蚌埠市2026届高三调研性监测
英 语
满分：150分 考试时间：120分钟
注意事项：
1.答题前，考生务必用0.5毫米的黑色墨水签字笔将自己的姓名、学校、班级、准考证号及座位号填写在答题卡上规定的位置。
2.每小题选出答案后，用2B铅笔把答题卡上对应题目的答案标号涂黑，如需改动，用橡皮擦干净后，再选涂其他答案标号。不能答在本试卷上，否则无效。
3.考试结束，将答题卡交回。
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。每段对话仅读一遍。
1. What will the woman do next
A. Put the man through to Ben.
B. Go to the Market Department.
C. Give the man a phone number.
2. What does the woman think of the museum
A. It gets less popular. B. It is friendly to artists. C. It becomes more crowded.
3. Why doesn’t the man want to buy the refrigerator
A. He dislikes the style. B. It is not energy efficient. C. The price is beyond the budget.
4. Where does the conversation take place
A. In an office. B. In a restaurant. C. In a classroom.
5. What are the speakers mainly talking about
A. A list of animal species. B. A charity organization. C. An annual report.
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。
听第6段材料，回答第6、7题。
6. Why didn’t the woman buy any clothes in the shop
A. They were of bad quality. B. Her mother disliked them. C. There weren’t any warm jackets.
7. What season is it now
A. Spring. B. Autumn. C. Winter.
听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。
8. What do we know about the beer festival
A. It is very popular. B. It has a long history. C. It is held in Bamberg.
9. What did the man do during the trip
A. He visited museums.
B. He attended the beer festival.
C. He went to some historic squares.
听第8段材料，回答第10至12题
10. What happened to the man at the age of six
A. He met a young artist. B. He survived a disaster. C. He had to stop a lesson.
11. What is the aim of the man’s projects
A. To enrich his experiences.
B. To encourage children in need.
C. To promote the advantages of art.
12. What advice does the man give at last
A. Pursue your dreams now. B. Listen to the views of artists. C. Cherish the people around you.
听第9段材料，回答第13至16题。
13. How did Grace feel when she first entered university
A. Stressed. B. Confused. C. Pleased.
14. What might Grace do halfway through the first term
A. She decided to join more clubs.
B. She began to catch up with her study.
C. She managed time as she did in high school.
15. When does Grace study alone now
A. In the morning. B. In the afternoon. C. In the evening.
16. What is Grace’s final suggestion
A. Use a planner. B. Set clear study goals. C. Balance learning and rest.
听第10段材料，回答第17至20题。
17. What makes rock art surprising
A. It varied in style.
B. It focused on human images.
C. It shared similarities in different cultures.
18. How long has the rock art in Australia existed
A. For about 20,000 years. B. For about 10，000 years. C. For about 1,800 years.
19. What image shows European arrival in Australia
A. The landscape. B. Horses. C. Stick figures.
20. What will the speaker talk about next
A. Damage to rock art. B. Places to see rock art. C. Characteristics of rock art.
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
Did you know some of the most famous landmarks in the world were built by women The LEGO group has launched a new campaign called She Built That to celebrate women’s achievements and encourage a new generation of girls to become builders of our world and to show off their creativity.
The LEGO Group has also created special Brick Plaques for notable London landmarks built by female builders and designers, including the London Aquatics Centre, which was co-designed by Zaha Hadid; and the London Eye, which was co-designed by Julia Barfield Roma Agrawal, who helped build the Shard and the Crystal Palace Station, is supporting the She Built That campaign and said she loved playing with LEGO blocks when she was a child, and it inspired her career in building.
It has also released a spectacular new music video called She Built That as part of the campaign to encourage girls and it shines a light on the awesome things girls and women are creating. The video stars the Global Girls Crew, including DJ Livia, 15-year-old drumming star Nandi Bushell, vocalist Pink Oculus and dancers Brooke & Less. You can watch it at /TW-SheBuiltThat, or ask an adult to scan the QR code.
