Ⅰ.阅读理解
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 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, FightIt, which provides medicines and supplies to people — 225 to date — who can't afford a diabetic's huge expenses.FightIt 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 fulltime 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.”
语篇解读:本文是一篇记叙文。文章讲述了 Thomas在发现自己患了糖尿病后,创办了一个网站供糖尿病患者分享彼此的故事、信息和资源。
1.From the passage, what do we know about 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.
解析:选C 推理判断题。根据第二段中After a month of feeling upset, Thomas decided he'd better find a way to fight back.可以看出,Christopher Thomas对他的疾病抱有积极的态度,故选C项。
2.What was the purpose of the diabeitcrockstar.com?
A.Diabetics can communicate with each other.
B.It helps volunteers find jobs.
C.Children can amuse themselves.
D.Rock stars can share resources.
解析:选A 细节理解题。根据第二段中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可知,糖尿病患者可以通过这个网站进行交流。故选A项。
3.What can we learn about FightIt?
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 wellknown medical website.
解析:选A 细节理解题。根据第五段中FightIt, which provides medicines and supplies to people — 225 to date — who can't afford a diabetic's huge expenses.FightIt has raised about $23,000 — in products and in cash.可知,FightIt帮助糖尿病人应对财政方面的困难。故选A项。
4.What can we know about Thomas in the last paragraph?
A.He works fulltime in a diabetes charity.
B.He employs 22 people for his website.
C.He helps diabetics in his own way.
D.Thomas tries to find a cure for diabetes.
解析:选C 推理判断题。根据最后一段中Even with a staff of 22 volunteers, Thomas often devotes up to 50 hours a week to his cause, while still doing his fulltime job waiting tables.可以推知,Christopher Thomas在用自己的方式帮助糖尿病人。故选C项。