新疆维吾尔自治区昌吉自治州北京大学附属中学2024年高三第二次诊断性检测英语试卷含解析

新疆维吾尔自治区昌吉自治州北京大学附属中学2024年高三第二次诊断性检测英语试
卷
注意事项：
1．答卷前，考生务必将自己的姓名、准考证号填写在答题卡上。

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，再选涂其它答案标号。

回答非选择题时，将答案写在答题卡上，写在本试卷上无效。

3．考试结束后，将本试卷和答题卡一并交回。

第一部分（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）
1．The boss_________the employees a rise in salary for ages, but nothing has occurred yet.
A．promised B．had promised C．would promise D．promises
2．Hardly ever ______ so many choices for young people entering the workforce as there are today.
A．there are B．there have been C．have there been D．are there
3．The young man who was expected to ________ his father’s company, made an unusual decision that he would start his own business.
A．hand over B．think over
C．go over D．take over
4．It’s natural that I didn’t recognize her immediately I saw her. _______, it’s almost 5 years since we met last. A．After all B．In addition C．What’s more D．In particular
5．—How about his design?
—Well, to tell the truth, it is ______ but satisfactory. So you’ll have to try your best to better it.
A．something B．anything
C．everything D．nothing
6．— How could they misunderstand me like that?
—Just keep silent! It’s the best way to let them know they you wrong.
A．do B．did
C．are doing D．had done
7．In my opinion, one’s individual income does not wholly reflect the extent ________ one’s self-value and social value are realized.
A．of which B．with which
C．on which D．to which
8．When was _____ you last met Jennifer? I haven’t seen her for ages.
A．it that B．it C．it what D．what
9．After a long absence, I went back to college, _______ to pick up where I’d left off.
A．hoping B．hope
C．to hope D．hoped
10．In spite of _________ has been said, quite a lot of people are still uncertain about the state of the country’s economy. A．what B．which
C．that D．as
11．The creation can keep people away from their smart phones in a way similar to ________ e﹣cigarettes have allowed people to quit smoking．
A．that B．how
C．which D．what
12．Sorry I’m so late, but you cannot imagine ________ great trouble I to ok to find your house.
A．which B．how
C．what D．that
13．The police are offering ______ reward of $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of _____ murderer. A．the; the B．a; a C．the; a D．a; the
14．—Fiona never fails to grasp any chance of promotion.
—She’s a woman of ________.
A．ambition B．attention
C．expectation D．reputation
15．The people in the village are so ________ that they are willing to help every visitor.
A．optimistic B．energetic
C．enthusiastic D．ambitious
16．The government is to _____ the technologies to the full in the structural transformation of the economy.
A．adapt B．expose
C．exploit D．attach
17．It's great that all the visitors who on the island were saved.
A．trapped B．have been trapped
C．had trapped D．had been trapped
18．The conference aims to develop business and let people think about _______ they can have a positive influence on the planet.
A．why B．that
C．what D．how
19．Abraham set himself up in front of his daughter, hands ________ her hair, and was close to tears, reluctant to tear himself from her.
A．to toy with B．toyed with C．toying with D．being toyed with
20．My sister ______ the baby while I’m at yoga.
A．arranges B．minds C．assesses
第二部分阅读理解（满分40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。

