In our weekly staff meeting, our editor Ashley was not pleased with the quality of our reporting. “Our readership is way down. We need better stories for this Thursday’s school newspaper. Does anybody have any ideas?” she said.
I handed her my article about our basketball team beating Deerfield High School the previous night by one point. “Sports stories are fun,” she said, “but not good enough for the front page. We need something to really get people ‘s attention.”
After our meeting, we left the newsroom together and heard someone screaming, “Perry is missing!” Perry was a big red parrot and had been our school mascot (吉祥物) for ten years. He played an important role in students’ lives, both in and out of class. He had also been a constant presence at school events, inspiring a sense of unity among students.
Everyone gathered around Perry’s empty cage, heartbroken. Suddenly, a student from the crowd came over and showed me a photo. “You’re a reporter for the school paper, right? I happened to take this yesterday,” he said. In the photo was a Deerfield High School basketball player with something large hidden under his shirt around the size of a parrot.
“He must have stolen Perry to get back at us for winning the game!” Ashley cried. We hurried back to the newsroom, agreeing to run the photo on the front page with the headline “Deerfeld Stole Perry.” “This is just the story we need. Everyone will read it,” Ashley said confidently.
After she left, I took a closer look at the photo. The clock in the background read 4:15 pm, but our game against Deerfield hadn’t started until 4:30 pm. Why would the boy have taken Perry before we even played? An uneasy feeling came over me that we might have falsely accused someone.
I went to Perry’s usual caretaker to ask if he knew Perry was missing. ”He’s not missing. He’s retired. He’s ready for some quieter days,“ he said. Learning the truth, I immediately told Ashley and suggested writing a story to say goodbye to Perry.
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。
To my surprise, Ashley insisted on reporting the “Deerfield Stole Perry” story.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________On Thursday, the paper came out with the headline “Bye-Bye, Perry” on the front page.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . “I’ve met an old lady,” I eagerly told my parents on one of our daily phone. I volunteered to start a knitting club at a care home for the
From the beginning, I never felt that Edith and I lacked
When I first met Edith, I was
Over the years of visiting Edith, I understood how Edith valued the
Death at 111 is not unexpected, but I still feel that something is
| A．lonely | B．elderly | C．disabled | D．deserted |
| A．friendship | B．cooperation | C．encounter | D．competition |
| A．switched | B．contracted | C．contrasted | D．identified |
| A．adaptation | B．commitment | C．conversation | D．attention |
| A．memory | B．organ | C．anxiety | D．manner |
| A．explaining | B．recalling | C．forgetting | D．expecting |
| A．confused | B．urged | C．denied | D．struck |
| A．calling on | B．allowing for | C．sorting out | D．beating down |
| A．devoted | B．admitted | C．restricted | D．addicted |
| A．company | B．discipline | C．resolution | D．departure |
| A．follow | B．tackle | C．restore | D．engage |
| A．arising | B．ranging | C．missing | D．suffering |
| A．racial | B．diverse | C．visible | D．special |
| A．complaint | B．praise | C．gratitude | D．wisdom |
| A．insights | B．comparison | C．investment | D．remarks |
3 . “George,” he (Dobbin) said, “are you going to marry Amelia or not?”
“Is that any business of yours?” George asked angrily.
“Yes, it is, George, because you’re ignoring a sweet girl. You should have seen her sad little face when I visited the other day. Go and comfort her, you bad fellow, instead of spending all your time in gambling houses (赌场) when you’re in town.”
“I’m very fond of Amelia, of course I am,” said George, “but – but a man must enjoy himself before he gets married, you know.”
“Go and see her,” said Dobbin, “or write her a long letter. Do something to make her happy. It won’t take much.”
“You’re right. Yes, I’ll go tomorrow. It’s true, she is very fond of me,” George said, in a self-satisfied way.
He did go to see Amelia the next day, and Dobbin even lent him some money to buy her a present. George probably would have done so, but on the way to the Sedleys’ house, he saw a very nice diamond shirt-pin, and he bought it for himself.
When he arrived, Amelia’s sad little face lit up in the sunshine of George’s smile. She ran to him, and George kissed her fondly on the forehead and was very affectionate (满怀柔情的) with her; and she thought his diamond shirt-pin was the prettiest thing ever seen....
