Stepping into the enormous house in Chullora, I was astonished. Hundreds of volunteers were wrapping presents or filling baskets. It was like Santa’s workshop.
It was December 2018, and I had discovered the Sydney Basket Brigade, a charitable organization that relieves poverty by providing food and other basic necessities of life to individuals or families who are poor, of low income or in need. The charity was packing baskets and gift boxes with basic daily items as well as Christmas treats. Help us change lives one basket at a time, their website read.
It was important to me that my two boys, Kallum, 10, and Brayden, 9, learnt to be kind to others, so I immediately registered (报名) myself, my husband Tony, and the boys for the packing day.
We arrived dressed in Christmas colours, but it was clear my sons hadn’t yet caught the spirit. Brayden made a complaint and asked, “How long do we have to stay here for?”
“All day, dear,” I answered.
My sons’ lives were comfortable, but I wanted to show the importance of making sacrifices (牺牲).
“Why do we have to do this?” Brayden asked.
“Because the world’s a big place,” I said. “It’s not all about us.”
The atmosphere in the house was very lively, but my boys were doing a very half-hearted job with the wrapping. I told them that this might be the only present someone gets. I showed them how to fold the corners and make the present look neat. The boys, both lovers of origami (折纸), finally started to have fun. I praised their work when they showed off their perfected wrapping.
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。
That evening, we delivered the first basket to an old woman.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________On our way home, my sons became unusually quiet.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________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.
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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.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Dolly was my 9-year-old sister. She was mother’s favourite, always doing what she was told and never placing a foot wrong. Sometimes I didn’t like her. But she was my younger sister. I couldn’t do anything about it. And on the whole she wasn’t that bad.
Two weeks ago, on her birthday, I gave her a goldfish as a present. She loved it, named it Peppy and watched it swim freely in the glass container every day after school. She really enjoyed the delight the little angel brought. But recently I found the goldfish a little listless, staying at the bottom of the container most of the time.
One day after lunch, Dolly looked up at Mum and said,“Mum, I want to go to the lake. We go there on Sundays.”
“We can’t go today, dear. I have something else to do.” Mother said as she walked towards her and took the bowl away. Dolly looked a little unhappy, with eyebrows frowned.
“Shama,” Suddenly, Dolly whispered to me, leaning as close to me as her small frame would allow her while still sitting on the chair. “Would you come with me?”
I felt hesitant, but her unfamiliar stubbornness made me curious. What did she want to do at the lake? Still for the red fish? There was red fish in the lake. She had seen some coming to the shore every Sunday.
“Are you sure? Mom will be mad if we get caught.”
“We’ll come back in time before mom knows it.” Dolly gave a mischievous(调皮的) smile and slid out of her chair. I followed her out of the kitchen and came to the front door. Luckily, it didn’t lock. But as soon as we got ready to force out of the door, Dolly turned back and ran into the house again. I couldn’t shout out her name for fear that Mum could hear me but waited nervously.
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。
A moment later she came back, holding something in her hand.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Half an hour later, we arrived at the lake.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________POOR DAVY
It was break time at the village school, surrounded by acres of vibrant flower fields. The bell had rung, and the children had run out into the bright sunshine, wild with laughter and fun.
All the children but poor Davy. He came out last, very slowly, but he did not laugh. He was in trouble, and the bright, golden sunlight failed to cheer him up.
As he walked across the yard, his eyes fell upon the vibrant flowers that bloomed in vivid colors among the rolling green fields. All kinds of violets (紫罗兰) nodded their heads in the breeze, as if trying to cheer him up. Yet Davy’s heart was too heavy to appreciate their beauty.
He walked across the fields, and sat down on a stone behind the old maple. A little bird on the highest branch sang just to make him laugh. But Davy did not notice it. He was thinking of the cruel words that had been said about his ragged (破烂的) clothes. Tears welled up in his eyes, and streamed down his cheeks.
Poor Davy had no father, and his mother had to work hard to keep him at school.
That evening, Davy took the path home that led across the fields and through the woods. The sun was setting, casting a golden hue over the flowering meadows. But Davy’s heart was still heavy, so he walked with his head bowed.
Davy did not wish to trouble his mother; so he lingered a while among the trees, and at last threw himself on the green moss (苔藓) under them. Just then, his teacher came along. She saw who it was, stopped, and then kindly asked,“What is the matter, Davy?”
He did not speak, but the tears began again to start. “Won’t you tell me? Perhaps I can help you.” she asked gently, kneeling beside him.
Then he told her all his trouble. When he ended, she said, cheerily, “I have a plan, Davy, that I think will help you.”
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。
“Oh, what is it?” he said, sitting up with a look of hope, while a tear fell upon a blue violet.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________So, day after day, Davy hunted in the woods for the prettiest flowers and mosses.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mia had always been a shy and reserved girl, finding comfort in the shadows rather than the spotlight. Throughout her school years, she struggled with public speaking, often feeling her heart race and her palms sweat at the me re thought of standing in front of a crowd. This fear held her back in many ways, making her pass up opportunities that came her way, from leading class projects to participating in school debates. Her classmates saw her as the quiet girl in the back row, the one who always had her nose in a book, but seldom raised her hand to answer questions.
During her final year of high school, Mia’s English teacher, Mr. Thompson, announced the annual speech competition. The theme was “Overcoming Challenges,” and it was a significant part of the grade. Mia felt a familiar wave of anxiety wash over her. However, this time, something within her stirred. She was tired of letting her fears define her experiences and limit her growth. It was a spark that inspired her determination to change her life.
