黑龙江哈尔滨德强高级中学2025-2026学年度下学期期末考试高一年级英语试题

哈尔滨德强高级中学2025-2026学年度下学期期末考试 高一年级 英语试题 时间：120分钟 满分：150分 第一部分 听力 (共两节，满分30分) 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A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话读两遍。 1. What are the speakers probably celebrating? A. A birthday. B. A graduation. C. A wedding. 2. What are the speakers mainly talking about? A. Value of volunteering. B. Difference of resources. C. Ways of managing time. 3. Where does the conversation most probably take place? A. In a bookstore. B. In a gym. C. In a school office. 4. When does the lecture start? A. At 7:15. B. At 7:45. C. At 8:00. 5. How does the woman feel in the end? A. Anxious. B. Relieved. C. Proud 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，从题中所给的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，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。 6. What is the relationship between the speakers? A. Classmates. B. Family members. C. Photographer and customer. 7. Why does the woman refuse to be photographed at first? A. She looks terrible now. B. She doesn’t like it. C. She is too busy. 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。 8. What do we know about the hotel in Sitges? A. It’s far from the beach. B. It’s beside a busy road. C. It’s near a bus stop. 9. What can people enjoy in the hotel in Sitges? A. Football games. B. KTV. C. Keep fit classes. 10. What will the speakers do next? A. Ask for a lower price. B. Look around the hotel. C. Complain to the manager. 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。 11. How long did Jessie work in General Motors? A. One month. B. One year. C. Three years. 12. Why did Jessie go to America? A. For marriage. B. For work. C. For study. 13. Why does Jessie apply to be an English editor? A. To know more people. B. To spread knowledge. C. To advertise the magazine. 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。 14. When does the man plan to go to the new museum? A. On Friday. B. On Saturday. C. On Sunday. 15. Why does the man apologize to the woman? A. He can’t go to the concert. B. He can’t get the movie ticket. C. He can’t meet with his friends. 16. What will the woman do tomorrow? A. Enjoy a concert. B. Receive some guests. C. Cook the dinner. 17. What is the woman’s attitude toward the arrangement in the end? A. Angry. B. Pleased. C. Disappointed. 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。 18. Why did Ningbo start the project? A. To promote ecotourism. B. To preserve old traditions. C. To beautify local environment. 19. Why were some residents hesitant about the project at the beginning? A. The project might cost too much. B. The changes might harm nature. C. They were used to their old lifestyle. 20. What does the progress of the project indicate? A. It gains community support. B. All the residents take part. C. It causes local unemployment. 第二部分 阅读理解 (共两节，满分50分) 第一节 (共15个小题；每个小题2.5分，满分37.5分) 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。 A With the seasons changing, now is the perfect time to start planning summer experiences at outdoor theatres in parks, city squares, woodlands and even the side of a cliff! It’s time to start planning for summer! There are plenty of outdoor theatres to choose from, and we’ve put together a list of the best ones to visit across the UK. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London No matter the weather, as far as I’m concerned when Regent’s Park starts its theatre season, summer has truly begun. Surrounded by dense whistling trees and singing birds, you may as well be a thousand miles from the surrounding city. This year sees a typically varied programme with Twelfth Night opening, Fiddler on the Roof closing and plenty in between. Thorington Theatre, Suffolk A new and beautiful addition to the outdoor theatre world, opening in 2021, Thorington is built in a natural amphitheatre (圆形露天竞技场) hidden in the Suffolk woodlands. This year’s programme includes family favourites such as Teddy Bear’s Picnic and The Little Mermaid, Shakespeare’s The Tempest as well as the mandatory A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Willow Globe, Powys An attractive theatre, the Willow Globe’s design is based on the London Globe Theatre, but it’s about a third of the size and formed not from wood, but willow trees woven together. Their programme is largely filled with all things Shakespeare: straight plays, of course, but also plenty of fun introductions and interpretations to bring the Bard’s words to new or reluctant audiences. Minack Theatre, Cornwall Situated on the cliff of Porthcurno, Minack Theatre is one you hardly need an excuse to visit; seeing anything at all, backdropped by the azure Cornish sea, will be an unforgettable experience. This year sees touring productions of Little Shop of Horrors, The Massive Tragedy of Madame Bovary and some others. If you want a show particularly fitting for this unique surrounding, check out The Pirates of Penzance playing in September. 