山东省济宁市2020-2021学年高一第二学期期中教学质量检测英语试卷 WORD版含答案.doc

1、山东省济宁市2020-2021学年高一第二学期期中教学质量检测英语试卷注意事项：1. 答卷前，考生务必将自己的姓名、考生号等填写在答题卡和试卷指定位置上。2. 回答选择题时，选出每小题答案后，用铅笔把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑。如需改动，用橡皮擦干净后，再选涂其他答案标号。回答非选择题时，将答案写在答题卡上。写在本试卷上无效。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，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

2、一遍。 1. What will the man do next? A. Follow the woman. B. Go to the subway. C. Go to the bus station. 2. Where will Jacks family probably spend their holiday? A. In Beijing. B. In Yunnan. C. In Qingdao. 3. What did the man do during his holiday？ A. Visited a city.B. Climbed a mountain. C. Walked alo

3、ng the street at midnight.4. How much is one ticket? A. 10 dollars. B. 30 dollars. C. 100 dollars. 5. What does the man mean? A. He has a lot of work to do. B. He will copy the note for the woman. C. The woman can type the note by the computer.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

4、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、7题。6. What is the probable relationship between the speakers? A. Mother and son. B. Doctor and patient. C. Manager and clerk.7. What can we know about the man? A. He is seriously ill. B. He made a mistake in his

5、 job. C. He needs to relax himself and take some exercise.听第7材料，回答第8至10题。 8. What are the speakers talking about? A. The womans working experience. B. The way to serve people. C. Different cake shops. 9. What did Susan like in the shop? A. The workmates. B. The clean workplace. C. The smell of bakin

6、g. 10. What did Susan say about serving customers? A. She liked to plan a party or a wedding for them. B. She enjoyed the busy part of the day. C. She hated serving them at lunchtime.听第8段材料，回答第11至13题。11. What is a bad thing for teenagers? A. They cant buy what they want. B. They have to do the house

7、work. C. They need to do their homework. 12. What does the man think of his mothers life? A. Busy. B. Boring. C. Wonderful. 13. How many days does the mans mother work a week? A. Four days. B. Five days. C. Six days. 听第9材料，回答第14至17题。14. Where does the conversation probably take place? A. At the bus

8、station. B. In a university. C. On a plane. 15. Where is the woman going? A. London. B. Glasgow. C. Cambridge. 16. What is the man? A. He is a businessman. B. He is a student. C. He is a government officer. 17. What can we learn from the conversation? A. The man is a bit nervous. B. It is not the ma

9、ns first trip abroad. C. The man is studying in Glasgow University.听第10段材料，回答第18至20题。18. Why did the speakers uncle laugh at him? A. Because he couldnt buy a fish. B. Because he couldnt speak Chinese. C. Because his English was not good. 19. Whats the attitude of the fish man to the speaker? A. Impa

10、tient. B. Ignored. C. Laughable. 20. What did the speaker bring back home finally? A. Some fresh fish. B. Some cards. C. Nothing. 第二部分：阅读理解(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。AMath holidays everyone should knowIn recent years mathematicians and scientists have begu

11、n campaigns to mark certain dates in celebration of significant principles and here are a few to add to your calendar.Mole DayMole Day is celebrated yearly on Oct. 23 from 6: 02 am to 6: 02 pm. The idea of a celebratory day was put forward by a chemistry teacher in 1991 and has been honored every ye

12、ar since. It celebrates Avogadros Number, which is a basic measuring unit in chemistry. Each Mole Day has a specific theme.Pi DayThe grandaddy of mathematical and scientific holidays, however, falls every year on Mar 14. The date, 3/14, represents the first three numerals in the calculation of pi, s

13、o the date is known annually as Pi Day.Pi Day was founded in 1988 by a physicist. The observations spread to the point where on Mar 12, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring Mar 14 as National Pi Day. Fibonacci DayNov. 23 marks Fibonacci Day, a special day that celebr

