My aunt Edith was a widow(寡妇) of 50, working as a secretary, when doctors discovered what was then thought to be a very serious heart disease.

My aunt Edith was a widow(寡妇) of 50, working as a secretary, when doctors discovered what was then thought to be a very serious heart disease.

Aunt Edith doesn’t accept defeat easily. She began studying medical reports in the library and found an article in a magazine about a well-known heart surgeon, Dr. Michael DeBakey, of Houston, Texas. He had saved the life of someone with the same disease. The article said his fees were very high; Aunt Edith couldn’t possibly pay them. But could he tell her of someone whose fees she could pay?

So Aunt Edith wrote to him. She simply listed her reasons for wanting live: her three children, who would be on their own in three or four more years, her little-girl dream of traveling and seeing the world. There wasn’t a word of self-pity----only warmth and humor and the joy of living. She mailed the letter, not really expecting an answer.

A few days later, my doorbell rang. Aunt Edith didn’t wait to come in; she stood in the hall and read aloud:

Your beautiful letter moved me very deeply. If you can come to Houston, there will be no charge for either the hospital or the operation.

Signed: Michael DeBakey.

1.Aunt Edith_____when she knew she had a very serious heart disease.

A.stopped working as a secretary

B.didn’t lose hope

C.stayed in the hospital

D.asked many doctors for help

2.From the story we can see _____.

A.Dr. Michael DeBakey was not famous at all

B.Aunt Edith could afford Dr. Michael DeBakey’s fees

C.Dr. Michael DeBakey was experienced in dealing with Aunt Edith’s disease

D.Aunt Edith accepted defeat easily

3.In Aunt Edith’s letter to the doctor, ______.

A.she showed she was warm, humorous and enjoying living

B.she avoided talking about her children

C.she showed she was very sad

D.she said she had a little girl who dreamed of traveling and seeing the world

4.When Aunt Edith mailed her letter, _____.

A.she was determined to move the doctor

B.she expected some wonder would happen

C.she knew it would never reach the doctor

D.she didn’t expect the doctor would give her a reply

5.Michael DeBakey mainly told Aunt Edith in the letter that_____.

A.he was going to operate on her for free

B.he thought he was unable to offer help

C.her letter was well-written

D.her disease was so serious that he couldn’t cure her