Abriefactofkindnessbringsanunexpectedinsight（领悟）．

Iwasshoppingatadepartmentstoreandhadjustboardedtheclownescalator（电动扶梯）whenInoticedawomanstandingtotheside．Shelookedabout65，andherexpressiontoldmeshewasscared．Iturnedtowardherandasked，"Doyouneedhelp？"

Astheescalatorcontinuedmoving，Iheardthewomanreplysoftly，"I'mafraid．"Therewasahintofdoubtinhervoice．"Wantmetocomebackandgetyou？"Icalledtoher．Shenodded．ButbythetimeIreachedher，thewomanhadreconsidered．"Idon'tthinkIcandoit"，shesaid．

IwassuddenlyawarethatIhadmadeafargreaterinvestmentthanIexpected．"Iknowwecandoit，"Isaid．"Icanholdontoyou．"Shelookeddownatthebeast（庞然大物）．Thenhereyescamebacktomine，lookingdoubtful"Thishasneverhappenedtomebefore，"shesaid，asmuchtoherselfastome．Ifeltthathersuddenfearhadtodowiththeescalator'smechanicalnature，itsbasicinhumanuntrustworthiness．

Itookherarm．"Shallwe？"Shemadealittlesoundofalarmaswesteppedon，butwe'dpassedthepointofnoreturn．Sherelaxedslightlyasthestairsmovedusdownward．"Idon'tunderstandthisatall，"shesaid．Aswenearedthebottom，hergrip（紧握）tightenedagain，butwedidfine．"I'msograteful．"Shebegan．"Itwasnothing，"Isaid．"Iwashappytodoit．"

Happy？Yes．Idoverylittletohelpothers．Iambusycaringforafamilyandworkingfulltime．Forabriefmoment，Ihadaflashofinsightintowhysomeonewouldbecomeanurseorasocialworkerorapriest．WhenIhelpedthewoman，Ifeltpureandwhole，purposeful．ItwasahappiermomentthanI'dhadinweeks．

56．Whydidtheoldwomanlookscaredatfirst？Because___．

A．shewasafraidtotalktostrangers．B．shedidn'tdaretogodowntheescalator．

C．shecouldn'tcarryherheavythingsdownstairs．

D．shefeltshemightberobbedofherthings．

57．Whatdoesthesentence"Idon'tthinkIcandoit"imply？Theoldwomancouldn't___

A．holdontotheescalator

B．givetheauthorahand．

C．accepttheauthor'shelp

D．affordtobuynecessarythin