Shanti wanted the wooden doll in Ramu’s toy shop. “The one with the red dress.” she told her best friend, Jodi.
“How will you afford it?” Jodi asked
Shanti smiled. “I asked my mom if I could make jasmine garlands (茉莉花环) and sell them at my aunts market stall(摊位). Want to do that，too?” “Good idea!” said Jodi.
Early the next morning, the girls met at the jasmine bushes outside of Shanti’s house. They picked the flowers, dropped them into a basket and then sat under a tree knotting( 捆 扎 )the flowers into garlands. Shanti could already see herself hugging that beautiful doll.
“If we sell enough garlands, we can each get a doll,” said Shanti
Jodi shook her head. “My family is low on money this week. I'll use my money to pay for Kiran’s medicine.” Kiran was Jodis little brother. “Is he sick?” Shanti asked. “He is. But when he gets his medicine, he’ll be fine.” Jodi picked up her garlands. “My mother is expecting me. I’ll meet you at the market.”
Shanti spent the afternoon selling garlands at her aunts market stall. But where was Jodi? By early evening Shanti had sold all her flowers.
Shanti was on her way home when she saw Jodi heading to the market with her garlands. “Why are you so late?” Shanti asked.
“I had to watch Kiran while my mother did her work,” Jodi said “Why didn’t you take him with you?” Shanti said.
Jodi shook her head. “He’s too sick to go out. He coughs and coughs.”
Shanti knew Jodi wouldn’t make enough money for the medicine now. The market would be closing soon.
Shanti looked at the money in her hand. It was supposed to be for the beautiful doll she’d been dreaming of for so long. Then she looked at her friend’s tired face. “Here. Keep this for the medicine.” Shanti put her money into Jodi’s hands.
That night, Shanti cried, thinking about the doll. What if someone bought it before she’d saved up enough again?
Paragraph 1:
The next week, while Shanti and Jodi gathered flowers, Kiran came, too.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
Unfortunately, Ramu told Shanti someone had bought the doll.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I was sitting in a taxi,wondering if I had overdressed for the evening,when I looked out of the window and saw Mother rooting through(翻找）a dustbin.It was just after dark in March.I was stuck in traffic two blocks from the party where I was heading.
Mother stood fifteen feet away.She had tied rags around her shoulders to keep out the spring cold and was rooting through the trash.Her eyes widened with childish joy when she found something she liked.She looked like any of the thousands of homeless people in New York City.It had been months since I laid eyes on Mother,and when she looked up,I was afraid that she would see me and call out my name,and that someone on the way to the same party would see us together and that my secret would be out.
I slid down in the seat and asked the driver to turn around and take me home.The taxi stopped in front of my building,the doorman held the door for me,and the elevator man took me up to my floor. The apartment was silent except for the click of my heels on the polished wood floor.I felt ashamed when I saw Mother rooting happily through the dustbin.I looked around the room.I'd tried to turn it into the sort of place where the person I wanted to be would live.But I could never enjoy it because I worried about my parents on a sidewalk or somewhere else.I was ashamed of myself for wearing pearls and living on Park Avenue while they were busy keeping warm and finding something to eat.I hated myself-hated my clothes and my apartment.
What could I do?I'd tried to help them countless times,but they would insist they didn't need my help.They said that they were living the way they wanted to.And I just accepted who they were.
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:
I had to do something,so I called my mother.
Paragraph 2:
After she heard that, her smile faded.
Several years ago I worked in an international company selling computer devices. At the time I had to travel around the country as a part of my work. I remember clearly that I was at a stage of my life where I only cared about how to earn more money.
Once, I went to the airport to take a bus to downtown as usual. The routine was as follows: get into the city, take the bus to the hotel, visit the customer, work late, take the bus back to the airport and fly back. . . Somehow, that day I decided to take the stairs down to a different exit, where I found a beautiful garden I had never seen before. I waited there and enjoyed the scenery until the bus came.
I was used to the seat behind the driver. However, that day I sat on a seat in the middle and a boy was seated next to me and he was carrying a great many suitcases. He turned to me suddenly and gave me one of the most sincere smiles I had ever seen from a stranger. He said warmly, "hi, the perfect day in the perfect place, isn't it?"
I remember saying to myself-this must be one of those typical people who is young and just thinks everything in the world is beautiful and easy. Why was he annoying me when I just wanted to enjoy the bus ride? But out of politeness, I answered, “Really perfect! Did your dear parents pay for you to have some vacations on the beach?” “No, I don't have parents and I'm not here for vacation.” He shook his head instantly, “I'm here to achieve my biggest dream. Actually, I'm on the way to the army school where my grandfather studied a long time ago.”
