I love to watch my father paint and I love to hear him talk while he paints. The words always come out soft. As a mason (泥瓦匠) , he doesn’t have a studio, and I’ve always felt a little sorry for him, having to paint in our backyard, which is not exactly picturesque. Dad doesn’t seem to see the backyard when he’s painting, though. It’s not just the canvas he sees either. It’s something much bigger. He gets this look in his eye like he’s gone beyond the yard, the neighborhood, the world.
“A painting is more than the sum of its parts,” he would tell me, and then go on to explain how the cow by itself is just a cow, and the meadow by itself is just grass and flowers, and the sun is just a beam of light, but put them all together and you’ve got magic.
I understood what he was saying, but I never felt what he was saying until one day when I was up in the sycamore tree (梧桐树) . I’d never seen a view like that! I got the feeling that I was flying above the earth. The view from the sycamore was more than rooftops and clouds and wind and colors combined. It was magic. It wasn’t long before I found the spot that became my spot. I could sit there for hours, just looking out at the world. Sunsets were amazing. Some days they’d be purple and pink, some days they’d be a blazing orange, setting fire to clouds across the horizon.
Then came the day. When I was sitting in the branches of my tree, I found two trucks parked right beneath me. Four men came out of the trucks, and started unloading tools, gloves, ropes and saws (锯子) .
Pretty soon they spotted me. One of the men called, “Hey! You’d better come down from there. We gotta take this thing down.”
I managed to choke out, “The tree?”
“Yeah, now come on down.”
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: My heart was crazy with panic.
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Paragraph 2: When I was locked up in my room mourning for the loss of the tree, my father came in with a painting.
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2 . Grainne lived alone. My morning routine
She was an easy conversationalists, with a good habit of focusing
We both looked forward to my daily
The day before I left Dublin, I went to say goodbye to Grainne. We both knew we were likely talking to each other in person for the
Shortly after my return to India, my grandfather
Although I was never able to
| A．cope | B．contrast | C．correspond | D．communicate |
| A．conversations | B．arguments | C．expectations | D．competitions |
| A．helpfully | B．initially | C．traditionally | D．entirely |
| A．asking | B．teaching | C．telling | D．offering |
| A．live | B．fit | C．differ | D．appear |
| A．schedules | B．thoughts | C．needs | D．visits |
| A．refused | B．remembered | C．decided | D．hesitated |
| A．next | B．same | C．last | D．right |
| A．gave up | B．passed away | C．turned over | D．pulled out |
| A．respected | B．connected | C．alone | D．guilty |
| A．news | B．treat | C．adventure | D．sympathy |
| A．future | B．people | C．time | D．experience |
| A．trust | B．find | C．comfort | D．see |
| A．beautiful | B．commercial | C．secret | D．pretended |
| A．fall behind | B．make sense | C．slow down | D．take effect |
3 . Abraham Lincoln was a typical self-made man. He obtained his license to practice law without ever having stepped foot inside a college or academy building. Books became his academy. Everywhere he went, Lincoln carried a book with him. He thumbed through page after page while his horse rested at the end of a long row of planting. Whenever he could escape work, he would lie with his head against a tree and read.
Though the young Lincoln never left America, he traveled with Byron’s Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage to Spain and Portugal; accompanied Robert Burns to Edinburgh; and followed the English kings into battle with Shakespeare. As he explored the wonders of literature and the history of the country, the young Lincoln developed ambitions far beyond the expectations of his family and neighbors. It was through literature that he was able to
go beyond his surroundings and reach his destination.The volumes to feed Lincoln’s intellectual hunger did not come cheaply. The story is often recounted of the time he borrowed Parson Weems’s The Life of George Washington from Josiah Crawford, a well-to-do farmer. Thrilled by this account of the first president’s life, he took the book to his loft at night, where he read as long as he could stay awake, placing the book on a makeshift shelf between the cabin logs so he could fetch it at daybreak. During a severe rainstorm one night, the book was badly soiled. Lincoln went to Crawford’s house, explained what had happened, and offered to work off the value of the book. Crawford calculated the value of two full days’ work pulling corn, which Lincoln considered an unfair repayment. Nevertheless, he straightway set to work and kept on until all work was done. Then, having paid his debt, Lincoln wrote poems and songs teasing Josiah’s large nose. Thus Crawford, in return for loaning Lincoln a book and then overly punishing him, won a permanent place in American history.
