It is 2023 now. Katrina Mullen, 45, is a nurse at Community Hospital North in Indianapolis. That’s where she met Shariya Small, who is now 17.

Small was in the 8th grade when she gave birth to three babies at the hospital in 2020. The three babies spent more than five months in the NICU. Mullen helped care for them and grew close to Small during those five months. When the babies left the hospital, she gave Small her phone number. Mullen encouraged her to call if she needed anything.

The two kept in touch, and Mullen finally visited Small at her home in Kokomo. That’s when the nurse realized Small’s real situation. She and her kids might be asked to leave their home at any time. Mullen knew that Small and her kids needed a safe place. Then she took them home and fostered (代养) them for nearly two years.

Earlier this year, Mullen adopted (领养) Small and her three children. “I’m so proud to be Shariya’s mom. She just surprises me every day. When she’s frustrated with the babies, she never raises her voice. She’s just becoming a great woman,” Mullen said.

1.How old was Small when she gave birth?

A 14.

B 17.

C 20.

D 45.

解析：选A。A数字计算题。根据第一段最后一句“who is now 17”和第二段第一句“she gave birth to three babies at the hospital in 2020”可知，她今年17岁，三年前，14岁的她生了三胞胎。故选A。

2.What did Mullen give to Small when the babies left the hospital?

A Lots of money.

B Some new clothes.

C Her ID card number.

D Her phone number.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据第二段倒数第二句的“she gave Small her phone number”可知，婴儿出院后，她把自己的电话号码给了斯莫尔，并鼓励她如果需要什么就打电话。故选D。

3.How was Small’s life in Kokomo?

A It was difficult.

B It was nice.

C It was boring.

D It was dangerous.

解析：选A。A推理判断题。根据第三段的“She and her kids might be asked to leave their home at any time. ”可知，马伦去了斯莫尔的家，发现她和她的三个孩子随时可能被要求离开家，即她当时的生活很艰难。故选A。

4.What does the underlined word “frustrated” probably mean?

A Sad.

B Happy.

C Angry.

D Worried.

解析：选C。C词义猜测题。根据划线部分后面的“she never raises her voice. She’s just becoming a great woman”可知，斯莫尔从不提高嗓门，她正在成长为一个很棒的女人，由此推断即使她对孩子们感到生气时，她也不会高声吼她的孩子们。故选C。

5.Which word can best describe Mullen?

A Serious.

B Clever.

C Kind.

D Shy.

解析：选C。C推理判断题。根据全文内容可知，马伦收养了可怜的斯莫尔和她的三个孩子，由此可知她是善良的。故选C。