Emily White was born seventeen years ago with so many birth problems in her body. Some of her organs, bones and muscles were out of shape. No one expected her to survive. She did make it but with her strange body figure, everyone could recognize her, even from a distance.
In Emily White’s hometown, there was a yearly outdoor performance in the school auditorium (大礼堂). It had been performed for so many years and actually had become one of the most important events of the Christmas season for many of the town’s people.
Many people tried out each year for it, but so many were turned away. It can only include the most excellent people in the field.
Emily had a beautiful singing voice. Last year she went to Mrs. Owens — her music teacher to ask to join in the performance. Without letting her sing, Mrs. Owens took a look at Amy’s body and said, “Child, you just don’t fit. Everyone would stare at you and that would make you uncomfortable. It would make them uncomfortable, too.”
Without singing a single note, Emily was sent back through the door of the choral room. Hurt and upset, she decided never to try out again. But Mrs. Owens then retired.
This year, there came a new music teacher, Mr. Buttler. He heard about Emily and suggested that she have a try.
Emily didn’t want to be rejected again, so she hesitated a little about it. As Emily struggled, the door was pushed open and Mr. Buttler called, “Emily, you’re next.” Although kind of nervous, Emily did as Mr. Buttler told her to do. Mr. Buttler sat by the piano to keep Emily company. When Emily finished her testing performance, she thanked Mr. Buttler and knew the result would be posted on the door of the choral room the next day.
Emily couldn’t sleep that night. She was suffering from the feelings that she didn’t fit and the great need to be accepted. By the next morning, her stomach was even in pain because of stress.
注意：续写词数应为150左右Paragraph 1: The next day, Emily nervously glanced at the list on the door of the choral room.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Paragraph 2: Finally, the day of performance came.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Although Emily’s singing was very pleasant to hear, lacking of courage, she never dared to sing in front of strangers.
One summer, the neighborhood where she lived would hold a singing competition. Her best friend, Lucy, came to invite her to participate in the competition, but Emily said. “I’m afraid to take part in it.” Her mother said, “It’s okay, just do it bravely.” Emily followed her mama’s advice and decided to give herself a try. The day came. Emily and Lucy went to the competition site. But she was too frightened to walk onto the stage. She had been waiting until others finished singing. She shakily forced herself to stand on the stage. She started to sing, but her voice was so low. What’s worse, she was so nervous that she forgot the lyrics after singing a few words. Being laughed at by others, embarrassed and shy, she ran away from the stage.
Some naughty boys ran after her and said, “Emily, coward (胆小鬼)! Emily, coward!” Emily didn’t argue with them. What she wanted was to go back home as quickly as she could. Finally, she rushed into the house, hugged her mom and cried sadly.
“Well, my poor girl. Don’t cry. Tell me what happened to you,” asked her mom. Emily looked up at her mother and told her what she had experienced.
Listening to her, her mom cupped her face and said, “It doesn’t matter, girl. As long as you practice singing more in front of strangers, you will become braver little by little. So, my girl, don’t be beaten by a failure. You can go out to practice singing every day. No matter who is listening to you, go on singing and never stop. I believe there will be a harvest for you.”
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
Emily followed her mom’s advice and walked into the park where many people were singing and dancing.
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Paragraph 2
The second year, the neighborhood held the singing competition again.
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“Wanted: Violin. Can’t pay much. Contact…”
I rarely read the classified advertisements, so why did I notice that one? I laid the paper on my lap and closed my eyes, remembering what had happened many years before, during the Great Depression when my family struggled to make a living on our farm. I, too, had wanted a violin.
When my older twin sisters began showing an interest in music, Harriet Anne learned to play Grandma’s piano, while Suzanne turned to Daddy’s violin. Simple tunes became lovely melodies. My baby brother danced; Daddy hummed and Mother whistled. I just listened.
When my arms grew long enough, I tried to play Suzanne’s violin. Oh, how I wanted one! But I knew it was out of the question.
One evening as the twins played in the school orchestra. I closed my eyes tight to capture the picture firmly in my mind. Someday, I’ll sit up there, I vowed silently.
It was not a good year. At harvest the crops didn’t bring as much as we had hoped. Yet even though times were hard, I couldn’t wait any longer to ask, “Daddy, may I have a violin of my own?”
“Can’t you use Suzanne’s?”
“I’d like to be in the orchestra too, and we can’t both use the same violin at the same time.”
Daddy’s face looked sad. That night, and many following nights, I heard him remind God in our family prayers, “… and Lord, Mary Lou wants her own violin.”
One evening we all sat round the table. The twins and I studied. Mother sewed and Daddy wrote a letter to his friend, George Finkle, in Columbus, Ohio. Mr Finkle, Daddy said, was a fine violinist.
When Daddy received a letter from Columbus a few weeks later, he asked me, “Mary Lou, do you want to go with me to visit Mr Finkle?”
He drove us to Columbus and we came to a fine, old house. A tall man opened the door. He and Daddy heartily shook hands, both talking at once.
“Mary Lou, I’ve been hearing things about you. Your Daddy has arranged a surprise for you!” He picked up a case, opened it, lifted out a violin and started to play. The melody surged and spoke like waterfalls. Oh, to play like him, I thought.
Finishing the piece, he turned to Daddy. “I found it in a pawnshop（当铺）for seven dollars. It’s a good violin. Mary Lou should be able to make a beautiful music with it.” Then he handed the violin to me.
注意：
1. 所续写短文的词数应为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:
I noticed the tears in Daddy’s eyes as I finally comprehended. It was mine!
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Paragraph 2:
I forced my thoughts to the present and read again the advertisement.
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For years, music classes have been the ugly ducklings of school curriculums (课程) — the last courses to be added, the first courses to be cut. When students and parents are asked to rate subjects according to their importance, music is unavoidably at the bottom of the list. Music is nice, people seem to say, but not important. Too often it is viewed as mere entertainment, but certainly not an education preference. This view is shortsighted. In fact, music education is beneficial and important for all students.
Music tells us who we are. Because music is an expression of the beings who create it, it reflects their thinking and values and the social environment it came from. Rock music represents a lifestyle just as surely as a Schubert song does. The jazz influence that George Gershwin and other musicians introduced into their music is obviously American because it came from American musical traditions. Music expresses our character and values. It gives us identity as a society.
Participation in music also brings social benefits for students. Music is a way to make friends. Some researchers completed a study dealing with the perceived benefits of music. In their findings they wrote, “Participating in musical groups or bands was regarded as an opportunity to socialize with like-minded people, make new friends and meet interesting people, who without the musical engagement they would not have had the opportunity to meet”. Every time a student is involved in music, they have the chance to meet new people, and form lasting friendships.
Some people might think that music will consume too much of students’ time. However, music education greatly improves students’ understanding and achievement in non-musical subjects. A ten-year study, which tracks over 25,000 middle and high school students, shows that students in music classes receive higher scores on standardized tests than students with little or no musical involvement. The musical students score, on average, sixty-three points higher on the language section and forty-four points higher on the math section of the SATs than non-music students. When applying to colleges, these points could be the difference between an acceptance letter and a rejection letter.
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