There is nothing more wonderful than the smell of the Adirondack air! It fills your lungs with purity and freshness that motivates a love for living. Every weekend in the summer, my father would plan a trip from our home in upstate New York to one of the splendid lakes nestled among the tall pines and thick forests of the Adirondack Mountains. There were no favorites; instead, each lake was an adventure to explore and enjoy.
One trip that I will never forget was a visit to Oneida Lake at the foothills of the mountains. After arriving at the lake beach area, we emptied the car of our picnic supplies, towels, blankets and beach chairs, carrying them through a wooded path that seemed like a forever distance. Once we located the perfect picnic spot, my dad, sister and I ran into the splashing waves with our beach ball, leaving my mother behind to “set up”. In the lake, we immediately played “monkey in the middle” for at least an hour, and then after retiring the ball, my father let us dive from his knee, throwing us up in the air and turning us over like thick pancakes on a grill. This timeless game went on and on as our begging for “more, more” never stopped.
When we finally tired of our games, my dad stopped to watch my older sister. She loved synchronized swimming and started practicing skills that her team used in competition. My father, being an athlete himself, was absorbed in her show. I was sad that no one was playing with me; no one was watching me. I became bored and jealous watching her show off. I was in sulk and decided to swim by myself and try some of sister’s skills on my own in deeper water, far from both of them. The waves were getting stronger, but I didn’t care. I just wanted to do what my sister could do so that I could catch my father’s attention.
注意：
1.所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2.至少使用5个短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4.续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
As I took a breath to try a dive, a huge wave swallowed me.
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Paragraph 2:
It was my dad!
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His father said, “All set, boy?” and Johnson nodded, picking up his gun with awkward gloved bands. His father pushed open the door and they went out into the freezing dawn together. Ordinarily Johnson would take out his camera to record the scenery, but not this morning. This was the morning, particularly sacred, when 14-year-old Johnson would go duck hunting for the first time.
However, he hated it, and had bated the whole idea since his father bought him a gun. But he was determined to go through with it. He loved his father, and wanted his approval more than anything in the world
They came to a narrow and hidden place facing the bay. Johnson sat down nervously and waited. To reduce fear be took 8 picture of his father against the clean water. Then be put the camera hurriedly on the grass and picked up his gun.
Johnson got his gun ready. “I'll let you shoot first,” his father said, loading his own gun. “You know, I've been waiting for a long time for this day. Just the two of us...” He broke off, bending forward, eyes narrowed. “There's a small flight heading this way now. Keep your head down. I'll give you the word.”
The sun came out. Johnson could see everything clearly: his father's face, tense and eager, the white frost on the gun. His heart was beating wildly. He prayed, “Don't let them come, please!”
But they kept coming. “Four black,” his father said. “One mallard (绿头鸭).” High above, Johnson heard the pulsing whistle of wings as the fight began to circle. The mallard was leading, his feet dropping down, reaching for the silver-colored water. Closer, clos... “Get set,” his father whispered,
“Now!” cried Johnson's father. “Take them!”
Johnson felt his body obey. He stood up, holding the gun. In the same instant, the wild ducks saw the gunners and flew. “Shoot!” said something sharply in Johnson's brain. But up went the mallard higher still, until suddenly it caught the full force of the wind and flew away, out of range.
注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 至少使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3. 续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
His father asked in a controlled voice, “Why didn't you shoot?”
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To Johnson's surprise, his father was handing the camera to him.
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When Micah was a child, I used to do many things with her. Later, I got promoted and was always on constant business holidays. 3 years' devotion to work resulted in my absence from her life and now she was a teenage girl. Recently, I eventually managed to have abundant time to accompany her.
For the last few weeks, Micah had watched mockingbirds make a nest in a tree and lay eggs there. Sometimes, I came to accompany her without being invited. But whenever I made an attempt to break the ice, “I'm good” was about all she said to me. Code for “Leave me alone”.
“Why doesn't she want to do things with me?”I thought as I set the table for dinner one evening, hoping for an emotion bridge to reappear between us. Did she feel hurt with my long absence or feel ignored ? Lost in thought, I was seeking to mend the relationship.
“Mom!” Micah yelled suddenly. “Come quick!”
Surprised, I rushed out, only to find a little baby bird on the ground, weak and helpless. My eyes went to the branches above.
