One of my best friends is named Lisa. If you’d told us a month ago that there would come a point when we would need space from each other, we would have said “Not a chance!”
But then Lisa’s family won a five-day stay in a mountain cabin(小屋). Because Lisa’s sister, Alana, was spending the week with her grandparents, Lisa’s mom and dad said I could come along instead.
When I told my parents about the awesome invitation, my mom said, “That sounds fun, but keep in mind that five days is a long time to spend with a friend.” I shook my head. “Lisa and I are just like fish and water. We’re happy sticking together. Plus, the cabin is near paths where we can try snowshoeing and other outdoor stuff.”
A few weeks later, Lisa and her parents and I arrived at an adorable cabin surrounded by snow-covered pine trees. “What a great place!” Lisa’s dad said.
“It’s looking a little cloudy,” said Lisa’s mom, glancing at the sky. “Let’s hope it means snow and not rain.”
As you might have guessed, the clouds did mean rain. Lots of rain. And since our major plans involved snowshoeing and watching winter wildlife, we were stuck. “I guess we’ll have to find something else to do,” said Lisa.
We found a couple of board games and a pack of cards and sat down. At first, it was fun, but we ended up playing those games for about 100 hours, stopping only to eat and sleep!
“I can’t play anymore,” I said on the third day. “How about we just read by ourselves for a while?”
“I have a better idea,” said Lisa. “How about singing instead?”
“I think a little quiet time would be nice,” I said, opening a book I had brought.
“Oh, come on! Don’t be boring. I’ll pick the first song.” Lisa started singing “Somewhere over the Rainbow.”
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2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
“Could you please leave me alone?” I shouted.
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____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Jackie was searching for her library book in her room. Outside her house stood her friend Sasha waiting for her to go to the library. But the book was missing.
Jackie then ran into her sister’s bedroom. “Have you seen my library book? Last week my book was bitten by your cat. The week before that, you dropped my book in the park,” Jackie asked angrily. Her sister shook her head. Despite her efforts, Jackie found no traces of the book there.
“What’s taking you so long, Jackie?” Mom’s voice rang through the house. “I need to find my library book. It has a red cover. It’s due (到期) today. If I have lost the library book, I am not allowed to check out any books for a whole month,” Jackie sighed, walking down the stairs. She nearly ran into her mom, who was carrying a heavy laundry (待洗衣物) basket.
“Good luck with that book. The library closes in twenty minutes.” Mom stopped to grab Jackie’s clothes from the railing and wrinkled her nose. “I’m putting these in the laundry,” said Mom, disappearing down the basement stairs.
Jackie ran around the house, looking under the sofa, in the fridge, and behind the piano. However, the book was nowhere to be found. Where was that library book? The thought of not being able to get into the world of stories and knowledge for a whole month made her feel very sad. Jackie sank onto the living room sofa, her mind racing with thoughts of the result she would soon face.
Just then Mom came into the living room and suddenly said, “Have you searched all the places? You need to think carefully and see if you’ve missed anything?” “I’ve searched everywhere I can think of, but I still haven’t found it,” Jackie almost cried. “I looked for you in your painting room in the backyard last night where you were practising your painting. I seemed to see a red thing. Maybe it was in the painting room,” Mom added.
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。
Without wasting another moment, Jackie rushed outside to the painting room.
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Rushing to the library, Jackie and Sasha found the door still open.
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I had run away from home after finishing high school. My parents had insisted I go to college, but I was tired of school. I hated it. I was determined not to go. And, besides, my father was too strict. I had too many chores to do around the farm. I haled the work!
There had been a quarrel between my father and me. I threw some things into a bag and left angrily, as my father shouted after me, “If you leave, don’t come back!” My mother cried openly, and I had seen those tears during a hundred sleepless nights.
Then it was time to write a letter to my father.
