1 . Family time is one of the most important times in a child’s life. My family and I spend a lot of time together, including having dinner together every night.
There have been many recent studies showing kids are “wilder” than they used to be.
I have noticed in old TV shows and my parents’ stories that not long ago sitting at the family dinner table was not a choice, but a must.
| A．There are certainly many reasons for this. |
| B．I did a little research on the “family table” idea. |
| C．Children just watch TV and play computer games. |
| D．It is important for parents to teach children how to behave. |
| E．Nowadays, it seems harder for people to find time to be together. |
| F．What’s more, they learn better behaviors during the time with their parents. |
| G．We don’t watch television. Instead we sit down at the table to eat and discuss our days. |
Green Thumb
All I did was show my little sister how to grow plants. Dig a hole. Put in a seed. Cover it with dirt. Water it. Wait. “See, Laynie,” I explained, “a whole plant will grow from this tiny seed. All we have to do is water it.”
Laynie had her own watering can so she could “help” me in the garden. One day, after everything was watered, she ran to the fence and started sprinkling water on another spot. I walked over and saw a fresh patch of dirt near the fence.
“Did you plant something there?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said. “I’m growing a pencil. My purple pencil got too small, so I planted it.”
“What? But, Laynie—”
I should have explained things right then, but I just muttered, “Uh…I never grew one before.”
Later I got what seemed like a great idea. I dug up Laynie’s pencil and “planted” a brand-new purple pencil. Laynie was really excited when she saw it. “My pencil grew!” she shouted.
A few days later, Laynie was watering on the same spot. Two days later, new crayons sticking their pointy little heads out, thanks to me. Laynie jumped up and down and yelled, “They look like flowers!” She “picked” them and ran into the house.
Next, Laynie grew an adult bear doll from a tiny one, a soup spoon from a teaspoon, and a hand mirror from a piece of glass. When she claimed that she had grown these things, I just kept my mouth shut! Actually, it was fun trying to think of what should grow from Laynie’s seeds. And it was cool to see her get excited.
One day I saw her patting down some dirt near the fence again, so I knew she’d just planted something. My heart dropped to my feet when she asked, “How long does it take to grow a goldfish, Brad?” I couldn’t speak.
“Not long, I bet!” said Laynie. She knelt down to whisper “Grow, Molly. Grow!” before she skipped back to the house.
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 sat down with my back to the fence and thought for a long time.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Later I found Laynie sitting by the spot where Molly was buried.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________3 . Last summer, my family and I went on a road trip to the Grand Canyon. It was our first family vacation in years, and we were all
The trip was long, but we kept ourselves
One of the highlights of the trip was when we went on a helicopter
As the trip came to an end, we all felt a sense of
Looking back on the trip, I realized how important it is to spend time with
| A．satisfied | B．excited | C．confused | D．annoyed |
| A．packed up | B．cleaned up | C．pulled over | D．turned over |
| A．followed | B．repaired | C．hit | D．filmed |
| A．organized | B．addicted | C．challenged | D．entertained |
| A．amazed | B．cheated | C．frightened | D．trapped |
| A．measuring | B．designing | C．exploring | D．assessing |
| A．experiment | B．sale | C．exhibition | D．tour |
| A．experience | B．effort | C．regret | D．accident |
| A．add | B．watch | C．make | D．record |
| A．relaxation | B．sadness | C．relief | D．anger |
| A．school | B．classes | C．life | D．neighborhoods |
| A．Besides | B．Otherwise | C．Therefore | D．However |
| A．family | B．strangers | C．staff | D．colleagues |
| A．informed | B．reminded | C．warned | D．cured |
| A．changing | B．losing | C．creating | D．recognizing |
Grandmother Bonnie called out to Amy as she finished setting the table and served them dinner. When Amy didn’t respond, Bonnie went to the young girl’s room and pushed the door open. Amy sat at her desk with her headphones on, drawing a picture.
“Are you drawing those strange pictures again?” Bonnie yelled. “Have you finished your homework? Your teacher called me today and told me you’ve been ignoring her homework!” she shouted angrily.
Minutes later, Amy walked into the kitchen and quietly sat at the table. They began eating dinner in silence. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Bonnie answered the door to see a man in his early 40s standing outside. It turned out to be Mr. Henderson, a famous New York-based cartoonist. He explained to Amy he received a letter with some pieces of her artwork and was so impressed with her talent. In fact, he wrote Amy letters, but never got an answer.
Amy noticed Bonnie moving nervously in her seat, and realized why the letters had never reached her. Her grandmother kept them hidden from her.
