Avoiding people in a small town requires the skills of a spy. So Brad Ryan moved like a ghost, taking precautions to stay far away from the woman who he thought had broken his heart. He had not seen or spoken to Grandma Joy for six years.
One day, he received a call from his mom, saying his elder sister had announced her engagement and a wedding date had been set for a Duncan Falls church. Brad’s heart sank. because Grandma Joy would be there. But he loved his sister, and there was no way he’d miss the wedding.
Despite Joy Ryan’s first name, there were lots of sufferings and regrets instead of joy in her life, She grew up in a home with no electricity, running water or plumbing. She attended a one-room schoolhouse, And she suffered the loss of two sons. She was a widow (寡妇)for 14 years, She lived a small life that stopped at the edge of the county line. And she’d never had the chance to see what she called the great outdoors other than a trip ta see relatives in Louisiana.
“My earliest memory of her is when I was 3.” said Brad. “We’d walk to Blue Rock State Park, which is close in her house She’d help me lift rocks in the creek (小溪)to find crawfish. We’d hold them in our hands and talk about how beautiful it was being in nature. No one in my family thought like that.”
However. as Brad entered adolescence, he was growing emotionally distant from his family. with occasional quarrels. One day. a violent conflict broke out between Brad and his father. Brad turned to his grandma, hoping for help or just a kind word. But he got neither. He found Grandma Joy is in his father’s side. “That was the end of my relationship with Grandma Joy.” he said
At the wedding venue, on seeing Grandma Joy. thin and gaunt (憔悴的). Brad found himself thinking a lot about her and the happy time they spent together. It puzzled him why that memory in particular stayed with him. Now grandma. 78, walked unsteadily into the Duncan Falls church.
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。
Brad hesitantly walked over to her.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________After that day, Brad decided not to leave any regrets in his grandma’s life.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Amy loved to draw, and her hands, always dirty from the pencil lead, moved on the paper, showing the pictures in her mind. She would sit for hours, lost in art. Trees on her pages seemed to swing in an unseen wind, and the faces she drew wore lifelike expressions. But Amy didn’t look like the art she made. Her clothes were old and had many patches (补丁) that her mother made with care. Amy’s family did not have much money, but they loved each other very much. Her mother worked hard at many jobs to take care of them after Amy’s father got sick and died.
Amy had her good times and hard times in school. She loved different corners of the school which were sources of her inspiration and expected the art lesson. Yet other kids’ laughing at her dress made her sad. She wanted to change the situation, but didn’t know how to go about it. Despite this, she would quietly help someone with a hard math problem or pick up garbage on her way home. She always found comfort in her drawing. In the middle of the term, an art contest on the theme of “My Dream” was to be held, which would select the top three winners, and the head teacher would award them prizes. This news thrilled the children, Amy in particular. They enthusiastically registered for the contest and, after thoughtful consideration, finished their own art pieces. The contest organizers gathered all submissions one week later and set up an exhibit showcasing every participant’s work in the school gym.
The school gym was filled with viewers as the walls displayed the efforts of the young artists. There were paintings of colorful landscapes where the sun burst through thick clouds. Some students had created portraits (肖像) of their heroes. In this sea of creativity, one painting stood out. In the painting, a community garden was drawn, a place where people from all walks of life were planting seeds together. The heartfelt work drew the viewers into a world where every detail had meaning. The exhibition would last a week and all the students and teachers could vote their favorite work.
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。
Finally came the day when the winners were announced.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The children who had laughed at Amy started to see her in a new way.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I was preparing side dishes to go with our Sunday barbecue when our daughter Rose stormed in the front door and rushed to her room. I glanced out the window and saw our neighbor Lucy walking back to her house across the road. As a mother, my feeling told me something happened between them.
“Rose, come in here. I need some help with dinner.” She came out of her room and stood beside me. She had a stubborn look on her face—the kind kids have when they know they are wrong but have persuaded themselves they are right. “I noticed that Lucy, your classmate, came over but didn’t stay long. Why?” I asked. “I don’t like her,” Rose complained. “I wish she would stop coming over here all the time. She dresses terribly, and sometimes she doesn’t smell good. Her nose is always runny, and her hair is in a mess. None of us like her.”
