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雅礼中学2024—2025学年度高二第二学期期末考试
英语
本试题卷分为听力、阅读、语言运用和写作四个部分，共10页。时量120分钟。满分150分。
第一部分 听力(共两节，满分30分)
做题时，先将答案标在试卷上。录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案转涂到答题卡上。
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。
例：How much is the shirt
A. 19.15. B. 9.18. C. 9.15.
答案是C。
1. 【此处可播放相关音频，请去附件查看】
What does the woman probably do
A. A saleswoman. B. An adviser. C. A dentist.
2. 【此处可播放相关音频，请去附件查看】
What does the man plan to do
A. Look for a job. B. Move to a new place. C. Rearrange the furniture.
3. 【此处可播放相关音频，请去附件查看】
What is Kate doing
A. Boarding a flight. B. Arranging a trip. C. Seeing a friend off.
4. 【此处可播放相关音频，请去附件查看】
Who might Mr. Brown be
A. The woman’s husband. B. The man’s friend. C. The man’s boss.
5. 【此处可播放相关音频，请去附件查看】
What’s the weather most probably like today
A. Rainy. B. Cold. C. Hot.
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。
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。【此处可播放相关音频，请去附件查看】
6. What does Steve think of his training
A. Disappointing. B. Acceptable. C. Excellent.
7. How long does Steve train each day
A. Three hours. B. Five hours. C. Ten hours.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。【此处可播放相关音频，请去附件查看】
8. Why is the man at the shop
A. To order a camera for his wife.
B. To have a camera repaired.
C. To get a camera changed.
9. What color does the man want
A. Pink. B. Black. C. Orange.
10. What will the man do afterwards
A. Make a phone call.
B Wait until further notice.
C. Come again the next day.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。【此处可播放相关音频，请去附件查看】
11. Where are the speakers probably
A. In Santa Barbara. B. In San Francisco. C. In Los Angeles.
12. How old is the man
A. 24 years old. B. 25 years old. C. 26 years old.
13. How much will the man spend on the car in total
A. $ 200. B. $ 215. C. $ 275.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。【此处可播放相关音频，请去附件查看】
14. What would Joe probably do during the Thanksgiving holiday
A. Go to a play. B. Stay at home. C. Visit Kinston.
15. What is Ariel going to do in Toronto
A. Attend a party. B. Meet her aunt. C. See a car show.
16. Why is Ariel in a hurry to leave
A. To call up Betty. B. To buy some DVDs. C. To pick up Daniel.
17. What might be the relationship between the speakers
A. Classmates. B. Fellow workers. C. Guide and tourist.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。【此处可播放相关音频，请去附件查看】
18. What does the research relate egg shapes to
A. Environment. B. Flying ability. C. Weight.
19. What is Mary Stoddard
A. A bird researcher. B. A bird watcher. C. An egg farmer.
20. What kind of bird lays the most-oval-shaped eggs
A. The sea bird. B. The parrot. C. The hummingbird.
第二部分 阅读(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、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
Edinburgh is famous for its many museums where you can learn its rich history.
Museum on the Mound
Located in the heart of Edinburgh’s city center, this appealing museum takes a fresh look at money — and much, much more. You will see coins and banknotes from over the ages, including the first Scottish banknote printed in 1727. There are also interesting interactive displays and you can even try your hand at opening a safe!
The Writers’ Museum
It is housed in the beautiful Lady Stair’s House, a category A listed building. The collection celebrates the legacy of Scotland’s literary contributions, with special emphasis given to Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson and Robert Burns. The museum is home to numerous paintings, books and manuscripts (手稿), and you can also see Burns’ writing desk and Scott’s chess set.
Our Dynamic Earth
It celebrates the beauty of the earth via technology. Interactive exhibits allow visitors to experience earthquakes, the ocean floor, ice ages and mountains by the use of computer software. Particularly interesting is the “tour” around the eleven Earthscapes. It is educational fun for the whole family and can serve as a good introduction to concepts surrounding the formation of the planet and the creatures we share the earth with.
