1 . The winter had been busy and long. I desperately needed a getaway from work, so I decided to book a trip to the Caribbean with my wife. But just three days before my trip， the human-resources manager of the company called and asked to speak with me in his office. I sensed something wrong. Just months shy of my ten — year anniversary with the company, I was laid off.
I was in complete shock — too shocked to even cry. But I wouldn't cancel my trip, as I needed it now more than ever. The night before my trip, I had a dream that the suitcase I had brought to the hotel was empty. When I woke, I interpreted this dream to mean that I was leaving all of my “baggage” behind — and I did. I enjoyed my vacation more than any others I had taken. And when I was back, I decided to do one thing I loved but never had the spare time to do: writing.
My works had never been published, but I wanted to try. I wrote a few pieces and sent them out to magazines and newspapers. After several non-responses and rejections, the most-read newspaper in Canada agreed to publish one of my travel stories. I shared the thrilling news with my family and friends. People I hadn't talked to in years contacted me to tell me they read my story. How amazing!
I started writing because I liked it. What I didn't realize was that my first published story would open several doors. Being published in a major publication made my resume impressive and led to interviews for writing positions. It also led to more publications noticing the articles I submitted. I am satisfied that now I work full-time as a corporate writer and my works have been published in a number of magazines.
Getting laid off was an experience that could have been fatal （毁灭性的）,But there was something about that dream after it happened. That dream helped me put everything behind me and gave me the confidence to pursue new possibilities.
1. Why did the author decide to go to Caribbean?| A．To go on a business trip. |
| B．To have a break from work. |
| C．To fill a position in the company. |
| D．To celebrate his wedding anniversary. |
| A．He is gifted in writing. |
| B．He is an optimistic person. |
| C．He gave bad job performance. |
| D．He suffered much from losing his job. |
| A．It tightened his family bond. | B．It brought back long-lost friends. |
| C．It earned him a job in a magazine. | D．It enabled him to become a writer. |
| A．A Trip Has Changed My Future | B．Fill Your Life with Surprises |
| C．Leave the Baggage Behind | D．Dare to Dream; Dare to Win |
Hannah tightened her helmet, a man's voice boomed from the louder-speakers: "Participants in the Five-Mile Junior Fat-tire Race. Please gather behind the orange flags."
Her heart was filled with excitement. First prize was a mountain bike. On a bike like that, she'd fly through the woods.
"Three, two, one, go!"
The lead--dut(引路人) made turn onto section of single track(小道) and gathered speed. girl with red hair rolled in behind him. The lead-out sped up again. Hannah slowed down for the hill, following close behind the red-haired girl, but the girl was gaining speed.
Hannah sped up and pedaled(骑行) the downhill section. Still, the red-haired- girl biked faster. They crossed wooden bridge. The lead-out and the girl disappeared behind a thick stand of trees. When Hannah glanced over her shoulder, she saw nobody behind her.
Hannah watched for the orange arrows(箭头) marking the course and biked through the muddy fields. "The girl might still get tired, "she thought. Then Hannah saw her. At the edge of the forest, the girl was bending her knees by her bike, the lead-out next to her. The girl must have gotten a flat. Hannah biked faster. She didn't slow down the hill but pedaled harder. She wiped the sweat from her eyes, breathless. The lead-out noticed her and jumped on his bike. Hannah was close enough now to see the girl putting the chain on the chain ring
Hannah felt energy flowing through her as she followed the lead-out past the girl into the woods. Maybe she could win.
In the middle of a small grassland, Hannah looked back. The girl was coming up behind her at crazy speed.
Hannah reached fork(岔路) in the trail. The lead-out- was nowhere in sight, but on her left was the sign with the orange arrow. When she turned, her foot slipped off the pedal, and she accidentally kicked the sign over
注意:
1.所续写的短文词数应为150左右;
2.应使用至少5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语;
3.续写部分分为二段,每段的开头语已经为你写好:
4.续写完成后,请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph1:
“I need to stop and fix the sign, or the other racer might get lost.” She thought .
Paragraph 2:
Looking at the shining mountain bike, Hannah felt like crying
At noon that day, I drove back to my house after the performance. Just as I entered the living room, I heard a gentle sound coming from the bedroom upstairs—it was the sound of my favorite violin.