1. What can we learn about Lincoln from the first paragraph?| A．He wasn’t academically competent. | B．He read on horseback to escape work. |
| C．He failed to obtain a valid law license. | D．He is an excellent autonomous learner. |
| A．By reading extensively. | B．With his family’s support. |
| C．Through self-employment. | D．By traveling around the world. |
| A．Stolen by a farmer. | B．Burned by a candle fire. |
| C．Damaged in a rainstorm. | D．Lost and never recovered. |
| A．Tough and helpful. | B．Diligent and generous. |
| C．Intelligent and humble. | D．Determined and sharp-tongued. |
It was an unpleasant, cold Sunday evening. The sun was on its way home and so was Sara. Sara was a health inspector, so she had to check people’s houses to see if they were living a health y life.
Sundays were the only days she got a holiday, so she had been out trying to relax and enjoy the day. She was almost home when a small old house caught her eye. Her curiosity didn’t allow her to pass by without checking it.
Hesitantly, she approached the house and knocked. She did not think anyone would be living in such an old, shabby cabin, but, to her surprise, an old couple answered the door. The house and the couple were quite similar, both old, ragged and very easily broken.
She greeted them and asked if she could come in. Their house was empty, just like their empty stomachs that growled (低吼) aloud. It was a heartbreaking scene to witness the condition they were in.
She gathered her courage and asked the reason behind their condition. The couple were a bit nervous at first, but eventually opened up about their life. The couple, named Razia and Shahid,were going through tough times. Shahid was not educated, so he couldn’t get a decent job and only worked as a laborer, but that also for a short time because he would often fall il l due to old age. Rizia would work as a maid at people’s homes when she was young, but when age caught up with her, she also could not work properly and fell sick.
They had no children, so there was no one to look after them in their old age. Some nights, they slept hungry, while on other nights, they received a meal from some kind people. They explained how hunger was like an unwanted companion, always present, making their stomachs growl.
Sara felt saddened by their tough situation and tried to comfort them. She thought about making some arrangements for their care.
注意：1. 写作词数应为 150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Suddenly her eyes li t up with, an idea.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The couple were delighted, and prayed for Sara’s health and long life.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5 . Our old, artificial Christmas tree was in rough shape by the time we retired it. At least a decade had passed since my wife and I bought the tree, a medium-size fake tree with built-in lights, at a Target in Brooklyn and carried it on the subway to our tiny apartment. Over the years, we dragged that tree from apartment, jammed it onto a moving truck to Los Angeles and later packed the weathered box onto another moving truck, this time to Chicago and our current home. By the end, layers of duct tape (强力胶布) held the box together, the wear and tear of a decade of delivering holiday cheer.
Our little tree looked run down, but it was the only tree our family ever knew. It stands proud and glowing in the background of photos of me and my pregnant wife during our last Christmas in Brooklyn without children. Our oldest was born a month later during a January snowstorm. The tree shows up again in the next year’s photos, this time surrounded by holiday gifts for a boy about to turn 1. Then it appears in photos of our son and his 1-month-old brother, this time with California palm trees just outside the door. And in more recent photos, our tree lights up windows overlooking shining Chicago snow. This year, after much debate, we decided to retire our dear old tree, with its bent branches and the lights that had burned out years ago. Rather than feel depressed, we used the moment to launch a new family tradition: our first real Christmas tree.
So here’s a toast to all your family’s traditions—the old and the new. I hope you enjoy this issue, which we have filled with stories of seasonal joy and holiday cheer. Happy holidays!
