I didn’t like Del so much. He always called me the nickname “Germy”, which meant “dirty”, instead of my real name “Jamie”. Besides, he was known as a trouble-maker in school. So when the head teacher Mr. Smith asked Del to come to his office, I naturally thought that Del had done something mean to someone. Through the window, I caught sight of a smaller boy crying. Del seemed unhappy, too.
He did not return to class that day. All of us were discussing what had happened to him. What else could such an annoying boy do? “He must have hit the boy and was sent home,” I whispered to my friends. Their eyes widened. It felt good to see them so interested in what I said.
The next morning, the whole school was talking about Del being expelled(开除) for beating up a kid. I was surprised that my assumptions were passed on so quickly. So when Del walked into the classroom, all the kids were shocked. The kids next to him shift ed their desks away. “What’s your problem?” Del asked. “I don’t want you to attack me,” one kid said. Some laughed. “Yeah, I might,” said Del. I could tell he was joking, but many kids thought he admitted he did beat up someone.
During recess(课间休息), Del tried to join the kickball game. “Neither team wants you,” one of the players said. “Why?” Del asked, looking confused. “I always play with you guys.” They ignored him and went on playing. Del sat by himself while the rest of the school enjoyed their recess away from him. Del looked lonely and sad, much different from before. I started to feel sorry for him.
Later that day, I learned what really happened. The kid was Del’s little brother and he was crying because their mother fell ill and was sent to hospital. I felt even sorrier for what I said before. I started a rumor(谣言).
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。
At recess the next day, I saw Del sitting alone watching the kickball game.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Now that Del had forgiven me, I decided to do more before the recess was over.
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The summer finally came. That afternoon, the hot sun was shining brightly, making the tree leaves almost burn and making people’s bodies seem to be on fire. Having nothing interesting to do at home, I decided to go to the pool to enjoy the coolness instead of going swimming. The reason was simple — I still couldn’t swim. I was impatient, and I always failed to do something and suffered losses. So the swimming lesson was put off again and again.
Upon arriving at the gym’s pool, I was greeted by a lively scene. Some people just jumped into the water, with hands entering first and the body following in a smooth motion. Some were kicking their legs rhythmically below the surface. All were happy. That was infectious, and I couldn’t help but feel deep admiration. Then I made a decision!
Taking a deep breath, I followed their example, closing my eyes and jumping into the “vast water” with a plop (扑通声).
At this moment, my head was pointing to the ground and my feet to the sky. When I “plopped” to the bottom, my whole body was swinging hard and my hands and feet lost their ability to feel. I just felt water rushing towards me, and my nose was filled with water. It was very terrible. Suddenly, I was hit by something. I struggled out of the light blue water bit by bit as if being dragged.
“That’s horrible!” I shouted 1oudly, and while I was complaining, I suddenly realized that I couldn’t swim in the first place, so why should I be shocked? Just when I decided to stay away from water, someone gently patted my shoulder and said, “Don’t be discouraged, little girl. Look, swimming requires...” The lady introduced herself as Allison. She gave me a “1ecture” on how to hold my breath, how to kick gently, and how to start with floating with the help of a swimming ring, being patient while giving me a demonstration.
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。
“Why not try one more time?” said Allison.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________As the day drew to a close, I still could not swim very well.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“You don’t want that one,” the shelter volunteer said. “He’s broken.”
“Broken?” I asked. Had I heard her correctly? The minute I’d walked into the animal shelter’s cat room, the little black creature had been one step behind me, my shadow. I wasn’t an expert, but he seemed friendly.
“He’s been a stray (流浪的动物) since birth,” the volunteer explained. “He doesn’t like anyone—not other cats, not people. It’s nearly impossible for him to be fully domesticated (驯养).”
“I want to adopt him,” I said.
“Really? But why?” she asked, obviously confused.
“Because he needs a home,” I said. Then under my breath, “and because I’m broken too.”
