A scientist from the slums

黑龙江绥滨县第一中学 谷华玉

?

难词探意

1. slum /slʌm/ n. 贫民窟

2. enrol /ɪn'rəʊl/ v. （使）加入；登记；注册

3. tackle /'tækl/ v. 应付；处理（难题或局面）

4. malnutrition /,mælnjuː'trɪ∫n/ n. 营养不良

I climbed up a ladder to the roof of our house, catching a book about the evolution of animals. I was 10 years old,and I'd just finished cooking dinner for my entire family—a task that was my daily responsibility. We didn't have any lamps in our house, so I needed sunlight to read my book. I didn't know it at the time, but that study routine was my ticket to a career as a scientist.

I had a passion for learning, and when I was allowed to go to school, I quickly shot to the top of my class. When I was 10 years old, my father sent me to a better school, which was mostly attended by students from wealthier families. I was at the top of the class there, too, but I was treated poorly by classmates who saw me as a child of theslums.

When I graduated from high school, I wanted to become an engineer, but my father said I couldn't study engineering because it was for boys; he said I should study food science instead. My initial reaction was that food science was the last thing I wanted to study. After a childhood preparing meals for my family, there was nothing I hated more than cooking. Ienrolledin a food science program anyway, and I quickly discovered that food science wasn't so bad.

In the years that followed, I received a PhD in food engineering and wanted totackle malnutritionin slums. Other researchers laughed at me, but I've proved them wrong. My work has won numerous national and international awards and companies, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies have all sought my expertise.

In my life, I've faced poverty, hunger, and discrimination, but I didn't let them hold me back. I hope others can take inspiration from my story and realize that—despite the challenges they may be facing—they, too, can persevere.

Reading

Check

1. Why did the author climb to the roof of her house?

A. To search for animals.

B. To enjoy her dinner.

C. To read a book.

D. To bathe in the sun.

2. Who plays the key role in helping the author receive education?

A. Her young brother. B. The teacher.

C. The scientist. D. Her father.

3. What's the author's attitude towards food science in the beginning?

A. Bored. B. Puzzled.

C. Enthusiastic. D. Doubtful.

4. What's the purpose of writing the text?

A. To share the author's experience in school.

B. To persuade us to read more books.

C. To encourage us to stick to our dreams.

D. To provide ways to become a scientist.