《2026年水木金卷高考模拟试卷精编英语》

阅读下面短文，按照题目要求用英语回答问题。
Putting down the book I was reading, I turned to my mum Phyllis.
“Next year, when I go to high school...,” I started, thinking of all the novels I’d soon be devouring. But before I could finish my sentence, Mum cut me off.
“There will be no high school,” she said. “We don’t have money for uniforms or school shoes or books.”
It was 1963; I was 12 and had spent the whole of primary school not wearing any shoes, but I dreamed of being a teacher. My family was very poor and my three older siblings hadn’t gone on to high school. Two of them had started work and my older sister stayed home to help Mum look after the younger kids. Two weeks before I turned 13, I started cutting threads off shirts in a clothing factory where I met George and later we married.
In time, we had our three kids Darcy, Georgina and Kelly. George found work on cattle stations so we moved to the outback in Western Queensland. I taught our three kids during their primary school years and that scratched my teaching itch a little, but the desire to study more never left me.
“When we retire, I want to go to university,” I told George.
I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. After 40 years in the outback, we retired in 2015 and I seized my chance. At the age of 66, I enrolled in a program with the University of the Sunshine Coast called the Tertiary Preparation Pathway which helped mature students prepare for university.
Next, I enrolled in a BA majoring in English. Walking onto campus that first day in February 2017, it was clear I was the oldest student there but that didn’t put me off in the slightest. My biggest challenge wasn’t the course work; it was the technology. My grandchildren constantly sent me encouraging messages saying, “We’re so proud of you, Granny.” or asking how I was doing.
At last, I passed all my subjects with flying colours and when I was invited to graduate, I cried. I couldn’t believe I’d done it. Wearing my black robe and hat, I marched into Johnny Farnham’s The Voice. I’ll never forget that feeling, waiting in the wings backstage for the Dean to call my name. “This is a wonderful achievement,” he told me as he handed my degree. I couldn’t agree more.
56. Why couldn’t the author go to high school? (no more than 15 words)
57. What is the meaning of the underlined part “with flying colours” in the last paragraph? (1 word)
58. How did the author manage to study more when moving to the outback in Western Queensland? (no more than 10 words)
59. What program did the author enroll in at the University of the Sunshine Coast? (no more than 15 words)
60. What can you learn from the passage? (no more than 20 words)

答案： 56.Because her family didn’t have money for uniforms, school shoes or books.
Or：Because her family was poor.
57.Successfully.
58.By teaching her three kids during their primary school years.
59.She enrolled in the Tertiary Preparation Pathway helping mature students prepare for university.
60.We should keep up with our dream and try to make it one day.
Or：The author faced challenges, including poverty and lack of education, but she never gave up on her dream.