There is a saying that we should all just mind our own business and let the chips fall where they may, because no good comes from doing good. This, of course, is not necessarily true.
In Hawaiian culture, aloha has many meanings. First, it is a greeting. However, it is also an expression of love and friendship. One man was a living example of “aloha”, for he had a story to unfold.
Amanda was shopping with her young son, and she was absorbed in picking up their groceries for their family reunion. She was in such a hurry that she even forgot her wallet in the shopping cart, which contained her driver license, credit cards, plenty of cash, and even a gift card that could easily be redeemed (兑换) by anyone . It was not until she arrived home that she found her wallet gone. The woman returned to the supermarket, and started her search for the lost wallet by watching hours and hours of security footage in the supermarket. After turning to several different cameras around the store, but in vain, she completely gave up hope.
Andy Jose was a security guard at the World supermarket. He moved to Maui 5 years ago, and worked as a security guard at the grocery store to support the family and put himself through college. He rode his bike to work and school every day because he didn’t have a car.
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。
Para .1: He was busy collecting the shopping carts when something caught his eyes.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Para.2: Amanda and her husband decided to do something big to show their gratitude .
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________My name is Wen Yu, but you can call me “Fish”. I want to talk about the time I went to the US to meet my American pen pal Drew, but first I need to go back a little bit to explain things.
I was a second-year junior high schooler when my English teacher, Ms. Gao, had us experiment with a pen pal program set up through our school. This was an amazing opportunity at the time since it meant we could use our English skills to communicate with other teenagers the same age as us around the world through email! Still, I was a bit shy and nervous since I knew my English was pretty poor; but at the same time, I was excited to make a new friend and was determined to improve with this new opportunity presented to me.
Ms. Gao assigned me to write emails with a boy named Drew in the US. He was from a city called Cincinnati in Ohio. I knew a little about the biggest cities in the US— New York, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago— But Cincinnati? I had no idea where it was. Maybe it was somewhere near one of those cities?
As we continued to talk through email, I was surprised to find my English was slowly improving. I found my English going from stiff and formulaic (刻板的) to more natural and casual to match the way he wrote. I even picked up some slang (俚语) words along the way! We got to know each other’s hobbies and interests as well as our dreams and hopes for the future. Drew seemed so nice, and I found myself wanting to visit him someday and see what Cincinnati had to offer. He, too, wanted to visit Beijing and try out the local food I had told him so much about.
We continued our email conversations even after the program ended. Drew told me how long his summer break was going to be and said he’d show me around if I were to ever visit. To my surprise, that opportunity would come sooner than I thought.
注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；2. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已写好；
As it turned out, my parents were planning a surprise vacation to the US.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Entering the baggage claim area (行李领取处), I finally came face-to-face with Drew.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________My younger sister and I loved to play the piano, so when the annual winter concert was canceled, we were disappointed. We had been looking forward to it for a long time and had already prepared two of our best pieces. “You and your sister can perform at Carriage House Senior Living (CHSL),” my mom suggested. “The seniors there would love your music and you could each play more than just two pieces.” It seemed like a win-win situation because I’d play more songs and also have the chance to cheer up the residents with some lively music.
My mom called CHSL and made arrangements for my sister and me to perform. We were told we could play the piano during the Sunday dinner hour in two weeks. In the coming days, I worked hard to polish up fifteen pieces that I thought the crowd would enjoy. My sister and I decided that first I would play three songs and then she would. We would take turns playing until the end of the hour.
When the day finally arrived, we reached CHSL, and stepped into an entryway that overlooked the big dining room. Right at the entrance to the room stood the piano. The dining area was filled with round tables. At nearly every table several gray-haired people were seated, enjoying an early dinner and the company that the crowded room provided. Regardless of the conversations going on at various tables, isolation (孤独) hung like a dark cloud in the room.
Almost immediately, we were greeted by an old woman who introduced herself as Phyllis. “You two must be here to play the piano,” she said smiling. When we nodded, she seemed pleased and told someone to get a microphone. “I’ll introduce you to the audience,” she said. She told us that she was always the one in charge of doing things like that. I asked her if I could introduce myself and she agreed. While we were waiting for the microphone, I pressed a key on the piano and it produced a beautiful sound.
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。
Soon a man returned with a microphone.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________My nervousness disappeared as I began the song.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________In July 1971, I was taking a summer class in literature on the campus of SUNY Oneonta in upstate New York. Professor James walked into the classroom and announced that he had invited a special guest to class, but his guest had been delayed.
