Christopher Thomas, 27, was a writer by night and a teacher by day when he noticed he was always tired and was losing weight fast. Diagnosed with diabetes(糖尿病), Thomas would need to inject himself with insulin(胰岛素) three times a day for the rest of his life or risk nerve damage, blindness, and even death. And if that weren't bad enough, he had no health insurance.
After a month of feeling upset, Thomas decided he'd better find a way to fight back. He left Canton, Michigan for New York, got a job waiting tables, nicknamed himself the Diabetic Rockstar, and created diabeticrockstar.com, a free online community for diabetics and their loved ones—a place where over 1,100 people share personal stories, information, and resources.
Jason Swencki’s son, Kody, was diagnosed with type diabetes at six. Father and son visit the online children's forums(论坛) together most evenings. "Kody gets so excited, writing to kids from all over," says Swencki, one of the site's volunteers. "They know what he's going through, so he doesn't feel alone."
Kody is anything but alone: Diabetes is now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, with 24 million diagnosed cases. And more people are being diagnosed at younger ages.
These days, Thomas's main focus is his charity(慈善机构), Fight It, which provides medicines and supplies to people—225 to date—who can't afford a diabetic's huge expenses. Fight-it.org has raised about $23,000—in products and in cash. In May, Thomas will hold the first annual Diabetic Rockstar Festival in the Caribbean.
Even with a staff of 22 volunteers, Thomas often devotes up to 50 hours a week to his cause, while still doing his full-time job waiting tables. "Of the diabetes charities out there, most are putting money into finding a cure," says Bentley Gubar, one of Rockstar's original members. "But Christopher is the only person I know saying people need help now."
1.Which of the following is true of Christopher Thomas?
A. He needs to go to the doctor every day.
B. He studies the leading cause of diabetes
C. He has a positive attitude to this disease.
D. He encourages diabetics by writing articles.
2.Diabeitcrockstar.com was created for _________.
A. diabetics to communicate B. volunteers to find jobs
C. children to amuse themselves D. rock stars to share resources.
3.According to the text, Kody ______.
A. feel lonely because of his illness
B. benefits from diabeticrockstar.com
C. helps create the online kid’s forums
D. writes children’s stories online
4.What can we learn about Fight It?
A. It helps the diabetics in financial difficulties.
B. It organizes parties for volunteer once a year.
C. It offers less expensive medicine to diabetics.
D. It owns a well-known medical website.
5.The last paragraph suggests that Thomas ______.
A. works full-time in a diabetes charity B. employs 22 people for his website
C. helps diabetics in his own way D. ties to find a cure for diabetes
阅读下面短文,从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项,并从答题卡上将该选项涂黑。
It was a cool October evening. Excitement and family members __1___ the hall. I was only a 7-year-old girl, but I was the center of __2___. Finally, after weeks of preparation, I would __3_ all my hard work in a dance of performance. Everything would be __4___ —so I thought. I waited baskstage all __5__ in my black tights with a golden belt. In a loud and clear voice, the master of ceremonies __6__ that my class was next.
My dance class was doing a routine on wooden boxes two feet by two feet, facing the __7___. All I had to do in the next move was put one foot on the box next to mine and keep my other foot on my box. I really was an __8__ move. I was concentrating so much __9___ the huge smile on my face and holding my head up that I did not look __10__ I was going. I missed my partner’s box altogether and __11__. There I was standing on the stage floor when my classmates were on top of their boxes. I could hear giggles(咯咯笑) coming from the audience, and I felt the ___12___ rush to my face. I remembered my dance teacher had told us, “If you make a mistake, keep smiling so the audience will not ___13___.” I did my best to follow her ___14___ as I continued with the routine.
When the curtain dropped, so did my __15___ for the evening. I ___16___ bitterly, tasting the salt from the tears that streamed down my face. I ran backstage, but no one could __17__ me down.
Recently I realized I had been a __18__ that night. I was ___19___, but I fought the urge to run off the stage. __20___, I finished the routine with a smile on my face. Now when friends and family laugh about the time I slipped during a dance performance, I can laugh too.
1.A. filled B. visited C. attended D. decorated
2.A. pressure B. impression C. debate D. attention
3.A. take over B. show off C. look after D. give up
4.A. reasonable B. suitable C. obvious D. perfect
5.A. dressed up B. folded up C. covered up D. mixed up
6.A. suggested B. explained C. announced D. predicted
7.A. music B. audience C. curtain D. stage
8.A. easy B. active C. adventurous D. extra
9.A. containing B. hiding C. sharing D. keeping
10.A. why B. whether C. where D. what
11.A. wandered B. slipped C. waved D. skipped
12.A. blood B. pleasure C. pride D. tear
13.A. leave B. cheer C. believe D. notice
14.A. gesture B. example C. advice D. plan
15.A. doubts B. hopes C. voice D. patience
16.A. argued B. shouted C. begged D. sobbed
17.A. turn B. calm C. let D. put
18.A. star B. pioneer C. loser D. fool
19.A. satisfied B. moved C. embarrassed D. confused
20.A. However B. Instead C. In total D. in return
Mothers holding jobs outside the home should have _______ schedules to make it easier to care for their children.
A. heavy B. smooth C. flexible D. complex
— Her father is very rich.
—________ She wouldn’t accept his help even if it were offered.
A. What for? B. So what? C. No doubt. D. No wonder.
Those who suffer from headache will find they get ______ from this medicine.
A. relief B. safety C. defense D. shelter
Helping others is a habit, _______ you can learn even at an early age.
A. it B. that C. what D. one