Sally’s birthday was approaching, and the excitement that usually filled her heart was now replaced with disappointment and stress. Turning eleven was a big deal, and she had always celebrated it with a grand party surrounded by her friends. However, this year was different. The burden of excessive homework and her parents’ struggling business weighed heavily on her, forcing Sally to make the difficult decision of not having a birthday party, even though it was an event she enjoyed dearly every year.
One day, during break, her best friend, Jane, with a curious look in her eyes, approached. “Are you going to have a birthday party this year?” Jane asked, sensing Sally’s sadness.
“No,” Sally sighed and replied sadly, “There’s just too much going on and my parents are going through financial difficulties.”
She smiled weakly, trying to conceal her immense disappointment and stress, but Jane saw through her pretence (假装) easily. Jane nodded thoughtfully and did not say anything. After the break, Sally saw her talking to one of their classmates, Sarah, secretively. Curious, Sally went over to them, but as soon as Jane saw her, she quickly walked away. Sally was startled by Jane’s strange actions and turned towards Sarah.
“What did she say?” Sally asked.
However, Sarah simply shrugged and walked away with Jane, leaving Sally standing there, feeling left out and anxious.
What is happening? Sally wondered anxiously. Are they keeping something from me?
As Sally’s birthday drew nearer, Jane was often found chatting softly with her other classmates. Whenever Sally went over to them, they would just walk away or tell her that they were talking about a secret which Sally was not allowed to know. Jane has never kept secrets from me before, Sally thought. Her heart fell. Even her friends were distancing themselves from her! She swung between confusion and sadness with each passing moment, desperately trying to figure out what was happening. Why were her friends distancing themselves from her? And what were they hiding?
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。
On the day of Sally’s birthday, she went to school and found her classroom in total darkness.
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Tears sprang from Sally’s eyes and her face broke into a radiant smile.
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I live in a small but lovely neighborhood. Our house is neither large nor luxurious, but it has a fairly big garden. My father loves his garden. He planted some seeds in it and took good care of the plants, watering them, applying fertilizer, weeding and getting rid of bugs. He was never tired of doing all that stuff. But at that time, I didn’t understand why working in the dirt excited him so much.
Unfortunately, in the summer vacation before senior high school, my father was seriously injured in an accident. He had to stay in bed for a while. My mother had several business trips, so she couldn’t take care of the garden. I didn’t want my father to worry. I said that I would take care of his garden until he recovered. I assumed that the little plants would continue to grow as long as they had water, and luckily it rained fairly often, so I didn’t think much about the garden.
One Saturday morning, my father said to me, “Christine, the vegetables should be about ready to be picked. Let’s have a salad today!” I went out to the garden and was upset to see that many of the lettuce (生菜) leaves and carrots had been half eaten by bugs. There were hundreds of bugs all over them!
I panicked for a moment but then I quietly went to the nearest supermarket to buy some vegetables. When I was making the salad, my mother came home and saw the bag from the supermarket in the kitchen. I was embarrassed and admitted, “Dad would like a salad, but the garden is a disaster. I don’t want to disappoint him, so I went to the store and bought some vegetables.” My mother smiled, saying, “Honey, you know what is the right thing to do.”
Paragraph 1My father seemed very pleased when I took the salad to him.
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Feeling guilty, I decided to do the right thing.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I couldn’t forget the way I was frozen in front of the class today. My teacher, Mr. Liu had divided the class into groups to do speeches. Today was my turn. However, my hands shook so badly that I couldn’t read my notes. My voice became softer even to silence. Mr. Liu kindly ended my part of speech even though I clearly didn’t finish. He also asked me to stay after class for a moment.
“Betty, I know you are shy, but you worked so hard on this project. I’d hate to see you give up on yourself.” Mr. Liu said, “If I give you another chance until tomorrow, do you think you can find courage?” I nodded, grateful for the chance. I went as quickly as I could to my next class, keeping my head down and hoping the school day would end soon.
When I reached home that afternoon, I could see an inviting light coming from the kitchen windows. Mum was baking(烘焙). She studied my face as I came into the kitchen. “What’s wrong, Betty?”
