When I started high school, I was fourteen years old and six foot tall. The scary thing about being so tall when you’re so young is that people automatically teat you as if you’re older. Yes, I was the size of an adult (actually, bigger than most! ) , but I was still just a kid. And acting more like an adult wouldn’t win me any fiends. As a card-carrying Good Boy, I wanted to meet adults’ expectations and get their praise, but as a Regular Kid, I wanted to be like my peers and get their friendship.
I walked into school that first day in my bluejacket and trousers, the school uniform. I noticed some of my old classmates from my junior high, the ones who had turned their backs on me, and we continued our policy of actively ignoring one another. I felt the pain of their betrayal (背叛) , but I forced my face to remain expressionless. I was here to study hard at academics and to work hard at basketball under my new coach, Jack Donahue. I was here to be excellent. Nothing else mattered.
Indeed I was excellent. I made the honor roll in the first semester, pleasing my parents and teachers. Leaming came naturally to me. I loved reading, especially about history and adventure stories like The Three Musketeers. Basketball, however, I had to work at to do well in.
As a freshman, my style of play reflected my personality: politely passive. I had some skills, but I didn’t have an aggressive nature: The good player around me knew how to play rough, use their bodies with authority, and power their way to a rebound (抢篮板球) . I knew I had to toughen up, and I was committed to getting better, but it wasn’t happening fast enough.
One morning, our school team was scheduled to play a game against Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, and Coach Donahue surprised me by taking me into his office. I figured he was going to discuss his disappointment in my progress as a player, maybe even say something about it all being a big mistake.
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2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
To my surprise, he handed me a team uniform.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________All day, I allowed myself to imagine the game.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . Several years ago, I was diving down a busy freeway in Porland, Oregon, when my tire blew out. I pulled over and made a(n)
Three bours later, a car finally
I thanked them and tried to give them money for their act of
Then I heard their small daughter cull out, asking if I was hungry.
The father
I know that the phrase, “Today you, tomorrow me,” wasn’t
| A．order | B．sign | C．attempt | D．deal |
| A．pulled up | B．moved on | C．went off | D．dropped out |
| A．coach | B．rescuer | C．advisor | D．interpreter |
| A．unlock | B．wipe | C．fix | D．polish. |
| A．replaced | B．recycled | C．kicked | D．flattened |
| A．industry | B．honesty | C．kindness | D．admiration |
| A．regretful | B．optimistic | C．hesitant | D．determined |
| A．Apparently | B．Naturally | C．Eventually | D．Fortunately |
| A．Therefore | B．Indeed | C．Instead | D．However |
| A．displayed | B．exchanged | C．identified | D．demanded |
| A．unwrapped | B．unloaded | C．emptied | D．gathered |
| A．rolled | B．turned | C．brought | D．held |
| A．transformed | B．introduced | C．expressed | D．coined |
| A．different | B．traditional | C．temporary | D．universal |
| A．reference | B．communication | C．assistance | D．background |
Spreading Joy
This past Christmas season began for me as usual on the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday. My mom, sister, and I had gotten up early to go shopping. As we were driving out of a store parking lot, we caught sight of a dreadfully thin woman sitting on a walker. She was clearly homeless, with bird feathers stuck into her gray hair, and a dirty yellow raincoat.
That homeless woman got us thinking about what Christmas would be like for some one who has no place to call home. With no family to turn to and certainly no presents to open on Christmas morning, these people have nothing to look forward to but the cold and lonely place where they choose to camp. Even though we live in sunny California, the temperature can still fall below freezing on winter nights. Where would this woman sleep when the sun went down?
Sadly, homeless people are a common sight in our town. On our way home, we passed countless people pushing shopping carts overflowing with their belongings and people standing in the center dividers of roads holding cardboard signs with “Just Hungry” written on them.
The next day, my mom had a great idea. While we were out Christmas shopping, we purchased some blue tins (罐) of sugar cookies and a few boxes of candy canes. When we got home, I helped my mom carefully ti e each tin with a red ribbon and tape a candy cane on top. Next, we wrote “Call 211 for Help” on notes and taped them to the bottoms of the tins. “Not only will we be spreading Christmas cheer, but now the homeless people will have a number to call and get the help they need,” my mom explained as we worked.
