A young man had bought an old house that was in bad shape, but he and his wife believed they could restore it. They immediately went to work. Their goal was to have the old building look best for the Christmas Eve get-together.
Just two days before Christmas, however, a storm swept through the area, leaving a hole in the wall of the house. There was obviously no time to repair the damage before Christmas. The sad couple attended local auction (拍卖) that afternoon. One of the items put up for bids (竞标) was an old gold-and-ivory-colored tablecloth. Seized by an inspiration, the young man was the highest bidder at $6.50. His idea was to hang the cloth to cover the ragged hole.
On the day before Christmas, it was snowy. As the young man unlocked the house door, he noticed an old woman standing at the bus stop. He knew the bus wouldn’t be there within at least half an hour, so he invited her inside to keep warm.
When the old woman walked in and saw the tablecloth, she rushed at it and said excitedly, “It’s mine. It is my tablecloth.” She told the surprised man its history and even showed him her name in one corner of the tablecloth. She and her husband had once lived in Vienna, Austria, and their village was hit by a deadly disease. So they decided to flee to Switzerland, but her husband told her to leave first, saying he had something urgent to deal with. A few days later, it was reported that the bus her husband took fell off the cliff and he was never to be found. Her husband was believed to have died. Touched by her story, the young man asked about her address, planning to send the tablecloth to her after Christmas. As the bus came, she left.
When the Christmas Eve came, the man invited his friends to come to his house to enjoy the dinner together. In the candlelight of the Christmas Eve, the tablecloth looked even more beautiful. As the man’s friends left the house, they thanked the man for his arrangement and mentioned how beautiful the house looked.
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。
One older gentleman stayed, admiring the tablecloth.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The young man drove the old man to that old woman’s home.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . When a marketing genius walks into your store, it might benefit you to pay attention, even if that genius is only a small child. When a store owner saw a young girl playing an imaginary hopscotch(跳房子) game using his wood flooring, it sparked (引发) a brilliant idea.
The store owner marked out a hopscotch board in multi-colored tape leading to the sales window. When the girl returned, she immediately began using the new store hopscotch board.
Once the board was in place, the store owner noticed an amazing thing happening in the store. It started with a grown man looking a little nervous and glancing (瞥) around the store. The owner thought he might be checking for cameras to steal something. But what he did next shocked the owner. The man started jumping along the hopscotch board!
With total ignoring “how it looked,” the grown man hopped along the hopscotch board like a seasoned professional! And he smiled! But that was just the beginning of the surprise for the store owner. As more people entered the store, more and more of the adult customers took the opportunity to hop to the cash register.
The simple addition of a hopscotch board brought smiles, laughter, and true joy into the tiny convenience store. People were smiling and feeling happier. The in-store cameras record the hoppers merrily jumping along.
Big, small, men, women, old, and young: everyone seems to enjoy the opportunity to be a kid again. The feeling may only last for a few seconds, but if it brings joy to your life, do it!
Some customers carefully walk around the board. However, many enjoy those few seconds of being a kid again. The response delighted the store owner. If you’re the type of person who would hop along the board, share the hopscotch game with your fellow hoppers!
1. What did the girl inspire the store owner to do?A.He invited the girl to return to the store. | B.He also jumped along the hopscotch board. |
C.He prevented a man from stealing something. | D.He created a hopscotch board in the store. |
A.He tried to steal things from the store. | B.He encouraged others to join the game. |
C.He laughed at the girl playing the game. | D.He played the game after some hesitation. |
A.Because they all cared for the girl. | B.Because they could get joy from it. |
C.Because the game was fit for them. | D.Because the game was easy to learn. |
A.Considerate and creative. | B.Knowledgeable and honest. |
C.Humorous and outgoing. | D.Modest and ambitious. |
Pimple on the Nose
“Nooo!” screamed Asha as she saw a huge pimple(痘) on her nose. She didn’t have time to cover the pimple as she was running late to school. She gobbled her breakfast, grabbed her bag and got into her school bus just in time. As soon as she entered, kids started laughing. Nobody was willing to make her sit beside them. Even Anita, her bus mate acted a bit differently with her.
