Jane walked along the road with a sad look. Her friend Mary’s birthday was coming but she did not have anything nice to wear for the party. Her father lost his job and there was hardly any money left to buy a new dress.
Jane decided to wear an old dress that had been her favorite for many years but had become a little too short for her now. “I will ask the tailor to increase the length,” Jane said to herself.
The tailor, however, refused to do so since new orders had started pouring in. Jane thought, “What am I to do?”
Suddenly she saw a lady get out of the car and walk towards the bank. Her wallet fell on the ground. Not knowing it, the lady went into the bank.
Jane picked up the wallet. There were so many people inside the bank that she decided to wait on the steps. After a long time the lady came out. Jane handed her the wallet. The lady couldn’t believe the little girl had been waiting for her for so long to hand her the wallet.
She looked at the girl’s dirty clothes. “Where are you going?” the lady asked. Jane told the lady that she was going home. She said that she had been to the tailor to get a a dress altered (修改) to wear for her friend’s birthday party but the tailor had refused to do so and that her father was jobless.
The lady looked at the old dress. She was the owner of a shop that stitched (缝) clothes for children and young adults. “Come to my shop in the evening and collect your dress,” the lady said. Then she paused and said, “Oh, by the way, have you thought of a birthday present to give to your friend?”
Jane nodded and said, “Yes! My uncle has given me a box of colored pencils which I have not used. I will give that to my friend.”
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。
The lady led the little girl to the front of her shop.
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“Ask your father to see me tomorrow,” the lady said.
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My mom was a kind woman. She had an unusual view on helping others that I didn’t really understand until one cold, winter day when we picked up my brothers at school.
“Who is that child?” Mom pointed at a skinny, angry-looking girl across the street. “She doesn’t even have a coat. It’s freezing!” “That’s Becky Ingler. She always looks mad like that,” I replied. Becky didn’t have a father, and everybody laughed at her. “I’ll visit her tomorrow,” Mom said.
The next day, we went to the Inglers’ house. A tired-looking woman appeared, and Mom smiled, “Hello, Mrs. Ingler. I’m just visiting some of our neighbors.” Once inside, I noticed there was a rusty coal stove and a big messy bed. Mom looked at each of the children carefully.
As we left, Mom told Mrs. Ingler she would visit them again soon.
Mom’s old sewing machine (缝纫机) worked for two days and nights to turn some shabby clothes into stylish winter coats. She said to me, “I need your help to send these coats to the Inglers this afternoon.”
“Wow!” I said. “They’re lucky to get these.”
“No,” said Mom as she faced me. “We’re the lucky ones to be able to help them. We must make sure these coats are given freely, without the Inglers paying a price for them.” I didn’t understand what Mom meant. Mom explained, “I don’t want these coats to cost them their pride or dignity (尊严). We can’t show we are somehow better than they are.”
I asked Mom what we should do if they refused the coats. Mom smiled and said, “I have a plan in mind.”
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。
Later that day, we went to the Inglers’ house again.
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As we left, I noticed Becky examining the coats happily.
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A Girl’s Baseball Dream
Marcenia Lyle loved baseball even though she couldn’t afford baseball cleats (运动鞋). If there was anything in the world better than baseball, Marcenia didn’t know what it was. She dreamed of growing up to be a professional ballplayer, so she could play ball all the time. Her friend Harold gave his old gloves to her. Boys had teased (取笑) her when she first started playing baseball with them. Then when they saw she could run, hit, and throw as well as they could, the teasing stopped. They had let her play.
One day after school Marcenia went to the playground. The boys stood and talked quietly. They cast excited glances at the man who was watching the field. “Do you know who he is?” Harold asked Marcenia as she joined the group. He tipped his head toward the man. “That there is Mr. Gabby Street. He’s running a baseball camp this summer.”
Marcenia knew about Gabby Street. He was a famous coach. “What does he want?” Marcenia asked. “Kids for her baseball camp.” Harold said, “It’s going to be right here on the field every day except Sunday. Sundays are game days.” “What is the cost?” Marcenia asked. “It’s free! It’s free!” said Clarence. “All you need is your own glove and baseball cleats.” Harold added. Marcenia could hardly contain her excitement. She would do anything to be one of the players in Mr. Street’s camp.
