It was on a Christmas Eve when I was five years old that my dad upon arriving home from work, informed my mom and me that he would be working the next day, Christmas Day.
My dad, who was the manager of his work station, calmly explained that although he was not scheduled to work, he volunteered to do so.
My mom was visibly upset. “Ren, you work on Christmas day every year. Man, you are not making any Christmas memories with these kids. ”The rest of the evening we were discouraged. My mom and I were both very upset with Daddy.
I awoke on Christmas morning to the sounds of Christmas songs on our huge radio that was stationed in the living room. Mom and Dad were joking about something or the other there. She had apparently forgiven him sometime over the course of the night.
It was Christmas Day! I ran straight for the living room to wish my mom, dad and brother the merriest Christmas ever! After we all greeted each other, we began our usual Christmas morning ritual (仪式): Dad read the Christmas story. After the Christmas story, it was time to dig into the presents under the tree. It was the pink kitchen set, complete with tiny plastic pots, pans, plates, cups and a whole stove in it. It was exactly what I wanted and I was thrilled.
After breakfast, my dad departed.
My mom started on Christmas Dinner. I wanted to help her but I was too distracted (注意力分散的) cooking my own imaginary meal on my new kitchen set. But soon I was bored with that and I joined my mother in the kitchen. “Mom, why does Daddy never get a turn to get a holiday on Christmas?” I asked. However, my mom did not give me a satisfactory answer.
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 rest of the day flew slowly without Dad.
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I decided to ask Dad why he chose not to celebrate with us every year.
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No matter how small you are, you can also give help or support to others. I didn5t understand these words until I saw my grandfather weep that day.
I grew up in Southern California, and my family often went to Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, and Sea World. The highlight of those park visits for me was always the evening activities» when there would be fireworks.
As I grew older and more observant, I noticed that my grandfather would go missing just before the fireworks were scheduled to start and reappear shortly after they finished. I asked my mother about this and was told that Grandpa didn't like to hear the noise of the explosions. They reminded him of the war and his fellows who died in the war. So every time there was fireworks 9 he would go inside the bathrooms until they were done. I felt surprised because my grandfather was such a strong man.
One summer night, somewhere near my tenth birthday, my family and I exited a ride just in time to hear over the loudspeakers, “In only two minutes, the lights will be turned off around the Rivers of America, and Disneyland will present their fireworks in the skies over the park.” At this moment, Grandpa was just in front of me, and when he heard the announcement, he started jogging ahead without a word to anyone. Without really thinking, I took off after him, against the orders of my mother, who repeatedly called after me to stay with the rest of the family. Grandpa, unaware that I was behind him, tried desperately to walk through the masses of people who were stopped in the street waiting for the show to begin.
As he tried to reach the restrooms, the first shell broke in the skies above us. Grandpa paused and looked up, just looking as if he had been hit by a shot. And then he kept moving forward. As shell after shell burst overhead, he struggled forward and almost fell over before he could sit onto a bench nearby.
注意：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。
Instantly, I went forward and was by his side.
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When the fireworks show ended, he straightened suddenly and wiped the tears.
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It was 8 o'clock on Sunday. Amy still stayed in bed, listening to the radio. Her mother, Hannah, asked her to switch off the radio and finish her homework, but she didn't listen. Her mother went out of the room with anger.
Next morning, Amy went to school cursing（咒骂）everyone possible for having to go to school. Even in school, Amy had a reputation（名声）of sorts for all the wrong reasons. She slept in class and did not finish her work. In playtime, Amy had to go out and play, but she tried to find an excuse saying that she was tired when someone caught her walking away.
She came home with leftovers in her lunchbox or other complaint almost every day, and that day was also no different.
"Who can help me to change my daughter?" Hannah wondered.
Hannah never believed in raising her voice or raising her arm on Amy or on anyone for that matter. She believed and wished that her love and patience would one day change Amy.
