When Marco was a boy, he tried everything to get his father’s love and attention. He worked hard to earn exceptional marks and always tried to behave well. But he was so sensitive and shy that he always hid behind his hair, which he wore long around his face. To make it worse, Marco was naturally shorter than the other kids. This added to his already low self-confidence.
At 14, he and his younger sister Sandra moved in with their dad and his new wife. His father was busy and their communication was nonexistent. The only time his dad ever spoke to him was to be demanding or critical. He began to fear coming home from school every day, feeling desperately alone and isolated.
One day his father, tripped over Marco’s bike in the garage. The angry reaction left Marco in despair, thus crying out, “That’s it! I’m going to kill myself.”
“You don’t even have the guts!” replied his father.
For two days, all Marco could think of was wanting to die, but he didn’t want to prove his father was right. Angry and sad, Marco was stuck.
Two days later, his aunt called him. This seemed like a miracle. Aunt Ginette usually only called on his birthday. She said she had just seen some young teenagers participate in a public speaking contest and she thought about him. She told him she firmly believed he could perform on stage like those kids, since she had seen him do skits (幽默短剧) for the family at Christmas.
Marco was shocked. Him? In a public speaking contest, which was contrary to his shy personality? But Aunt Ginette was sure it was something he could do. Feeling her strong belief, Marco agreed.
All that winter, twice a week after dinner, he took three different buses in each direction for the three-hour round-trip to practice in the place where the competition would take place. Marco was taken by a feeling he never felt before. The hours and the obstacles no longer counted. The criticism from his father around his absence for after-dinner chores didn’t matter.
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。
Four months later, the big night arrived.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________With the championship, Marco’s new life started.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Sean was a single father of three kids who had just lost their mother to cancer. Shortly afterwards, he had to sell his house to pay the medical bills. Worse still, he had to quit his job as a regional manager due to too many absences he acquired in taking care of his wife while she was sick. Their lives sank into extreme poverty. He had to do part-time work to pay off his debts. He never imagined what his life would become. Everything felt hopeless. Anyway, he continued with his life, earning barely enough money to feed his kids.
Today was a bit different.He went to the nearest gas station after work.He had an extra $2 with which he could buy himself a cheap hot dog. It was a little treat he would give himself. As he walked toward the gas station, he saw a man panicking, saying something to a woman in the car. Not knowing why they were so worried,he continued walking until the man called out to him.
“Sir, I’m so sorry to ask, but my wife is in labor(临产), and we’re out of gas. I left my wallet and phone at home as we were rushing out of the house. Is there any way you can help me?” the man said. His desperate eyes pulled at Sean’s heartstrings.
“Well, sir. I only have 2 dollars, but you can have it!” Sean said, reaching into his pocket and producing the 2 dollars. “Thank you! That works. I have a few coins in the car, but I can get a gallon and reach the hospital with that.” The man took the bills gratefully.
“I’m Matthew. Please give me your contact information so I can pay you back.” “No need. I only hope you and your wife get to the hospital safely,” Sean smiled. But Matthew insisted. Finally, Sean gave him his number.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右;
2.请按如下格式作答。
The following morning, Sean received a video call from Matthew.
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Knowing Sean’s experience, Matthew invited him to be a regional manager in his company.
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I’ve had a hobby of growing big fruit and vegetables, and my tomatoes, peppers, carrots and many other vegetables always grow well.
Watching the product in my garden, I was proud, yet over time, the smooth planting life felt too ordinary and lacked something. Then one morning I read the news that a woman went on a long river journey by pumpkin (南瓜) boat. I’d never heard of anyone floating by in a pumpkin before, but once the idea was in my head, I had to try it. If there’s one thing I’ve never lacked, it’s optimism, and I decided that with the right pumpkin, I could do better.
I put a lot of effort into pumpkin seeds. Eventually, I noticed one particular sample of the Atlantic Giant variety was overtaking the others. My wife called her Berta, and we watched with excitement over the next few weeks as Berta put on weight. I finally cut her off when she was big enough for me to fit inside. First, I had to test Berta on the water. Using a vehicle, I lowered her into a pond to see how she was going to float, marked the water level and then cut her open.
