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 well－off 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. The patients in need of help.

B. The people suffering from cancer.

C. The patients without many days left.

D. The people suffering from diseases.

2.What can we infer about the old man?

A. He had a lot of savings.

B. He was suffering from cancer.

C. He often lost his temper before meeting the girl.

D. He asked the doctor to help the girl finish her study.

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

A. The girl's comfort and care.

B. The pleasure of being helpful to people in need.

C. People's understanding.

D. His children's progress.

4.What can we know 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.

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.B

4.D

【解析】本文叙述了一个女孩参加Deathbed Care的活动，工作是照顾弥留时期的病人。女孩照顾的老人很富有，一直有一个心愿想帮助那些可以帮助的人，女孩为了完成老人的心愿不得不假装自己家很贫穷，无法上学，这位老人为能主动帮助她完成学业感到高兴，最后女孩把钱给了医生，说出了事情的原委。

1.C

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

2.C

细节理解题。根据第三段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.可知在这个老人遇到这个女孩之前情绪不好。故选C。

3.B

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。

4.D

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.这个女孩是在周末老人去世后来的医院，所以推断在老人去世时，她没有在他身边，故选D。