I suppose everyone has a particular childhood Christmas that stands out more than any other. For me, it was the year that the Burlington factory closed down. Small child as I was, the events of that Christmas will live forever in my heart.
My father, who had been employed at Burlington, never, let us know that we were having financial difficulties. We knew only that our daddy, who usually worked long, difficult hours, was now home more than we had ever remembered.
Mama, a homemaker, now sought work in the local textile mills, but jobs were scarce. Therefore, daddy’s unemployment check would now be our family’s only source of income. I don’t know for sure how they managed, but some how they did. They made sure they scraped together enough money to buy each of us a Barbie doll. For the rest of our presents, they would rely on their talents, using waste materials they already had.
While dark, rough hands sawed, hammered and painted, flexible fingers fed dress after dress after dress into the sewing machine. Barbie-sized clothes for every imaginable occasion pushed forward from the old machine. Where we were while all of this was taking place, I have no idea. But somehow my parents found time to pour themselves into our gifts, and the excitement of Christmas was once again born for the entire family.
That Christmas Eve, the sun was just setting over the distant horizon when I heard the roar of an unexpected motor in the driveway. Looking outside, I could hardly believe my eyes. Aunt Charlene and Uncle Buck had driven all the way from Georgia to surprise us. Packed tightly in their car, as though no air was needed, sat my three cousins. I also couldn’t help but notice many gifts for all of us, all neatly packaged and tied with beautiful bows. They had known that it would be a difficult Christmas, and they had come to help. The next morning we awoke to more gifts than I ever could have imagined — mountains of gifts among all that excitement and laughter.
注意：1．所需词数应为150左右;
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Daddy decided not to give us his gifts.
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They were wooden boxes that can be used as a house to store a Barbie doll.
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My Father, My Hero
I consider my father to be the most important person in my life. This is not because he is famous or wealthy. We do not have a big car, and there are no old, expensive vases or paintings in our house. Rather, what I value about my father is the care and love he shows for me and my family. What blesses my father most is being able to put food on the table and a roof over our heads.
My father might work hard, but he is always there for us. Whenever I trip or hurt myself playing sports, he's there to pick me up. My brother and I grew up with his constant care and the funny nursery rhymes and stories he told us.
My father also helps our local community. My father has been successful as he never shrinks from helping others. People also like him because he often has a smile on his face. He is optimistic and finds good in all situations. He is great at problem-solving, and his favorite phrases are “Don't worry! It’s not worth it” and “It will be all right—just you wait and see”. He is always right! And I have learnt from him the need to be patient and honest, and to care for other people.
I can well remember that when my mother and father got married, they did not have much money. The situation got worse when they had children. When we were very young, my father had an extra job as a hotel porter, and he also mopped the floor of a hotel every night so that he could give us a special treat or a vacation. At the start of last year, my father began putting at least fifty cents every day into a jar on a shelf in his bedroom. We all wondered what he was saving the money for, but he refused to tell us.
注意：1．续写词数应为150左右；
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Then, in December, I noticed that the jar was empty.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Later the next year, I found that his best friend passed away, leaving the family too poor to send the son to school.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________【推荐2】阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。
I went to sleep with my mouth open and I woke up with a sore throat. The medicine I took was of no use and my mom was forcing me to go to the doctor because she was worried that it would make me ill. When I went to brush my teeth, there was no toothpaste left and as I was trying to squeeze anything left in the tube, the toothpaste splattered（酒） all over my face and the uniform I had been looking forward to wearing all week long. I washed my hair last night thinking I’d have time to straighten it in the morning or even give it a nice brush, but because of the toothpaste incident I didn’t have enough time to do anything to it at all. Now my hair was frizzy and I was in sweatpants.
On my way to school, there was an accident holding up traffic on the one-way only street to my high school. That day was my first day of high school, and also my birthday. You might be wondering: Wait... It’s really your birthday? Then how come you didn’t mention your parents wishing you a happy birthday that morning? All are very good questions. I didn’t mention it because it never happened. My own parents forgot my birthday.
Maybe this day would get better. At least that’s what I told myself to prevent the pulling of my own hair out. On my way to the classroom, I tripped up on the stairs and hurt my knee. I saw some students pull their phones out to capture the awkward moment. Luckily for me, I thought they were too late. Shortly after the first bell rang, the morning announcements played and on came the birthday section. What a feeling of relief!! wouldn’t be forgotten after. But I was wrong.
Not even the school, who quite literally has my birthday on file, remembered my birthday.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150词左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡相应位置作答。
This day continued to get worse.
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When I finally went home, I found my parents’ car was in the driveway.
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An 80-year-old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45-year-old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow (乌鸦) perched on the tree near heir window.
The father asked his son,“What is this?" The son replied,“It is a crow.”
After a few minutes, the father asked his son the second time“What is this?” The son said,
“Father, I have just now told you. It's a crow.”
After a little while, the old father again asked his son the third time,“What is this?”
“It’s a crow, a crow, a crow”said the son loudly and impatiently.
A few minutes later, the father again asked his son the fourth time.“What is it?”
