一個溫暖人心的故事

廣東 莫炎芬

兩名救火歸來的消防員在餐廳點了早餐，充滿愛心的餐廳服務員莉斯主動為他們付了賬，并附上一張暖心的字條。然而，故事并未就此畫上句號……

Liz Woodward started her shift as usual at the 130 Diner.At the time,Liz was only 24 years old, and she had no idea what life had planned for her. On that important day, July 23,Liz was working the night shift.It was an easy night,until around 5：00 am two firefighters entered the restaurant.It looked as if they had a rough night.

As soon as they entered the restaurant, the firefighters ordered from Liz the biggest cup of coffee and some food.She knew that a nearby warehouse was on fire.The news about warehouse burning was on the news all day. Overhearing their conversation about the challenging work they had just completed,she decided to do something nice.

One of the firefighters was Paul Hullings,who was on the scene for 12 hours to put out that fire.Firefighters can spend days without sleep fighting fires.Tim Young,the other firefighter with Paul, was responsible for pumping water off location. So, when they asked for their bill,Liz did something that caught the two firefighters off guard.

“I had been following the New Brunswick fire on the news,”Liz said.“That was their first meal in over 12 hours; the least I could do was buy it for them for all they do every day.”

So Liz brought a bill and carefully put it on the table. What they saw on the bill was actually a handwritten note that said,“Your breakfast is on me today. Thank you for what you do, for serving others & for running into the places everyone else runs away from. No matter what your role is, you are courageous, brave, and strong. Thank you for being bold every day!Fueled by fire and driven by courage—what an example you are.Get some rest.”

These words made them touched and find instant energy for another day.The firefighters thanked her before leaving the restaurant.

When they returned home, they shared it on Facebook, urging their friends to eat there.But that wasn't all.Paul,the younger firefighter,wanted to learn more about Liz.

Reading Check

閱讀上面的短文，根據所給情節進行續寫，使之構成一個完整的故事。

注意：

1.所續寫短文的詞數應為150左右；

2.續寫部分分為兩段，每段的開頭語已為你寫好。

Paragraph 1:

Therefore,Paul searched for her on social media,and what he found made his jaws drop.

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Paragraph 2:

When people learnt about Liz's difficult situation, they tried every effort to help her from all corners.

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寫作導引

Ⅰ.Sorting the elements

Genre Characters When&Where 1.Liz Woodward;2.;Tim Young Around 5：00 am,on July 23 when Liz was working 3.At the 130 Diner●Liz Woodward started her shift 4.at the 130 Diner, on Background July 23.●A near warehouse was 5..Plots Beginning Two firefighters entered the restaurant and they ordered from Liz the biggest cup of coffee and 6..Development Learning this was their first meal in over 12 hours, Liz decided to 7.and wrote some touching words on the bill.Climax The firefighters were touched,and they shared the story 8..Paul also wanted to learn more about Liz.

Ⅱ.Analyzing the characters'personalities

Characters Clues Liz learned that they had been on the scene and this was their first meal in 1..Personalities careful in her work Liz Woodward 2.and generous hardworking and brave Paul Hullings&Tim Young She decided to pay the bill and wrote some touching words on the bill.They worked over 12 hours continuously to put out the fire.They shared the story on Facebook, 3.their friends to eat there. Paul also wanted to learn more about Liz.4.

Ⅲ.Exploring the theme

What is the text about?And what does the author want to tell us by telling this story?

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Ⅳ.Discovering language features

1.Analyzing language features

（1）豐富的介詞短語，增加了表達的多樣性。

She knew that a nearby warehouse was on fire.(Para.2)

One of the firefighters was Paul Hullings,who was on the scene for 12 hours to put out that fire.(Para.3)

Tim Young,the other firefighter with Paul,was responsible for pumping water off location.(Para.3)

Liz did something that caught the two firefighters off guard.(Para.3)

Your breakfast is on me today.(Para.5)

（2）多樣的非謂語動詞作狀語，簡潔地表達了與邏輯主語之間的各種邏輯關系。

Overhearing their conversation about the challenging work they had just completed,she decided to do something nice.(Para.2)

Firefighters can spend days without sleep fighting fires.(Para.3)

Fueled by fire and driven by courage—what an example you are.(Para.5)

When they returned home, they shared it on Facebook, urging their friends to eat there.(Para.7)

（3）豐富的形容詞讓表達更生動形象，使讀者眼前一亮，印象深刻。

It looked as if they had a rough night.(Para.1)

You are courageous,brave,and strong.(Para.5)

Thank you for being bold every day!(Para.5)

These words made them touched and find instant energy for another day.(Para.6)

（4）排比的使用能增強語勢，強調內容，加重感情。

Thank you for what you do, for serving others & for running into the places everyone else runs away from.(Para.5)

2.Discovering useful expressions

as if 好像

a rough night 艱難的一夜

the challenging work 富有挑戰的工作

on the scene 當場；在場

put out 撲滅

be caught off guard 出乎意料

a handwritten note 一張手寫的字條

Your breakfast is on me.你的早餐我請。

V.Conceiving new plots

續寫第一段：

1.根據故事的最后一段可知，兩個消防員把這個故事分享在臉書上，保羅還想要進一步去了解莉斯的情況，因而可以推測這一段要寫莉斯的生活境況。從續寫第二段的段首句又可以得知，莉斯應該是手頭拮據，過著艱難的生活的。推薦表達有：live a tough life、keep one's head above water、be short of money、be tight on money、make ends meet等。

2.根據上面的分析，第一段要寫莉斯面臨的生活窘境，我們可根據以下問題進行推測：

（1）What made Liz live a difficult life?

（2）What was her family situation?

（3）Has she done anything to change the situation?

續寫第二段：

1.根據續寫第二段的段首句中的they tried every effort to help her from all corners可知，人們在了解莉斯的情況后都在幫她，我們可根據以下問題進行推測：

（1）How would people from all corners help her?

（2）What was her response to people's help?

2.觀察故事開始的情節，根據首尾呼應的原則，預測最后一段的內容。

Has she got out of the trouble after people tried every effort to help her?

3.從作者的寫作目的推測結果的走向。為了保持與前文主題的一致，我們可以推測故事的結果：莉斯在獲得大家的幫助后，走出了生活的窘境。這達到了“好人有好報”的美好結局，呼應主題意義。表示“好人有好報”的相關表達有：Good things happen to good people、A good heart conquers ill fortune、One good turn deserves another、Good things happen to kind-hearted people。