever been upset when to yourself after your mobile phone battery runs out in the middle of a call?
A．being left talking B．left talking C．being left talk D．leaving talking．
24 —I saw no more than one motor car in that shop. Will you go and buy ?
—No, I’d rather find in other shops.
A．it; one B．it; it C．one; it D．one; one
25 The computers made by our company sell best, but several years ago no one could have imagined the role in the markets that they ________.
A. were playing B. were to play C. have played D. played
26 The adverbial phrase "every day" has space between_______ two words.
A. a; the B. the; the C. 不填; the D. 不填；不填
27. More people in hospital this year than at any time since the start of the Health
Service.
A. are being treated B. have treated C. are treating D. have been treated
28 Facts prove that the world’s economic development is not a win-lose game but one in which all ____________be winners.
A. must B. shall C. can D. would
29 ---How do you find our company?
---A little worried. We ________ ground as a 1eader in the field of IT with the others speeding up development.
A. have lost B. lost C. are losing D .were losing
30．Such teachers as not easily forgotten．
A．he is B．him are C．him is D．he are
31 After saying good-bye, the couple moved off and ________ in the crowed.
A. was lost B. were lost C. had lost D. lost
32 My sister and I had a quarrel over ________ to wash dishes.
A. which turn it was B. it was which turn C. whose turn it was D. whose turn was it
33 －Is this stick long enough?
－No, I need one _______.
A. twice so long B. so long twice C. twice as long D. as long twice
34 There was a loud scream from the backstage immediately after the concert ended,_______?
A. wasn’t there B. was there C. didn’t it D. did it
35 ---May I go and play with Tom this afternoon, mum?
---No, you can’t go out ________your homework is being.
A. before B. as C. until D. unless
第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分；满分30分）
阅读下面短文，从短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）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。
If you have strong arms and feet, you might make a good waiter. You must 36 , however, not in the restaurant, but in the 37 , helping the head cook, to learn exactly 38 each dish is prepared. Then you will be able to tell the customers what the ingredients（成分）are and how the food is 39 . From this first step, you may enter the restaurant as a 40 . But you won’t be allowed to serve the customers yet. They will 41 let you do the simplest jobs, 42 the tables and carrying the plates. But all the time you must watch and learn. Later you will be taught how to 43 food, and if you are good at it you may become a waiter in charge of a number of 44 . You may even become a head waiter 45 you are afraid of hard work.
When Carlo Bianchi first arrived in London, he 46 only two words of English— “please” and “Hello”. He 47 to get a job helping in the kitchen of an Indian restaurant, and he spent 48 little spare time he had learning English. He was a good worker and soon he got a job in the restaurant as a waiter. Every night, Carlo used to go home tired, but 49 too tired to study the language for half an hour before going to sleep. He always managed to 50 a third of his wages, 51 he put in the bank regularly every Friday. And no matter how tired or ill he felt, he always had a warm 52 for his customers. They liked him, 53 people used to come to the restaurant and ask to be served by Carlo. Now twenty five years later, Carlo is the manager of six restaurants, and he hopes to open a seventh 54 . But he still believes in the personal 55 , and every night he goes to one or another of his restaurants to welcome the customers with a friendly greeting.
| 36．A．work | B．start | C．cook | D．learn |
| 37．A．market | B．school | C．workshop | D．kitchen |
| 38．A．when | B．how | C．what | D．where |
| 39．A．served | B．eaten | C．cooked | D．bought |
| 40．A．learner | B．waiter | C．cook | D．observer |
| 41．A．soon | B．only | C．later | D．hardly |
| 42．A．laying | B．lying | C．putting | D．moving |
| 43．A．take | B．make | C．carry | D．serve |
| 44．A．tables | B．waiters | C．foods | D．jobs |
| 45．A．if | B．before | C．unless | D．though |
| 46．A．spoke | B．studied | C．heard | D．kept in mind |
| 47．A．failed | B．tried | C．managed | D．intended |
| 48．A．how | B．what | C．such | D．that |
| 49．A．only | B．sometimes | C．little | D．never |
| 50．A．spare | B．leave | C．save | D．get |
| 51．A．as | B．that | C．those | D．which |
| 52．A．friendship | B．dish | C．welcome | D．smile |
| 53．A．and | B．for | C．even | D．therefore |
| 54．A．again | B．lately | C．shortly | D．more |
| 55．A．opinion | B．touch | C．effort | D．effect |
第三部分：阅读理解(共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分)
阅读下列短文，然后从各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中，选出最佳选项。
A
Margie Blank remembers the phone call from Iraq sometime before Christmas. Her son, Army specialist Joseph Darby, a military police officer in the reserves(not full-time soldiers), was on the phone and she could tell something was wrong .
