Devi looked through the observation window at the kids below, all waiting in line to get into the pool. She turned to her mother with a furious frown on her face. "Mom, they're all little kids! I'm 15 already! This is ridiculous!"
"I know, Devi," replied her mother, "but you're a beginner, too, and you have to start somewhere!"
Devi had never been to a swimming lesson in her life. Between schoolwork and helping on her grandfather's farm, she hadn't had time for lessons. The closest swimming pool Devi had been to was the alligator pool her mother bought her when she was five. Now that Devi was older, her mother had found a new jo b in the city, and Devi faced a new challenge—school field trips to the local pool.
The first day that Devi went with her class to the pool, she had no idea what she was in for. What could be so difficult about swimming? Devi confidently slipped into the water and held onto the side of the pool, expecting to be able to touch the bottom with her feet. But when Devi let go of the side of the pool, she slipped under the water—the whole pool was one big deep end! Devi threw her arm toward the side of the pool and grabbed the ledge (池壁), out of breath. "I really can't swim! Everyone's going to laugh at me!" she thought to herself in a panic.
On the next field trip to the pool, Devi sat on the side on a bench, paralyzed with fear. She huddled with a towel over her shoulders, too embarrassed to try again. When she came home, her mother noticed right away that Devi was upset. "Honey, I've signed you up for Angela's swimming lessons at the local pool. Soon you'll learn how to swim just like everyone else," she assured Devi, showing photos of Angela with her prize-winning students.
注意：
1）所续写短文的词数应为 150 左右；
2）每段的开头语已为你写好；
Paragraph 1
Then came the time for Devi to take her first lesson.
Paragraph 2
Soon Angela came over to where Devi sat and introduced herself.
I lay on my bed, legs leaning against the wall, desperately wishing my mother would call. But I remembered the last time I'd seen her, right before the train for Providence pulled out of the station, "You know how expensive it is to call," she said, then hugged me tight and said good- bye.
This was my first birthday away from home. I missed my mom, missed my sister, and most certainly missed the special pound cake my mother always made for my birthday. Since getting to college that year, I would watch jealously as the other freshmen received care packages from their parents on their birthdays——and even on ordinary days. Big boxes containing summer slacks and blouses, packages of M&M's and Snickers, things they needed and things they didn't. Instead of feeling thrilled about my upcoming eighteenth birthday, I felt empty. I wished my mom would send me something, too, but I knew that she couldn't afford presents or the postage. She had done her best with my sister and me——raising us by herself. The simple truth was there just was never enough money.
But that didn't stop her from filling us with dreams. "You can be anything you want to be," she would tell us. "Politicians, dancers, writers —— you just have to work for it; you have to get an education."
Thanks to my mom's sacrifices and big dreams, I'd made it to the Ivy League: Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
As I was recalling these things, my roommate joined me on the bed. "Hey. After we study, let's buy ice cream and cake." I nodded, closed my eyes, and imagined the cake Mom would have made. Mmm. I could see the golden yellow of each of the twelve eggs, and I could almost smell the vanilla(香草) filling the house while the cake baked.
注意：
1）所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2）续写部分分为两段，每段的开头语已为你写好。
Paragraph 1
As I daydreamed, there was a knock on the door.
Paragraph 2
How had she managed to afford it?
A bright sun setting, Sylvia was driving home her cow, a valued companion, wandering through the forest, and listening to birds' singing. Suddenly the air was cut by a sharp whistle not far away. Sylvie knew it wasn't a bird's whistle.
"Hello, little girl," a young man came into sight suddenly, "I've lost my way. Do you think I can spend the night at your house?" Sylvia was alarmed, but still agreed.
When they arrived, her grandma, Mrs. Tilley, welcomed the guest with hospitality. The man explained to them that he was an ornithologist (鸟类学者). "Do you cage them up?" Sylvia asked doubtfully. "Oh no," he answered enthusiastically, "I shoot dozens and dozens of them myself, and preserve them with special chemicals."
"Sylvia knows a lot about birds, too." Her grandmother said proudly.
"Really? I caught a glimpse of a very rare bird, a little white heron (苍鹭), which keeps me around. Have you seen it, too?" He gently asked, looking at Sylvia with some hope.
But Sylvia was watching a frog in the narrow footpath.
"It's a tall, white bird with soft feathers and long thin legs. It probably has its nest at the top of a tall tree." The man continued eagerly.
Sylvia's heart gave a wild beat. She knew that special white bird! She had seen it on the other side of the forest and had once approached softly near where it stood.
The young man added desperately, "I would give $100 to you."
Her grandma gave amazed attention to it, but Sylvia still watched the road.
The next day the young man hovered about the woods, and Sylvia kept him company, having lost her first fear. They had such a wonderful day to enjoy the birds' songs and the thick branches. She had never seen anyone so handsome and charming. A strange excitement filled her heart. Sylvia would have liked him better without his gun. She could not understand why he killed the birds he seemed to like so much. She felt her heart tremble every time he shot an unsuspecting bird as it was singing in the trees.
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。
Para.1 At night, Sylvia stayed awake while her grandma and the young man were sound asleep. 
Para.2 Suddenly Sylvia's dark grey eyes caught a flash of white that grew larger and larger.
Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses! Turning our weaknesses into strengths makes us unbeatable. This is an inspiring story of a 12-year-old boy Kim who defeated his weakness, by unknowingly making it his strength.
Poor Kim lost his left hand in a terrible accident. His parents could not comfort him. To cheer him up, his father made him join a Judo(柔道) school. As the boy always wanted to learn Judo, his father thought that this would make him happy.
Everyone wondered how a single armed boy could learn Judo. However, the master happily accepted him. He trained in Judo for about 8 months. He practiced nothing but a single stroke(击) . He trained for all 8 months in mastering a single stroke. The boy was surprised and sometimes annoyed as his master taught him only one stroke.
Yet, he said nothing. The boy mastered the stroke and grew as nobody could excel(胜过) in doing that particular stroke. The boy was picked by the master to compete in the national level Judo championship tournament(比赛).
Everyone made fun of Kim and the master. How a one-handed boy could win a national championship? Even the boy was not sure about why his master chose him.
Surprisingly, Kim easily defeated his six contenders(竞争者) with his single stroke. He gradually moved to semi-finals. He struggled a bit in the semi-finals and won again.
Needless to say, it surprised everyone and the final match began.
……
Kim asked his master how he won the championship with just a single stroke.
