It’s been a long journey from January 10, 1972 when Rick was born a spastic quadriplegic (四肢瘫痪者) with cerebral palsy (脑瘫). Doctors told the young Hoyts that their son had no hope of a normal life.
As Rick developed, his parents noticed he was far from a “vegetable” as doctors had called him. “We could tell by looking in Rick’s eyes that he understood everything we were saying. We taught him the alphabet and numbers and did a lot of reading with him.” says Dick. the father.
Then with the help of the Tufts Interactive Communicator (TIC), Rick was able to use his head movement to tap out words and phrases.
As Rick tapped out his first words, his parents debated over what he’d say. To their surprise, his first words were “Go. Bruins!” “We knew right then and there that he understood everything, and that he loved sports and followed the game just like anyone else.” says Dick.
When Rick was in high school, he wanted to take part in a 5-mile road race, and they did finish the race. That night, Rick tapped out a message that would change the course of his life. He wrote. “Dad, when I’m running it feels like I’m not disabled.”
“That was a very powerful message for me.” recalls Dick. He knew he wanted to “loan Rick my arms and legs so he could compete in other races.”
With the father pushing his disabled son in a wheelchair, the father-son “Team Hoyt” began running races. Dick says that some people thought he was being selfish, pushing his disabled son in races. “They thought I was doing it for myself. They didn’t understand Rick was the one wanting to race,” he says.
Team Hoyt has completed to date over 1.075 running events, including marathons and Ironman triathlons (三项全能运动).
Rick was once asked, if he could give his father one thing, what would it be? Rick responded. “The thing I’d most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once.”
4. What can be inferred about Rick as he grew up?
A.He couldn’t see. | B.He couldn’t speak. |
C.He couldn’t think. | D.He couldn’t hear. |
5. What did Rick want to do when he tapped out the words “Go, Bruins!”?
A.Watch a game. | B.Go traveling. |
C.Run a race. | D.Go to school. |
6. How does “Team Hoyt” work in a running event?
A.The father and the son run together. |
B.The father and the son run with the help of TIC. |
C.The father pushes the son in a wheelchair. |
D.The son follows the father in his wheelchair. |
7. What Rick expressed in the last paragraph shows that
A.he felt proud | B.he was upset |
C.he felt lucky | D.he was grateful |