《读者文摘》2021年3月美版

A Teacher’s Lifesaving Call

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Julia Koch began what was only her second year as a first grade teacher in a virtual classroom.

One September afternoon a few weeks into the school year, she received a call from Cynthia Phillips, who was having technical difficulties with her granddaughter’s tools for online learning.

Koch immediately knew something was wrong with Phillips.  The two women had spoken numerous times before, but Koch had never heard the grandmother sound quite like this. Her words were so jumbled that Koch could barely understand her, though she was able to make out that Phillips had fallen four times that day.

Koch called her principal, Charlie Lovelady, who assured her that he would call and check on Phillips himself.

Just like Koch, Lovelady could barely understand Phillips. He suspected she might be having a stroke—he recognized the signs from when his own father had suffered one. Lovelady was able to make out the word kids and immediately became concerned that Phillips’s two grandchildren, ages six and eight, were probably home alone with her—she  is  their primary guardian—and scared. Lovelady asked his office manager to send an ambulance to the grandmother’s home. Then Lovelady called two deans in the school district, to tell them what was going on, both of whom dropped everything and drove to the family’s home.

When they pulled up less than ten minutes later, the EMTs(急救人员) were treating Phillips while the two girls, looking visibly shaken, were outside with a neighbor.

The quick response from Koch and Lovelady saved Phillips’s life. She arrived at the hospital in time to get treatment and before chronic damage occurred.

“If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here,” said Phillips from her hospital bed about a month after her stroke.

Thanks to an extended stay in the hospital, she has regained most of the movement throughout her body except for one hand and a portion of her mouth, which affects her speech.

1. When did the story happen?

A. When Koch was in her first grade.

B. When the grandchildren were having online classes.

C. When Lovelady was with his own father.

D. When the EMTs were giving medical help to Phillips.

2. Why did Koch know that Phillips was in trouble?

A. Because Phillips’s voice sounded strange.

B. Because Phillips had seldom called Koch.

C. Because Phillips spoke a strange language.

D. Because Koch could not hear very clearly.

3. How did Lovelady know that Phillips might be having a stroke?

A. By calling the hospital for advice.

B. By visiting Phillips in person.

C. By recognizing the signs he knew.

D. By asking the office workers for help.

4. The underlined word “chronic” in Paragraph 7 may best be replaced by ____.

A. minor             B. unknown             C. obvious         D. serious

5. What is one of the bad effects the stroke left on Phillips?

A. She could not move about properly.

B. She could not speak clearly.

C. She could not have meals properly.

D. She could not use her hands as before.

参考答案:

BACDB