National Museum of Scotland
The diverse collections here include the history of Scotland with exhibitions of international interest. The natural world, science and technology, discoveries, art, and world cultures are all explored. There are interactive elements and activities to suit children of all ages, including science experiments and musical instruments.
21. Which might be the most attractive to finance majors
A. Our Dynamic Earth. B. The Writers’ Museum.
C. Museum on the Mound. D. National Museum of Scotland.
22. What can you do at Our Dynamic Earth
A. Play with your family. B. Tour the world virtually.
C. Design computer software. D. Learn about ancient creatures.
23. What do The Writers’ Museum and National Museum of Scotland have in common
A. They have interactive exhibits. B. They showcase world cultures.
C. They provide hands-on activities. D. They have an artistic atmosphere.
B
In Chef Ana Manhao Sou’s mind, her restaurant, Belos Tempos, represents the home-cooked meals of Macao-born Portuguese.
Fluent in Cantonese, with a Western appearance, Sou was born and raised in Macao after her parents emigrated from Portugal in the 1950s. Following her retirement in 2013, she started her culinary (烹饪) business by opening Belos Tempos. Located in Rua da Felicidade, one of Macao’s most historic and tourist- centric streets, the small two- story restaurant serves Portuguese and Macao food. The menu s at the restaurant are written in English, Portuguese and Chinese. Sou is keen on creating Macao food and spreading the word about its traditional and cultural value. She is also enthusiastic about teaching young individuals how to cook all the dishes in her knowledge. She highlighted that a rich variety of spices is a notable characteristic. The culinary tradition embraces spices from India, Indonesia, and ingredients from other countries along the sea trade route, including curry, pepper, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric and saffron.
Tacho is one of Sou’s signature dishes, representing the typical flavors of a Portuguese household in Macao. According to her, the term tacho in Portuguese translates to big plate. This dish holds special significance for Portuguese families in Macao during Christmas, as Sou explains, “While turkey might not grace our table, tacho is a must, enjoyed only once a year.” Tacho is a culinary mixture, combining diverse Chinese and Western ingredients. Sou emphasizes the individuality of each family’s tacho, with variations reflecting treasured, handed-down mon components include stewed chicken, pig’s trotters, cured duck legs, sausages, fried pig skin, and cabbage.
Sou believes that the current trend of traditional cuisine is promising, thanks to the support from the local government. As Sou mentioned, Macao was named a Creative City of Gastronomy (美食) by UNESCO in 2017. The local government has since introduced a comprehensive set of initiatives to enhance the preservation and inheritance of its cuisine. Together with other chefs, Sou has been making a sustained effort to help this historical record of the city to continue to shine.
24. What do we know about Belos Tempos
A. It is co-managed by Sou and her parents. B. It is located in the quietest street of Macao.
C. It features a variety of spices from Portugal. D. It serves a mix of Eastern and Western foods.
25. How does Sou contribute to the culinary industry in Macao
A. By preserving and promoting traditional cuisine.
B. By creating multi-lingual menus for restaurants.
C. By teaching people to cook typical Chinese food.
D. By improving her family-treasured recipe of Tacho.
26. What can be inferred from the last paragraph
A. Sou is optimistic about the future of Portuguese cuisine.
B. Macao has been a creative city of cuisine since its foundation.
C. The Macao government highly encourages traditional cuisine.
D. Chefs’ efforts have led to the city’s sustainable development.
27. Which of the following would be the best title for the text
A. The Creation of Macao Food B. When Portugal Meets Macao
C. Sou’s Signature Dishes Shine D. Current Trends of Traditional Cuisine
C
“The opposite of play isn’t work; it’s depression,” says play researcher Stuart Brown. “The adult-play shortage is becoming a public health crisis.” Play may appear insignificant, but recent studies indicate it may be as essential as the need for sleep. Playfulness helps some young animals learn to master their bodies and their environments — and once they do, most stop playing as adults.
