Several years ago, I was living in New York and working for an airline, so I never got back home for Christmas. My Christmas was happy too with some other colleagues around. But in my heart, I was sad because I couldn’t stay with my family. Sometimes my colleagues would say our Christmas was filled with tears. But this Christmas was different. I was lucky. I had the whole day off, which meant I could stay with my family on Christmas Eve.
When Christmas miming came, I awoke to a small hand rubbing my face. “Dad. Merry Christmas!” was all my younger son had time to say. He seemed to be racing against time. I knew he was hunting for gifts with his brother eagerly. I got downstairs just to see the two little boys’ faces as they looked at the pocket rockets Santa Claus had left them. I realized that the real Christmas was for the children who had deep belief in the amazing power of Santa Claus. At first, their fingers went almost shyly over their toys. When their inspection (检查) had been completed, the two boys ensured that the gifts were really delivered by Santa Claus and they dragged everything into the center of the living room.
Delight flooded the room. As their mother began giving out gins, I smiled to myself, wondering how my unexpected gifts this year would be received. With so many Christmas spent outside, I had prepared so many gifts for my children and together with my wife I hid them in several secret places. But the children were excellent detectives and they found all of them. They were happily opening packages constantly thanking considerate Santa Claus for his kindness and ability to know their desires. But had not received a single one. I knew they had forgotten my existence with my absence from their Christmas these years.
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 had to admit that my disappointment was growing steadily.
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Suddenly my wife walked up to me.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________My crippled(瘸腿) grandmother was dancing. I stood in the living room doorway, absolutely shocked. I heard her sing when I opened the door but did not want to interrupt her by shouting I had arrived. She was wearing beautiful dancing shoes and her legs obeyed her perfectly. As long as I could remember, she was once the pet of the dancing world. But it was all over after a sudden accident. She had always limped(一瘸一拐地走)，helped with a cane(拐杖).
She turned around and saw me standing in the doorway. Her song ended, and her beautiful movements with it. Grandma turned towards the kitchen. She was walking with no difficulties in her beautiful shoes. I followed her, not believing my eyes.
“So…” I asked surprisedly but happily, “How did your leg heal（康复）?”
“To tell you the truth—my legs have been well all my life,” she said.
“But I don’t understand!” I said, “ I mean… You pretended all these years?
“Very much so,” Grandmother closed her eyes, “And for a very good reason.”
“What reason?”
“Your grandfather.”
“You mean he told you not to dance?”
“No, this was my choice. I am sure I would have lost him if I had continued dancing. I weighed fame（名声）and love against each other and love won.”
“We were talking about engagement（订婚）when your grandfather had to go to war. It was the most terrible day of my life when he left. I was so afraid of losing him, the only way I could stay peaceful was to dance. And then one day a letter came. There were only three sentences:‘I have lost my leg. I am no longer a whole man and now give you back your freedom. It is best you forget about me.’”
Grandma continued to tell me that Grandfather was in hospital and she made her decision not to give him up. She took her leave, and traveled away from the city.
Several weeks later, she returned.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________She took a deep breath, leaned on her cane and limped to Grandfather.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________It was a Saturday afternoon. The color of the sky was changing, first light gray, then dark gray, and finally dark and dense. The wind was blowing heavily, and the trees were swaying in the strong wind. It began to rain cats and dogs. Soon, the road was filled with puddles from the rain.
On such a stormy afternoon, my mother took my fiveyearold brother, Christopher, and me to a new big toy store she had read about in the newspaper. “So many toys，” the advertisement had shouted in full and flashy color, “that we had to get a huge warehouse to fit them all！”
Christopher and I couldn't have been more excited. We ran across the parking lot, through the cold and biting rain, as fast as our little legs could carry us. We left our mother outside to battle with the frustrating umbrella, which never worked when she wanted it to. “Christine! Take care of your young brother！” Mother shouted at the top of her voice.
“Christine! I'm going to find the Lego section (乐高积木区)! There's a new pirate ship I want, and I have four dollars! Maybe I can buy it！” Christopher exclaimed and ran off excitedly. I only half heard him. I took a right turn and, to my wideeyed delight, found myself in the midst of the Barbie (芭比) World.
I was studying a Barbie and doing some simple math in my head when suddenly an earthshaking clap of thunder roared from the storm outside. I jumped at the noise, dropping the doll to the floor. The lights flickered (闪烁) once and died, covering everything in a blanket of blackness. Thunder continued to shake the sky and lightning illuminated the store for seconds, casting frightening shadows on my mind.
注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；2．部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好。
Paragraph 1：
“Oh no，” I thought, “Where's Christopher？”
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“Christine, I'm here.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“Acknowledged, Detective. This is my...”
