An Unforgivable Mistake
A few years ago, the company I work for sent my wife and me to live in New York for a year. I’ve always loved jogging, so I was really happy when I found the apartment they had rented for us was next to Central Park. This meant that every morning I could go for a run before I went to work.
Because a lot of people had told me to be careful of muggers (行凶抢劫者) in the park, I didn’t usually take anything with me. How could they rob me if I didn’t have anything? But one morning my wife asked me to buy some bread on the way home, so I put a $10 bill in my back pocket.
It was a beautiful morning and the park was quiet with very few people walking or jogging around. While I was running, another jogger bumped (撞) into me. He apologized and continued running. For a while, I didn’t think too much of it. However, when I noticed the wide path where I was running, I thought it was kind of strange. The warning of muggers in the park occurred to me. It could have been a mugger! I suddenly became alarmed, so I checked my pocket. The money was missing! I immediately started to run after the jogger. I finally caught up with and grabbed him firmly by the arm. I started shouting and demanding that he give me the $10 bill. I’m not usually a hot-headed person, but I really lost my temper at that moment. I couldn’t believe the robbery was actually happening to me. Filled with anger, I shook my fist at him. This seemed to frighten him. He quickly put his hand in his pocket and gave me the money. Then he ran away as fast as he could.
I bought the bread and went home. As soon as I got home, I couldn’t wait to tell my wife the story. “You won’t believe what happened to me,” I started with pride. She immediately interrupted (插话), “I know, you left the money for the bread on the kitchen table.”
注意：续写词数应为150左右。Paragraph 1:
Looking at the money on the table, I stood there, shocked.
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For several days, I waited at the same place.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________About a month ago, my husband and I found kindness in an unlikely place: standing in line at a Subway sandwich shop to pick up a quick dinner.
It was extremely busy on this particular night, and I noticed a dad behind us with his little girl, who looked to be around four. The man seemed as tired as my husband, but the little girl was cheerful and excited as she waited for her sandwich and cookie.
I watched as the man behind us got closer to the front of the line. He started to look worried. Right before we checked out, I heard the man say to the woman who had made his sandwiches that he was sorry to just leave his out because he didn’t have enough money to pay for them all. He looked very embarrassed. His little girl continued jumping around excitedly.
I quietly asked the cashier to add the man’s whole order to ours. I paid the $ 87.73, and we got out of there before the man behind us knew what had happened.
Like many others since COVID-19 hit, our family of five was living on one income. I was holding our debit card (借记卡) and knew that we only had $ 90.16 in our account. That was all we would have until payday three days later. But still, it felt great to be able to help that family, even though we would be out of money for a few days.
What happened next was amazing. My husband went back to that Subway the next week to pick up five sandwiches that I thought would cost $ 44.58. There was $ 47 in our account.
But it turned out that the dinner cost more than we had on the card. My husband told them to put his sandwich back because he couldn’t afford it. Then he paid for the four sandwiches and headed to our car.
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。
As he opened the door, one of the female workers ran to him.
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The two men nodded at one another and went on their way.
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My family and I were taking a well-deserved vacation to Disneyland. I had never been there before and was eagerly anticipating experiencing the magic.
There was another reason that this trip was special. My father was a workaholic who worked long hours. I longed to spend time with him. I wanted to be able to sit down with my father, who I loved more than life, and just talk. It always seemed like there was never time.
The day finally arrived when I was allowed to pack my clothes. I chose only my favourite outfits. I threw in my autograph book and then muscled the suitcase zipper around the overflow of clothes. I set my suitcase on my comforter and smiled. I was ready.
I didn’t get any sleep that night. I lay in my bed and stared out the window. I knew that my father’s work was going to be left at home, finally.
After a brief breakfast we hit the open road. It was all smooth sailing for the first couple of hours until I unexpectedly felt a sharp stop. We coasted to the side of the road, and my dad said something was wrong with the engine. We were in the middle of four lanes of traffic, so he decided the easiest thing to do would be to signal someone to stop and get a ride into town.
An hour later, my dad was still waving his hands at each and every passing car but it wasn’t doing any good. Not a single person would stop to assist my helpless family. Finally, Father gave up and decided to walk into town. I was certain it was a very long distance. I pleaded with him to stay and try again, but he was deaf to my pleading. He just said that he wouldn’t let anything ruin this trip for me. My heart ached as he put on his coat and began to walk away from our car. My dad has a back problem, and he was too stubborn to admit that he wasn’t in any condition to even walk a couple of miles.
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 I saw a man out of the window, who was a truck driver.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________After reaching the town, we expressed our thanks again.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Some years ago, when the General Motors plant closed in our city of 75, 000 people, there was a feeling of sadness and doom. Combine that with gas prices that rose to over $4 a gallon and flooding from the river that went through town, damaging homes and businesses, and we had a recipe for depression.
Our church youth group decided to breathe some life back into our city by doing something nice with no strings attached. So, we donated about $1,700 for us to use.
One of our ideas was to buy $25 gas cards and bouquets of roses and randomly give them out to people all around the city. About twenty-five teens and youth leaders piled into vehicles and our church van and started driving through the streets to find people who might need some encouragement.