Have a look at the panel below to find out how girls can join in on a very special She Built That live event.
JOIN IN SHE BUILT THAT LIVE! The LEGO Group is hosting a very exciting She Built That event at London’s Southbank centre on 5 and 6 August. Across two days, girls can dance, direct and star in a real music video! The event is free to attend, ask an adult to book your ticket at /TW-SheBuiltThat. Special prizes will be given to the next generation of female builders. Watch the She Built That video to get some inspiration!
1. What is the main purpose of the LEGO Group’s She Built That campaign
A. To sell more LEGO building blocks to children.
B. To inspire girls to become creators and builders.
C. To promote tourism to famous London landmarks.
D. To advertise a new music video and the live event.
2. Who star in the She Built That music video
A. Zaha Hadid and Julia Barfield. B. The Global Girls Crew members.
C. Roma Agrawal and her colleagues. D. Some adult builders and designers.
3. What can girls do if they attend the She Built That live event in London
A. Participate in creating a real music video.
B. Meet Zaha Hadid and Julia Barfield in person.
C. Receive free LEGO sets designed by famous female architects.
D. Learn how to build exact models of London landmarks with LEGO.
B
Barcelona’s electric 18-year-old winger Lamine Yamal has been handed the famous No 10 shirt previously worn by club icon (偶像) Lionel Messi, capping a remarkable breakthrough season for the teenager.
Yamal earned the jersey (球衣) after a remarkable campaign, in which he scored 25 goals for the club in over 100 appearances. The youngster, who wore the No 19 shirt last season, had already committed his long-term future to the club, agreeing a contract extension in May that will keep him at Barcelona until 2031. Having turned 18 on Sunday, Yamal was finally able to sign the contract and make it official. He did so on Wednesday, accompanied by his family.
He also received the No 10 shirt from club president Joan Laporta in a special ceremony. The No 10 shirt carries enormous weight at the Camp Nou, having been worn by Messi during his period of great success with numerous trophies (奖杯) at the club that shaped his career.
The No 10 has also graced the backs of Barca greats such as Diego Maradona and Ronaldinho, but Yamal said he would not be weighed down by its legacy. “I’ll try to build my own path, but all kids would like to be like them,” Yamal said Wednesday at the club’s announcement. “All three have been incredible players, they’re all legends, and I will try to follow in their footsteps.”
“Messi paved the way with the No 10, I will make mine,” Yamal told reporters. “They are three soccer and club legends. Every kid dreams of having something from Messi, Ronaldinho and Maradona. I’ll try to carry on that legacy.”
“First, my dream was to debut (首次登场) for Barca and wear the No 10. Everyone who grows up here dreams of that. I’m grateful to the club.” Having also won the European Championship with Spain last year, Yamal said his goal is to win all the other titles that are missing from his trophy collection. “I haven’t won the Champions League and the World Cup,” he said. “These are my goals now.” “My goal is to keep winning and growing,” Yamal said. “It’s the club of my life. It’s my home, I’ve been here since I was seven years old.”
4. What is the main event reported in the text
A. Yamal celebrated his 18th birthday with a ceremony.
B. Yamal won the European Championship with Spain.
C. Yamal received Barcelona’s legendary No 10 jersey.
D. Yamal signed a contract extension with Barcelona.
5. Why is the No 10 shirt special for Barcelona
A. It was first worn by Diego Maradona.
B. It represents a legacy of club legends.
C. It increases the player’s commercial value.
D. It is given only to top goal-scorers each season.
6. How does Yamal view his role as the new No 10
A. He sees it as an honor while paving his own way.
B. He regards it as a valuable marketing opportunity.
C. He perceives it as a restriction on his own playing style.
D. He considers it less important than his contract extension.
7. What is Yamal’s current goal mentioned in the last paragraph
A. To win the Champions League and the World Cup.
B. To win the European Championship with Spain.
C. To debut for Barca and wear the No 10.
D. To leave Barca and join another club.
C
If you’re the kind of person who gets a lot done, you’re grateful for every one of the 86,400 seconds that make up a day. On July 9, however, as well as on July 22, and August 5, you won’t get your full complement of seconds. On these days the Earth will be measurably speeding up its rotation (旋转), shaving from 1.3 to 1.5 milliseconds off of the usual 24 hours the typical day gets.
