I decided to volunteer to be the “room mother” to my daughter Jenny’s class in second grade. I would have tasks like making cookies and helping with the kids’ every field trip. That evening, when I picked Jenny up from school, she introduced her best friend Tommy to me. During the chat, I noticed he had the sharpest sense of humor. And it touched my heart.
We burst out laughing just as their math teacher walked up. She smiled at me and then said to Tommy coldly, “Your grades are the lowest again.” Tommy’s face fell as he walked away. Placing his hands in his pockets, he turned and met my eyes. I would never forget that look. It was a look of hopelessness.
During the following days, I found Tommy’s low grades had led to him having no interest in study. Besides, he suffered from serious inferiority complex (自卑感). I wanted to communicate with him about his problem but he always refused.
Finally, one day he talked to me. He told me that all the students in his class except him had received at least one award because of good performance in study, sports or something else. “I don’t remember ever doing anything proud in my whole life, Miss Jaye,” he cried. “I’m nobody. I’ll be a failure forever. I won’t achieve anything.”
I felt great pity for him and told the story of my brother who also always doubted himself when young and finally grew to be an excellent scientist. Then, I told him that he was a wonderful boy who was humorous, smart, polite, etc. And I told him that he could be somebody as long as he was confident and worked hard like my brother. But he was still absorbed in sorrow.
In order to build Tommy’s confidence, I talked to his headteacher and his parents about his situation. But after several hours’ discussion, we still couldn’t make up a plan to help him.
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: Suddenly, a poster on the table struck me.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2: Soon, it was the day of the Joke competition.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Jenny always admired powerful and attractive marathon runners and dreamed that one day she could also run a marathon.
To make it, one day, she began to seriously prepare. At first, she only set the small goal of running one kilometer each morning. However, she still found it tiring and soon gave up running. As days went on, her weight gradually increased. Upset about her health, she finally decided to lose weight by doing exercise. She began running again.
As usual, in the following days, her big problem with exercising was always how to stay motivated. She tried to find guidance from running experts and books. And everything she read indicated that she’d better pair up with a running partner. She followed the advice, but human exercise companions always let her down. Her last exercise companion quit with excuses like, “It’s my turn to do the dishes” at six o’clock in the morning! She hated to admit it, but she had made similar excuses to others and disappointed them in similar ways.
Then Brucie appeared in Jenny’s life, a birthday gift from her husband, John. John couldn’t work out with Jenny because he had a bad back. So that job was left to Brucie, a yellow dog. Brucie was quite energetic, which made him destined(注定的) to be a running partner.
In the beginning, Brucie and Jenny ran only fifty paces at a time, each set mixed with one hundred paces of walking. “I don’t look foolish starting this way,” thought Jenny, “because Brucie’s bones are too young to make him run much harder.” She was right, and Brucie’s early limitations gave her time to start slowly without feeling awkward.
After about nine months, though, Brucie was old enough to run several miles a day and Jenny was fit enough to keep up. From spring to autumn, they logged the miles together every day. However, as winter approached and the weather got colder, maintaining a daily running routine required lots of dedication and determination. And Jenny started to think the dog would be like her previous human partners and that she couldn’t count on the little dog for help with motivation.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150词左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
What happened later proved that Jenny was wrong.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________One spring morning, Jenny started her first marathon, accompanied by Brucie.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I didn’t know the lady, but I saw her often around town with her two small children. She appeared to be shy, always looking down, trying not to make eye contact. She often wore the same clothes, and so did her children. I felt her discomfort when I saw her at the supermarket checkout. She reminded me of myself years ago. We had to go through a tough time.
Back then, I couldn’t afford a new winter coat for my daughter, and I didn’t know what I was going to do. Luckily, my three younger children could wear hand-me-downs. One night, I said to myself in my heart that I wished someone to offer me help. I did it for the first time since my husband’s unemployment.
