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, 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.Diabeticrockstar.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.tries to find a cure for diabetes
Another person’s enthusiasm was what set me moving toward the success I have achieved.That person was my stepmother.
I was nine years old when she entered our home in rural Virginia.My father 36 me to her with these words: “I would like you to meet the fellow who is 37 for being the worst boy in this county and will probably start throwing rocks at you no 38 than tomorrow morning.”
My stepmother walked over to me, 39 my head slightly upward, and looked me right in the eye.Then she looked at my father and replied, “You are 40 .This is not the worst boy at all, 41 the smartest one who hasn’t yet found an outlet(释放的途径)for his enthusiasm.”
That statement began a(n) 42 between us.No one had ever called me smart. My family and neighbors had built me up in my 43 as a bad boy.My stepmother changed all that.
She changed many things.She 44 my father to go to a dental school, from which he graduated with honors.She moved our family into the county seat, where my father’s career could be more 45 and my brother and I could be better 46 .
When I turned fourteen, she bought me a secondhand 47 and told me that she believed that I could become a writer.I knew her enthusiasm, I 48 it, and I saw how it had already improved our lives.I accepted her 49 and began to write for local newspapers.I was doing the same kind of 50 that great day I went to interview Andrew Carnegie and received the task which became my life’s work later.I wasn’t the 51 beneficiary (受益者).My father became the 52 man in town.My brother and stepbrothers became a physician, a dentist, a lawyer, and a college president.
What power 53 has! When that power is released to support the certainty of one’s purpose and is 54 strengthened by faith, it becomes an irresistible(不可抗拒的)force which poverty and temporary defeat can never 55 .
You can communicate that power to anyone who needs it.This is probably the greatest work you can do with your enthusiasm.
1.A.rushed B.sent C.carried D.introduced
2.A.distinguished B.favored C.mistaken D.rewarded
3.A.sooner B.later C.longer D.earlier
4.A.dragged B.shook C.raised D.bent
5.A.perfect B.right C.wrong D.impolite
6.A.but B.so C.and D.or
7.A.agreement B.friendship C.gap D.relationship
8.A.opinion B.image C.expectation D.mind
9.A.begged B.persuaded C.ordered D.invited
10.A.successful B.meaningful C.helpful D.useful
11.A.treaded B.entertained C.educated D.respected
12.A.camera B.radio C.bicycle D.typewriter
13.A.considered B.suspected C.ignored D.appreciated
14.A.belief B.request C.criticism D.description
15.A.teaching B.writing C.studying D.reading
16.A.next B.same C.only D.real
17.A.cleverest B.wealthiest C.strongest D.healthiest
18.A.enthusiasm B.sympathy C.fortune D.confidence
19.A.deliberately B.happily C.traditionally D.constantly
20.A.win B.match C.reach D.doubt
Everyone thinks he’ll go far in this company because he has all the qualities necessary _______ success.
A.to B.for C.by D.on
— Have you found the novel I lent you two weeks ago?
— Sorry, I can’t find it _______, but I’ll give it back to you later.
A.for the moment B.at no moment
C.in a moment D.at any moment
Wang Lin failed to be admitted by Hong Kong University last year, and only then _______ the importance of English.
A.he finally realized B.he had realized C.did he realize D.had he realized
They urged that measures _______ immediately to protect the endangered animals.
A. should take B. must be taken C. would take D. be taken