It was a Saturday last year, and my husband, David, and I were taking our dog, Joey, for his evening walk. We were on our way home, heading towards a bridge, when I heard a cry ahead.
As we approached, I saw a figure sitting down on the ground, uncomfortably close to the wall. It was a young man, clearly in distress, crying and shouting, his whole body shaking. I froze, suddenly aware of the gravity of the situation. The bridge ran over a high-speed train track and was a well-known suicide spot. A local family had lost their teenager in that exact place a few weeks earlier.
David and I exchanged glances. There was no one around. I knew I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if his death was reported the next day and I’d done nothing.
I inched towards the young man and Joey instinctively glued to my side. I asked him if I could sit down, and then lowered myself on to the ground opposite him, while Joey sandwiched himself between us. I tried a few gentle questions: “What’s your name? How old are you? What do you do?” His answers were simple. “Tommy. 23. Computer. ”
“Are you OK?” I asked. “No, I’m not” he shouted back. He muttered something about a betrayal, not knowing what to do. His emotions were swinging wildly—tears one moment and fierce anger the next. I was desperate to make a connection, asking him where he went to college and feigning(装作) delight as I told him my son had studied there, too. I even found myself recounting the story of Neil Layboum, who had talked a man down from Waterloo Bridge in London 10 years ago.
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I kept talking, trying to alter his mood.
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When the train passed, I let out a sigh.
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As we get older there are certain gifts standing out in our memories for a variety of reasons.
One gift I was given and treasured most was a doll named Patsy. She wasn’t originally mine but was my younger sister’s Christmas gift, but on holding Patsy I immediately fell in love with her and couldn’t bear to part with het. Luckily, my sister was quite happy to exchange dolls. From then on Patsy was my baby and I continued to love her dearly and would have died for her.
Another gift I offered my Mom has been shining in my mind. On a Saturday, I was on my way to the local cinema when I happened to glimpse(一瞥) at the window of the gift shop at the corner of our street. There were lovely gloves, pretty flowered handkerchiefs, and rose patterned teacups and saucers, all in pretty boxes. Seeing all these lovely gifts reminded me that it would soon be Mother’s Day and my mother’s birthday. Wouldn’t it be nice, I thought, if I could give my mother something really special, something I’d bought myself? So I stepped inside the shop and admired a dressing table set, which was a green cut glass with ornamental tray(装饰托盘) and several matching pieces. I was sure my mother would love it.
The lady must have seen my disappointment when she told me the price. But she had a suggestion which immediately lifted my spirits. She pulled out a large notebook and wrote my name in it and the gift I wanted to buy, and in return I paid her a penny from my pocket money. It meant no sweets that day but I didn’t care. At the age of nine, I’d made my very first lay-by(分期付款)…and felt like a grown up. From then on, every Saturday I dropped in at the shop on schedule and paid a penny, which the lady dutifully recorded in her notebook.
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 day before Mother’s Day I paid the last two pence.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Too excited to wait till Sunday, I excitedly presented the gift to my mother.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Several years ago, I traveled by train to Stockholm. I was visiting two friends who were to meet me at the train station. I stood there waiting for my first friend to arrive and in the midst of all the hurrying passengers that Friday afternoon, I heard a weak voice; it sounded like a question. I turned and saw a young man standing with a white cane ( 拐 杖 ) , his suitcase by his feet. I approached and asked,“Do you need help?”“Yes,”he replied, nodding his head, appearing relieved.
He had been trying for some time, unsuccessfully, to get someone’s attention. He had missed his train home. His cell phone battery was dead, and he needed to call his mother to tell her of the circumstances.
This young man named Mustafa, I found out, had just completed his first week at a school for the blind. He went to school on Mondays and returned home on Fridays. Of course I helped him call his mother. I did not understand what he spoke with her on my cell phone, but I could tell the language was Swedish. Of course the next problem was finding the right train home and telling his mother the new arrival time. Yet in this disordered train station, I did not want to miss connecting with my friend Bogdan who was on his way to the spot where we were standing.
Before I could dial the number to call Bogdan, he was suddenly already there. I described the problem and Bogdan took the young man’s arm and we were off on our adventure to help get Mustafa home. While sorting out where his home was, what train, and what time, my second friend Marcello called and wondered where we were. Soon he joined us. It happened that Marcello speaks 12 languages.
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。
Marcello’s gift in language was a great advantage.
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Now we were leading Mustafa to his train.
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Violet sat on the gym floor, waiting for her turn to do somersaults (翻筋斗). She looked at her little sister angrily, Tilly, across the room. This was Tilly’s first week at gymnastics. Violet had done gymnastics for the past two years. Why couldn’t Tilly find her own thing to do? It was the same at home. Tilly followed Violet everywhere.
“Violet, you’re up!” called Violet’s instructor, Miss Taylor. Violet came over and pushed off with her legs and straightened her arms. She did one, two, three somersaults. Miss Taylor clapped. “Perfect!”
