Golden Girl
When your mother enters her ninth decade, you make a point of being a little extra careful for any signs of decline—memory loss, repetition and the like.
Thankfully, my mother has been blessed with good health, and her mental state seems to have remained alright. But when she got inked at such an advanced age, I had to wonder.
My mother looks just like many grandmothers, short, slightly fat and white-haired. She’s rosy-cheeked and jolly, and when she laughs her eyes almost seem to disappear behind her fleshy cheeks. She comes from an old, traditional family. She was a career civil servant. In short, she didn’t do crazy suff.
That all changed a few years ago. She began to surprise my older brother and me with what she described as “independence.” At the time, we merely saw them as examples of irresponsibility and possibly age-related questionable judgment.
In early 2015, the year she turned 75, she informed us she’d booked a seven-night trip to Turkey. Alone. Because she had never been. Of course, that was astonishing. There was no way my brother and I could allow that. A shaky little old lady wandering the streets of Istanbul on her own, not speaking a word of Turkish, with no knowledge of the laws and customs of the land—it was out of the question!
She paid no attention to us. Off she went. When she returned, she told us it had been a wonderful success. As it turns out, she had barely spent any time alone after hiring a taxi driver to show her around Istanbul for a few days. He took her to open-air markets, parks, and restaurants. He introduced her to a rug(小地毯)seller named Mustafa, “a lovely fellow,” and she bought some rugs. The seller had taken her address details and promised to ship the rugs home. The seller and my mother apparently struck up quite a friendship and she had told him to please drop by if he were ever in Canada. My mother beamed as she told this story.
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。
We couldn’t believe how naïve (幼稚) she had been and sat her down to explain that she had been tricked.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“Mustafa dropped by for a cup of tea as we used to drink a lot in Turkey.” my mother told my brother and me.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“I don’t get it, Pete,” Janet said to her cousin. “Why do you fish at Murphy’s pond if old Mrs. Murphy is a witch (女巫)?”
“The fishing’s great… And the old Murphy house is over a hill behind the pond,” Pete replied. “We’ll be okay… As long as we stay away from the house,” he continued in a low voice. “They say kids who go into that house are never seen again!”
After they got to the pond, witches were forgotten. Pete sat on the old dock and threw out his line. Suddenly Janet saw something shining in the water and stepped forward for a closer look. The rotting (腐朽的) wood of the dock broke under her. “H-e-l-l-p!” She screamed as she dropped down into the dark, cold water.
Pete jumped in to help her. “Quiet down!” He said out of breath as they got to the rocky shore. “You’re not hurt. If you keep complaining, you’ll wake the witch!” Then he screamed. “OUCH-H-H!” and lifted his foot. There was a deep cut on the bottom of his foot from a sharp rock!
“Oh, Pete, you’re hurt!” Janet cried. “I’ll go for…” But before she could say Help, she saw an old woman coming toward them. Without a word, the woman picked up Pete and carried him up the hill. A cold, wet, and confused Janet followed. She was frightened but had a strange feeling that the old woman meant no harm.
At the top of the hill, the woman walked to ward an old house. “Oh, p-p-please, Ma’am,” a frightened Pete begged, “Please don’t go there. That’s where the w-w-witch lives!”
“That is my home, young man,” the woman said softly, “Do not be afraid.” At the front door, she said to Janet, “Please open the door.” Janet did, and the three went inside. Mrs. Murphy gently put Pete on a couch (睡椅), then disappeared into another room.
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。
Mrs. Murphy returned with two warm blankets.
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Mrs. Murphy smiled happily.