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:
I lost my dad 8 years ago then my mom married again. My stepfather……
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
He told me that for 8 years, he had only one thing in his mind to……
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
One day, six-year-old Pete stepped out of his house to buy a lollipop(棒棒糖). It had rained all night long. But now the sun was shining, and the wind was blowing all over the pavements， blowing the rain away. Pete got on his tricycle(三轮脚踏车) and rode away. He felt excited since this was the first time he had gone to a shop on his tricycle. “I’ll ride through every puddle(水坑),” he said to himself.
He rode right through the first puddle, and splashes of water flew up in the air. But when he looked around, the puddle was still there. Behind his tricycle was a long black line. His front wheel had made it when it came out of the puddle. Pete noticed it and he was pleased. “I meant to do that,” he laughed. (But he hadn’t really.) So he rode right through the next puddle, and his black line shone behind him. But now, when he looked around, instead of one black line there were three, because this puddle was a very big one, and all three of the wheels had gone right into it. “I’m an engine-driver,” cried Pete. “And those are my railway lines. Oooo! Ooooooo!”
And he pedaled through every puddle he could see. Sometimes it was a small puddle, and then there was only one railway line. And sometimes it was a middle-sized puddle, and then there were two railway lines. And sometimes it was a very big puddle, with a lot of sky in it, and then the whole tricycle went through it, and there were three railway lines.
Suddenly Pete remembered that he was going to the shop on the corner to buy a lollipop. He put his hand in his pocket to make sure his two pennies were still there. One of them, two of them… Pete felt each of them with his fingers. “It was good of me to remember,” he told himself. “I’m a very good rememberer.”
Paragraph 1:
As he stopped for a break, a little cat came out of a house.
Paragraph 2:
Just then a lady ran out of the house.
An 80yearold man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45yearold highly educated son．Suddenly a crow(乌鸦) perched on their window.
The father asked his son，“What is this？”The son replied，“It is a crow.”
After a few minutes，the father asked his son the 2nd time，“What is this？”The son said，“Father，I have just now told you‘It's a crow.’”
After a little while，the old father again asked his son the 3rd time，“What is this？”
At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the son's tone when he said to his father with a rebuff.“It's a cow，a cow.”
A little while later，the father again asked his son the 4th time，“What is this？”
This time the son shouted at his father.“Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again，although I have told you so many times‘IT IS A CROW’．Are you not able to understand this？”
A little while later the father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary，which he had maintained since his son was born.
On opening a page，he asked his son to read that page.
When the son read it，the following words were written in the diary：
“Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa，when a crow was sitting on the window. My son asked me 23 times what it was，and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated but I rather felt affection for my innocent child.”
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：
After reading the diary，
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2：
Feeling ashamed，the son got down on his knees before his father.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
It was Christmas Day. Pappy was working alone fixing an old lantern in the backroom when he heard the ringing of his bell on the shop door. The bell, which produced a uniquely pleasant sound, had been in Pappy’s family for over a hundred years. He valued it dearly and enjoyed sharing its song with all who came to his shop. Although the bell hung on the inside of the main door, Pappy had tied a wire to the screen door so that it would ring whether the inner door was open or not. Hearing the bell, he left the backroom to greet his customer.
“And how can I help you, little lady?” Pappy’s voice was joyful.
“Hello, sir.” The little girl spoke almost in a whisper. She looked at Pappy with her big brown eyes, and then slowly scanned the room in search of something special. Shyly she told him, “I’d like to buy a present, sir.”
“Well, let’s see,” Pappy said, “who is this present for?”
“My grandpa. It’s for my grandpa. But I don’t know what to get.”
Pappy began to make suggestions. “How about a pocket watch? It’s in good condition.” The little girl didn’t answer. She had walked to the doorway and put her small hand on the door. She shook the door gently to ring the bell. Pappy’s face seemed to glow as he saw her smiling with excitement.
“This is just right,” the little girl said. “Momma says grandpa loves music.”
Just then, Pappy’s expression changed. Fearful of breaking the little girl’s heart, he told her, “I’m sorry, Missy. That’s not for sale. Maybe your grandpa would like this little radio.”
The girl looked at the radio, bowed her head, and sadly sighed, “No, I don’t think so.”
In an effort to help her understand, Pappy told her that the bell had been his only companion, for the rest of his family were all gone now, except for his estranged daughter whom he had not seen for nearly a decade.