1. Where is the author’s present home?| A．In Chicago. | B．In Brooklyn. | C．In California. | D．In Los Angeles. |
| A．His budget was tight. | B．He was attached to it. |
| C．It was in good condition. | D．It was environmentally-friendly. |
| A．An editor. | B．A salesman. | C．A delivery man. | D．A home designer. |
| A．The finest diamond must be cut. |
| B．Out with the old, in with the new. |
| C．Old friends and old wine are best. |
| D．All things in their being are good for something. |
The newfound team, now officially known as the Wildcats, started their basketball journey with a mix of eagerness and anxiety. The community center’s basketball court became their arena (竞技场), a place where failures were just stepping stones to success, and every dribble (运球), pass, and shot was a lesson in disguise.
Under Mr. Jordan’s guidance, practices became more than just learning how to play basketball; they were about discovering the strengths within and the power of unity. He had an approach to seeing the potential in every player.
One afternoon, as the team gathered around Mr. Jordan, he introduced a new drill that focused on passing and communication. “Basketball is a language,” he explained. “If you can’t communicate, you can’t win. This drill will help you understand each other without words. ”
The drill was a disaster at first. Passes went wrong, and frustration mounted. Jasmine’s quick passes were too swift for Mia, and Lucas’s attempts at humor during the drill only led to more confusion. Eli, ever the observer, noticed the tension and suggested a simple system of hand signals they had discussed in a previous practice. Gradually, the team began to find their rhythm, learning to anticipate each other’s moves and communicate more effectively.
It wasn’t just basketball skills that the Wildcats were developing; it was a sense of belonging and trust in one another. Each practice ended with a team gathering, where Mr. Jordan shared stories from his coaching days, emphasizing the lessons learned from losses more than wins.
注意：(1)续写词数应为150左右；(2)开头已给出。Paragraph 1: Soon came their first real game against a more experienced team.
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Paragraph 2: The second half saw a different Wildcats team.
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7 . As an artist, I am constantly struck by the profound impact that art can have on people’s lives. Recently, I have had an experience that
One day, as I was
As they explored my artwork, the mother began to tell me the little girl’s story. The child used to be an orphan who had experienced a lot of
Finally she came the next morning and quickly paid for the original and take it home with a huge smile.
As an artist, I drew inspiration from my own experiences, emotions, and observations, creating pieces that are very
| A．denied | B．highlighted | C．decreased | D．transformed |
| A．adjusting to | B．appealing to | C．setting up | D．wiping out |
| A．mildly | B．barely | C．apparently | D．potentially |
| A．represented | B．exposed | C．predicted | D．clarified |
| A．comforting | B．bothering | C．releasing | D．casting |
| A．vivid | B．cheerful | C．exceptional | D．abstract |
| A．growth | B．hardships | C．changes | D．adventures |
| A．organization | B．school | C．team | D．family |
| A．copy | B．part | C．photograph | D．draft |
| A．sleep | B．insist | C．depend | D．thunder |
| A．dramatic | B．logical | C．personal | D．practical |
| A．crafted | B．grasped | C．processed | D．interpreted |
| A．spiritual | B．ideal | C．fundamental | D．conventional |
| A．perception | B．interaction | C．application | D．interruption |
| A．separate | B．devote | C．uplift | D．defend |
8 . Two elderly best friends have finally been reunited in the same care home.
