Knorma Claypool is blind. When she was two years old, she had both her eyes removed because she had a brain tumor (脑肿瘤). But instead of feeling sorry for herself, she graduated from a special school for the blind.
Then she worked her way through college and got a graduate degree. She became a teacher for kids with handicaps.
One day she helped a blind 2-year-old baby who had been abandoned by her parents. She made up her mind to adopt the child. A social service agency disagreed because Claypool was blind and single. But she refused to give in and a judge eventually said she could have the child. The child, named Elaine, is now a 23-year-old woman who is studying at a college. “Elaine has brought so much joy to my life,” said Claypool.
Over the years, Claypool has adopted nine other children. Some are blind or deaf, others are retarded (智力迟钝的). She adopted a Chinese baby who born with only half a brain. One of her kids was born blind and has had 19 operations. But she says he has a very high IQ. Another was born healthy but was beaten by his mother and is now retarded.
Claypool retired from teaching in 1981 to devote all her time to her family. It’s not always easy for her to make ends meet. But Claypool believes every child deserves a home, even if the child is handicapped.
“My kids come first, always,” she says. She also believes in teaching her kids to be as generous as she is. Each Christmas she asks them to give one of their favorite toys to a child who is poor.
Claypool is a remarkable person who has made life better for many children whom nobody else wanted.
【小题1】Claypool almost didn’t adopt Elaine because ________ .| A．a judge eventually said she could |
| B．she was a teacher for the handicapped |
| C．a social service agency didn’t want her to |
| D．a judge disagreed because she was blind and single |
| A．she retired from teaching |
| B．her kids always come first |
| C．she makes ends meet |
| D．every kid spends more money than other children |
| A．are helping some poor children | B．are learning to be generous |
| C．will come first, always | D．teach Claypool to be generous |
| A．handicapped children are more generous than other kids |
| B．a remarkable woman has helped handicapped children |
| C．blind people make the best mothers |
| D．a handicapped woman |
