When the Gilberts first moved to the city, they began looking for a new home. For their daughter Elise, aged 12, her dream-like house will have a big backyard with grass and flowers.
“I hope it will have a tree where there birds can play.” Elise’s brother Frank, a bird-lover, echoed her more than once.
But it was not easy to find a house that pleased them. For six weeks the Gilberts hunted and hunted. At last, they found one and moved into the new house. However, there was not a blade of grass anywhere, or even a small bush. Smooth concrete only! Out of expectation, in one corner of the yard stood a tall white flagpole. At the foot of the pole was a low place filled to the edge with clear, sparkling water.
“I don’t suppose that we shall be able to make friends with the birds...” Elise was in low spirits. Frank, biting his lips, said nothing.
The next day was Saturday. Elise and her Mum went out shopping as usual. Frank went out into the yard and examined the flagpole for a long time. As he stood looking at the hard concrete, he thought to himself, “It does seem lonesome.” Then something made him look up, two little birds fluttering above the bead around the top of the flagpole! “Well,” cried the surprised boy, “I do believe birds would come here to live if they had only half a chance!”
Hearing Frank’s excited voice, Mr. Gilbert stepped out of the house and neared him. As a matter of fact, his father had already read through Frank’s mind those days. “Do not forget tomorrow is your sister’s birthday.”
“Of course not!” Frank nodded firmly, “I’ll give her a big surprise and would you please lend me a hand?” “My pleasure!”
注意：1.续写的词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The two smiled and went down into the cellar.
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The next morning, high up on the pole was a neat little bird house.
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2 . Dr Prit Buttar, a retired physician, went viral on Twitter by explaining why he broke social distancing rules to hug a grieving patient at the height of the second lockdown.
At a clinic in Dumfries, during last year’s winter lockdown, a woman in her sixties told him her husband had died of cancer a week earlier. The woman, who had
Countless others shared their own
Just as Buttar
| A．moved | B．departed | C．walked | D．escaped |
| A．supported | B．left | C．maintained | D．suggested |
| A．anniversary | B．celebration | C．funeral | D．wedding |
| A．ordered | B．delivered | C．forbidden | D．permitted |
| A．loneliness | B．gratitude | C．regret | D．love |
| A．hesitated | B．decide | C．promised | D．refused |
| A．stood up | B．looked up | C．stepped forward | D．leant forward |
| A．attitudes | B．news | C．stories | D．efforts |
| A．perform | B．serve | C．require | D．suspend |
| A．recovered | B．collapsed | C．sneezed | D．coughed |
| A．hold | B．shake | C．kiss | D．pat |
| A．read | B．noticed | C．published | D．wrote |
| A．instructor | B．doctor | C．expert | D．professor |
| A．innocent | B．sympathetic | C．miserable | D．elegant |
| A．emergency | B．trouble | C．incident | D．accident |
3 . In 2016, inspired by a challenge called the “16 for 16”, where a mother gave her daughter $1,600 when she turned 16 if she stayed off social media, Lorna Klefsaas decided to up the ante (赌注) to two extra years and $200 more for her son, Sivert Klefsaas.
As a 12-year-old, Sivert wasn’t using social media much. The only app he had prior to the bet was Snapchat — which he deleted a day after trying it out. So it wasn’t too difficult to live without social media, and he didn’t think about it much during the six years. “I wouldn’t say there was ever a time when I thought I was about to break,” he said. “As it went on, it was more of a pride thing.”
Lorna never had to check for any secretly downloaded apps. “I got to avoid all the unnecessary drama that was on there. I had my friends to keep me up to date on the latest information or trends.” Sivert said. “It meant I had more time to focus on my grades and sports instead.”
On February 19, 2022, Sivert claimed his prize. Now $1,800 richer, Sivert hasn’t thought about what to buy, but it’ll likely be something for his dorm room at the University of St. Paul, which he’ll attend in the fall.
After Sivert’s success, Lorna turned to Facebook to share the challenge. She said it was some of the best money she ever spent. Other parents seemed interested in trying it out too. “We are certainly not against social media, but it’s the healthy using of it,” Lorna noted. “It’s about not letting yourself get weighed down by it, or addicted to it, or affected by things that people post.”
Now Sivert has a new perspective on staying off social media. “It was awesome. Ah, what about 6 more years? Thank you, Mom.”
1. Why did Lorna bet her son?| A．To challenge. | B．To persuade. | C．To punish. | D．To imitate. |
| A．He almost became broken down. |
| B．He jumped at the idea and stuck to it. |
| C．He tried out his new app continuously. |
| D．He just downloaded an app, Snapchat. |
| A．By being supervised by his mother. |
| B．By watching dramas in the theater. |
| C．By aiming at his academic standards. |
| D．By dreaming of his prize with eagerness. |
| A．A successful 18-for-18 bet. | B．A social media campaign. |
| C．Sivert, a boy who won the bet. | D．Lorna, a mother who awarded her son. |
