Ethan was a young man living in a small town. He was a bright soul with dreams, but he was also trapped by the chains of fear and doubt.
Ethan worked at a small bookshop, yet deep within, he had a strong desire to become a painter. Every evening, as the setting sun painted the sky in orange and pink, Ethan would sit by his window, a blank canvas (油画布) before him. Yet, no stroke (笔画) graced the canvas. The fear of failure and the whispers of doubt prevented him from painting. “What if I’m not good enough?” he often thought.
One cold autumn evening, an unexpected visitor came knocking at Ethan’s door-Mrs. Wilkins, an elderly well-known woman of wisdom. “Ethan,” she began gently, “I’ve noticed the light in your room night after night, and yet, I’ve seen no color grace the world from your hands. Why is that?”
Ethan sighed, the weight of his unspoken dreams heavy on his shoulders. He whispered, “I’m afraid that I’ll never be good enough and that my work will never touch the hearts of others.”
Mrs. Wilkins smiled, a kind, understanding smile. “Ethan,” she said, drawing closer, “let me tell you a story of a young bird, much like yourself, afraid to leave its nest. The little bird was always scared at the thought of flight. Day after day, it watched other birds fly into the sky, while it remained where it was, full of fear. The bird feared the unknown, feared failure, and most of all, feared that its wings were not strong enough to carry it. But then, one day, a storm approached, and the little bird had no choice but to jump into the storm. It was not an easy journey; the winds were very strong, and the rain blinded its eyes. Yet, with each flap (拍打) of its wings, the bird realized that it was able to fly.”
注意:1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 开头已给出。
Ethan felt a sense of warmth and hope wash over him as Mrs. Wilkins spoke.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________That night, for the first time in many years, Ethan picked up his brush.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . Last year, John and I discovered that our plumbing (水管) had failed, flooding our home. We had to live in a hotel as we waited for the
Living in a small hotel room with three little kids was an extremely
The teens kept talking
“I know you’re here for the FFA conference and we want you to have
The next morning, my family
There is always an act of kindness to be done, just as long as you’re looking for one.
1.A.mess | B.fear | C.stress | D.pollution |
A.boring | B.challenging | C.interesting | D.confusing |
A.independently | B.beautifully | C.loudly | D.illegally |
A.woke up | B.cheered up | C.built up | D.warmed up |
A.shocked | B.upset | C.disappointed | D.calm |
A.doubt | B.tension | C.courage | D.understanding |
A.laughed | B.answered | C.rejected | D.performed |
A.fun | B.confidence | C.belief | D.attention |
A.announced | B.whispered | C.explained | D.argued |
A.left | B.lighted | C.tore | D.noticed |
A.paper | B.hair | C.money | D.cloth |
A.included | B.wanted | C.stole | D.took |
A.approached | B.cured | C.warned | D.thanked |
A.strategy | B.kindness | C.honesty | D.religion |
A.attitude | B.ability | C.opportunity | D.strength |
3 . Castillo wrote a letter to her father for his 50th birthday. Her father, who suffers from Down’s syndrome (唐氏综合征), had at one point been a(n)
Castillo said it took years before she had the courage to
“You
Besides having Down’s syndrome, her father has a wide
“Dad, no words can sum up how
A.pride | B.encouragement | C.embarrassment | D.puzzlement |
A.praises | B.believes | C.admires | D.assists |
A.reason out | B.face up to | C.seek after | D.clear up |
A.typical | B.different | C.rude | D.troublesome |
A.Still | B.Moreover | C.Instead | D.Meanwhile |
A.reserve | B.deserve | C.preserve | D.demand |
A.area | B.division | C.range | D.circle |
A.examinations | B.operations | C.treatments | D.medicines |
A.courageous | B.selfless | C.promising | D.pessimistic |
A.bear | B.relieve | C.kill | D.remove |
A.faith | B.ambition | C.strength | D.example |
A.awesome | B.sorry | C.casual | D.shameful |
A.lucky | B.lovely | C.absent | D.intelligent |
A.keeping | B.hiding | C.saving | D.drawing |
A.guess | B.recover | C.know | D.seize |
4 . Malaysia Airlines(马航) flight MH370 disappeared from radar(雷达) screens an hour after it
The plane may fall into the sea. China, Malaysia and many other countries have joined to search for the
How did the accident
It may
Whether the missing plane is found
We hope these people on the plane will be
A.took up | B.took off | C.took in | D.took away |
A.found | B.missed | C.flown | D.seen |
A.ship | B.terrorists | C.plane | D.Chinese |
A.talking about | B.listening to | C.waiting for | D.hearing |
A.take | B.go | C.come | D.happen |
A.the other | B.the others | C.other | D.others |
A.given | B.met | C.tried | D.caused |
A.wise | B.easy | C.hard | D.hardly |
A.spend | B.waste | C.get | D.take |
A.to imagine | B.imagining | C.imagined | D.imagines |
A.as soon as | B.after | C.until | D.before |
A.nor | B.so | C.or | D.and |
A.make | B.made | C.pay | D.paid |
A.safe | B.dangerous | C.friendly | D.bad |
A.his | B.its | C.my | D.their |
As far as Justin knew, there was only one way out of his neighborhood: basketball. So he ran with the ball like the hounds (猎犬) were running after him. He could drop any of the older guys at the court and the younger guys didn’t stand a chance. Justin saw his way out and he ran for it.
