黑龍江省大慶市重點(diǎn)中學(xué)2024年高考英語(yǔ)考前最后一卷預(yù)測(cè)卷含解析

黑龍江省大慶市重點(diǎn)中學(xué)2024年高考英語(yǔ)考前最后一卷預(yù)測(cè)卷注意事項(xiàng):1．答題前，考生先將自己的姓名、準(zhǔn)考證號(hào)碼填寫清楚，將條形碼準(zhǔn)確粘貼在條形碼區(qū)域內(nèi)。2．答題時(shí)請(qǐng)按要求用筆。3．請(qǐng)按照題號(hào)順序在答題卡各題目的答題區(qū)域內(nèi)作答，超出答題區(qū)域書寫的答案無(wú)效；在草稿紙、試卷上答題無(wú)效。4．作圖可先使用鉛筆畫出，確定后必須用黑色字跡的簽字筆描黑。5．保持卡面清潔，不要折暴、不要弄破、弄皺，不準(zhǔn)使用涂改液、修正帶、刮紙刀。第一部分（共20小題，每小題1.5分，滿分30分）1．—Thelectureabout3Dtechnologywasveryinteresting.—It’sapity.HowIwishI________timetoattendit.A．had B．have C．hadhad D．havehad2．Icertainlyexpecttobeelectedbeststudentoftheyear.It’sreally________!A．a(chǎn)goodSamaritanB．a(chǎn)wetblanketC．a(chǎn)featherinmycapD．a(chǎn)pieceofcake3．－I_______inthesamepositiontoolong.Mylegshavefallenasleep.－Shakeitalittlebeforeyougetup.A．willsit B．havesatC．a(chǎn)msitting D．havebeenstting4．Notuntilhelefthishome__________toknowhowimportantthefamilywasforhim．A．didhebeginB．hadhebegunC．hebeganD．hehadbegun5．Yumin,thelatefamousphysicist,oftenencouragedhisstudentsto_____whattheybelievedin,evenwhenfacingstrongopposition.A．comeupwith B．takechargeofC．putupwith D．standupfor6．—Ihavegotaheadache.—Nowonder.You___infrontofthatcomputertoolong.A．work B．a(chǎn)reworkingC．havebeenworking D．worked7．Ifthenewsafetysystem_______touse,theaccidentwouldneverhavehappened.A．hadbeenput B．wereput C．shouldbeput D．wouldbeput8．Paulcouldbeaveryattractiveboybuthe______tohisbehaviour.A．paidnoattention B．werepayingnoattentionC．paysnoattention D．hadpaidnoattention9．Fathermadeapromise______________Ididwellintheentranceexam,hewouldtakemetoHongKonginthesummervacation.A．ifthat B．ifC．thatif D．that10．Everythingisamazing.Thankyouall.Wewithoutyourhelp.A．can’tmakeit B．mustn’thavemadeC．won’tmake D．couldn’thavemadeit11．Studentsarealwaysinterestedinfindingout_______theycangowithanewteacher.A．howfar B．howsoon C．howoften D．howlong12．Everyoneinthevillagehopedthathewould______afterafewdays’treatment.A．pickup B．comeup C．keepup D．makeup13．TouristsloveBeijing,offersaninfinitecollectionofdelightsrangingfrom6UNESCOWorldHeritageSitestofoodfromeverycornerofChinaandbeyond.A．that B．whereC．which D．who14．Wewerescaredtodeathwhenthefire______.Fortunately,itwasputoutbeforeitcausedmuchdamage.A．brokeout?? B．cameoutC．gaveout?? D．turnedout15．Weclimbeduptothetopofahill,___________wegotagoodviewofthewholeforestpark.A．which B．whereC．when D．that16．___________andtheywillfinishoffthechallengingjob.A．Inaweek B．Aweeklater C．Afteraweek D．Anotherweek17．Theoldcouple,________countrylife,wereunwillingtomovetothecitytolivewithhisson.A．a(chǎn)ccustomedto B．buriedinC．a(chǎn)ddictedto D．exposedto18．Itissaidthattheonlysurvivorinthecarcrashwasbadlyinjured.However,somehowthedoctorsmanagedtohelphim______.A．pullthrough B．putthrough C．lookthrough D．breakthrough19．Tohisdelight,Tomquicklyearnedthetrustofhisbossandthenofhiscolleagues.A．one B．onesC．that D．those20．Whenitcomestoinpublic,noonecanmatchhim.A．speak B．speaking C．beingspoken D．bespoken第二部分閱讀理解（滿分40分）閱讀下列短文，從每題所給的A、B、C、D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出最佳選項(xiàng)。21．