1 . The middle child, I think, is now an “endangered species”. According to a study, in 1976,65 percent of mothers between aged 40 and 44 had three or more children. Today, nearly two-thirds of women with children have only one or two. Middle children will soon be the tiniest.

As a middle child, I am disappointed at the potential disappearance of middle children. I’m the middle of three—two boys, one girl—so I’m what’s sometimes regarded as a “classic middle child”.

Being a middle child is not something you are eager for. As one middle child said to me, “There is a thing called middle-child syndrome (综合征). I certainly was always aware that the middle was not a position to be admired, even as I came to see typical middle-child features in myself. Middle children are natural mediators (和事佬); I avoid disagreements and habitually act as the family peace-maker. Middle children tend to be private but also long for love; I keep to myself but do not exactly hate attention.”

According to studies, middles traditionally receive less economic and emotional support from their parents. They also typically have less close relationships with their mothers and fathers compared with other brothers or sisters, so they tend to have more friends to fill the feeling gap.

In a study conducted by the City College of New York in which participants were asked to choose words they associate with the first, last, and middle kids, positive words such as caring and ambitious were cited concerning all three birth orders. Only middles, however, were described with such negative terms as overlooked and confused. More importantly, middles may be many things and they were the only birth order with which no one connected the term “overindulged”. It is true: their parents couldn’t allow them to do or have whatever they want, especially when they are enough old, and they don’t ask for everything either even if they are eager to own it occasionally.

George was a driver and he spent so much time at his work that he could hardly have a meal together with his wife and three children. In the evenings he attended classes, seeking to get knowledge that one day would help him to find a better paying job.

George’s family often complained that he was not spending enough time with them, but his only answer was, “I am doing all this for you and I work hard to provide my family with the best that I can.”

Soon after George had passed his exams, he received a good job offer with a salary, which was significantly higher than he had before. So now George could provide his family with more expensive clothes, some luxury items or vacations in foreign countries. It was like a dream come true, but family still did not get enough attention from George, as he continued to work very hard and often, he did not get to see his family for most of the week.

Time passed and George’s hard work paid off-he was promoted. He decided to relieve his wife from domestic works, so he hired a maid. He also decided that their flat was not big enough for their family and they needed a more spacious one. Thus he needed to work even harder and, moreover, he continued his studies, so that he would be promoted again. George worked so hard that sometimes he even had to spend his Sundays with his clients instead of his wife and children. And again, whenever family asked for his time and complained that they did not spend enough time together, he answered he was doing all this only for them.

A bit later George was promoted, and he could buy a spacious house with a beautiful view. On the first Sunday evening at their new home, George told his wife and kids now he decided not to take any studies or work not so hard so that he could spend more time with his beloved family.

The next morning, George suddenly felt a sharp pain in his stomach.

The day finally came when George recovered from his illness.

After twenty years of marriage, Melissas lost her husband, who was a brave soldier and passed away while defending his country.

They had a son, Mathew, who was 18 years old and very considerate. In his spare time, instead of paying, he worked at a local shop so he could help his mother reduce the financial burden.

When Mathew got his first pay cheque from the part-time job, he bought Melissa a beautiful dress and flowers. During the next few months, he often bought something to make his mother smile because he knew she still hadn’t recovered from the death of her lover.

As Christmas neared, Matthew’s friends began planning what to do during the holiday. Soon, they decided to go to a party, but Matthew refused to go with them. He didn’t want Melissa to feel lonely at home on Christmas. For him and Melissa, the day was special and significant, not only because it was their traditional holiday, but also because it was Melissa’s birthday.

“I’ll stay at home with my mother,” he told his friends, “We rarely get to spend time together because she’s mostly on her flights when I’m home.” But later that day, Matthew learned his mother wouldn’t be home on Christmas. “Mom? Why are you working on the big day?” he asked. The airline company Melissa worked for was quite short of attendants recently because many were sick. Besides, there was sharp increase in flights due to the holiday. So Melissa decided to continue working on Christmas to support her company and help serve passengers.

