262. The Bloody Forehead

The crowd at the airport surged forward. The passengers had been waiting for a couple of hours for an airline employee to open the door leading to the plane outside. No one was in a good mood. 

An old man got trapped in the middle of the rush. He fell down without being able to break his fall. His head hit the concrete floor. Blood gushed from his forehead. He appeared to be unconscious. Everyone rushed past him, except for Dana. She called for help.

A minute later, a young airline employee showed up. Hardly looking at the old man, she told Dana to get aboard her plane. She said the old man would be okay, and walked away. Dana screamed for help. 

An airport supervisor appeared. He told Dana to get on the plane. Dana said that she was not moving until an ambulance arrived. The supervisor said her plane would leave without her. Dana said that she didn't care. An ambulance and two paramedics finally arrived. 

The paramedics said that the man would be okay, but he would need stitches. They put him into the ambulance and drove off. On her way out to the plane, which was still refueling, Dana saw the employee who had initially ignored the old man. 

The employee said, "You're lucky, the plane didn't leave without you." "The plane?" Dana asked. "Who cares about the plane? How could you be so cold? That was an old man; he could have been your grandfather! How would you like it if everyone just stepped over your grandfather and went on their way?"

Vocabulary Words

                                                           

No.	Word	Definition	Example Sentence
01	crowd	A large number of people gathered together.	The crowd at the airport surged forward.
02	surged forward	Moved suddenly and powerfully in a forward direction.	The crowd at the airport surged forward.
03	airline employee	A person working for a commercial airline.	They had been waiting for an airline employee to open the door.
04	mood	A temporary state of mind or feeling.	No one was in a good mood.
05	trapped	Unable to escape from a place or situation.	An old man got trapped in the middle of the rush.
06	break his fall	To reduce the speed or force of his descent (fall).	He fell down without being able to break his fall.
07	concrete floor	A floor made of a heavy, rough building material.	His head hit the concrete floor.
08	gushed	Flowed out in a rapid and plentiful stream.	Blood gushed from his forehead.
09	unconscious	Not awake; unaware of one's surroundings.	He appeared to be unconscious.
10	rushed past	Moved quickly beyond (someone or something).	Everyone rushed past him, except for Dana.
11	showed up	Appeared or arrived.	A young airline employee showed up.
12	get aboard	To go onto or enter (a vehicle, ship, or aircraft).	She told Dana to get aboard her plane.
13	walked away	Left the scene by foot.	She said the old man would be okay, and walked away.
14	screamed	Gave a loud, piercing cry (here, for help).	Dana screamed for help.
15	supervisor	A person who manages or directs others.	An airport supervisor appeared.
16	ambulance	A vehicle equipped to transport injured people to a hospital.	Dana said that she was not moving until an ambulance arrived.
17	paramedics	Trained health professionals who provide emergency medical care.	An ambulance and two paramedics finally arrived.
18	stitches	A length of thread or wire used to join the edges of a deep cut or wound.	He would need stitches.
19	refueling	The process of stocking a vehicle with more fuel.	The plane, which was still refueling.
20	cold	Lacking feeling or emotion; callous.	"How could you be so cold?"

Comprehension Questions and answers

                                                       

No.	Question	Answer
01	Why did the crowd surge forward at the airport?	They were waiting for an airline employee to **open the door to the plane**.
02	What was the general feeling among the waiting passengers?	No one was in a **good mood**.
03	What happened to the old man in the rush?	He got **trapped**, **fell down**, and **hit his head**.
04	What evidence showed the seriousness of the man's injury?	**Blood gushed** from his forehead, and he appeared to be **unconscious**.
05	Who was the only person that did *not* rush past the injured man?	**Dana**.
06	What was the first thing Dana did for the man?	She **called for help**.
07	What was the airline employee's reaction to the injured man?	She **hardly looked** at him, told Dana to board, and **walked away**.
08	When did Dana scream for help?	After the **airline employee ignored** the man and walked away.
09	Who appeared after Dana screamed?	An **airport supervisor**.
10	What did the supervisor demand Dana do?	He told Dana to **get on the plane**.
11	What was Dana's condition for moving from the spot?	She was not moving until an **ambulance arrived**.
12	What threat did the supervisor make to Dana?	Her **plane would leave without her**.
13	How did Dana respond to the supervisor's threat?	She said that she **didn't care**.
14	What two medical services finally arrived?	An **ambulance** and **two paramedics**.
15	According to the paramedics, what was the man's final prognosis?	He would be **okay**, but he would need **stitches**.
16	How did the medical professionals transport the man?	They **put him into the ambulance** and drove off.
17	Why hadn't Dana's plane left yet?	It was **still refueling**.
18	What did the airline employee say to Dana when she saw her on the way to the plane?	"You're lucky, the plane **didn't leave without you**."
19	What did Dana criticize the employee for being?	So **cold** (uncaring).
20	What relationship did Dana suggest the man could have had to the employee?	He could have been her **grandfather**.