Asha was lost in thoughts. A new thought popped in her mind every second. Once she thought “Great! As if homework and exams were not enough, I have to worry about my pimple as well.” The next minute another thought popped in her mind. “I am tired of using that face wash. I still wonder how I agreed to use that horrible thing! How can…” Mr. Shetty, the bus driver said “Asha, do you want to miss the class?” Asha was so lost in her thoughts that she did not even notice that everybody had got down the bus except her.
She did not want to step into the campus. She thought, “What will my teachers think? What will my friends think?” After some time, she gathered courage and entered her class expecting that she would be laughed at.
It was a very hard day at school for her. As soon as she got home, she hugged her mother tightly. As she did so she felt all her worries were not even a dot in front of the warm and loving hug.
Later that day, she went to the supermarket with her mother. While coming back she heard people commenting on her pimple. A small child cried, “Daddy! My cherry is on her nose! Get it for me.” She heard some boys murmuring, “If she would have been in our school, she would definitely be chosen as the joker in the dance.”
Asha wondered why people cared so much about her appearance.
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。
Finally it was time for bed story, and mom asked her to choose a book.
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Her mother asked her never to judge a book by its old cover but to pay attention to the details.
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4 . As a work-at-home-mom, I don’t need to go to
Sno and I didn’t agree on everything. However, we both agreed on
As a dog with short legs, Sno needed several
When he was old, our walks were
After he died, I went for a long walk. I felt like part of me was
Later, I may be walking by myself, but I’m never alone. Personally, I’m
A.building | B.office | C.country | D.school |
A.alone | B.curious | C.concerned | D.frightened |
A.controls | B.supports | C.follows | D.distinguishes |
A.jogging | B.travelling | C.camping | D.walking |
A.literally | B.tightly | C.entirely | D.eagerly |
A.attempts | B.comforts | C.breaks | D.cheers |
A.memory | B.favorite | C.ability | D.belief |
A.magnificent | B.various | C.contemporary | D.annoyed |
A.shorter | B.farther | C.faster | D.more |
A.related to | B.held back | C.stuck to | D.made up |
A.explored | B.valued | C.ignored | D.tested |
A.danger | B.trouble | C.tears | D.ruins |
A.worrying | B.missing | C.boring | D.puzzling |
A.cooperated | B.searched | C.linked | D.headed |
A.surprised | B.excited | C.confused | D.grateful |
In a small town, there was a community talent show held every year in the local park. The event was a highlight for many, with performances from various local talents. Among the audience was a woman named Emily, a kind-hearted local librarian, along with her 12-year-old daughter Anna. Both of their eyes were filled with excitement.
As the show began, Emily and her daughter watched a young girl in amazement, about eight, confidently sing a song. Her voice was surprisingly powerful for her small body. Then a group of teenagers followed. Their hip-hop dance routine was full of energy, leading to cheers from the crowd. There was even an elderly gentleman who performed a series of magic tricks. However, as the sun began to set, many in the audience grew tired and the applause (掌声) after each act became less enthusiastic (热情的).
Then came the turn of a young boy, around ten years old, nervously holding his violin. As he started playing, it was clear that he was a beginner. His notes were shaky and he missed a few beats. The audience, already tired, responded with only a little polite applause. Emily noticed the boy’s frustrated face as he finished his performance.
It was at this moment that Emily recalled a powerful memory from her own childhood—the time when she had stood on a similar stage, her voice trembling (颤抖) through a song. But the kindness she had received from a stranger in the audience pushed her to carry on. Drawing from the lesson she had learned from the past experience, Emily stood up, clapping loudly and cheering for the boy. “Great job! Keep practicing, and you’re doing wonderfully!”she called out. Her enthusiasm inspired other members of the audience to join in the applause, their clap growing louder and more sincere.
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。
Anna looked up at her mother, surprised by her actions.
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Since that day, Anna carried her mother’s lesson with her.
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6 . Sarah was not an early riser. But what made the annoying early morning hours bearable was the comforting smell of fresh coffee floating in the air. Her favorite coffee shop was just a few minutes away from her apartment.
