I was 18 years old, living with my parents in a countryside 18 miles outside of Durban, South Africa. We were far from the town and had no neighbors, so I would always look forward to going to town to visit friends or watch movies.
One day, my father asked me to drive him to town for an all-day conference, and I jumped at the chance. Since I would stay in the town for a whole day, my mother gave me a list of groceries she needed and my father asked me to get the car serviced. When I dropped my father off that morning, he said, “I will meet you here at 5:00 p.m., and then we will go home together.”
After hurriedly completing everything my parents had told me, I dined with friends merrily and we went to the nearest movie theatre at around 3:30 p.m.. I got so absorbed in John Wayne’s latest movie that I totally forgot the time. It was not until at 5:30 p.m. that I suddenly recalled the appointment with my father in the morning. I ran to the garage to pick up the car and hurried to the place where my father was waiting for me. When I arrived at the appointed place, it was almost 6:00 p.m.. He asked me in an anxious tone, “Why are you late?” So ashamed was I that I didn’t dare to tell him the truth and I murmured, “The car wasn’t ready before 5:00 p.m, so I had to wait,” not realizing that he had already called the garage.
I was ready to be scolded in the face when he caught me lying. To my surprise, however, he said calmly, “There must be something wrong with the way I brought you up. I haven’t given you the courage to tell the truth.” Then he was lost in thought.
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。
There was dead silence in the car on the way home.
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After I heard my father’s words, tears of regret rolled down on my face.
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Prissy Baker was in Oscar Miller’s store New Year’s morning when her uncle, Richard Baker, a bachelor, came in. He did not look at Prissy, nor did she wish him a happy New Year. Uncle Richard had not been on speaking terms with her or her father for eight years. When she had been a little girl they had been great friends; but that was before the quarrel.
When Prissy had been nine years old, Richard and Irving Baker had quarreled over the division of a piece of property. The fault had been mainly on Richard’s side, and that very fact made him all the more stubborn. He had never spoken to his brother since, and he declared he never would. Prissy and her father felt very badly over it, but Uncle Richard seemed to have completely forgotten them.
Richard told Mr. Miller that he was on business but that he didn’t like it.“Well, I always like a good dinner on New Year’s,” said Richard. “It’s about the only way I can celebrate. I got everything ready last night, but I won’t get back before one o’clock, so I think I’ll have to put up with a cold bite.”
After Richard had driven away, Prissy walked thoughtfully home. She had planned to spend a holiday with a new book. She did not even mean to cook dinner, for her father had had to go to the town that morning and would be gone the whole day. There was nobody else to cook dinner for. Prissy’s mother had died long ago.
Suddenly an idea popped into Prissy’s head. Dared she? Oh, she never could! But he would never know. There would be plenty of time!
Prissy had no trouble breaking into Uncle Richard’s house, for the woodshed door was unfastened. She tripped into the kitchen with rosy cheeks and mischief sparkling in her eyes. In a short time, the kitchen was full of appetizing odors. As the clock struck twelve, Prissy had the table set.
Prissy was about to slip away when the door was pushed open.
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When the meal was over, he talked to Prissy kindly and politely.
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My family had a hard time when I was in Grade 11. My parents lost their jobs during the Depression. Dad was too ill to work outside, while Mum had a tough time raising us kids on her own in our small community. We relied on our community assistance to keep us clothed, and although our clothes were secondhand, we thought they were beautiful.
Looking back, I realize what Mum went through for sending us kids to school. Every morning she would put a new piece of cardboard in our shoes, because our shoes were worn out. Moving house constantly was typical for my family during the period. Rent was twenty-five dollars a month, but Mum couldn’t pay it. These were hard and sad years, but we never complained.
The new year was approaching, and we were entitled (享有)to a twenty-five dollar fund for social services. Mum said that instead of buying food, she would use the money to pay back rent, making sure we all had a roof over our heads for a little while longer. She told us then there would be nothing for the new year.
