Sara, my neighbor, and I were sitting in our yard, chatting, and frowning at the wooden house across the street.
Nobody in the neighborhood had met these two young men there yet. The two men had long hair and beards and dressed strangely. They kept to themselves. When they came outside, they never made eye contact with anyone. “They sure don’t fit into the neighborhood,” Sara said, the corners of her mouth turning down as she stared at that house.
Sara said, “What about our street parties? We’ve always included everyone. Should we invite them?” I sighed, “Try being nice, Sara.” Suddenly, Sara sat up straight and her eyes grew wide with curiosity when a government car pulled up before Mrs Swain’s house next door. We hurried over. Mrs Swain was recovering from cancer and lived alone. Sara and I tried to keep an eye on her.
The man from the car put a piece of paper on Mrs Swain’s door and hurriedly left. Mrs Swain looked old, thin, and very tired when she opened the door. We three looked at the paper. It read: “Someone complained your grass’ length is against city rules. Please cut it in five days, or you’ll be fined.”
It was a shame that nobody had cut her grass for her. However, Sara and I lived alone, and we were both pregnant. What was worse, we were on a tight budget, and the other families here were on vacation.
Sara and I comforted Mrs Swain, telling her we’d figure out a way. Mrs Swain blinked in confusion, “Who would complain? Everyone knows that my old lawn mower is broken. And I’ve been sick too.” “It may be those two guys across the street,” Sara whispered, angrily staring at that wooden house.
Just then, a voice that seemed too gentle to be coming from the strange young man behind me said, “What is going on? Is she alright?” He nodded toward Mrs Swain. Sara looked at him coldly and said, “Some guys reported her because her grass is too high.” Her eyes ran over him disapprovingly, but he didn’t seem to notice.
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 young man and his friend quickly made eye contact and nodded seriously.
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After they finished the work, Sara and I walked in shame to apologize for judging them.
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2 . I’m proud of myself for this kindness I did last night. I did it
It was last night and I
In the past I’ve
So I tried to
Yet, something in myself was stopping me. Something in myself made me
Well, I learned a great
A.nervously | B.proudly | C.exactly | D.carefully |
A.share | B.remark | C.do | D.consider |
A.pleasure | B.respect | C.honour | D.selfish |
A.changed | B.kept | C.finished | D.missed |
A.noticed | B.greeted | C.followed | D.helped |
A.home | B.choice | C.friend | D.car |
A.hangs around | B.hides away | C.watches over | D.calms down |
A.each | B.another | C.either | D.that |
A.hated | B.happened | C.offered | D.refused |
A.works | B.lives | C.plays | D.remains |
A.fly | B.ride | C.drive | D.walk |
A.remind | B.avoid | C.attract | D.please |
A.workroom | B.office | C.playground | D.park |
A.therefore | B.even | C.however | D.instead |
A.rely on | B.spy on | C.look at | D.point at |
A.neighbors | B.pets | C.children | D.friends |
A.since | B.although | C.as | D.if |
A.accepted | B.hesitated | C.approached | D.urged |
A.reliable | B.upset | C.generous | D.grateful |
A.gift | B.lesson | C.treasure | D.method |
3 . Everyone can smile when they are on cloud nine. Everyone can cry when the weather is blue. But it takes a strong person to smile when he or she has every reason to cry!
Kiley, from Maryland, is an author, fashion model, motivational speaker and entrepreneur. Since 3 years old, her life has proven to be a journey of surgeries. She was forced to have two permanent ostomies (造口术), causing her to have ostomy bags for the rest of her life.
Carrying not one, but two ostomy bags is not something you would want anyone to go through especially your own child. As a single father, Jay is Kiley's biggest advocate. When Kiley was 10 years old, she gave a special Father's Day gift to her father to express her gratitude, which was to dance with him at her talent show at school. In the video, the little girl was smiling from ear to ear. They danced along the song, Overcomer of American Idol's Mandisa. "You're an overcomer. Stay in the fight till the final round." True to the lyrics, Kiley is a strong and inspiring overcomer.
At only fifteen, Kiley set up Enhancing Children's Lives Organization, a foundation dedicated to helping low-income children, providing them with backpacks filled with school supplies, shoes clothing and even food.
She has been a fashion model for over 7 years, yes with two ostomy bags. She is helping cancer survivors and inspiring ostomy patients. Looking at the outer appearance, one would not tell she lives with these adversities. She has proven that not even the biggest problem in the world could wipe away the smile from her face!
Kiley wrote in one of her books, "I used to say, ‘Why me? Why cancer? Why ostomy bags?’ Now I say, ‘Why not me?’ Just because you have some difficulties in life doesn't mean you can't make it. We have the ability to make a difference, to change lives."