14、ates the man known as Fibonacci who developed a mathematical idea called the Fibonacci Sequence, in which every number is the sum of the previous two numbers. So, for example, 11/23 marks the day because 1+1 equals 2, and then 1+2 equals 3(the date being the 23rd).Square Root DaySquare Root Day is a

15、 holiday that heartily honors those dates where the combination of day and month and year form square roots: e.g. 2/2/04 and 3/3/09. The last Square Root Day was 4/4/16. The holiday was created by a high school teacher Ron Gordon. Square Root Day has its own website where celebrants can gather befor

16、e the next holiday.21. How is Mole Day similar with Pi Day?A. They both have themes. B. They are yearly holidays.C. They fall on the same day. D. They are created by a teacher.22. Which holiday is to honor a person?A. Mole Day.B. Pi Day. C. Fibonacci Day. D. Square Root Day.23. Which day might be ce

17、lebrated as Square Root Day?A.10/23/22.B. 11/23/23.C. 3/12/29. D. 5/5/25.B Fu Cong, a Chinese-born pianist, died on Monday at a hospital in London, where he had lived for many years. A lover of classical music from a young age, Mr. Fu began taking piano lessons when he was 7. He made his first stage

18、 appearance in 1952. The concert caught the attention of officials in Beijing, who selected him to compete and tour in Eastern Europe. Mr. Fu soon moved to Poland, where he studied at the Warsaw Conservatory (音乐学校) on a scholarship. To prepare for the fifth Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 1955, he p

19、racticed so hard that he hurt his fingers and was nearly cut from the first round of the competition. Mr. Fu was one of the first Chinese pianists to achieve global fame when he took third place in the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1955. He also won a special prize for his perf

20、ormance of Chopins mazurkas. Almost overnight, he became a national hero. To China, Mr. Fus recognition in a well-known international competition was evidence that the country could stand on its own artistically in the West. Chinese reporters came to interview Mr. Fu, while many others went to his f

21、ather, Fu Lei, for advice on child-raising. In 1981, a volume of letters written by his father, was published in China. Full of advice, encouragement, life teachings and strict paternal love, the book Fu Leis Family Letters became a best-seller in China. Besides influencing a generation of Chinese,

22、Mr. Fus words resonated (引起共鸣) long after his death with the person for whom they were intended. “My father had a saying that First you must be a person, then an artist, and then a musician, and only then can you be a pianist,” Mr. Fu Cong once recalled in an interview. “Even now, I believe in this

23、orderthat it should be this way and that I am this way.”24. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?A. Fu Congs achievements in music.B. Fu Congs stage performances.C. Fu Congs experiences of learning music. D. Fu Congs efforts for competitions.25. Why does Fu Congs global recognition mean a lot to China?

24、A. It earns Chinese arts a place in the West. B. It promotes the spread of Chinese culture. C. It proves Chinese peoples love for music. D. It enables Chinese art education to be recognized.26. What does the underlined word “they” in paragraph 4 refer to? A. Fu Leis Family Letters.B. Young people of

25、 China. C. Fu Cong and his family.D. Readers of Fu Leis Family Letters.27. Which of the following agrees with Fu Leis ideas in the last paragraph? A. Its easy to be an artist. B. It requires various qualities to be a pianist. C. Everyone should develop an interest in art. D. Talent is of greatest im

26、portance for a pianist.CIf you use social media to chase away loneliness, a new study suggests that youre going against the grain.We may have heard a lot about the benefits of interacting with others online, but the findings of a study conducted by scientists from the University of Pittsburgh School

27、 of Medicine show a direct relationship between social media usage and feelings of isolation(孤独). In short, the more time you spend on social media, the lonelier you may feel. With increasing usage of a large number of apps that allow for endless virtual connectivity, loneliness seems like the last

28、problem social media users would face, but according to Brain A. Primack, the leader of the study, it has the exact opposite effect.“Mental health problems and social isolation are widespread among young adults nowadays.” Primack said. “We are naturally social creatures, but modern life tends to sep

29、arate us instead of bringing us together. While it may seem that social media provide opportunities to fill the social void(空白), I think this study suggests that it may not be the solution people were hoping for.”Primack and his team examined the social media habits of 1,787 U.S. adults aged between

30、 19 and 32 via a questionnaire(问卷) that asked about how often and how long they visit the most popular social media platforms. Eventually, they determine that young adults who are constantly logging in social media are lonelier than those with less social media usage. Frequent exposure（接触）to unreali

31、stic descriptions on social media instead of face-to-face social interactions may give people the impression that others are living happier, and this may make users feel lonelier in comparison.28. What does the underlined phrase “going against the grain” in paragraph 1 mean? A. Doing it all wrong.B.

