Mama’s Soup Pot
There are too many treasures in life we take for granted, the worth of which we don’t fully realize until they’re pointed out to us in some unexpected way. So it was with Mama’s soup pot.
Mama’s soup was special because there was no recipe for it. It had been so since her girlhood in Italy, where she learned its secret from her grandma, who had inherited (继承) it from generation to generation. Also, it was a symbol of security. For our large immigrant family, Mama’s soup guaranteed we would never go hungry. And we could judge our economic conditions by its contents.
At one time, however, Mama’s soup pot became a source of embarrassment to me, for I feared it would cost me a new friend I had made at school. Sol was an unusual pal for me because his father was a doctor and they lived in the best part of our town. Often Sol invited me to his home for dinner, where I found the food was good but tasteless, lacking the heartiness of the one served from my mom’s flame-blackened pots. Moreover, the atmosphere matched the food and everything was so formal. Sol’s mother and father were polite, but the conversation around the table was not natural, which made me a little depressed. And no one hugged!
In my family, warm hugs were a constant-men, women, boys and girls-and if you didn’t kiss your mother, she demanded: “What’s the matter? You sick?” But at that time in my life, all this was an embarrassment.
I had known Sol would like to eat dinner at my house, but that was the last thing I wanted. My family was so different. No other kids had such pots on their stoves, nor did they have a mama whose first action upon seeing you enter the house was to sit you down with a spoon and bowl.
One day, Sol pointedly asked if he could come to my house. I had to say yes.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
The day Sol came over I was nervous.
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_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________In my childhood, under the influence of my el der brother and my peers in the neighborhood, I tried a number of outdoor activities. Of course, I was not so taken by all of them. whether I was doing them for the first time or continuously. However, fate had its own plans in store. You never know when an outdoor activity will change my life.
The name of this activity is “fishing”. About ten years ago, I didn't really like the idea of sitting on the bank of a lake or river, spending long hours under the sun's ultraviolet rays, which can cause sunburns and skin damage, and anxiously anticipating some fish to be kind to take my bait(诱饵). In fact, I used to think of this outdoor activity as some kind of “hide-and-seek-game” that is popular with most young kids, except that it was much harder because I could see my “prey (猎物)” only after catching it.
However, all that changed when I paid a visit to my aunt in the countryside during a summer holiday. I was finally convinced by one of my cousins to accompany him to a nearby lake in order to do some fishing practice with him. In fact, he even assured me that fish would eat my baits. So I agreed and went to the lake expecting to catch some fish. Before throwing my fishing line into the water, my cousin did some tricks attaching some sort of food to my fishing pole.
Learning to fish in a river or lake can be challenging for the beginners like me. The act of dropping a line is easy, but being a successful fisher is hard. That's why they call it fishing but not catching But with practice and patience, it can become easier over time. Patience is essential in lake fishing. It may take some time to find the right spot or lure (鱼饵) that will attract fish.
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。
My cousin had to repeatedly remind me to keep patient.
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________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I remember the park rangers saying, “Why are you going up there? There is no water on the top, and you’re not going to find any frogs.” I said, “Well, I’m going to check it out.”
The Espinhaco mountain range in the east of Brazil is a very special place, and it’s mostly unknown. My house looks on to the mountain in Pico do Itambe state park, so I have my breakfast looking at it each morning. You’re surrounded by thunderstorms and strong winds, and the humidity is high. I waited for heavy rains and went to climb to the top.
What had caught my eye were the bromeliad plants, which look like the top of a giant pineapple. Each plant can hold up to 2 litres of water, and inside there is so much happening. Larvae, beetles, all kinds of invertebrate (无脊椎动物) live in there—it's a whole ecosystem in a tiny space. The central cup holds loads of rainwater, and I thought there could be some frogs using them.
Sure enough I was right. And this led me to discover a new species of frog, which I have committed my life to protecting. That day, I found a frog in the very first bromeliad I looked inside. I thought, wow, I’ve never seen such a tiny frog; it was the size of my nail. I couldn’t catch it—the plant was complicated inside.
I looked in the next bromeliad and there was another frog. They all had them in. I saw about 20 frogs that night, and caught three. I took them to the museum for identification, but couldn’t find a match. I ended up walking around with three little frogs in my bag for a year, preserved in a jar. I would take them to meetings with me, and ask people if they had ever seen them before.
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。
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Then I met an expert who took one look at them and said it was a new species.
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During my research, part of the area where these frogs live was destroyed by fire.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________With a broad smile on her lips, Sirin, a15-year-old girl, ran with joy to show off her new painting to her mom. But the mother spoke in a hushed tone, “Shh.. honey. I am busy with an important talk. I will look at it. Just wait for sometime, OK?”