The next morning, a neighbour came into the place where I worked. “I know you must feel unbelievable, This morning, I had an overwhelming (无法抗拒的) feeling that you needed this,” she whispered. She insisted on giving me twenty dollars. My eyes started to tear as she continued, “I also have a box of clothes in my car that I was going to donate. Please take what you need.” It was really a shock of getting her help. Was this the response to my word the night before?
Going through the large box of clothes, I found several winter items for my children, including a dark purple jacket that looked like it would fit my daughter. Although grateful, I felt embarrassed. The woman must have sensed my discomfort. She raised my chin so I could look at her. “We all need help at one time or another, “she said. “One day, you’ll be the one helping someone in need.”
I thanked her and promised I would always try to pay it forward.
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。
Looking at the lady at the supermarket checkout, I knew perhaps it was the proper time.
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To my surprise, she said, “Yes.”
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One year, I was burn by hot water, which left me with some permanent, ugly scars on my arms. Growing up, I tried to hide those scars. Even in the hot summer, I’d wear shirts that had long sleeves which could cover all my scars. I feared being laughed at by other kids, although many loved me because I was nice and kind. I saw myself as different.
At 12 years old, I went to junior high school. On the first day of school, I found that we had swimming class every week and we were required to change into swimsuits in the open locker room before the class. This meant I would have to undress before the other girls. They would see my scars.
“Would you feel better if I talked to your teacher to see whether you could change your clothes after the other girls are gone?” my mother asked. “Yeah,” I said quietly. “I’m afraid they’ll laugh at me.”
My mother looked at me. Even though she may have been hurting for me inside, she didn’t let me see it. The next day, my mother met with my teacher and they worked out a solution: I would wait until the other girls got dressed and went to the class, and then I would put on my swimsuit and be allowed to be late. I was relieved.
But that night as I lay in bed, I felt like a coward (胆小鬼). I didn’t want to be different and to be picked on because I was allowed to do things the other girls didn’t get to do. It was then that I knew what I had to do.
The next morning, as I got ready for school, I told my mother, “I think I might go ahead and put on my swimsuit like everyone else. I don’t want to be different.” Surprised, she hugged me and said, “I’m proud of you. But Stacie, if you change your mind, I’ll support you.”
That day, I felt nervous because I knew that I was going to change my clothes in the presence of other girls for the first time.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1:
“Okay, girls, it’s time to go in and put on your swimsuits!” the teacher said and blew her whistle.
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Paragraph 2:
They appeared concerned and one girl asked gently, “Do the scars still hurt?”
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Almost every kid has the experience of losing a treasured belonging. So does 8-year-old Maya Zrihen. But what she did afterwards really sets her apart.
Maya has been collecting Junior Ranger badges (小护林员徽章) on family trips to national parks. “National parks are very beautiful, and I want to protect them, so that's why I'm a Junior Ranger,” she said.
When the family first learned about the Junior Ranger program, they decided to take full advantage of it. Maya's mother believed that there are things children cannot learn from a textbook, but they can learn hands-on in the parks. So on holidays or at weekends, the family took Maya to different parks to complete various educational activities and earned badges. “In Washington, D.C., I visited all the monuments that we can get badges from,” Maya said proudly to others.
In order to make Maya look like a real ranger, her mother purchased a hat for her to wear. Maya displays the badges she got on the hat while visiting parks. She is very proud of being part of this program. She also takes it upon herself to educate her friends about what she is learning in the parks and promises to care for them.
Last month, Maya and her family went to Dry Tortugas, a heavily visited national park in Florida. Maya was very excited to go there because it was the park she had always dreamed of visiting. In the park Maya picked up litter, planted trees and put up posters to call on visitors to protect wild animals. At the end of the day, Maya finished all the tasks and got a fancy badge from a park ranger. She considered this badge her favorite one so she put it on the most outstanding place of the hat. Then Maya and other junior rangers played happily in the woods of the park for a while.
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 family were about to leave when Maya found her favorite badge lost.
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Several days later, Maya received a parcel from a stranger.
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Carl moved to Arizona in December. He came from the round, green mountains of Vermont to the Sonoran Desert where the mountains were sharp, brown, and wrinkled. Carl was homesick.
