Question

A girl became a volunteer in the activities of Deathbed Care, which meant visiting and taking care of a patient suffering from an incurable disease with days numbered.

The girl was assigned to look after an old man suffering from cancer whose children lived abroad. Their living conditions were not satisfactory while the old man had a lot of savings. She was expected to comfort him and keep up his spirits.

Every Saturday the girl came on time to keep him company, telling him stories. When he was having an intravenous drip (静脉滴注), she would help massage his arms. The doctor found the patient much improved mentally. The old man began to involve himself actively in the medical treatment and he seldom shouted at others.

But something that happened made the doctor uneasy and puzzled. Each time the girl left, the old man would give her some money. The doctor did nothing to interfere (干涉), unwilling to offend the old man. A month later the old man showed evident signs of decline after suffering coma (昏迷) a few times.

When rescued from the latest coma, the old man told the doctor his last wish, “I have deep sympathy for the girl. Will you be kind enough to help her finish her studies？”

But the doctor knew that her family was well­off and she had no difficulty pursuing her studies. Sometimes she even came to the hospital in her father’s car.

When the girl came at the weekend after the death of the old man, the doctor told her the bad news. She was very sad and burst into tears. Then she handed $ 500 to the doctor, saying, “The old man had all along thought I came to do the job because of poverty. He gave me money so that I could continue my schooling.” Now he got the answer to the puzzle. In the last period of his life, the old man found it a real pleasure to be able to help a girl badly in need.

1.If you’re a volunteer in the activities of Deathbed Care, what kind of people do you have to attend to?

A. Patients with a lot of money.

B. Patients suffering from cancer.

C. Patients without many days left.

D. Patients living alone.

2.What can we learn from the passage?

A. The doctor told the old man the truth.

B. The old man’s children were wealthy.

C. The girl’s father encouraged her to accept the money.

D. The girl didn’t accompany the old man when he died.

3.What is the real reason resulting in the old man’s mental improvement?

A. The girl’s love and great care.

B. The pleasure of helping people in need.

C. The doctor’s medical treatment.

D. His children’s progress in life.

Answer

1.C

2.D

3.B

【解析】

试题分析：本文叙述了一个小女孩参加了一个Deathbed Care的活动，目的去照顾那些弥留时期的病人，这个小女孩照顾的是一位老人他很富有，但是他的儿子都在国外，他一直有一个心愿想帮助那些可以帮助的人，这个小女孩虽然家境很好，但是她为了完成老人的心愿她不得不假装自己家很贫穷，无法上学，这位老人主动帮助她完成她的学业，他感觉很高兴，最后这个小女孩把钱给了那个医生，说出了事情的原委。

1.细节理解题。根据taking care of a patient suffering from an incurable disease with days numbered.照顾那些所剩的日子不多的病人，故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据When the girl came at the weekend after the death of the old man, the doctor told her the bad news.这个女孩是在周末这个老人去世后来的医院，所以推出她在老人去世时，她没有在他的身边，故选D。

3.推理判断题。根据he got the answer to the puzzle. In the last period of his life, the old man found it a real pleasure to be able to help a girl badly in need.这位老人完成他的心愿去帮助需要帮助的人，所以他的精神好多了，故选B。

考点：故事类短文阅读。