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.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________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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It was somewhere between spring and summer, and my mom and I were driving through the countryside. Back then, I was 13 years old, and always felt unhappy with Mom. But I didn’t know that this trip was going to be a special one.
A pot of flowers sat in the back seat, whose heavenly fragrance(香味)filled the car. Suddenly, in the middle of nowhere, my mom stopped the car. “What are you doing?” I shouted, fearing that the car had broken down and we’d be trapped there, so far from home. But that wasn’t the case. My mom jumped out of the car, grabbing(抓)the flowers from the back seat. “It’ll just be a minute,” she called back through the open windows.
I impatiently looked at the side of the road before finding a little sign showing that it was a nursing home. I looked back to the building, a little annoyed, as my mom reappeared ——empty- handed.
Before she started the car, curiosity drove me to ask, “Do you know someone there?” She shook her head. “Then what did you do with the flowers?” She smiled slightly, “I gave them to the receptionist (前台接待员).” “What?” She laughed at my confusion. “I told the receptionist to give the flowers to whoever needed them, especially those who haven’t gotten any in a while.”
I kept silent for a moment. Not long after we continued our driving, I spoke again, “Did you leave your name?” To this, she answered instantly, “No. Leaving flowers there for someone who will appreciate them makes me feel good, which is enough of a thank for me.”
Suddenly, still thinking about Mom’s deeds, I heard something burst loudly. It was our car that broke down! Nothing could be worse, because neither my mom nor I understood how to repair it, and we didn’t know where the garage was. It also seemed impossible to wait for any passer-by, since we had seen so few people along the way.
注意：1. 续写的短文的词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式作答。
Paragraph 1
We were worrying about what could be done.
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Paragraph 2
As we drove along, a flower shop came into sight on the road.
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A few years ago, the company I worked for sent my wife and me to live in New York for a year. I’ve always loved running, so I was really happy when I found out I lived next to Central Park. This meant that every morning I could go for a run before I went to work.
Because a lot of people had told me to be careful of robbers in the park, so usually I didn’t take anything with me. How could they rob me if I didn’t have anything? But one morning, my wife gave me a S 10 bill and asked me to buy some bread on the way.
It was a beautiful morning and the park was quiet with very few people walking or jogging (慢跑) around. While I was running through the park, another jogger knocked into me. He apologized and continued running. For a while, I didn’t think too much of it. However, when I noticed the wide path where I was running, I thought was kind of strange. The warning of robbers in the park occurred to me. ”It could have been a robber!” I suddenly became alarmed, so I checked my pocket and found that the money was missing. Without thinking twice, I ran after that jogger. I finally caught up and held him by the arm. I shouted, “Give me the $10 bill! Now!” I am not usually a hot-headed (性急的) person, but I got really angry this time. I couldn’t believe the robbery was actually happening to me. Filled with anger, I shook my fist at him. This seemed to frighten him. He quickly put his hand in his pocket and gave me the money. Then he ran away as fast as he could.
I bought the bread and went home. As soon as I got home, I couldn’t wait to tell my wife my story. “You won’t believe what happened to me,” I started with pride. She immediately stopped me, “I know, you left the money for the bread on the kitchen table.”
注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为80左右；
2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
Looking at the money on the table, I stood there, shocked.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________5 . Last weekend, a couple, Katie and Zack Watson, headed to Birmingham to see Garth Brooks’ concert. They were supposed to attend the show with an old friend, but their friend was in hospital because of his long-term staying up late to work and couldn’t go.
“We have the third ticket. We try to give it away. It is just sitting out there, no takers,” Katie said. They were staying in a Homewood hotel and thought a Uber would be the best way to get to the concert. Their first Uber driver canceled the order, and the clock was ticking. Katie called another Uber driver and hoped for the best. “Your driver is Vicky,” came the message from Uber.
On the way to the stadium, Vicky told the couple about how much she loved Garth Brooks. She was not even from Birmingham but came to drive people in the area. “I guess you’re heading to the Garth Brooks’ concert,” said Vicky. “I love Garth so much-seeing one of his concerts is on my dream list. Someday I might get a chance to see him in person. He has such a beautiful soul.”
Zack and Katie looked at one another and smiled. “Would you like to go to the concert with us?” Katie asked. Vicky’s heart jumped. A country girl from Guin, Alabama, got a chance to see Garth Brooks? “Look, there’s an empty parking spot!” shouted Katie. “Quick, Vicky! Pull in to the space and you can go to the concert with us!”
The three new friends sat together for hours at Protective Stadium-a memory of all three would last forever.
