The Magic Birthday Candles in Space
(An excerpt from a science fiction)
My birthday was going to be extra special for two reasons. For one thing, like Commander Park said, “Nobody’s ever turned nine in space before, David.” Mom, my sister Rebekah, and I were moving to Mars for a year. We’d spent almost two weeks in the spaceship so far.
I was trying to keep the other reason secret. But the day before my birthday, Rebekah caught me with my cheeks puffed (膨胀) way out. “What are you doing? Practicing to blow out all the candles this year?” She laughed. “This time I will,” I said. “Everybody on the ship will be watching, so...”
“Oh, David,” my sister interrupted.
“Your cake can’t have candles. Fire on a spaceship is too dangerous.”
When I turned away, she patted my shoulder. “At least you don’t have to worry about blowing them all out.”
Our mother has an important job, maintaining the ship’s electrical systems. Besides, I wanted to act mature about this. If I couldn’t blow out the candles like I wanted, at least I was old enough not to complain about it.
After dinner on my birthday, Mom floated into the cafeteria, carrying my birthday cake. I was amazed. “Candles!” I shouted, staring at the nine shining on top of the cake. “I thought fire wasn’t allowed on a spaceship.” “Look closer,” my mother said. The candles were really electrical lights, with tiny flame-shaped bulbs.
“Awesome,” I said. “But I wish I could blow them out.”
She laughed, then made a blow, and all nine went out. Another puff, and they lit up again.
“Everybody, sing!” ordered Commander Park. Once the passengers and crew were done, I took my deepest ever breath. I’m nine now. I can do this! I thought. Everyone watched the candles. Whoosh! I blew as hard as I could. All the ship’s lights went out! Everyone gasped (倒抽一口气).
“You didn’t have to blow that hard, David,” said Rebekah. I laughed, and so did Commander Park. Someone asked, “What’s wrong? When is the backup power coming on?”
“I’ll take a look. Does anyone have a flashlight on them?” said Mom.
No one would ever think of taking a flashlight to a birthday party.
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It was my tenth birthday—double digits—which would be a big day for me, and I would have the biggest party ever. The guest list, which I kept at the back of my homework assignment folder, began with a few close friends. But in the two weeks before that special Friday night, it had quickly grown from seven girls to a large total of seventeen. Nearly every girl in my fifth-grade class had been invited to sleep over at my house for a big celebration. I was especially happy when each guest I invited excitedly accepted the invitation. I couldn’t wait! It would be a night of scary stories, funny games, pizza and lots of presents, which would be a happy paradise (天堂) for kids. Who could resist it?
But as I later realized, I would truly treasure only one gift I received that night.
The big night finally came. Every friend invited came to my house on time. We kept dancing, singing, talking loudly and playing all pop games. As you could imagine, my family room was full of crazy shouts and bursts of laughter. We had just finished a game of Twister and were lining up for the limbo (林波舞)when the doorbell rang suddenly. I hardly paid attention to who might be at the door. What did it matter? Who cared? Everyone I liked from school was there, in my family room, preparing for the game —to lean under the stick held by my two sisters.
“Judy, come here for a minute,” Mom answered the door and called loudly from the front door.
I hated to be interrupted. I rolled my eyes and shrugged to my friends as if to say, “Now who would dare bother me at a time like this?” What I really wanted to say was, “It’s tough being popular!”
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。
Paragraph 1:
I ran to the front door, wondering who it was, and then I stopped.
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Paragraph 2:
I slowly accepted the gift from Sarah.
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It was the old lady’s birthday. She got up early to be ready for the post. From the second floor flat she could see the postman when he came down the street, and the little boy from the ground floor brought up her letters or parcels on the rare occasions when anything came.
Today she was sure there would be something. Myra wouldn’t forget her mother’s birthday, even if she seldom wrote at other times. Of course Myra was busy. Her husband had been made Mayor, and Myra herself had got a medal for her work for the aged.
The old lady was eighty today. She had put on her best dress. Perhaps-perhaps Myra might come. After all, eighty was a special birthday, another decade lived or endured just as you chose to look at it. Even if Myra did not come, she would send a present. The old lady was sure of that. Two spots of color brightened her cheeks. She was excited like a child. She would enjoy her day.
Yesterday Mrs. Morrison, whom Myra had arranged for to light the fire and give the old lady her breakfast, had given the flat an extra clean, and today she had brought a card and a bunch of marigolds when she came to do the breakfast. Mrs. Grant downstairs had made a cake, and in the afternoon she was going down there to tea. The little boy, Johnnie, had been up with a packet of mints, and said he wouldn’t go out to play until the post had come. “I guess you’ll get lots and lots of presents,” he said, “I did last week when I was six.”
Paragraph 1:
She stood by the window, watching.
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Paragraph 2:
Almost sadly she tore the envelope open.
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Birthdays are typically the occasions for delight and feasting. Family and friends get together on the occasion and convey their regards with the beautiful presents they bring with themselves. I am personally a big fan of birthdays and wait for my birthday approximately a month prior to the day.
This year, my birthday came off on last Monday. I didn’t know that my parents had arranged a special party for me. At eight o’clock in the evening of my lucky birthday, I was alone at home complaining and frowning, and pitying myself for my misfortune. I thought it was going to be a special day filled with presents and fun, but all I received was a “Happy Birthday”.
All of a sudden, the electricity was cut off and there was a complete darkness in the house. I couldn’t do anything. Therefore, I decided to go to sleep and end this unlucky day.
Out of the blue in that quiet night, I heard a sudden noise coming from downstairs. Startled and terribly shocked, I suspected that someone broke into the house. Immediately, I tried to phone my parents, but no one answered.
After a couple of minutes of fear, I started to calm down. Although in the meantime I heard more noises of people talking, I summoned up some courage and started heading for the basement. As I slowly drew closer to the basement, I guessed there were more than one person, but I found it hard to believe. There couldn’t be a lot of people in our basement!
Courageously, I opened the door of the basement. There was a complete darkness. There wasn’t a single noise. However, as I approached, I heard some laughter and confirmed that there were people. Suddenly, the lights were on and there stood my parents and friends cheering at me with the beautiful presents they had carefully prepared for me.It was a surprise party! The room was beautifully decorated with colorful balloons. Tables and chairs were laid and covered with white and contrasting red sheets. A gigantic birthday cake was positioned on the innermost table.
注意:
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好。
Paragraph 1: Now everything was ready and the party was set in motion.
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Paragraph 2: The party was over and the guests began to head off.
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1. 开店地点；
2. 目标消费者；
3. 经营方向及特色。
注意：
1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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注意：词数100左右。
Be Prepared for the Future Career
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注意：
1. 词数80左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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