Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night, I took a fare (出租车乘客) at 2:30 AM. When I arrived to collect, sanding on the sideway was a small woman in her 80swith a big suitcase.
After I helped her into the taxi, she gave me an address and asked, “Could you drive through downtown?” “It is not the shortest way,” I answered quickly. “I don’t mind,” She said, “I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice (临终安养院).” I looked in the rear-view mirror (后视镜). Her eyes were wet. I quietly reached over and shut off the meter (计价器). “What route would you like me to take?” I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newly married. She had me stop in front of a shabby house where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she asked me to slow in front of a particular building and sat staring into the darkness, saying nothing. At last, she said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”
We drove in silence to the destination. It was a grey low building.
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。
“How much do I owe you?”she asked, reaching into her purse.
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I said goodbye to her.
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Lilly was on her way to meet friends when she noticed an older woman struggling to navigate the railroad tracks in a wheelchair. Her efforts were clearly hindered by the uneven surface and the weight of the chair, and she appeared to be making little progress. Without hesitation, Lilly jumped out of her car and rushed over to assist. However, their attempts failed as both Lilly and the elderly woman fell twice, struggling to get out of harm’s way.
As they scrambled (爬) to their feet, a deafening horn (喇叭) blast rent the air, followed by the blinding flash of lights. A train was barreling down the tracks, its approach growing ever more urgent.
“He was honking his horn and the lights started flashing,” Lilly recalled, her voice trembling as she spoke. “I was like, ‘Oh no, we gotta go now!’”
With adrenaline (肾上腺素) pumping through her veins, Lilly summoned all her strength and managed to pull both herself and the elderly woman to safety just second s before the train thundered past. The narrow escape left her shaken to the core, her heart pounding in her chest.
“It’s a near-death experience,” she said, her voice breaking. “And I’ve never really been that close to death before.” The railroad company later informed her that they had been mere inches away from being struck by the train, a revelation that sent shivers down her spine.
Ardmore Police Chief Jereme Robison, who was called to the scene, recounted the incident to WKRN with a mixture of amazement and relief. “She barely gets herself out of the way, and the train actually still clips the lady’s leg and spins her around,” he said. “I mean, it was like a split second. They almost died.”
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 elderly woman, though injured, was quickly transported to the hospital for treatment.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________News of the incident spread quickly through the community, and Lilly’s actions were praised by all.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I flipped through an online bidding (拍卖) site one evening: fun containers for houseplants, old maps original artwork, Santas... “Oh my gosh, Cody! Look!”
My husband looked over my shoulder, “That’s a lot of Santas!” he was surprised,
I found a huge fortune and it was only March! But these Santas came in three plastic bins. “I don’t know where we could store them all,” I said. “You’d have to go with me to pick them up—those bins look heavy.” I tried to talk myself out of bidding, but it wasn’t working. “I really want them,” I admitted.
“You should do what makes you happy,” Cody said.
For years I’d bought at least one Santa figure every year for Christmas. Cody knew that Santa was a special character for me. When I was growing up, my father played the community Santa. He was a fireman, and the department sponsored Santa visits at school. My father would get down from the flashing fire truck with a big “Ho! Ho! Ho!” He’d sit each child on his lap. “What your Christmas wish?” he’d ask, as joyous a she could be. He handed out bags of peanuts, candy and oranges. Nobody knew the man behind the beard was my father. It was magical!
After the school party, mom would carefully wash dad’s costume. The red and white coat, hat, white beard and black belt went back into the box. Santa was gone when Christmas night fell.
My father died when I was 19. Since then, I’d bought Santa figures to feel the joy Santa represented. Maybe that why I kept searching for more of them. By the time our three daughters were born, we had enough Santas to decorate a whole tree.
I typed in my bid on the site as memories of those Santa visits at school rushed in. I then imagined how my daughters would react to those bins of Santas.
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。
My computer flashed with a message.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“Santas? In March?” my daughters appeared confused.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________One night, I stayed up late partying with my friends Jacob, James and Benjamin, even though we were conscious internally that we had an important test the next day. On the way back, when James was driving absent-mindedly, Benjamin was very anxious about the exam; I felt uneasy and worried about being scolded by Mr. Smith when Jacob came up with a plan to get out of having to take our test. “Can we escape punishment? Can it really work?” Benjamin questioned with doubt. However, we didn’t get a better solution and couldn’t bear being a failure. So we followed suit as we had no alternative.
We four rolled around in dirt and then went to Mr. Smith office with anxiety. We told him that we had gotten a flat tire the night before, and unfortunately we spent the entire night pushing our car back to campus. As a consequence, we were exhausted and couldn’t attend the exam. We asked for Mr. Smith’s forgiveness and ensured to make up for it.
With the blank expression, Mr. Smith listened quietly and patted our shoulders. Benjamin gazed at me in discomfort while I secretly looked at the other two. Three seconds appeared to be a lifelong time. To our delight, he offered a retest three days later. We were okay with that because we had been given a chance to catch up.
I relieved and worked day and night to prepare for the exam with a sense of guilt welling up in my chest. So did my three friends in the hope of getting away with punishment.
