Last Friday was a cold day, and the bus was due to come in about 15 minutes. So I went to the nearby convenience store and came back to the station where a junior high school girl was still there,{#blank#}1{#/blank#} (wait) for the bus too. I gave her one of the two warm cocoa {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(can) I bought and we had a little talk {#blank#}3{#/blank#} warming our hands with the hot cocoa.

    She {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(have) her high school entrance exam in a week so I told her a few encouraging words. I left her happy, she thanked me, and told me she wished {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(see) me again. I smiled and thanked her very{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(grateful), nodding yes, the bus had already stopped and I had to hurry away.

    We may never see each other again but I am grateful to her {#blank#}7{#/blank#} saying "wish I could meet you again" as {#blank#}8{#/blank#}takes a strong will, and courage to accept an offering from a stranger. That young girl helped me more than I could have helped her. I {#blank#}9{#/blank#}(touch) with a memory and a reason to send all the kids {#blank#}10{#/blank#} this very moment are full of emotions and fears, wishes of good luck and many bits of love.

    My family moved from Taiwan to a small town in central Georgia, where my dad got a visa for his family and a job. I had just learned English, and from what little I could gather from my friends, Santa Claus would come down one's chimney and put toys in one's stocking on Christmas Eve! What a great country, I thought. After I looked up "stocking" in my Chinese-English dictionary, I knew what I had to do and always expected that day.

    Finally, the big day came. On that wonderful night, after everyone went to bed, I sneaked out of bed, took my longest, cleanest knee sock and attached it to a nail already on the mantel (壁炉). Obviously, the previous owners of this house were no strangers to this Santa character. Gazing at the sock and imagining the delicately-packed gift in it, I couldn't help giggling (咯咯笑). For the first time, I found it hard to fall asleep.

    And for the first time, I woke up before everyone else in the early morning. Then I headed straight to the fireplace and was even ready for what to say after seeing the gift. However, what happened next was the least thing I wanted to mention. On the nail was the empty and lonely sock. I was hit with the reality of the empty sock and the biggest lie ever told. I tried my best to hold back my tears but failed. Bursting into tears, I quickly took down the sock and stuffed it in the back of a drawer.

    Every December since then, the topic of Christmas memories would unavoidably come up, and I would amuse my friends with my poor-little-me story. I had to make it as funny as possible, or else I would cry once again. I didn't know whether any of my audience ever noticed the sparkling tears hidden in my eyes.

    How could I know that Santa was just late? Nine years ago, on Christmas Eve, I heard a knock on the door when I was watching TV. Unwillingly, I dragged my feet and opened the door.

注意：

1）所续写短文词数为 150 左右；

2）应使用 5 个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；

3）续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；

4）续写完成后，请用下划线标出你使用的关键词语。

Paragraph 1：

    Outside the door stood an old man with a white beard and a red cap, holding a well-packed box.

Paragraph 2：

    Through tear-blurred eyes, I recognized the handwriting on the card.

    During lunchtime, Emma suggested going to the zoo to feed the animals and her mom agreed.

    "We'll stop by the bakery and pick some bread up. Now hurry and eat and then we'll go. It's going to be a lovely day. Grandma is coming with us. She'll be here any minute,' mom said.

    Emma ate her lunch and then ran into her room to get her shoes. The problem was that she could only find one of them. She looked under her bed, but all she could see were dirty towels and pants. She moved some of her toys out of the way, but still couldn't find her shoe. After she'd checked everywhere in her room, she ran into the kitchen. "Mom, I can't find my shoe. Will you wait while I look for it?"she asked.

    Her mom thought about how many times she'd told Emma to clean her room up. She whispered something to Emma's grandma and then said to Emma, "You will have to stay home. Your dad and I will take Ryan to the zoo. Grandma will stay here with you."

    "No! Please wait for me. I want to go to the zoo,"Emma cried. "I'm sorry, Emma. I've told you a dozen times to clean your room and you ignored me. You can't find your shoe now. It's your own fault for not doing as I asked. You will stay home."

    Emma ran into her bedroom, crying. Her mom came to the door and said, "Emma, clean that room of yours before I get home. I've told grandma not to give you any sweets until you finish the work." She went out to the car with Ryan and Emma's dad and then they drove away.

注意：1）所续写短文的词数应为150左右；

2）应使用5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语；

3）续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好；

4）续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。

Paragraph 1：

    Emma sat on her bed and cried for a long time.

Paragraph 2：

    Emma and her grandma were sitting at the table, eating when her mom, dad, and Ryan came home.

On February 4, while working on a construction site in Gratiot County, Michigan, Hansen heard terrified screams coming from nearby. He stopped his work and looked up. Standing on the back porch(门廊) of the home next door was a little boy yelling "Help!" while four fierce dogs barked madly in a circle below him.