Melissa said, “I’m sorry, Matthew. You’ll have to spend the holiday alone.” She felt sorry that she could not enjoy the holiday with Matthew. Matthew was also upset. But before going to bed that night, Mathew got an idea to stay with his mother on Christmas. He would surprise her on the plane where she worked.

“I can still spend Christmas with her,” he thought. And he turned on his computer to check if the light his mother would be on still had seat left. “Yes! It still has seats!” he yelled.

Immediately, he booked himself a ticket for Christmas.

Later, while passing by Matthew’s seat, Melissa yelled, “Matthew? Is that you?”

6 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

The alarm sounded sharply. Seven-thirty. Too early for a Saturday! And much earlier for her birthday! Rosa thought about her birthdays in hometown, when her grandmother, Abuelita, would make a cake for her, humming (哼) old songs in the kitchen.

“Rosa! Hrry!”

“Yes, Mama,” Rosa called. She wanted to stay in bed, but ever since she had turned fourteen, Saturdays here meant helping Mama at hair salon (发廊). “Where is papa?” Rosa asked. “He left an hour ago. We must go, too,” said Mama.

Rosa and Mama hurried to the bus stop. Sharing the umbrella made them hit into each other. Mama laughed. Rosa didn’t think it was funny. “I don’t like here,” she said. “I miss everything about hometown, especially Abuelita!” “I miss her too,” Mama said. “But there is more work here. We are able to send money to Abuelita.” Rosa nodded. Still, it was hard.

As Rosa arrived, the salon was already full of people. “Hello,” said Morena, Rosa’s cousin.

Rosa took the towels from a basket and started to fold (叠) them. She took a deep breath of their clean fresh smell, and was reminded again of the flowers of Abuelita. “I kept thinking about Abuelita. I miss her so much, especially today!” Rosa said. “Me, too,” Morena smiled. “But that won’t get this work done.”

Rosa carried the towels to the sinks (水池). All the chairs were filled with waiting customers. Rosa hurried over. Mama was shampooing (给…用洗发水) an old lady with a towel across her face. “Here we are. Rosa has brought you another towel.” Mama gently lifted the lady’s head and placed the towel at the base of her neck. “Better?” The woman’s face was still covered, and she didn’t speak, but she waved her hand as if to say yes.

As Mama continued, the lady hummed an old song softly.

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Abuelita reached her hand into a basket and took out a homemade cake.

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I sit on the edge of my bed, faint smiles sliding across my face, as I sort through old photographs. I hold each memory briefly in my hands before dropping them onto the pile in my lap and searching for the next happy moment to remember. Each picture brings up feelings deep within me.

As I relive the memories, I can't help but notice one photo in particular buried deep in the box. The picture at first glance is lovely. The sun was shining with not a cloud to be seen. I was sting with my arm around a happy-looking girl, her arm rested casually on my shoulders. As I focus on the happy girl, the smile that covers my face becomes a frown. It is Amy Soule, my now ex-best friend. A terrible pang (一阵剧痛) of regret flashes through me, and I feel tightness in my throat.

Our decline in friendship began with different interests. She wanted to go to the mall and shop, while I preferred to watch old movies in my spare time. Soon the only time I saw her was when we exchanged a hurried hello in the busy school halls between classes. No more notes were passed behind the teacher's back, and my parent's phone bill became much cheaper. She found a new group of friends, and so did I. Before I had a chance to repair the friendship, she moved away, causing the crack to become an uncrossable rift.

I made excuses for not keeping in touch. It was too far to visit, too long of a drive. I knew that was not the truth, but I was too nervous to pick up the phone and call. Eventually, the rift grew too large to bridge. Amy had left and she had taken a huge chunk of my heart with her.

I stand up and pull myself back into the now. Glancing up at my calendar, I remember that Amy's birthday is around the corner. In fact, we were born in the same room, two days apart. We started so close and ended up so far. This bittersweet memory causes me to smile despite my feelings of regret.