Carl’s new home was the town of Silverbell. Silverbell sat near a river with the same name. But there was not a drop of water in this river.
Carl hadn’t made any real friends yet. He always walked home from school alone. One day, though, he heard a lonely melody (旋律) floating in the wind. It sounded wonderful-and fitted Carl’s mood just right. He followed the music to the schoolyard and found Tadio, the kid who always sat by himself in the lunchroom. He sat on the steps playing a wooden flute (长笛).
“That song is wonderful!” Carl said.
“Thank you,” Tadio said with a bright, sunny smile.
“I’m Carl. I play, too.” He took out bis own silver flute.
“Ah, my name is Tadio. Let’s play together.”
Carl joined Tadio. They played Ode to Joy, a piece that they both knew by heart. The two got along so well that Carl felt comfortable telling Tadio about his homesickness.
“It just doesn’t feel like winter around here,” Carl said. “I don’t think it ever will. It’s too hot.”
Tadio said, “It feels like winter to me, but I’ve lived in Silverbell my whole life.”
“So, why is it called Silverbell anyway?” asked Carl.
“Because of the canyon (峡谷). My grandfather said at special times, one could hear her ring like a silver bell…for example when the rain poured down,” Tadio said.
Then Carl complained about Principal Ramire’s request for his flute solo at tomorrow’s winter concert.
“Ah, you are shy, but you play very well. Let’s meet tomorrow before the concert to practice. Maybe that will help ease your fear. I know a spot beside the canyon where I often go to play. Sometimes, her echo (回音) sounds like she’s singing with me,” Tadio laughed.
The next day was sunny and warm. After school, the two boys spread out a blanket beside Silverbell Canyon and played, stopping only when they heard the sound of distant thunder. The rain followed.
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。
As the rain poured down, Carl started to understand what Tadio said earlier.
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He woke up from the amazing scene and joined the other students for the concert.
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During my high school years, my math teacher, Mrs. Zhang, noticed a spark in me whenever I tackled complex mathematical problems. She had been observing my progress throughout the year and was particularly impressed with my talent in abstract reasoning. One day, after class, she approached me with an intriguing proposal: to represent the school in a regional mathematics competition. Instantly, I hesitated and my mind raced back to a traumatic event from my primary school years-a quiz bee where I had frozen on stage, forgetting everything I had prepared. The memory had stayed with me and left me with a fear of competitive scenarios. Mrs. Zhang seemed to sense my reservations and said, “Life is about facing our fears. Every challenge you encounter is an opportunity to grow. I truly believe you have what it takes to shine.” With her words echoing in my ears and her unwavering belief as a driving force, I decided to face my past demons and take on the competition.
The theme for this year was geometry, a branch of mathematics that explores the dimensions of shapes and their features. My chosen topic was a complex theorem, known for its complicated patterns and strong logic. Although a challenging task, the theorem resonated with me deeply. I saw it as a metaphor for life-seemingly complex situations that, with the right perspective, could be simplified and understood. The following weeks were a blur of numbers, shapes, and formulas. I immersed myself in libraries, wrote notes everywhere, and had endless discussions with Mrs. Zhang. My first draft, when presented to her, was met with constructive feedback. “This is a recommendable effort,” she said, “but I believe you can do better. Refine it.” And so, again and again, my presentation evolved. Through this rigorous process, my once paralyzing fear of competition slowly transformed into a burning passion for understanding and exploration.
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。
Several weeks after my final submission, an official-looking envelope arrived at my home.
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The day after the award ceremony, I found myself at the doors of Mrs. Zhang’s classroom.
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When I was a teenager, my mother had a hard time finding me onstage (在舞台上) in the dancing show. I was always in the back row,out of sight, out of mind. Sometimes the stage lights didn’t t even reach me, and I ended up dancing in the shadows.
I didn’t t start out that way. As a kid, I was a confident dancer. At eleven, though, I put on weight. I still danced through my routines with energy, but I was always placed in the back row. My teachers didn’t remember my name half the time.