1. Which theater would you go if you are a Teddy Bear lover? A. Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre. B. Thorington Theatre. C. Willow Globe. D. Minack Theatre. 2. What do Willow Globe and the London Globe Theatre have in common? A. Their design. B. Their size. C. Their building materials. D. Their programmes. 3. What is the main purpose of the text? A. To recommend outdoor theatres. B. To organize outdoor theatre events. C. To show the architectural features of outdoor theatres. D. To explore historical background of outdoor theatres. B Last spring, my neighbor Donna and I, both in our seventies, spent several hours in the glorious sunshine enjoying the new season. When it was time to sit down and relax, Donna pulled out her red metal chair from her garage (车库), and I sat on an overturned plastic bucket (桶). It was fun to catch up on the news that we had missed during the long winter indoors. However, over the next few days, it turned out that we needed more than a chair and a bucket which were not quite comfortable. Donna decided we needed a bench. After dismissing unsuitable options from local stores, she found a perfect one online. The next day it arrived. Excitedly, she opened the box and started putting it together. We proudly high-fived each other as the pieces joined up and the bench started to look like one. After a few minutes’ assistance from a neighbour, it was complete. What’s more, it was the perfect fit for two 70-somethings to carry on late afternoon chats. Soon, the bench attracted other neighbors. One day, someone called out from the sidewalk, “What do you do on that bench?” Quick-thinking Donna called back, “It’s our ‘Thinking Bench’! We think about important things happening in our lives.” Then, the name gradually evolved — after one neighbor sat alone deep in thought, he declared it a “Decision-Making Bench”; another time, when Donna was caught napping, she insisted she was “meditating (冥想) ”, adding yet another name. Last fall, with the temperature falling, we came to the end of sitting outdoors. We were faced with one dilemma-what to do about it in the winter? Well, we sat down and thought and meditated and decided to put it in Donna’s garage for the winter. When I glimpsed it a few times over the next months, the bench sat lonely, holding empty flower pots, and some flat, old boxes. But now after a long winter, spring flowers are ready to bloom in the warm sunshine, and we neighbours are ready to welcome “The Bench” back into our lives. 4. Donna decided to replace the chair and bucket to _________. A. lighten the carrying load B. attract more neighbours C. get better seating for chats D. adapt to warmer weather 5. How did the bench get its various names? A. From items placed on it. B. From seasonal discussions. C. From Donna’s creative ideas. D. From users’ activities on it. 6. Why are pots and boxes mentioned in the last paragraph? A. To suggest the flowers would soon be planted. B. To show the bench was not serving its purpose. C. To describe the bench’s practical use in winter. D. To explain why the bench needed winter storage. 7. What does “The Bench” represent by the story’s end? A. A symbol of community bonds. B. A solution to the aging problem. C. A reminder of the past summer. D. A memory of a valued online order. C You’re sitting in a café, and the person next to you is having a loud, animated conversation on their phone. You’re trying to read, but your brain keeps getting pulled into their story. This is a common experience, but have you ever wondered why overhearing a monologue (独白) is so compelling? According to new research published in the journal Psychological Science, the reason is rooted in our brain’s powerful ability to predict. When we listen to one half of a conversation, our brains automatically work overtime to construct the missing half. This process, known as “mentalizing” or theory of mind, is the act of imagining the mental state of another person — what they are thinking, feeling, and what their responses might be. In a series of experiments, researchers played participants audio clips of either monologues (one person telling a story) or halfalogue (one side