“Thief!”
I dashed upstairs. Sure enough, as expected, a boy of about 12 years old was petting my violin. The boy had messy hair and a thin face, his oversized coat seemingly filled with something. At first glance, I found a new pair of shoes missing. It seemed that he was surely a thief.
Then, I saw his eyes full of fear and despair. My anger was immediately replaced by a smile, I asked, “Are you Mr. Ram’s nephew, Michael? I’m his housekeeper. Two days ago, I heard his nephew living in the countryside will come. It must be you. You’re really like him!”
On hearing my words, the boy was first astonished, but then quickly said, “Has my uncle gone out? I think I’d better first go out for a walk and visit him again in a while.”
I nodded and asked the boy who was preparing to put down the violin, “Do you like to play the violin so much?”
“Yes, but I’m so poor that I can’t afford it,” the boy replied.
“Then, I give this violin to you.” The boy looked at me questioningly, but he picked up the violin. Going out to the living room, he suddenly saw on the wall my huge color photo I performed in the Sydney Opera House. He involuntarily trembled for a moment and ran out without looking back.
I was sure that the boy had understood what happened because no one would decorate the living room with the housekeeper’s photo.
Paragraph 1:A few years later, I was invited to be a judge at a music competition of senior high school students.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2:
After the competition, “Michael” ran to me, holding a violin box.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________4 . I'd done it before, and so I had no reason to believe that this time would be any different. I was sure that when I returned home from my mission trip, as always, I'd bring back nothing more than some mud on my boots, a hole or two in my jeans and, of course, a lot of great memories.
The summer before my high school graduation, I went to West Virginia with others as volunteers to repair the homes of those in need. Arriving at our destination, my group was assigned the task of rebuilding sections of a home that had been damaged by fire. No sooner had we parked on the home's dirt driveway than we saw an excited little girl, no more than six years old, standing in the doorway of the family's temporary home. Shoeless and wearing dirty clothes and the biggest smile I'd ever seen, she yelled, "Ma, Ma, they really came! " I didn't know it then, but her name was Dakota, and four more days would pass before she’d say another word near me.
Behind Dakota was a woman in a wheelchair—her grandmother, we'd soon learn. I also discovered that my job that week would be to help change a fire—damaged dining room into a bedroom for this little girl. Grabbing our tools, we went to work. Over the following days, I noticed Dakota peeking at us every now and then as we worked. A few times. I tried talking with her, but she remained shy and distant, always flying around us like a tiny butterfly but keeping to herself.
By our fifth and final day, however, this was about to change.
Before I went to work on her home on that last morning, I spoke for a moment or two with the grandmother. I was especially pleased when she told me how much Dakota loved her new room so much, in fact, that she'd begged to sleep in it the previous night, even though it wasn't quite ready. As we talked, I noticed something I hadn’t seen before—Dakota was hiding behind her grandmother. Cautiously, she stepped into view, and I could see that just like her clothes, her face was still dirty. But no amount of soil could hide those bright blue eyes and big smile. She was simply adorable. I wanted so much to hug her, but respecting her shyness, I kept my distance.
Slowly, she began walking toward me. It wasn't until she was just inches away that I noticed the folded piece of paper in her tiny hand. Silently, she reached up and handed it to me. Once unfolded, I looked at the drawing she'd made with her broken crayons on the back of an old coloring book cover. It was of two girls—one much taller than the other—and they were holding hands. She told me it was supposed to be me and her and on the bottom of the paper were three little words that instantly broke my heart. Now almost in tears, I couldn't control myself anymore—I bent down and hugged her. She hugged me, too. And for the longest time, neither one of us could let go.
By early afternoon, we finished Dakota's bedroom, and so I gladly used the rare free time to get to know my newest friend. Sitting under a tree away from the others, we shared a few apples while she told me about her life. As I listened to her stories about the struggles she and her family went through daily, I began to realize how boring various aspects of my own life were.
I left for home early the next morning. I was returning with muddy boots and holes in my jeans. But because of Dakota, I brought back something else, too—a greater appreciation for all of the blessing of my life. I’ll never forget that barefoot little butterfly with the big smile and dirty face. I pray that she’ll never forget me either.
