“Don’t forget to study for the European history test on Friday,” Mrs. Beville announced to her students before the class was over.
Julie shut her book and sighed to herself, “Why couldn’t the test be on poetry?” Julie loved poetry and its rhythmic expression of feelings and ideas. Yes, she could understand poetry, but as to history she was not sure. “What if I fail? I’ve never been good at memorizing anything for a test,” she thought.
That night, Julie sorted out her notes. She flipped open her textbook to the end of the first chapter, where she found a list of practice questions for the test. “Need some help?” asked her older brother, Joey, who poked his head into her bedroom to see what she was doing. Julie handed him her textbook and said, “Quiz me.” Joey took the book and read the first question. “In what year did England defeat the Spanish Armada?” Julie frowned and pursed her lips. “Dates are the worst! Ask another one.”
Joey’s eyes traveled to the bottom of the page. “Who took the throne following the death of Queen Mary I?” “Oh! It’s on the tip of my tongue. It’s - it’s - I don’t know!” Julie shook her head. “It looks like you didn’t study,” Joey said. Julie grabbed her book back and glared at Joey. What did he know about her study habits? She could read a chapter a thousand times, but getting her brain to hold on to information was like getting a rock to absorb sand.
The following day, she decided to use library time to study. She found a table in a quiet corner. With her textbook open in front of her, she tried to make sense of all the facts and dates. But it was useless. She dropped her head to the book and buried her face in the pages. “Impossible!”
“Julie!” Julie heard someone calling her and looked up. Maria from her class was seated at a nearby table.
Maria approached Julie with a sparkle in her eyes and asked, “Want to study together?”
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________On the day of the test, Julie and Maria both felt nervous.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________A boy named Andrew lived with his parents in a poor community. One day, he saw a beautiful brooch (胸针) in a shop window that set his heart racing. Thinking that his mother’s birthday was coming, he wanted to give her a present. But the price - five dollars - was too high for him. Five dollars would purchase almost a week’s food for his family.
Well aware of his family’s financial situation, Andrew could not ask his father for the money. Every penny his father earned through driving went to his mother, Dara. Slim and beautiful, she was the center of the home and the glue that held it together. She struggled to feed and clothe their three children, thinking about how to make ends meet every month, but she was happy as her family and their well-being were all she truly cared about.
Nevertheless, he stepped inside. Standing proudly and straight in his ragged shirt and washed-out trousers, he told the shopkeeper what he wanted, adding, “But I don’t have the money right now. Could you please hold it for me for some time?”
“I’ll try,” the shopkeeper smiled. “People around here don’t usually have that kind of money to spend on things. It should keep for a while.”
Andrew respectfully touched his worn cap and walked out. He would raise the money and not tell anybody, for he thought his mom would get surprised when she saw that brooch. But how to raise the money? An idea struck him when he saw the scene of workers painting external walls of buildings in the city. The paint was bought in buckets from a local factory. Sometimes the useless buckets were thrown away at the construction site, and Andrew knew he could raise money by selling them back to the factory for five cents apiece. That day he sold two paint buckets and hid the money in a rusty soda tin.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右;2.请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
Every day after school, Andrew stuck to his plan.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Eventually, the moment came!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I’ve always thought of my mother Lee-Ann as a superhero. Not that she can fly or shoot lasers (激光) out of her eyes, but because she never runs out of room in her heart for anyone or anything.
I could write about all of the wonderful things she has done, but I want to focus on the one project she does every year that has shaped my whole family and everyone around us: She collects the money she finds in the washer and dryer, and she puts it in a little jar that we refer to as “The Charity Jar”. Every year, she takes this money and puts it toward something — a cause, an act of kindness, anything that can help someone. Sometimes, she buys coffee for the next people in line at a coffee shop. Other times, she buys something for an organization that needs it.
If you ask her about this tradition, she will tell you that she is carrying on something that her mother used to do around the holidays. If you ask anyone else who knows her, however, they will tell you that she has a huge heart. She manages to get our whole family involved in this movement every year.