1. Why did Kiley decide to dance with her father at school?A.To show off her talent. |
B.To win her dad's support. |
C.To promote Father's Day. |
D.To show thanks to her dad. |
A.Medical care. |
B.Full scholarship. |
C.School necessities. |
D.Better education |
A.Optimistic and inspiring. |
B.Strong-willed and realistic. |
C.Creative and independent. |
D.Confident and ambitious. |
A.Health is money. |
B.Smile has power. |
C.Hard work pays off. |
D.Cherish the time. |
My ex-husband had made some very bad choices in his life, and I did not want my children to pay for them all their lives, so the boys and I talked and we decided to move. We moved 2,700 miles from home. We had a small car that pulled a small U-haul over the Rocky Mountains. I could barely read a map (my 8-year-old reads them great, I learned).
We arrived in our new town three days later, and found an apartment. I started the boys in their new school and went to our new home to unload the U-haul. I had brought all the clothes, dishes, blankets and toys that I could fit in the U-haul. As I began unloading, a lady whom I had briefly met the day before was driving down the road and she stopped to help me unload and carry everything up the three flights of stairs. After getting moved in, I was blessed two days later when I found a job.
Things were going great. The boys went to the Boys & Girls Club after school, and I would pick them up after work. In December, two months after moving, the manager of the Boys & Girls Club called me and said that there was a group of people who wanted to choose a family for Christmas and would I mind if they chose our family. My first thought was no, because we had all the love we needed for the holidays, but then he said that my children had told him that there was no furniture in the house, and this group had a lot of used furniture, and that the boys and I would be making them very happy. So I agreed.
They called me and asked what the boys wanted for Christmas and I told them that anything would be appreciated, and I told them what their favorite toys were.
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。
They showed up on December 23.
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My children and I have supported a child every year since then.
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5 . After over a decade of faithful service my old desktop computer finally died. It simply wouldn’t start. With no computer repair places open my daughter talked me into purchasing a new laptop to replace it. What followed was two days of pure frustration. It was like going from driving an old Model T Ford to flying the Space Shuttle.
After my daughter set it up, I looked for the old e-mail program I used to use, only to find that it wasn’t on this model. When I tried to download the older version again it wouldn’t work. I also had a terrible time downloading my old word processing program again. Then there were some difficulties of transferring all of my old stories that I had saved on a jump drive. The laptop computer’s fancy new programs were an icon minefield that I had to navigate. Each time I accidentally touched one of them it changed everything on my screen and I had to work hard to figure out how to change them back. In the end I had screwed up the settings so badly that I asked my daughter to do a reset so we could start over. Finally after two days I think we have set up the new computer to do the few simple things I need it to do so I can ignore the thousand other functions that I have no use for. I only hope it will work as long and faithfully as my old desktop did.
One thing I did learn from all of this is that when it comes to computers and life I want to keep things simple, simple, simple. Life is simple. Love is simple. It is we who make things complicated. Take some time today then to turn off your electronics and turn on your heart. Be a person, not a program. Be yourself, not your “Selfie”. Fill your days with purpose, your years with happiness, and your life with love.
1. What was the author’s old computer’s problem?A.It was slow to function. | B.It crashed completely. |
C.It was out of date. | D.It kept restarting. |
A.She couldn’t forget her old computer. |
B.She regretted not repairing her old computer. |
C.She didn’t buy a more advanced computer. |
D.She had difficulty using the new computer. |
A.Useful. | B.Unnecessary. |
C.Disappointing. | D.Challenging. |
A.To explain her requirements for computers. |
B.To stress the importance of technology. |
C.To show the development of electronics. |
D.To express her attitude to life. |
It was the first day of our new grade. Everyone in the classroom was chatting happily, excited to see each other again after the long holidays. When the door slid open, all of us stopped talking and turned to look. In came our teacher Ms. Sullivan, followed by an ordinary-looking boy,
“This boy’s name is Rafael.” Ms. Sullivan announced. “He’s a transfer student (转校生), and he’s going to be in our class starting from today. Make sure all of you welcome him warmly.”
The class clapped. But I didn't want to have a second look at the newcomer, for he had no outstanding qualities considering his small figure and casual T-shirt.
“Oh, I forgot to mention one thing.” Ms. Sullivan spoke up. “Rafael actually has hearing problems. Normally he would have hearing aids on, but his old ones have just been broken.
His doctor suggested that he stay at home until he got his new ones. However, Rafael insisted on attending his first day of school. So if you want to communicate with him, you have to write it on a piece of paper.”
This single speech sent the whole class up into an uproar (嘈杂). Some students looked at each other with expressions of surprise. Others voiced cries of concern out of pity.
Ms. Sullivan calmed everyone down. “I’d like someone to personally help him out throughout the day. Do I have any volunteers?”
“How can a disabled person be intelligent?” I thought to myself. I refused to raise my hand, expecting someone else would. But nobody did or said anything. Dead silence spread across the classroom.
It was by total bad luck that my eyes happened to meet Ms. Sullivan's.
“How about you, James?” She asked me. “Is it okay for you to take care of Rafael just for today?”
It is difficult to refuse a request by someone, especially if that person is a teacher. I sighed and nodded slightly. Ms. Sullivan gestured for Rafael to sit beside me and then asked us to share our holiday stories with the class.
Paragraph 1:Immediately, the class became excited.