“Adult play promotes qualities that we humans could use more of,” says Jeff Harry, a play consultant. Unfortunately, social standards restrain (抑制) our urge to let loose. “Being a playful adult is really disapproved in our society,” he says. “You don’t want people to think that you’re childish.”
“It hasn’t always been this way,” says Peter Gray, a play researcher at Boston University. When Gray reviewed descriptions of the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes, he noticed that they were often described as “good-humored” and “joyful”. “What we would call work — hunting and gathering — was fun,” he says. “Generally speaking, we like to do the things that are necessary for our survival. Humans took one giant step away from fun when we started planting crops. Then we invented factories and lost sight of play entirely,” Gray adds.
We may be able to reverse this situation, says Harry. As we fully make the transition to a knowledge-based economy, work and play are beginning to merge (合并) again. Some of today’s most successful companies, such as Google and Apple, were started by people tinkering (小修补) in their garages.
“Play is all about looking at a tough world with creativity and optimism,” Brown says. He goes so far as to declare that “adult play is necessary for our survival as a species”.
The next time I’m caught playing I know exactly what I’ll say, “I am not wasting time, or acting immature. I’m playing for the benefit of all humanity. You’re welcome.”
28. Why does Stuart Brown consider adult play essential
A. It promotes creativity. B. It battles depression.
C. It facilitates cooperation. D. It improves adaptivity.
29. What societal factor restrains adult play according to Jeff Harry
A. Fear of judgment from others. B. Lack of sufficient time for leisure.
C. Cultural emphasis on personal values. D. Pressure from work-related responsibilities
30. Which statement will Peter Gray agree with according to Paragraph 3
A. Adult play contributes positively to work.
B. Social attitudes toward play regularly shift.
C. Humans initially found joy in survival activities.
D Industrialization closely connected work and play.
31. What is the purpose of the text
A. To stress the significance of adult play. B. To discuss the evolution of work and play.
C. To advocate playfulness in modern businesses. D. To explore the impact of adult play on depression.
D
To the delight of bookworms, anyone who has ever told you burying your head in a book means you’re being unsociable will have to eat their words. A new study suggests those who regularly read, especially fiction, are actually nicer and more empathetic (善解人意的) people.
The study, carried out by Kingston University London, and presented at the British Psychological Society conference in Brighton, UK, last week, also found that those who just watched television seemed to be less kind and understanding of other people.
For the study, the researchers questioned 123 people on their preferences for books, TV shows, and plays. They were also quizzed about the type of entertainment they preferred from comedy or romance to drama. Then they were tested on their interpersonal skills. The researchers asked them about their behavior towards others, whether they understood and respected others’ points of view, and whether they actively helped other people.
Drawing on these response sheets, the researchers found some mind-boggling results. They discovered that those who read more showed greater positive social behavior and a better ability to empathize with others, while those who preferred watching TV didn’t show the same ability to empathize and were more likely to show unsociable behavior.
They also found the forms of fiction people preferred were linked to their interpersonal skills and behavior. Those who preferred fiction displayed the most positive social skills. Romance and drama lovers showed the ability to see others’ points of view, while comedy fans were particularly able to relate to others the most.
The researchers concluded that those who read fiction regularly are more well-adapted to see things from other people’s points of view, which makes them better at understanding people. However, they do acknowledge that their study didn’t conclude if the effects are causal — does reading make you nicer and more empathetic, or do more empathetic people tend to read fiction Even so, picking up a book can’t hurt, and might just make the world a nicer place.
32. How did the researchers conduct the research
A. By making questionnaire surveys.
B. By comparing experiment statistics.
C. By observing participants’ behaviors.
D. By referring to previous study reports.
33. What does the underlined word “mind-boggling” in paragraph 4 mean
A. Embarrassing. B. Satisfying.
C. Amazing. D. Disappointing.
34. What can improve people’s empathetic abilities the most according to the study
A. Reading fiction and comedy.
B. Enjoying romance and drama.
C. Taking part in social activities.
D. Watching plays on social media.
35. What can be inferred from the last paragraph
A. All people support the research result.
B. Further study is needed on this subject.
C. The nicer and kinder people like reading.
D. Reading can help people make more friends.
第二节(共5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。选项中有两项为多余选项。
According to neuroscientist Shirley Mueller, collecting feeds the pleasure center of the brain, but without the drawbacks of alcohol, gambling, or nicotine.