Last year, for example, my younger brother Bob and I volunteered in a shelter for the homeless. Once, when we helped with delivering daily supplies there, he noticed the wish list on the wall: comforters, a DVD player, a coffee maker and supplies. We told Mum, and she quickly organized a family meeting to discuss how to help the shelter. We all agreed that the coffee maker would be the best thing for our family to work on together. We found a coffee maker online and decided to buy one.
Bob opened “The Charity Jar” and we counted the money Mum collected. Unfortunately, it was 50 dollars short. “Any way to make it up?” Mum asked me and Bob.
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’ve learned that Mr. Smith needs someone to tidy his big garden,” I told Bob.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The next weekend, we went to the shelter with the new coffee maker excitedly.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“Trisha, happy birthday!” Trisha’s parents said together loudly, handing her a beautiful brown cat. Trisha’s eyes were shining as she thanked her parents eagerly.
“This is your cat now, sweetheart. Do remember to take good care of him. Having a pet means a lot of responsıbility,” Trisha’s mother said.
“I promise I will look after him very well, Mama,” Trisha said, nodding her head agreeingly. A sense of determination filled her eyes.
Trisha named her cat Whiskers, a fitting name for the animal’s adorable twitching whiskers (震颤的胡须). The cat really seemed to like this name. Every time his little owner called out “Whiskers”, he would come running and jump into Trisha’s arms, mewing (喵喵叫) joyfully.
Every day after school, Trisha would rush back home, feed Whiskers with his favorite food, take him out and play with him in the backyard happily. They would run after each other, play hide-and-seek, and curl up (蜷缩) on the sofa for comfortable afternoon rests. The house was filled with laughter and mews of contentment. The bond between Trisha and her new pet grew stronger with each passing day. They became inseparable companions, always finding joy in each other’s company.
However, one day, as Trisha was carefully preparing Whiskers’ food, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of the day ahead, she unintentionally left the front door open. She went about her usual routine, unaware of the upcoming turn of events.
It was only when Trisha turned around, ready to serve Whiskers his meal, that her heart sank like a stone in her chest. Horror flowed through her body as she realized that her beloved cat was nowhere to be seen. The once lively and comforting atmosphere of their home suddenly became cold and empty.
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。
Panic quickly enveloped Trisha as she raced through the house, calling out Whiskers’ name.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Just as Trisha’s parents comforted her, a mewing sound reached Trisha’s ears.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Once upon a time there lived a poor but cheerful shoemaker. He was so happy that he went on singing all day long. Upstairs lived a very rich man. He was so rich that he could not sleep at night because he was always trying to count his money and keep it safe. So this rich man lay awake all night and always went to bed in the morning. But no sooner had he fallen asleep than he was awakened again. It was not his money that woke him this time; it was the shoemaker, who was sitting at his door making shoes and boots and singing as happily as a bird. The rich man went to a friend and asked, “I can’t sleep at night because I keep thinking of my money, and I can’t sleep in the morning because I hear that shoemaker’s singing. What am I to do?” His friend was a wise man and gave him a plan. The next morning, while the shoemaker was singing as usual, the rich man came to his door. He was holding a bag filled with something that jingled. “Here, shoemaker,” said the rich man, “I have brought you a present of 1,000 pounds because you’re always so happy.” The shoemaker was surprised. He took the money and thanked the rich man. He had never seen so much money in his life, but somehow he worried that it might be stolen by someone. So he went to the darkest part of his house to count the money and hid the bag under his bed. He went in two or three times an hour to make sure that the bag was all right. When his wife asked him what was the matter, he became angry and shouted at her, something he had never done before.
The shoemaker’s life was changed from then on.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Recalling the good old days, he made up his mind to do something.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Maya led a quiet life in Utah. She spent her days volunteering at a local shelter, helping the homeless, offering food and comfort to those in need. Maya lived by herself in a rented apartment, but she found peace and comfort in what she did.