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3 . “Hi! How are you?” A woman smiled as she took the seat beside me. She had to lower herself slowly, squeezing her fat body into the seat,
She said, “My name is Laura. I’m from Britain. If we’re going to spend six hours side by side on this
I gave her one-word answers to her questions about me. Not affected by my
I couldn’t help but let down my
I asked Laura, “Have you ever
| A．filling | B．making | C．finding | D．clearing |
| A．walked | B．turned | C．moved | D．changed |
| A．darkness | B．tiredness | C．silence | D．discomfort |
| A．bus | B．train | C．flight | D．ship |
| A．take part in | B．take notice of | C．think highly of | D．catch up with |
| A．excitedly | B．nervously | C．gently | D．sadly |
| A．doubt | B．disappointment | C．coldness | D．dissatisfaction |
| A．notes | B．comments | C．predictions | D．noises |
| A．explaining | B．believing | C．ensuring | D．finding |
| A．attention | B．attitude | C．idea | D．guard |
| A．managed | B．pretended | C．forgot | D．failed |
| A．charged | B．served | C．treated | D．warned |
| A．excused | B．reacted | C．combined | D．considered |
| A．overweight | B．critical | C．embarrassed | D．anxious |
| A．prevent | B．get | C．understand | D．remove |
| A．slowly | B．hardly | C．healthily | D．actively |
| A．if | B．because | C．though | D．until |
| A．happiness | B．work | C．pain | D．wealth |
| A．Encouraged | B．Upset | C．Exhausted | D．Amazed |
| A．hoped | B．imagined | C．realized | D．remembered |
Mr. Mosop’s Chickens
Mr. Mosop had a lot of chickens. But Pili Pili was rare and precious. I remember the day he brought her back to the village. “Her name shall be Pepper—Pili Pili,” he said, gently stroking (抚摸) her black-and-white feathers. He promised me, “Next time I get a chicken, you may choose a greater name.” Pili Pili was the pride of our village. But now she was missing. Everyone in the village joined in the search for her.
After school the next day, I ran all the way home. “Did they find Pili Pili?” I was out of breath. Mama sighed. “Yes, on the other side of the fence.” She nodded at the low fence of bushes that surrounded our village. Grace, my little sister, opened her eyes wide.“Ahyena (鼠狗) ATE Pili Pili! Only her FEATHERS are left!”
I ducked into our house. I took my notebook out of my bag as well as my most treasured possession: a box of markers. On a piece of paper I made a rough picture of our village and the smooth, blue hills all around it. Then I drew Pili Pili, the famous black-and-white chicken, standing strong and elegant. I was so busy drawing that I didn’t notice Grace had joined me on the floor. She was drawing something, pressing the tip of my purple marker flat.
“No, Grace!” I yelled, grabbing my marker. “What is that?”
“A hyena,” Grace said, and then ran outside to show Mr. Mosop her drawing. I followed.
The old man was weeding. He looked and. Grace ran over and threw her arms around his neck. “Did you cry?” Grace burst out. I rolled my eyes but Mr. Mosop laughed. “Me? An old man, cry over a chicken?” He smiled softly as we handed him our pictures. “Thank you, girls.”
The following day when I came home from school, Grace met me at the door of our house. “Mr. Mosop hns gone to market to buy a new chicken!” She pulled at the sleeve (袖子) of my school uniform. “What do you think he will call it?”
注意：
1. 续写词数应为 150 左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。
I suddenly remembered the promise Mr. Mosop had made.
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Mr. Mosop looked at me and asked, “Have you thought of a name?”
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At a neighbor’s pool the summer after sixth grade, Charley shouted out those famous last words, “Hey, watch this!” As he dove into the pool, Tad froze. It wasn’t the deep end!
Charley was hurt bad when he hit the bottom of the swimming pool. The doctor said he might have broken his back and could lose the use of his legs. His life would change forever. Tad didn’t see Charley for over a month after he was carried away in the screaming ambulance.
When Tad went to visit Charley in the hospital, his “Hey, dude, how’s it going?” was greeted by an annoyed grunt (嘟哝声) . Looking small and pale, Charley cried, “I can’t walk-how do you think I feel? I wish I was dead!”
“Bro, you’ll get well! You’re tough.”
“No, the doctor said I won’t.”
“Aw, man. That’s horrible!” And the conversation died right there.
Tad didn’t go back after that. He just didn’t know what to say. When Charley got out of the hospital, Tad went over to his house a few times and played video games, but it just wasn’t the same. Not only was his friend’s body damaged, so was his spirit. Tad had made friends with other boys who enjoyed all the things he and Charley used to do. Even if he felt sad and guilty, he wasn’t spending more time at Charley’s. Tad wanted to help and be a good friend but didn’t know how now.
Charley just became sadder and sadder, and Tad spent less and less time with him as the school year passed.
When summer break started again, Tad didn’t see much of Charley. He had made the baseball team and didn’t have time for video games. At least he told himself that was the reason. He was shocked right before eighth grade started when he saw Charley sailing down the sidewalk with a big black dog by his wheelchair. “Wow, what’s this?” Said Tad, running over to his friend.
