参考答案
听力: 1-5 ABCAC 6-10 BAACC 11-15 BCACA 16-20 BCBBA
阅读理解：21-23. ADA 24-27. BDBA 28-31. DBAC 32-35．AABC 36-40.BDAFE
完形填空：41. A 42. C 43. D 44. A 45. C 46. B 47. D 48. A
49. C 50. B 51. B 52. D 53. A 54. C 55. B
语法填空56.Which 57. Automatically 58. with 59. preferences 60. instantly
61.What 62. healthier 63. to sleep 64. a 65. before
Dear Terry ,
I was so pleased to hear that you were going to study in China. I'd like to tell you something about Chinese body language.
Chinese people often greet each other with a light handshake when they meet, but it is not polite with gloves on. While you are with Chinese people, you should keep a proper distance, that is, not too close and not too far away. When talking, the listener should look into the speaker's eyes and say “um” or nod from time to time to show he or she is paying attention.
I'm looking forward to seeing you soon and wish you every success in your studies.
Yours,
Li Hua
高级范文
Dear Terry,
How happy I was to hear the news that you were going to study in China! I'm more than willing to introduce something about Chinese body language to you.
When Chinese people meet each other, they often shake hands lightly to express greetings, but it is thought impolite with gloves on. When communicating with Chinese people, you should keep a moderate distance, neither too close nor too far away. During a conversation, the listener is expected to make eye contact. Meanwhile, the listener should react with “um” or nod occasionally, which indicates that he or she is focusing on what is being said and demonstrates his or her respect.
Longing to meet you soon and wish you all the best in your studies.
Yours,
Lihua
【读后续写】When I got home, I rang the doorbell and couldn’t wait to show them the tree. My brother answered the door, with his startled but cheerful look accompanied by his amazed “Where did you get that ” We dragged the tree inside and immediately started to decorate it with a wild excitement. Mother came in silence. She took no part, but neither did she stop us. Seized by exultation, I could have stayed up all night decorating it. But my mother insisted that it was nearly midnight, and that we should all get ready to bed. We had no alternative but to say good night.
Before going to bed, I slipped to see my tree one last time but saw my mother standing in front of it. She was holding a familiar box, without noticing my appearance. Her hands seemed to tremble as she opened it and took out a familiar doll. “Marie, looking at the tree”, she said almost in whisper“This doll is as old as you.” Then, she gently hung the Kewpie-doll on the tree. At the sight of this, I felt tears streamed down my cheeks. I rushed to my mother and hugged her with all my strength,“Mom, you are here just as Papa was.”
【解析】
【导语】本文以人物为线索展开，讲述了在父亲去世后，由此日子突然变得非常艰难。作者的爸爸总是把圣诞节看得很重。每年过圣诞节的时候都会有圣诞树的装饰而且还会在树上挂娃娃，可是因为爸爸的去世，所有的一切都已然不再。就在这次的圣诞节夜晚，作者和家人从教堂回来之后，作者借由去邻居家串门的时候，看到了隔壁商店里一堆废弃的圣诞树，作者从中挑选了最好的一棵，然后带回家进行装扮，所发生的故事。
【详解】1.段落续写：
①由第一段首句内容“当我回到家，我按响了门铃，迫不及待地让他们看看这棵树。”可知，第一段可描写家人们对该圣诞树的不同反应。
②由第二段首句内容“睡觉前，我溜去看了最后一眼我的树，却看见妈妈站在树前。”可知，第二段可描写，妈妈在圣诞树上发现的娃娃，同时表述该娃娃代表的意义。
2.续写线索：借机串门——拖回圣诞树——装扮圣诞树——家人的惊喜——妈妈的发现——娃娃代表的意义
3.词汇激活
行为类
①.开门：answer the door/open the door
②.注意到：notice/be aware of
③.留下：stream down/fall down
情绪类
①.狂喜：exultation /great joy
②.吃惊的：startled /astonished
【点睛】[高分句型1]. Seized by exultation, I could have stayed up all night decorating it.（过去分词作状语）
[高分句型2]. But my mother insisted that it was nearly midnight, and that we should all get ready to bed. （由and并列的两个that引导的宾语从句并列）
【听力原文】
Text 1
W: Could you turn the TV down I’m trying to study, and the noise is bothering me.
M: I’m sorry. I’ll watch this movie later.
Text 2
W: When I’m 65 I will get Social Security payments from the government.
