The Greatest Audience
I was 16 years old, and like many other teenage boys, I was in a band. One day, we were told to perform for a charity event at a large rehabilitation (康复) hospital. It wouldn’t pay much, but it was our first real job. For two weeks we practised hard, getting together every day after school to sharpen our skills and learn enough songs to fill a one-hour show.
Finally came the big day. We showed up early to check out the stage, then the hospital’s entertainment director came over to us. “OK, boys, I just want to share some details with you,” she said. “A lot of the people in the audience are suffering from severe physical or mental disabilities. Many of them are old, in their sixties and seventies. These patients have very few chances to see live entertainment, so they enjoy any kind of musical talent that we can bring in. Just play your regular show.” With that, she left, going into the auditorium (礼堂) to assist the patients to their seats.
Soon it was show time. As we picked up our instruments, we got our first real look at the audience. The auditorium was full. The majority of the people watching us had either been seriously injured in accidents or born with major birth defects (缺陷). Some were talking quietly, but most were just sitting there. The quiet was disturbing, as we were used to energetic audiences.
Tommy, the lead singer, signaled us to start the first song. Everything was perfect, and we played probably the best show of our lives. We hardly missed a note on any of our songs, even the ones that we’d only recently learned. My guitar solos seemed to flow effortlessly out of my fingers, and I felt surrounded by a wall of music. However, we couldn’t enjoy our performance.
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2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
As each song finished, we didn’t receive thundering applause.
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What happened next shocked me more than anything.
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In a few short weeks I will be going to watch my 40th performance of Les Miserables (《悲惨世界》). I fell in love with the songs back in 1985 when they were first released — Bring Him Home, I Dreamed A Dream and On My Own. Even as a head teacher, I hadn’t read the Victor Hugo novel and knew very little about the musical, but the songs captured my attention instantly and I happily sang along whenever I heard them on the radio.
Five years later I set out on a trip around the world with my wife and daughter. On one of our stops in Vancouver, Canada, I saw a large advertising banner promoting Les Miserables and immediately suggested booking tickets. On the drive to the theatre, we discussed what we knew of the storyline — nothing but the French Revolution. But we did love the rollercoaster ride of emotions and the tragic story of Jean Valjean when enjoying it.
On the late-night drive home, on a high after this amazing performance, I announced that I wanted to perform in the musical when we returned to Australia. This was an incredible statement, given we lived 50 kilometers from the nearest large town, Toowoomba. There was little likelihood of ever having a chance to perform. But the Toowoomba Choral Society bought the performance rights in 1992 with the view to perform it in 1994. I had seen a few of their performances but was not a member of the choir. They called for auditions and, emboldened by the chance to be part of the “Les Mis” experience, I went along. I had had no experience singing and had never performed in any musicals but I believed in miracles and hoped for a place for me somewhere in the chorus.
I tried out for the part of Javert with others as well as the students from the University of Southern Queensland. Rehearsals (排练) started immediately and I got a crash course in singing, acting and dancing. There was so much to learn and as I drove to rehearsals three times a week a little voice would say, “You are in over your head, get out now.”
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 rehearsal process was tough.
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Opening night was amazing.
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My struggles started in seventh grade when I began passing out. I had many medical check-ups and finally found one that helped. My average blood pressure was about 80/60 on a good day. To this day, I continue to battle this problem.
Then, two years ago, I was diagnosed (诊断) with fibromyalgia, a muscle disease that is not really helped by medication. It’s like having a pulled muscle when the disease attacks. It can last as long as three months. I was bedridden for a month. Cold weather, rain, or physical or emotional stress can cause the pain,
It’s hard enough to be a healthy teenager and go through the typical changes with friends, family, school, etc. Add to that missing two to three months of school a year, and it can make things very difficult. The hardest part was on the outside I looked normal like everyone else; however, on the inside, I was in horrible pain. Some classmates had passed their comments on me thinking that since my physical appearance was fine, I must be OK. The judgment hurt me more than anyone will ever know.
I battled with depression (抑郁) as well, because I felt like an outsider. I longed to be normal and healthy. I even developed an eating disorder. In the beginning, I had lost a lot of weight. For the first time, I felt like I was attractive because I was skinny. I was receiving more attention than ever. I would still feel depressed, though, because of all that was going on in my life. I would eat a lot hoping the stress would go away. But then I would throw up the food so I would still look good. Luckily, I overcame these problems with the help of my family and a wonderful job.
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2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
My mother stuck by me and encouraged me in all my time of need.
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I found a purpose knowing I had something to give to these elderly people.
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When I was admitted to the University of Alabama, I decided to get a puppy. So I adopted an adorable Golden Retriever(金毛猎犬) puppy against my parents’ wishes.
