Special#2,Please
My flight arrived in San Diego around midnight, and by the time I drove home and got into bed it was nearly 2:00 a. m. I was tired and jet-lagged when I dragged myself out of the bed. Nevertheless,I had to be up bright and early that morning: I was the opening keynoter(主旨发言人) at a national conference.
In short, I needed to recover quickly. A hearty breakfast in the early morning sun was what I needed. I headed for Carlos & Annie’s, a popular restaurant located in the heart of the seaside town.
“I’d like steak and eggs, please,” I said to the waitress after I had finally found a table in the restaurant. “Oh, I'm sorry,” she apologized. “We're out of Special#2. We've served the last of our steaks. How about Special#14?” “Oh, no steak and eggs?” I couldn't seem to accept it.
I'm not sure if it was my heartfelt sigh that caught Carlos, the owner's attention. His warm, caring brown eyes seemed determined to pinpoint the best solution. He then said, “You know, I think I did see one final steak back
there.”Pressing my luck,I quickly declared, “Wow,that would be great. But you know, I’m not sure if I want a breakfast stenk at all. What I really want is a steak—one that’s two inches thick, tender and juicy, served medium rare.” “Not to worry,” Carlos assured meand left. The young waitress gave me a wink(眨眼) and said with a knowing smile, “Carlosis being Carlos again!” I did not give her words much thought.
Then, I noticed Carlos as he left the restaurant through the side door and walked into a neighborhood grocery store across the street. Carlos exchanged morning greetings with everyone he knew and even helped the owner of the bookstore next door by holding the items that filled her arms. Then he reentered the restaurant with a bag in his hand.
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: Within minutes,an exact Special#2 was in front of me.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2: I was about to leave when I learned Carlos had already sold the restaurant.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . The true test of an effective team is one where the members operate as a self-managing team. The
I followed up with one of our customers to see first-hand what a very successful team looked and felt like. Here is their story on what they do to
This team
The reason why I know this information is that when you have the opportunity to see how a team really works, you want to
As I stayed and communicated with the team members to find out how they worked together, they described to me their requirements for team development.
They said, “Each member has a good time, and we are in tune (协调) with each other, and we have a great
Their hard work and effort paid off as they became known as “the stars” of the company. They were described as “
It is clear that this team developed to compete for the goal instead of against each other. This team has stayed
A.leader | B.learner | C.waiter | D.customer |
A.defend against | B.look into | C.leave out | D.serve as |
A.set out | B.stand out | C.work out | D.run out |
A.accounts for | B.concentrates on | C.consists of | D.cares about |
A.conditions | B.habits | C.states | D.attitudes |
A.bothered | B.reminded | C.trained | D.observed |
A.far from | B.in return for | C.apart from | D.in case of |
A.pay | B.mood | C.diet | D.rent |
A.delivery | B.smell | C.quality | D.shape |
A.compare | B.uncover | C.adjust | D.keep |
A.taste | B.bite | C.review | D.sense |
A.limitation | B.prejudice | C.purpose | D.complaint |
A.special | B.normal | C.hesitant | D.ridiculous |
A.pity | B.security | C.pride | D.tense |
A.self-centered | B.self-employed | C.self-funded | D.self-driven |
3 . The days that make us happy make us wise.