I knew that she referred to the popular crowd. It was a lot for a senior high student to deal with, trying to fit in with the popular crowd. It might be a shame if one of the girls in that crowd knew Lucy was playing with Rose.
I explained why I felt so sad for Lucy. “You see, baby,” I began, “I know how she felt today when you were sort of cold toward her. I know because that was me when I was in sixth grade. I was the poor kid with hand-me-down clothes, the kid who others looked down on. I also know what it was like to be hungry and see other families having a barbecue out and enjoying themselves. That feeling never goes away.” I went on to tell her that I didn’t want her to be that child or adult who looked down on others. I told her I wanted her to be kind and helpful, not judgmental and hurtful. I noticed Rose had tears in her eyes.
注意：1．续写词数应为100词左右；
2．请按下列格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Minutes later, Rose went to Lucy’s house across the road.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Eli, a passionate high school student about environmental conservation, was eager to participate in the annual Science Fair, an event where students showcase their science projects to the audience, and make a significant contribution. However, he struggled with self-doubt, uncertain if he could create a project that would truly stand out.
Fortunately, Eli’s advisor, Mr. Keats, a man in his 40s known for his enthusiasm and willingness to assist, recognized his hesitation and offered guidance and support. He saw potential in Eli and encouraged him to pursue his passion for environmental conservation. With Mr. Keats’s help, Eli gradually gained confidence in his abilities.
Eli’s friends, Joey and Marylin, also played a crucial role in his journey to success. Both grew up in the neighboring area, attended the same school, and shared Eli’s dedication to environmental conservation. Together, they brainstormed ideas and provided emotional support, keeping Eli motivated and focused on his project.
As the Science Fair drew nearer, Eli invested all his energy into creating a project that would raise awareness about environmental conservation. With Mr. Keats’s guidance and his friends’support, Eli overcame his lack of confidence and came up with a fantastic idea of a remarkable project.
However, just when Eli thought everything was going smoothly, he encountered a setback. His initial project idea faced unexpected challenges, and worse still, Eli didn’t have a plan B. Doubts and frustration resurfaced, posing a threat to his progress. Joey and Marylin noticed Eli was in low spirits and asked him what had happened. Frustratedly, Eli told them about the project, adding that maybe he would never make it. Immediately, they understood that Eli needed more than just words of encouragement; he needed support and a community to lean on. Without hesitation, they offered their shoulders to lean on and ears to listen.
During this difficult time, Mr. Keats also offered his support and encouraged Eli to view the setback as an opportunity for growth and innovation. This encouragement fueled Eli’s determination. With their help, Eli regained his confidence and determination to overcome the obstacles in his path.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150个左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Under Mr. Keats’s guidance, Eli worked tirelessly to develop a new project plan.
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The day of the Science Fair finally arrived, and Eli was ready.
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“We’re leaving!” Dad called.
Cody grabbed his flip-flops (平底人字拖鞋). He was about to race downstairs when he noticed the tiny airplane on his cousin’s desk. “That would be fun to take to the beach,” he thought, “I don’t think Quinn will mind if I borrow it.” Quinn didn’t really play with toys these days anyway. He had a summer job now. Cody quickly put the airplane into the pocket of his bathing suit.
He could hear the waves crashing as he, Dad, and Uncle Jeff unloaded the car. Cody put down his towel and made a runway in the sand. Then he took out the airplane and imagined taking off. After a steep climb, he put the plane through a series of loops, rolls, and dives (俯冲).
“Cody, are you coming with us?” Dad called. Dad and Uncle Jeff were eager to catch some waves.
Cody carried his bodyboard and ran after them. They dived and swam out to where they could stand to catch the waves. When Cody spotted the coming wave, he turned toward shore and started kicking. As the wave picked him up and shot him forward, he felt as if he were flying. Dad and Uncle Jeff caught the same wave and they all cheered with joy. They rode wave after wave.
