Sometimes people who are close to you are facing an illness or other big changes in their life. When they go through hard times, you probably wish you could pitch in but might not be sure how. Just wanting to support them is a good place to begin. Here are some ideas to consider.

Your friends or family members may feel like talking about what they are going through, or they may not. If they want to share, you can help by listening. If they don’t, that’s OK too. You could also ask how you can support them. You could show them they are in your thoughts by making a card with a note inside, like “Thinking of you!”

If possible, ask if they would like to do something together, like taking a walk, watching a movie, or eating out. If it’s a family member who lives far away, you can ask if they want to video chat or talk on the phone. You could also send them photos of your day to help them feel connected.

People who care about you want you to keep your daily life as usual, even when they are going through something difficult. But there is something you can do. You just need to make sure what they really need. For example, if a classmate is ill in hospital, helping him catch up with classwork is better than doing the dishes, taking care of a pet, or cleaning the apartment.

Remember that your feelings are important, too. It is normal to worry about someone you’re close to, and it can be helpful to talk to your parents, teachers, or someone you trust. You can also ask questions about anything you don’t understand. This is a better choice than searching for information on the Internet.

1.1.What do the underlined words “pitch in” mean in Paragraph 1?

A forget

B help

C throw

D worry

解析：选B。词义猜测题。根据第一段“When they go through hard times, you probably wish you could pitch in but might not be sure how.”，当他们处在艰难时期，你会想要帮忙，只是不知道怎么做。pitch in在这里意为帮忙；forget忘记，throw扔，worry担心。所以选B。

2.2. What can you do if your friends want to share their thoughts?

A Make a card.

B Think of them.

C Listen to them.

D Ask a question.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据文中“If they want to share, you can help by listening.”，如果朋友想要倾诉心事，你可以倾听他们。所以选C。

3.3. How do you make a family member far away feel connected?

A Eating out.

B Watching a movie.

C Shopping online.

D Sharing your photos.

解析：选D。细节理解题。根据文中“If it’s a family member who lives far away...You could also send them photos of your day to help them feel connected.”，给远方的家人发送你日常的照片，可以让他们感受到联结。所以选D。

4.4. Which is the best way to help a classmate in hospital?

A Walking a dog.

B Making the bed.

C Washing plates.

D Sending notebooks.

解析：选D。推理判断题。根据文中“if a classmate is ill in hospital, helping him catch up with classwork is better than doing the dishes, taking care of a pet, or cleaning the apartment.”，住院的同学最需要补上功课，送笔记本可以帮助他跟上学习；遛狗、铺床、洗碗都不是最适合的方式。所以选D。

5.5. What is the purpose of this passage?

A To show how to support someone.

B To introduce why to make friends.

C To find where to look up information.

D To describe when to mind your feelings.

解析：选A。主旨大意题。全文围绕如何陪伴、支持身处困境的亲友展开，给出了多种可行方法，写作目的是告诉大家如何给予他人支持。所以选A。