1. From the appearance description of the little girl, we know _______.| A．she formed a bad living habit |
| B．she hoped for a better education |
| C．she was an innocent and lovely child |
| D．she was strong and calm in the inner world |
| A．Enjoy your help. |
| B．Please don’t leave. |
| C．Help me, please. |
| D．Hug me close. |
| A．She worried about the little girl’s future. |
| B．She decided to keep helping the little girl. |
| C．She felt a greater affection for the little girl. |
| D．She got surprised at the little girl’s worthless gift. |
| A．One must learn to share life experiences. |
| B．One often wants to lead a meaningful life. |
| C．One occasionally benefits from the poverty. |
| D．One should be more grateful for the gift of life. |
I went up to the roof for a break after studying for an hour and watched the 50 or so people swimming in the natural rock pool below our house. It was a sunny day--a blue, cloudless sky over a calm sea. But then, as I looked in the distance, I discovered three or four big waves heading towards the shore. I'd seen these mini-tsunamis(海啸) many times before. They were heading at speed in the direction of the pool. Most people knew how to look out for them, but from the screams that started coming from the beach, I could tell someone was in trouble.
Without thinking, I ran down into the street, holding my body board(俯伏冲浪板) on the way and shouted at a stranger to go inside my house and call the coastguard. My neighbor Moises had heard the screaming as well and was also outside with his body board, so together we rushed to the steps that led down to the sea.
Once we got closer, we discovered the waves had pulled a boy and a girl from the pool and into the open sea. I knew that the nearest boat would take at least 30 minutes to reach us. Waiting for help wasn't a choice. I wasn't used to this sort of emergency--I’d never been trained as a lifeguard-but I didn't think twice about trying to save them. I supposed in a way I wanted to impress everyone: at 19, a deal like that can seem like a good opportunity to show off.
Moises and I dived into the water and it took us 10 minutes to get to them. When we finally reached them, they were almost lifeless with only their heads coming in and out of the water. We could tell they were still alive from their small breaths but it was clear they wouldn't have been able to stay there much longer. I held the boy and pulled him over my board. Moises moved the girl onto his board. We discussed pushing them back to the shore, but we were too far out.
注意：
1.所续写的短文词数应为150左右；
2.续写部分分为两段,每段的开头语已为你写好；
Paragraph 1:
We had to wait.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
That night, word came from the hospital that the two people were in good condition.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6 . For many years, I knew I wanted to be a music video director. After graduating from high school, I moved to Los Angeles, where I earned a degree in video production. Fortune smiled upon me as I quickly worked at important positions. I was young and ambitious working in the field I'd dreamed of for years.
One day, while assisting as a volunteer at an award show, one of the production managers remarked that I was going to be a “powerhouse”. I knew I wanted to be happy and enjoy whatever work I did, but I wasn't sure I wanted to be a "powerhouse”. Not too long after the show, I was laid off from my position at the production company. It sent me back home to Florida to think about my next career move.
In Florida, I landed a job working the night shift at a financial institution. The pay was good, but a few months later my creative spirit sent an S. O. S. to my brain, signaling I wasn't making the best use of my talents. I didn't have the money to make another cross-country move back to Los Angeles, but I also couldn't stay in an unfulfilling（不称心的） job.
I did some creative writing during my spare time. To motivate myself even further, I made the commitment to author a children's book. My goal didn't end there, however. I was also determined to get the book published.
Once I completed my manuscript （手稿），I decided it would be best if it were a picture storybook. It was not easy for me to get the book published and yet I continued sending out my work. It took somewhere between three and four years to finally attract the interest of a publisher. I held a copy of my beautiful children’s book in my hands.
I found a happy place within and a new realization. I may not have become a powerhouse, but I did accomplish a goal. Success found within is how you define it, how you live it and always have something to strive for, not fear.
1. What used to be the author's goal in life?| A．To be a music video director. | B．To be a powerhouse. |
| C．To be a financial expert. | D．To be a famous book writer. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Satisfied. | C．Disappointed. | D．Puzzled. |
| A．Define her goal in life. |
| B．Move back to her home. |
| C．Make a change in her career. |
| D．Find someone appreciating her talent |
| A．Try different lifestyles. |
| B．Find our own strength. |
| C．Be brave to struggle for something. |
| D．Stick to the first goal in our life. |
One evening I was going back from a supermarket. As I approached my car, I noticed one person
After several moments of
I stared at the hundreds of jigsaw puzzle(拼图）pieces spread out on the table. “This is going to take a while. ”
“Isn't that the point?” My 17-year-old daughter, Julia, said. “To keep us off the screens during the quarantine(隔离）？”
“Right,” I said.