On 27 August this year, we set out early for the Missouri River with Berta in the back of a truck. I had a paddle (船桨) and was wearing a life jacket. Berta was eased into the river and I carefully climbed in, setting out toward the 6-mile point — the goal I set myself. My main task was to keep the pumpkin upright, away from obstacles. There were markers every mile along the river, so it was easy for the crew of the rescue boat following me — my wife, my sister and my son — to keep track of how far I’d gone and help me when necessary.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式作答。
The trip passed uneventfully until an unexpected rock appeared.
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The experience inspired me to make more fun attempts with my vegetables.
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The neighborhood kids nicknamed the strange old couple Crazy Jack and Ruby Rednose. Rumor was that they sat inside and drank tea all day. The only words we ever heard from them were “Keep out of our rosebushes!”
The rosebushes served as a fence between our house and theirs. I was eleven at the time and the oldest of six active girls. We should have played our softball games elsewhere to avoid hurting the roses, but we secretly enjoyed annoying Crazy Jack and Ruby Rednose. One day, we had a neighborhood softball game in our yard. Mary was trying to catch a fly ball. She stumbled (绊倒) over one of Ruby Rednose’s rosebushes and fell on top of several more. Just at that moment, Ruby Rednose sprang out and ran toward Mary. She screamed angrily, “Look at what you’ve done to our family’s roses! You’ve always been a trouble. You have no idea what this rosebush means to me!”
Hearing this, my sisters and I ran into our house. Breathlessly, we told Mom what had happened. “Girls, I have told you not to play softball near those bushes. Come outside right now and help me fix them.” “Mom, we thought you didn’t like the couple,” we protested. “They’re mean to us.” Mom just glared at us. We followed her outside to help repair the rose fence. While Mom was examining the damaged roses, Ruby slowly walked out. She looked sad. And it wasn’t her nose that was red — it was her eyes.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。
Ruby walked over to my mother, we girls holding our breath.
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A few weeks later, the plants all came back to life.
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The Loser
When Jae came home from school, he couldn’t find his keys. What now? he thought. His parents wouldn’t be home for an hour. Just then, Ron, the man who lived next door, walked past.
Jae had never really talked to Ron, but he knew Ron was a friend of his father. They had played cards together many times. I can’t just sit out here, Jae mumbled to himself. Jae marched to Ron’s door and knocked. When it opened, Jae said, “Hi, Ron, I’ve lost my keys, and my parents aren’t home, could I wait here with you?” “Sure,” Ron said. Inside, Jae saw a baseball on a shelf.
Ron smiled when he saw Jae looking at it. “That one was signed by the ‘87 Minnesota Twins, right after the World Series,” he said. “Dad takes me to their games sometimes,” Jae said, “Where did you get this?” “I was a professional referee for thirty years,” Ron answered. Jae’s eyes widened as he asked, “A referee? Did you meet....” He began to shoot questions. Grinning(咧嘴笑), Ron told Jae about past players, the things they said and their charms.
When it was time for Jae to leave, he requested, “Can I come again sometime?” “Sure,” Ron smiled.
Wow, losing my keys turned out okay, Jae thought as he walked home. The next day at school, Jae searched his desk, “Oh, no. Not again!” he complained.“ Need help?” asked his classmate Martina. She was new in school. “Yes, my dinosaur book is missing,” Jae replied.
“Do you want to borrow mine?” asked Martina, she showed him a dinosaur encyclopedia(百科全书). “That’s the same book as I use!” Jae exclaimed. “Are you into dinosaur, too?” “Yeah,” said Martina. “What’s your favorite?” “Have you heard of ...?” They kept talking.
After school, Jae and Martina went to the park to play catch with Jae’s favorite baseball. Martina’s a good playmate and pretty cool, Jae thought as he went home.