--- John Masefield
When I first read this line by England's Poet Laureate, it
Slowly, I seemed to
Active happiness---not mere satisfaction or
Nor are the
Consequently, the long vision is there for the seeing. The ground at your feet, the world about you---people, thoughts, emotions, pressures---are now
A.terrified | B.satisfied | C.surprised | D.upset |
A.other | B.opposite | C.view | D.contrast |
A.arresting | B.amazing | C.interesting | D.disturbing |
A.handle | B.observe | C.appreciate | D.seize |
A.iced | B.clouded | C.rained | D.snowed |
A.roads | B.paths | C.spots | D.places |
A.fulfillment | B.sorrow | C.disappointment | D.entertainment |
A.embraced | B.interrupted | C.responded | D.accompanied |
A.brightness | B.stupidity | C.shortcomings | D.memories |
A.physical | B.sharp | C.spiritual | D.solid |
A.insights | B.impressions | C.attentions | D.expectations |
A.extended | B.collapsed | C.witnessed | D.withdrew |
A.got out | B.stayed on | C.kept off | D.fitted into |
A.proportion | B.position | C.explanations | D.duty |
A.happiness | B.wisdom | C.ability | D.life |
4 . At the age of 12, I withdrew into my bedroom with my guitar. I had neither musical talent — many
The world favors achievement while
The seeking of accomplishment always
A.added | B.tailored | C.expected | D.failed |
A.Besides | B.Instead | C.Therefore | D.However |
A.fruitless | B.matchless | C.effortless | D.senseless |
A.wished | B.allowed | C.required | D.invited |
A.masked | B.rooted | C.set | D.stuck |
A.waited for | B.passed by | C.departed from | D.stayed with |
A.exchange | B.reason | C.foundation | D.priority |
A.relationship | B.difference | C.balance | D.similarity |
A.ignoring | B.avoiding | C.assessing | D.defending |
A.origin | B.process | C.decision | D.reward |
A.lack | B.need | C.rush | D.dream |
A.amazes | B.concerns | C.frightens | D.discourages |
A.adventurous | B.dangerous | C.memorable | D.horrible |
A.impression | B.performance | C.scene | D.harmony |
A.pursued | B.accepted | C.interpreted | D.analysed |
The year 2013 marked a turning point in my life. In June, my husband was offered a new Job in Ghana. Feeling that I had hit a career bottleneck as a photographer and copywriter (广告文字撰写人), I, without any hesitation, made the decision to relocate with him.
While my husband engaged in work, my visa didn’t grant me the same privilege. But that’s okay. I didn’t know what to do anyway. I was left isolated, homesick and lacking purpose. Our new home was a bungalow near a river that cut across expansive grasslands. With few people around our home, I turned to nature, which had been a fondness of mine since childhood. Every day, I would take my camera and wander around, photographing aimlessly.
It wasn’t long before September arrived, bringing the full flow of the rainy season. After one particularly bad thunderstorm, I found a finch (雀) — a poor little thing barely a month old with one wing broken — on the ground. Evidently, he had been abandoned by his flock, his nest blown from a tree. The sight was heartbreaking. He was the size of my lite finger. His eyes were tightly shut and he was shuddering, too young to survive alone. I somehow felt a connection with it. Immediately I scooped him up and cautiously placed him in a cardboard box with towels, mimicking a nest, and stayed up all night researching how to care for him.
The next day, he seemed to regain some energy. He woke with his mouth open, though still too weak to let out a call. I fed him some food and chirped (叽喳) at him. To my amusement, he chirped back and even climbed into my hand. I affectionately gazed at this adorable creature, who was now boldly pecking (啄) my fingers now and then. A surge of warmth ran through me. Tenderly stroking his feathers, I chirped a lullaby, singing him to sleep. Gradually, his eyes drooped and he drifted off. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the scene — as far as he was concerned, I was his mother.
Para 1. “I will take care of you.” I murmured, making my promise to him.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Para 2. At that moment I realized that as I dedicated myself to the finch’s care, something within me changed.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6 . Everyone knows that the choices we make affect our future. Suppose I am an intelligent student with good marks. However, being lazy, I do badly in my examinations. I am refused entry to university and cannot find a good job. The golden future will never be.
However, your choices affect your future in a way that is more complicated.
However, we do have some power of choice, and we do control the most important thing of all: how we respond to circumstances.
A.Some will argue this is not true. |
B.All these are from a bad choice! |
C.Too many choices can be confusing. |
D.This ability to choose how we behave is a great gift. |
E.We can choose to keep struggling in hard times, or to give up. |
F.Your character is being made by you, bit by bit, choice by choice. |
G.This is because nearly all the choices you make affect your character. |
“Why can’t I just get a dog, Mum!”
“Because of your allergies (过敏)! How many times do I have to tell you, Violet!”
Violet was filled with anger. The rain started to fall. Large raindrops slid down the window, just like the tears on her face. There was violent anger in Violet’s eyes. She walked angrily to her room and threw herself onto the bed. Her anger was now like an angry bull.
She screamed into her pillow as loud as she could and threw it onto the ground with all her strength. She dialed her best friend Darla, who happened to also be her neighbor.
Darla picked up in an instant.
“I could hear everything.” Darla immediately chuckled. “I’ve known you and your mum since primary school. She’s not letting you get a dog.”
“Was I that loud?” Violet questioned herself in disbelief.