We put all the tins in the car and, whenever we went for a drive, we searched the streets for individuals down on their luck. Usually, the streets are crowded with people carrying sleeping bags, but somehow when you are looking for something, it always seems to disappear.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好。
Eventually, we found a young man sleeping in the Lowe’s parking lot.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The day before Christmas, we drove around the streets again with our final tin.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . Born with no right leg, Anthony Robles, one of the best wrestlers in the NCAA, started wrestling when he was in high school. When his cousin first
While some people might have
While the physical aspects of the sport seemed to be the most challenging part, at one point Robles realized he needed to be
Then came the last match. Robles was so scared that he was almost starting to cry. When he defeated defending national champion 7-1, the
Now Robles is ready for the next page in his life, “I really want to help other people achieve things in their lives that others might say are
| A．showed | B．recommended | C．introduced | D．attracted |
| A．partner | B．fan | C．master | D．audience |
| A．questioned | B．admired | C．honored | D．affected |
| A．amount | B．source | C．flood | D．supply |
| A．planted | B．breathed | C．delivered | D．registered |
| A．exchange | B．improve | C．bury | D．apply |
| A．effect | B．credit | C．confidence | D．treatment |
| A．gradually | B．obviously | C．formally | D．mentally |
| A．succeeding | B．going | C．finishing | D．becoming |
| A．break | B．job | C．bus | D．flight |
| A．cut out | B．left out | C．stressed out | D．checked out |
| A．decisions | B．emotions | C．approaches | D．goals |
| A．impressed | B．concentrated | C．design | D．believe |
| A．useless | B．extra | C．confusing | D．impossible |
| A．rest | B．place | C．use | D．test |
5 . Sau Hoyin, a 16-year-old student at Hong Kong International School, has devoted the past seven years to writing fiction. He has already published two novels, and a third is on the way. Sau’s journey as a writer began in the 4th grade when he started a school “passion project”, leading him to create his first novel Pym. This story follows Luke Connors, an ordinary boy who grew into a brave fighter against evil.
Sau’s fiction evolved with his own personal growth. At the age of 13, he created Pyro 2. a story when Connors faces challenges that mirror Sau’s struggles with math. “I tried to overcome these challenges on my own at first hut finally found that I need to seek the aid of others,” he said. In the novel, Connors learns that in moments of great challenges. seeking help from those around him is a test ament (证明) to growth. Currently, Sau is working on Pyro 3, a project enriched by his global travels and diverse cultural experiences. “I treat writing as a way to record my life and express myself. It also helps me to think deeply about various issues,” he said.
Sau spends two to three hours on weekends on his writing and around two hours daily during breaks. To practice his skills, Sau also joined a literary club at school, exchanging insights into his fiction with his peers.
“In arts and literature class, our teacher also nurtures (培养) our creativity by teaching creative poetry.” Sau added. For instance, inspired by the English language poem Show With Buddha he learned in class, he wrote Playing Saxophone With the Statue of Liberty in d imagined the statue dropped her torch or a moment, playing jour while thinking about whether the truths of American liberty are really held or not.
Sau also shares his essays and poetry on his personal website and takes part in writing competitions. This summer, he won the Harbinger Prize awarded by Harbingers’Magazine, a weekly journal in the US.
Next year, Sau will start university and is resolute in his decision to major in literature. “For me, literature is a utopia (乌托邦) where I can not only express myself but also enjoy the beauty of language, its purity and its lasting power.” he said.