of a phone conversation). They found that participants’ brains showed significantly more activities in the regions associated with social reasoning when listening to the halfalogues. The brain was actively trying to fill in the gaps, predicting what the unheard speaker was saying. This mental effort is what makes us feel so drawn in. We’re not just hearing sound; we’re building a narrative. This discovery has interesting implications. It explains why we find it harder to concentrate in an open-plan office when we can hear some parts of phone calls than when we hear two people talking face-to-face. The brain is occupied by the need to complete the puzzle. It also sheds light on why texting or messaging, which lacks tone of voice, can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. Our brain fills in the missing emotional cues, and often it fills them in incorrectly, projecting our own anxieties or expectations onto the texter. So, the next time you’re annoyed by a loud talker on the bus, you can blame your own incredibly social brain. It’s not just being nosy (好管闲事的); it’s hard at work, trying to make sense of an incomplete world. 8. What does the research reveal about hearing one side of a phone call? A. It is less distracting than a full conversation. B. It activates the brain’s social reasoning centers. C. It is processed as meaningless background noise. D. It improves our ability to focus on our own tasks. 9. Why might text messages lead to misunderstandings according to the passage? A. People often type too quickly. B. People prefer talking on the phone to texting. C. The brain invents missing emotional information. D. Texting lacks the structure of a real conversation. 10. How does the author explain the research finding in paragraph 4? A. By providing examples of its real-world effects. B. By comparing it to previous scientific theories. C. By listing statistical data from the experiments. D. By describing the details of the research process. 11. Which of the following can be a suitable title for the text? A. How to Improve Your Concentration B. The Damaging Effects of Smartphones C. Why We Are Drawn to Phone Conversations D. The Difference Between Monologue and Dialogue D In a neighborhood in the east of Paris, if you walk out of your front door, you can arrive at a kindergarten in one minute and a bookstore in three minutes. A bakery? It’s across the street. Actually, all key things in daily life — work, food, schools and entertainment — are within a 15-minute walk. This neighborhood was built in this way more than 150 years ago and this old idea of having all important things close by has now evolved into an urban planning model that is gaining popularity around the world. “A 15-minute city not only improves quality of life, but can also reduce greenhouse gases. Transportation accounts for about 20% of global energy-related CO₂ pollution, with cars making up almost 10%,”says Carlos Moreno, a professor at University of Paris, who has been helping the city put this idea to use. “Paris should integrate the 15-minute city as part of a broader strategy to get closer to net zero goals.” Besides reducing greenhouse gases, there are lots of “co-benefits” for people who live in 15-minute cities. Facilities that prioritize walking and biking mean less noise from cars and more safety for the people, Less air pollution from cars and daily routines with more walking and biking promote health. Redesigning cities where homes are mixed in with businesses can drive more. foot traffic to those businesses. But one challenge to building 15-minute cities across France is financial. Many banks are still unwilling to provide loans for mixed-use developments, because they are still a relatively uncommon way to build communities. Other barriers have to do with parking in a more heavily populated area. The biggest obstacle involves public schools. When couples have kids, they often leave cities for suburbs, which they think have better schools. “If we want regional sustainability, we have to look to these urban places,”Makarewicz says. “But if we want to successfully introduce a 15-minute city approach to an area, we should focus on the way people want to live.” 12. What is a feature of the so-called 15-minute city? A. Better schools are built in the suburbs. B. People are required to walk or ride bikes. C. All important daily things are close by. D. Greenhouse gases are reduced to net zero. 13. What is paragraph 4 mainly about? A. The difficulties of redesigning. B. The benefits of a 15-minute city. C. The harms of living in big cities. D. The costs to build 15-minute cities. 