2 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头续写两段，使之构成一个完整的短文。

“Ellie! Ellie! I can’t till your birthday, so here! Open it” 11-year-old Alana shouted on afternoon. She had brought her elder sister Ellie a gift-wrapped box a week before her birthday.

Ellie accepted the box with a smile. However, she asked her sister for help because her arms were too weak that day.

Ellie had cerebral palsy (脑瘫), and she was in a wheelchair. Sometimes, her arms and legs were too weak.

Alana helped her sister with the wrapping, showing a beautiful new Barbie that 12-year-old Ellie looked at closely. Suddenly, her eyes watered, and Alana hugged her tightly, thinking she was happy to receive the gift.

“Isn’t it cool? I saved all my pocket money for it,” Alana proudly said, holding her sister close.

“It’s just… she’s pretty, not like me! I’ll never look like that!” Ellie cried some more.

This was not uncommon. Ellie often cried over not looking like other girls, including her little sister, who was tall and getting more beautiful each day. Her family tried their best to comfort her as she complained about her situation.

“Ellie, think about Natalie. She’s the most beautiful girl ever, and she’s in a wheelchair, just like you!” Alana reminded her.

Natalie was an older girl in their local high school who worked as a model. She had been disabled at a young age, but was now an inspiration to their town.

Ellie and Alana loved Natalie. She was their idol, and their parents had even printed a few pictures off her Instagram so the girls could stick them on their walls.

“You’re right. I must think of Natalie and what she would say in this situation. What do you think she would say?” Ellie asked her little sister. “I think Natalie would encourage us to play with whatever dolls we wanted,” Alana said happily, making Ellie laugh. The tears stopped, and they went to Ellie’s room to play with their Barbies.

A week later, it was finally Elle’s birthday, and she received many amazing gifts. Many people and friends showed up.

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。

Suddenly, the music in the backyard stopped.

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Ellie couldn’t wait to see what present her idol had brought.

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3 . How Can You Plan a Birthday Party on a Budget?

You want to plan a birthday party on a budget, but you don’t want to be cheap. Don’t worry. There is nothing wrong with setting a budget and then spending only the amount you decided on.     1     Using less expensive items and ideas doesn’t mean it will be less of a party.

    2     When it becomes a competition, you will end up spending more than you should. You can plan a birthday party on a budget and still give a great party.

If someone you know can do magic tricks, perhaps he or she will be willing to perform. Since the plan is to keep the birthday party within a limited budget, try bartering (以物换物) with your friends.     3    

Limit the amount you will have to spend on food.     4     Not only can you take advantage of sale items, but you can also choose to have your party at a time of day when people have already eaten. Shortly after lunchtime is usually a good choice, since you can simply provide snacks instead of heartier foods.

Whenever you plan a birthday party on a budget, it can become difficult to incorporate (包含) themed items. You can spend a lot of money in purchasing all of them.     5     Rather than choosing all themed items, choose a few items that are less expensive.

A．Themed items are bought online.

B．But don’t give up on that theme party yet.

C．It’s not a bad idea to make use of leftovers.

D．Don’t try to outdo your friends’ birthday parties.

E．This is not difficult to accomplish if you plan carefully.

F．In fact, it’s one of the best ways to keep from going overboard.

G．Offer to help out when it comes time for your friend to give a party.

4 . Top Four Festivals in the World

Saint Patrick’s Day, Ireland

Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated anywhere in the world where there are the Irish. If you’re going to get involved, there’s no better place than Dublin. This festival runs for five days and five nights in March along with performing arts, literature, tours and food events.

Holi Festival, India

It’s also called the “festival of love” as on the full-moon day in March people get together, forgetting all types of bad feeling towards each other. You’ll mostly see Holi Festival across India and Nepal, but also in other areas with large Hindu populations. It starts by lighting a night-time bonfire (篝火)where people sing and dance. People throw coloured water and powder (粉末) to their friends and families to show love and respect.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Scotland

One of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture in the world, the festival runs for three weeks every August throughout the Scottish capital. Artists and performers take to hundreds of stages all over the city to present shows for every taste. The Fringe is run by the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Society to support and encourage the Scottish arts.

Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland

There are plenty of music festivals in Europe, but Montreux Jazz Festival held in October near the Lake Geneva is truly one of a kind and is the second-largest jazz festival in the world. It’s not just jazz, though. You’ll find broad-ranging concerts from pop to rock and blues, and best of all, most of the performances are free.

1. When does Saint Patrick’s Day take place?

A．In March.

B．In April.

C．In August.

D．In October.

2. What can you do at Edinburgh Festival Fringe?

A．Throw coloured water.	B．Taste Irish food.
C．Dance near a bonfire.	D．Watch art shows.

3. Which event will you go to if you just want to attend concerts?

A．Holi Festival.	B．Montrcux Jazz Festival.
C．Saint Patrick’s Day.	D．Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Valentine’s Day in China

It is really difficult to know the exact time     1     western Valentine’s Day was introduced into China. However, western Valentine’s Day is     2     (wide) celebrated in urban areas where there are a lot of commercial (商业的) events, especially in big cities like Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong and Guangzhou. Valentine’s Day is not so popular in small cities,     3     (town) and the countryside.

So far, Chinese people     4     (accept) the tradition westerners on celebrating Valentine’s Day, such as     5     (exchange) gifts, having a romantic dinner, watching a movie in the evening or even making a marriage registration if Valentine’s Day falls on a workday.

On this day, larger amounts of chocolate will be on sale in supermarkets,     6     compared with the ordinary days, cinemas will be much     7     (busy) and the price of flowers and restaurants and hotels can be a lot higher. Many restaurants will have special menus, especially those in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai. If you want to have a smooth     8     (celebrate) on Valentine’s Day, remember     9     (make) reservations (预定) as far in advance as you can.

Chinese people have also made some changes to the western way of celebrating Valentine’s Day. For some couples, the husband may prepare a rich dinner or buy a beautiful dress     10     his wife on this day to show his appreciation.