One day a new family moved into Amy's apartment. They were very friendly people. They wanted to acquaint（使…熟悉）themselves with all the neighbors, so their little girl , Mary, was sent all around the neighborhood to find friends. Soon, Mary carne to Amy's home.
It didn't take much time for Mary to understand Amy. However, she was not put off by Amy's behavior. She knew that she needed to help Amy to change. She told Amy an idea that her teacher had once told the class in her previous school. "Blow a balloon whenever you're angry or upset about something or someone.
At first Amy did not listen to Mary, but Hannah tried her best to tell her that it was fun and brought her a pack of balloons.
That day, Amy wanted to play a guessing game with her mother, but Hannah wanted to finish her chores（杂活）in the kitchen first. Amy got angry.
注意
1.续写词数应为150词左右；
2.请按照如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
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She remembered what Mary told her and thought she would give it a try.
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Amy is a changed person now.
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One day Sofia was shopping with her mom. They both knew they would not be buying much.
They were in a high-class neighborhood and they settled in a small overpriced apartment building at the edge of their county. Sofia's mom chose to move there because the schools in the neighborhood were good. But now it was the first time that Sofia had known that they didn't belong there.
The little girl was looking up at the people as they walked by. Ladies wore five-inch heels ,bright clothing and jewelry while gentlemen wore expensive clothes. A sense of uneasiness started to rise in her chest and she began to feel ashamed of her mother. Mom was wearing cheap clothes and worn-out shoes. Sofia could see the heavy lines around mom's eyes and mouth clearly. Her eyes were tired from working hard to earn enough money to be able to support the family. Sofia felt strongly that her shabby and exhausted mom was so out of the place. She didn't want to be seen with her mom although there was no one important around. How she wanted to have a young, beautiful, and fashionable mom! Now she just wanted to get out of here. However, her mom didn't notice that. Mom was still in high spirits and she insisted on buying a new dress for her lovely daughter.
Now they were standing in the middle of a high-end clothing store and mom was holding a beautiful sweater. “This will look good on you. Do you want it?” mom asked Sofia excitedly.
It was much too expensive, but Sofia almost thoughtlessly answered “yes”. That sweater was so beautiful. She always dreamed of having such one. Wearing it, she imagined she would stand out among her classmates. But just as she was about to try it on, Sofia took a closer look at her mom—a small, tired woman with a big smile; Her clothes were worn and old; The wrinkles in the corner of her eyes deepened; Her hair was too gray for her age. Looking carefully at the thin mother, Sofia choked.
注意：1.续写词数应为80左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Suddenly, mother was beautiful and extraordinarily wonderful in Sofia's eyes.
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An Act of Neighborliness
The skies were dark. A strong wind was blowing hard, cutting my face like a sharp knife. Rain fell in big drops and thunder and lightning flashed across the skies. I shook with cold and fear as I walked home, through the streams of muddy water. Some people were rushing by, completely wet in the heavy rain.
Along the way, I saw some schoolchildren holding their heavy schoolbags tightly and rushing home, I also saw that some road repair work had been abandoned by workers. Obviously, the workers had left in a hurry because of the storm. There were few signs and it was hard to see what was on the road. There were pieces of wood and metal and it looked like a hole had been dug and hurriedly covered with boards.
I moved on but suddenly stopped as I heard some sounds. It sounded like children crying. I quickly turned back and went back to the place from where the sounds came. I was frightened! To my sadness, I found that two small children had fallen into the hole on the road. The boards had moved away with the force of the rushing water. I could hardly see the children as it was dark all around me. I told them that I was going to look for help. I knew the neighbors well, and they all shared a sense of neighborliness, willing to give a hand.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为100左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
I rushed to the nearest house, Mr. Lee’s, and told him about the problem.
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Hearing of what had happened, the children’s parents were in relief.
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I went out to have lunch this morning to meet an old friend. We made a date in a small and peaceful restaurant. We hadn’t seen each other for some time. So I was looking forward to it, and thought it would be a lovely lunch and a wonderful conversation. I dressed myself in my favorite dress and did my hair up. Everything seemed perfect.
