Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did what she could to help her three-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling. They find out that the new baby is going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sings to his sister in Mommy's tummy.
The pregnancy progresses normally for Karen. But complications arise during delivery. Finally, Michael's little sister is born. But she is in serious condition. With siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushes the infant to the intensive care unit at St. Mary's Hospital.
The little girl gets worse. The doctor tells the parents, "There is very little hope. Be prepared for the worst." Karen and her husband have fixed up a special room in their home for the new baby — now they plan a funeral.
Michael, keeps begging his parents to let him see his sister, "I want to sing to her," he says. But kids are never allowed in Intensive Care. However, Karen makes up her mind. She will take Michael whether they like it or not. “If he doesn't see his sister now, he may never see her alive.” She dresses him in an oversized scrub suit and marches him into ICU. The head nurse recognizes him as a child and bellows, "Get that kid out of here now! " The mother, the usually mild-mannered lady glares steel-eyed into the head nurse's face, her lips a firm line. "He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!" Karen tows Michael to his sister's bedside. He gazes at the tiny infant losing the battle to live. And he begins to sing.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray”
Instantly the baby girl responds. The pulse rate becomes calm and steady.
"You never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away "
The ragged, strained breathing becomes as smooth as a kitten's purr.
Keep on singing, Michael. Tears conquer the face of the bossy head nurse as well as Karen.
Funeral plans are scrapped. The next, day — the very next day — the little girl is well enough to go home!
NEVER GIVE UP THE ONE WE LOVE!
1.How did Michal’s feel when he knew that he was going to have a sister?
A. indifferent. B. worried. C. expectant. D. disappointed.
2.The doctor recommended the family ___________.
A. get ready for the worst result.
B. wait for the hope in the near future.
C. prepare much more money for the infant.
D. prepare for another chance in other hospitals.
3.Which word can best replace the underlined word in Paragraph 4?
A. pointed. B. yelled. C. whispered. D. ignored.
4.What happened when Michael sang to his little sister?
A. The little baby responded to his song and woke up immediately.
B. The baby heard the song and burst into tears.
C. The baby’s physical signs disappeared eventually.
D. The baby recovered from the dangerous state of coma gradually.
5.What could be the best title of the article?
A. An unexpected gift. B. A miracle of love.
C. A iron-mother. D. A medical success.
Anyone who owns a car knows that we should maintain the car and fill it with fuel of good quality. To keep it looking good, we occasionally take it 1. a wash. If we abuse the car, it won’t take us where we want to go. 2. it is with our body and soul. The body is just like a vehicle to do the soul’s building. 3. the body is full of energy, it can help open up the soul. Some deeper life issues will become easy for us. Just 4. we learn to maintain a car, we ought to learn how to maintain the body. There must be 5. balance between enjoying ourselves and working. For one thing, we don’t need to be a slave. 6. can sometimes refresh the body so that our soul can accomplish more. For 7. , we have to be in control. Enjoy the pleasure, 8. don’t be addicted to it. Only when our body is at full power can the “will-power” go further.
On Friday morning, I was waiting in the corridor with my class for the physics exam. Glancing back from the front of the queue, I found my best friend Terry, who was treating me like I didn’t exist during the past two weeks, 36 all my calls and messages.
With all the students seated in the exam room, Mr. Reed, our physics teacher, talked to the class and announced the exam. I hated physics and felt it hard to 37 my paper. I was just looking up when a 38 caught my eye. I could hardly believe it! Terry had her phone on her left knee and she was reading from it. Is that how Terry always got good 39 ? I almost put my hand up to tell the teacher, but what would everyone else think of her? However, it wasn’t 40 ! So I nodded to Mr. Reed. He walked 41 down the row of tables. Terry was busy with her phone so that she didn’t even find Mr. Reed had 42 her. She looked up from her phone with a frightened expression. Before she had a chance to explain, Mr. Reed took her 43 and told her to leave the room. Terry started crying as she walked to the door, looking back over her shoulder at me, sad and ashamed.
After the exam, I received a text message from Terry, saying “I’m really 44 that I’ve been avoiding you lately but it’s been the hardest two weeks of my life. My dad has a heart attack and he’s been in hospital. He has a(n) 45 today and I am really worried. I know it is stupid, but I was trying to send a text message to my mum to see how it was going. Then Mr. Reed caught me and thought I was 46 . I wish I’d told you what’s been happening. I know I shouldn’t 47 who my friends are. Will you forgive me?” At these words, from my deep heart sprang up a burst of guilt along with the belief: Friendship is an honor and a gift, and worth the effort to treasure.
1.A. ignoring B. receiving C. answering D. preserving
2.A. hand out B. give up C. throw away D. concentrate on
3.A. mistake B. movement C. mark D. sentence
4.A. spirits B. preparations C. grades D. questions
5.A. serious B. difficult C. fair D. helpful
6.A. silently B. nervously C. happily D. bravely
7.A. left B. reached C. passed D. followed
8.A. advice B. guidebook C. place D. paper
9.A. sorry B. angry C. glad D. lucky
10.A. competition B. interview C. speech D. operation
11.A. learning B. cheating C. relaxing D. calling
12.A. mind B. forgive C. forget D. persuade
When young, work with every fiber of your being and when old, you’ll have little left _____ about.
A. to complain B. complaining
C. having complained D. to have complained
Nothing is _____ to defeat you when you often assess yourself negatively.
A. easy B. more easily C. much easier D. the easiest
Cancer claimed the life of Steve Jobs at the age of 56, _____ spirit will live on forever in Apple.
A. who B. whose C. which D. that