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Then Rafael rose and walked onto the platform.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________7 . Why is being alone essential to personal growth?
For many people, being alone is a negative state of being. It often carries a social stigma (污名) that equals isolation or being an outsider. Of course, spending time with people you love is extremely important to your well-being.
Aloneness enhances your creativity. When you are alone, you are more likely to stay true to yourself and try new things that you don’t have the courage to do around others.
Being alone also prevents you from burning out. Sometimes you may wonder why you easily feel tired.
Being alone makes you a more creative person and helps with personal growth.
A.But it’s necessary to learn how to be alone. |
B.Aloneness is often associated with mad artists. |
C.It is impossible to be alone with the demands of daily life. |
D.Aloneness frees us from the limits of the world’s opinions. |
E.Self-exploration is perhaps the biggest benefit of aloneness. |
F.One reason could be not giving yourself enough solitary time. |
G.So spend some time alone today to become a brighter and better person. |
8 . I was walking my dog Snoopy one evening while the last light of the setting sun
It wasn’t long either
Robert Fulghum wrote, “I know some people who
May you always
A.printed | B.dyed | C.colored | D.pictured |
A.pushing | B.pulling | C.dragging | D.waving |
A.food | B.thing | C.treat | D.feast |
A.comforted | B.approved | C.pleased | D.blamed |
A.unless | B.before | C.when | D.once |
A.delight | B.disappoint | C.satisfy | D.touch |
A.chance | B.surprise | C.curiosity | D.joy |
A.green | B.ordinary | C.vast | D.dark |
A.intend | B.plan | C.tend | D.manage |
A.give out | B.give off | C.give away | D.give in |
A.absorbed | B.appealed | C.applied | D.collected |
A.stayed | B.remained | C.changed | D.hidden |
A.cause | B.appear | C.bring | D.require |
A.hold | B.shine | C.spread | D.offer |
A.build | B.deepen | C.light | D.brighten |
In New England, a few years ago, a party of boys decided to start a grand sleigh (雪橇) ride. The sleigh was a large one, pulled by six gray horses.
The next day, as the teacher entered the schoolroom, he found his students in high spirits, chattering excitedly about their journey. One of the boys recounted their trip and its various incidents. As he reached the end of his story, he exclaimed, “Oh sir, there was one thing I had almost forgotten. As we were coming home, we saw a strange sight on the road. It turned out to be a rust y old sleigh attached to a covered wagon (四轮运货车), moving at a very slow pace and taking up the entire road.”
The boys had grown impatient with the slow-moving vehicle ahead of them and decided to take action. They threw snowballs at the wagon and shouted, making the old horse start to run quickly. The old man in the wagon cried out, asking why they were frightening his horse. A boy replied, “Why don’t you turn out, then?” and gave him three more loud cheers. His horse was frightened again and ran into a loaded wagon, almost making the old man fall over.
The teacher listened carefully to the boy’s story before responding, “Take your seats, boys, and I will tell you a story about a sleigh ride, too.”
Yesterday afternoon, a very elderly man was traveling from Boston to Salem to spend the winter at his son’s house. He had brought his wagon for the journey and his sleigh for the winter. His vision and hearing were not what they used to be due to his age. He was traveling slowly, as his horse was old and weak like himself. Suddenly, he was frightened by loud cheers and rapid snowballs hitting his wagon. In his panic, he dropped the reins and his horse ran wildly. Amidst his troubles, a large group of boys in a sleigh pulled by six horses rushed past him, shouting and demanding that he give them the road.
注意:续写词数应为150左右;请按如下格式作答。Paragraph1
The old man begged them not to frighten his horse.
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Paragraph2
The boys listened quietly, reflecting on their actions.
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10 . When I was young, my understanding of life was simple. This made it
When I try to teach my daughter important
When I was seven or eight, I played at my cousin’s house with his toys. His family was better off than mine, and he had many more toys. There was one
I hope to help my daughter avoid similar
A.funnier | B.easier | C.safer | D.deeper |
A.important | B.awkward | C.fragile | D.complex |
A.view | B.experience | C.aim | D.expectation |
A.basics | B.facts | C.subjects | D.choices |
A.away | B.off | C.down | D.out |
A.passion | B.love | C.respect | D.desire |
A.forgive | B.accept | C.share | D.try |
A.certainly | B.eventually | C.personally | D.willingly |
A.runs | B.goes | C.writes | D.follows |
A.for fun | B.in particular | C.with care | D.at random |
A.fetched | B.arranged | C.slipped | D.fitted |
A.doubted | B.promised | C.questioned | D.sensed |
A.lied | B.stolen | C.changed | D.cheated |
A.suffer | B.improve | C.fade | D.spread |
A.gave | B.left | C.pulled | D.handed |
A.so | B.or | C.for | D.but |
A.accidents | B.mistakes | C.results | D.habits |
A.before | B.until | C.in case | D.now that |
A.upon | B.beyond | C.without | D.despite |
A.honest | B.casual | C.curious | D.perfect |