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。
The next Saturday morning, Jae wanted to do some throwing drills, but he couldn’t find his baseball.
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Walking home with the stray puppy (流浪狗), Jae was lost in thought, reflecting on the past week.
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The Rainbow Chase (追逐)
One summer afternoon, about 8 years old, I was standing at a window of the farmhouse, looking at a beautiful rainbow that seemed to be losing itself in thick woods about a quarter of a mile distant.
No one was in the room then but my brother Rufus. “See, brother,” I said, “The rainbow drops right down among the woods.”
“Do you know, Gracie,” said Rufus seriously, “if you should go there, you would find pots of gold and silver.”
“Is it truly so?” I asked
“Truly so.” Answered Rufus, with a smile. I was then a simple-hearted child, believing everything told me. Without another word, I dashed out of the door, setting off towards the woods. Rufus called after me loudly, but I didn’t stop.
I cared nothing for the wet grass and ran on. Thinking what fine presents I could give to my friends and laying delightful plans, before I knew it, I had reached the woods, and the rainbow was not there! But I saw it shining down among the trees a little further off, so on and on I struggled, through the thick bushes and over logs, till I came within the sound of a steam. Then I thought, “What if the rainbow should come down right in the muddy stream? What about the heavy pots of gold and silver? How should I get them out?” I reached the bank of the stream, and again the rainbow was not there! It was on the other side!
I crossed the steam on a fallen tree and on and on I ran, though my legs began to give out and every inch of my body ached. It was rather hard travelling in a journey after riches. The woods grew thicker, darker and scarier; the ground more wet and slippery. Fright and hurry made me forget the rainbow. When at last I remembered and looked for it, it was nowhere in sight. It had faded away! I burst into tears; for I had lost all my treasures and had nothing to show off but muddy feet and wet and torn dress.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右：
2.请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。
Worse still, I couldn’t find my way back home: I was lost!
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At last I heard my own name called.
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As a teenager, I couldn’t stand seeing a photo of my nose in profile. I hated how big it was and, if people praised me for my looks, I always felt it was in spite of the most noticeable feature on my face.
I was about to accept that I would never fully see my nose as beautiful when I met Nicholas Baldion, an artist, in a London pub, and asked him to paint my portrait. I regretted this the second I arrived for my sitting. I had forgotten that Baldion would have to spend hours staring at my biggest insecurity, and then painstakingly translating it onto canvas.
The first sitting was hard. I could not shake the feeling of wanting to turn my head to face the front. I hated the fact that Baldion was openly and carefully examining the one feature I had spent years trying to hide. Yet, as the two-and-a-half-hour sitting went on, I calmed down and began to accept my feelings. I had put myself in this situation, so now I just needed to sit in it. By the second sitting, I was almost excited—not just by the thought of having an afternoon when I had an excuse to do absolutely nothing, but because it had finally sunk in that I was having my portrait done.
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。
I was nervous to see the finished portrait.
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When I looked at the picture, I couldn’t help but smile back.
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“What will we be singing for the contest this year?” a student from my high school choir asked eagerly.
I panicked this moment. “I was thinking,” I said, “maybe we’ ll skip the contest and just work hard on the concerts this year.”
“NO!” the kids protested.
“We’ve got to go to the contest!”
“"In Class A.”
“It’s a tradition!”
This was true. Medals lined the front wall of the music room from the past successes of large, talented classes. But my section leaders had graduated or been forced to drop music classes, leaving me with young, inexperienced kids who couldn’t read music, couldn’t hold their parts, and could sing only some simple songs.
“Maybe we could enter Class B this year,” I suggested, knowing even that would be a near-impossible mission. “No!” the kids screamed. “Class A!”
I shook my head. “Class A is extremely difficult.”
“We can do it!” they shouted, “We can do it!”
“I’ll have to think about it,” I said, hoping their enthusiasm would die off in a couple of weeks.
But that didn’t happen. Every day they begged, they pleaded, they insisted. Because I had to protect their self-esteem. I couldn’t tell them they weren’t good enough.