（6分）AstudypublishedinBloodPressureMonitoringstatedthatsittingwithyourlegscrossedcanincreaseyourbloodpressure.Thereasonthishappensisbecausethebloodinyourlegshastoworkagainstgravitytobepumpedbacktoyourheart,crossingonelegovertheotherincreasesresistance,makingitevenharderforthebloodtocirculate.Thiscausesyourbodytoincreaseyourbloodpressuretopushthebloodbacktotheheart.Youwon’tfeelanyimmediateeffects,butifyousitforlongperiodsoftimeit’simportantthatyoutakenoteofhowlongyouhaveyourlegscrossedfor.Youshouldn’thaveyourlegscrossedformorethan15minutes,andit’simportantthatyougetupandwalkaroundatleastonceeveryhour.Crossingyourlegscanalsoleadtoneckandbackpain.Ideally,it’sbestforourbodiestositwithourfeetplantedflat,hipwidthapart,onthefloor,butit’snoteasytomaintainperfectposturealldayattheoffice.Whenyousitwithyourlegscrossedyourhipsareinatwistedposition,whichcancauseoneofyourpelvicbonestorotate.Sinceyourpelvicbonesupportsyourneckandspine,thiscancausepressureonyourlowerandmiddlebackandneck.Youalsomightnoticethatwhenyousitwithyourlegscrossedforlongperiodsoftimeyourfeetandlegsgettinglyorhavethefeelingofbeingasleep.Thisisbecausewhenonelegsitsontopoftheotheritcausespressureontheveinsandnervesinyourlegsandfeet.Itcancausenumbnessand/ortemporaryparalysisinthelegs,ankles,orfeet.Whilethefeelingofdiscomfortmayonlylastaminuteortwo,repeatedlycrossingyourlegsuntiltheyfeelnumbcancausepermanentnervedamage.1、Whatcanbelearnedfromthetext?A．Wewillfeelbloodpressureincreasedimmediatelyaftercrossinglegs.B．It’seasyforustokeepcorrectpostureallday.C．Thepelvicbonecancausepressureonyourlowerandmiddlebackandneck.D．Yourlegswillgetpainwithlegscrossedforlongperiodsoftime.2、Crossingyourlegsmaycausesomehealthproblemsexcept___________.A．Causingthepainofneckandback.B．Increasingthebloodpressure.C．Leadingtothepainoffeetandlegs.D．Resultinginthedisabilityofarms.3、Whatissuggestedaccordingtothetext?A．Donotoftencrossyourlegswhilesitting.B．Crossyourlegsformorethan15minuteseveryday.C．Getupandwalkaroundatleastonceeveryotherhour.D．Crossyourlegstoloweryourbloodpressure.22．（8分）Whenadoglooksatyouwithbigpuppy-dogeyes,it’shardforyoutogoaway,andyoumayspeakout“Awww”withouthesitation.However,there’sareasonwhyyoufindadog’sstaresoattractive.Thatsweetstareactuallycausesthereleaseofaparticularhormone,orchemicalmessengerinthebody.Thishormonecreatesfeelingsofaffectioninhumans.Thesamethinghappenstodogswhenpeoplelookbackatthem.Scientistsbelievethishelpspeopleandtheirfour-leggedfriendsbond,orfeelconnected.Scientistshavewonderedwhatcausesdogstolovinglystareattheirowners.Tofindout,ateamofresearchersfromAzabuUniversityinJapanstudied30ownersandtheirdogs.Theresearchersfoundthatafterthepetsandtheirownersspenthalfanhourtogether,bothshowedariseinoxytocin(催產(chǎn)素).Onekeyroleofthishormoneinmanyanimalsistopromotebonding,likethatbetweenamotherandnewborn.Theincreaseofoxytocindidn’thappen,though,whenscientistsrepeatedtheexperimentwithwolvesandthehumanswhohadraisedthem.Asecondexperimentalsofoundthatifdogsweregivenoxytocin,theylookedattheirownerslonger.Scientistsaren’tsureexactlywhy,butthisreactionoccurredonlywithfemaledogs.Theirownersoxytocinlevelsalsoroseasaresult.Theresultoftheseexperimentsmighthelpansweranage-oldquestion:Howdidthefearsomewolfancestorofmoderndogsturnintoman’sbestfriend?TakefumiKikusui,ananimalscientistwhoworkedonthestudy,thinksthatthechangehappenedwhendogsfirstbecamedomestic(馴養(yǎng)的).AccordingtoKikusui,theremayhavebeenasmallgroupofwilddogsthatwerenaturallyfriendlier.