When my old friend and I were seated, we first ordered our meal. But there seemed to be something wrong with the lady who took our order. Her expression was horrible and she said rudely, “What’s your order?” “A dish of fish and some rice”, I told her our order in a gentle voice. She took my order and gave me the same unfriendly attitude as she had given to others.
The woman’s bad attitude made me uncomfortable. Considering that I didn't want anything to destroy the happy moods that we had, I didn't say anything else.
As my friend and I were having our meal and talking about the things that happened before, my mind didn’t focus on our talking. I just noticed the lady’s behaviors to other customers. She was not in a good mood and she got into a fight with a customer but I didn’t know why.
When it came to my turn to approach her, I thought to myself, “What can I do here to make her mood changed and make her smile?” And I didn’t want her attitude to spoil the whole warm atmosphere in this small peaceful restaurant.
Surely there must be something I could sincerely compliment (赞扬) her on. Then there it was and I knew instantly. I said to her, “Madam, I don’t know what made you so unhappy, but I know that you must have the most incredibly well spoken and clear voice. It is so good. Like incredibly good.” That was what I could compliment her on.
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When she heard what I had said, her whole face lit up.
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I went back to my seat and I noticed the lady’s whole attitude changed.
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I was born in a secluded village on a mountain. Day after day, my parents dug the yellow dry soil with their backs towards the sky.
One day, I wanted to buy a handkerchief, which all girls around me seemed to have. So, one day I stole 50 cents from my father’s drawer. Father discovered about the stolen money right away. “Who stole the money?” he asked my brother and me. I was stunned, too afraid to talk. Suddenly, my younger brother took the blame, and punishment for me. In the middle of the night, all of a sudden, I cried out loudly. I still hated myself for not having enough courage to admit what I did. Years went by, but the incident still seemed like it just happened yesterday. That year, my brother was 8 years old and I was 11 years old.
When my brother was in his last year of secondary school, he was accepted in an upper secondary school in the central part of town. At the same time, I was accepted into a university in the province. However, my parents couldn’t possibly finance both of us. At that time, my brother walked out, he stood in front of Father and said, “Dad, I don’t want to continue my study anymore.”
Nobody knew that on the next day, before dawn, my brother left the house with a few pieces of worn-out clothes and a few dry beans. He sneaked to my side of the bed and left a note on my pillow, saying “Getting into a university is not easy. I will find a job and send money to you.” I held the note while sitting on my bed, and cried until I lost my voice.
With the money father borrowed from the whole village, and the money my brother earned from carrying cement on his back at a construction site, finally, I managed to get to the third year of my study in the university. That year, my brother was 17 years old and I was 20 years old.
注意：1.续写的词数应为150左右。
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
One day, while I was studying in my room, my roommate came in and told me that a villager was waiting for me.
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From his pocket, he took out a beautiful necklace.
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Everything about moving day was a puzzle. I didn't know anything about our new building on a new street. Our old life was broken into pieces and packed up in piled boxes. I wondered if it would ever fit back together again.
Mom introduced me to our new neighbours, the Chens. Mrs Chen worked with Mom at the job she'd just started. Mr Chen was a famous craftsman(匠人) from China.
Mom said it was a fresh start, but it felt broken to me. I just wanted things to go back to how they had been before.
After the first day at my new school, I walked home alone. Mom had told me she had to work. I was still hoping she'd meet me after the bell. I had to open the door myself with the new key. I felt a bit hungry and went straight into the kitchen, ripping tape from the packed boxes while I searched for a clean plate. My fingers slipped, and something went crashing to the ground.
“Benjamin” cried Mom from the doorway. I didn't hear her come in. “What just broke?” she asked, kneeling to pick up the pieces. In her hands, I recognized the shattered pieces. It was Grandma's bowl. “I can't believe you broke this,” she said.