21．（6分）Leadersh ip is the most significant word in today’s competitive business environment because it directs the manager of a business to focus inward on their personal abilities and style. Experts on leadership will quickly point out that “how things get done” influenc es the success of the outcomes and indicates a right way and a wrong way to do things. When a noted leader on the art of management, Peter Drucker，coined the phrase “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things,” he was seeking to clarify the distinctions he associates with the terms.
When Stephen Covey, founder and director of the Leadership Institute, explored leadership styles in the past decade, he focused on the habits of a great number of highly effective individuals. His Seven Habits of Highly Effective People became a popular bestseller very quickly. His ideas forced a reexamination of the early leadership example, which centered on the feature that was found in the character ethic and the personality ethic. The former ethic suggested success was founded on modesty, loyalty, courage, patience, and so on. The personality ethic suggested it was one5s attitude, not behavior, that inspired success, and this ethic was founded on a belief of positive mental attitude. In contrast to each of these ideas, Covey advocates that leaders need to understand universal principles of effectiveness, and he highlights how vital it is for leaders to first personally manage themselves if they are to enjoy any hope of outstanding success in their work environments. To achieve a desired vision for your business, it is essential that you have a personal vision of where you are headed and what you value. Business leadership means that managers need to “put first things first，” which implies that before leading others, you need to be clear on your own values, abilities, and strengths and be seen as trustworthy.
1、What does Peter Drucker’s phrase infer?
A．Leaders should be good at making right decisions.
B．Leaders should be good at doing things right.
C．Leaders should be good at ignoring the distinctions he associates with the terms.
D．Leaders should be skilled in predicting future.
2、Under what condition are people likely to succeed, in terms of what the personality ethic suggests?
A．When people have little determination, they will be successful.
B．When people have good behaviour, they will gain success.
C．If people have positive mental attitude, they are likely to succeed.
D．If people have negative mental attitude, they are certain to succeed.
3、How can leaders enjoy outstanding success in their work environments, according to Stephen Covey?
A．Firstly they have to think highly of themselves.
B．They are supposed to benefit themselves.
C．They cannot adjust themselves.
D．First personally they must manage themselves.
4、What is the meaning of the underlined word “vision”？
A．Bright future. B．Good beginning.
C．Good scenery. D．Pretty background.
5、To be good leaders, what must managers pay close attention to?
A．They must pay close attention to universal principles of effectiveness.
B．They must pay close attention to their own values, abilities and strengths.
C．They must pay close attention to modesty.
D．They must be concerned about courage and patience.
22．（8分）In recent years, car manufacturers (制造商) have been put under pressure to invent a vehicle that is both cheaper to run and better for the environment.
One of the first ideas that car manufacturers tried was to replace engines which run on fossil (石化) fuels with electric motors. Unfortunately, these vehicles had several disadvantages and they didn’t sell very well. The problems were that the batteries of these electric cars ran out very quickly and took a long time to recharge.
However, car manufacturers have improved the concept. This is where the hybrid car, which has both an electric motor and a traditional petrol engine, comes in. The electric motor never needs to be recharged and it is much better for the planet than a traditional car.
In a hybrid car, the engine is controlled by a computer which determines whether the car runs on petrol, electricity, or both. When the car needs maximum power, for example, if it is accelerating or climbing a steep hill, it uses all of its resources (资源), but at steady speeds it runs only on petrol. When slowing down or breaking, the electric motor recharges its batteries.
Hybrid cars are better for the environment because they have a much smaller engine than a traditional car. Also, hybrid cars on the market are made using materials such as aluminum and carbon fiber, which makes them extremely light. Both of them mean that they use less petrol than normal cars, so they produce less pollution.
Of course, h ybrid cars aren’t perfect; they still run on fossil fuel and so pollute the environment to a certain degree. However, they may be the first step along the road to cleaner, ‘greener’ cars. Car manufacturers are already working on vehicles which run on hydrogen giving off harmless water vapor. It looks like we might be heading in the right direction.