“You’ve been asking for a dog since you were seven! There’s no chance she was going to just give it to you. Plus, you have so many allergies that I’ve even lost count.”
“It’s just not fair. You get two dogs and I’m stuck with my younger sister who has basically a rat.” Violet announced unappreciatively.
“You have to be grateful for what you have. Anyway, I’ve got to have dinner with my family. I can call in half an hour, see you later.”
After the call disconnected, the words from Darla’s mouth about being grateful sunk into Violet like a dry sponge (海绵) filled with water, She remembered the countless times that she was admitted to the hospital for an allergic reaction while her family stayed and cared for her. Violet never really thought about the things she had, she only thought about the things she didn’t have. Violet had a tamily which accounts for more than everything, even a dog. Family love is stronger than any love. Violet knew she was blessed to have this love.
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。
From that day onwards, Violet stopped asking for a dog.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The allergies were disappearing with age.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8 . Many years ago, I was living with my best friend and we had many happy moments together. But there was one night that
On the night of November 25, 2011, I got into a fistfight with my best friend in our kitchen. It all started because I was trying to help him. He was drinking a lot, arguing with everyone and
I thought alcohol
That Christmas my friend didn’t have any place to go, so I invited him home to my parents’ house in Lancaster. They
That year my friend and I both received gifts that we would
A.defined | B.inspired | C.created | D.changed |
A.defending | B.separating | C.protecting | D.locking |
A.communication | B.investigation | C.exploration | D.promotion |
A.put up | B.take away | C.break out | D.call off |
A.talking | B.crying | C.fighting | D.laughing |
A.access | B.addition | C.abuse | D.affection |
A.look | B.break | C.drive | D.carry |
A.time | B.holiday | C.gift | D.family |
A.happily | B.generally | C.formally | D.hurriedly |
A.awake | B.asleep | C.available | D.absorbed |
A.generosity | B.curiosity | C.ability | D.creativity |
A.admitted | B.realized | C.recognized | D.accepted |
A.exchange | B.present | C.treasure | D.appreciate |
A.day | B.test | C.skill | D.eye |
A.kind | B.grateful | C.blessed | D.healthy |
9 . There’s a pattern going like this: it’s late, but instead of going to bed, we stay up. The next day we’re tired and
Through childhood, night-time seemed
In fact, such
We should be able to let ourselves go to bed early, not when we consider our search for happiness
A.refuse | B.prepare | C.promise | D.spare |
A.works | B.helps | C.responds | D.happens |
A.clearly | B.surprisingly | C.naturally | D.deliberately |
A.dangerous | B.secret | C.free | D.harmonious |
A.caught | B.discussed | C.believed | D.recorded |
A.uncertainties | B.impossibilities | C.fantasies | D.excitements |
A.curious | B.anxious | C.sensitive | D.talkative |
A.miss out on | B.come up with | C.go in for | D.break away from |
A.limitations | B.devotions | C.associations | D.decisions |
A.darkness | B.memory | C.youth | D.reality |
A.undertake | B.land | C.quit | D.continue |
A.features | B.demands | C.challenges | D.bonuses |
A.training | B.requiring | C.affecting | D.disturbing |
A.hopeless | B.primary | C.complex | D.urgent |
A.fortune | B.pleasure | C.company | D.support |
10 . Peyton Manker, an 18-year-old girl from Illinois, has been getting a lot of attention on social media lately. In order to
“I decided to make the dress
“The entire dress is supposed to represent the pandemic in a
A.organize | B.attend | C.hold | D.conduct |
A.accept | B.offer | C.create | D.win |
A.tape | B.mask | C.cotton | D.tissue |
A.belonging to | B.responding to | C.composed of | D.based on |
A.performance | B.ceremony | C.competition | D.joint |
A.show off | B.stand out | C.turn up | D.dress up |
A.results | B.interests | C.cases | D.impacts |
A.In spite of | B.In memory of | C.Because of | D.Instead of |
A.sinking | B.wasting | C.absorbing | D.taking |
A.attracts | B.sets | C.features | D.dominates |
A.including | B.exploring | C.promoting | D.filming |
A.virtual | B.genuine | C.influential | D.traditional |
A.dynamic | B.dim | C.historic | D.positive |
A.explain | B.declare | C.show | D.track |
A.foundation | B.representation | C.memorial | D.breakthrough |