Dear Dad,It’s been more than a year now. I’ve traveled east to west. I’ve had dozens of jobs. None of them amounted to very much. Always the same questions: “How much education have you got?” It seems they always want college men for the good jobs.
Dad, you and Mother were right about everything. I know now that the work on the farm didn’t hurt me, and I’m convinced I need college. I’m also convinced that both of you loved me.
Dad, I’ve learned a lesson. I want to come home. I know you said if I left, I couldn’t come back, but I’m praying you’ll change your mind. I want to come home and be a part of the family again.
Give my love to Mother and the girls.
Love,Your son
As I folded the letter and put it into an envelope, I felt a refreshing relief. It was as if a heavy load had been lifted from my shoulders. And I had to be on my way home.
I started down the desolate road—the long road home. Fortunately, a car picked me up, and it was good to have someone to talk with. The driver was a salesman and very pleasant.
“Where you going, boy?” he asked good-naturedly.
There was a long silence before I said, “Home.”
“Been away from home long?”
I smiled, a little self-conscious, and said, “One year, one month and two days.”
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。
Having heard my story, he expressed his support for my final decision and told me something surprising.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Finally, I arrived home when. it was completely dark.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Widower Adam, single dad of 3, couldn’t imagine his kind help several days ago was rewarded (奖励) by a truck from the lady he helped.
It was seven in the morning. Adam was jogging in a local park. Adam had a strict schedule that started with this run. In 30 minutes, he would run back home, a place filled with chaos (混乱) in the morning, especially with getting Amanda, his naughty 13-year-old, and Jared, his energetic 8-year-old, ready for school. They missed their mom, Cynthia. Her death was a gap (缺口) that Adam couldn’t fill, no matter how hard he tried. She had been gone 6 years, yet the pain was all too fresh. Luckily his daughter at 22 could help cooking.
As he ran the last round, Adam took a deep breath. This park and these morning runs were his connection to Cynthia. She loved running, and he could almost see her jogging alongside him, her laughter ringing in his ears. It was peaceful. He checked his watch, quickening his pace. It was almost time to head back and dive into the last-minute school project panics.
Suddenly, in the middle of his thoughts, Adam saw something unusual. An old woman, probably around 60 or 65, was struggling up the park stairs. Just as she neared the top, she lost her footing. Adam watched in shock as she fell down, rolling awkwardly. Giving up his strict schedule, he rushed over.
“Ma’am, are you okay?” Adam asked, out of breath, as he carefully helped her sit up. She was a bit shaken, brushing dirt off her clothes, trying to calm down. “I’m fine, just a little fall,” she said in pain.
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。
Adam knew she wasn’t as fine as she said.
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Several days later, a truck left by the old woman’s husband arrived at his house.
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Tom was one of the rudest boys in the village where he lived. If a person’s clothes were dirty or torn, he would throw stones at him, and annoy him in every way.
One afternoon after school, a stranger with a broad-brimmed hat passed through the village. His dress was old but clean. No sooner had Tom seen the stranger than he winked (使眼色) to his playmates, and said, “Now for some fun!” He then silently went toward the stranger from behind, and knocking off his hat, ran away.
The man turned and saw him, but Tom ran away quickly. The stranger put on his hat and went on his way. Again did Tom approach; but this time, the man caught him by the arm and held him fast. However, he just looked at Tom a moment, and then pushed him away. Instantly the naughty boy found himself free again, he began to throw dirt and stones at the stranger. But he was much frightened when the man’s eye was hit and badly hurt. All the boys now ran back to their home.
As Tom drew near the house, his sister Caroline met him, holding up a beautiful gold chain and some new books for him to see. She told Tom excitedly that their uncle, who had been away several years, had come home; that he had brought beautiful presents for them; that he had been at the hotel nearby, and walked on foot now to surprise his brother, their father.
She said that while he was coming through the village, some bad boys threw stones at him, and hurt his eye badly, which had been treated by their mom. “But what makes you so anxious?” asked Caroline. The guilty boy rushed upstairs into his room without a word. Soon after, he heard his father calling him to come down. Shaking from head to foot, he obeyed.