1. What drove Sau Hoyin to take up writing?| A．A special school program. | B．An unforgettable journey. |
| C．His teacher’s encouragement. | D．His childhood’s experience. |
| A．Sau is unwilling to learn Math at school. | B．Sau’s works are related to his own experience. |
| C．Sau is a very productive writer from an early age. | D．Sau is faced with many difficulties in writing novels. |
| A．Clever and humorous. | B．Talented and cautious. |
| C．Hardworking and creative. | D．Curious and emotional. |
| A．Sau Hoyin: Words of Growth & Adventure |
| B．Luke Connors: A Brave Fighter against Evil |
| C．A Teen Writer’s Dream: Sau Hoyin’s Quest for Fame |
| D．A Popular Blogger’s Rise: Luke Connor’s Journey to Success |
6 . High school is a time filled with memorable events such as the graduation ceremony and proms (舞会). For Josephine, her high school experience
When Ganczewski asked Josephine to be his prom partner, she initially
While admitting she wasn’t
As if the gesture itself weren’t
This wonderful night, filled with love and joy, just showed the importance of the
| A．extended | B．repeated | C．concluded | D．happened |
| A．ability | B．chance | C．application | D．desire |
| A．reward | B．concert | C．graduation | D．night |
| A．turned down | B．worked out | C．passed on | D．put off |
| A．forgiven | B．loved | C．doubted | D．praised |
| A．protected | B．reminded | C．expected | D．convinced. |
| A．pressure | B．honor | C．delight | D．pity |
| A．familiar | B．nervous | C．popular | D．patient |
| A．conquered | B．touched | C．shocked | D．embarrassed |
| A．forget | B．realize | C．recognize | D．understand |
| A．awful | B．occasional | C．precious | D．regretful: |
| A．risk-taking | B．terrifying | C．relaxing | D．heartwarming |
| A．surprise | B．record | C．promotion | D．mercy |
| A．appointment | B．promise | C．schedule | D．dream |
| A．gap | B．bond | C．conflict. | D．conversation |
7 . Ten years ago, Kristin Schell and her family moved to a new home in Austin, Texas. She tried to connect with her new neighbors by hosting reading activities and playgroups. But those activities required planning ahead and arranging schedules, not to mention cooking and cleaning.
One day, Kristin needed backyard furniture for a party and bought a few picnic tables from Lowe’s. The delivery driver set one table down in her front yard by mistake. After the party, Kristin painted the table turquoise (绿松石色) and put it in the front yard, just a few feet from the sidewalk.
That turquoise table became the place where Kristin and her kids hung out. For activities they used to do at the kitchen table, they now did out front at the picnic table. They played games, did crafts and ate snacks. “We got intentional about where we spent our time,” Kristin says. “We became ‘front yard people.’ Neighbors began to stop by to introduce themselves and sit down for a chat. The turquoise table was inviting and we had a shared feel.”
Construction workers in the neighborhood took their lunch breaks at the table. A babysitter walking by with her young child sat down to rest. Then neighbors told Kristi their family could put a picnic table in their front yard too. Soon “The Turquoise Table”was born, a movement of ordinary people who want to gather right in their own front yards.
“At the picnic table, all we have to do is show up. People’s greatest need is to know that they are loved and that they belong,” Kristin says. She likes how it enables her to take a small step toward building relationships in her community.
A decade after their Texas beginnings, thousands of Turquoise Tables exist in all 50 states and in 13 countries in the world. Not all of them are actually turquoise. Texas Christian University in Fort Worth has several purple tables to match their team colors, for example. “No matter what color it is, it’s a friendship table,” Kristin says.
1. Why did Kristin host activities when she moved to a new home?| A．To promote the community service. | B．To make plans for community events. |
| C．To build good relationship with neighbors. | D．To help neighbors with cooking and cleaning. |
| A．They started staying indoors more time. |
| B．They became more private and superior. |
| C．They began to spend more time outside together. |
| D．They stopped hosting reading activities and playgroups. |
| A．To spread the color turquoise. | B．To improve communication skills. |
| C．To start a business selling picnic tables. | D．To create community connections in front yards. |
| A．Turquoise—A Color That Can Match All the Tables |
| B．Everyday Greatness—Tables Where All Are Welcome |
| C．The Turquoise Table—A Worldwide Movement on Picnic |
| D．Community Gathering Activities—People’s Greatest Need |
In the small town of Riverdale, life was never easy for 17-year-old Emily. Her family had faced financial struggles since her father’s business went down, leaving them in debt. To make matters worse, Emily's mother had fallen ill, adding medical bills to their list of concerns. Despite these challenges, Emily refused to let adversity define her. She worked tirelessly after school to support her family and kept up with her studies, determined to secure a scholarship for college.
One day, as she was browsing the internet for potential scholarship opportunities, Emily came across an article about a local charity event that offered a full scholarship to the winner of a talent competition. Without hesitation, she decided to enter the talent competition. Emily was an accomplished pianist, having practiced piano for hours every day throughout her childhood. She poured her heart into practicing for the competition, hoping it would be her ticket to a better future.
On the day of the competition, Emily felt a mix of nerves and excitement. She watched as other contestants showcased their talents—some sang, others danced, and a few of the contestants played instruments. When it was her turn, Emily took a deep breath and began to play. Her fingers moved gracefully over the keys, and the melody filled the room. She was nearly absorbed in the pieces that she had practiced hundreds of times. As the last note echoed, the audience erupted in applause.