I filled out the paperwork and left with him that afternoon. Back at home, I let him out of the carrier so he could explore. I watched as this little cat smelled every inch of the house. Eventually, his curiosity satisfied, he settled in my lap. I reached out a hesitant hand to pet him. He purred (猫发出呜呜声).
“Look, I’m going to be honest with you,” I said. “I’ve only been able to love two people in my entire life—my brother and one friend.” Though he wasn’t looking at me, the cat’s ears were pointed in my direction. I knew he was listening. “You shouldn’t expect me to love you. I don’t know how.” I continued. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, his body growing heavy. Then he drifted (进入某种状态) off to sleep.
It took me a week to come up with a name for him. I finally settled on Mr. Bojangles —Bo for short—after the song about a homeless man who, even after being arrested, remained happy and optimistic. The name fit this cat. Even when he was “behind bars” at the shelter, Bo had been meowing and purring, like he was trying to cheer me up.
As he adjusted to life with me, he got more talkative. More often than not, I found myself talking back:
“Meow!”
“Good morning, Bo.”
“Meow!”
“Yes, I’m home.”
“Meow. Meow!”
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。
By the time a month passed, we’d settled into a routine.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The word “love” seemed too big for Bo—until the day I came home and collapsed into bed, weeping.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Bill Sumiel was having a tough Friday. It was October 2020, and the 71-year-old, who was dealing with kidney failure (肾衰竭) and had been on dialysis (血液透析) for a few years, found himself at the hospital 30 miles from home for the second time in 24 hours. The day before, his brother had driven him for a routine declotting (去除血块), but it unexpectedly blocked again that night.
Sumiel was no stranger to the struggles of kidney disease. He’d been diagnosed with diabetes (糖尿病) more than 20 years before, which led to his kidney problems. He was on the list of the kidney transplant program, but no matches had yet appeared. So he continued with his treatments, including the periodic declotting that had failed this time. This time, Sumiel took a taxi to and from his appointment.
Timothy Letts, 31, was driving north to visit a friend when his phone received the request for Sumiel’s ride home. The trip was out of Letts’s way. Still, he took the fare, figuring if the passenger was coming from a hospital, he likely needed a ride.
When Sumiel got into the car, Letts could see that the older man was not energetic but in good spirits. And as they set out on the 40-minute drive to Sumiel’s home, the pair started chatting.
Letts shared with Sumiel that he was a proud Army veteran (老兵) and Sumiel mentioned that in the past he’d enjoyed volunteering at his church and in his community, even serving as president of the city council. But he was doing less these days, he explained, because the dialysis treatments left him exhausted and he was searching for a kidney donor.
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。
This hit Timothy Letts deeply.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Weeks later, Letts received a call from the hospital, saying he was a perfect match.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________My Best Examination
One day, while at work in a coal-mine in Malden, I happened to overhear two miners talking about a great school for poor people in Virginia. It was Hampton Institute. The school was established to provide opportunities for poor but worthy students who could work out all or a part of the cost of board, and at the same time be taught some trade or industry.
I was on fire constantly with one ambition, and that was to go to school. I decided at once to go to that school. Finally the great day came and I started for Hampton. I had only a small, cheap bag that contained what few articles of clothing I could get. The distance from Malden to Hampton is about five hundred miles. I had not been away from home many hours before it began to grow painfully evident that I did not have enough money to pay my fare (路费) to Hampton.
By walking and begging rides in some way, I finally reached the grounds of the Hampton Institute after a number of days, tired and dirty. As soon as possible after reaching, I presented myself before the head teacher for assignment to a class. Having been so long without proper food, a bath, and change of clothing, I was like a worthless loafer (游荡者).
I did not, of course, make a very favourable impression upon her, and I could see at once that there were doubts in her mind about the wisdom of admitting me as a student. I tried to impress her in all the ways I could with my worthiness. How I wished that I could get a chance to show what was in me.
After some time, the head teacher said to me, “The adjoining (隔壁的) classroom needs sweeping. Take the broom and sweep it.”
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。
It occurred to me at once that here was my chance.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The head teacher went into the room and inspected the floor and closets.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I begged my mom to let me make cookies by myself. Even though I had never attempted baking before, I was nine years old and my friend Emmie had been baking cupcakes by herself for a year. I was determined to prove that I could make it.