That afternoon Marcenia played with purpose. She scored three runs just like she wanted and hit a home run. When Mr. Street approached the players after the game, Marcenia crowded in close so he could see her. “I just saw some good ball,” Mr. Street said, smiling. “Who wants to come to my baseball camp and really learn to play this game?” Every hand went up. Mr. Street shook them all. He shook Marcenia’s hand last. “You’ve got a good arm, little girl, and you run fast,” he said. “I’m sorry but I don’t take girls in my camp.” Marcenia looked down so no one would see her disappointment. She began striking dust from her dress, thinking to herself, “I must hold on to my dream.”
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。
Marcenia decided to give Mr. Street a reason to change his mind.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mr. Street waved Marcenia over and handed a new shoe box to her.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Linda went for a job interview at a firm that had several start-up businesses under its wing. She applied to be Executive Secretary of the CEO, but her chance of getting the job was slim because she came in late for the interview.
“I’m truly sorry I have come late, sir,” Linda apologized. “But I had an emergency to attend to earlier today and that is why I couldn’t make it on time. I hope you can give me a chance,” she added. “But the job is to be my secretary and being late for your interview is just not good,” George, the CEO, told her. “I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to hire you.” Depressed, Linda left.
When Linda got home, her son Jack found that something seemed to be bothering his mom. Then he asked, “What’s wrong, Mom? How did the job interview go?” “I didn’t get the job, son. I didn’t make it in time for the interview,” she sighed. Jack was almost crying upon hearing this, but Linda tired to comfort him. “It’s all right, son. There are many other jobs I can apply for. It’s no big deal,” she said, hugging him.
The following day, Jack copied the address from his mother’s notebook and came to George’s office without telling his mom. “Hi, sir, I’m Jack. My mom came for an interview yesterday, but you rejected her. Could you please give her a second interview, sir?” he said to the CEO.
“Why should I give her another chance?” George asked. “It was because of my fault that she didn’t make it on time. I accidentally dropped some food juice on my shirt. She had to wash it because it was the only uniform that I could wear in school. It took a while to remove the stain (污渍), so she was late,” Jack said.
“My mom works hard, sir. My parents once ran a cleaning supply and equipment business. Owing to something unexpected, the company was closed down. My parents had to start all over again,” Jack continued.
George listened thoughtfully and began to feel sorry for Linda. He thought the position of Marketing Director would better suit Linda since she had relevant experience. Then he told Jack that he would give his mom a second chance.
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。
The next day, Linda received a call from George, who informed her that she could have a second chance.
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Calming down, Linda asked George why he had changed his mind and had given her another chance.
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It was a freezing cold morning in early 2023. I was on my way to work. I’d been training hard for an upcoming marathon, and was limping (跛行) slightly from a pain in my hip. I figured it was nothing serious. But later it turned out to be a hairline stress fracture (应力断裂).
So, when I slipped on the icy New York City sidewalk, I somehow lost my balance and broke my hip. I tried several times to stand up, but failed each time due to the sharp pain. As more and more passers-by gathered around, I felt extremely embarrassed.
Just at that time, a stranger emerged from the crowd and knelt beside me. All I remembered was seeing her kind face, all covered up, with a big hat and scarf. She pushed everyone out of the way and said, “I’ve got this.”
The woman introduced herself as Sharon Evans. As she helped me up, all I could think about was that I needed to get to work. But I was in terrible pain, and could barely stand. Seeing this, Sharon told me to stay put while she called a taxi.
“No, you don’t have to do that. I’m sure you have places to be, please don’t, I can do it,” I said to her. “No, the taxi is arriving anytime,” she replied.
Once the taxi arrived, Sharon supported me into the taxi and went with me. I tried to tell her that it wasn’t necessary. But she was persistent. To be honest, I was secretly relieved to have her company.