Our high-school students had many great interactions as they gave roses to people working in their yards or out walking on the sidewalks on a beautiful day. And our middle-school students gave out the free gas cards to the customers at a gas station.
One interaction really stood out. Two middle-school boys watched as a young woman in her mid-twenties pulled up to the gas pump. The students were told not to approach anyone until they got out of their cars to pump their gas.
The young woman didn’t get out of her car. Instead, she began looking through her purse, then her glove compartment and then frantically under her seats. Then she put her hands and head on her steering wheel(方向盘) and began to sob. The thirteen-year-old boys weren’t sure what they should do so they asked one of our youth leaders. He told them to politely knock on the window and offer a free gas card to her, which they did.
Upon hearing the knock, the young lady wiped away her tears, tried to calm herself down and then rolled down the window. They said to her, “Here is a free twenty-five-dollar gas card for you, no strings attached.”
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。
Greatly surprised, the young woman accepted the gas card and then told them her story.
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She looked at the boys and said, “You have no idea what you have done for me. Thank you so much!”
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Once upon a time, there was a kingdom where there lived a king who only had one leg and one eye. But his skill, intelligence and generosity made him a competent ruler. As a result, the people in his kingdom lived a joyful and healthy life under his rule. Then, one day while the King was walking in his palace, he noticed the portraits(肖像) of his ancestors along the hallway. The paintings of his ancestors sparked(触发) a thought in the King’s mind. He thought that his children would walk the same hallway one day and remember all the ancestors through these portraits.
So the King sent an invitation to all the painters from across the kingdoms to his court. He announced that he wanted a beautiful portrait made of himself that would be placed in the palace. So any painter who wants to paint his picture should come forward. The painter will be rewarded based on how good the painting will turn out.
The painters started to panic and thought about making the King with only one leg and one eye look beautiful. How can his picture be beautiful? It is not possible. They were also scared that the King may get angry and punish them if the portrait did not turn out beautiful. So one by one, all the painters started to make excuses and politely declined to make a painting of the King.
But one young painter raised his hand and said that he would make a beautiful portrait of the King that the King would like. The King was finally happy hearing that at least one of the painters was interested in making his painting. The other painters got curious about how this young painter would make a beautiful painting of the King. The King excitedly permitted him, and the painter started drawing the portrait. He then filled the drawing with paints. Finally, after a long wait, he said that the picture was ready!
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。
All the people were curious and nervous about how the painting would turn out.
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The young painter had made a portrait in which the King was sitting on the horse.
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A Sepcial Christmas Gift
December 1st. Always on that day, Mom would softly announce, “It’s time.” When we heard those words, we all knew was time to write our letters to Santa. So, we began our special letters. Jimmy asked for a baseball. Wilbur like anything to do with art. This was my letter to Santa.
My Mom and Dad say I have been very good this year. I only want two toys this year. But what I want most is a dog. I have been asking for one all year. Mom and Dad say we can’t afford to feed an animal right now. It makes me sad, but it’s alright. Maybe next year Mom will say it’s OK. That’s all, Santa. Say hi to Mrs. Claus. And Merry Christmas.
Love, Sheila
The next morning we would walk three blocks to the large red, white and blue mailbox on the corner of Stimson and Forth. It was a special mailbox, only for letters children wrote to Santa.
Christmas Eve finally arrived. I was so excited that I found it difficult to fall asleep. But sleep finally came and so did Christmas morning. I woke up hearing my brothers down the hall shouting at my Mom and Dad. “Wake up! Wake up! Santa came! Come on! Come on!” Jimmy came running and jumping on my bed. “Santa’s been here! Come on! Let’s open presents!”
We all ran downstairs. Our eyes were shining like wildfire as we eyed over plenty of presents under the tree. Then Dad handed out the gifs one at a time. I kept watching as my brothers unwrapped gift after gift. Dad said, “This year you are going to be last to get your presents, because you are the oldest.” I didn’t think anything of it but nodded.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右;2. 请按如下各式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
One by one all of the packages had been opened, none left.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Dad gently signaled to me to follow him.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________On market days when the farmers around Darrowby brought their goods to the little town to sell, I used to take a walk across the square to meet the farmers who gathered there to chat. One of the farmers was telling me about his sick cow when he saw a little dog among the market stalls (货摊). The thing that made us notice the dog was that he was sitting up, paws dangling (悬垂), head pointing expectantly, begging, in front of the stall selling cakes and biscuits.
“Look at that little fellow,” the farmer said. “I wonder where he’s from.”
As he spoke, the stallholder threw the dog some bread which the animal ate eagerly, but when the man came round and stretched out a hand the little thing ran away.
I was standing there, trying to see where he had gone, when a young policeman came up to me.
“I’ve been watching that dog begging among the stalls all morning,” he said, “but I haven’t been able to get near him.”
“Yes, it’s strange. You can see he’s friendly, but he’s also afraid. I wonder who owns him.”
“I think he’s a stray (无主的宠物), Mr. Herriot. I know just about all the dogs around here. But this one is a stranger to me.”