One sunny morning, Sarah rushed to get dressed. Having a job interview, she felt anxious, afraid to be late. She grabbed her car key, dashed out of the door and made her way to her familiar coffee shop as usual. As she joined the line of cars at the drive-through, the smell of roasted coffee beans and the thought of the first taste of coffee were her little daily luxury. The line inched forward, and soon, Sarah found herself at the drive-through window. She reached for her purse to pay, but before she could hand over her credit card, the coffee shop assistant smiled and said, “Your coffee has been covered by the car ahead of you.” Sarah was taken aback. “Really?” she asked, feeling astonished and grateful. The assistant nodded. The unexpected act of kindness put a smile on her face, making her upcoming interview feel a little relaxing.
As she exited the drive-through, Sarah glanced in her rear view mirror (后视镜) at the next car approaching the coffee shop window. An idea began to come into her mind. Maybe she could do the same and brighten someone else’s morning. She decided to return to the coffee shop. Inside, she approached the cashier and said, “I’d like to pay for the coffee of the person in the car behind me.” The assistant smiled and nodded again.
As Sarah eventually left the coffee shop, Sarah couldn’t help but wonder how the next driver would react. A wave of satisfaction washed over Sarah as she witnessed the continuation of the coffee chain. She knew she had just initiated a chain of generosity and kindness.
1. What can we learn about Sarah from the first two paragraphs?A.She led a life of luxury. | B.She used to get up early. |
C.She was nervous about the interview. | D.She was new to the coffee shop. |
A.To find out who paid for her coffee. | B.To order herself another cup of coffee. |
C.To see what was exactly happening there. | D.To buy coffee for the driver behind her. |
A.Ambitious. | B.Content. | C.Awkward. | D.Suspicious. |
A.A chain of coffee shops. | B.An unforgettable interview. |
C.The kindness from an assistant. | D.The power of paying it forward. |
My two-year-old daughter was lovingly squished(挤) between a stack of groceries in one of my two shopping carts. Shopping once a month was a well-planned process. My list was organized so that I wouldn’t miss even one item. I knew the aisle, order, and cost of each item.
A gentleman in a suit stood behind me with three items in his hads. He looked up at his watch, then at me and smiled. I’d already let a person ahead of me with a single item. While my daughter was behaving well, I knew I’d pushed her longer than her endurance promised to last. Still, I felt for the man; he obviously had to be somewhere, and he’d be behind me a good long time.
“Why don’t you go ahead of me?” I said shifting the cart backwards. “You only have a couple of items.
“Thank you,” he replied appreciatively, stepping ahead of me.
My daughter gave him a broad smile. “Heh wo,” she said in her sweetest voice.
“Hello,” he replied, taken off guard by her friendliness. His face lit with pleasure.
As the belt moved forward, I started unloading my cart. His few items were ahead of mine separated by a red marker with the store name on it. I was only halfway finished unloading the first cart when a realization hit me. My husband had borrowed my bank card the night before and I couldn’t recall him putting it back in my wallet. I hurriedly dug out my purse and opened my wallet. My heart dropped. He hadn’t returned it.
The gentleman in front of me had paid and was picking up his groceries.
“I’ve forgotten my bank card. Could I pay with my phone?” I asked the cashier hopefully.
“I’m sorry. We only accept credit card or cash. The cashier looked down the lane, disgusted at the amount of groceries. I’m sure she was predicting she’d have to put items back on the shelves.
“It will take me an hour to run home and an hour back. Can you just put my stuff on the side please?“I was discouraged. All my careful planning hadn’t helped. The hour and a half of shopping left me exhausted and I wasn’t sure how my daughter would handle another two hours in the car.
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。
Just then, the gentleman in front of me smiled at me.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The next morning, my family knocked at the gentleman’s door.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Sharpen your axe
Once upon a time, there were two woodcutters named Charles and John. Both of them were from the same town. They were often arguing with each other over who cut down more wood. So one beautiful morning, they decided to hold a woodcutting competition to determine the winner between them. The rules of competition were pretty simple—whoever produces the most wood in half a day wins.
