Terry Fox never thought he’d live a remarkable life.
He liked sports, but no one thought he was talented. During his first year in the university, he had a pain in his right knee, which was so bad that he couldn’t stand up. He went to the doctor for tests. They showed that he had cancer. He was going to lose his leg and be given an artificial one. Terry’s family and friends all gave him fantastic support. Terry said that he knew all those people really cared and helped him. He decided to face it with bravery.
One night Terry was looking through an article about Dick Traum, who also had an artificial leg and had run in the New York Marathon. “If he can do it,” thought Terry, “I can, too. In fact, I’ll run across Canada and raise money for cancer research. It will be a Marathon of Hope!”
For the next 16 months, Terry had special treatments for his cancer. And then he also began to run a little every day. Each day he ran a little farther. It is 5,300 miles across Canada. Terry hoped to run thirty to forty miles a day so that it would take him six months. Most of all, he hoped to raise $1 million for cancer research.
Because Terry had an artificial leg, running wasn’t easy or straightforward. He had to move by jumping on one foot twice and then take a long step with his real leg. Although it looked awkward, he still kept on running. His action made people join him as he ran: children, football stars, wheelchair athletes and even his brother, Darrell. As Terry ran, people waved and cheered. So much money was donated that the volunteers used large garbage bags so everyone could give.
Then, outside Thunder Bay, Ontario, Terry felt a sharp pain in his chest. The pain was from cancer; this time in his lungs. He had to abandon the Marathon after 3, 339 miles. He told the people before he left, “I won’t give up. I just hope people will continue to give money.” And they did. Just under $25 million was given.
Terry received numerous awards. At 22, he was the youngest Canadian to ever receive Canada’s highest award, the Companion of the Order of Canada.
1 . What made Terry decide to run across Canada?
A . His passion for Marathon.
B . An urge to live a normal life.
C . The support of his family and friends.
D . The inspiring experience of Dick Traum.
2 . People joined him when he ran mainly because ________.
A . they were moved by the scene of Terry’s running
B . they served as volunteers in the marathon
C . they considered Terry as a great hero
D . they loved running very much
3 . Why did he finally stop the marathon?
A . He collected enough money for the donation.
B . His family and friends persuaded him to abandon it.
C . He got great pain in his body because of the cancer.
D . Running with the artificial leg wasn’t straightforward.
4 . Which of the following words can best describe Terry?
A . Generous. B . Cooperative.
C . Determined. D . Creative.
1 . D
2 . A
3 . C
4 . C
【分析】
本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述的是 Terry Fox 的故事。他从没想过他会过上非同寻常的生活。他喜欢运动,但没有人认为他有天赋。然而, Terry 的特殊之处在于他有决心。后来他患了癌症,装上了一条假腿,他决心面对它。他被认为是他人生各个领域的赢家。
1. 推理判断题。根据第二段内容 “One night Terry was looking through an article about Dick Traum, who also had an artificial leg and had run in the New York Marathon. “If he can do it,” thought Terry, “I can, too. In fact, I’ll run across Canada and raise money for cancer research. It will be a Marathon of Hope!”( 一天晚上,特里正在看一篇关于迪克 · 特劳姆的文章,他也有一条人造腿,参加过纽约马拉松比赛。 “ 如果他能做到, ” 特里想, “ 我也可以。事实上,我将穿越加拿大,为癌症研究筹集资金。这将是一场马拉松式的希望! ”)” 可推断,迪克 · 特劳姆的鼓舞人心的经历让特里决定穿越加拿大。故选 D 。
2. 推理判断题。根据第四段的 “Because Terry had an artificial leg, running wasn’t easy or straightforward. He had to move by jumping on one foot twice and then take a long step with his real leg. Although it looked awkward, he still kept on running. His action made people join him as he ran( 因为特里有一条假腿,所以跑步既不容易,也不直接。他必须用一只脚跳两次,然后用他真正的腿迈出了一大步。虽然看起来很尴尬,但他仍然继续跑。他的行动促使人们加入他一起跑步 )” 可知,特里跑步的情景感动了人们,人们纷纷加入他一起跑步。故选 A 。
3. 细节理解题。根据倒数第二段的 “Then, outside Thunder Bay, Ontario, Terry felt a sharp pain in his chest. The pain was from cancer; this time in his lungs. He had to abandon the Marathon after 3, 339 miles.( 然后,在安大略省的雷湾外,特里感到胸口一阵剧痛。疼痛来自癌症 , 这一次是在他的肺部。他不得不在跑了 3339 英里后放弃了这次马拉松。 )” 可知,来自癌症的身体剧痛让特里最终放弃了马拉松跑步。故选 C 。