The likeliest cause is the position of the moon. Lunar distance is an always-changing thing, with the moon tracing an elliptical(椭圆的) orbit around the Earth. At its closest approach—or perigee—the moon is only 224,000 miles distant. At its furthest—or apogee—that gap widens to 251,655 miles. On the three speedy days this summer, the moon will be at or near apogee—which is a puzzle, since lunar gravity is such that the Earth tends to slow down, not speed up, when the moon is farther away.
The moon’s orbit is not only elliptical, however, but cockeyed(倾斜的) too, angled anywhere from 18° to 28° relative to the Earth’s equator. The sharper that angle is the faster the Earth orbits, with lunar gravity in this case speeding things up, offsetting the slowing effect that lunar apogee usually applies. On the three days in question this summer, the moon will be close to its 28° peak.
Climate change—again and seemingly always—may play a role too. Last year, two NASA-funded studies found that since 2000, melting glaciers have caused the axis(轴) of the planet to shift by about 30 ft, changing the speed of rotation. The catch is, in this case the change causes the planet to decelerate, not speed up—by about 1.33 milliseconds per century.
Anyway, we don’t need to lose sleep over the slightly shorter days. The Earth and the moon have been doing their dance for the better part of 4.5 billion years, and it’s always been a stable one. Here’s betting they’ve got a few billion more years yet in their run.
8. What will happen on July 9, July 22, and August 5 according to the text
A. Lunar distance will decrease greatly, changing how time is measured.
B. The moon’s gravity will weaken, reducing Earth’s rotation speed.
C. Climate change will speed up ice melting, affecting day length.
D. The Earth will rotate faster, making the day less than 24 hours.
9. What mainly causes the phenomenon on those days
A. The speed of the moon’s rotation.
B. The angle of the moon’s cockeyed orbit.
C. The temperature on the moon’s surface.
D. The distance from the moon to the Earth.
10. What is the author’s attitude towards the change of the days
A. Anxious and alarmed. B. Indifferent and uncaring.
C. Relaxed and unworried. D. Confused and uncertain.
11. What is the best title for the text
A. Shorter Days: The Moon’s Hidden Role
B. Climate Change: Speeding Up Earth’s Rotation
C. Earth’s Rotation: A 4. 5-Billion-Year-Old Puzzle
D. Lunar Orbit: Always Changing and Unpredictable
D
One hundred days after New York City carried out congestion (拥塞) pricing significant positive traffic impacts are evident. Juliette Michaelson, an MTA deputy chief overseeing the program, highlights a striking 70% decrease in complaints about too much car-honking (按喇叭) compared to the previous year, calling it an “all-in-one” indicator of success.
Clear data shows traffic has substantially reduced. The Congestion Pricing Now Coalition reports a 65% drop in rush-hour delays at the Holland Tunnel, with travel times down 48%. Overall, 6 million fewer cars entered lower Manhattan compared to the same period a year prior, averaging 80,000 fewer daily by March. Traffic-related injuries within the congestion zone have halved. Buses are moving significantly faster, sometimes forcing drivers to slow down to maintain schedules.
Concerns that the toll (通行费) would discourage visitors and harm business appear unfounded. While year-over-year comparisons are complex, commuter rail (通勤铁路) ridership increased: Metro-North saw an 8% rise in January 2025 versus 2024, with NJ Transit and LIRR also seeing gains — the LIRR’s immediate post-January 5th increase strongly suggests drivers switching modes. Broadway ticket sales and Business Improvement District visitor counts (up 1.5 million year-over-year) further indicate business vitality hasn’t been choked off.