Soon, I realized my parents were right. The dog was so naughty that it caused me a lot of trouble every day. In fact, she soon earned the nickname(绰号) Bella the Devil at school.
However, as time went by, she taught me how to be a better dog mom, and I taught her how to be a better dog. We became best friends and did everything together. Bella was there for me all the time: parties, restaurants, games, even dates! We loved spending time together. By the time I was a senior, Bella and I developed a stronger relationship. She was truly my best friend.
In the third year, I worked at the local college l bar not far from the house. One night, I was running late. Bella and I had been with friends down the street when I realized it was already 9:00 p.m. We had to rush home so I could make it to work by 9:30. I ran through the front door and jumped to the bathroom to have a shower. Bella followed me into the bathroom and lay in her usual place on the bathroom floor. Then I heard my front door open. It was so loud that I thought it was strange. It couldn’t be my roommate for she had flown to New York. I turned off the shower and yelled her name. No answer.
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。
Instantly(立刻), I knew something was seriously wrong.
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Then I went outside to find Bella with the policemen.
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Nilsa stared at the clock on the classroom wall, daydreaming about lunch. Her mother had prepared a thermos (保温瓶) full of sancocho. It was one of Nilsa’s favorite dishes, and the national dish of Panama — a country in central America and the hometown of Nilsa’s family. Just thinking about sancocho made her mouth water.
Finally, it was time for lunch. Nilsa carefully poured some sancocho into a bowl. When she looked up, she saw her classmates staring.
“What is that? It smells really bad,” said Gus, covering his nose. “It’s sancocho,” Nilsa responded. “It’s kind of like chicken soup.” Codi glanced at the bowl and said, “Soup? It’s more like a science experiment.” He laughed, pointed to his lunch, and asked, “That’s one weird lunch. Why don’t you eat something normal, like pizza?”
Nilsa looked at everyone else’s lunches: pizza, fries, and sandwiches. Suddenly she didn’t feel hungry any more.
When Nilsa returned home and complained about her classmates’ negative comments, her mother wasn’t mad. Instead, she listened attentively and reminded Nilsa that there is no such thing as “normal” or “weird” food, and that different cultures have their own unique dishes that are loved and appreciated by those who grew up with them.
Nilsa’s mother also suggested making a fresh batch for Nilsa to bring to school the next day. “Then you can share it with your classmates and tell them sancocho tastes great, and that our family has been eating it for hundreds of years. Your great-grandmother taught your grandmother who then taught me.
Nilsa nodded in excitement, and she was grateful for the opportunity to share her favorite dish with her classmates.
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 day at lunch, Nilsa pulled out her thermos.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When Nilsa returned home and greeted her mother that day, her happiness was beyond description.
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“Settle down!” Mr. Taylor was trying to calm the boys with a loud voice. The moment they entered the gym and saw the climbing walls towering over them, the boys got excited and started making noises. But Stevie was an exception, who was standing aside looking at his thin arms silently. Stevie didn’t like climbing. It wasn’t his thing. Getting along with people wasn’t his thing, either. He just felt nobody liked or trusted him at school.
Then came the coach, who taught the boys some basic skills. He said everyone should have a climbing partner and showed them how to belay (保护) their partner. “If you are a climber, trust your belayer and challenge yourself. Belayers, please remember that your partner’s life depends on you.”
The moment he finished, the boys couldn’t wait to match themselves with a partner except Stevie, who was left alone wandering around the gym. Noticing his embarrassment, Mr. Taylor raised his voice and said, “I need someone I can really trust to team up with!” He looked around. Then his gaze fell upon Stevie. “How about you, Stevie? Would you like to be my belayer?” “Me?” Stevie widened his eyes, surprised to hear Mr. Taylor even say his name. He had thought he was invisible. “I guess,” Stevie managed a weak smile.
Nervous as he was, he plucked up courage. “It doesn’t matter who gets to the top first. It’s about giving it a go.” Hearing Mr. Taylor’s words, Stevie gritted (咬紧牙关) his teeth and moved up slowly, his face pressed against the rough surface. “Done it!” Stevie finally called from the top with excitement. Then Mr. Taylor started to let him down through a perfect control of the rope.“Well done,” said Mr. Taylor when Stevie landed on the floor.
Now it’s Stevie’s turn to control the rope. Bearing in mind his responsibility, Stevie carefully watched as Mr. Taylor climbed up, pulling in the rope hand over hand. He felt his heart racing wildly. Finally, Mr. Taylor arrived at the top. “Ready to let me down now?” said Mr. Taylor. “Okay,” Stevie took a deep breath, his palms sweating uncontrollably.
