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。

My wife and I wanted to share our new home with family and friends by hosting a small gathering in the early summer. She had prepared lots of snacks, while my job was to have the backyard in order.

There was plenty of space for the kids to run and play. There was just one thing I hadn’t counted on: My brother chose to bring his dog Toby, a 50-pound ball of fire. Though friendly, he could easily knock over my niece’s small boys and my six-month-old granddaughter. So, when my brother showed up, I asked him to watch Toby and keep him outside.

My plan was working out just fine. Toby was using up his energy by running back and forth in the backyard and giving the kids plenty of room. Unexpectedly, after supper, the weather changed. It started to rain and everyone went indoors.

It was an awkward moment. I didn’t want Toby to be running around in the house, and my brother wasn’t happy with driving home with a wet dog. Eventually, my brother decided to leave rather than force the issue.

A few days passed, and I hadn’t heard anything from my brother. I texted him and expressed wishes for him to come out again. His reply came as a surprise—a shock, actually: “Not a chance.” Clearly, he was unhappy over the way we had parted. After all, I had left him little choice. Well, he’ll get over it, I reasoned.

Two months passed. My wife suggested I get in touch with my brother, but I resisted, thinking he should call first. However, my conscience (良心) kept bothering me. I tried to put myself in my brother’s shoes. He was facing health issues and his wife of thirty-five years had passed away a few months earlier. Toby was his constant companion, the one who kept him going.

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。

I realized it was me who was at fault.

With the biscuits my wife had made, I arrived at my brother’s door.

参考范文：

I realized it was me who was at fault. I had been so focused on keeping the party under control that I failed to consider how important Toby was to my brother during this difficult time. My pride had kept me from reaching out, and now months had passed without a proper conversation. One evening, I picked up the phone and left him a voice message, apologizing for my behavior and asking if we could meet. To my relief, he called back the next day, and we agreed to get together soon.

With the biscuits my wife had made, I arrived at my brother’s door. He opened it with a surprised smile, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. Then we hugged—something we hadn’t done since before his wife passed away. We sat on the porch with Toby resting beside us, and I handed him the box of biscuits. “Thank you,” he said quietly. We talked for hours, laughing, remembering old times, and slowly rebuilding what had been lost. As I watched Toby gently rest his head on my brother’s leg, I knew we were finally on the path to healing.

本文以人物为线索展开，讲述了作者因担心弟弟的狗Toby影响聚会，要求弟弟看好狗，后因天气变化导致弟弟提前离开并心生芥蒂。两个月后作者意识到自己的过错，主动带着妻子做的饼干登门道歉，最终兄弟俩和解的故事，展现了亲情中理解与包容的重要性。

(详解)

1. 段落续写：

①由第一段首句内容 “我意识到是我错了。” 可知，第一段可描写作者反思自己在聚会上只顾控制局面，忽视了Toby对弟弟的重要性，因骄傲迟迟未联系弟弟，最终通过电话留言道歉并约定见面。

②由第二段首句内容 “带着妻子做的饼干，我来到了弟弟家门口。” 可知，第二段可描写弟弟开门时的惊讶与沉默，兄弟俩拥抱和解，坐在门廊上谈心，看着Toby依偎在弟弟腿边，明白亲情修复的意义。

2. 续写线索：反思过错——电话留言道歉——约定见面——带饼干登门——拥抱沉默——谈心和解——领悟亲情

3. 词汇激活

行为类

①道歉：apologize / say sorry / make an apology

②拥抱：hug / embrace

③重建：rebuild / restore / reconstruct

情绪类：

①宽慰：relief / comfort / satisfaction / ease

②惊讶：surprised / shocked / astonished

(点睛)

(高分句型1) “I had been so focused on keeping the party under control that I failed to consider how important Toby was to my brother during this difficult time.” (运用了 “so ... that ...” 引导结果状语从句以及how引导宾语从句。)

(高分句型2) “One evening, I picked up the phone and left him a voice message, apologizing for my behavior and asking if we could meet.” (运用了现在分词短语作状语以及if引导的宾语从句。)

(高分句型3) “As I watched Toby gently rest his head on my brother’s leg, I knew we were finally on the path to healing.” (运用了as引导时间状语从句以及省略that的宾语从句。)