It was a halfmile walk from our small house to the beach road,where the taxi would be waiting for us. But that morning Jane was much 1 She couldn't make that walk. And I couldn't 2 her. The path to the beach was steep and narrow and 3 at the water's edge. ,
I was a stranger far from home. I didn't know where to 4 for help. But I needed it badly. I hurried down to the beach and I found help. Four fishermen were about to go out for their morning 5 . I told them about my sick little sister. Could they help me get her 6 the path?
I hardly got the words out of my mouth before they 7 their boat back onto the sand. They climbed the hill with me. One looked at Jane and they 8 their heads. They talked softly to one another.
9 sick to sit in a chair," one said.
"Better carry her 10 in bed," said another.
An iron cot (简易床) 11 along the cliff!I was frightened. How could they do it? 12 the men told me not to worry. "Truly easy,truly 13 ," they said.
They tied a rope to each leg of the cot. Each of them threw a rope 14 his shoulder and held the end in one hand. I understood what they meant to do. 15 they carried the cot down the path,they would use the ropes to keep the cot 16 . But what if one of the men slipped and lost his balance? What would happen to him―to the others―to 17 ?The men just smiled at my alarm. "That 18 will make us even more careful," they said.
The men went down the path. Every 19 was a careful one. Always the cot was level,with never a bump. When they reached the beach road,they quietly lifted Jane into the taxi. 20 ,they stretched her out on the back seat.
We made the morning train for Tokyo. And there an ambulance was waiting to take Jane to the hospital. The doctor told me that I had got my little girl there just in time. Jane would be all right soon.
( ) 1. A. better B. worse C. heavier D. happier
( ) 2. A. take B. collect C. help D. carry
( ) 3. A. only B. much C. right D. straight
( ) 4. A. find B. seek C. turn D. face
( ) 5. A. catch B. train C. exercises D. action
( ) 6. A. beyond B. up C. down D. toward
( ) 7. A. put B. laid C. pushed D. dragged
( ) 8. A. shook B. nodded C. held up D. dropped
( ) 9. A. Very B. Too C. So D. Truly
( ) 10. A. sitting B. lying C. kneeling D. standing
( ) 11. A. took B. brought C. lifted D. carried
( ) 12. A. And B. But C. Then D. So
( ) 13. A. interesting B. exciting C. dangerous D. safe
( ) 14. A. over B. on C. through D. across
( ) 15. A. As B. Because C. Before D. Since
( ) 16. A. smooth B. unchanged C. level D. unmoved
( ) 17. A. me B. Jane C. themselves D. thecot
( ) 18. A. chance B. matter C. problem D. time
( ) 19. A. walk B. step C. foot D. pace
( ) 20. A. Anxiously B. Quickly C. Nervously D. Carefully