Soon Cody’s teeth were chattering. He was glad when they decided to head back to their place on the sand. He lay down on his towel, enjoying the warm sunshine. But in a sudden panic, he sat up. “Where is the airplane?” He murmured and searched the sand around him, but found only broken seashells.
Cody walked around and kept looking for the airplane wherever it may be. But as it became clear that the air plane was lost, he was thrown into fear, wondering what to tell Quinn. On the way back home, he felt more and more upset.
注意：1.续写词数应为80词左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Just when Cody stepped off the car, he felt something sharp in his pocket.
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After retiring, I had time to clean the storeroom. The old doors were hard to open, like I was unsure about my new life. Inside, it was a mess, with old belongings from years ago and even a family of foxes had lived there.
I pulled on work gloves, then moved a box of motor oil out of the way, intending to clear some space. I reached all the way back, and my hand hit something hard. What could that be? I pulled out a round metal tin (罐). With one finger, I cleared a thick coating of dirt from the top to uncover a green background with white flowers. Could the tin hold a hidden treasure?
Little by little, I removed the cover until it suddenly came off and fell to the ground. I held my breath. Inside were several yellowed envelopes. I opened one, and a sense of despair swept through me.
Just then, my wife Peg walked in. “What’s that?”
“Seeds (种子),” I said. Nothing but seeds.
Peg came over to examine the tin’s contents. “Look, here’s a letter.” She held up a faded envelope with a three-cent stamp and a postmark of May 13, 1940. Before I was born! The letter was addressed to the original owner of our house.
“‘I am sending you the seeds of the hibiscus (木槿) you admired when you stopped at our tourist home last year,’” Peg read. “‘Plant when the ground becomes warm, and do not be alarmed if they do not come up for several weeks — they are slow to grow.’”
“Huh,” I said. “Eighty years old. I wonder if they’ll still grow?” I had several hanging pots and a few flower beds, but I was no expert. I took a plastic box where I’d planted potatoes, shook the hibiscus seeds out of the envelope, pushed them into the soil and set the box in the sun.
“What are my chances?” I asked my neighbor, an experienced gardener. “Not very good,” he said, “but maybe… if they were packed right and kept dry and dark.”
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。
With the seeds planted, I checked the box every day, eager for any sign of life.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Just when I was about to give up, something astonishing happened.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When I was a boy, I always wore turtleneck shirts because I was so sensitive and shy. I worked hard to earn exceptional marks and always tried to behave well. I was younger than everyone else because my good marks had allowed me to skip second grade, but this added nothing to my already low self-confidence.
When I was 14, my parents divorced (离婚). I moved in with my dad in a new neighborhood, but he was always so busy and had little time for me. It seemed the only time he ever spoke to me was to be demanding or critical. I began to hate coming home from school every day. I sank further into my low self-esteem (自尊心) and was overwhelmed with feeling unappreciated and alone.
One day, my aunt called. This seemed like a miracle (奇迹) to me. Aunt Ginette usually only called once a year, on my birthday. She said she had just seen some young teenagers participate in a public speaking contest, and she thought I should try it, too. She told me she firmly believed I could perform on stage like the other kids since she had seen me do skits (幽默小品) for the family at Christmas.
I was a little surprised. Me? Onstage? In a public speaking contest? I was hesitant. But Aunt Ginette was so confident and seemed really serious. Feeling her strong belief, I went against all odds and agreed to enter the contest.
All that winter, twice a week after dinner, I took three different buses for the three-hour round-trip to practice in Ville d’Anjou, where the competition would take place. Although my dad really did love me and wanted the best for me, he disapproved of this new dream, fearing it would take away from my homework time and impact my academic performance. But I remained a top performer in school and never missed a day.
注意:1.续写词数应为 150 左右;
2.请按如下格式在答题卷的相应位置作答。
Four months later, the big night arrived.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When I saw my father’s face, his eyes were shining－he was so proud.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________It was a beautiful sunny morning in early summer, when the world seemed full of sunlight and new green leaves. I was in a good mood as my parents had just given me $300 for my daily expenses during the week that they would be away in Mexico to visit my mother’s sick grandfather. I was extremely overjoyed, thinking hard about the things I could do with the money. If I survived on bread and butter the whole week, I would have an unexpected windfall of $ 200 to buy the latest Kobe Bryant basketball shoes! What a terrific idea!