Darby, 24, would later come out as the soldier who first alerted (使警觉)the world to the abuse(虐待) of Iraqi prisoners by US guards at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad on January 13. "I could tell in his voice he was not sleeping," Blank,45, recalls. "He said, '1 don't feel good.'" Darby was feeling bad about something he thought was very wrong." It was really hard on him," his mother said. "He didn't want to go against his troops, but he said he could not stand the cruelty he had discovered. He said he kept thinking, 'What if that was my mum, my brother or my wife?'" Darby slipped an anonymous(匿名信) note under a military investigator's door in January, about the mistreatment of prisoners. He later turned in a CD-ROM with1,000 photos documenting the cruelty, according to a recently disclosed internal Army report. "I told him, 'Your picture is in the paper,'" Blank said. " I said, 'Honey, you did a good thing and good always triumphs over evil.' And he said, 'You' re right, mum.'"
Darby grew up in western Pennsylvania, US. To help his family, he worked at a fast food restaurant as a teenager and as a mechanic after graduating from high school. He thought the Army might lead to a better life---even a college education. So, like many others, he ended up in Iraq.
56. How did Darby feel when he found the abuse of Iraqi prisoners?
A. Excited. B. Terrible. C. Pleased. D. Angry.
57. Blank_________.
A. worried about what Darby had done B: was proud of her son
C. cared little about her son D. encouraged her son to tell the world the truth
58. Darby joined the arm to _________.
A. travel around the world for free B. support his family
C. improve his life D. occupy Iraq
59. The purpose of writing the passage is to__________
A. criticize the US troops for their wrong doings in Iraq
B. discuss whether Darby should disclose the abuse of Iraqi prisoners
C. tell the life about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners
D. show how Darby did in face of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners
B
Scientists have long doubted that one of most powerful objects in space is a black hole. Black holes create huge amounts of gravity. The gravity produced by a black hole is so strong it can even capture（捕获）light. Black holes pull everything into them. Recently NASA exerts released information and a photograph that shows a black hole slowly destroying a star. The power gravity of the black hole is tearing the star apart. Observations from two X-ray telescopes show evidence of this.
The telescopes are NASA Chandra and the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton X-ray. They were combined with earlier images from the German Roentgen Satellite.. Scientists have been observing the black hole more than ten years.
Stefanie Komossa works at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrail (宇宙的) Physics in German.. She is the leader of an international team of researchers. Miss Komossa says stars can bend or be stretched a small amount. However, evidence shows this star has been stretched so far it is now breaking apart. She says her star moved too close to the black hole. Scientists say the black hole they are observing has a mass of about 100-million times that of the Sun. They believed the star that was destroyed was about the same size as the Sun. The black hole and the star are in a galaxy(银河系) about 700-million light years away from the Earth.
60. It can be learned from the first paragraph that the scientists seem to ______in space.
A. describe one of the most powerful objects B. worry about the huge amounts of gravity
C. open out the result of a new discovery [). remind people of the secret of nature
61. The underline, word "evidence" in the passage probably means_______. .
A. anything that gives reason for believing something
B. the act or an instance of discovering
C. information presented as objective reality
D. the act of informing or the condition of being informed
62 Which of the following is NOT right?
A. It was long time ago that the black holes began to be observed.
B. A star was pulled into the black hole because of the powerful gravity.
C. Only X-ray telescopes are used to observe the black hole in space.
D. Scientists didn't believe that the black holes exist in space.
63 The gravity produced by a black hole is so strong that_______.
A. maybe all the objects in space will be destroyed
B. it can even capture light
C. none of objects in space can avoid being stretched
D. the galaxy will become a target attacked in space
C
The cicada（蝉） is a typical insect species which uses a combinatorial communication system. In their life cycle, communication is very important, for only through the exchange of sounds do cicadas know where to meet and when to mate. Three different calls are employed for this purpose. Because of their limited sound producing mechanisms, cicadas can make only ticks and buzzes. The only way they can distinguish between congregation and courtship calls is by varying the rate with which they make ticks and buzzes. The congregation call consists of 12 to 40 ticks, delivered rapidly, followed by a two-second buzz. It is given by males but attracts cicadas of both sexes. Once they are all together, the males use courtship calls. The preliminary call, a prolonged, slow ticking, is given when the male notices a female near him. The advanced call, a prolonged series of short buzzes at the same slow rate, is given when a female is almost within grasp. The preliminary call almost in variably occurs before the advanced call, although the latter is given without the preliminary call occurring first if a female is suddenly discovered very near by During typical courtship, though, the two calls together result in ticking followed by a buzzing-the same pattern which comprises the congregation call but delivered at a slower rate. In this way, cicadas show efficient use of their minimal sound producing ability, organizing two sounds delivered at a high rate as one call and the same sounds delivered at a slow rate as two more calls.