M: That means you have twenty years to go and then you can quit your job.
Text 3
W: The T-shirt from Grandma looks nice on me. But the skirt she gave me isn’t big enough.
M: What about the hat Grandma gave you
W: It’s quite large, but I like it.
Text 4
W: How did you like the film
M: Well, I walked out after half an hour. I’ve never seen such bad acting. I think I’m going to read film reviews online before going to the cinema next time, so I won’t waste my money.
Text 5
M: Excuse me, I’m looking for something for a stomachache.
W: I see, sir. How long have you had this problem
M: For a few days.
W: You could try this medicine. It may help, But I think you should see a doctor.
Text 6
W: Where in Canada are you from, Ken
M: I’m from Toronto.
W: Oh, I’ve never been there. What’s it like
M: It’s a big city, but it’s not too big. The nightlife is colorful. I enjoy it.
W: Is it expensive there
M: Yeah, a little bit.
W: And what’s the weather like in Toronto
M: Well, it’s pretty cold in the winter, and very hot and wet in the summer. It’s nice in the spring and fall, though. You can always see the clear sky then.
Text 7
M: Sophia, I’ve just confirmed our flight online, and it looks like we’ll be delayed by an hour. The flight is now scheduled to leave at 4: 00 due to the heavy wind.
W: Then we’re in trouble. We won’t be able to get to Chicago by 6: 00 for the dinner with Mr. O’Neil.
M: Don’t worry. I’ll talk to him. I’m going to call him to speak about our report.
W: Don’t forget to apologize to him about being late.
Text 8
W: Are you staying by yourself again this summer vacation
M: No, I’m not. My brother and sister are staying with me right now.
W: Really What are they doing this summer
M: Well, my brother is on vacation now. He always wants to come and visit the city.
W: What about your sister
M: She has a part-time job at the university.
W: And do you have anything special to do
M: Nothing special. I work as a waiter in the morning. And in the afternoon, I read books bought from a bookstore days ago. What about you, June Are you in school this summer
W: Yes, I am.
M: Oh, are you taking French and Spanish again
W: Well, I’m not taking them, but I’m starting Japanese.
M: Really That’s exciting.
Text 9
M: My history professor says I should think about a job in politics. But I don’t think I’d make a good politician.
W: Why not
M: You know me. I’m not good at dealing with people. And politicians have to work with people all the time.
W: That’s true. So what do you think you want to do
M: I think I will be a good artist. I love painting pictures.
W: That reminds me of a problem I’m having. You know my parents have a restaurant, right They want me to be the manager.
M: And you want to
W: No way. A restaurant manager has to manage other people. It’d be terrible. I’m too disorganized. Honestly, I want to be a teacher because I like working with kids, and I’m good at it.
M: That’s true.
Text 10
W: Good morning, everyone. Today we’re going to look at the wide differences in family life between the rich and the poor in Victorian times. Let’s begin with the upper classes. In Victorian times, the upper classes made up less than 3% of the population, yet held more than 90% of the country’s wealth. Most of their servants were very poorly paid, but were always living in the homes of upper-class Victorian families, so they didn’t have to pay for housing, food and clothing. The money which they did earn, they sent to their families. Many servants came from the countryside. Among them were cooks, cleaners, gardeners and so on. The family would also employ a child’s nurse whose main role was to care for the children. She was responsible for teaching the children how to behave and taking care of them when they were ill. Nurses did not, however, educate the children. Generally, children from wealthy families didn’t attend school outside the family home. Tutors would come to the house to do this. Now, the Victorian upper classes have the reputation of being quite cruel; but this wasn’t always the case. They were also quite generous. Some schools were set up with money from the upper classes so that poor children could have some form of education. Additionally, most Victorian parents were very proud of their children. This goes against the common idea that parents were very strict with their children. In fact, the opposite was generally the rule. However, the situation for lower class families was very different. Let’s have a look.临川二中2023—2024学年度高二年级上学期第三次月考
英语试题
命题人：邹莉 孙珍珍 李海峰 审题人： 李海峰 分值：150分, 考试时间：120分钟
第一部分 听力(共两节，满分30分)
做题时，先将答案标在试卷上。录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案转涂到答题卡上。
第一节(共5小题；每小题1.5分，满分7.5分)
听下面5段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的ABC三个选项中选出最佳选项。听完每段对话后，都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。
