For many years, no one could communicate with people who had been born without hearing. These deaf people were not able to use a spoken language.

But, beginning in the 1700s, the deaf were taught a special language. Using the language, they could share thoughts and ideas with others. The language they used was a language without sound. It was a sign language.

How did this sign language work? The deaf were taught to make certain movements using their hands, faces, and bodies. These movements stood for things and ideas. People might move their forefingers across their lips. This meant, “You are not telling the truth.” They might tap their chins with three fingers. This meant, “my uncle”.

The deaf were also taught to use a finger alphabet(字母表). They used their fingers to make the letters of the alphabet. In this way, they spelled out words. Some deaf people could spell out words at a speed of 130 words per minute.

Sign language and finger spelling are not used as much as they once were. Today the deaf are taught to understand others by watching their lips. They are taught how to speak.

1.In the 1700s, the deaf were taught __________.

A. to speak                           B. to watch others

C. a sign language               D. a spoken language

2.The word forefingers in paragraph 3 means__________.

A. the finger next to the thumb (拇指)                B. three fingers

C. a language                                                            D. hands

3.On the whole the story is about __________.

A. how the deaf communicate                                       B. learning to spell

C. teaching the deaf to speak                               D. writing sign languages

4.Which of these sentences do you think is RIGHT?

A.Deaf people draw signs

B.Deaf people can’t use their fingers.

C.Many deaf people now can speak

D.Deaf people speak with their fingers.

 

Alexander Graham Bell was a British man who was a teacher to people who could not hear. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1847 and went to school in Edinburgh and London. People who can not hear any sounds at all are called deaf people, and Alexander became interested in helping them to learn to speak. He taught people how to use their mouths to make the sounds needed for talking.

Bell’s family moved to Canada in 1870 and to the USA in 1871. For several years he taught the people who could not speak in Boston. But at the same time he was developing a way to use electricity to send the sounds of talking along a wire, and he made the first telephone in June, 1875. He worked hard in his workshop for six months with his helper Tom Watson. Finally, he spoke these famous words slowly into the telephone, “Mr. Watson, come here. I want to see you.” and Watson came to him.

The telephone developed quickly in the USA over the next few years. The Bell Telephone Company started in 1877, and in 1878 the first telephone centre was built in New York. More than 150,000 people had telephones in their homes ten years later. Alexander Graham Bell was a kind man and spent much of his money and time during the rest of his life helping deaf people. In 1922 he died in Canada.

根据短文内容回答问题。

1. Where was Alexander Graham Bell born, in England or Scotland?

2. What was he interested in doing when he was in Britain?

3. When was the first telephone invented?

4. Did he stop helping the disabled when he became famous?

5. What do you think of the great inventor?

Reggie couldn’t hear a thing. He was a normal boy, but he had been born deaf. He was well known to everyone in town, and they were all very fond of him. 35 unfortunately, he was always treated differently from everyone else. Children 36 that they would hurt him, adults acted like he was unable to understand them, as if he was a baby.

Reggie didn’t like this very much. But the person who disliked it the most was his friend Michael, who decided that things had to be 37 . Michael’s father was the town’s Mayor, and Michael managed to convince him that this year, in honor of Reggie, they should offer one day to deaf people. During that whole day everyone in town would have to 38 earplugs(耳塞).

People liked the idea, because everyone loved Reggie. The day became known 39 the Day of Silence, and when it arrived everyone stuck plugs in their ears with great 40 . That morning was filled with jokes and laughter. But, as the hours passed, people became aware of (意识到) how 41 life was when you couldn't hear anything. However, learning about how life was more difficult for the deaf was 42 compared to the greatest discovery of the day: Reggie was amazing!

On that day no one was thinking of Reggie as 43 a deaf person. This meant he could be treated just like any other little boy; and people saw a whole new side of him. Not only that, but Reggie had a 44 mind. On that day, using his usual gestures (手势), Reggie was the one who could communicate best with everyone. This meant that people paid more attention to what he was saying, and they were surprised by his intelligence and his ability to find solutions to almost any problem. They realized that in normal life all Reggie needed was a little more time than others to communicate. That was the only 45 .

So the Day of Silence was the day when Reggie’s true nature became known. And it was the day that everyone realized you have to give people a chance to show how 46  they are.

35. A. Or              B. So          C. And         D. But

36. A. considered        B. worried       C. suggested     D. wondered    

37. A. changed          B. finished       C. decided       D. happened

38. A. hold           B. get          C. wear         D. carry

39. A. as              B. in           C. at              D. on

40. A. honor            B. hurt         C. anger         D. fun

41. A. serious           B. careful            C. difficult       D. nervous

42. A. anything        B. nothing       C. something     D. everything

43. A. just B. always C. ever D. already          

44. A. simple          B. strange       C. bright         D. general

45. A. result            B. effort        C. reason        D. difference

46. A. active            B. valuable       C. healthy       D. popular

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