My Favorite Sweater

By Bonnie Highsmith Taylor

    An old man went to live with his son, his daughter-in-law, and a four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was very poor, and he couldn't walk steadily (平稳地). The family ate together nightly at the dinner table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Rice often dropped on the floor.

    The son and the daughter-in-law became angry with the old man, so they put a small table in the corner. There, the grandfather ate alone, while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner at the table. Since the grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

    The four-year-old son watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with a piece of wood on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" The boy answered, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and mama to eat your food from when I grow up." The four-year-old son smiled and went back to work. The words struck the parents so hard that they were in silence. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks (脸颊). Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.

    Patrick never does homework. "Too boring," he says. He always plays baseball and basketball after school. His teachers tell him, "Patrick! Do your homework, or you can't learn anything." But what can he do? He hates homework.

    One day, his cat was playing with a little "doll". He found it wasn't a doll at all, but a man of the smallest size. The man called, "Save me! Don't give me back to that cat. I have magic. I will help you if you save me!"

    How lucky he was! Here was the answer to all of his problems. So he said, "If you help me to do my homework until the last day of school, I will get good grades." The man agreed. He began to do Patrick's homework. The man didn't always know what to do and he needed help. "Help me! Help me!" he said. And Patrick had to help. Day after day, Patrick had to work harder. Finally the last day of school arrived and the man was free to go. As for homework, Patrick didn't hate doing it any more. Patrick got his A's. His teachers and classmates were all surprised. Who really helped Patrick?

The way to lift up your mood

    Everyone has periods in their lives when everything seems very hard, when there's nobody to talk to and the mood (情绪) is just getting worse and worse.

    The first thing you should try is socializing and thinking positively. It's very hard, because usually when we feel sad we lock ourselves at home and try to think about all the bad things we have. But if you try to force yourself and call a friend for a cup of coffee, the chances are that you may change your mood into better. Just try to avoid bad thoughts.

     It could be something you wanted for a long time—a short trip, a coat, a ring or anything that could lift up your mood. It doesn't have to be costly, but it has to be good to yourself.

    Not only giving gifts to yourself can lift up your mood.  Think of your friends, family, relatives or even local charities (慈善机构) and choose one person and give him a gift. It doesn't have to be something expensive or big. It may be just a little toy for your poor neighbour's child. Making another person feel happy will make you feel good in your heart and mind.

    Take control of your feelings. Don't let them control you.  Just follow the advice above, and start doing something.

A. Cry aloud if you feel it is necessary.

B. Here are some things that may help you lift up your mood.

C. Making yourself feel better isn't that hard.

D. Buying things for others may be a perfect way to feel happy.

E. Do your best to find someone to talk to.

F. Instead, try to think about the bright side of your life.

G. You should also try doing something only for yourself, something totally selfish.

    I never know how well Mother could keep a trust until I was going through her things after she died. I discovered something I had 1 forgotten, something that happened to me as a child.

    One night, as I lay in bed 2 my sister and I had said our prayers, I recalled the events of the day and how 3 I had behaved towards Mother. "I must make things right before going to sleep," I thought.

    Quickly I 4 out of bed and picked up a pencil and paper, then tiptoed (踮着脚，蹑手蹑脚) into the hall.

    The 5 from the living room shone dimly (昏暗地). I knew Mother was downstairs mending socks.

    I quickly 6 a note asking Mother to forgive me for being so 7. I didn't want my brothers and sisters to know our 8 so I added a postscript (附言，补充) :"Please don't let anyone see this." Then I quietly moved 9 my parents' bedroom and put the letter under Mother's pillow.

    The next morning, when I 10 my bed after breakfast, I unexpectedly 11 a note under my pillow. Mother wrote that she loved me and 12 me.

    This became my 13 of apologizing whenever I talked back or disobeyed. Mother always left a note, but she never 14 our under-the-pillow messages in front of the family. Even when we were 15, she never mentioned them when we brothers and sisters recalled our childhood.

    When Mother 16, I had to go through her personal belongings. In her desk was a bundle (捆，包) of notes tied with a faded ribbon (布条) . On top was a message in her handwriting. It read," In the event of my death, please 17 these."

    I 18 the packet and glanced at the handwriting on the bottom. To my surprise, I 19 my childish writing," P. S. Please don't let anyone see this. Love, Edie."

    I gently placed the unopened bundle in the 20 along with other things for the rubbish burner. "Lord," I prayed, "make me like my mother."

    Brenda Bongos was an enthusiastic girl  dream was to play the drums in a band. But one big problem (lie) in her way. To be good enough  (play) in a band, she had to practise a lot, but she lived next-door to a lot of old people who she could not afford to annoy (惹恼).One day, while she  (watch) a science programme on TV, Bongos learned that sound can not travel in space, because there's no air. She  (immediate) decided to become a sort of musical astronaut.

    the help of a lot of time, books and work, Bongos built a big glass ball connected to a machine which sucked out (吸出) all the air inside so that no sound could escape from .Wearing the special space suit, she entered glass ball and played those drums like a wild child. Months  (late), her invention was so famous that the government even suggested her  (take) part in a real space journey.

    Ali and his younger sister, Zahra, lived with their parents in a poor neighborhood. Their mother was very sick and their father was struggling to find a job, and they had only a little money with which to buy food. As they had not paid the rent for several months, the landlord was breathing down their necks (盯着他们) .

    One day, Ali took Zahra's shoes to a shoe repairman to be fixed, but he lost them on the way home. It wasn't until he got home that he realized he had lost the shoes. He was afraid that his parents would be angry and disappointed, so he begged his sister to keep it secret. Zahra agreed and the two decided to share Ali's running shoes. Zahra's school hours were in the morning, so she would wear them first. After school, she would rush back and give them to Ali. He could then run to his school, which began in the afternoon. Although he ran as fast as he could, Ali often arrived late and was warned by the school.

    Ali heard about a long distance race that was held for the boys in the city. When he leaned that the third prize was a new pair of shoes, he decided to take part. He ran home excitedly and promised his sister that he would win her the new shoes.

    The day of race arrived. Ali had a strong start, but halfway through the race he began to get tired and his legs began to ache. Getting more and more exhausted he thought only of Zahra and his promise to her. Dreaming of the new shoes he would win for his sister gave him strength，and he stayed right behind the two fastest runners, determined to finish third. Suddenly, as the finish line drew near, another runner collided (碰撞) with Ali from behind and he crashed to the ground.

注意：

1）写短文的词数应为150个左右；

2）至少使用5个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

    Ali looked up and saw the other boys rushing ahead.

Paragraph 2

    Filled with pleasure, Ali walked home quickly.