The next time you find an excuse to abandon your ambition, think of Chris Nikic. On November 7, 2020, 21-year-old Chris Nikic made history as the first person with Down Syndrome to attempt and complete an Ironman. Organized by the World Triathlon Corporation, it requires athletes to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run a full 26.2-mile marathon-in under 17 hours!

The event, which took place in Panama City, Florida, began early in the morning with a two-lap swim in the Gulf of Mexico. Chris, who was tied to his coach for safety, completed the course well within 2 hour, 20-minute time limit.

The 112-mile bike ride, which Chris rode alone, proved a little more challenging. Not accustomed to drinking water while riding, he was forced to make multiple stops. To make matters worse, the young athlete was attacked by an army of red ants whose nest he accidentally stepped on during a break. He also had a bleeding knee after crashing while speeding downhill. Despite these setbacks, Chris managed to complete the lap before the 5:30 pm cut-off time.

The competition's final challenge—a two-lap 26. 2-mile run along the waterfront- started smoothly. However, Chris was tired out? by the tenth mile. But, with encouragement from his coach and cheering bystanders, the youngster somehow managed to cross the finish line in 16 hours, 46 minutes, and 9 seconds-almost 15 minutes under the 17-hour time limit.

Chris is no stranger to overcoming challenges. Born with two holes in his heart, he underwent surgery at just five months old. He was too weak to walk independently until he was four. Due to his Down Syndrome, every expert his parents spoke to focused on the limitations rather than the possibilities.

To Chris, this race was more than just a finish line and celebration of victory. It's about being an example to other kids and families that face similar barriers.

【小题1】What does the underlined part "an Ironman" in paragraph 1 refer to?

A．A competition.

B．An organization.

C．A person.

D．An artwork.

【小题2】Which of the following best describes Chris's bike ride experience?

A．Romantic.

B．Eventful.

C．Pleasant.

D．Smooth.

【小题3】What does the author intend to do in paragraph 5?

A．Stimulate readers' interest.	B．Introduce a new topic.
C．Summarize the previous paragraphs.	D．Add some background information.

【小题4】What can we learn from Chris's story?

A．Winning is everything.	B．No dream is unachievable.
C．Life is full of choices.	D．Misfortune is a barrier to success.