32、 On the way to success.C. Taking a risk.D. Making a difference.29. How did Primack and his team carry out the study? A. By doing a survey.B. By collecting data online. C. By providing explanations.D. By describing their own experiences.30. What can we learn from the study? A. You will feel happier i

33、f you spend more time online. B. Online interaction is not the solution to social isolation. C. Virtual connectivity is the best way to fill the social void. D. Popular social media platforms can bond people together. 31. What does the text mainly tell us? A. Loneliness leads to frequent social medi

34、a usage. B. Face-to-face social interactions are on the way out. C. Social media do users more harm than good. D. Social media might make loneliness worse.DKoalas live in the eucalyptus (桉树) forests of southeastern and eastern Australia. Theyrely on the eucalyptus treefor both habitat and food. In f

35、act, they seldom leave these trees. When not sleeping, theyre usually eating. They caneat more than a poundof eucalyptus leaves a day. Eucalyptus is poisonous, so the koalas digestive (消化的) system has to work hard to digest it, breaking down the poisons and taking in the limited nutrients (营养). That

36、s why koalas sleep for 18 to 22 hours a day they get very little energyfrom their diet. Koala numbersdecreased in the late 19th and early 20thcentury from hunting for their fur. Now they face serious threats from habitat loss.Land clearing and bush firesespeciallythe 2019-2020 Australia Bushfire Sea

37、sonhave destroyed much of the forest they live in. Koalas are easy to be affected by climate change. Increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is decreasing the nutritional quality of eucalyptus leaves and causing longer, more serious droughts and wildfires. In response to drought, koalas are forc

38、ed to stop sleeping andcome down from the trees to find water, putting them at a higher risk of being killed.Koalas have been identified by the Australian government asone of the 113 animals requiring urgent (紧急的) help. Ensuring theres the right kind of forest for them to return to is extremely urge

39、nt. State governments shouldcreate newkoala reserves and persuade landowners not to cut down eucalyptus trees. Meanwhile, getting the public to understand koalas living habits and their health will throw light on koala biology, which helps to develop plans to better protect the species.32. What can

40、we learn about koalas? A. They like moving around very much. B. They have developed smart survival skills. C. They can be found everywhere in Australia. D. They often got ill while eating eucalyptus leaves.33. What does paragraph 2 mainly talk about? A. Koalas newly-formed habits.B. Koalas decreasin

41、g population. C. The potential threats to Koalas.D. The outcomes of increased carbon dioxide.34. What is the most important thing to do right now to protect koalas? A. Conduct the research on their living habits. B. Make sure they can have their habitat back. C. Realize that they are sensitiveto cli

42、mate change. D. Educate people about the awareness of protecting them.35. From which is the text probably taken? A. A nature magazine.B. A travel brochure. C. A sports newspaper. D. A health magazine.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。 Before there was the written w

43、ord, there was the language of dance. Dance expresses love and hate, joy and sorrow, life and death, and everything else in between. 36 We dance from Florida to Alaska, from north to south and sea to sea. We dance at weddings, birthdays, office parties and just to fill the time.“I adore dancing,” sa

44、ys Lester Bridges, the owner of a dance studio in Iowa. “I cant imagine doing anything else with my life.” Bridges runs dance classes for all ages. “Teaching dance is wonderful. 37 Its great to watch them. For many of them, its a way of meeting people and having a social life.” 38 “I can tell you ab