“Maybe this will take my mind off everything I've lost,” Julia said. She was a senior in high school, missing the last weeks of school with her friends and teachers. A competition she'd worked for all school year was now canceled. There's uncertainty about her graduation ceremony. Next week, she'd celebrate her 18th birthday at home, unable to see her friends. But her biggest worry was for the college scholarship she'd applied for. With the university closed,the decision had been delayed.She couldn't choose which school to attend without knowing how much financial help she'd receive. Her whole future felt uncertain.
“I'm sorry, honey,” I said, picking up a puzzle piece. When I set it back down, I saw a drop of tear on the table. I looked at Julia's damp eyes and immediately put my arms around her, “Julia, you just have to believe it's going to work out. "
“I feel like my whole life is like this puzzle. All the pieces are out of place and I may never get them back together," she said. “If just one piece would go into place, I think I could handle the uncertainty of the rest. I just need a piece of it. ”
I'd known since the quarantine started that Julia would struggle with it more than her sisters. Because of her age, but also because of her outgoing personality, staying home would be the hardest for her.
“I know it's hard when we can't see the future, but we have to believe in life. Despite the difficulties and setbacks, we'll figure out everything, just like the jigsaw puzzle,"I held her hand and told her.
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。
Over the next several days, our family worked on the puzzle a little bit at a time.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Two days after we completed our puzzle, we got the call.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9 . I was making a stop on my book tour. A sweet woman approached me, and pleasantly
She laughed and said, "Well, sure. That's true with everything, right?"
A light came on in my brain. She was righter than she knew. I said, "Yes, but not how you mean. Success is a
A lot of the time our methods of working are a series of habits, good and bad, we
I wasn't crazy about his statement back then, because I was uncomfortable, but still wasn't an artist. I see the
As actors, we know we can become anything with enough rehearsal.
| A．suggested | B．admitted | C．shouted | D．decided |
| A．even | B．hardly | C．just | D．also |
| A．attempt | B．consider | C．refuse | D．manage |
| A．tired from | B．annoyed about | C．fed up with | D．happy with |
| A．product | B．cause | C．factor | D．kind |
| A．standard | B．watch | C．goal | D．speed |
| A．reflect | B．create | C．refuse | D．prepare |
| A．broke | B．chose | C．developed | D．arranged |
| A．annoying | B．comfortable | C．confident | D．useless |
| A．wisdom | B．beauty | C．hope | D．history |
| A．never | B．persistently | C．fortunately | D．unwillingly |
| A．contents | B．questions | C．pages | D．answers |
| A．money | B．time | C．effort | D．potential |
| A．So | B．But | C．And | D．Instead |
| A．read | B．follow | C．redraw | D．lose |
10 . Each year the headmaster of the school where I work asks us to read a book chosen by him. The book provides a framework for work we will do throughout the school year, which can
This year’s book is The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything by Ken Robinson. Robinson uses the term “the Element” to
How easy is it to look at those who seem to have found their Element? They are great at what they do, and we
In
I like this book very much since it
Realizing our given talent and properly practicing that talent are
| A．raise | B．spare | C．offer | D．supply |
| A．simplify | B．describe | C．beautify | D．explore |
| A．essential | B．convenient | C．reasonable | D．natural |
| A．application | B．environment | C．contribution | D．development |
| A．deny | B．assume | C．doubt | D．explore |
| A．political | B．academic | C．commercial | D．geographical |
| A．experiences | B．privileges | C．gifts | D．options |
| A．exercising | B．accepting | C．diversifying | D．preparing |
| A．sticks to | B．points to | C．holds on to | D．relates to |
| A．lend | B．draw | C．submit | D．exploit |
| A．secretly | B．individually | C．purposely | D．collectively |
| A．structure | B．feature | C．reputation | D．guidance |
| A．inseparable | B．permanent | C．distinct | D．unavoidable |
| A．friends | B．families | C．countries | D．unions |
| A．playing | B．forming | C．taking | D．knowing |
