Question

Working Christmas Day

    It was unusually quiet in the emergency room （急诊室） on December25.

    I didn't think there would be any patients, complaining about having to work on. Just then five people showed up at my desk, a pale woman and four small children.

    "Are you all sick?" I asked doubtfully.

    "Yes," she said weakly and lowered her head.

    But when it came to descriptions of their problems, things got a little unclear. Two of the children had headaches, but I couldn't find any normal body language of holding the head or trying to keep it still. Two children had earaches, but only one could tell me which ear was hurting. The mother complained of a cough but seemed to work to produce it.

    Something was wrong, but I didn't say anything but explained that it might be a little while before a doctor saw her. She replied, "Take your time; it's warm in here."

    I checked the form after the admitting clerk had finished her work with the family. No address — they were homeless. The waiting room was warm.

    I looked out at the family standing by the Christmas tree. The youngest one was pointing at the television and shouting something to her mother. The oldest one was looking at the colorful Christmas tree.

    I went back to the nurses' station and mentioned we had a homeless family in the waiting room. The nurses, complaining about working Christmas, turned to pity for a family just trying to get warm on Christmas. The team went into action, much as we do when there's a medical emergency. But this one was a Christmas emergency.

    We were all offered a free meal in the hospital dining hall on Christmas Day, so we prepared a big one for our Christmas guests. We needed presents, too. We put together oranges and apples in a basket. We collected from different departments candies, crayons and other things that could be presents. As seriously as we met the physical needs of the patients that came to us that day, our team worked to meet the needs, and beyond the expectations, of a family who just wanted to be warm on Christmas Day.

    Later, as the family walked to the door to leave, the four-year-old came running back, gave me a hug and whispered, "Thanks for being our angels today."

1.Why did the family come to the hospital?

A. They were sick.                        B. They were cold and hungry.

C. They wanted to visit friends.              D. They got all their money lost.

2.How did the writer and her workmates help the family?

A. They offered a free meal to them.

B. They bought some presents for them.

C. They sent for a doctor for them.

D. They asked them to stay overnight in the hospital.

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A. The mother was seriously ill.

B. The family were driven out of the hospital.

C. The writer and her workmates always liked to work on Christmas.

D. The family thanked the writer and her workmates for their kindness.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.D

【解析】

试题分析：短文大意：这篇短文描述了圣诞节夜间发生在候诊室的一个故事。当值班的护士正百无聊赖时，一位母亲和她的四个孩子出现在候诊室。她们谎称自己是来看病，后来细心的护士发现了她们是无家可归时，联合同事们和这一家五口人举行了一个特殊的圣诞节。

1.1】推理判断题。根据No address — they were homeless. The waiting room was warm.及上下文描述，可知这一家人无家可归，他们是来医院取暖的。故选B。

2.2】细节理解题。根据短文倒数第二段描述，可知这群护士为这家人提供了一顿免费的晚餐。故选A。

3.3】推理判断题。阅读短文可知作者和他的同事们为这可怜的一家人不但提供了温暖，还提供了一顿免费的晚餐。联系下文最后一段描述，可知这家人对他们充满了感激。故选D。

考点：考查故事类短文