One cold rainy evening last October, as a medical student, I was in a hospital, gathering data

for my graduation paper.

     Holding a patient questionnaire   34   some simple yes-or-no questions, I walked towards a 43-year-old patient who lay in bed alone. I was worried whether she would approve of my demands at such a late hour.   35  , she treated it with consideration. Soon I finished and prepared to leave.   36   I could stand up, she spoke up in a weak voice asking where I was from and why I was working so late in the evening.

    Then she started talking about herself as well as her   37  , "My husband died about a year ago,   38   me the only breadwinner of my family. My pay as a cleaner is   39   enough for me and my three kids. I don't know what my children would be if something bad happened to me."

     I didn't know what to say. I desperately tried to remember the lessons from a communication skills class I had taken years earlier, but my mind was  40.

    Without realizing it, I had begun   41   her hand. Now that I didn't have anything to say, I just sat quietly while she talked. That's when it occurred to me that she was not expecting any 42 from me. She   43   wanted me to listen. All 1 did was nod my head as a way of showing my 44.

    The conversation went on for about 20 minutes. Finally, she stopped talking. "I'm very sorry for keeping you here to listen to my problems, but I feel   45   now. I had no one to   46 out my problems to. Thank you so much, doctor."

     Sometimes patients do not need expensive medicine or advanced technology.   47  , they just need someone with the   48   to lend an ear and spare a little of their time. For me, that is one of the best things a doctor can do for a patient, doesn't it?

1.A. made up of     B. fed up with    C. put up with        D. come up with

2.A. Calmly         B. Excitedly       C. Gladly             D. Eagerly

3.A. When                 B. Before          C. As                       D. After

4.A. job            B. illness         C. family            D. children

5.A. causing        B. getting         C. forcing              D. leaving

6.A. extremely      B. exactly        C. especially         D. absolutely

7.A. casual         B. clear          C. steady                     D. blank

8.A. holding        B. shaking         C. carrying          D. treating

9.A. thanks         B. praise          C. warmth                 D. reply

10.A. even           B. ever           C. just                   D. still

11.A. sympathy       B. support         C. sorrow            D. respect

12.A. relaxed        B. awkward        C. fragile            D. satisfied

13.A. leave          B. pour            C. try               D. find

14.A. However             B. Otherwise       C. Instead            D. Besides

15.A. emotion        B. patience        C. experience              D. preference