45、out one young couple,” says Bridges. “Theyre learning to do traditional dances. They arrive at the class in low spirits and they leave with a smile. 39 ”So, do we dance in order to make ourselves feel better, calmer, healthier? Andrea Hillier says, “Dance, like the pattern of a beating heart, is lif

46、e. Even after all these years, I want to get better and better. 40 I find it hard to stop! Dancing reminds me Im alive.” A. So why do we dance?B. Dance in the U.S. is everywhere.C. If you like dancing outdoors, come to America.D. My older students say it makes them feel young.E. I keep practicing ev

47、en when Im extremely tired.F. Dancing seems to change their feeling completely.G. They stayed up all night long singing and dancing.第三部分： 英语知识运用（共三节，满分30分）第一节：完形填空（共15小题；每题1分，满分15分）阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的四个选项（A, B, C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并涂在答题卡上。When the 28-year-old farmer Ureta met 17-year-old Graciela in his homet

48、own Pampa, they fell in love. Two years later, they 41 and settled down on the farm where Ureta had been brought up.Graciela had many big 42 for the farm in her mind. One day when she was on a 43 over Pampa, Graciela suddenly 44 that another farm looked like a milking pail (桶). Graciela thought her

49、family could create something even more 45 on their own farma huge forest 46 like her favorite musical instrumentthe guitar.But Ureta didnt take his wifes 47 seriously, saying, “Well talk about it later.”Later 48 came. In 1977, Graciela died suddenly of brain cancer at the 49 age of 25 while carryin

50、g their fifth child. After his wifes death, Mr. Ureta 50 not satisfying her wish. A few years later, Ureta decided that the best way to honor his wife would be to 51 the big work of art.After the local government 52 to help with the project, Ureta and his children took it on their own. One by one, t

51、hey 53 about 7,000 trees into the “shape of a guitar”. It took a few seasons for the trees to take roots(生根), but Uretas hard work 54 .Watching the forest grow over the years gave Gracielas children 55 . “It was the closest thing possible to having my mother alive,” Maria Julia, Uretas second daught

52、er, said.41. A. got preparedB. got married C. became well-knownD. became stressed42. A. testsB. tasks C. reasonsD. plans43. A. trainB. flight C. cloudD. bridge44. A. noticedB. remembered C. recognizedD. expected45. A. expensiveB. funny C. attractiveD. important46. A. treatedB. described C. considere

53、dD. shaped47. A. styleB. personality C. ideaD. adventure48. A. hardlyB. never C. stillD. always49. A. youngB. old C. common D. special50. A. keptB. suggested C. enjoyedD. regretted51. A. copyB. paint C. createD. change52. A. promisedB. decided C. volunteeredD. refused 53. A. plantedB. carried C. put

54、D. collected54. A. faded awayB. paid off C. went throughD. tried out55. A. pleasureB. comfort C. supportD. care第二节 单词拼写(共10小题；每小题1分，满分10分) 56. She sealed the e_, stuck a stamp and then posted it to Mr. Right. 57. We were extremely g_ for your timely help when we were in trouble.58. C_ as plastic bag

55、s are for people, they will cause white pollution.59. Hurry up, water has already s_ out of his burst pipe and onto the floor. 60. The teachers make every effort to e_ that all students will be given an equal chance.61. This painting is a copy; the _(原作) is in the museum.62. I wonder how much you_(收

56、费) for your services.63. I _(绝对) understand that it will be a great loss for me to leave at this point, but I have to.64. Its easy for us now to open an _(账户) in a bank as some clerks there will help us.65. Playing basketball is not only fun, but also _(有益于) children in different ways.第三节 单句语法填空(共5小

57、题；每小题1分，满分5分) 66. When you travel, you should take good care of your _ (belong).67. It was great fun walking along the streets, enjoying the _ (relax) atmosphere.68. Children, when _ (accompany) by the parents, are allowed to enter the stadium.69.Large amounts of convincing evidence_ (discover) sinc