My brother, Caleb, laughed at the idea of me cooking alone, calling it a disaster. Having a big brother can be annoying. Despite his laughing, my mom agreed to let me try. She reminded me to take my time and be careful because I’d had some messy spills before I was nine.
I raced to the kitchen and went to work. I cracked eggs and put a cold stick of butter into the bowl. I turned on the mixer at medium speed—and whoa. Whoa. Whoa! What a disaster! I had to wipe butter off my face, then off the table and floor.
Caleb made fun of me again, calling me a mess. I chased him away with a spoon and turned back to the mixing bowl. I started again with softer butter. Referring to the recipe, I poured everything needed into the bowl and mixed it. After that, I put round batter (面糊) onto the cookie sheet and put it into the oven (烤箱). Within a minute, a fantastic smell filled the kitchen—the smell of cookie success!
I was going to prove that I was responsible. No more eye-rolling from my brother. No more “You’re too young” from my parents. I was grown up and in control.
I stared into the oven, and my heart sank. The neat, little balls had melted (融化) and overflowed to the edges of the cookie sheet. I pulled the pan out just as Caleb wandered back into the kitchen.
“What in the world?” He started to laugh. “Cookie soup?”
“You just be quiet,” I whispered, trying not to cry. “Just leave me alone.”
“How’s it going in there?” Dad called from the living room.
Caleb raised his eyebrows and bit his lip. I responded that everything was fine, pouring the melted batter into the bowl quickly.
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: I picked up the directions, wondering what had gone wrong．
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Paragraph 2: I brought a plate of cookies into the living room for my parents．
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The school festival was buzzing with excitement, all because of a new contest called “Innovate Your Way.” This contest was all about making a costume that was as unique and creative as possible, showcasing what one loves the most.
Lily Adams was surrounded by classmates with cool ideas. One classmate said excitedly, “I’m going to be the whole solar system, with planets circling around me!” One boasted (吹嘘), “I’ll redefine innovation. I will become a walking smartphone from the future, showing the digital age with interactive apps and games.”
Meanwhile, another one came up with the idea to dress up as a live weather forecast. He planned to attach LED screens to his outfit, displaying different weather patterns. This costume would not just show the weather but also change with real-time updates, combining technology and creativity in a way the festival had never seen.
Feeling overwhelmed, Lily wasn’t sure what to do. Her friends had such amazing ideas, and she hadn’t even picked a costume yet. She shared her worries with her friend Noah, saying,” I can’t make up my mind. Every idea seems too hard to do or just not exciting enough.”
Noah, always wise, had a great suggestion. “Why don’t you make a costume about gardening? You love it, and it’s something unique to you,” he said. Lily was unsure because the contest was just a few days away. “I don’t know if there’s enough time to make something like that from the beginning,” she worried. But Noah encouraged her, “You have a special talent for making something wonderful out of simple things. Use what’s around you.”
Inspired by Noah’s words, Lily thought over her collection of plants and flowers. Arriving home, she noticed the pile of old gardening magazines and a forgotten green tarp(防水布)in the garage.
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。
As Lily looked through the magazines, an idea began to take root.
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The day of the contest finally arrived.
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“Where is it? We’re going to be late!” Janice searched the house crazily for her wallet. “Josh! Did you hide my wallet? We have to be at Grandpa’s for his birthday party!” Josh, Janice’s four-year-old younger brother, smiled innocently at her, but his cunning (狡黠的) eyes gave himself away. She tried her best not to shout. Grinning (咧嘴笑) like a cat, Josh reached under the sofa, pulled out her wallet and held it over his head. Janice grabbed it.
Ten minutes later, they hurried to the train station. Red-faced and sweating, Janice let go of Josh’s wrist and removed the sweat from her forehead. The train arrived. Her smile froze when she realized that the train was packed with passengers. Grabbing Josh’s hand, Janice boarded the train. She commanded, “The train’s really crowded, Josh. Behave yourself, stick close to me, and no monkey business!” Josh nodded, holding tightly to a rail. Janice smiled.
