Kris and Robin are sisters who grew up in Wisconsin. They work together and serve together.
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey struck with strong force across Florence, bringing fierce winds and record-breaking rainfall. The city was destroyed by the storm’s intensity, leading to widespread damage and flooding. Emergency services worked tirelessly to rescue those trapped by the rising floodwaters, while power failure left entire neighborhoods in darkness.
In the face of such misfortune, both of Kris and Robin felt depressed and helpless, yet eager to assist. Upon discovering Convoy of Hope’s volunteer program, they didn’t hesitate to sign up. Soon after, they were invited to training, marking the start of their mission to serve together in this fighting.
However, their initial response to the arrangement was filled with anxiety for Kris. “I am kind of nervous before heading out. I wonder if I could remember my training?” said Kris Logemann, her voice with uncertainty. “Don’t worry! You see the staff do such a great job. They are incredibly supportive to us and will provide guidance and reassure every step of the way.” Robin comforted. She also added, “I am right there for you, too, Kris, we are in it together, and we’ll make it just like before.”
Robin Melcher remembered the first few rescues she and her sister went on. “We were helping a woman who had just lost her husband,” said Kris. “We were taking things out of her house, but also holding her hand and loving her. The ability to do that... it’s just really cool.” “Obviously we love it because we come back,” added Kris.
Full of power, Kris and Robin put their whole hearts into the training. During the Convoy of Hope’s detailed training program, they learned about disaster response, safety procedures, and psychological first aid. Through hands-on practice and team-building exercise, they prepared physically and mentally for the tasks ahead. As Kris and Robin continued their volunteer work, they were faced with one of their most heart-struck and unforgettable challenges.
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。
Word came that a school had been severely affected by flooding, with numerous students trapped.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________After the rescue, the story of the sisters’ heroic efforts was reported.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________As I went home, my heart was filled with excitement. I had earned a perfect score of 100 on my math test! Mom had promised that a big cream cake would be my reward for such a performance. Bursting through the door, I couldn’t wait to share my great news.
“Mom, Mom!” I waved the test paper. “I did it! I got a perfect score!”Mom’s face beamed (发光) with pride as she took the test paper. To my surprise, her expression darkened, but she quickly regained her smile. With a gentle smile, she said, “Oh, that’s wonderful, honey! I’m so proud of you.” “Can we get the cake now?” I asked eagerly. “Of course,” Mom said. “I’ll just go to the store and pick one up.”
As Mom left, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I switched on the TV, watching my favorite cartoons. Time seemed to fly by as I eagerly awaited Mom’s return. When she finally arrived, we divided the cake, enjoying every bite. The sweet cream melted (融化) in our mouths. It was so delicious.
The following day in class, as we exchanged answers with classmates, I noticed something was wrong between my paper and the answer key. Puzzled, I went to Miss Johnson after class. “Excuse me, Miss Johnson,” I said. “I think there might be a mistake. My answer to question number 15 doesn’t match the answer key.”
Miss Johnson took my test paper and examined it carefully. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, my goodness, you’re right!” she said. Miss Johnson compared my answer with the correct answer key and discovered that I had made an error on question number 15. My actual score was 95. A wave of embarrassment washed over me. “I’m so sorry, Miss Johnson,” I lowered my head. “I didn’t realize that I had made a mistake.” Miss Johnson smiled gently. “Don’t worry about it, honey. Mistakes happen.”
Though Miss Johnson decided that she wouldn’t change my grade, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should tell Mom the truth.
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。
Later that evening, as I got home, Mom was preparing dinner.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________To my surprise, Mom burst out laughing, saying, “Oh, honey, I already knew that.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________A disability only becomes a disability when you allow it to stop you from being genuinely happy and spreading happiness to others.
In a high school in Missouri, there is a remarkable student named Ryheem Lumpkins. At the age of 16, Ryheem displayed a tough spirit that challenged physical limitations. While his arms and hands hadn’t fully developed, he still managed to land a part-time job as a cashier at a local pizza restaurant.
Although he had only been employed for a month, Ryheem’s work ethic shone exceptionally bright. When it’s not so busy at the counter, he would grab a broom to sweep the floors or carefully clean the buffet. Despite his disability, he had such enthusiasm for life that he even got his driver’s license and worked hard to save money to buy his first car.