58、e they started the investigation.70. The lecture will cover a number of cases_ beginners of English fail to use the language properly.第四部分 写作（共两节，满分40分）第一节 （满分15分）你校正在组织以中国传统节日为主题的英语作文比赛，请你写一篇介绍端午节的短文参加比赛。内容包括：1. 端午节的时间；2. 人们庆祝端午节的目的及活动；3. 你对这个节日的感受。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。参考词汇：糯米(sti

59、cky rice); 粽子(rice dumpling )The Dragon Boat Festival第二节 读后续写（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。Lily loved school. However, there was one class Lily worried about more than any otherart. She didnt know why she just wasnt any good at drawing, painting, or cutting.Ms. Clay, the art teacher,

60、 stood at the front of the room. “Class, next Friday our school is going to have an art competition,” she announced. Ms. Clay was a great teacher, and Lily liked her a lot. But this announcement made Lily nervous. “Everyone in the school will create a piece of artwork to show in the library. You can

61、 use the different types of artwork we have been studying.” Ms. Clay was quite excited when she spoke while Lily found herself sinking lower in her chair.Lily had the whole weekend to work on her project, but she could not think of anything to do. On Monday, Lily felt frightened, so after school Lil

62、y asked Ms. Clay if she could write an art paper instead of doing an art project.“I understand this project scared you, Lily,” Ms. Clay said. “Just remember, you can create any kind of art you want.” Ms. Clay smiled at her. “Art is a persons way of expressing his or her feelingsit isnt always painti

63、ng, drawing, or cutting. I know you will think of something very creative, and I cant wait to see it.”When Lily arrived home, she took out a piece of paper and a pencil. She remembered Ms. Clays words. “Art is a persons way of expressing his or her feelings.” Lily wrote the word “terrified” on her p

64、aper. She crumpled (揉皱) the paper and threw it to the side of her desk.Then Lily stared at the crumpled ball. Suddenly an idea struck her.注意： 1. 续写词数应为120左右：2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。Why not create something out of crumpled paper?On Friday, Lily carefully carried her project into the library.答案听力：15 CCBB

65、C 610 BCACB 1115 AABCB 1620 BABBC 阅读：2123BCD2427 CAAB2831 AABD 3235 BCBA 3640 BDAFE完型：4145 BDBAC4650 DCBAD5155 CDABB单词拼写：56. envelope57. grateful58. Convenient 59. streamed60. ensure61. original62. charge63. absolutely64. account65. benefits单句语填：66. belongings67. relaxing 68. accompanied69. have bee

66、n discovered70. where应用文写作The Dragon Boat FestivalAs is known to all, the Dragon Boat Festival is one of the most important festivals of China. It falls on May 5th of the lunar calendar in memory of Qu Yuan, a great poet living in the Warring States.Nowadays, the festival is best known for its drago

67、n-boat races, especially in the southern places where there are many rivers and lakes. In addition, people always eat rice dumplings made of sticky rice, meat and so on. In my opinion, learning Qu Yuans patriotism is as significant as holding various activities. 读后续写Why not create something out of c

68、rumpled paper? The crumpled paper reminded her of a snowball. Lily didnt have to draw or paint or even cut. Lily made many paper balls, glued them all together, and placed them on a big piece of hard paper to form a snowman. The snowman wore a hat made of black paper and a scarf made of red paper. H

69、er finished project was really wonderful.On Friday, Lily carefully carried her project into the library. She noticed the smile and the nods from teachers and other students as she put her work on a table. Ms. Clay walked over to Lily. “You have created a creative piece of artwork. I am so proud of y

70、ou!” Ms. Clay said. Lily was proud of herself too. Her pride grew when Ms. Clay placed a first-place star on her artwork. “Maybe I am a good artist after all,” Lily thought.附：听力原文Text 1W: Im sorry, but I cant follow you. Did you ask where the subway is?M: Sorry, I havent made myself clear. I want to

71、 know where I can take a bus.Text 2W: Hi, Jack. Have you planned your holiday?M: Well, I had planned to visit Beijing. But my wife prefers to see Yunnan in the south and my son Bill is fond of the beach. I think both my wife and I will have to give in finally.Text 3W: Good morning, Jack. Did you enj

