The Best Medicine
As I approach the hospital wearing my white coat, I look just like any other doctor. That is until I put on my curly rainbow wig, big red nose, and add my name badge “Doctor Larry LaughOutLoud”. I walk through the doors into the waiting area, where there's a familiar atmosphere of boredom and tension. People sit uncomfortably on plastic chairs, looking through old magazines, all of which have been read hundreds of times previously. Anxious parents do what they can to comfort nervous and crying children.
In the middle of this particular scene I spot a small girl whose ankle is twice its normal size. I speak with the onduty nurse, who tells me that Lara's parents rushed her to the hospital after she fell off her bicycle. Since getting here, Lara has spent her time crying in pain. Although it's the doctors and nurses who will treat her injury, it's my job to make her feel better.
Scientific studies show that laughter produces chemicals to make people feel better, which means clown doctors can be helpful. We are specially trained clowns who work as part of a programme known as “hospital clowning”. I chose this career because of my experience of going to hospital when I was a kid. Although the doctors and nurses did a great job, hospitals weren't really designed for children. I spent much of the time when I was there feeling frightened and more than a little bored!Being a clown doctor means I can help people by entertaining them.
Visiting hospitals and other health care facilities, we clown doctors work together with medical professionals. On a typical day, we spend our time cheering up patients, their families, and more often than not, the hospital staff, too!We do this by doing magic tricks, singing songs, telling stories and, of course, telling silly jokes. Some children, though, don't feel like laughing, especially if they're in pain. We have to be very sensitive and work closely with the doctors and nurses, who keep us updated on each patient.
And my magic medicine does indeed seem to do the trick. While the doctor concentrates on examining Lara's ankle, I get her attention by doing a magic trick. Although she is clearly still in some pain, her scared and anxious look has been replaced—first by a small smile, and then by loud laughter as I “magically” produce her sock from out of my pocket. Seeing their daughter so much happier has in turn made Lara's parents more relaxed.
And as for me?Well, when I take off my wig and my red nose, I'm still wearing a big smile, as I remember all the fun and laughter of the day. While there might be more hospital visits ahead for Lara and others, I hope that clown doctors help make it a friendlier place to visit. After all, it really is true that “laughter is the best medicine”.
1. What's the text mainly about?A.A little girl whose ankle was injured. |
B.What a clown doctor does in the hospital. |
C.Why a clown doctor is so funny. |
D.A clown doctor isn't satisfied with his job. |
A.They love reading. |
B.They have no books to read. |
C.They want to keep calm. |
D.They feel bored. |
A.His boyhood experience of going to hospital. |
B.Lara's being injured while she rode her bicycle. |
C.His love for the performances of the clowns. |
D.Seeing so many children crying in the hospital. |
A.By giving an example. |
B.By listing figures. |
C.By making comparison. |
D.By giving instructions. |
A.Clown doctors have become increasingly popular. |
B.Amusement functions better than medicines. |
C.Laughter can help a lot during treatment. |
D.Hospital staff all think highly of clown doctors. |
7. 细读课文并找出心理描写的句子
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(2)
8. 细读课文并找出人物描写的句子
(1)
(2)
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【推荐1】Today, poetry and science are often considered to be mutually exclusive career paths. But that wasn’t always the case. The mathematician A da Lovelace and the physicist James Clerk Mahwah were both accomplished poets. The poet John Keats was a licensed surgeon. Combining the two practices fell out of favor in the 1800s. But translating research into lyrics, haiku, and other poetic forms is resurging (再现) among scientists as they look for alternative ways to inspire others with their findings.
What does the underlined word “exclusive” probably mean?A.Unable to contrast at the same time. | B.Unable to detect each other. |
C.Unable to distinct from each other. | D.Unable to exist at the same time. |
A. In addition, they usually ask candidates to take a literacy test after the interview.
B. If you are lucky enough to get an interview with them, you should come to the interview well-prepared.
C. Due to the large number of applications the company receives, they only ask a small number of applicants to come in for an interview.
D. Since the company pays well and offers secure jobs, the candidates that do pass the interview process always say “yes” to the job that is offered.
E. As the company is determined to find the right candidates, they will ask a lot of detailed questions to find out what you know about the company.
【推荐3】For nearly a decade now, Merebeth has been a self-employed pet transport specialist. Her pet transport job was born of the financial crisis(危机) in the late 2000s. The downturn hit the real estate (房地产) firm where she had worked for ten years as an office manager. The firm went broke and left her looking for a new job. One day, while driving near her home, she saw a dog wandering on the road, clearly lost. She took it home, and her sister in Denver agreed to take it. This was a loving home for sure, but 1, 600 miles away. It didn’t take long for Merebeth to decide to drive the dog there herself. It was her first road trip to her new job.
......
This wanderlust is inherited from her father, she says. She moved their family from Canada to California when she was one year old, because he wanted them to explore a new place together. As soon as she graduated from high school she left home to live on Catalina Island off the Californian coast, away from her parents, where she enjoyed a life of sailing and off-road biking.