On the day of the test, we went to Mr. Smith’s office. Unexpectedly, he put all four of us in separate rooms to take the test. I unfolded my paper and stared at the questions which I was requested to accomplish. Completely puzzled, I froze. There were only two questions:
(1)Your Name ______(1 Points)
(2)Which tire was flat? ______(99 Points)
Front Right Front Left Back Right Back Left
Palm wetting, hands trembling and almost out of breath, I was overwhelmed with a mix of fear, terror and guilt.
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。
I was completely lost at these questions, struggling with how to face Mr. Smith.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When receiving the report card, we four flushed with shame.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I was confident at the tryout for the school play and felt pleased to gel a role. It just felt good to be in the play, even if I had only four or five lines. I worked hard at perfecting those lines. I repeated them over and over again. I put in the emphases and tone that my drama teacher had suggested and, because I was on stage much longer than for just four or five lines, I had many actions to rehearse (排练) and perform. “Do them in front of a mirror,” my drama teacher had advised me. “Watch how you look; practice and rehearse as often as you can.” I did just that. I worked and worked at it. It was fun and exciting to rehearse.
Then finally the big night came. Suddenly, things felt different. The theater was full of people. As I dressed, I could hear the chattering and noises of the audience——something that hadn’t been there during rehearsal. I looked around at the other more experienced actors and saw that the confidence they’d shown at rehearsal seemed to have disappeared. Everyone was nervous, anxious, and worried. Had they got their makeup right? Was the costume done up correctly? What if they forgot their lines? The more people talked about their anxiety, the more nervous everyone became. The worries bounced from one person to another—like a baton being passed in a relay race—until the whole of the backstage area seemed to be buzzing with tension (紧张) and worry.
I was on stage early, performing my non-spoken role in the background with several other guys around the same age. When，suddenly, I heard my cue，the lights were bright in my eyes; I couldn’t see the audience but knew there were hundreds of people out there all watching me. The words that had flowed so easily when I stood in front of a mirror in my bedroom didn’t want to come，and when they did I found myself hurrying into them. I tried to slow down my thoughts and my words.
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。
But I suddenly realized I had missed a sentence.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________No one commented on my missed sentence——apart from my drama teacher.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________In the busy city where doctor Matthew’s clinic stood, his reputation as a skilled healer and compassionate soul spread far and wide. Tall and lean, Matthew was a familiar sight in his neat white coat, always ready to offer comfort and care to his young patients. Behind the scenes of the operating room, Matthew’s professional skills and thoughtful nature brought hope to both patients and their families. His soft-spoken words and reassuring smile were like a soothing balm, easing the fears and worries that often accompanied medical procedures. Besides these, Matthew possessed a hidden talent—a talent to cure little patients physically and mentally. It originated from his observation that after surgery, young patients often found it difficult to be comforted and cooperate with treatment due to pain and discomfort, leading to ineffective treatment outcomes and causing distress to their parents. This realization inspired him to adopt the practice of drawing on bandages for his young patients after surgery.
Each day, after surgeries, he transformed dull bandages into enchanting canvases, decorating them with vivid characters and inspiring landscapes that brought bright smiles to his young patients’ faces. During quiet evenings, he practised his artistic abilities, crafting creative illustrations that ignited joy and hope. Every stroke of his pen served as a lighthouse of comfort in the depressing hospital setting.
Once, timid Alex arrived at Matthew’s clinic, his gaze reflecting uncertainty. But after surgery, Alex was greeted by a magnificent dragon gracing his bandage, a creation of Matthew. The sight of the beautiful dragon lighted up Alex’s face, driving away his fears and replacing them with wonder. Through Matthew’s drawings, he devoted to mending not just bodies but spirits, transforming dull hospital rooms into havens of imagination and bravery. However, fate dealt a harsh blow one rainy night. In a tragic car accident, Matthew sustained injuries that made his hands unable to grasp neither a scalpel(手术刀)nor a pen.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右;2. 请按如下格式在答题卡相应位置作答。
As news of Matthew’s accident spread, his young patients came around him.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________With the inspiration, Matthew’s spirit soared on the wings of the dragon he once drew.
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On the walk home from school, my friend, Cherry, happily said, “Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. I’ve been saving up for the past month and plan to buy my mother the perfume (香水) she’s been wanting for so long.” Her excitement made me realize that I hadn’t prepared anything special yet. But I only had a little money left. I began to regret spending so much on snacks every day. “See you next week!” Cherry’s voice pulled me back to reality. We waved goodbye as she went into a perfume shop.
I continued walking along the road, carefully thinking about what gift I should choose. I planned to buy something like flowers or chocolate, but now it seemed like those were way too simple. Therefore, I pushed open the door to a mall (商场) and tried to find the perfect gift. The bright lights illuminated (照亮) the collection of various goods. I picked up a lipstick (口红) but immediately (立即) put it back after seeing its price. I could never afford that! Then I walked into another shop and saw a lovely cup. This cup, besides being beautiful, would also remind my mother to drink water. It’d be a wonderful gift. I picked it up and turned it over to see the price listed, hoping it was not too expensive. But once again, I couldn’t afford it even with all the money that I had. Feeling sad, I continued to wander around the shops. Time flew by quickly, and before I knew it, the sky began to darken, so I had to go home.