“The wind must have blown him out of the nest,”I said.
“No, it was Mr. Whiskers -our cat. You let him go outside!” Micah said, a bit annoyed.
Looking at the nest without the parents, “I'm sorry,”I said and put the bird in my palm cautiously and gently. She didn't respond, but did not refused my offer to help, either. Deciding to take care of the little baby till it became independent, I placed it in its nest. “What should we do next?” I asked. No response again. Instead, Micah went inside and hopped on her iPad. “Bird videos?” I asked. “Yes, I'm finding out what to feed it,” she said seriously.
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。
Paragraph 1:
She was more focused than ever.
Paragraph 2:
Before long, the bird food was delivered and we fed the bird "Chance" at once.
What Makes an Ideal Friend?
To say what an ideal friend is is not the easiest thing to do. Each person has his or her own opinion of what one would be. However, speaking generally, there are certain features that most people consider characteristic of an ideal friend. Loyal, trustworthy, and open to show weakness are common qualities that the majority of people attach to ideal friends.
Loyalty is a usual quality given to ideal friends. According to Psychology Today, “Loyalty is valued early on in all of our relationships, from the time we make our first friendships. We need friends who won’t spill our secrets to others, gossip about us, or allow others to criticize us”. The worst action between friends is not keeping one’s word.
Ideal friends are also usually referred to as being trustworthy. In a statement by Psychology Today, they say that, “Trustworthiness is often the “make or break” element in any interpersonal relationship. Any unfaithful action, regardless of recognized degree, can destroy a relationship. Trustworthiness consists of several elements, including honesty, dependability, and loyalty, and while each is important to successful relationships, honesty and dependability have been identified as the most vital in the area of friendships”. In light of this, a universal complaint of friends is a lack of honesty, and this is at the heart of being trustworthy.
In line with being honest is also the ability to show one’s weaknesses. According to the Book of Life, “The ideal friend doesn’t try to prove how powerful and successful they are; on the contrary, quite often they let us know awkward and potentially embarrassing things about themselves. They show how much they trust us by confessing failings and sorrows which would open them up to possible disgrace from the world beyond. They offer us the gift of their defenselessness”. That openness is treasured, as to be close to an individual, one must be willing to share his or her true feelings and states.
要求：文章必须包括描述和评论两部分；
注意：1. 词数 80左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
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“Going to Nationals!” We were all screaming and jumping. Kate, Jenny, Wendy and I embraced each other, bouncing. “Good job, Tara.” Said Kate as she put an arm around me. I am the youngest on the relay race team, but I'm fast. When I run, I leave the skin of my shyness behind, and I feel like a horseman on the Mongolian grassland, free, without boundaries.
Everybody ran to their parents in the bleachers ( 露天看台). My Mom didn’t make it. Again. I grabbed my phone and called her. It took a while for her to answer. “Yes, hi dear.” “Mom, we won states, and we are going to nationals.” I burst out in one breath. “Great! Let’s talk later; I’ll pick you up from school.” I wanted to say: “Is that it? Why aren’t you proud of me? All other parents are here, why aren’t you?” but all I did was“OK, see you soon.”Does she see me? Do I matter?
It was late after 9 PM. All the parents picked up their children, but my Mom wasn’t here yet. Coach Johnson waited with me. We just stood. A speeding car turned the corner; it was my Mom’s Toyota. Coach patted me on the back and left.
“I am so sorry I am late.Time just flew.” Said Mom. I wanted to cry in disappointment and tell her that I hate to be always last to be picked up and never have her come to my sporting contests, school plays, or anything else; ask her why she won’t make time for me. But when I looked at her and saw her tired eyes and clenched jaw (咬紧下巴), I just said: “That's OK, Mom, I understand.” Her jaw had stayed clenched since we came to this country as Mom would say: “with two pieces of luggage, a three-year-old (me), and $700.”
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。
Nationals finally came and my Mom came for the first time ever.
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I had let everybody down and I ran out to hide myself
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The passengers on the bus watched with sympathy as Susan made her way carefully up the steps. She paid the driver and then, using her hands to feel the seats, settled in one of them.
It had been a year since Susan became blind. As the result of an accident she was suddenly thrown into a world of darkness. Susan’s husband Mark watched her sink into hopelessness and he was determined to use every possible means to help his wife.