When it was time to get off the train, Janice quickly pushed her way through the crowd to get onto the platform. “We made it!” Janice said, turning around. Josh was nowhere to be seen. The crowd was flooding out, but Josh was not among them. “The train doors are closing,” then came the electronic voice. Soon, the crowd on the platform died down. The last thing Janice saw was Josh’s little anxious face at the train window: Just as Janice was about to call out Josh’s name, the train disappeared from view. “Josh!” Janice screamed.
Janice’s mind was transported back to when she was lost at the zoo. She could still vividly remember the towering figures surrounding her and none of them were’ familiar. “I don’t want Josh to go through that same bitter experience,” Janice let out a sigh.
Janice took out her mobile phone, ready to call her mother. However, midway, she decided against it. Her mother, who was far away in France on business, could do nothing but get restless. Janice paced up and down the platform anxiously.
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。
Just then, Janice received a call from an unknown number.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Having waved goodbye to the lady, they headed for their destination.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Engagement (订婚) is an exciting and memorable event that many people look forward to. Bailey Davis, who had been in love with her boyfriend for more than two years, like many others, recently experienced this joyous occasion when she got engaged. As for the future, Bailey knew that no matter what challenges or obstacles came her way, she would always hold onto the memories and experiences she shared with her partner. She has been proudly wearing her beautiful engagement ring ever since, valuing it as a symbol of her love and commitment. However, her happiness was short-lived.
As a salesgirl of a large chain store, Bailey was as busy as a bee, going on business alone from time to time. On this particular day, Columbus, Ohio was her destination. She got up very early, packed all her baggage, and drove there happily. While at a rest stop, she used the restroom. Here, she took off her ring. But little did she know that she’d also leave it there. It wasn’t until she arrived in Columbus that she realized her ring was missing. “I had driven already two hours away to Columbus before I realized it wasn’t on my hand,” Bailey recalled. “I was shaky and sweating — I felt like I was going to puke (呕吐).” By the time she returned to the rest stop bathroom, the ring was gone. At that moment, Bailey felt certain she would never see her precious ring again.
Bailey’s heart began to sink at the thought of the special value of the ring. For her, it was not just a piece of jewelry but a symbol of the love and commitment she shared with her partner. She couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of loss and disappointment.
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, Bailey refused to give up hope.
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Just when she’s about to lose heart, something amazing happened.
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“Let’s welcome the new arrival!” said Mrs. White. When Kevin went straight to the blackboard, he overheard his new classmates’ comments. “Look at his shabby and wrinkled sneakers!” He felt his face flushed (脸红). “My name is Ke … vin!” The whole class burst out laughing except one boy in red.
At the thought of the sharp remarks, Kevin felt depressed. All the heartbroken memories crowding in, he was about to sob when he felt a gentle pat on his back. “Hey, my name is Mike,” he said and shook hands with Kevin. Kevin’s face lit up immediately. Soon the two boys became good friends. They found they had a lot in common — both of them liked soccer. From then on, they played soccer every afternoon after school. Unable to afford a ball, Mike made a ball out of old socks bound together with plastic tape.
The sun was shining and the ball was spinning across the grass as the two friends laughed and shouted with joy. Suddenly, the ball stopped when a new sneaker pinned it to the ground. It was Steven. “A stupid ball,” Steven said scornfully (轻蔑地).
The next morning, Kevin received an envelope from his uncle, in which there was a 100-dollar bill. He bought a pair of brand-new shoes and a new soccer ball. The next day, Steven invited Kevin to play soccer on the playground. When Kevin saw Mike sitting on the old bench waiting for him, he hugged his new soccer ball to the chest and ignored his friend. Mike sat there silently, tears rolling down his cheeks.
注意：
1. 续写的词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡相应位置作答。
One day as Kevin walked past the old bench, he saw the home-made ball under it with a note.
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Holding the home-made ball, Kevin sat on the bench and waited.
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