Since there was no time or money for me to pick out a gift, I decided to make a simple card. When I finished, the clock on my bedroom wall struck 11 p.m. I held up the card, examining its hardcover, handwritten letters, and the tiny pictures I’d drawn of my mom and me. It’s probably never going to compare to the expensive gifts that my friends bought for their mothers, I thought sadly.
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。
Soon, morning came, and it was time to give my mother my handmade card.
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“I love this card!” My mother said excitedly.
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It was my first year teaching in a special needs classroom, and I wasn’t sure what to expect at our yearly Special Olympics track meet. My students had a range of challenges, from mild learning disabilities to severe palsy (瘫痪).
Mark was one with severe palsy. Restricted (限制) to a wheelchair, he had to fight his spasms (痉挛) just to control his movements. However, he always had a positive attitude and greeted everyone each morning with a huge smile.
His classmates loved him and always took the time to make sure he was included in group activities, especially Mike, Andy and Lucas, three boys who were good at sports. In my heart I knew Mark wanted to be like them, unrestricted by the limitations of his body, and watching the grace with which they moved on the playing field seemed to fill him with wonder. He never missed their competitions and always cheered for them. Seeing Mike, Andy and Lucas passing the finish line, Mark looked extremely excited.
When track and field day came, Mike, Andy and Lucas placed well in their heats (预赛), and gave the normally peaceful crowd something to cheer about. Mark sat on the sidelines, cheering them on, and placing last in his own heat because his wheelchair wouldn’t go fast enough.
The final event of the day was the 400-meter race. Everyone was invited to either walk or run, according to their ability, around the entire length of the track. We watched as the students took off—Mike, Andy and Lucas determined to prove who the best player was.
But when the three exhausted runners reached the finish line, they stopped and turned to look behind them. At the back of the crowd, determined not to be left behind, was Mark. His classmates had passed him by and even the slowest walkers were outdistancing him.
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。
Mark was alone on the track with over half the distance left to finish.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mark was moved to see his three friends come back and run with him.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Drew and Tia sat at a picnic table in the park on a beautiful fall afternoon. The air around them was filled with the sounds of children playing, dogs barking, and people laughing or calling to one another. But Drew and Tia ignored the sounds around them and focused on the task they had set out to complete. They planned to start a school garden at Jefferson Middle School.
Initially, it had been Drew’s idea. He had first seen a school garden when he went to visit his cousin PJ. in Washington. He was amazed at the variety of fruits and vegetables the students at P. J. ‘s school grew. “It’s a lot of work,” PJ. had warned. “But it’s also my favorite part of the week. I love putting on my boots, getting outside, and seeing all the new things that have happened.” When Drew returned from his trip to Washington, he told Tia all about what he had seen.
Now, at the table, they were determined to come up with a plan to bring a school garden to Jefferson. Drew opened his notebook and prepared to record any ideas they had for convincing Ms. Milano, the school principal, that the garden was a good idea.
“We’re going to need an adult to guide the whole operation,” said Drew thoughtfully. “I know that Mr. Issac gardens at home. Just last week he brought in a whole basket of tomatoes and zucchini from his garden. He might be willing to help.” Drew wrote down Mr. Issac’s name in his notebook.
“We might need donations to get this project up and running,” added Tia. “We could tell Ms. Milano that we would be willing to organize a yard sale to raise funds.”
“That’s a great idea,” said Drew. “I think we need to be able to present her with a realistic plan. That way, Ms. Milano wouldn’t feel as though she agreed to something unknown.”
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。
Closing the notebook, they took action.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“Actually, I was doubtful when you first came to me.” said Ms. Milano.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________As a journalist, I have had the chance to meet some remarkable people in different fields, but no one has impressed me more than Austin Riley.
Austin Riley is a race car driver. He has been attracting crowds to the race track for years. But his claim to fame isn’t just being fast on the speedway. He is overcoming difficulties on the track for those with disabilities. Riley has autism (自闭症). Simple tasks like tying his shoes are extremely complicated for him, but when put in a race car—a complex, delicate piece of machine —he will take you by surprise.
I first met Riley and his father Jason in 2014, in Uxbridge, Ontario, at the local go-cart track. I still remember how excited Riley was to have me and my cameraman there filming his every move. He was a go-cart racer then. He could barely talk to me, let alone look at me. No matter how quiet and shy he was, I knew this kid was going to be something big.
The go-cart track is where Riley’s racing career began. His dad, Jason, just wanted to give him something to focus his energy on. Riley has always loved cars. He has been crazy about them since he was a very young child. He also loves speed. The minute he hit the gas, his mind began to move fast and everything felt in sync(同步).
Riley’s journey on the track soon took him from fast go-carts to really fast cars. He became the first person with autism in Canada to get his race car licence. It opened up the track for Riley to drive in the big leagues — the Radical Motorsports circuit. Riley is now racing across North America, putting him on the podium(领奖台) almost every time.
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。
However, behind every success for Riley and his family is a story of hardship.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Riley has also made a difference off the track.
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