They moved towards woodland nearby. Both of them took up their positions in the jungle and started cutting away trees in their fastest possible speed. Chop, chop, chop...The sound of axes hitting wood echoed(回响) throughout the forest. This lasted for an hour and all of a sudden Charles stopped. When John noticed that there was no chopping sound from Charles’s side, he thought: “Ah Ha! Charles must be tired already!” And he continued to chop down his trees with double motivation and pace.
A quarter of an hour passed, and John heard his opponent chopping again. After this both Charles and John carried on. John was starting to feel exhausted and the chopping from Charles stopped once again. Feeling motivated and sensing victory close by, John continued on, with a huge smile on his face. But after 15 minutes, John could hear the chopping sound again from Charles end. John brought his all energy together and kept cutting the trees to go ahead with the competition.
This went on the whole morning. Every hour, Charles would stop chopping the wood for fifteen minutes while John kept going persistently. So at 12 o’clock when the competition ended, John was totally confident that he would win the competition. He walked to Charles’s side and wanted to show off his great work.
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。
But to John’s surprise, Charles had actually chopped down more wood.
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Charles smiled and replied, “It is very simple. I just stopped to sharpen the axe.”
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9 . Nicole Edna walked onto the crowded airplane holding her tiny baby, the kid who cried for the whole flight. She was afraid she would be the least
But a simple act of kindness soon
Bitten by the kindness bug, Edna
A.welcome | B.patient | C.respectable | D.independent |
A.bag | B.table | C.pants | D.shoes |
A.lose heart | B.whisper | C.flee | D.complain |
A.saved | B.took | C.began | D.lost |
A.shaking | B.comforting | C.recovering | D.curing |
A.responsible | B.impolite | C.satisfied | D.tired |
A.nearly | B.obviously | C.strongly | D.hardly |
A.posted | B.downloaded | C.tailored | D.sorted |
A.popular | B.unexpected | C.romantic | D.regular |
A.at most | B.in turn | C.after all | D.in detail |
A.items | B.growth | C.stories | D.sayings |
A.wonderful | B.private | C.formal | D.fluent |
A.missions | B.surveys | C.meetings | D.conversations |
A.hides | B.revives | C.wins | D.changes |
A.promise | B.deal | C.mess | D.difference |
The annual Halloween arrived, during which kids dressed in traditional clothes went to neighbors’ houses to ask for candy.
Allison lived in a small town. That day after dinner, Allison put on her dress her father had just bought for her. The dress was cheap and second-hand because her family was poor. But Allison still thanked her dad and said, “Everyone will love my dress!” Then, she left for neighbors’ houses to ask for candy.
On the way, she came across Anna and her friends and wanted to join them. “No! Look at your dress! It’s ugly!” Anna said. Her friends also laughed. “Look at our dresses, especially mine! It’s new and beautiful,” Anna added. Her friends nodded, and in some way they were right. Anna’s dress was shiny and looked expensive. She always had the best clothes because her parents were rich.
Allison was shocked and sad. The kids not only disliked her dress but made fun of it. “You can’t come with us!” Anna stressed. “We would never hang out with you!” The other kids agreed and laughed. They all left to start collecting candy for the night while Allison was left alone, embarrassed in the middle of the street.
Anyway, she knew all the neighbors. She often helped around carrying their groceries and helping them with their gardens. People around there knew her. She didn’t need to hangout with Anna or her friends. “I’ll go just alone,” the little girl said to herself and started walking.
She as well as Anna and her friends walked in the same direction: towards their first neighbor Mrs Vaughan’s house. But Allison walked behind and kept her distance from them. And she stopped when Anna and her friends were near Mrs Vaughan’s house.
Just then, Mrs Vaughan looked out of her window. She noticed that Allison was being excluded by Anna and her friends. She knew it was probably because of Allison’s poor dress. She immediately felt pity for Allison, who often helped her and other neighbors. She decided to give Allison much more candy as a reward and teach Anna and her friends a lesson.
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。
When Anna and her friends knocked on her door, Mrs Vaughan opened it.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Anna looked up and said, “Our clothes are more beautiful! But you gave Allison more candy! Why?”
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