Tears shone in my eyes. I told her the whole story. Mum was silent for a moment with her hands busy with the cake. “Why is it that you can talk to me about anything and everything but you can’t talk to your class?” Mum asked. She set the time right and then said, “Let me show you something.”
I followed her to the bedroom. There she showed me a book filled with pictures. In it there was a blue ribbon(丝带) that said “First Place” and a picture of herself when she was very young, standing with her parents.
“I won it for public speaking. I started the school year as the shyest girl on the speech team, but I ended the year as the blue ribbon winner. It wasn’t easy at first—not sure of myself at all. I worked hard, and mostly I faced my tears. You just need to find your courage.”
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。
Hearing Mum’s words, I stared at the valuable blue ribbon, lost in thought.
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The next day I walked to the front of the classroom to give my speech.
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Tim’s heart raced as he drove to the lawyer’s office. He was bequeathed (遗赠) a mysterious box his dad had never allowed him and his sister to even go near. He signed papers, but was shocked to learn he didn’t get the key to open it and nothing about the key was mentioned in the will. “You’ll have to figure that out!” the lawyer said. Tim left the office, puzzled about what his late dad had left him.
Just then, he remembered his childhood home where he and his twin sister Karen grew up. They had lost their mother just two months after they were born. They were raised by their dad Jonathan, and the two were the best friends! As they grew older, they were drawn to the mysterious box, but their dad warned them never to touch it, and even hung the key on a nail high above the fireplace so that they would never get their hands on its contents. Whatever he was hiding from his kids, he was on guard at all times.
As the years fleeted by, Tim and Karen moved on with their respective lives. And their brother-sister bond went downhill. The twins fought over who would inherit (继承) their dad’s house. Jonathan was heartbroken and whatever trick he tried to reconcile (和解) them, nothing worked. Meanwhile, Jonathan’s health began to decline, and even on his deathbed, he wished his kids would put aside their differences and get back together.
What would Tim do with the inherited box now? He went to his childhood home to find the key. The house no longer appeared like that loving home Tim remembered growing up in. When he reached to grab the key above the fireplace, he sensed someone behind him. “What are you doing here?” screamed Karen, casting the cell phone flashlight on Tim’s face.
“Dad bequeathed me his old chest, and I came here looking for the key. But what are you doing here?”
“Dad bequeathed me the key! So I came here to find the chest,” said Karen, puzzled about his father’s decision.
注意：
1.写作词数应为150左右；
2.请在答题卡的相应位置作答。
“Something had to be wrong,” they thought and stared at each other.
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Tears ran down their cheeks at seeing their childhood photos with their father and mother.
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It was a hot day in Florida. The school year had just ended and it was time for summer vacation. We had just gotten a little black dog who we named One-Eyed. We chose that name because he could only see out of one eye.
Everybody wanted to do something for the dog: feed him, teach him tricks and take long walks with him. Everybody was so happy to have this active, playful and shaggy new addition to our family. Everybody, that is, except my mom and me.
All my mom saw when she looked at the dog was someone else to clean up after. Shedding, messy, muddy, he pounced all over the house. All Mom seemed to care about was getting the house cleaned. My mom began to put Clorox (高乐氏漂白水) in the bathtub. There was no messing with Mom when she started cleaning, so I decided to move out of the way. Actually, getting out of the way is a move I’d been practicing for a long time.
Being the youngest in my family has had its advantages, of course. More than a few times I was spoiled or everyone said I was the cutest. But being the youngest also came with its fair share of troubles. “You’re too young!” “You’ll mess this up!” they’d often say. I knew that my family loved me but I couldn’t wait to show them I could do things by myself.
Every time I asked my brother or my sister if I could pet One-Eyed, they would shout, “No!” or tell me that I had germs and if I touched One-Eyed he would die!I really believed them. Once I even confessed to my mom that I touched the dog when no one noticed. At first,my mom seemed very confused about what I was telling her, but then she realized. My mom scolded my brother and sister, “You better stop teasing your little brother!” Little brother! That’s exactly what I was. That really got my blood boiling! Secretly, I decided, “Ill show them what a little kid can do!”
