Question

    In 2012, Kim Stemple was a special education teacher and a solid performer in her age group in marathons. And then she got sick. After three years of tests and treatments, the doctors figured out she has a rare mitochondrial disease that is causing progressive mental and physical health to go worse. They told her there was no cure and that this disease would take her life.

Yet Stemple kept running and competing in marathons. One day she was training for the Rock “n” Roll Marathon in Las Vegas when she became too sick to travel. The usually outgoing Stemple sunk into disappointment. But then she received a gift — it was a marathon medal given to her by a friend.

Stemple hung the medal near her hospital bed and it was an instant conversation starter with doctors, nurses and anyone who came to visit. That medal pulled Stemple out of her disappointment. And that gave Stemple the idea to start We Finish Together, an organization devoted to connecting runners who wish to donate medals with those who might appreciate them. Stemple pens a handwritten note of encouragement on each of the medals she gives away. Recipients have included hospital patients, residents of homeless shelters and even doctors and nurses who care for the very ill. “This gives them a connection to someone,” says Stemple. “If they receive a medal, they know someone cares.”

Can a simple medal really make a difference? Joan Musarra said yes, who suffered from a serious disease. “I opened my package containing my new medal and the notes of positive, warm thoughts. I was really excited,” she wrote to Stemple. “It means so much to me to feel that I am not alone.”

1.What can we infer about Stemple before she got too sick to exercise?

A.She was doubtful. B.She was courageous.

C.She was down-hearted. D.She was optimistic.

2.What inspired Stemple to found We Finish Together?

A.The patients’ request. B.The medals she won.

C.Her friend’s gift. D.The encouragement from doctors.

3.How does Stemple’s organization help people in need?

A.By having chats. B.By giving out recycled medals.

C.By contributing money. D.By connecting their relatives.

4.Why did Musarra write the letter to Stemple?

A.To show the medal’s positive effect on her.

B.To discuss about their illnesses.

C.To relieve the symptoms of her illness.

D.To ask for another medal.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了Kim Stemple曾是一位特教教师，她不幸患上了不治之症；朋友们赠送的奖牌使她创建了一个组织，通过收集、分发奖牌的方式来激励需要者，帮助他们振作起来。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段中的Yet Stemple kept running and competing in marathons. One day she was training for the Rock “n” Roll Marathon in Las Vegas when she became too sick to travel. The usually outgoing Stemple sunk into disappointment.(然而，Stemple坚持跑马拉松，参加比赛。有一天，她正在拉斯维加斯为摇滚马拉松训练，突然病得不能去旅行了。通常外向的Stemple陷入了失望)可推知，Stemple在她病得不能运动之前是积极、乐观的。故选D项。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段最后一句But then she received a gift — it was a marathon medal given to her by a friend.(但后来她收到了一份礼物——那是一位朋友送给她的马拉松奖章)和第三段中的That medal pulled Stemple out of her disappointment. And that gave Stemple the idea to start We Finish Together, an organization devoted to connecting runners who wish to donate medals with those who might appreciate them.(那枚奖章使Stemple从失望中解脱出来。这给了Stemple一个启动We Finish Together组织的想法，一个致力于把那些希望捐赠奖牌的运动员和那些可能欣赏奖牌的人联系起来的组织)可知，朋友送的奖牌使她从失望中振作起来，激励她建立We Finish Together组织。故选C项。

3.细节理解题。根据第三段中的And that gave Stemple the idea to start We Finish Together, an organization devoted to connecting runners who wish to donate medals with those who might appreciate them.(这给了Stemple一个启动We Finish Together组织的想法，一个致力于把那些希望捐赠奖牌的运动员和那些可能欣赏奖牌的人联系起来的组织)可知，该组织是通过收集、分发奖牌给需要者的方式来实施帮助的。故选B项。

4.推理判断题。根据最后一段中的Can a simple medal really make a difference? Joan Musarra said yes, who suffered from a serious disease.(一枚简单的奖牌真的能起到作用吗？得了重病的Joan Musarra说，是的)和“I was really excited,” she wrote to Stemple. “It means so much to me to feel that I am not alone.”(“我真的很兴奋，”她写信给Stemple。“感觉到自己不孤单对我意义重大。”)可推断出，Musarra写信给Stemple旨在表明奖牌对她起到了积极影响。故选A项。