64. The cicada congregation call___________.
A. attracts only males. B. is given by both sexes.
C. is given only by males. D. attracts only females.
65. During typical courtship, when a male first notices a female near him, he gives________.
A. the two courtship calls together. B a series of slow ticks.
C. 12 to 40 rapid ticks. D. a two-second buzz.
66. How does the congregation call differ from the two courtship calls together?
A. It is delivered at a slower rate. B. It is delivered at a faster rate.
C.. The ticks precede the buzzes. D The buzzes precede the ticks.
67. According to this passage, why is communication so important for cicadas?
A. It helps them defend themselves against other insect species.
B. It warns them of approaching danger.
C. It separates the males from the females.
D. It is necessary for the continuation of the species.
D.
His feet had touched the ground again, but South African Mike Melvill's head was still high above the clouds.
Seeing the earth from the edge of space was "an amazing experience'', said the 63-year-old pilot It was more than a personal experience. Melvill and his rocket plane Space Ship One made history last Monday when it became the first private manned flight to reach space.
The spacecraft was carried by a jet (喷气机) until it reached a height of 14 kilometers. Then it separated from the jet and continued its journey beyond the earth's atmosphere. The craft reached space by traveling at three times the speed of sound.
On board, Mevill was able to see the earth. He also became weightless for about 3 minutes when the craft reached its highest altitude of 100 kilometers. He even opened a bag of colorful chocolate sweets to see if they would float around in the cockpit (驾驶员座舱) --- they did.
The successful flight brought the design team, led by famous American designer Burt Rutan, closer to winning the USS10 million Ansari X Prize. The award will be given to the first privately funded (投资) spacecraft to send three people 100 kilometers above the earth. The spacecraft also
has to land safely and repeat the achievement within two weeks.
This is to prove that the craft is reliable ( 可靠的) and has the ability to carry paying customers. "The flight opens a new chapter in history, putting space within the reach of ordinary citizens," said Patti Smith, head of commercial space transportation at the US Federal Aviation Administration (联邦航空局).
It's hoped that this flight is the first step toward space tourism. Members of the public could pay US$20,000-100,000 for the chance to fly high above the earth's atmosphere, float in zero gravity and take in the sights of space.
Rutan thinks that affordable space flights will be possible within the next 10 to 15 years. And that's just the beginning. "We are heading in to orbit sooner than you think," he said.
"We do not intend to stay in low-earth orbit for ages. The next 25 years will be a wild ride ... one that history will note was done for the benefit of everyone."
68. The story is about___________.
A. a successful flight into pace B. the beginning of affordable space flights
C. competition for commercial space transportation D. the first private rocket plane
69. According to Burt Rutan, what is likely to happen?
A. He'll win the Ansari X Prize.
B. A space flight will cost much less than 100,000.
C. In a few decades, private space craft will travel high in space.
D. The Space Ship One will make another flight within two weeks.
70. The fact that chocolate sweets could float proves ＿＿＿＿
A. the spacecraft was flying faster than sound B. Mevill was in space
C. Mevill was high above the earth D. there was a strong wind
71 The title of this passage is _________.
A. Walk in space B. The first private manned spaceship reached space successfully
C. The first spaceship D. A manned spaceship reached space successfully
E
We sometimes think humans are the only species which can bear anxiety，but stress seems to affect the immune(免疫)system of lower animals too. In one experiment，for example，behavioral scientist Mark Lauden，at the University of Denver，gave m订d electric shocks to 24 rats. Half of the animals could turn off the electricity by turning a wheel in their cage，while the other half could not. The rats in the two groups were paired so that each time one rat turned the wheel it protected both itself and its helpless partner from the shock. Lauden found that the immune reaction was below normal in the helpless rats but not in those that could turn off the electricity. What he has proved is that lack of control over an event，riot the experience itself，is what weakens the immune system.
Other researchers agree. Jay Weiss，a scientist at Duke University School of Medicine，has shown that animals who life allowed to control unpleasant stimuli(刺激)don’t develop sleep disorder or changes in brain chemistry of stressed rats. But if the animals are faced with situations they have no control over，they later behave passively when faced with experiences they can control. Such findings make researchers believe that the experience or feeling of helplessness is one of the most harmful factors in stress.