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。
Paragraph1:That afternoon, I took the dog and sneaked into the bathroom.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2:I thought my mom would punish me, but she was just standing there and laughing.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________My parents were deaf, so I grew up living in two worlds, our private world and the “hearing” world outside. Unlike my mother, my father was deaf because of the fever when he was at school age. Even so, Daddy Ben was undefeated. He transformed pain into humor. “It is better to laugh at life,” he'd say. “It makes easier a hard time.” I began to understand what he meant one evening when my mother signaled to me to phone a message to my father at the shop where he worked. I went to a pay phone nearby and dialed the number.
“I have a message for a man called Ben. He is my father,” I told the man who answered.
“I don't know any Ben here.” The man was impatient.
“He's deaf” I explained.
“Oh, you mean the Dummy. Why didn't you say that before?”
I don't remember the rest of that conversation. All I remember is the word dummy. I had heard my parents described as deaf-and-dumb all through my childhood. I always took pains to explain that although they were deaf, they were not dumb.
“Why do you let your boss call you Dummy?” I asked my father the next day.
He shrugged. “It is easier for them. They remember me.”
I was angry. “You are not a dummy. You are a smart man. Tell them your name is Benjamin.”
He smiled. “It is all right. I know I am not dummy. I listen with my eyes and that is enough.” Locked in stillness, he was pleased with himself. But I was not.
Dummy, I wrote the hateful word many times in my notebook, tore out the page and crumpled it into a ball. My father saw my anger. “Don't worry,” he said in a harsh voice. “I will improve my speaking every day. I will learn new words, and you, Ruth, are my teacher. You are my dictionary. And don't waste your sweet voice. Ask your teachers if you have questions.” I hugged him.
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。
Paragraph 1:
From that moment on, I was determined that no one would call my father by that name again..
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Paragraph 2:
My job of teaching my father also paid me back generously.
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Zack joined our family two years ago. The first time I saw him in a caring center, he was sitting in a corner, lonely and nervous. When I got closer, he tried to avoid eye contact and forced a smile. I could read his struggles in his eyes. Indeed, Zack was different. He was a kid with inborn disorder that made it difficult to manage his anxiety. I gently put my arms around him. Unexpectedly, he responded by giving me a tighter hug. My heart melt. I couldn’t wait to drive Zack home immediately the adoption paper was done.
The life with us was new to Zack. Terrified of insects and always on alert(警戒的) for a storm rolling in, he remained housebound. One March afternoon, we held a family barbecue. Despite my best effort, Zack wouldn’t leave the house. I brought him a plate of food and he watched us from the window. I was upset that he couldn’t enjoy a few minutes of peace in the spring sun.
Anyway, Zack was a joy around, and we tried to meet all his special needs. We were worried that Zack was delayed at schoolwork and needed to attend a speech and language camp, but he refused to go.I begged, and finally bartered(交换).
“I’ll do it for a pet chicken,” he decided.
That’s when Valor, a hen with soft feathers, entered our lives in May. John, my husband, named her Valor, which meant “courage” in ancient English.
No one had expected how the chicken would make a difference, but it did. Once Valor arrived, Zack slowly began stepping out in order to be with her. In turn, we repaid her with treats of tomatoes and sunflower seeds. For some unknown reasons, Valor offered Zack peace and comfort and was content to keep him company wherever he went. To our excitement, Zack talked more and smiled often. He even turned to us with questions about raising pets, making John and me thrilled.
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。
In September, another barbecue came with more new friends.
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When I suggested introducing our new friends, amazingly, Zack stood up.
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“Attention! Everyone! I would like you guys to meet Jose from Mexico. He is a new here, so be nice to him and show him around,” said Mrs Espinoza.
No one talked and the classroom was silent. And then some students stared at Jose and began to whisper to each other. Jose was wearing loose gray pants and a dirty white shirt. His shoes made a short and loud sound when he walked to his desk. Everyone giggled (咯咯地笑) at the sound, but no one talked to him. I wondered how he felt being here and having everyone’s eyes on him and even being laughed at. I wanted to say “Hi” but I was afraid that I might be made fun of for talking to “the new kid”.
In the following days, Jose was lonely and he struggled to fit into the new life. Besides, it was hard for him to learn a new language and make new friends in the new school.
