Chasing the sun

浙江 江 丽

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难词探意

1. terrain /tə΄reɪn/ n. 地形；地势

2. amputate /΄æmpjuteɪt/ v. 截肢

3. bedridden /΄bedrɪdn/ adj. 长期卧床的

4. sprinter /sprɪntə(r)/ n. 短跑运动员

He had run for 208 hours and 35 minutes, more than eight days. So, when Pan Junfan managed to cross the finish line in Guazhou, Gansu Province, his tears began to flow, not tears of exhaustion, not tears of frustration, but tears of pride and achievement.

The 513 kilometers he had completed over ruggedterrainin northwestern China would challenge the greatest athletes in the world.The challenge was all the greater for Pan, who pulled off the remarkable feat after having part of his right leg amputated following a car accident a few years ago.

During the challenge through the Gobi Desert and the Altun Mountains, the 40-year-old faced temperatures ranging from -20℃at night to 30℃by day, wild animals and even a tornado. About 400 kilometers of the trail is uninhabited. “I hope that by completing the challenge I can inspire people and tell them that life has limitless possibilities and never stop trying,” Pan says. He called the challenge “Chasing the sun”, which indicates that running keeps him from darkness. Life is too short to hesitate for people in following their dreams.

Pan wasbedriddenfor three months after the car accident. “During this period, I kept asking myself three questions: Was I satisfied with my life before the accident? If there is a second chance,will I reset my life? If it is time to start over, what should I do?” When a friend invited him to hike in the Gobi Desert in 2016, Pan knew the answer to his third question.

After he read about South African double-amputeesprinterOscar Pistorius, he was confident that one day he would not just stand up once more, but would run. He set himself the goal of one day breaking the world record for the longest distance race run by an amputee athlete. In April 2016, he became China's first amputee to complete the 108-kilometer desert hike within the given time—four days. Following the desert race, he established a dozen or so firsts for below-the-knee amputees. “My experience proves that everyone can run a little further than they think,” Pan says.

Pan is already back on the running machine, preparing for his next challenge—swimming and sailing across the Taiwan Straits. “Life's meaning is to explore the unknown,” he claims.

Reading

Check

1. How did Pan feel when he crossed the finish line?

A. Tired. B. Depressed. C. Proud. D. Confused.

2. Why did Pan call the challenge “Chasing the sun”?

A. Life is full of darkness.

B. He wanted to run with the sun.

C. The sun helped him recover from disease.

D. Running made him more positive and healthy.

3. What did Pan plan to do after reading about Oscar Pistorius?

A. Stand up and run. B. Enjoy life on the bed.

C. Restart his business. D. Watch a desert race.

4. What can we learn from Pan's experience?

A. Swimming is a nice sport for the disabled.

B. Life's meaning is to break the world record.

C. Everybody can run a little further than they imagine.

D. Desert race is the most exciting experience in life.

Language

Study

熟词生义

The challenge was all the greater for Pan, whopulled offthe remarkable feat after having part of his right leg amputated following a car accident a few years ago.

pull off 做成；完成（困难的事情）

e.g. I never thought you'd pull it off.