As a naturally shy individual, this new job unexpectedly revealed his hidden positive character. Interacting with new people, engaging in conversations, and delivering services became a source of excitement for him.
One fateful day, a customer named Robert Samay recognized the exceptional personality of young Ryheem. The young cashier left a lasting impression on Mr. Samay, leading him to commit an act of kindness that would astonish Ryheem and warm the hearts of those who witnessed it.
Impressed by Ryheem’s personality, Mr. Samay decided to express his appreciation. He slipped a five-dollar bill into Ryheem’s hands and spoke words that sympathized deeply within the teenager’s soul. “I appreciate your infectious smile and your exceptional attitude,” Mr. Samay said warmly. “Such qualities are rare these days, especially among young individuals.”
Ryheem’s eyes gleaned with gratitude as he thanked Mr. Samay, his voice earnest and sincere. He carefully folded the five-dollar bill, tucking it into his pocket with a smile that could light up a room. The warmth of the kind gesture infused Ryheem with a sense of validation and empowerment, reminding him that his disabilities did not define him. The sight of joy that lightened Ryheem’s face as he received the modest tip remained impressive in Mr. Samay’s memory.
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。
It fueled an urge for Mr. Samay to reward the young man’s happiness even more.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________After the video was posted online by the shop owner, it swiftly spread across various platforms.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When I was seven years old, my family moved from Mexico to America. In Mexico, I was a cheerful girl who loved making people laugh with my jokes and inventing fun games to play with my friends. However, when I arrived in America, I found it hard to fit in, and I became quieter.
We lived in a small house with a modest yard where we grew vegetables—my responsibility. While I took pride in watching them grow, there were times when I dreamed of having a beautiful garden like my schoolmate Luella’s, with its delicate tulips (郁金香). Although Luella lived in the same neighborhood as me, we barely knew each other.
It was after a tornado that Luella and I finally became close friends.
The tornado struck on a Sunday afternoon.The gentle breeze transformed into a strong wind, and thick gray clouds filled the sky. Gradually, the tornado took shape, starting as a thin rope and growing into a large black funnel (漏斗). My entire family gathered in the bathroom, seeking shelter from the storm. Terrified, I sat close to my mom, knees in my chest. After the storm had passed, our worries and fears were replaced by relief that we were unharmed and that our house had remained undamaged.
As I stepped outside, I witnessed the extent of the damage the tornado had caused to our neighborhood. Across the street, a tall tree had fallen, crushing Luella’s garden in front of her yellow house. We hurried over to check on it. Fortunately, her family seemed to be away at the time, and no one was injured. However, her once-beautiful garden was in ruins, with the fallen tree destroying the tulips and debris (碎片) spread everywhere. I could only imagine how heartbroken they must feel seeing this.
Then my mom’s usual words rang in my ear, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” and my family started to think about how we could help.
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。
Just at that moment, Luella’s family returned in their car.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Even after the debris was cleared, I could still sense Luella’s sorrow for her lost garden.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The day Dana and Jeff’s daughter Melody was born was nothing like they expected. The words the doctor said to them completely shook them, “Your daughter was born with a cleft lip (唇裂).” It was impossible for the couple to hide their sadness. They couldn’t believe it was true until they saw their daughter in person. Seeing her cleft made Dana and Jeff heartbroken more than anything. It broke their heart to imagine the kind of life Melody would lead in the future.
When the doctor told Dana and Jeff that their daughter’s condition was treatable with a cleft lip surgery (外科手术), the couple saw a ray of hope. Rather than feeling stressful like the first few days, they promised themselves they never wanted their daughter to suffer from that. They would support Melody as best they could.
Dana and Jeff were ready to do anything for Melody. After bringing Melody home, they immediately began looking for cleft surgery options. However, no matter where they turned, getting Melody the surgery she needed was expensive, and the various treatments and medications she needed in the following would also be much more costly than the young family could afford.