Initial public doubt is showing signs of shifting. While a December Siena poll (民意调查) showed only 29% support (51% opposed), a recent follow-up shifted the split to 33-40 against, with city residents at 42-35 support. Most remarkably, a Morning Consult poll revealed the program’s strongest supporters (66%) are those who drive into the congestion zone most frequently — multiple times per week. Michaelson credits this to drivers directly experiencing improved traffic flow, matching experiences in London and Stockholm where opposition lessened after the policy was put in place.
The program’s other key goal — funding public transport improvements — is progressing. Through February, the MTA collected about $ 100 million in tolls. After costs, the projected year-end revenue (收益) is approximately $500 million. This revenue is already funding specific capital projects: subway elevators at Delancey Street-Essex Street (tied to affordable housing), contracts for the next phase of the Second Avenue Subway, and more electric buses.
12. What key evidence shows congestion pricing reduced traffic problems
A. Electric bus usage increased by 48% in Manhattan.
B. Subway construction projects sped up significantly.
C. Toll revenue reached $ 500 million within three months.
D. Car-honking complaints dropped by 70% year-over-year.
13. What changes did public transport experience because of congestion pricing
A. Subway lines in lower Manhattan were expanded and bus fares dropped.
B. Commuter rail ridership increased and buses moved significantly faster.
C. Public transport schedules were adjusted to match fewer car drivers.
D. Train stations were rebuilt to handle more visitors from other cities.
14. What does the underlined phrase “choked off” in Paragraph 3 most likely mean
A. Greatly stimulated. B. Carefully managed.
C. Severely damaged. D. Officially recognized.
15. What is the primary use of the toll revenue
A. Repaying drivers affected by the traffic changes.
B. Reducing subway ticket prices for low-income groups.
C. Supporting new road construction in congestion zones.
D. Funding public transport upgrades like subway elevators.
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。
Temperatures are rising, and so are mental health risks
Climate change is increasing heat waves, posing growing threats to health. Extreme heat is becoming a severe challenge across the U. S. and globally, with forecasts suggesting one of the next five years could be the hottest on record. ____16____ Even survivors may face long-term consequences.
How does extreme heat affect the brain ____17____ Dehydration (脱水) in high temperatures thickens blood, making it hard for the heart to supply enough oxygen to the brain. The brain, which uses 20% of the body’s energy, requires efficient heat release. In hot, damp conditions, sweating fails to cool the body, potentially causing heat exhaustion or a sudden serious illness, which can lead to nerve-related problems.
Extreme heat also worsens mental health: conditions like depression and anxiety become worse. ____18____ Furthermore, the medicines used to treat the mental illness and sleeplessness also appear to increase mental health weakness to heat.
____19____ Those with existing mental health disorders are weakest. Older adults face accelerated serious mental illness that affects memory. Homeless individuals and outdoor workers such as farmers are particularly at risk, as they often lack access to cooling resources.
Action is urgent. Most heat health plans ignore mental health. ____20____ These can include public awareness campaigns, such as warning people about the mental health risk of consuming alcohol or other drugs during heat waves. Other interventions include establishing community cooling shelters for heat emergencies and increasing monitoring of mental health patients during heat waves. Only through comprehensive strategies can we reduce the mental health impacts of extreme heat.
A. Who is most at risk
B. The human body works best when at 37°.
C. How to identify those in danger during heat waves
D. It disturbs sleep, which further harms one’s ability to think.
E. So mental health steps must be added to these heat response plans.
F. Heat waves cause 1,300 U. S. deaths yearly from heat-related issues.
G. Research is needed to better understand health outcomes of a warmer world.
第三部分 语言运用（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。
The morning of the SAT broke gray. Tom stood by the kitchen table, test ticket in hand, eyes wandering to the living room. His mom had caught a bad flu overnight, ____21____ nonstop, and dad was away on a trip.
“Go on, honey,” she said hoarsely (嘶哑地). “You’ve studied so hard. I’ll call the doctor if needed.” Tom ____22____, chest tight with worry. The SAT could unlock his dream college, but leaving her alone felt ____23____.