He was late home for dinner, and found his father in a very bad mood and his sisters and Amelia eating in nervous silence. When the ladies had gone up to the drawing room, leaving father and son to their wine, George watched his father’s face anxiously. He needed urgently to ask his father for money, to pay off some of his debts, but when he carefully raised the subject, he did not get the explosion of bad temper he had feared.
“Well, well,” Mr Osborne said, “young men will be young men. I know you’re mixing in the best society, and I like to see it. You have to pay your own way, and my money’s as good as theirs, George my boy. You can call at my bank tomorrow.”
George was relieved and properly grateful, but it seemed that the old gentleman had something else on his mind.
“That little girl upstairs – Amelia,” he said. “What do you intend to do about her, George?”
“Well, it’s clear, isn’t it?” George said. “She’s very fond of me. Anyone can see that. And didn’t you order me to marry her, and don’t I always obey you?”...
“Things have changed since then,” his father said, frowning (皱眉). “Sedley’s business is not doing well. I’m not sure that he can pay the money we agreed on for the marriage settlement . In fact, unless Sedley can pay me ten thousand pounds now, there will be no marriage between you and Amelia Sedley.”
1. How did George feel about Dobbin asking whether he was going to marry Amelia?| A．Puzzled. | B．Embarrassed. | C．Annoyed. | D．Hurt. |
| A．He gave it to Amelia as a present. | B．He used it to pay off his debts. |
| C．He lost it at a gambling house. | D．He bought a gift for himself. |
| A．It was worrying. | B．It was disappointing. |
| C．It was understandable. | D．It was unreasonable. |
| A．Amelia’s agreement. | B．Ten thousand pounds from Sedley. |
| C．Sedley’s business success. | D．George’s obedience to him. |
4 . On New Year’s Day, my 13-year-old son Mike broke his leg while skiing. Honestly speaking, it was no more than another
At dinner on a Tuesday, it came to me. In the coming springtime, I announced, we would have a family roller disco party in the house. My children looked up, their
Later that day, my youngest son wore his roller skates and
| A．ache | B．challenge | C．ceremony | D．adventure |
| A．hoped | B．discovered | C．explored | D．proved |
| A．mood | B．benefit | C．spirits | D．abilities |
| A．part with | B．come up with | C．put up with | D．stick to |
| A．eyes | B．heads | C．faces | D．mouths |
| A．moved | B．inspired | C．surprised | D．impressed |
| A．details | B．benefits | C．choices | D．examples |
| A．stressed | B．shared | C．celebrated | D．updated |
| A．after | B．when | C．until | D．before |
| A．eventually | B．frequently | C．typically | D．immediately |
| A．Therefore | B．Besides | C．Still | D．Despite |
| A．expectation | B．tension | C．memory | D．change |
| A．searching | B．preparing | C．accounting | D．apologizing |
| A．beginning | B．difference | C．point | D．answer |
| A．shortest | B．happiest | C．simplest | D．toughest |
5 . At the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, among mountain songs and ethnic costumes and special ceremonies, I am noticeable despite my modern dress, as my green “VOLUNTEER” nametag brands me as a perfect target for curious tourists. I have volunteered to learn about global customs; my knowledge of my native culture is limited. I had boxed up my past before moving to America eight years ago, when a new continent considered my old self foreign.
Here on the National Mall, I am the only means of communication between the Americans and the artisan (工匠), who were invited from China to display their talents. They see my awkward hand gestures as I test my mother tongue, speaking Mandarin (普通话) and putting it into English for visitors.
The artisans possess exceptional skills. He Guoyao can read thousands of pictographic characters (象形文字) and bears the duty of passing on Dongba culture. Cheng Zhirong creates fantastic animal figures with a spoon and melted sugar in minutes. Standing among them, I wonder about the contributions a 16-year-old girl can make.
“Ooh, it’s so pretty!” A young girl sticks her nose close to a sugar dragon. Zhirong, the candy maker, signals to me, and I explain to the girl that the dragon is pure sugar. “Mommy, it’s candy!” she excitedly says. “Beautiful...” The crowd breathes in awe. One woman taps me on the shoulder, saying, “Please, tell her that her work is surreal... a gift from another world.”
As Zhirong takes my hand and calls me “little sister”, I find my place in this group of extraordinary people who crossed oceans to build a bridge between different ethnicities and nationalities through sugar sculptures and painted words. I, too, am a bearer of traditions．
I smile at Guoyao, as he paints in pictographic characters the English words I have taught him, “You’re welcome.” I come to know that culture is not shelved behind glass cases in museums. It is in the life that I once thought backward and dull — the Chinese way of life that is a part of me.