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 he reached the door, he stood, fearing to enter.
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But stepping back surprisedly, their uncle cried, “Oh! It’s you!”
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She came into my life when I was seven years old. My dad found her at work. She was wandering and starving. He took one look at her, and said, “Seems like you could use a good home.” He opened up the door and she jumped in. Her tail wagged (摇动) all the way. I was still at school when my dad arrived home with the puppy. Mum and dad fed her and gave her a bath. This would be my first pet. I had always wanted a dog. My parents told me when I was old enough and responsible, I could have one. Well, I guess they figured the time was right.
When I walked back home, a white and black puppy with a red bow stuck to her head greeted me with many puppy kisses. A wild joy took hold of me and a very special friendship was born that day.
Now she needed a name. My older brother laughed at her and said her tail didn’t wag back and forth like others, but went in a circle. He moved his finger around his ear, and said, “She’s squirrely.” Thus my puppy got her name, Squirrely.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150词左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Squirrely was a smart dog
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However, arthritis (关节炎) hit my best friend when she was
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The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read beneath a tree. It must be sick, for the branches were kind of yellow and dry. I was a deserted girl. A failure in an exam made me sad and I just wanted to stay alone. As I sat on the bench, things that happened recently began to flash through. No one to talk to. Not content with life, I had a good reason to frown.
Suddenly, a young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right in front of me with his head tilted (倾斜) down and said with great excitement, “Look what I found!” In his hand was a flower. What a pitiful sight, its petals (花瓣) were all worn—not enough rain, or too little light. He must have picked the flower from somewhere shady and sunless, just like where I was staying these days. Wanting him to go off to play, I smiled at him and then looked away. “Why couldn’t everyone just leave me alone!” I thought to myself.
But instead of leaving, he sat next to me and placed the flower to his nose and declared loudly with certainty, “It sure smells pretty and it must be beautiful, too. That’s why I picked it; here, it is for you. ”The flower before me was not vibrant with colors, orange, yellow or red—anyone can see that clearly! But I knew I must take it, or he might feel sad. So I reached for the flower, and replied, “Just what I need.” Strangely, instead of placing the flower in my hand, he held it in mid-air without any reason or plan.
Casting a curious glance at the boy’s eyes, I was hugely shocked. In the pure and sunny face were just a pair of eyes, somewhat hollow and focusless. “He was blind!” I felt myself choked as if there were a lump in my throat.
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。
With watery eyes, I took the flower from his hand carefully and praised it as the very best one.
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“I had to make a change,” I thought to myself.
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“Go home and ask your mummy about your blind brother! I am surprised you didn’t know that he is as blind as a bat!” Hearing Nathan’s words, I wanted to land a blow on him for making fun of my two-year-old brother, David, but I was more desperate (渴望的) to find out the truth.
With a misty (模糊的) vision, I ran home as fast as I could. Still out of breath, I questioned, “Is David blind?” Mother turned to me with tears in her eyes. “Yes, he’s born blind.” It was a heartbreaking moment. I knew clearly the dream of showing David my cool soccer moves or playing video games with him ended cruelly. “Why did you keep the truth from me? I often wondered why he didn’t look at me or why he was always tripping over (被绊倒) things and I thought it was because he was still too young...” Before I could continue any further, mother hugged me and cried, “I’m sorry, Caleb. Dad and I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
Suddenly, it struck me that David was blind but he could still hear the whole conversation. Not wanting him to be affected by it, I stopped crying and went forward and embraced him. “I love you so much, David.” Worry crept upon (开始影响) me: How hard life would be for him!
Little did I know that David was to inspire (鼓舞) me so greatly.
As David grew up, he was fairly strong-willed. Despite the challenges that he faced, he continued to attend the school for visually impaired (视力受损) children. He insisted he would take the bus home on his own. Often, he would walk through the main door, looking sheepish (不好意思的) and saying the same phrase, “Sorry Mum, I am late. I boarded the wrong bus again.”