“Humansareverysensitivetoeyecontact.Byusingthisspecialcommunicationtool,thedogsareabletowinoverourhearts.Iftheyaremorelikelytomakeeyecontact,itwouldbeeasierforthemtobondwithdogowners,”Kikusuisaid.1、AccordingtoParagraph1,peoplesay“Awww”to________.A．makethedogstareatthemB．expresstheirloveforthedogsC．drawthedogsattentionawayD．warnthedogsnottoapproachthem2、Accordingtothepassage,oxytocincan________.A．reduceanimalspainofgivingbirthB．motivateanimalsdesirestoprotectothersC．helpanimalstodevelopabetterrelationshipD．enableanimalstosurvivemoreeasilyfromdangers3、Theunderlinedwords“thechange”inParagraph4refertothat________.A．dogsbecamefriendswithhumansB．wolvesbegintobondwithhumansC．dogsandwolvesarebestfriendsD．dogsweredomesticatedbyhumans4、What’sthepurposeofthepassage?A．Tocallonhumanstobefriendlytodogs.B．Togiveadviceonhowtogetalongwithdogs.C．Tointroducetheevolutionprocessofwilddogs.D．Toexplainwhyhumansanddogsareconnected.23．（8分）Canyoubetoobeautiful?Itishardlyaproblemthatmostofushavetobother—asmuchaswemightliketodreamthatitwerethecase.Yettheblessingsandcursesofbeautyhavebeenalong-standinginterestinpsychology.Dothoseblessedwithshinyfacesandanattractivebodyliveinacloudofappreciation—ordoesitsometimespaytobeordinary?Atthemostbasiclevel,beautymightbethoughttocarryakindofhalo(光環(huán))aroundit;weseethatsomeonehasonegoodquality,andbyassociation,ourdeepmindmayassumethattheyhaveothergoodonestoo.Eveninthecourts,apleasingappearancecanworkitsmagic.Attractivecriminalsarelikelytogetlessstrictsentences,ortoescapepunishmententirely;attractiveplaintiffs(原告),meanwhile,aremorelikelytowintheircaseandgetbiggerfinancialsettlements.“It’saneffectseeneverywhere,”saysWalker.Butifbeautypaysinmostcircumstances,therearestillsituationswhereitcanhaveoppositeresults.Whileattractivemenmaybeconsideredbetterleaders,forinstance,hiddensexistprejudices(偏見)canworkagainstattractivewomen,makingthemlesslikelytobehiredforhigh-leveljobsthatrequirepower.Andasyoumightexpect,good-lookingpeopleofbothsexesrunintoenvy—onestudyfoundthatifyouareinterviewedbysomeoneofthesamesex,theymaybelesslikelytoemployyouiftheyjudgethatyouaremoreattractivethantheyare.Moreworryingly,beingbeautifulorhandsomecouldharmyourmedicalcare.Wetendtolinkgoodlookstohealth,meaningthatillnessesareoftentakenlessseriouslywhentheyaffectthegood-looking.Whentreatingpeopleforpain,forinstance,doctorstendtotakelesscareoverthemoreattractivepeople.Ultimately,scientistspointoutthatfocusingtoomuchonyourappearancecanitselfbeharmfulifitcreatesstressandanxiety—evenforthosealreadyblessedwithgoodlooks.“Ifyouarecrazyaboutattractiveness,itmayaffectyourexperienceandinteractions,”shesays.It’sanoutdatedsaying,butnoamountofbeautycanmakeupforabadpersonality.AsthewriterDorothyParkerputitsoelegantly:“Beautyisonlyskindeep,butuglygoescleantothebone.”1、Fromparagraph1,wecanlearnthat_______.A．