When the taxi pulled up to the hospital, Sharon took charge again. “You know what, I’m going to go get the wheelchair for you and I’ll wheel you in.” I hesitantly said, “Please don’t do that. You’ve done so much.”
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。
My condition was serious and I needed an immediate operation.
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Six months later, I fully recovered and managed to get her address.
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It’s been over a year since I started my job for neuropathy (神经病) treatments at a well-known healthcare center here in Oklahoma. Since then I seem to become very popular, shown nothing but love, kindness and consideration each time I arrive.
Anyway, two weeks ago I met a lady named Judith, who received neuropathy treatments there. She came here for treatments every a few days. She lived alone, without any children or family members around.
One day, I talked with a worker there. I told her I was once a caregiver and ran into some problems with my right leg after a terrible fall. That fall broke some bones in my right leg and left me with a large steel plate and 20 screws (螺丝).
Realizing my new challenges led me to have to make some personal changes. So I created some of my latest home projects: vegetables and gardens, chickens and ducks and other animals in my house like dogs, cats and birds. I was just sharing how I kept busy as part of my new exercise plan.
Then Judith wheeled over and politely interrupted (打断) and began asking about my animals but she was more interested in my birds. So I shared that I had several birds and she mentioned she had two new bird cages (鸟笼) that were given to her by her neighbor. And she had been hanging on to them and now she would like to give them away. Honestly, I could use them because the cage I use now was handmade but without any doors to move away waste. I felt like this offer from Judith was made for me.
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。
So I decided to get the cage from her house after her treatment.
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Later, Judith had an operation and needed someone to look after her.
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Both my parents were good at gardening. Our family of ten depended on the food we grew in our huge vegetable garden. My mother canned (把……装进罐中) much of the produce for winter, and my father sold potatoes and cabbages to the local stores and schools. Our garden was the pride of the neighborhood.
But then, one summer when I was quite young, we had a problem. Someone was stealing our vegetables. My parents were quite surprised. “I don’t get it,” my father said. “If someone wants vegetables from us, all they have to do is ask. If they can’t afford to pay for them, they could just have them.”
Then one of the neighbors tipped us off that a single elderly man who lived a short distance from us was seen selling vegetables in a nearby town. Benny didn’t have a garden, had no regular job and lived in a small, poor house. My parents found out he was taking our vegetables to earn a few extra dollars. And later, they found it was true. My father decided to deal with this situation in his own way.
One day, he told my mother that he’d go to hire (雇用) Benny. My mother was surprised, saying, “We don’t have enough money to hire anyone. Besides, why would we hire the man who’s taking our vegetables?” My father replied that he was going to hire him to guard our garden. My mother was confused and didn’t think it would work.
My father explained, “Here’s what I think. Benny has got himself backed into a corner, and I’m going to give him a way out. I think he can’t refuse me. And he sure can’t take the vegetables that he’s guarding.”
When my father told him about the job, Benny was obviously a bit shocked. But Dad solved it pretty well. “Benny,” he said, “someone, probably some kid, has been taking vegetables out of our garden. I wonder if I could hire you to guard the garden.” Then Dad added that he would also have breakfast with us every day.
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。
Thinking for a moment, he gladly nodded and smiled, “All right.”
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Dad then began to create a vegetable garden for Benny.
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An Unexpected Call
It was a Wednesday. I had just gotten home from work and was getting dinner ready when suddenly I wanted badly to call my grandmother for I felt something was wrong with her.
Having freed my hands from all things, I dialed her number quickly and waited with a growing sense of fear as she did not answer. That was extremely unusual because she always answered, her cell phone always by her side. I called again. “Pick up! Pick up!”
I knew reasoningly she could be out or was away from the phone but as I dialed again and again, getting no answer each time for over two hours, I began to panic. She had no car, she lived alone, she only took short walks around the neighborhood.
I knew she needed help. I didn't know how I knew; I just did. Focusing on what might have happened to my grandma, I called my sister and my father and told them I thought something was wrong and we needed to drive one state over to my grandmother's house to check on her. I was out the door before either of them could text to me any disagreeing idea.