Tough as life was, there was always silver lining (一线希望) of misfortune. Despite not being able to see, he could play a piece of music after listening to it, being played once on the piano. He even dreamed of playing solo (独奏) one day on stage. Luckily for him, the school had discovered David’s extraordinary (非凡的) talent.
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 day, David burst through the main door excitedly.
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Tapping the ground with his walking stick, David entered the stage.
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There was a girl named Emily. Although her singing was pleasant to hear, lacking of courage, she never sings in front of strangers.
One summer, the neighborhood would hold a singing competition. Her best friend, Lucy, came to invite her to participate in the competition, but Emily said, “I’m afraid to take part in it.” Her mother said, “It’s okay; just do it bravely.” Emily followed her mom’s ad vice and decided to have a try. The day came. Emily and Lucy went to the competition site. But she was too timid (胆小的) to walk onto the stage. She had been waiting until others finished singing. She shakily forced herself to stand on the stage. She started to sing, but her voice was so low. What’s worse, she was so nervous that she forgot the lyrics (歌词) after singing a few words. Being laughed at by others, embarrassed and shy, she ran away from the stage.
Some boys ran after her and said, “Emily, coward (胆小鬼)! Emily, coward!” Emily didn’t argue with them. What she wanted was to go back home as quickly as she could. Finally, she rushed into the house, hugged her mom and cried sadly.
“Well, my poor girl, don’t cry. Tell me what happened to you,” asked her mom. Emily told her mother what she had experienced.
Listening to her, her mom cupped her face and said, “It doesn’t matter, girl. As long as you practice singing more in front of strangers, you will become braver little by little. So, my girl, don’t be beaten by a failure. You can go out to practice singing every day. No matter who is listening to you, go on singing and never stop. I believe there will be a harvest for you.”
注意：1. 续写的短文词数应为100 左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Emily listened to her mother carefully and followed her mom’s suggestion.
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Going on singing, she walked into the park.
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At the center of the mall was the perfect Santa with a gentle manner and a real white beard. My six-year-old granddaughter, Leah, jumped from foot to foot as we waited in line for her turn to sit on his lap.
“I don’t know what to say,” Leah said, raising her neck around the kids in front of her.
“Sure you do.” her mother, Leanne, said. “It’s Santa. He’s already your friend. You’ll do just fine.”
“He’ll ask you what you want for Christmas.” I said. “And you just tell him.”
We’d gone over and over the toys she’d ask for. Her mother didn’t want surprises! Leah repeated the list. But a minute later, she inserted new toys she’d just spotted at the mall.
“I’ve got an idea,” said Leanne, digging into her purse as the line inched (缓慢移动) forward. “Let’s write down your requests so you won’t forget them.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Going to see Santa was such an important appointment for a six-year-old. No child should have any worries bigger than that. But the night before, on the news, I’d seen a village in the Middle East that had come under fire. Many of the wounded were children just like our Leah. Looking around the mall full of magical decorations and happy shoppers I felt safe, as safe as anyone could be. Everyone in the world should have that kind of security, especially at Christmas.
“Okay,” Leanne said. “Now you’ve got everything you want written down here. If you get nervous you can just give the note to Santa.”
Leah nodded and took the list. She read out loud, “A Chia Pet, Moon Sand and Aquadoodle.”
“Why don’t you add a fourth request, Leah,” I heard myself say. “Ask for peace on Earth.” My daughter looked a little surprised by my suggestion.
“What’s peace on Earth, Grandpa?” Leah asked.
“Peace on Earth means all the people in the world would get along. That’s the true meaning of Christmas.” Leah nodded seriously. “Yes,” she agreed.
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。
Paragraph 1: Finally we reached the head of the line.
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Paragraph 2: The coming days were filled with thrilling expectation.
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