Question

I believe listening is powerful medicine. Studies have shown it takes a ___36___ about 18 seconds to interrupt a patient after he begins talking.

       It was a Sunday. I had one last patient to see. I ___37___ her room in a hurry and stood at the doorway. She was an old woman, sitting at the edge of the bed, ___38___ to put socks on her swollen（肿胀）feet. I crossed the threshold（门槛）, spoke quickly to the nurse, and scanned her chart noting she was in stable condition. I was almost in the clear.

       I ___39___ on the bedrail（床的栏杆）looking down at her. She asked if I could help put on her socks. Instead, I launched into a monologue（独白） that went ___40___ like this, “How are you feeling? Your sugars and blood pressure were high ___41___ they’re better today. The nurse mentioned you’re ___42___ to see your son who’s visiting you today. It’s nice to have family visit from far away. I bet you really look forward to seeing him.”

       She ___43___ me with a serious, authoritative voice. “Sit down, doctor. This is my story, not your story.”

       I was surprised and embarrassed. I sat down. I helped her with the socks. She began to tell me that her only son lived ___44___ from her, but she had not seen him in five years. She believed that the stress of this ___45___ greatly to her health problems. After hearing her story and putting on her socks, I asked if there was anything else I could do for her. She ___46___ her head no and smiled. All she wanted me to do was to listen.

       Each story is different. Some are detailed; others are vague. Some have a beginning, middle and end; others wander ___47___ a clear conclusion. Some are true; others not. Yet all those things do not really matter. What matters to the storyteller is that the story is heard without ___48___, assumption or judgment.

       Listening to someone’s story costs ___49___ expensive diagnostic testing but is key to healing and diagnosis.

       I often thought of ___50___ that woman taught me, and I ___51___ myself of the importance of stopping, sitting down and truly listening. And, not long after, in a(n) ___52___ twist, I became the patient, with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis（多发性硬化症） at age 31. Now, 20 years later, I sit all the time in a wheelchair.

       For ___53___ I could, I continued to see patients from my chair, but I had to resign when my hands were affected. I still teach medical students and other health care professionals, but now from the perspective(角度) of physician and patient.

       I tell them I ___54___ the power of listening. I tell them I know firsthand that immeasurable healing ___55___ within me when someone stops, sits down and listens to my story.

36. A. professor                B. teacher           C. musician           D. physician

37. A. approached         B. examined           C. passed           D. observed

38. A. hoping                B. expecting           C. waiting              D. struggling

39. A. sat                      B. leaned     C. lay                    D. stood

40. A. nothing                 B. anything              C. something  D. everything

41. A. so                      B. but                 C. though                     D. because

42. A. anxious               B. nervous             C. worried                 D. upset

43. A. urged                  B. begged         C. stopped                 D. persuaded

44. A. far away                B. around the corner C. next door          D. in the distance

45. A. referred                     B. attached            C. stuck                   D. contributed

46. A. lowered                     B. hung                 C. shook               D. waved

47. A. with                      B. without        C. by                       D. in

48. A. distinction              B. interruption   C. instruction         D. attention

49. A. rather than             B. other than            C. more than             D. less than

50. A. that                       B. which                 C. what                    D. as

51. A. reminded                B. recalled        C. required               D. informed

52. A. expected                B. irregular              C. regular                     D. unexpected

53. A. as soon as              B. as fast as             C. as far as                D. as long as

54. A. admit to                B. appreciate            C. believe in               D. realize

55. A. turns out                B. takes place   C. comes up              D. takes charge

Answer 1

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