1. What will the man do next
A. Turn off the TV. B. Study with the woman. C. Watch a movie.
2. How old is the woman now
A. 20 years old. B. 45 years old. C. 65 years old.
3. What is small for the woman
A. The T-shirt. B. The hat. C. The skirt.
4. What does the man mean
A. The film is terrible.
B. The film can be seen online.
C. The film is worth the money.
5. Where does the conversation most probably take place
A. At home. B. At a hospital. C. At a drug store.
第二节（共15小题；每小题1.5分，满分22. 5分）
听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟；听完后，各小题给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。
听第6段材料，回答第6、7题。
6. What does the man like about his hometown
A. It’s really very small.
B. It has colorful nightlife.
C. It’s not expensive to live there.
7. What is the weather like in the fall in the man’s hometown
A. Sunny. B. Cold. C. Wet.
听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。
8. What time was the plane originally scheduled to leave
A. At 3: 00. B. At 4: 00. C. At 5: 00.
9. Why is the woman worried
A. The weather is bad.
B. The report is not finished.
C. An appointment will be delayed.
听第8段材料，回答第10至12题。
10. Why does the man’s brother go to the man’s place
A. To study. B. To work. C. To travel.
11. Where does the man work in the morning
A. At a university. B. At a restaurant. C. At a bookstore.
12. What language is the woman starting
A. French. B. Spanish. C. Japanese.
听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。
13. What are the speakers mainly talking about
A. What job to do in the future.
B. Which professor to follow.
C. What abilities to possess.
14. What subject does the man probably prefer
A. History. B. Politics. C. Art.
15. What do the woman’s parents expect her to be
A. A restaurant manager. B. A politician. C. A teacher.
16. What is the woman good at doing
A. Dealing with people. B. Working with kids. C. Painting pictures.
听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。
17. How did the servants deal with their earnings in Victorian times
A. They paid for the housing.
B. They bought food and clothes.
C. They sent them to their families.
18. What was a nurse’s main duty
A. Cooking meals. B. Looking after children. C. Educating children.
19. How did the Victorian upper class parents treat their children actually
A. Cruelly. B. Kindly. C. Strictly.
20. What will the speaker talk about next
A. Lower class families.
B. Upper class children’s situation.
C. Comparisons between upper and lower classes.
第二部分　阅读理解(共两节，满分50分)
第一节(共15小题;每小题2.5分,满分37.5分)
阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中,选出最佳选项。
A
Food festivals are a common occurrence in the UK and take place in all sorts of places and at all sorts of times. Whatever your taste, there’s a food festival to match — no matter how specialized.
1. Meatopia
This three-day, London-based festival takes place at the end of August and is a meat lover’s paradise. In addition to a range of legally sourced meat products, from juicy burgers to tender steaks, attendees can listen to live music, watch butchery demonstrations, and attend informal meat-based workshops.
2. The National Honey Show
If you have a sweet tooth, then it could be that the National Honey Show, which started in 1921 and is the largest event of its kind, is the place for you to be. This three-day event attracts many local entries who showcase their sweet golden honey, some of which is sold globally.
3. The Orange Sauce Festival
Have you heard about a festival that is devoted only to orange sauce Held in Cumbria, this sweet, fragrant festival has been running for 3 years. What attracts people most is a competition to find the best homemade orange sauce. There are thousands of participants from over 30 different countries across the globe, bringing their local snacks to share here.
4. The Ginger and Spice Festival
If you’d prefer something with a little more kick to it, then you could attend The Ginger (姜) and Spice Festival held in Market Drayton. Unlike other food festivals, it celebrates its town’s historic connection to Robert Clive, who returned from India with ginger. Because of this, they specialize in baking gingerbread, but also sell a range of traditional spices from mild to hot.
21. What do Meatopia and the National Honey Show have in common
A. Both of them last for three days.
B. Both of them hold workshops.
C. Both of them originated from London.
D. Both of them have a long history.
22. If you are interested in foreign food, which festival do you like best
A. The Meatopia.
B. The Ginger and Spice Festival.
C. The National Honey Show.
D. The Orange Sauce Festival.
23. What is special about the Ginger and Spice Festival
A. It has something to do with a historic figure.
B. The ginger used in the festival is from India.
C. It sells spicy food.
D. The food is cooked by Robert Clive.
B
Opening the pages of Liuba Draws Beijing takes you on a fascinating visual journey through the heart of China's busy capital city. Within its lively watercolors, traditional hutong, the grand Summer Palace, and the contemporary charm of Beijing's Sanlitun and 798Art District all come alive through the artistic lens of Liuba Vladimirova, more famously known as Liuba Draws.