“There’s no doubt that getting to take Vicky to the concert makes me feel good,” Katie said. “It is the least we can do, and we believe it really made Vicky’s night.”
Vicky said she felt exultant, and she was reminded that there are good people in the world. “Zack and Katie are so kind. I still can’t believe I once was inside the stadium,” she said. “I’m just a country girl at heart. A country girl who achieved a dream.”
1. What made the couple’s old friend unable to attend Garth Brooks’ concert?| A．The bad weather. | B．His little interest. |
| C．His illness. | D．The busy work. |
| A．Vicky used it. | B．No one took it. |
| C．It was left in the hotel. | D．It was kept for the couple’s old friend. |
| A．Confused. | B．Excited. | C．Stressed. | D．Bored |
| A．She is a bus driver. | B．She is a fan of Garth Brooks. |
| C．She was born in Birmingham. | D．She is an old friend of the couple’s. |
6 . One day in summer, as Terry passed through the crossroads, a truck ran a red light, crashing into his car violently, throwing him out of his seat belt and sending him flying five meters through the air. Within minutes, Terry’s unconscious body was picked up by the medical workers at the side of the road. Noticing his skin had taken on a deep blue color — indicating a lack of oxygen — the medical workers put a pipe down Terry’s throat, and he was rushed to nearby Oshawa General Hospital. “ By the time Terry came in, we were ready and waiting for him, ” said Marianne Timmermans, one of the nurses who initially worked on him. He was in severe condition.
Moments later, police arrived with the news. Lorraine, Terry’s wife, remembered seeing him in the Intensive Care Unit for the first time after the accident. There was nothing but ma-chines all over him. He wasn’t a pretty sight. He lay deep in a coma (昏迷). But Terry’s powers of recovery were as unbelievable as his injuries seemed to be. Three weeks after being thrown from his vehicle, he came out of his coma. Although he was by all appearances intact, Terry would soon reveal an injury far more severe than whatever damage had been done to his body.
When Terry awoke from his coma, he had been all but reduced to the level of a child. Everything from his ability to talk and walk to his understanding of what it meant to be a husband and a father seemed gone. Much as Terry had a problem, he never gave up and he also had the support of his family, marked by small victories and a renewed bond between him and his three daughters when they taught him how to play football again.
It has taken years to rebuild his shattered life, but today, more than 20 years since his playing days, Terry is a highly popular motivational speaker. He tells his story of perseverance and courage and family’s support in his presentation Seize Each Day.
1. Why did the car accident happen?| A．Terry drove his car too fast. | B．Terry didn’t fasten his seat belt. |
| C．The truck driver didn’t obey the traffic law. | D．The driver lost control of his truck. |
| A．Lorraine’s care for Terry. | B．The police’s response to the accident. |
| C．Terry’s health progress after the accident. | D．Terry’s effort to recover from injuries. |
| A．He has lost the ability of talking and walking. |
| B．He owes success to his family and his determination. |
| C．He finds it hard to get along well with his daughters. |
| D．He don’t bear the responsibilities of husband and father. |
| A．An inspiring story. | B．A successful father. |
| C．A harmonious family. | D．An extraordinary accident. |
7 . A few years back I suffered from a strange vertigo (眩晕) health issue which showed up out the blue and caused me to feel dizzy. Around that time, I had to
On our hour-long ride to the airport, vertigo
I asked the driver to
Considering my state, the driver spent
The driver
Every time my wife and I recall the kindness of the driver, we are so glad that we could give him a
| A．talk | B．travel | C．leave | D．admit |
| A．educate | B．drop | C．relieve | D．accompany |
| A．pleased | B．concerned | C．cautious | D．urgent |
| A．sharpened | B．annoyed | C．controlled | D．struck |
| A．left out | B．put up | C．threw up | D．met with |
| A．give in | B．take in | C．pull over | D．make for |
| A．freshwater | B．proteins | C．snacks | D．wine |
| A．varieties of | B．plenty of | C．the number of | D．a bit of |
| A．bus | B．plane | C．cart | D．car |
| A．problem | B．trouble | C．complaint | D．understanding |
| A．devoted | B．gentle | C．artificial | D．admirable |
| A．never | B．always | C．specially | D．personally |
| A．Temporarily | B．Apparently | C．Thankfully | D．Regrettably |
| A．fatal | B．contradictory | C．tough | D．normal |
| A．fake | B．true | C．mean | D．generous |
8 . One day after work, I was using a pay phone when suddenly I found a wallet on the floor. I
Looking in the wallet a little further, I found a ticket of buying the wallet with a phone number listed. I took a
The next day the man came to my office early. I returned him his
But the following thing that happened caught me by
| A．gave up | B．looked through | C．took out | D．dealt with |
| A．engineer | B．customer | C．advertiser | D．owner |
| A．asked | B．explained | C．wondered | D．knew |
| A．chance | B．trip | C．photo | D．shower |
| A．delivery | B．office | C．website | D．home |
| A．pick up | B．find out | C．search for | D．focus on |
| A．shocked | B．tracked | C．appreciated | D．attacked |
| A．quickly | B．curiously | C．finally | D．bally |
| A．forgot | B．limited | C．set | D．stayed |
| A．pocket | B．budget | C．ticket | D．wallet |
| A．informed | B．reformed | C．harmed | D．ignored |
| A．touched | B．approached | C．frightened | D．reminded |
| A．stressed | B．discussed | C．chatted | D．cheated |
| A．time | B．accident | C．surprise | D．contrast |
| A．strange | B．small | C．powerful | D．common |
9 . Zara Rutherford, at age 19, became the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in January, 2022. Her history-making journey covered five continents and more than 28,000 sea miles in 155 days. Her incredible achievement broke two Guinness World Records as Zara became the youngest woman to fly around the globe in a microlight(超轻型) airplane.