____36____ More than 100,000 years ago, our ancestors searched for crystals, shells, and other objects just as seeking for food. In modern times, while some people collect as a statement of who they are, others collect as an investment or a source of pleasure.
“While the motivations to collect are varied, they typically center around developing a more positive sense of self,” says Brandon Schmeichel, a comic book collector and a psychology professor. ____37____ In terms of the latter, stuff is obtained indiscriminately (不加区分地). Instead of creating a sense of self-worth, the behavior typically makes those who are accustomed to it feel bad about themselves.
“____38____ You have to figure out where you can find the desired items, what they’re worth, and how you will organize and display your collections,” Mueller says. “Those activities stimulate areas of the brain involved in executive functioning, skills that include working memory, multitasking, and impulse-control.”
On a physiological level, research shows that tangible (有形的) objects have unique effects on brain functions. These objects stimulate many areas of the brain at the same time. Each object is associated with a person, experience, or moment in time. ____39____ Every item is a signal for your memory. “This sort of collecting facilitates one’s recall about the past,” Schmeichel says.
Collecting also seems to hit fundamental psychological needs. “Collectors often report that the friendship of other collectors is one of the most rewarding aspects of collecting,” Schmeichel reports in Leisure Sciences. Interacting with sellers, other collectors, or even admirers of your collection can also serve as a foundation for relationship-building. ____40____
A. Collecting requires attaining related knowledge.
B. That distinguishes collecting from storing up.
C. Of course, collecting is not a new phenomenon.
D. In that way, collections act as a physical time machine.
E. It also functions as a way that actually doesn’t cost much.
F. It can cultivate both a sense of belonging and satisfaction.
G. Collecting can lead people to concentrate on themselves.
第三部分 语言运用(共两节，满分30分)
第一节(共15小题;每小题1分，满分15分)
阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
Here I was, sitting in the roller coaster (过山车) cart of Kingda Ka in New Jersey, the tallest and second fastest roller coaster on Earth. My friends shouted in excitement, while I shakily ____41____ my hands on my shorts. “How can you be so excited when...”
My words caught in my throat and melted into screams as the roller coaster suddenly ____42____. It was the fastest ____43____ I had ever experienced in my life: 128 miles per hour. I screamed at the top of my ____44____ as fear froze me up from inside. We rapidly moved up the skinny hump (驼峰) rising into the clouds at a ninety degree angle, having crossed the track bringing us forward in mere ____45____.
____46____, close to the highest part of the hump, I ____47____ a little. My screams became less terrified and more energetic. Once we reached the ____48____ of the hump. I could almost touch the sky.
And then we were spiraling (盘旋) downwards, curving and twisting and ____49____ towards Earth at the same speed. Before I ____50____ it, we had already met the ground. It was a thirty-second-long ride. I managed to ____51____ the entire ride without a breakdown.
I gasped (喘气) in ____52____. It was over. I had not only survived the ride — I had ____53____ it. My friend turned to me, her eyes ____54____. “Are you ready for the next roller coaster ”
My head felt light as we walked away from the ride spinning with something I didn’t ____55____ recognize. It took me a few minutes to put a name to it — thrill. “I’m ready for anything.”