1. Why does the author attend the Smithsonian Folklife Festival?| A．To learn about global traditions. |
| B．To improve her interpersonal skills. |
| C．To interview some talented artisans. |
| D．To appreciate the wonderful artworks. |
| A．A visitor. | B．A translator. | C．A tour guide. | D．A security guard. |
| A．In doubt. | B．In silence. | C．In satisfaction. | D．In amazement. |
| A．Chinese culture has been part of her own identity. |
| B．Culture should be presented in different forms. |
| C．Culture can only be kept alive through exchanges. |
| D．Chinese culture has helped her better adapt to her new life. |
“Where is it? We’re going to be late!” Janice searched the house crazily for her wallet. “Josh! Did you hide my wallet? We have to be at Grandpa’s for his birthday party!” Josh, Janice’s four-year-old younger brother, smiled innocently at her, but his cunning (狡黠的) eyes gave himself away. She tried her best not to shout. Grinning (咧嘴笑) like a cat, Josh reached under the sofa, pulled out her wallet and held it over his head. Janice grabbed it.
Ten minutes later, they hurried to the train station. Red-faced and sweating, Janice let go of Josh’s wrist and removed the sweat from her forehead. The train arrived. Her smile froze when she realized that the train was packed with passengers. Grabbing Josh’s hand, Janice boarded the train. She commanded, “The train’s really crowded, Josh. Behave yourself, stick close to me, and no monkey business!” Josh nodded, holding tightly to a rail. Janice smiled.
When it was time to get off the train, Janice quickly pushed her way through the crowd to get onto the platform. “We made it!” Janice said, turning around. Josh was nowhere to be seen. The crowd was flooding out, but Josh was not among them. “The train doors are closing,” then came the electronic voice. Soon, the crowd on the platform died down. The last thing Janice saw was Josh’s little anxious face at the train window: Just as Janice was about to call out Josh’s name, the train disappeared from view. “Josh!” Janice screamed.
Janice’s mind was transported back to when she was lost at the zoo. She could still vividly remember the towering figures surrounding her and none of them were’ familiar. “I don’t want Josh to go through that same bitter experience,” Janice let out a sigh.
Janice took out her mobile phone, ready to call her mother. However, midway, she decided against it. Her mother, who was far away in France on business, could do nothing but get restless. Janice paced up and down the platform anxiously.
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。
Just then, Janice received a call from an unknown number.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Having waved goodbye to the lady, they headed for their destination.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________For the past three years, I had worked tirelessly as a waitress at Lester’s Cafe during weekends and vacations, saving every penny I could for my $500 tuition (学费) bill for St John’s College of Nursing. But fate (命运) had other plans in store for me. Just days after my high school graduation, my father fell ill and needed an expensive operation to recover. My family, already struggling financially, was in urgent need of funds. With a heavy heart, I offered all my savings to help cover the medical bills.
But as the days went by, panic set in. How would I pay for my tuition? No bank would lend money to an eighteen-year-old with no hope of repayment for three years, and none of my friends had that kind of money. I felt lost, unsure of what to do.
I thought of Lester, but he always put the profits back into his little cafe. Five hundred dollars was a large sum of money then. There was only one person who came to mind — Mr. Smith, the successful engineer and a regular customer at Lester’s Cafe. He came into Lester’s early every morning for breakfast. Despite having barely exchanged more than pleasantries (客套话) with him while waiting tables, he was the only person who ever tipped me in the little cafe. Would he even remember me? And wouldn’t Lester be upset if I asked his customer for a loan?
On Saturday afternoon, I took the courage to call Lester and explain my difficult situation. To my surprise, he understood and encouraged me to approach Mr. Smith for help. “Mr. Smith still eats here every morning. And he asked about you yesterday. Come here on Monday and you’re welcome to ask him. And good luck, Jeanne,” he said to me.
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。
So on Monday morning, I found myself standing nervously in front of Mr. Smith.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________As we left the bank, Mr. Smith smiled and shook my hand, wishing me good luck.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________It was a warm Sunday. 16-year-old Stella settled down with a book, enjoying her quiet moment when her friend Bog came over with his 6-year-old sister. “Stella, please! I need you to help to watch Hazel! I have a lecture to attend this afternoon,” Bog begged.