With a newfound determination, Mia decided to face her fear head-on. She chose a topic close to her heart: “The Power of Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone.” Preparing for the speech became her mission. She researched extensively, wrote and rewrote her speech multiple times, and practiced in front of her mirror, then her family, and gradually, a small group of friends. Each step was a challenge, pushing her beyond the familiar boundaries of her comfort zone. Her friends and family noticed the change in her, the gradual increase in confidence that came with each practice session.
The day of the competition arrived, and as Mia waited for her turn, she could feel the familiar symptoms of her anxiety creeping in. But she reminded herself of the journey she had gone through, the effort she had put in, and the support she had received. She realized that regardless of the outcome, she had already overcome the biggest challenge by facing her fear directly. This realization brought a sense of calm over her, a quiet confidence that she had never felt before.
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。
Mia stepped onto the stage.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What happened next was unforgettable for Mia.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________We lived in a quiet street with very little traffic so my mom let my brothers and me play out in the front yard a lot. One day we were outside playing when I saw something move under a bush near our neighbor's house. It looked very strange so we went over to check it out.
It was a puppy(小狗)II sat down in the grass and clapped my hands and it came running over to me and jumped on my lap.I was so happy.I had been begging my parents for a puppy for a long time and here it was.My brothers were going crazy.
I carefully carried the puppy to our yard and yelled with excitement,"Mom,Mom,guess what I found under the bush next door?"My mom came out of the room,looked at me,looked at the puppy and then back at me. "Mom,I think it's lost;it doesn't have a collar(项圈)or any tags. And Mom,it surely looks hungry.”
Mom got a bowl and filled it with water.Then she got some food from the refrigerator and put it in another bowl.I put the puppy down.She ran joyfully over to the bowls and started eating and drinking.I was right…she was hungry.After a full meal,she curled up into a ball and went to sleep.My brothers and I just sat on the floor and watched her contentedly,praying this moment would last forever.
My mom said that we needed to try and find the owner of the puppy.I didn't want to do that.I wanted to keep the puppy for my own.But Mom said that the owner was probably worried about the puppy and sorry that she was gone.She asked me how I would feel if I had lost my puppy.Would I want the person who found it to try and find me?Or just keep the puppy?
"Maybe she is right,”I thought.
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.
We tried our best to find the owner.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________One day,the phone call I least wanted to receive rang.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________A Move to a New Life
I was shocked when my parents told me we were moving from Baton Rouge, Louisana, to New York. First, I complained about not being able to make new friends and not knowing anything about New York.
My mom said, “You’ll make new friends, and it’s not like you know anything about Baton Rouge anyway.
I protested, “But I don’t want to leave Louisiana. The weather is perfect here!”
My mom shot me a disapproving look and said, “You’ll get used to the weather in New York.”
I remember thinking about running away and joining a circus somewhere, but then I remembered that circus animals smell really bad, and I would miss my parents. So I wandered around the house pick picking up random things, like my baseball and glove, and throwing them into a cardboard box. I felt like a big, heavy rain cloud I was hanging over my head.
Within three days, all the furniture we were taking e taking with us was packed into a moving van (小型货车). Oder things were ready to be sold for nowhere near what we paid for them. Little by little our yard sale decreased until no one even looked at the well-worn coffee table, chewed-up plastic toys, and slightly damaged coffee cups—all of which I had my teeth on at one time or another
The next day was Monday, and we got up early to beat the traffic. I’ll spare you the details of how boring it was to sit in a van and watch each tree as it passed by only to see another tree getting closer until it a so passed by. Halfway there, we stopped at a motel (汽车旅馆) to spend the night. This time, no one could sleep because of the smell coming from the heater in the room. By the time we finally made it to New York, it was the middle of the night, and my head was already drooping (低垂) on to my shoulder.
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。
When I woke up, I didn’t find a smog-filled city as expected.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________As I got used to this new setting, I realized that I didn’t have to be afraid of change
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________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.
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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.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________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.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________In a small town called Willow brook, there was a young woman named Emma who owned a bakery. Emma was really good at baking and her delicious treats could cheer up even the most tired people.
But Emma had a problem. Sometimes, she didn’t feel confident in herself and worried that her baking skills weren’t as great as people said. She thought maybe she was just lucky, not talented, so she longed for an opportunity to prove herself.
One day, Emma heard about a baking competition in town called the “Sweet Delight Contest”, Since she was a little girl, she had dreamed of taking part in such contests, so she quickly signed up for it. Feeling both excited and nervous, Emma was determined to prove herself and get rid of her doubts, She worked really hard, waking up early every day to improve her recipes and skills, Her bread smelled amazing as she baked tirelessly, showing how much she cared about her craft.
Finally, the big day arrived. The town square was filled with excitement, Tables were set up with beautiful treats made by all the contestants, Emma carefully prepared her creations, but she couldn’t shake off her doubts, “The judges tasted each dish, and Emma’ s heart raced with nervousness. When they tried her treats, their faces showed no excitement, Emma felt like her doubts were right, and she wasn’t as good as she hoped. Then came the moment of truth. When the host started to announce the winners, Emma listened with hope and curiosity, But when she heard the words, “And the last winner is,” her heart sank, her name wasn’t included, she tried to smile and clap for the deserving winners, but inside, she felt disappointed．
After the contest, Emma’s bakery lost its shine, People still came, but they didn’t seem as excited as before. Emma worried that they saw her as a failure, someone who couldn’t meet their expectations. Doubt took over, and her passion began to fade. But then, something unexpected happened.
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 loyal customer named Mrs, Johnson approached Emma with tears in her eyes．
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________With a renewed sense of purpose, Emma changed her focus.
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