“Well, I can't believe we have to live here now! I can't believe I have to switch schools, and I can't believe you didn't even meet me after my first day” I ran into my room, slamming the door behind me.
The broom swept across the kitchen floor. Then the click of Mom's bedroom door closed behind her. I sneaked out into the kitchen and found the fragments in the dustbin. There were so many pieces in here, but maybe I could put them back together. Turning the pieces, I tried to match them,but this bowl would never look the same again.
“I'm sorry I yelled,” said Mom, as she opened her door. “Please just throw out the pieces. We can't make a fresh start with broken things.”
As I wandered down the hall, Mr Chen was emptying his garbage.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为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：
“Are you sure you want to throw that out?” he asked.
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I brought the repaired bowl into her room.
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I’d been invited to join a group of people who took water and breakfast to a local park where day laborers gathered, hoping to be chosen for work. My friend Kim and I spoke with a Mexican man in his forties named Natal, wearing a T-shirt and faded jeans. Next to him, on the low wall where he sat, rested a large backpack and a bedroll.
We had a wonderful conversation, ranging from the difficulty of finding work to artwork, from Santa Fe history to Natal’s “beautiful home,” as he described it. Natal told us of his travels in search of work. He had traveled all over the U.S. and Canada, taking jobs where he found them, meeting people, and seeing the sights. He told us he’d especially loved Oregon.
He was filled with praise, too, for the beauty of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains outside Santa Fe and for all the history in the town. We agreed that the area was extremely beautiful. He grinned and told us it was important to appreciate beauty. Then, he invited us to visit him in his home in the mountains. He wanted to show us the beauty of the trees and have us smell the freshness in the mountains. He wanted to be a good host.
We continued to talk and it became clear that Natal’s “home” was a clearing under the trees. His bed was the bedroll he carried with him, spread on the ground under the starlight. He loved it there and wanted to share it with us. We declined, telling him that we were honored by the invitation, but that our classes would keep us too busy to make the trip.
Natal’s love of his “home” was in sharp contrast to my complaint about the water in my pipes not heating up fast enough, about my bedroom ceiling being too low, about not having central air conditioning, about my lack of a fenced yard. How annoying I was! If I was amazed by his appreciation for everything he had, I was completely floored (击倒) by what happened next.
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 have always hated socks and it was a warm June day, so I was wearing no socks.
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He thought I felt his socks weren’t good enough for me.
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“Are you ready for our walk?” Grandma asked the usual question every Friday evening.
“Of course, we are!" We shouted excitedly, ready to talk about the end of the week and fill Grandma in about our week.
Growing up, my sisters and I always knew Grandma had heart problems and couldn't do anything hard, but we did know she would do anything to spend more time with us. Whether it was wanders around the block or walks to the library, Grandma was there by our side.
When I was going into sixth grade, we were told that Grandma only had 2% heart function. Her heart wasn't benefiting her anymore, but she found out that there was a way to live longer: an IVAD. It is a heart pump （起搏器）that replaces the heart, basically, a battery instead of a heart and it's connected to a battery pack by a tube that conies out of the side. Grandma would become a robot with no heart! The Toledo Hospital, the only hospital near us that could do this surgery, offered to do it for Grandma. She, obviously, agreed.
The grey morning of the surgery was rough for our family, as we woke up bright and early to drive to the hospital. That car ride left me with worried thoughts racing through my mind: Will Grandma be okay? Will we ever take another walk around the block?
When we arrived at the hospital, we knew exactly where to go, as we'd been there many times before. After going through those familiar doors and up the stairs, my mom and I walked up to the nurses' desk and asked for Grandma.
“Oh, Mary?” A nurse answered. "She's one of the nicest patients we've had." Then she directed us to the waiting room and told us that only two of us were permitted to go into the ward （病房）at a time to say goodbye to Grandma before she went in for surgery.
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 last two people were Grandpa and me.
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Finally, after the longest morning of my life, the doctor entered the waiting room, smiling.
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