Excerpts(节选) of Our Featured Stories
If you're looking for a midday pick-me-up or a little inspiration, you'll love our featured stories.
Thanks for the Flowers
“At the end of the day, a loving family should find everything forgivable. -----Mark V. Olsen
“You don't bring me flowers any more... You don’t sing me love songs...”, the singing of Neil Diamond went gently into my room from the radio. The song matched my mood on that cold January morning. How true, I thought the last time David brought me flowers was five years ago I dressed up against the cold and headed out for the challenging task of starting the old Ford. The beast normally refused to start. To start the vehicle, I tried all tricks. At that point, David. (more)
A Different Story
“There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship or company than a rood marriage.” --Martin Luther
“I just want what you and John Fraser have,” Margret Mead, my beautiful forty something single friend tells me. Immediately ashamed, I realize that I have heard the same thing from a single, searching, female cousin just recently. My husband, John and I met when we were thirty-four years old. We had occasional fights that make me laugh now, and... (more)
A Picky Eater
“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ----Lao Tzu
Sterile, my husband would told me he was never a picky eater and was very easy to please when it came to food. Every time I cooked chicken liver, he always ate it and said he’d never tasted anything better. Until recently, I happened to know that he is actually allergic to chicken, and... (more)
1.What do the underlined words “the beast” in the first story refer to?
A.The song. B.The car.
C.The task. D.The mood.
2.What can we infer about Sterile in the third story?
A.He is particular about food. B.He is a heavy meat-eater.
C.He knows the truth of happiness. D.He suffers from a serious disease.
3.What are all the three stories about?
A.Dating tips. B.Parent-child relationship.
C.Family love. D.Entertainment news.
Elizabeth walked to the yard, carrying a bunch of daisies（雏菊）
Beautiful flowers for. for... Oh. I'll never get it right!” she cried, throwing the daisies on the ground. She had been practising her speech for a week.
Part of her couldn’t wait. This Saturday, the great Ana Wolff, famous pianist, would perform at the concert hall in town. For four years, Elizabeth had listened to Ms Wolffs recordings over and over again, loving the way the notes flowed like a rushing mountain stream.
Part of Elizabeth was terrified. Her music teacher at school, Mr. Leaf, had asked her to present the flowers to Ms Wolff after the performance. But Elizabeth knew herself well. She had severe stage fright and she really hated it when she had to talk in front of people. Even so, Elizabeth was determined to take the challenge this time.
“How' s the speech going?” asked Elizabeth’s mother. “Want to practice on me?”
“No, thanks.” said Elizabeth. "Mum, I can’t do this! I'll forget. I might even pass out!”
“Oh, honey. Think about it… sharing the stage with Ana Wolff. What an honour!” Mum gently comforted her.
Elizabeth kept practising. “Beautiful flowers for… for a beautiful performance…” She presented the flowers to the cat, the dog, even the statue in the garden.
Soon it was Saturday night, Elizabeth stood at the backstage, behind the heavy black curtains. Holding the bouquet (花束) of red roses, she felt her heart racing wildly and her stomach tightened with nervousness.
The lights dimmed, and Ms Wolff began her performance. She swayed and nodded with her fingers dancing across the keys. Soft sad parts, loud angry parts, parts that sounded fun to play, Drawn into the music, Elizabeth forgot for a moment about the six words she had to say. With a flourish, Ms Wolff played her final note. Applause thundered through the hall. People jumped to their feet and cheered.
Ms. Wolff smiled and bowed. Then she walked off stage and into the wings. Almost immediately, she returned to the stage for a second bow.
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:
Then came the dreaded moment. ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________.
Paragraph 2:
The audience cheered and clapped loudly for them. _________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________.
假如你是李华，春节期间，你所在的志愿者小组就如何在疫情期间科学防疫进行了一次线上服务活动。请你根据以下要点提示给外文网写一篇新闻报道：1. 活动形式和内容2. 活动反响。
注意：1. 词数80左右；2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：the novel coronavirus 新型冠状病毒
Reading a paper book may be a forgotten luxury for many people thanks to today's busy lifestyles 1. listening to a book while shopping or jogging is a growing trend. Now, audio books can be easily downloaded from the Internet at the same, if not 2.(low), prices as the print 3.(edit).
