Question

“There’s a mother in PICU (儿童重症监护病房) who wants to talk about a kit she received.” the nurse told me. “Something about it made her cry.”

I’ve been a child-life specialist at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital since 2000. I help families understand diagnoses and treatment plans and manage the ups and downs that come with caring for a sick child. Tough talks with parents are part of the job, it still makes me feel nervous.

The kits the nurse was talking about were something I had recently introduced to the hospital: Comfort Kits from Guideposts. They were supposed to make a child’s experience here easier, not upsetting.

When I came across the kits at a conference, I fell in love with them. A treasure box of items designed not only to entertain kids, but to comfort and inspire them. There’s a coloring book, a stress ball, a CD of relaxing music, a hairy star named Sparkle, a journal and much more. I really believed these kits would help kids. I wished I hadn’t been mistaken.

At the patient’s room in PICU I saw a little girl, sleeping soundly, surrounded by tubes and machines. My eyes met her mother’s. The kit was open on her lap and tears were running down her cheeks.

“I’m Shannon. I manage the Child Life Department.” I said. “I’m sorry if the kit upset you. It’s a new item…”

The mother shook her head. “This has been one of the worst days of my life. I felt so scared and alone. Then I was handed this box. I know it’s for my daughter, but it’s just the comfort I needed. I wanted to say thank you.”

With that I knew Comfort Kits belonged here. We’ve been using them for almost three years now. Each child who’s admitted to the hospital receives one. Every day I see kids coloring, journaling, playing with Sparkle.

But as this mom showed me Comfort Kits aren’t just for kids. The hope they bring, which can be in short supply in hospitals sometimes, is felt by the whole family.

1.The author introduced Comfort Kits to the hospital to_________.

A. relax nurses    B. cure kids of diseases

C. comfort parents    D. benefit sick kids

2.Why was the girl’s mother crying?

A. She couldn’t wake her kid.    B. She felt alone and scared.

C. She was moved to tears.    D. She worried about her kid’s illness.

3.Which of the following can replace the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?

A. There may be lack of hope in hospitals.

B. Kits are in great need in hospitals.

C. Parents are often in low spirits in hospitals.

D. Medical supplies are not enough in hospitals.

4.What’s the author’s attitude towards Comfort Kits?

A. Disappointed.    B. Excited.

C. Nervous.    D. Confident.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.A

4.D

【解析】这是一篇记叙文。作为一名儿童医护专家，作者引进了一套用来安慰孩子的组合包，里面有一本彩色书，一个压力球，一张轻松音乐的CD，一个叫斯派克的毛绒玩具，一本日记等等，这套组合包对患者及其家属产生了很大的安慰作用。

1.细节理解题。根据文章第三段的最后一句They were supposed to make a child’s experience here easier, not upsetting.可知，作者引进这套组合包是为了帮助患病的孩子们在医院里过好些，而且确实让孩子们受益不少。故选D。

2.推理判断题。根据文章倒数第三段I know it’s for my daughter, but it’s just the comfort I needed.可以推断出，文中所提到的母亲之所以哭是因为她被感动了。故选C。

3.句意猜测题。根据文章最后一段The hope they bring, which can be in short supply in hospitals sometimes, is felt by the whole family.可以猜测出，此处表示医院中患者及其家庭可能缺乏希望。故选A。

4.观点态度题。根据文章第四段I really believed these kits would help kids. I wished I hadn’t been mistaken.以及文章最后一段可以推断出，作者对Comfort Kits充满信心。故选D。