Vladimirova's journey from the icy Siberian city of Irkutsk to the vital Beijing started during her college years, when she commenced with an academic exchange program connecting her Russian university with Liaoning University in Shenyang, in Northeast China's Liaoning Province. It was during this transformative period that she first set foot in Beijing. Since then, her affection for the city has been undeniable.
Vladimirova's path as an artist was far from linear(直线的). Since childhood. Vladimirova has developed a love for drawing and painting. However, she pursued a different academic and professional route, studying Chinese and international trade in college and later working in trade relations between Russia and China , none of which was directly connected to the world of art. Yet, Vladimirova's inner artist remained alive.
In 2015, Vladimirova began crafting a series of illustrations centered around Beijing.properly named “The Beijing Calendar”. What attracts Vladimirova most is Beijing's historic hutong. These narrow alleyways, rich in history and culture, serve as a wellspring(源泉) of inspiration for her artistry.
Vladimirova’s ability to catch these hidden small differences likely comes from her unique perspective as an“outsider”—someone who didn't grow up in Beijing. This fresh perspective allowed her to arrive in the city with fresh eyes and an eager heart, ready to embrace a new culture.
24. What do the underlined words “commenced with” mean in paragraph 2
A. Improved. B. Began. C. Resisted. D. Assessed.
25. What do we know about Vladimirova from paragraph 3
A. She gave up her dream.
B. She won many art prizes several years ago.
C. She was hardworking over her childhood.
D. She delayed her artistic career.
26. Why does the author mention hutong
A. To praise Beijing's architecture.
B. To show the inspiration of Vladimirova's art making.
C. To state the main contents of an art book.
D. To advise tourists to visit Beijing.
27. Which statement best summarizes Vladimirova's success
A. Curiosity works wonders. B. Hard work pays off in time.
C. The world is diverse and lively. D. Painting has no national boundaries.
C
In gardens across Britain the grass has stopped growing, which is not drought-stricken. In fact, it is greener and cleaner than ever before. That is because the lawns(草坪)are actually artificial substitutes.
Britons are fascinated by lawns. Country estates(庄园)have long competed to have the most perfectly cut and polished grassland. “What you’re saying in big loud capital letters, is ‘I’m so terribly wealthy’” says Fiona Davison of the RHS(皇家园林协会). With the coming of grass-cutting machines in 1830, the middle classes joined the fun.
But now Britons have fallen in love with artificial grass. Evergreens UK, which sells the stuff, says it has seen a 120% rise in sales since 2015. Artificial grass is popular with families who have children or dogs and don’t want mud dragged through their houses. It has another charm factor, too—people now see gardens as “outside rooms”—pairing carpets of artificial grass with delicately decorated seating and hot containers.
Not everyone is a fan. Artificial grass contains microplastics that ruin soil and risk flooding. A study finds earthworms gain 14% less body weight when operating under rubber, a form of artificial grass, which might not be a problem for its fans, as wormholes are regular disgusting things, but it disappoints green types. Ms Davison says a group of wildlife-loving gardeners is blooming, many having caught the bug during COVID-19 lockdowns. For example, a landscape designer says they like things less neat and try “to capture that wild clement”. These eco-gardeners are influenced by rewilding projects and are more likely to be environmentalists.
While three written documents signed by many people have tried to stop artificial grass spreading, the government says regulating what people do in their backyards is wrong. The RHS is concerned about artificial grass, but prefers persuasion to laws. “We say ‘Let a hundred flowers bloom(盛开)’,” says Ms Davison.
28. What can be inferred from Davison’s remark in paragraph 2
A. She is very rich. B. The gardening competition is fierce.
C. Operating a cutting machine is fun. D. High-quality grassland is greatly valued.
29. What possibly contributes to the popularity of artificial grass
A. Advertising campaigns. B. Gardens’ new function.
C. Messy grasslands. D. Ill-mannered children and dogs.
30. What does the underlined word “bug” mean in the fourth paragraph
A. Interest. B. Earthworm. C. Flower. D. Virus.
31. Which of the following is a suitable title of the text
A. The barrier of British grassland
B. The appeal of grassland for Britons
C. The fight to define the great British garden
D. The competition to become the best grassland
D
Inspired by living systems, researchers at Aalto University have developed a new material that can change its electrical behaviour based on previous experience, effectively giving it a basic form of adaptive memory. Such adaptive materials could play a vital role in the next generation of medical and environmental sensors, as well as in soft robots or active surfaces.