somemaybebotheredbytheirunattractiveappearanceB．mostpeoplearenotafraidofbeingtoobeautifulC．wemightalwaysdreamaboutbeingbotheredbyothersD．beingtoobeautifulcanbeaproblembotheringeveryone2、Whichisthebenefitforbeautifulpeople?A．Allattractiveplaintiffshavemorechancestogetawaywithpunishment.B．Womenwithpleasingappearancewillalwaysbeconsideredasbetterleaders.C．Good-lookingpeopleareoftenregardedashavingmanygoodqualities.D．Beautifulcriminalsaremorelikelytopersuadethejudgeandwinthecase.3、Thewritermentionedtheunderlinedsentenceinthelastparagraphto_______.A．persuadeustopaymoreattentiontoourlooksfromnowonB．suggestthatbeautycanhelpmakeabetterpersonalityC．encourageustofocusmoreonimprovingourpersonalityD．a(chǎn)skuglypeopletohavemoreconfidenceintheirpersonality4、Whatmightbethebesttitleforthepassage?A．Beauty,ablessing?B．SexistPrejudice.C．Realbeauty.D．BenefitsBeautyholds.24．（8分）WhychooseCambridgeEnglish?GiveyourstudentsthebestsupportAspartoftheUniversityofCambridge,wearecommittedtoexcellenceineverythingwedo.Weareknownallovertheworldforqualitymaterialsthatreallywork—fromtheever-popularEnglishGrammarinUsetobest-sellingcourseslikeTouchstoneandEnglishinMind.It’snowonderthattensofmillionsofteachersandlearnersaroundtheworldhavechosenCambridgetohelpthemachievetheirgoals.FocusonthelanguagetheyreallyneedWithCambridgeEnglish,youcanbesurethatthelanguageyou’reteachingisnatural,uptodateandusefulforyourstudents.WeusethelatestresearchtounderstandhowEnglishworksandtohelpstudentslearnmoreeffectively.PrepareforexamsuccessWearetheonlypublisherofofficialpreparationmaterialsforCambridgeEnglishexams.Ourwideselectionofcourses,practicetestsandmaterialsaredevelopedinclosecooperationwithCambridgeEnglishLanguageAssessment,thepeoplewhosettheexams.Soyoucanfullyprepareyourstudentsforexamsuccess.DevelopasateacherYourprofessionaldevelopmentisimportanttoustoo.Weprovideoutstandingteachersupportincludingteachertrainingseminarsandtheuniqueonlineprofessionaldevelopmentsite,CambridgeEnglishTeacher.Wearealsoincreasinglyworkingwithtopschoolsaroundtheworld,offeringourexperience,expertknowledgeandskilltohelpdevelopCambridgeEnglishschools.1、WhatisoneadvantageofCambridgeEnglish?A．Usefulmaterials.B．Experiencedteachers.C．Anauthenticlearningenvironment.D．Detailedresearchonlanguage.2、WhycanCambridgeEnglishhelpstudentsbecomeconfidentaboutCambridgeEnglishexams?A．Becausetheexamsarewrittenbyitsteachers.B．Becauseitworkstogetherwiththeexamauthority.C．Becauseitisguidedbylanguageassessmentexperts.D．Becauseitsmaterialsareprovidedbyofficialexaminers.3、Whattypeofwritingisthistext?A．Aguide.B．Areport.C．Anannouncement.D．Anadvertisement.25．