Sirin frowned (皱眉) and decided to show it to her dad.
“Dad, see what I have done,” Sirin announced aloud in a thrilling voice.
Dad turned around while adjusting his tie and showed the thumbs-up.
Immediately, blowing her two cheeks, Sirin complained (抱怨), “Dad, you haven’t seen it yet.”
He smiled at her, saying, “No time, baby. I’ll look at it later.”
She was not a kid to be pleased with a simple gesture or a smile. Dad was in a hurry, so he just kissed her forehead (额头), and rushed to go to work.
Sirin stood there for a few seconds, and then rushed into her own bedroom. She threw her painting on the floor, closed the door and lay on her bed. Looking up to the ceiling (天花板), she thought to herself, “Why is everybody so busy?” Her eyes were filled with tears. She thought that her mom and dad would admire her painting,but they didn’t pay any attention to it. It seemed that every single person on this earth was busy with their own work and no one had time to share a single moment with her, neither in happiness nor in sorrow! She was fed up with (受够了) everybody having “no time” for her.
When her mom called her for dinner, she came late to join them on purpose. “I made this special noodles for you, honey,” said Mom while passing the bowl towards Sirin. Sirin kept silent and didn’t want to give a look at her mom. Mom was surprised to see the unusual behaviour. She couldn’t guess anything. Suddenly, the morning incident occurred to her. Softly, she asked, “Honey, did I do something wrong? Why are you so sad?”
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
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Hearing what Mom said, Sirin couldn’t help crying and ran into her room.
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The next day, when Sirin turned on the light in her bedroom after school, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing!
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In 2018, 17-year-old Hemesh spent a life-changing summer with his grandmother Anne, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Witnessing the impact of the disease firsthand, Hemesh was awakened to the seriousness of the situation.
One night, Hemesh walked into the kitchen only to discover that his grandmother had left the gas stove (炉) on after making tea. Shocked by the dangerous consequences Alzheimer’s disease could bring about, he couldn’t help but wonder what might have happened if he hadn’t been there.
Hemesh’s worries increased as he observed his grandmother’s behavior. She would wake up in the early hours of the morning, believing she was on a train, and wander outside aimlessly. This wandering tendency could potentially lead her to get lost or put herself in risky situations.
Determined to make a difference, Hemesh engaged himself in extensive research about Alzheimer’s disease and its symptomatic (症状的) progression. Through his studies, he discovered that wandering was a common problem among dementia patients, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease.
Inspired by his newfound knowledge and fueled by his desire to help, Hemesh told his family, “I can’t just stand by and watch this happen. I need to do something to keep Grandma safe. I think I have an idea that might help not just her, but others in similar situations.”
With firm determination, he developed an inventive answer to the wandering dilemma, a device he called the Guardian Companion. It was a wearable device, similar to a smartwatch, specifically designed for Alzheimer’s patients. It integrated advanced GPS technology and a panic button to assist those who tended to wander, ensuring their safety and well-being. After the device got its official approval, Hemesh happily went to try it on for his grandmother.
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。
As Anne put on the Guardian Companion, Hemesh explained how it worked.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________In the next few weeks, the device made a difference to Anne and her family.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________One day five-year-old Beth received a piano as a gift from her neighbor Mr. Laurence, which had belonged to his late granddaughter. When Beth saw that piano for the first time, she was playing with her friends. The beautiful sound flowing from the large pink piano immediately caught their attention. Turning around and seeing the charming piano decorated with golden birds, flowers, and trees that shone like stars, Beth was overwhelmed (充溢) with emotion.
After knowing it was from her neighbor Mr. Laurence, who had just lost her little granddaughter, Beth resolved to express her gratitude in spite of her shyness and worry. Mr. Laurence had always been seen as a “scary man” by the children for he is so tall with beard on the face and a deep voice, seemingly unapproachable.
“You’ll have to go and thank him,” said her sister Hannah by way of a joke, for the idea of the child’s really going never entered her head. “Yes, I mean to. I guess I’ll go now, before I get frightened thinking about it.”
And, to the amazement of everyone present, Beth walked down the garden, through the fence, and in Laurence’s through the door. “Well, it is the strangest thing I ever see!” cried Hannah, staring after her, while the other children were made quite speechless by her unexpected act.