Every day he would sit by himself and eat his lunch quietly, without a word, just focusing on his food. Many of the students would pass by and make unfriendly comments on him. He would just frown (皱眉) and look down at the floor. I wanted to be kind to him but still I couldn’t take the first step.
When I got home, I talked to my sister about Jose. I told her about him being new here and about how the students at school treated him. Then I told her that I wanted to talk to him but I was worried that my friends would make fun of me. She said with a smile, “If they are your true friends, they will stick by you no matter what you do. You know, those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. “The next day, I knew exactly what I was going to do.
Paragraph 1During the lunch time, I got my lunch and walked towards Jose.
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Paragraph 2:
As days went on, I kept talking to Jose but I noticed I was losing some friends.
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My political career in the Student Union(SU)began by throwing frisbees (飞盘) on the campus lawn. I would throw a frisbee to someone I didn’t know and they would throw it to someone they didn’t know. Before long, we had built a community of people who met every day at lunch to throw frisbees.
Besides frisbees, the group decided to climb the mountain near our campus. When we reached the peak, it felt like we were at summer camp. We laughed, danced and told jokes.It was totally fun. While playing like little children in the cool mountain air, we all decided to do it again the following week. Our motto (座右铭) was “Bring a Friend” . We started out with a small group of hikers. But as the word spread, the number of participants increased.We made it a rule to climb the mountain every weekend. All of us were passionate about the fantastic experience, which we were looking forward to.
One day on campus, I decided to throw my frisbee to some strangers, run over and invite them to climb the mountain. Much to my surprise, a girl sitting in a wheelchair got hold of it. Her name was Grace. I asked her if she had ever been to the top of the mountain.She said she hadn’t. Holding the wheelchair tightly, she hung down her head in awkward silence. Then she told me that she had suffered from lung disease when she was young and depended on oxygen twenty-four hours a day. So, it was impossible for her to move without help. Fortunately, things got better.
With continuous efforts and treatment, she managed to live on her own with the assistance of the wheelchair: I told her that my friends and I would carry her if she were up for it. On hearing what I said, she refused without hesitation, adding that it would be a bother to carry her. But I tried my best to persuade her to come along with us by talking about the interesting experiences.
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。
Having thought for a while, Grace still refused my offer.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________On the downhilt path, Grace asked me why not run for the SU election.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“Where’s the rest of my paper?” thundered an angry Papa Bear, storming into the living room. It didn’t take him long to find Brother Bear and the sports section.
“I just borrowed it.” said Brother. Papa snatched it up and plumped down in his easy chair. Brother wandered into the kitchen looking for sympathy from Mama Bear. “Gee,” he said, “what’s eating him?” “Your father looks forward to his evening paper,” Mama said, “and he has a perfect right to be annoyed when half of it is missing — and furthermore, thank you not to refer to your father as him!”
She stomped out of the kitchen.
“Why not? He’s a him, isn’t he? Gosh,” said Brother, “what’s eating her?”
What was “eating” Mama was Sister Bear. Sister had been on the phone with Lizy Bruin for almost an hour.
“But Mama!” she protested when she was told to say good-bye.
“Don’t But Mama’ me!“ said Mama Bear. “This is not your private phone. You’ve had all day to talk to Lizy at school, and you’ll have all day to talk to her tomorrow. So hang up that phone now!”
Sister did as she was told.
“Phew!” breathed Brother as he fell into the seat beside Cousin Fred on the school bus.
“Tough morning?” asked Fred.
“You better believe it!” said Sister, taking the seat Lizzy had saved for her.
The four compared notes on the way to school. The children agreed that while there was no doubt that their parents loved them, they were a little difficult to get along with sometimes. They nagged (唠叨); they said no a lot; and they never wanted kids to have any fun.
“Hey,” said Brother as they got off the bus, “what are we going to do for the Parents Night Talent Show?” “Don’t know,” said Lizzy. “Let’s think about it”
When the four searched their brains, Brother snapped his fingers and said, “I’ve got it! Remember what we were talking about just now?” “Sure,” said Fred. “We were saying how grownups can be a big pain.”
Paragraph one:
“Well,” said Brother, “let’s put on a play about that, and call it...”
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Paragraph two:
Despite the difficulties in the preparation, especially costumes, their big day came finally.
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