Responsive materials have become common in a range of applications, from glasses that darken in sunlight to drug delivery systems. But existing materials always react in the same way: Their response to a change doesn’t depend on their history, nor do they adapt based on their past.
This is fundamentally different from living systems, which dynamically adapt their behaviour based on previous conditions. “One of the next big challenges in material science is to develop truly smart materials inspired by living organisms. We want to develop a material that would adjust its behaviour based on its history,” said Bo Peng, an academy research fellow at Aalto University, who was one of the senior authors of this study.
The researchers synthesized(合成)micrometre-sized magnetic beads(磁珠)which were then stimulated by a magnetic field. When the magnet was on, the beads stacked up to form pillars. The strength of the magnetic field affects the shape of the pillars, which in turn affects how well they conduct electricity.
With this system, we coupled the magnetic field stimulus(刺激)and the electrical response. Interestingly, we found that the electrical conductivity depended on whether we varied the magnetic field rapidly or slowly. That meant that the electrical response depended on the history of the magnetic field. The electrical behaviour was also different if the magnetic field was increasing or decreasing, explains Peng. In the future, there could be even more materials that are algorithmically (在算法上) inspired by life-like properties, though they won’t involve the full complexity of biological systems. Such materials will be central to the next generation of soft robots and for medical and environmental monitoring.
32. What is the author’s purpose of writing paragraph 1
A.To introduce the topic of the text.
B.To give a definition to the new material.
C.To make a comparison with existing materials.
D. To stress the importance of the Aalto University’s research.
What does Peng’s words in paragraph 3 mean
A.They want to develop better materials.
B.They depend on previous conditions too much.
C.They are facing challenges from other universities.
D.They can’t make truly smart materials from history.
34. What does the author want to show in the last sentence
A.The method of making the new material.
B.The application of the new material.
C.The way of making the new material.
D.The complexity of biological systems.
35.What can be the best title for the text
A.Responsive materials that have become common
B.The next big challenge that faces material science
C.Next generation material that adapts to its history
D.The electrical behaviour that depends on the magnetic field
第二节(共5小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分)
根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
One of the problems damaging our planet is the number of things we throw away. A more recent addition to the list of things we throw away is e-waste — electronic items that are broken and not recycled. ____36____, but also because we lack the skills to repair them even if we know their value. Many millions of tons of televisions, phones, and other electronic equipment are abandoned each year. A UN report claims the 50 million tons of e-waste generated every year will more than double to 110 million tons by 2050, making it the fastest growing waste stream in the world. ____37____.
Recently, there’s a growing trend for repair events and clubs which could be part of a solution to the growing amount of electrical and electronic junk. The BBC visited a Restart Project in London, which is one of many found around the world. One of its operators, Francesco Calo, said that “This project makes total sense. ____38____. Besides, it helps people who cannot afford to get rid of items that have developed a fault.”
____39____. An experiment at the University of New South Wales involves extracting (提取) these materials from electronic gadgets (小工具). Apart from just being recycled, the European Union, for example, is trying to encourage manufacturers to reuse some extracted electronic components. ____40____. With phones typically containing as many as 60 elements, this could be part of the solution to our appetite for new technology.
A. First of all, this project prolongs the life of electric objects
B. It is partly because it’s cheaper to replace them than fix them
C. It is reported that many people have made a big fortune from it
D. Now solutions have been put forward to give this e-waste a new life
E. So it’s thought that doing this could be more profitable than traditional recycling
F. As many electrical items contain valuable metals, another solution is e-waste mining.
G. One of the reasons is that people don’t think their electronic items are fashionable enough.
第三部分 语言应用（共两节，满分30分）
第一节 完形填空（共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分）
阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
On Renae’s 14th birthday, her grandmother surprised her with a gray puppy named Chloe. It was such a cute ___41___ that she fell in love with it at first sight and the two were inseparable.
___42___, her father developed a serious illness, and the doctor didn’t recommend ___43___ hairy pets at home. With no other ___44___, the family had to send Chloe to an animal shelter, ___45___ about whether the dog would find a good owner.