41. A. wiped B. waved C. joined D. crossed
42. A. removed B. rocketed C. struggled D. marched
43. A. launch B. operation C. ride D. experience
44. A. cheeks B. throat C. heart D. lungs
45. A. minutes B. hours C. seconds D. moments
46 A. Instead B. Meanwhile C. Therefore D. However
47. A. broke down B. calmed down C. passed out D. dressed up
48. A. top B. start C. track D. location
49. A. swinging B. escaping C. shooting D. pointing
50. A. achieved B. predicted C. admitted D. realized
51. A. take off B. carry on C. figure out D. get through
52. A. despair B. amazement C. silence D. depth
53. A. enjoyed B. deserved C. hated D. confirmed
54. A. bright B. wet C. closed D. wide
55. A. gradually B. absolutely C. immediately D. eventually
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。
On May 24—26, 2025, the 4th Hunan Tourism Development Conference was held in Yueyang, which presented ____56____ wonderful cultural and tourism feast to the world.
Yueyang, rich in cultural and tourism resources, ____57____ (have) a long-standing history and profound cultural heritage, with the famous Yueyang Tower, ____58____ Fan Zhongyan wrote the renowned “Memorial to Yueyang Tower”, ____59____ (reflect) the Chinese traditional “worry-first” spirit.
During the conference, a series of activities were organized ____60____ (showcase) the charm of Yueyang. The “Dancing on the Lake” performance combined dance, light and music, creating a dreamy ____61____ (vision) effect on the surface of Dongting Lake. And the7th Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition provided visitors with a chance to experience/the rich folk cultures.
The conference also promoted the development of Yueyang’s tourism industry. A large number of tourists ____62____ (draw) to Yueyang, and the local tourism revenue increased significantly. The upgraded tourism facilities and improved service quality made the tourists’ experience ____63____ (pleasant) than before. Many tourists said it was Yueyang’s beautiful scenery, profound cultural heritages and warm-hearted people that left them ____64____ a deep impression.
Yueyang, through hosting this tourism development conference, has not only enhanced its own influence but also set a good example for other cities in promoting the ____65____ (integrate) development of culture and tourism.
第四部分 写作(共两节，满分40分)
第一节(满分15分)
66. 假定你校外教Julia计划在7月5日下午5:20在英语角做一个演讲，请你以学生会的名义发一则通知邀请同学们参加。内容包括：
1. 介绍活动时间、地点;
2. 演讲内容：耶鲁大学(Yale University)基本情况介绍。
注意：
1. 写作词数应为80个左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
NOTICE
Dear students,
Great news!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Student Union
July 4th, 2025
第二节(满分25分)
67. 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。
The cold weather forced the large red dog to bend into a tighter ball. Old Red lived outside Larry’s barbershop, sleeping on a small carpet. He had stayed there for a hot summer.
Old Red once had a friend—a black dog. But one night, his friend disappeared and Old Red was alone again. I always wished Old Red had his home. I would have adopted him in a minute. But we lived in a small apartment with our kids and we were unable to spare money for a dog’s medicine and food. I wondered who was feeding Old Red daily.
One day I found it out. “My husband even buys the most expensive food for Old Red,” Larry’s wife smiled. “He wants to bring him home, but his old mother living with us fears dogs extremely.” I then thanked Larry for his care. He brushed aside my thanks, insisting the dog meant nothing to him. During a snowstorm, Old Red disappeared. I asked Larry where he could be. “I’m glad he’s gone. He was a bother,” Larry said, busily cutting a customer’s hair. Later, his wife told me Larry was actually looking for the dog
On the third day, the dog reappeared. But I felt his nose: hot and dry. Bursting into the barbershop, I yelled, “Larry, Old Red is sick!” Larry replied, “I know. He won’t eat.”
I left the shop; for hours I tried to get someone to help Old Red, but in vain. My husband asked with pity, “Do you want me to go and look at that dog with you ” Quickly grabbing a blanket and antibiotics (抗生素) one of our children had been taking, we piled our kids in the car, driving to Larry’s shop. To my shock, Old Red was gone and couldn’t be found.
The next day I took the boys in for a haircut. Old Red was back, but looked worse than ever. After feeling his hot nose, I ran into the barbershop.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150个左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Looking at him, I said anxiously, “Larry, I’m afraid the dog is suffering too much.”