One winter evening, as Maya was returning from her usual rounds at the shelter, she noticed a figure in a dark alley (巷). It was a slender (瘦小的) man. “Alex,” the man said, shivering. “My name is Alex.” Maya gazed him up and down, his weary eyes telling tales of hardship and despair. Without hesitation, Maya offered Alex a meal and a place to rest for the night. Despite his initial unwillingness, Alex soon found comfort in Maya’s kindness. Day by day, Maya welcomed Alex into her home, offering him food, shelter, and most importantly, a sense of belonging.
Then one day, Alex didn’t appear. Two days, three days passed. Alex still didn’t appear. Maya asked around, but in vain. She decided Alex didn’t need her help anymore or that he found better comfort. Three months later when the town was celebrating its founding, it was like everyone came. Maya put up her stand in the marketplace, selling self-made bakery. When she was traveling between stands, she came across a ring, actually the ring her mother gave her before passing away. She was so sure not only because of its distinctive design, but the ring also had her mother’s name carved into it on the inner side. Tears of sorrow flowed down her cheeks, as she realized what had happened. James, the stand owner, said a slender man sold it to him. Upon knowing the truth, James offered to give the ring back to Maya. As Maya wiped away her tears, her heart raced with a mix of emotions -disbelief, disappointment, and distress. A happy day turned a sad one for her.
Maya continued her life, her determination to help the need didn’t shift because of this incident. Actually, she worked even harder.
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, when she arrived at the shelter, she saw Alex!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Alex showed Maya the new shelter he helped fund with the money.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Jason was a 10-year-old football player who lacked a little speed, yet he made up for it through his good attitude. Jason never missed a practice, even though he was a substitute (替补队员) on my team and had few chances to attend the game. Even so, Jason was never discouraged, and always made a sincere effort.
One day, he didn’t come to practice. When he didn’t show up on the second day, as his coach, I called his home to check on him. One of his out-of-town family members informed me that Jason’s old grandfather had passed away and that the family was making funeral (葬礼) arrangements. When his grandfather was alive, he never could see Jason play; it made Jason feel bad. Now his grandfather had gone; I felt sorry for Jason.
Two weeks later, Jason returned to my team, ready for practice. Only three days of practice remained before our next game. This was an important game because we were against a very strong team. And we only had a one-game lead over them. This was a critical game at a key point in the season.
When the big day rolled around, my top players were ready to rush onto the field. It was a summer evening and the sky was filled with beautiful shiny stars. Before the game, Jason and other players lay on the grass to relax. Jason, who lay beside me, stared at the sky all the time. Suddenly, he whispered to me with excitement, “Coach, look at that shiniest star! My grandpa is on it. He said he would be on the shiniest star in the sky after he was gone.” Touched, I said, “Sure, boy!”
Minutes later, the game started and my top players ran to the field. Jason together with me and a few other substitutes watched on the bench. To my disappointment, my team didn’t perform well.
注意：1.续写词数应为 150 左右;
2.请按如下格式作答。
When the other team scored two goals while my team scored none, I was so anxious.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Motivated by Jason, my team played with more enthusiasm.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________In a small village located amidst rolling hills, there lived a boy named Arjun. Arjun came from a family of farmers who worked day and night to make ends meet. Despite their poor circumstances, Arjun had a fire within him that burned brightly with dreams of a better life.
From a young age, Arjun displayed a natural curiosity for knowledge. He was a dreamer, and his dreams were vast and limitless. However, education was something that seemed out of reach for Arjun. His village lacked proper schools, and his family could barely afford to feed themselves, let alone pay for his education. But Arjun’s spirit remained unbroken. He knew that education held the key to unlocking his dreams, and he was determined to find a way. With the support and encouragement of his parents, Arjun started a challenging journey. He walked for miles each day to reach a school in a neighboring village. There, he would sit on the ground, carefully absorbing every bit of knowledge that came his way.