“I’ m here with an offer for Amy,” Mr. Henderson continued. “We are accepting applications for our arts training program this summer. I would personally teach the students the art of cartoons and everything related. For that, Amy needs to pass a test, and then she’ll have to spend her summer in New York learning under me. If everything goes well, she will be able to join my team later and seek her dream of art.”
“Really?!” Amy was so excited. But Bonnie refused because she promised Amy’s late parents to raise their child well and make her an educated person. Mr. Henderson sighed and pulled out a file from his bag, “It’s a test. I know your Granny is against it, kid. But if you manage to finish it and hand it over to me by 10 a.m. the day after tomorrow, I can take it to my manager,” he added as he gave Amy an encouraging smile and left the house. Amy decided to finish the test after school the next day.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150个左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The next evening, Amy found her drawing tools were gone.
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Entering the house, Amy found Bonnie holding her drawing tools, crying.
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5 . It was last year in November that my family and I took our first camping trip. My whole family
We had just set up the tent when it suddenly started raining.
While we were all
I realized how
The next day, we
| A．cheered up | B．ran away | C．got together | D．turn in |
| A．lives | B．principles | C．problems | D．abilities |
| A．report | B．postpone | C．plan | D．recognize |
| A．Strangely | B．Similarly | C．Obviously | D．Fortunately |
| A．wind | B．water | C．animals | D．hikers |
| A．expecting | B．describing | C．enjoying | D．imagining |
| A．touching | B．awful | C．shocking | D．funny |
| A．blanket | B．basket | C．phone | D．tent |
| A．track | B．game | C．conversation | D．dream |
| A．informal | B．unique | C．expensive | D．popular |
| A．particular | B．disappointed | C．bitter | D．enthusiastic |
| A．packed up | B．picked out | C．left behind | D．set aside |
| A．eager | B．thankful | C．sorry | D．suitable |
| A．schedule | B．season | C．facility | D．weather |
| A．summaries | B．memories | C．lessons | D．reactions |
A Secret Promise Kept
When I was a little boy, I loved to visit the fire station where my father worked. Sometimes Dad would give me a ten cents to buy a soda (汽水).
One day, I took two friends to the station to show my dad off. I asked Dad if we could each have a soda before we went home for lunch. I sensed just the slightest hesitation in my father’s voice. But he said “sure” and gave us each a dime (一毛钱). We each bought a soda and headed home for lunch and a summer afternoon of swimming.
When I came home, I heard my parents talking. Mom seemed upset with Dad, and then I heard my name mentioned. “You should have just said you didn’t have money for sodas. Brian would have understood. We don’t have any extra money, and you need to have your lunch.”
I suddenly realized the sacrifice (牺牲) my father had made for it. For the next twenty years, he worked three jobs to support my big family.
One afternoon Dad’s old car broke down, and he asked me to take him to his doctor’s appointment. As I pulled up to the firehouse, I saw Dad outside around a brand-new pickup truck with the other firemen. It was a beauty. Dad said, “Someday, I’ll own a truck like that.”
My brothers and I were doing well in business. We had offered to buy him a truck, but he refused.
When Dad stepped out of the doctor’s office, his face was pale. “Let’s go,” was all he said.
We drove by the old house, the lake and the corner store, and Dad started talking about the memories each place held and how proud he was of us. That was when I knew he was dying, which totally shocked me. He made me promise that I would never tell anyone of his impending (迫近的) death. I agreed, knowing it was the toughest secret to keep.
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。
At the time, I was just looking to buy a new truck, so I invited Dad to go to the local car dealer’s (经销商) shop with me.
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I walked to my father with the key to the brown truck.
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When I was little, I lived in a house with a beautiful garden full of all kinds of Bowers. There was nothing I enjoyed more than sitting in the garden with my mother reading stories to me. When I was old enough to read, I enjoyed reading stories aloud to her.
I would never forget one day when I was in the third grade. I bad been picked to be the princess in the school play, and for weeks my mother had rehearsed (排练) my lines so hard with me. But however easily I acted at home, the moment I stepped on stage, every word disappeared from my head. Finally, my teacher took me aside, explaining that she had written a narrator’s (解说员) part to the play, and asked me to change roles. Her word, kindly expressed, still hurt, especially when I saw my part go to another girl.
I didn’t tell my mother what had happened when I went home after school that day. But she sensed my pain. Instead of suggesting we practice my lines, she asked if I wanted to take a walk in the garden.
