5. From the passage we can infer (推断) that _______.

　 A. The doctor didn’t ask for any pay

　 B. A miracle is sure to happen if you keep on

　 C. The little girl is lovely but not so clever

　 D. Andrew was in fact not so sick as they had thought

Key: D C D C C　

（26）　

This is a song millions of Americans will hear this New Year’s Eve. It is called Auld Lang Syne (《友谊地久天长》). It is the traditional music played during the New Year’s celebration. Auld Lang Syne is an old Scottish poem. It tells about the need to remember old friends.

The words “auld lang syne” mean “old long since”. No one knows who wrote the poem first. However, a version by Scottish poet Robert Bums was published (出版) in 1796. The words and music we know today first appeared in a songbook three years later.

The song is played in the United States mainly on New Year’s Eve. The version (译文) you are hearing today is by the Washington Saxophone Quartet. As we end our program with Auld Lang Syne. I would like to wish all of our radio friends a very Happy New Year! This is Buddy Thomas.

4. What made the miracle happen?

　 A. The girl’s love for her brother.　 　　 B. The girl’s money.

　 C. The medicine from the drugstore.　　　 D. Nobody can tell.

3. The little girl said again and again “...I can try and get some more.” That shows _______.

　 A. she had still kept some money　　 　　　　B. she hoped not to be refused

　 C. There was no need to worry about money 　　D. she thought money was easy to get

2. In the eye of the little girl, a miracle might be _______.

　 A. something interesting　 　　　　　 B. something beautiful

　 C. some wonderful medicine　 　　　 D. some good food

1. What was the trouble in the little girl’s family?

　 A. Her brother was seriously ill.　　　 B. They had no money.

　 C. Nothing could save her brother.　　 D. Both A and B.

5. What was Alfred Nobel always searing for? ________.

　 A. More time and more money　　 　　　　B. A meaning to life　

　 C. How to end the war　　　　　 　　　　　D. The peace between nations

Key: B C A D B

　（25）

An eight-year-old child heard her parents talking about her little brother. All she knew was that he was very sick and they had no money. Only a very expensive operation could save him now and there was no one to lend them the money.

When she heard her daddy say to her tearful mother, “Only a miracle can save him now,” the little girl went to her bedroom and pulled her money from its hiding place and counted it carefully.

She hurried to a drugstore (药店) with the money in her hand.

“And what do you want?” asked the salesman. “It’s for my little brother,” the girl answered. “He’s really, really sick and I want to buy a miracle.” “Pardon?” said the salesman.

“My brother Andrew has something bad growing in­side his head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him. So how much does a miracle cost?” “We don’t sell a miracle here, child. I’m sorry,” the salesman said with a smile.

“Listen, if it isn’t enough, I can try and get some more. Just tell me how much it costs.”

A well-dressed man heard it and asked, “What kind of a miracle does your brother need?”

“I don’t know,” she answered with her eyes full of tears. “He’s really sick and mum says he needs an opera­tion. But my daddy can’t pay for it, so I have brought all my money.”

“How much do you have?” asked the man. “$ 1.11, but I can try and get some more,” she answered.

“Well, what luck,” smiled the man. “$ 1.11, the price of a miracle for little brothers.”

He took up the girl’s hand and said, “Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need.”

That well-dressed man was Dr Carlton Armstrong, a famous doctor. The operation was successful and it wasn’t long before Andrew was home again.

How much did the miracle cost?

4. How many companies did Alfred Nobel build up? He built up ________ companies in different countries.

　 A. 20　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　B. 40

　 C. 60　　　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　D. 80

3. Why did Alfred Nobel return to Sweden ? Because his father ________.

　 A. went bankrupt　 　　　　　　　　　　　B. was put in prison　

　 C. was ill　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　D. died

2. What did Immanuel Nobel invented during the Crimean War?

　 A. The engineering industry.　　 　　　　　　B. A strong position.

　 C. Landmine.　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　D. Study of explosives.

1. Where was Alfred Nobel born? He was born in ________.

　 A. Sweden　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　B. Stockholm

　 C. Russia　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　D. Moscow