24. A. difficult　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. easy　　 　　　 C. expensive　　　 　　　 D. cheap　　　

23. A. writer　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. storyteller　 　　 C. reporter　　　　　 　 D. listener　　

22. A. nodded　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. shook 　　　　 C. touched　　　　 　　 D. hit　　　

21. A. surprised　　 B. worried　 　 C. excited　　　　　 D. interested　

20. A. Sit down　　 B. Stand up　 　 C. Go out　　　　　 D. Come in　　

19. A. suggested　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. decided　　 　　 C. promised　　　 　　　 D. mentioned　

18. A. better　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　 B. worse　　 　　　 C. higher　　　　　　 D. lower　　

17. A. socks　　　　 B. clothes　 　　 C. trousers　　　　 　 D. hat　　　

16. A. left　　　　 　 B. found　　　 　 C. searched　　　 　　　 D. reached　

15. — Did you have a good time in London last weekend?

　　 — 　　　. It was too cold.

　　 A. Not really　　　 B. Of course　　　 C. No problem　　 D. Oh, great

Section B (18 marks)　

Directions: For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.

It was Sunday and I had the last patient to see. I 　16　 her room in a hurry. The old woman sat at the edge of the bed, struggling to put her 　17　 on.

She asked if I could help put on her socks. Instead, I said, “How are you feeling? Your blood pressure was high but it’s 　18　 today. By the way, the nurse 　19　 you’re anxious to see your son who’s visiting you today.”

She stopped me with a stern (严厉的) voice, “　20　, doctor. This is my story, not your story.” I was 　21　. I sat down and helped her with the socks. She began to tell me that her only son lived nearby, but she had not seen him for years. After hearing her story, I asked if there was anything else I could do for her. She 　22　 her head and smiled. All she wanted me to do was to listen.

Each story was different. Some had a beginning, middle and end. Yet all those things did not really matter. What mattered to the 　23　 was that the story was heard — without judgment.

Listening to someone’s story costs less than 　24　 testing, but it is the way to cure the wound. I 　25　 myself all the time of the importance of listening. And, not long after, I 　26　 a patient. Now, 20 years later, I sit all the time — in a wheelchair. I still teach my students, but now more from the view of a 　27　, that how I enjoyed it when someone stops, sits down and listens to my story.