At the test center, students’ noise made him ____24____. He found his seat, but his mind replayed her cough. What if she struggled to breathe He grasped his pen, trying to ____25____ instructions. First section: math. Tom ____26____ work through problems, hands shaking. A teacher noticed his ____27____ and mouthed, “You’ve got this.” It helped a little.
“I can’t waste years of effort — it’d make her sad,” he thought. “She called the doctor. She’ll be fine.” Tom let out a ____28____ of relief. Lighter, he slowed down, tackling each question ____29____.
After the test, he rushed home. Mom sat drinking tea, with Aunt beside her. “Told you I’d be okay,” she smiled. He ____30____ her, warm joy spreading through him. In that moment, he knew family counts more than any ____31____.
Days later, his SAT scores arrived — high enough for his top college. He thought of that morning: courage isn’t fearlessness, but doing what ____32____ despite fear.
Mom held the report, tears in her eyes. “I’m so proud of you,” she said. Tom smiled, knowing every stressful minute____33____. Life, he realized, is choices — between wants and ____34____. That day, he’d chosen both: honoring his work and his ____35____ to mom, proving that honoring family doesn’t mean abandoning self-growth, but prioritizing what’s essential while still chasing what values.
21. A. coughing B. screaming C. talking D. dreaming
22. A. greeted B. returned C. hesitated D. suspected
23. A. right B. cruel C. comfortable D. pointless
24. A. merciful B. sorrowful C. curious D. anxious
25. A. follow B. give C. repeat D. memorize
26. A. attempted B. refused C. promised D. pretended
27. A. confidence B. misfortune C. relaxation D. struggle
28. A. cry B. breath C. cheer D. secret
29. A. roughly B. nervously C. carefully D. hurriedly
30. A. hugged B. helped C. found D. welcomed
31. A. job B. exam C. illness D. instruction
32. A. remains B. applies C. matters D. happens
33. A. passed by B. ran out C. came up D. paid off
34. A. needs B. hopes C. rights D. abilities
35. A. plan B. duty C. advice D. expectation
第二节 语法填空（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
Despite____36____(consider) as one of the most knowledgeable in the Spring and Autumn Period, Confucius was humble with an inquiring mind. The reason____37____people often praised him for was exactly this spirit.
One day, he visited the Imperial Ancestral Temple (太庙) of Lu State,____38____unique site where rituals (典礼) for late kings were held.____39____(surprise), he asked about every detail: how to arrange the offerings, what words to praise, when to bow, between the first lighting of candle____40____the final closing of the ritual. Some laughed: “Who says the sage (圣人) knows all He even ignores a memorial ceremony!” “It is this eagerness to ask,____41____every situation, where I encounter something unclear or confusing, that____42____(make) me different from those who pretend to know,” Confucius replied. Days later, in Wei State, his student Zi Gong doubted why Kong Yu got the title “Wen” after death: “He made mistakes____43____(he). Why such honor ” “Because he was bright, loved learning, and never felt ashamed to ask the less____44____(experience) — his meeting with others, though simple, were always full of ____45____(wise),” Confucius explained.
第四部分 写作（共两节，满分40分）
第一节（满分15分）
46. 学校英文网站正在举办主题为“AI & Our Future”的专栏征文活动，你代表学生会向全校同学发出英文倡议，呼吁大家向学校网站投稿，内容包括：
1.活动意义；
2.具体要求；
3.呼吁与期待
注意：
1.词数80词左右；2.倡议中不得出现真实校名或个人信息；
3.可适当增加细节，使行文连贯；4.开头与结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear fellow students,
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Students’ Union
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。
注意：
1.续写词数应在150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Renting a Son for Christmas
Snow fell softly as Mike walked down the quiet street. Only his footsteps and distant holiday sounds broke the silence. It was Christmas Eve. His small apartment, usually comfortable, felt empty — family to call. His parents had died long ago, leaving only old photos to remember them by.
Then he saw a note on a shop window: “Looking for a kind young man to share Christmas Eve. Two old people.” A warm feeling touched his heart. He called the number slowly, fingers pausing before dialing.