Nora Boardman, 91,
The childhood friends both
Both Eileen and Nora decided to move into the care home. Sadly, both had several falls. But they stuck to their
Two childhood best friends
| A．removed | B．referred | C．moved | D．related |
| A．concerned | B．astonished | C．confused | D．scared |
| A．recognized | B．classified | C．inspired | D．surrounded |
| A．disappointment | B．expectation | C．embarrassment | D．excitement |
| A．wild | B．enthusiastic | C．busy | D．familiar |
| A．broke up | B．grew up | C．set off | D．hurried off |
| A．breath | B．condition | C．favor | D．touch |
| A．incomparable | B．inseparable | C．independent | D．inaccessible |
| A．doors | B．streets | C．blocks | D．churches |
| A．childhood | B．vacation | C．marriage | D．adventure |
| A．narrowly | B．terribly | C．casually | D．slightly |
| A．leather | B．guidance | C．wing | D．direction |
| A．convinced | B．motivated | C．extended | D．committed |
| A．custom | B．argument | C．principle | D．decision |
| A．enjoy | B．establish | C．renew | D．obtain |
I loved the spelling bee (拼字比赛). I trained every day after school, the dictionary pages rippling softly in the breeze. But I had never thought my arch-enemy in the spelling bee could become my friend.
Opening my eyes on Friday morning, I felt the hairs on my arm stand up. I glanced at my alarm clock — it’s only 6:27. I usually woke up at 7:01, which meant I had an extra thirty-four minutes to study. I was the best spellers in my class. I wanted to win the bee at Meadowbrook Middle School and beat my arch-enemy, Nathan Fortescue.
Nathan just read many science and math books. Really, he wasn’t a speller at heart — he’s a mathematician. Nathan and I had nothing in common except being good spellers, but since he’s a good speller without even trying, it didn’t count.
I walked into the kitchen, finding Dad cooking breakfast. He served me some porridge. I thanked him and told him the spelling test and my anxiety. My father gave me a quiz. Those words “dexterous, sesquipedalian, truncate” didn’t trouble me at all. Finally came the word “judgment”. “Easy, J-U-D-G-E-M-E-N-T.” I answered quickly, without any thought.
Dad shook his head. Not believing in him, I headed for my room, referred to the dictionary and marched back with a frown. Before parting, he told me that I should thank him, because I would probably get the word in the test.
As soon as I shut the classroom door behind me, I heard a voice from the back of the room. “You are looking pale now, and I’m afraid that you may miss the spelling bee.” Nathan smiled as he closed a giant book with dancing numbers on the cover.
“I bet a literature word will make you out on the first round.” I replied.
As Ms. Hawking walked into the room, she explained the rules—one missed, and you were out—and the spelling test began. After four rounds, only Nathan and I were left. “Olivia, your word is ‘algorithm.’” said Ms. Hawking. I hadn’t heard that word before, but I spelt it A-L-G-O-R-H-Y-H-M.
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。
Ms. Hawking frowned and said that’s incorrect.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________After class, I sobbed when I felt a hand on my arm.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Harry, from Chesterfield, is going to be 11 years old. He always wants a proper birthday party but it’s always been difficult to arrange because he is an autistic (患有自闭症的) boy. It is hard for him to understand how other playground he might smile. He’s not evil-minded. It’s just his face and feelings do not match up. Unless you know him, you can’t understand the thing he does. He’s a really good kid, just misunderstood. Because of autism, he’s not been invited to a party since kindergarten, which makes him seem to be left out.
In order to make Harry not feel lonely, this year, his mother Hannah, 31, put an appeal for birthday cards for Harry on her social media because she wanted Harry to feel “included” and “less alone”. Much to her surprise, more than 200 cards flooded in her mail box within a week, some from as far as Dubai. With more arriving every day, she felt crazy and overwhelmed.
When Harry said that he wanted to have a party for his 11th birthday, his parents felt surprised but delighted. Because it meant their son was willing to deal with different people, which was a big step for him. The parents took action again. At first, no one but his family had planned on coming, they even couldn’t fill one lane. Struggle d to get more people to come, the mother turned to social media once more and the result never let her down. More and more people sent cards and some of them started offering to come to the party as well. It turned out that people with children Harry had never met responded by helping to fill the venue.
注意：1. 续写词数应为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:
On Harry’s birthday, about 30 children in total attended the party.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2:
The party means a lot to Harry who was scared and nervous but also excited.
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