The Hero in My Eye

The day that I met my best friend for the first time, I was anxiously reviewing for an important exam in the local library. Because I kept being disturbed by others, I was unable to make any progress, The last straw was when I heard someone singing behind me. I turned around and gave the person a dirty look. It was a tall girl about the same age as me and she had a slight smile on her face. Standing near the “English Literature” section, she seemed to be looking for a book. “How could she be so selfish (自私的)?” I thought angrily.

I picked up my books, looked into her eyes and said angrily, “Please be considerate in public. I’ve been unable to study because of your terrible singing”

I still hate thinking of that moment. Let me tell you the rest of the story though.

Two hours later, I realized I’d forgotten my most important textbook in the library. What was worse, the library had already closed. I was close to tears. Just then, the phone rang. A soft voice introduced the speaker as Li Hua and asked if I was Jane. After confirming that I was, she told me that she had noticed my book in the library. As my phone number was in it, she called and told me she didn’t live far away and could bring it to me.

Paragraph 1: I sighed (叹息) with relief and agreed to meet her at the store down the road.

Paragraph 2: Can you believe we became best friends?

For years, putting up Christmas lights had been a family tradition for the Patrick’s household. It was an occasion when they would busily prepare for the celebration of Christmas.

Their Christmas light display was always a highlight of the neighborhood and brought much delight to the whole community. Typically, Anthony would invite the neighbors over as they decorated the Christmas tree in the front yard. Emily, who lived next door and had known Sara’s family for long, often came to admire their wonderland of Christmas lights.

In early December, Anthony would string colorful lights all around their roof until it looked dazzling. On the front lawn, he would blow up a large white Frosty the Snowman and a Rudolph with a glowing red nose. Sara always joined in, along with their warm-hearted neighbors, hanging gifts on the tree and playing “White Christmas” over and over to keep everyone in the spirit.

Yet the bad news came in the midst of the festive mood, before they could finish the Christmas decoration. Anthony fell desperately ill. The symptoms suggested acute heart failure and he was soon admitted to hospital. Sara spent days and nights in the ward, attending to Anthony and praying for his recovery, though the hope was slim. On Christmas Eve, Anthony passed away.

It came as a huge blow to Sara. In the following days, she had to manage the funeral while struggling to figure out a way to cover housing and household expenses, and tackling a seemingly endless list of difficult to-dos. Perhaps hardest of all, she had to persuade herself into accepting the loss of her father. It was too much to take.

When she pulled up to the house after a long day on the go, the only thing that could comfort her were the twinkling Christmas lights, which brought her a spark of hope-it felt as if the brightness of the lights could cancel out some of the darkness of the past days’ misfortune.

Wanting to help, Emily shared their story on a community website.

Touched by their kindness, Sara decided to fulfill the lighting decorations, though Christmas was gone.

I walked all the way home from school with my eyes planted on the ground. It had to be around here somewhere. It had to be.

“Watch out!” someone shouted. I looked back and found it was my lab partner Meheer. I was usually glad to see Meheer. He could always make me laugh, even while we were working in class. But today, nothing could cheer me up.

Meheer jumped off his bike. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, I lost a necklace (项链) that used to belong to my grandmother. I thought it might havefallen off on the way to school this morning.”

“What does it look like? I’ll help you find it.”

We searched around the path but found nothing.

“There’s always tomorrow,” said Meheer, patting (轻拍) me on the shoulder. “I have a feeling it will turn up.”

“I doubt it,” I said.

Alone, I stood on the front walk for a minute. I had promised my mother I’d be more responsible. What would she think of me now? Slowly, I walked to the front door, pressed the handle, and stepped inside.

My mother was in the kitchen, cutting carrots for her famous vegetable soup. “You’re late,” she said. “You didn’t tell me anything you had after school today.”

“I’m sorry. I guess I should have called.”

“Kari, you may be in the eighth grade now, but I still need to know where you are. I’m responsible for what happens to you.”

That was my mother: never failing in her responsibilities. I, on the other hand, couldn’t even manage the smallest thing.

“So,” she said, “what was it that kept you at school?”

“I lost Grandma’s necklace,” I blurted out (脱口而出). “I’m so sorry. I looked every wherefor it. Mum, please don’t be angry with me. It was an accident.”

My mother stopped cutting and her expression was one I’d never seen before. She said nothing. Then she walked out of the room. Oh, this was worse than I thought. She couldn’t even stand looking at me. A moment later, she reappeared in the doorway. “Do you remember what I said when I gave you the necklace?” I nodded. “You said I was old enough now to be trusted with greater responsibilities.”

10 . 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。

My dad was always building and repairing things. When he was six, he sawed (锯) the legs of the dining-room table in half so he could sit at it more comfortably. By the time he was ten, he’d formed a bicycle from useless parts. He did the same in his 20s with a used car. Building taught him the value of solving a problem with his own hands.

I was almost seven when one day Dad and I walked by a toy store window. There in the corner was the most unusual doll house I’d ever seen. Little egg-shaped windows were cut into it, with tiny balconies.

“Oh, Daddy,” I said, “isn’t it beautiful? Can you buy it for me as a birthday gift?”

My father looked at the price — $100 — too much in those days. “I think we can’t afford this house,” he joked. I was quite disappointed at the reply and angry. “But I will build one for you,” Dad then added.

Though I had known about Dad’s building skills, I cast a doubtful eye on him and fell into complete silence.

Days later, after the doll house was almost forgotten, Dad, despite all the unfinished projects at home, started making one for me. Night after night, Dad would come home from work very tired, yet he’d always find time to work on the doll house. He cut, sawed, painted, and did all that was necessary. In those days, the small yard was occupied by various instruments that Dad needed and things that Dad produced for later use. Our ears had got used to all the noise. Every morning, I was greeted by something new that Dad had made the previous night. I was so excited. Dad even added a tiny path to the front door.

The doll house was the greatest gift a child could ask for and it kept me company for over ten years.

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。

One day, when getting ready for college in another city, I accidentally dropped it on the ground.

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On Christmas day, entering my room, I was truly amazed by what I saw.

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