Unknown to Mum, I had been removing snow and doing odd jobs to earn enough money to buy a new pair of shoes. I knew exactly which shoes I wanted. They were made of genuine leather and they had a price of twenty-three dollars. Well, the big day came on the last day of that year. I was very excited, as I was hurrying up to catch the bus. It was only a half-a-mile walk, but on the way I noticed a house with lights and decorations. It was then that I realized in our house, we had no lights, no decorations, nor any money for goodies (好吃的东西). I knew then that we would have no delicious food for the new year, and I felt sad.
As I continued walking, I began to feel confused. I was sixteen years old, and I was feeling a strange sense of guilt. Here I was going to buy a new pair of shoes while Mum was home in tears. She would be trying to explain to us why there were no presents.
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。
I thought how I ought to use the money I had earned.
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Soon I got to my house with the groceries (食品杂货).
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Mommy, look!” cried my daughter, Darla, pointing to a chicken hawk soaring through the air.
“Uh huh,” I murmured, driving, lost in thought about the tight schedule of my Day.
Disappointment filled her face. “What’s the matter, Sweetheart?” I asked.
“Nothing,” my seven-year-old said. The moment was gone. Near home, we slowed to search for the albino deer that comes out from behind the thick mass of trees in the early evening. She was nowhere to be seen.
Dinner, baths and phone calls filled the hours until bedtime.
“Come on, Darla, time for bed!” She raced past me up the stairs. Tired, I kissed her on the cheek, said prayers and tucked her in.
“Mom, I forgot to give you something!” she said.
My patience was gone. “Give it to me in the morning,” I said, but she shook her head.
“You won’t have time in the morning!” she retorted.
“I’ll take time,” I answered defensively. Sometimes no matter how hard I tried, time flowed through my fingers like sand in an hourglass, never enough. Not enough for her, for my husband, and definitely not enough for me.
She wasn’t ready to give up yet. She wrinkled her freckled little nose in anger and tossed away her chestnut brown hair.
“No, you won’t! It will be just like today when I told you to look at the hawk. You didn’t even listen to what I said.”
I was too weary to argue; she hit too close to the truth. “Good night!” I shut her door with a resounding thud.
Later though, her gray-blue gaze filled my vision as I thought about how little time we really had until she was grown and gone.
I cracked open her door, and the moonlight from the window spilled over her sleeping form. In her hand, I could see a crumpled (弄皱的) paper. Slowly I opened her palm to see what the item of our disagreement had been.
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。
Tears filled my eyes when I read what she had written.
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Early the next morning, I carried two cups of hot chocolate to her room.
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In the quiet of the earthquake shelter, I found myself calling out to a nameless cat, hoping for the familiar sound of a meow or the sight of a black and white figure running toward me. My worry grew as time passed, realizing that the cat I had been feeding for months, the highlight of my day, was nowhere to be seen.
Our unlikely friendship began on a cold night as I sat on those same cement (水泥) steps, rain soaking through my pants. The only light came from my last cigarette, exposing the pieces of a broken picture frame and a handwritten letter illustrating the consequences of the earthquake on my computer screen. Having experienced the impact of an explosion in the earthquake, I returned home with a severe brain injury and PTSD, facing challenges in adapting at Fort Riley, Kansas. Anxiety seized me, and each day felt like a struggle. That night, as I wrestled with the pain of depression with the last drag of my cigarette, a faint “Meow?” echoed through the darkness.
A small black and white kitten with round green eyes emerged from the bushes, wet and seeking shelter. Fearlessly, he approached me, rubbing against my legs. As I reached down to pet him, he leaned into my touch, purring (猫的呼噜声). In that moment, tears blending with the rain on my face, I found an unexpected companion. The kitten stood there, as if understanding my desperate need for companionship.
Looking into his eyes, I realized he was a wanderer. The plan to end it all was briefly set aside; now, my mission was to find him food. The cigarette was forgotten as I stood up, determined to tackle his problems since I couldn’t face my own.