At first, Hansen thought it was just a dog fight. Then alarm bells went off in his head. "The noises they made sounded like what dogs do when they're killing something," he says. His thought proved right when another young boy suddenly popped up in the middle of the dogs, and Hansen watched in horror as they sank in their teeth and threw him across the grass like a small doll.

"He was shirtless and covered in blood, and those dogs were trying to kill him." says Hansen.

Hansen raced across the grass, jumped the fence, and landed in the neighbor's yard. He shouted at the dogs, but they ignored him. Then he displayed the most aggression that he could manage, yelling louder until they let go just long enough for Hansen to catch eight-year-old Ethan Nokes around the stomach and bear-hug him. "I couldn't hold him under his armpits(腋窝), which would have made it easier to run, because they were torn wide open," says Hansen.

As Hansen dashed across the yard, the dogs bounced on him, biting at Ethan. Hansen rushed onto the steps. So did the dogs. When he reached the top, he pulled on a door; it wouldn't open. "A dog grabbed Ethan's foot, and I thought they were going to get him back from me," he says.

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。

Hansen tried a second door. It sprang open.

……

With the house quiet, he went to check on Ethan in the bedroom.

Eric was a nine-year-old boy who lived with his single mother, Stacey and sister, Lily. They lived a hard life. Eric felt bad for their situation but worse for himself, especially in school.

Eric's leather boots were worn out. They didn't protect his feet from the rain, and his socks became totally wet as water went through the holes in his shoes. Stacey attempted to fix the holes but it was no use. Eric still walked to school with that pair of broken shoes. How much he wished he could also have new comfortable and expensive shoes his classmates wore!

One day, Eric returned from school and complained to Stacey, "It was raining today. Water has leaked into my shoes again. I hate my boots! Why can't you get me new ones?" Stacey was sad and helpless. "I spent our last savings on your sister's medicine. She's sick. Eric you know that. You need to act like a responsible big brother!" she answered. Tears welled up in Eric's eyes. "I hate you!" he shouted. "You only care about Lily! You don't love me!" Then he cried and ran to his room.

After preparing dinner, Stacey went to his room with his dinner plate. "I'm sorry, Eric," she whispered to comfort him. "We're going through a very tough journey recently. But I'll get you new shoes in the future." However, Eric refused to listen to her.

The next day, when Eric went to class, he took his seat quietly and hid his feet under his chair, as usual. He was embarrassed to show his boots. As the math teacher Mrs Fletcher entered the class, all the students greeted her. "Today, we have a very special friend with us," she smiled. "Everyone, please welcome Ben, your new classmate." Soon after, a boy with a pair of crutches(拐杖)entered. The new boy only had one leg. Eric was shocked. He and all his classmates thought how unlucky Ben was and that he must be very shy and sad.

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: At that moment, Mrs Fletcher asked Ben to introduce himself. 

Paragraph 2: Inspired by Ben, Eric realized he should appreciate what he had. 

Inhabiting a modest hamlet, the Meredith household found themselves amidst a period of economic downturn. During this time, a significant portion of the local populace faced unemployment, leading to widespread financial distress. Numerous families grappled with the daily struggle to sustain their livelihoods, and a sense of communal solidarity emerged as individuals endeavored to provide mutual support in the face of adversity.

Among the residents of this community, Mrs. Meredith stood out as an epitome of benevolence and consideration. She dedicated considerable hours to engaging with those less fortunate, acutely aware of their plights and the diverse forms of assistance they required. Whenever feasible, she would extend her aid by delivering provisions and medical supplies to those in need.

On a particular morning, Mrs. Meredith recounted to her offspring—John, Harry, and Clara—about a family she had encountered the previous day. The family was comprised of an indisposed patriarch confined to his bed, his spouse who, burdened with caregiving responsibilities, was unable to seek employment, and their young son. The boy, Bernard, had captured her interest significantly.

She expressed a desire for her children to witness Bernard's situation, highlighting his role as a significant support to his mother and his earnest desire to contribute financially, despite the apparent lack of opportunities.

Once their mother departed, the siblings convened, contemplating Bernard's predicament. Clara voiced her empathy, wishing to facilitate his financial independence, acknowledging the profound hardship endured by his family.

Echoing her sentiments, Harry concurred, emphasizing the necessity of devising a strategy to alleviate their plight.

Initially silent, John eventually rose abruptly, exclaiming his inspiration. He proclaimed the conception of a plan that could be collaboratively executed to aid Bernard.

His siblings, intrigued, eagerly awaited his proposal. John's ideas were renowned for their ingenuity, and he proposed, "Consider the substantial crate of maize that Uncle John bestowed upon us. We could transform it into popcorn, package it in paper sacks, and empower Bernard to distribute and vend it throughout the neighborhood."

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。

Para1: When Mrs. Meredith heard of John's idea, she thought it was a good one, too.

Para2:With everything ready, Bernard started out on his new business.