Arjun’s hunger for education caught the attention of the teachers. They recognized his potential and did everything in their power to support him. Arjun excelled in his studies, doing better than even the richest students. As he advanced in his education, Arjun faced new challenges. The lack of resources and opportunities in his village limited his growth. But he refused to let such things define his future.
Arjun’s determination paid off. He secured a scholarship to a famous school in a nearby town. Leaving behind his family and his familiar home, he welcomed this new chapter in his life with gratefulness and a burning desire to succeed.
Life in the town was in great contrast to the simplicity of his village. Arjun encountered challenges he had never faced before. The fast-paced environment, the pressure to excel, and the distance from loved ones weighed heavily on him.
注意：1、所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2、请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
However, Arjun’s journey took an unexpected turn when he discovered a love for scientific research.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________As Arjun’s achievements grew, he never forgot his roots.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The unexpected financial difficulties Jake’s family faced not only affected their daily lives but also Jake’s once vibrant spirit. Simple pleasures, like weekend outings, became rare luxuries as they tightened their belts. As for Jake, he longed to ease the strain on his parents, but as a teenager, he often felt like he was fighting a losing battle against forces beyond his control. As Jake’s best friend, seeing him gradually become disheartened left me with a bitter taste in my heart.
Amidst the chaos of the daily struggles, Jake referred to music as his refuge, a place where he could find a sense of peace by singing. Within the singing blending passion and tenderness, he would allow himself to dream of a brighter future, where the strains of financial hardship were nothing but a distant memory. In spite of his remarkable singing talent, Jake had always been shy about performing publicly as he struggled with feelings of self-doubt and insecurity. However, with his family’s situation growing more severe, I saw an opportunity for him to use his gift for a greater cause.
One evening, as we sat on his porch discussing his family’s hardship, I suggested organizing a mini-concert in our community to raise fund and invite the neighbors to attend. We could set up a small stage where Jake could showcase his singing talent. Though Jake finally nodded to the idea, he was uneasy deep inside, his self-doubt and insecurity surfacing. What if no one came? What if no one liked his singing? What if no one cared about his family situation? The thought of being the center of attention was more than challenging, even threatening to him. He feared judgment and failure, worried that his efforts wouldn’t be enough to make a difference. Then came the rehearsal (排练) and Jake took part as planned.
注意：1. 续与词数应为150词左右；2. 请按照如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
However, in my eyes, Jake’s hesitation still remained a problem.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________On the day of the mini-concert, Jake stepped onto the small stage.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I was not sure why my dad and my uncle always disagreed with each other in the beginning. They spent many Sundays sitting at opposite ends of the table, arguing about everything. I didn’t think they got along well.
When I was eighteen, I got a call in my college dorm that my dad was having a health problem. My mom picked me up at midnight, so I could be there the next day when my dad was scheduled to transfer(转移) to a better hospital. I didn’t sleep that night, not a while. I was nervous and almost crazy when we arrived at the hospital early the next morning before the transfer.
That morning, as my mom and I walked down the hallway of the hospital, we could see straight into my dad’s room. A tall man wearing a stylish suit stood beside my father’s bed with his back to us. In surprise, my mom said to me, “How nice it is for a doctor to come by to see your dad so early in the morning.” The man was quiet and still, looking down, but he was holding both of my dad’s hands in his own. It seemed not to be a typical doctor’s behavior.
“It’s not a doctor,” I whispered softly to my mom. When the man turned around, we found that it was my uncle. However, little did I know I would continue to reflect on that quiet moment for decades. And it would be the beginning of something truly wonderful.
The hours that followed were some of the most hardest time of my youth. My dad had a serious stomach problem and had to be in hospital for quite a long time. My uncle stayed with us the entire time. For one thing, my uncle tried every way to get my dad to eat something. For another thing, he brought me healthy snacks and made sure I actually ate them even though I had no appetite. When my mother and I were scared that my dad’s illness would get worse, my uncle was always by our side.
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。
Throughout those difficult days in the hospital, I watched my uncle in a new light.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________From then on, the relationship between my dad and my uncle became closer.
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