（10分）Themosttypicaldefinitionofsuccessis“theaccomplishmentofanaimorpurpose”orwhatmostofushaveheard:“theattainmentofpopularityorprofit.”ButisSuccessreallydefinedbypurposesorprofit?Aftergraduatingfromhighschool,myfamilyadvisedmetoaimtobuildasuccessfulcareer.Myoptionswerenarroweddowntobecomingadoctororchoosingafieldinengineering.SoIgraduatedwithachemicalengineeringdegree.Iwasadvisedtoaimforgraduatestudies,andinlessthantwoyears,IhadahighlyspecializeddegreeinplasticsengineeringfromoneofthemostreputableuniversitiesintheU.S.ThenIfoundacorporatejob,performedwellintheorganization,climbeduptheladder,andmadeabiggerpaychequewitheverynewtitle.Myproudparentstoldmystorytotherestofthefamilyandfriendsasa“success”story.Nomatterwhereweliveintheworld,weallhaveourownversionsofsuccess.Ourfamiliestakeprideintellingtheworldhowsuccessfulweareinourprofession,andoftentheonlymeasureofthatsuccessbecomesthefinancialwealthweaccumulate.Inaworldwhereeverythingisreflectedbynumbers—thelikesonFacebook,thenumberofviewsonYouTube,etc.—everyaspectofourlifeisbeingtakenoverbynumbers.Weareconditionedtobelievethatthestrongeryourfinancialstanding,thehigheryourankonthesuccesschart.Butrememberthewords,“aim”or“purpose,”inthedefinitionofsuccess.AltruisticfiguressuchasMotherTeresa,MahatmaGandhiandMartinLutherKingJr.alsolivedsuccessfullivesbuthadselflessconcernoverthewell-beingofothers.Whiletherestoftheworldfocusedonaccumulatingwealth,theyfocusedongiving,doing,andcreatingforeveryoneelse.Wealthaloneneverwillbethemeasureofsuccess.Thinkbeyondprofits.NopromotionorpayraiseIeverreceivedinmyprofessionalcareerwasbecauseofmydeepdesiretoobtainabettertitleorhigherpay;instead,itwasbasedontheexcellenceIcreatedintheexperienceourcustomershadwiththeorganization.1、Whatdoyouknowabouttheauthor?A．Hehasliveduptohisfamily’sexpectations.B．Heaskshisparentsforadviceoneverything.C．Hedoesn’tlikehisjobthoughheiswellpaid.D．Hewantedtobeadoctorbutbecameachemicalengineer.2、What’sthecommonawarenessofsuccessaroundtheworld?A．Socialconnections.B．Contributionstosociety.C．Theaccumulationoffinancialwealth.D．Theaccomplishmentofpersonaldreams.3、Whatdoestheunderlinedword“Altruistic”inParagraph3mean?A．Ofabundantwealth.B．Offewachievements.C．Devotedtoothers’welfare.D．Focusedonpersonalwell-being.4、Whatinspirationcanbedrawnfromtheauthor’sworkingexperience?A．Changejobsfrequentlyforhigherpay.B．Aimatprovidingqualityserviceatwork.C．Takeeverychancetogetpromotion.D．Focusonmakingprofitsfromthecustomers.5、What’stheauthor’spurposeinwritingthispassage?A．Toexplorethetruemeaningofsuccess.B．Toexpresshisinnervoicestohisparents.C．Toacknowledgethehelphehasreceivedinhislife.D．Tosharehispersonalexperienceforothers’reference.第三部分語(yǔ)言知識(shí)運(yùn)用（共兩節(jié)）第一節(jié)（每小題1.5分，滿分30分）閱讀下面短文，從短文后各題所給的A、B、C和D四個(gè)選項(xiàng)中，選出可以填入空白處的最佳選項(xiàng)．26．（30分）ThesedaysmyworkismostlyontheInternet.However,thereisone1thatIusenearlyeveryday.AndIlearneditfrommydadalmost40yearsagoinaverydifferent2.Myfatherranaplumbing(水管)shop.Ihadto3himwithhiswork.Oneday,Iwasaskedtowork4aconcretefloor.Itwasn’tthekindofworkI5.Theworkwasphysicalworkwhichinvolved6achisel(鑿子)andswingingafive-poundhammeratitreally7.Often,myaimwasbad8thehammermissedthechiseland9mywrist.Aftertenminutes,mydadcame,expectingtofindthejobcompleted.Actually,itwasn’t.Heasked,“Son,haveyoubeendoingitallthetime?”“Welldad,”Itoldhim10,“Ifigureoutagoodwaytodothismore11.Ijusttapthechiselandmoveit.I’mgeneratingacircleofshockwavedownintotheconcrete.Thatway,it’llbreakalongthelinesandIwon’thurtmywristagain.”Dadgavemea12look.Hesaid,“Son,justhitthething.”ThenDad13mehishand.Isawmanyscarsonit.Hetoldme,“Ifyousticktothework,you’ll14itsooner.