In high school,I put on weight. I wanted to join the dancing club. However“You need to lose weight,”my teacher said. I walked out of the class and never returned.Dance was still part of my life, though.I took classes off and on at another school and at my university. Finally, I decided to start performing in flash mobs (快闪行动). While I had no interest in making it a career, I enjoyed my projects. I danced well, and I was chosen. The show kept inviting me back. More often than not, I was placed in the featured dancers’ group.
There was only one problem: Though I had fun, I still believed in those teachers from childhood instead of myself. Deep down, no matter what anyone said to me, I still thought that I was a terrible dancer.
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。
At one performance, the director of the flash mob company, Staci, finally called me out.
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I found my courage and stopped hiding in the back.
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Living in the shadow of my two elder sisters at college who already had their lives planned out since they were little, I was always undecided about everything. As a teenager, I was fickle (反复无常的). I would like one thing for a week and then hate it the next. But I was constantly searching for the beginning of the rainbow. Changing my dream from a vet to an astronaut, I thought there were various options available to me. However, my parents would shake their heads and repeatedly asked me such questions as, “Why can’t you be more like your sisters? What are you going to do with your life? Aren’t you interested in anything at all?” After a couple of shrugs (耸肩), my parents usually stopped talking. I was not sure if they gave up or anticipated my dull reactions. I often responded, “I couldn’t answer all of your questions now.”
Actually, my parents just had high expectations that never seemed to be fulfilled. Plus, like other parents, they just wanted to give the best to me and expected me to achieve success. The arguments with my parents seemed childish. One day, my mother made her thoughts clear, “Your grades aren’t high enough. No schools are going to want you, dear. We didn’t pay so much money for nothing.” Hesitating for a while, I said, “No matter what you say, I believe I will enter a good college.” Still, I let my emotions control myself.
Certainly, I had never planned not to go to college. After another debate with my mom, I decided to make a change. No longer would I sit back and let my parents mistake me for a bad boy. It was time to take action.
I knew it was a crucial year at high school. Releasing my feelings, I began to collect all the knowledge I had learned and review it with all my heart. I didn’t argue with my parents any more, but instead turned to my sisters for help and tried my best to study. Finally, I took the national college entrance examination with ease and confidence.
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 few days later, I received a call from my school, saying my college acceptance letter had arrived.
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My parents excitedly said behind me, “Well, open the envelop!”
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It’s been over 40 years since I rode a bike on Saturday afternoons. But I bought myself a bike for Christmas this year. As one of the children growing up in the country, I had never had a bike of my own. Dad had managed to save an old bike from the local waste yard and gave it to me. But I found it hard to love the second-hand bike, which didn’t even have a proper seat.
Before I bought myself a bike, I didn’t think riding a bike was my thing. I was in my sixties and therefore I thought I was too old to start something new and possibly dangerous. And I often asked myself questions: Would my body cope with this tiring sport? Would I be truly willing to spend hundreds of dollars only to leave the thing in the garage (车库) until it will finally be broken? Would I be safe on the road?
But then I read an interview with Cadel Evans, a winner of the Tour de France, about his annual charity work for bike riders. He said cycling is good for our heart and muscles and that it will improve our body if done regularly. It’s also a good way for us to go outside and exercise. More importantly, he said his mother still chose to ride in a 65km race at an old age and that she didn’t feel fear while riding. Reading this, I felt inspired and I wanted to be just like his mother. Then I headed to the bike shop immediately and there was no turning back.
There were different kinds of bikes in the shop. I tried many of those bikes but they were just not what I wanted. Then I saw an amazing blue bike at the comer of the shop. That was it. I was happy that I found “my bike”. And it felt right the first time I sat on it. So it didn’t take me much time to make my choice. I bought it though it was expensive.
Paragraph 1:
It didn’t fit in the back of my car, so I rode it home.
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Paragraph 2:
I’ve completely fallen in love with this sport.
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