1、What can we know about the vehicles which ran on electric motors?
A．They moved very fast.
B．They were unpopular.
C．Their engines were often replaced.
D．Their engines were expensive.
2、How does the computer in a hybrid car function?
A．It keeps the car running steadily.
B．It directs the car to climb hills.
C．It decides where to power the car.
D．It controls how the car uses power.
3、What does the underlined part refer to in Paragraph 5?
A．Car’s smaller engine and special materials.
B．Electric motor and petrol engine.
C．Hybrid car and hydrogen car.
D．Aluminum and carbon fiber.
4、What’s the best title for the text?
A．Cars’ engines B．Car pollution
C．Green cars D．Cars’ advantages
23．（8分）It’s official. Denmark—as well as being the world’s best country to live in for women with the second-happiest people and one of the best healthcare systems in Europe—has the most contented babies. Or, at least, the ones who cry the least. According to research published in the Journal of Pediatrics, Danish, German and Japanese babies cry the least, while British, Canadian and Italian babies cry the most.
“I’m not surprised,” Danish parenting expert and co-author of The Danish Way of Parenting Jessica Alexander tells me. “The first year of a child’s life is considered so important in Denmark. Danish parents are much less stressed because they get good maternity and paternity leave (孕产假). The atmosphere is much calmer and, if mothers are getting more time off, that goes hand in hand with less stress, more contact, more routines and less crying.” She pauses before throwing in a final tip: “Oh, and Danish babies sleep outdoors a lot.”
In Denmark, a woman is given four weeks pregnancy leave followed by 52 weeks of paid leave that can be shared between parents. And Alexander thinks there is another important reason why Danish babies cry less: breastfeeding. “It’s just the done thing in Denmark,” she says of a country that has the world’s highest breastfeeding rates. “In other countries, there are continual discussions about whether you should or shouldn’t breastfeed. In Denmark, breastfeeding has never gone out of style. And everyone does it for a year.”
For Iben Sandahl, Alexander’s co-author, it comes down to the Danish attitude to life in general. “We are an honest and pure people,” she tells me. “We are surrounded by social support and are less likely to become angry, sad or
annoyed when our babies are crying. And we are good at embracing (拥抱) all kinds of feelings, so we aren’t scared. Instead, we try to connect with the babies when they cry. It’s how babies communicate and it’s about trying to understand it.”
1、Which of the following can make a baby cry less?
A．An effective healthcare system.
B．More company from a parent.
C．An energetic busy mother.
D．More chances to meet fellow babies.
2、It can be learned from the text that ________.
A．something in the milk from breastfeeding can keep babies happy
B．Demark is second to none in protect ing its females’ rights
C．Danish parents’ attitudes to a baby’s first year vary considerably
D．breastfeeding is a common and accepted practice in Denmark
3、When babies cry, Danish parents will probably ________.
A．try to figure out what they want
B．put them outdoors for a good sleep
C．seek social support for guidance
D．wait a moment for them to calm down
24．（8分）It’s the oldest trick in the book: threaten the kids with a piece of coal, and they’ll behave in the name of Santa Claus.Some people say that parents are purposely taking in their kids by lying to them about Santa. Is it purposely cheating or playing along with the fantasy? There are always those stories about the kindergarten teacher or parent who would tell the kids there’s no Santa Claus, and they’d all start crying on the lost dreams.But if another teacher goes into a third-grade class and says there is a Santa Claus, they’ll all laugh at her.What I say is that if they’re at the age when they’re still believing,why bother to end it?
Then how long s hould parents pretend? Studies indicate that after eight,75 percent of kids don’t believe.That’s the first “S” word that parents have to deal with—it’s not sex. It’s Santa.So the parent has to sit down and say it in a gentle way. “Listen,Santa did exist. He was a person who gave to others and now that you’re older, you can give to others and be Santa,too.”Do you think if a kid who believes in Santa walks into a third-or-fourth-grade class, his friends are going to tell him in a gentle way?No.They’re going t o make fun of him, and the kid is going to run home crying ,saying you lied to him. We all remember how the news is broken to us, so if we all remember, then there’s some significance or we would have forgotten it. And it’s better to have a memory if someo ne doing it nicely than some kids laughing at you.
Santa is also used as an instrument of guilt, because Santa knows everything. So even if the kids did bad things and got away with them, Santa knew. Still, Santa alone is not a good behavioral tool. Y ou ca n’t, say, in January, play the Santa card to your child—because Christmas is too far away.