Mary Beth Roche, publisher of Macmillan Audio, says many of their readers use audio books as a ''multitasking tool'', a way to consume books when their eyes are busy. For others, whose work may involve spending lots of time 4.(look) at the screen, audio books are a way to relax. ''It's sort of nice to sit back and have a story 5.(tell) to you,'' said Roche.
In the United States, audio books 6.(become) a serious business for a long time 7.(simple) because Americans on average spend so much time in their cars. ''It is a good way for consumers to make the time in traffic quality time, '' said Roche. 'Even way back when it was the cassette and then the CD, the number one place 8. people listened was in car. When audio books became available 9. the digital form, people started using 10. during other activities—when they are shopping, jogging, performing household tasks and so on.
Growing up I've always been very independent. I've never asked my parents for money or help, and I've always lived a pretty _______ life from them. We are _______ , but not in a ''I'm going to tell you every detail of my life'' way.
A little _______ I moved out at 17, went to university, and _______ in my third year. But I go back to school a _______ time. And I find a new house to move into. My car craps out (坏了) and I need to _______ a new one.
These last two years have been HARD. But I’m _________, I'm happier now than I was. Money is extremely tight, but I'm _______. I was speaking to my _________ a few weeks ago getting caught up and he asked about my ________ situation. I opened up and told him things are fine,________ tight. I'm doing okay.
He then tells me he wants to send me some money to ________ my debts. I tell him it's ________. $6000 in student loans and $4000 in credit card debt.
He says he is proud of me and the way I've ________ life so far. He's proud of how independent I am. He wants me to ________ this new chapter of my life with a clean slate (石板) and this ________ me to put the money I was putting towards debt repayment into ________.
I love my dad so much and I'm ________ to him for giving me the gift of no __________ It also feels good to be told that living independently is a good thing. I often feel guilty for not being very open with my parents.
Today I'm feeling all the ________ and I'm excited to start 2020 off on the right foot!
1.A.scheduled B.troubled C.divided D.confused
2.A.faithful B.sincere C.close D.outgoing
3.A.background B.secret C.evidence D.principle
4.A.fell behind B.dropped out C.carried on D.made it
5.A.different B.second C.new D.fourth
6.A.hire B.rent C.buy D.produce
7.A.trying out B.paying off C.taking over D.struggling on
8.A.deserving B.volunteering C.suffering D.managing
9.A.parents B.dad C.companion D.mom
10.A.financial B.economical C.physical D.educational
11.A.and B.so C.but D.or
12.A.return B.cover C.refresh D.afford
13.A.a little B.a bit C.a deal D.a lot
14.A.gone over B.taken up C.moved through D.recovered from
15.A.read B.copy C.start D.quit
16.A.allows B.forces C.persuades D.requests
17.A.pockets B.safes C.incomes D.savings
18.A.grateful B.friendly C.good D.loyal
19.A.difficulties B.regrets C.adventures D.debts
20.A.guilts B.feels C.sorrows D.delights
Living in a culture that is different from your own can be both an exciting and challenging experience. 1. Here are some major cultural differences between China and the US to help promote mutual understanding.
Privacy
Chinese people do not have the same concept of privacy as Americans do. They talk about topics such as ages, income or marital status, which Americans think is annoying and intrusive(侵扰的).
Family
In China, elders are traditionally treated with enormous respect and dignity while the young are cherished and nurtured. In America, the goal of the family is to encourage independence, particularly that of the children. 2.
Friends
Chinese people have different meanings to define friends. 3. Friendship means lifelong friends who feel deeply obligated to give each other whatever help might seem required. Americans always call people they meet friends, so the definition of friends is general and different. There are work friends, playing friends, school friends and drinking friends.
Money
4. They are always conservative when they are planning to spend money. It is different in the USA, where far fewer families are saving money for emergencies and education than their Chinese counterparts.
5.
Basically, China values the community and the US values the individual. If you achieve something in the US, it's because you were great. While in China, if you achieve something in China it's because the team, or family, or company is great. Everything you do gets attributed to the greater whole, while in America individual merits are celebrated.
A.Collectivism vs. Individualism
B.Education and Career vs. Character and Faith
C.You're welcome to leave your comments.
D.As is known to all, the Chinese like to save.
E.Just hanging out together time to time is not friendship.
F.You have to learn different cultural practices and try to adapt to them.
G.Unlike the Chinese, older Americans seldom live with their children.