14. Which of the following best explains “obstacle” underlined in paragraph 5? A. Failure. B. Plan. C. Change. D. Problem. 15. What is the key to putting Carlos Moreno’ idea into use successfully? A. Urban residents’ acceptance. B. The available urban space. C. People's willingness to lend money. D. The governmental support. 第二节 (共5个小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分) 阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中两项为多余选项。 Public Speaking Training ●Get a coach ___16___ so get help. Since there are about a billion companies out there all ready to offer you public speaking training and courses, here are some things to look for when deciding the training that’s right for you. ●Focus on positives Any training you do to become more effective at public speaking should always focus on the positive aspects of what you already do well. Nothing can hurt confidence more than being told that you aren’t doing well. ___17___, so good public speaking training should develop those instead of telling you what you shouldn’t do. ●___18___ If you find a public speaking course that looks as though it’s going to give you lots of dos and don’ts, walk away! Your brain is so full of what you’re going to be talking about. ___19___. As far as we’re concerned, there are basically no hard and fast rules about public speaking. Your audience can be your friends. ●You are a special person not a clone Most importantly, good public speaking training should treat you as a special one, with your own personal habits. ___20___. Your training course should help you bring out your personality, not try to turn you into someone you’re not. A. So trying to force a whole set of rules into it will just make things worse B. The one thing you don’t want is for them to fall asleep C. Whatever the speech, public speaking is tough D. Cheek the rules about dos and don’ts E. Turn your back on too many rules F. You already do lots of things well G. You aren’t like anybody else 第三部分 语言运用 第一节 (共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分) 阅读下面短文，的从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和和D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。 Mark and his friends decided to visit Mount Matterhorn, a beautiful mountain in Europe this year. It can not only be ____21____ from countless viewpoints, but also offered a pyramid-shaped peak. Since it was a very hard climb to the top, they ____22____ to make camp at the last possible spot with one of the most extraordinary views, and decided to ____23____ the next day, not intending to finish the whole climb. While Mark was ____24____ how a handful of people were making their way to the ____25____, he changed his mind and invited his friends to join him. ____26____, no one was willing because it was too dangerous, and they were ____27____ with where they were. Luckily, there was a group of climbers who were just ____28____ past and were on their way to the top. Mark quickly asked them if he could join them, and he was ____29____. When they eventually reached the top, Mark was _____30_____ as it’s so beautiful and it’s not at all that _____31_____ as told. A climber next to him, pointing his finger at the _____32_____ where Mark and his friends and many others had set their camps, smiled and explained. “You see, most people in the crowd right there end up satisfied in the _____33_____ of their journey.” continued the man. “Many of them never think that they have the potential to achieve more, so they remain part of the crowd their whole life.” Hearing that, Mark _____34_____ how many times he was like those who have a(n)_____35_____ they want to reach but not follow through till the end. 21. A. traveled B. appreciated C. preserved D. removed 22. A. hesitated B. struggled C. pretended D. stopped 23. A. continue B. return C. escape D. settle 24. A. organizing B. confirming C. observing D. considering 25. A. crowd B. camp C. peak D. pyramid 26. A. Plus B. However C. Instead D. Therefore 27. A. satisfied B. busy C. familiar D. patient 28. A. skiing B. riding C. jogging D. walking 29. A. accepted B. ignored C. greeted D. threatened 30. A. out of breath B. out of control C. in amazement D. in relief 31. A. tough B. unique C. worthwhile D. unusual 32. A. habitat B. spot C. source D. temple 33. A. ch arm B. hope C. memory D. middle 34. A. promised B. announced C. wondered D. doubted 35. A. decision B. conclusion C. rejection D. goal 第二节 (共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分) 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。 