Do you always understand the directions on a bottle of medicine? Do you know what is meant by "Take only as directed"? Read the following directions and see if you understand them.

　　"To reduce pain, take two tablets(药片)with water, followed by one tablet every eight hours, as required. For night-time and early morning relief take two tablets at bedtime. Do not take more than six tablets in twenty-four hours.

For children six to twelve years old, give half the amount. For children under six years old, ask for your doctor's advice.

　　Reduce the amount if you suffer from restlessness or sleeplessness after taking the medicine.

1. How many tablets at most can a person over 12 have in 24 hours?

　 A. Eight　　　　  B. Six　　　　　C. Four　　　 D. Three

2. How many tablets should a nine-year-old child normally take in 24 hours?

　 A. Half a tablet.                                 B. One tablet.

　 C. Two tablets .                              D. Four tablets.

3. What is the advice for one who cannot sleep well after taking the medicine?

　 A. Stop taking the medicine at bedtime.

　 B. Take less than the normal amount.

　 C. Take more than the normal amount.

　 D. Continue to take the normal amount.

4.It can be inferred from the directions that this medicine      .

　 A. helps you to fall asleep quickly

　 B. should not be taken by children under six　　

　 C. cannot be taken if one feels sleepy

　 D. may be dangerous to small children

A qualified doctor who rarely practiced but instead devoted his life to writing. He once said: “Medicine is my lawful wife, and literature is my lover.” Russian writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, was a great playwright and one of the masters of the modern short story.

When Chekhov entered the Moscow University Medical School in 1879, he started to publish hundreds of comic short stories to support his family. After he graduated, he wrote regularly for a local daily newspaper.

As a writer he was extremely fast, often producing a short story in an hour or less. Chekhov’s medical and science experience can be seen through the indifference(冷漠) many of his characters show to tragic events. In 1892, he became a full time writer and published some of his most memorable stories.

Chekhov often wrote about the sufferings of life in small town Russia. Tragic events control his characters who are filled with feelings of hopelessness and despair.

It is often said that nothing happens in Chekhov’s stories and plays. He made up for this with his exciting technique for developing drama within his characters. Chekhov’s work combined the calm attitude of a scientist and doctor with the sensitivity(敏感) of an artist.

Some of Chekhov's works were translated into Chinese as early as the 1940s. One of his famous stories, The Man in a Shell, about a school teacher’s extraordinarily orderly life, was selected as a text for Chinese senior students.

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov ________.

A. had a lawful lover                          B. was an illegal writer

C. used to be a lawyer                         D. was a competent doctor

In 1880, Chekhov ________.

A. became a full-time writer 

B. studied medicine in Moscow University

C. practiced medicine in his hometown

D. published his most memorable stories

Which of the following adjectives can’t be used to describe Chekhov?

A. Sensitive.                                            B. Cool.

C. Quick-minded.                                     D. Warm-hearted.

Which of the following is the right order of the events?

A. became a doctor                      B. became a full time writer

C. started to publish comic short stories     

D. wrote regularly for a local daily newspaper.

e. entered the Moscow University Medical School

A. e→c→a→d→b                B. d→a→b→c→e               

C. e→c→b→a→d         　　D. a→e→c→b→d

Mrs. White was a wealthy lady. She lived 　36　 in a large comfortable house where her children and grandchildren came to visit her frequently. However, she was　37　. She spent a lot of time thinking about her  38  and about her dead husband. Her children   39 about her and asked Dr. Green to see her.
Mrs. Green was an experienced doctor. She knew old people became upset in their ways and didn’t like to   40  what to do. She decided to get to know Mrs. White before she said anything. During the visit, Dr. Green asked Mrs White to give her a   41  of the house. Mrs. White was  42   her house and happily agreed. As they walked from room to room, Dr. Green   43  that there were a lot of violets (紫罗兰) in every window. She asked, “__44 _ do you have so many violets?” Mrs White replied, “ I love these   45  and they  46  so fast that I have more and more. When the tour of the house was over, Dr. Green said, “I have one suggestion to make. Whenever you   47 a friend or a neighbor that is   48 in bed or getting married, give 49  one of your violets.”
Mrs White said   50   about the doctor’s advice and for a few months    51 her visit, she didn’t give away any of her violets. Then one day she was invited to the   52  of her neighbor's daughter. She put a ribbon(丝带) on one of her potted plants and took it to the party. Later one of her friends was sick so she took a violet plant and took it to the hospital.  53    she began to give more and more of her potted violets to her neighbors. Over the years she  54 so many that she became known as the “  55  lady”.