Violet noticed that Tilly had stepped away from the younger group to watch Violet’s somersaults. “Tilly!” called Tilly’s instructor, Miss Brooke, from across the room. “Your turn to do somersaults.” Tilly walked nervously. She bent down to start a somersault. When she rolled, she fell heavily on the blanket. Kids laughed in surprise at the noise.
Tilly stood uncomfortably and then ran toward the restroom. She was gone from the gym, as Violet had wanted. But it didn’t feel right. After telling Miss Taylor where she was going, Violet hurried to the restroom. She found Tilly crying hard. Violet put an arm around her sister. Tilly cried. “I don’t want to do gymnastics anymore.” This was Violet’s chance. If she said nothing to her sister, Tilly might quit gymnastics forever.
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。
But Violet knew how excited Tilly had been about joining in gymnastics.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Seeing a smile on Tilly’s face, Violet said, “What about giving it another try?”
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Sam and I had been paired up through a mentoring(辅导）program when he was a first grader. As a former teacher, I missed making an impact on young people, so as soon as I heard of this program for at-risk school kids, I signed up.
At first, it didn't seem as if the two of us were a good match. Sam hardly looked at me； he barely spoke or smiled. I tried everything to engage him. Nothing worked. Week after week. I'd drive 30 minutes to the school, only to sit with a little boy who didn't seem to care whether I was there or not. I was so frustrated (受挫的）.
One day, I noticed Sam wearing an Iron Man shirt. The next week, I brought a board game (棋盘游戏）featuring Iron Man characters. When I opened the box, his eyes up. He dove right in and played the game with me. As I was leaving that day, he looked up at me and said, “See you next week, ’’
He and I built our relationship from there. I would spend his Friday lunch period with him, talking, playing games and just being a friend. Little by little, he opened up to me about his home life. His dad wasn't around. His mother supported the family by working nights at a local factory, so Sam's older sibling took care of him most of the time.
Right then and there , I wished to make sure the two of us always kept in touch — even after the program ended. Now it would be our last Friday lunch together. How could I make sure we had a great meal and he would still remember me?
So I looked for some inspiration for the perfect gift for him. A gift Sam would enjoy holding on to. On Wednesday, I was watching TV and a fast-food restaurant commercial came on, advertising the toy that came in the kids' meals — a small Iron Man toy.
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Suddenly it hit me: Here was the idea I'd looked for! :
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At the school, I sat down with Sam and handed him the bag.
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Terry and Anna are a lovely couple living in Australia. They have been together for almost a year and are ready to take the next step together.
For their one-year anniversary, Terry wanted to surprise his girlfriend with a special present. He decided that he was going to make a necklace for her. He made the main piece of the necklace out of Tasmanian wood, which is a high-quality ornamental timber （木材）used for making furniture and cabinets, as well as other small objects. It was the perfect material for a necklace. That wasn't all. Terry had hidden something within the necklace. This took a lot of time to make sure it was concealed properly. He then purchased a chain and put the two together to make a necklace.
Terry took Anna out to a lovely dinner for the anniversary. After the dinner , he took his handmade necklace out and presented it to her. Anna loved the necklace so much that she put it on as soon as she got it and never took it off again.
Anna and Terry loved traveling together, but Anna was always afraid of flying, and living in Australia provided her with the opportunity to find great vacation destinations that didn't require her to fly. However, Terry wasn't content with traveling in Australia. Though incredibly afraid of flying, Anna decided to face her fear and take a flight.
The couple decided to take a trip to Scotland. They were eager to see the country and explore everything it would offer. Anna was especially excited, as she would have an opportunity to see a friend that she hadn't seen for years.
It was almost two years since Terry had given Anna the necklace. Terry had the idea to open Anna's necklace while they took a trip to the caves in northern Scotland. That was where Terry decided to make his big reveal.
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。
As soon as they reached the caves, Terry asked his girlfriend to take the necklace off.
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Anna saw what was hidden in the necklace and was shocked at what she was looking at!
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Once upon a time, there was a man who was very helpful, kind-hearted, and generous. He was a man who would help someone without asking anything to pay him back. He would help someone because he wanted to and he loved to. One day while walking into a dusty road, this man saw a purse, then he picked it up and found that the purse was empty. Suddenly, a woman with a policeman showed up and caught him.
The woman kept on asking where he hid her money but the man replied, "It was empty when I found it, The woman shouted out angrily, "Please give it back. It's for my son's school fees." The man realized that the woman really felt sad, so he handed her all his money. He could see that the woman was a single mother. The man said, "Take these, sorry for the trouble." The woman left and the policeman held the man for further questioning.
The woman was very happy, but later on she found her money was doubled, which came as something of a shock. One day while the woman was going to pay her son's school fees towards the school, she noticed that some skinny man was walking behind her. She thought that he may rob her, so she approached a policeman standing nearby. He was the same policeman, who she took along to ask about her purse. The woman told him about the man following her, but suddenly they saw that man falling down on the ground. They ran at him and saw that he was the same man whom they caught a few days ago.