I picked them up and we headed forward. “She's probably at church,” my father kept saying. “Maybe she's taking a nap,” my sister got a word in, but I just stepped on the gas and a half hour later we pulled into my grandmother's driveway.
The gate was shut, and not a ray of light could be seen inside. Now, sensing I was right, my father began knocking on the locked front door. My sister leaned on the doorbell and although we could hear the clock ticking away there was no other noise inside. I pressed my eye against the window of the dining room.
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。
Attempting to see inside the darkened room, I could just make out a pale hand on the floor.
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After she woke up, she told us what had happened to her.
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Tom’s love for soccer ran deep, and he played the game with a passion that was infectious (有感染力的) to everyone around him. But there was one thing that upset him-his worn-out soccer shoes. These shoes had been passed down to him by his older brother, and they were falling apart. With his birthday drawing near, Tom secretly wished for a new pair of soccer shoes to lift his spirits so that he could have a good performance in the game. However, he was well aware of his parents’ constant struggles to make ends meet and knew that such a wish might remain a dream forever.
One sunny afternoon, Tom and his best friend, David, were at school, watching an exciting soccer match. The exciting run and shout, the determination on the athletes’ faces, and their fine equipment were enough to make anyone’s heart race. It was at this moment that Tom said about his biggest birthday wish. He took a long deep breath and said, “How I wish I could have a new pair of soccer shoes for my birthday, but I know it’s impossible.”
David, sitting beside him, couldn’t help but overhear Tom’s words. The idea of helping his best friend achieve this long-held dream began to form in his mind. After school, David ran home and couldn’t wait to share the idea with his mother.
“Mom, I really want to do this for Tom. He’s been playing with those old shoes for so long. It would mean the world to him,” David explained seriously.
His mother smiled warmly, proud of her son’s compassion (同情) . “David, it’s a wonderful idea. It’s not just about the gift; it’s about the thought and effort you’re putting into making Tom’s day special.”
As David thought about how to earn the money, his mother suggested, “You know, David, there are various ways you can earn some extra money to save for the soccer shoes. Many of our neighbors are looking for someone to help with lawn mowing (刈草坪) and other services. Some even need help with newspaper delivery. You can offer your services and earn money that way.”
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。
David’s eyes lit up as he realized the potential.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The day of Tom’s birthday finally arrived, and David couldn’t wait to surprise his best friend.
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One afternoon after school, Mary and her brother, Keith, were eating at a cafe near their home. That afternoon, they had to share their table with another person. That person was a young lady in her twenties. After eating, she went to the restroom. Without realizing, she had left her cellphone on the table. Five minutes later, she came out and walked out of the cafe without looking back.
Mary saw the cellphone on the table. She quickly told Keith, “Keith, the girl left behind her cellphone.”Keith looked at the cellphone. It took his breath away. It was one of the latest models on the market. Keith had always wanted a cellphone. But his parents had told him, “You don’t need one. You can always use the house phone.” He stared at it for some minutes. Then, he said slowly, pausing on every word, “I want to take the cellphone.” Mary could not believe her ears. She only stared at her brother, “You can’t! What if the owner comes to look for it?”
After making the decision, Keith quickly got the cellphone and put it in his schoolbag. Then, he took Mary’s hand and led her out of the cafe quickly.
Once back home, Keith locked his room door with trembling (颤抖的) hands. Inside his room, he took out the piece of beauty. Oh, he liked it so much. He had his own cellphone. Soon, he was polishing it happily. But Mary told him, “Keith, you cannot keep the cellphone. What will you tell our father about this? He will ask you how you got the cellphone.” Keith said quickly, “I will say a friend lent it to me.” Mary said, “Now you are lying too. Oh dear! When had Keith turned so dishonest?”
Then, Mary saw a house phone number on the cover of the cellphone. “This is the girl’s phone number. Why don’t we just call this number? We will talk to her and ask her to come and take back her cellphone,” she was trying to talk some sense into him.
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。
That night, Keith turned over in bed from time to time.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Mary was very happy to hear that.
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