Reading 1

Matt’s mother

Matt’s mother, Julie, is a doctor in a hospital in the USA. Hospitals are busy places. Every day people with broken legs, people who have had accidents, people who are sick and mothers who are having babies all come to the hospital. Often they stay in the hospital for days, or even weeks, before they are well enough to leave. Staying in the hospital for a long time can be very boring. Patients sleep in rooms called wards, and nurses look after them. A doctor visits them every day to see if they are well enough to go home.

Most doctors in hospital look after just one type of patients. Julie looks after babies and small chidren who are sick. Sometimes she works in the daytime and sometimes at night. So sometimes Matt doesn’t see his mum for a few days. She is working when he is asleep. She is sleeping when he is awake! When this happens, they write each other notes to say “Hi”! Mat’s father is a writer. He works from home. So he does all the cooking and the housework for the family. Matt’s 14. He’s old enough to help with the housework. His sister, Shelly, is only two. She can’t help yet!

Where to use

It is recommended to use after you teach ALAN ALMOST DIDN’T GET TO WORK THIS MORNING (POPTEENS 4A, Chapter 3, P38)

Exercises

I. Choice:

1. (   ) Which one following has the same meaning as “have babies”?

2. (   ) What is the room where patients sleep called?

3. (   ) The police has been ___________ the case for several days.

4. (   ) The math problem is a bit difficult, and you must be more __________ to work it out.

5. (   ) When this happens, they write each other notes to say ‘Hi!’  Here‘happens’means _____.