He looked very weak and the woman was confused.
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The darkness was gathering as she wobbled(颤颤巍巍）in high heels along the side of the highway. The car had come to an unexpected stop,and like a teenager she did the only thing she could think of...get out and walk.
It was cold and late,and home was far away. This could be a long night. If.only someone would stop and offer her a ride. She prayed for help and dragged herself forward.
The lights of a truck shone from behind as it approached. “Maybe he will stop," she hoped. The brake lights flashed on as it stopped. Next instant, the cab door opened. A wordless invitation was extended and she understood. Without hesitation the girl climbed up into the cab and closed the door. Slowly the truck pulled back onto the road and disappeared into the night, never to be seen again.
I woke up in a cold sweat, alarmed. Was that a dream or was it a vision? It was unbelievably real, and the girl was my daughter! I jumped from my bed and ran to her room. Her bed was empty.
I stood in horror trying to think why she had not come home. As the mental fog began to lift,I remembered she was visiting her friend that evening. Perhaps she stayed there for the night. It was 1:30 a.m.,but I raced to the phone and dialed a number.
“Hello?”The voice was heavy with sleep.
“Hey. Sorry to wake you. Becki didn't come home tonight and I was wondering if she stayed at your place?"
“No,she left here a few hours ago. She should have been home at least by midnight!” The voice on the other end began to reflect my own panic.
Over the next forty-five minutes I alternated between lying in pray and pacing the floor in anxiety.
At 2:15 a.m. lights appeared as a car turned up on our long driveway. I could tell immediately that it was not my daughter's car.
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。
My face pressed against the window and I found it hard to breathe.
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“Mom,she gave me a ride home."Becki said.
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In our kitchen,there was a wooden table and three chairs-one for Pa,one for Ma,and one for me.I tried not to look at Pa's empty place.Pa had gone to the city to look for work.He had been gone for a long time.
Every night,lying awake in bed,I waited for the train to stop,waited for the sound of his work boots dropping on the step,and waited for his voice calling,“I'm home!"
Every night,as I lay there,I stared at the window and the curtains Ma made from empty flour sacks(面粉袋）。Sometimes the train stopped-for someone else' s Pa coming home.Not mine,not yet.
Every night,Ma came to kiss me good-night-after the train had gone by.She had been listening,too. “Go to sleep.Your Pa will be home soon.Maybe for Thanksgiving.”
How could I be thankful without my Pa?
I went to sleep with the sound of train wheels in my head,whispering,“Maybe tomorrow,maybe tomorrow.”
One morning,the smell of coffee woke me.I ran into the kitchen.There he was!Pa lifted me onto his shoulders."How's my boy?You've gotten so big that I can barely lift you up anymore.”
He put me down,and I stared at the two sacks on the table.One said FLOUR.I tried reading the other: S-U-G-A-R.Pa whistled admiringly and winked(眨眼）at me.Ma didn't say no when Pa sprinkled(撒）a bit of that precious white sugar on my bread.
Ma said,"I'm going to bake a pie for your Pa's homecoming dinner.Go downstairs,Jimmy,and bring me that jar of apples."She smiled at me with a"mind now"look.
There was no need.I knew how to be careful.It was the last jar-the one we had been saving and saving to welcome Pa home."When Pa comes home,there' ll be apple pic."I could hardly remember what pies tasted like.
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。
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I took the steps two at a time.
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Seeing this,I felt like crying.
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We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.
Growing up, I wanted to be just like my mom. Kind and caring, she always seemed to make people comfortable in her presence. For years she was a volunteer in our community. I loved going to the local nursing home to help with her until I hit my preteen years. Suddenly, I was too caught up in my adolescent world to worry about helping others.
One particular summer day when I was twelve, Mom came into my room and told me to get up and meet her at the car. I had planned to spend the day at the lake with friends. Why did she have to ruin everything? Eventually, I made my way outside. I imagined the lake water cooling my skin. Annoyed, I climbed into the car and slammed the door shut. I sat in silence, too upset to make a conversation.
“Tasha, would you like to know where we are going?” Mom asked calmly.
“I guess…,” I murmured under my breath.
“Sweetheart, we are going to a children’s shelter, I have been there before and I think it would benefit you,” she explained.
I felt a knot slowly form in my stomach. How was I supposed to help there?
When we reached the shelter, I was rather surprised. It was a large white Victorian home. As we approached the large front porch, wind bells played a calming tune while trees and blossoms welcomed us. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad.
Mom rang the doorbell. The door flew open and we were led to the front room, where all of the children were playing. Toys were spread out across the floor. I noticed a baby whose body was scarred with wounds. The majority of the children had noticeable physical scars（伤疤） such as cuts, scratches and burns. What a terrible life they had before they moved here! My heart sank.
As I was looking around, I felt a gentle pull on my shirt.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I returned to the shelter with Mom several times._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