注意：
所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
续写部分分为两段，每段开头语已为你写好；
Paragraph 1:
With a giant tear in her eye, the little girl looked up at him.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
Later that evening when Pappy was closing up the shop, he heard a familiar ringing.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
One day when I was 12, my mother gave me an order: I was to walk to the public library, and borrow at least one book for the summer. This was one more weapon for her to defeat my strange problem, my inability to read.
In the library, I found my way into the “Children’s Room”. I sat down on the floor and pulled a few books off the shelf at random. The cover of a book caught my eye. It presented a picture of a beagle. I had recently had a beagle, the first and only animal companion I ever had as a child. He was my secret sharer, but one morning, he was gone, given away to someone who had the space and the money to care for him. I never forgot my beagle.
There on the book’s cover was a beagle which looked identical to my dog. I ran my fingers over the picture of the dog on the cover. My eyes ran across the title, Amos, the Beagle with a Plan. Unknowingly, I had read the title. Without opening the book, I borrowed it from the library for the summer.
Under the shade of a bush, I started to read about Amos. I read very, very slowly with difficulty. Though pages were turned slowly, I got the main idea of the story about a dog who, like mine, had been separated from his family and who finally found his way back home. That dog was my dog, and I was the little boy in the book. At the end of the story, my mind continued to the final scene of reunion, on and on, until my own lost dog and I were, in my mind, running together.
Paragraph 1:
My mother's call returned, me to the real world. I suddenly realized something.
Paragraph 2:
And years later, she was proud that her son had read thousands of books, and was awarded a PhD in literature.
As the mother of an eleven-year-old girl, I have read several books that tell parents how to bring up a girl to be beautiful, elegant, confident, and rich. However, I have always believed that girls need to be brave above all else, but this is easier said than done.
I still remember I couldn’t see the screen directly when my daughter switched to the animal channel, which was broadcasting a show about snakes. I stood as far away from the TV as possible, too scared to open my eyes. However, my little angel was not scared of the snakes. In fact, she watched the show with a keen interest. I was relieved that my daughter didn’t get too many genetic phobias(遗传恐惧症). Even to this day, she is still obsessed with challenging herself with new things.
This year, I got a chance to study in Singapore for six months. After the novelty of the first few days had gone, I found myself missing my family. With the summer vacation approaching, my husband agreed to make good use of the fact that I was staying in Singapore. He brought our daughter out to visit me and to enjoy the new experience in a new country.
The reunion day finally came. My husband and my daughter arrived in the second week of July. I was so looking forward to seeing them. I had made many preparations for their visit. On the first day, I arranged for us to see Gardens by the Bay. When we walked out of the MRT station, we were amazed by the sight of the Super Trees. When my daughter saw lots of people walking on the Skyway, she couldn’t help shouting excitedly that she wanted to have a try. The Skyway is a 22-meter-high suspension bridge from which you can enjoy a birds eye view. Last time I came here with my friends, I firmly rejected their repeated attempts to challenge me to go up there. It was like the day with the snakes all over again. But could I really reject my little angel?
Paragraph 1:My daughter was waiting for my reply. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:Halfway across the bridge, I had to stop. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Growing up, I understood one thing about my dad: He knew everything. This was our relationship, in sum: I asked him questions and he told me the answers. Is there really a man on the moon? How do sailboats work? What is the highest score anyone has ever gotten in Pac-Man?
In my teen years, he taught me things I’d need to know to survive in the real world. How to drive a car. How to check your car tire’s pressure. The correct knife to use to cut melon.
When I moved out on my own, I called him at least once a week, usually when something broke in my apartment and needed to know how to fix it: the toilet; the air-conditioning; the wall, once, when I threw a shoe at a terrifying spider.
But then, eventually, I needed him less. I got married, and my husband had most of the knowledge I lacked about gutter cleaning and water heaters and harmless insect removal. For everything else, we had Google.
I don’t know when it happened, but our conversations when I called were shortened to six words. Me: “Hi, Dad.” Him: “Hi, sweets. Here’s Mom.” (Because her, I still needed—What’s your chicken recipe? Do I need to call the doctor for my daughter’s fever?)
I loved my dad, of course, but I wondered at times if maybe he had already shared everything I needed to know. Maybe I’d heard all his stories. Maybe, after knowing a man for 40 years, there’s nothing left to say.
Then, the past summer, my husband, our four kids and I moved in with my parents for three weeks while our house was being decorated. It was the first time that I had lived with them since I got married.
They own a lake house, and Dad asked me to help him repair the walls. ___________________________________________________________________________
A few weeks later, after my family moved back into our own house. _______________________________________________________________________