One day, however, things took a turn for the better. While browsing through a medical forum one evening, Jeff stumbled upon (意外发现) a post about a nonprofit organization that specialized in cleft lip surgeries for children. The organization, named Smileatfuture, is dedicated to providing free surgeries to families who could not afford the procedure. The couple had seen a lot of photos and read a lot of stories about children who had cleft surgeries sponsored by Smileatfuture, and the results were unbelievable. The idea that Melody could grow up with hardly a scar (伤疤) where her cleft was lit a fire under the couple. Without any hesitation, Dana and her husband reached out to Smileatfuture and handed in an application for medical aid.
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。
Everything went more smoothly than Dana and Jeff had expected.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The big day for Melody’s surgery finally came.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________In the summer of 2005, Kathryn Fumie graduated from university and moved into an apartment to start her career. She was learning how to cook for herself, and one day, she decided to cook a hard-boiled egg by putting it in a mug (大杯) of water in the microwave.
She let the egg cook for a bit, then pulled the mug out and looked down at it. And that’s when the egg exploded in her face, burning her skin and eyes.
It was a terrible injury, and the pain was unbearable. Luckily, a roommate was available to call her an ambulance. When it arrived, the EMT (急救医疗医生) who cared for her during the 45-minute drive to the hospital helped to keep her calm.
She was extremely uncomfortable. She felt everything burnt and everything just was on fire. She kept asking him if he could do something, and if she could have a cold pack. And she was just begging for a cure.
The EMT calmly explained that he couldn’t give her a cold pack—he said he wanted to save as much of her skin as possible, and that extreme cold could cause even more damage. She had to just bear it until they got to the burn unit.
He talked her through what he was doing to take her mind off the pain. They also chatted about her new job as a receptionist at a travel agency. Most importantly, he made her feel like she was going to be OK.
He had an amazing voice, and just was so calm. And he made sure that she got passed off to the right people at the hospital.
Fumie ended up staying in the burn unit for four and a half days. About two months later, she went back to work at the travel agency.
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, a man walked up to the reception desk.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________It was then that she realized he was the EMT from that ambulance ride.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I was nominated (提名) for the Junior Honor Society. When I came back home that day, I sat in the family room and filled out the honor society application. I tried my best to prove that. I had all the characteristics required in a candidate: scholarship, leadership, service, character, and citizenship.
The next day, I turned the paperwork in to the advisor and waited patiently.
Months went by, and I received a letter from the school about the honor society. As soon as the school bus let me off that afternoon, I raced into the house. My mother was typing at the computer. “Mom,” I said, “I didn’t make the honor society.”
She smiled and held up her hand to give me a high five. “You jokester (捣蛋鬼).”
I felt tears well into my eyes. “No, really, they didn’t choose me,” I said and handed her the letter.
“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. I thought you were kidding,” my mother said. “There must be some mistake.” She grabbed the phone from the charger and dialed the honor society advisor.
He told her that no mistake was made, but he couldn’t disclose the reason for my non-selection. The decisions of the committee were final. There was no appeal process (申诉程序). She contacted the school headmaster. His answers were the same.
Not being a member of the honor society wasn’t going to ruin my future, but it did hurt me. Nearly all of my friends were chosen for the honor society. You could never imagine how difficult those weeks were for me!
“It’s not fair,” I said one night at supper. “It bothers me that I don’t know why I wasn’t chosen,” I said. “The committee should give a reason, so the student can do better.”
My parents agreed. We discussed ways that the selection process might be improved.
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 managed to have a meeting arranged with our headmaster to share the ideas.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Unexpectedly, I received a special award for my ideas at the Junior Honor Society ceremony.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, it was the city’s Lower Ninth Ward that was hit the hardest. “I remember coming back home, that was the first time I cried,” Lower Ninth Ward resident Mark told his mother, Gloria. “And we lost everything,” Gloria says.
Recovery was especially slow to come to that part of town. Mark, a father and a son himself, says that for three years he had to live out of a trailer (拖车) set up by an emergency management agency. The residents in the area went six years after the storm without a grocery store (杂货店).
“We had no stores, no barbershops, no laundry rooms,” Mark says. “You have to catch three buses to get to a store. And I always was taught if there’s a problem, somebody’s got to make a move.”