I struggled to make a decision. If I crushed their hope, would I crush their spirit? On the other hand, if we entered Class A, would they be hurt by the judges’ comments? Finally, one morning I stormed into class and declared we would sing for the contest and entered Class A.
Each morning they vocalized, learned musical terms, practiced signature changes, rehearsed concert music, and went over and over the songs. Their progress was so remarkable even I began believing in their dream.
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。
Seven months into the school year, when the contest day finally arrived, the kids felt ready to take on the world!
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After all the choirs had performed, we waited in our assigned room for the results.
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It was in the 1930s, and things were tough. Mum had a hard time raising us on her own in our small community of New Westminster, BC. My dad had drowned in Pitt Lake, five years ago.
Looking back, I realize what Mum went through sending us kids to school. Every morning she would put a new piece of cardboard in our shoes, because the bottom parts were worn out. When we got home, Mum would have “French toast” ready for us. Constant moving was typical for my family in those times. Rent was 25 dollars a month, but Mum couldn’t pay it, and we knew we would be evicted right after Christmas on the first of January.
Christmas was approaching, and we were entitled to a twenty-five-dollar Christmas fund from social services. The inspector came to our house, and searched it from top to bottom to be sure we didn’t have any food hidden away. When he didn’t find any, he issued the cheque to Mum.
Mum said that instead of buying food, she would use the 25 dollars to pay back rent, assuring all of us a roof over our heads for a little while longer. She told us then there would be nothing for Christmas.
Unknown to Mum, I had been selling Christmas tree, cleaning snow, and doing part-time jobs to earn enough money to buy a new pair of boots. Boots that weren’t patched, boots with no cardboard in the soles. I knew exactly which boots I wanted. They were ten-inch Top Genuine Pierre Paris and they had a price of 23 dollars.
Well, the big day came on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. I was excited, as I hurried up the road to the shoe store, but on the way I noticed a house with Christmas lights and decorations. It was then I realized at our house, we had no lights, no decorations, nor any money for Christmas meals. I knew that we would have no turkey or ham for Christmas, and I felt sad.
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 I continued walking, I began to reconsider my plan.
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With great excitement and tears, I knocked on the door of our house.
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10 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。
Sista raced ahead, the sea breeze streaming against her face. Rafi finally caught up and then they rested in the shade.
I’m hungry. I know where there’s a great apple tree.” Sista said, “It belongs to an oldlady called Susan who lives in the little house by the hill. I heard she’s stubborn,but that sometimes she gives fruit in return for an errand(跑腿).”
“Let’s go,” Rafi said. They crossed a stream by hopping from rock to rock. Finally,upon ahilltop,they saw a splendid apple tree with bright red fruits.
A small farmhouse stood at the bottom of the hill. Rafi’s heart pounded as Sista knocked onthe door. An elderly woman answered.
“Yes?” the lady asked, staring at the girls.
“We heard ...“ said Sista, her voice shaky, “that we could run an errand for you in exchangefor apples.”
Susan raised one eyebrow. “Ah, yes. ” She clicked her tongue. “Nothing is free, eh?”
She led the girls into the kitchen. When passing the living room, Sista found that the wallwas decorated with colourful crayon drawings, which seem to be children’s. She wondered whodrew these since Susan was alone,with no grandchildren,even no families or relatives. The ladygrabbed two baskets, one large and one small, and pushed them into the girls hands. “Go fill these with apples. Come right back.”
The girls raced up the hill to the tree, climbed the branches, and picked the ripest apples.After filling the baskets, they returned to the house.
Susan filled a bag with rice and dried beans, and then she handed it to Sista.“Take this bagand the large basket of apples to the Gomez family. Do you know them?”
The girls nodded. Sista had heard that Mr. Gomez has been sick in bed for a long time andMrs.Gomez has to raise three little kids.
“Good.And ask them for the payment," Susan added with a tight smile.
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 girls hit the road.
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When Susan opened the envelope, the girls saw the payment!
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