One of the most surprising examples of how the mind can change the immune reaction was discovered by chance. In 1995 Robert Ader at the University of Rochester School of Medicine experimented on mice to avoid saccharin(糖精)by feeding them at the same time with the sweetener and a drug that while harming their immune systems caused stomach upsets. Connecting the saccharin with stomach pains，the mice quickly learned to avoid the sweetener. In order to get rid of this dislike for the sweetener，Ader fed the animals with saccharin again，this time without the drug，and was astonished to find that those mice that had received the highest amount of sweetener the first time died. He believed that saccharin alone weakened their immune systems enough to kill them.
72. Lauden’s experiment showed that the immune system of those rats who could turn off the electricity______________.
A. was strengthened B. was not affected
C. was changed D. was weakened
73.According to the passage，the experience of helplessness causes rats to__________.
A. try to control unpleasant stimuli B. turn off the electricity
C. behave passively in controllable situations D. become harmful
74.The reason why the mice in Ader’s experiment avoided saccharin was that__________.
A. they disliked its taste B. it affected their immune systems
C. it 1ed to stomach pains D. they connected it with stomach pains
75.According to the passage，the most probable reason for the death of the mice in Adel’s experiment was that______________.
A. they had been weakened by the saccharin
B. the sweetener was poisonous to them
C. the immune systems had been changed by the mind
D. they had taken too much sweetener during the first experiment
（第二卷（共35分）
第四部分：写作（共两节，满分35分）
第一节 短文改错（共10小题。每小题1分，计10分）
此题要求改正所给短文中的错误。对标有题号的每一行作出判断：如无错误，在该行右边的横线上画一个勾(√)；如有错误(每行只有一个错误)，则按下列情况改正：
该行多一个词：把多余的词用斜线(＼)划掉，在该行右边横线上写出该词，并也用斜线(＼)划掉。
该行缺一个词：在缺词处加一个漏词符号(∧)，在该行右边横线上写出该加的词。
该行错一个词：在错的词下划一横线，在该行右边横线上写出改正后的词。
注意：原行没有错的不要改。
One day I happened to find a chatting room in 76．
my , there people were chatting in English. I tried 77．
to chat with some of them. To my surprised, I found 78．
the oral English of some junior students were better 79．
than me. I asked them for advice and they told me 80．
to practise more on . But every day after that I 81．
would spend one hour practise my oral English on . 82．
Day by day I learned from many useful words and 83．
expressions. With time went by, I found that I could 84．
even communicate some college students freely. 85．
第二节：书面表达(满分25分)
假如你叫李华，你和笔友Jane互寄了全家的合影。Jane看了合影后来信问为什么你没有兄弟姐妹。请用英语写封100字左右的信说明情况。内容包括以下要点：
| 原因 | 1．中国人口增长过快； 2．二十世纪八十年代开始实行计划生育； 3．大部分中国家庭是独生子女。 |
| 看法 | 1．能受到好的教育； 2．父母关爱更多； 3．孤独、自私，生活能力差； 4．建议多交朋友。 |
注意：1．可适当增加细节使行文连贯；
2．字数100左右；
3．开头已给出，不计入总字数；
4．参考词汇：计划生育family program 独生子女the only child
Dear Jane,
Thank you for your letter and the photo of your family. Now I am writing to tell you why I am the only child in my family.
参考答案
第一、二、三、部分：
1-5 ABBCC 6-8 ACB 9 Slow 10 Rapid/Fast 11 Slow or rapid/ Slow or fast
12-16 BBCBA 17-20 CACC 21-25 DCBAB 26-30 ADCCD 31-35 BCCAB 36-40 BDBCA 41-45 BADAC 46-50 ACBDC 51-55 DDACB 56-60 BBCDC 61-65 ADBCB 66-70 BDACB 71-75 B BCDC
短文改错：
76．√ 77．there→where 78．surprised→surprise 79．were→was 80．me→mine 81．But→So 82．practise→practising 83．去掉from 84．As→With或went→going 85．∧with(some)
Ⅵ．书面表达（满分25分）
One possible version
Dear Jane,
Thank you for your letter and the photo of your family. Now I am writing to tell you why I am the only child in my family.
As you know, the population of China is growing very fast. In order to control the rapid increase of population, in the 1980s the government of China began to put into practice the family program -- one child for each couple. As a result, most families have only one child.
Most people are in favor of the program because the child in the family can get more love from the family and chances are better for the child to get better education. The only child is selfish, and not so independent, though. Sometimes they feel lonely. I think, every the only child like me should learn to make more friends.
Hope that we write more often.
Best wishes.
Yours
Li Hua
听力材料
Text 1.
M.. That's a nice bike. Is it new?