“Who’s coming?” someone asked.
“Alex Haley, who is the author of one of the books you have read for this class,” he said. “I need a volunteer to meet him in the lobby of the administration building and accompany him here.”
To my amazement, my right hand shot up as though it had a mind of its own. What was I doing? I wondered. I never volunteered for anything.
“Thank you, David,” Professor James said. “You’d better leave now. He’ll be arriving any minute.”
As I walked across campus, my anxiety grew as the massive administration building appeared ahead. I feared that I was about to embarrass myself in front of this famous gentleman by asking stupid questions. I reached the front steps and climbed them slowly.
As I pulled open the heavy glass door, I realized why I instinctively raised my hand to volunteer for this job. This man was what I wanted to be: a writer. He was living my dream. I could learn from him. I paced back and forth across the polished lobby floor until a black man with a briefcase entered the building. He stopped and scanned the lobby. His gaze fell on me.
I approached him and confirmed he was Mr. Haley. We shook hands and then began our walk across campus. I was struck by how approachable this man was. My fear was replaced by curiosity and purpose.
“Do you mind if I ask you a question?” I said. “No. Not at all,” he said.
“I’d like to become a writer, but I don’t know if I have the talent,” I said. “How did you discover that you had a gift for writing?”
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。
Mr. Haley laughed and said, “I didn’t. And I don’t.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________After communicating with Alex Haley, I no longer cared whether I had the “gift”.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I don’t look like the rest of my family. As a matter of fact, I stand out quite a bit with my white skin and blue eyes. When people see us together, it is clear that I am adopted. I am happy to have such a loving and caring family, but sometimes I wish I knew who my birth parents are.
My friends often ask, “Are you sad that you don’t know your real parents?” I know that they are just curious and concerned about me — I’m fine, for the most part — but I feel like there’s something missing in my life, like a giant hole in my heart. My mother listens when I tell her about my feelings, and she feels that it is important for me to be in touch with my culture. Because of this, she and I go to Chinese Heritage Camp (CHC) each year in Snow Mountain Ranch.
CHC is a two-day camp where hundreds of adopted kids like me spend time with each other. We talk about how it feels to be adopted, and we participate in fun outdoor activities. It’s great because we can talk about our feelings without having the conversation get too intense. Confusion, occasional disappointment and anger are no longer strange; they are normal here. It makes me feel like I am not alone, and there is someone out there going through the exact same emotions. Whether we’re talking, laughing, crying, or dancing, CHC is always an experience to remember. I like all of the new people I meet, and I will keep them in my heart forever, because it always feels good to know there are people out there just like me.
In this way, my journey to find my roots continues for several years. I also gradually come out from the shadow of a seemingly inseparable teenager. Camp has changed the way I look at things. Each year seems to open up new surprises, adventures and friendships.
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。
CHC teaches me to learn that being adopted doesn’t mean that I’m strange.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I also sincerely love and thank my parents.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Last year, I started doing some volunteer work for a charity in my town that helps disabled children. I found out that the charity needed to buy some new wheelchairs, but that they really didn’t have the money. So, I started to think about what I could do to raise money.
When I mentioned this to my friends, they said, “Well, why don’t you run the London Marathon?!” They laughed and so did I — we all know that I’m not an athlete at all. I’d never done any running before. But later, I started to think that it might not be a bad idea.
I approached the charity and discussed the possibility of participating in the marathon on their behalf. They were excited with the idea and agreed to appoint me as their representative. With their support, I purchased the necessary running equipment and began my training journey.
Every night, I laced up my running shoes and hit the sidewalk, determined to build my endurance. After a month of consistent training, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I could comfortably run nearly five kilometers. However, the reality remained: the marathon covered a challenging distance of 42 kilometers.
With the race only five months away, I intensified my training efforts. I pushed myself to the limits, knowing that completing the marathon was not only a personal achievement but also a means to secure funds for four much-needed wheelchairs. The thought of making a difference in the lives of disabled children motivated me to persevere.
As the race day approached, I filled my mind with determination and excitement. I knew that crossing the finish line would symbolize the end of my hard work and the success of a noble cause. With the support of my friends and the charity, I could run 25 kilometers during my training sessions.
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。
However, when the big day came, I was not at all sure that I was ready.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________With every step, I fought against my physical limitations.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What Goes Around Comes Around
One day a man saw an old lady on the side of the road. Noticing she might need help, he pulled up, got out and found that she had a flat tire(瘪胎).The lady was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. He could see that she was so afraid, standing out there in the cold. He said, "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, I am Bryan Anderson."