1、According to the first paragraph, parents should__________.
A．telling the kids that Santa does not exist
B．lie to their children on the problem of Santa Claus
C．not tell the truth if their children believe Santa Claus exists
D．tell children in advance in case of being laughed at by classmates
2、Why could your kid possibly be made fun of in the fourth grade?
A．He tells a lie that he believes in Santa.
B．He says Santa does exist in this world.
C．He expects gentle talks from his friends.
D．He gives to others and acts as Santa does.
3、The underlined part in the last paragraph most probably means to__________.
A．play cards with children happily
B．talk the kids out of doing something bad
C．clarify the truth of Santa to the kids in a gentle way
D．let the children figure the problem out by themselves
4、The author’s intention in writing this text is to__________.
A．introduce the detailed story of Santa Claus in all aspects
B．prevent children from being laughed at by fellow classmates
C．help children to understand whether Santa Claus is real or not
D．instruct parents how to explain the existence of Santa Claus to kids
25．（10分） A dozen international coffee experts shuffle（把脚挪来挪去）around a long wooden table, pausing at each steaming cup, heads dipping and sniffing deeply. Then the slurping（吃喝或吸吮的声音）begins. In the wings, coffee farmer Yang Fan watches intently as the judges circle, awaiting a verdict（裁定）on her latest crop of beans.
China may be the spiritual home of tea, but it is fast developing a reputation as a top coffee producer. This tasting was a side event to the first ever Pu'er International Specialty Coffee Expo in China's southwestern Yunnan province, which ran this winter and drew more than a thousand attendees, including industry aficionados(酷爱者) from across the globe.
"Coffee has huge potential in China," says Liu Ying, who swapped her life working in private-equity（私人股权）
investment in Beijing to grow coffee in Pu'er five years ago. "The younger generation prefers to drink coffee in their offices much more than tea." Still, Pu'er remains synonymous with tea.
This bustling （喧闹的）town near the Laos border is surrounded by the green hills scored with tea plantations; it pr oduces a variety of tea which is also called Pu’er, considered one of China's most refined. But the region's mild climate is also perfect for growing Arabica coffee. And as China's fast-living millennials move away from traditional tea in favor of the invigorating coffee, Pu'er's farmers are catering to the demand.
Yunnan accounts for 98% of China's coffee harvest, with half coming from the misty landscape around Pu'er. Today, China is the 13th biggest coffee producer in the world—rising from zero output three decades ago to 136,000 tons annually today.
In April, Seattle's annual Specialty Coffee Expo decided to showcase China as its portrait country of origin. It follows on the heels of Starbucks' launching its first single-origin Yunnan coffee last year after eight years of partnership with Yunnan farmers.
With global coffee prices at record lows, Yunnan farmers are processing beans in bespoke ways to create distinct flavors—allowing them to enter the market of specialty coffee.
"At current coffee prices, I can't even feed my family," says the farmer Yang. "My only way out is to produce specialty coffee, to make the best coffee beans."That means letting beans dry in their cherries, thus producing a wild, fruity flavor via environmental fermentation（发酵）,or allowing them to "honey" in their sugary inner layer, which adds a subtle sweetness.
Back in the tasting room, Y ang awaits the experts' verdict on whether all that extra effort was worthwhile."If I told you this was Colombian or Panama coffee, nobody would argue with me," says Samuel Gurel, CEO of Pu'er's Torch Coffee Roasters, as Yang breaks into a huge grin. "It's a great example of how Chinese coffee is evolving."
1、What caused Liu Ying to quit her forme r job to grow coffee in Pu’er?
A．Yunnan accounts for 98% of China’s coffee harvest.
B．There is a huge potential of coffee market in China.
C．She wants to introduce the younger generation to coffee.
D．She is tired of her work in private-equity investment.
2、According to the passage, we know that Arabica coffee __________.
A．is mainly grown in Yunnan
B．appeals to Chinese, especially the young
C．is a more invigorating drink compared with tea
D．needs mild climate to grow
3、The “extra effort” in the last paragra ph refers to __________.
A．processing coffee beans in bespoke ways to create distinct flavors
B．forming a business partnership with Starbucks
C．lowering the price of Yunnan coffee beans
D．replacing Yunnan coffee with Colombian or Panama coffee
4、What does Samuel Gurel think of Yang’s coffee beans?
A．praiseworthy B．arguable
C．inferior D．unsatisfactory
第三部分语言知识运用（共两节）第一节（每小题1.5分，满分30分）阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项．
26．（30分）阅读下面短文，掌握其大意。