Years later, Renae ___46___ a post on Facebook about a senior dog needing a new ___47___. The old dog in the ___48___ looked a lot like Chloe-she was even named Chloe. She decided ___49___ that she would take this dog home.
When she met Chloe, Renae was struck with a(n) ____50____ feeling. “She ran up to me and started licking my face,” she says. Chloe ____51____ Renae so much of her old dog that she can hardly ____52____ herself. Still, eight years had passed since Renae last saw Chloe, so the familiarity seemed to be more like wishful thinking.
But it ____53____ her that her Chloe had been implanted a microchip as a puppy. She found the ID number, and then Renae took her new Chloe to the vet to be scanned. Sure enough, she also had a microchip, and the numbers were a ____54____. Renae is ____55____ to have her back. “I felt like I’d won the lottery,” she says.
41. A. creature B. species C. focus D. character
42. A. Occasionally B. Obviously C. Unfortunately D. Eventually
43. A. touching B. bringing C. buying D. raising
44. A. option B. decision C. schedule D. intention
45. A. certain B. hesitant C. concerned D. aware
46. A. looked for B. came across C. put up D. set down
47. A. mate B. partner C. colleague D. home
48. A. photo B. memory C. distance D. poster
49. A. after a while B. for the moment C. on the spot D. in a hurry
50. A. awkward B. familiar C. embarrassing D. sinking
51. A. cheated B. reminded C. informed D. warned
52. A. forgive B. trust C. bury D. contain
53. A. hit B. upset C. disappointed D. attacked
54. A. evidence B. shock C. match D. contrast
55. A. keen B. overjoyed C. confident D. inspired
第二节（满分15分）阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Have you ever forgotten to lock the door of your house or switch off the TV These kinds of things often happen to us, 56 may lead to serious problems. However, in the near future, we will be living in smart homes that will lock the door and switch off the TV 57 (automatic). These smart homes will provide us 58 a comfortable environment.
Your home will learn your daily routine and 59 (preference), so everything will be ready for you when you get home each evening. For example, lights will come on 60 (instant) you enter the door along with your favourite music. All controls will respond to voice commands, so you just say 61 you want and the home system will obey. Besides, it will give you suggestions on a 62 (healthy) diet and how 63 (sleep)better.
This smart technology is not 64 fantasy. Nevertheless, it will take some years 65 most new homes begin to use it.
第四部分 写作（共两节，满分40分）
第一节（满分15分）
假定你是李华，你的英国朋友Terry即将来中国留学，发来邮件向你询问在中国使用身势语的注意事项。请你给他回一封邮件，要点包括：
握手； 2. 社交距离； 3. 目光交流。
注意：1.词数80左右； 2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Terry,
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Yours,
Li Hua
第二节(满分25分) 阅读下面材料,根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段,使之构成一篇完整的短文。
Act of Memory
I was a young girl of eleven then, living in Brooklyn. My father had died unexpectedly that summer. Times was suddenly very hard for my mother, my brother, and me.
My father had always made a big deal out of Christmas. Every Christmas, when we were about to decorate the tree, he would make a little ceremony out of taking a special little Kewpie-doll out of its box, holding it up in front of me, saying, “Maria, this doll is as old as you are.” Then he would hang it on the Christmas tree. He bought that little doll when I was born, and it had become a small tradition. But this Christmas we were to have no tree. My mother was a practical woman, saying it was a luxury. I thought, quiet but strong bitterness and anger, that it had never meant as much to her as it had to my father anyway.
We had been to church that evening and were walking back home in silence. All I could see were the tree-lit windows we passed. Their cheerful glow made my bitterness even more intense because I pictured happy families in those houses, sharing laughter, exchanging presents, talking, joking. I knew while arriving home, we would be greeted by darkened windows and endless emptiness.
As we passed my friend’s house, I asked my mother to please let me drop in for a while. She nodded. I waited until my mother and brother disappeared around the corner. Then I turned and headed for my friend’s house. Suddenly, a pile of abandoned Christmas trees from the store next to her house came into my sight. Surprised and excited, I dashed to the trees, picked out the best one and began half-dragging my treasure home. It seemed as if father was mixed up in this somehow. It seemed as if he was in the stars above me, in every lighted-house, in the very tree I was carrying.
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。
When I got home, I rang the doorbell and couldn’t wait to show them the tree.
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Before going to bed, I slipped to see my tree one last time but saw my mother standing in front of it.
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