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 Stevie loosened the grip, the rope slipped through his hand much faster than expected.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Suddenly, the boys burst into wild applause and yelled encouragement at them.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1.人人都需要朋友，如何交友非常重要；
2.交朋友首先要对别人友善；
3.要使别人感到亲切：常保持微笑，不要以貌取人，记住别人的名字，关心别人胜过关心自己等；
4.不要相信那些在危急时刻背离你的人，因为“患难见真情”。
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A month ago, I received an admission letter from Berkeley University, America, which made my whole family excited. Very soon, it was time for my leaving. On an unforgettable morning, my sister came to see me off. We arrived at the airport just in time for my flight. “Well, here we are,”my sister said with a sigh. As I watched her unload my luggage, I could see the sadness in her eyes. We had both been fearing this moment for the past week. After one last hug and a final goodbye, I would be on my way to a new life abroad.
I didn’t put my bag in the overhead locker;instead, I just placed it on my legs. The departure meant I could not see my dear sister for quite a long time. I was lost in thought, recalling the happy moments my sister and I had spent together. Growing up, my sister and I would do everything together. One sunny summer day I was playing outside when she came up to me and said, “Want to come to the attic(阁楼)?” We both knew that the answer to that question was always “Yes”. We were frightened of the attic but also fascinated by its smells and sounds. Whenever one of us needed something, the other one would come along.
Before I knew it, the plane took off. But while it was going up, the plane shook heavily and the bag on my legs fell onto the floor. My aspirin, hairbrush and a book I planned to read were spread out on the floor. I was about to bend down to gather them up when I saw an unfamiliar little book in the middle of my belongings. It was not until I picked it up that I realized that it was a diary.
注意:续写词数应为150左右。Paragraph 1:
Immediately I recognized my sister’s handwriting.
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I returned home two years later.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Once there lived a girl named Melanie. The little girl was living with a dream. She wanted to be a ballet dancer. Her body was very flexible and she had a strong will power. Melanie’s parents never knew of the great dancing skills their daughter had until one day, they saw the little girl dancing with the beautiful steps of a ballerina.
“Isn’t it strange? Melanie is dancing so well without any formal training!” the mother said.
“We must give her ballet lessons to help her improve her skills,” her father said.
The following day, Melanie’s parents took her to a local dance training school. The teacher asked Melanie to dance. The little girl was happy and showed some of her favorite dance steps. However, the teacher didn’t seem interested in her performance.
“That’s OK. You can leave now!”the teacher said.
Melanie was shocked to hear this. So were her parents. They couldn’t believe their ears.
“The girl is common. She does not have the possibility to become a ballerina, ”the dance teacher said. “Don’t let her waste her time dreaming of becoming a dancer.”
Disappointed, Melanie and her parents returned home. Tears rolled down Melanie’s face. Her dreams were broken within a matter of minutes. Without confidence, Melanie never attempted to dance again. She completed her studies and went on to become a teacher in school.Life was good and she kept herself busy with family and work. However, whenever she happened to pass the school’s ballet room, memories of childhood dreams danced before her eyes.
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。
One day, the ballet teacher in her school was late.
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“What a performance, Melanie! You are a true ballerina!” said the ballet teacher entering the classroom.
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Daniel and Lucas are twins. They are teenagers, studying in the same class. Their teenage life is rich and colorful. Tony is their grandpa, whose age is 70 this year. The two grandsons like to take exercise with their grandpa and even go out on adventures.
In the summer of last year, they paid a visit to Stone Mountain Park with their grandpa. They had the opportunity to spend the day with their grandpa, seeing the various beautiful sights and attractions. One thing that three of them had really desired to do was climb to the top of the mountain. Stone Mountain isn’t a very high mountain and fortunately there are some walking routes to the top of it, but for the two teenagers, along with a rather old grandpa, it’s a difficult task.
Daniel and Lucas were much more interested in the walk than their grandpa, and they viewed it as an exciting adventure. But climbing the mountain was a rather big challenge for Tony, who was old and thin. He decided to start the slow walk up to the mountain.
It seemed like that Tony was taking forever to climb just a short distance, but considering his personal safety, he had to remind himself that it took him two steps to equal his grandsons’ one step. When he walked closer to his grandsons, he had to stop for a while to regain energy, and then tried to catch up with them, over and over again.
Tony was very tired. He just wanted to arrive at the top of the mountain as soon as possible to enjoy the beauty of the mountain top. But the twin grandsons were not focused at all on the trial of climbing the mountain. On the contrary, they were simply enjoying the journey of the walk. They enjoyed all that they had seen and all that they had heard along the way up to the top of the mountain. They stopped now and then to look at every large rock and observe the unusual plant formations. Suddenly, they found a strange plant. Daniel called out, “Grandpa, here is a special plant. Come and have a look.”
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。
Tony was hurrying towards his grandsons when he fell down.
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Daniel and Lucas wondered how to get their grandpa to the top of the mountain.
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