然后从各题所给的选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

The three youths leaned over the metal rails along the sea-wall and watched a few fishermen pull in their nets. About thirty metres away, a boat pulled alongside the slippery steps leading 1 to the sea．
"Hey, look!" exclaimed (惊叫) Rahim. "Those two men are 2 heavy rocks. I thought we no longer do muscle labour in this technological 3 ."
"You do not 4 a crane (起重机) to unload less than a dozen rocks, do you?" smiled Joshua．
"But those men do not 5 to have muscles at all," said Michael, rather surprised．Joshua smiled．
"They are 6 labourers who know how to spread the weight of the rocks they 7 . See how the man positions the rock just at the slope of his 8 . Some of the rock's weight is set 9 his head, some on the right hand and some on the left hand．His body isn't bent. His legs are well 10 ."
"You're right, Josh. He may have a small build, 11 he certainly well knows his job．Dear me! And to think we have been studying 12 ! "Rahim thought about all that was happening．Suddenly, he said, "Technology won't 13 the human being completely, it appears."
"I don't think it will." 14 Joshua．"You can harvest a crop of potatoes or wheat with one of those large,
multi-purpose tractors, but you 15 use that equipment to harvest tea leaves and tomatoes, will you?"
"You can get a computer to 16 multiple-choice assessments, but you cannot get the computer to produce or assess essays, can you?" asked Michael.
"Well, the washing machine leaves my shirt collar quite as 17 as ever — that's domestic technology for
you!" said Rahim.
"One day, perhaps, there won't be anybody 18 who can carry a large rock the way those men do. It's not going to be a very 19 world, I'm afraid．"sighed Michael.
"You're too much of a pessimist (悲观主义者), Mike．" said Joshua．" 20 will always be other things that will
make the world exciting．"
1、A．through B．across C．down D．up
2、A．loading B．unloading C．covering D．uncovering
3、A．way B．revolution C．process D．era
4、A．ask B．expect C．attempt D．hope
5、A．happen B．fail C．have D．seem
6、A．ambitious B．experienced C．potential D．energetic
7、A．take B．fetch C．carry D．bring
8、A．shoulder B．back C．chest D．arms
9、A．on B．against C．toward D．under
10、A．supported B．grasped C．placed D．strengthened
11、A．but B．however C．so D．therefore
12、A．chemistry B．physics C．biology D．psychology
13、A．control B．affect C．remove D．replace
14、A．agreed B．proposed C．refused D．denied
15、A．can’t B．mustn’t C．won’t D．needn’t
16、A．point out B．take out C．hand out D．print out
17、A．dirty B．clean C．old D．new
18、A．caught B．arranged C．left D．convinced
19、A．exciting B．mysterious C．technological D．modern
20、A．That B．This C．They D．There
第二节（每小题1.5分，满分15分）阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

27．（15分）My mother always makes sure we eat1．(health) and I take a lot of exercise, so I never have diet. Two years ago, I broke my arms2．(play) football. The 3．(injure) was quite painful, but I’m crazy4．football. Now you can see from5．I’ve said, I’m a normal kind of boy.
第四部分写作（共两节）第一节短文改错（满分10分）
28．（10分）假如英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌的以下作文，文中共有10 处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。

每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加，删除或修改。

增加: 在缺词处加一个漏字符号(/\),并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除: 把多余的词用斜线(\) 划掉。

修改: 在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意: 1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词:
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起) 不计分。

I am glad to know that a DV competition will be hold next month. All the senior students are welcome to film videos about the colorful school life, that will go by soon. Those who are interested are expected to limit the videos to s minutes and simple upload it to the school website.
Though not a expert in video-making, but I still want to have a try. I would take this chance to record those wonderful moment with my teachers and friends. From my opinion, nothing is valuable and meaningful than the days with them. 第二节书面表达（满分25分）
29．（25分）高三年级是高中生活的最后一年，在这一年中，学生们面临着沉重的升学压力。

