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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8. 细读课文并找出人物描写的句子
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This summer holiday,