As he was changing her tire, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.
When the work was finished, the lady asked how much she owed him, wiling to accept any amount. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance he or she needed, and Bryan added," And think of me."
He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the darkness.
A few miles down the road the lady went into a small café. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She still had a sweet smile even though she mentioned that her husband died and she had to make a living by herself. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let her condition change her positive attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so caring to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan and decided to do something.
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。
After the lady finished her meal, the waitress came to collect the bill.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The waitress posted the touching story online, accompanied by words "Thank you! Kind lady!"
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Tripod’s story started one spring morning as I was finishing a morning surgery at the veterinary clinic (兽医诊所) I owned. I was writing up medical records of the surgery patients when my receptionist (接待员) stuck her head into my office. She told me there was a big cat lying outside with a seriously injured front leg. What’s worse, nobody knew whom it belonged to.
Then I sent two of my pre-vet students to pick up the poor cat while I went back to my record-keeping. But it wasn’t long before I heard the students returning with this newest patient who seemed to be in pretty bad condition.
I carefully checked up the injuries which seemed to be caused by the pressing of a heavy object. With the extremely horrible smell, I knew from years of experience this cat didn’t have an owner. “Well, then,” I sighed, “I’m not sure whether we are able to bring this cat back to life, but let’s give him our best shot anyway. Afterwards, let’s see if we can find a home for him. ”
Just then, when one of the students began touching the cat’s head gently, somewhere deep in the cat’s throat, a weak purr (呼噜声) began. As the student continued to pet the cat, I noticed the cat’s breathing became less laboured (缓慢而困难的).
When I performed the complicated operation, I whispered, “You’re a fighter, aren’t you, boy? You deserve a chance to live.” However, after the surgery, he lost one leg, and still struggled with life and death. Over the next few weeks, Tripod, the cat, went through many ups and downs, but I was sure about his resilience (快速恢复的能力). News about Tripod spread. A number of customers stopped by regularly to check on the progress of his recovery, including Mrs Melson, a pet lover.
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 day finally came when I decided Tripod had really recovered.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Though unwilling to part with Tripod, we were happy to see Mrs Melson come for him.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I was confident at the audition (试演) for the school play and felt pleased to get 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 intonations (语调) 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 rehearsing.
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 on edge (紧张不安), 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 edgy everyone became. The worries bounced from one person to another-like a baton (接力棒) being passed in a relay race-until the whole of the backstage area seemed to be buzzing with tension and worry.
I was on stage early, at first performing my non-spoken role in the background with several other guys around the same age. When, suddenly, I heard my cue (出场提示), 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.
Para1: But I suddenly realized I had missed a sentence.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Para2: No one commented on my missed sentence-apart from my drama teacher.
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Every time I sat down with my family and looked through our photos — holidays, trips, or vacations, there was always something missing. It was me. It was not just because I was the one behind the camera, but because I avoided being photographed. I always felt I looked awful in photos.
There were a few photos of me on my birthday that always made me feel bad. Generally speaking, I didn’t hate my appearance; I just wasn’t very photogenic (上相的). Therefore, when it came to family photos, I was missing. Gradually, I didn’t feel and look confident, and seldom smiled.
Then I met Mary. I was attending a writers’ meeting in North Carolina and she was a photographer who was good at photo shooting for writers. As a new writer, I needed a good personal photo for business cards and social media. I decided to give Mary a try.
The day of my appointment (约定) arrived. I picked out clothes that were most suitable for me. I checked myself in the mirror and felt I looked okay, but I was not sure whether the photos would reflect that. By the time Mary was to take photos of me, it began to have a light rain. My hair had started out nicely, but I knew the rain would destroy it.
I unwillingly walked into the room. Mary greeted me with a sunny smile. I felt relaxed. I was sure that she could sense I was not confident about my appearance because she immediately began to comfort me. She promised my photos would be wonderful. And she said how sad it made her that so many women thought so little of their appearance and how much this would hurt their self-respect.
The light rain stopped. Mary led me outside onto the grass-covered grounds of the meeting center. With the bright new green of spring and flowers seen everywhere, it was the perfect place for photos, even on a cloudy day.
注意：1, 续写词数应为100个左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Mary first let me stand by a beautiful flower.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The next day, I sat by Mary’s computer and looked through the photos.
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