A routine developed—daily visits to the back steps with a packet of tuna (金枪鱼) and a paper plate. The kitten, a source of comfort and purpose, became more than just a reason to live. Over time, he inspired me to seek help for my depression and find the confidence to enter a serious relationship with Becky, a high school classmate from Pittsburgh.
Despite the fear of losing my new found companion, roll call and the early morning darkness forced me indoors. Worried that I had seen the last of him, I called Becky, expressing my concerns. The hope of his return remained, but he never did.
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。
One day, Becky and I found an animal adoption event near the base, surrounded by various cats.
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In July 2009, Scout moved with me to Pittsburgh.
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In the heart of the city, among the chaotic flow of people, stood a small bakery called “Sweet Serenity”. Its golden sign shone under the midday sun, inviting passersby with promises of sugary delights. And at the center of it was Sarah, the owner of Sweet Serenity. With flour-dusted cheeks and a warm smile, she greeted customers like old friends.
Everything seemed cheerful and peaceful, but behind this, Sarah was struggling to keep her bakery running. Rent was due, and supplies and sales were all declining. Worse still, she heard about a big company’s plan to enter the neighborhood and undoubtedly, the bakery couldn’t compete with the big chains moving in. The future of Sweet Serenity really hung in the balance.
Over the next few weeks, Sarah poured all her energy into Sweet Serenity. She launched a social media campaign and hosted baking classes, trying to bringing the bakery back to life. Hard as she worked, business remained sliding.
As the days passed, Sarah watched helplessly as boxes were packed and shelves emptied. Customers came by to offer their comfort, but their sympathy only deepened her sense of defeat. On the eve of Sweet Serenity’s closure, Sarah sat alone in the empty bakery, tears streaming down her face. She had poured her heart and soul into this place, only to see it slip away. “How could I possibly find a solution to save my bakery? Is there anyone who can give me a hand?” she thought to herself.
But then, a cheerful sound caught her ear. It was the sound of laughter and music floating in from the street outside. Curious, Sarah looked through the window to see a crowd gathering around a food truck parking across the street.
It was a new addition to the neighborhood, a mobile bakery called “The Rolling Oven”. The owner, a young woman named Mia, was handing out samples of her tasty cupcakes and engaging customers with her infectious enthusiasm.
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。
Suddenly, a light of hope was fueled within Sarah.
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____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The Leap
Once a twelve-year-old boy was traveling around the world by sea. His father was the captain of the ship. Now, the ship was sailing home at last. It was a pleasant day. All the passengers were on the deck(甲板).
A monkey was making funny faces at the passengers. It became funnier as more passengers came closer, enjoying its tricks. Suddenly the monkey ran towards the captain’s son and took his hat. It then put the hat on its own head. Soon after that, it climbed up the tall pole with two crossbeams(横梁)that supported the sails(帆) on the ship.
Everyone laughed, but the boy was not sure whether to laugh or cry. It had come as a surprise. The monkey sat on the first crossbeam of the pole, took off the hat and began to tear it.
The hat was too important for the boy. So he shouted with extreme anger, “You terrible creature! Return my hat or you are going to pay for it.” He went after the monkey on the pole, which continued to climb higher.
“I am not going to forgive you,” the boy shouted, as he climbed higher and higher. After a while, the monkey stretched itself to its full length and hung what remained of the hat on the end of the second crossbeam. Then it climbed to the very tip of the pole and sat there, making fun of the boy.
The distance from the pole to the end of the crossbeam, where the hat was, was about two meters. To reach the hat, the boy had to let go of the pole. Everyone froze with fear when they saw the boy had stepped onto the crossbeam without support. One wrong step, and he would fall hard to the board of the ship, which would lead to death. The only solution was to jump into the water. However, the boy didn’t realize the danger, as his mind was focused only on getting the hat.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式作答。
Just then the captain came on deck.
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Seeing his son wet but alive, the captain breathed a sigh of relief.
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