Looking for some inspiration or the “write” kind of ideas for your creative stories? To start with, some writers describe winter by using their five senses or their imagination. Others write on their favorite winter activity. Whatever you choose to write about, working on a winter story can always help to improve your writing skills. Now read the following story and see if it helps get rid of any icy writing block you’ ve been struggling with.
A Winter Adventure
Beep, beep. Beep-beep: the alarm clock rang. Slowly, I got out of warm bed down onto the wooden floor which the winter had thrown its cold upon. The bitter cold temperature penetrated （穿透）my socks and I hurried to put my feet in shoes.
Looking out of the window, I watched the white snow, soft and thick, drop onto rooftops and trees. Half an hour later, finishing the last of my hot chocolate, I prepared to enter the adventure that waited for me outside. I buttoned my jacket and fastened my boots. Hat on, I opened the door and was greeted by the winter coldness.
In the depths of winter, the early morning did not have the rush of the rest of the year. Most of my neighbours were put off by the cold, and stayed in bed until the sun had climbed higher into the sky.
Unseen by those who remained locked inside their homes, warm in their beds, I enjoyed being alone with the beauty of the wintertime. Those indoors were unable to appreciate the snow-scapes, ice crystals, frost and the crisp（清新的）breeze. For them, the coming of winter meant just the arrival of the cold.
Appreciation depends on contrasts. One cannot love the warmth of April if one has not known the freezing cold of winter. Later that year, the heat of the sun on my skin would be all the more wonderful for my memories of that cold morning and others like it.
1.The underlined word “adventure” refers to____________.
A．getting out of bed on the cold winter morning.
B．enjoying the loveliness of the winter outdoors
C．going skiing on the cold winter morning
D．throwing snowballs with friends.
2.According to the story A Winter Adventure, most of the neighbours _________.
A．didn’t work in winter B．stayed up late in winter
C．missed the beauty of winter D．enjoyed the seasons except winter
3.Which of these statements is true according to the story A Winter Adventure?
A．Of all the seasons, the writer loves winter most.
B．The writer regrets that he went out on the freezing cold winter morning.
C．The writer believes contrast makes our experiences of the seasons lovelier.
D．The writer values the autumn and summer more than the winter
4.What function does the story A Winter Adventure serve?
A．To share some winter thoughts with readers.
B．To show readers how to work on a winter story.
C．To inspire readers to take more exercise in winter
D．To tell readers how to appreciate the beauty of winter.
Signs can sometimes be seen at the entrance of a house, expressing that a tramp（流浪汉） has passed. This special sign-language is frequently 36 by tramps to inform their 37 whether the host of a certain house is friendly or unfriendly, and to 38 them the trouble of making unnecessary calls.
Quite 39 one day, I came across a real tramp. He was such a rare sight these days that I stood some distance away and watched him. He was dressed just as a tramp should be 40 , old worn trousers, and a jacket many sizes too big for him. On his head there was a battered old hat and his boots were so old and worn; they were almost coming into 41 . But the man himself looked cheerful as if he had not been a 42 in the world. He rubbed his nose with his forefinger, 43 a funny turn, laid a small parcel by the front gate, and began 44 a sign made by a former caller. Although the sign was meaningless to me, it must have been 45 , for the tramp’s face lit up with 46 . He entered the front gate confidently and rang the bell. When the door opened, I saw him 47 his hat but couldn’t hear his words. The 48 was very short indeed, for no sooner had he spoken a few words than the door closed fiercely in his face. I felt 49 for him as he walked 50 out of the house, But just as quickly, his face lit up again and he moved quickly towards the gate. There he stopped, looked at the sign, and 51 his head seriously as if he had made a bad mistake. 52 deeply into his pockets, he produced a piece of chalk, rubbed out the 53 sign and made a new one in its place. He stared at it for a moment smiling to himself, then gathered his 54 , pushed back his hat and began walking towards the next house at an unhurried 55 , whistling as he went along.
1. A．employed B．made C．taken D．put up
2. A．parents B．classmates C．fellows D．friends
3. A．share B．save C．give D．put
4. A．in a way B．by mistake C．by the way D．by chance
5. A．with B．in C．by D．on
6. A．a fashion B．a design C．pieces D．blocks
7. A．success B．care C．failure D．family
8. A．gave B．got C．set D．made
9. A．drawing B．kissing C．correcting D．studying
10. A．pleased B．strange C．funny D．exciting
11. A．surprise B．satisfaction C．worry D．disappointment
12. A．rise B．put on C．raise D．throw
13. A．conversation B．introduction C．quarrel D．greeting
14. A．happy B．frightened C．worried D．sorry
15. A．cheerful B．sadly C．bravely D．eagerly
16. A．waved B．swung C．shook D．nodded
17. A．Digging B．Stealing C．Putting D．Looking
18. A．appearing B．moving C．shining D．existing
19. A．belongings B．clothes C．umbrella D．stick
20. A．step B．position C．pace D．situation
--- Excuse me, sir?
--- ___________?
--- You’re not meant to park your car in front of the main entrance.
--- Oh, sorry. I don’t know.
A．Well, who are you B．Yes, what is it
C．Me, are you talking to me D．What’s the matter with you
He managed what ___a smile of satisfaction though it was an unexpected result that came out..
A．counted on B．amounted to C．compensated for D．majored in
Mr Clark thanked God for saving their lives and turning _____he felt was a tragedy into a blessing.
A．which B．what C．how D．that
It is just ____ among countries to host the Olympics as to win an Olympic medal.
A．so fierce a competition B．as fierce a competition
C．such a fierce competition D．too fierce a competition