W: No. I got it almost one year ago, at that time it was two years second hand. But it's still in good condition.
Text 2.
M.. Paul began to swim in 1989 and he joined a swimming club in 1992 when he was only 9.
W: Yes, I know. He set a new world record in six years after he joined the club.
Text 3.
W.. I really like to keep in touch with my family.
M.. Well, I wish I had the time to call home as often as you do.
Text 4.
W. Mike, you will stay to dinner, of course.
M.. Well, I’m starving now.
Text 5.
M.. If you happen to see the thief who stole my bicycle, please call the police station.
W: What does the thief look like?
M.. He is a middle-aged man, with long brown hair and wearing a T-shirt.
Text 6
W: Hi, Eric! You went to a concert last night, didn't you?
M: Yes, I went with my sisters.
W: How did you like the concert?
M: Wonderful, indeed. Many famous singers both at home and abroad sang at the concert. It was called "Saving the children".
W: What does it mean?
M: The concert was held for collecting money for poor children in Africa. Many children are homeless and they don't have enough food.
W.. That's quite true, but I think it is necessary for all the governments to do something about the problem.
M: I agree with you. But it's also important to make all people pay attention to it.
W: That's it.
Text 7.
If you wish to become a better reader, here are four important points to remember about rate, or speed,
of reading:
1. Knowing why you are reading-what you are reading to find out-will often help you to know whether to
read rapidly or slowly.
2. Some things should be read slowly throughout. Examples are directions for making or doing some-
thing, arithmetic problems, science and history books, which are full of important information. You must
read such things slowly to remember each important step and understand each important idea.
3. Some things should be read rapidly throughout. Examples are simple stories meant for enjoyment,
news letters from friends, items, or bits of news from the local paper, telling what is happening to friends
and neighbors.
4. In some of your readings, you must change your speed from fast to slow and slow to fast, as you go
along. You need to read certain pages rapidly and then slow down and do more careful readings when you
come to important ideas which must be remembered.
Text 8.
M: Good evening, Mrs. Hartley.
W: Good evening, Francis. Come in. I'm very happy to see you again.
M: I'm very happy, too.
W: I've got very good coffee. Would you like one?
M: Yes, thank you.
W: It's been.., err.., five years since you graduated.
M: Yes. How's everything, Mrs. Hartley?
W: Pretty good, thank you.
M: What's the good news?
W: I've had two books of mine published last year. What are you doing these days?
M: Nothing much. I'm trying to find a new job here.
Text 9
M: Hello. Is this the Banks Taxi Service?
W: Yes, it is.
M: I need a taxi to the airport, please.
W: What time do you need a ~taxi, sir?
M: My flight leaves at 2:30 this afternoon but I'd like to arrive at the station no later than 1:30. How long is the ride from here?
W: From here? Where do you live?
M: Oh, I am sorry. Live at 553 Mile End Street.
W: Let me see. 553 Mile End Street. I'd say that it would take about half an hour. We'll pick you up at 1:00. Is it OK with you?
M: Yes that will be fine. The driver will help me with my bag, won't he?
W: Yes, the driver is young and kind-hearted. He will help you.
Text 10.
Henry is a handsome yang man, and he has good manners. One morning he was walking along a street on his way to visit a friend. He did not want to be early or late. He had forgotten to put on his watch so he went up to a man who was waiting for a taxi.
"Excuse me, sir," he said, very politely, "but could you tell me the time?"
The man, who was very well dressed and looked quite rich, said nothing. He did not even look at Henry.
Henry spoke to him again. "Excuse me, sir," he said, "but could you please tell me what time it is?"
This time the man looked at him, but he did not speak and looked quickly away.
Henry thought to himself: Well, he isn't unable to hear. He must be just impolite.
"Why won't tell me the time, sir?" he demanded.
The man turned towards him and said, "Try to understand me. I am standing here waiting for a taxi. You come up to me and ask me for the time. If I tell it to you, you will thank me. I will say, “That’s all right.” You may then say, “ It's a beautiful day, “ to which I may reply “ Yes, I like these sunny winter days. “ Before we know what is happening we have a friendly conversation. You are a pleasant, polite young man and so when my taxi comes, I offer you a ride. You accept. We talk. I like you. You like me. I invite you to my home. You meet my daughter. She is a very pretty girl. You are a good-looking man. You like each other. Soon you fall in love. You want to marry. Now do you understand my problem?" Henry shook his head.
"No sir, I'm sorry, I don’t. Everything you have said seems very natural to me."
"Exactly," the man said," and I do not want my daughter to marry a man who is too poor to buy a watch. Good morning to you." And with these words he hurried away.