Before he finished knocking, a door opened. An old lady with white hair like snow pulled him in, saying, “You’re cold.” Her grasp was firm but gentle. The house smelled of cookies, a sweet scent that made him think of childhood. She held his arm, as if making sure he was real, not a dream.
In the guest room a photo caught his eye: a 20-year-old with a bright smile. The quiet old man spoke low: “That’s our son, Tom. He was a fireman. Three years back, a big fire — he saved a girl but didn’t come out.” Silence filled the air.
The lady called them to the kitchen. She made dough (面团); he added chocolate pieces. The old man watched, smiling, as if this was his best gift. She talked of Tom’s first bike he rode it into a bush and funny stories that still made her laugh. He listened, asking about Tom’s favorite films and hobbies, feeling like they could have been friends. They lit small lights, ate warm cookies, watched a film about a family’s holiday adventures, and laughed till she looked tired.
Next morning, sun came through the curtains and woke him. Downstairs, the old man tried to give him money. Mike refused, shaking his head: “I don’t need this.”
“Your wife is ill ” Mike asked, seeing her pale in a chair by the window. The man sighed. “She has cancer, not long to live. She dreamed of spending time with Tom again, like we did every year... but he’s gone,” his voice sad.
Paragraph 1
The old man’s trembling words hurt his heart, and Mike stood rooted to the spot, a mix of shock and sorrow washing over him.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2
As the first snowflakes of winter danced from the sky the next year, Mike found himself standing before the old couple’s villa again.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
蚌埠市2026届高三调研性监测
英语答案
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）
1-10 ACBBC BBACC 11-20 BACBA CCABA
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
【1~3题答案】
【答案】1. B 2. B 3. A
B
【4~7题答案】
【答案】4. C 5. B 6. A 7. A
C
【8~11题答案】
【答案】8. D 9. B 10. C 11. A
D
【12~15题答案】
【答案】12. D 13. B 14. C 15. D
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。
【16~20题答案】
【答案】16. F 17. B 18. D 19. A 20. E
第三部分 语言运用（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。
【21~35题答案】
【答案】21. A 22. C 23. B 24. D 25. A 26. A 27. D 28. B 29. C 30. A 31. B 32. C 33. D 34. A 35. B
第二节 语法填空（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）
【36~45题答案】
【答案】36. being considered
37. which##that
38. a 39. Surprisingly
40. and 41. in
42. makes 43. himself
44. experienced
45. wisdom
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】One possible version:
Dear fellow students,
AI brings big changes to our life. By submitting to the column, you have the chance to discuss its influence on education and daily life, and understand this technological wave better.
You can share stories of using AI tools for study, predict how AI may change our future jobs, or voice thoughtful concerns about privacy issues. Ensure your work is original, and submit to the website by next Friday.
Your ideas are invaluable. Let’s contribute diverse perspectives to paint a vivid picture of AI and our future.
The Students’ Union
第二节（满分25分）
【47题答案】
【答案】One possible version:
Paragraph 1
The old man’s trembling words hurt his heart, and Mike stood rooted to the spot, a mix of shock and sorrow washing over him. Memories of his own lonely holidays flooded in—no warmth, no laughter, just empty rooms. He thought of how much he’d missed having family, and how the couple must ache for their son. It suddenly occurred to him how much family company matters to everyone. Immediately he went over to the lady with the old man and said softly, “I’m glad I came. Thank you for your warm reception and company”. As he left, he promised, “I’ll be back.”
Paragraph 2
As the first snowflakes of winter danced from the sky the next year，Mike found himself standing before the old couple’s villa again. Through the window, he saw the old man pacing, glancing at the door now and then. The moment he raised his hand to knock, the door flew open. “You kept your word!” the man said, smiling. Inside, they sat by the fire, chatting happily and the room filled with the kind of warmth he’d long desired. From then on, he visited often, bringing warmth to their home. For them all, they were no longer strangers but families.