I nodded. “I’m sure you’re right. Anything could have happened to him. He could have been ill-treated by somebody and run away, or he could have been dumped from a car.”
“Yes,” the policeman replied, “I don’t know how anybody can leave a helpless animal to fend for (照料) itself like that. I’ve had a few tries at catching him, but it’s no good.”
A week passed before I met the policeman again in the market.
“Have you caught the dog, sir?” I asked.
The policeman looked very serious. “Yes,” he replied, “I’m afraid he’s been arrested.”
“Arrested?” I said in astonishment. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” he said, “it seems that it’s against the law for a dog to go begging in the market square.”
“I still don’t know what this is all about,” I said. “Where is he now?”
“I’ll take you to him,” the policeman replied.
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。
We walked a short way along the road to a pretty cottage.
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A wave of relief swept over me.
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A city child’s summer is spent in the street in front of his home, and all through the long summer vacations I sat on the edge of the street and watched enviously the other boys on the block play baseball. I was never asked to take part， even when one team had a member missing — not out of special cruelty, but because theytook it for granted I would be no good at it. They were right, of course.
I will never forget the wonderful evening when something changed. The baseball ended when it grew dark. Then it was the custom of the boys to retire to a little stoop (门廊) that stuck out (突出)from the candy store. There the boys would sit, mostly talking about the games played during the day and of the game to be played tomorrow. Suddenly, one of the boys raised a question to me. “What’s in those books you’re always reading?” he asked casually. “Stories,” I answered. “What kind?” asked somebody else without much interest.
Nor did I know what drove me to behave as I did, for usually I just sat there in silence;but this time I told them for two hours about the story Iwas reading at the moment. The book was Sister Carrie. They listened, bug-eyed and breathless. I must have told it well, but I thought there was another and deeper reason that made themkeep an audience. I was offering them a new and exciting experience, one that they didn’t know existed.
The books they themselves read were the ones I had long left behind. Being alone so much, I had become an enthusiastic reader and I had gone through the books-for-boys series. In those days there was no reading material between children’s and grownups’. I had gone right from Tom Swift and His FlyingLab to Theodore Dreiser and Sister Carrie. Dreiser had hit my young mind, and they listened to me tell the storywith some of the wonder that I had had in reading it.
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。
The next night and many nights thereafter, a kind of unspoken ritual (仪式 ) took place. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I enjoyed the long summer evenings until school began in the fall.
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More than 30 years ago, As a teenager, I lived with my family in an old farmhouse in the Durham County countryside. I spent my summer days laboring in tobacco fields and my summer evenings shelling（给...去壳）peas in the backyard. My autumn weekends were often spent splitting logs and cutting wood. We had an indoor antenna(天线)which helped us tune into the few television stations we could receive.
Living where we did, we could see three or four other houses from our own, none of them within shouting distance. We knew our neighbors, some of them elderly, we usually offered them our kindness when they needed help.
Jimmy, who was seventy years old, lived alone on the far side of a tobacco field. He lost his wife two years ago. He could hardly supported himself these last couple of years since his body condition was getting even worse. We went to visit him at his home. It was a small wooden cabin with stained windows and a curtain that had been mended countless times. The poor old man would sit in an armchair by the window, holding a faded photo, and with tears in his eyes, recall happy memories of his wife.
One weekend, my father went to check on Jimmy. But a rare heavy snow happened to fall. It was so heavy that he couldn't get his old truck up Jimmy’s rutted, snow-covered driveway, Nobody could understand what made him slog(奋力前行)the 400 yards or so to Jimmy’s house. My brother and I were waiting anxiously at home. After a long time, he came home hurriedly and told us that Jim my was sick and out of firewood.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡上的相应位置作答。
My father asked us if we would like to help.
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We knocked on Jimmy's door, and he greeted us.
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Once there was a little girl Lily who was very friendly and popular in her class. She was friends with everyone in her class. There was no one in class who did not like her. She was very kind and would always be busy with her friends. She felt very happy that she had so many friends at school and in her neighborhood.
On Friendship Day, her class organized an event, in which everyone had to make three presents and give them to their best friends. Lily was really looking forward to the coming Friendship Day as she was expecting gifts from her friends. However, when all the presents were shared among her classmates, she was the only one who hadn’t received any presents. She felt terrible and cried a lot. She wondered how that was possible. She had made so much effort to be friends with everyone but in the end no one thought of her as one of their best friends.
Everyone came and tried to comfort her for a while but each one only stayed for a short time before leaving. This was exactly what Lily had done so many times to others.
On that day when she got home, her mother saw her sad face. And then her mother asked her the reason for her sadness. “Where can I find true friends?” Lily asked. Her mother was surprised at her question. Then she asked Lily what had happened in school. Her mother comfort her and said, “You cannot buy friends with a smile or a few good words. If you really want true friends, you will have to give them real time and love. For a true friend you must always be available，in good times and bad.”
Lily replied, “But I want to be friends with everyone!”
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:
Her mother shook her head.
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Paragraph 2:
Lily decided to change her ways and thought how she could make true friends.
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