They would have been still more amazed if they had seen what Beth did afterward. She went and knocked at the study door before she gave herself time to think. When a deep voice called out “Come in”, she entered, right up to Mr. Laurence, who looked quite surprised, and held out her hand, saying, with only a small quake in her voice, “I came to thank you, sir, for the piano...” But she didn’t finish, for he looked so sad and friendly that she forgot what she intended to say and, only remembering that he had lost the little girl he loved, she put both arms round him and hugged him.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
Mr. Laurence was so touched and pleased.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The children were so surprised to see Mr. Laurence walk Beth home.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________In a part of western Toronto, people were really happy when they had a community garden. The newly built garden was in Tom Riley Park, which everyone in the area loved, especially the older people. The park was a center for weekend picnics, early morning jogs, and leisurely walks at sunset. It was a place that held memories for many, and the addition of a garden promised a new chapter of bonding. But there was a big problem—there weren’t any stairs to get down to the garden, only a steep (陡峭的) and uneven dirt path. This made it really hard and unsafe for the older folks to reach it, and even the younger ones found it challenging.
This beautiful garden held a special place in the hearts of the entire community, especially the elderly residents residing nearby. But people who wanted to go there fell down. One person even broke his hand. A local student named Adi Astle knew something had to be done when he saw his grandparents struggling. He was good at building things, so he decided to make the stairs himself. He bought the wood, borrowed some extra equipment, and got to work. He spent $550 and worked for 14 hours, and then he had a brand-new set of stairs ready. The whole neighborhood was overjoyed and grateful to Adi for his selfless act.
Unfortunately, not long after the stairs were built, the city brought some upsetting news — the stairs didn’t meet the required standards and had to be taken down. Officials cited concerns over the steps’ stability and lack of handrails (扶手) . This left the previously satisfied neighborhood feeling down once again.“At the end of the day, the city has a responsibility issue. We have to make sure that constructions in our public spaces are to meet certain safety standards,” a city leader explained. “The stairs that Adi built were well-intentioned. They worked well. They would work well for the short term, but they wouldn’t work for the long term due to potential safety risks.”
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
After the stairs were removed, Adi received a call from the city leader.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The garden was now truly for everyone with the newly built stairs.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1. 活动目的；
2. 活动概况；
3. 学生反响。
注意：
1. 写作词数应为80左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
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Located halfway up the Italy’s Apennine Mountains, about 100 miles northeast of Rome, the Hotel Rigopiano has never been easy to reach. But its isolation(隔离) only adds to its appeal, attracting a great number of tourists.
Snow began to fall across the Apennines in January and lasted for days. From his home in the Rome suburbs, Matrone watched the weather with concern. He and his wife, Cicioni, had planned an overnight getaway to the hotel. But now he wondered whether they should go. After phoning the hotel, they decided to make the trip. By the time they neared the hotel six hours later, they were battling a snowstorm. When they finally arrived, they were both cold and exhausted. They checked into the hotel, got into their room and went to bed early.
As they awoke the next day, they discovered that their difficulty had worsened overnight. The cars in the parking lot were invisible. The phone and power lines were down. They were having breakfast when the hotel began to shake. An earthquake with a magnitude(震级) of 5.7 had struck the mountain. “Get out of here!” Matrone shouted to his wife. They headed quickly to the parking lot, where others were digging their cars. Fifteen minutes after the first earthquake, another quake hit, this one measuring 5.6.
With a dozen vehicles freed by noon, the guests set off down the driveway. But when they reached the main road, the path was blocked by a six⁃foot⁃high wall of snow. Matrone climbed out of his car and investigated it. There was no road in sight, “We’re trapped!” he told his wife. So they had no choice but to make their way back to the hotel.
As it was getting dark, they managed to get back. That was when the snow on the mountain began to slide. They heard the avalanche(雪崩) before they saw it. The avalanche gathered speed and size, grabbing rocks and trees and anything else in its way down the mountain, tearing the hotel from its foundation. When the avalanche came to a stop, those who were caught inside the hotel were left buried in the icy rocks and ruins.
注意:续写词数应为150左右。Paragraph 1:
When Matrone came to himself,he was stuck in the darkness.
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It was not until the next morning that the rescuers finally arrived.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1. 众所周知，没有什么比健康更珍贵。饮食在我们的日常生活中起着基础性的作用。
2. 数据显示，中学生存在大量不健康的饮食习惯。
3. 他们吃大量的垃圾食品，垃圾食品的热量很高。
4. 为了节省时间，大多数学生吃早餐太快，不仔细咀嚼食物。
5. 有些人早上什么都不吃，这对他们的健康是非常有害的。
6. 为了保持健康，我们应该保持合理的饮食。
7. 我们不仅应该食用不同种类的新鲜食物，如鱼、肉、蔬菜、水果以及奶制品，而且应该饮食规律、适当。
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