Located in the mountains of southwest China, Jiuzhaigou ____36____ (know) as a “fairyland on earth”. This breathtaking place ____37____ (offer) more than just beautiful views — it invites travelers ____38____ (experience) nature in its original form. The most beautiful season in Jiuzhaigou is autumn, but evenings can get cold, so ____39____ (prepare) a jacket is wise. In addition, suncream, sunglasses and ____40____ hat are also a must because there’s strong sunlight during the day. What makes Jiuzhaigou ____41____ (true) special is its natural beauty. The lakes, such as Five Flowers Sea and Pearl Bay, glow (发光) in shades of blue and green. Walking through this landscape (风景) feels like stepping into different colorful ____42____ (painting). Apart ____43____ that, Jiuzhaigou’s Tibetan culture is also worth exploring in depth. In the Tibetan villages, you can taste ____44____ (tradition) foods like butter tea and take part in a Tibetan song and dance performance, ____45____ will give you a deeper understanding of the culture and beliefs of this land. 第四部分 写作 (共两节，满分40分) 第一节 (满分15分) 46. 假设你是李华，你所在的学校将举办“Making a Difference”主题公益活动周，请你给校英文报写一篇倡议书，号召同学们积极参与。内容包括： 1.活动目的 2.活动内容：社区志愿服务、环保宣传、关爱老人等 3.呼吁大家行动起来 要求： 1.词数:80-100词 2.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 第二节 (满分25分) 47. 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。 It was the tail end of the depression (经济萧条), and things were tough. Mum struggled to raise us kids on her own in our small community of New Westminster. BC. My Dad had died five years earlier. There was not much money, so we went on relief, now called social assistance. Looking back, I realize what Mum went through sending us kids to school. Every morning she would fold and put a new piece of cardboard in our shoes, which were worn out. When we got home, Mum would have “French Toast” — deep-fried bread — ready for us. Rent was twenty-five dollars a month, but Mum couldn’t pay it, and we knew we would be forced to leave right after Christmas. These were hard and sad years, but we never complained. Christmas was approaching, and we were entitled to a twenty-five-dollar Christmas fund. It was four days before Christmas, and Mum said instead of buying food, she would use the money to pay back rent, assuring us all of a roof for a little while longer. She told us then there would be nothing for Christmas. Mum prayed for a special Christmas. Unknown to Mum, I had been selling Christmas trees and doing odd jobs to earn enough money to buy a new pair of boots. I knew exactly which boots I wanted. They were Top Genuine Pierre Paris and they had a price of twenty-three dollars. The big day came on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. Extremely thrilled, I hurried in the street. On the way, I noticed a house with Christmas lights and decorations. It was then that I realized that at our house, we had no lights, no decorations, nor any money for Christmas goodies. I knew then that we would have no turkey or ham for Christmas, and I felt upset. 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。 Paragraph 1: As I continued walking, I was feeling a strange sense of guilt. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Paragraph 2: With two full bags of groceries on the doorstep, I knocked on the door eagerly. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 哈尔滨德强高级中学2025-2026学年度下学期期末考试 高一年级 英语试题 时间：120分钟 满分：150分 第一部分 听力 (共两节，满分30分) 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A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话读两遍。 1. What are the speakers probably celebrating? A. A birthday. B. A graduation. C. A wedding. 2. What are the speakers mainly talking about? A. Value of volunteering. B. Difference of resources. C. Ways of managing time. 3. Where does the conversation most probably take place? A. In a bookstore. B. In a gym. C. In a school office. 4. When does the lecture start? A. At 7:15. B. At 7:45. C. At 8:00. 5. How does the woman feel in the end? A. Anxious. B. Relieved. C. Proud 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，从题中所给的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，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。 6. What is the relationship between the speakers? A. Classmates. B. Family members. C. Photographer and customer. 7. Why does the woman refuse to be photographed at first? A. She looks terrible now. B. She doesn’t like it. C. She is too busy. 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。 