“This is Rowdy! He helps me.”
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
“Wow, what does he do?” Tad was interested.
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After that, Tad could sense something had changed.
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Jenny was the only child in her family. She had a quarrel with her mother that afternoon and she ran out of the house angrily. She couldn’t help weeping sorrowfully when she thought of the scolding from her mother. Having wandered aimlessly in the street for hours, she felt a little hungry and wished for something to eat. She stood beside a stand for a while, watching the middle-aged seller busy doing his business. However, with no money in hand, she gave a sigh and had to leave. The seller behind the stand noticed the young girl and asked, “Hey, girl, you want to have the noodles?” “Oh, yes, but I don’t have money on me.” she replied.
“That’s nothing. I’ll treat you today,” said the man “Come in.” The seller brought her a bowl of noodles, whose smell was so attractive. As she was eating, Jenny cried silently. “What is it?” asked the man kindly. “Nothing. Actually, I was just touched by your kindness!” said Jenny as she wiped her tears. “Even a stranger on the street will give me a bowl of noodles, while my mother drove me out of the house. She showed no care for me. She is so merciless compared to a stranger!” Hearing the words, the seller smiled, “Girl, do you really think so? I only gave you a bowl of noodles and you thanked me a lot. But it is your mother who has raised you since you were a baby. Can you number the times she cooked for you? Have you expressed your gratitude to her?” Jenny sat there, speechless and numb with shock: she remembered her mother’s familiar face and weathered hands. “Why didn’t I think of that? A bowl of noodles from a stranger made me feel indebted. Why haven’t I thanked my mum for what she has done for me?” On the way home. Jenny made up her mind to make an apology to her mother for her rudeness as soon as she arrived home.
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，每段的开头语已为你写好。
Nearing the doorway. Jenny took a deep breath.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________A gentle touch on her hair called her mind back.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When I was little, I lived in a house with a beautiful garden full of all kinds of Bowers. There was nothing I enjoyed more than sitting in the garden with my mother reading stories to me. When I was old enough to read, I enjoyed reading stories aloud to her.
I would never forget one day when I was in the third grade. I bad been picked to be the princess in the school play, and for weeks my mother had rehearsed (排练) my lines so hard with me. But however easily I acted at home, the moment I stepped on stage, every word disappeared from my head. Finally, my teacher took me aside, explaining that she had written a narrator’s (解说员) part to the play, and asked me to change roles. Her word, kindly expressed, still hurt, especially when I saw my part go to another girl.
I didn’t tell my mother what had happened when I went home after school that day. But she sensed my pain. Instead of suggesting we practice my lines, she asked if I wanted to take a walk in the garden.
It was May and roses were blossoming and, under the trees, we could also see yellow dandelions (蒲公英) in the grass, as if a painter had painted our garden with red, yellow and green. I watched my mother casually bend down by one dandelion. ”I think I’m going to dig up all these weeds,” she said, pulling it up by its roots. ”From now on, we’ll have only roses in this garden. ”
“But I like dandelions,” I protested, “All flowers are beautiful-even dandelions.” “Yes, every flower is beautiful in its own way, isn’t it?” she asked thoughtfully. I nodded, pleased that I had won her over. “And that is true of people too,” she added. “Not everyone can be a princess, but there is no shame in that.” Relieved that she had guessed my pain, I started to cry as I told her what had happened. She listened and smiled to me gently.
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。
Para 1: “But you will be a beautiful narrator,” she said.
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Para 2: After the play, I took home the flower.
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In the spring sun, my aunt and I headed for her flower shop. Normally I would be delighted to help in her shop, but not recently because of Rosa. Rosa was my sister, just one month old, who was settled in my old bedroom. For ten years, the small room was full of my toys and books. But now it was transformed into her baby room, decorated like a garden with pinks and yellows. My space, my old life, was gone.
“Here we are!” We arrived at the shop, a wave of colour and sweet smell washing over me. My aunt said I could pick some flowers for Mum and Dad. I used to love this, but today I was so overcome with tiredness and envy. Why bother to bring them flowers when they were enjoying Rosa at home without me?