Mark decided to open up that grocery store himself. Using money he’d saved up while working at fast-food restaurants, Mark bought an old building on an empty block and got to work—all in the middle of a fair bit of doubts.
“I remember when I first bought the building, everybody thought that I was crazy,” Mark says. Even his mother had her doubts and told him to stop. “I mean, it was full of trash on the floor that you had to crawl (爬) over and—how can my son make anything out of this?” Gloria remembers thinking.
Clearing the mess wasn’t an easy thing for Mark by himself at all, but he still kept his hands and eyes on the work. “Those eight-hour days turning into 15hours a day really requires more energy and physical strength,” Mark says, “but what motivated (激励) me the most to hold on was to see the people that would walk by with the groceries and get off the bus with all of those bags in the future. That made me work harder.”
Mark’s grocery store finally opened and were full of crowds of residents. The very first customer, Jessica, even cried because she said she had never thought the Lower Ninth Ward could come back.
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。
“How did you possibly do that by yourself, Mark?” Jessica asked.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mark’s grocery store became more than just a place for the residents to buy their daily necessities.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________In the heart of a small village located near a thick bamboo forest in China, there lived a young girl named Lin. Lin lived with her grandmother in a small house that her grandfather had built with loving care before he passed away. Unluckily, Lin’s grandfather died before she was born. Lin never met her grandfather, but the stories her grandmother shared painted a picture of a man who was deeply loved and respected by the community.
Every day, Lin felt a great curiosity about the grandfather she had never seen but always felt close to. Her home, filled with his books and the very walls he built, stood as a living example of his hobbies and craftsmanship (手艺). The villagers often shared tales of her grandfather’s good deeds (行为), and they showed deep respect and support for Lin and her grandmother. This deep connection to a man she had never known filled Lin with a mix of sadness for never having me t him and pride for being his granddaughter. Driven by a desire to feel closer to her grandfather, Lin often explored the house and its surroundings, hoping to find something he had left behind — something that might deepen her understanding of the man who she had never met.
One autumn morning, while Lin was helping her grandmother clean the attic (阁楼), she found a beautifully carved wooden box hidden under a dust y floorboard. The box was locked, but to her surprise, she discovered a small note hidden in a crack of the box. It was written in lovely handwriting and said, “To my dear granddaughter, inside this box, you will find treasures of my heart, saved just for you.”
Lin’s fingers shook with expectation as she showed the note to her grandmother, who then handed her a small, old key. “Your grandfather wanted you to find this when you were old enough to understand the depth of his love,” her grandmother said, her eyes shining with tears.
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。
With a deep breath, Lin unlocked the box.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________From that day on, the diary became Lin’s most cherished (珍爱的) item.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Richie and her husband, Pooh, decided on visiting Cape Cod, a beautiful sea town, which is about three hours drive from the city of Boston. Their daughter who then lived in Salem close to Boston insisted that she would pick them up. But they were confident of their sense of direction and not wanting to trouble her, so they refused her offer. They decided to take their journey in their own car and started early in the morning.
After a three-hour drive, they arrived in Cape Cod and started their new discovery with a road map of the town and its suburbs. Since there were many places to see, it took them the whole day to finish their sightseeing.
Now, they were visiting a suburb with shops selling handmade items. Richie was most interested in shopping, while Pooh warned her to finish before it started getting dark. They were so absorbed in their shopping that they forgot about the time until the shops began to close.
They took the same route back. Pooh had a very good memory and a keen sense of direction and so Richie just blindly followed him, without knowing where they were heading to. Soon they found themselves just going round in a maze, realizing they got lost on the way.
They had to stop the car, referred to their map, and started again. After some time, they realized it was no use trying and finding their way back. Their mobile phones had been dead for hours, and it was impossible to contact their daughter. Having no other option, they decided to ask someone for help, but being a Sunday, the roads were empty, with no people walking around or cars passing by. They were getting worried and terrified with each passing minute. The darkness and panic filled Richie’s head with horrible thoughts “Would they be robbed or attacked?” After hours of waiting silently in the darkness, they decided to try again.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1:
Pooh turned the key and tried to start the car, but it wouldn’t move.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2:
On the edge of despair, they heard the whistle of a car.
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