One day when Justin was shooting around at the local court, some guys from another block ran up and asked to play. The big one in the middle said that he had heard that Justin was the best and he wanted to see if it was true. Justin refused him at once. But the big guy insisted, and Justin’s cousin was encouraging, “Come on, Justin, drop this guy.” So Justin figured that he’d just do what everyone wanted and play.
Justin was running all over the big guy and making his shots while he did it. But suddenly Justin was pushed hard by the big guy and went flying in just such a way that he unluckily tore up his right knee. The doctor said Justin might never play again. Justin almost broke down.
The first six weeks in hospital, Justin just lay in bed with his leg in a long cast (石膏). He watched three reruns (再播放) of The Simpsons every day and ate potato chips until the bag was empty, and then he’d dig the salt and grease out of the corner with his finger. It seemed as if he blew up like a balloon. Right when he reached the bottom of the pit of despair (绝望), Justin’s sister, Kiki, came home from the university.
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。
She came in the house like a whirl of sunshine.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
After spending those weeks with his sister, Justin realized he didn’t want to feel bad for himself any more.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6 . This morning I was reading a book outside my favorite beachside coffee shop when an 18-year-old boy sat down next to me and said, “The
He told me he was getting ready to
He asked me many questions, and I
But on my way home I realized the
The
A.book | B.magazine | C.radio | D.newspaper |
A.reading | B.dancing | C.chatting | D.singing |
A.graduate from | B.give up | C.get to | D.look for |
A.right | B.idea | C.excuse | D.money |
A.avoided | B.refused | C.doubted | D.answered |
A.proper | B.strict | C.humorous | D.wrong |
A.competition | B.experiment | C.argument | D.conversation |
A.angrily | B.sadly | C.actually | D.bravely |
A.forget | B.remember | C.waste | D.discuss |
A.chances | B.choices | C.questions | D.challenges |
A.when | B.until | C.how | D.though |
A.reason | B.truth | C.silence | D.cause |
A.on time | B.at a time | C.in time | D.from time to time |
A.volunteer | B.imagine | C.change | D.cheat |
A.similar | B.strange | C.difficult | D.amazing |
7 . It was early winter several years ago. I had pulled out my old winter coat for another year’s use. It was still in pretty good shape although it was looking dirty from so many winters’ wear. I didn’t really need a new one but I wanted one and casually mentioned it to my daughter one day. She was such a sweet, loving girl that I should have guessed what would happen next. A few weeks later she gave me a new winter coat as a gift.
I put the old one in my closet and started to wear the new coat every day. Each day, though, when I opened my closet, something troubled me. It seemed a shame that my old but still good coat should just sit there keeping no one warm during the cold winter days. After a few weeks, I took it out and drove to a local charity shop. I knew that there was someone who couldn’t afford a coat but could get my old one.
My new coat is my old coat now. It is getting a little dirty and worn, too. It has black marks on the sleeves. It is in too bad shape to even donate to charity. I wonder if I should buy a new one soon, but I think I will wait for a while. I don’t really need a new one and maybe I can find something else to give to the charity shop instead.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Want is a growing giant whom the coat of Have was never large enough to cover.” Perhaps the best way to deal with our wants then is to give instead. Love, after all, brings us the most joy. And the more of it you give away, the more of it you have.
1. Which word can best describe the author’s daughter?A.Wealthy. | B.Thoughtful. | C.Easy-going. | D.Humorous. |
A.It cost too much. | B.It was looking dirty. |
C.There was not enough room for his new coat. | D.It was not sent to someone in need. |
A.Telling his daughter. | B.Buying a new one soon. |
C.Donating it to charity. | D.Sending something else to charity. |
A.Giving fills our wants. | B.Love is the key to joy. |
C.The more you give, the more you lose. | D.A coat is large enough to cover our wants. |
8 . In a quiet Northern California neighborhood, Michael seemed like a normal 11-year-old boy. His family made use of the Californian sunshine to grow orange trees and roses. All seemed good from the outside, but Michael was troubled.
