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 friend invited me to a trapeze (高空秋千) class. I was doubtful because of a lack of courage and a short of self-confidence, but her enthusiasm and assurances of strict safety rules won me over.
I had been fearful of heights since elementary school and avoiding my fear of heights became second nature. But here I was, at age twenty-six, facing my fear of heights in a rather extreme way. I had come around to the idea of trying trapeze. I figured it wasn’t much different from swinging (舞动) on the monkey bars as a kid. One difficulty I didn’t expect was the ladder (梯子). In order to reach the trapeze, I had to climb up a twenty-two-foot ladder.
I could hear one of my classmates expressing her impatience with my slow climb up the ladder. “If she’s afraid of heights, why did she sign up for a trapeze class?” However, my friend was at the top of the ladder, trying to encourage me. Besides, his distraction techniques helped to take my mind off my dangerous task. I found a rhythm(节奏) and kept going. With a slow and steady pace, I made it to the top. The cheers from my classmates rang out below.
An instructor told me to step to the edge of the platform. He reminded me of the safety rules, including the net below that would catch me at the bottom. He also asked me to listen to the directions while in the air, so I could perform a trick.
As the instructor counted down, I took a deep breath and pushed off the platform, swinging back and forth. At that moment, I lost awareness of time and space. Fortunately, the instructor’s voice came over the loudspeaker, giving me step-by-step instructions for performing a trick. Instead of doubting my inability to perform the trick, I took his directions one step at a time.
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。
During my flight on the trapeze, my fear didn’t completely leave me.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________This experience opened up a new way of seeing myself and approaching other challenges.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1.你的经历；
2.劳动的意义。
注意：1.写作词数应为80个左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Hello, everyone!
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That’s all. Thank you!
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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The concept of comfort zone (舒适区) refers to a psychological state in which we feel safe and do not experience anxiety or fear. It is a “space” that we know completely and in which we control almost everything.
Your comfort zone represents things you’re familiar with, your regular haunts, friends you’re at ease with, and activities you love doing. Your comfort zone’s risk free. It’s easy. It doesn’t cause you to stretch. Within these boundaries we feel safe and secure.
During my senior year in college I was short a few credits, and so I skimmed through the class schedule looking for something to fill the hours. When I came across “Private Voice Instruction” as in singing lessons, I thought, “Why not step outside my comfort zone and give it a try?”
I was careful to sign up for private lessons instead of group lessons because I didn’t want to make a fool of myself by singing in front of other students.
Things went fine until the end of the semester when my singing professor brought the shocking news. “By the way, Sean, have you decided which song you want to sing at the recital?” “What do you mean?” I asked in horror.
“Well, the class requirements state that you have to sing at least one time in front of the other private voice students.”
“That would not be a good idea,” I said emphatically.
“Oh, it’s no big deal. You’ll do fine.”
Well, to me it was a huge deal. The thought of singing in front of a group made me physically sick. “How am I going to get out of this one?” I thought. But I couldn’t allow myself to do that because I had been speaking to various groups over the past year advising them to never let fears make their decisions.
“Courage, Sean.” I kept saying in my mind. “You’ve got to at least try.”
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。
That frightening day finally arrived.
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I left the classroom as if a heavy load had been lifted.
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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.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Karen Helps Out
Karen sat at the kitchen table. She finished her last bite of cereal as she watched Dad fill a bucket with tools “What are you working on today?”she asked.
“Last week I fixed the porch railing,” Dad said. “That means today it’s ready to paint.” “Can I help?”asked Karen.Dad usually said no, because his tools were sharp and too heavy for Karen to pick up. Karen usually just watched Dad work
“Yes,” said Dad. “Painting is a safe job for you to try. Go put on some old clothes and meet me out front.”
Karen found play clothes from last summer that were a little small. Next year they wouldn’t fit at all. It would be okay if she dripped paint on them by mistake. Karen was planning to be very careful.
“Ready!” called Karen. She sat down on the top porch step.
Dad dipped his paint brush into a cart of white paint.Karen watched as he carefully wiped the edge of the brush on the side of the can. “That’s what you do to get rid of extra paint. See? No drips.”Then Dad made one long smooth line of paint along the porch railing.“Remember to paint in just one direction so things stay neat.” said Dad.
Karen was very excited to try painting herself. She dipped her brush in the paint and wiped the edge, just like Dad. Then she tried to paint a stripe on the railing. Her paint line started out nicely, but she soon ran out of paint.
“That’s a good start.” said Dad. “Now dip your brush again and continue your line.”Karen tried again. Soon her paint line was almost as long as Das. She watched as Dad went over her line one more time. He smoothed it out and connected it to his line. “Painting is fun!” said Karen. She and Dad kept working together.
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。
Soon the whole railing was painted white.
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Seeing her mother come back, Karen threw herself into Mum’s arms.
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