因此，很多学生下课后也坐在教室里用功，但学习效率和成绩并不理想。

由此你想告诉他们:适当的休息很有必要。

现在就请你以“A
Ten-minute Break”为主题，按下列要点写一篇短文，让这些同学从中有所启发。

短文的要点如下:
1. 十分钟的课间休息很有必要；
2. 要注意休息方式；
3. 你是怎样利用这十分钟的。

注意:1. 开头已经给出，不计入总词数；2. 词数:120 左右。

A Ten-minute Break
As a Senior Three student, time seems much limited.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________
参考答案
第一部分（共20小题，每小题1.5分，满分30分）
1、A
2、C
3、D
4、A
5、B
6、B
7、D
8、A
9、A
10、A
11、B
12、C
13、D
14、A
15、C
16、C
17、D
18、D
19、C
20、B
第二部分阅读理解（满分40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。

21、1、A
2、C
3、D
4、A
5、B
22、1、B
2、D
3、A
4、C
23、We are often unable to pay close attention to what we hear. Just like when we try to grab a sponge(海绵) that is full of water, some water will run out of it. But sometimes we try to remember everything a speaker says and try to take in a speaker’s every word as if every word was equally important. We try to remember all the names, all the dates, and all the places. In the process we often miss the speaker’s main point.
Erik Waldman works at a design company. Knowing he had never been good at budgeting his money, he was determined to begin thinking about his economic future. When his employer circulated an e-mail announcing a financial planning workshop(研讨会), Erik signed up right away.
The first session was about retirement planning. Simone Fisher, the lecturer, explained that 7 of 10 Americans between the ages of 22 and 35 do not have a regular savings plan. Erik wrote down every number Simone mentioned. "If you want to have a retirement income equal to 75 percent of your current salary," Simone continued, "you will need to save at least of 6 percent of your present earnings, taking into account future inflation rates(通货膨胀率). In the meantime, I want to stress that the most important thing is to start saving now."
Erik recorded all the statistics Simone used. When she opened the floor(自由发言) for question, Erik raised his hand and said, "I have two question. When is the best time to start saving for retirement? And how can I figure out my savings target if I don’t know what inflation rates will be in the future?"
This is a typical example of losing the speaker’s point by concentrating on details. Erik had fixed his mind on remembering all the statistics in Simone’s presentation, but he blocked out the man message. Rather than trying to remember everything, we should concentrate on main ideas and evidence.
4、What does the author mean by saying "Just like when we ... run out of it."?
A．We tend to reject what others say.
B．We always try to remember all details.
C．It is difficult for us to remember all things.
D．We often fail to focus on what we are listening to.
5、During the workshop, Erik .
A．got Simone Fisher 's main idea
B．focused on the lecture's details
C．showed little interest in the lecture
D．didn't agree with what Simone had said
6、When hearing Erik's questions, Simone would most probably think .
A．they are very good questions
B．Erik was an excellent listener
C．it was hard to answer the questions
D．his questions were meaningless
7、The passage is written to help those who want to be .
A．a good listener B．a financial planner
C．an excellent lecturer D．a successful employee
24、1、 C
2、 B
3、 B
4、 D
25、1、B
2、D
3、A
4、A
第三部分语言知识运用（共两节）第一节（每小题1.5分，满分30分）阅读下面短文，从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项．
26、1、C
2、B
3、D
4、B
5、D
6、B
7、C
8、A
9、B
10、C
11、A
12、B
13、D
14、A
15、C
16、D
17、A
18、C
19、A
20、D
第二节（每小题1.5分，满分15分）阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

27、1．healthily
2．playing
3．injury
4．about
5．what
第四部分写作（共两节）第一节短文改错（满分10分）
28、
第二节书面表达（满分25分）
29、As a Senior Three student, time seems much limited. As a result, more and more students try to study from early morning till late afternoon, even during the ten-minute break.
In my opinion, to take a ten-minute break between classes is definitely necessary. Otherwise we will feel tired both physically and mentally. During the ten-minute break, we do something to get rid of tiredness. What we need is to have a real rest, instead of getting more tired. So doing nothing tiring in that period is really good for us.
My ten-minute break is always pleasing. Sometimes I do some simple exercises. Sometimes I have a free chat with my classmates or just take a walk outside. When the next class begins, I feel fresh again.
Experience tells me that making progress needs a thoroug h and persevering process, but we all know people who can’t find time for recreation are obliged sooner or later to fail.。