A
Many of us have heard of the saying: everything is possible if you can just believe.But few of us really know the power of faith and perseverance.South African swimmer Natalie du Toit embodies those virtues.
Du Toit, 24, became the first swimmer to compete in both the Olympic Games and the Paralympics(残奥会) in Beijing.Although she finished 16th in the tough 10km marathon in the ablebodied Games, she has collected three golds in the Paralympics so far.
One of the most successful disabled athletes of all time, Natalie du Toit was already a promising swimmer when she lost her leg in a motorcycle accident in 2001, at just 17.
“There are a lot of dark moments,” du Toit said.“There are some days when I cry.But I try to remember that better days are ahead.You just go on.”
Within a few months, she was back in the swimming pool.
She still competes and still succeeds.The only difference is that she has switched to longer events—from 200m and 400m individual medley to 800m and 1,500m freestyle—to make up for her loss of speed with only one leg.But she made no adjustment to her mental outlook(精神面貌).
“Going out in the water, it feels as if there’s nothing wrong with me.It doesn’t matter if you look different.You’re still the same as everybody else because you have the same dream.”
She is the owner of many world records, and she also won gold when competing against ablebodied swimmers in the 1,500m freestyle at the All Africa Games in 2007.
But there is no magic recipe for success.It all comes down to hard work and determination.“She is stubborn, which is good and bad,”said her coach Karoly Von Toros.“Good for the swimming, but bad for the coach.”
There is a poem that hangs on her wall that reads:
Thetragedyoflifedoesnotlieinnotreachingyourgoals;
Thetragedyoflifeliesinnothavinggoalstoreachfor.
21. Natalie du Toit is a vivid example that________.
A. you are what you believe
B. your biggest enemy is yourself
C. results are not so important as the process
D. you must set reasonable goals or you will fail
22. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “embodies” in the first paragraph?
A. Makes. B. Creates. C. Represents. D. Introduces.
23. Which of the following is the correct order of the events that happened to Natalie du Toit?
a. She won gold at the All Africa Games.
b. She finished 16th in the tough 10km marathon in the Olympics.
c. She adjusted herself to long events.
d. A motorcycle accident disabled her.
A. cdab B. dcba C. dcab D. dacb
24. In dark moments it was ________ that pushed her on.
A. her coach B. her family C. hope and faith D. her love of swimming
