Mary Verdi-Fletcher was born with spina bifida (脊柱裂), a disease that causes weakness in the legs and spine. Undiscouraged, she was not about to be told what she could or could not do. She believes that someone who is an artist is an artist from the day he or she is born. She dreamed of dancing and made up her mind to make her dream a reality. While still young, Verdi-Fletcher — dancing in her wheelchair — entered a dance competition with a friend. They won first prize. Later she won more competitions, refusing to listen to people who said to her “ You can’t dance if you’re in a wheelchair” or “ Dancing in a chair is not really dancing”.

However, Verdi-Fletcher was not pleased with personal success alone. She wanted to make dance available to others with disabilities. In 1980, she founded a dance company called Dancing Wheels Company. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Dancing Wheels Company performs all over the world. In productions like “ The Snowman”, sit-down dancers perform with stand-up dancers. Modern lighting designs, attractive sets (布景), wonderful music, and festive costuming draw audience into fairy tales and other stories.

In one show, a young stand-up dancer named Devin played “The Brother Who Cannot See” while a young sit-down dancer named Jenny performed the role of “ The Sister Who Cannot Walk” . It was a lovely way to express a theme Verdi-Fletcher has represented all through her life: We all have disabilities. Some disabilities may be more noticeable, but hard work and devotion to our dreams can make the seemingly impossible become a reality.

【小题1】The author uses what people said to Verdi-Fletcher to show that ___________.

A．Verdi-Fletcher had made up her mind to become a dancer

B．the people who said that were of great wisdom

C．wheelchair dancing is not real dancing

D．no one can dance in a wheelchair

【小题2】What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．Verdi-Fletcher’s contribution to dancing.

B．The Dancing Wheels Company.

C．The cooperation between Verdi-Fletcher and the disabled.

D．Verdi-Fletcher’s success in learning productions.

【小题3】What can we learn from Verdi-Fletcher’s story?

A．Disability can destroy one’s life.

B．A friend in need is a friend indeed.

C．Dancing is the best form of art for most people.

D．With great devotion one’s dream can become a reality.

【小题4】What is the purpose of the text?

A．To provide details about spina bifida.

B．To teach people how to dance in wheelchairs.

C．To encourage readers to work hard to realize their dreams.

D．To entertain readers with the story of “The Snowman”.