It was the afternoon of December 24, the day before Christmas; and as the newest doctor in our office, I had to work. The only thing that brightened my day was the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in our waiting room and a gift sent to me by a fellow I was dating — a dozen long-stemmed red roses.
As I was cleaning my office, I was told a lady urgently needed to speak with me. As I stepped out, I noticed a young, tired-looking woman with a baby in her arms. Nervously, she explained that her husband — a prisoner in a nearby prison — was my next patient. She told me she wasn’t allowed to visit her husband in prison and that he had never seen his son. Her request was for me to let the boy’s father sit in the waiting room with her as long as possible before I called him for his appointment. Since my schedule wasn’t full, I agreed. After all, it was Christmas Eve.
A short time later, her husband arrived — with chains on his feet and hands, and two armed guards as bodyguards. The woman’s tired face lit up like our little Christmas tree when her husband took a seat beside her. I kept glancing out to watch them laugh, cry and share their child. After almost an hour, I called the prisoner back to my office. The patient seemed like a gentle and modest man. I wondered what he possibly could have done to be held under such conditions. I tried to make him as comfortable as possible.
At the end of the appointment, I wished him a Merry Christmas----a difficult thing to say to a man headed back to prison. He smiled and thanked me. He also said he felt saddened by the fact he hadn’t been able to get his wife anything for Christmas. On hearing this, I was inspired with a wonderful idea.
I’ll never forget the look on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful, long-stemmed roses. I’m not sure who experienced the most joy — the husband in giving, the wife in receiving, or myself in having the opportunity to share in this special moment.
1.What can be inferred from the first paragraph?
A. The writer was a newcomer to her office.
B. A fellow sent her a dozen red roses as Christmas present.
C. She was in low spirits because she had to work before Christmas.
D. She was at work with a light heart.
2.The young woman came to the writer’s office for the purpose of __________.
A. having her baby examined
B. giving her husband a chance to make his escape
C. having her husband examined
D. getting a chance for her family to get together
3.The underlined part in paragraph 3 most probably means “__________”.
A. to be sent to hospital B. to be separated from his family
C. to be comfortable D. to become a prisoner
4.What does the writer learn from the story?
A. The wife experienced the most joy in receiving.
B. An act of kindness can mean a lot.
C. The prisoner was treated with mercy.
D. Whoever breaks the law should be punished.
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 baby. They found out that it was going to be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael to his sister in Mommy’s tummy(肚子). He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he even met her.
The pregnancy progressed for Karen. In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes ... every minute. But something serious during delivery. Finally, Michael’s little sister was born. But she was in serious . With siren(警报) howling in the night, the ambulance the infant(婴儿) to the Intensive Care unit at St. Mary’s Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee.
inched by. The little girl got worse. The doctors told the parents, “There is very little hope.” Karen and her husband contacted a local cemetery (墓地) about a burial plot. They had a special room in their home for the new baby — now they planned a funeral.
After two weeks in Intensive Care, it looked as if a funeral would come the week was over. Michael, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister, “I want to sing to her,” he said. Kids were never in Intensive Care. But Karen made up her mind to take Michael they liked it or not. If he didn’t see his sister now, he may never see her alive.
She him in an oversized suit and him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket, but the head nurse him as a child, “Get that kid out of here now!” The mother rose up strong in Karen, and the usually lady glared steel-eyed right into the head nurse’s face, saying in a tone of voice, “He is not leaving until he sings to his sister!” Karen towed Michael to his sister’s bedside. He gazed at the tiny baby the battle to live. And he began to sing. the pure hearted voice of a 3-year-old, Michael sang:
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray…” the baby girl responded. The pulse rate began to down and became steady.
“Keep on singing, Michael.” encouraged Karen. “You never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away…”As Michael sang to his sister, the baby's breath became as smooth as a kitten’s purr.
“Keep on singing, Michael.” “The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping…” Michael’s little sister relaxed as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her.
Funeral plans were . The next day — the very next day — the little girl was well enough to go home!
The medical staff just called it a miracle. Karen called it a miracle of God’s love!
1.A. talked B. sang C. played D. whispered
2.A. quietly B. peacefully C. hopefully D. normally
3.A. arose B. raised C. rose D. aroused
4.A. situation B. place C. condition D. position
5.A. took B. sent C. carried D. rushed
6.A. The years B. The months C. The weeks D. The days
7.A. fixed up B. made up C. built up D. set up
8.A. until B. before C. after D. when
9.A. asked B. allowed C. admitted D. acquired
10.A. no matter B. even if C. whether D. as if
11.A. put B. dressed C. wore D. fit
12.A. marched B. forced C. hid D. followed
13.A. required B. replied C. recognized D. regarded
14.A. warm-hearted B. well-managed C. mild-mannered D. cold-blooded
15.A. firm B. strong C. hard D. tough
16.A. losing B. lost C. to lose D. having lost
17.A. In B. On C. At D. With
18.A. Finally B. Instantly C. Patiently D. Interestingly
19.A. calm B. quiet C. slow D. fast
20.A. erased B. scratched C. abandoned D. switched
—Have you graduated from college?
—Yes, ________.
A. I studied French for two years.
B. I have been studying French.
C. I have studied French for two years.
D. I had studied French for two years.
______ he can hardly read is ____________ he is slow in mind.
A. what; that B. That; what C. What; because D. That; because
— I think it was his excitement for his success in the first half that led to his eventual failure in the game.
— You bet. Old sayings never fail, “________”
A. Failure is the mother of success
B. Pride goes before a fall
C. A hero is nothing but a product of his time
D. A fall into the pit, a gain in the wit
To finish the task on time, I think we should _______ and cooperate.
A. join together B. connect C. join hand D. join forces
