Has helping people become a thing of the past? Walking through the crowds of today’s busy cities, you might think so. It seems people are too busy or too afraid to lend a hand to someone they don’t know.  But at Radio Beijing today, two friends would like to share their experiences with the listeners.

Hazel Johansen

One Sunday morning, I was running late for work.  As I drove off, I noticed an elderly lady from the neighborhood.  She was pulling a large piece of wood out of the rain. I wanted to help, but I was in a hurry.

I hesitated （犹豫） for a moment. Then I stopped my car, got out and helped her move the wood. Months went by. Then one day, I was walking in the street and saw some workmen cleaning out an old store. There in the dark and dirty corner was a large Coca-Cola cooler. How fun! The workmen said I could have it, so I picked it up and started home. I didn’t get very far. It was much heavier than I thought.  How could I get this to my home? Then out of the blue, the elderly lady appeared — with a handcart! I had helped her, and just when I needed it, she was there and returned the favor （帮忙）.

Rachel Swats — The Irish Helper

Going to the hospital is no fun —— especially when you live in a foreign culture. I recently went to see a doctor in the US. When I got there, I discovered I had forgotten to bring enough money to pay for my treatment. I had my credit card in my pocket, and I thought I could use that. However, I was wrong! For some reason, my card didn’t work. And even the hospital’s ATM wouldn’t let me take money. Since I couldn’t pay, I couldn’t get the treatment I needed.

I was so sad that I began to cry.  Unluckily, when I started crying, I had trouble stopping. I was making quite a big noise!

Everybody else in line was getting impatient （不耐烦的）. Just at that very moment, a lovely Irish woman appeared and asked me what I needed. I told her my problem. She immediately handed me $1,000, along with her business card, so I could repay her later.

I was able to pay and get the treatment.  When I got back home, I emailed the Irish woman. We’ve been in touch ever since!

1. Which of the following could be the best title for Hazel’s story?

    A. A Favor Returned                       B. A Kind Elderly Lady

    C.  She Was There                        D. An Act of Kindness

2. What does "out of the blue" mean in the 4th paragraph?

    A. all of a sudden                          B. as a result

C. to some extent                          D. in a minute

3. What trouble did Rachel meet in the hospital?

    A. She could not stop crying loudly.

    B. She forgot to take any money with her.

    C. Her money was not enough for the treatment.

    D. People waiting in line were impatient with her.

4. Both of the story tellers are trying to tell that ________.

    A. learning to help others is very important

    B. giving help to a stranger is not an easy thing

    C. help might be closer than you think when you get into trouble

    D. someone will be there to help you out if you help other people

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was cooking supper, and passed her a piece of paper that he had written something on. After his mom dried her hands on an apron (围裙), she read what it was on the paper .
For cutting the grass: $5.00
For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00
For going to the supermarket for you: $1.00
For looking after my little brother while you went shopping: $1.00
For taking out the trash: $1.00
For getting a good report card: $5.00
For cleaning up the garden: $2.00
Total: $16.00
Well, his mother looked at him for a while, and then she picked up the pen, turned over the paper he’d written on, and this was what she wrote:
For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me, free.
For all the nights that I’ve sat up with you, fed you and sung songs for you, free.
For all the tears (泪水) that you’ve caused through the years, free.
For all the nights that were filled with worries, free.
For the toys, food, clothes and even cleaning your nose, free.
Son, when you add it up, the full cost of my love is free.
When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were tears in his eyes and he looked straight at his mother and said, “Mom, I sure do love you.” And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL".
根据短文内容，判断下列句子的正误。正确的填“T”，错误的填“F”，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
【小题1】The boy came to his mother for money.
【小题2】 After his mom dried her hands on an apron, she gave hia son the money right away.
【小题3】When his mother went shopping, the boy looked after his little sister.
【小题4】 The boy thought that his mother should pay him $16.
【小题5】The mother did everything for the boy freely.

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was cooking supper, and passed her a piece of paper that he had written something on. After his mom dried her hands on an apron (围裙), she read what it was on the paper .
For cutting the grass: $5.00
For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00
For going to the supermarket for you: $1.00
For looking after my little brother while you went shopping: $1.00
For taking out the trash: $1.00
For getting a good report card: $5.00
For cleaning up the garden: $2.00
Total: $16.00
Well, his mother looked at him for a while, and then she picked up the pen, turned over the paper he’d written on, and this was what she wrote:
For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me, free.
For all the nights that I’ve sat up with you, fed you and sung songs for you, free.
For all the tears (泪水) that you’ve caused through the years, free.
For all the nights that were filled with worries, free.
For the toys, food, clothes and even cleaning your nose, free.
Son, when you add it up, the full cost of my love is free.
When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were tears in his eyes and he looked straight at his mother and said, “Mom, I sure do love you.” And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL".
根据短文内容，判断下列句子的正误。正确的填“T”，错误的填“F”，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑（将答案写在答题卷的相应位置上）。
【小题1】 The boy came to his mother for money.
【小题2】 After his mom dried her hands on an apron, she gave his son the money right away.
【小题3】 When his mother went shopping, the boy looked after his little sister.
【小题4】 The boy thought that his mother should pay him $16.
【小题5】 The mother did everything for the boy freely.

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was cooking supper, and passed her a piece of paper that he had written something on. After his mom dried her hands on an apron (围裙), she read what it was on the paper .

For cutting the grass: $5.00

For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00

For going to the supermarket for you: $1.00

For looking after my little brother while you went shopping: $1.00

For taking out the trash: $1.00

For getting a good report card: $5.00

For cleaning up the garden: $2.00

Total: $16.00

Well, his mother looked at him for a while, and then she picked up the pen, turned over the paper he’d written on, and this was what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me, free.

For all the nights that I’ve sat up with you, fed you and sung songs for you, free.

For all the tears (泪水) that you’ve caused through the years, free.

For all the nights that were filled with worries, free.

For the toys, food, clothes and even cleaning your nose, free.

Son, when you add it up, the full cost of my love is free.

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were tears in his eyes and he looked straight at his mother and said, “Mom, I sure do love you.” And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: "PAID IN FULL".

根据短文内容，判断下列句子的正误。正确的填“T”，错误的填“F”，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。

1.The boy came to his mother for money.

2. After his mom dried her hands on an apron, she gave hia son the money right away.

3.When his mother went shopping, the boy looked after his little sister.

4. The boy thought that his mother should pay him $16.

5.The mother did everything for the boy freely.