“Well,Ididhititthen.Andthejobonlytookfivemoreminutestofinish.15enough,eventhoughIhammeredmy16twoorthreetimes,IwasproudthatI’djustdoneit.Today,nearly40yearslater,whenI17anydifficultyinworkIstillhearmyfather’svoice,“Sonjusthitthething.”Ifeel18becauseIknowhe’sstillurgingmetotakeaction,goahead,getthejobdone,andnever19thescars.Andthat’snotabad20tocarrythroughlife.1、A．reasonB．principleC．measureD．plan2、A．lifeB．momentC．jobD．occasion3、A．helpB．leaveC．botherD．provide4、A．sweepingB．buildingC．designingD．breaking5、A．enjoyedB．heardC．foundD．a(chǎn)voided6、A．findingB．makingC．holdingD．choosing7、A．frequentlyB．fastC．exactlyD．hard8、A．soB．butC．orD．when9、A．missedB．destroyedC．hitD．pressed10、A．sadlyB．proudlyC．rapidlyD．loudly11、A．safelyB．quicklyC．normallyD．funnily12、A．satisfiedB．tiredC．funnyD．serious13、A．gaveB．lentC．postedD．showed14、A．repeatB．improveC．finishD．know15、A．LuckyB．StrangeC．PeacefulD．Happy16、A．faceB．footC．legD．hand17、A．getonB．makeupC．meetwithD．findout18、A．hesitantB．worriedC．comfortableD．encouraged19、A．checkB．mindC．developD．put20、A．lessonB．a(chǎn)rrangementC．a(chǎn)ttitudeD．situation第二節(jié)（每小題1.5分，滿分15分）閱讀下面材料，在空白處填入1個(gè)適當(dāng)?shù)膯卧~或括號(hào)內(nèi)單詞的正確形式。27．（15分）It’soneofthe1．(great)novelsinworldliterature.Firstpublishedin1791,ADreamofRedMansions,also2．(know)asTheStoryoftheStone,istoChinesepeopleasWilliamShakespeare’sfamousplaysaretowesterners.Thenovel,3．reflectsthehistoryoftheQingDynasty,followstheriseandfallofthenobleJiafamily.Originally,thefamilyseems4．(be)wealthyandpowerful,thanksinparttoitscloserelationshipswiththeroyalfamily.Yet,theheirtothefamily,JiaBaoyu,enjoys5．(live)apure,carefreelife,havingnointerest6．politicsatall.ExpectedtopairwithXueBaochai,Jia7．(stay)gluedtohisdelicatelybrilliantcousin,LinDaiyu.Astheloversheadtowardatragicend,thefamilyfallsonhardtimes,fadingawayeventually.The8．(appreciate)oftheclassicnovelissurelybothapleasanttreatandabittersomechallenge.Asalways,thenovelhasexperiencedvariousadaptations.Makingthedetailed120-chapternovelintojustseveralhoursis9．(absolute)nopieceofcake.“Still,choiceshavetobemade,”theopera’sstagedirectorStanLaiconcluded.“Foreveryoneelse,thechallengeistomakeit10．excellentopera.”第四部分寫作（共兩節(jié)）第一節(jié)短文改錯(cuò)（滿分10分）28．（10分）假定英語(yǔ)課上老師要求同桌之間交換修改作文，請(qǐng)你修改你同桌寫的以下短文。短文中共有10處錯(cuò)誤，每句中最多有兩處。錯(cuò)誤涉及一個(gè)單詞的增加、刪除或修改。增加：在缺詞處加一個(gè)漏字符號(hào)（∧），并在此符號(hào)下面寫出該加的詞。刪除：把多余的詞用斜線（＼）劃掉。修改：在錯(cuò)的詞下劃一橫線，并在該詞下面寫出修改后的詞。注意：1、每處錯(cuò)誤及其修改均僅限一詞；2、只允許修改10處，多者（從第11處起）不計(jì)分。Greatchangeshavetakenplaceinthewayofcommunicationinpeople'slifeinrecentyears、Inthepast,peoplekeptintouchwitheachothermainlybywrittenlettersorusingthepublictelephone、Butnowalmosteveryonehavehisownmobilephone、Peoplecancommunicateforeachotheralmostatanyplaceandatanytime、What'smore,peoplehaveeasyaccesstotheInternet,whatenablesthemtosendandreceivee-mailswhatevertheylike、Withthischanges,people'spaceoflifehasbeenquickenedandpeople'sworkhasbeenmademoreefficiently、Itisusedtotakeseveraldaystohearofeachother,butnowittakesonlyseveralminutes,eveniftheyareontwodifferentcontinent