It turns out that pet transporting pays quite well at about $30, 000 per year before tax. She doesn’t work in summer, as it would be unpleasantly hot for the animals in the car, even with air conditioning. As autumn comes, she gets restless—the same old wanderlust returning. It’s a call she must heed alone, though. Merebeth says, “When I am on the road, I’m just in my own world. I’ve always been independent-spirited and I just feel strongly that I mush help animals.”
1. Why did Merebeth changed her job?A.She wanted to work near her home. |
B.She was tired of working in the office. |
C.Her sister asked her to move to Denver. |
D.Her former employer was out of business. |
A.She has chances to see rare animals. |
B.She works hard throughout the year. |
C.She relies on herself the whole time. |
D.She earns a basic and tax-free salary. |
【推荐1】An 8-year-old Nigerian, Tani Adewumis, whose family is homeless, won first place at the New York State chess championship without a single defeat at the beginning of 2019 and he says he is not done yet.
“I want to be the youngest grandmaster,” Tani told The New York Times. Tani placed first in the tournament for kindergarten through third grade — an outstanding win for anyone. “It’s unheard of for any kid, let alone one in a homeless shelter,” said Russell Makofsky, who is in charge of the chess program.
Tani hasn’t had an easy life. His family left northern Nigeria in 2017 fearing attacks on Christians, and moved to New York City over a year ago where the boy learned how to play chess at school. School chess coach Shawn Martinez saw Tani’s potential after observing him stand out in the game a few weeks after first learning it early last year. He reached out to Tani’s family about joining in the school’s chess program, and learned they were unable to pay costs associated with membership. Shawn decided to abandon Tani’s fees, which can easily reach thousands with travel and chess camp admissions.
Seven victories later, the elementary school boy is one of the top players in the country for his age group. “He works very hard at his game,” Martinez said, believing Tani could achieve master status in the next year or two. The world’s youngest grandmaster qualified at the age of 12.
As Tani’s story hits national headlines, more people want to help. Makofsky, who set up a GoFundMe for Tani, said the family has received offers for a car, legal services, jobs and even housing. “My hope is that he’ll be in a home tonight,” Makofsky said.
What’s the best title for the text?A.A Homeless Nigerian Won the State Chess Championship |
B.A Nigerian Family Hit National Headlines in the USA |
C.An Organization Was Set Up to Support a Nigerian Child |
D.An 8-year-old Became the Youngest Grandmaster in 2019 |
【推荐2】Mr. Ferguson earned a bachelor’s degree in 1961 at Holy Cross University, where he developed an interest in painting. He served in the Army for two years until being discharged in 1963, and after studying briefly at the Boston Museum School, registered at the Chicago Art Institute, where he studied until 1966, when he entered the University of Illinois Chicago, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in 1966 in fine arts. Mr. Ferguson developed his interest and skills as a sculptor after moving to Baltimore to do further studies at the Maryland Institute College of Art’s Rinehart School of Sculpture, from which he graduated in 1971 with a master’s degree in fine arts.
What did Mr. Ferguson do first after serving in the army?
A.He studied at the Boston Museum School. |
B.He got a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. |
C.He entered the University of Illinois Chicago. |
D.He continued his studies at the Maryland Institute College. |
【推荐3】World War II had started, and British ships were always watching for German submarines called U-boats. The ship Ben Lomond had left Cape Town, South Africa, with a crew of 55, including a young officer named Poon Lim. On November 23, 1942, Ben Lomond was attacked by a U-boat. Within minutes the ship was sinking. Poon Lim grabbed a life jacket and leaped over the side. He swam rapidly away from the ship in case it exploded. Sure enough, it let out a large boom and sank beneath the waves.
Poon Lim struggled in the water for two hours. Then he saw an empty raft (筏), swam to it, and climbed aboard. He found a few cans of crackers, a water jug, some flares, and a flashlight, which could be enough supplies for about a month. Day after day Poon Lim had his few crackers and a couple of sips of water. He searched the horizon for ships. Twice he leaped up to shout and wave when he saw help coming. Once he saw a freight ship. It passed him. At a later time, he saw a United States Navy plane. It flew low over the raft but then disappeared. Still later a U-boat spotted him but for some reason left him alone. Poon Lim knew he needed to stay strong. He couldn’t get much exercise on an eight-foot-square raft, but he could swim circling the raft, a couple of times a day. Soon his food and water ran low. He knew that drinking seawater would make him sick, so he tore off the canvas cover on his life jacket and set it out to catch rainwater. Then he took apart the flashlight and used a wire inside to make a fishhook.
For months Poon Lim drifted, catching fish and sometimes birds. One time he even caught a shark. Finally, after 133 days, he saw a boat. Three sailors in a small sailboat picked him up and took him to Belém, a city on the coast of Brazil. Poon Lim had crossed the Atlantic Ocean. No one ever had survived longer on a raft at sea. Poon Lim received many honors, including Britain’s highest award. A booklet of his survival methods was put into every British life raft. But when Poon was interviewed, he said “I hope no one will ever have to break that record.”
Which is the correct order of the events?
a. Poon received many honors. b. Poon was short of food and water.
c. Poon managed to go on board a raft. d. Poon was picked up and taken to Belém.
e. Poon swam helplessly in a life jacket for hours.
A.ecbda | B.ebcad | C.cbeda | D.cedab |