Silently I helped my aunt arrange flowers. “Your mum told me there hasn’t been much shut eye recently for any of you.” “Not much, since Rosa the alarm clock was installed (安装).” I complained with a huge yawn (哈欠).
“I remember having to creep (蹑手蹑脚地走) around like a worn-out mouse when your mum was a baby. I spent the first months hating her so much.” “But you and Mum seem so close,” I said, guiltily hiding away my envy of Rosa.
“Now we are. But it took me years to grow into the role of big sister. Few flowers blossom (绽放) overnight, you know.” She pulled me in for aside hug, glancing up at the clock, and suggested I take a walk outside.
Behind her shop was a field dotted with spring flowers. Stepping into the field, I began to pick little flowers. It was like gathering my childhood memories. I remembered how I’d sit with Dad, making flower chains, crowning (授予) each other with the silliest titles: Queen of Junk Food and King of Mess. My smile grew wider. The shining yellow flowers reminded me of the color in Rosa’s baby room. Was she awake? I wondered.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卷的相应位置作答。
Suddenly I saw two familiar figures walking towards me.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Rosa was wide awake in her baby basket beside the picnic blanket.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I am a doctor and often attend important academic conferences around the world, but I’m scared to fly in an airplane. As is known to all, traveling on an airplane can be a very tiring task even in the best of circumstances. Especially when the plane arrives above the destination and encounters some special reasons that prevent it from landing safely, the feeling cannot be described in words. In this situation, if you see a patient with Down syndrome (唐氏综合征) in trouble, are you willing to help him?
Last week, I took an early flight to Paris, and it was during this flight that I experienced a lifelong and touching experience.
When it was announced on the broadcast that the plane was about to land and passengers were required to prepare, a teenage boy with Down syndrome who was traveling with his family had become upset and would not return to his seat. In spite of the cabin crew’s warnings over the loudspeaker that it was almost time to land, the boy completely disregarded all this and still went his own way. In terms of such a situation, the pilot was forced to circle above the airport temporarily, delaying the landing and angering people on the already tense flight.
Though the boy’s parents and adult brothers and sisters tried to persuade him to get off the floor and back into his seat, he was opposed to their advice resolutely. They seemed to be in despair.
Finally, the crew sought professional assistance from the passengers. Although I am a doctor, I was helpless in that situation. Subsequently, Murphy 42 — who had been a teacher for about 20 years — glanced at the boy, stood up and quickly headed to the back of the plane.
She found the boy in the passage between rows of seats, lying on his belly. So she also lay down on her stomach to face him. She began chatting calmly with him, asking his name, his favorite books and his favorite characters.
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。
He told her he felt sick and she tried to comfort him.
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The plane was finally able to land safely on the ground.
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We were very poor. To help support the family, Grandma would go to the mountains to dig wild vegetables, and then sell them. In this way, Grandma had to spend the whole day in the mountains. After she came back from collecting a lot of wild vegetables, she had to pick them until late night. Early in the morning, my grandma would take the vegetables, walk through the mountain road, and go to the market to sell them.
I hated Grandma digging wild vegetables all day long, because as soon as I finished my homework, I had to help her pick vegetables. And this dirty work often made my fingers black. In that case, no matter how hard I washed my hands, the dirty black color couldn’t be washed away, which made me very upset. My grandma noticed I hated the black color so much; she once suggested using bleach and iron filings (漂白剂和铁屑). It worked. However, it really hurt so I refused to try them again.
One day, something unexpected happened.
“Everyone, you need to invite your parents to school. OK?” the teacher said to us, “the school requires students to bring your parents to school, mainly to discuss your school work.”
Of course it didn’t matter to other classmates, but I… Grandma was the only one who could come to school with me, Hearing what the teacher said, I sighed (叹气) helplessly, “Oh…” The worn-out clothes, the slightly hunched (弓背的) back, and the most terrible thing was the dirty black color on Grandma’s fingers!
I couldn’t tell how worried and frightened I was and I didn’t know what to do. Anyway, I didn’t want the teacher to see the color of my grandma’s fingers. I came home with an unhappy face and said hesitantly (犹豫地): “Well, Grandma, the teacher asked parents to go to school tomorrow.”
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。
I couldn’t help stealing a look at her hands.
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The next afternoon, a classmate told me my grandma was in the teacher’s office.
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