Stella frowned, not thrilled with the idea of babysitting a little girl. However, Bog didn’t offer her any other choice. He dropped Hazel off with Stella and quickly ran away before she could react.
With a heavy sigh, Stella unwillingly turned her attention to Hazel. “Fine, just stay there and don’t cause any trouble,” she grumbled (嘟囔). To her surprise, little Hazel smiled and obediently sat by the table, drawing quietly without making a single noise.
For the next hour, Stella was quietly engaged in reading without being disturbed by Hazel. Gradually, her annoyance disappeared and she got accustomed to the company of Hazel. After a while, Hazel cautiously approached Stella, holding a picture. “Look, it’s you and me,” she said in a low voice. It was a simple drawing of two girls, hand in hand, smiling.
Stella’s heart softened as she looked at the drawing. She felt guilty about treating Hazel impatiently. Setting her book aside, Stella smiled warmly and said, “I love it. Thank you!” Then Stella began to join Hazel to create it together.
Just as they were lost in a world of colors, a sudden phone ringing broke the warm atmosphere. It was a phone call from her friend, reminding her about the long-awaited plan to go skating on the ice rink (溜冰场). Stella’s heart sank because she had forgotten all about it. She was torn between the desire to go skating and her duty to look after Hazel. She was also worried that taking her to skate would prevent her from enjoying gliding (滑) freely on the ice.
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。
As Stella hesitated, Hazel looked up at her with hopeful eyes.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Hazel admiringly watched Stella and her friends gliding on the ice.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The New York Marathon (马拉松) is my goal for this year. I know I am never going to win a race but now, when I get anything negative, I will think of the kind gentleman who really believed, “You very good… you very fast.”
At the time, I was living in the Bay Area, and my mother had come to visit for a few days. On the last day of her stay, I was preparing to go out for a run. I picked up a T-shirt I just bought the other day from a Chinese clothing shop — it had some Chinese characters on the front, and a scene of Honolulu Chinatown on the back. I didn’t speak Chinese, but somehow this special T-shirt was quite soft and good for exercise.Working in a very negative environment, I found morning runs very beneficial — body tired but mind awake.
And I had always met an elderly Chinese gentleman walking on the opposite side of the trail (道路) when I was running on other mornings. I had always said, “Good morning,” and he had always smiled warmly and nodded his head slightly.
As I was going out the door, my mother suddenly said, “I don’t think running is so hot — that famous runner died.” I started to recount what I had read about Jim Fixx, and how running had probably been the contributing factor to his living far longer than most of the other members of his family, but I knew there was absolutely no point.
As I started running on my favorite trail, I found I couldn’t shake my mother’s statement. I was so discouraged that I could hardly run. I began thinking, “Why do I run at all? Serious runners probably think I look silly! I might have a heart attack on the trail — my dad had a fatal (致命的) heart attack at 50 years old, and he was seemingly in better shape than I am.”
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。
My mother’s statement remained in my mind like a giant blanket.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Upon hearing the man’s words, I felt more unexplained strength in my step.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Engagement (订婚) is an exciting and memorable event that many people look forward to. Bailey Davis, who had been in love with her boyfriend for more than two years, like many others, recently experienced this joyous occasion when she got engaged. As for the future, Bailey knew that no matter what challenges or obstacles came her way, she would always hold onto the memories and experiences she shared with her partner. She has been proudly wearing her beautiful engagement ring ever since, valuing it as a symbol of her love and commitment. However, her happiness was short-lived.
As a salesgirl of a large chain store, Bailey was as busy as a bee, going on business alone from time to time. On this particular day, Columbus, Ohio was her destination. She got up very early, packed all her baggage, and drove there happily. While at a rest stop, she used the restroom. Here, she took off her ring. But little did she know that she’d also leave it there. It wasn’t until she arrived in Columbus that she realized her ring was missing. “I had driven already two hours away to Columbus before I realized it wasn’t on my hand,” Bailey recalled. “I was shaky and sweating — I felt like I was going to puke (呕吐).” By the time she returned to the rest stop bathroom, the ring was gone. At that moment, Bailey felt certain she would never see her precious ring again.
Bailey’s heart began to sink at the thought of the special value of the ring. For her, it was not just a piece of jewelry but a symbol of the love and commitment she shared with her partner. She couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of loss and disappointment.
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。
However, Bailey refused to give up hope.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Just when she’s about to lose heart, something amazing happened.
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