Finally, Susan felt ready to return to her job, but how would she get there? She used to take the bus, but she was now too frightened to get around the city by herself. Mark volunteered to ride the bus with Susan each morning and evening until she could manage it by herself.
For two weeks, Mark accompanied Susan to and from work each day. He taught her how to rely on her other senses, specifically her hearing, to determine where she was and how to adapt to her new environment.
At last, Susan decided that she was ready to try the trip on her own. Monday morning arrived. Before she left, she hugged her husband tightly, her eyes filled with tears of gratitude (感激). She said good-bye and, for the first time, they went their separate ways. Each day went perfectly, and a wild excitement took hold of Susan. She was doing it!
注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 至少使用5个短文中标有下划线的关键词语；
3. 续写部分分两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；
4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph1：
On Friday morning, Susan took the bus to work as usual.
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Paraghaph2:
Tears of happiness poured down Susan’s cheeks.
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You would think that after hearing Mom and Dad talking about The Trip for a year, I would be eager to go. But I didn’t even want to think about it. “Aren’t you excited?” asked Dad, looking up from his laptop. “This is the trip of a lifetime. I’ll bet none of your friends will be driving across the United States this summer.”
Exactly, I thought. Nobody I knew was going to pile into an old van, and drive from California to New York and back in 58 days. Fifty — eight days! That was practically my whole summer! But I knew it was useless to protest.
When Dad was offered a summer off for the first time in his career, he said that he would always dreamed of driving across the country. So we were going. That was Dad’s chance.
I picked up my cat, Max, and buried my face in his fur. He pawed at my ears playfully. Goodbye, summer vacation. Goodbye, diving at the lake. Goodbye to hanging out and doing absolutely nothing. Good bye, Max. I was going to miss this ball of fur. I put him down and laughed as he batted a button across the floor like a soccer player. He was interested in all small objects.
The closer the trip got, the harder it was going to ignore. Thick envelopes arrived from places like Indiana, Tennessee and Arkansas. Night after night, Mom and Dad huddled around the computer, plotting every inch of our 8,000-mile journey.
Three days after school got out, The Trip finally came. Everything was packed and ready to go. Mom said that we are supposed to leave at 9 a. m. But when Dad noticed a wet spot under the van, I realized we wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while. Dad crawled under the van. Car parts sprang up around the van like mushrooms.
Minutes turned into hours. By the time Dad gave Mom the news, it was late afternoon. “I fixed the leak.” said Dad, “But now I couldn’t find one of the fan bolts (螺栓).” Mom organized a search, but in vain.
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。
Dad called the stores but none carried the bolt that fitted this old van.
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Then it hit me. “Max!” I shouted, “Find Max!”
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Fifteen years ago, I was born in a big family. I had been taught that money couldn't buy everything ever since I was a little kid. My parents are the most hard-working people I have ever seen. As much as my parents tried to teach me these values, some could only be learned through personal experiences.
As a child, I would sit in the church trying to concentrate on the words of the priest (牧师), but my attention was soon attracted by the shining gold and the diamonds worn by the Saturday churchgoers. As my eyes began to wander, I noticed men dressed in their tailored suits and shirts accompanied by women in their designer dresses with matching handbags and shoes.
My family, on the other hand, was the opposite of rich. Our hand-me-down clothes had been washed so many times that the colors had become dull and lifeless. Although this revealed the money struggles of our large family, our faces were always washed and hair neatly combed. When sitting on the old big red and white truck after the service, I pictured the lives led by those driving their brand-new cars, wishing I would be one of them.
I never stopped those fantasies, even when I was in middle school. Since it was a private school, most of the children came from wealthy families. As a result, I constantly felt ashamed. Although I could hide my lack of wealth at school by wearing our school uniforms, my poverty was embarrassingly apparent on weekends with my classmates wearing designer jeans and I had no choice but to wear my sisters’ old jeans. I never fitted in with my classmates. To my relief, there was only one girl named Julie who opened her heart to me. I was attached to her like a shadow. Soon, her birthday was approaching. Julie invited me to attend her birthday party.
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：
However, I grew upset as I couldn't afford a gift.
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When she opened the gift box, my heart was too nervous to beat.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________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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