Nick was not the kind of boy I had expected to spend my summer with. I was hoping to have a 21 the summer before my busy senior year, but my mother asked me to do her a 22 . One of her colleagues needed a full-time 23 . “You planned to volunteer at the local hospital, why not volunteer to 24 Nick instead?” Then she told me that this six-year-old boy was not a 25 child.
Nick was a lovely little boy who suffered from many disorders. Normal day-care centres would not 26 him. As a baby, he had serious ear infections which left him with equilibrium (平衡) problems. He couldn’t 27 or run properly. I was hesitating (犹豫) 28 I was to take the job when my mother 29 , “Don’t you want to be a nurse in the future? I doubt if you even have the 30 .”
Then I told her I was 31 for the job.
The day started at 7:00 a.m. Nick was my wake-up call! With so much energy and very little 32 , he was quite a mix.
In the park, when he saw all the other children play on the jungle gym and swings (秋千)， the boy’s face 33 up — how he wished he belonged to the group of his age! You would think it would be 34 to get a child to go down a slide (滑梯). Believe me, it wasn’t! It took time, a lot of time. But with patience and support, Nick took one step up the slide each day. We worked together to face his 35 and gradually he got closer to taking the slide of his life.
Halfway through the summer, he 36 it to the top of the slide. With my arms 37 him tightly, we flew down the slide! I waited for his reaction. After realizing that he was safe and sound, he gave me a big 38 and asked, “May I go down again, alone?” I had never been happier in my life when I saw this little child climb the ladder and enjoy what other children 39 for granted. This 40 child taught me that being a nurse means respect, kindness and patience.
21. A. grade B. course C. project D. relaxation
22. A. service B. favour C. business D. trade
23. A. nurse B. waitress C. guard D. guide
24. A. protect B. defend C. attend D. comfort
25. A. normal B. naughty C. clever D. happy
26. A. admit B. receive C. accept D. adopt
27. A. speak B. play C. stand D. walk
28. A. if B. what C. why D. where
29. A. suggested B. argued C. challenged D. commented
30. A. energy B. courage C. faith D. time
31. A. eager B. sorry C. grateful D. ready
32. A. awareness B. balance C. knowledge D. control
33. A. delighted B. cheered C. lit D. shut
34. A. difficult B. simple C. interesting D. terrible
35. A. fears B. worries C. chances D. situations
36. A. climbed B. got C. managed D. made
37. A. taking B. holding C. bringing D. greeting
38. A. kiss B. clap C. welcome D. surprise
39. A. play B. do C. take D. enjoy
40. A. miserable B. smart C. brave D. special