8. What do we know about the hotel in Sitges? A. It’s far from the beach. B. It’s beside a busy road. C. It’s near a bus stop. 9. What can people enjoy in the hotel in Sitges? A. Football games. B. KTV. C. Keep fit classes. 10. What will the speakers do next? A. Ask for a lower price. B. Look around the hotel. C. Complain to the manager. 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。 11. How long did Jessie work in General Motors? A. One month. B. One year. C. Three years. 12. Why did Jessie go to America? A. For marriage. B. For work. C. For study. 13. Why does Jessie apply to be an English editor? A. To know more people. B. To spread knowledge. C. To advertise the magazine. 听下面一段对话，回答以下小题。 14. When does the man plan to go to the new museum? A. On Friday. B. On Saturday. C. On Sunday. 15. Why does the man apologize to the woman? A. He can’t go to the concert. B. He can’t get the movie ticket. C. He can’t meet with his friends. 16. What will the woman do tomorrow? A. Enjoy a concert. B. Receive some guests. C. Cook the dinner. 17. What is the woman’s attitude toward the arrangement in the end? A. Angry. B. Pleased. C. Disappointed. 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。 18. Why did Ningbo start the project? A. To promote ecotourism. B. To preserve old traditions. C. To beautify local environment. 19. Why were some residents hesitant about the project at the beginning? A. The project might cost too much. B. The changes might harm nature. C. They were used to their old lifestyle. 20. What does the progress of the project indicate? A. It gains community support. B. All the residents take part. C. It causes local unemployment. 第二部分 阅读理解 (共两节，满分50分) 第一节 (共15个小题；每个小题2.5分，满分37.5分) 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。 A 【1~3题答案】 【答案】1. B 2. A 3. A B 【4~7题答案】 【答案】4. C 5. D 6. B 7. A C 【8~11题答案】 【答案】8. B 9. C 10. A 11. C D 【12~15题答案】 【答案】12. C 13. B 14. D 15. A 第二节 (共5个小题；每小题2.5分，满分12.5分) 阅读下面短文，从短文后的选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中两项为多余选项。 【16~20题答案】 【答案】16. C 17. F 18. E 19. A 20. G 第三部分 语言运用 第一节 (共15小题；每小题1分，满分15分) 阅读下面短文，的从短文后各题所给的A、B、C和和D四个选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。 【21~35题答案】 【答案】21. B 22. D 23. B 24. C 25. C 26. B 27. A 28. D 29. A 30. C 31. A 32. B 33. D 34. C 35. D 第二节 (共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分) 【36~45题答案】 【答案】36. is known 37. offers 38. to experience 39. preparing 40. a 41. truly 42. paintings 43. from 44. traditional 45. which 第四部分 写作 (共两节，满分40分) 第一节 (满分15分) 【46题答案】 【答案】范文一： Dear schoolmates, Our school will hold a “Making a Difference” Public Welfare Week to encourage us to care about social issues and practice public spirit. We can participate in various activities, such as community volunteer services, environmental protection promotion, and caring for the elderly. We can spare our time to help those in need and pass on warmth around us. These small actions can bring great changes to the world. Let’s take action now and use our hands and hearts to make the world a better place! Li Hua 范文二： Dear fellow students, Our school will hold the “Making a Difference” voluntary activity week which aims to develop our sense of responsibility and spread kindness around us. To begin with, we can take part in community voluntary work. Besides, we will give speeches to publicize environmental protection. Last but not least, we are going to visit the elderly in nursing homes. We can chat with them, help do housework and listen to their stories. Small efforts can make a big difference. Let’s take action and devote ourselves to the public welfare! Li Hua 第二节 (满分25分) 【47题答案】 【答案】 As I continued walking, I was feeling a strange sense of guilt. Here I was going to buy a new pair of boots while Mum was home in tears. She would be trying to explain to us why there were no presents. The thought froze me for what seemed ages before I changed my mind. With a load lifted off my mind, I bounced into a big grocery store across the street. Soon, I found myself weighed down by all the Christmas treats. Having spent every dime of my hard-earned money, I went home with satisfaction. With two full bags of groceries on the doorstep, I knocked on the door eagerly. I could hardly wait to see my mother’s face! When Mum opened the door, she just stood there completely dumbfounded by the groceries. Holding back the tears, I said, “Merry Christmas!” I had a lot of explaining to do as we unpacked all the food and put it away. That day I got enough hugs and kisses from Mum to last two lifetimes. To see my Mum’s prayers answered more than made up for the boots I never got. It was a Merry Christmas for us after all! 第1页/共1页 学科网（北京）股份有限公司 $