Bill Porter was born with cerebral palsy (脑瘫), which made it difficult for him to move his arms and legs and even speak. There was much prejudice against people in his situation. This is because few understood that a person only had limitations for certain activities, not for all of them. Only one person trusted him: his mother. She knew the boy was smart and interested in learning.

After entering adulthood, Bill didn’t want to give up his life to inactivity. He dreamed of being useful and successful. In fact, he loved sales, as he liked being in contact with others. Many people told him that becoming a salesman would be impossible in his condition. After several unsuccessful job searches, Bill applied for Watkins company. At first, he was rejected. When Bill proposed to run the route of least profit, the manager reconsidered and decided to hire him. Bill didn’t go well on the sales route. In the first few days, Bill had a lot of cold shoulder treatment, and he began to doubt whether he was really suitable for the job.

One day, Bill went to a park to enjoy the meal his mother had packed for him. It was a simple sandwich. However, there was something very special in it. It had two words written with ketchup (番茄酱): “patience” and “persistence”. Bill regained the excitement he had been losing door after door in the morning after seeing his mother’s message.

His efforts finally paid off. The door that once shut began to keep open to him. Some customers even became his friends. Bill Porter found his path to success, both financially and personally. In fact, he became Watkins’ top salesman in a short time.

Bill Porter worked for 40 years for that company and collected awards, medals, and even admirers. A local newspaper reported his story in 1995. TNT turned his story into a movie in 2002. He died at the age of 81, in 2013.

【小题1】Why were people prejudiced against Bill?

A．He was badly disabled.	B．He was not intelligent.
C．He had little schooling.	D．He was poor-spirited.

【小题2】What made Bill doubt his choice?

A．The jokes of others.	B．The salary of salesmen.
C．The attitude of customers.	D．The rejection of the manager.

【小题3】What do we know about Bill’s mother?

A．She was good at cooking.

B．She set an example for her son.

C．She encouraged Bill to do what he liked.

D．She hoped Bill would give up his dream.

【小题4】Which of the following can best describe Bill Porter?

A．Determined.	B．Energetic.
C．Warm-hearted.	D．Considerate.