72、oy your holiday?M: Yes, I walked up to the top of the mountain at midnight, where I enjoyed a beautiful night view of the city.Text 4M: Heres a one-hundred-dollar bill. Id like to buy three tickets for tonights show.W: OK. Three tickets and heres ten dollars change.Text 5W: Hi, Jack. Your handwritin

73、g is much better than mine. Would you please copy this note for me? I need two copies.M: Thats really a lot of work. You can just use the computer.Text 6W: Good morning. How are you, Mr. Smith?M: Im very worried, doctor. W: Oh? What are you worried about?M: Im afraid that Im very ill.W: Im sorry to

74、hear that. Why do you think so?M: Because I feel tired all the time and even when I wake up early in the morning. And I can eat only a little.W: How about your sleep?M: Very bad, doctor.W: Are you worried about anything?M: Yes, Im worried about my work. Ive just taken a new job and Im always afraid

75、of making a mistake.W: I see. Dont worry about your work. Take it easy and take more exercise.Text 7M: Susan, what was your first job?W: Well, I was an assistant in an expensive cake shop. It was my last year at school, before I went to college. I wanted to earn extra money for myself because I came

76、 from a family of seven and my parents couldnt afford to give us much pocket money.M: Was the shop a nice place to work?W: In the morning there was a wonderful smell of bread baking. The first week was difficult because I just wanted to eat the cakes, which wasnt allowed, but then I lost interest in

77、 them. We had to keep everything clean, and that was hard work.M: Did you enjoy serving customers in the shop?W: The best part of the day was lunchtime, when we were busy. Time just flew. Then it was interesting when people came in to plan a party or a wedding. One of the cooks would come through to

78、 discuss the design of the cake. Customers thought the prices were high, but usually ended up buying the cakes anyway. They always wanted a perfect and special wedding or a party and our cakes were perfect and unique.Text 8W: What are some of the good things about being a teenager?M: Well, you don t

79、 have to go out to work for a start. Another thing is you dont have to do the housework, which is really boring.W: What are the bad things?M: The problem is that you never have enough money. We get some money from our parents, but its never enough. You arent allowed to buy what you want.W: What do y

80、ou think its like being an adult?M: Well, adults have to look after their family. They have responsibilities. I feel more sorry for my mom. Shes always rushing around and she has to go to work as well. She doesnt have to work on Thursdays and Fridays, but she has loads of different things to do in a

81、 day, like shopping, er. cooking, taking me to swimming.Text 9M: Excuse me, my seat is next to yours.W: Are you also taking this flight to London?M: Yes. Are you going to London on business?W: No. Im going to Glasgow to visit my son. Hes studying in Glasgow University. Are you going to study in Brit

82、ain?M: Yes. Ill be studying in St. Johns College in Cambridge for the next two years.W: Thats wonderful. Is this your first trip abroad?M: Yes. Actually this is my first trip by air. Thats why I am a bit nervous.W: Well, relax. Theres nothing to worry about.Text 10Born in America, I spoke English, n

83、ot Chinese, the language of my ancestors. When I was three, my parents flashed cards with Chinese words at my face, but I pushed them aside. My mom believed I would learn when I was ready. But the time never came.On a Chinese New Years Eve, my uncle spoke to me in Chinese, but all I could do was to

84、stare at him, confused. “Still cant speak Chinese?” He laughed at me, “You cant even buy a fish in Chinatown.” “Hey, this is America, not China. Ill get some right now with or without Chinese.” I replied and turned to my mom for permission. “Remember to ask for fresh fish, Xin Xian Yu,” she said, ha

85、nding over a $20 bill. I repeated the words, running downstairs into the streets of Chinatown.I found the fish stand surrounded in a sea of customers. “Id like to buy some fresh fish,” I shouted to the fish man. But he ignored my English words and turned to serve the next customer. The laugh of the people behind increased with their impatience. With every effort, I cried out. “Xian Sheng Yu, please.” “Very Xian Sheng,” I repeated. The crowd erupted into laughter. My face turned red and I ran back home empty-handed, except for the $20 bill I held tightly in my pocket.