He hung up and told the driverless UNATS Robotics car to get him down to the railway station as fast as it could, angry with himself and with Ada—whose middle name was Trouble, after all—for making him deal with a robot before he’d had his breakfast. The name had been his ex-wife’s idea, something she’d insisted on.
His ex-wife. He hadn’t thought of her in years. Well, months. Weeks, certainly. She’d been a brilliant computer scientist at the UNATS Robotics school at the University of Toronto. Now she was settled in her own research lab in Beijing, providing the kinds of software solutions for robot applications.
He itched to wiretap her, to read her email or listen in on her phone conversations. He could have done that when they were still together, but he never had. If he had, he would have found out what she was planning.
He could have talked her out of it.
“And then what, Artie?” said the nagging voice in his head. He couldn’t stop her from chasing her own dream— making the smartest robot in the world, especially with their little daughter in her belly.
“Shut up!” he told the nagging voice.
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。
In a few minutes, he was at the front gate of the railway station.
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There she was, standing by a teenage girl who had the same blue eyes as his.
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A young and successful manager was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out (窜出) from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick hit violently into the Jags side door! He stepped on the brakes and backed his Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.
The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, “What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That’s a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?”
The young boy was apologetic. “Please, mister... please, I’m sorry but I didn’t know what else to do,” he explained. “I threw the brick because no one else would stop…” With tears rolling down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. “It’s my brother,” he said. “He rolled off the sidewalk and fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him up.” Now sobbing, the boy asked the astonished manager, “Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me.”
Moved beyond words, the driver cooled his anger.
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The driver watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.
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A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.
—Tenneva Jordan
I knew I was not supposed to be quite so excited. I was too old for that. At age eleven, the oldest and my mom’s “grown up” girl, I had to keep my cool. I was in middle school after all. But every chance I got, when I was alone, I checked each present under the tree. I read every tag and felt every package, guessing at the contents within. I had examined each gift so often that I could tell which present went to which person without even looking at the tags.
It had been a tough year for my family. Whenever my mom looked over at the tree and scattered(撒) presents, she would sigh and warn us, “There won’t be as much for Christmas this year. Try not to be disappointed.” Christmas had traditionally been a time for my parents to spoil us. In years past, the presents would pile up and spill out from under the tree, taking over the living room. I had heard the phrase “giving is better than receiving,” but thought that whoever had said that must have been out of their mind. Getting presents was the whole point! It was the reason I couldn’t get to sleep on Christmas Eve.
On Christmas morning, we eagerly waited in the hallway until Dad told us everything was ready. We rushed into the living room and let the wrapping paper fly. We made weak attempts to wait and watch while other family members opened their presents, but as the time passed we lost our self-control.
“Here’s another one for you,” said Mom as she handed me a package. I looked at it, confused. Having spent so much time examining the presents before Christmas, I recognized this one. But it had not been mine. It was my mom’s. A new label had been put on it, with my name written in my mother’s handwriting.
“Mom, I can’t…”
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 was stopped by my mother’s eager, joyful look.
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Paragraph 2:
I have always remembered that Christmas fondly.
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I lived in the State of Texas, where sudden storms often happened every year. Last Sunday, there was no dirt in the air, only bright spring sunshine and a clear blue sky. After lunch, Papa headed out to the field to check on the cattle while Mama started dinner. Everything seemed peaceful. Faye and I played happily in the yard. The heat had been building since dawn. Suddenly the temperature dropped--- it felt good.
Then Mama shouted from the house, “Iris, you and Faye get inside, read quick now!”
I looked to the west and saw a huge black cloud of dust, like thick smoke from a railway engine’s chimney. All the birds flew away. The stop lights nearby weren't working because of a power failure.
“Faye, go with Mama!” I shouted. “I’ll warn Papa.”
Faye ran toward the house. The storm hit so fast that I hardly saw her climb the steps. In a short time, the day turned into night. I screamed for Papa, hoping my voice would lead him back. But I couldn’t hear or see him at all.
Some poor house roofs were blown off, and small trees down. I thought a terrible storm was on the way and the scene was “the worst I've seen in several years.” The dirt and sand stung(刺痛) my face like a thousand bees. I needed to get to shelter. Covering my face with one hand, I made my way toward the car and opened the door. Dirt flew in with me as I pulled the door closed. Papa was still out somewhere! I needed to help him find the car.
I searched the dashboard (仪表板) and found the switch for the front lights. They made some rays, but would Papa see them in the thick darkness? I pushed the horn (喇叭) again and again, hoping Papa would hear it.
Suddenly, Papa’s face appeared at the window.
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Papa shut off the car’s lights and I worried the dirt would bury us.
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The most delicious memories seem to happen during the holidays. And like a squirrel preparing for winter, I put them away to enjoy slowly during the long winter months. Sometimes, I enjoy them for years.