As usual, the physical education class was thrilling. I felt most at case on the basketball court. After playing several fierce games, I could hardly catch my breath as I headed back towards the classroom, sweaty and exhausted. When I entered, I found my classmates gathered around Steven’s desk as he searched through his books and some other personal items anxiously. Steven had always been popular. Not only was he intelligent and well-mannered, but he also came from a well-off family. And he shared everything he had with us.
Right away, I learned Steven had lost the money he would donate to a children’s welfare institute that afternoon. Then I informed Miss Jones, the class teacher. She rushed over immediately and organized a search around the classroom. We stood by our desks and emptied the contents of our schoolbags onto the desk for inspection.
It was my turn. As Miss Jones took out the $ 300 from my wallet, the class fell into a shock. I didn’t know the amount lost was exactly $ 300 until then. I kept proving my innocence, but in vain. Miss Jones confiscated (没收) the $ 300 and decided I was getting kicked out of the school. I stayed home alone the whole week, living only on bread. I felt wronged, angry, and loss of self-esteem.
注意：1.续写词数应为150个左右；
2.按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Finally, my parents returned home and talked with me.
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Miss Jones had just accepted my parents’ advice when Steven came.
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I admit that there was a time in my life when I hated my brothers. Especially, my older brother, Zach, He was 13 months older than me. As an elementary school kid, he loved making fun of his little sister: me. While Zach and I got along sometimes, we more often fought. The fighting only stopped after my parents threatened to punish us. But this never solved anything in the long term, and even though it stopped the fighting for the moment, my anger just kept growing.
Toward the end of middle school, we both began collecting Pokemon cards. We saw Pokemon cards as a sort of status (地位) symbol whoever had better cards was the stronger, better, cooler person. It became a collecting competition, and every weekend the neighborhood kids and Zach and I would gather to trade or show off our cards.
As I remember, it was impossible to know what cards you would get; it was the luck of the draw. So, it was to my great disappointment and envy when Zach got a holographic (全息图的) Charizard one weekend. Charizard was one of the rarest. The way I saw it, if you got a Charizard card you were basically the king of the world, and if you got a holographic Charizard card, you were the king of the universe. Zach had just won the ultimate jackpot (头奖).
One night, Zach wasn’t feeling well. He went to bed with a stomachache. In the middle of the night, he awoke, crying from being in so much pain. I went over to see what was happening. My parents came rushing over and second s later, Zach vomited (呕吐) all over his room; on to the carpet, himself, and. . . the magical Charizard card! My parents immediately took him into the bathroom to get him cleaned up and near a toilet in case he had to vomit any more.
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 was left in his room, my heart pounding wildly — what about the messy card?
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Zach did thank me and I felt our relationship softened a bit afterwards.
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Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a small village. The village was located in the heart of a big jungle(丛林). Surrounded by the high mountains and in the shade of green trees, the villagers happily lived a life of happiness.
All of them were used to their robotic daily tasks and none of them had the imagination or the will to try something new, except for one girl named Hannah. Very few people in the village could read, let alone write, and Hannah was one of them. Her parents had made sure that their only child got everything possible.
Hannah was an adventurous spirit with an imagination far beyond her time. She loved to explore and would spend hours in the woods looking for new things. She loved to create stories in her head and used to imagine herself as one of her characters. Sometimes, she even told stories to her friends, adding her own touch of curiosity every now and then to different stories, making them more interesting. She wanted to inspire the sparks of curiosity and imagination in them.
One afternoon, when Hannah was on one of her adventurous searches, she came upon an abandoned cottage(遗弃的小屋). The cottage looked very old in its condition. The door was hardly hanging and the wood was about to break apart into pieces. Even though Hannah’s mother had strictly warned her not to go wandering in abandoned places, her curiosity drove her to approach it.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
Opening the door, she was left shocked by a room full of books!
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To her disappointment, her friends showed no interest in the tales she told.
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