The judges discussed for a while before finally announcing the winner. To Emily’s dismay, she didn’t win the scholarship. The judges praised her performance but said they were looking for something “different” this year. Emily left the event feeling defeated, wondering when she would ever escape her difficult circumstances.
Despite not winning the scholarship, Emily realized that sometimes, when one door closes, another opens. Her perseverance and determination had led her to a path she never could have imagined.
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。
As she walked home, lost in thought, a stranger approached her.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Emily was overjoyed and gratefully accepted the judge’s offer.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________In the community of Belfast, Maine lived an old lady, Marina Delune, 67, who had a cute dog named Ruth. The bright-eyed West Highland White Terrier (梗犬) jumped out of her owner’s car on Tuesday and ran off from her Belfast home.
As a person with multiple disabilities, Marina couldn’t do much searching herself. So she posted a piece of information on a Belfast Facebook page that she needed help looking for her lost dog. She expected only a few people would respond. However, the response that she got was beyond her expectation. “It was extraordinary. I couldn’t even keep up with all the responses. I’m not very good at using Facebook, so I couldn’t respond to all the comments,” said Marina. What actually happened was that half of Belfast were out looking for her dog in the woods.
The people in the community knew what Ruth meant to Marina. Ruth was her best companion. Always, they saw Marina walking and shopping with Ruth following behind.
For two days, the people in the community of Belfast together searched yards and woods for the lost dog, put up posters around the town and monitored social media for tips and sightings. As the hours and then days went by with no sight of Ruth, Marina grew more and more fearful that her dog would never come home. But the searchers didn’t give up, not even during Thursday’s icy rain.
Kimberly Mitchell, 53, is an animal lover, who also has disabilities. She walks with a cane (拐杖) and has her own challenges. Such a situation made her acutely aware of how Marina could be feeling. She got in touch with Marina and headed to her home late Thursday afternoon to help. When she pulled into the drive, she had a strong feeling that the dog was nearby.
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。
Despite the cold rain, Kimberly checked the yard.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The dog was looking at Kimberly.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Shrieking Toad (尖叫的蛤蟆) and Dancing Ant
Kids got nicknames at a summer camp, and mine is Shrieking Toad. I guess it was my fault that I couldn’t get a cool one.
A bunch of us campers were on our first nature walk. When we broke for lunch, we sat down on logs. I was on my third handful of trail mix (混合干果) when a tree frog dropped onto my shirt from the branches above. I shrieked. It was totally unconscious and I didn’t even know I could make a sound like that. Most kids forgot about it except Stan. Whenever I walked by, he’d shout, “Shrieking Toad, show us how you can hop (跳)!” I corrected him that it had been an eastern gray tree frog, not a toad, but that just made things worse.
Three days later, Counselor Matt announced we would be paired for a treasure hunt. Excited whispers spread through the camp. But when he read “Jay and Stan” as a team, my nerves got completely fried. Stan shouted, “Great! Shrieking Toad!” Then he called to the group, and I went red at what came out of his mouth. “Guys, if mosquitoes are bothering you, ask Shrieking Toad to eat them. Toads love bugs (虫子)!” Kids roared with laughter.
After all the teams wandered off, Stan and I were alone. Then I had a great idea, surprising myself that I hadn’t thought of it earlier. I suggested we split up so as to have a better chance of finding treasures. ”Yeah, I’d better do what I’m toad (told),“ Stan laughed and set off.
Ten minutes later, I heard something that reminded me of myself a few days ago. I ran toward the sound. I never would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. Stan was jumping around near a mud pool like a monkey, shrieking and yelling something that sounded like ”Dance! Dance!“ Seeing him scratching (抓挠) at his body and hitting at his clothes made me realize what he was really saying: ”Ants! Ants!“
I rushed towards Stan and tried to help him. I dragged him into the nearby mud pool. He was surprised at first, but then he realized why I was doing it. The sting was going away and so were the ants. Both covered in mud, we decided to head back. Obviously, Stan felt embarrassed and ashamed. ”I guess you’re going to have a good story for everyone,“ he said quietly. ”You’ll probably be known as Dancing Ant,“ joked I.
That night, we all routinely sat around the campfire and I saw Stan’s worry as clear as daylight.
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