Among them are sweetest recollections: my little girls at the church play and the moment they got their first angel wings; a pink dolly stroller(手推车) wheeled into the bedroom with a tiny voice declaring, ''Look what Santa Claus brought me! ''; or New Year's snowmen wearing bright scarves borrowed from a grandma's fragrant drawer.
But there is one memory that is a little bittersweet -- sort of like 80% dark chocolate, but still good for you.
This story brings to mind a colorful candy dish and a very little boy. The occasion was somewhere between Christmas and New Year's when a few candies in a dish remained behind, a bright spot in dull winter gray.
Wrapped in December's chill, my then 3-year old grandson, Justin, and I had dashed from the warmth of my parked car into the building where I planned to take care of a few work-related tasks.
A smiling secretary greeted us as we brushed the snowflakes and rubbed our hands to chase the cold. Then with my grandchild close to my side, I busied myself, finishing the items of business that had brought us there. But while his hand remained in mine, his eyes fell on the candy dish sitting nearby.
As we turned to leave, the thoughtful and very observant woman behind the desk asked the question all children wait to hear.
''Honey, '' the kindly woman said, peering over her glasses at Justin. ''Would you like a candy bar? '' she asked, her hand pushing the dish close for an easier reach.
The boy looked up questioningly, his eyes meeting mine, permission hanging in the air. A slight nod from me and then a hurried beeline to the candy dish followed. One candy bar was already in his hand.
Para 1: ''Justin! '' I said from the doorway.
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Para 2: In the humor of the moment, I felt something hard to swallow.
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“What do you think about my audition(试奏) yesterday？My trill(颤音) should have been better, don’t you think？” Abbie asked Mel and closed the lid of her violin case before school.
“It’s no big deal, Abbie, ” Mel said as they walked out the door. Mel didn’t have time to worry about her little sister’s mood. It turned out to be a busy day. She had a test in science class. She hit two home runs in softball. After school, she and her friends talked about their summer plans.
She forgot about the audition results until Abbie dragged her to the music room. Mel thought she’d probably be in the first violins.
Mel and Abbie found the list of names on the board. Abbie. Concertmaster. Abbie screamed, “I can’t believe it!” “I can’t wait to tell Mum and Dad!” Abbie rushed toward home. Mel kept reading. Mel. Second violins. What？There had to be some mistake. She’d figure out tomorrow.
When Mel got home, Abbie was playing her audition piece there. Music poured from Abbie’s bow like water from a teapot—pure and perfect. And the trill sounded like a bird singing. Abbie was good—really good—but that wasn’t the point. “Mr Benson must have made a mistake, ” Mel thought.
The next morning, Mel slipped into the music room. Gathering her courage, Mel said, “Mr Benson, I want to talk to you about the orchestra(管弦乐队) seats. ”
“Yes—you must be proud of your sister, ” Mr Benson smiled. “Abbie is a rare student. If she continues to practice hard and grow as a musician, she could become a professional. Then we’ll look back on our little orchestra and think about how lucky we are. ”
Paragraph 1：
Mel froze as there wasn’t any mixup.
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Paragraph 2：
After school, Mel found Abbie on a bench outside, playing the violin.
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It’s not easy to die when you are only fifteen. Those were the words that began the story I heard from Robert White, a North Carolina factory worker. He and his wife were visiting their daughter Lee in the hospital as they did every evening.
She knew she had an illness that would not spare her. She suffered a lot but never complained. She had already accepted her great journey into the unknown. This particular evening, she suddenly said, "I always dreamed of working in a big ocean park with dolphins. I’ve loved them since I was little. I still dream of swimming with them, free and happy in the open sea."
She’d never asked for anything, but she said with all the strength she had, "Daddy, I want to swim in the open sea among the dolphins just once. Maybe then I wouldn’t be so scared of dying." It seemed like an impossible dream, but she hung on to it.
Robert and his family talked it over and decided to do everything they could. They phoned a research center in the Florida Keys. "Come at once," they said.
When they arrived in Grassy Key, Lee didn’t want to rest for a minute and begged her parents to take her to the dolphins. Robert took her out toward the dolphins, Nat and Tursi, who were playing about thirty feet away from them. At first they seemed distracted and uninterested, but when Lee called them softly by name, they responded without hesitation. Nat came over first, raised his head and gave her a kiss on the end of her nose. Then Tursi came over happily. A second later they picked her up with their mighty fins (鳍) and carried her out to sea with them. "It feels like I’m flying!" cried Lee, laughing with delight.
Lee’s family hadn’t heard her laugh like that since she became ill. The dolphins stayed with Lee for more than an hour, always tender, always attentive, and always responsive to her wishes.
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；
3.续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1：
Maybe it’s true that they are more intelligent and sensitive creatures than man.
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Paragraph 2：
The next day she was too weak to get out of bed, but she whispered to her father.
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