“I made it,” Zara said as she reached home and her final destination, Kortrijk-Wevelgem airport in western Belgium.
A large, joyful crowd that included her proud parents awaited her with a hero’s welcome. Reporters surrounded her as she got off the aircraft, eager to hear about her amazing journey firsthand.
Zara first left Belgium in a microlight plane named Shark UL plane. Along her journey, she landed in 41 countries. The record-breaking trip took 155 days—a little longer than she expected due to unexpected challenges. She was grounded in some countries for weeks, awaiting safe flying conditions and visa entry approval to her next destination.
Zara flew through wildfires, typhoons and dangerous, sub-zero temperatures to reach her destination and make history. “The hardest part was flying over Siberia—it was extremely cold and, if the engine was to die, I’d be hours away from rescue. I’m not sure I would have survived,” she reflected. One particularly painful moment occurred when she had to make an unscheduled landing in California because of wildfire smoke. “At one point, I just couldn’t see anymore,” she said. “It got really turbulent.”
At several points on her journey, Zara said she was struck by the beauty of the natural wonders below. She also came across many kind strangers throughout her trip.
1. What happened to Zara Rutherford?| A．She traveled around the globe with her parents. |
| B．She traveled alone around the world on a boat tour. |
| C．She made a name by flying alone around the world. |
| D．She bought her own microlight airplane at age 19. |
| A．It took less time than expected. | B．It was always full of danger and fright. |
| C．It went smoothly from beginning to end. | D．Its start and end were both in Belgium. |
| A．significant | B．dangerous | C．amazing | D．unforgettable |
| A．A young woman’s amazing solo flight |
| B．A beautiful but frightening flight |
| C．How long does it take to fly solo around the globe? |
| D．What difficulties did Zara encounter on her journey? |
The family had just moved to Rhode Island, and the young woman was feeling a little sad on that Sunday in May. After all, it was Mother’s Day—and 800 miles separated her from her parents in Ohio.
She had called her mother that morning to wish her a happy Mother’s Day, and her mother had mentioned how colorful the yard was now that spring had arrived. As they talked, the younger woman could almost smell the tantalizing aroma(诱人的香气) of purple lilacs(紫丁香) hanging on the big bush outside her parents’ back door.
Later, when she mentioned to her husband how she missed those lilacs, he popped up from his chair. “I know where we can find you all you want, ” he said. “Get the kids and come on. ” So off they went, driving on the country roads of northern Rhode Island. Eventually, he stopped the car.
“Come with me, ” he said. “Over that hill is an old cellar hole, and there are lilacs all around it. Go pick a few. ”
There, on the top of the hill, were the towering lilacs bushes. While the man examined the cellar hole and tried to explain to the children what the house must have looked like, the woman had been cheered up, drifting among the lilacs. Carefully, she picked some out. She was in no hurry, admiring each blossom(=flower) as a rare and delicate treasure.
Finally, though, they returned to their car for the trip home. When they were almost home, she suddenly shouted to her husband: “Stop the car. Stop right here！”
In a second, the woman was out of the car and hurrying up a nearby grassy slope with the lilacs still in her arms. At the top of the hill was a nursing home and, because it was such a beautiful spring day, the patients were outdoors, walking with relatives or sitting on the porch(走廊).
注意：续写词数应为150左右。
The young woman went to the end of the porch, where an elderly patient was sitting in her wheelchair, alone.
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Curiosity was aroused among the kids and the husband.
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