It was unusually quiet in the emergency room on December 25. I was the nurse on duty that day. I didn’t think there would be any 41 , sighing about having to work on Christmas. Just then five bodies 42 at my desk, a pale woman and four children.
“Are you all 43 ?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said weakly and lowered her head.
But when it came to 44 of their problems, things got a little strange. Two of the children had headaches, two children had earaches, 45 only one could tell me which ear was affected. The 46 complained of a cough but seemed to produce it.
I didn’t say anything but 47 that it might be a little while 48 a doctor could see her. She responded, “ 49 your time,” and then added, “It’s warm in here.”
Then, I checked their registration form out of curiosity. No address---they were 50 . The waiting room was warm.
I went back to the nurse station and mentioned we had a homeless 51 in the waiting room. The nurses, complaining of 52 on Christmas, turned to sympathy for a family just trying to get 53 on Christmas. The team went into action, much as we do when there’s a 54 emergency. But this was a Christmas emergency.
We were all 55 a free meal on Christmas Day, so we took back that meal and prepared a big dinner for our 56 . We needed presents. We 57 from different departments candies, fruits and other things 58 that could be presents. As seriously as we met the 59 needs of the patients, our team worked to meet the needs of a family who just wanted to be warm on Christmas.
Later, as the family walked to the door to 60 , the mother came running back, gave me a hug and whispered, “Thanks for being our angels today.”
41. A. customers B. patients C. workers D. tourists
42. A. showed up B. took in C. came out D. looked on
43. A. eager B. hungry C. sick D. warm
44. A. descriptions B. comments C. instructions D. results
45. A. so B. for C. thus D. but
46. A. mother B. children C. nurses D. doctor
47. A. answered B. imagined C. explained D. analyzed
48. A. after B. since C. before D. when
49. A. Make B. Take C. Care D. Spend
50. A. lonely B. greedy C. clever D. homeless
51. A. family B. holiday C. woman D. Christmas
52. A. operating B. interrupting C. managing D. working
53. A. present B. warm C. relief D. comfort
54. A. beneficial B. friendly C. medical D. different
55. A. rewarded B. offered C. allowed D. ordered
56. A. neighbors B. relations C. brothers D. guests
57. A. borrowed B. received C. collected D. bought
58. A. expensive B. fantastic C. generous D. available
59. A. permanent B. physical C. endless D. ridiculous
60. A. leave B. travel C. rest D. relax
41-45:BACAD 46-50:ACCBD 51-55:ADBCB 56-60:DCDBA