4. 推理判断题。根据第一段的 “They showed that he had cancer. He was going to lose his leg and be given an artificial one.( 检查显示他得了癌症,将会失去一条腿,安装一条假腿 )” ;第三段的 “And then he also began to run a little every day. Each day he ran a little farther. It is 5,300 miles across Canada.( 然后他也开始每天跑一点,每天都要再跑多一点,横跨加拿大 5300 英里 )” ,第四段的 “Although it looked awkward, he still kept on running.( 虽然看起来很尴尬,但他仍然继续跑。 )” 可推断,特里尽管患了癌症,换了一条假腿,仍旧穿越加拿大募捐,使用假腿跑步很尴尬,但特里仍旧坚持跑步,因此推断特里是意志坚强的。故选 C 。
请认真阅读下列短文,并根据所读内容在文章后表格中的空格里填入一个最恰当的单词。注意:每个空格只填1个单词。
Feeling extreme loneliness can increase an older person’s risk of premature (过早的)death by 14 percent, according to research by John Cacioppo, professor of psychology at the University of Chicago.
Cacioppo and his colleagues’ work shows that the impact of loneliness on premature death is nearly as strong as the impact of disadvantaged socioeconomic status, which they found increases the chances of dying early by 19 percent. A 2010 meta﹣analysis showed that loneliness has twice as much impact on early death as obesity does, he said.
The researchers looked at dramatic differences in the rate of decline in physical and mental health as people aged. Cacioppo and his colleagues have examined the role of satisfying relationships on older people to develop their resilience ([rɪˈzɪliəns] 快速恢复的能力;适应力), the ability to feel better quickly after something unpleasant, and grow from stresses in life.
The consequences for health are dramatic, as feeling isolated or separated from others can disturb sleep, elevate blood pressure, increase morning rises in the stress hormone cortisol ([‘kɔ:tɪsɒl] 皮质醇), change the gene expression in immune cells, increase depression and lower overall subjective well﹣being, Cacioppo pointed out in a talk, “ Rewarding Social Connections Promote Successful Aging.”
Cacioppo, one of the nation’s leading experts on loneliness, said older people can avoid the consequences of loneliness by staying in touch with former co﹣workers, taking part in family traditions, and sharing good times with family and friends ﹣ all of which give older adults a chance to connect with others about whom they care and who care about them.
”Retiring to Florida to live in a warmer climate among strangers isn’t necessarily a good idea if it means you are disconnected from the people who mean much to you,” said Cacioppo. Population changes make understanding the role of loneliness and health all the more important,he explained. “People have to think about how to protect themselves from depression, low subjective well﹣being and early death. “
Although some people are happy to be alone, most people develop from social situations in which they provide mutual support and establish a strong bond. Evolution encourages people to work together to survive and accordingly most people enjoy companionship compared to be alone.
It is not solitude (独处)or physical isolation itself, but rather the subjective sense of isolation that Cacioppo’s work shows to be so destructive. Older people living alone are not necessarily lonely if they remain actively engaged in social life and enjoy the company of those around them. Some aspects of aging, such as blindness and loss of hearing, however, place people at special risk of becoming isolated and lonely, he said.
Passage outline | Supporting details |
The main idea | Chances are that older people will die early if they feel extremely 51.. |
52. with loneliness | • Like disadvantaged socioeconomic status and obesity, loneliness can 53. old men’s premature death. • When 54. from others, one will find physical health impacted and tend to feel depressive and unhappy. |
Suggestions | • Keep in touch with others and take part in 55. activities. • Choosing to live in a pleasant climate don’t necessarily make sense if the elder are disconnected from people who are 56. to them. • Think about how to57. depression, low subjective well﹣being and early death. • Work together with others to 58., to gain mutual support and establish a strong bond. |
Conclusions | • The sense of isolation, rather than solitude or physical isolation itself, isn’t 59.to elders. • Living alone doesn’t mean loneliness if older people live an 60. social life. |