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Then the vet gave him a shot. He’s improving now,” Larry’s wife added excitedly.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
雅礼中学2024—2025学年度高二第二学期期末考试
英语
本试题卷分为听力、阅读、语言运用和写作四个部分，共10页。时量120分钟。满分150分。
第一部分 听力(共两节，满分30分)
做题时，先将答案标在试卷上。录音内容结束后，你将有两分钟的时间将试卷上的答案转涂到答题卡上。
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。
例：How much is the shirt
A. 19.15. B. 9.18. C. 9.15.
答案是C。
【1题答案】
【答案】C
【2题答案】
【答案】B
【3题答案】
【答案】C
【4题答案】
【答案】C
【5题答案】
【答案】B
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。
【6~7题答案】
【答案】6. C 7. B
【8~10题答案】
【答案】8. C 9. A 10. B
【11~13题答案】
【答案】11. B 12. C 13. C
【14~17题答案】
【答案】14. B 15. A 16. C 17. B
【18~20题答案】
【答案】18. B 19. A 20. C
第二部分 阅读(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、D四个选项中选出最佳选项。
A
【21~23题答案】
【答案】21. C 22. B 23. D
B
【24~27题答案】
【答案】24 D 25. A 26. C 27. B
C
【28~31题答案】
【答案】28. B 29. A 30. C 31. A
D
【32~35题答案】
【答案】32. A 33. C 34. A 35. B
第二节(共5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。选项中有两项为多余选项。
【36~40题答案】
【答案】36. C 37. B 38. A 39. D 40. F
第三部分 语言运用(共两节，满分30分)
第一节(共15小题;每小题1分，满分15分)
阅读下面短文，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。
【41~55题答案】
【答案】41. A 42. B 43. C 44. D 45. C 46. D 47. B 48. A 49. C 50. D 51. D 52. B 53. A 54. A 55. C
第二节(共10小题;每小题1.5分，满分15分)
【56~65题答案】
【答案】56. a 57. has
58. where 59. reflecting
60. to showcase
61. visual 62. were drawn
63. more pleasant
64. with 65. integrated
第四部分 写作(共两节，满分40分)
第一节(满分15分)
【66题答案】
【答案】NOTICE
Dear students,
Great news! We are pleased to announce that foreign teacher Julia will deliver a speech titled “An Introduction to Yale University” at the English Corner at 5:20 PM on July 5th.
Julia will share fascinating details and her excellent insights about Yale’s history, academic achievements, and campus life. Not only is this a chance to explore this world-renowned university, but it is also an exceptional opportunity to broaden your horizons and practice your English!
Never before has there been such an inspiring event in our English Corner! All students are welcome to join us, ask questions, and have fun!
The Student Union
July 4th, 2025
第二节(满分25分)
【67题答案】
【答案】
Looking at him, I said anxiously, “Larry. I’m afraid the dog is suffering too much.” The words slipped out of my mouth with a mix of frustration and desperation. Larry replied with inappropriate calmness, “I know, I haven’t seen him move all morning.” I couldn’t understand how Larry, who had cared for the dog all this time, could remain so indifferent to his fate. I then left the shop with a heavy heart. Driving home, my kids kept asking me whether Old Red would be okay. I nodded sympathetically, and we all prayed for him. One day later Larry’s wife called, “Guess what ” “After you left that day, Larry found a vet online,” she said and paused.
“Then the vet gave him a shot. He’s improving now.” Larry’s wife added excitedly. On hearing these words, I sighed with relief. I thanked her for the good news and joked, “Your husband is really sharp-tongued but tender-hearted.” With Larry’s continual help, Old Red’s tail wagged weakly again. Seeing Larry kneel beside the dog, gently offering him food, his mother, though initially fearful, was touched and softened. It was love that broke barriers, proving that compassion could melt even the coldest fears. From that day on, Old Red had not only just a carpet by the shop, but a home where he belonged—a testament to the power of kindness to transform lives.

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