Since he was taken in at 3 years old, Michael never really connected with his parents. There was a strictness about them that his nature couldn’t understand, and he was left to himself to sort out (整理) confusing feelings and the need for connection.
Without the tie a young boy needs at home, Michael often found himself down the street at his best friend’s house. Of course, the two boys laughed, read picture books and ate junk food. But the real reason why Michael liked his friend’s home was Mr. Christensen. He was the kind of father who understands boys.
With Mr. Christensen, the boys spent hours in the garage fixing an old sports car. They drove up the California coast at high speed, feeling the salt wind wash over them. The car was too loud to allow for any conversation, which was fine with Michael. He didn’t yet know how to express his feelings; for the time being, just being able to feel them was enough.
For many young boys, the language of connection is written in the wrenches (扳手) they and their parents turn, the wrestling matches they watch, the hours of their watching clouds race by overhead. Mr. Christensen understood that boys need time to learn this language. He knew a boy learns respect and duty by being loved in an unspoken way.
Some 50 years later, Michael remembers his time with Mr. Christensen. “My own father couldn’t raise me, so I was given away. My adoptive father (养父) did his best but never allowed a relationship to form between us. Luckily for me, I had Mr. Christensen. I have tried to be the kind of father he was, teaching, having fun and spending time with my child.”
1. What was the problem with young Michael?A.He had to do hard work on the farm. |
B.He dropped out of school with his best friend. |
C.He was given up by his parents as a little kid. |
D.He was treated badly by his adoptive parents. |
A.Strong wind. | B.Too loud noise. | C.Busy repair work. | D.Driving excitement. |
A.By taking part in competitions. | B.Through communication. |
C.By studying hard. | D.Through doing things together. |
A.Mr. Christensen. | B.His friends. |
C.His own father. | D.His adoptive parents. |
9 . It was well after midnight. I stood silently staring out of the window, feeling cold. All in my thought was nothing but the
That was 14 years ago. Yet I think of him often and his love is always in my heart. When
A.operation | B.life | C.man | D.doctor |
A.rushed | B.followed | C.wheeled | D.showed |
A.feet | B.knees | C.stomach | D.back |
A.cousin | B.nurse | C.brother | D.son |
A.building | B.room | C.yard | D.passage |
A.that | B.which | C.who | D.whom |
A.leave | B.retire | C.walk | D.run |
A.school | B.hospital | C.passage | D.room |
A.brother | B.son | C.life | D.room |
A.happily | B.energetically | C.eagerly | D.sadly |
A.if | B.where | C.when | D.while |
A.belief | B.tension | C.despair | D.love |
A.face | B.to face | C.facing | D.faced |
A.accept | B.respect | C.reject | D.assume |
A.fade | B.approach | C.last | D.stand |
It was a cold winter evening, I was terrified that my mom would find out that I had lost the beautiful silver flute (长笛) she bought me. I felt very sad and I thought that she had given me a big lecture about how valuable it was and that I had to take good care of it. Now it was missing! And I felt very upset. I was only ten at the time, so it felt like a huge responsibility. So I didn’t dare tell my mum about it, I didn’t think my mum would pay attention to my flute.
Mum was a soft-spoken woman who never yelled at me, but she would surely have docked (扣除) my allowance (零花钱) for a year or two in order to pay for it if I couldn’t find it and she discovered that my flute was lost. The worst punishment, though, would have been disappointing her and being forever regarded as an unreliable person.
As I was in the band, I would take the flute to school twice and bring it home after practice. That day, I normally remembered collecting it after school and then I rushed through the school gate, I even said bye to the guard. But when I returned home and wanted to take my flute for practice, it was nowhere to be found.
Being afraid to tell anyone, I kept thinking to myself “I’d be in big trouble if I lost it. What should I do?”
Just then, I heard my mum’s calling, “Sweetie, dinner is ready!”
“Okay, wait a minute, I…am …coming…” I replied as I slowly stepped out of my bed-room, my mind was still back in the state of searching for my flute.
When having dinner, I could hardly focus with my eyes. Although I tried to pretend to be calm, my mum still noticed it.
“What is the matter with you, sweetie?” my mum asked.
Hearing what she said, I had to tell her the truth.
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。
To my surprise, my mum didn’t scold me but stood up to come to me.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
When we drove near the school gate, I could see a person standing from a distance.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________