It was May and roses were blossoming and, under the trees, we could also see yellow dandelions (蒲公英) in the grass, as if a painter had painted our garden with red, yellow and green. I watched my mother casually bend down by one dandelion. ”I think I’m going to dig up all these weeds,” she said, pulling it up by its roots. ”From now on, we’ll have only roses in this garden. ”
“But I like dandelions,” I protested, “All flowers are beautiful-even dandelions.” “Yes, every flower is beautiful in its own way, isn’t it?” she asked thoughtfully. I nodded, pleased that I had won her over. “And that is true of people too,” she added. “Not everyone can be a princess, but there is no shame in that.” Relieved that she had guessed my pain, I started to cry as I told her what had happened. She listened and smiled to me gently.
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。
Para 1: “But you will be a beautiful narrator,” she said.
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Para 2: After the play, I took home the flower.
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That night, I quarreled with my mother, then stormed out of the house. While on the road, I remembered that I did not have any money in my pocket, I did not even take my cell phone with me to make a call home.
At the same time, I went through a noodle shop, and I suddenly felt very hungry. I wished for a bowl of noodles, but I had no money!
The seller saw me standing before the counter and asked, “Hey little girl, you want to eat a bowl?”
“But … but I do not carry money …” I shyly replied.
“Okay, I’ll treat you.” the seller said, “come in, I will cook you a bowl.”
A few minutes later the owner brought me a steaming bowl of noodles. After eating some pieces, I cried.
“What is it?” He asked.
“Nothing. I am just touched by your kindness!” I said as I wiped my tears. “Even a stranger on the street gives me a bowl of noodles, and my mother, after a quarrel, chased me out of the house. She is cruel (残忍的)!!”
The seller sighed, “Girl, why did you think so? Think again. I only gave you a bowl of noodles and you felt that way. Your mother has been taking care of you since you were little, why were you not grateful and why did you hurt your mom?”
I was really surprised after hearing that.
Why did I not think of that? A bowl of noodles from a stranger made me feel grateful, and my mother has raised me since I was little and I have never felt so, not even a little.
注意：1. 续写词数应为 150 左右；2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
Just at that moment, many memories came back into my mind.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When arriving home, I saw my mother sitting at the dinner table, worried and tired.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Jack was a bright and curious child, always eager to learn new things and explore the mysterious world about science. However, he often found himself in disagreement with his mother. His mother was always busy with her work and she didn’t have enough time to learn about his interests and passions.
One day, Jack came home from school feeling particularly excited. He just found a sci-fi book about an adventure on the moon. Upon arriving at home, he couldn’t tear himself away from the book. He read and read until it was dark. Having finished reading it, he couldn’t wait to share it with his mother, only to be told that he should focus on more practical subjects like math and history, which would help him get into a good college and have a successful career.
Jack couldn’t understand why his mother didn’t see the value in what he was doing. He felt that she was holding him back and not allowing him to pursue his true interests. “Why can’t you see how important this is to me?” Jack asked his mother angrily. “I’m never going to be happy if I have to spend my life doing things that I show no interest in just because they are practical or make you proud.”
The once peaceful home was filled with tension and anger. His mother’s voice grew louder as she shouted, “You can’t just do whatever you want! You should be responsible for your future!” Jack, fueled by his own frustration, shot back, “I am tired of you always telling me what to do! I am not a child anymore! You only care about your own feeling! You never thought about my feeling!” They were so caught up in their own anger and hurt that they failed to see how their words and actions were affecting each other.
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。
Jack rushed into his bedroom and locked the door heavily.
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When Jack heard his mother’s words, regretful tears rolled down his face.
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10 . This fall marks an especially memorable time for one family celebrating four people-three generations walking into Carthage College together. Samantha Malczewski, 19, the second-year nursing student recalled. “It was really
Calling herself “Carthage’s biggest fan”, Amy Malczewski has a deep
Meanwhile, when Christy heard of her daughter’s
As the four settle into classes and busy
In a statement, Carthage College
| A．awkward | B．shameful | C．surprising | D．comforting |
| A．lesson | B．guess | C．proposal | D．promise |
| A．discussion | B．invitation | C．innovation | D．connection |
| A．reason | B．test | C．program | D．routine |
| A．in line with | B．in need of | C．in return for | D．in advance of |
| A．role | B．plan | C．bet | D．power |
| A．take off | B．set aside | C．set out | D．take away |
| A．followed | B．complained | C．withdraw | D．retired |
| A．delay | B．admit | C．consider | D．risk |
| A．willingly | B．together | C．apart | D．heartily |
| A．empty | B．important | C．limited | D．narrow |
| A．roads | B．schedules | C．gathering | D．journeys |
| A．motivating | B．pretending | C．learning | D．expecting |
| A．reflected | B．mentioned | C．understood | D．applauded |
| A．lifelong | B．temporary | C．basic | D．tough |