This time the son shouted at his father, “Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again?IT IS A CROW. Are you not able to understand this?”
A little later the father went to his room and came back with an old diary, which he had kept since his son was born. On pernicious a page,he asked his son to read that pages. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary:
“Today my little son aged three was siting with me on the sofa when a crow was siting on the window. My son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel annoyed; I rather felt love for my innocent child.”
注意：
1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2.应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4.续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语，
Paragraph 1:
After reading the diary,
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Paragraph 2:
Feeling ashamed,the son got down on his knees before his father.
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John and Bobby joined a wholesale company together just after graduation from college the same year. Both they worked very hard. After several years, however, the boss promoted Bobby to the position of manager but John remained an ordinary employee. John could not take it anymore, submitted his resignation to the boss and complained the boss did not know how to delegate and did not value hard working staff, but only promoted those who flattered him.
The boss knew that John worked very hard for the years. He thought a moment and said, “Thank you for your criticism, but I have a request. I hope you will do one more thing for our company before you leave. Perhaps you will change your decision and take back your resignation.”
John agreed. The boss asked him to go and find out anyone selling watermelons in the market John went and returned soon. He said he had found out a man selling watermelons. The boss asked how much per kg? John shook his head and went back to the market to ask and returned to inform the boss of the price —$1.2 per kg.
The boss told John to wait a second, and he called Bobby to come to his office. He asked Bobby to go and find anyone selling watermelons in the market. Bobby went, returned and said, “Boss, only one person sells watermelons. $1.2 per kg, $10 for 10kg, he has a supply of 340 melons. On the table 58 melons, every melon weights about 2 kg and bought from the South two days ago, they are fresh and red, good quality. ” After the careful report, Bobby waited for the reply of the boss. At that moment, the boss started at John without any words.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
John realized the difference from Bobby.
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John and Bobby were good partners for the company.
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On a hot 95-degree evening in September 2016, the Woodlands High School JV White team was threatening to win its first game of the season. The fans and players alike were almost crazy. “I was really pumped,” said Highlanders linebacker Ryan Ferrini, then 16.
With little time left in the fourth quarter and the Katy Tompkins High School Falcons up 29-28, all the Highlanders had to do was go one yard for a touchdown to grab a dramatic come-from-behind victory.
Instead, they gave the game away.
On the previous play, after the Highlanders had driven the ball deep into the Falcons’ territory, quarter back Will Gentry had connected with then-15-year-old receiver Austin Brauweiler at the three-yard line. As Brauweiler turned up field, a Falcons defender delivered a violent hit, knocking them both to the ground at the one-yard line.
“There was huge force, as if a truck had hit me,” said Brauweiler, who suffered a bruised bone from the collision. But it was the Falcons’ player who got the worst of it. He lay motionless on the turf (草皮). Trainers and coaches ran to his side. Five minutes later, he was still down. Game officials told Highlanders coach David Colschen that the teen had lost all feeling on his left side and an ambulance had been called. “I was very upset,” said Brauweiler.
The EMTs (内科急救专家) arrived, and soon after, a call to a medical transport helicopter was made. That’s when the Falcons’ coach walked across the field and told Colschen that his players were too worried to finish the game and would give up the game. Colschen wouldn’t have it.
Paragraph 1:
“It was the right thing to do,” said Colschen.
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Paragraph 2:
The injured player prefers to remain unnamed.
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Papa always wanted a cowboy to help on our farm. When I was born, he probably took one look at me and said, “Send her back!” OK, so I overstate a little. But I know he wishes I were a boy. He’s always calling me “Joey” instead of “Josefina”. I’ve been riding in barrel races since about the time I started walking. But whenever I ask to help herd the cows here on the farm, Papa always says, “That’s men’s work.”
One Saturday morning it rained cats and dogs. I flew into the kitchen when I smelled the delicious pork sausage. Papa had already finished eating and was putting on this rubber boots. Without a word, Papa walked out into the downpour and his face fell. “Is Papa mad at me?” I asked Mama, who sat at the table drinking coffee. After filling my plate with eggs and sausage, I sat down beside her.
“Your father’s worried about the cows, ” Mama explained. “Unless he can drive them to high ground, they might drown. He needs help.” “I’m pretty good on horses, ” I reminded her between bites. “I’ve got several cups to prove it.” She laughed, “You know how Papa feels about young ladies driving cattle.”
I did, but I decided to make an offer anyway. When he came to the stable, I was there waiting. “I could help if you’d only let me, ” I told him. He stood there for what seemed like an hour, and then said, “Go get your raincoat, Joey.”
“It’s Josefina!” I raced back into the house. Walking in my widebrimmed hat and hightopped boots, I felt like a cowgirl.
Fully equipped, Papa and I set off in the heavy rain. Papa rode on a big horse named Miguel and I on my small horse Isabella. We began calling the cows as soon as we reached the side of the river. Our horses made a noise every now and then as muddy water from the flooded stream tickled their bellies.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右;
2．请按如下格式作答。
Finally, we found the cows bunched up in a large bush.
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By the time we got back home, the rain had mostly given way to darkness.
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